JP2007004481A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the advertising effects of a maker or a brand of merchandise in an automatic vending machine. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic vending machine is provided with a light emitting part, a setting input part for inputting information related with merchandise, a storage part for storing the light emission mode of the light emitting part depending on information related with the merchandise and a control part for selecting the light emission mode based on information relating to the merchandise inputted from the setting input part, and for making the light emitting part emit the rays of light according to the light emission mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine capable of changing a light emission mode of a light emitting unit according to information on a product.

  There is known a technique in which products having different sales series and uses are mixedly displayed in a vending machine and provided with lighting fixtures of different colors depending on the type of product (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-168153: Patent Document 1). However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it takes time and effort since the change of illumination is performed manually.

On the other hand, in a vending machine, a technology is known in which a saleable lamp of a campaign product blinks when waiting for payment to appeal to consumers (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-12792: Patent Document 2). However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 only sets the blinking of the lamp for each column (for each product sample), and does not allow advanced lighting considering a plurality of types of products for sale, and the appeal effect is low. There was a problem.
JP 2003-168153 A JP-A-3-12792

  Under the circumstances as described above, it is required to further enhance the advertising effect of the manufacturer and brand of the product in the vending machine using the illumination means.

In view of the above situation, the present invention provides the following vending machines.
(1) a light emitting unit;
A setting input section for inputting information about the product;
A storage unit for storing a light emission mode of the light emitting unit depending on information on the product;
A control unit that selects a light emission mode based on information related to the product input from the setting input unit, and causes the light emission unit to emit light according to the light emission mode;
Vending machine equipped with.
(2) The vending machine according to (1) above, wherein the information related to the product includes the manufacturer, type, and / or brand of the product.
(3) The storage unit stores a light emission mode of the light emitting unit depending on a type of the product,
The control unit determines a type of the product based on the information input from the setting input unit, selects a corresponding light emission mode, and causes the light emission unit to emit light according to the light emission mode. Or the vending machine as described in (2).
(4) The control unit determines the type of the product based on the brand of the product input from the setting input unit, selects a corresponding light emission mode, and causes the light emitting unit to emit light according to the light emission mode. The vending machine according to (3) above.
(5) The automatic according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the control unit selects a light emission mode corresponding to the most type among all types of the product and causes the light emitting unit to emit light. Vending machine.
(6) A product sample display section in which one or more product samples corresponding to the product are arranged,
The vending machine according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the light emitting unit is installed in association with each of the product samples in the product sample display unit.
(7) A plurality of different product sample display sections are provided,
One of the product sample display units is functionally or designally distinguished from other product sample display units, and the light emitting unit is associated with each product sample in the differentiated product sample display unit. The vending machine according to (6), which is installed.
(8) The vending machine according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the light emitting unit emits light with an image color related to the product.
(9) The vending machine according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the light emission mode is configured by various combinations of a light emission color and a blinking pattern of the light emitting unit.
(10) The vending machine according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the light emitting unit is configured by an LED.

  According to the vending machine of the present invention, the light emission mode of the light emitting unit depending on the type of the product to be sold is stored in the storage unit in advance, and the light emitting unit is caused to emit light by the control unit according to the light emission mode. It is possible to automatically change the light emission color and light emission pattern according to.

  Since the lighting mode is changed according to the type of product, a variety of lighting effects can be expected, and depending on the customer, what type of product is sold from a remote location depending on the light emission pattern or color There is an advantage that can be confirmed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to further enhance the advertising effect of the manufacturer or brand of the product in the vending machine using the illumination means.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a vending machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine 1 includes an upper product sample display unit 2, a lower product sample display unit 3, a product sample 4, a price plate 5, a selection button 6, an LED 7, a coin slot 8, a return lever 9, a banknote slot 10, and a coin return. A mouth 11, a price display unit 12, a product takeout port 13, an infrared communication window unit 14, a human detection sensor window unit 15, and a keyhole 16 for locking the door part on the front of the vending machine 1.

  A product sample 4 (in this example, a cigarette sample) is displayed on the upper product sample display unit 2 and the lower product sample display unit 3. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the upper product sample display unit 2 is arranged at the height of the line of sight of an adult on the front of the vending machine 1, and it is desired to stand out from other products such as campaign products here. You can place sample products. The upper product sample display unit 2 is different in design from the lower product sample display unit 3 and is configured to take on a function as a “showcase” in particular. Each product sample 4 is provided with a price plate 5 so that the user (or consumer) can know the price of the product. In the LED 7, a light emitting diode is arranged in accordance with the position of each product sample 4. The LED 7 is configured to emit, for example, an image color, a light emission pattern, or the like that matches the product sample 4 in order to enhance the effect of visually appealing the product.

  The user can select and purchase a desired product by inserting coins or banknotes into the coin slot 8 or the banknote slot 10, respectively, and pressing the selection button 6. The amount entered is displayed on the amount display unit 12. The purchased product can be taken out from the product takeout port 13. When returning the change or canceling the purchase, the return lever 9 can be used to return the money from the coin return slot 11 or the bill insertion slot 10.

  When the user approaches the vending machine 1, the human detection sensor in the human detection sensor window 15 can be configured to detect the approach of the user. The human detection sensor typically includes a sensor that detects a change in the amount of heat rays radiated from a person or an animal. Such sensors are commercially available from suppliers well known to those skilled in the art. When the human detection sensor detects the approach of the user, for example, the light emitting member (for example, LED 7) or the lighting member (for example, fluorescent lamp) arranged in the product sample display 2 or 3 is automatically turned on. A control system of the vending machine 1 can be configured.

  The infrared communication window section 14 is composed of an infrared light receiving section and the like so as to enable infrared communication with other communication means (for example, a mobile phone).

  FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the upper product sample display unit 2 of the vending machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown, an LED (light emitting diode) 7 is arranged so as to correspond to the product sample 4 of the upper product sample display unit 2. Usually, as shown in FIG. 1, each light emitting diode is covered with a transparent or translucent panel such as an acrylic plate. Further, selection buttons 61 to 68 are provided so as to correspond to the respective product samples.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vending machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the vending machine 1 includes a CPU and the like, and includes a control unit 20 that controls each unit of the device, a storage unit 21 that includes means for storing data such as ROM and RAM, and light emission. A light emitting unit 22 composed of light emitting means such as a diode (LED) 7, a liquid crystal display unit, a setting input unit 23 composed of an operation terminal (not shown) equipped with a keyboard, etc., selection buttons 6, 61 to 68, etc. A product selection unit 24 including a product take-out port 13, a product dispensing unit 25 including a product take-out port 13, a coin processing device (not shown), a money processing unit 26 including a banknote processing device (not shown), an infrared light receiving unit and the like. The communication unit 27, a human detection sensor 28 for detecting the approach of a person, an illumination unit 29 including a fluorescent lamp (not shown) for illuminating the product sample display unit, and the like.

  The storage unit 21 stores in advance an agreement on how the light emitting means (for example, the LED 7) of the light emitting unit 22 emits light in association with product information, that is, the light emission mode.

Table 1 shows an example of such a light emission mode.

  As shown in Table 1, for example, “red” for the type “XXX” (in this example, the brand of the product), “blue”, “ “□□□” can be associated with a light emission color such as “green”. Each such color can be matched to the brand color of the product, for example. As a result, the establishment of the brand color of the product is promoted from the viewpoint of the company, and at the same time, if the brand color is established in this way, it is used what products are sold from the color in the vending machine. Since the person can judge immediately, it is very advantageous for advertising / promotion and sales promotion.

Table 2 shows another example of the light emission mode of the light emitting unit 22.

  As shown in Table 2, for example, a light emission pattern in which red is lit for 3 seconds and then blinked for 3 seconds can be associated with the type “XXX”. In addition, for example, turn on blue for 1 second for “△△△”, then turn off blue for 1 second, or turn on orange for 2 seconds for the brand “□□□”, then yellow A setting such as lighting up for 2 seconds can be made. The setting that can be applied in the present invention is not limited to the examples given here, and an optimum mode can be appropriately set according to the purpose.

  The light emitting unit 22 is preferably composed of light emitting means capable of exhibiting several emission colors such as LEDs, EL lamps, fluorescent lamps, and various light bulbs as described above. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, in a typical example, each of the one or more product samples 4 arranged in the product sample display unit 2 includes one or more LEDs (7), and one Selection buttons (any of 61 to 68) are arranged correspondingly and associated with each other.

  The setting input unit 23 stores product information (for example, product information) corresponding to the product sample 4, the selection buttons (61 to 68), or a column (not shown) that holds the product provided in the vending machine 1. This is for entering the manufacturer, type (brand name), brand, etc.). Normally, the columns correspond one-to-one with the selection buttons and product samples. Therefore, when inputting the information, usually, a process of inputting product information assigned to any one of the column, the selection button, and the product sample is performed using an input unit such as a keyboard.

Table 3 shows an example of such information input via the setting input unit 23.

  In the example shown in Table 3, a product brand and a brand are assigned to each selection button. This is only an example, and the way of handling is not limited to this.

  Referring to FIG. 3 again, the control unit 20 performs a processing operation for realizing a function as a general vending machine (for example, based on a signal from the money processing unit 26 and a signal from the product selection unit 24). , And the like, and the light emitting unit control system 30 is controlled. The light emitting unit control system 30 includes a storage unit 21, a light emitting unit 22, a setting input unit 23, and a control unit 20, as shown in FIG. In addition, although the example which controls each part of an apparatus with one control part was shown here, you may provide another control part for controlling the light emission part control system 30. FIG.

  In the control of the light emitting unit control system 30, the control unit 20 sets the light emission mode data of the light emitting unit 22 corresponding to information (for example, manufacturer, brand, brand, etc.) related to the product stored in the storage unit 21 in advance. Based on the information about the product assigned to the selection button (or product column etc.) input via the input unit 23 (and stored in the storage unit 21), the light emission mode of the light emitting unit 22 is selected, The light emitting unit 22 emits light.

  Regarding the timing of light emission of the light emitting unit 22, for example, (1) When waiting (no detection by the human detection sensor 26 and no operation such as depositing or pressing the selection button 6), the LED 7 emits light with a predetermined light emission pattern. (2) When the human detection sensor 26 detects the approach of the user, the LED 7 is caused to emit “blue”; (3) When there is an operation such as a deposit operation or pressing of the selection button 6, a predetermined It is possible to emit light at a timing such as causing the LED 7 to emit light with a light emission pattern.

  The light emission mode of the light emitting unit 22 for each type as described above can be any mode as long as the product information is determined and the light emission mode is determined. A single color may be turned on, blinked, turned off, or a light emission pattern in which a plurality of colors are mixed may be used. For example, the most common type (for example, brand) and the second most common type may be determined from the set product brands, and the LEDs 7 may be caused to emit light alternately with the corresponding light emission patterns. Further, the type of the product brand set in the selection buttons 61 to 68 may be determined, and the light emission patterns corresponding to each may be made to emit light in order. The type of the product may be classified according to other criteria such as classification by the manufacturer of the product, not from the brand of the product.

  In the above example, the types are determined for the selection buttons 61 to 68 of some of the product display units, but the types are determined for all the selection buttons including the selection buttons in the other product display units, and the light emission patterns of the LEDs are changed. You may decide. Further, in the above example, the light emitting unit 22 (or the LED 7) is provided only in the upper display unit 2 of the vending machine 1, but the position at which the light emitting unit 22 (or LED 7) is arranged is not particularly limited, and for example, covers the entire display unit. It may be arranged on the front surface of the vending machine 1 other than the display, or on the ceiling.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was illustrated and this invention was demonstrated in detail, as long as the range of this invention is not limited to the said embodiment and does not exceed the range of this invention described in the claim Various modifications are possible.

  According to the vending machine of the present invention, since the light emission mode is automatically changed according to the type of the product, a variety of lighting effects can be expected. However, because it has the advantage of being able to see what kind of products are being sold, various products (for example, tangibles such as cigarettes, beverages, foods, meal tickets, various tickets, software and music data, etc.) It is useful as a vending machine for sales promotion of intangibles and for product PR.

1 is a schematic front view of a vending machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the elements on larger scale of the upper goods sample display part 2 of the vending machine 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vending machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vending machine 2 Upper product sample display (display)
3 Lower product sample display (display)
4 Product sample 5 Price plate 6 Selection button 7 LED (light emitting means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 Coin slot 9 Return lever 10 Bill slot 11 Coin return slot 12 Amount display part 13 Goods take-out part 14 Infrared communication window part 15 Human detection sensor window part 16 Keyhole 20 Control part 21 Storage part 22 Light emission part 23 Setting input part 24 product selection unit 25 product dispensing unit 26 money processing unit 27 infrared communication unit 28 human detection sensor 29 illumination unit 30 light emitting unit control system 61-68 selection button

Claims (9)

A light emitting unit;
A setting input section for inputting information about the product;
A storage unit for storing a light emission mode of the light emitting unit depending on information on the product;
A control unit that selects a light emission mode based on information related to the product input from the setting input unit, and causes the light emission unit to emit light according to the light emission mode;
Vending machine equipped with.   The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the product includes a manufacturer, a type, and / or a brand of the product. The storage unit stores a light emission mode of the light emitting unit depending on a type of the product,
The control unit determines a type of the product based on a brand of the product input from the setting input unit, selects a corresponding light emission mode, and causes the light emitting unit to emit light according to the light emission mode. The vending machine according to 1 or 2.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit selects a light emission mode corresponding to the most type among all types of the products and causes the light emission unit to emit light. A product sample display unit in which one or more product samples corresponding to the product are arranged;
The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the light emitting unit is installed so as to correspond to each of the product samples in the product sample display unit. A plurality of different product sample display sections;
One of the product sample display units is functionally or designally distinguished from other product sample display units, and the light emitting unit is associated with each product sample in the distinguished product sample display unit. The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the vending machine is installed.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the light emitting unit emits light with an image color related to the product.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the light emission mode is configured by various combinations of a light emission color and a blinking pattern of the light emitting unit.   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the light emitting unit is configured by an LED.