JPH04233097A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To contribute to the sales promotion of merchandise by executing precise service to customers at the automatic vending machine to settle the account of sold merchandise by using a prepaid card or the like. CONSTITUTION:The purchase data of merchandise are cumulatively stored in a storage medium such as the card, etc., and based on the cumulatively stored purchase data, the service is executed to customers.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine in which a control means for selling merchandise is configured to perform payment for merchandise sold with a storage medium for a purchaser.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art The number of vending machines that use storage media such as prepaid cards to make payments for sold products is increasing. By the way, it is desirable to promote sales of vending machines by increasing their usage by buyers. Conventionally, services for purchasers for this purpose, such as roulette prizes, were provided separately in individual vending machines.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] It is thought that greater services should be provided to purchasers who frequently purchase specific products or products from specific manufacturers. However, with the above-mentioned conventional technology, it is not possible to provide such detailed services. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and to provide a vending machine that can provide detailed services to purchasers.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve this object, the vending machine according to the present invention is characterized in that the control means is configured to cumulatively store product purchase data in the storage medium, and The present invention is configured to perform a service for a purchaser based on the cumulatively stored purchase data.

[0005]

[Operation] By cumulatively storing purchase data of specific products and products of specific manufacturers, it becomes possible to provide greater services to purchasers who have purchased more of these products. Furthermore, by using a storage medium such as a card, it becomes possible to provide services based on comprehensive purchase results from a large number of vending machines.

[0006]

[Effects of the Invention] Since it is possible to provide detailed services to purchasers, it is possible to obtain a vending machine that contributes to promoting sales of products.

[0007]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. As shown in Figure 3, the front panel 1 of the vending machine has a sample shelf 2 on which samples of stored products are displayed.
, a plurality of selection buttons 3 for selecting products displayed on the sample shelf 2, a processing device 4 for an IC card 8, a display device 5 for displaying service details, etc., and a coin slot 6 for cash payments. , a product outlet 7 for dispensing the selected product, and a return switch 9 for returning coins.

[0008] A control configuration for paying for sold products and providing services to purchasers will be explained. As shown in FIG. 1, a control device H using a microcomputer is provided, and the selection button 3 is connected to the control device H.
, the processing device 4, the cash processing device 10, the return switch 9, the display device 5, the product dispensing device 11, etc. are connected. Then, the control device H performs payment for the sold products with the IC card 8 or in cash, and also
The service for the purchaser is executed based on the purchase data stored in the purchaser. That is, the IC card 8 corresponds to a storage medium for the purchaser, and the control means 100 is configured using the control device H.

Next, the operation of the control device H will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG. By the way, the purchase data cumulatively stored in the IC card 8 includes the number of purchases by product code X1, the number of purchases by product manufacturer X2, the number of purchases by vending machine operator X3, etc. Number of these purchases x1
, When the purchaser inserts the IC card 8 into the processing device 4, the service flags F1, F2,
If F3 is read and service flags F1, F2, F3 are set, the respective service flags F1, F3 are set.
2, the product corresponding to F3 is displayed on the display device 5 as a service product. If you select these service products, you can purchase them for free. If you select a product other than service products, payment will be made at the list price. When the end of product purchase is instructed, the number of purchases is
1, X2, and X3 and service flags F1, F2, and F3 are updated, and then returned to the purchaser. Note that when setting the service flags F1, F2, and F3, the corresponding purchase numbers X1, X2, and X3 are cleared. In addition, when a service product is paid out, the corresponding service flag F1
, F2, and F3 are reset. Note that cases where purchases are made with cash have been omitted.

[Another Embodiment] In the above embodiment, the storage medium 8
Although an IC card is used as a service product, a magnetic card may also be used and the specific configuration of the storage medium 8 can be changed in various ways. However, various changes can be made to the services provided to purchasers, such as providing prizes other than products. Incidentally, although reference numerals are written in the claims section for convenient comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Figure 1] Block diagram of control configuration

[Figure 2] Flowchart of control operation

[Figure 3] Front view of vending machine

[Explanation of symbols]

8. Storage medium 100 Control means

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: Control means (100) for product sales,
A vending machine configured to make payment for sold products with a storage medium (8) for a purchaser, wherein the control means (100) transfers product purchase data to the storage medium (8).
), and configured to perform a service to a purchaser based on the cumulatively stored purchase data.