Automatic vending machine and control method for automatic vending machine

Abstract

To improve the applicability of an automatic vending machine and also to reduce the costs for production and manufacture.SOLUTION: An automatic vending machine includes a cabinet, a shelf plate and a column and includes a plurality of slots inside the cabinet, wherein the shelf plate is attached and fixed to the slots, a sub control board is provided to the shelf plate, the sub control board is electrically or communicably connected to an overall control circuit board, and the shelf plate has the column formed thereon. The automatic vending machine can have columns arranged flexibly in number and size to be improved in applicability, and is therefore reduced in production and manufacture costs. Even when the automatic vending machine has shelf plates adjusted or changed in the cabinet, the overall control circuit board can communicably control the shelf plates directly, and raw data and detection data of the sub control board can be fed back to the overall control circuit board directly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of intelligent devices, and specifically to vending machines and control methods for vending machines.

Background Art

[0002] The main function of a conventional vending machine as a smart alternative to a store is product sales, and its profitability is related to the richness of the types of products sold. Conventional vending machines usually have a plurality of shelves, each shelf is divided into a plurality of columns, and different products are distributed to each column.

[0003] In the prior art, after the production of a vending machine is completed, both the number of shelves inside the vending machine and the number of products on each shelf are fixed, and it is only applicable to the sales of products with specified sizes and specifications. However, in actual applications, the specifications of products are diverse. Customizing a vending machine with a size suitable for each product will incur a large amount of production cost and time cost.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] In response to the above problems, the present invention provides a vending machine and a control method for a vending machine. The vending machine can flexibly arrange the number of columns and the size of the columns, improve the applicability of the vending machine, and reduce production and manufacturing costs.

[0005] In the technical solution of the present invention, a vending machine including a cabinet, a shelf, and columns is provided. The inside of the cabinet includes a plurality of slots, the shelf is fastened and fixed to the slots, a sub-control circuit board is provided on the shelf, the sub-control circuit board is electrically connected or communicatively connected to the master control circuit board, and columns are formed on the shelf.

[0006] According to the technical solution of the present invention, the columns on the shelf board may be designed in combinations of different numbers and different sizes. For example, a single column means that the entire shelf board is one column, and a multi-column means that the shelf board is divided into multiple columns, and the sizes of the multiple columns may be the same or different. When the above vending machine is in use, based on the size and specifications of the products to be sold, a shelf board corresponding to the number and size of the columns is selected, and the selected shelf board can be locked in the slot in the cabinet to achieve the structural fixation of the shelf board. At the same time, the sub-control circuit board on the shelf board and the overall control circuit board in the vending machine are electrically connected or communicatively connected by means such as interfaces and signal lines, so that the vending machine can grasp the current shelf board and the installation positions of each column on the shelf board in the entire cabinet. In the above vending machine, regardless of the adjustment or change of the shelf board in the cabinet, the overall control circuit board can directly control the shelf board communicatively, and the raw data and detection data on the sub-control circuit board can also be directly fed back to the overall control circuit board.

[0007] In the technical solution of the present invention, the vending machine is provided with a plurality of mounts on the side wall of the cabinet, and the slot is fixed to the side wall so as to correspond to one or more mounts.

[0008] According to the technical solution of the present invention, the shelf board can be flexibly fixed to the mounts at different positions by the slots, so that the flexible removal and movement of the shelf board can be realized.

[0009] Preferably, in the technical solution of the present invention, 25 to 30 mounts are provided, and the heights of the plurality of mounts in the height direction of the cabinet are equal, and the height is 4 to 6 cm.

[0010] According to the technical solution of the present invention, different products are placed in each column of each shelf board, and according to the height direction size when the products are placed, the corresponding caslot of the shelf board is locked and fixed to the mounts at different heights to adjust the height distance between the shelf boards. Preferably, in the technical solution of the present invention, the mount is an inverted triangle convenient for the attachment and detachment of the slot.

[0011] In the technical solution of the present invention, the sub-control circuit board on the shelf board includes a weighing unit, a coordination unit, and a display unit. The weighing unit includes a weight sensor, a weighing chip, and a calculation unit. The calculation unit calculates the number of items in the current column in response to inputs from the weighing chip and the overall control circuit board. The coordination unit sets the matrix address in the cabinet of the column, and the display unit displays the calculation result of the calculation unit and / or the matrix address.

[0012] According to the technical solution of the present invention, the weighing unit can weigh the weight of each column on the shelf board and detect the weight change during calculation, so as to feedback the putting in and taking out of items in the column. The coordination unit is used to set the matrix address, that is, by setting which row of the cabinet the shelf board is located in and which column of the shelf board each column on the shelf board is located in respectively, the vending machine can grasp the total number of columns in the cabinet and the matrix address of each column through the connected sub-control circuit board, and can set it simply and correspondingly when placing items later.

[0013] Preferably, in the technical solution of the present invention, the overall control circuit board in the vending machine receives data from the coordination unit and transmits the unit weight information of the item corresponding to the matrix address to the calculation unit.

[0014] According to the technical solution of the present invention, after each shelf board is assembled in the cabinet, by setting the matrix address of each column by the coordination unit, the vending machine can grasp the total number of columns in the cabinet and the matrix address of each column. Then, based on the preset or user-input data, the item name and the unit weight of the item stored and sold in each column are saved, and the calculation unit can calculate the increase and decrease change of the number of items in the column based on the weight change in the column detected by the weighing unit and the unit weight of the item.

[0015] In the technical solution of the present invention, the shelf board in the vending machine includes a shelf board frame. An opening is formed in the shelf board frame such that a display portion is exposed on the front surface, and a film is provided on the front surface.

[0016] According to the present invention, the display portion can display data such as the number and weight of products in each column. When the user takes products in and out of the column, the display portion contributes to instructions and assistance. The film contributes to softening the light of the display portion and shielding the mounting structure.

[0017] In the technical solution of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a vending machine applied to the above vending machine, including a detection step of detecting the initial weight and the remaining weight of the corresponding column by a weighing unit respectively, and a calculation step of calculating the number of products in the column based on a preset unit weight, the initial weight of the column, and the remaining weight.

[0018] According to the technical solution of the present invention, the shelf board of the vending machine itself can perform the operations of weighing products, calculating, and displaying the results of weighing calculations.

[0019] In an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a vending machine applied to the above vending machine. The vending machine further includes a command screen communicatively connected to a master control circuit board and an openable cabinet door. The control method includes a polling step of acquiring data regarding the matrix address of the column in a polling manner, a product information setting step of setting unit weight information of products in the corresponding column based on the input from the command screen and the data acquired in the polling step, a transmission step of transmitting the unit weight information, and a cabinet door opening and closing step of generating a signal to open and close the cabinet door and transmitting the cabinet door opening and closing information to a sub-control circuit board.

[0020] According to the technical solution of the present invention, when the vending machine opens the cabinet door to assemble the shelf boards, after the assembly of the plurality of shelf boards is completed, all the plurality of shelf boards set the row and column addresses of each column by means of row-column switches. Then the vending machine closes the cabinet door, and the overall control circuit board in the vending machine performs a polling step, traverses the sub-control board data of each shelf board, and grasps the total number of shelf boards in the cabinet, the number of columns in each shelf board, and the row-column addresses of each column. And the overall control circuit board can send the unit weight information of the corresponding commodity in each column to the sub-control board of the shelf board where the column is located. Thereby, based on the weight change data and the unit weight information in the column, the number of times of taking in and out of the commodity in the column each time can be obtained.

[0021] In the technical solution of the present invention, there is provided a control method for a vending machine applied to the above vending machine. The vending machine further includes a command screen communicatively connected to an overall control circuit board and an openable and closable cabinet door. The control method includes a commodity information acquisition step of receiving the usage information of the commodity input on the command screen and sending the usage information to the sub-control board of the shelf board where the commodity is located, and an instruction step of controlling the overall control circuit board to open the cabinet door and controlling the sub-control board to display an instruction signal on the display part of the column where the commodity is located, and a counting step of measuring the weight change of the column and judging whether the weight change of the column matches the usage information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. It is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art can obtain all other embodiments without creative labor, and all of them belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0024] (Vending Machine) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vending machine provided in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the embodiment of the present invention, a vending machine 1 including a cabinet 2, a shelf board 3, and a column 4 is provided.

[0025] The cabinet 2 is the main body structure of the vending machine 1. One or more columns 4 are formed on the shelf board 3, and different types and numbers of products may be installed in each column 4.

[0026] Referring to the vending machine 1 shown in Fig. 1, a total of five shelf boards 3 are attached to the cabinet 2, and each of the shelf boards 3 from bottom to top is provided with 4, 2, 6, 10, and 1 column 4 respectively. The shelf board 3 including one column 4 is formed as a whole as one column 4, and the size of the column 4 is large, suitable for arranging products with large length and / or width sizes, such as long shafts. The shelf board 3 including 10 columns 4 is divided into 10 columns 4 as a whole, and the size of each column 4 is small and the sizes of each column 4 are the same, suitable for arranging small parts such as screws and nuts. Accordingly, products with appropriate sizes can be arranged on the shelf boards 3 including 2, 4, and 6 columns 4 correspondingly. The sizes of the columns 4 of the shelf boards 3 including multiple columns 4 may be different from each other, which is not limited here.

[0027] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the cabinet provided in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, in the embodiment of the present invention, an openable cabinet door 20 is provided on the cabinet 2, and the inside of the cabinet 2 has a plurality of slots 21.

[0028] Specifically, in this embodiment, a plurality of mounts 22 are provided on the inner side walls of the cabinet 2. In Fig. 2, only the mounts 22 on the inner side of the cabinet 2 are shown due to the angle, but in actual application, the same number of corresponding mounts 22 are formed on the inner walls corresponding to the four sides in the height direction H of the cabinet 2. Preferably, there are 25 - 30 mounts 22 on the inner walls corresponding to the four sides along the height direction H of the cabinet 2. The heights h of the plurality of mounts 22 in the height direction H of the cabinet 2 are equal, and the height h between the mounts 22 is 4 - 6 cm, more preferably 5 cm.

[0029] Fig. 3 is a mounting structure diagram of the slot provided in the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a mounting structure diagram of the shelf board provided in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the embodiment of the present invention, the slot 21 is fixed to the inner side wall of the cabinet 2 so as to correspond to one or more mounts 22, and the shelf board 3 is engaged and fixed in the slot 21 and is engaged and fixed to the cabinet 2 through the slot 21.

[0030] Specifically, the mount 22 is formed in an inverted triangular structure along the height direction H, and two mounts 22 having the same height form a pair. The slot 21 is formed in a cube structure as a whole, and locking hook structures 211 are formed on both sides of the end face of the slot 21 that abuts against the mount 22. The locking hook structures 211 are respectively locked in two mounts 22 having the same height to fix the slot 21 in a pair of mounts 22. The top end of the slot 21 forms an end face 210 perpendicular to the height direction H. There are a plurality of mounts 22 on the inner walls corresponding to the four sides along the height direction H of the cabinet 2, and the four slots 21 are respectively placed in the mounts 22 having the same height on the inner walls corresponding to the four sides of the cabinet 2. The bottom surface of the shelf board 3 is formed in a rectangle adapted to the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the height direction H of the cabinet 2, and the four corners of the bottom surface of the shelf board 3 are respectively bridged over the end faces 210 of the four slots 21, so as to realize the engagement and fixation between the shelf board 3 and the cabinet 2 through the slot 21.

[0031] In other embodiments of the present invention, the shapes and the engagement and fitting methods of the mount 22 and the slot 21 can be adaptively adjusted. For example, the slot 21 can be adjusted to be formed as a part of the structure of the shelf board 3, etc., and is not limited here.

[0032] In this embodiment, the same or different products are arranged on each column 4 of each shelf board 3. According to the dimension along the height direction H when the products are arranged, the slot 21 corresponding to the shelf board 3 is engaged and fixed to the mounts 22 at different heights, so as to realize flexible adjustment of the height distance between the shelf boards 3.

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the shelf board 3 includes a shelf board frame 30 and a sub-control circuit board 31. The sub-control circuit board 31 is installed inside the shelf board 3, and the sub-control circuit board 31 is electrically connected or communicatively connected to the overall control circuit board of the vending machine 1. The sub-control circuit board 31 includes a weighing unit, an arranging unit, and a display unit 310. A portion of the sub-control circuit board 31 exposed from the shelf board frame 30 is formed as the display unit 310. An opening is formed in the front surface of the shelf board frame 30 so that the display unit 310 is exposed, and a film is provided on the front surface of the shelf board frame 30.

[0034] In this embodiment, the weighing unit includes a weight sensor, a weighing chip, and a calculation unit. One or a plurality of weight sensors are provided at the bottom of each column 4 to detect the weight of the corresponding column 4. The weighing chip inputs the measurement result of the weight detection to the calculation unit. The calculation unit calculates the number of products on the current column 4 in response to the inputs from the weighing chip and the overall control circuit board. For example, the initial weight when no products are placed on the current column 4 is 100 g, the unit weight of the products in the column 4 is 10 g, and when the weight sensor detects the current weight of the column 4 as 500 g, the total weight of the products in the column 4, which is 400 g, is obtained based on the difference between the current weight and the initial weight. Then, based on the ratio of the total weight of the products in the column 4 to the unit weight of the products, the number of products in the current column 4, that is, 40, can be known.

[0035] In this embodiment, the arranging unit is used to set the matrix address of the column 4 in the cabinet 2. The matrix address can be represented in the form of coordinates (x, y), where x represents the row number and y represents the column number. Preferably, the arranging unit is configured as a DIP switch.

[0036] Specifically, taking the vending machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 as an example, a total of five shelf boards 3 are attached to the cabinet 2, and each of the shelf boards 3 from the bottom to the top is provided with 4, 2, 6, 10, and 1 column 4 respectively. The matrix addresses of the four columns 4 from left to right on the bottommost shelf board 3 are (1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), and (1, 4) respectively, and the matrix addresses of the two columns 4 from left to right on the second shelf board 3 from the bottom are (2, 1) and (2, 2) respectively. In this way, the matrix address of the one column 4 on the topmost shelf board 3 is (5, 1).

[0037] Each display unit 310 corresponds to one column 4, and the display unit 310 displays the calculation result of the calculation unit and / or the matrix address. The display unit 310 may be arranged as one or a combination of a digital tube, an indicator light, and a liquid crystal screen.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the display unit provided in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, in the embodiment of the present invention, the display unit 310 includes one 3-digit digital tube 311, an indicator light 312, and a matrix indicator light 313. The digital tube 311 displays the numerical value of a number, and the numerical value may be the current inventory number, the number taken, the remaining number, etc. in the column 4. The indicator light 312 indicates whether the numerical value of the number currently displayed by the digital tube 311 is the inventory number, the number taken, or the remaining number by different lighting modes or lighting colors. For example, when the digital tube 311 displays the inventory number, the indicator light 312 emits green light, and when the digital tube 311 displays the acquired number, the indicator light 312 emits blue light, etc. The matrix indicator light 313 indicates the matrix address of the current column 4 in the entire vending machine 1.

[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the overall control circuit board in the vending machine 1 receives data from the coordination unit and transmits the unit weight information of the product corresponding to the matrix address to the calculation unit. The sub-control board 31 on the shelf board 3 can be electrically connected or communicatively connected to the overall control circuit board of the vending machine 1 by other wired and wireless methods such as interfaces and communication lines. The overall control circuit board is installed in the vending machine 1 or an external controller connected to the vending machine 1 and is used for input and output of commands or information. For example, data such as the name, unit weight of the products in each column 4 of each shelf board 3, and the initial weight of the shelf board 3 are set and displayed.

[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, after each shelf board 3 provided with the same or different numbers of columns 4 is attached to the cabinet 2, the coordination unit sets the matrix address of each column 4, and the vending machine 1 can grasp the total number of columns 4 in the cabinet 2 and the matrix address of each column 4. Then, according to the data preset in the overall control circuit board or input by the user, the name and unit weight of the products stored and sold in each column 4 are saved. The calculation unit calculates the increase or decrease in the number of products in column 4 based on the weight change in column 4 detected by the weighing unit and the unit weight of the product, so as to obtain the number of times the products in column 4 are taken in and out. The display unit 310 presents the calculation result to the user, and when the user takes the products in and out, the display unit 310 contributes to the instructions and assistance.

[0041] In the vending machine 1 provided in the embodiment of the present invention, the shelf boards 3 adapted thereto may be designed in a plurality of different specifications, and columns 4 with different numbers and different sizes are arranged on the shelf boards 3 of each specification. When the vending machine 1 is in use, according to the size and specification of the commodity to be sold, a shelf board 3 corresponding to the number and size of the columns 4 is selected, and the selected shelf board 3 is locked in the slot 21 in the cabinet 2 to realize the structural fixation of the shelf board 3. At the same time, the sub-control circuit board 31 on the shelf board 3 and the general control circuit board in the vending machine 1 are electrically connected or communicatively connected by means such as an interface and a signal line, so that the vending machine 1 can grasp the installation positions of the shelf board 3 and each column 4 on the shelf board 3 in the entire cabinet 2. Regardless of the adjustment or change of the shelf board 3 in the cabinet 2, the general control circuit board can directly control the shelf board 3 communicatively, and the raw data and detection data on the sub-control circuit board 31 can also be directly fed back to the general control circuit board.

[0042] (Control Method of Vending Machine) FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a control method of a vending machine provided in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, in the embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a control method of a vending machine applied to the vending machine 1, and the control method is executed by the sub-control circuit board 31 of the shelf board 3 in the vending machine 1, and includes a detection step S01 of respectively detecting the initial weight and the remaining weight of the corresponding column 4, and a calculation step S02 of calculating the number of commodities in the column 4 based on a preset unit weight, the initial weight, and the remaining weight of the column 4.

[0043] For example, before the user takes out the commodities in a certain column 4, the weighing unit detects the total weight of 1000 g of the column 4, and after the user takes out the commodities, the weighing unit detects the remaining weight of 500 g of the column 4, and the preset unit weight of the commodities in the column 4 is 50 g. Based on the ratio of the weight difference of 500 g between the column 4 before and after taking out and the unit weight of 50 g, it can be calculated that the user has taken out 10 commodities from the column 4.

[0044] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control method of the vending machine 1 described above further includes a display step of displaying the calculation result in the calculation step S02 on the display unit 310.

[0045] Similarly, when the initial weight of the column 4 is preset to be 200 g, if the number of products in the column 4 is 16 before the user takes out the product, the display unit 310 displays that the number of products in the current column 4 is 16. After the user takes out the product, if the number of products in the column 4 becomes 6, the display unit 310 displays that the number of products in the current column 4 is 6.

[0046] In an embodiment of the present invention, each shelf board 3 of the vending machine 1 itself can perform the operations of weighing, calculating, and displaying the results of weighing and calculation of products.

[0047] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another control method of a vending machine provided in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, in an embodiment of the present invention, there is further provided a control method of a vending machine applied to the vending machine 1. The vending machine 1 further includes a command screen (not shown) communicatively connected to a general control circuit board. The command screen may be a display control screen directly connected to the vending machine 1, or may be a communicatively connected remote control or network terminal, etc., and is not limited herein.

[0048] The control method of the vending machine 1 includes a polling step S1 of acquiring data related to the matrix address of the column 4 in a polling manner, a product information setting step S2 of setting unit weight information of products in the corresponding column 4 based on the input from the command screen and the data acquired in the polling step S1, a transmission step S3 of transmitting the unit weight information, and a cabinet door opening and closing step S4 of emitting a signal to open and close the cabinet door 20 and transmitting the cabinet door 20 opening and closing information to the sub-control board 31.

[0049] When assembling the vending machine 1, first open the cabinet door 20, attach the shelf board 3 according to the size of the product to be sold to the cabinet 2. A plurality of shelf boards 3 all set the matrix addresses of each column 4 on the shelf board 3 by means of matrix switches, and connect the sub-control circuit board 31 on the shelf board 3 to the overall control circuit board of the vending machine 1.

[0050] After the fixing and signal connection of the shelf board 3 are completed, close the cabinet door 20, execute the cabinet door opening and closing step S4, and send the opening and closing information of the cabinet door 20 to the sub-control circuit board 31. Next, the overall control circuit board in the vending machine 1 performs the polling step S1, traverses the data in the sub-control circuit board 31 of each shelf board 3, and grasps the total number of shelf boards 3 currently attached to the cabinet 2, the number of columns 4 on each shelf board 3, and the matrix addresses of each column 4. Taking the vending machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 as an example, a total of 5 shelf boards 3 are attached to the cabinet 2, and each shelf board 3 from bottom to top is provided with 4, 2, 6, 10, and 1 column 4 respectively.

[0051] After that, execute the product information setting step S2, input or extract product information through the command screen, and the overall control circuit board can grasp the product name and unit weight placed in each column 4 whose matrix addresses are respectively (1, 1), (1, 2), (1, 3), (1, 4),..., (5, 1). For example, a screw A with a unit weight of 5 g is placed in the column 4 with the matrix address (1, 2), and a nut B with a unit weight of 8 g is placed in the column 4 with the matrix address (1, 3), etc.

[0052] Next, if the transmission step S3 is executed, the overall control circuit board can send the unit weight information of the corresponding product in each column 4 to the sub-control circuit board 31 of the shelf board 3 where the column 4 is located. Thereby, the shelf board 3 can grasp the unit weight of the product in each column 4. Then, based on the weight change data and unit weight information in the column 4, the number of times of taking in and out of the product in each column 4 can be obtained.

[0053] (Method of using a vending machine) FIG. 8 is a flowchart of another control method of a vending machine provided in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, in an embodiment of the present invention, a control method of a vending machine applied to the vending machine 1 is further provided. The vending machine 1 further includes a command screen communicatively connected to a central control circuit board and an openable and closable cabinet door 20. The control method includes a product information acquisition step S5 of receiving usage information of a product input to the command screen and transmitting the usage information to a sub-control board 31 of a shelf board 3 where the product is located, and an instruction step S6 of controlling the central control circuit board to open the cabinet door 20 and controlling the sub-control board 31 of the column 4 where the product is located to display an instruction signal on a display unit 310 of the column 4, and a counting step S7 of measuring a weight change of the column 4 and determining whether the weight change of the column 4 matches the usage information, and further provides a control method of a vending machine including these steps.

[0054] When the user takes out a product from the vending machine 1, first, on the command screen, the user inputs or selects a desired product name and the number of products, for example, an indication of 5 screws A. The central control circuit board executes the product information acquisition step S5 to obtain the usage information, that is, an indication of 5 screws A, and transmit it to the sub-control board 31 of the lowermost shelf board 3, which is the shelf board 3 corresponding to the column 4 at the matrix address (1, 2).

[0055] Then, the central control circuit board controls the cabinet door 20 to open, and at the same time, controls the sub-control board 31 of the lowermost shelf board 3 to light up the display unit 310 of the column 4 where the product is located, that is, the column 4 at the matrix address (1, 2), so as to execute the instruction step S6 to instruct the user of the position of the screw A.

[0056] When the user takes out screw A which is a commodity, the counting step S7 is executed to measure the weight change of column 4 and determine whether the weight change of column 4 matches the usage information. Specifically, it is determined whether the column 4 with the changed weight is the column 4 at the matrix addresses (1, 2), that is, whether the type of the commodity taken out by the user is correct, and whether the weight change value in column 4 at the matrix addresses (1, 2) is 5 * 5 = 25 g, that is, whether the number of the commodities taken out by the user is correct.

[0057] Preferably, in the embodiment of the present invention, when there is an error in the type or number of the commodities taken out by the user, the display unit 310 can be presented by means such as the flashing of light. Or it can assist the user in counting the number taken out. For example, when the user needs 100 screws A, the shelf board 3 displays the number taken out by the user on the display unit 310 in real time based on the weight change in column 4, and when the number taken out reaches 100, it can be presented in a flashing mode of light different from the above. This improves the user experience when the user takes out commodities by the vending machine 1.

[0058] So far, the technical solution of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Without departing from the principle of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the related technical features, and all the aspects after these changes or substitutions are included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0059] 1 Vending machine 2 Cabinet 20 Cabinet door 21 Slot 210 End face 211 Locking hook structure 22 Mount 3 Shelf board 30 Shelf board frame 31 Sub-control board 310 Display unit 311 Digital tube 312 Indicator lamp 313 Matrix indicator lamp 4 Columns

Claims

1. Inside is a cabinet containing multiple slots, a shelf board on which a sub-control board is provided, the sub-control board being engaged and fixed in the slot and electrically connected or communicatively connected to the general control circuit board; and a column formed on the shelf.

2. 2. The vending machine of claim 1, wherein a side wall of the cabinet is provided with a plurality of mounts, and the slot is secured to the side wall to accommodate one or more of the mounts.

3. The vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that 25 to 30 mounts are provided, the heights of the mounts in the height direction of the cabinet are equal, and the heights are 4 to 6 cm.

4. 3. The vending machine of claim 2, wherein the mount is an inverted triangle.

5. the sub-control board includes a weighing unit, a coordination unit, and a display unit; The weighing unit includes a weight sensor, a weighing chip, and a calculation unit. the calculation unit responding to inputs from the weighing chips and the general control circuit board to calculate a number of items in a current column; The coordination unit sets row and column addresses in the cabinet of the column, The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the display unit displays the calculation result of the calculation unit and / or the matrix address.

6. 6. The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the general control circuit board receives data from the coordination unit and transmits unit weight information of the product corresponding to the row / queue address to the calculation unit.

7. 7. The vending machine according to claim 6, wherein the shelf includes a shelf frame, the shelf frame having an opening formed on a front surface thereof so that the display unit is exposed, and a film is provided on the front surface.

8. A method for controlling a vending machine, which is applied to the vending machine according to claim 6, comprising the steps of: a detection step in which the weighing unit detects the initial weight and the remaining weight of the corresponding column, respectively; and calculating the number of products in the column based on a preset unit weight and the initial and remaining weights of the column.

9. A method for controlling a vending machine, which is applied to the vending machine according to claim 6, comprising the steps of: The vending machine further includes a command screen communicatively connected to the general control circuit board and an openable / closable cabinet door; The control method includes a polling step of obtaining data related to row and column addresses of columns in a polling manner; a product information setting step of setting unit weight information of the product in the corresponding column based on the input from the command screen and the data acquired in the polling step; a transmitting step of transmitting the unit weight information; a cabinet door opening / closing step of issuing a signal to open or close the cabinet door and transmitting cabinet door opening / closing information to a sub-control board.

10. A method for controlling a vending machine, which is applied to the vending machine according to claim 6, comprising the steps of: The vending machine further includes a command screen communicatively connected to the general control circuit board and an openable / closable cabinet door; The control method includes a product information acquisition step of receiving product usage information input to the command screen and transmitting the usage information to a sub-control board of the shelf board on which the product is located; an instruction step of controlling the main control circuit board to open the cabinet door and controlling the sub-control board to display an instruction signal on the display unit of the column in which the product is located; a counting step of measuring a weight change of the column and determining whether the weight change of the column coincides with the usage information.

Images