HAIR-CARE PRODUCTS VENDING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME Technical Field The present invention relates to a hair-care products vending machine, and more particularly to a hair-care products vending machine incorporating hair-care products so that a user uses the hair-care products dispensed by inserting a coin into the vending machine so as to care for his/her hair, and a method for controlling the hair-care products vending machine.

Background Art Generally, each of hair dryers used in public baths has only a function of drying user's hair.

At this time, if necessary, the user applies a hair mousse, a hair spray, a hair gel, motor etc. to his/her hair, separately from the hair dryer.

That is, conventionally, when the user uses the hair dryer, the user, if necessary, further uses hair-care products such as the hair mousse, the hair spray, the hair gel, etc.

Further, in case the user uses the hair mousse or the hair spray, a hair mousse or hair spray container must be shaken by the user so as to dispense its contents, thereby causing inconvenience to the user.

Disclosure of the Invention Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a hair-care products vending machine incorporating hair-care products such as a hair mousse, a hair gel, a hair spray, a hair dryer, and a comb so that a user uses the hair-care products dispensed by inserting a coin into the vending machine so as to care for his/her hair, and a method for controlling the hair-care products vending machine.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a hair-care products vending machine comprising: a sensor unit for sensing a coin inserted into the vending machine; a displayer unit for displaying a value of the inserted coin; a selection button switch unit used to select one

product according to a button pressed by a user; a solenoid unit for controlling a quantity of flow of a hair mousse and a hair spray, when the hair mousse or the hair spray is selected; a first timer for intermittently controlling a velocity of flow controlled by the solenoid unit; a compression motor unit driven so as to discharge a hair gel, when the hair gel is selected; a second timer for intermittently controlling a driving velocity of the compression motor; a motor unit for blowing air of a hair dryer or discharging a comb, when the hair dryer or the comb is selected; a third timer for intermittently controlling a driving velocity of the motor unit; a blow/discharge unit for blowing air of the hair dryer or discharging the product by the driving of the compression motor and the motor; and a luminous unit for displaying an operation state of the machine.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a hair-care products vending machine, comprising the steps of : prompting a user to insert a coin into the vending machine and to press a desired button; dispensing a hair mousse if the hair mousse remains, or prompting the user to press another button if no hair mousse remains, in case the mousse button is pressed; spraying a hair spray if the hair spray remains, or prompting the user to press another button if no hair spray remains, in case the spray button is pressed; discharging a hair gel if the hair gel remains, or prompting the user to press another button if no hair gel remains, in case the gel button is pressed; driving a hair dryer so as to blow air if the hair dryer is installed, or prompting the user to press another button if the hair dryer is not installed; discharging a comb if the comb remains, or prompting the user to press another button if no comb remains, in case the comb button is pressed; and prompting the user to press another button if a any credit remains, or prompting the user to terminate the use of the vending machine if no credit remains, after the hair mousse, the hair gel, the hair spray, and the comb are used.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hair-care products vending machine in accordance with the present invention ; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a hair-care products vending machine system in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a flow chart of the hair-care products vending machine system in

accordance with the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hair-care products vending machine in accordance with the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, principal parts of the hair-care products vending machine of the present invention are described as follows.

A mirror 16 is installed on an upper portion of the front surface of the vending machine, a comb 18 is installed on the front surface of the vending machine below the mirror 16. Below the comb 18, a plurality of function buttons are arranged on the front surface of the vending machine. The plural function buttons comprise a mousse button 20, a gel button 22, a LED (light emitting diode) 24, a comb button 28, and a spray button 26.

A hair mousse dispenser 30, a hair gel dispenser 32, and a hair spray dispenser 34 are installed within the vending machine below the mousse button 20, the gel button 22, the LED 24, the comb button 28, and the spray button 26. A hair dryer 36 is installed on a top portion of the right side surface of the vending machine.

Hereinafter, a function of the hair-care products vending machine is described.

When a user inserts a coin into a coin slot 10, a value of the coin is displayed on a displaying unit 38. Then, the user presses one button among the mousse button 20, the gel button 22, the comb button 28, and the spray button 26 so as to select one item among the hair mousse dispenser 30, the hair gel dispenser 32, the comb 18, and the hair spray dispenser 34.

Then, the dispenser is selected, and the user uses a product dispensed from the corresponding dispenser so as to apply it to his/her hair or comb his/her hair. Further, the user draws out the hair dryer 36 and dries his/her hair with the hair dryer 36.

In case any value of the coin is left over after using the selected product, the user may press any other necessary button so as to select another item, or may press a change-return lever 14 so as to obtain the change.

When a product dispensed from the selected one from the hair mousse dispenser 30, the hair gel dispenser 32, the comb 18, and the hair spray dispenser 34, by pressing one button among the mousse button 20, the gel button 22, the com button 28, and the spray button 26, is being used by the user, the LED 24 is turned on. On the other hand, when no product is used by the user, the LED 24 is turned off. Further, when the hair dryer 36 is being used by the

user, the LED 24 is turned on, and when the hair dryer 36 is not used by the user, the LED 24 is turned off.

After the hair mousse dispenser 30 and the hair spray dispenser 34 employed by the vending machine of the present invention are used approximately fifty times, they must be replaced with new products. Moreover, the remaining quantities of the hair gel dispenser 32 and the comb 18 are examined with the naked eye.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a hair-care products vending machine system in accordance with the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the hair-care products vending machine system of the present invention comprises a sensor unit 100, a displayer unit 110, a selection button switch unit 120, a solenoid unit 130, a first timer 140, a compression motor unit 150, a second timer 160, a motor unit 170, a third timer 180, a blow/discharge unit 190, and a luminous unit 200. The sensor unit 100 senses a coin inserted into the vending machine. Then, the displayer unit 110 displays a value of the inserted coin. The selection button switch unit 120 is used to select one item according to a button pressed by a user.

When the selection button switch unit 120 corresponding to the hair mousse or the hair spray is selected, the solenoid unit 130 controls the dispensed quantity of flow of the hair mousse or the hair spray. The first timer 140 intermittently controls the velocity of flow controlled by the solenoid unit 130. When the selection button switch unit 120 corresponding to the hair gel is selected, the compression motor unit 150 is driven so as to discharge the hair gel.

The second timer 160 intermittently controls the driving velocity of the compression motor 150. When the selection button switch unit 120 corresponding to the hair dryer or the comb is selected, the motor unit 170 serves to blow the air of the hair dryer or to discharge the comb. The third timer 180 intermittently controls the driving velocity of the motor unit 170. The blow/discharge unit 190 blows the air of the hair dryer or discharges the products by the driving of the compression motor 150 or the motor unit 170. The luminous unit 200 displays the operation state of the system. Hereinafter, an operation of the system will be described.

. When a user inserts a coin into the vending machine, the sensor 100 senses the coin and the displayer unit 110 displays the value of the inserted coin.

The user presses one button so as to use a desired product among the hair mousse, the hair spray, the hair gel, and the comb. Herein, in case the hair mousse dispenser 30 or the hair spray dispenser 34 is selected by the user, the solenoid 130 operates, and in case the hair gel dispenser 32 is selected by the user, the compression motor 150 operates. Further, in case the hair dryer 36 or the comb 18 is selected by the user, the motor 170 operates.

Herein, the driving of the solenoid 130 is controlled by the first timer 140, the

driving of the compression motor 150 is controlled by the second timer 160, and the driving of the motor 170 is controlled by the third timer 180.

According to the driving of the solenoid 130, a hair mousse is dispensed from the hair mousse dispenser at 0.5 second intervals and a hair spray is sprayed from the hair spray dispenser 34 at 3,2, and 1 second intervals.

Further, according to the driving of the compression motor 150, a hair gel is discharged from the hair gel dispenser 32 at 2 second intervals, and a comb 18 is discharged at 0.5 second intervals.

The uses of the hair mousse dispenser 30, the hair spray dispenser 34, the comb 18, and the hair dryer 36 are indicated by turning on the LED 200. Further, when the hair mousse dispenser 30, the hair spray dispenser 34, the comb 18, and the hair dryer 36 are not operated, the LED 200 is turned off.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart of the hair-care products vending machine system in accordance with the present invention. Hereinafter, the system will be described with reference to Fig. 3.

A coin is inserted into the hair-care products vending machine and a desired button is pressed by a user. (S 100 and S 110).

In case the mousse button is pressed, if the hair mousse remains, the hair mousse is dispensed, or if no hair mousse remains, another button is pressed by the user. (S120 and S130) In case the spray button is pressed, if the hair spray remains, the hair spray is sprayed, or if no hair spray remains, another button is pressed by the user. (S 140 and S 150) In case the gel button is pressed, if the hair gel remains, the hair gel is discharged, or if no hair gel remains, another button is pressed by the user. (S 160 and S 170) If the hair dryer is installed, the hair dryer is driven to blow air, or if the dryer is not installed, another button is pressed by the user. (S 180 and S 190).

In case the comb button is pressed, if the comb remains, the comb is discharged, or if no comb remains, another button is pressed by the user. (S200 and S210).

After the hair mousse, the hair gel, the hair spray, the hair dryer, and the comb are used, if any credit remains, another button is pressed, or if no credit remains, the system is terminated. (S220).

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a hair-care products vending machine incorporating hair-care products such as a hair mousse, a hair gel, a hair spray, a hair dryer, and a comb so that a user uses the hair-care products discharged by inserting a coin into the vending machine so as to care for his/her hair and a method for

controlling the hair-care products vending machine.

The hair-care products vending machine of the present invention is installed at any <BR> <BR> place such as an inn, a motel, a public bath, etc. , thereby being conveniently used by the users.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.