A novel vending machine goods channel detection control system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a novel automatic vending machine goods channel detection control system, its use two elastic touch points only in every goods channel rear end realizes the control system of goods channel motor access host computer, and goods channel can realize quick installation just one insertion in the vending machine, and installation is convenient and fast, and simple structure, and wire material consumption is less, and goods channel adjustment is simple and convenient, and saves time and energy. The separation design of using touch circuit board and single layer control circuit board simplifies the structure, reduces the cost, and as long as the single layer control circuit board of each layer is installed on the layer side column, the layer board of installing goods channel can be used universally, and is randomly interchanged, and installation is convenient. The goods channel can be quickly obtained goods channel position information with power bus current detection cooperation system program detection goods channel, greatly improves the detection efficiency, and can also monitor the working state of goods channel motor, avoids overcurrent overload, and protects goods channel motor and other components.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of vending machine technology, and in particular to a vending machine's product channel detection and control system. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of technology, vending machines are becoming increasingly widely used. In existing technology, the vending machine's dispensing channels are connected to the main unit via plugs and sockets. For ease of maintenance, these plugs and sockets are typically located at the front, and the dispensing channel is inserted into the main unit in a forward-plugging manner. This makes the installation of the dispensing channels inconvenient. The positional information of the channels is not provided to the control system, requiring operators to manually set the dispensing coordinates, which is complex, time-consuming, and prone to errors. Furthermore, the excessive wiring of the channels leads to complex cabling, making malfunctions more likely. Assembly and maintenance are troublesome, and adjusting the channel spacing when changing products is inconvenient. To address this, Chinese utility model patent CN209895414U discloses a vending machine dispensing device. This device places the power supply interface of the dispensing module at the front, allowing power to be directly driven by contacts on the vending machine's lifting platform. This eliminates the bulky channel bus and tangled wiring, reducing complex wiring, lowering the probability of equipment failure and manufacturing costs, and improving the efficiency of maintenance personnel. However, this solution requires the vending machine's lifting platform to align with the dispensing module via magnets and to detect whether the product lanes are installed correctly via mechanical scanning. This not only has a complex structure but also low scanning efficiency and is time-consuming. It takes tens of seconds to complete the scanning and detection of one product lane, and for a vending machine with many product lanes, it may take 20-30 minutes to complete the detection of all of them. Utility Model Content

[0003] This utility model addresses the shortcomings of existing technologies by providing a new type of automatic vending machine product lane detection and control system that features a simpler structure, more reasonable design, easier product lane installation, and faster product lane detection.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model adopts the following technical solution: a novel automatic vending machine channel detection and control system, wherein the channel includes a channel body, a motor assembly, and a power connection mechanism. A circuit board is installed in the main unit, the motor assembly is mounted on the channel body, and the power connection mechanism connects to the motor assembly, achieving electrical connection with the vending machine's main unit through the power connection mechanism; the power connection mechanism uses an elastic conductive element, which is installed at the rear end of the channel body and protrudes rearward; the circuit board is provided with a control circuit and several sets of solder pad contacts, with each set consisting of two solder pad contacts. Two elastic conductive elements on each channel correspond to one set of solder pad contacts, and after the channel is installed in the main unit, its elastic conductive elements achieve electrical contact with the solder pad contacts; the control circuit includes a main... The system comprises a control module, an electronic switch module, an electronic switch drive circuit module, and a current detection device. The electronic switch module includes row and column electronic switches for each pad contact. The electronic switch drive circuit module connects the control lines of each row and column electronic switch to drive them to turn on or off. The electronic switch module and the current detection device are connected in series in the power (bus) circuit of the main unit. The current detection device is connected between the main control module and the electronic switch module. The current detection device works with the main control module to detect the signal of the goods channel access to obtain the position information of the goods channel after loading. The circuit board includes at least one communication interface, which is connected to the circuit boards of other layers of goods channels and connected to the main controller of the vending machine via connecting lines.

[0005] Furthermore, the circuit board includes independent single-layer control circuit boards and touch circuit boards, with the touch circuit boards connected to the single-layer control circuit boards; each pad contact is set on the touch circuit board, which also has a wiring structure arranged according to a matrix circuit, with the two pad contacts of each group connected to the row and column lines of the touch circuit board respectively.

[0006] Furthermore, the motor assembly is located at the tail end of the main body of the cargo channel, and two fixing posts are provided at the end cap of the tail end of the motor assembly. The elastic conductive element is installed in the two fixing posts respectively, and the tail end of the elastic conductive element is connected to the positive and negative poles of the motor assembly respectively.

[0007] Furthermore, the elastic conductive element is a conductive metal spring, metal compression spring, or metal torsion spring, with its head extending outside the fixed post for docking with the solder pad contacts on the touch circuit board.

[0008] Furthermore, the fixing post is a plastic tube made of plastic material, and the fixing post and the end cap are an integral structure.

[0009] As a preferred option, the control MCU of the main control module adopts the main control microcontroller U1, model STC32G12K64-35I-LQFP32; the microcontroller U1 is connected to the electronic switch module and the electronic switch drive circuit module respectively.

[0010] Furthermore, the electronic switch driving circuit module includes a row electronic switch driving section and a column electronic switch driving section. Pins 1-6 and 17-19 of the microcontroller U1 are connected to the row electronic switch driving section, and pins 20-29 are connected to the column electronic switch driving section. The row electronic switch driving section is connected to each row of electronic switches in the electronic switch module, and the column electronic switch driving section is connected to each column of electronic switches in the electronic switch module.

[0011] Preferably, the electronic switches in each row and column are the same, using devices such as relays, transistors, or MOSFETs.

[0012] The current sensing device uses resistors, diodes, coils, Hall effect devices, or current sensing chips, and is connected between the electronic switch and the microcontroller U1.

[0013] Communication between individual control circuit boards or between individual control circuit boards and the host computer is achieved using communication protocols such as RS485, RS232, CAN, I2C, LIN, or single-bus.

[0014] Furthermore, the single-layer control circuit board and the touch circuit board are respectively connected to terminal blocks, and the terminal blocks of the single-layer control circuit board are connected to the terminal blocks of the touch circuit board through terminal wires.

[0015] Preferably, the connecting line is a communication cable, communication optical cable, data line, CAN bus, RS485 bus or other commonly used communication cable.

[0016] Furthermore, the spacing between the contacts of each group of pads is a fixed value and can be used as a scale to calculate the coordinates of the cargo channel position.

[0017] This invention utilizes only two elastic contact points at the rear end of each vending machine to connect the vending machine motor to the main unit. Installation is quick and easy, requiring only a single insertion of the vending machine. The structure is simple, with minimal wiring, and vending machine adjustments are simple and convenient, saving time and effort. The separate design of the contact circuit board and the single-layer control circuit board simplifies the structure and reduces costs. Furthermore, as long as the single-layer control circuit board is mounted on the side column, the vending machine shelf can be interchanged freely, making installation convenient. Employing power bus current detection, in conjunction with the system program, allows for rapid acquisition of vending machine position information, greatly improving detection efficiency. It also monitors the operating status of the vending machine motor, preventing overcurrent and overload and protecting the motor and other components. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cargo channel structure of this utility model; Figure 2 The circuit schematic of the main control module and the electronic switch module; Figure 3The circuit schematic for the electronic switch drive section; Figure 4 The circuit schematic for the drive section of the electronic switch is shown. Figure 5 This is the circuit schematic of an RS485 communication module; Figure 6 The circuit diagram for touching the circuit board; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the wiring for each cargo channel.

[0019] Figure 1 In the middle, 1 is the main body of the cargo channel, 2 is the motor assembly, 3 is the end cover, 4 is the fixing column, and 5 is the conductive spring. Detailed Implementation

[0020] In this embodiment, refer to Figures 1-7 The novel vending machine channel detection and control system includes a channel body 1, a motor assembly 2, and a power connection mechanism. The motor assembly is mounted on the channel body 1, and the power connection mechanism is connected to the motor assembly 2, achieving electrical connection with the vending machine's main unit. The power connection mechanism uses an elastic conductive element, which is installed at the rear end of the channel body 1 and protrudes backward. The main unit contains independent single-layer control circuit boards and touch circuit boards, with the touch circuit boards connected to the single-layer control circuit boards. The touch circuit boards have several sets of solder pad contacts, with two solder pad contacts forming a set. Each channel has two elastic conductive elements corresponding to a set of solder pad contacts, and the elastic conductive elements of the channel make electrical contact with the solder pad contacts after the channel is installed in the main unit. The single-layer control circuit board contains a control circuit, which includes a main control module, an electronic switch module, and an electronic switch. The system includes a drive circuit module and a current detection device; the touch circuit board has a matrix circuit wiring structure, with two pad contacts in each group connected to the row and column lines of the touch circuit board respectively; the electronic switch module includes row and column electronic switches for each pad contact, and the electronic switch drive circuit module connects the control lines of each row and column electronic switch and drives them to turn on or off; the electronic switch module and the current detection device are connected in series in the power circuit of the host machine; the current detection device is connected between the main control module and the electronic switch module, and the current detection device works with the main control module to detect the signal of the goods channel access to obtain the position information of the goods channel after loading; the single-layer control circuit board includes at least one communication interface, which is connected to the single-layer control circuit boards of other goods channels through connecting lines and connected to the vending machine's main controller.

[0021] The motor assembly 2 is located at the tail end of the cargo channel body 1. Two fixing posts 4 are provided at the end cap 3 at the tail end of the motor assembly 1. Two elastic conductive parts are respectively installed in the two fixing posts 4, and the tail ends are respectively connected to the positive and negative poles of the motor assembly 2.

[0022] The elastic conductive component is made of conductive metal spring, metal compression spring or metal torsion spring. In this embodiment, a conductive spring 5 is used, the first end of which extends out of the fixed post 4 to connect with the solder pad contacts on the touch circuit board.

[0023] The fixing post 4 is a plastic tube made of plastic material, and the fixing post 4 and the end cap 3 are an integral structure.

[0024] The main control module uses a main control microcontroller U1, which is model STC32G12K64-35I-LQFP32 or a chip with similar functions. The microcontroller U1 is connected to the electronic switch module and the electronic switch drive circuit module.

[0025] The electronic switch driver circuit module includes a row electronic switch driver section and a column electronic switch driver section. Pins 1-6 and 17-19 of the microcontroller U1 are connected to the row electronic switch driver section, and pins 20-29 are connected to the column electronic switch driver section. The row electronic switch driver section is connected to each row of electronic switches in the electronic switch module, and the column electronic switch driver section is connected to each column of electronic switches in the electronic switch module.

[0026] The electronic switches in each row and column are the same, all using relays, transistors or MOSFETs.

[0027] The current sensing device can be a resistor, diode, coil, Hall effect device or current sensing chip, etc. The current sensing resistor is connected between the electronic switch and the microcontroller U1, and can be connected to the impedance matching device OP at the same time.

[0028] Communication between individual control circuit boards or between individual control circuit boards and the main controller of the vending machine is achieved using an RS485 communication module. RS232, CAN, I2C, LIN, or single-bus communication protocols are also acceptable.

[0029] The single-layer control circuit board and the touch circuit board are respectively connected to terminal blocks P1 and P2. The terminal block P1 of the single-layer control circuit board is connected to the terminal block P2 of the touch circuit board through a terminal wire.

[0030] The connecting line is a communication cable, communication optical cable, data cable, CAN bus, RS485 bus or other commonly used communication cable.

[0031] The spacing between the contacts of each group of solder pads is a fixed value, such as 15mm, 10mm, etc., which can be used as a scale to calculate the coordinates of the cargo channel position.

[0032] Taking 100 pad contacts as an example, there are 10 row lines and 10 column lines, forming a 10×10 matrix. The two terminal blocks use 20-pin terminal blocks. Both the row electronic switch driver section and the column electronic switch driver section use two electronic switch driver chips (U3 and U4, and U5 and U6) of different sizes. U3 and U5 are both 7-channel, while U4 and U6 are both 3-channel. The combination of U3 and U4, and U5 and U6, results in 10 channels, which perfectly matches the 10 row electronic switches and 10 column electronic switches.

[0033] Since the touch circuit board is fixedly installed behind the cargo aisle shelf, its position is fixed after the cargo aisle shelf is installed, and the relative position of the touch circuit board can also be determined.

[0034] Assuming the first set of pad contacts touching the circuit board is taken as the starting point, with an x-coordinate of 0, and the distance between the second set of pad contacts and the first set of pad contacts (M00) is fixed at 15mm, the x-coordinate of the second set of pad contacts (M01) can be recorded as 15 (mm). By analogy, the x-coordinates of 100 sets of pad contacts (M99) can be obtained. In this way, it is only necessary to detect which sets of pad contacts have channels to calculate the x-coordinate of the channels.

[0035] The process of detecting whether a product channel is filled is as follows: The program of the microcontroller U1 numbers each group of pad contacts on the touch circuit board as 0~99 (M00-M99), corresponding to the 1st row and 1st column to the 10th row and 10th column of the circuit. The program turns on the electronic switch R_ekey01 in the 1st row and the electronic switch C_ekey01 in the 1st column. At this time, the current sampling resistor samples the AD port of the microcontroller U1. If there is voltage on this port, it means that the pad contact numbered 0 is connected to a product channel; if no voltage is detected on this AD port, it means that the pad contact numbered 0 is not filled with a product channel. In this way, the position of the product channel is detected electronically, thus eliminating the need for mechanical scanning. The result of detecting a product channel is obtained after only 10-20 milliseconds of power-on.

[0036] Then, turn on the electronic switches in the first row and second column to check if there are any product channels installed on the pads numbered 1. Repeat this process for each pad group to check all pads from 0 to 99, thus determining the number of product channels installed on that layer and their numbers. Multiplying the number by 15mm gives the x-coordinate of the installed product channels on a single layer. By performing this process on all layers of the vending machine, the x-coordinates of the installed product channels on all layers can be obtained.

[0037] This design, which separates the touch circuit board from the single-layer control circuit board and connects them via terminal wires, simplifies the structure and manufacturing process, reduces costs, and minimizes the amount of wire used.

[0038] The present invention has been described in detail above. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of this application should still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A novel automatic vending machine product channel detection and control system, wherein the product channel includes a product channel body, a motor assembly, and a power connection mechanism, a circuit board is provided in the main unit, the motor assembly is mounted on the product channel body, and the power connection mechanism is connected to the motor assembly, thereby achieving electrical connection with the main unit of the vending machine, characterized in that: The power connection mechanism uses an elastic conductive element, which is installed at the rear end of the main body of the delivery channel and protrudes backward. The circuit board is equipped with a control circuit and several sets of solder pad contacts, with two solder pad contacts forming a group. The two elastic conductive elements on each delivery channel correspond to a group of solder pad contacts. After the delivery channel is loaded into the main unit, its elastic conductive elements make electrical contact with the solder pad contacts. The control circuit includes a main control module, an electronic switch module, an electronic switch drive circuit module, and a current detection device. The electronic switch module includes row electronic switches and column electronic switches for each solder pad contact. The electronic switch drive circuit module connects the control lines of each row electronic switch and column electronic switch to drive them to turn on or off. The electronic switch module and the current detection device are connected in series in the power circuit with the main unit. The current detection device is connected between the main control module and the electronic switch module. The current detection device works with the main control module to detect the signal connected to the delivery channel to obtain the position information after the delivery channel is loaded. The circuit board includes at least one communication interface, which is connected to the circuit boards of other delivery channels and to the main controller of the vending machine via connecting lines.

2. The novel automatic vending machine product channel detection and control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The circuit board includes independent single-layer control circuit boards and touch circuit boards, with the touch circuit boards connected to the single-layer control circuit boards. Each pad contact is set on the touch circuit board, which also has a wiring structure arranged according to a matrix circuit. The two pad contacts in each group are respectively connected to the row and column lines of the touch circuit board.

3. The novel automatic vending machine product channel detection and control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The motor assembly is located at the tail end of the main body of the conveyor. Two fixing posts are provided at the end cap of the tail end of the motor assembly. The elastic conductive element is installed in the two fixing posts respectively, and the tail end of the elastic conductive element is connected to the positive and negative poles of the motor assembly respectively.

4. The novel automatic vending machine product channel detection and control system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The elastic conductive component is made of a conductive metal spring, metal compression spring or metal torsion spring, with its head extending out of the fixing post for docking with the solder pads on the touch circuit board; the fixing post is a plastic tube made of plastic material, and the fixing post and the end cap are an integral structure.

5. The novel automatic vending machine product channel detection and control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main control module uses a main control microcontroller U1, model STC32G12K64-35I-LQFP32; microcontroller U1 is connected to the electronic switch module and the electronic switch drive circuit module.

6. The novel automatic vending machine product channel detection and control system according to claim 5, characterized in that: The electronic switch driver circuit module includes a row electronic switch driver section and a column electronic switch driver section. Pins 1-6 and 17-19 of the microcontroller U1 are connected to the row electronic switch driver section, and pins 20-29 are connected to the column electronic switch driver section. The row electronic switch driver section is connected to each row of electronic switches in the electronic switch module, and the column electronic switch driver section is connected to each column of electronic switches in the electronic switch module.

7. The novel automatic vending machine product channel detection and control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electronic switches in each row and column are identical, all using relays, transistors, or MOSFETs; the communication interface is RS485, RS232, CAN, I2C, LIN, or a single-bus communication interface; the current detection device is a resistor, diode, coil, Hall effect device, or current detection chip.

8. The novel automatic vending machine product channel detection and control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The single-layer control circuit board and the touch circuit board are each connected to a terminal block, and the terminal blocks of the single-layer control circuit board and the terminal blocks of the touch circuit board are connected by terminal wires.

9. The novel automatic vending machine product channel detection and control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting line is a communication cable, communication optical cable, data cable, CAN bus, RS485 bus or other commonly used communication cable.

10. The novel automatic vending machine product channel detection and control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The spacing between the contacts of each group of solder pads is a fixed value and can be used as a scale to calculate the coordinates of the cargo channel position.

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