JP2006171905A - Refunding system and method of automatic vending machine and automatic vending machine and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refunding system and method of an automatic vending machine for refunding from the automatic vending machine by connecting the automatic vending machine with the automatic vending machine company, and the automatic vending machine and program thereof. <P>SOLUTION: When a failure occurs, a purchaser inputs failure information, a user ID and a password through an interface means 108 of a computer 107, and the computer 107 confirms the failure by verifying the inputted failure information with a sales history, and transmits the verification result to a management system 20. The management system 20 returns a refund command or data of nonrefund. The automatic vending machine 10 displays the user ID on the interface means 108 together with a message refundable or nonrefundable. In refundable case, the purchaser inputs the password through the interface means 108 of the computer 107 in the automatic vending machine 10, and will be refunded with a declared amount of the failure information through a slot for refund 105 of the automatic vending machine 10 if there is no error in the password. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vending machine refund system and method, a vending machine and a program thereof, and more particularly to a vending machine refund system and method for connecting a vending machine and a vending machine company and making a refund from a vending machine, and vending. Machine and its program.

  An example of a conventional vending system is described in Patent Document 1. This conventional vending system is composed of a wireless card capable of reading and writing money data, a vending machine, and a vending machine management server, and operates as follows.

  The vending machine performs predetermined communication related to the reduction processing of money data corresponding to the product with the wireless card based on the user's selection of the product, and discharges the selected product after the communication is completed. When the vending machine suspends the discharge of the selected product because it does not receive a notification that the deduction has been completed from the wireless card during the communication, the log storage memory uses this as the product discharge hold data. To come to remember. As described above, when the selected product is not discharged from the vending machine due to a communication failure, the product discharge pending data stored in the vending machine and the log recording memory is transmitted to the vending machine management server. The vending machine management server collectively manages the product discharge suspension data, so that the administrator can quickly respond to the complaint due to the disadvantage from the card user who did not receive the product.

JP 2002-367016 A

  However, the conventional vending system described above has the following problems.

  In other words, when a failure occurs and the selected product cannot be discharged, the product discharge pending data is received and managed by the vending machine management server, and the administrator responds to the complaint from the user. This means that refund processing from vending machines cannot be performed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine refund system and method, a vending machine, and a program therefor that solve the above-described conventional problems.

  A refund system for a vending machine according to the first invention of the present application is a refund system for a vending machine having a vending machine for discharging money and discharging a selected product, and a management device for managing the vending machine. The vending machine includes means for transmitting the inputted failure information to the management apparatus, and means for performing a refund based on a refund instruction received from the management apparatus. It comprises means for judging the received failure information and transmitting a refund instruction to the vending machine.

  A refunding system for a vending machine according to a second invention of the present application is characterized in that, in the first invention, the vending machine has means for performing a self-diagnosis of the fault when the fault information is inputted.

  In a vending machine refund system according to a third invention of the present application, in the second invention, the vending machine determines a failure based on a result of collation between sales history information and the inputted failure information and a result of the self-diagnosis of the failure. And confirming the sales history information and the failure information to which the failure has been confirmed is transmitted to the management device. The management device receives the sales history information and the failure received from the vending machine. It is characterized by having a means to judge whether it refunds based on the said failure information to which it confirmed that it was confirmed.

  The vending machine refund method according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is a vending machine refund method of a system having a vending machine that discharges a selected product by inserting money and a management device that manages the vending machine. The vending machine transmits the entered failure information to the management device, and the management device determines failure information received from the vending machine and transmits a refund instruction to the vending machine. The vending machine performs a refund based on a refund instruction received from the management device.

  A refunding method for a vending machine according to a fifth invention of the present application is characterized in that, in the fourth invention, the vending machine performs a self-diagnosis of a fault when the fault information is input.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the vending machine refund method is the fifth aspect of the invention in which the vending machine determines a failure from the result of collation between the sales history information and the inputted failure information and the result of the self-diagnosis of the failure. Confirming that the sales history information and the failure information indicating that the failure has been confirmed are transmitted to the management device, and that the management device has confirmed the sales history information received from the vending machine and the failure. It is determined whether to refund based on the failure information marked with.

  A refunding method for a vending machine according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is a refunding method for a vending machine in a system having a plurality of vending machines for discharging money and discharging a selected product and a management device for managing the vending machine. In the method, one of the plurality of vending machines transmits the input failure information to the management device, and the management device receives the failure information received from the one vending machine as a failure history database. The other vending machines other than the one vending machine transmit the input refund request to the management apparatus, and the management apparatus refers to the failure information stored in the failure history database. The refund request received from the other vending machine is determined, and a refund instruction is transmitted to the other vending machine, and the other vending machine issues a refund based on the refund instruction received from the management device. To do that And butterflies.

  A vending machine refund method according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the seventh aspect, the one vending machine performs a self-diagnosis of a fault when the fault information is input.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the vending machine refund method is based on the eighth invention, wherein the one vending machine is based on the result of collation between the sales history information and the inputted failure information and the result of the self-diagnosis of the failure. Confirming the failure, the sales history information and the failure information indicating that the failure has been confirmed are transmitted to the management device, and the management device receives the sales history information and the failure received from the one vending machine. And stores the failure information with the confirmation of confirmation in the failure history database, and the management device stores the sales history stored in the failure history database when receiving a refund request from the other vending machine. It is determined whether to refund based on the information and the failure information indicating that the failure has been confirmed.

  A vending machine according to the tenth invention of the present application is a vending machine that inputs money and discharges a selected item, means for inputting fault information, means for transmitting the fault information to a management device, And a means for performing a refund based on a refund instruction received from the management apparatus.

  The vending machine according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the tenth aspect, the vending machine has means for performing a self-diagnosis of the fault when the fault information is input.

  The vending machine according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the eleventh aspect, wherein means for confirming a failure from the result of collation between the sales history information and the inputted failure information and the result of the self-diagnosis of the failure, And means for transmitting to the management apparatus the failure information to which the failure has been confirmed.

  The program of the thirteenth invention of the present application is a program of a vending machine that throws money and discharges a selected product, and transmits the fault information to the vending machine, and transmits the fault information to the management device. A function of performing a refund based on a refund instruction received from the management device.

  A program according to a fourteenth invention of the present application realizes a function of performing a self-diagnosis of a fault when the fault information is input in the thirteenth invention.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the program according to the fifteenth aspect includes a function for confirming a failure based on a result of collation between the sales history information and the input failure information and a result of the self-diagnosis of the failure, the sales history information and the failure. A function of transmitting the failure information with the confirmation to the management apparatus is realized.

  The present invention has an effect that a refund can be made from a vending machine.

  The reason is that the vending machine makes a refund based on the refund instruction received from the management device.

  The present invention relates to a refund method when a trouble such as a jam or a product jam occurs in a vending machine such as a soft drink.

  When a purchaser inputs trouble content into a computer interface (such as a touch panel) built into the vending machine when a failure occurs, the computer diagnoses the failure content and transmits information to the network computer of the vending machine company. If the network computer does not determine that it is an unauthorized charge, it will refund the money from the vending machine. After that, if a failure occurs continuously in the vending machine, the sales are suspended.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the configuration of the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2 and FIGS. 5 to 6.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the operation block of the vending machine.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of sales history data stored in the vending machine.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of failure information data registered by the purchaser.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the state transition of each switch.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a record configuration example of the state holding DB.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention includes a vending machine 10 and a management device 20. The vending machine 10 and the management apparatus 20 are connected by a network 1000 such as the Internet.

  The vending machine 10 is a product vending machine. As shown in FIG. 2, the vending machine 10 includes an input port 100, a product rack 101, an operation panel 102, a product outlet 103, a product discharge route 104, a refund port 105, a control means 106, A computer 107, an interface means 108, and a vibration sensor 109 are included. The input port 100, the product rack 101, the operation panel 102, the product take-out port 103, the product discharge path 104, and the refund port 105 are connected to the control means 106. The control means 106 is connected to the computer 107. In addition, an interface unit 108 and a vibration sensor 109 are connected to the computer 107.

  The vending machine 10 includes a product price table (not shown). The product price table stores a corresponding product name and a corresponding product price for each product switch information. When the money inserted from the insertion slot 100 is larger than the price of the selected commodity stored in the commodity price table, the difference is returned from the refund slot 105 as change.

  The insertion slot 100 is a part where a customer puts money, and has a function of checking (counting) the kind and amount of money deposited. The control unit 106 is notified of the sales date and time and the deposit amount.

  The merchandise rack 101 is a shelf in which merchandise is stored and has a function of checking the type and quantity of merchandise. The product rack 101 includes a switch (referred to as a rack switch) at the exit of a shelf in which each product is stored. The rack switch is turned on when the product comes out of the stored shelf to the product discharge path 104. For example, when a product passes over a rack switch, the rack switch is pressed to turn it on. The control means 106 is notified of the on / off state of the rack switch.

  The operation panel 102 includes a product selection switch and a refund switch when the purchaser purchases a product, and has a function of checking which switch is selected. Also, it has a function of displaying a counter of the amount of money deposited. The control unit 106 is notified of the selected product switch information or refund switch information.

  The product outlet 103 is a product outlet and has a function of checking whether or not the customer has taken out the product. The product outlet 103 includes two switches (an outlet switch and a removed switch). When the commodity enters the commodity outlet 103, the outlet switch is turned on. When the product is taken out from the product outlet 103, the taken out switch is turned on. The control means 106 is notified of the on / off state of the outlet switch and the extracted switch.

  The product discharge route 104 is a route for discharging the product from the product rack 101 to the product take-out port 103, and has a function of checking whether the product has been discharged to the product take-out port 103. The product discharge path 104 includes two switches (a discharge path inlet switch and a discharge path outlet switch). When a product enters the product discharge path 104 from the product rack 101, the discharge path entrance switch is turned on. When a product comes out from the product discharge path 104 to the product outlet 103, the discharge path outlet switch is turned on. The control means 106 is notified of the ON / OFF state of the discharge path inlet switch and the discharge path outlet switch.

  The refund port 105 is a portion where money is refunded at the time of merchandise purchase or when a refund switch is operated, and has a function of checking the type and amount of money returned. The change amount or return amount is notified to the control means 106.

  The control means 106 has a function of controlling a series of operations of the vending machine 10 when the purchaser purchases a product from the vending machine 10. That is, it controls the operation from depositing through the slot 100 until the commodity is taken out from the commodity outlet 103. Moreover, it has the function which totals the banknote and coin count of sales amount for every sales. In addition, the control means 106 notifies the computer 107 of the on / off states of the rack switch, the discharge path inlet switch, the discharge path outlet switch, the outlet switch, and the extracted switch.

  The computer 107 operates under program control, and includes a sales history DB 1071, a transmission / reception means 1072, and a state holding DB 1073. The computer 107 has a function of controlling the control means 106, obtaining the result checked by each unit (each block) via the control means 106, and storing the obtained information in the sales history DB 1071 as a sales history. That is, the sales date and time, deposit amount, selected product switch information (sales product) or refund switch information, change amount or refund amount acquired via the control means 106 are registered in the sales history record shown in FIG. The sales history record is stored in the sales history DB 1071.

  When the computer 107 receives the failure information from the interface unit 108, the computer 107 performs a failure check (failure self-diagnosis). The result of the defect check is additionally recorded in a sales history record stored in the sales history DB 1071. It has a function of transmitting sales history, failure contents, diagnosis results, failure information, and the like to the management apparatus 20 via the transmission / reception means 1072.

  Further, the computer 107 controls the control means 106 so that the refund amount is refunded from the refund slot 105 based on the refund instruction from the management device 20.

  Further, the computer 107 has a function of canceling sales and transmitting an abnormality to the management apparatus 20 when notified of the sense (detection) of unauthorized vibration from the vibration sensor 109. Further, the computer 107 stores the on / off states of the rack switch, the discharge path inlet switch, the discharge path outlet switch, the outlet switch, and the removed switch from the control means 106, and stores them in the state holding DB 1073. “1” is stored for the on state and “0” is stored for the off state.

  The sales history DB 1071 is a database that stores a sales history. Referring to FIG. 5, the sales history includes data of date and time, payment, sales merchandise, refund, change, operation check, and failure block. The sales history DB 1071 is secured in an auxiliary storage device (not shown) such as a magnetic disk device.

  The transmission / reception means 1072 has a function of transmitting / receiving to / from the management apparatus 20 via the network 1000.

  The state holding DB 1073 is a database that records the on / off states of the rack switch, the discharge path entrance switch, the discharge path exit switch, the take-out switch, and the removed switch. The initial values of the rack switch, the discharge path inlet switch, the discharge path outlet switch, the take-out switch, and the removed switch are OFF. Referring to FIG. 8, the record configuration of the state holding DB 1073 includes a rack switch field, a discharge path inlet switch field, a discharge path outlet switch field, an outlet switch field, and an extracted switch field. The rack switch field stores the state of the rack switch, and the discharge path inlet switch field stores the state of the discharge path inlet switch. The state of the discharge route outlet switch is stored in the discharge route outlet switch field, and the state of the discharge port switch is stored in the discharge port switch field. The extracted switch field stores the status of the extracted switch.

  The interface unit 108 is a device through which a purchaser inputs failure information when a failure occurs, such as a keyboard device or a touch panel device. Referring to FIG. 6, the failure information includes data of user ID, purchased product, refund amount, and password. The interface unit 108 notifies the computer 107 of the input failure information. The interface unit 108 includes a display device that displays information from the computer 107.

  The vibration sensor 109 is a sensor device that monitors fraud. The vibration sensor 109 notifies the computer 107 when an abnormal vibration is detected.

  The management apparatus 20 is an apparatus that is operated and managed by a vending machine company or the like, and is an information processing apparatus such as a server that operates under program control. The management device 20 has a failure history DB (database) 201 that stores failure information and the like transmitted from the computer 107.

  In addition, the management device 20 receives a sales history, a failure content, a diagnosis result, failure information, and the like from the computer 107. The received sales history, failure content, diagnosis result, failure information, etc. are checked to determine whether refund is possible or not refundable. Then, the determination result is transmitted to the computer 107.

  Here, the state transition of each switch will be described with reference to FIG.

  The initial state of each switch is “off”. First, when a product is selected and the selected product leaves the product rack 101, the rack switch is turned “ON”, and when the product enters the product discharge path 104, the discharge path entrance switch is turned “ON”. When the product exits the product discharge path 104, the discharge path exit switch is turned “ON”, and when the product enters the product take-out port 103, the take-out switch is turned “ON”. When the product is taken out from the product take-out port 103, the taken-out switch is turned “ON”.

  When a failure occurs when a failure occurs (failure self-diagnosis), the state holding DB 1073 is referred to check the state of each switch to determine where the failure has occurred.

Subsequently, the operation of the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart for refunding according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flowchart at the time of collating the failure information with the sales history.

  First, the normal operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  The purchaser puts money into the slot 100 of the vending machine 10.

  The slot 100 records the date and time of sale and checks the type and quantity of the bills or coins that have been inserted.

  The control means 106 displays the input amount portion on the operation panel 102 based on the amount information checked at the input port 100, and turns on a product switch that can be purchased.

  When the purchaser presses the switch of the product he wants to purchase, the selected product is checked.

  The control means 106 issues an instruction to discharge the selected product to the product rack 101. When the product is discharged from the product rack 101, the control unit 106 checks the number of stocks in the product rack 101.

  After passing through the product discharge path 104, whether or not the product has passed is checked.

  When the product is discharged to the product take-out port 103 and the purchaser takes out the product, the take-out of the product is checked, and the sales history (illustrated in FIG. 5) is stored in the sales history DB 1071 of the computer 107 as a normal operation.

  In addition, when the purchaser selects refund, the control means 106 checks the amount received and returns the money from the refund port 105.

  At the refund port 105, the amount instructed by the control means 106 is compared with the amount refunded. Refund information is additionally recorded in the sales history stored in the sales history DB 1071.

  Next, a refund method when a failure occurs will be described with reference to FIG.

  The purchaser inserts money into the slot 100 of the vending machine 10 and the purchaser presses the switch of the product he wants to purchase. Here, it is assumed that a failure has occurred (for example, the product does not come out to the product outlet).

  First, the purchaser inputs failure information including a user ID and a password illustrated in FIG. 6 into the interface unit 108 of the computer 107 (step S1). The failure information including the user ID and password is registered in the management apparatus 20 via the network 1000 as payment confirmation.

  It is checked whether there is any omission in the failure information (step S2).

  Next, the computer 107 performs collation and failure check (failure self-diagnosis) between the inputted failure information and the sales history (see FIG. 4 for details), and results of collation between the failure information and the sales history and failure self-diagnosis. From the result, it is confirmed whether there is a failure or fraud (step S3). If there is no contradiction between the report contents (input failure information) and the result of the defect check, “confirmation” is output as the collation result, and “unconfirmed” is output as the collation result when there is a contradiction.

  The computer 107 transmits failure information to which the sales history and the collated result are added to the management apparatus 20 via the network 1000. The management device 20 receives the failure information to which the sales history and the collated result are added and registers the failure information in the failure history DB 201. When the collation result is “confirmation”, the management apparatus 20 determines that it is a refund instruction, and additionally records the refund instruction information in the failure information of the failure history DB 201. Then, the refund instruction data is returned to the computer 107. In addition, when the collation result is “unconfirmed”, the management apparatus 20 determines that refund is not possible, and additionally records the non-refundable information in the failure information of the failure history DB 201. Then, the non-refundable data is returned to the computer 107 (step S4).

  Next, the computer 107 displays the user ID on the interface unit 108 and displays that refund is possible or non-refundable (step S5). When there is a fraud or a failure cannot be confirmed, the management device 20 displays an indication that it cannot be handled by the interface unit 108 of the computer 107.

  If the refund is possible, the purchaser inputs the password to the interface means 108 of the computer 107 of the vending machine 10 (step S6).

  If there is no mistake in the password, the reported amount of the failure information is returned to the refund port 105 of the vending machine 10 (steps S7 to S9).

  When the refund is made to the refund port 105, the computer 107 of the vending machine 10 transmits data indicating that the refund has been completed to the management device 20 (step S10).

  When the management device 20 receives that the refund has been completed, it writes a refunded mark on the corresponding failure information in the failure history DB 201.

  When troubles occur continuously ("YES" in step S11), the management device 20 transmits a signal for stopping the sales of the vending machine 10. Receiving the signal, the computer 107 of the vending machine 10 controls the control means 106 to stop the sales until maintenance is received.

  If the number of failures is one ("NO" in step S11), the sales are considered as normal and sales are continued.

  Next, referring to FIG. 4, the operation of checking the failure information against the sales history and performing a failure check (failure self-diagnosis) will be described in detail.

  First, the difference between the deposit amount of the sales history and the declared deposit amount (return amount of failure information) is checked (step S21). If there is no difference, the process proceeds to step S22. If there is a difference, “confirmation (refund required)” is set.

  It is checked whether the selected product matches the declared product (purchased product with fault information) (step S22). If the confirmation result is “OK”, the process proceeds to step S23, and if the confirmation result is “NG”, “confirmation (requires refund)”. In the case of waiting for an operation, “unconfirmed (displays prompting operation)” is set.

  The sales merchandise in the sales history and the declared merchandise (purchased merchandise with fault information) are checked (step S23). If the check result is “OK”, the process proceeds to step S24, and if the check result is “NG”, “confirmation (requires refund)” is set. If the operation is a refund, “confirmation (refund required)” is set.

  Product discharge from the product rack 101 to the product outlet 103 is confirmed (step S24). If the confirmation result is “OK”, the process proceeds to step S25, and if the confirmation result is “NG”, “confirmation (return required)” is set. That is, the record of the state holding DB 1073 is read, and the rack switch field, the discharge route inlet switch field, the discharge route outlet switch field, and the takeout switch field are checked. If all of the rack switch field, the discharge path inlet switch field, the discharge path outlet switch field, and the outlet switch field are in the on state (“1”), the confirmation result is “OK”. Otherwise, the confirmation result is “NG”.

  The product removal from the product outlet 103 is confirmed (step S25). If the confirmation result is “OK”, the process proceeds to step S26, and if the confirmation result is “NG”, “unconfirmed (display for prompting for product removal)” is performed. That is, the record of the state holding DB 1073 is read and the extracted switch field is checked. If the extracted switch field is on ("1"), the confirmation result is "OK". Otherwise, the confirmation result is “NG”.

  It is checked whether there is a difference (presence / absence of change) between the input amount (payment) in the sales history and the product price (step S26). If there is a difference, it shall be “confirmation (difference between product price and input amount needs refund)”. If there is no difference, “unconfirmed”.

  The result of the above defect check is recorded in the sales history operation check field and the failure block field stored in the sales history DB 1071.

  As described above, since the vending machine is provided with a means for making a refund based on the refund instruction received from the management apparatus, there is an effect that a refund can be made from the vending machine. Also, refunds can be made at night, and refunds can be made even if the purchaser or vending machine is away from the vending machine company, so that it is easy to handle expensive products. In addition, there is an effect that the occurrence of the failure can be recognized at the vending machine company when it occurs, and the maintenance can be immediately performed even if the failure occurs.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 9, in another embodiment of the present invention, a vending machine 30 is added to the above-described embodiment shown in FIG.

  The vending machine 30 is equivalent to the vending machine 10 of the above-described embodiment.

  The operation of another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  The normal operation is the same as in the above-described embodiment.

  Next, the operation when a failure occurs will be described.

  First, the purchaser puts money into the slot 100 of the vending machine 10.

  The purchaser presses the switch for the product he wants to purchase.

  Since the merchandise did not come out to the merchandise outlet, the purchaser reports the failure information described with reference to FIG.

  The vending machine 10 checks the content of the declaration and the defect (similar to FIG. 4 of the above-described embodiment), and transmits the failure information and the sales history to which the verification result is added to the management device 20.

  The management device 20 receives the failure information to which the collated result is added and the sales history, and registers them in the failure history DB 201. Then, the management device 20 determines a refund instruction or non-refundable from the collation result, and additionally records the refund instruction or non-refundable information in the failure information of the failure history DB 201.

  Next, in order to make a refund request, the purchaser inputs the user ID registered at the time of reporting the failure information from the interface unit of the vending machine 30.

  The computer of the vending machine 30 transmits the input user ID to the management device 20.

  The management device 20 searches the failure history DB 201 with the received user ID, and extracts the refund amount of the failure information when the failure information corresponding to the received user ID is a refund instruction and not refunded. Then, a refund instruction and the extracted refund amount data are returned to the computer of the vending machine 30.

  The computer of the vending machine 30 receives the refund instruction and the refund amount, displays the user ID on the interface means, and displays that the refund is possible.

  The purchaser inputs the password to the interface means of the computer of the vending machine 30.

  The computer of the vending machine 30 transmits the input password to the management device 20.

  The management device 20 compares the received password with the password registered in the corresponding failure information of the failure history DB 201, and if they match, sends a refund OK to the computer of the vending machine 30.

  When the computer of the vending machine 30 receives the refund OK from the management device 20, the computer controls the control means to refund the received refund amount from the refund port.

  The control means of the vending machine 30 refunds the refund amount designated from the refund slot. Then, the computer is notified that the refund has been made.

  The computer of the vending machine 30 transmits that the refund has been completed to the management device 20.

  When the management device 20 receives that the refund has been completed, it writes a refunded mark on the corresponding failure information in the failure history DB 201.

  As described above, since the vending machine other than the vending machine in which the failure occurs can be refunded when the failure occurs, there is an effect that even if there is a failure in the refund port, the refund can be made. Further, there is an effect that the refund can be made at a timing different from the time when the failure occurs.

  In the above-described embodiment according to the present invention, a program or the like for executing the processing operation of the vending machine is recorded as data on a recording medium (not shown) such as a magnetic disk or ROM of the vending machine, Used to read the recorded data and operate the vending machine. As described above, data for operating the vending machine according to the present invention is recorded on the recording medium, and the function of the vending machine can be realized by installing the recording medium.

The figure which shows the whole structure of this invention Diagram showing the configuration of the operation block of the vending machine The figure which shows the flowchart at the time of refund of this invention The figure which shows the flowchart at the time of collation with trouble information and sales history Diagram showing an example of sales history data stored in a vending machine The figure which shows the example of failure information data which a purchaser registers Diagram explaining state transition of each switch The figure which shows the example of a record structure of state holding DB The figure which shows the whole structure of the other Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vending machine 20 Management apparatus 30 Vending machine 100 Input port 101 Product rack 102 Operation panel 103 Product outlet 104 Product discharge route 105 Refund port 106 Control means 107 Computer 108 Interface means 109 Vibration sensor 201 Fault history DB
1000 Network 1071 Sales history DB
1072 Transmission / reception means 1073 State holding DB

Claims (15)

A vending machine refund system comprising a vending machine that inputs money and discharges a selected product, and a management device that manages the vending machine,
The vending machine is
Means for transmitting the inputted failure information to the management device;
Means for performing a refund based on a refund instruction received from the management device,
The management device
Means for judging failure information received from the vending machine and transmitting a refund instruction to the vending machine;
Vending machine refund system. The vending machine is
Means for performing a self-diagnosis of the fault when the fault information is input;
The vending machine refund system according to claim 1. The vending machine is
A failure is confirmed from the result of collation between the sales history information and the input failure information and the result of the self-diagnosis of the failure, and the failure history information indicating that the failure has been confirmed is sent to the management device. Having means for transmitting,
The management device
Means for determining whether to refund based on the sales history information received from the vending machine and the failure information with the confirmation of failure;
The refund system for a vending machine according to claim 2. A vending machine refund method for a system having a vending machine that throws money and discharges a selected product and a management device that manages the vending machine,
The vending machine is
Send the entered failure information to the management device,
The management device
Determine failure information received from the vending machine and send a refund instruction to the vending machine,
The vending machine is
Refund based on the refund instruction received from the management device,
Vending machine refund method. The vending machine is
Self-diagnosis of fault when the fault information is input,
5. A refund method for a vending machine according to claim 4, wherein: The vending machine is
Check the failure from the result of collation between the sales history information and the entered failure information and the result of the self-diagnosis of the failure,
Sending the sales history information and the failure information to which the failure has been confirmed to the management device;
The management device
Determining whether to refund based on the sales history information received from the vending machine and the failure information to which the failure has been confirmed;
The vending machine refund method according to claim 5. A vending machine refund method for a system having a plurality of vending machines for discharging money and discharging selected products and a management device for managing the vending machines,
One vending machine of the plurality is
Send the entered failure information to the management device,
The management device
Storing fault information received from the one vending machine in a fault history database;
Other vending machines other than the one vending machine are:
Send the entered refund request to the management device,
The management device
Determining a refund request received from the other vending machine with reference to failure information stored in the failure history database;
Send a refund instruction to the other vending machine,
The other vending machines are:
Refund based on the refund instruction received from the management device,
Vending machine refund method. The one vending machine is
Self-diagnosis of fault when the fault information is input,
The vending machine refund method according to claim 7. The one vending machine is
Check the failure from the result of collation between the sales history information and the entered failure information and the result of the self-diagnosis of the failure,
Sending the sales history information and the failure information to which the failure has been confirmed to the management device;
The management device
Storing the sales history information received from the one vending machine and the failure information with the confirmation of the failure in a failure history database;
The management device
Determining whether to refund based on the sales history information stored in the failure history database and the failure information to which a failure has been confirmed when a refund request is received from the other vending machine;
The vending machine refund method according to claim 8. It is a vending machine that throws in money and discharges selected products,
Means for entering fault information;
Means for transmitting the failure information to a management device;
Means for performing a refund based on a refund instruction received from the management device,
Vending machine characterized by that. Means for performing a self-diagnosis of the fault when the fault information is input;
The vending machine according to claim 10. Means for confirming a failure from a result of collation between sales history information and the inputted failure information and a result of self-diagnosis of the failure;
Means for transmitting the sales history information and the failure information to which the failure has been confirmed to the management device;
The vending machine according to claim 11. A vending machine program that throws money and discharges selected items,
Vending machine,
The ability to enter fault information,
A function of transmitting the failure information to a management device;
A function of performing a refund based on a refund instruction received from the management device;
A program to realize A function of performing a self-diagnosis of the fault when the fault information is input;
The program according to claim 13 for realizing the above. A function for confirming a failure from the result of collation between sales history information and the inputted failure information and the result of the self-diagnosis of the failure;
A function of transmitting the sales history information and the failure information to which the failure has been confirmed to the management device;
The program of Claim 14 for implement | achieving.

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