JPH01196692A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To arbitrarily change by allocation of a selecting button for a column by converting a button number to a column number based on the corresponding relation stored into a storing means to store the corresponding relation of the column number and the button number concerning all columns. CONSTITUTION:The title machine is provided with a writable storing means 10 to store the corresponding relation of a column number (n) and a button number (m) concerning all columns 6 and a converting means 12 to convert a selecting signal 5 to a special signal 7 based on the corresponding relation stored in the storing means 10. An output means 8, when the input of the special signal 7 is received, executes the conveying action of the columns 6 specified by the number (n) and the housed merchandise in the columns 6 determined by the corresponding relation stored in the storing means 10 is conveyed. Thus, the allocation of a selecting button 2 for the columns 6 can be arbitrarily changed by the storing change of the storing means 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a vending machine, and particularly to a vending machine in which the allocation of selection buttons to columns can be arbitrarily changed.

[Prior Art] A conventional vending machine has a plurality of selection buttons each having a different button number, and an input that outputs the button number of the operated selection button as a selection signal. a plurality of columns for carrying out an operation for carrying out stored products, each having a different column number; and an output means for carrying out a carrying out operation for a column specified by a column number inputted as a specific signal. Each selection signal was fixedly associated with a specific signal by wiring.

For example, in a vending machine provided with the same number of selection buttons as columns, when a product is selected by operating a selection button, the button number of the operated selection button is output as a selection signal by the input means. This button number is directly input to the output means as a column number through the wiring. For example, a selection signal for displaying button number 1 is manually input to the output means as a specific signal for displaying column number 1. The output means to which this specific signal is input causes the column with column number 1 to be carried out.

The situation is the same in conventional vending machines where there are more columns than selection buttons, and selection buttons cannot be assigned to so-called hidden columns other than columns provided in one-to-one correspondence with selection buttons. Although this can be changed, in columns other than the hidden column, each selection signal is fixedly associated with a specific signal by wiring.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional vending machine described above, the allocation of selection buttons to columns is fixed by wiring, so in order to change this, wiring must be changed. Further, depending on the correspondence, there is a problem that the wiring becomes long and the cost increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine in which the allocation of selection buttons to columns can be arbitrarily changed.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration shown in FIG. 1.

Reference numeral 2 indicates M selection buttons, and each button has 1 to
It is numbered M. The input means 4 outputs the button number m of the operated one of these selection buttons 2 as a selection signal 5. Reference numeral 6 indicates N columns for carrying out the operation of carrying out the stored products, and each column has one column.
They are numbered ~N. However, M and N may be the same number or may be different numbers. The output means 8 causes the column 6 specified by the column number n inputted as the specification signal 7 to be carried out. The specific signal 7 input to the output means 8 is determined based on the selection signal 5 by the following means.

That is, in the present invention, for all columns 6, column number n
a rewritable storage means 10 for storing the correspondence between the button number m and the button number m; and a conversion means 1 for converting the selection signal 5 into the specific signal 7 based on the correspondence stored in the storage means 10.
2.

The configuration of the vending machine according to the present invention is as described above.

[Function] In the vending machine according to the present invention, when the selection button 2 is operated, the selection signal 5 output from the input means 4 is input to the conversion means 12. This selection signal 5 displays the button number m of the selection button 2 that has been operated. The conversion means 12 that receives the input of the selection signal 5 refers to the storage means 10, detects the column number n to which the selection button 2 of the button number m displayed by the selection signal 5 is assigned, and outputs it to the output means 8. In contrast, a specific signal 7 indicating column number n is output.

When the output means 8 receives the specified signal 7, it causes the column 6 specified by the number n to carry out the unloading operation. As a result, the stored products in the column 6 determined by the correspondence stored in the storage means 10 are carried out.

Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the same number of selection buttons as columns are provided, but the number of selection buttons and the number of columns may be different.

Reference numeral 2 designates a selection button arranged below the product display shelf on the outer surface of the door. This selection button 2 has ten buttons 22 numbered 1 to 10, respectively. That is, in this example, the number M of buttons is ten. Each button 22 is provided with a light emitting diode or LED 24.

These LEDs 24 are the same as those that conventionally indicate whether the product selected by each button 22 is available for sale or sold out.

The column 6 arranged inside the vending machine has ten columns 2B numbered 1 to 10, respectively. That is, in this example, the number of columns N is 1, which is the same as the number of buttons M.
It is 0. Each column 2B stores products to be sold.

Reference numeral 30 denotes an operation box arranged on the back side of the vending machine door, which has a 7-segment LED display 32, a numeric keypad 34, a function selection key 3B, and an end key 38, as well as a price setting key 40, etc. has. The display 32 may be one that conventionally displays an amount such as a set price of a product.

Selection button 2, column 6 and operation box 30 are connected to microprocessor 44 via input/output port 42. The microprocessor 44 provides read signals to the selection buttons 2 through the input/output ports 42 and selects which buttons 22
You can tell whether the button has been pressed. At this time, the selection button 2 has an encoder (not shown), and the button number m of the selected button 22 is output as the selection signal 5.

On the other hand, the specific signal 7 indicating the column number n outputted from the microprocessor 44 is decoded by a decoder (not shown) included in the column 6. The product is then transported out by driving the product transport solenoid in the column 26 with the number n.

A rewritable memory IO is further connected to the microprocessor 44. In the memory 10, the number m of the button 22 assigned to the column n is stored in the storage location of the address n corresponding to the column number n.

Next, the operation of the vending machine having the above configuration will be explained based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 showing the operation of the microprocessor 44.

In the main routine shown in FIG. 3, in step 1, the function selection key 36 and one key of the numeric keypad 34 (
Check whether function selection 1) has been pressed continuously. When the function selection l is pressed, in step 2, a setting execution routine, which will be explained in detail later, is executed.

When the function selection 2 key or the function selection 3 key is pressed, a settings exchange routine or a settings confirmation routine is executed, respectively. In these three routines, a table indicating the correspondence between column number n and button number m in the memory IO is set, exchanged, or confirmed. If none of the above keys have been pressed, it is checked in step 7 whether or not selection button m has been pressed.

When the selection button m is pressed, the address n of the memory IO where the button number m is written is obtained in step 8, and then in step 9, the product carrying out operation of the column 44 with the same number n as this address n is performed. Execute.

If this selection button is not operated, other processes such as price setting using the price setting key 40 and numeric keypad 34 are executed in step 10.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the setting execution routine called as a subroutine in the main routine described above.

After all the LEDs 24 are turned on in step 11, the column number n is initialized to 1 in step 12.

In step 13, the column number n is displayed on the 0 display 32, and in step 14 it is checked whether the selection button 22 with number m has been pressed. When the selection button 22 is pressed, this button number m is written in the memory address n in step 15, and the button number m for the column number n is written.
Determine the allocation. After the LED 24 of the selection button m is turned off to indicate that the assignment of the button number m is complete, n is incremented in step 17 and the process proceeds to step 22.

If the selection button 22 has not been pressed in step 14, it is checked in step 18 whether function selection 0 has been pressed, and if this has been pressed, the process advances to step 19. Step 1
In steps 9 to 21, the correspondence relationship between the button number m and the column number n set immediately before is erased. For this purpose, n is decremented and the memory address n obtained by the decrement is
After reading out the button number m written in and turning on the LED 24 of the selection button m, which had been turned off, the process proceeds to step 22. If function selection 0 is not pressed in step 18, the process directly advances to step 22.

In step 22, it is checked whether the column number n is greater than the number of columns N, that is, 10. If not, the process returns to step 13 to continue the next setting. Column number n
If it becomes larger than 10, the processing of the above setting execution routine is ended and the process returns to the main routine.

Note that, as explained above, in this embodiment, the selection button 2
Since the completion of setting 2 is indicated by turning off the LED 24 provided on this button, it is possible to prevent duplicate settings due to mistake.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of the settings exchange routine.

In step 31, it is checked whether or not the selection button m1 has been pressed, and if the selection button m1 has been pressed, the process advances to step 32. Step 3
2, the memory address n where the button number m1 is written
Get 1. In step 33, this nl is displayed on the display 32 as the number of column 2B assigned to the selection button 22 with number mt. Next, another button number m2 is input, a memory address n where button number m2 is written is similarly obtained, and this n2 is displayed for confirmation. Next, in step 37, button numbers m2 and m2 are written in addresses n1 and n2, respectively. Thereby, the assignments of the two selection buttons 22 with button numbers mt and m2 can be exchanged. When the process of step 37 is completed, the process proceeds to step 38 in the same way as if the selection button was not pressed in step 31.

In step 38, it is checked whether the end key 38 has been pressed or not.
If there is no press, the process returns to step 31 to continue the setting exchange. If the end key 38 is pressed, the processing of the settings exchange routine described above is ended and the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the setting confirmation routine.

In step 41, it is checked whether or not the selection button m has been pressed;
If there is a press, the process advances to step 42. Step 4
2 and 43, obtain the memory address n where the button number m is written, and display this n on the display 32 as the number of the column 26 assigned to the selection button 22 with the number m to enable this confirmation. , proceed to step 44.

In step 44, it is checked whether or not the end key 38 has been pressed;
If there is no press, the process returns to step 41 to continue checking the settings. If the end key 38 is pressed, the processing of the setting confirmation routine described above is completed and the process returns to the main routine.

Note that if there are more columns than selection buttons, the correspondence between button numbers m and column numbers n may be stored in the memory 10 for all columns including the hidden column.

No encoder is provided on the selection button 2, and the contact open/closed states of all buttons on the selection button 2 are input/output port 4.
2 to the microprocessor 44.

The same applies to column 6.

Further, regarding the storage of the correspondence relationship between the button number m and the column number n, both the button number m and the column number n may be stored in the memory 10 in association with each other.

[Effects of the Invention] The vending machine according to the present invention includes a storage means for storing the correspondence between column numbers and button numbers for all columns;
Based on the correspondence stored in the storage means, a conversion means for converting a selection signal for displaying a button number into a specific signal for displaying a column number is provided, so selection buttons can be arbitrarily assigned to columns. Can be changed. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the wiring when changing the layout, and it is possible to select the wiring with the lowest cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the main routine showing the operation of the microprocessor in a top view, Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the settings execution routine that is called as a subroutine in the previous main routine, Figure 5 is a flowchart that shows the processing of the settings exchange routine that is called as a subroutine in the main routine of Figure 3, and Figure 6 is the flowchart that shows the processing of the settings exchange routine that is called as a subroutine in the main routine of Figure 3. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of a setting confirmation routine that is called as a subroutine in the main routine of FIG. 3. FIG. Explanation of symbols 2...Selection button, 4...Input means, 5...Selection signal, 6...Column, 7...Specific signal, Death...Output means, IO...Storage means, 12... Conversion means, m.
...button number, n...column number. Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of selection buttons each having a different button number, an input means for outputting the button number of the operated one of these selection buttons as a selection signal, and an input means for outputting the unloading operation of stored products. Multiple columns to be performed, each with a different column number,
and output means for executing a dispensing operation of a column specified by a column number inputted as a specific signal, and in which the specific signal is determined based on the selection signal, the column number and the column number for all columns are determined. A vending machine characterized by having a rewritable storage means for storing a correspondence with a button number, and a conversion means for converting a selection signal into a specific signal based on the correspondence stored in the storage means.