JPH08305945A - Controller of automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make the opening limit of a storage box door distinct and to prevent vending operation from being discontinued due to the display of a permanent vending stop display unit by generating an alarm by an alarm means when the continuous opening time of the storage box door reaches a specific time at the time of article replenishment. CONSTITUTION: When the storage box door 5 is opened so as to replenish the storage box 3 with articles, a counter means 17 decreases the openable time of the storage box door 5 with the signal from a door detecting means 16. When the openable time reaches 0, namely, when time is up, the alarm means 15 displays an alarm. The operator finishes the article replenishing operation on hearing the alarm, and closes the storage box door 5. The door detecting means 16 comes into an open state by the closure of the storage box door 5 and resets the alarm display of the alarm means 15. Further, if the storage box door 5 is closed before time is up, the time counting is reset.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controller for a vending machine equipped with a cooling device for storing frozen products.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in vending machines for selling products such as ice cream and frozen foods, products are frozen and stored in a storage compartment partitioned by heat insulating walls. Then, in order to suppress the heat loss of the storage when replenishing the products as much as possible, it is required that the storage door that closes the front of the storage can be opened / closed efficiently and with good timing.

A conventional control device for this type of vending machine is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 56-1007774.

The conventional controller for a vending machine will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional vending machine, and FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a control device of the conventional vending machine.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of an automatic vending machine, and a front door 2 which can be opened and closed is provided on the front surface of the main body 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a storage, which is formed in the main body 1 by a heat insulating wall 4. The opened front surface of the storage case 3 is closed by a storage case door 5 having a heat insulating property. The storage door 5 is hinged at one end (not shown), and is rotatably supported by the hinge. A product rack 6 is installed in the storage case 3 to store products, and a delivery device (not shown) is operated by a sales signal (not shown) to deliver the products from the product rack 6. Further, a cooler 7 is arranged below the storage 3, and the cooler 7 constitutes a refrigeration cycle together with a compressor 8 and a condenser 9 arranged at the bottom of the main body 1. Reference numerals 10 and 11 are power supply lines. Reference numeral 12 is a first thermostat for detecting the air temperature of the storage case 3 in which the products are stored, and the permanent sale discontinuation indicator 13 is connected to the first thermostat 12 in series. A second thermostat 14 is connected to the compressor 8 in series and controls the operation of the compressor 8.

The operation of the control device for the vending machine configured as described above will be described below.

First, the compressor 8 is the second thermostat 1.
4, the temperature is turned on and off with a constant temperature difference, and the inside of the storage 3 is kept at a constant temperature. On the other hand, if the air temperature in the storage 3 rises above the set temperature of the first thermostat 12, that is, above -15 ° C specified by the Food Sanitation Act in the case of frozen storage, the permanent sale discontinuation indicator 13 is displayed. And stop selling. It should be noted that the cancellation of the sale is canceled by operating a reset switch (not shown).
The sale can be resumed by canceling the display of.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, once the permanent sale discontinuation indicator 13 is displayed and the sale is discontinued, the sale is resumed unless the reset switch (not shown) is operated. Since it is not possible to do so, the air temperature of the storage 3 rises to near the preset temperature of the first thermostat 12 due to product replenishment or the like, and immediately after the completion of product replenishment, the permanent sale discontinuation display 13 is displayed and sales are discontinued. There was a problem that the opportunity to sell the product was missed until the installation site complained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problems of the prior art, and it is said that the time when the display of the permanent sale discontinuation indicator 13 is displayed is close unless the storage door is closed when the air temperature of the storage rises when replenishing products. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control device for a vending machine which prevents a sales stoppage and prevents a sales opportunity from being missed by issuing a warning.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a vending machine, which displays the openable time of the storage door when replenishing products so that the replenishment work can be carried out efficiently with peace of mind. .

[0011]

A control device for a vending machine according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises a storage for storing frozen products for sale, and a storage door for closing an opening of the storage. Door detection means for detecting the open state of the storage door, counter means for measuring the time during which the door detection means detects the open state of the storage door, and continuous opening time of the storage door is predetermined. When the counter means detects that the time has been reached, the warning means is displayed by the alarm means.

Further, door detection means for detecting the open state of the storage door, internal temperature detection means for measuring the air temperature in the storage, and internal temperature detection with the door detection means in operation. And a control means for displaying a warning by the warning means when the measured temperature of the means reaches a preset temperature lower than the permanent sale stop temperature.

Further, door detection means for detecting the open state of the storage case door, internal temperature detection means for measuring the air temperature in the storage case, outside air temperature detection means for measuring the outside air temperature, and the door detection means. When the means operates, an arithmetic processing unit that compares the air temperature in the storage with the outside temperature, and a signal from the arithmetic processing unit causes the air temperature of the storage to be lower than the permanent sale suspension temperature to a preset temperature. The control means is configured to display the time until the arrival at the display means in a subtractive manner and display a warning by the warning means at the same time when the remaining time becomes zero.

[0014]

In the vending machine control device of the present invention, when replenishing products, when the continuous opening time of the storage door reaches a predetermined time, the alarm means issues a warning to clarify the open limit of the storage door. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of sales discontinuation due to the display on the permanent sales discontinuation indicator.

In addition, when replenishing the products, when the air temperature in the storage reaches a set temperature lower than the permanent sale stop temperature, a warning is issued by an alarm means to clarify the open limit of the storage door and display the permanent sale stop. It is possible to prevent the sale from being stopped due to the display on the container. in this case,
By changing the method of determining the open limit of the storage door by the continuous opening time of the storage door to the method of determining by the rise of the detection temperature inside the storage, it is possible to prevent the sale stop more accurately at the set temperature.

In addition, by displaying the remaining time when the storage door can be opened when replenishing the product, the worker can refill the product efficiently without worrying about the suspension of the permanent sale.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of a vending machine controller according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the same configurations as those of the conventional one are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the embodiment.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 15 is an alarm means provided on the storage door 5. Reference numeral 16 is a door detection means provided on the main body 1 side, and detects the open state of the storage door 5.
Reference numeral 17 is a counter means for subtracting a preset time at the same time when the door detecting means 16 operates.

It should be noted that the preset time is, for example, when the storage door 5 is opened while the outside air temperature is + 20 ° C. and the air temperature of the storage container 3 is kept in a frozen state of about −20 ° C. The storage door 5 can be opened until the temperature reaches a temperature which is lower than -15 ° C specified by the Food Sanitation Law by about 1 ° C to 2 ° C.

Reference numeral 18 is a control means for displaying a warning on the warning means 15 at the same time when the remaining time which is subtracted by the counter means 17 becomes zero. The alarm means 15 is a sound,
It shall appeal to the human visual sense such as light.

The operation of the control device for the vending machine configured as described above will be described below.

In FIG. 3, when the storage case door 5 is opened to replenish the storage case 3 (step S1), the counter means 17 determines the time when the storage case door 5 can be opened by the signal from the door detection means 16. Subtracting (step S2). Then, when the openable time becomes 0, that is, when the time is up (step S3), the warning means 15 displays a warning (step S4). The worker hears this warning, completes the product replenishing work, and closes the storage door 5 (step S
5). When the storage door 5 is closed, the door detection means 16 is opened and the warning display of the warning means 15 is canceled. When the storage door 5 is closed before the time is up (step S6), the time count is canceled.

As described above, the control device for the vending machine according to the present embodiment has the door detecting means 15 for detecting the open state of the storage door 5.
And a counter means 17 for subtracting a preset openable time of the storage door 5 at the same time when the door detecting means 15 operates, and a warning display to the alarm means 16 at the same time when the openable time becomes zero. Since it is constituted by the control means 18 for carrying out, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the sale stop due to the temperature rise of the storage door 5 to -15 ° C or more.

Next, the second control device of the vending machine according to the present invention
Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the embodiment.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 19 denotes an inside temperature detecting means for measuring the air temperature of the storage door 5. The inside temperature detecting means 19 receives a signal from the control means 18 at the same time when the temperature measured by the inside temperature detecting means 19 reaches a preset temperature at the time when the door detecting means 16 operates, and outputs an alarm means 1
A warning is displayed on 5. In addition, the preset temperature means that the air temperature of the storage door 5 is 1 ° C to 2 ° C from -15 ° C.
It is a low temperature.

The operation of the control device for the vending machine configured as described above will be described below.

In FIG. 5, when the storage door 5 is opened to replenish the storage 3 with products (step S1), the monitoring of the measurement value of the internal temperature detection means 19 is controlled by the signal from the door detection means 16. The means 18 starts (step S2). When the measured value reaches the preset temperature (step S3), the warning means 15 displays a warning by a signal from the control means 18 (step S4).

Next, when the storage door 5 is closed (step S
5) The door detection means 16 is closed and the warning display of the warning means 15 is canceled. Also, before the set temperature is reached, the storage door 5
Is closed (step S6), the detection of the temperature inside the refrigerator is canceled.

As described above, the control device for the vending machine according to the present embodiment has the door detecting means 16 for detecting the open state of the storage door 5.
And an inside temperature means 19 for measuring the air temperature of the storage door 5.
And a control means 18 for displaying a warning to the alarm means 15 at the same time when the measured temperature reaches a preset temperature lower than the permanent sale discontinuation temperature, that is, a temperature 1 ° C. to 2 ° C. lower than −15 ° C. Therefore, it is possible to accurately prevent the occurrence of the sale stop due to the temperature rise of the storage door 5 to −15 ° C. or less without being affected by the outside temperature.

Next, the third control device for the vending machine of the present invention will be described.
Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a controller for an automatic vending machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, reference numeral 20 is a display means provided on the storage door 5. Reference numeral 21 is an outside air temperature detecting means for measuring the outside air temperature. 22 is an arithmetic processing unit. The calculation processing unit 22 controls the control unit 18 based on the result of comparison between the air temperature of the storage 3 and the outside air temperature when the door detection unit 16 operates.
To communicate. Next, the control means 18 causes the display means 20 to display the time until the air temperature of the storage door 5 reaches a preset temperature. Further, the displayed time is subtracted and becomes 0, and at the same time, the alarm means 15 is caused to display a warning.

The operation of the control device for the vending machine configured as described above will be described below.

In FIG. 8, when the storage case door 5 is opened to replenish the storage case 3 with products (step S1), the arithmetic processing unit 22 receives the signal from the door detection means 16 and detects the outside temperature of the storage case 3 and the outside temperature. The temperature is compared (steps S2, S3), and the comparison result is set via the control means 18 in the form of the openable time of the storage door 5 (step S4), and the subtraction time (step S5) is displayed. It is displayed on the means 15 (step 6). When the display time that is subtracted with the increase in the air temperature of the storage door 5 reaches 0, that is, when the time is up (step S7), the alarm means 15 displays a warning by a signal from the control means 18 (step S7). S
8). Next, when the storage door 5 is closed (step S9), the door detection detection means 16 is closed, and the warning display of the alarm means 15 and the time display of the display means 20 are canceled. If the storage door 5 is closed before the time is up (step 10),
The time count is canceled.

As described above, the control device for the vending machine according to the present embodiment has the door detecting means 16 for detecting the open state of the storage door 5.
An inside temperature detecting means 19 for measuring the air temperature of the storage door 5, an outside temperature detecting means 21 for measuring the outside air temperature, and an arithmetic processing section 22 for comparing the air temperature of the storage door 5 with the outside air temperature.
And a signal from the arithmetic processing unit 22 causes the storage door 5
Means 15 for displaying the openable time until the temperature of the air reaches a preset temperature lower than the temperature at which the permanent sale is stopped.
, And the control means 18 for displaying a warning to the warning means 15 when the display time becomes 0, so that the worker can refill the product efficiently and comfortably while confirming the openable time. You can

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, the door detecting means for detecting the open state of the storage door and the counter for measuring the time during which the door detecting means detects the open state of the storage door. And a control means for displaying a warning by an alarm means when the counter means detects that the continuous opening time of the storage door has reached a preset time so as not to be permanently discontinued. As a result, it prevents the occurrence of permanent sale suspension when replenishing products,
This can reduce missed sales opportunities.

Further, door detection means for detecting the open state of the storage door, internal temperature detection means for measuring the air temperature in the storage, and internal temperature detection with the door detection means in operation. It is composed of the control means that displays a warning by the alarm means when the measured temperature of the means reaches a preset temperature lower than the permanent sale discontinuation temperature. And thus avoid missing out on sales opportunities.

Further, door detection means for detecting the open state of the storage case door, internal temperature detection means for measuring the air temperature inside the storage case, outside air temperature detection means for measuring the outside air temperature, and the door detection means. When the means operates, an arithmetic processing unit that compares the air temperature in the storage with the outside temperature, and a signal from the arithmetic processing unit causes the air temperature of the storage to be lower than the permanent sale suspension temperature to a preset temperature. Since the time until the arrival is displayed is subtracted and displayed on the display means, and the remaining time becomes zero, the control means displays the warning by the warning means, so that the operator can check the openable time and be safe. You can refill the goods efficiently with care.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a first embodiment of a control device for a vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a second embodiment of the vending machine controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the same embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a third embodiment of the control device for the vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the same embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional vending machine.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a control device of the vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Storage 5 Storage Door 15 Alarm Means 16 Door Detection Means 17 Counter Means 18 Control Means 19 Internal Temperature Detection Means 20 Display Means 21 Outside Air Temperature Detection Means 22 Arithmetic Processing Section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A storage for storing frozen products for sale, a storage door for closing an opening of the storage, a door detection means for detecting an open state of the storage door, and the door detection means for storing the storage. Counter means for measuring the time when the open state of the storage door is detected, and when the counter means detects that the time of the continuous open state of the storage door has reached a predetermined time, a warning is displayed by the alarm means. A control device for a vending machine including a control means. 2. A storage for storing frozen products for sale, a storage door for closing an opening of the storage, door detection means for detecting an open state of the storage door, and an air temperature in the storage. When the temperature detected by the inside temperature detecting means for measuring the inside temperature detecting means and the door detecting means has reached a preset temperature lower than the permanent sale stop temperature, a warning is displayed by the alarm means. A control device for a vending machine, which comprises: 3. A storage for storing frozen products for sale, a storage door for closing an opening of the storage, door detection means for detecting an open state of the storage door, and an air temperature in the storage. A temperature detecting means for measuring the inside temperature, an outside temperature detecting means for measuring the outside temperature, an arithmetic processing section for comparing the air temperature inside the storage and the outside temperature when the door detecting means operates, and this calculation The time until the air temperature of the storage reaches a preset temperature lower than the permanent sale stop temperature is subtracted and displayed on the display means by a signal from the processing unit, and at the same time the remaining time becomes 0, a warning is issued by the alarm means. A control device for a vending machine comprising a control means for displaying.