DE102017103505A1 - Vending machine with inventory management means - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a vending machine with at least one goods storage unit (1, 7) in which a plurality of individual goods (2, 2 ') are stored, the vending machine having a control unit and at least one optical sensor, wherein the optical Sensor image data of at least one goods storage unit (1, 7) and the goods therein (2, 2 ') records, wherein the control unit from the image data of the optical sensor, the number of goods (2, 2') determined in at least a goods storage unit (1, 7) are located.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a vending machine according to the preamble of independent claim 1.

Such vending machines are used for dispensing goods, especially in the vicinity of a checkout zone.

State of the art

The DE 10 2012 102 942 A1 shows a vending machine, which has several goods shafts, each having its own vacancy sensor. If the goods are running low in a goods shaft, a signal is issued in good time, so that even before an imminent vacancy, the relevant stock shaft can be replenished.

The number of required sensors must correspond to the number of goods shafts of the vending machine. In addition, the individual shafts must always be filled with the same types of goods, so that a control unit can link the vacancy information with a particular product.

task

The object of the invention is to propose a cost-effective vending machine, which can be used for the sale of various goods.

The object is solved by the subject matter of independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The inventive vending machine has at least one goods storage unit in which a plurality of similar or different goods can be stored.

The goods storage unit is, for example, a goods shaft in which, for example, cigarette packs are stored. As a rule, such goods shafts are executed sorted, which means that in a goods shaft only a single variety of goods is stored. Such a vending machine for cigarette packs would therefore have a plurality of goods shafts, in each of which a particular type of cigarette is stored.

The goods storage unit may also be spindle rods, on each of which a plurality of individual goods are suspended. The goods are, for example, razor blades. Different types of razor blades can each hang on the individual spindle rods. But the spindle rods can also be executed sorted. In this case, only one sort of razor blade would be on each spindle bar.

In addition to the goods storage unit, the vending machine has a control unit. The control unit can control the entire sales processes of the vending machine. The control unit is able to carry out further evaluations and calculations with the appropriate software. The control unit comprises a memory or a memory module on which different information can be stored.

The vending machine has an optical sensor. Image data can be acquired with the optical sensor. These image data include color and / or brightness differences of a recorded image or a recorded area. From the image data, for example, a brightness curve can be calculated. Advantageously, the optical sensor is a camera. Cameras can be purchased cheaply and retrofitted to existing vending machines. The camera can be arranged movably in the vending machine. Depending on which image section the camera can capture, it may make sense to move the camera to positions to capture more image details, for example, to obtain an overall picture of a warehouse area. This avoids having to install multiple cameras.

The optical sensor records image data of the at least one goods storage unit and the goods contained therein. From the image data of the optical sensor, the control unit uses a suitable software routine to determine the number of goods that are in the at least one goods storage unit.

The vending machine has a comparator. By means of the comparator, image data captured by the optical sensor can be compared with reference images stored in the memory module.

When evaluating the image data of the optical sensor, color and / or brightness differences are evaluated. As a result, for example, vacancies before and between two juxtaposed goods can be detected. Thereby, the number of goods located in a goods storage unit can be detected.

Advantageously, the vending machine has a plurality of goods storage units. In this case, the control unit determines, from the image data of the optical sensor, the number of the goods storage units and at the same time the number of goods therein. Even with the goods storage units, the color and / or brightness differences between the goods storage units are utilized for this purpose.

In a particularly preferred variant of the invention, at least one reference image of at least one product is stored on the control unit. Based on this at least one reference image and the image data of the optical sensor, the control unit determines the number of goods stored in at least one goods storage unit. By the reference image of a product, in particular, this product can be detected very reliably by image comparisons of the optical sensor. In this case, the number of goods of exactly this sort in the goods storage unit can be determined. Furthermore, by an exclusion principle, the number of goods can be determined, which does not specifically concern this variety.

Advantageously, several reference images of different goods are stored on the control unit. Based on these reference images and the image data of the optical sensor, the control unit determines the number of different goods in at least one goods storage unit. Thus it can be detected which types of goods are stored in which quantity in a goods storage unit.

It is particularly advantageous if a plurality of reference images of different goods and at least one reference image of a goods storage unit are stored on the control unit. The control unit uses these reference images and the image data of the optical sensor to determine the number of goods storage units and the number of goods therein. This solution is recommended if the vending machine has several goods storage units, which are designed approximately identical.

In a particularly preferred variant of the invention, a plurality of reference images of different goods and a plurality of reference images of different goods storage units are stored on the control unit. The control unit uses these reference images and the image data of the optical sensor to determine the number of goods storage units and the number of goods therein. This solution is particularly interesting if the vending machine has different goods storage units. This variant can also be provided as a retrofit solution by the manufacturer. If all the different product storage unit reference images are stored, one and the same hardware can be retrofitted with the corresponding storage component in various vending machines.

The vending machine preferably has a comparator for comparing reference images with the image data. The comparator may be implemented as a separate component or as a software routine.

list of figures

• 1 eine leicht perspektivische Draufsicht auf einen Spindelhalter eines Warenautomaten mit daran angehängten Waren und
• 2 eine Draufsicht auf mehrere Warenschächte eines Warenautomaten mit darin in unterschiedlicher Anzahl gespeicherten Waren.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. Show it:

• 1 a slightly perspective top view of a spindle holder of a vending machine with attached goods and
• 2 a plan view of several shafts of a vending machine with goods stored therein in different numbers.

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In part, identical reference numerals are used for the same but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements could be scaled differently.

The 1 shows a plan view of a spindle holder 1 , as it can be used in the vending machine according to the invention (not shown). To the spindle holder 1 are several goods 2 attached. For the goods 2 These are razor blades, whose packaging has a so-called Euroslot recess.

An optical sensor, in this case a camera (not shown), is above the spindle rod 1 arranged and takes image data from the perspective shown. By way of illustration, to the left of the spindle rod 1 a brightness curve 3 shown calculated from the image data of the camera from the control unit. From the brightness maxima 4 you can close gaps between two goods. The brightness minima 5 can the goods 2 be assigned. Based on the brightness curve 3 So can on the number of on the spindle rod 1 attached goods 2 be determined.

In 2 are several goods shafts 7 of a vending machine (not shown). In the individual goods shafts 7 , 7 ', 7 "goods 2' are stored in different numbers." In this case, the goods 2 'are cigarette packs. "The camera can simultaneously record image data from several goods shafts 7 , 7 ', 7 ", a schematic brightness curve 3' of the first goods shaft 7 'is shown, from the number of brightness minima 5 can the number of goods 2 ' be determined. The control unit can simultaneously calculate a plurality of brightness curves 3 'from the image data and these to the respective goods shafts 7 From the respective brightness curves 3 'can then again each time the number of goods 2' in the respective goods shaft 7 , 7 ', 7 "are determined.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

spindle holder

2

Would

3

brightness curve

4

brightness maxima

5

brightness minima

6

7

goods bay

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102012102942 A1 [0003]

Claims (9)

Method for operating a vending machine with at least one goods storage unit (1, 7) in which a plurality of individual goods (2, 2 ') are stored, the vending machine having a control unit and at least one optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor records image data of the at least one goods storage unit (1, 7) and the goods (2, 2 ') located therein, - Wherein the control unit from the image data of the optical sensor determines the number of goods (2, 2 '), which are located in the at least one goods storage unit (1, 7). Method for operating a vending machine according to Claim 1 wherein from the image data of the optical sensor color and / or brightness curves (3, 3 ') are calculated by the control unit. Method for operating a vending machine according to one of the preceding claims wherein the vending machine has a plurality of goods storage units (1, 7) and wherein the control unit determines, from the image data of the optical sensor, the number of the goods storage units (1, 7) and the number of goods (2, 2 ') respectively therein. Method for operating a vending machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one reference image of at least one product (2, 2 ') is stored on the control unit and the control unit uses this at least one reference image and the image data of the optical sensor to determine the number of products in at least one product storage unit ( 1, 7) stored goods (2, 2 ') determined. Method for operating a vending machine according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 3 wherein on the control unit a plurality of reference images of different goods (2, 2 ') are stored and the control unit based on these reference images and the image data of the optical sensor determines the number of different goods (2, 2') in at least one goods storage unit (1, 7). Method for operating a vending machine according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 3 wherein on the control unit a plurality of reference images of different goods (2, 2 ') and at least one reference image of a goods storage unit (1, 7) are stored and the control unit based on these reference images and the image data of the optical sensor, the number of goods storage units (1, 7) and the number goods located therein (2, 2 ') determined. Method for operating a vending machine according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 3 wherein on the control unit a plurality of reference images of different goods (2, 2 ') and a plurality of reference images of different goods storage units (1, 7) are stored and the control unit based on these reference images and the image data of the optical sensor, the number of goods storage units (1, 7) and the number goods located therein (2, 2 ') determined. A vending machine with at least one goods storage unit, a control unit with a memory module, an optical sensor and a comparator, wherein the comparator using the optical sensor detected image data with stored in the memory module reference images are comparable. Vending machine according to the preceding claim, wherein the comparator is designed as a separate component or as a software routine.

Images