JPH0337788A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To calculate the number of commodity stocks by providing a detecting sensor which moves horizontally in the upper part of a commodity containing column, emits a sound wave and a light beam, etc., to a commodity in the column, and derives a distance to the commodity by detecting its reflected wave. CONSTITUTION:From a detecting sensor 4 which moves horizontally in the upper part of a commodity containing column 1, a sound wave, a light beam, etc., to put it concretely, an ultrasonic wave and infrared rays are outputted into each column 1, and by catching a reflected wave which is returned due to a fact that these ultrasonic wave, etc., are reflected by the uppermost commodity in the column 1, a distance between a commodity 3 and the detecting sensor 4 is derived. That is, the time required for a fact that the ultrasonic wave, etc., are outputted, reflected and detected by the detecting sensor 4 is different in accordance with a stock level in the column 1, therefore, by comparing this time with an initial value or a measured value of the previous time, the number of stocks in each column 1 can be calculated surely. In such a way, the number of stocks can be understood completely.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a cigarette vending machine and a vending machine that sells products in paper containers.

(B) Conventional technology Conventionally, in vending machines that sell cigarettes or packaged beverage products such as milk or juice in square paper containers, these square-shaped products are stored vertically in product storage columns. According to sales directives, products are sold in order starting from the lowest rank. As product sales progress and the products in the columns run out, mechanical contacts such as microswitches installed at the bottom of each product storage column are activated to turn on the sold-out lamp or Controls are in place to prohibit the sale of products in the relevant columns. For example, a typical example of product detection using a microswitch is shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 53-6697.

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention However, with the conventional method using such microswitches, etc., only information on whether a product is available or not can be obtained.
It is not possible to obtain information such as sales information or which products to replenish. Furthermore, since a microswitch must be installed in each product storage column, it is time-consuming, has disadvantages in terms of cost, and requires complicated wiring. Furthermore, since it is mechanically operated, it has drawbacks such as lack of reliability.

The present invention was created in view of the above points, and is equipped with a detection sensor that can scan and detect the product inventory level in each column using sound waves, light, etc., and enables more advanced product management based on the detected value. The purpose is to provide vending machines with

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The vending machine according to the present invention has a plurality of product storage columns storing a large number of products in a stack, and the vending machine moves horizontally above the product storage columns. , is equipped with a detection sensor that can detect the product inventory level in each column using sound waves, light, etc.

(E) Function A detection sensor that moves horizontally above the product storage column outputs sound waves, light, etc., specifically ultrasonic waves and infrared rays, into each column, and these ultrasonic waves, etc. The distance between the product and the detection sensor can be determined by capturing the reflected wave reflected back by the detection sensor. In other words, the time it takes for ultrasound etc. to be output, reflected and detected by the detection sensor will vary depending on the inventory level in the column, so this time can be set to the initial value or the previous measurement value. By comparing, you can reliably calculate the number of items in stock in each column. By being able to completely grasp the number of items in stock in this way, it becomes possible to provide users and operators with detailed information such as the number of sales, the number of replenishments, and the timing of replenishment, making it possible to perform advanced product management.

(f) Example The present invention will be explained in detail below.

FIG. 1 shows a front configuration diagram of a vending machine equipped with a detection sensor capable of detecting the number of items in stock according to the present invention.
1... indicates a plurality of product storage columns arranged horizontally in the main body 2, 3, 3... indicates each product storage column 1, 1.
These include cigarettes, beverage products made from paper cartons, etc., which are stored vertically in... After coins are inserted, these products 3 are taken out to a sales port (not shown) by operating a sales mechanism provided in each column 1 in response to a sales command generated by pressing a product selection button. 4 is the upper part of the main body 2, that is, the product storage column 3
The detection sensor 4 is supported by a rail member 5 or the like above and is moved back and forth in the horizontal direction by an appropriate sensor movement device such as a motor. It has transmitting and receiving sections that output ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, or visible light, and simultaneously receive these ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, and visible light. Therefore, the detection sensor 4
For example, when is located above product storage column 1,
As shown by the arrow in the figure, ultrasonic waves are emitted into the column 1, and ultrasonic waves reflected by the top product 3 in the column are detected. Therefore, if the round trip time t of this ultrasonic wave is determined, the distance between the product 3 and the detection sensor 4 can be determined, and the product inventory level can be determined based on changes in this distance. In order to obtain the round trip time t, it is sufficient to calculate the difference between the time T1 when the ultrasonic wave is output and the time T2 when the ultrasonic wave is reflected and reaches the detection sensor 4. This time information t is compared with data pre-stored in the control section within the vending machine, and the stock quantity of each column is calculated. Specifically, for example, the round trip time of the ultrasonic waves when the column 1 is full of products 3 is stored as reference value data in a memory section in the control section. On the other hand, at an appropriate time, the detection sensor 4 emits ultrasonic waves and receives the reflected waves,
The round-trip time t□ is determined, inputted to the control section, and compared with the reference value data 0 in the memory section to calculate the number of products in stock. In this way, the detection sensor 4
By moving and scanning the column 1 periodically or when necessary, the number of products in stock in each column 1 can be reliably grasped. By knowing the number of products in stock, it is also possible to output information such as the number of product sales and product replenishment times. In addition, in the same figure,
The products indicated by dotted lines indicate the inventory status at the time of the previous measurement, and the products indicated by the solid line indicate the inventory status at the time of the current measurement. FIG. 2 is a control block diagram that executes the movement of the detection sensor 4, its input/output control, inventory calculation, etc., and 5 indicates a control device, which is composed of, for example, a microcomputer. 6 is a memory for storing reference value data, measurement data, control programs, etc., 4 is a detection sensor, and 7 is a sensor drive device for horizontally moving the detection sensor 4. Next, the control operation will be explained based on this control block diagram and the control flowchart in FIG. 3. The control device 5 gives an opening signal a to the detection sensor opening device 7, and moves the detection sensor 4 by one column. (Process 31
). Next, a transmission signal is given to the detection sensor 4 to output ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, etc. (processing 32). Then, the detection signal C from the detection sensor 4 is received (processing 33), the detection signal C is input to the control device 5, and the control device 5 compares it with data d stored in advance in the memory 6 and calculates the result in the control device 5. Processing is performed to calculate the number of items in stock (processing 34).

This information can be displayed on a display device, stored in the memory 6, etc., so that the information can be provided (processing 35)
. Then, it is determined whether this search operation has been executed for all columns 1 (judgment 36), and if No, the process returns to process 31, moves the detection sensor 4 to the next column 1, and repeats the same process. When the processing operation is completed and the inventory count detection of all columns 1 is completed, the process ends (END). By controlling in this way, the inventory counts of each product storage column 1, 1, etc. are ensured. can be known. Once the number of stocks is known, it becomes possible to obtain various information based on this data, such as the number of sales, the number of replenishments, and the timing of replenishment. By providing this information to users and operators, more detailed and advanced information can be obtained. Product management will be possible.

The horizontal movement of the detection sensor 4 is determined by the user or operator at appropriate times, for example, in the morning and evening of - day to obtain daily data, or whenever a product is sold. You can move the column corresponding to the selected column to get information each time there is a sale, or you can move it automatically and periodically.

Desired i'1ilJ# such as accumulating sequential data, etc.
All you have to do is Further, the reference data to be compared with the data obtained by the detection sensor 4 may be provided in a program, or may be input using an input device such as a keyboard or a bar pen.

(G) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, a product storage column moves horizontally above the product storage column, emits sound waves, light, etc. toward the products in the column, and detects the reflected waves. Since we are equipped with a detection sensor that can determine the distance to the product, it is possible to calculate the number of products in stock from this distance data. In other words, it is a vending machine that is equipped with a detection sensor that has the ability to output advanced detection information that is the basis for calculating the number of products in stock.
Not only is it possible to accurately grasp the number of products in stock for each product storage column, but also the number of products sold, the number of products restocked, and the timing of replenishment, which was impossible with conventional vending machines using microswitches that only detect the presence or absence of products. Various information will be available. Therefore, with this information, it is possible to perform advanced product management such as inventory management that is more advantageous to users and operators.

In addition, since it is a non-contact sensor that uses sound waves, light, etc., its operation is highly reliable, and the number of sensors used is only one or two depending on the type of column, making it inexpensive. It has great effects, such as simplifying the wiring.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front configuration diagram of a vending machine of the present invention equipped with a detection sensor capable of detecting inventory quantity, and Fig. 2 is a control block diagram in which a microcomputer executes movement of the detection sensor, its input/output control, and inventory quantity calculation. , FIG. 3 is a control flowchart for operating the control block diagram of FIG. 2. ■...Product storage column, 2...Vending machine body, 3
...Product, 4...Detection sensor Fig.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a vending machine that has multiple product storage columns that store a large number of products, it is possible to move horizontally above the product storage columns and detect the product inventory level in each column using sound waves, light, etc. A vending machine characterized by being equipped with a detection sensor.