JP2005174016A - Vending machine having function for displaying image on article - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine equipped with an image photographing device, a cable or/and radio communication network and an information transmitter/receiver for displaying an image photographed at the side, an image recorded in a recording medium, an image received through an electrical communication line and an image obtained according to the combination of these means. <P>SOLUTION: This machine is provided with a money input deciding part 11; an image working means 12; an input operating part 13; a display part 14; an image data external input means 151; an imaging device 152; a print means 16; an attaching means 17; a merchandise supply part 18; and a change returning part 19 inside its body part 10. For the input operating part 13, the display part 14, the image data external input means 151 and the imaging device 152, a portion of equipment for operation and information input is exposed to the outside of the body part 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vending machine capable of supplying a product or the like on which an image is displayed by attaching a film sheet on which a photographed image is printed on the purchased product or the like in the vending machine.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, vending machines installed on street corners and the like mainly sell goods such as goods (hereinafter simply referred to as “goods”). For this reason, if it is desired to provide the product with a function of transmitting some information, it was necessary to display the information in the container related to the product in advance before shipment or when the product was replenished to the vending machine. .
Moreover, if information (for example, information according to the installation location or the latest information that was not known at the time of shipment) can be displayed on the product at the sales location, it can be a familiar information transmission medium. . As a vending machine having such an information display function, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a vending machine having a function of printing characters and images on a container of a product purchased inside the vending machine. A machine has been proposed.
JP 2003-123130 A

However, the vending machine according to Patent Document 1 is a position detection device that searches for a print surface of a paper cup that is a container related to a product when performing printing, a display device that corrects a print portion according to the curvature of the side surface of the paper cup, and the like. There was a problem that it was a complicated structure that required.
Further, when the product packaging is like a bag, since the material has deformability or flexibility, there is a problem that printing unevenness may occur when printing on a bent surface.

(Object of invention)
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of displaying an image on a product with a simple means.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image photographing device, a wired or / and wireless communication network and an information transmission / reception device, an image photographed on the spot, an image recorded on a recording medium, or a telecommunication line. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of displaying an image received through the above or an image obtained by a combination of these means on a product.

The means of the present invention taken to achieve the above object are as follows.
In the first invention,
A vending machine with an image display function, inside a box-shaped main body,
Means for printing an image on a film sheet;
Means for attaching and displaying a film sheet printed with an image on an article,
It is a vending machine.

In the second invention,
An image photographing device or / and image data external input means for photographing an image to be displayed;
An image processing means,
A vending machine according to the first invention.

In the third invention,
As image data external input means
A wired or / and wireless communication network and a device for transmitting and receiving information via the communication network;
Or / and a recording medium reader,
It is configured so that an image can be captured by the above device,
A vending machine according to the second invention.

In the fourth invention,
It is configured to be able to capture an image by transmitting or inputting image information to an image data external input means using a portable information terminal,
A vending machine according to the second or third invention.

In the fifth invention,
Taking an image and / or inputting image data externally;
Printing the image on a film sheet;
Affixing a film sheet on which an image is printed to an article;
Providing an article on which an image is displayed,
This is a method for manufacturing an article displaying an image.

The “article” referred to in the present specification and claims means not only a purchased commodity but also a sales promotion article distributed without charge.
For example, goods include bottles, cans, drinks in bottles, juices, health drinks, quasi-drugs, packaging boxes, confections in bags, processed foods such as instant foods, tobacco, toys, etc. It may be.
Moreover, you may affix on the container used in order to provide goods, such as not only goods but goods provided, for example, a paper cup.
In consideration of the above circumstances, “product etc.” is used in the following text as a term indicating a product or / and a product to be provided.

  The “film sheet” referred to in the present specification and claims refers to, for example, a sheet composed of a print surface and an adhesive surface, but is not limited to this. For example, a photographic paper having no adhesive surface However, it may be affixed to a product or the like so as to be covered with a transparent adhesive film larger than the photographic paper at the time of application, or the adhesive surface is not provided with a release paper and wound in a roll shape with the adhesive surface inside May be used.

  The “image capturing apparatus and / or image data external input means” referred to in the present specification and claims may be either an image capturing apparatus or an image data external input means, or may be an image capturing apparatus. And image data external input means.

The “image capturing apparatus” referred to in the present specification and claims includes a camera using a film or a digital camera.
In addition, since it is possible to prevent the film from being cut off and it is not necessary to provide a film storage / development space and a disposal space for used film, a digital camera is suitable for the image photographing device. In addition, in the case of a digital camera, it is not necessary to discard the film developer and the used film, so the environmental load is small.

  The term “wired or / and wireless” referred to in the present specification and claims may be either wired or wireless, or both wired and wireless.

The “communication network” referred to in the present specification and claims includes a network in which two or more computers are connected by wire or / and wireless or a combination of wired and wireless to transmit / receive data signals. .
Examples of the cable include a communication network using an electric wire or an optical fiber cable connecting a vending machine and an external relay base or the like.
As an example of wireless communication, a mobile phone equipped with a microwave transmitter such as an infrared communication or the like for transmitting image information from a terminal such as a mobile phone to a mail receiving device provided in the vending machine through a telephone line. A communication network using data communication or the like for sending image information from a terminal to a receiving device provided inside the vending machine can be mentioned.

  The “recording medium” referred to in the present specification and claims is a medium capable of recording and retrieving image data, and includes, for example, a memory card, a CD, a DVD, a flexible disk, and the like.

  The “image processing means” referred to in the present specification and claims includes a computer program that can synthesize a photographed or received image with a selected character, frame, etc., or process the color tone of the image. Say. Note that the above-described “frame” means a decoration provided on a background or an edge portion of an image.

  The “portable information terminal” referred to in the present specification and claims is a portable device having a built-in memory for recording image information and the like, and capable of taking out recorded image information and the like, for example, Mobile phones, PHS, PDAs, notebook computers, etc. are included.

(Work)
(1) The vending machine according to the present invention prints an image on a film sheet by printing means provided inside the main body. Thereafter, the image is displayed on the product or the like by pasting the film sheet on which the image is printed on the article by the pasting means provided inside the main body.
For this reason, the purchaser can obtain the goods etc. to which the favorite image was added.

(2) In the case of a vending machine in which the image input means can be selected, an image input method is selected from an external input of image data or an image photographing device provided in the vending machine.
(A) When the image photographing device is selected, the image photographing device provided in the vending machine is photographed and used as image data.
(B) When input via a wired or / and wireless communication network is selected, image data recorded in the portable information terminal is transmitted to the information receiving device provided in the vending machine via the wired or / and communication network, or Use image data taken directly from the portable information terminal.
(C) When the input by the recording medium is selected, the recording medium reading device provided in the vending machine reads the recording medium, and the image data recorded on the recording medium is taken out and used.
(D) The image input from the outside by the image input means is edited and processed by the image processing means so that it can be printed. The processed image data is printed on a film sheet by a printing unit, and the film sheet on which an image is printed by a pasting unit is pasted on an article and displayed.
As a result, the purchaser can obtain a product with a favorite image added thereto.

The present invention has the following effects.
(1) The vending machine according to the present invention prints an image on a film sheet inside the main body, affixes the film sheet to a product, etc., and a sensor for searching for a portion to print the image related to the product, etc. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vending machine that displays an image on a product or the like with a simple means.
(2) Since the image display method is a method of sticking a film sheet to a product, an image having no printing unevenness can be displayed on a product having deformability or flexibility such as a bag.
(3) An image photographed on the spot by an image photographing device provided in the vending machine, an image received through a wired or / and wireless communication network and an information transmission / reception device, an image recorded on a recording medium, or these means By displaying the image obtained by the combination on the product or the like, the mass-produced product or the like becomes a product full of originality in the world, and the consumer's desire to purchase can be stimulated.
Furthermore, an image to which information for each installation location is added (for example, an image vending machine installed in a sightseeing spot, etc., which uses a landmark of the sightseeing spot as a frame and is edited and created in combination with a photographed image. ) Is suitable as a souvenir or souvenir.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a usage state of a vending machine according to the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the vending machine according to the present invention.

First, the outside of the vending machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
The vending machine 1 includes a main body portion 10 formed in a box shape and a light shielding member 101 formed so as to cover the main body portion.

A product display section 2 displaying products 3 is provided above the front portion of the main body 10.
An input operation unit 13, a display unit 14, and a photographing device 152 are provided in the vicinity of the central part of the main body 10.

The display unit 14 is formed by a liquid crystal screen, and a touch sensor type input screen is displayed on the liquid crystal screen to form a guidance screen and an input operation unit 13.
The photographing device 152 provided above the display unit 14 is a digital camera, and the lens portion is exposed outside the front of the main body for photographing a subject.
An image data input means 151 and a money slot 111 are provided in the vicinity of the side of the display unit 14. The money slot 111 is composed of coin and banknote money slots.

  Although not shown in the drawings, illumination is provided on the front surface of the main body 10 or / and inside the light shielding member 101. The position of the illumination and the number of installation locations are preferably arranged so that shadows do not appear on the subject's facial expression during shooting.

In the present embodiment, the image data input means 151 employs infrared data communication, but is not limited to this. For example, the image data input means 151 transmits image data directly to a mail receiving device provided inside the main body, Alternatively, a method may be used in which image data is transferred to a vending machine to be used by means of e-mail or the like after being transmitted to the head office receiving device (a server provided in the head office).
The server includes a computer that provides files, data, and the like to other computers on a computer connected via a network, and a program thereof.

  In addition, a communication cable may be provided in the main body, and image data recorded in the portable information terminal may be extracted via the cable. Furthermore, a method of taking out image data by inserting a recording medium such as a memory card, CD, or flexible disk into a reading device provided in the vending machine may be used.

  The change receiving port 191 is provided in a rectangular shape with an opening on the front side of the main body 10, and a cover is provided so that change does not jump out.

  Below the display unit 14, a receiving port 102 is provided for receiving the purchased product G with the attached image.

The light shielding member 101 is constituted by a frame and a light-shielding curtain made of soft vinyl chloride, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured so as to be able to block light from the outside.
The inner side of the light shielding member 101 is colored in blue, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, it is colored in green, gray or the like so as to be suitable for chroma key composition of an image, background, frame, etc. Also good.
Note that chroma-key is one of screen synthesis techniques and uses a difference in color (chroma) to fit a subject such as a person on another screen. (Quoted from Kojien 4th edition)
More specifically, it is a technique for combining two screens using the difference in hue in the color components of a color video signal. Foreground objects are extracted from a single-color background shot, such as a curtain or screen, and new backgrounds are extracted. It is to be combined with another shot including.

Next, the internal configuration of the vending machine 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
Inside the main body 10, there are a money input determination unit 11, an image processing unit 12, an input operation unit 13, a display unit 14, an image data external input unit 151, a photographing device 152, a printing unit 16, a pasting unit 17, and a product supply unit 18. A change return unit 19 is provided.
As for the input operation unit 13, the display unit 14, the image data external input unit 151, and the imaging device 152, some of the devices are exposed to the outside of the main body unit 10 for operation and information input.

  The money insertion determination unit 11 has a sensor for determining the amount of the bill or coin C1 inserted from the money insertion slot 111, determines whether or not the required amount of the product is satisfied, and displays on the display unit 14. Displays the amount of money currently input and the shortage. When it is determined that the required amount is satisfied, the next guidance screen (input means selection) is displayed.

  The display unit 14 is formed of a liquid crystal screen, and displays the amount that has been input, the amount to be returned, operation guidance, and an image. The display unit 14 constitutes a touch panel type input operation unit 13.

The image processing means 12 combines a photographed or input image with a frame or the like. Specifically, it is a microcomputer provided with image processing software, and the computer processes an image.
The processed image data is sent to the printing means 16.

The image data external input unit 151 is a device that receives image data from the outside.
In the present embodiment, an infrared data receiving device is employed. More specifically, a device that receives image data D transmitted by infrared rays I emitted from an infrared data transmission / reception device provided in a mobile phone T used by a user is employed.

  In the present embodiment, a digital camera is employed as the photographing device 152.

The printing unit 16 is a unit for printing the image data sent from the image processing unit 12, and specifically employs an ink jet printer. The image is printed on the film seal by the printing means 16, and the film seal on which the image is printed is sent to the sticking means 17.
In the present embodiment, an ink jet printer is employed as the printing means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and does not exclude the possibility of using a known printing technique or printing machine.

The affixing means 17 is an apparatus for affixing the sent film seal to the merchandise sent from the merchandise supply unit 18.
A product or the like with a film seal attached is sent to the receiving port 102.

  The change return unit 19 is provided with a computer program for calculating change and taking out the change of the return amount, and the change C2 of the required amount is sent to the change receiving port 191.

(Work)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vending machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a product with an image sticker produced by a vending machine according to the present invention.
The operation of the vending machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Price input S1)
A coin or banknote C1 is inserted into a money slot 111 provided in the vending machine 10.
At this time, the money input determining unit 11 determines the input money. The input amount and the shortage amount are displayed on the display unit 14.

(Product selection S2)
A product to be purchased is selected from the products in the product display unit 2, and a switch to be selected is pushed.

(Input means selection S3)
According to the guidance of the display unit 14, the image input means is selected.
In the vending machine 1 according to the present embodiment, as the image input means, any one of the input means S4a for photographing with the camera provided in the main body unit 10 or the choice of the external input S4b can be selected.
When selecting, an input operation is performed by touching the input operation unit 13 displayed on the display unit 14.

(Shooting S4a)
When shooting with the camera is selected, the subject, for example, the purchaser himself, is photographed with the camera 152 provided in the main body unit 10.

(External input S4b)
When the external input S4b is selected, the purchaser transmits the image data D using the infrared communication function related to the mobile phone T that records the image.
Specifically, the image data D is transmitted from the mobile phone T to the infrared communication receiving portion provided in the vending machine, and is received by the image data external input means 151 provided in the main body unit 10.

  After image shooting or image information input, an image to be printed is selected according to the guidance screen, and the determined image is input as image data D to the image processing means 12.

(Frame selection S5)
A frame to be combined with the aforementioned image is selected from a plurality of types of frames displayed on the display unit 14 provided in the vending machine. The frame may not be selected.

(Character information etc. input selection S6)
In accordance with the guidance of the display unit 14, it is selected whether to input character information or the like. When inputting, characters and the like are input by the input operation unit 13. The characters to be input can be selected from fixed phrases ("HAPPY BIRTHDAY!", "Happy Birthday", etc.) displayed on the display unit 14, or freely combined with hiragana, kanji, alphabet, numbers, symbols, etc. You may create it. In addition, the touch panel may be written in a free font with a pen-like input device.
The image processing means 12 is processed into a composite image of frames, characters, and images by a microcomputer equipped with image processing software.
After the image processing, a preview of the print screen is displayed on the display unit 14.

(Image determination S7)
When a print is finally determined based on an image or the like displayed on the preview of the print screen, an image and a frame to be printed are determined by touching a “decision” button displayed on the input operation unit 13.

(Print processing S8)
The selected image or the like is printed on a film sheet by a printing means 16 such as a printer provided in the main body 10.
The printed film sheet is sent to a pasting means 17 provided in the main body 10.

(Paste processing S9)
The release sheet of the film sheet is peeled off from the film sheet sent from the printing means 16 by the sticking means 17, and the exposed adhesive surface is attached to the product G or the like sent from the product supply unit 18.

(Changing process S10)
The change return unit 19 is provided with a computer program for calculating change and taking out the change amount. The change C2 of the required amount calculated by the change return unit 19 is sent to the change receiving port 191.

(Product receipt S11)
The product G1 or the like with the image attached is sent from the pasting means 17 to the receiving port 102, and the purchaser can obtain the product G1 or the like with the image.
When the recording medium is used, the recording medium is collected after receiving the product 3 or the like.

  In the present embodiment, operations such as selection are performed by touching the input operation unit displayed on the display unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an operation unit provided outside the guidance screen is operated. Thus, known means such as a device for sending a signal into the main body is also included.

In the present embodiment, infrared communication using a mobile phone is employed as an external input unit for image data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following units may be used.
(1) When using a recording medium A vending machine is provided with a recording medium reader, and the image to be printed is taken out from the image data recorded on the recording medium such as a memory card, CD, DVD, etc. Also good.
(2) When using an image received through a communication network and an information transmission / reception device
i. When the communication network is a wired network The image information transmitted or stored in the server may be taken out and used by the information transmission / reception device provided in the vending machine through the communication network.
Further, a connector provided at a cable end provided in the vending machine may be connected to a connector of a portable information terminal such as a mobile phone, and an image may be taken out from the memory of the portable information terminal and used.
ii. When the communication network is wireless The image may be transmitted by e-mail using not only a cellular phone but also other portable information terminals such as PHS, PDA, portable notebook personal computer and the like.
The method of sending and receiving images by e-mail may be a method of sending e-mail directly to a receiving device provided inside the vending machine, or automatically once indirectly via a server of the base station or the like. A method of transmitting an e-mail to a receiving device provided in the vending machine may be used.

With reference to FIG. 4, the aspect of the goods etc. which affixed the image concerning this Embodiment is demonstrated.
FIG. 4A shows a state in which the film sheet P1 is attached to the side of the can G1 that is a product.
A single person image is printed on the film sheet P1, and a message “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Is printed above the person image.

FIG.4 (b) has shown the state by which the film sheet P2 was affixed on the box G2 side part which is goods.
On the film sheet P2, a single person image and a date “'03 .09.13” are printed on the lower frame portion of the frame surrounding the person image.

FIG.4 (c) has shown the state by which the film sheet P3 was affixed on the bag G3 side part which is goods.
A single person image is printed on the film sheet P3.

FIG. 4D shows a state in which the film sheet P4 is attached to the side of the paper cup G4, which is a container for providing goods.
A single person image is printed on the film sheet P4.

  The terms and expressions used in the present specification and claims are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to be limiting in any way. The features described in the present specification and claims and their terms There is no intention of excluding some equivalent terms and expressions. It goes without saying that various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

The use condition explanatory drawing of the vending machine which concerns on this invention. The block diagram which shows the internal structure of the vending machine which concerns on this invention. The flowchart figure which shows the effect | action of the vending machine which concerns on this invention. The perspective view of the goods which attached | subjected the image sticker produced with the vending machine concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 10 Main part 101 Light-shielding member 102 Receiving port 11 Money insertion discrimination | determination part 111 Money insertion port 12 Image processing means 13 Input operation part 14 Display part 151 Image data external input means 152 Imaging device 16 Printing means 17 Sticking means 18 Goods Supply unit 19 Change return unit 191 Change receiving port D Data C1 Coin or bill C2 Change T Mobile phone I Infrared 2 Product display unit G Product G1 Can G2 Box G3 Bag G4 Paper cup P1 Film sheet P2 Film sheet P3 Film sheet P4 Film Sheet

Claims (5)

A vending machine (1) having an image display function, inside a box-shaped main body (10),
Means (16) for printing an image on a film sheet;
Means for attaching and displaying a film sheet on which an image is printed on an article (17),
vending machine. An image capturing device (152) or / and image data external input means (151) for capturing an image to be displayed;
An image processing means (12),
The vending machine according to claim 1. As image data external input means (151),
A wired or / and wireless communication network and a device for transmitting and receiving information via the communication network;
Or / and a recording medium reader,
It is configured so that an image can be captured by the above device,
The vending machine according to claim 2. It is configured to be able to capture an image by transmitting or inputting image information to the image data external input means (151) using a portable information terminal (T),
The vending machine according to claim 2 or 3. Taking an image (S4a) and / or inputting image data from outside (S4b),
Printing the image on a film sheet (S8),
Affixing the film sheet on which the image is printed to the article (S9),
Including supplying an article on which an image is displayed (S10),
A method of manufacturing an article displaying an image.

Images