JP2003123133A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine improvable in manufacturing efficiency by reducing the number of a vendibility display part 30 and a sellout display part 31. SOLUTION: The automatic vending machine is provided with a commodity sort display part 23 for displaying commodity sorts to be vended, a plurality of detailed sort display parts 24 for displaying a plurality of detailed sorts allowed to be selected for one commodity sort corresponding to every commodity sort display part 23, a selection means 27 for selecting one of the display parts 24, and a vendibility display part 30 and a sellout display part 31 prepared in common correspondingly to these display parts 24. Since the number the parts of vendibility display part 30 an sellout display part 31 are reduced, the manufacturing efficiency of the device can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine that displays whether or not a product can be sold.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a vending machine, a plurality of product type display sections for displaying the types of products to be sold are provided on the front face of the machine body, which corresponds to each of these product type display sections. There are provided a sellable display section for displaying a saleable state of a product, a sold-out display section for displaying a sold-out state of the corresponding product, and a selection button for selecting the corresponding product.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in a cup type beverage providing apparatus for providing and selling a beverage in a cup, when the product type is coffee, there are four details of black, sugar, cream and sugar cream. There are types. In this case, the coffee of the product type is displayed in the product type display unit 1, four detailed types are displayed on the four detailed type display units 2, and the sellable display unit 3 corresponding to the four detailed type display units 2, Four sold-out display sections 4 and four selection buttons 5 are provided. Sold-for display 3 and sold-out display 4
Each have an indicator for lighting up.

Generally, when the vending machine detects the sold-out state of the coffee raw material, it does not detect the sold-out state of sugar or cream and when the sold-out state of the coffee raw material is not detected. Is displayed at the time of sale, all the displayable display parts 3 corresponding to the detailed type display part 2 are lit, and when the sold-out state of the coffee raw material is detected, all corresponding to the detailed type display part 2 are displayed. The sold-out display section 4 of is lit up.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional vending machine, as in the case of coffee, all kinds of details can be sold if there is a coffee raw material, and if the coffee raw material is used up. Despite the discontinuation of sales of all detailed types, each of the plurality of detailed type display units 2 is provided with one sellable display unit 3 and one sold-out display unit 4, resulting in waste. .

Therefore, as many displayable display units 3 and sold-out display units 4 as the number of detailed type display units 2 are required,
There is a problem that the number of parts is increased, the electric wiring of the salable display unit 3 and the sold-out display unit 4 at the time of manufacturing the vending machine is complicated, and the manufacturability is low.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic vending machine which can reduce the number of parts of the sales availability display section and improve the manufacturability.

[0008]

A vending machine according to claim 1 corresponds to a machine body having a customer service side, a product type display section for displaying a product type to be sold on the customer service side, and the product type display section. And a plurality of detailed type display sections that display a plurality of detailed types that can be selected for one product type, and a plurality of detailed type display sections that can be selected for the one product. And a sale availability display section that is provided in common corresponding to the plurality of detailed type display sections and displays the sale availability of the product.

In this configuration, since the sale availability display section for displaying the sale availability of the article is commonly provided corresponding to the plurality of detailed type display sections that can be selected for one article, the sale availability display section is provided. The number of parts is reduced and the manufacturability is improved.

A vending machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein one sale availability display section is provided corresponding to a plurality of detailed type display sections.

In this configuration, since only one sale approval / disapproval display section is provided corresponding to the plurality of detailed type display sections that can be selected for one product, the number of parts of the sale approval / disapproval display section is reduced. Manufacturability is improved.

The vending machine according to claim 3 is the vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sale approval / disapproval display portion is
It has a sellable display section for displaying a sellable state and a sold-out display section for displaying a sold-out state.

Further, in this configuration, in the case of having the salable display portion and the sold-out display portion as the sale propriety display portion, the number of parts of the salable display portion and the sold-out display portion is reduced, and the total number of parts is reduced. Is further reduced and manufacturability is improved.

The automatic vending machine according to claim 4 is the automatic vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each detailed type display section displays product identification information corresponding to each detailed type, and the selection means. Has a product identification information input section which is provided at one place on the customer service side and into which product identification information is input.

In this configuration, since the product identification information corresponding to each detail type is displayed on each detail type display unit, and the product identification information input unit for inputting the product identification information is provided at one place on the customer service side. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a selection button for each detailed type display portion, the number of parts is reduced, and the manufacturability is improved.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 show a first embodiment, and FIG. 1 is a front view of a product type display section of a vending machine, and FIG.
Is a front view of the vending machine, FIG. 3 is a front view of a product identification information input section of the vending machine, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the vending machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine is a cup-type beverage vending machine that mixes and sells beverages in a cup and has a machine body 11. The machine body 11 has a body whose front is opened. 12 and a door body 13 that opens and closes the front surface of the main body 12.

A customer service surface 16 is provided on the front surface of the door body 13, a sales opening 17 is formed substantially in the center of the customer service surface 16, and a beverage-filled cup containing a drink is placed behind the sales opening 17. A cup station 18 to be opened is provided. A sales port door 19 that can close the sales port 17 is openably and closably attached to the sales port 17. The sales port door 19 is automatically opened and closed by a door body opening / closing unit (not shown) and is not shown in a closed state. It is locked and unlocked by the locking means.

In the upper area of the customer service surface 16 above the selling port 17, a plurality of panel portions 22 provided corresponding to each product type of beverage to be sold are arranged side by side in the vertical and horizontal directions. .

FIG. 1 shows one panel section 22, and in the case where the product type is coffee, a product type display section 23 for displaying the product type by characters or photographs of coffee is arranged on this panel section 22. In addition, the four detailed type display portions 24 that allow selection of any of black, sugar-containing, cream-containing, and sugar-cream-containing coffee are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction. Detail type display section 24
, The product numbers 01, 02, 03, 04 ... Are displayed as the product identification information 25 corresponding to each detailed type.

Below the detail type display portions 24, four selection buttons 26 for turning on built-in switches (not shown) by pushing operation are provided. These selection buttons
26 is configured as a first selection unit 28 of the selection means 27 for selecting the detailed type.

Between the product type display unit 23 and the detailed type display unit 24, one sales availability display unit 29 for displaying the sales availability of coffee of the relevant product type is provided. The sale permission / inhibition display unit 29 includes one sellable display unit 30 that displays a sellable state of coffee of the corresponding product type, and one sellout display unit 31 that displays a sold-out state of coffee of the corresponding product type. have. These, the display part 30 for sale
Also, the sold-out display section 31 has an indicator having a lamp (not shown) built therein.

Each panel section 22 of the customer service surface 16 is provided with one product type display section 23, one sellable display section 30 and one sold-out display section 31, each of which is a detailed type display section 24 and a selection button. About the number of 26, four, depending on the product type
Two and one are different. For a product type with one detailed type display section 24 and one selection button 26,
Only the product number of the product identification information 25 is displayed on the detailed type display unit 24. As for the detailed types, there are also ice pieces, no ice pieces, and cup sizes.

As shown in FIG. 2, each panel portion 22 located in one region of the customer service surface 16 is divided into hot beverages and each panel portion 22 located in the other region is divided into cold beverages. ing.

A coin slot is provided on the right side of the customer service surface 16.
34, bill insertion slot 35, coin return slot 36, and return lever 37
And the like, and a money handling device (not shown) for counting and returning banknotes and coins and paying out change is provided behind them.

[0027] The currency input port 34 and the bill input port on the customer service surface 16
A second operation unit 38 of the selection means 27 is arranged near the 35 and the like. As shown in FIG. 3, a numeric keypad 39, a clear key 40, and an enter key 41, into which numbers as the product identification information 25 corresponding to each detailed type are input, are input to the second operation unit 38.
The commodity identification information input section 42 having the above is arranged, and the display section 43 for displaying the number inputted by the ten key 39 is arranged.

On the upper side of the bill input port 35 and the second operation section 38 of the customer service surface 16 is provided a compounding selection section 46 for selecting increase or decrease of sugar, cream, etc., above the compounding selection section 46. A monitor 47 for displaying images such as advertisements is provided in the.

A card reader 48 is provided on the side of the sales opening 17 of the customer service surface 16 to enable the purchase of goods by inserting an IC card or a magnetic card having a monetary value.

Although not shown in the figure, the beverage of the selected product type is mixed in the cup in accordance with the user's input of money and selection of the product type, which is not shown in the figure.
A beverage providing device that can be taken out of the container is provided.

Further, FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the vending machine, which has a control unit 51, to which the beverage providing device 52, the money handling device 53 and the card reader 54 are connected, and The selection button 26 of each panel unit 22, the sellable display unit 30, and the sold-out display unit 31 are connected, and the product identification information input unit 42 is connected. And
The control unit 51 inputs the selection information from the selection button 26 of each panel unit 22 or the product identification information input unit 42 and supplies the beverage.
The beverage supply operation by the 52 is controlled, and the beverage supply device 52
By inputting the salable information and the stock-out information, the currency information from the money handling device 53 and the card reader 54, and the like, the turn-on or turn-off of the sellable display unit 30 and the sold-out display unit 31 is controlled.

Next, the operation of the vending machine will be described.

During the stand-by for sale, the sellable display section 30 of each panel section 22 of the customer service surface 16 is in the off state, and the sold-out display section 31 is in the off state if the raw material shortage of the corresponding product type is not detected. At the same time, if the material is out of stock, it is displayed that it is in a lighting state and is in a sold-out state.

When the user inserts money, the sellable display part 30 of the panel part 22 of the product type that can be sold within the inserted amount of money is turned on.

The user operates one of the selection buttons 26 from among the types of products whose saleable display section 30 is lit, or is displayed on the detailed type display section 24 of the type of product the user is going to purchase. By looking at the product number, the product number is input by the ten keys 39 of the product identification information input section 42 and the decision key 41 is operated, whereby the beverage providing device 52
The beverage providing operation of the product type selected by is executed, and if there is a change, the change is paid out.

A cup station by the beverage providing device 52
When the preparation of the beverage in the cup is completed in 18, the selling port door 19 is opened, and the beverage-containing cup can be taken out from the selling port 17. When the user removes the cup, the selling door 19 is closed, and the above-described selling standby state is restored.

When the raw material of the product type, which is the beverage providing device 52, is detected to be out of stock, the sold-out display section 31 of the product type is turned on to indicate that the product is in the sold-out state.

Then, in correspondence with the plurality of detailed type display portions 24 that can be selected for one product, the sale propriety display portion is displayed.
Since 29 salable display sections 30 and sold-out display sections 31 are provided in common one by one, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the sellable display section 30 and the sold-out display section 31 themselves, and also to reduce wiring etc. And the cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the first selection unit
A selection button 26 is provided on each panel section 22 as 28, and a product identification information input section 42 is provided at one location on the customer service surface 16 as a second selection section 38.
However, the product identification information input section 42 of the second selection section 38 may be omitted, and only the selection button 26 of the first selection section 28 may be used for selection. In this case, the product number is not displayed on each detailed type display unit 24.

Further, as shown in the second embodiment of FIG. 5, the selection button 26 of the first selection section 28 is omitted and only the product identification information input section 42 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is used for selection. It can also be configured as follows. In this case, multiple select buttons
Since the parts of 26 itself can be omitted and the wiring can be omitted, the productivity can be improved and the cost can be reduced.

As the sale approval / disapproval display unit 29, a single display unit that serves as both the sale enable display unit 30 and the sold-out display unit 31 may be used.

Further, the sale availability display section of the sale availability display section 29
30 and sold-out display section 31 are all multiple detailed type display sections.
It is not limited to the case where only one is provided in common corresponding to 24, but the same effect can be obtained even if one is provided in common only in a part of the plurality of detailed type display sections 24.

Further, as the merchandise item identification information 25, not only the merchandise item number but also identifiable information such as characters can be used to obtain the same effect.

Further, the vending machine is not limited to the cup type beverage vending machine, and the same applies when applied to a vending machine that sells products having a plurality of detailed types that can be selected for one product type. The effect of is obtained.

[0045]

According to the vending machine according to claim 1, 1
Corresponding to a plurality of detailed type display sections that can be selected for one product, a common sales availability display section that displays the availability of the product is provided, so the number of parts in the sales availability display section can be reduced and manufacturability is improved. Can be improved.

According to the vending machine according to the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the vending machine according to the first aspect, one corresponding to a plurality of detailed type display sections that can be selected for one product.
Since only one sales availability display unit is provided, the number of parts of the sales availability display unit can be reduced and the manufacturability can be improved.

According to the vending machine according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, when the vending machine has a salable display portion and a sold-out display portion as the sale propriety display portion, these It is possible to reduce the number of parts in the salable display portion and the sold-out display portion, further reduce the total number of components, and improve the manufacturability.

According to the automatic vending machine according to claim 4, in addition to the effect of the automatic vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in each detailed type display section, product identification information corresponding to each detailed type is displayed. Since a product identification information input section for displaying and inputting product identification information is provided at one place on the customer service side, it is not necessary to provide a selection button for each detailed type display section, and the number of parts can be reduced.
The manufacturability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a product type display section of an automatic vending machine showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same automatic vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a product identification information input unit of the same automatic vending machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the same automatic vending machine.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a product type display section of the vending machine according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a product type display section of a conventional vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols] 11 aircraft 16 Customer service 23 Product type exhibition 24 Detailed type display 25 Product identification information 27 means of selection 29 Sales availability display 30 Available for sale display 31 sold-out display 42 Product identification information input section

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yoshimoto             11 Hiiragiyama, Obu-cho, Obu-shi, Aichi Co., Ltd.             In Apex F-term (reference) 3E044 AA01 CA02 CA03 CC03 EA07                       EA08 EB03

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A machine body having a customer service side, a product type display section for displaying a product type to be sold on the customer service side, and a product type display section provided corresponding to the product type display section so that one product type can be selected. Corresponding to the plurality of detailed type display sections, a plurality of detailed type display sections that display a plurality of detailed type, a selection unit that selects from among the plurality of detailed type display sections that can be selected for the one product, Provided in common,
An automatic vending machine, comprising: a sales propriety display section that displays whether or not a product can be sold. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein one sales availability display section is provided corresponding to the plurality of detailed type display sections. 3. The sale propriety display unit has a sellable display unit for displaying a sellable state and a sold-out display unit for displaying a sold-out state. vending machine. 4. The product identification information corresponding to each detail type is displayed on each detail type display part, and the selection means is provided at one place on the customer service surface and the product identification information input part is input with the product identification information. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: