CA1216649A

CA1216649A - Control system of an automatic vending machine

Info

Publication number: CA1216649A
Application number: CA000440965A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Misao Awane; Satoshi Kobayashi; Seiji Hara
Original assignee: Tokyo Sanyo Electric Co Ltd; Sanyo Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tokyo Sanyo Electric Co Ltd; Sanyo Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 1982-11-12
Filing date: 1983-11-10
Publication date: 1987-01-13
Also published as: US4598379A

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
At least two microcomputers are provided for the controlling operation of an automatic vending machine, which are connected by signal wires of a number selected from one to four with respect to each other. One of the microcomputers is a main microcomputer, while the other thereof is a submicrocomputer. The submicrocomputer performs the controlling operation on the restricted block functions of the automatic vending machine, while the main microcomputer transmits control codes to the submicrocomputer through the signal wire to control the operation thereof, and controls the automatic vending operation while serially transmitting or receiving the necessary data.

Description

~166~

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a control system of an automatic vending machine and more particularly, to a control circuit to be controlled by microcomputers for the controlling operation of an automatic vending machine.
In recent years, the application of the microcomputers to the automatic vending machines is actively perform d not only to greatly contribute towards the function improvements, but also to deal with various lo problems. In the automatic vending machine, the control circuit has to perform the actions such as inserted money-amount operation, balance operation after the sales, no-changes detection, commodity sell-out detection, sold-out commodity display, purchasable commodity decision, purchasable commodity display, commodity-selection-switch-action detection, commodity delivery, change payment, etc. However, the control circuit under the control of the conventional microcomputers is often connected, one to one, with the terminal apparatuses such as switch apparatus, driving apparatus, display apparatus. When on microcomputer of the control circuit directly controls each of the terminal apparatuses concentrically, the following defects are caused due to the concentration of the functions upon the control circuit.

I

~2~6~

I Assembling operation efficiency;
The operation efficiency in the assembling process is inferior due to the increased number of the bas~-plate components of the control circuit unit. The increased defect factor implies the analysis of the defect caused and the repair to be difficult to be performed. Also, as signal wires from the control circuit increase in number, the problems of wiring disposal and error wiring increase.

(2) Design efficiency;
The base plates of the control circuit unit are required to be individually designed with respect to each of the automatic vending machines. Also, the hardware and the software thereof are becoming complicated due to multiple functions. Particularly, the software have problems in their work assignments, thus resulting in heavy loads on the software engineers, and requirement of more time for development and debugging.

(3) Service;
The control circuit becomes so large that the repairing operation is difficult to be effected, with the result that the service cost becomes higher.
In the U.S. Patent No. 4,267,915, data bus bars and a multiplex system are adopted in the circuit construction, which introduces the price data of the sales commodity to the control circuit. The idea of such bus bars and multiplex is applied even to the other signal system of the automatic vending machine so that increase in the number of the wirings can be coped with to some extent. However, in the U.S. Patent No. 4,267,915, the data bus bars and the multiplex do not result in the effective number reduction of the wirings, because the data are transmitted in parallel.
In the many uses of the multiplex system in the signal system, the transmission and reception of signals are hardly performed one to one between the control circuit and each of the terminal apparatuses. When something unusual has happened, it becomes difficult to analyze which terminal apparatus is wrong or whether or not the control circuit is wrong. Thus, inconveniences on the service increase. Also, in the effective reduction of the number of the wirings, the serial transmission of the data between the control circuit and each terminal is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication (Tokkosho) No. 58-16230. However, in the Japanese Patent Publication (Tokkosho) 58-16230, the number of the wirings can be effectively reduced, but the function concentration on the control circuit remains unsolved. The defects are difficult to be analyzed, and problems remain in terms of assembling operation, design efficiency, service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
.
An object of the present invention is to provide a control system of an automatic vending machine, whose number of wirings is considerably reduced.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a control system of an automatic vending machine, 121G~9 whose failure can be easily analyzed when something unusual has happened.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a control system of an automatic vending machine, S wherein the control is dispersed for each of the function blocks.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a control system of an automatic vending machine, wherein a test action can be singly performed for each of the function blocks.
Another further object of the present invention is to provide a control system of an automatic vending machine, wherein the assembling operation is improved.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a control system of an automatic vending machine, wherein the optional components of various functions can be easily mounted.
According to the present invention, there provides a control system of an automatic vending machine comprising a sub microcomputer for the controlling operation on the restricted function blocks of an automatic vending machine, a main microcomputer for collectively controlling said sub microcomputer, signal wires of a number selected from one to four provided so that said main microcomputer and said sub microcomputer may transmit and receive the data serially with respect to each other, wherein said main microcomputer I

transmits instruction code data serially to said submicroco~puter through said signal wires to control the operation of said sub microcomputer, said sub microcomputer receives said data to be transmitted serially through said signal wires when the instruction code data for ordering the reception of the data from said main microcomputer is transmitted, said sub microcomputer controls said function block in accordance with said data, said sub microcomputer transmits said detection data serially to said main microcomputer through said signal wires when the instruction code data for ordering the transmission of the detection data within said function blocks is transmitted, said main microcomputer controls the entire operation of the automatic vending machine in accordance with said detection data.
these and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. l is a perspective view showing the front face of an automatic vending machine;
Fig. 2 is a view showing a condition where the front-face door of the automatic vending machine is opened;
Fig. 3 is a view showing a condition where the box inside door of the automatic machine is opened;

LO lL~649 Fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the change payment apparatus;
Fig. S is an assembly perspective view showing a commodity vending mechanism;
Fig. 6 is a view for explaining the operation of the commodity vending mechanism;
Fig. 7 is a view for explaining the operation of the commodity vending mechanism;
Fig. 8 is a system diagram for explaining an automatic vending machine in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a control circuit diagram of an automatic vending machine in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 10 is a chart showing the format of transfer data;
Fig. 11 is a functional block diagram for explaining the data transfer between a main microcomputer and each of sub microcomputers;
Fig. 12 is a timing chart for explaining the timing of the data transfer;
Fig. 13 is a flow char for explaining the operation of the main microcomputer;
Fig. 14 is a flow chart for explaining the subroutine of coin payment by the operation of the main microcomputer;

~;~16~49 Fig. 15 is a flow chart for explaining the subroutine of the commodity sales by the operation of the main microcomputer;
Fig. 16 is a function block diagram for explaining the test operation of the sub microcomputer provided on the coin mechanism control unit;
Fig. 17 is a function block diagram for explaining the test operation of the sub microcomputer provided on a front panel control unit;
Fig. 18 is a function block diagram for explaining the other test operation of the sub microcomputer provided on the front panel control unit;
Fig. 9 is a function block diagram for explaining the test operation of the sub microcomputer provided on a sales control unit;
Fig. 20 is a control circuit diagram of an automatic vending machine in a case where the sub microcomputer is provided only in the front panel control unit;
Fig. 21 is a function block diagram for explaining the operation in a case where the main microcomputer and the sub microcomputer transmit and receive the data by two signal wires;
Fig. 22 is a wiring system diagram of an automatic vending machine in accordance with the present invention;

~2~649 Fig. 23 is a function block diagram for explaining the operation in a case where the main microcomputer and the sub microcomputer transmit and receive the data, in the modified process, by two signal wires;
Fig. 24 is a function block diagram for explaining the operation in a case where the main microcomputer and the sub microcomputer transmit and receive the data by three signal wires;
Fig. 25 is a function block diagram for explaining the operation in a case where the main microcomputer and the sub microcomputer transmit and receive the data, through the other method, by three signal wires; and Fig. 26 is a function block diagram for explaining the operation in a case where the main microcomputer and the sub microcomputer transmit and receive the data by four signal wires.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Before the description of the present invention proceeds, it is to be noted that like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the accompanying drawings.
The components, constituting an automatic vending machine, shown from Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 are classified into the following function blocks.
(1) Coin Mechanism 100 a. Coin Detecting Unit 101 '9 g Coins, which come from a coin slot 102 of an automatic vending machine, are detected by this unit. Bogus coins are caused to return to a return opening 103. The coin detecting unit outputs, with respect to the genuine coins, the respective insert coin signal for each money kind of 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, 500 yen, and guides them to change pipes 104, 105, 106, 107 for money-kind use or a cash box 108.
b. Change Payment Unit 103 As shown in Fig. 4, the change return unit is provided with change payment motors 17, 18, 19, 20, which correspond to the change pipes 104, 105, 105, 107. During the change discharging operation, the return unit drives one of the change payment motors 17, 18, 19, 20 corresponding to the payment coin kind to reciprocatingly move a coin pushing plate 110. The coins are picked up from the change pipes with payment coin kind accommodated therein and are discharged into the change return opening 103. The coin pushing plate 110 and a reduction gear 109 are provided for each of the change payment motors 17, 18, 19, 20. The existence of the changes provided within the pipes 104, 105, 106, 107 is detected by a switch 99.
I Front Panel Unit 111 This unit is composed of a signboards 112 for displaying the sales commodities, an inserted money-amount display 7 for displaying the money amounts of the inserted coins, a purchasable commodity display 8 for each of the commodities which are displayed in accordance with conditions of inserted monument, selling prices, changes available, a sold-out commodity display 9 for each of the commodities, which shows non-selling commodities due to sold-out condition or the other reasons, selection switches lo through lo for instructing a commodity to be purchased, and so our (3) Vending Apparatus 113 The vending apparatus, which is provided with commodity accommodating racks 114 in accordance with sales commodity kinds, commodity discharging motors 21 to be speed-reduced by the reduction gear 117 and the commodity discharging drum 115, drives one of commodity discharging motor 21 corresponding to the racks 114 with the selected commodity kind accommodated therein to rotate a commodity discharging drum 115 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 for delivering the commodity through the shoot 130 into a delivery opening 116. Also, an oscillating plate 131 which oscillate in accordance with the existence or the absence of the commodity, and a sold-out switch 22 to be turned on and off by the oscillation of the oscillating plate 131 are provided on each of the accommodating racks 114.

(4) Controlling Unit 27 The controlling unit concentrically controls each function blocks. In recent years, the controlling unit is changing from a relay controlling system to a microcomputer controlling system. Data, which are necessary for the automatic vending operation, such as selling prices, etc.
are preset.

(5) Power Unit 28 The power unit generates DC stabilizing voltage into the controlling unit and the respective other function blocks. No power units are required in the automatic vending machine of a relay controlling system.

(6) Cooling/Heating Unit 118 The cooling/heating unit is an apparatus for cooling or heating the sales commodity, a compressor and a heater being employed A temperature controlling device is provided with to maintain the commodities in a proper temperature. Conventionally, this unit was often controlled independently, but recently some machines haze this unit combined with the control unit with an aim to power-saving.

(7) Optional Components Various apparatuses are adapted to be mounted as optional components to meet the customers' requirements.
The main optional components are a bill identifying apparatus (bill validator), a change auxiliary apparatus, a voice composing apparatus, a power-saving timer, a sold-amount totaling apparatus, etc.
Fig. 8 shows a controlling system of the automatic vending machine of the present invention. The controlling ~%1~6~9 unit 27 has a main microcomputer 7 disposed. The coin mechanism lo, the front panel unit 111, the vending apparatus 113 have their respective low-priced sub microcomputers for controlling the operation and disposed to form the controlling units 1, 2, 3 in the respective function blocks. The main microcomputer 7 is connected with each of the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 with one common signal wire so that control instructions or data are transmitted to or received from each other through the signal wire. In this controlling system, the number of the final wirings to the terminal apparatus remains unchanged. The number of the wirings from the controlling unit 27 to the controlling unit for each of the function blocks is one (four including the power line) so that the number of the wirings is extremely lo reduced. Fig. 22 shows the wiring system of the automatic vending machine in accordance with the present invention, wherein the controlling unit 27 is connected with the controlling units l, 2, 3 by a power service line Pi of 24 volts, a power line Pi of 5 volts, an earth line GOD, a signal wire L. The power source of the 24 volts is a driving power-source of the commodity discharging motor, etc. The power source of the 5 volts is an operation power-source of the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6. Also, the signal wire L is one in the example of Fig. 8 and Fig. 22.
Four wirings connecting between each of the controlling units 1, 2, 3 with the controlling unit 27 will do even if I

three power lines are provided. As the signal wire transmits and receives the data by the variation in the voltage, the earth line GOD is indispensable to be commonly connected with. In the description of the present specification, the earth line GOD is described separately from the signal wire. Also, in the present invention, the data are characterized by the serial transmission and reception of the data with respect to each other between the main microcomputer 7 and the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6. In the serial transfer of the data, the signal wire shown in Fig. 8 can be two-, three or four in addition one in number of which each case will be described later. The components concentrated in the controlling unit 27 can be dispersed into the controlling unit for each of the function blocks.
Likewise, the software can be dispersed, too. Thus, the self-diagnosin~ function for each of the blocks can be improved so that the failures during the abnormal condition can be easily analyzed. Speaking of the reduction in the number of the wirings, there are various methods, in accordance with the types of the various automatic vending machines, in the dispersion in the function blocks. For example, in an automatic vending machine, wherein the control unit 27 is close to the front panel unit 111, the effect is inferior due to the short distance even if the controlling unit 27 is connected with the front panel unit 111 with one signal wire. In such a case, the control of 2~649 the front panel unit 111 should be performed by the main microcomputer 7. The sub microcomputers 4, 6 should be disposed respectively in the coin mechanism 100 and the vending apparatus 113 and should be connected with the main microcomputer 7 with the common signal wire. Accordingly, in the function blocks disposed away from the controlling unit 27, the sub microcomputer is disposed to disperse the functions, and is connected with the main microcomputer 7 with a signal wire so that the number of the wirings can be effectively reduced. Normally, within the automatic vending machine, the controlling unit 27 is farthest from the vending apparatus 113. If the controlling operation of the coin mechanism 100, the front panel unit ill is concentrated on the main microcomputer 7, and the sub microcomputer 6 is disposed only on the vending apparatus 13 to disperse the sales controlling functions, the effect is superior in the reduction of the wirings. However, if the controls of some function blocks are concentrated on the main microcomputer 7, the failure analyzing effect becomes inferior. Also, a data loading unit 120, which is composed of key boards, loads data, necessary for selling actions, such as commodity selling prices, etc. for the respective sales commodity kinds to the controlling unit 27. The data loading unit is controlled by the sub microcomputer 121 to be connected with the main microcomputer 7 with the common signal wire. The optional apparatuses ply through Pn such as the bill I

identifying apparatus, the voice composing apparatus, the sold-amount totaling apparatus, etc. to ye mounted if necessary are controlled by the sub microcomputers 123, 124 to be respectively connected with the main microcomputer 7 by the common signal wire. The optional apparatus is connected with the signal wire and some software portions are added to the main microcomputer 7. Functions can be added without any change in the constructions of the other controlling units l, 2, 3, thus resulting in superior functional expansive.
A case where the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 are disposed, with respect to the control unit 27, respectively, in the function blocks of the coin mechanism 100, the front panel unit 111, the vending apparatus 113 or the like will be described hereinafter.
Fig. 9 shows the controlling circuit of the automatic vending machine in accordance with the present invention. There provide a main microcomputer 7 in the controlling unit 27, a coin mechanism controlling unit 1, a front panel controlling unit 2, and a sales controlling unit 3. The main microcomputer 7 performs its central controlling operation of the vending machine along the predetermined program. The front panel controlling unit 2 is provided with a sub microcomputer 5. An inserted money-amount display 80 composed of four digital displays 76, 77, 78, 79, a purchasable commodity display 8 provided ~16~649 with Lids corresponding to eight kinds of commodities ranging from A to H, a sold-out commodity display 9, a commodity selection switch circuit 10 provided with the commodity selection switches lo through lo are connected with the output port Pi of the sub microcomputer 5. In addition, the respective terminals 0 through 5 of the output port Pi of the sub microcomputer 5 are connected with the respective displays through a driver 11. The input port Pi is connected with the commodity selection circuit 10. Also, the coin mechanism controlling unit 1 which is provided with a sub microcomputer 4 has a coin detecting unit 12, which outputs an inserted coin signal in accordance with the coin kinds of 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, 500 yen, connected with the input port Pi; has a coin detecting unit 13, which detects the existence of the changes for each coin kind accommodated for change use to output a no-change signal, a return switch 14, which is operated by customers during the returning operation of the inserted money-amount or the remained amount, a common input terminal 15 from each micro switch, which turns on and off through the operative cooperation with the change discharging motor, connected with the input ports Pi; and has the change payment motors 17, 18, 19, 20, for the respective change coin kinds through the driver 16, connected with the output port Pi. Also, the sales controlling unit 3, which is provided with a microcomputer 6, has sold-out switches AYE through 22H in guy accordance with the respective commodities ranging from A to H, commodity discharging motors AYE through 21H, which correspond to the respective commodities through the driver 23, connected with the port Pi; has a common output terminal 24, into each of the commodity discharging motor, connected with the port Pi; has a common input terminal 25 of each micro switch, which turns on and off through the operative cooperation with the commodity discharging motor, connected with the port Pi; and has a common output terminal 26, into each sold-out commodity switch, connected with the port Pi.
The respective sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 are connected, with one signal wire, in parallel to the main microcomputer 7, and are adapted to transfer, in the non-synchronous system, data serially with respect to each other through the main guidance of the main microcomputer 7.
The data are of five types, a terminal specifying data, with which the main microcomputer 7 specifies either of the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6, an instruction code data, with which the main microcomputer 7 instructs actions to each of the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6, a check-sum data, a confirming data by the check-sum, and a sales data. In addition, the sales data, which the main microcomputer 7 and each of the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 transfer with respect to each other are of an inserted coin data, no-change existing data, a selected commodity data, a sales commodity data, a money-amount display data, a purchasable commodity ~2~6~9 data, a sold-out commodity data, a discharging data, a coin discharging data, and a sales completion data. In the present embodiment, the data are transferred 8 bits by 8 bits. As shown in the format of Fig. lo the start bit "L"
of 1 bit, and the stop bit "H" of 2 bits are added, respectively, to the front and the back of the data bit of 8 bits so that the data of 11 bits are transferred.
Accordingly, the terminal specifying data and the instructing code data, respectively, of 4 bits are disposed on the upper column 4 bits and the lower column 4 bits of the data bit and are transferred as the control data.
Fig. 11 is a function block diagram for explaining the actions of the main microcomputer 7 and the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 during the data transferring operation. The main microcomputer 7 is provided with functions of a main controlling apparatus 29 for deciding the data transfer to the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6, a shift register 50 of 11 bits for serially converting the transfer data, a flip-flop circuit 30 to be set by the start bit of the transfer data from the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6, a both-direction switching gate 40 of the transmission and receiver, clock pulse generating circuits 31, 32, and a delaying circuit 33. Also, the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 are provided with functions of a flip-flop circuits AYE, 34B, 34C for setting through detection of the start bit of the data to be transferred from the main microcomputer 7, ~L216~49 subordinate controlling apparatuses AYE, 35B, 35C for controlling the data transfer with respect to the main microcomputer 7, shift registers AYE, 36B, 36C of 11 bits for the serial conversion of the transmission data to the main microcomputer 7 stored in the subordinate controlling apparatuses AYE, 35B, 35C, clock pulse generating circuits AYE, 37B, 37C, AYE, 38B, 38C, both-direction switching gates 41~, 41B, 41C for the transmission and the receiver, delaying circuits AYE, 39B, 39C. The clock pulse generating circuits 31, 32, AYE, 37B, 37C, AYE, 38B, 38C always generate respectively eleven clock pulses Cull, CLUE, CLUE, CLUE
of the same period. The clock pulse CLUE to be outputted from the clock pulse generating circuits AYE, 37B, 37C, and the clock pulse CLUE to be outputted from the clock pulse generating circuit 32 respectively lags the clock pulse CLUE
to be outputted from the clock pulse generating circuits AYE, 38B, 38C, and the clock pulse CLUE to be outputted from the clock pulse generating circuit 31 by a phase difference of 180 by the functions of the delaying circuits guy, 39B, 39C, 33 as shown in the timing chart of Fig. 12.
The data transfer between the main microcomputer 7 and each of the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 starts through the transmission of the control data of one byte composed of the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data by the main microcomputer 7. As shown in the format of Fig.
10, the transmission terminal of the main microcomputer 7 is g normally in the mark condition "H". Also, the both-direction switching gates AYE, 41B, 41C of the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 are ready to receive the data.
After the main controlling apparatus 29 has set the transfer data of 11 bits in the shift register 50, the apparatus causes the both-direction switching gate 40 to be ready for transmission and the clock pulse generating circuit 31 to act thereby to introduce the clock pulse CLUE to the shift register 30. The start bit "L" is transmitted to set the flip-flop circuits AYE, 34B, 34C of the respective sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6. After the flip-flop circuits AYE, 34B, 34C have been set, the clock pulse generating circuits AYE, 37B, 37C operate delayed by the delaying circuits AYE, 39B, 39C to output the clock pulse CLUE, which lagged the clock pulse CLUE by a phase difference 180.
However, the subordinate controlling apparatuses AYE, 35~, 35C sample the transfer data from the main microcomputer 7 in synchronous relation with the rising of the clock pulse CLUE to sample the data of 11 bits respectively at a 1/2 bit timing as shown in Fig. 3. However, the subordinate controlling apparatuses AYE, 35B, 35C of the respective sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 respectively output reset signals to the flip-flop circuits AYE, 34B, 34C, after the sampling operation of the transfer data of 11 bits has been completed, to complete the transfer of the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data.

~21~649 The subordinate controlling apparatuses AYE, 35B, 35C of the respective sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 make out terminal specifying data and instruction code data transmitted. Only the sub microcomputer specified by the main microcomputer 7 operates along the instruction code data. Assume that the sub microcomputer 4 has been specified, and if the instruction code orders the reception of the sales data, the sub microcomputer 4 sets the flip-flop circuit AYE by the start bit of the transfer data to be transmitted continuously from the main microcomputer 7 to sample the transfer data in synchronous relation with the clock pulse CLUE. And the main microcomputer 7 sets the check-sum data of one byte into the shift register 50 after the transmission of the transfer data to transmit the data.
The sub microcomputer 4 sets the flip-flop circuit AYE by the start bit of the transfer data of the check-sum to sample the transfer data of the check-sum. However, the subordinate controlling apparatus AYE decides the proper received data by the check-sum data to transmit the confirmation data to the main microcomputer 7 when it is proper. Also, when the instruction code is adapted to order the transmission of the sales data, the subordinate controlling apparatus AYE sets the transfer data of the sales data in the shift register AYE and thereafter to operate the clock pulse generating circuit AYE.
Accordingly, the clock pulse CLUE is introduced into the :12~6~'9 shift register AYE and the transfer data are sequentially transmitted through the both-direction switching gate 40 in its reception readiness. The flip-flop circuit 30 is set by the "L" of the start bit. As the clock pulse generating circuit 32 operates later in the delaying circuit 33 than the setting of the flip-flop circuit 30, the clock pulse CLUE, lagged the clock pulse CLUE by a phase difference of 180, is outputted. However, the main controlling apparatus 29 samples data to be transferred in synchronous relation with the rising of the clock pulse CLUE. After the sampling of the data of 11 bits, the reset signal is outputted to the flip-flop circuit 30 to finish the transfer of the sales data. Thereafter, the subordinate controlling apparatus AYE
sets the transfer data of the check-sum into the shift register AYE to transmit it. The main microcomputer 7 sets the flip-flop circuit 30 by the start bit of the transfer data of the check-sum to sample the transfer data. And the main controlling apparatus 29 decides whether the reception data is proper by the check-sum data. When it is proper, the confirmation data is transmitted onto the main side 27.
It is to be noted that the description of the checksum-data transfer will be omitted hereinafter.
The sub microcomputer 4 of the coin mechanism controlling unit 1 in its waiting condition repeatedly detects the generation of the output signals from the coin detecting unit 12, the change detecting unit 13, the ~2~6~

returning switch 14 while sequentially scanning the signal condition of each signal wire of the ports Pi and Pi to store the inserted coin data, the no-change existing data in the inner memory. In the present example, the inserted coin data is composed of four bytes (8 bits one byte. Each number of the inserted coins 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, 500 yen is shown in 8 bits. Also, the no-change existing data is composed of one byte. Each of the no-change existing data of 10 yen, 50 yen, loo yen, 500 yen is shown in 4 bits.
lo The operation information of the return switch 14 is shown in 1 bit. And the sub microcomputer 4 transmits these detection data to the main microcomputer 7 once the terminal specifying data and the instruction data for ordering the transmission of the sales data are inputted whereinto from the main microcomputer 7, these detection data are transmitted to the main microcomputer 7. When the confirmation data by the check-sum is transmitted from the main microcomputer 7, the memory of the data is cleared.
Also, when the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data for ordering the change paying operation are transferred from the main microcomputer 7, the sub microcomputer 4 performs its change paying operation in accordance with the discharging data to be transferred continuously from the main microcomputer 7. In the present example, as the coin kinds to be paid as the changes are determined by the main microcomputer 7, the paying data is ~2~6~i4~

composed of four bytes. Each number of payment coins of 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, 500 yen is shown, respectively, in 8 bits. Accordingly, the sub microcomputer 4 outputs the "H"
signal from the terminals 0 through 3 corresponding to the payment coin kinds of the port Pi by the payment data transferred to drive either of the motors 17, 18, 19, 20 to do the change paying operation. When the payment coin kinds are plural, the coin of a large sum has priority. As shown in Fig. 4, the sub microcomputer 4 detects, by the input terminal 5 of the port Pi, the input signal from the micro switch 92 to be turned on and off through the operative cooperation with the driving operation of the change payment motor by the rotation of the cam 91. In the present example, the micro switch 92 generates the "H" in its waiting condition. The "L" is provided due to the driving start of the change paying motor. When the change payment motor pivots enough to pay one coin, the "H" is adapted to be outputted again. On the other hand, after the transmission of the payment data, the main microcomputer 7 transmits the instruction code data for ordering the transmission of the coin payment data. The coin payment data shows the completion of one coin payment. In the present example, when the instruction code data is transferred, the sub microcomputer 4 is adapted to transmit the output data of the micro switch 92 at that time. Accordingly, the main microcomputer 7 confirms that the change is being paid, when slug the received data shows the "I," of the micro switch output, and transmits the instruction code data again. However, when the micro switch output becomes the "H" from the "L", the sub microcomputer 4 stops the output of the "H" signal from the port Pi as completion of one coin payment. In this condition, the main microcomputer 7 outputs the instruction code data. Thus, when the data showing the "I" of the micro switch output is transmitted from the sub microcomputer 4, the data is considered as the coin prying data to detect lo the payment of one coin. Also, the sub microcomputer 4 detects the inputting operation of the inputted coin signal to the port Pi while controlling such change payment.
Also, the sub microcomputer S of the front panel controlling unit 2 stores, in its inner memory, the money-amount display data of four bytes showing the 7-bit segment data of each digit on the four-digit inserted money-amount display transferred from the main microcomputer 7, purchasable commodity data of one byte showing, with each bit, whether eight kinds of commodities ranging from A to H
can be purchased or not, and sold-out commodity data, of one byte, showing, with each bit, whether eight kinds of commodities are respectively sold out. The sub microcomputer 5 sequentially outputs these data one byte by one byte in parallel from the port Pi, and the "H" is sequentially outputted from the port Pi to a display corresponding to the output data to perform pulse lighting operation. The lug sub microcomputer 5 sequentially output the "H" to each of the terminals 0 through 7 of the port Pi, before and after it outputs the "H" from each of the terminals 0 through 5 of the port Pi, to reply it to decide whether or not the "H" is inputted to the port Pi thereby to detect whether or not a customer operated selective switches lo through lo. To display the fourth digit of the inserted money-amount, the sub microcomputer 5 outputs the segment data from the port Pi with the terminal O of the port Pi as the "H". Before that, the "H" is outputted to the terminal 0 of the port Pi to give an operation signal to the selection switch lo corresponding to the commodity A. Accordingly, when the selection switch lo is kept depressed in this condition, the "H" is inputted to the port Pi and the microcomputer 5 can detect the operation of the selection switch loan However, if the other selection switches lob through lo are depressed, the port Pi does not become the "H", because the operation signal is not given to the selection switches.
However, the sub microcomputer 5 makes the terminal 0 of the port Pi "H", and outputs the "H" to the terminal 1 of the port Pi, while it outputs the third-column segment data from the port Pi, to give the operation signal to the selection switch lob to detect the operation. the sub microcomputer 5 outputs the "H" from the terminals 0 through 7 of the ports Pi, while the "H" is sequentially outputted from each of the terminals 0 through 5 of the ports Pi, to scan the operation lZlG~49 of the selection switches AYE through lo to store the selected commodity data of one byte, for each bit, showing the operating situation of each selection switch. When the terminal specifying data and the specifying code data for ordering the transmission of the selected commodity data are inputted from the main microcomputer 7, the selected commodity data is transmitted to the main microcomputer 7.
The sub microcomputer 6 of the sales controlling unit 3 normally outputs the Lowe to the port Pi to detect the sold-out commodity data from the input signal condition into the terminals 0 through 7 of the ports Pi. Once each sold-out switch for each commodity sends back the "H" to the port Pi once the "H" is introduced from the port Pi, but can send back the "H" no more when the switching operation is performed due to no-commodity existence. When the "L" shows no-commodity existence by the sold-out commodity data of 8 bits, and the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data for ordering the transmission of the holdout commodity data are inputted from the main microcomputer 7, the sold-out commodity data is transmitted to the main microcomputer 7. Also, when the terminal specifying data, and the instruction code data for ordering the commodity delivery are transferred from the main microcomputer 7, the sub microcomputer 6 performs its commodity delivering operation in accordance with the sales commodity data to be transmitted continuously from the main microcomputer 7.

121G~9 Namely, the submicrocomput~r 6 outputs the "H" to the port Pi, and outputs the "H" from the terminals 0 through 7 corresponding to the selected commodity of the port Pi to drive the commodity discharging motor thereby to detect, at the pox Pi, the input signal from the micro switch 94 to be turned off and on through the operative cooperation of the commodity discharging motor by the rotation of the cam 93 as shown in Fig. 5. As in the above-described change payment motor, the micro switch 94 restores, to the "H" again the output which has become the "L" from the "H" at the rotation start when the commodity discharging motor performs its pivoting operation necessary to deliver one commodity.
Accordingly, the sub microcomputer 6 considers the switching operation to the "H" from the "L" of the micro switch output as the completion of the commodity sale to render the output of the port Pi the "L" to stop the commodity discharging motor. On the other hand the main microcomputer 7 transmits the instruction code data, which orders the transmission of the sales completion data, to the sub microcomputer 6 after the transmission of the sales commodity data. The sales completion data shows the completion of the sales. In the present embodiment, the sub microcomputer 6 is adapted to transmit, to the main microcomputer 7, the output data of the micro switch 94 when the instruction code data is transferred. Accordingly, when the received data from the sub microcomputer 6 through the transmission of the instruction code data shows the "L" of the micro switch output, the main microcomputer 7 confirms that the commodity delivering operation is on to transmit the specifying code data again. however, when the micro switch output has been switched from the "L" to the "Hal, the instruction code data is transferred from the main microcomputer 7 so that the sub microcomputer 5 transmits to the main microcomputer 7 the data showing the "H" of the micro switch output. And the main microcomputer 7 considers the data as the sales completion code to detect the completion of the sales.
Fig. 13 shows the operation flow chart of the main microcomputer 7, which performs its central controlling operation of the automatic vending machine. The main microcomputer 7, when a given initial setting is completed after the power supply has been put to work, transmits a controlling data Of, composed of the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data for ordering the transmission of the data, to the sub microcomputer 4 at the No step, replica it to and reads the coin data, sampling the coin data, at the No step, to be transmitted from the sub microcomputer 4. The coin data is composed of the inserted coin data, the no-change data, the return data of each of the coin kinds. The main microcomputer 7 sets, at the No step, the inserted coin data, the no-change data of each of the coin kinds, and calculates, at the No step, the inputted money-amount to set it in accordance with the inserted coin data. Whether or not the customer operated the return switch 14 is detected at the No step by the return data. When the return switch is operated, it moves to the subroutine PO of the coin payment. However, when the return switch 14 is not operated, at the No step, the controlling data Do, composed of the instruction code data showing the reception of the terminal specifying data and the display data, and the transmission ox the selected commodity data, is transmitted. Thereafter, at the No step, the inserted money-amount display data, the purchasable commodity data, the sold-out commodity data are sequentially transmitted. Then, at the No step, the selected commodity - data transmitted from the sub microcomputer S is sampled.
When either bit of the selected commodity data of one byte is detected to be the "H" at thy No step, it moves to the subroutine ED of the commodity sale as the operated selection switch. When the selection switch is not operated, at the No step, the main microcomputer 7 transmits the controlling data Al, composed of the instruction code data for ordering the transmission of the terminal specifying data and thy sold out commodity data, it transmitted to the sub microcomputer 6. At the N11 step, the sold-out commodity data to be transmitted from the sub microcomputer 6 is sampled. And at the N12 step, the main microcomputer 7 decides the purchasable commodity in g accordance with the inputted money-amount ion the remainder after the sale, the selling price of each commodity stored in the inner memory in advance, the no-change existing data, the sold-out commodity data. Then, at the N13 step, the main microcomputer 7 check the requirement of the automatic refundment, and it moves to the subroutine PO when the automatic refundment is necessary. As the automatic refundment, there are two ways, change payment in a case where no purchasable commodities can be bought for the remainder after the sale, and excess-money-amount return in a case where the inserted money-amount is beyond the maximum inserted money-amount. When the refundment is not required, it is restored to the Mow Accordingly, in the condition except for during the coin payment or during the commodity sale, the main microcomputer 7 repeatedly executes such main flow to calculate the inserted money-amount, to decide the purchasable commodity to transmit the display data to the front panel controlling unit, and to receive the selected commodity data.
Fig. 14 is the subroutine PO of the coin payment.
The main microcomputer 7, which decides the inserted money-amount to be refunded, the change amount or the payment coin kind of the excess amount of the maximum inserted amount to set the payment data at the N14 step, is composed of the instruction code data for ordering the terminal specifying data and the coin payment to the sub microcomputer 4. The 6~9 payment data is transmitted at the N16 step after the controlling data C2 has been transmitted at the N15 step.
The main microcomputer 7 repeatedly transmits, at the N17 step, the controlling data C3, composed of the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data for ordering the transmission of the output data of the micro switch 92 to wait for the transmission of the coin discharging data SWEDE, which shows thy "H" of the micro switch output from the microcomputer 4. And the main microcomputer 7 subtracts, at the Nag step, the kinds of the coin paid from the payment data by the reception at the No step of the coin discharging data Swaddle. When the payment coin kinds are plural, the main microcomputer 7 and the sub microcomputer 4 are both programmed to pay with the large-sum coin priority. The main microcomputer 7 subtracts the "l" from the payment data with the large-sum coin priority every time the coin discharging data Swaddle is inputted. However, the main microcomputer 7 calculates, at the N20 step, the remainder in accordance with the payment data provided after the subtraction to set it. The main microcomputer 7 continuously transmits, at the Nil step, to the sub microcomputer 5 the controlling data Do composed of the terminal specifying data and instruction code data for transmitting the remainder display data, and thereafter transmits the remainder display data at the N22 step.
Accordingly, the sub microcomputer 5 is adapted to control the display of the unpaid amount after the coin payment.
And the main microcomputer 7 decides whether ox not the remainder has become 1l0". When the remainder is not "O", the mode restores to the transmission mode of the controlling data C3 to repeat such control. When the remainder becomes the "O", it moves out of the subroutine PO
to restore to the MO of the main flow.
Also, referring to Fig. lo, the main microcomputer 7 compares the selected commodity data with the purchasable commodity data at the subroutine ED of the commodity sale to decide, at the N24 step, whether or not the selected commodity can be purchased. When the commodity cannot be purchased, it restores to the MO of the main flow. However, when the purchase can be made, the main computer 7 transmits, at the N25 step, the controlling data A, composed of the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data for ordering the commodity sale, to the sub microcomputer 6, and furthermore transmits, at the N26 step, the sale commodity data. And continuously the main microcomputer 7 transfers, at the N27 step, the controlling data A, composed of the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data for ordering the transmission of the output data of the micro switch 94 to wait from the transmission of the sale completion data SWEDE
showing the "H" of the micro switch output from the sub microcomputer 6. the selected commodity is sold and the sale completion data SWEDE is transmitted. Once it is detected at the No step, the main microcomputer 7 subtracts, at the N29 step, the sale commodity amount from the inserted money-amount (or the remainder after the sale) to set the remainder. Thereafter, the main microcomputer 7 transmits, at the N30 step, the controlling data Do, composed of the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data for transmitting the remainder display data after the sale, to the sub microcomputer 5. Continuously, the main microcomputer 7 transmits, at the N31 step, the remainder display data and, then, it restores to the MO of the main flow. Accordingly, the sub microcomputer 5 performs the display controlling operation after the commodity sale.
Also, the sub microcomputer 5 connects the customer operation test switch 43 to the input port Pi, the sub microcomputer 4 are the coin processing test switch 44 connected to the input port Pi, and the sub microcomputer 6 connects the sale test switch 42 to the input port Pi Each of the sub microcomputers 4, 5, 6 separates from the control of the main microcomputer 7 by the operation of the corresponding test switches 44, 43, 42 to execute the original test sequence programmed in advance.. First, the test switch 44 of the coin mechanism controlling unit 1 is operated When either of the controlling data Of, C2, C3 is transferred in response to the processing from the main microcomputer 7, the sub microcomputer 4 transfers the code ~2~6~

showing the test sequence to the main microcomputer 7 in response to it. After the transferring operation, the sub microcomputer 4 stops the normal processing to execute the program of the self check. Also, the main microcomputer 7 detects the entry into the test sequence of the main microcomputer 7. At the test sequence, the coin mechanism controlling unit 1, when the tester inserts a coin, drives the change payment motors 17, 18, 19, 20 corresponding to the coin kinds to pay one coin and comes to a stop. Thus, the tester can confirm the something unusual of the coin detection unit 12, the change payment motors 17, 18, 19, 20, the micro switch and the signal harness. Namely, in the case of something unusual, the failure can be confirmed through no-payment of the coin. And when the tester retorts the lo test switch 44 to its original position at the test completion, things are restored to the normal operation.
When the main microcomputer 7 under this condition transfers either of the controlling data Of, C2, C3 in accordance with the processing, the main microcomputer 7 detects the completion of the test sequence so that the sub microcomputer 4 performs the normal response action.
Fig. 16 is a function block diagram for describing the operation in a case where the sub microcomputer 4 processes the self-check on the coin mechanism controlling unit l. Referring to Fig. 16, the setting terminal S of the flip-flop circuits 45, 46, 47, 48 are connected with each of ~2~6~

the coin detecting units 12 for 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, 500 yen. AND gates 49, 50, 51, 52, to which the input signal from the common input terminal 15 by each of the pulse switches, which operatively cooperate with the change payment motors 17, 18, 19, 20, and the Q outputs of the flip-flop circuits 45, 46, 47, 48 are inputted, are connected with the resetting terminal R. When the test switch 44 is operated, and the tester inserts 10 yen, the flip-fl~p circuit 45 is set and the change payment motor 17 is driven. And the output of the corresponding micro switch is switched from the "H" to the "L". When the "H" is outputted again by the payment of one coin, the output is provided at the AND gate 49. The flip-flop circuit 45 is reset and the change payment motor 17 comes to a stop.
Similarly, even when 50 yen, lo yen or 500 yen has been inserted, the corresponding change payment motors 18, 19, 20 are driven to pay the coin of the same kind. The test sequence on the coin processing is completed by the restoring operation of the test switch 44.
When the test switch 40 of the automatic restoring type of the front panel controlling unit 2 is operated, the sub microcomputer 5 replies to it, at the time that either of the controlling data Do, Do, Do is transferred in response to the processing from the main microcomputer 7, to transfer the code showing the test sequence to the main microcomputer 7. However, the sub microcomputer S stops the normal ~21~9 processing to execute the program of the self check of the front panel controlling unit 2. The main microcomputer 7 detects the entry of the test sequence by the sub microcomputer 5. At the test sequence, the front panel controlling unit 2 sequentially lights, for each of the commodity kinds, simultaneously a pair of purchasable commodity display LED and the sold-out commodity display LED
corresponding to the commodity kinds in the purchasable commodity display 8 and the sold-out commodity display 9, and thereafter displays a given test pattern in each digit of the inserted money-amount display 80. Thus, the tester can confirm anything unusual of each display and the signal harness. And the main microcomputer 7 transfers either of the controlling data Do, Do, Do, after the display completion, in response to the processing, the main microcomputer 7 detects the completion of the test sequence so that the sub microcomputer 5 may perform the normal response action.
Fig. 17 is a function block diagram for explaining the operation in a case where the processing of the self check on the front panel controlling unit 2 is performed by the sub microcomputer 5. Referring to Fig. 17, the flip-flop circuit 58 is set by the operation of the test switch 43.
Each of the output terminals of the shift register 63 of 8 bits is connected with a pair of purchasable commodity display LED and sold-out commodity display LED, for each of ~21664g the commodity kinds, in the purchasable commodity display 8 and the sold-out commodity display 9 end furthermore is connected with the segment signal input terminal of the inserted money-amount display 80. And an off-delay circuit 60 is connected with the data input terminal DO of the shift register 63, while a clock-pulse generating circuit 61 is connected with the clock input terminal CAL. It addition, the clock pulse generating circuit 61 is connected with a counter 62. A test controlling apparatus 64 is adapted to output controlling signals to a test pattern signal generating apparatus 65 and a digit signal generating apparatus 66 in accordance with the contents of the counter 62, and to output resetting signals to the counter 62 and the flip-flop circuit 58. Also, the test pattern signal venerating apparatus 65 is connected with seven signal wire, which connects each output terminal of the shift register 63 with each display. During the testing operation, the test pattern signal generating apparatus 65 is adapted to output the segment signals of the pattern displayed by the inserted money-amount display 7. And the digit signal generating apparatus 66 is connected with each display through the driver 11. Once the flip-flop circuit 58 is set by the operation of the test switch 43 under such construction as described hereinabove, the output is provided at the AND gate 59. The off delay circuit 60 outputs the "H" to the data input terminal DO of the shift 1216~9 register 63. The off delay circuit 60 outputs the "H" to the data input terminal DO for a given time after the automatic restoration of the test switch 43. The clock pulse generating circuit 61 is operated through the setting operation of the flip-flop circuit 58. The shift register 63 is shifted due to the introduction of the shift pulse into thy clock input terminal CAL thereby to store the "H" of the data input terminal DO. Also, the counter 62 counts the clock pulses, but the test controlling apparatus 64 outputs the controlling signals so that a digit signal generating apparatus 66 may output the "H" from the output terminals 1, 2 until the counter 62 counts the "9". Accordingly, the first Lids of the purchasable commodity display 8 and the sold-out commodity display 9 are lit at the same time.
Thereafter, whenever the shift register 63 is shifted due to the generation of the clock pulses, a set of Lids of second and subsequent purchasable commodity display 8 and the sold-out commodity display are sequentially lit. However, when the ninth clock pulse is generated, the shift register 63 clears due to one round of memory so that the lighting of the purchasable commodity display 8 and thy sold-out commodity display 9 are over. However, the test controlling apparatus 64 outputs the controlling signal so that the "H"
may be outputted from the output terminals 3, 4, 5, 6 to the digit signal generating apparatus 66 when the counter 62 counts the "9", and outputs the controlling signal so that ~Z~649 the segment signal of the test pattern may be generated in pattern signal generating apparatus 65. One of the simplest test patterns is to lighten each of the segments of all the digital displays 76, 77, 78, 79 to display the "8". The test pattern signal generating apparatus 65 at this time outputs the "H" to all thy Output terminals of 1 through 7 to display the "8" in each of the digits. Also, the test pattern signal generating apparatus 65 can output the segment signals corresponding to each numeral by the time slicing to cause "0" through ~911 to perform the sequential displaying operation. And when the counter 62 counts the given value, the test controlling apparatus 64 outputs the resetting signals to the flip-flop circuit 58 and the counter 62 to finish the test sequence. Also, the purchasable commodity display LED and the holdout commodity display LED of the corresponding commodities are sequentially lightened automatically for each of the commodity kinds by the above-described test operations. The corresponding purchasable commodity display LED and the sold-out commodity display LED may be lightened in response to the operations of the commodity selection switches AYE
through 10H. Thus, the tester can confirm things unusual of the purchasable commodity display 8, the sold-out commodity display 9, including the commodity selection switch circuit 10, and of the signal harness in the environs thereof. Fig.
18 is a function block diagram for explaining the operation ~21~i6~9 of lighting the purchasable commodity display LED and the sold-out commodity display LED, by the sub microcomputer 5, corresponding to the operated commodity selection switches AYE through 10H in the test sequence. When the test switch output is switched from the "L" to the "H" by the operation of the test switch 43, a one-shot circuit 67 introduces the pulse to the data terminal of the shift register 71 through an OR gate 70. The clock pulse generating circuit 69 outputs the clock pulse by the ON of the test switch 43. At lo this time, as the output side of the inventor 73 is the "H", the clock pulse is introduced to the clock inputting terminal CAL of the shift register 71 through the AND gate 72. Accordingly, the shift register 71 stores the "B" of the data terminal DO. Thereafter, every tip the clock pulses are inputted, the shifting operation is performed to retain the memory. At a time point a second clock pulse is generated, the one-shot circuit 67 already stops its output.
And after one round of the memory, the data is introduced into the data input terminal DO again through the OR gate 70. The data is circuited to and retained in the shift register 71. Accordingly, every time the shift register 71 shifts, each of the output terminals from 1 through 8 sequentially outputs the "H". Operate the commodity selection switch AYE when the "Ho is produced from the output terminal 1 by the shift register 8, and the output is provided at the AND gate 75 so that the delaying circuit 74 lZ1~649 outputs the "H" for a given period. As the output side of the inventor 73 becomes the "L", the clock pulse introduction to the clock input terminal CAL is prohibited by the AND gate 72. Accordingly, the "H" output from the output terminal 1 of the shift register 71 is retained. As the output side of the inventor 73 at this time is the "L", the purchasable display LED PA and the sold-out display LED
PA are lit. When the output of the delaying circuit 15 becomes the "L", the output side of the inventor 73 becomes the "H" again. The purchasable displays PA through OH, and the sold-out displays PA through OH axe not lit. The clock pulse is introduced through the AND gate 72 to the clock input terminal CAL and the shift register 71 shifts. When the commodity selection switches AYE through 10H
corresponding to the output terminals are operated along the data shift of the shift register 71, the corresponding purchasable displays LED PA through OH and the sold-out displays LED PA through OH are lit for the delay time through the delaying circuit 74. Turn off the test switch 43 after the completion of the test, and the resetting signal is generated in the resetting circuit 68 due to the switching operation from the "H" of the test switch output to the "L". Also, as the clock pulse generating circuit 69 becomes inoperative and the output from the test switch 43 to the AND gate 75 becomes the "L", the test controlling operation stops. Also, the sub microcomputer 5 detects the 121~64~

completion of the test operation, because the "L" is introduced into the portion Pi, and the normal controlling operation it performed with respect to the front panel unit.
Once the test switch 42 of an automatic restoring type of the sale controlling unit 3 is operated, the sub microcomputer 6 transfers to the main microcomputer 7 a code showing the test sequence in response to the transfer, from the main microcomputer 7, of either of the controlling data Al, A, A in accordance with the processing.
Thereafter, the sub microcomputer 6 stops the normal processing to carry out the program of the self-check of the sale controlling unit 3. The main microcomputer 7 detects the entrance of the sub microcomputer 6 into the test sequence. In the test sequence, the sale controlling unit 3 sequentially drives the commodity discharging motors AYE
through 21H for each of the commodity kinds to deliver the commodities one by one. The tester can confirm things unusual of the commodity discharging motors AYE through 21H, the micro switch, the signal harness. Namely, in the case of the failure, things unusual can be confirmed by the non-discharging-operation of the ordinary commodities. After the discharging operation of the ordinary commodities, the main microcomputer 7 transfers either of the controlling data Al, A, A in accordance with the processing, and the sub microcomputer 6 operates the normal response operation.

~L21~649 Thus, the main microcomputer 7 detects the completion of the test sequence.
Fig. 19 is a function block diagram for explaining the operation in a case where the self-check operation on the sale controlling unit 3 is effected by the sub microcomputer 6. Referring to Fig. 19, when the flip-flop circuit 53 is set by the operation of the test switch 42, a driving signal is fed to the commodity discharging motors AYE through 21H through the common output terminal 24 by the operation of the test switch 42. And the output terminals of the shift register 61, of 8 bits, corresponding to the commodity kinds are connected, respectively, to the commodity discharging motors AYE through 21H through the driver 23. Also, the off delay circuit 55 is connected with the data input terminal DO of the shift register 57. The clock input terminal CAL of the shift register 57 is connected through an inventor 135 with the common input terminal 25 of each micro switch, which operatively cooperates with the test switch 42 and the commodity discharging motors AYE through 21H through the OR gate 56.
When the flip-flop circuit 53 is set by the operation of the test switch 42 under such construction as described hereinabove, the driving signal is fed to each of the commodity discharging motors AYE through 21H through the common output terminal 24. And the AND gate 54 causes its output through the setting output of the flip-flop circuit ~2~664g 53 and the operating output of the test switch 42. The off delay circuit 55 outputs the "I" at the data input terminal DO of the shift register 57. It is to be noted thaw the off delay circuit 55 outputs the "I" at the data input terminal DO for a given time after the automatic restoration of the test switch 42. On the other hand, the test switch 42 of automatic return type is actuated to output the "H" and, then, is automatically returned to output the "L", the fall signal disposed between the "H" and "L" is introduced, as a shift pulse, into the clock input terminal CAL of the shift register 57 owe the OR gate 56. Accordingly, the commodity discharging motor AYE is driven so that the shift register 57 stores the Ho of the data input terminal DO.
And the output of the micro switch, which operatively cooperates with the commodity discharging motor AYE is switched from the "H" to the "L" at the driving start of the motor and the output of the inventor 135 is switched from the "L" to the "H" to deliver the commodity. When the output of the inventor 135 is restored to the "L" from the "I, the shift register 57 is shifted up due to the falling from the "H" of the inventor 135 output to the "L". When the commodity discharging motor 21B starts its driving operation and the inventor 135 outputs the "L" from the "H", the shift resister 57 is shifted up so that the commodity discharging motor 21C starts its driving operation. When the shift register 57 is shifted up every time the input ~LZ~Ç~64~

signal of the common input terminal 25 is switched to the "H" from the "Lo, the commodity discharging motors AYE
through 2lH are sequentially driven. When the micro switch, which operatively cooperates with the commodity discharging motor 21H, outputs the "H" from the "L", the shift register 57 causes its carry output.- The carry output r sets the flip-flop circuit 53 to complete the test sequence.
Fig. 20 shows an example wherein the controlling operation of the coin mechanism lo and the wending apparatus 113 are directly performed through the port Pi and the port Pi by the main microcomputer PA and the sub microcomputer PA is provided in the front panel unit ill.
In this example, the main microcomputer PA is connected with the sub microcomputer PA by two signal wires Lo, Lo. The port Pi of the main microcomputer PA and the port Pi of the sub microcomputer PA are set, respectively, in the data transmission terminal and the data reception terminal, and are connected with each other by the signal wire Lo. The port Pi of the main microcomputer PA and the port Pi of the sub microcomputer SPA are set, respectively, in the data reception terminal and the data transmission terminal, and are connected with each other by the signal wire Lo. Fig.
21 is a function lock diagram for explaining the operations of the main microcomputer PA and the sub microcomputer PA in a case where the data transmission is performed with two signal wires. The same reference numerals are given to the ~L216649 same functional objects as in the main microcomputer 7 and the sub microcomputer 5 in Fig. 11. In Fig. 21, no both-direction switching gates 40, 41b exist, the setting terminals of the flip-flop circuits 30, 34B are connected with the ports Pi, Pi, the output stages of the shift registers 50, 36B are connected with the ports Pi, Pi. Fig.
12 is different, in the above-described point, from Fig. 11.
The data transferring operation between the Cain microcomputer PA and the sub microcomputer PA under such function construction as described hereinabove starts through the transmission of the instruction code data by the microcomputer 7 in the same manner as described in Fig. 11.
According to the description of Fig. 11, the terminal specifying data, together with the instruction code data, is transmitted. However, in the present embodiment, only thy sub microcomputer PA is provided in relation to the main microcomputer PA. Thus, no terminal specifying data is not required in particular. The ports Pi, Pi, Pi, Pi, are terminals for reception and transmission use, are the mark condition "H". After the main controlling apparatus 29 has set the transfer data of 11 bits in the shift register 50, the clock pulse generating circuit 31 is operated and the clock pulse CLUE is introduced to the shift register 50. The "L" of the start bit is outputted from the port Pi for transmission use. The flip-flop circuit sets in the falling of the "L" from the "H" of the ports Pi for reception use.

~Z~649 After the setting of the flip-flop circuit 34B, the clock pulse generating circuit 37B operates delayed by the delay circuit 39B to output the clock pulse CLUE, which lags the clock pulse Cull by a phase difference of 180. The subordinate controlling apparatus 35B rends the data to be inputted for the reception use in synchronous relation with the rising of the clock pulse CLUE. Accordingly, the subordinate controlling apparatus 35B samples such data at the respective 1/2 bit timing as shown in Fig. 12, and reads it. Thereafter, the subordinate controlling apparatus 35B
completes the sampling of the transfer data of 11 bits to output the resetting signal to the flip-flop circuit 34B to complete the transfer of the instruction code data.
And the subordinate controlling apparatus 35B
decodes the transferred instruction code data to make out that it orders the reception of the data, the flip-flop circuit 34B sets by the start bit of 11 bit data to be transmitted from the main microcomputer PA to sample the data in synchronous relation with the clock pulse CLUE.
Also, the subordinate apparatus 35B makes out the transferred instruction code data orders the transmission of the data to set the transfer data in the shift register 36B
thereby to operate the clock pulse generating circuit 38B.
Accordingly, the clock pulse CLUE is introduced to the shift register 36B and the transfer data is sequentially outputted from the ports Pi for transmission use as shown in the 121~6~9 format of Fig. 10 described above. The flip-flop circuit 30 is set by the "L" of the start bit. Also, the clock pulse generating circuit 32 operates later than the setting of the flip-flop circuit 30 by the delay circuit 33, and outputs the clock pulse CLUE, which lags the clock pulse CLUE by a phase difference of 180 as shown in the timing chart of Fig. 12. However, the main controlling apparatus 29 samples the data, at the respective 1/2 bit timing, to be inputted to the port Pi for reception use in synchronous relation of the rising of the clock pulse CLUE to read it. After the completion of the sampling of the data of 11 bits, the resetting signal is outputted to the flip-flop circuit 30 to complete the data transfer to the main microcomputer PA.
The operation and function of such sub microcomputer PA shown in Fig. 20 are completely the same as those of such sub microcomputer 5 as shown in Fig. 9. The inserted money-amount display 80, the purchasable commodity display 8, the sold-out commodity display 9 are controlled in display in accordance with the money-amount data, the purchasable commodity data, the sold-out commodity data transferred from the main microcomputer PA. The operation detection of the commodity selection switches lo through lo is periodically performed to transmit the selected commodity data in accordance with the demand of the main microcomputer PA. And the main microcomputer PA achieves the function described in Fig. 13 through Fig. 15. In the lZ1~6~9 present embodiment, no sub microcomputer exists in the coin mechanism 100 and the vending apparatus 1.13, and thus the operation of each of the steps No No Nls, N17~ ~25' N27' which transmits the controlling data Of, Al, C2, C3, A, A
is omitted in the flow chart. At the No step, the main microcomputer PA detects the inserted coin signal and the no-change existing signal from the coin mechanism 100. At the next No step, the inserted coin-number data and no-change existing data are set. Also, at the N11 step, the sold-out commodity is detected by sold-out switches AYE
through 22H of the vending apparatus 113 to set the sold-out commodity data. At the N16 step, a driving instruction is given to the change payment motors 17, 18, 19, 20 corresponding to the payment coin in accordance with the payment data. At the N18 step, the detection of the output of the micro switch, from the "L" to the "H", which operatively cooperates with the driven change payment motor, means the completion of the payment of one coin. At the N26 step, a driven instruction is given to the commodity payment motors AYE through 21~ corresponding to the selected commodity kinds in accordance with the selected commodity data selected from the sub microcomputer PA. At the N27 step, the detection of the output of the micro switch, from the "L" to the "H", which operatively cooperates with the driven commodity discharging motor, means the completion of the sale of the commodity. However, the main microcomputer lZlG~49 PA executed each step of No, No, No, N21, N22~ 30~ 31 the flow chart from Figs. 13 to 15, with respect to the sub microcomputer PA. But as described hereinabove, the terminal specifying data is not particularly required to be built-in in the controlling data. Also, the sub microcomputer PA performs the test operations described in Fig. 17 or Fig. 18 by the ON of the test switch 43.
Also, Fig. 23 shows the other embodiment, wherein the serial transfer of the data is performed between the main microcomputer 7B and the sub microcomputer 5B by two signal wires. In the transfer system of Fig. 23, two signal wires Lo, Lo are rendered, respectively, data wire, clock signal wire to transfer the data in synchronous relation with the clock pulse. The data wire Lo is provided between the both-direction switching gates 40, 41B of the main microcomputer 7B and the sub microcomputer us. The clock pulse generating circuits 31, 38B are connected with the main controlling apparatus 29 or the subordinate controlling apparatus 35 on the other side through the clock signal wire Lo. To transmit the data to the sub microcomputer 5B from the main microcomputer 7B, the main controlling apparatus 29 sets the transmission data to the shift register 50 and puts the switching gate 40 into the transmission readiness. The clock pulse generating circuit 31 is operated to output the data into the data wire Lo. The subordinate controlling apparatus 3SB samples the data to be introduced through the 6~9 - I -switching gate 4lB in the reception readiness in accordance with the clock pulse CLUE of the clock pulse generating circuit 31 to be introduced through the clock signal wire Lo, to receive the data. Also, to transmit the data to the main microcomputer 7B from the sub microcomputer 5B, the subordinate apparatus 35B sets the transmission data to the shift register 36B and puts the switching gate 41B onto the transmission readiness. The clock pulse generating circuit 38B is operated to output the data to the data wire Lo. And the main controlling apparatus 29 samples the data to be introduced through the switching gate 40 in the reception readiness in accordance with the clock pulse CLUE of the clock pulse generating circuit 38B to be introduced through the clock signal wire Lo and receives the data.
Fig. 24 shows the data transfer system between the main microcomputer 7C and the sub microcomputer 5C by three signal wires. The clock signal wires are rendered two, Lo and Lo under the construction of Fig. 23. One of the clock signal wires is used in the transmission of the clock pulse Cull from the main microcomputer 7C to the sub microcomputer 5C, while the other thereof is used in the transmission of the clock pulse CLUE from the sub microcomputer 5C to the main microcomputer 7C.
Fig. 25 shows another transfer system by three signal wires. The signal wire Lo is the data transmission wire from the main microcomputer ED to the sub microcomputer issue ED. The signal wire Lo is the data transmission wire from the sub microcomputer SD to the main microcomputer ED. The signal wire Lo is the common wire of the clock pulse CLUE or CLUE. In this case, the transmission and reception of the data are performed by the respective signal wires. Thus, the switching gates 40, 41B shown in Fig. I are not required.
Fig. 26 shows the data transfer system between the main microcomputer YE and the sub microcomputer YE by four signal wires. The signal wire Lo is the data transmission wire Lo from the main microcomputer YE to the sub microcomputer YE. The signal wire Lo is the transmission wire Lo of the clock pulse Cull. The signal wire Lo is the data transmission wire Lo from the sub microcomputer YE to the main microcomputer YE. The signal wire Lo is the transmission wire Lo of the clock pulse CLUE. Even in this case, the transmission and reception are performed by the separate signal wires. Thus, the switching gates 40, 41B
are not required.
Referring to Figs. 23 to 26, in each of the above-described transfer systems, the start bit, the stop bit are not required in the transfer format shown in Fig. 10 to transfer the data in synchronous relation with the clock pulse. Accordingly, the shift registers 50, 36B are composed of 8 bits. Referring to Figs. 23 to 26, the main controlling apparatus 29 counts the clock pulse Cull for ~23L~6~9 transmission use during the data transmission to the sub microcomputer. When the main controlling apparatus counts "8", the clock pulse generating apparatus 31 is adapted to be rendered inoperative. Also, the subordinate controlling apparatus 35B counts the clock pulse CLUE for transmission use during the data transmission to the main microcomputer. When the subordinate controlling apparatus counts "8", the clock pulse generating apparatus 38B is adapted to be rendered inoperative.
According to the present invention, a main microcomputer for controlling the entire automatic vending operation and a sub microcomputer for the controlling operation on the some restricted function blocks of the automatic vending machine are disposed. Signal wires for serially transmitting the data with respect to each other are disposed between the main microcomputer and the sub microcomputer. The sub microcomputer on the terminal side is adapted to control the components located within the function blocks by the instruction code data to be transmitted from the main microcomputer through the signal wires. Conventionally, in the control-unit base plate of the automatic vending machine, the number of the wirings were extremely increased, because the control-unit base plate was often connected respectively with each of the terminals such as switch, driving unit, display, etc. which were components of the automatic vending machine. However, ~21~6~9 according to the present invention, the control-unit base plate with the main microcomputer being engaged thereon is connected with the sub microcomputer on the terming side by the signal wires of a number selected from one to four, thus effectively reducing the number of the wirings of the control-unit base plate Accordingly, the control-unit base plate is simplified to improve the assembling efficiency during the manufacturing operation. Also, the signal harness located within the automatic vending machine connecting the control-unit base plate with the terminal side can be considerably reduced in number. The wiring disposition is simplified and the cost required for the wirings can be effectively lowered. Furthermore, the functions which were concentrated on the control-unit base plate are partially dispersed on the terminal side, the operation can be performed with the terminal side being separated from the control-unit base plate. The failures can be easily analyzed through the setting operation of the given test operation. According to the present invention, the controlling functions are provided in the some restricted function blocks of the automatic vending machine so that the controlling unit of the terminal side on the function blocks can be rendered common among the various automatic vending machines. Accordingly, the development and design efficiency are improved. In addition, according to the present invention, the connection conditions of the 121G6~9 terminal side controlling unit are standardized, thus simplifying the specification changes and the function increase of the automatic vending machine. Namely, to add the new functions to the automatic vending machine, the sub microcomputer for controlling the new function blocks is provided and is connected with the main microcomputer through already disposed signal wires, and a program for controlling the sub microcomputer is added to the main microcomputer.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be already understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and it not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A control system of an automatic vending machine including at least one or more terminal units each operating to prosecute a given function in relationship with operations in series of the automatic vending machine, comprising a submicrocomputer for controlling said terminal unit, a main microcomputer for collectively controlling said submicrocomputer, and signal wires of a number selected from one to four provided so that said main microcomputer and said submicrocomputer may transmit and receive the data serially with respect to each other, said main microcomputer transmitting instruction code data serially to said submicrocomputer through said signal wires to control the operation of said submicrocomputer, said submicrocomputer receiving said data to be transmitted serially through said signal wires when the instruction code data for ordering the reception of the data from said main microcomputer is transmitted, said submicrocomputer controlling said function block in accordance with said data, said submicrocomputer transmitting said detection data serially to said main microcomputer through said signal wires when the instruction code data for ordering the transmission of the detection data within said function blocks is transmitted, and said main microcomputer controlling the entire operation of the automatic vending machine in accordance with said detection data.

2. A control system of an automatic vending machine comprising a money-amount display means for digitally displaying inserted money-amount and the remainder after the sale, a sold-out display means provided for each of sale commodity kinds and adapted to perform lighting operation when the corresponding commodity has been sold-out, a commodity selection means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds and adapted to be operated by customers, a coin detection means for outputting inserted coin signals, respectively, in accordance with the inserted coin kinds, a change detection means provided for each of the change coin kinds to detect the existence of the change coins, a commodity driving means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds, a sold-out detection means provided for sale commodity kinds and adapted to detect the existence of the corresponding commodities, signal wires of a number selected from one to four for serially transferring the data, a main microcomputer including a function of calculating the inserted money-amount in accordance with said inserted coin signal, the commodity selling prices for each of the sale commodity kind stored in advance, a function of calculating the remainder after the sale, a function of comparing said inserted money-amount or said remainder with each of said commodity selling prices, and of deciding the purchasable commodities in accordance with the existence condition of the changes through said change detection means and with the existence condition of the commodities through said sold-out detection means, a function of serially transmitting, through said signal wires, the money-amount display data for displaying the calculated inserted-money-amount or the remainder by said money-amount display means, a function of serially transmitting, through said signal wires, the sold-out commodity data for displaying, by said sold-out display means, the commodity kinds sold-out and detected by said sold-out detection means, a function of receiving the selected commodity data in accordance with the operation of said commodity selection means to be serially transferred through said signal wires, a function of controlling the driving operation of said commodity discharging means in accordance with said received selection commodity data, and a function of serially transmitting, through said signal wires, the instruction code data for ordering the operation prior to the transmission and reception of the data, a submicrocomputer for controlling the front panel unit including a function of detecting the operation of said commodity selection means by the customers, said main microcomputer being connected by said signal wires, a function of receiving, reading said instruction code to be introduced through said signal wires, a function of making out that the received instruction code data is provided to order the reception of both the money-amount display data and the sold-out commodity data or either thereof, and receiving, as the specified data, the data to be introduced through said signal wires, a function of making out that the received instruction code data is provided to order the transmission of said selected commodity data and serially transmitting said selected commodity data through said signal wires, a function of controlling the money-amount display operation of said money display means in accordance with the received money-amount display data, and a function of controlling the lighting operation of said sold-out display means in accordance with the received sold-out commodity data.

3. A control system of an automatic vending machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein a test switch to be connected with said submicrocomputer is included, and said submicrocomputer has a function of lighting said sold out display means by the operation of said test switch, and a function of displaying a test pattern in said money-pattern display means.

4. A control system of an automatic vending machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein a test switch to be connected with said submicrocomputer is included, and said submicrocomputer has a function of lighting the sold-out display means corresponding to the commodity selection means operated through detection of the operation of said commodity selection means under the operating condition of said test switch.

5. A control system of an automatic vending machine comprising a commodity discharging means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds, a sold-out detection means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds and adapted to detect the existence of the corresponding commodity, a commodity selection means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds and adapted to be operated by customers, a coin detection means for outputting the inserted coin signals respectively in accordance with the inserted coin kinds, a change detection means disposed for each of the change coin kinds and adapted to detect the existence of the change coins, signal wires of a number selected from one to four for serially transferring the data, a main microcomputer including a function of calculating the inserted money-amount in accordance with said inserted coin signal, the commodity selling price for each of the sale commodity kinds stored in advance, a function of comparing said inserted money-amount with each of the commodity selling prices, and of deciding the purchasable commodity in accordance with the existence of the change through said change detection means and the existence of the commodity through said sold-out detecting means, a function of deciding whether or not the commodity kinds corresponding to the operated commodity selection means are said purchasable commodities, a function of serially transmitting, through the signal wires, the sale commodity data showing the selection commodity kind when the selected commodity kind is said purchasable commodity, a function of receiving the sold-out commodity data, in accordance with the detection of said sold-out detection means, to be serially transferred through said signal wire, a function of subtracting the commodity selling price of the sale commodity from said inserted money-amount when the sale completion data is serially transferred through said signal wires after the transmission of said selected commodity data, and a function of serially transmitting through said signal wires the instruction code data for ordering the operation prior to the transmission and reception of the data, a submicrocomputer for sale controlling use including a function of detecting the existence of the commodities by said sold-out detection means, said main microcomputer being connected by said signal wire, a function of receiving, decoding said instruction code data to be introduced through said signal wires, a function of making out that the received instruction code data is provided to order the transmission of said sold-out commodity data and serially transmitting through said signal wires said sold-out commodity data, a function of making out that the received instruction code data is provided to order the reception of said sale commodity data, and receiving, as said sale commodity data, the data to be introduced through said signal wires, a function of controlling the driving operation of said commodity discharging means in accordance with the received sale commodity data, and a function of making out that the instruction code data received after the completion of the controlling operation with respect to said commodity discharging means is provided to order the transmission of said sale completion data, and serially transmitting through said signal wires the sale completion data.

6. A control system of an automatic vending machine in accordance with claim 5, wherein a test switch connected with said submicrocomputer is included, and said submicrocomputer sequentially operates said commodity discharging means wherein the test switch is in its operating condition.

7. A control system of an automatic vending machine comprising a means for outputting the inserted coin signals, respectively, in accordance with the inserted coin kinds, a change detection means provided for each of the change coin kinds and adapted to detect the existence of the change coins, a change payment means provided for each of the change coin kinds, a sold-out detection means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds and adapted to detect the existence of the corresponding commodity, a commodity selection means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds and adapted to be operated by customers, a commodity discharging means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds, signal wires of a number selected from one to four for serially transferring the data, a main microcomputer including a function of receiving the inserted coin data transferring serially through said signal wires, the commodity selling prices for each of the sale commodity kinds being stored in advance, a function of calculating the inserted money-amount in accordance with said inserted coin data, a function of receiving the no-change existing data to be serially transferred through the signal wires, a function of comparing said inserted money-amount with each of said commodity selling prices and deciding whether or not the commodity is purchasable in accordance with said no-change existing data and the existence condition of the commodity through said sold-out detection means, a function of controlling the driving operation of said commodity discharging means corresponding to said commodity when the kind of the commodity selectively operated by said commodity selection means is purchasable, a function of calculating the remainder after the sale, a function of serially transmitting through said signal wires the payment data in accordance with said remainder, and a function of serially transmitting through said signal wires the instruction code data for ordering the operation prior to the transmission and reception of the data, a submicrocomputer for controlling the coin mechanism including a function of detecting said inserted coin signal, said main microcomputer being connected by said signal wires, a function of detecting the existence of changes through said change detecting means, a function of receiving and decoding said instruction code data to be introduced through said signal wires, a function of making out that the received instruction code data is provided to order the transmission of both said no-change existing data and said inserted coin data or either thereof, and serially transmitting the specified data through said signal wires, a function of making out that the received instruction code data is provided to order the transmission of said coin discharging data, and receiving, as said coin discharging data, the data to be introduced through said signal wires, and a function of controlling the driving operation of said change payment means in accordance with the received coin discharging data.

8. A control system of an automatic vending machine in accordance with claim 7, further including a test switch connected with the submicrocomputer, the submicrocomputer including means for controlling the change payment means to the same kind of coins as inserted coins when the inserted coin signal corresponding to the type is produced through the insertion of the coins in the operative condition of the test switch.

9. A control system of an automatic vending machine comprising a money-amount display means for digitally displaying the inserted money-amount and the remainder after the sale, a sold-out display means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds and adapted to perform the lighting operation when the corresponding commodity has been sold-out, a commodity selection means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds and adapted to be operated by customers, a commodity discharging means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds and adapted to be operated by customers, a sold-out detection means provided for each of the sale commodity kinds and adapted to detect the existence of the corresponding commodities, a coin detection means for outputting the inserted coin signals, respectively, in accordance with the inserted coin kinds, a change payment means provided for each of the change coin kinds, a change detection means provided for each of the change coin kinds and adapted to detect the existence of the change coins, signal wires of a number selected from one to four for serially transferring the data, a first submicrocomputer for controlling the front panel unit including a function of receiving and decoding the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data to be serially introduced through said signal wires, a function for detecting the operation of said commodity selection means by the customer, a function of making out that the received instruction code data is provided to order the transmission of the selected commodity data and serially outputting, to said signal wires, said selected commodity data in accordance with the detection of said commodity selection means, a function of making out that the received instruction code data is provided to order the reception of both the money-amount display data and the sold-out commodity data or either thereof and receiving, as the specified data, the data to be serially introduced through said signal wires, a function of controlling the money-amount display operation of said money-amount display means in accordance with said money-amount display data received, and a function of controlling the lighting operation of said sold-out display means in accordance with said sold-out commodity data received, a second submicrocomputer for controlling the sale including a function of receiving and decoding the terminal specifying data and the instruction code data to be serially introduced through said signal wires, a function of detecting the existence of the commodity by said sold-out detection means, a function of making out that the received instruction code data is provided to order the transmission of the sold-out commodity data and serially transmitting, through said signal wires, said sold-out commodity data in accordance with the detection of said sold-out detection means, a function of making out that the received instruction code data is provided to order the reception of the sale function of controlling the driving operation of said change payment means in accordance with said coin discharging received, and a main microcomputer including a function of serially outputting, to said signal wires, the terminal code data for specifying either of said submicrocomputers, which transmits or receives the data, an instruction code data for ordering the operation of said specified submicrocomputer to transmit said money-amount display data and said sold-out commodity data through said signal wires with respect to the first submicrocomputer for controlling said front panel unit and to receive said selected commodity data, to transmit said sale commodity data through said signal wire with respect to the second submicrocomputer for controlling the sale and to receive said sold-out commodity data and said sale completion data, to transmit said coin discharging through said signal wire with respect to the third submicrocomputer for controlling the coin mechanism and to receive said no-change existing data and said inserted coin data thereby to calculate the inserted money-amount with said inserted coin data, a function of transmitting said money-amount display data for displaying said inserted money-amount, a function of comparing said inserted money-amount with the commodity selling price, for each of sale commodity kinds, stored in advance to decide the purchasable commodity in accordance with said no-change existing data and said sold-out commodity data, a function of deciding whether or not the selected commodity shown in said selected commodity data is purchasable, a function of transmitting said sale commodity data showing the sale of the commodity if the selected commodity is purchasable, a function of subtracting the selling price of the sale commodity from the inserted money-amount in accordance with the reception of said sale completion data to calculate the remainder, and a function of transmitting the sold-out commodity data for displaying the sold-out commodity on said sold-out display means.

10. A control system of an automatic vending machine in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a first test switch, a second test switch, a third test switch, and the first submicrocomputer for controlling the front panel unit having, further, a function of lighting said sold-out display means corresponding to the operation of said commodity selection means by the operation of said first test switch and displaying the test pattern on said money-amount display means, the second submicrocomputer for controlling the sales having, further, a function of sequentially operating said commodity discharging means by said second test switch action, and the third submicrocomputer for controlling the coin mechanism having, further, a function of operating said change payment means for each of coins corresponding to the generation of said inserted coin signal through the insertion of the coin by the action of said third test switch.