Automatic vending machine

Abstract

To reduce manufacturing costs.SOLUTION: A vending machine 1 includes an article selection button 16 for selecting an article and a payment processing unit 23 for executing a payment process by reading and writing information to and from a recording medium held in a predetermined communication-capable area. The vending machine has a vending machine control unit 30 that dispenses and sells an article from a column associated with the article selection button 16 when the payment processing is executed by the payment processing unit 23 after the article selection button 16 is operated. The vending machine includes a plurality of selection button units 25, each configured by a plurality of article selection buttons 16 and communicatively connected to the vending machine control unit 30, and a cancel button 17 for canceling selection of an article by the article selection buttons 16 when operated. The cancel button 17 constitutes any of the selection button units 25 and is communicatively connected to the vending machine control unit 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a vending machine, there is known one that removes a money processing device that performs deposit and withdrawal processing of inserted money, and only a settlement processing unit that performs information reading and writing with a recording medium held in a predetermined communicable area to execute settlement processing, and then delivers the product. In such a vending machine, since the return lever is also removed by removing the money processing device, a cancel button is provided to cancel the selection of a product by operating the product selection button (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above vending machine, since the cancel button is generally communicably connected to a vending machine control unit that controls the operation of the vending machine via dedicated wiring, an increase in the number of parts has led to an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0005] In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of reducing manufacturing costs.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine according to the present invention includes a product selection button for selecting a product, and a settlement processing unit that performs reading and writing of information with a recording medium held in a predetermined communicable area to execute settlement processing. After the product selection button is operated, the settlement processing unit executes settlement processing, and a vending machine control unit that dispenses and sells a product from a column associated with the product selection button. The vending machine is configured by unitizing a plurality of the product selection buttons, and includes a plurality of selection button units communicably connected to the vending machine control unit, and a cancel button that cancels the selection of a product by the product selection button when the cancel button itself is operated. The cancel button is characterized in that it constitutes an arbitrary selection button unit and is communicably connected to the vending machine control unit.

[0007] Further, in the present invention, in the above vending machine, the product selection button and the cancel button are communicably connected to the vending machine control unit in a state where numbers are assigned, and the vending machine control unit sets the one with the last assigned number as the cancel button.

[0008] Further, in the present invention, in the above vending machine, when the number of setting buttons communicably connected to the vending machine control unit itself is less than or equal to the total number of the product selection buttons, the vending machine control unit outputs an error. When the number of the setting buttons is one more than the total number, the one with the last assigned number is set as the cancel button.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, since the cancel button that cancels the selection of a product by the product selection button when the cancel button itself is operated constitutes an arbitrary selection button unit and is communicably connected to the vending machine control unit, a dedicated wiring for communicably connecting the cancel button to the vending machine control unit is not required, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0012] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. FIG. 1 is a front view, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system.

[0013] The vending machine 1 exemplified here sells beverages contained in containers such as cans and plastic bottles as products, and as a vending machine main body, it is configured to include a main body cabinet 1a and an outer door 1b.

[0014] The main body cabinet 1a is a rectangular heat-insulating housing having a front opening (not shown) on the front surface. Although not explicitly shown in the figure, a plurality of product storage compartments are defined inside the main body cabinet 1a, and a plurality of product storage racks are provided in each product storage compartment. Columns are set in these product storage racks. A column is a storage unit in which the same type of product is stored, and one or a plurality of product storage racks are provided according to the products to be sold.

[0015] The outer door 1b is swingably provided on the main body cabinet 1a in a manner of opening and closing the front opening of the main body cabinet 1a. Incidentally, an inner door (not shown) with a heat-insulating structure is provided between the main body cabinet 1a and the outer door 1b in a manner of opening and closing the front surface of the product storage compartment.

[0016] On the middle right side of the front surface of the outer door 1b, a pop-up handle 11 is provided. The pop-up handle 11 is used to lock the outer door 1b in the closed state. The vending machine 1 is locked by pushing in the pop-up handle 11 with the outer door 1b closed, and when the unlocking operation is performed, the pop-up handle 11 pops up (protrudes), enabling the opening operation of the outer door 1b.

[0017] Also, in the upper front area of the outer door 1b, an exhibition room 12 is provided. The exhibition room 12 is for displaying product samples 13 of the products sold by the vending machine 1. The product samples 13 are displayed side by side on three stages 14 arranged vertically in the exhibition room 12.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine 1 has a vending machine control unit 30, and the vending machine control unit 30 is communicably connected to the main body control unit 21, the remote control 22, the settlement processing unit 23, the display unit 24, and the selection button unit 25 respectively by an inter-unit communication system 26.

[0019] The main body control unit 21 controls the cooling and heating device 21a and the carrying-out device 21b under the control of the vending machine control unit 30. The cooling and heating device 21a is for managing the interior of the product storage to a set temperature state. The cooling and heating device 21a cools the products in the product storage with cooling set and heats the products in the product storage with heating set.

[0020] The carrying-out device 21b is provided for each column in the product storage rack. When a carrying-out command is given from the vending machine control unit 30, the carrying-out device 21b carries out the product at the most downstream position of the corresponding column. The product carried out from such a carrying-out device 21b can be taken out through a product outlet 15 provided at the lower front of the outer door 1b.

[0021] The remote controller 22 is for performing various setting operations and confirmation operations of various sales data. In addition to operation keys such as a write key and an end key, it is equipped with a liquid crystal display on which various setting data and confirmation data are displayed. The input data input from the remote controller 22 is transmitted to the vending machine control unit 30. And the remote controller 22 receives the confirmation data transmitted from this vending machine control unit 30.

[0022] Also, the remote controller 22 is for setting the vending machine 1 as a "normal machine" or a "cashless machine". Here, the "normal machine" is a vending machine in which a product can be purchased not only by the settlement process in the settlement processing unit 23 but also by the deposit and withdrawal process by a currency processing device (not shown) composed of a conventionally known coin mech (coin processing device) and a bill validator (bill processing device), and the "cashless machine" is a vending machine in which a product can be purchased only by the settlement process of the settlement processing unit 23.

[0023] The settlement processing unit 23 has a settlement terminal 23a. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the settlement terminal 23a is provided below the display room 12 on the front surface of the outer door 1b. The settlement terminal 23a reads and writes information (electronic money) with a recording medium such as an electronic money card held in a predetermined communicable area. The settlement processing unit 23 performs settlement processing with electronic money with the recording medium through the settlement terminal 23a. Incidentally, the settlement terminal 23a has a function of identifying the validity and type of the recording medium. The display unit 24 displays various information such as during sales and during preparation.

[0024] The selection button unit 25 is configured by unitizing a plurality of product selection buttons 16. The product selection button 16 is a product selection means for selecting a product, and is provided corresponding to the product sample 13. Incidentally, the product selection button 16 has a light source (not shown) composed of an LED or the like built therein. The light source is constantly lit, blinks, or turns off according to a command given from the vending machine control unit 30.

[0025] Each of these product selection buttons 16 is associated with a column. In the example of FIG. 1, the total number of product selection buttons 16 is N (N = 30). Therefore, numbers from 1 to N are assigned to the product selection buttons 16 provided on the front surface of the outer door 1b. That is, numbers from 1 to N are assigned to the product selection buttons 16.

[0026] Reference numeral 17 in FIG. 1 is a cancel button. The cancel button 17 is a cancel operation unit that sends a cancel signal to the vending machine control unit 30 when pressed. This cancel button 17 is provided on a blind plate 18 attached in such a manner that the coin insertion slot, bill insertion slot, and return lever for the currency processing device are removed and exposed on the front surface of the outer door 1b. Incidentally, a conventionally known coin return port is also covered by the blind plate 18.

[0027] The cancel button 17 also incorporates a light source (not shown) constituted by an LED or the like. The light source lights up or goes out according to a command given from the vending machine control unit 30. When such a cancel button 17 is communicably connected to the vending machine control unit 30, the light source is always lit, allowing recognition that the cancel button 17 is enabled, and the vending machine 1 is used as the above-mentioned cashless machine. Incidentally, when the cancel button 17 is not communicably connected to the vending machine control unit 30, the light source goes out and the cancel button 17 is disabled.

[0028] By the way, such a cancel button 17 is not communicably connected to the vending machine control unit 30 by a dedicated wiring, but constitutes an arbitrary selection button unit 25 and is communicably connected to the vending machine control unit 30 via the selection button unit 25.

[0029] The vending machine control unit 30 comprehensively controls the operations of each part of the vending machine 1 according to the programs and data stored in the storage unit 31, and includes a sales control processing unit 30a and a setting control processing unit 30b. The sales control processing unit 30a controls the sales processing of products. The setting control processing unit 30b performs the setting control processing that is carried out when the power of the vending machine 1 is turned on.

[0030] Note that the vending machine control unit 30 may be realized by, for example, causing a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program, that is, by software, or by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or by using a combination of software and hardware.

[0031] The vending machine 1 having the above configuration performs the following setting control processing when the power is turned on.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the setting control processing performed by the vending machine control unit 30 shown in FIG. 2.

[0033] As shown in this FIG. 3, the setting control processing unit 30b of the vending machine control unit 30 determines whether it is set to the cashless machine through the remote control 22 (step S101).

[0034] If it is not set to the cashless machine (step S101: No), that is, if it is set to the normal machine, the setting control processing unit 30b returns the procedure without performing the processing described later and ends the current processing.

[0035] According to this, the administrator of the vending machine 1 or the like can be made to recognize that the vending machine 1 is not properly installed as a cashless machine.

[0036] If it is set in the cashless machine in step S101 (step S101: Yes), the setting control processing unit 30b determines whether the number of set buttons, that is, the number of product selection buttons 16 communicably connected to itself via the selection button unit 25, is larger than the total number (N) of product selection buttons 16 actually provided on the outer door 1b.

[0037] If the number of set buttons is less than or equal to the total number (step S102: No), the setting control processing unit 30b performs an error output for causing an error display on, for example, the display unit 24 (step S103), and then returns the procedure to end the current process.

[0038] On the other hand, if the number of set buttons exceeds the total number (step S102: Yes), the setting control processing unit 30b determines whether the number of set buttons is one more than the total number (the number of set buttons = N + 1) (step S104).

[0039] If the number of set buttons is two or more more than the total number (step S104: Yes), the setting control processing unit 30b performs the process of step S103, and then returns the procedure to end the current process.

[0040] If the number of set buttons is one more than the total number (step S104: Yes), the setting control processing unit 30b sets the one assigned to the (N + 1)-th (the 31st in the example of FIG. 1) as the cancel button 17 (step S105), and then returns the procedure to end the current process.

[0041] According to this, the vending machine 1 can be appropriately operated as a cashless machine as described below.

[0042] When a product selection button 16 is operated (pressed) in a predetermined sales standby state, the sales control processing unit 30a of the vending machine control unit 30 blinks and lights the light source of the product selection button 16 and outputs a settlement instruction to the settlement processing unit 23.

[0043] Thereafter, the sales control processing unit 30a determines whether the cancel button 17 has been operated or whether there is a payment process before a preset predetermined time (for example, about 30 seconds) elapses.

[0044] If a payment process is performed by the payment processing unit 23 before the predetermined time elapses, the sales control processing unit 30a causes the carry-out device 21b of the column associated with the operated product selection button 16 to perform a carry-out operation. As a result, the product carried out by the carry-out device 21b can be taken out through the product outlet 15. Then, the sales control processing unit 30a turns off the light source of the product selection button 16, and the vending machine 1 enters a sales standby state.

[0045] Further, if the cancel button 17 is not operated and no payment process is performed by the payment processing unit 23 and the predetermined time elapses, the sales control processing unit 30a turns off the light source of the product selection button 16, and the vending machine 1 enters a sales standby state.

[0046] On the other hand, if the cancel button 17 is operated before the predetermined time elapses, the sales control processing unit 30a outputs a cancel instruction to the payment processing unit 23, and turns off the light source of the product selection button 16 on the condition that there is a response to the cancel instruction from the payment processing unit 23, and the vending machine 1 enters a sales standby state.

[0047] As described above, according to the vending machine 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, the cancel button 17 which cancels the selection of a product by the product selection button 16 by being operated itself constitutes an arbitrary selection button unit 25 and is communicably connected to the vending machine control unit 30. Therefore, a dedicated wiring for communicably connecting the cancel button 17 to the vending machine control unit 30 is not required, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts.

[0048] Moreover, since the cancel button 17 is communicably connected to the vending machine control unit 30 via an arbitrary selection button unit 25, it does not change the wiring structure between the main body cabinet 1a where the vending machine control unit 30 is disposed and the outer door 1b where the cancel button 17 is disposed. Therefore, it can also be applied to the existing vending machines 1 installed in the market, and has excellent versatility.

[0049] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0050] In the above-described embodiments, the product selection button 16 and the cancel button 17 have a push-button structure. However, in the present invention, the product selection button and the cancel button may be displayed on a touch panel type display means without having a push-button structure.

[0051] Each configuration illustrated in the above-described embodiments is schematic in function, and it is not necessarily physically configured as illustrated. That is, the form of dispersion and integration of each device and component is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically dispersed and integrated in an arbitrary unit according to various usage situations and the like.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0052] 1... Vending machine, 1a... Main body cabinet, 1b... Outer door, 12... Display room, 13... Product sample, 14... Stage, 15... Product outlet, 16... Product selection button, 17... Cancel button, 21... Main body control unit, 21a... Heating and cooling device, 21b... Carry-out device, 22... Remote control, 23... Settlement processing unit, 23a... Settlement terminal, 24... Display unit, 25... Selection button unit, 26... Inter-unit communication system, 30... Vending machine control unit, 30a... Sales control processing unit, 30b... Setting control processing unit, 31... Storage unit.

Claims

1. a product selection button for selecting a product, and a settlement processing unit that performs information reading and writing with a recording medium held in a predetermined communicable area and executes settlement processing comprising: an automatic vending machine having a vending machine control unit that, after the product selection button is operated, executes settlement processing by the settlement processing unit, and dispenses and sells the product from a column associated with the product selection button, a plurality of selection button units configured by unitizing a plurality of the product selection buttons and communicably connected to the vending machine control unit, a cancel button that cancels the selection of a product by the product selection button when the cancel button itself is operated comprising: The cancel button is characterized in that it constitutes an arbitrary selection button unit and is communicably connected to the vending machine control unit.

2. The product selection button and the cancel button are communicably connected to the vending machine control unit with numbers assigned thereto, The vending machine control unit is characterized in that the one with the last number assigned is set as the cancel button according to Claim 1.

3. The vending machine control unit outputs an error when the number of setting buttons communicably connected to itself is less than or equal to the total number of the product selection buttons, while when the number of the setting buttons is one more than the total number, the one with the last number assigned is set as the cancel button according to Claim 2.

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