JPH0329016A - Key input device for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a key input device having plural input methods without increasing the scale of the input device by using properly two types of elastic pressure plates for selection of an optional key input method. CONSTITUTION:When a cover 10 is put on the main body of a case 2, an elastic pressure plate 7A is set above another elastic pressure plate 7. Under such conditions, a key display part 8A is pressed (F2) and the corresponding contact 13 touches the plate 7. Thus the contact 13 is turned on. The quite different modes are applied between a case where the contact 13 is operated with push of a key display part 8 of a key array part 6 and a case where the contact 13 is operated with push of the part 8A of a key array part 6A. The former input mode is defined as a standard input mode with the latter input mode defined as a simple input mode respectively. In such a constitution, a key input method is easily selected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (b) Industrial application fields The present invention relates to a key input device for a vending machine.

(B) Conventional technology In order to operate and manage a vending machine, it is necessary to set various data such as the price of the products to be sold and the number of supplies, and also to set the sales aggregated data held by the vending machine. It is necessary to confirm various data such as the number of stored products.This kind of work is generally performed by specifying a predetermined mode on the vending machine by key input, but automatic As the functions of vending machines become more versatile and sophisticated, the number of modes has also increased, and the key input method has become more complex.As a result, only those who are familiar with vending machines are able to input data these days. The reality is that it is not possible to set or confirm settings.Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-216096, the setting modes of vending machines are divided into the first and second mode groups, and the first mode Different numbers are assigned to the setting modes belonging to a group, and the setting mode is specified by key input of that number, and each time the # mode key is operated for a setting mode belonging to the second mode group, the mode is changed. By configuring the configuration to specify the setting mode by advancing the steps, it is possible to handle increasingly complex vending machine settings while also making it easier for people with less product knowledge to easily operate the vending machine on a daily basis. (c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The above-mentioned prior art does not allow for specifying some modes using simplified key operations. However, even with this method, the keys that would be pressed by someone who is familiar with vending machines and the keys that would be pressed by someone with less knowledge of vending machines are arranged together on the key operation surface, which can lead to confusion. Therefore, the present invention is configured such that when the key display section arranged on the elastic pressing plate is pressed, the key contact is turned on and key input can be performed. There are two types of boards: one with a key display array that can be operated by experts, and one with a key display array that can be operated by people with little knowledge, and by using these differently, it is possible to select input methods. To provide a key input device for a vending machine that allows selection.

(2) Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, a key input device for a vending machine according to the present invention includes a substrate having a plurality of key contacts on its surface;
A first device having a plurality of key display portions on its surface, each corresponding to a predetermined key contact point when stacked on the surface of the substrate;
an elastic pressing plate; a second elastic pressing plate having on its surface a plurality of key display portions respectively corresponding to predetermined key contact points when stacked on the surface of the substrate; and the F-th elastic pressing plate or the second elastic pressing plate; mode detecting means for detecting which operation of the elastic press plate is the input mode; and when detecting that the key contact is turned on, predetermined key input data indicating the type of the key contact and the type of the input mode at that time. and processing means for outputting the information to a control unit of the vending machine.

(The operator of the 0-action key input device presses the key display section with the elastic press plate corresponding to the desired input mode placed on the board. Then, when this turns on the key contact,
The processing means outputs key input data indicating the type of key contact that has been turned on and the type of input mode at that time to the control unit of the vending machine. The control unit of the vending machine analyzes this key input data and determines the input content. (F) Embodiment FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a key input device according to the present invention. First, the key input device 1 includes a case 2. A board 4 on which a large number of key contacts 13 are arranged is built into the case 2, and a display 5 and a key arrangement section 6 are provided on the surface of the case 2. It is provided. The key arrangement section 6 is made up of a plurality of key display sections 8 arranged on the surface of an elastic press plate 7, and each key display section 8 is made to correspond to a key contact point 13, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3a. is configured to be parallel to the elastic pressing plate 7 with a predetermined gap 9 in between. This gap 9 corresponds to the pressing force (F.) L of the key display section 8. The dimensions are such that the corresponding key contact 3 can be turned on by contact with the elastic press plate 7 when the key contact 3 is pressed. Further, the case 2 has a cover 10 that is slidable with respect to the main body of the case 2, and the cover 10 has a plurality of key display portions 8A arranged on the surface of the elastic pressing plate 7A to display certain keys. An array section 6A is provided. The key arrangement section 6A is configured such that all the key display sections 8A correspond to the key contacts 13 when the cover 10 overlaps the main body of the case 2 in the state shown in FIG. When the cover 10 is stacked on the main body of the case 2, the elastic pressing plate 7A is positioned above the elastic pressing plate 7, and when the key display section 8A is pressed (F, >) in this state, the corresponding contact point 3 is turned on by contact with the elastic pressing plate 7. When operating the key contacts 13 by pressing the key display section 8 of the key arrangement section 6, and when operating the key display section 8A of the key arrangement section 6A, This is a completely different input mode from the case where the key contacts 13 are operated by pressing, the former being a standard input mode and the latter being a simple input mode. The key display section 8 includes a key display section 8 indicating various modes that can be operated by a person who is using the key display section 8, and a key display section 8 indicating each numerical value from O to 9.The functions of the various modes indicated by the key display section 8 are as follows. It is.

Sales amount A mode to check various sales amounts such as sales amount for two periods and sales amount by column.

Number of sales: Mode to check the number of sales corresponding to the sales amount data. Number of supplies: A mode to check the number of supplies and remaining capacity for each column, and to set the number of full capacity.

Failure: Mode for checking failure status and history. Test: Test sales mode. Price: Mode for setting and checking the product's selling price. Selection: Setting/confirmation mode for various functions such as group settings, alternate sales settings, roulette winning probability settings, etc. Timer 2 Setting times such as power saving time and sales time?・Confirmation mode.

In addition to the above-mentioned modes, the key layout section 6 also includes a key display section 8 that displays the following various commands used during key input.
including. Settings/Sequential forwarding: Writing of setting data, sequential forwarding of columns, groups, etc. End: End of key input.

Clear: Erase various data or set to initial state. =: Move the cursor. The key array section 6A also includes a key display section 8A that displays the following various modes and commands that are easy to operate for people with little knowledge of vending machines.

Column confirmation: A mode in which you press the product selection switch on a vending machine to confirm the corresponding column number. Column setting: A mode in which the vending machine's product selection switches are set to correspond to each column. At this time or by pressing the △ key display ■8A, the column number is shifted.

Continuous sales test: A mode in which test sales of products are performed sequentially from multiple columns specified by operating the product selection switch in advance. At this time, the test sale is started by pressing the ``Start.'' key display section 8A, and the test sale is stopped by pressing the ``Stop'' key display section 8A. If you press "Start" again after stopping, the test sale will start from the continuation or the specified column. Clear supply number: Clear the supply number for each column. When inputting data using the keyboard layout section 6A, the sales amount and number of sales modes are specified on the key display section 8 of the keyboard layout section 6, and the end command is also operated using the same key contacts 3 in both the keyboard layout sections 6 and 6A. It will be done. The display 5 includes an item display section 5A that displays the item number as a two-digit number, a club column display section 5B that displays the column number or group number as a two-digit number, and a six-digit number that displays the data. It consists of a data display section 5C that is displayed on the screen. For example, in the standard input mode using the key arrangement section 6, if you press the key display section 8 for "Number of sales per year", as shown in FIG. '' is displayed, and the data display section 5C displays '1234' of the sales data stored in the vending machine.
, is displayed. "1 clear in this state" key display section 8
If you press , the memory of the sales number data will be cleared and the display on the data display section 5C will change to "0" as shown in Figure 4b. When the "Sales Number" key display section is pressed, the display on the item display section 5A is brushed, indicating that the item number can be changed. Therefore, if you press the key display part 8 of 12'' after pressing the number j of sales per 1, as shown in FIG. At the same time, the group column display section 5B displays "r1, which indicates the sales number of the ItNQ1 column", and the data display section 5C switches to "2," representing the number of sales for the ItNQ1 column. '365' is displayed as the sales number data in the column. If you press the "=" key display g, 8, the display on the group/column display section 5B will begin to brush, indicating that the column height can be changed. If you press the "r4" key display section 8, "4" representing the sales number of the NQ4 column is displayed on the group column display section 5B, as shown in FIG. 4d, and the data is displayed. In section 5C, "278" of the sales data in the &4 column stored in the vending machine is displayed.
At each stage of such display, by pressing the 'end' key display part 8, all the displays on the display 5 disappear and the machine returns to the standby state. FIG. 5 shows the circuit configuration in blocks, and the key contacts 13 are connected to six drive lines 15 connected to the decoder 21 and four sense lines 1 connected to the processing means 20.
It is arranged on the X and Y coordinates of 6. The decoder 2l is connected to a processing means 20 through three signal lines 17, and drives a predetermined drive line 15 based on 3-bit data indicated by the processing means 20. When the processing means 20 outputs 3-bit data to the decoder 21, it scans the sense line 16 and selects which key contacts 13 arranged on the driven drive line 15.
It detects whether the CPU is on or not.
Consists of. Further, a switch 22 is connected to the processing means 20 as a mode detection means for detecting whether the operation mode is the standard input mode or the simple input mode. This switch 22 connects the cover 10 to the case 2.
It turns on when you push it in. When the processing means 20 detects that the key contact 13 is turned on, the processing means 20 outputs key input data indicating the key contact and the type of input mode at that time to the control section 23 of the vending machine. The display device 5 is driven based on the sent display data. Figure 6 shows the format of key input data,
Each bit of the 3-byte data corresponds to each of the 22 key contacts 13 and switches 22, and when the processing means 20 detects that any key contact is turned on, it sets the corresponding bit to "1". And in the 24th bit,
Key input data set to "1" (simple input mode) or "O" (standard input mode) according to the input mode at that time is output to the control unit 23 of the vending machine.

The control unit 23 of the vending machine includes a CPU 24 and a RAM 2.
5, from the ROM 26 and the interface 27,
The interface 27 connects the processing means 20 by means of a transmission line 28.
is connected to. FIG. 7 shows the storage areas of the ROM 26, including an area 26a for the vending machine control program, an area 26b for a conversion table for converting key input data into numerical data, and an area 26c for programming jump destination addresses. , an area 26d where operations in standard input mode are programmed, an area 26e where operations in simple input mode are programmed, an area 26f' where processing SUUG I is programmed, and an area 26f' where processing NASI is programmed. area 26g. The control program for the vending machine also includes a program for the CPU 24 to control the key input device 1. and R.A.
The M25 stores data on various sales amounts and sales numbers, setting data such as selling prices, and data on the number of supplies and remaining quantities for each column, and the mode for checking these data is specified by the key input device 1. Then, the CPU 24 reads out the corresponding data and transmits it to the key input device e1. Control unit 23 of a vending machine equipped with such a key input device 1
The operation will be explained based on the flowchart in Figure 8. When the CPU 24 receives key input data from the processing means 20 through the interface 27 in step S1, it proceeds to the next step S2.

In this step S2, the CPU 24 converts the key input data into a conversion table (
Convert to numerical data according to Figure 11). The specific method of conversion will be explained with reference to the broach in Fig. 9. First, in step S100, the CPU 24 is internally equipped? 0.22 in registers R2, R3, R4
．． Set 8 each. In the next step S101, the CPU 24 sets the first byte of the key person data in the register ACC, and then in the next step S102.
Then, determine whether the O-th bit data of register ACC is "1".The key input device is in standard input mode and r6
'' is pressed, the 0th bit data is ``1'', but if r■, is not pressed, the 0th bit data is ``0'' and the process goes to step S103. In this step S103, the CPU 24 subtracts 1 from the contents of the register R3 and proceeds to the next step S104.
Proceed to step 3, where it is determined whether the value of register R3 is 0. If the value of register R3 is not 0, the CPU 24 proceeds to step S105 and sets the contents of register R2 to 1.
Furthermore, in step 8106, 1 is subtracted from the value of register R4, and in the next step S107, it is determined whether the value of register R4 is O. If the value of register R4 is not 0, the CPU 24 uses register ACC.
After shifting the data of 1 bit to the right, step S10
Return to 2. As a result, the CPU 24 next determines whether the first bit of the first byte of key input data is "1". When the key display part 8 of "1" is pressed in the standard input mode, or the key display part 8 of 1 stop J in the simple input mode, the key input device is activated.
When A is pressed, the first bit of the first byte of data is set to "1". Therefore, when a1'' is set in the bit of the CPU 24, the process advances to step S111, sets 1 stored in register R2 as the numerical data of this key input data, and exits from the process of step S2. However, 1 bit If the data in the first byte of the key input data is "0", the process proceeds to step 8103 and repeats the above process.If all the 8-bit data in the first byte of the key input data is "O", then the contents of register R4 are "0". It becomes CP
The process of U24 proceeds to step S109. In this step S109, the CPU 24 sets the second byte of the key input data in the register ACC, and then returns to step S102. At this time, the value of register R2 is 7, and the value of register R3 is 15. The CPU 24 then performs the above processing on each bit of the second byte of the key input data. When key display section 8A of "Column setting." is pressed in simple input mode, register R
The value of 2 is 12, and the CPU 24 executes step S1.
At 11, the key input data at this time is converted to 12, and the process of step S2 is exited. However, if all the bits of the second byte of the key data are "O" as in the first byte, the CPU 24 performs step S1.
At step S09, the third byte of the key input data is set in the register ACC, and the processing from step S102 is repeated. In this case, the data of the 5th bit of the 3rd byte (
If the data from the 1st byte to the 21st bit in total is all 0, then when the value of register R3 is subtracted in step S103, the value becomes 0, so the CPU
24 proceeds from step S104 to step S110.

In this step S110, it, the CPU 24 registers R.
FF is set to 2, and then, in step S111, this FF is set to numerical data, and the process of step S2 is exited. Incidentally, the reason why the CPU 24 sets FF as numerical data is because it has determined that none of the key contacts 13 has been operated. However, for example, when the key display section 8 of "Test" is pressed in the standard input mode of the key input device, or when the key display section 8A of "1 continuous test" is pressed in the simple input mode, the third byte is The third bit of data is '1'', and the CPU 24 sets the value 18 in register R2 at this time to numeric data and exits from the process of step S2. When exiting from the process of step S2, the process proceeds to step S3. , the CPU 24 determines whether the converted numerical data is FF, and if it is FF, the key input data is invalid and the process returns to step S1.If the key input data is valid, the process goes to step S4, and the CPU 24 determines whether the key input data is FF or not. The data in the 7th bit of the 3rd byte of input data is “1” or “O”
”, it is determined which input mode is in use at this time.Then, this 7th bit data is
”, it is the standard input mode, and the processing of the CPU 24 proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the CPU 24 subtracts 10 from the numerical data, and in the next step S6, determines whether a carry has occurred as a result of this subtraction. As is clear from the conversion table in FIG. Personal data is converted into numeric data from 0 to 9, but when 10 is subtracted from these numeric data, a carry occurs in any numeric data. Therefore, when it is determined that the numeric key display section 8 has been pressed due to the occurrence of a carry, the process of the CPU 24 proceeds to step S7. In this step S7, the CPU 24 sets the jump data stored in the register R1 to 0, and then proceeds to step S10.

Further, when the non-numeric key display section 8 is pressed in the standard input mode, the key input data at this time is numeric data of 10 or more, so even if 10 is subtracted, no carry occurs. In this case, the CPU 24 proceeds to step S8, sets the value obtained by subtracting 10 from the numerical data in the register R1 as digital data, and then steps S8.
Proceed to 1o.

On the other hand, if it is determined in the process of step S4 that the mode is the simple input mode, the process of the CPU 24 proceeds to step S9. In this step S9, the CPU 24 sets the value obtained by adding 13 to the numerical data as the digital data in the register R1.
, and then proceeds to step S10. In step SIO, the CPU 24 reads the jump destination address from the jump table (FIG. 12) programmed in the ROM 26 based on the JMP data, and in the next step SIO, the jump destination address is programmed in the ROM 26. Execute processing.

In the process of step S11, if the jump data is 0 and SUUGI is specified as the jump destination address,
The CPU 24 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. Geneb data is O when the numeric key display section 8 is pressed in the standard input mode, but if the normal operating procedure is followed at this time, the vending machine will display the sales amount, number of sales, It is in one of the following modes: Failure, Test, Supply Quantity, Price, Selection, and Timer. Therefore, step S20
0, the CPU 24 determines whether the mode has already been specified, and if the mode has not been specified, the process proceeds to step S20.
2, the CPU 24 causes the processing means 2 to generate an error sound.
Controls 0. This is a case where the numerical key display section 8 is directly pressed without pressing the key display section 8 indicating each of the modes described above, and the CPU 24 performs error processing and executes the process of step Sll. Get out.

According to the normal operating procedure, after the key display section 8 indicating the mode is pressed, the key display section 8 indicating the number
When pressed, the process of the CPU 24 goes to step S20.
Go to 1. In this step S201, the CPU 24 jumps to any address from A to L where the processing of the mode specified at this time is programmed.
Also, step Sl when the jump data is other than 0.
In the process 1, the CPU 24 jumps to any address from A to W corresponding to the jump data and executes the process programmed there. These programs are set according to various modes such as sales amount and various commands such as clear. In the simple input mode, there is no corresponding key display part 8A and the key contact 1 is not used.
3, but when the key contact 13 like this 1 is operated by mistake, the jump data is 13, 16, 17.1B,
It is either 19, 22, 26, 28, 29, or 31.
In this case, the jump destination address is programmed with a processing NASI that does not exit step Sll.

The key input device 1 according to the present invention described above has a key contact 13
There are two types of elastic press plates with key display sections arranged to correspond to the above, and two types of input are possible by using the elastic press plates differently. In this embodiment, one of the elastic pressing plates is fixed to the case 2, and the other is attached to the cover 10, which is configured to slide with respect to the case 2, so that both are used properly. As shown in FIG. 13, the cover 10 may be pivoted at one end so that it can rotate relative to the case 2. In this case, the case 2 is provided with a switch 31 that is activated by the protrusion 30 provided on the cover 10 when the cover 10 is closed on the case 2.
The processing means 20 identifies the standard input mode or the simple input mode depending on whether this switch 31 is turned on or off. Furthermore, both of the two types of elastic pressing plates are made removable from the case 2, and the operator sets a predetermined elastic pressing plate in the case 2 according to his/her preferred input method, and selects the selected elastic pressing plate. The configuration may be such that the type is specified by a changeover switch.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, an arbitrary input method can be selected by using two different types of elastic pressing plates, thereby providing a key input device that is equipped with a plurality of input methods without increasing the size of the device. is provided. Since dedicated key display sections are arranged on each elastic press plate according to the input method, operations can be performed easily and reliably.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are diagrams showing two operating modes of the key input device according to the present invention, FIGS. 3a and 3b are side sectional views of main parts for each operating mode, and FIG. 4 5 is a block diagram of the circuit configuration, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the format of key input data, FIG. 7 is a diagram explaining the storage area of the ROM, and FIG. Figures 10 to 10 are a brooch explaining the operation of the control unit of the vending machine during key input, Figure 11 is a diagram showing a conversion table for converting key data into numerical data, and Figure 12 is a diagram showing a conversion table for converting key data into numerical data. 13 is a diagram showing a jump table storing jump data and corresponding jump destination addresses, and FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the key input device. 4...Substrate, 7,7A...Elastic pressing plate, 8
...Key display section, 13...Key contact, 20
...A method, 22.31...Mode detection means. Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A substrate having a plurality of key contacts on its surface, and a first elastic pressing plate having on its surface a plurality of key display portions each corresponding to a predetermined key contact when stacked on the surface of the substrate; a second elastic pressing plate having on its surface a plurality of key display portions each corresponding to a predetermined key contact point when stacked on the surface of the substrate; and either the first elastic pressing plate or the second elastic pressing plate. a mode detecting means for detecting whether the input mode is an input mode by operation; and a mode detecting means for detecting whether the key contact is turned on, controlling the vending machine by transmitting predetermined key input data indicating the type of the key contact and the type of the input mode at that time. A key input device for a vending machine, which comprises a processing means for outputting an output to a section.