JPS58181188A - Controller for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Jin's invention relates to a control device for a vending machine that limits the maximum amount of coins that can be inserted by denomination.

A vending machine that has multiple storage devices and stores coins for change or refunds in the storage device sorts input coins into various denominations and guides them to each storage device, and when the storage device is full, , and any further coins inserted are directed to a separately provided cash box. In such a vending machine, when a large amount of coins of a certain denomination are inserted at once, the storage device corresponding to the coins of that denomination becomes full, and some of the coins inserted are led to the cash box. . If a refund is requested in this state, there may be cases where there are no coins of the amount equivalent to the inserted coins in the storage device, making it impossible to refund the inserted coin amount and causing unexpected damage to the vending machine user. will be given. In this case, it is possible to pay out the insufficient amount in coins of another denomination, but in the case of a refund operation, it is preferable to refund the coins of the same denomination as the input coins in order to prevent the vending machine from operating as a money exchange machine. Because of this requirement, the above control cannot be said to be preferable. Furthermore, even if change is requested after purchasing a small-value item in the above-mentioned state, a situation may occur in which there are no coins equivalent to the change in the storage device, and in this case, the same inconvenience as described above occurs.

Also, a large amount of change coins (for example, 10 yen) were thrown in,
If a refund is requested after some of the coins have been led to the cash box, the coins that were led to the cash box will also be paid out from the storage device, and as a result, all the change coins in the storage device will be greatly reduced. This will result in a decrease. As is well known, it is essential for vending machines to have coins for change in order to avoid missing out on sales opportunities, and it is not a good idea to drastically reduce the amount of coins available for change as described above.

Another way to solve the above problem is to increase the capacity of the storage device sufficiently, but there is generally a limit to the space in which the storage device can be installed, so it is not possible to use a storage device with a sufficiently large capacity. .

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned points, and if a certain denomination of coins is inserted over a predetermined amount in one sale, it will refuse to accept all subsequent coins, eliminating the above-mentioned inconvenience. An object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a vending machine that does the following.

According to the present invention, there is provided a counter that counts the amount of coins inserted by denomination, and an upper limit detection circuit that receives the counting output of the counter and generates a detection output when at least one of the counters exceeds a preset upper limit value. , and a coin acceptance refusal device which is activated by the detection output of the upper limit detection circuit and refuses to accept all coins inserted, so as not to cause any disadvantageous damage to the vending machine user and to avoid any inconvenient situation for the vending machine. This prevents the occurrence of

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Note that this embodiment shows a vending machine that uses coins of 10 yen, 50 yen, and 100 yen.

The friend coins inserted into the coin slot (not shown) are detected by a coin detector (not shown) as genuine coins and counterfeit coins, as well as 10 yen coins and 10 yen coins.
50 yen and 100 yen coins are detected by type.

Coin detectors include, for example, a mechanical type that detects coins based on their shape, weight, etc., or an electric type that detects based on their magnetism, physical properties, etc.; however, in this specification, Not detailed.

When the insertion of a 10 yen specie coin is detected by the coin detector 2, one lθ yen detection pulse PIO is applied to the terminal T1, and when the insertion of a 50 yen specie coin is detected, one lθ yen detection pulse PIO is applied to the terminal T1. ) A yen detection pulse PlO is applied to the terminal T2, and when the insertion of a 100 yen specie coin is detected, one 100 yen detection pulse P1 is applied.
00 is applied to terminal T3.

Pulse signals corresponding to the number of 10 yen, 50 yen, and 100 yen coins (regular coins) applied to the terminals T1, T2, and T3 are applied to AND circuits 1.2.3, respectively.

A signal on line 4 indicating prohibition of coin insertion (described in detail later) is applied to the other input terminals of AND circuit 1.2.3 via inverter 5, and the vending machine is currently in vending operation. If not, the signal on line 4 will be O'' (this will be explained later), so AND circuit 1.2.31
is in the open state, and the pulse signals applied to the terminals T's, T's, and 'I's are applied to the 10 yen coin counter 6.50, respectively.
Yen coin counter 7. Add to 100 yen coin counter 8.

Counter for 10 yen coins 6. Counter for 50 yen coins 7.1
The 00 yen coin counter 8 receives a 10 yen detection pulse P, a 0150 yen detection pulse P, from terminals T1, T2, and T3. ,
Count the 10,000 yen detection pulse oo, and based on this count the number or amount of coins inserted: 10 yen, (capital) yen, 100 yen.
Count by yen denomination.

For example, there are three 10 yen coins, one 50 yen coin, and 100 yen coins.
When two yen coins are inserted, the 10 yen coin counter 6 counts 30, the 50 yen coin counter 7Fi50, and the 100 yen coin counter 8 counts 200.

Furthermore, the 10 yen detection pulse Pi (+) from the terminal Tl via the AND circuit 1 and the terminal T via the AND circuit 2.

The 50 yen detection pulse Ps0 from is added to the 10 yen storage amount counter 9 and the 50 yen storage amount counter 10, respectively.

10 yen storage amount counter 9 and yen storage counter 10
is 10, whereas the counter 6.7.8 counts the amount of coins inserted and sets the count to 0 every time a sales operation is completed.
Continuously add the number of yen and 50 yen coins inserted, continuously subtract the number of dispensed coins, and input based on the number of 10 yen and (capital) yen held at the beginning of use of the vending machine. The difference between the number of coins and the number of coins paid out is accumulated and counted.

10 yen storage counter 9 and yen storage counter 1
0 is empty for 10 yen change and yen coins (10
It is used to detect when the number of yen and 50 yen coins held is less than the sufficient number to pay out change (this is called empty).

The count values of the storage amount counter 9 and the storage amount counter 10 are added to an empty detection circuit 11.

On the other hand, the main tube for 10 yen coins (not shown) is provided with an empty detection device 13 that directly detects the number of remaining coins.

Here, the reason for providing the empty detection device 13 that directly detects the remaining coins in the main tube for 10 yen coins is that if the power of the vending machine is cut off due to a power outage, for example, the counter 9
．． 10 is cleared to 0, and when the power is turned on again, it becomes impossible to accurately detect the empty change coin, so this is to prevent this.

For example, the empty detection device 13 has a coil wound around a predetermined position on the main tube and detects the empty state from a change in the inductance of the coil, or a limit switch is arranged at a predetermined position on the main tube to detect the empty state. It consists of a device that detects empty state from the on/off state of a switch, etc., and applies a signal "1" to the AND circuit 14 when the number of coins held in the main tube becomes less than the minimum number required for dispensing change.

The counter 6.7 is connected to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 14.
．． All count values of 8 are O! A signal from the comparator circuit 15 which outputs all "1" is added.

Therefore, only when the counts of the counters 6.7.8 are all 0, the AND circuit 14 is opened and the signal "1" is applied to the empty detection circuit 11.

The empty detection circuit 11 includes the 10 yen coin storage amount counter 9, the 50 yen coin storage amount counter 10, and the AND circuit 1.
Empty change coins are detected based on the signal from the empty detection device 13 applied via 4.

That is, when the number of 10 yen and 50 yen coins held based on the count value of the counter 9.10 becomes less than the sufficient number for dispensing change, and the signal from the empty detection device 13 via the AND circuit 14 is 1''. If so, it outputs a signal "1" and adds this to the empty processing device 12.

When the signal “1” is applied to the entity processing device 12,
In addition to displaying a prohibition on future use of the vending machine, it also takes measures such as refusing to insert coins.

In addition, here, the empty detection circuit outputs the signal "1" only when the count values of counter 6.7.8 are all 0, that is, when the vending machine is in the standby state, and when the vending machine is in operation. The reason why the signal "1" is not outputted is to eliminate the inconvenience that the empty processing unit fl12 operates while the vending machine is operating, for example, while dispensing change and the change is not completely dispensed.

Additionally, when the count values of the counters 6, 7, and 8 are all 0, the coins are refused to be accepted while the product selection button (not shown) is pressed.

When the product selection button is pressed, a product selection signal PU is applied to the AND circuit 17 via the terminal T6 and the line 16 L2.

The signal from the comparison circuit 15 is applied to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 17.

Therefore, when the product selection button is pressed when the count values of the counters 6, 7, and 8 are all 0, the output of the AND circuit 17 is "
1'', and this signal ``l'l-OR circuit 18 is applied to the coin acceptance rejection device 19 via the line 4.

The coin acceptance refusal device 19 refuses to accept coins when a signal "1" is applied. For example, a pin protrudes from the coin slot to prevent coins from being inserted, or even if a coin is inserted, the inserted coin is not a coin. It is configured so that it is not detected by the detector and is returned directly to the return slot.

As described above, when the count value of the counter 6.7.8 is 10'', coins cannot be accepted with the product selection button depressed.

By the way, the coins inserted through the coin slot are sorted into various denominations and stored in separate coin tubes (not shown).
It is used for refunds or change disbursements (described later), but there is a certain limit to the capacity of the coin tube (the number of coins that can be stored), and if this limit is exceeded, a separate cash box (not shown) is required. It is designed to be guided by.

Therefore, if a large number of coins of only one type are inserted in - sales, the coins that exceed the capacity of the coin tube will be led to the cash box, and in this state, a refund or a large amount of change will be requested. This results in a significant decrease in the number of change coins and, in some cases, a situation where the requested amount cannot be paid out.

Therefore, each coin (10 yen, 50 yen, 1
00 yen), the maximum value of the maximum input amount is limited.

That is, the outputs of counters 6, 7, and 8, which count the amount of coins inserted by denomination, are added to the upper limit detection circuit side, and
．． 7. When at least one of the count values of 8 is equal to or greater than the set maximum value, the signal "1" is sent to the line 21 OR circuit 18,
In addition to the coin receiving and holding device 19 via the line 4, the coin receiving and holding device 19 is operated, and even if a coin is further inserted,
This is unacceptable.

The outputs of the counters 6.7.8, which separately count the input amounts of 10 yen coins, 50 yen coins, and 100 yen coins, are applied to the comparison circuit 22.

On the other hand, the selling price of the product is set by a selling price setting circuit n, serially processed by a serial register 24, and then added to a comparison circuit 22. Note that the sales price setting circuit n sets a signal (binary number) corresponding to the sales price by turning on multiple switches, for example, and in a vending machine that sells multiple types of products, the above The sales price setting circuit sets a plurality of sales prices corresponding to each product, and is configured to output only the sales price of the product selected by pressing a product selection button (not shown). I won't go into details.

The comparison circuit 22 compares the count value RmRB of the counter 6.7.8.
, RC, the total input amount K (=RA+RB+R(
) and the sales set price R8P from the serialization register 24 are compared.

As a result of this comparison, when the total input amount is equal to the sales set price RAP (K=Rsp), the signal ° "1" is set on line 2.
5, and this signal is applied to an AND circuit 27 via an OR circuit 26.

Also, if the total input amount K is greater than the sales set price R8P, 'f! (K>Rsp) outputs the signal °'1'' to line 4 and adds this signal to the AND circuit 29.The other input terminal of the AND circuit 29 is connected to the empty detection circuit 1.
1 is inverted, and the AND circuit 29 is opened when the output of the empty detection circuit 11 is "0", that is, when enough coins are held to pay out change, and the AND circuit 29 is opened when the output of the empty detection circuit 11 is "0". The signal is applied to an AND circuit 27 via an OR circuit 26, similar to the signal on line 5.

A signal obtained by inverting the signal on line 30 (which becomes l"l" when the vending machine is in vending operation and will be described in detail later) is applied to the other input terminal of AND circuit 27.

Therefore, if the vending machine is not in the vending operation, the AND circuit 27 is opened and sends the signal "1" as the vending signal ve to the vendor section (not shown) via the terminal T<ffi.

The vendor section starts controlling the sending out of sales products based on the sales signal ve, and at the same time applies a sales start signal Se to the terminal T6.

Note that the configuration of the vendor section is not directly related to the present invention and will not be described in detail here.

Sales start signal Se (signal “1”) applied to terminal T,
is added to the timer 32 via the OR circuit 31.

The timer 32 has a predetermined delay time to, and when a signal "1" is applied, the output changes from OI+ to 1" after time io has elapsed.
It is configured to stand up.

The output of this timer 32 is added to the AND circuit.

Since the sales start signal Se from the terminal T5 is applied to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 33, if the sales start signal Se applied to the terminal T5 is maintained for a delay time of 10 or more of the timer 32, the AND circuit The condition is met, and the signal "1" is applied to the sales start signal holding flip-flop 34 to set it, and at the same time, the signal "'1" is applied to the delay flip-flop 36 via the t-OR circuit 35 and set. The set output "1" is again applied to the timer 32 via the OR circuit 31, causing the timer 32 to operate.

The outputs of the sales start signal holding flip-flop M, the delay flip-flop 36 and the timer 32 are applied to an AND circuit 37.

Therefore, the AND circuit 37 is a flip-flop 34.36
When the output of and the delay operation of the timer 32 are completed, that is, when the sales start signal Se is confirmed, the AND condition is established and the signal "'1" is applied to the AND circuit 38.

The other input terminal of the AND circuit 38 receives a product selection signal PU (signal "1") indicating suppression of the product selection button at the terminal Ts?
It has been added via.

Therefore, the AND circuit 38 is opened when the sales start signal Se is confirmed, and the signal "'1" is sent to the product selection memory 3.
Add to 9.

The product selection memory 39 receives a signal indicating the product for sale from the serialization register 24 and stores which product has been selected (the signal path is not shown).

By the way, the flip-flop 3 for holding the sales start signal
4 is set, that is, even after a predetermined time (time required for sending out the product) has elapsed for confirming the sales start signal Se, the product selection memory 39 stores a signal "1" indicating that the desired product has been selected. If not, this means that one of them has failed. Therefore, at this time, the operation of the vending machine is stopped.

This operation is expressed as follows. The set output 11'' of the flip-flop 34 for holding the sales start signal is applied to a timer 40. The timer 40 has a similar structure to the timer 32, and has a delay time of 11 (sufficient to complete the normal delivery operation of the product). When the signal "1" is applied, the signal rises to "1n" after time t1 has elapsed.

The output of this timer 40 is applied to an AND circuit 41.

A signal obtained by inverting the output of the product selection memory 39 is applied to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 41.

Therefore, after the delay operation of the timer 40 is completed, the product selection memory 3
If the signal ``1'' is not stored in 9, the AND condition of the AND circuit 41 is satisfied, and the signal ``1'' is added to the stop circuit 42.
The operation of the vending machine is stopped and a signal "'1" is applied to the coin acceptance refusal device 19 via the OR circuit 18 to reject the acceptance of coins.

In this way, the flip-flop 34 for holding the sales start signal is set, and the signal "1" indicating that the product has been selected is stored in the product selection memory 39 by the time the timer 40 ends.
If it is not memorized, the vending machine will stop operating, but
When the vending machine operates normally, a signal "1" indicating product selection is stored in the product selection memory 39 before the timer 40 ends, and a product delivery signal go(
A signal "1") is applied to the AND circuit 43 via terminal 1-7.

The sales start signal Se from the terminal T5 and the output signal of the sales start flip-flop 34 are applied to other input terminals of the AND circuit 43 via an OR circuit 44.

Therefore, the AND circuit 43 sends the sales start signal Se to the terminal T.
is applied or the flip-flop 34 for holding the sales start signal is set, the product sending signal So
When is applied, it is released and the signal "'1" is applied to the product sending signal holding flip-flop 45, which is then set.

The output of the product sending signal holding flip-flop 45, the output of the AND circuit 37, and the output of the product selection memory 39 are applied to an AND circuit 46.

The AND circuit 46 operates when the flip-flop 45 for holding the product sending signal is set and the output of the AND circuit 37 is 1" and 1" is stored in the product selection memory 39, that is, when a proper coin is inserted, the sales operation is performed. is started, the selection of the product is performed reliably, and the delivery of the product is completed, the AND condition is satisfied and the signal ``'1'' is output.

When the output of the AND circuit 46 becomes ``1'', this signal ``1''
is added to sales storage flip-flop 47 to set it.

Further, this output signal ""1" is applied to the collection command circuit 48 to start the collection operation, and is also applied to the AND circuit 50 and the AND circuit 51 via the line 49. Specifically, the collection operation is performed by subtracting the price of the sold product set by the selling price setting circuit O from the count value of the counter 6.7.
7.8 is calculated by subtracting the price of the product for sale, but this operation will not be described in detail.

On the other hand, when a settlement button (not shown) is pressed to request all change without making any further purchases, a settlement signal MN is applied to the settlement signal holding flip 70 tab 52 via the terminal T@. Serratos.

The output of the 7-lip flop 52 for holding the settlement signal is applied to other input terminals of the AND circuit 50 and the AND circuit 51.

Therefore, if the p-settlement signal holding flip-flop 52 is set by suppressing the settlement button, the AND circuit 50
The AND condition is satisfied, and the change dispensing command circuit 54 is sent via the signal ""i"t OR circuit 53, and a change dispensing operation is commanded. The change dispensing operation is performed by rotating a coin dispensing morph (not shown). This is done so that the counts of the counters 6, 7, and 8 all become 0, but will not be described in detail here.

Further, if the settlement button is not pressed and the flip-flop 52 for holding the settlement signal is not set, the AND condition of the AND circuit 51 is established, and the signal 11'' is sent to the OR circuit 51.
In addition to the reset terminals of the product selection memory 39, the flip-flop 45 for holding the product sending signal, the flip-flop 34 for holding the sales start signal, and the 7-delay flip-flop 36 through Prepare for sales operations.

By the way, the flip-flop 34 for holding the sales start signal,
Even though the delay flip-flop 36 is set, the product delivery signal SO is not applied to the terminal T7 until the delay operation of the timer 40 ends, and the product delivery signal holding flip-flop 45 is not set. This means that the product was not sent out, so if the payment button is pressed, a refund or change will be made, and if the payment button is not pressed, the product selection memory 39, flip 70, knob 45.52. 36.34 must be reset and prepared for the next sales operation. This case will be explained. First, it is assumed that the settlement button is pressed and the settlement signal holding flip-flop 52 is set.

The output of the settlement signal holding flip 70 tab 52, the output of the timer, the output of the AND circuit 37, and the output of the product selection memory 39 are added to the AND circuit 56.

In the AND circuit 56, the sales start signal holding flip-flop 34 and the delay flip 70 knob 36 are set, the AND condition of the AND circuit 37 is satisfied, '1' is stored in the product selection memory 39, and the timer 40 is set. When the delay operation is completed, the AND condition is established and a signal "1" is applied to the AND circuit 58 and the AND circuit 59 via the OR circuit 57.

The AND circuit 59 includes the sales memory flip-flop 4.
7 is added to the AND circuit 58, and the output of the sales storage flip-flop 49 is inverted and added to the AND circuit 58.

By the way, the sales memory flip-flop 47 is set when a sales operation is performed even once, and is reset when the payment button is pressed and the payment operation (change payout, refund) is completely completed. If no sales operation has been performed at all, the 7 lip-flop 47 for storing sales is not set, the AND condition of the AND circuit 58 is satisfied, and the signal 11'' is applied to the refund command circuit 60.
A refund operation is started to return the full amount of the inserted coins.

The refund operation is performed in the same manner as the change payout operation. However, the difference from the change payout operation is that the entire amount invested is paid out as is, but this refund operation will not be described in detail.

(9) Assuming that the sales operation is performed at least once and the sales storage flip-flop 47 is set, the AND condition of the AND circuit 59 is satisfied.

Therefore, a signal "1" is applied to the change dispensing command circuit 54 via the OR circuit 53 to start dispensing change.

Next, it is assumed that the settlement button is not pressed and the settlement signal holding flip-flop 52 is not set.

The output of the flip-flop 52 for holding the settlement signal and the terminal T,
The signal from is applied to the NOR circuit 61.

The NOR circuit 61 is a flip-flop 52 for holding the settlement signal.
is not set, and the signal from terminal Ts is “θ”.
'' (when the sales start signal Se is not applied), the signal ``1'' is added to the AND circuit 62.

The output of the timer 40, the output of the AND circuit 37, and the output of the product selection memory 39 are added to other input terminals of the AND circuit 62.

Therefore, the sales start signal is confirmed and the product selection memory 39
Although the signal "'1" was stored in the timer 40
By the end of the delay time, the AND condition of the AND circuit 46 is not satisfied because the product sending signal is not applied, and when the memory 39 is not reset, the AND condition of the AND circuit 62 is satisfied, and the signal "'1" is sent to the OR circuit. Memory 39 via 55
, in addition to the reset terminals of flip-flops 45.52.36.34, to reset them and prepare for the next vending operation.

In addition, if the sales conditions are not satisfied, the sales start signal S is sent from the terminal Ts.
If e is not added, when the payment button is pressed, a refund will be made if no sales have been made, and change will be paid if sales have been made.

The signal from the terminal T5 and the output of the sales start signal holding flip-flop 34 are applied to the NOR circuit 63.

The NOR circuit 63 outputs a signal "1" when the signal from the terminal T is ``θ'' and the flip-flop 34 for holding the sales start signal is not set, and outputs a signal "1", which is output to the AND circuit 6.
Add to 4.

The output of the delay flip-flop 36, the output of the timer 40, and a signal obtained by inverting the output of the product delivery signal holding flip-flop 45 are applied to other input terminals of the AND circuit 64.

On the other hand, when the settlement button is pressed and the settlement signal holding flip-flop 54 is set, this set output is applied to the delay flip-flop 36 via the OR circuit 35, setting this flip-flop 36, and then this The set output is applied to the timer 32 via the OR circuit 31 to operate the timer 32.

Therefore, if the payment button is pressed and the operation of the timer 32 ends, and the 7-lip-flop 45 for product sending signal is not set, the AND condition of the AND circuit 64 is satisfied, and the signal "1" is sent to the AND circuit 57 via the OR circuit 57. It is added to circuit 58 and AND circuit 59. As mentioned above, the AND circuits 58 and 59 are supplied with the output of the sales storage flip-flop 47 and the inverted signal, so if the sales storage flip-flop 47 is not set, the AND condition of the AND circuit 58 is applied. is established, the signal @1'' is applied to the refund command circuit 60, and if the flip 70 knob 47 is set, the AND condition of the AND circuit 59 is established, and the signal @1'' is applied to the change command circuit 54 via the OR circuit 53. In addition, a refund or change payment operation is performed.

By the way, if coins are inserted into the vending machine during the vending operation, this will cause the counted values of the 10 yen coin counter 6, the 50 yen coin counter 7, and the 100 yen coin counter 8 to fluctuate, making it difficult to make accurate sales. become unable to function.

For this reason, during the sales operation, the coin acceptance refusal device 19 is operated to refuse acceptance of coins.

The signal applied to the terminal Ts (sales start signal Se), the output of the flip-flop 34 for holding the sales start signal, the output of the flip-flop 45 for holding the product delivery signal, and the output of the flip-flop 52 for holding the payment signal are an OR circuit. Added to 65.

Therefore, when at least one of the above signals is 1'', that is, whether the sales start signal is applied to the terminal T, whether the sales start signal holding slip 70 tab 34 is set, or whether the product delivery signal holding flip-flop 45
is set or the flip-flop 52 for holding the settlement signal is set, the output of the OR circuit 65 and the signal on the line 30 becomes 1", and this signal "'1'"
is connected to the coin receiving and holding device 1 via the OR circuit 18 and line 4.
9 and operates the coin acceptance holding device 19 to refuse acceptance of the coin.

Also, a collection command circuit 48, a refund command circuit 60. A signal from the change payout command circuit 54 is applied to an OR circuit 66.

Therefore, the output of the OR circuit 66 is output when at least - of the signals from the collection command circuit 48, the refund command circuit 60, and the change payout command circuit 54 is "1", that is, during the collection operation or the refund operation. Alternatively, during the change dispensing operation, the signal becomes ``1'', and this signal ``1'' is applied to the coin acceptance holding device 19 via the OR circuit 18 and line 4, and the coin acceptance holding device 19 is operated to reject the acceptance of coins. Stop.

In this way, when the vending machine is in operation, the coin receiving and holding device 19
will be activated and all coins will be refused.

It should be noted that even in the middle of continuous sales, products are sent out, the collection operation is completed, the product selection memory 39 and flip-flops 45, 52, 36, 34 are reset, and preparations are made for the next sale. For example, the signal on line 4 becomes O'', allowing coins to be accepted, and the output of the upper limit detection circuit 20 activates the coin receiving and holding device 19, so that even if the coin is in the coin acceptance and holding state, the product cannot be sold. When the selling price is subtracted and the detection condition of the upper limit detection circuit 20 is no longer satisfied,
The operation of the coin acceptance carrier is deactivated and coins can be accepted.

As explained above, according to the present invention, if a predetermined amount or more of coins of any denomination are inserted, all subsequent inserted coins will be rejected, thereby causing unexpected damage to the user due to the insertion of more coins than necessary. Damage can be prevented, and an abnormal decrease in change coins can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figure is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a vending machine control device of the present invention. 6...Counter for 10 yen coins, 7...Counter for 50 yen coins, 8...Counter for 100 yen coins, 19...
Coin acceptance and holding device, 22...Comparison circuit,...Sales price setting circuit procedure amendment 1. Display of the case 1982 Patent Application No. 182436 2 Name of the invention Vending machine control device 3 Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant Nippon Coinco Co., Ltd. 4, Agent (104) Chuo, Tokyo 2-11-2-5, Ginza-ku, Subject of amendment 6, Contents of amendment (1) The description from page 1, line 14 to page 3, line 15 of the specification of the present application is corrected as follows. ``This invention relates to a control device for a vending machine that limits the maximum amount of input coins for each denomination in one vending operation.Generally, a vending machine sorts input coins according to denomination. , the selected coins are guided to coin storage devices (hereinafter simply referred to as storage devices) provided for each denomination for refunding or dispensing change. These include cylindrical coin tubes that accumulate coins in a stacked manner in the direction of the coins, oblate prismatic coin tubes that accumulate coins in the diametrical direction, and Honno 4 type coin tubes. Due to its shape, the number of coins that can be stored is limited, and coins inserted in excess of this limit are stored in a cash box separate from the above storage device (refunds or change cannot be issued from the cash box (2)). ). In such a configuration, when a large number of coins of a certain denomination are continuously inserted, the storage device corresponding to the coins may reach its maximum storage number M, and when this maximum Any further coins inserted beyond the stored number M will be led to the cache & box. In this state, coins of a certain denomination that can be used for refunds or dispensing change correspond to this denomination. The maximum number of coins that can be stored in the storage device M is the maximum number of coins that can be stored in the storage device.If the number of consecutively inserted coins of a certain denomination exceeds M (p) M), the refund will be made after these P coins are inserted. Suppose that (P
-M) coins cannot be refunded. In addition, in this case, it may be possible to replace the amount equivalent to the non-refundable (P-M) coins with coins of other denominations and refund them. Nonrefundability is not desirable when there are not enough coins in the storage device corresponding to the denomination to be substituted. Furthermore, even if the number of coins of a certain denomination (3) that are continuously inserted is M or less (Q<M), the coins of a certain denomination when these Q coins are inserted correspond to this certain denomination. If the number of coins stored in the storage device is large and the number Q of coins that are continuously inserted is large, the number of coins stored in the storage device will be significantly reduced due to subsequent refund requests. Become. This means a significant decrease in the number of change coins. As is well known, it is important for vending machines to have a supply of change coins in order to avoid missing out on sales opportunities, and it is not desirable to drastically reduce the number of change coins as described above. The above-mentioned situation also occurs when a user inserts a large amount of coins of a certain denomination, purchases a small item, and then is asked to pay change. In order to cope with this, it is possible to solve the above problem by increasing the capacity I of the storage device sufficiently, but there is generally a limit to the installation space of the storage device, and it is difficult to It is practically not possible to use large storage devices. ” (2) Same, page 4, line 13, “It is an indication.” (4
), then insert ``A coin tube is used as a trench storage device.'' (3) Correct "coin detector 2" in the second line of page 5 to "coin detector". (4) Same, rT3 added on page 5, line 7.”
be added to r Ts.” (5) The description from page 8, line 20 to page 9, line 5 is corrected as follows. [That is, the empty detection circuit 11 has a storage device that stores the signal "'1" when it is output from the AND circuit 14, and based on the counted values of the counters 9 and 10 (the number of 10 yen and 50 yen held is changed) If the number of coins is sufficient to pay out (for example, nine 10 yen coins or a combination of four 10 yen coins and one 50 yen coin) or more, the output signal EP is unconditionally set to "0", but the above number of coins is not met. If not, the output signal EP will be set to uOH regardless of the count values of counters 9 and 10. ) Output signal EP
Set to t-“1”. ” (6) Same, 9th-(--) @ Lines 7 to 9, “There is a prohibition.” V is corrected to “Indicates a prohibition, etc.” (7) Same, page 11, lines 1 to 2, “Various types of gold”
is corrected to "by denomination". (8) Similarly, on page 12, lines 4 to 6, ``There is no support device 19.'' is corrected as follows. "In addition to the rejection device 19, the coin acceptance rejection device 19 is activated, and even if a coin is inserted, the coin is automatically returned by the coin acceptance rejection device 19 and the coin is not accepted." (9) Same as above. , page 22, line 5, “Blip-flop 4
9" is corrected to "Flip-flop 47." (11, No. 25-''2-ji, 2nd line, ``Block f54''
is corrected to "flop 52". αno Same, all "refusal" written in the following passages are corrected to "reject". 27th page 2nd line, 3rd line, 4th line, 13th line, 1st
4th line, 15th line, 16th line, 17th line, 28th page 3rd line, 4th line, 7th line, 29th page 1st line (6) Same, 28th page, 8th line Insert the following sentence after ".". "In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a vending machine that uses 10 yen, 50 yen, and 100 yen coins and uses a coin cheep as a storage device, but the present invention is not limited to this. It can be similarly applied to vending machines that use coins of different denominations and vending machines that use other shapes as storage devices.'' q3 Ibid., p. 28, line 11, change ``necessary'' to `` Corrected to ``certain amount of the same denomination.''

Claims (1)

[Claims] A counter that counts the amount of coins inserted by denomination and whose counted value changes in response to the subtraction of the selling price based on the sales operation, and at least one of the counters that receives the counting output of the counter and has a preset value. A control device for a vending machine, comprising: an upper limit detection circuit that generates a detection output when the upper limit value is exceeded; and a coin insertion refusal device that operates based on the detection output of the upper limit detection circuit and refuses to accept all inserted coins.