Control and monitoring apparatus for vending machines

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vending machine for automatically selling products upon insertion of coins and, more particularly, to a control apparatus for a vending machine for displaying different sales data of the vending machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A conventional vending machine is known where the number of products sold is stored therein and displayed thereon. The most advanced vending machines have a plurality of columns storing different products for sale. However, in a conventional vending machine, sales management data such as the number of products sold for each column cannot be stored or displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a control apparatus for a vending machine, wherein sales management data such as total sales and the number of products sold in units per column in the vending machine can be stored and displayed.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a control apparatus for a vending machine, wherein sales management data such as a sales price of products stored in each column in the vending machine can be set and checked.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a control apparatus for a vending machine, wherein a failure position in the vending machine is displayed on a display unit for displaying sales management data.

In order to achieve the above objects of the present invention, there is provided a control apparatus for a vending machine, including storage means for storing sales management data for controlling total selling in the vending machine and selling in each column, i.e., sales management data such as total sales, the number of products sold, the number of unsold products, the unit price, the sales discount, continuous selling and group selling; column selecting means for selecting the entire vending machine and each column; sales management item selecting means for selecting management items of the sales management data; a column display unit for displaying a column selected by the column selecting means; a data display unit for displaying the sales management data; and control means for reading out from the storage means data associated with an item selected by the sales management item selecting means and with the column selected by the column selecting means, thereby displaying sales conditions and selling states of the entire vending machine and each column on the column display unit and the data display unit. The control apparatus further includes input means for setting or updating the sales management data stored in the storage means, such as sales conditions. The storage means has a failure table for storing failure positions. When a failure occurs in the vending machine, a failure check mode is set by failure check selecting means. A proper failure position is read out from the failure table and is displayed on the column and data display units.

As described above, since the sales management data such as total sales and the number of products sold can be stored for the entire vending machine and each column, total sales can be easily calculated, and demand for the respective products in the corresponding columns can be more easily known. Therefore, products stored in the respective columns can be selected in accordance with the current demand. Furthermore, since the number of sold and unsold products for each column can be displayed, the delivery schedule can be made more efficient, and the number of products to be delivered can be more precisely known.

Furthermore, since the sales conditions such as a unit price, continuous selling or discount selling of the products can be set for each column, and the sales condition data can be displayed in units per column, the sales conditions can be checked in units per column. In addition, specific sales conditions such as different unit prices, products subjected to continuous selling, and products subjected to discount selling can be selected in accordance with the products and the type of sale. Therefore, a variety of sales applications can be provided in the vending machine. The display units for displaying the sales management data such as sales conditions for the respective columns only comprise a column display unit and a data display unit for displaying the sales management data. Therefore, all sales management data can be displayed in units per column. In addition to this advantage, a failure position in the vending machine can be displayed on the column display unit and the data display unit, thereby providing a low-cost control and monitoring apparatus for the vending machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control apparatus for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation panel of the control apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D are a management table, a system failure table, a CM failure table, and a BV failure table, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a main routine when the apparatus is set in the standby mode;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a column-up processing subroutine;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a column-down processing subroutine;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a sales management mode processing subroutine;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an item input mode processing subroutine;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a total sales/sales number clear processing subroutine;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing an unsold product number reset processing subroutine;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a failure check/cancel mode processing subroutine;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are respectively flow charts showing a system failure check/cancel processing subroutine;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a timer subroutine;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing a CM failure check/cancel processing subroutine; and

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a BV failure check/cancel processing subroutine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control apparatus for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit (to be referred to as a CPU hereinafter) for controlling the overall operation of the vending machine; 2, a ROM for storing a control program for controlling the vending machine; 3, a RAM for storing processed data and a vending machine management table to be described later; and 4, an input/output circuit. The input/output circuit 4 is connected to the operation panel 5 shown in FIG. 2, a coin mechanism CM for receiving inserted coins and for dispensing small change, a bill verifier BV and a product dispensing mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 5 has: a column display unit CDP for displaying column numbers of product storage columns in the vending machine; a data display unit NDP for displaying different numerical data; and column selection switches for selecting a column number displayed on the column display unit CDP. The column selection switches comprise a column-up switch S1 for incrementing the column number and a column-down switch S2 for decrementing the column number. Reference symbol DS denotes a digital switch for manually entering 4 digits from 0 to 9 so as to enter different data. A set switch SS is arranged to store 4-digit data entered by the digital switch DS in a table (to be described later) in the RAM 3. Reference symbols M1 to M3 denote mode switches. The mode switch M1 is used to set the control apparatus in the sales management mode. The mode switch M2 is used to set the apparatus in the item input mode for setting preset values of the different items. The mode switch M3 is used to set the apparatus to the failure check mode for checking a failure in the vending machine. Reference symbols L0 to L13 denote indicator lamps, respectively. The indicator lamp L0 is turned on when the sales display mode is selected in the sales management mode. The indicator lamp L1 is turned on when the sold product number display mode is selected. The indicator lamp L2 is turned on when the unsold product number display mode is set. The indicator lamps L0 to L2 are sequentially turned on to select the sales, sold product number and unsold product number display modes each time the sales management mode switch M1 is depressed. Similarly, the indicator lamps L3 to L8 are sequentially turned on to select the corresponding modes every time the item input mode switch M2 is depressed. The indicator lamp L3 indicates the unit price input mode for entering unit price data of products stored in each product storage column. The indicator lamp L4 indicates a column storage mode for setting the number of products to be stored in each product storage column. The indicator lamp L5 indicates a continuous selling mode for selling products in accordance with the number of stored products and the size of the product dispensing port upon insertion of the corresponding coins and/or bills. The indicator lamp L6 indicates group selling for grouping the columns for storing the same type of products at the same unit price so as to equally dispense the products from the respective columns. The indicator lamp L7 indicates a discount product number input mode for entering the number of products to be discounted or subjected to issuance of a discount coupon when the products are bought in a large quantity. The indicator lamp L8 indicates a discount sales input mode for entering a discount price when a customer has a win in a vending machine with a roulette wheel or when the discount product number mode is set. The indicator lamp L9 indicates a throw-in sales mode for setting a throw-in sale when the consumer has a win in the vending machine with a roulette wheel or the like. The indicator lamps L3 to L9 are sequentially selected to set the corresponding modes upon each depression of the item input mode switch M2.

The indicator lamp L10 is turned on when a system failure occurs in the vending machine. The system failures are summarized in Table 1. When a failure is detected, the indicator lamp L10 is turned on when the failure check/cancel mode switch M3 selects the failure check mode since the failure positions are stored in the system failure table. One of the failure numbers in Table 1 is displayed on the data display unit NDP.

TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Failure No. Item Contents ______________________________________ 0 CM communi- Failure in communication with cation failure coin mechanism 1 Product Failure in operation of jam carrier switch 2 Convey Column selection relays 1 to failure 1 8 are not turned on 3 Convey Group selection relay is not failure 2 turned on 4 Convey Column selection relays 1 to failure 3 8 are not turned off 5 Convey Group selection relay is not failure 4 turned off 6 System Failure in fuse in relay box failure and data in ROM 7 Flap Flap switch is kept on failure 8 Delivery Delivery switch is kept on failure 9 Shoot Shoot switch is kept on failure ______________________________________

When a failure occurs in the coin mechanism CM, the CM failure lamp L11 is turned on. When the failure check/cancel mode switch M3 selects the CM failure mode, one of failure numbers in Table 2 is displayed on the data display unit NDP.

TABLE 2 ______________________________________ Failure No. Contents ______________________________________ 1 500 coin switch is kept on 2 100 coin switch is kept on 3 50 coin switch is kept on 4 10 coin switch is kept on 5 Safety switch is kept off 6 Return switch is kept on 7 Pulse switch is kept on 8 Charge dispensing failure (jam, carrier switch failure, double failure of 10 tube) ______________________________________

Similarly, when a failure occurs in the bill verifier BV, the BV failure lamp L12 is turned on to set the BV failure mode. One of failure numbers in Table 3 is displayed on the data display unit NDP.

TABLE 3 ______________________________________ Failure No. Contents ______________________________________ 1 1000 return signal is kept high 2 1000 authentic signal is kept high 3 Internal failure of bill verifier ______________________________________

The indicator lamp L13 is turned on when a voltage at a battery is low, indicating that a replacement is needed.

Reference symbol CS denotes a clear switch for clearing the total sales and the total number of products sold when sales management is performed. When the clear switch CS is depressed, the indicator lamp L14 is turned on and the total sales, the individual sales for the respective columns, the total number of products sold, and the individual numbers of products sold for the respective columns which are stored in a management table T1 (to be described later) of the RAM 3 are cleared to zero. Reference symbol RS denotes an unsold or stocked product reset switch. When the stocked product reset switch RS is depressed, the indicator lamp L15 is turned on. The number of products (stocked in each column) which is stored in the management table T1 to be described later is stored in a stock column of the management table T1.

FIG. 3A shows a management table T1 for storing sales management data in the RAM 3. Mode addresses 0 to 9 correspond to the indicator lamps L0 to L9, respectively. The total sales of the vending machine and the individual sales in units of columns are stored at the mode address 0. Every time a product is sold in the vending machine, a current sale is added to the previous sales in one of the column addresses 1 to n which corresponds to the column storing the product sold. The mode address 1 accesses a memory area for storing the number of products sold. The total number of currently sold products for the vending machine and the individual numbers in units of columns are stored at column addresses 0 and 1 to n, respectively.

The mode address 2 accesses a memory area for storing the number of products currently stocked in each column in the vending machine. Each time a product is sold, the stock number data at the corresponding column address is decremented by one, thereby storing the current stock number. In this case, no data is stored at the column address 0, so a total number of stocked products is not stored.

The mode addresses 3 to 9 are accessed by the item input mode switch M2. The mode addresses 3 to 9 correspond to the modes indicated by the indicator lamps L3 to L9, respectively. The memory areas at the mode addresses 3 to 9 store data of the entire vending machine and data of the respective columns upon operation of the column-up and column-down switches S1 and S2 and the set switch SS.

A data access method will be described wherein data is read out from the management table T1 and the input data is written therein.

When the sales management switch M1 is depressed to set the apparatus in the sales mode, the indicator lamp L0 is turned on. At the same time, the CPU accesses the column address 0. When the column-up and column-down switches S1 and S2 are selectively operated to display a column number on the column display unit CDP, the CPU 1 accesses the column address corresponding to the displayed column number. For example, when "0" is displayed on the column display unit CDP, the CPU 1 reads out data "156780" (FIG. 3A) stored at the column address 0 and the mode address 0. The data "156780" is displayed on the data display unit NDP, displaying that the total sales of the vending machine are "M156780". When the column-up or column-down switch S1 or S2 is operated to change the display to, for example, "1" on the column display unit CDP, the individual sale of the first column is displayed as "1200", i.e., M1200 on the data display unit NDP. Thereafter, the column-up and column-down switches S1 and S2 are selectively used to select a desired column number to be displayed on the column display unit CDP, and the sales of the selected column are displayed on the data display unit NDP. Similarly, when the sales management mode switch M1 is depressed to set the apparatus in the sold product number display mode, the indicator lamp L1 is turned on. The CPU 1 accesses the mode address 1 and reads out the sold product number data corresponding to a column selected by the column-up or column-down switch S1 or S2 in accordance with the column number displayed on the column display unit CDP. As a result, the sold product number data of the selected column is displayed on the data display unit NDP. When the column number is updated to "0", the total number of products sold (i.e., 250 in the case of FIG. 3A) is displayed on the data display unit NDP. When the unsold product number display mode is set, the indicator lamp L2 is turned on. The CPU 1 reads out the unsold product number from the management table T1 in accordance with the column number displayed on the column display unit CDP. The readout data is then displayed on the data display unit NDP.

When the item input mode switch M2 is depressed and the unit price mode is set, the indicator lamp L3 is turned on. The CPU 1 reads out the current unit price from the management table in accordance with a column number which is accessed at the mode address 3 upon selective operation of the column-up or column-down switch S1 or S2 and which is displayed on the column display unit CDP. The readout unit price data is displayed on the data display unit NDP. As shown in FIG. 3, the unit price "60" for column 1 or "100" for column 2 is displayed on the data display unit NDP. Therefore, the current unit price of the products stocked in each column can be checked. In order to update the current unit price, a corresponding column number is displayed on the column display unit CDP. A new unit price is entered at the digital switch DS, and the set switch SS is depressed. The CPU 1 fetches the updated value from the digital switch DS and writes the updated value in a memory area at the column address corresponding to the column number displayed on the column display unit CDP. The updated value is also displayed on the data display unit NDP. In this manner, the unit price can be updated in units of columns. The number of unsold products in each column can be checked and updated in the same manner as described above. When an item input mode switch M2 is depressed to set the apparatus in the column replenishment number mode, the lamp L4 is turned on. When a desired column number is displayed on the column display unit CDP, the CPU 1 reads out the column replenishment number from the management table T1 in response to the displayed column number. The readout data is displayed on the data display unit NDP. The number of products to be stocked in the corresponding column is entered by the digital switch DS, the set switch SS is depressed, and the set value is stored in a memory area in the management table.

When continuous selling is preset, the item input mode switch M2 is depressed to set the apparatus in the continuous selling mode, thereby turning on the indicator lamp L5. A display content on the column display unit CDP is reset to zero and a maximum number representing the number of products subjected to continuous selling is entered by the digital switch DS. When continuous selling can be performed up to an amount of inserted coins and/or bills without limiting the number of products to be sold, "0" is entered by the digital switch DS. When the set switch SS is then depressed, the value "0" entered by the digital switch DS is stored at the mode address 5 and the column address 0 in the management table T1 of FIG. 3A. The CPU 1 checks whether or not continuous selling can be performed in units of columns upon selective operation of the column-up and column-down switches S1 and S2. More particularly, when the value 0 is entered by the digital switch DS and the set switch SS is depressed, data "0" is stored at the corresponding memory area of the management table T1. This column can be subjected to continuous selling. In this manner, the column can be selectively set in a limited or unlimited sales mode. When a given column is not subjected to continuous selling but single product selling, value "1" is entered by the digital switch DS and the set switch SS is depressed. Data of "1" is stored in the management table, and the corresponding column is subjected to only single product selling.

Group selling will be described wherein identical products having the same price are stored in a plurality of columns and are equally dispensed from these columns.

The lamp L6 is turned on to set the apparatus in the group selling mode. A group selling column is displayed on the column display unit CDP. A group number including a column having the displayed column number is entered by the digital switch DS and the set switch SS is depressed. The entered group number is stored in a memory area at the column address of the group selling mode address of the management table. A group number including the group selling columns is stored in each column subjected to group selling. In the management table in FIG. 3A, the third and fourth columns belong to the first group. The column data of "0" represents a column which is not a group selling column.

A method of setting a discount sale will be described hereinafter.

The different types of discount sales shown in Table 4 can be performed in accordance with combinations of the contents in Table 4.

TABLE 4 ______________________________________ Discount Discount sale setting product Discount number price Column Discount condition setting setting setting ______________________________________ 1. A sale with Set to 0 Set to 0 Set throw-in a throw-in is made sale column when a customer has a win 2. A discount sale Set to 10 Set discount is made when a to 90 sale column customer has a win 3. A discount Set to 1 Set to 0 Set discount coupon is issued to 9 sale column when products are purchased in a large quantity 4. A discount sale Set to 10 Set discount is made when to 90 sale column products are pur- chased in a large quantity ______________________________________

In order to set the control apparatus to sell a product with a throw-in (a specific product) when a consumer has a win in a vending machine with a roulette wheel, the indicator lamp L7 is turned on to set the discount product number mode. A value "0" is displayed on the column display unit CDP. The mode address 7 and the column address 0 of the management table are accessed, and a value "0" is entered by the digital switch DS. The set switch SS is then depressed to store the value "0" at the selected address 0. The value "0" indicates that the discount product number is zero. The indicator lamp L8 is turned on to set the apparatus in the discount sales mode. The display content on the column display unit CDP is set to zero to select the column address 0. Data of "0" is stored at the mode address 8 and the column address 0 (the discount price is zero in this case). The indicator lamp L9 is then turned on to set the apparatus in the throw-in sale mode. Data of "1" is set in a memory area of the column subjected to a throw-in sale. In the case of FIG. 3A, the sale with a throw-in is made for the products stored in column 1.

In order to make a discount sale when the consumer has a win on the roulette wheel, the discount product number is set to zero. A discount price is set at the column address 0 in the discount sale mode (the mode address 8). The throw-in sale mode is set, and data of "1" is stored at the address of the column subjected to a discount sale when the consumer has a win on the roulette wheel. Furthermore, when a discount coupon is to be issued or a discount sale is made for a consumer who buys products in a large quantity, the discount product number is stored at the mode address 7 and the column address 0. In the case of FIG. 3A, data of "5" is stored at the mode address 7 and the column address 0. The apparatus is set in the discount sale mode, and data of "0" is stored at the column address when a discount coupon is issued. However, when a discount sale is performed, an amount to be discounted, e.g., 30 of FIG. 3A is stored. Data of "1" is stored at the address of the column subjected to the discount sale. When the number of products subjected to discount sale exceeds the preset discount product number, the predetermined amount is subtracted from the total amount and change representing the discounted amount is dispensed.

FIG. 3B shows a system failure table T2 arranged in the RAM 3. When a failure occurs in communication with the coin mechanism CM, as indicated by the failure number 0, the CPU 1 stores data of "1" at the address 0 of the system failure table. When failures represented by the failure numbers 1 to 5 occur in the columns 1 to n, the corresponding column numbers are selectively stored at the addresses 1 to n. When data trouble occurs in the fuse ROM of the relay box, data of "1" is stored at the address n+1. When a failure actually occurs and the failure number data is stored in the system failure table, the indicator lamp L10 is turned on. When the mode switch M3 is depressed, the indicator lamp L10 flashes. The CPU 1 accesses the system failure table. The failure column number and the failure number are displayed on the column display unit CDP and the data display unit NDP, respectively.

It should be noted that the CPU 1 directly checks the switch states and causes the data display unit NDP to display the failure numbers 7, 8 and 9.

When a failure occurs in the coin mechanism CM or the bill verifier BV, the CPU 1 causes the indicator lamp L10 or L11 to turn on. Data of "1" is stored at addresses of the CM failure table T3 (FIG. 3C) and the BV failure table T4 (FIG. 3D) which correspond to the one of the failure numbers 1 to 8 of Table 2 and one of the failure numbers 1 to 3 of Table 3, respectively. When the mode switch M3 is depressed, the data of "1", i.e., the corresponding failure numbers stored at the above addresses are displayed on the data display unit NDP.

When the battery voltage drops, the indicator lamp L12 is turned on.

The above description is of the general operation of the control apparatus for the vending machine according to the present invention. Sales management processing, item input processing, item input/check processing and failure check/cancel processing will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the power switch of the control apparatus is turned on, the control apparatus is set in the standby mode. The CPU 1 resets a mode counter MC and a column counter CC to zero (step 101). The count of the mode counter MC corresponds to the data at the mode address of the management table T1 and one of the indicator lamps L0 to L9. The count of the mode counter MC accesses the corresponding mode address of the management table T1, and the corresponding indicator lamp is turned on. The count of the column counter CC corresponds to a column address of the management table and accesses the corresponding column address. The accessed column number is displayed on the column display unit CDP. The CPU 1 reads out the data accessed by the mode address 0 and the column address 0 of the management table T1 which respectively correspond to the count "0" of the mode counter MC and the count "0" of the column counter CC. The readout data, i.e., sales of the vending machine are displayed on the data display unit NDP. In this case, the count (i.e., 0) of the column counter CC is displayed on the column display unit CDP (step 102). The CPU 1 then checks whether or not the column-up and/or column-down switch S1 or S2 is depressed, whether the mode switch M1, M2 or M3, the clear switch CS, and the unsold product number reset switch RS are depressed, and whether or not the coin/bill insertion signal is generated from the coin mechanism CM (steps 103 to 110). When the coin/bill insertion signal is detected, sales subroutine (step 111) is started, and thereafter steps 103 to 110 are sequentially performed. However, when the CPU 1 detects that the column-up and/or column-down switch S1 or S2, one of the mode switches M1 to M3, the clear switch CS and the reset switch RS are depressed, column-up (step 112) or column-down (step 113) processing, sales management mode processing (step 114), item input mode processing (step 115), failure check/cancel mode processing (step 116), total sales/sold product number clear processing (step 117), and unsold product number reset processing (step 118) are performed, respectively. When the column-up switch S1 is depressed, column-up processing shown in FIG. 5 is performed. More particularly, the count of the column counter CC is incremented by one (step 121) (since the current count of the column counter CC is "0", the count is updated to "1"). A timer T is started (step 102). Data stored at the mode address 0 and the column address 1 which respectively correspond to the count (currently "0") of the mode counter MC and the count (currently "1") of the column counter are read out and displayed on the data display unit NDP. In the case of FIG. 3A, 1200 is displayed on the data display unit NDP. At the same time, since the count (i.e., "1") of the column counter CC is displayed on the column display unit CDP (step 123), sales of the first column are 1200 in accordance with the display contents on the column and data display units CDP and NDP. The CPU 1 then checks whether or not the column-up switch S1 is turned off (step 124). If YES in step 124, the flow returns to the main routine of FIG. 4. However, if NO in step 124, the CPU 1 waits until the timer T is stopped (step 125). When the CPU 1 determines that the timer T is stopped, the CPU 1 checks whether or not the count of the column counter CC has reached a maximum column number n (step 126). If NO in step 126, the operation of step 121 and subsequent steps is repeated. However, if YES in step 126, the column counter CC is set to zero, and the operation of step 122 and subsequent steps is performed. In this manner, when the column-up switch S1 is kept ON, the column number displayed on the column display unit CDP is sequentially incremented. The data for the column number displayed on the column display unit CDP is read out from the management table T1 and is displayed on the data display unit NDP. Therefore, the total sales of the vending machine and the individual sales of the respective columns can be easily obtained and sales management is efficiently performed.

When the column-down switch S2 is depressed, column-down processing shown in FIG. 6 is performed. This processing i