JP2022027818A - Article collection system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article collection system and a program capable of activating use of an article collection apparatus.

SOLUTION: An article collection system comprises: storage means that stores collection history information correlating identification information for identifying an article collection apparatus where articles are collected or a user of the article collection apparatus and collection amounts of articles collected by the article collection apparatus; specifying means that specifies identification information corresponding to notification; and notifying means that notifies information relating to collection of articles corresponding to the identification information specified by the specifying means on the basis of the collection history information.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an article collection system and a program.

There is known an empty bottle collector that is designed to issue a receipt corresponding to the payment of the return deposit for the contained bottle in response to the acceptance of the containment in the empty bottle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Special Table 2000-515801 Gazette

From the viewpoint of environmental protection, it is preferable to collect recyclable goods as positively as possible.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to activate the use of an article collection device.

One aspect of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is the identification information for identifying the user of the article collection device or the article collection device from which the article is collected, and the collection amount of the article collected by the article collection device. A storage means for storing the collection history information associated with the above, a specific means for specifying the identification information corresponding to the notification, and an article corresponding to the identification information specified by the specific means based on the collection history information. It is an article collection system provided with a notification means for notifying information related to the collection of.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the computer provided in the article collection system is provided with identification information for identifying the user of the article collection device or the article collection device in which the article is collected, and the article collected by the article collection device. A storage means for storing the collection history information associated with the collection amount of the above, a specific means for specifying the identification information corresponding to the notification, and the identification information specified by the specific means based on the collection history information. It is a program for functioning as a notification means for notifying information related to the collection of goods.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that the use of the article collection device can be activated.

It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the PET bottle collection system in this embodiment. It is a front view and the side view of the PET bottle collection device in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the content example of the collection history information table in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the aspect example of the collection record web page in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the functional configuration example of the PET bottle collection apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the collection management server in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the customer terminal apparatus in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the processing procedure which the PET bottle collection apparatus of this embodiment executes in relation to the transmission of the collection history information corresponding to one collection operation. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the processing procedure which the customer terminal apparatus and the collection management server of this embodiment execute in relation with the display of the collection record web page. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the processing procedure which the PET bottle collection apparatus and the collection management server of this embodiment execute in connection with the presentation of the CO2 reduction evaluation. It is a flowchart which shows the example of the processing procedure which the collection management server of this embodiment executes in relation to the notification of the time of taking out a PET bottle from a PET bottle collection device.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a PET bottle collection system (an example of an article collection device) in the present embodiment.
In the present embodiment, the PET bottle collection device 100 is installed in each of the plurality of store STs. The PET bottle collection device 100 may be installed in the building of the store ST, or may be installed in a place facing the outside, for example, in the premises of the store ST, such as under the eaves.

The store ST in the figure is, for example, an affiliated store in the same series. As a specific example, the store ST in the figure is a convenience store in the same series.

The PET bottle collection device 100 functions as a collection facility for PET bottles as recycled products. The customer C who has gone to the store ST, for example, puts an empty PET bottle into the PET bottle collection device 100 after drinking a beverage or the like. The PET bottle collecting device 100 of the present embodiment stores the inserted PET bottle after reducing the volume.

Further, the PET bottle collection device 100 is connected so as to be able to communicate with the collection management server 200 via the network NT. The PET bottle collection device 100 may be configured to communicate with the network NT via, for example, a mobile phone communication network. As a result, the PET bottle collection device 100 can communicate wirelessly, and since it is not necessary to connect a cable for a network, for example, the degree of freedom of installation is increased.
Although the figure shows an example in which one store management server 500 is installed in one store ST, the number of store management servers 500 installed in one store ST is not particularly limited.

The collection management server 200 is a server that processes information regarding the collection of PET bottles by the PET bottle collection device 100. The collection management server 200 is operated by, for example, a company that provides a PET bottle collection device 100.
Specifically, the collection management server 200 manages collection history information indicating a history of collection of PET bottles in the PET bottle collection device 100 of each store ST. Then, the collection management server 200 derives the result (collection record) of the customer C regarding the cooperation of the collection of the PET bottle by using the PET bottle collection device 100, and notifies the customer C of the derived collection result. The notification of the collection record to the customer C is performed by displaying the information on the collection record on the customer terminal device 300 of the customer C.

The customer terminal device 300 is a terminal device owned by the customer C. The customer terminal device 300 may be, for example, a stationary or notebook type personal computer, or may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a mobile phone.
The customer terminal device 300 can communicate with the collection management server 200 via the network NT.

In addition, customer C in the figure is registered as a member of the store ST. Customer C, who is a member of the store ST, owns a membership card CD.
The card information recorded on the membership card CD includes a member identifier. The member identifier is also a card identifier assigned to be unique to each member card CD. Since the membership card CD is provided one by one for each customer C as a member, the card identifier unique to each member card CD is the customer C as a member who is the owner of the membership card CD. It is treated as a unique member identifier.

The membership card CD can be used as a prepaid card when paying at the store ST. The membership card CD can also be used as a point card. For example, when paying at the store ST, the customer who is a member presents the membership card CD to the store clerk.
When the clerk operates the POS register 400 installed in the store ST to perform accounting according to the product purchased by the customer, the clerk causes the card reader of the POS register 400 to read the card information recorded on the membership card CD. Perform the operation.

The POS register 400 executes an accounting process including a product registration process for registering a product purchased by a customer and a settlement process according to the registered product.
When the POS register 400 reads the card information from the membership card CD in the accounting process, the POS register 400 transmits the read card information to the store management server 500. As a result, the store management server 500 performs processing corresponding to, for example, payment from the prepaid balance, addition of points according to the payment amount, conversion of points to the prepaid balance, charging of the prepaid amount, and the like.
Although the figure shows an example in which one POS register 400 is installed in one store ST, the number of POS registers 400 installed in one store ST is not particularly limited.

The store management server 500 is a server that collectively manages the store ST. The store management server 500 is operated by the store ST.
Specifically, the store management server 500 manages the prepaid balance, the point balance, and the like for each member identifier. Further, the store management server 500 may be configured to manage information about products for each store ST, for example.

Next, an outline of the operation of the PET bottle collecting device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2A is a front view of the PET bottle collecting device 100 as viewed from the front. FIG. 2B is a side view of the PET bottle collecting device 100 as viewed from the side.

In the PET bottle collecting device 100, in the standby state, the outer door of the article loading section is closed, and the inner door movably provided between the article loading section and the accommodating section is closed.
On the other hand, the PET bottle collecting device 100 determines whether or not the outer door of the article loading section is opened and the article placed on the loading section of the article loading section can be recovered when the article is collected. That is, the PET bottle collecting device 100 determines whether or not the inserted article is a resin container such as a PET bottle and the container is in an empty state. When it is determined that the container can be collected, the outer door is closed, the inner door provided between the article loading unit and the accommodating unit is opened, and the container is collected by the accommodating unit.
Further, the PET bottle collecting device 100 of the present embodiment is provided with a volume reduction mechanism. By reducing the volume of the container by the volume reduction mechanism, the PET bottle collection device 100 can collect a large amount of the reduced volume empty container in the collection unit having a specified capacity.

As shown in FIG. 2, the PET bottle collection device 100 is provided with a container charging section 110 at the top of the device main body 100B, and an outer door 111 provided outside the opening of the container loading section 110. There is. The apparatus main body 100B is provided with a touch panel display unit 1400 and a card reader 1500 on the front side near the upper part of the outer door 111. Further, a luggage hook 100f is provided on the front side of the device main body 100B.
The container loading unit 110 is provided with various sensors for determining whether or not the loaded article can be collected. Examples of the sensor include an optical sensor, a metal sensor, a measuring instrument, an image pickup device, and the like. The PET bottle collection device 100 uses, for example, the outputs of these sensors to determine whether or not the loaded article can be collected. If it is determined that the bottle can be collected, the PET bottle that has been put in is reduced in volume by the volume reduction mechanism and then stored. On the other hand, when it is determined that the goods cannot be collected, the volume of the loaded goods is not reduced and the storage is not performed, and the customer is notified, and the loaded goods are taken out from the container loading section 110. Prompted.

Further, below the container charging section 110, a passage 71 communicating with the container receiving section 140 is provided. Further, an inner door 112 is provided at a position communicating with the container accommodating portion 140 from the mounting portion 116 of the container charging portion 110 of the passage 71.

Further, the PET bottle collecting device 100 is provided with a volume reducing unit 120 (volume reducing mechanism) between the inner door 112 and the container accommodating unit 140. When the inner door 112 is in the open state, the volume reducing unit 120 crushes the empty container A from the container charging unit 110 to reduce the volume, and outputs the reduced volume container RA to the lower container accommodating unit 140.
Further, the device main body 100B of the PET bottle collecting device 100 has a drawer 100C on which the container accommodating portion 140 is placed, and a drawer handle 100e and a key hole 100r are provided on the front side, and the key is keyed. It is configured to be able to be locked and unlocked by inserting it into the hole 100r.

Further, a translucent portion 100A (translucent window) is provided on the front side of the apparatus main body portion 100B, specifically, on the front side of the drawer 100C, and an empty container accommodated in the container accommodating portion 140 from the outside. Is configured to be visible.

Further, a moving handle 100g used at the time of transportation is provided on the side surface portion of the apparatus main body portion 100B.

Further, the apparatus main body 100B is provided with a cap insertion portion 108 on the front side, a cap passage 72 is provided downward from the cap insertion portion 108 in the apparatus main body, and the cap inserted into the cap insertion portion 108 is a cap. It is configured to be accommodated in the cap accommodating portion 145 via the passage 72.

Further, the PET bottle collecting device 100 of the present embodiment is provided with a card reader 1500 capable of reading the card information recorded on the membership card CD.

When the customer who is a member starts to use the PET bottle collection device 100, he / she performs an operation to have the card reader 1500 read his / her membership card CD. When the membership card CD is read by the card reader 1500, the operation of the PET bottle collection device 100 corresponding to one collection operation is started. The collection operation means that one or more PET bottles brought by the customer are collected by the PET bottle collection device 100. In the case of a customer who does not have a membership card CD, for example, one collection operation may be started in response to an operation instructing the touch panel display unit 1400 to start.
In one collection operation, the customer inserts one PET bottle into the container charging unit 110 of the PET bottle collecting device 100, and when the charged PET bottle is reduced in volume and accommodated, the next one is used. PET bottles are thrown in, and the PET bottles are housed in the PET bottle collection device 100 one by one.
Then, when the customer has finished accommodating all the PET bottles brought in this time in the PET bottle collection device 100, the customer may perform, for example, an operation for termination to the touch panel display unit 1400. As a result, one collection operation is completed.

In response to the completion of one collection operation as described above, the PET bottle collection device 100 generates collection history information reflecting the result of the collection operation, and collects the generated collection history information in the collection management server 200. Send to. That is, the transmission of the collection history information from the PET bottle collection device 100 to the collection management server 200 is performed corresponding to each collection operation.
The collection management server 200 stores the collection history information received from each PET bottle collection device 100 so as to be stored in, for example, a collection history information table.

Further, the PET bottle collection device 100 stores the collection history information generated each time the collection operation is completed. As a result, the PET bottle collection device 100 accumulates collection history information each time the collection operation is performed.
Then, the PET bottle collection device 100 transmits the collection history information accumulated since the previous transmission of the collection history information to the store management server 500 at a predetermined collection history information transmission timing. As described above, the transmission of the collection history information from the PET bottle collection device 100 to the store management server 500 is performed not at each collection operation but at predetermined timings.
The collection history information may be transmitted from the PET bottle collection device 100 to the store management server 500 for each collection operation. However, since the store management server 500 frequently communicates with, for example, the POS register 400 of the store ST, the communication load may become heavy depending on the time zone and the situation.
Therefore, the collection history information is transmitted from the PET bottle collection device 100 to the store management server 500 at a timing such as a time when the amount of communication with the POS register 400 is relatively small, so that the store management server can be transmitted. The communication load of 500 can be leveled.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the contents of the collection history information table. One record (one row) in the collection history information table in the figure is the collection history information transmitted from the PET bottle collection device 100 in response to one collection operation.
One collection history information includes each area of the device identifier, the store identifier, the member identifier, the collection date and time, the number of collections (an example of the collection amount), and the collection weight (an example of the collection amount).

The device identifier area stores a device identifier that uniquely indicates the PET bottle collection device 100 from which the collection history information is transmitted. The device identifier is information stored in the PET bottle collecting device 100.

The area of the store identifier stores the store identifier uniquely indicating the store ST in which the PET bottle collection device 100 from which the collection history information is transmitted is installed. The device identifier is information stored in the PET bottle collecting device 100. For example, in response to the determination of the store ST in which the PET bottle collection device 100 should be installed, the store identifier indicating the store ST to be installed is written in the PET bottle collection device 100.

The member identifier area stores the member identifier included in the card information read from the member card CD by the PET bottle collection device 100, which is the transmission source of the collection history information, at the start of the corresponding collection operation.
In the case of collection history information corresponding to the collection operation performed by a customer who is not a member, for example, a predetermined value (null value) indicating that a significant value as a member identifier is not stored in the member identifier area. May be stored.

The collection date and time area stores the collection date and time, which is the date and time when the corresponding collection operation was performed. The collection date and time may be, for example, the time when the collection operation is started or the time when the collection operation is finished. Alternatively, the collection date and time may include both the time when the collection operation is started and the time when the collection operation is ended. The collection date and time may be set by, for example, the PET bottle collection device 100, and may be included in the collection history information transmitted by the PET bottle collection device 100.
Alternatively, for example, the collection management server 200 may set the date and time corresponding to the reception of the collection history information as the collection date and time. When the collection management server 200 sets the collection date and time in this way, the collection history information transmitted by the PET bottle collection device 100 does not have to include the collection date and time.

The area of the number of collected bottles stores the number of PET bottles (number of collected bottles) collected by the PET bottle collecting device 100 in the corresponding collection operation. The number of collected bottles is obtained by counting the number of PET bottles whose volume has been reduced and stored by the PET bottle collection device 100 during the collection operation.
The area of the collected weight stores the total weight (recovered weight) of the PET bottles collected by the PET bottle collecting device 100 in the corresponding collection operation. The recovered weight is obtained by measuring the weight of each PET bottle whose volume has been reduced and accommodated by the PET bottle collecting device 100 during the recovery operation and integrating the measured weight.

Similar to the collection management server 200, the store management server 500 may also store the collection history information received from each PET bottle collection device 100 by the structure of the collection history information table in the figure.

The explanation is returned to FIG. In the PET bottle collection system of the present embodiment, the points of the membership card are given to the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 by the member C, with the intention of giving a privilege for cooperating in the collection of PET bottles. Perform a service to add points (point addition service). The point addition service for the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 is realized by the store management server 500 that manages the points of the members.
The store management server 500 executes the following processing corresponding to one member as a point addition service. Among the collection history information stored by the store management server 500, the PET bottles collected by one member are predetermined by using the collection history information about one member transmitted from each PET bottle collection device 100. As the number of bottles increases, a predetermined number of points are added (for example, 1 point is added for every 5 PET bottles).
In this way, by allowing the member C to add points to the membership card CD according to the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 by the member C, a practical merit is obtained for the member C. Therefore, the use (collection operation) of the PET bottle collection device 100 by customers will be activated.

Further, the PET bottle collection system of the present embodiment can notify the customer C of the collection results to the customer C as a member using the PET bottle collection device 100. The mode of notifying the customer C of the collection record is, for example, as follows.

Customer C as a member using the PET bottle collection device 100 accesses the customer terminal device 300 to the collection record notification web page (collection record web page), for example, by using the network connection function of the customer terminal device 300. Let me.
In the following description, a case where the collection management server 200 is configured to have a function as a web server for providing a collection record web page will be given as an example.

FIG. 4A shows an example of the initial display of the collection record web page that is first displayed on the customer terminal device 300 when the customer terminal device 300 is made to access the collection record web page.
In the web page of the figure, an input box BX for inputting a member identifier and a search button BT are arranged. Customer C performs an operation of inputting his / her own member identifier in the input box BX. In the present embodiment, the member identifier is, for example, a numerical string having a predetermined number of digits. Customer C can confirm his / her membership identifier by checking the number string of the membership identifier written on the membership card CD owned by him / her.

Customer C inputs the member identifier in the input box BX and then operates the search button BT. In response to the operation for the search button BT, the customer terminal device 300 transmits a collection record request including the member identifier input to the input box BX to the collection management server 200.
In response to the reception of the collection record request, the collection management server 200 uses the collection history information stored in the collection history information table to derive the collection record for the member indicated by the member identifier included in the collection record request.
In this case, the collection record includes, for example, the accumulation of the number of collections so far (cumulative collection number) for the member indicated by the member identifier in which the collection history information is stored in the collection history information table, and the ranking based on the cumulative collection number. ..
When the collection management server 200 derives the collection record for the customer C, the collection management server 200 transmits the collection record information indicating the derived collection record to the customer terminal device 300 of the collection record request transmission source.
The customer terminal device 300 that has received the collection record information updates and displays the collection record web page so that the contents of the received collection record information are reflected according to the description of the collection record web page.

FIG. 4B shows an example of the display mode of the updated web page for the customer C in the customer terminal device 300.
In the web page of the figure, the cumulative number of collections of customer C is shown in the cumulative collection number area AR1.
Further, in the ranking area AR2, the ranking of customer C is shown. In the ranking area AR2 in the figure, the number of all members who have a history of using the PET bottle collecting device 100 is indicated by the denominator, and the ranking of the customer C is indicated by the numerator. That is, in the ranking area AR2, the number of the customer C among all the members who have a history of using the PET bottle collection device 100 is shown.
In order to display the ranking in the manner shown in the figure, for example, the collection record information may include the ranking of the customer C as well as the total number of members who have a history of using the PET bottle collection device 100.

By looking at the screen of the web page displayed in this way, the customer C can grasp how many PET bottles he / she has collected by the PET bottle collection device 100 so far. In addition, customer C can grasp his / her ranking based on the cumulative number of PET bottles collected.
In this way, by allowing the customer C as a member who uses the PET bottle collection device 100 to grasp his / her own achievements regarding the collection of PET bottles, the customer C is aware of the ranking of the PET bottle collection device. 100 can be used. In this case, since the customer C is more likely to be conscious of raising the ranking, it is expected that the customer C will be more active in using the PET bottle collection device 100.

In the above-mentioned mode of notification of collection results, customer C operates a web browser or the like of the customer terminal device 300 to access the collection results web page and then inputs a member identifier. Depending on the customer, such an operation may be regarded as troublesome. Considering such a thing, it is preferable to inform the customer C of the collection result more easily.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the collection result is notified to the customer C also by the following aspects.

The PET bottle collection device 100 causes the touch panel display unit 1400 to display a two-dimensional code used for accessing the collection record web page, for example, at the timing when one collection operation is completed. The displayed two-dimensional code is obtained from the URL of the collection record web page (Uniform Resource Locator: an example of the notification location) and the member information of the membership card CD read by the customer C to the card reader 1500 at the start of the collection operation. The member identifier that was created is included. Acquisition of a member identifier from the member information of a membership card CD is an example of specific identification information.

If the customer wants to check his / her collection record on the spot, the two-dimensional code displayed on the touch panel display unit 1400 by the code reader function of the customer terminal device 300 that he / she possesses. Is read by the customer terminal device 300.
The customer terminal device 300 that has read the two-dimensional code analyzes the read two-dimensional code to acquire the URL and the member identifier. The customer terminal device 300 accesses the acquired URL. The accessed web page is, for example, the collection record web page of the initial display shown in FIG. 4 (a). The customer terminal device 300 inputs the member identifier acquired from the two-dimensional code to the accessed web page, and generates an operation (click) for the search button BT.
In response to the occurrence of an operation on the search button BT, the collection record request is transmitted from the customer terminal device 300 to the collection management server 200. The collection management server 200 derives the collection record and transmits the collection record information in response to the collection record request. The customer terminal device 300 updates the collection record web page so as to reflect the contents of the received collection record, and displays the updated collection record web page.
As a result, in the customer terminal device 300, the operation of displaying the collection record web page showing the collection record of the customer C so far is obtained as shown in FIG. 4B in response to the reading of the two-dimensional code. Be done.
In this case, the customer C displays the collection result on the customer terminal device 300 by simply performing a simple operation of having the customer terminal device 300 read the two-dimensional code on the spot where the collection operation is performed. You can check.

An example of the functional configuration of the PET bottle collecting device 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The PET bottle collection device 100 in the figure includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1100, a storage unit 1200, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1300, a touch panel display unit 1400, a card reader 1500, a communication unit 1600, and a collection mechanism unit 1700. .. Each of these parts is connected via an internal bus.

The CPU 1100 executes various processes in the PET bottle collecting device 100 by executing a program. Various functions as the PET bottle collection device 100 are realized by the processing of the CPU 1100.

The storage unit 1200 is an auxiliary storage device that stores various data used by the CPU 1100. The storage unit 1200 stores, for example, a program to be executed by the CPU 1100, image data to be displayed on the touch panel display unit 1400, and the like.

The RAM 1300 is a main storage device in which programs and data read from the storage unit 1200 are expanded.

As shown in FIG. 2, the touch panel display unit 1400 is provided with a display surface exposed on the device main body unit 100B. The touch panel display unit 1400 displays an image according to the control of the CPU 1100. The touch panel display unit 1400 receives an operation performed on the display surface by an operating body such as a finger.

The card reader 1500 is provided in the device main body 100B as shown in FIG. The card reader 1500 communicates with the member card CD in the communication range by, for example, a non-contact predetermined communication method, and reads out the member information from the communication destination member card CD.

The communication unit 1600 communicates via the network NT. As described above, the communication unit 1600 of the present embodiment communicates so as to be wirelessly connected to the network NT.

The collection mechanism unit 1700 is a mechanism unit that performs operations related to volume reduction, storage, and the like of PET bottles as collection of PET bottles according to the control of the CPU 1100. In correspondence with FIG. 2, the collection mechanism unit 1700 includes a container charging unit 110, an outer door 111, an inner door 112, a volume reducing unit 120, a container accommodating unit 140, and the like.

A configuration example of the collection management server 200 will be described with reference to FIG. The collection management server 200 in the figure includes a communication unit 201, a control unit 202, and a storage unit 203.

The communication unit 201 communicates via the network NT.
The control unit 202 executes various controls on the collection management server 200. The function as the control unit 202 is realized by the CPU included in the collection management server 200 executing the program.

The storage unit 203 stores various information used by the control unit 202. The storage unit 203 in the figure stores the collection history information table 231. The collection history information table 231 has the structure illustrated in FIG.

A configuration example of the customer terminal device 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The customer terminal device 300 in the figure includes a CPU 301, a storage unit 302, a RAM 303, a display unit 304, an operation unit 305, an image pickup unit 306, and a communication unit 307.
The CPU 301 is a central processing unit, and controls the operation of the customer terminal device 300 by reading and executing a program stored in the storage unit 302.
The storage unit 302 is an auxiliary storage device of the CPU 301, and stores various information used by the CPU 301 including a program.
The RAM 303 is the main storage device of the CPU 301.
The display unit 304 displays an image according to the display control of the CPU 301. The display unit 304 may be configured as a touch panel capable of operating the screen.
The operation unit 305 collectively indicates various operators provided in the customer terminal device 300, various input devices connected to the customer terminal device 300, and the like.
The imaging unit 306 performs imaging according to the control of the CPU 301. Further, the image pickup unit 306 of the present embodiment can also function as a portion for reading the two-dimensional code in the code reader that processes the two-dimensional code.
The communication unit 307 is a portion that wirelessly communicates via the network NT.

With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8, an example of a processing procedure executed by the PET bottle collection device 100 of the present embodiment in connection with transmission of collection history information according to one collection operation will be described.
Step S101: The PET bottle collection device 100 waits for an operation for instructing the start of the collection operation (collection operation instruction operation) to be performed. The collection operation instruction operation is an operation for causing the card reader 1500 to read the card information of the member card CD, or an operation for the collection operation start button displayed on the touch panel display unit 1400.

Step S102: In response to the collection operation instruction operation, the PET bottle collection device 100 starts an operation corresponding to the collection operation. That is, the PET bottle collecting device 100 receives the PET bottle to be charged into the container charging unit 110 with the outer door 111 open. After that, in response to the introduction of the PET bottle, the PET bottle collecting device 100 closes the outer door 111, reduces the volume of the PET bottle by the volume reducing unit 120, and puts the PET bottle into the container accommodating unit 140. Contain. The PET bottle collection device 100 opens the outer door 111 again and accepts the next PET bottle input. In this way, the operation corresponding to the collection operation by the PET bottle collection device 100 is performed.

Step S103: The PET bottle collection device 100 is waiting for the operation corresponding to the collection operation started by step S102 to be completed. For example, when all the PET bottles brought in are housed in the PET bottle collection device 100, the customer operates the end button displayed on the touch panel display unit 1400 according to the guidance displayed on the touch panel display unit 1400. In response to the operation on the end button, the operation corresponding to the one collection operation performed so far is terminated.

Step S104: When the operation corresponding to the collection operation is completed, the PET bottle collection device 100 determines whether or not the card information from the member card CD has been read at the time of the collection operation instruction operation.
Step S105: When the card information from the membership card CD has been read, the PET bottle collection device 100 generates collection history information including the member identifier acquired from the read card information. As described above, the collection history information has contents that reflect the result of the collection operation, and in addition to the member identifier, information such as the device identifier, the store identifier, the collection date and time, the number of collections, and the collection weight is included. included. The PET bottle collection device 100 transmits the generated collection history information to the collection management server 200.
Step S106: Further, the PET bottle collection device 100 causes the touch panel display unit 1400 to display a two-dimensional code encoding the member identifier acquired from the read card information and the URL of the collection record web page.

Step S107: On the other hand, when the card information from the membership card CD has not been read, the PET bottle collection device 100 generates collection history information that does not include the member identifier, and collects and manages the generated collection history information. Send to server 200.
The collection management server 200 stores the collection history information transmitted in step S105 or step S107 in the storage unit 203 so as to be stored in the collection history information table 231.

With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9, an example of a processing procedure executed by the customer terminal device 300 and the collection management server 200 in relation to the display of the collection record web page will be described. In the figure, a process corresponding to the display of the collection record web page based on the reading of the two-dimensional code displayed on the touch panel display unit 1400 of the PET bottle collection device 100 is given as an example. Further, the process shown in FIG. 9 is executed at a stage after the process shown in FIG. 9 is completed by the PET bottle collecting device 100.

Step S201: The customer C activates the code reader function of the customer terminal device 300 in order to display the collection record web page on the customer terminal device 300. Customer C causes the customer terminal device 300 to read the two-dimensional code displayed on the touch panel display unit 1400 of the PET bottle collection device 100 by the activated code reader function.
The customer terminal device 300 waits for the two-dimensional code to be read, for example, with the bar code reader function activated.

Step S202: When the two-dimensional code is read, the customer terminal device 300 analyzes the two-dimensional code read by the bar code reader function and acquires the URL and the member identifier from the two-dimensional code.

Step S203: The customer terminal device 300 transmits a URL request by designating the URL acquired in step S202.
Step S204: In response to the URL request in step S203, the collection management server 200 transmits the data of the requested URL web page, that is, the collection record web page, to the customer terminal device 300.
The customer terminal device 300 acquires the data of the received collection record web page by the web browser function. The collection record web page acquired in step S204 corresponds to the initial display illustrated in FIG. 4A, and it is possible to input the member identifier in the input box BX and operate the search button BT.

Step S205; The customer terminal device 300 inputs the member identifier acquired in step S202 into the input box BX of the acquired collection record web page by the web browser function.
Step S206: Next, the customer terminal device 300 executes a process of generating an operation for the search button BT of the acquired collection record web page by the web browser function.
Step S207: In response to the processing of step S206, the web browser function of the customer terminal device 300 transmits a collection record request to the collection management server 200, for example, according to the description on the collection record web page. The collection record request includes the member identifier acquired in step S202.

Step S208: In response to the collection record request transmitted in step S207, the collection management server 200 transmits the collection record information corresponding to the member identifier included in the collection record request.
The customer terminal device 300 uses the web browser function to receive the collection record information so that the received collection record information is reflected according to the description of the collection record web page acquired in step S204. Refresh the page. The customer terminal device 300 uses the web browser function to display the updated collection record web page on the display unit 304 of the customer terminal device 300. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the collection record web page displayed in this way has contents that reflect the collection record information of customer C.

Step S301: The collection management server 200 is waiting for the URL request of the collection record web page transmitted from the customer terminal device 300 in step S203 to be received.
Step S302: The collection management server 200 transmits the collection record web page after establishing a session with the customer terminal device 300 that is the sender of the URL request in response to receiving the URL request of the collection record web page. do.

Step S303: The collection management server 200 receives the collection record request transmitted from the customer terminal device 300, and as described above, the collection record corresponding to the member indicated by the member identifier included in the collection record request. Is derived.
Step S304: The collection management server 200 generates collection record information based on the collection record derived in step S303, and transmits the generated collection record information to the customer terminal device 300.

In displaying the ranking of individual customers as the collection record on the collection record web page, for example, the cumulative number of collections corresponding to the ranking other than the self may be shown.
In such a display, it is conceivable that the ranks of self and other than self are arranged side by side in descending order of rank, and then the cumulative number of collected bottles is shown in correspondence with each rank.
Further, for example, regarding the collection results, the rankings of self and other than self and the cumulative number of collections according to the ranking may be displayed by a graph. As an example, the display by a graph may be a display using a histogram, for example.
As the histogram in this case, for example, the section (bins) on the horizontal axis is the cumulative number of collected lines, and the frequency on the vertical axis is the number of customers (members) corresponding to each cumulative number of collected lines. In such a histogram, the section of the cumulative number of collected pieces corresponding to the self is displayed in a manner that the customer can visually understand. Then, the display that shows the self-ranking may be performed in a predetermined manner.
By looking at such a histogram, customers can easily understand not only their cumulative number of collections and ranking, but also how many customers and how many total collections, including other customers. You will be able to grasp it, and you will be able to clearly grasp your position in the whole.

In addition, on the collection record web page, for example, in addition to the information on the ranking and the cumulative number of collected bottles, how many more PET bottles can be added, such as "There is a possibility that 30 more bottles will be placed in the 10th place". If the collection device 100 is used for collection, a guide as to whether or not a certain target order can be reached may be displayed. By adding such a display, it is expected that the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 by customers will be further activated.

It should be noted that the collection management server 200 may provide the store management server 500 with information on the ranking based on the cumulative number of individual customers collected. Thereby, for example, the store management server 500 can change the rule of point addition according to the collection operation according to the order. As an example, if the standard rule is to add 1 point for every 5 PET bottles collected, 1 point will be added for every 4 PET bottles collected if the customer has a certain rank or higher. You may change the rules, such as. That is, the number of collected pieces required for adding the number of unit points may be changed according to the order.

In the above embodiment, the contents of the collection record information derived by the collection management server 200 and reflected in the collection record web page include the cumulative number of collections corresponding to the individual customer as a member and the ranking based on the cumulative collection number. It had been. In addition, the ranking is not particularly limited by region or the like, and is derived from all the members corresponding to all the PET bottle collection devices 100 arranged in each store ST.
However, the ranking may be derived from, for example, members who have used the PET bottle collection device 100 installed in the store ST included in a certain area. Further, the ranking may be derived from, for example, members who have used the PET bottle collection device 100 installed in a specific store ST.
Further, instead of the cumulative number of collected bottles, for example, the number of PET bottle collection devices 100 used by the customer or the number of store STs corresponding to the PET bottle collection device 100 used by the customer may be derived as the collection results.

Further, the ranking in each region may be derived based on the cumulative number of PET bottles collected by the PET bottle collection device 100 installed in the store ST included in a certain area, for example, instead of the individual customer. ..
Further, for example, the ranking in the store ST unit may be derived based on the cumulative number of PET bottles collected for each store ST. Such a ranking based on the cumulative number of collected items in each store ST can be used not only to notify the customer on the collection record web page, but also to be used by the store ST for analysis of sales, attracting customers, and the like.
Further, for example, the ranking in units of days of the week may be derived. In this case, the area may not be limited, a certain area may be targeted, or a specific store ST may be targeted. The collection record of the ranking in units of days of the week can be analyzed, for example, in relation to the garbage collection date of the local government.

Further, in the above embodiment, the collection result is displayed on the customer terminal device 300. However, the collection results may be displayed on the touch panel display unit 1400 of the PET bottle collection device 100, for example, by the PET bottle collection device 100 communicating with the collection management server 200.

In addition, the cumulative number of collections as the collection record is calculated based on the collection history information from the present to the past, for example, such as calculating based on the collection history information in the period from the present to one year ago. You may try to do so.

Further, the collection record of the present embodiment may be based on the collection weight stored in the collection history information. Alternatively, the collection record of the present embodiment may be based on both the number of collections and the collection weight stored in the collection history information.

<Second Embodiment>
Subsequently, the second embodiment will be described.
When the container storage unit 140 is almost full, the store clerk at the store ST first takes out the storage bag containing the PET bottle from the container storage unit 140, and newly sets an empty storage bag in the container storage unit 140. For the PET bottles put in the removed storage bags, a collection company (recycling company) regularly goes to the store ST by a transport vehicle, for example, to pick them up.

As described above, the PET bottle collecting device 100 of the present embodiment does not store the PET bottles that have been put in as the collection target as they are, but stores the PET bottles after reducing the volume. By reducing the volume of PET bottles, it takes longer for the collection company to reach the load capacity of the PET bottle transport vehicle that can be picked up, as compared with the case where the volume is not reduced. Along with this, the frequency (collection frequency) at which the collection company comes to the store ST to pick up the PET bottles decreases.
By reducing the recovery frequency in this way, the amount of travel of the transport vehicle in a unit period is reduced, so that CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions are also reduced. Reducing CO2 emissions contributes to the conservation of the global environment. Therefore, for example, a customer who is conscious of the global environment can find value in using the PET bottle collection device 100 of the present embodiment when collecting PET bottles.
Considering such a thing, it can be expected that the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 will be activated by making it possible to present the customer with the amount of CO2 reduction associated with the use of the PET bottle collection device 100. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the customer who has used the PET bottle collection device 100 can be presented with an evaluation (CO2 reduction evaluation) regarding CO2 reduction according to the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 by the customer so far. do.

In this embodiment, the following aspects are given as an example as a presentation of CO2 reduction evaluation. That is, when the collection operation performed by the customer C as a member using the PET bottle collection device 100 is completed, the screen showing the CO2 reduction evaluation for the customer on the touch panel display unit 1400 of the PET bottle collection device 100 ( CO2 reduction evaluation screen) is displayed.

With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10, an example of a processing procedure executed by the PET bottle collection device 100 and the collection management server 200 of the present embodiment in connection with the presentation of the CO2 reduction evaluation will be described. The process shown in the figure corresponds to the case where the collection operation is started in response to the customer C, who is a member, having the card reader 1500 read the card information from the member card CD as the collection operation instruction operation. do.

Step S401: The PET bottle collection device 100 is waiting for the operation of the collection operation started in response to the collection operation instruction operation by reading the card information from the membership card CD to be completed.
Step S402: When the operation of the collection operation is completed, the PET bottle collection device 100 generates collection history information reflecting the result of the current collection operation, and transfers the generated collection history information to the collection management server 200. Send to. The collection history information in this case includes the member identifier acquired from the card information read from the member card CD at the time of the collection operation instruction operation.
Step S403: The collection management server 200 of the present embodiment receives the collection history information, and is a PET bottle collection device for the customer C as a member indicated by the member identifier included in the received collection history information. Generates CO2 reduction evaluation information indicating CO2 reduction evaluation according to the use of 100. The collection management server 200 transmits the generated CO2 reduction evaluation information to the PET bottle collection device 100 from which the collection history information is transmitted.
Upon receiving the CO2 reduction evaluation information, the PET bottle collection device 100 displays a CO2 reduction evaluation screen reflecting the contents of the received CO2 reduction evaluation information on the touch panel display unit 1400.

Step S5011: The collection management server 200 is waiting for the collection history information transmitted from the PET bottle collection device 100 in step S402 to be received.
Step S502: When the collection history information is received, the collection management server 200 stores the received collection history information in the collection history information table 231.

Step S503: In the collection history information table 231, the customer C as a member (that is, the customer C to be evaluated) indicated by the member identifier included in the collection history information received in step S502 has collected PET bottles so far. The cumulative value (cumulative CO2 reduction amount) of the CO2 reduction amount due to the use of the device 100 is calculated.

As an example, the recovery management server 200 calculates the cumulative CO2 reduction amount in step S503 as follows. Here, an example is given when the cumulative CO2 reduction amount is calculated using the ton-kilo method.
Here, the recovery management server 200 corresponds to the calculation of the cumulative CO2 reduction amount, for example, the carbon dioxide emission intensity of the transport vehicle used by the recovery company and the distance traveled by the transport vehicle for collecting PET bottles (transportation). Distance) is stored in the storage unit 203 in advance.

Then, the collection management server 200 integrates the collection weight indicated in all the collection history information including the member identifier of the customer to be evaluated among the collection history information stored in the collection history information table 231. That is, the collection management server 200 calculates the cumulative collection weight of the PET bottles that the customer C to be evaluated has collected by using the PET bottle collection device 100 so far.

The recovery management server 200 calculates the CO2 emission amount by the ton-kilo method using the carbon dioxide emission intensity stored by itself, the transportation distance, and the calculated cumulative recovery weight. The CO2 emissions calculated in this way correspond to the total amount of PET bottles collected by the evaluation target customer C using the PET bottle collection device 100 so far, and are emitted by the transportation vehicle of the collection company. The amount of CO2 (actual amount of CO2 emissions) is shown.

Further, in the collection management server 200, the volume of PET bottles is reduced as the CO2 emission amount of the transport vehicle corresponding to the total amount of PET bottles collected by the evaluation target customer C using the PET bottle collection device 100 so far. Calculate the value (assumed CO2 emissions) assuming that the bottle was recovered without being recovered. The assumed CO2 emission amount can be calculated by using, for example, the actual CO2 emission amount and the volume reduction rate of the PET bottle by the PET bottle collection device 100. The volume reduction rate is the ratio of the volume when the volume is reduced to the volume when the volume is not reduced for the same PET bottle.
For example, if the volume reduction rate of a PET bottle by the PET bottle collection device 100 is 1/3, and assuming that the volume is not reduced, the transportation vehicle needs to be operated at 3 times the volume reduction rate. There will be. Therefore, the assumed CO2 emissions can be obtained by dividing the actual CO2 emissions by the volume reduction rate (multiplying by the reciprocal of the volume reduction rate).
Then, the recovery management server 200 can calculate the cumulative CO2 reduction amount by subtracting the actual corresponding CO2 emission amount from the assumed CO2 emission amount.

Step S504: The recovery management server 200 transmits the CO2 reduction evaluation information including the cumulative CO2 reduction amount calculated in step S503 to the PET bottle collection device 100 from which the collection history information is transmitted.

Under the above processing, on the CO2 reduction evaluation screen displayed by step S403, although not shown, a numerical value as the cumulative CO2 reduction amount included in the CO2 reduction evaluation information may be shown.
Further, on the CO2 reduction evaluation screen, for example, an image that changes according to the cumulative CO2 reduction amount may be displayed. For example, as the cumulative CO2 reduction amount increases, an image may be displayed in which the anthropomorphic earth looks cooler. Alternatively, an image may be displayed in which the indication of the thermometer becomes lower as the cumulative CO2 reduction amount increases.

As in the case of the first embodiment, the display of the CO2 reduction evaluation may be performed on the customer terminal device 300 by accessing the web page of the CO2 reduction evaluation, for example. good.
In this case, as in the first embodiment, the customer may input the member identifier and operate the search button BT to display the web page reflecting the CO2 reduction evaluation. Alternatively, the CO2 reduction evaluation is reflected in the customer terminal device 300 in response to the fact that the touch panel display unit 1400 of the PET bottle collection device 100 displays the two-dimensional code and the customer terminal device 300 reads the two-dimensional code. The web page may be displayed.

The amount of CO2 reduction may also be calculated from the present to a certain period in the past.

The degree of contribution to be notified in this embodiment is not limited to CO2 reduction. For example, the degree of contribution to be notified may be related to, for example, reduction of waste processed in waste disposal, or may be related to reduction of consumption of petroleum resources as raw materials.

<Third Embodiment>
Subsequently, the third embodiment will be described. At present, regarding the collection of PET bottles from the PET bottle collection device 100, the store clerk at the store ST visually confirms the state of the container storage unit 140 in the PET bottle collection device 100 as appropriate. When the customer confirms that the container storage unit 140 is almost full of PET bottles, the customer removes the PET bottles from the container storage unit 140 and stores them until the collection company picks them up.
The collection company regularly goes to the store ST and picks up the amount of PET bottles stored at the time of the visit.
As described above, at present, the store clerk needs to sequentially check the state of the container accommodating portion 140 in the PET bottle collecting device 100 in order to determine the opportunity to take out the PET bottle contained in the PET bottle collecting device 100. In addition, since the collection company also collects PET bottles on a regular basis, in some cases, the amount of PET bottles collected may be considerably small. Therefore, collection by the collection company is not always efficient. It cannot be said that it is done.
Therefore, the PET bottle collection system of the present embodiment is configured to notify the store clerk and the collection company about the removal time when the PET bottle contained in the PET bottle collection device 100 should be taken out.

With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11, a processing procedure example executed by the collection management server 200 of the present embodiment in connection with the notification of the PET bottle removal time (an example of collection opportunity) from the PET bottle collection device 100 will be described. do.
The process shown in the figure is executed by the collection management server 200 corresponding to one PET bottle collection device 100.
Further, in the process of FIG. 10, as described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10, the PET bottle collection device 100 transmits collection history information each time the collection operation is completed, and the collection management server 200 receives the collection history information. Corresponds to the case where the collection history information is stored in the collection history information table.

Step S601: The collection management server 200 is waiting for the accommodation capacity confirmation timing for the PET bottle collection device 100 to be reached. The capacity confirmation timing may be, for example, a date and time determined correspondingly at regular intervals based on days and months.

Step S602: When the capacity confirmation timing is reached, the collection management server 200 searches the collection history information table 231 for collection history information satisfying the following search conditions. That is, the collection management server 200 stores the device identifier indicating the PET bottle collection device 100 to be confirmed, and the collection indicating the date and time after the date and time when the PET bottle was last taken out from the PET bottle collection device 100 to be confirmed. Search for collection history information that stores the date and time.
In the present embodiment, when the PET bottle collection device 100 detects that the PET bottle contained in the container storage unit 140 has been taken out, the PET bottle collection device 100 transmits a PET bottle removal notification to the collection management server 200. The PET bottle withdrawal notification is information for notifying that the PET bottle has been taken out, and includes, for example, a device identifier indicating the collection management server 200 of the transmission source and a date and time (withdrawal date and time) when the PET bottle was taken out. The collection management server 200 stores the received extraction date and time. The retrieval date and time stored in this way is used for searching the collection history information.
The collection management server 200 accumulates the collected weights stored for each of the searched collection history information. The integrated value of the collected weight calculated in this way is the capacity of the PET bottle in the PET bottle collecting device 100 to be confirmed at present.

Step S603: The recovery management server 200 determines whether or not the capacity calculated in step S602 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.
Based on the specific weight of PET bottles, the volume reduction rate of PET bottles, etc., the correspondence between the total weight of PET bottles contained in the container storage unit 140 and the volume (containment volume) occupied in the container storage unit 140 is determined. It is possible to ask. Therefore, the threshold value used for the determination in step S603 is, for example, the storage volume of the PET bottle stored in the container storage unit 140 at a constant ratio to the volume of the container storage unit 140 (for example, about 80% to 90%). It can be determined based on the total weight of the PET bottle at that time.

Step S604: When the capacity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the collection management server 200 sends the PET bottle collection device 100 to be confirmed to the e-mail address designated in advance as the notification destination corresponding to the PET bottle collection device 100 to be confirmed. Is to send an e-mail notifying the time when the PET bottle should be taken out (take-out time: an example of collection opportunity).
In realizing the process of step S604, the collection management server 200 of the present embodiment is configured to have a function as a mail server. Further, the collection management server 200 stores a notification destination table in which the device identifier and the notification destination e-mail address are associated with each PET bottle collection device 100. Specifically, the e-mail address of the notification destination is the e-mail address of the terminal installed in the store ST where the PET bottle collection device 100 to be confirmed is installed or the mobile terminal owned by the clerk, and the PET bottle collection to be confirmed. A terminal owned by a collection company that collects PET bottles at the store ST where the device 100 is installed.
To register the e-mail address of the notification destination in the notification destination table, for example, access the web page for registering the notification destination e-mail address of the collection management server 200 using the terminal of the store ST or the terminal of the collection company, and register the terminal. It may be done by the operator performing the operation of registering the e-mail address.

On the other hand, if the capacity is less than the threshold value, step S604 is skipped and the process of the figure is terminated.

The notification of the take-out time may be performed as a push notification to a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, for example.

In this way, in the present embodiment, the notification regarding the timing of taking out the PET bottle from the PET bottle collecting device 100 is performed.
As a result, first, the store clerk at the store ST can accurately grasp the timing at which the PET bottle should be taken out from the container storage unit 140 without sequentially monitoring the state of the container storage unit 140 of the PET bottle collection device 100.
In addition, by notifying the collection company about the time to take out the PET bottles, the amount of PET bottles taken out from the PET bottle collection device 100 from the previous collection at the store ST of the collection destination can be obtained. You can see if it is stored at the store ST. As a result, the collection company will efficiently collect the PET bottles, for example, after the previous collection, when the notification of the time to remove the PET bottle is performed a predetermined number of times according to the amount of one collection. Can be set up.
As described above, depending on the present embodiment, it is possible to efficiently operate the collection of PET bottles using the PET bottle collection device 100.

In addition, for example, under the present embodiment, the collection management server 200 relates to the patrol work of collection based on the capacity of the PET bottle collection device 100 installed in each store ST in which the collection company is in charge of collection. On any day, the patrol schedule may be determined, such as by what route the store ST should be patrol and the PET bottles should be picked up.
The determined pick-up schedule may be sent to a terminal owned by the collection company, for example, by e-mail, push notification, or the like. Alternatively, the collection management server 200 may set up a collection schedule website so that the collection company can confirm the collection schedule by accessing the collection schedule website with a terminal.

<Modification example>
Subsequently, a modified example of the present embodiment will be described.
[First modification]
Under the present embodiment, as described above, a predetermined number of points are set for a predetermined number of collected bottles, for example, 1 point for 5 bottles, depending on the customer who is a member using the PET bottle collecting device 100. Was supposed to be added.
In the PET bottle collection system of this modification, for example, in parallel with the point addition according to the number of collections described above, the store is according to the order of the cumulative number of collections by the customer obtained under the configuration of the first embodiment. Benefits will be given to customers according to the shopping at ST.

When the customer who shop at the store ST is a member, the POS register 400 can read the card information of the membership card CD, for example, for payment by using electronic money, addition of points according to the payment amount, and the like. Will be done. That is, the POS register 400 can acquire the member identifier of the customer by reading the card information from the membership card CD.
The POS register 400 of this modification acquires the order corresponding to the acquired member identifier from the collection management server 200 in response to the acquisition of the member identifier from the membership card CD as described above.
The POS register 400 performs accounting-related processing so that the privilege according to the acquired order is given to the customer. Specifically, the POS register 400 sets a discount rate according to, for example, the acquired order, applies the set discount rate to calculate the price payable by the customer, and performs settlement according to the calculated price. May be done.
Further, the POS register 400 may determine, for example, an addition value of more points than in the case of corresponding to a normal payment amount according to the acquired order, and perform processing so that the determined points are added. good.
In this way, by allowing customers to receive benefits when shopping at the store ST according to the order of PET bottle collection, the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 by customers is further activated. .. In addition, the higher the ranking, the stronger the tendency of customers to shop at the store ST in order to receive benefits, so that the effect of attracting customers at the store ST can be expected to improve.

[Second modification]
The PET bottle collection device 100 is originally installed for the purpose of contributing to society by promoting the recycling of PET bottles. In addition, the store ST expects that the active use of the PET bottle collection device 100 by customers will lead to attracting customers to the store ST.
From this point of view, as the store ST, is the customer who went to the store ST to use the PET bottle collection device 100 also shopping at the store ST, that is, the PET bottle collection device 100? It is preferable to be able to quantitatively grasp the effect of attracting customers by installing the.

Therefore, the collection management server 200 of this modification is configured to be able to provide the store ST with customer attraction effect evaluation information that evaluates the customer attraction effect by installing the PET bottle collection device 100.
As the information for evaluating the effect of attracting customers, for example, specifically, the number of collection operations performed using the PET bottle collection device 100 in the past fixed period (total number of collection operations) and the total number of collection operations are collected. This includes the number of times the customer who started the operation also made a purchase at the store ST (the number of times the store was used). The ratio of the total number of customers who used the store ST to the total number of customers who used the PET bottle collection device 100 (store utilization rate) can be obtained from the number of times the store is used / the total number of collection operations. By grasping such a store utilization rate, the store ST evaluates the effect of attracting customers by installing the PET bottle collection device 100, and plans to install the PET bottle collection device 100 in the store ST in the future and the store utilization rate. You can take measures to increase it.
The information such as the total number of collection operations and the number of times the store is used in the above-mentioned customer attraction effect evaluation information may be, for example, corresponding to the store ST or may be within a certain area. However, it may be nationwide without limiting the area.
Information such as the total number of collection operations and the number of times the store is used in the customer attraction effect evaluation information may be classified for each time zone.
The store management server 500 may perform the processing related to the provision of the customer attraction effect evaluation information as described above.

[Third modification example]
In this modification, an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier) tag in which product information is stored may be added to the PET bottle beverage sold at the store ST. In the product information, predetermined information related to the product such as the product name, the manufacturer, the price, etc. is stored. At the store ST, by reading the product information stored in the RFID tag attached to the PET bottled beverage, it is possible to register the product to be purchased and manage the sales performance of the product.

Then, in the PET bottle collection system of the present modification, the PET bottle collection device 100 is provided with an RFID tag reader so as to be able to communicate with the RFID tag located in the container charging unit 110. As a result, the PET bottle collection device 100 can read the product information from the RFID tag attached to the PET bottle put into the container storage unit 140.

The PET bottle collection device 100 includes the product information read for each contained PET bottle in the collection history information in one collection operation, and then transmits the collection history information to the collection management server 200. The collection management server 200 stores the received collection history information so as to be stored in the collection history information table 231. That is, although not shown, the collection history information of the present embodiment stores, in addition to the information exemplified in FIG. 3, product information for each collected PET bottle.
The collection history information table 231 in which such collection history information is stored can be treated as information indicating the collection record for each product when viewed mainly by the product.
The collection management server 200 uses the collection history information stored in the collection history information table 231 to create collection record information indicating the collection record for each product, and transfers the created collection record information to, for example, a product maker. Can be provided.
The collection record information may be provided, for example, by a website. The person in charge on the manufacturer side operates the terminal to access the website and browses the web page of the collection record information of the product of his / her own manufacturer, so that the product is collected by the PET bottle collection device 100 to what extent. I can grasp whether it is.
When the manufacturer determines from the collection record information that the collection rate of the product is low, the manufacturer identifies the reason why the customer does not want to bring it to the PET bottle collection device 100 because the packaging film is difficult to peel off or crush, for example. However, the product can be improved so that the recovery rate can be increased.

In addition, the collection record information in this modification may be shown separately for each time zone, for example. In addition, the collection record information may be shown separately for each day of the week, for example.

[Fourth variant]
On the ST side of the store, a store that meets certain conditions, such as a product purchased at its own store, a product purchased at the same affiliated store as its own store, or a product purchased at a store in a certain area range. In some cases, it may be desired to have the PET bottle collection device 100 collect only the PET bottles of the products purchased in.
In response to such a case, the PET bottle collection device 100 of this modification accepts the storage of PET bottles of products purchased at a store that meets the conditions specified in advance, but the store does not meet the conditions. PET bottles of products purchased in the past will not be accepted for storage.

The PET bottle corresponding to this modification is attached with an RFID tag as in the third modification. The product information stored in the RFID tag of this modification includes a store identifier indicating the store ST that was sold. The store identifier may include not only the store ST but also a vending machine identifier indicating, for example, a vending machine.
Further, the PET bottle collection device 100 of the present modification stores the seller information indicating the conditions of the store ST of the seller where the PET bottles that can be accommodated are sold. The seller information may be information indicating the store ST of the seller individually, or may be information indicating a certain regional range including the store ST of the seller, such as a region code included in the store identifier. There may be. Further, the seller information may be information indicating that the store is a specific affiliated store, such as an affiliated store code included in the store identifier.

Similar to the third modification, the PET bottle collection device 100 of this modification is provided with an RFID tag reader so as to be able to communicate with the RFID tag located in the container loading section 110.
In the collection operation, the PET bottle collection device 100 acquires the store identifier stored in the product information by reading the product information from the RFID tag attached to the PET bottle inserted in the container charging unit 110. The PET bottle collection device 100 determines whether or not the store indicated by the acquired store identification information corresponds to the store designated by the seller information.
When the store corresponds to the store designated by the seller information, the PET bottle collection device 100 executes an operation of accommodating the PET bottles charged in the container charging unit 110.
On the other hand, when the store does not correspond to the store designated by the seller information, the PET bottle collecting device 100 does not perform the operation of accommodating the PET bottles charged in the container charging unit 110. At this time, since the PET bottle collecting device 100 cannot be accommodated because the inserted PET bottle does not correspond to the accommodation target, an error notification is sent to urge the customer to have the PET bottle taken out from the container loading unit 110. It may be carried out according to a predetermined embodiment. The error notification in this case may be performed by, for example, displaying on the touch panel display unit 1400. Further, the error notification may be performed by, for example, lighting an indicator light such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) provided in the PET bottle collecting device 100, a warning sound, or the like.

[Fifth variant]
For example, by using the NFC (Near Field Communication) function of the customer terminal device 300, the customer terminal device 300 is given a function as a membership card CD, and the customer terminal device 300 and the card reader 1500 are communicated with each other. , The PET bottle collection device 100 may be made to acquire the member identifier.

[Sixth variant]
In the customer terminal device 300, for example, a member application corresponding to an affiliated store of the store ST may be installed. The customer terminal device 300 on which the member application operates, for example, communicates with the store management server 500 to display a point balance for a customer as a corresponding member, a prepaid balance of electronic money, etc. on the screen of the member application. Can be displayed.
Then, as an example of this modification, the customer terminal device 300 on which the member application operates communicates with the collection management server 200, so that the cumulative number of collections of the corresponding member customers is displayed on the member application screen. The ranking and CO2 reduction evaluation may also be displayed. In this case, the customer as a member can simultaneously check the ranking of the cumulative number of collected coins and the CO2 reduction evaluation by activating the member application for checking the point balance, the prepaid balance of electronic money, and the like.

<Summary of embodiments>
(1) As described above, one aspect of the present embodiment identifies an article collection device (for example, a pet bottle collection device 100) or a user of the article collection device (for example, customer C) in which the article is collected. A storage means for storing collection history information in which the identification information (device identifier or member identifier) to be collected and the collection amount of the article collected by the article collection device (for example, the number of collections or the collection weight) are associated with each other, and for notification. Article collection including a specific means for specifying the corresponding identification information and a notification means for notifying information related to the collection of the article corresponding to the identification information specified by the specific means based on the collection history information. It is a system.

According to the above configuration, based on the collection history information indicating the history of collecting PET bottles by the PET bottle collection device 100, it is possible to correspond to the identified identification information and notify the information related to the collection of the article. become. Specifically, as in the first embodiment, collection according to the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 for a customer or the like corresponding to the member identifier acquired (specified) by the PET bottle collection device 100 from the membership card CD. Achievements can be notified. Alternatively, as in the second embodiment, the evaluation result regarding the reduction of CO2 according to the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 is given to the customer or the like corresponding to the member identifier acquired from the membership card CD by the PET bottle collection device 100. Can be notified.
As a result, the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 can be activated.

(2) Further, one aspect of the present embodiment is the article collection system according to (1), and based on the collection history information, the actual result regarding collection is derived corresponding to the specified identification information. The derivation means and the positioning means for positioning with respect to the achievements derived by the derivation means are further provided, and the notification means is the positioning means with respect to the achievements derived by the derivation means in response to the specified identification information. Notify the positioning performed by.

According to the above configuration, the position regarding the collection record (results related to collection) according to the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 for the customer or the like corresponding to the member identifier acquired from the membership card CD by the PET bottle collection device 100 ( For example, the ranking of the number of collected bottles and the degree of contribution of customers such as evaluation of CO2 reduction) can be notified. As a result, the customer will use the PET bottle collection device 100 while being aware of the position regarding his / her collection record, and thus the activation of the use of the PET bottle collection device 100 can be promoted.

(3) Further, one aspect of the present embodiment is the article collection system according to (1) or (2), with the specified identification information (for example, a member identifier obtained from a membership card CD). Further, the display means for displaying the information (for example, URL) of the notification place where the notification by the notification means is performed in a readable manner (for example, a two-dimensional code) is provided.

According to the above configuration, for example, the customer can read the two-dimensional code displayed by the PET bottle collection device 100 by using the bar code reader function of the customer terminal device 300 owned by the customer. The terminal device 300 makes it possible to browse information related to the collection of articles corresponding to oneself.

(4) Further, in one aspect of the present embodiment, the computer provided in the article collection system is provided with identification information for identifying the user of the article collection device or the article collection device in which the article is collected, and the article collection device. A storage means for storing collection history information associated with the collection amount of collected articles, a specific means for specifying identification information corresponding to notification, and identification information specified by the specific means based on the collection history information. It is a program for functioning as a notification means for notifying information related to the collection of goods corresponding to the target identified by.

A computer-readable recording medium is used to record a program for realizing the functions of the above-mentioned PET bottle collection device 100, collection management server 200, customer terminal device 300, POS register 400, store management server 500, and the like. By loading the program recorded on this recording medium into a computer system and executing it, the above-mentioned processing as the PET bottle collection device 100, collection management server 200, customer terminal device 300, POS register 400, store management server 500, etc. is performed. You may go. Here, "loading and executing a program recorded on a recording medium into a computer system" includes installing the program in the computer system. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Further, the "computer system" may include a plurality of computer devices connected via a network including a communication line such as the Internet, WAN, LAN, and a dedicated line. Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, and a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. As described above, the recording medium in which the program is stored may be a non-transient recording medium such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium also includes an internal or external recording medium accessible from the distribution server for distributing the program. The code of the program stored in the recording medium of the distribution server may be different from the code of the program in a format that can be executed by the terminal device. That is, the format stored in the distribution server does not matter as long as it can be downloaded from the distribution server and installed in a form that can be executed by the terminal device. It should be noted that the configuration in which the program is divided into a plurality of parts and downloaded at different timings and then combined by the terminal device, or the distribution server for distributing each of the divided programs may be different. Furthermore, a "computer-readable recording medium" is a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system that serves as a server or client when a program is transmitted via a network, and holds the program for a certain period of time. It shall include things. Further, the above program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions. Further, a so-called difference file (difference program) may be used, which can realize the above-mentioned function in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

100 PET bottle collection device, 110 container input unit, 111 outer door, 112 inner door, 116 mounting unit, 120 volume reduction unit, 140 container storage unit, 145 cap storage unit, 200 collection management server, 231 collection history information table, 300 customer terminal device, 301 CPU, 302 storage unit, 303 RAM, 304 display unit, 305 operation unit, 306 image pickup unit, 307 communication unit, 400 POS register, 500 store management server, 1100 CPU, 1200 storage unit, 1300 RAM, 1400 Touch panel display unit, 1500 card reader, 1600 communication unit, 1700 collection mechanism unit

Claims (4)

The collection history information in which the identification information that identifies the user of the article collection device or the article collection device in which the recyclable article is collected and the collection amount of the recyclable article collected by the article collection device are associated with each other. Memories to memorize and
Specific means for identifying the identification information corresponding to the notification, and
Based on the collection history information, the information related to the collection of the recyclable article corresponding to the identification information specified by the specific means is to protect the environment according to the amount of the recyclable article collected. An article collection system equipped with a notification means for notifying the degree of contribution. Based on the collection history information, a derivation means for deriving a record of collection corresponding to the identification information that identifies the user of the specified article collection device, and
Further provided with a ranking deriving means for deriving the ranking based on the actual results derived by the deriving means.
The notification means is
According to claim 1, the order derived by the order derivation means with respect to the performance derived by the derivation means corresponding to the specified identification information is notified together with the total number of users who have a history of using the article collection device. The article collection system described. The article collection system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a display means for displaying the specified identification information and information on a notification location where notification is performed by the notification means in a readable manner. The computer provided in the article collection system identifies the user of the article collection device or the article collection device in which the recyclable article is collected, and the collection amount of the recyclable article collected by the article collection device. A storage means for storing collection history information associated with
Specific means for identifying the identification information corresponding to the notification,
Based on the collection history information, the information related to the collection of the recyclable article corresponding to the identification information specified by the specific means is to protect the environment according to the amount of the recyclable article collected. A program to function as a notification means to notify the degree of contribution.

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