JP2001250153A - Method and system for managing automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and a system for the management of an automatic vending machine, connected on-line to its management center, which can notify the management center of a previous fault notice and abnormality of each device that the automatic vending machine is equipped with instructs adjustments of the respective devices from the management center, and prevent damage resulting from a decrease in sales due to a fault and illegal use. SOLUTION: Plural automatic vending machines 1 and the management center 2 which manages them are connected together on-line; if a previous notice of a fault of each device that the automatic vending machine 1 is equipped with or the use of illegal currency is detected, that is reported to the management center 2 or adjustment of the device is instructed by the management center 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine management method and system, and more particularly, to a vending machine which is online with a vending machine management center, the failure of each device provided in the vending machine. The present invention relates to a vending machine management method and system capable of notifying a management center of a notice or abnormality and instructing the management center to adjust each device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a vending machine is provided with a money handling device for receiving and paying out money, and a carry-out cooling / heating device for cooling and heating products.

[0003] As an example, in the above-described money handling apparatus, the acceptance of money is reduced due to the contamination of a sensor for identifying money, the deterioration of a transporting section for transporting the inserted money, and the protection for preventing jamming of money. When the function is frequently operated, a serviceman is notified of a failure notice of these devices by, for example, blinking an indicator light provided in the money handling device.

[0004] In addition, in the event that an abnormality such as the insertion of forged or altered fraudulent money occurs, measures such as suspending the acceptance of money for a certain period of time prevent such damages. Was.

[0005]

However, even if a notice of failure of each device provided in the vending machine is given by a method such as blinking of an indicator lamp, a service person is actually provided by the vending machine. Because it is not noticed until maintenance is performed, if it is left in this state, there is a problem that it results in a breakdown, the user can not use the vending machine, and the breakdown decreases the sales .

In addition, when illegal money is inserted, only measures such as suspending the acceptance of money for a certain period of time can be taken, so that any other illegal use can be prevented. And suffered damage.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a vending machine which is online with a vending machine management center, which notifies a management center of a notice of a failure or an abnormality of each device provided in the vending machine, or manages the failure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine management method and system capable of instructing adjustment of each device from a center and preventing loss of sales due to failures and damage due to unauthorized use.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing a vending machine connected to a management center via a communication line, wherein the vending machine comprises: The state of each device disposed in the vending machine is detected and reported to the management center, and the management center adjusts the vending machine based on the state of each device received from the vending machine. An instruction is transmitted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the vending machine detects the number of days elapsed from a regular inspection date of each of the devices, and determines that the detected number of days is equal to or more than a predetermined number of days. If it has become, the management center is notified that it is time to carry out a periodic inspection of the device, and the management center sends a setting instruction for setting the predetermined number of days to the vending machine. It is characterized by.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, each of the devices includes a money handling device for receiving and paying out coins or bills, and the vending machine includes a cash handling device. If the number of rejected money out of the inserted money exceeds a preset first limit number, the management center is notified of the occurrence of unauthorized use, and the number of rejected money is notified. If the number exceeds the second limit set in advance, a request for failure maintenance is sent to the management center, and the management center notifies the vending machine of the first limit and The second
A setting instruction for setting the maximum number of sheets is transmitted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, each of the devices includes a money handling device for receiving and paying out coins or bills, and the vending machine is provided with the money handling device. When the standby level of the identification sensor for identifying money becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined level, the management center is notified of a request for failure maintenance for the deterioration of the identification sensor.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine management system connected to a management center via a communication line, wherein the vending machine has a status of each device provided in the vending machine. Detecting means for detecting a state of each device detected by the detecting means, when the state of each device satisfies a predetermined condition, reporting the state to the management center, and an adjustment instruction transmitted from the management center Instruction transmitting means for transmitting the adjustment instruction generated based on the status of each device notified by the notifying means to the vending machine. Means is provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the detecting means acquires an inspection date when the inspection was carried out immediately before from each of the devices, and the notifying means comprises: On the condition that a predetermined number of days have elapsed from the acquired inspection date, a request for inspection of each device is reported to the management center.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth aspect, the vending machine is provided with a coin processing device for receiving and paying out coins, and the detecting means is provided with the coin processing device. The number of coins removed from among the coins inserted into the coin is acquired, and the notifying unit performs the management on condition that the number of coins acquired by the detecting unit exceeds a first limit number set in advance. The center is notified of the occurrence of unauthorized use.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth aspect, the vending machine is provided with a coin processing device for receiving and paying out coins, and the detecting means is provided with the coin processing device. The coin receiving operation and the coin returning operation are respectively detected, and the notifying unit is configured to perform the coin returning operation continuously within a predetermined time immediately after the coin receiving operation detected by the detecting unit. It is characterized in that the occurrence of unauthorized use is reported to the management center.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth aspect, the vending machine is provided with a bill processing device for receiving bills, and the detecting means includes a bill processing device of the bill processing device. Detecting an exclusion operation, the notification unit notifies the management center of the occurrence of unauthorized use on condition that the banknote elimination operation detected by the detection unit has been continuously performed within a predetermined time, The management center transmits an instruction to stop accepting bills for a certain period of time to the bill processing device.

Further, the invention of claim 10 is the invention of claims 7 to 9
In any one of the inventions, the vending machine further comprises a photographing means for photographing an operation state of the vending machine when the reporting means reports the occurrence of unauthorized use, and the reporting means comprises: An image photographed by the photographing means is transferred to the management center.

Further, the invention of claim 11 is the invention of claims 7 to 9
In any one of the inventions, the management center, upon receiving a notification of unauthorized use by the reporting means, sends the instruction notification means to all vending machines in a predetermined area including the vending machine concerned. The notification of fraudulent countermeasures is notified via the.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the vending machine is provided with a coin processing device for receiving and paying out coins, and the detecting means is provided with the coin processing device. The number of coins removed from among the coins inserted into the coin is acquired, and the notifying unit performs the management on condition that the number of coins acquired by the detecting unit exceeds a second limit number set in advance. The center is notified of a request for failure maintenance.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the vending machine is provided with a bill processing device for receiving bills, and the detecting means includes a bill processing device of the bill processing device. Detecting the standby level of the identification sensor for identifying the state of the identification sensor, and notifying the management center of the deterioration of the identification sensor on the condition that the standby level detected by the detection unit becomes equal to or less than a preset level. It is characterized by reporting a request for failure maintenance for

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a vending machine management method and system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the configuration of a vending machine management method and system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vending machine management system, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a coin processing device and a bill processing device.

In FIG. 1, a vending machine management system includes a vending machine 1 (1-1 to 1- 1) for selling products.
4) It comprises a management center 2 for managing the entire system and a communication line 3 for bringing the system online.

In this system, a management center 2 and a vending machine 1 are made online through a communication line 3 such as a telephone line. Usually, as shown in the figure, a plurality of vending machines 1-1 to 1 are provided. -4 and the management center 2 are often online.

The management center 2 is provided with a monitoring terminal device 4 for receiving information from the vending machine 1 and giving various instructions, and is further provided with a portable terminal capable of transmitting and receiving information to and from the management center 2. The terminal device 16 can be mounted on a maintenance vehicle or the like.

Further, the vending machines 1-1 to 1-4 include:
A main control unit 5 for controlling each unit of the vending machine; a controller 6 for operating each unit; a display device 7 for displaying a service message to the customer; a voice output device 8 for outputting a service message to the customer by voice; A photographing device 9 for photographing the contents, a communication unit 10 via a communication line 3 for online connection to a management center, a coin processing device 1 for processing coins
1. A bill processing device 12 for processing bills, an unloading cooling / heating device 13 for cooling and heating products in the machine, an illuminating device 14 for illuminating a vending machine, and a serial bus 15 for sending and receiving control signals. You.

The above-mentioned display device 7 is a liquid crystal display device or the like, and displays a message for service using characters or pictures when a customer purchases a product.

The voice output device 8 outputs a service message by voice, as in the case of the display device 7 described above, and repels the possibility of unauthorized use. Outputs an alarm sound to surroundings.

The photographing device 9 performs photographing in order to transmit an image of a criminal or a criminal offense to the management center when the possibility of unauthorized use described above occurs.

Each device connected to the vending machine is connected to the serial bus 15 for transmitting and receiving control signals between the main control unit 5 and each device.

In FIG. 2, the coin processing device 11 comprises:
A control unit 21 that controls each unit of the coin processing device 11, an inspection date data storage unit 22 that stores the date of the inspection, a periodic inspection indicator light 23 that notifies that it is time to perform a periodic inspection,
A failure notice indicator light 24 for notifying that it is a failure notice, a periodic inspection end button 25 pressed at the end of the periodic inspection,
Failure notice end button 2 pressed at the end of failure notice
6. A rejected coin counting unit 27 that counts the number of rejected coins among the accepted coins, a payout re-operation detecting unit 28 that detects that a coin payout operation has been performed, a main control unit 5 of the vending machine 1, Communication line 3 for online connection
And a communication unit 29 through which the communication is performed.

The bill processing device 12 is a coin processing device 1.
In addition to the control unit 61, the inspection date data storage unit 62, the periodic inspection indicator light 63, the failure notice indicator light 64, the periodic inspection end button 65, the failure notice end button 66, the communication unit 71, Out of which the number of removed bills is counted, a sensor level detector 69 that detects a decrease in the level of each sensor, and a transporter degradation detector 70 that detects the degradation of the transporter that transports the banknotes. It is composed.

The above-mentioned inspection date data storage units 22 and 62
Collects the inspection date data indicating the date on which the periodic inspection was performed, into a total of eight digits, four digits in the year, two digits in the month, and two digits in the day, "YYY
YMMDD ”, and when the regular inspection end button 25 or 65 is pressed when the inspection is completed, the inspection date data is updated. In the initial state, the date of manufacture is stored at the time of shipment from the factory.

The rejected coin counting section 27 counts the number of coins that are unacceptably rejected among the inserted coins. The rejected banknote counting section 67 also counts the number of rejected banknotes. When paying out coins, the payout re-operation detecting unit 28 cannot pay out coins due to a jam or the like, and detects that the payout operation has been performed again.

The periodical inspection indicators 23 and 63 notify that the periodical inspection is being performed by turning on the indicators. In addition, the failure notice indicators 24 and 64 similarly notify that the failure is being noticed by lighting the indicator lamps.

The sensor level detector 69 detects a decrease in the identification level of the sensor for identifying the banknote, and the transport unit deterioration detector 70 detects that the transport unit that transports the banknotes has started to deteriorate, such as a paper jam. I do.

Next, the flow of the operation of the periodic inspection system of the coin processing device and the banknote processing device will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of the operation of the periodic inspection system of the coin processing device and the bill processing device.

First, the main controller 5 of the vending machine 1 keeps waiting until its own date data changes (step 1).
01 (NO), when the date data changes (step 1)
01 (YES), when the main control unit 5 requests the coin processing device 11 to transmit the inspection date data stored in the inspection date data storage unit 22 (Step 102).
The coin processing device 11 transmits inspection date data to the main control unit 5 (step 103).

The main control unit 5 calculates the number of days elapsed from the inspection date based on the inspection date data obtained from the coin processing device 11 and its own date data (step 104), and reduces the number of days for the periodic inspection to a preset number of days. If it has not reached (Step 1
05 (NO), the same process is performed every time the date data of the main control unit 5 changes.

If the number of days for the periodic inspection has been reached (YES in step 105), the main control unit 5 notifies the management center 2 that it is time to perform the periodic inspection of the coin processing device 11 (step 106).

In the management center 2 receiving the notification, the vending machine 1 is periodically inspected on the maintenance route information indicating the circulating route for the maintenance of the vending machine 1 and the status of the vending machine 1, and the like. Is output. At the same time, the same maintenance route information and maintenance instruction are output to the mobile terminal device 16 that is online with the management center 2 (step 107).

On the other hand, in the vending machine 1, when the main control unit 5 instructs the coin processing device 11 to turn on the periodic inspection indicator lamp 23 (step 108), the coin processing device 11 turns on the periodic inspection indicator lamp 23. Then, the serviceman is notified of the periodic inspection (step 109).

Then, based on the instruction of the periodic inspection, the serviceman carries out the periodic inspection of the vending machine, and when the periodic inspection is completed, when the periodic inspection end button 25 provided on the coin processing device 11 is pressed (step S1). 110), the coin processor 11 notifies the main controller 5 that the periodic inspection has been completed (step 111). Further, the main control unit 5 notifies the management center 2 that the periodic inspection has been completed (step 1).
12), the monitoring terminal device 4 installed in the management center 2
The instruction for the periodic inspection is canceled from the maintenance route information displayed on the mobile terminal device 16 (step 113).

At the same time, in the vending machine 1, when the date data is transmitted from the main control unit 5 to the coin processing device 11 (step 114), the inspection data stored in the inspection date data storage unit 22 of the coin processing device 11 is transmitted. The date data is updated (step 115), and the periodic inspection indicator light 23 is turned off (step 116).

The periodic inspection system described above can perform not only the periodic inspection of the coin processor 11 but also the periodic inspection of the banknote processor 12 in the same manner. At the time of reporting the status of the periodic inspection of 12, the information of each failed device is reported at the same time to distinguish them.

Further, the inspection date data of the banknote handling machine 12 is stored in the inspection date data storage section 62. At the time of the periodic inspection of the banknote handling machine 12, the periodic inspection indicator lamp 63 is turned on to complete the periodic inspection of the bill handling machine. At times, the periodic inspection end button 65 is pressed.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the flow of operation of the failure notice system of the coin processing device and the bill processing device will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of operation of the failure notice system of the coin processing device and the bill processing device, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of detecting a failure notice of the coin processing device, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow which detects a failure notice of a processing apparatus.

The coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 1)
2. ) And the main control unit 5 detects a failure notice (step 2).
01), if the main control unit 5 does not issue a notice of failure of the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 12), the detection of the notice of failure is continued (NO in step 202).

As shown in FIG. 5, the coin processing device 1
In the failure notice detection of No. 1, when the coin processing device 11 rejects the inserted coin without accepting it (step 221).
YES), the number of removed coins is counted for each denomination (step 222), and transmitted to the main control unit 5 (step 223). When the number of rejected coins per 100 coins inserted recently reaches the preset number of coins in any of the denominations (YES in step 224), the main control unit 5 detects the sensor of the coin processing device 11 Is determined to be dirty, and a failure notice is issued (step 22).
5).

At the same time, the coin processing device 11
When the coin payout unit that pays out coins pays out coins, it is detected that the coins cannot be paid out due to a jam or the like and the payout operation is performed again (step 241).
The detection signal is transmitted to the main control unit 5 (Step 242).
When the main control unit 5 confirms that the payout operation of the coin payout unit has restarted (YES in step 243), the main control unit 5 determines that the coin payout unit has become dirty, and issues a failure notice (step 244). .

Further, as shown in FIG.
In the failure notice detection of, the banknote processing apparatus 12 detects a decrease in the level of a sensor that discriminates the authenticity of the banknote (step 261), and transmits a detection signal to the main control unit 5 (step 262). When the main control unit 5 confirms that the level decrease has reached a certain degree (Y in step 263).
ES), it is determined that the sensor has become dirty, and a failure notice is issued (step 264).

At the same time, the bill processing device 12
It detects deterioration such as a decrease in the transport speed of bills in the bill transport unit that transports bills (step 281), and transmits a detection signal to the main control unit 5 (step 282). When the main control unit 5 confirms that the deterioration of the bill transport unit has reached a certain degree (YES in step 283), the main control unit 5 determines that the transport unit is dirty and issues a failure notice (step 284). ).

The main controller 5 issues any failure notice among the four failure notice detections of the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 12) as described above (YES in step 202). ), The coin processing device 11 in the management center 2
(Or the bill processing device 12) is notified of a failure notice (step 203).

In the management center 2 which has received the notification, a maintenance instruction is output to the maintenance route information displayed on the monitoring terminal device 4 so as to carry out the fault maintenance of the vending machine 1. At the same time, the same maintenance route information and maintenance instruction are also output to the portable terminal device 16. (Step 204) On the other hand, in the vending machine 1, the main control unit 5
(Or the bill processing device 12).
(In the case of the bill processing device 12, a failure check indicator light 64.)
Is turned on (step 205), the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 12) turns on the failure notice display lamp 24 (in the case of the bill processing device 12, the failure inspection display lamp 64). (Step 206), the service person is notified of the failure notice.

Then, based on the notice of the failure notice, the serviceman performs the failure maintenance of the vending machine, and when the failure maintenance is completed, the failure in the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 12). When the notice end button 26 (the failure notice end button 66 in the case of the bill processing device 12) is pressed (step 207), the main control unit 5 of the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 12) confirms that the failure is maintained. It notifies that the process has been completed (step 208). Further, when the main control unit 5 notifies the management center 2 that the failure check has been completed (step 209), the maintenance route displayed on the monitoring terminal device 4 and the portable terminal device 16 installed in the management center 2 is displayed. The instruction for the periodic inspection is canceled from the information (step 210).

At the same time, in the vending machine 1, the main controller 5 sends the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 1).
2. ) Is instructed to turn off the failure notice indicator light 24 (the failure notice indicator light 64 in the case of the bill processing device 12) (step 211), and the failure notice indicator light 24 (in the case of the bill processing device 12, The failure notice indicator 64 is turned off (step 212).

In the above-described failure notice system, similarly to the periodic inspection system, not only the failure notice of the coin processing device 11 but also the failure notice of the bill processing device 12 can be performed in the same manner. When notifying that the state of the periodic check 11 and the notice of failure of the banknote handling apparatus 12 are in a state, the information of each failed apparatus is reported at the same time to distinguish them.

At the time of notice of failure of the bill processing apparatus 12, the failure notice indicator lamp 64 is turned on, and when the notice of failure of the bill processing apparatus is completed, the failure notice end button 66 is pressed.

Next, the operation flow of the security system of the coin processing device and the bill processing device will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of operation of the security system of the coin processing device and the banknote processing device, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of detecting unauthorized use of the coin processing device, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow which detects unauthorized use of an apparatus.

The coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 1)
2. ) And the main control unit 5 detects unauthorized use (step 3).
01), if the main control unit 5 does not notify the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 12) that there is a possibility that the illegal use has occurred, the main control unit 5 continues to detect the illegal use (NO in step 302). .

As shown in FIG. 8, the coin processing device 1
In the unauthorized use detection of No. 1, the coin processing device 11 rejects the inserted coin without accepting it (step 321).
YES), the number of removed coins is counted for each denomination (step 322), and transmitted to the main control unit 5 (step 323). The main control unit 5 determines that the number of rejected coins per ten recently inserted coins in any one of the denominations reaches a preset five (step 3).
24 (YES), it is issued that the coin processing device 11 may have been used illegally due to the insertion of illegal money (step 325).

At the same time, when the coin processing device 11 accepts the inserted coin or returns the coin by the return operation (step 341), the coin processing device 11 accepts or returns the coin to the main control unit 5. Is transmitted (step 342). If there is a return operation immediately after receiving the coin (YES in step 343) and the return operation immediately after receiving the coin has not been performed continuously (NO in step 344), the main control unit 5 starts from this point. Start timing the time (step 345). Also, the return operation immediately after the coin is received is continuously performed (YES in step 344), and if the time being measured has not elapsed a preset time (NO in step 346), the coin processing device 1
In step 347, there is a possibility that illegal use has occurred due to the insertion of illegal money.

Further, as shown in FIG.
When the bill processing device 12 removes the inserted bill (YES in step 361), the banknote processing device 12 transmits to the main control unit 5 that the bill has been removed (step 36).
2). If the banknotes have not been continuously removed (NO in step 363), the main control unit 5 starts counting time from this point (step 364). In addition, when bills are continuously removed (YES in step 363), and when the time being measured has not passed the preset five minutes (NO in step 365), the bill processing device 12 It is issued that there is a possibility that the illegal use by the insertion of the illegal money has occurred (step 366).

The main control unit 5 issues a message indicating that there is a possibility that one of the three unauthorized use detections of the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 12) has occurred. (YES in step 302), the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 1) is stored in the management center 2.
2. ) Is notified that unauthorized use may have occurred (step 303).

At the management center 2 receiving the report, a patrol instruction is output to the maintenance route information displayed on the monitoring terminal device 4 so as to carry out the security patrol of the vending machine 1. At the same time, the same maintenance route information and maintenance instruction are output to the portable terminal device 16 (step 304).

In the vending machine 1, the main control unit 5 instructs the sound output device 8 to sound the alarm buzzer, and the sound output device 8 sounds the alarm buzzer for one minute, thereby repelling the crime ( Step 305).

At the same time, the main controller 5 instructs the photographing device 9 to photograph the content of the crime, and the photographing device 9 photographs the content of the crime three times at 5 second intervals (step 306).

The captured image is transferred to the monitoring terminal device 4 and the portable terminal device 16 installed in the management center 2 (step 307), and displayed on the monitoring terminal device 4 and the portable terminal device 16, respectively. (Step 30
8).

When the main control unit 5 specifies the contents of the illegal use of the money handling apparatus 11 (or the bill processing apparatus 12) and notifies the management center 2 from the main control unit 5 (step 309), the main control unit 5 executes the management. In the center 2, the contents of the unauthorized use are displayed on the monitoring terminal device 4 and the portable terminal device 16 (step 310).

Based on this, if the damage of the counterfeit money has occurred due to the low ability to discriminate the money, the management center 2 instructs the main control unit 5 to increase the accuracy of the money discrimination. (Step 311), the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 12) repels the crime by increasing the accuracy of receiving money (Step 313) based on an instruction from the main controller 5 (Step 312). I do.

If the effect of increasing the above-described currency acceptance accuracy is not seen, the management center 2
When the main control unit 5 is instructed to stop accepting money (step 314), the coin processing device 11 (or the bill processing device 12) receives the money based on the instruction from the main control unit 5 (step 315). Is stopped (step 316), the offense is repelled.

If the vending machine installed near the vending machine where the crime is committed is also online with the management center 2, if the vending machine 1 is involved in the crime, In the same way, this crime situation
And is displayed on the monitoring terminal device 4 installed in the management center 2.

The management center 2 also raises the recognition accuracy of the currency and suspends the acceptance of the currency for the nearby vending machines 1 in the same manner.
The spread of damage to people.

Here, with reference to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the flow of operation of the management system for the carried-out cooling / heating device and the lighting device will be described.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of operation of the temperature management system of the unloading cooling / heating device, and FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow of operation of the burnout detection system and the lighting / extinguishing time setting system of the lighting device.

In the embodiments described above, examples of failure notice and abnormality notification of the coin processing device and the bill processing device of the vending machine and examples of instructions for adjusting these devices have been described. In the unloading cooling / heating device 13 connected to the serial bus 15 as in the case of the bill handling device 11 and the bill processing device 12, the management center 2 instructs to measure the cooling temperature of the unloading cooling / heating device, and reports the temperature to the management center 2. It is possible to adjust the cooling temperature of the unloaded chiller 13 by instructing the management center 2 to set the temperature of the unloaded chiller 13.

When an instruction to confirm the cooling / heating temperature of the carry-out cooling / heating device 13 of the vending machine 1 is issued from the monitoring terminal device 4 of the management center 2 (step 501), the main control unit 5 of the vending machine 1
Is notified of a temperature information confirmation instruction (step 502).

When the main control unit 5 instructs the unloading cooling / heating device 13 to measure the temperature (step 503), the unloading cooling / heating device 13 measures the temperature (step 504) and transfers the temperature information to the main control unit 5 (step 503). 505).

Further, when the main controller 5 reports this information to the management center 2 (step 506), the temperature information of the vending machine 13 is displayed on the monitoring terminal device 4 (step 50).
7).

When the monitoring terminal device 4 of the management center 2 instructs the temperature setting of the carry-out cooling / heating device 13 based on this temperature information (step 508), the management center 2 notifies the main control unit 5 of the temperature setting information. (Step 509). Further, the main controller 5 transfers the setting information to the unloading cooling / heating device 13 (Step 510), and the unloading cooling / heating device 13 starts cooling / heating at the set temperature (Step 511).

Further, in the lighting device 14, it is possible to detect the burnout of the fluorescent lamp provided in the lighting device and notify the management center 2 of the burnout of the fluorescent lamp.

The illuminating device 14 detects a broken ball of a fluorescent lamp or the like (step 601). If no broken ball of a fluorescent lamp or the like has occurred, it continues to detect the broken ball (N in step 602).
O).

When the burnout of the fluorescent lamp or the like is detected (YES in step 602), the lighting device 14 transfers the burnout information to the main control unit 5 (step 603). Further, when the main control unit 5 notifies the management center 2 that the ball of the fluorescent device of the lighting device 14 has been broken (step 604), it is determined that the ball has been broken in the monitoring terminal device 4 of the management center 2. Is displayed (step 605).

When the monitoring terminal device 4 of the management center 2 instructs to set or change the time for turning on or off the fluorescent lamp of the lighting device 14 (step 631), the management center 2 sets the vending machine 1 The time set or changed is notified to the main control unit 5 (step 632). Further, the main control unit 5 transfers the lighting / light-off time notified from the management center 2 to the lighting device 14 (step 633), and the lighting device 14 stores the lighting / light-off time of the fluorescent lamp or the like (step 63).
4) The time setting or change is completed.

Finally, the operation flow of the serviceman support system will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the flow of the operation of the serviceman support system.

When a service person performing maintenance instructs the mobile terminal device 16 mounted on a maintenance vehicle or the like to confirm the change holding state of the vending machine 1 (step 401), the mobile terminal device 16 causes the management center 2 to operate. Via the controller, the controller 5 of the vending machine 1 is instructed to confirm the change holding state (step 402), and the main controller 5 instructs the coin processing device 11 to check the change holding state (step 402). Step 403).

When the coin processing device 11 confirms the number of change held for each denomination based on the instruction from the main control unit 5 (step 404), the coin processing device 11 transfers the change held information to the main control unit 5 (step 405). ), And the main controller 5 transfers this to the portable terminal device 16 (step 406).

The change information is displayed on the portable terminal device 16 (step 407). If the service person determines that the change cannot be returned due to the lack of change coins based on the change information, the portable terminal 16 displays the change information. When the terminal device 16 operates to stop accepting coins or bills (step 408), the portable terminal device 16 instructs the main control unit 5 of the vending machine 1 to stop accepting coins or bills (step 409). Further, the main control unit 5 controls the coin processing device 11.
(Or, the money processing device 12.) Is instructed to stop accepting (Step 410), and the coin processing device 11 (or the money processing device 12) stops accepting coins or bills for each specified denomination ( Step 411).

If the service person determines that there is a change coin of a denomination having a large number of holdings based on the change holding information, the portable terminal device 16 operates the coin or banknote stacking operation (step S1). 412), the portable terminal device 16 instructs the main control unit 5 of the vending machine 1 to accumulate coins or bills in the safe (step 413). Further, the main control unit 5 instructs the coin processing device 11 (or the money processing device 12) to collect safes (step 414), and
The coin processing device 11 switches the coin passage to the safe side, and accumulates change coins in the safe (step 415).

At the same time, the main control unit 5 transmits the change management state to the portable terminal device 16 (step 416), and stops accepting the currency of the vending machine 1 and collects the safe in the portable terminal device 16. The change management status is displayed (step 417).

[0096]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a vending machine which is online with a vending machine management center, a failure notice or an abnormality of each device provided in the vending machine is notified to the management center. The vending machine can be notified in advance, and the management center can be instructed to adjust each device. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the vending machine from malfunctioning and always provide the user with the use of the vending machine. In addition to the above, it is possible to prevent a decrease in sales due to a failure.

[0097] Further, in the event that an illegal use or the like in which illegal money is inserted occurs, a countermeasure corresponding to the illegal use or the like can be taken immediately from the management center, so that damage due to the illegal use or the like can be prevented. Further, when such vulnerable use occurs in a nearby vending machine, the same countermeasure can be immediately taken from the management center for the vending machine. The spread of damage to the vending machine can be prevented.

Also, since the mobile terminal device online with the management center can be mounted on a maintenance vehicle or the like, and operations such as change adjustment can be performed from the mobile terminal device, the service person needs to arrive before the vending machine arrives. It is possible to prevent running out of money and shorten the maintenance time of the vending machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vending machine management system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a coin processing device and a bill processing device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of operation of a periodic inspection system of the coin processing device and the bill processing device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow of operation of a failure notice system of the coin processing device and the bill processing device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of detecting a failure notice of the coin processing device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of detecting a notice of failure of the bill processing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flow of operation of the security system of the coin processing device and the banknote processing device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of detecting unauthorized use of the coin processing device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of detecting unauthorized use of the bill processing apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of an operation of the temperature management system of the carry-out cooling / heating apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow of operations of a ball-break detection system and a lighting / light-off time setting system of the lighting device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flow of the operation of the serviceman support system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 (1-1 to 1-4) Vending machine 2 Management center 3 Communication line 4 Monitoring terminal device 5 Control unit 6 Controller 7 Display device 8 Audio output device 9 Imaging device 10 Communication unit 11 Coin processing device 12 Bill processing device 13 Unloading cooling / heating device 14 Lighting device 15 Serial bus 16 Portable terminal device 21 Control unit 22 Inspection date data storage unit 23 Regular inspection indicator light 24 Failure notice indicator light 25 Regular inspection end button 26 Failure notice end button 27 Excluded coin counting unit 28 Repayout Operation detection unit 29 Communication unit 61 Control unit 62 Inspection date data storage unit 63 Regular inspection indicator light 64 Failure notice indicator light 65 Regular inspection end button 66 Failure notice end button 67 Rejected banknote counting unit 69 Sensor level detection unit 70 Transport unit deterioration detection Unit 71 Communication unit

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A management method for a vending machine connected to a management center via a communication line, wherein the vending machine detects a state of each device provided in the vending machine and detects the state of the management center. Wherein the management center transmits an adjustment instruction for the vending machine based on the status of each device received from the vending machine. 2. The vending machine detects the number of days that have elapsed since the regular inspection date of each device, and when the detected number of days is equal to or more than a predetermined number of days, the vending machine sends the device to the management center. 2. The vending machine management according to claim 1, wherein the management center transmits a setting instruction for setting the predetermined number of days to the vending machine. Method. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of the devices includes a currency processing device for receiving and paying out coins or bills, and the vending machine is configured to determine in advance the number of removed coins among the currency input to the currency processing device. When the set first limit number is exceeded, the occurrence of unauthorized use is notified to the management center, and when the number of removed money exceeds a second limit number set in advance. Informing the management center of a request for failure maintenance, the management center transmits a setting instruction for setting the first limit number and the second limit number to the vending machine. 2. The method for managing a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein: 4. Each of the devices includes a currency processing device for receiving and paying out coins or bills, and the vending machine has a standby level of an identification sensor for identifying currency of the currency processing device set in advance. 2. The vending machine management method according to claim 1, wherein when the level is equal to or lower than the level, the management center is notified of a request for failure maintenance for the deterioration of the identification sensor. 5. A vending machine management system connected to a management center via a communication line, wherein the vending machine detects a state of each device provided in the vending machine; When the state of each device detected by the detection unit satisfies a predetermined condition, a notification unit that notifies the management center of the state, and an adjustment instruction transmitted from the management center is transmitted to each device. And an instruction notifying unit for notifying the vending machine of an adjustment instruction generated based on the status of each device notified by the notifying unit. And vending machine management system. 6. The detection means obtains an inspection date when the inspection was performed immediately before from each of the devices, and the notification means determines that a predetermined number of days has elapsed from the inspection date obtained by the detection means. 6. The vending machine management system according to claim 5, wherein the management center is notified of an inspection request for each of the devices according to a condition. 7. The vending machine is provided with a coin processing device for receiving and paying out coins, and the detecting means detects the number of removed coins among the coins inserted into the coin processing device. Acquiring, and the notifying unit notifies the management center of the occurrence of unauthorized use on condition that the number of coins obtained by the detecting unit exceeds a first limit number set in advance. The vending machine management system according to claim 5, wherein 8. The vending machine is provided with a coin processing device for receiving and paying out coins, and the detecting means detects a coin receiving operation and a coin returning operation of the coin processing device, respectively. The notifying unit notifies the management center of the occurrence of unauthorized use on condition that the coin returning operation has been continuously performed within a predetermined time immediately after the coin receiving operation detected by the detecting unit. 6. The vending machine management system according to claim 5, wherein: 9. The vending machine is provided with a bill processing device for receiving bills, the detecting means detects a bill removing operation of the bill processing device, and the notifying means includes a detecting means. Notifies the management center of the occurrence of unauthorized use on condition that the detected banknote elimination operation has been performed continuously within a predetermined time, and the management center notifies the banknote processing apparatus for a certain period of time. The vending machine management system according to claim 5, wherein an instruction to stop receiving the bill is transmitted. 10. The vending machine further comprises photographing means for photographing an operation state of the vending machine when the reporting means reports occurrence of unauthorized use, wherein the reporting means comprises: the photographing means. The vending machine management system according to claim 7, wherein the photographed image is transferred to the management center. 11. The management center, upon receiving a notification of unauthorized use by the reporting means, sends all vending machines in a predetermined area including the corresponding vending machine via the instruction notification means. The vending machine management system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the countermeasure is issued to notify a countermeasure instruction. 12. The vending machine is provided with a coin processing device for receiving and paying out coins, and the detecting means detects the number of removed coins out of coins inserted into the coin processing device. Acquiring, wherein the notifying unit notifies the management center of a failure maintenance request on condition that the number of coins obtained by the detecting unit exceeds a second limit number set in advance. The vending machine management system according to claim 5, wherein 13. The vending machine is provided with a bill processing device for receiving bills, wherein the detecting means detects a standby level of an identification sensor for identifying bills of the bill processing device, Means for notifying the management center of a request for fault maintenance for the deterioration of the identification sensor, on condition that the standby level detected by the detection means is equal to or lower than a preset level. Item 5. A vending machine management system according to Item 5.