JP2003223668A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine capable of precisely displaying a sample of an arbitrary article at a desired time. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic vending machine is provided with a display monitor 7 for displaying only an arbitrary article sample and is so set that, when the arbitrary article sample is set to non-display, the article sample set to the non-display is displayed after a lapse of a preset arbitrary time, so that the article sample which is not recognized by a user by being set to the non- display is displayed at the desired time and its sales to the user is started. Therefore, for example, when the sales of a new article and a limited article is started at a preset time, the sales of the appropriate article can be simultaneously started in a plurality of automatic vending machines right after being put on the market. When the sales is restarted after a lapse of an appropriate time from the supplementation of the article, the appropriate article sample can be non-displayed till the restart of the sales. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine for selling products such as beverages in cans, bottles or PET bottles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an automatic vending machine of this kind, an automatic vending machine body having a product sample, a commercial product selection switch, a cash slot, a commercial product outlet, etc. on the front side is provided in the automatic vending machine body. It is known that a product storage is provided and drinks in cans, bottles or plastic bottles are sold as products. For example, a serpentine type product column is installed in the product storage, and when an arbitrary product is selected by the product selection switch, the product stored in the product column is carried out to the product outlet.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned vending machine, for example, when selling a new product or a limited product whose sales start time is set in advance, the product should be sold before the scheduled sales start time. Although it is not possible to display the product sample and make it available for sale, since the product sample imitating the actual product is always displayed on the vending machine, it is necessary to store the product and change the display of the product sample at the start of sales. I am trying to do it. However, since such changes in sales products are made for each vending machine by artificial work, it is not possible to put the products of multiple vending machines into a state in which they can be sold all at once at the scheduled sales start time. However, there was a problem that the actual sales start was delayed and the sales opportunity was lost immediately after the most anticipated sales.

In addition, when the product is sold by cooling or heating, it is not preferable to sell the product until the product reaches a predetermined set temperature immediately after the product is replenished. It is set and the product is sold out until the time elapses.
In this case, the sold-out indicator lights up near the product sample, but the product sample itself is always displayed even though the product is being prepared for sale, which is confusing to the user and lacks serviceability. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic vending machine capable of accurately displaying a sample of an arbitrary product at a desired time. is there.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides, in claim 1, an image display means provided on the front surface of a vending machine body and a screen of the image display means for displaying a sample of a sale product. And a control means capable of displaying a part of the product samples that can be displayed on the image display means and setting the display of any other product sample to non-display. The product sample set to is configured to be displayed at any time.

[0007] As a result, by hiding the product sample of an arbitrary product so as not to be recognized by the user, the product sample is displayed at a desired time and sales to the user are started. It becomes possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine according to the first aspect, the control means is configured to display the non-displayed product sample when an arbitrary preset time is reached. ing.

Thus, in addition to the operation of claim 1, when a new product or a limited product is started to be sold at a predetermined time, for example, immediately after the most expected sale, the plurality of vending machines are simultaneously operated. It becomes possible to start selling. In addition, for example, when resuming the sale after an arbitrary time has passed since the product was replenished, by hiding the sample of the product until the resumption of the sale, the product sample is displayed even during the preparation for sale. There is no ambiguity that there is.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine according to the first aspect, the control means is configured to display the non-displayed product sample by remote operation from the outside.

Thus, in addition to the operation of claim 1, it becomes possible to control the display of the product sample from a management center that can communicate with the vending machine, for example.

According to a fourth aspect, in the vending machine according to the first, second or third aspect, there is provided an advertisement display means capable of displaying an advertisement of a product which is set to be hidden on the screen of the image display means. I have it.

With this, in addition to the operation of claim 1, 2 or 3, if, for example, the advertisement of the product set to be hidden is displayed before the sale of the product is started, the sale of the product is notified to the user in advance. Can be advertised. Further, if the advertisement of the product is displayed after the sale is started, the start of the sale of the product can be emphasized to the user.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect, a purchase product can be selected by touching an image of the product sample displayed on the screen of the product sample display means. I am configuring.

Thus, in addition to the effect of the first, second, third or fourth aspect, since the purchased product is selected by touching the image of the product sample, it is not necessary to separately provide a dedicated switch for product selection. .

[0016]

1 to 8 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vending machine, and FIG.
Is a front sectional view thereof, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view thereof, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system, FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing a screen of a display monitor, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the control unit, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen of the display monitor.

This vending machine includes a vending machine body 1 having a front opening, first and second product storage boxes 2 and 3 provided in the vending machine body 1, and respective product storage boxes 2 and 3. 3, a plurality of product columns 4 respectively provided in each of the product storage boxes 3, a cooling device 5 for cooling the inside of each product storage case 2, 3, a heater 6 as a heating means for heating the inside of the first product storage case 2, A display monitor 7 that displays a sample of a product and a control unit 8 that controls the display of the display monitor 7 are provided.

The vending machine body 1 has an outer door 1a for opening and closing the front surface thereof, and a display monitor 7 is arranged on the front surface of the outer door 1a. In this case, the display monitor 7
Is attached to the center of the decorative panel 1b that covers almost the upper half of the outer door 1a, and the advertisement display section 1c is provided on the upper part of the decorative panel 1b.
Is provided. Further, a coin insertion slot 1d, a bill insertion slot 1e, a coin return slot 1f, and a product outlet 1g are provided on the front surface of the outer door 1a.

Each of the product storages 2 and 3 is surrounded by a heat insulating wall 10 having a front surface opened, and the front surface thereof is a heat insulating inner door 10a.
It is designed to open and close. Each product storage 2,
3 are separated from each other in the width direction by a heat insulating partition wall 10b, and a total of two rows of product columns 4 in the width direction are housed in the first product storage 2 and in the second product storage 3. Accommodates a total of three product columns 4 in the width direction. In addition, the inside temperature sensors 2a, 2a, 3
3a is provided.

Each product column 4 comprises a so-called serpentine type well-known product storage device.
Two rows in the front-rear direction are provided in each of the three. That is, in these product columns 4, the products 11 loaded from the product insertion port 4a on the upper end side are vertically stacked and stored in the meandering product passage 4b, and the product unloading mechanism 4c on the lower end side lowers the products. It is designed to drop out one by one in order from 11.

The cooling device 5 has a cooler 5a arranged in the lower portion of each of the product storage boxes 2 and 3, and each cooler 5a.
Is connected to a refrigeration circuit (not shown). Blowers 2b and 3b are provided in the lower portion of each product storage 2, and the air cooled by the cooler 5a is circulated in the product storages 2 and 3 by the blowers 2b and 3b.

The heater 6 is composed of an electrothermal heating element, and has a first
It is arranged near the cooler 5a in the product storage 2. In this case, the air heated by the heater 6 is circulated in the product storage 2 by the blower 2b.

The display monitor 7 comprises a so-called touch panel and has a well-known structure which outputs a signal corresponding to the pressed portion when a predetermined portion of the liquid crystal display screen is pressed with a fingertip. The display monitor 7 can display all or only arbitrary product samples of a plurality of product samples A to G (A to F are displayed in FIG. 5).
Each of the product samples A to G is composed of, for example, an image similar to that of an actual canned beverage. In this case, some product samples A ~
E is a product that is sold only as a cold product, such as soft drink, and other product samples F and G are products that are sold as cold products or hot products, such as coffee drink, tea, and Japanese tea. . Further, the display monitor 7 has a function as a product selection means, and when any of the product samples A to G on the screen is pressed, the product corresponding to the output signal is carried out from the product column 4. ing. Furthermore, the display monitor 7 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the first to third sample display portions 7a, 7b and 7c are arranged in three rows. On each of the sample display portions 7a, 7b, 7c, an arbitrary product sample and a cold temperature display portion 7d are displayed, and the cold temperature display portion 7d is heated to "COLD" indicating a cooled product. Any of “HOT” indicating the sold product is displayed.

The control unit 8 is composed of a microcomputer and is connected to each commodity column 4 and the display monitor 7. Further, the control unit 8 includes a communication control unit 8a that transmits the information input by the display monitor 7 to the outside of the vending machine, and the communication control unit 8a connects a management center 12 that manages the vending machine to a telephone line or the like. Communication line 12
It is connected via a. Further, a timer 8b and a setting operation unit 8c are connected to the control unit 8.

In the vending machine configured as described above, the first product storage 2 stores products corresponding to the product samples F and G, that is, products such as coffee drinks,
These products are sold as cold products by cooling the inside of the product storage 2 with the cooler 5a, and are sold as hot products by heating the inside of the product storage 2 with the heater 6. The second product storage 3 stores products corresponding to the product samples A to E,
That is, products such as soft drinks are stored, and by cooling the inside of the product storage 3 with the cooler 5a, these products are always sold as cold products.

That is, in the vending machine, when the user puts money and presses one of the product samples A to G displayed on the screen of the display monitor 7, the product 11 corresponding to the product sample is displayed. It is delivered to the product outlet 1g.

Further, the control unit 8 is configured to display a part of the product samples which can be displayed on the screen of the display monitor 7 and to set other arbitrary product samples to be invisible. When the set arbitrary time is reached, a sample of hidden products is displayed.

That is, the control unit 8 operates as follows according to the flowchart shown in FIG. For example, when selling a new product or a limited product whose sale start time is set, the product (for example, product G) is stored in the product storage 2 in advance before the sale start time. Next, the product sample of the product G is set to non-display (S1), and an arbitrary display time is set (S2). The display time in this case is set to midnight, for example, on the sales start date. After that, when the display time is reached (S3), the product sample G of the product G that has been set to be hidden as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the screen of the display monitor 7 (S4). In this case, the setting of the non-displayed product and the setting of the display time may be performed by the setting operation unit 8c, but may be performed remotely from the management center 12 or an arbitrary terminal through the Internet network. You may start from. In the above description, when the set time has been reached, the control unit 8 automatically displays the product sample of the product G that has been set to be hidden. However, it can be displayed by remote control from the management center 12. You may do it.

In addition, after the replenishment of the product, the product immediately after the replenishment has not reached a predetermined set temperature (for example, 60 ° C. in the case of a hot product), so a product sample of the product (for example, product G) Is set to non-display (S1), and an arbitrary display time is set (S2). In this case, the display time is
For example, it is set 1 hour after the time of replenishment. After that, when the display time is reached (S3), the product sample of the product G which has been set to be hidden as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the screen of the display monitor 7 (S4).

As described above, according to the vending machine of this embodiment, since the display monitor 7 capable of displaying only an arbitrary product sample is provided and the display timing of the product set to be hidden can be controlled, It is possible to display the sample of the product which is hidden so as not to be recognized by the user at a desired time and start selling to the user.

Therefore, for example, when the sale of a new product or a limited product is started at a predetermined time, it is possible to simultaneously start the sale at a plurality of vending machines immediately after the most anticipated sale. , You can surely get a sales opportunity. At that time, as shown in FIG. 8, the advertisement display unit 7 displaying the advertisement of the product G set to be hidden.
If e is displayed on the display monitor 7 before the sale of the product G is started, the sale of the product G can be advertised to the user in advance, and a favorable sales at the start of the sale can be expected. it can. Further, by displaying the advertisement display unit 7e together with the product sample of the product G after the sale of the product G is started, it is possible to emphasize the start of the sale of the product G to the user and further promote the sales of the product G. It is effective.

Further, when the sale is resumed after an arbitrary time has passed since the product was replenished, the sample of the commodity can be hidden until the sale is resumed. However, it is possible to improve the service to the user without causing the ambiguity that the product sample is still displayed.

Furthermore, since the purchase product can be selected by touching the image of the product sample displayed on the screen of the display monitor 7, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated switch for selecting the product separately, and the structure can be simplified. Cost reduction can be achieved.

In the above embodiment, the sales of new products and the replenishment of products are exemplified. However, in addition to this, for example, when a part of the sold product is alcohol, the product is sold for one day. It is also possible to hide only during a predetermined time period.

[0035]

As described above, according to the vending machine of the first aspect, it is possible to prevent an arbitrary product from being recognized by the user by hiding the product sample. The product sample can be displayed at a desired time and sales to users can be started, which is extremely advantageous when such a sample display is desired.

According to the vending machine of claim 2, in addition to the effect of claim 1, when the sale of a new product or a limited product is started at a predetermined time, the most expected sale Immediately after that, sales can be started simultaneously in a plurality of vending machines, so that a sales opportunity can be surely acquired. Also, for example, when resuming sales after an arbitrary time has elapsed after replenishing products, it is possible to hide the sample of the product until the sale is restarted. However, it is possible to improve the service to the user without causing the ambiguity that the product sample remains displayed.

Further, according to the vending machine of claim 3, in addition to the effect of claim 1, the display of the product sample can be controlled from, for example, a management center that can communicate with the vending machine. It is extremely advantageous for management.

According to the automatic vending machine of claim 4, in addition to the effect of claim 1, 2 or 3, for example, by displaying the advertisement of the hidden product before the sale, the product is displayed. Since the sale of can be advertised to users in advance, it is possible to expect good sales at the start of sale. Further, by displaying the advertisement of the product after the sale is started, the start of the sale of the product can be emphasized to the user, which is more effective in promoting the sale.

According to the automatic vending machine of claim 5, in addition to the effect of claim 1, 2 or 3, it is not necessary to separately provide a dedicated switch for product selection, so that the structure is simplified and the cost is reduced. Can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a vending machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] Front sectional view of a vending machine

[Fig. 3] Side sectional view of a vending machine

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen of a display monitor.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen of a display monitor.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen of a display monitor.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Vending machine body, 7 ... Display monitor, 7a,
7b, 7c ... Product sample display section, 7e ... Advertisement display section, 8 ... Control section, A to G ... Product sample.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ishida             20, Kotobukicho, Isesaki-shi, Gunma Sanden shares             In the company F-term (reference) 3E044 AA01 BA01 BA02 CA02 CB03                       CC08 DB12 DE01 DE02 EA11                       EA12 EA20 EB01 EB02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image display means provided on a front surface of a main body of a vending machine, a product sample display means for displaying a sample of a sale product on a screen of the image display means, and a product sample which can be displayed on the image display means. A control means capable of displaying a part of the product samples and setting other product samples to be hidden, and the product sample set to be hidden can be displayed at any time. Vending machine to do. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to display a non-displayed product sample when an arbitrary preset time is reached. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to display a product sample set to be hidden by a remote operation from the outside. 4. The vending machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising: a commercial advertisement display unit capable of displaying a commercial advertisement of a product set to be hidden on the screen of the image display unit. . 5. The purchase product can be selected by touching an image of the product sample displayed on the screen of the product sample display means.
The vending machine according to 3 or 4.