JP2007207165A - Product sales information collection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a product sales information collection system for counting the products to be sold by an automatic vending machine reliably, collecting the sales information, and collecting it in the center. <P>SOLUTION: The product sales information collection system has: a case body provided with a coin charge port, a product purchase instruction operating part, and a product output part; a counter which is assembled into the case body part and counts the sales quantity; a data maintenance part which is connected to the counter and accumulates data of counter values; and a communication part for transmitting the maintained data to the center. The system is provided with a reader/writer for totalizing the count values at the counter to transmit it to the center. Thus, the product sales information is automatically collected in the center without manual labor and the product sales information is quickly and reliably collected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a product sales information collecting system, in particular, product sales information that can reliably collect sales information of products sold in vending machines installed in various places without using human hands and send them to the center. It relates to the collection system.

Conventionally, in the method of selling products with vending machines, one worker who replenishes the product is required to count the number of products sold in each vending machine or check the number of stocks. One unit was recorded and aggregated, and those data were collected and collected as product sales information. A method for improving such a method for collecting merchandise sales information requiring labor and labor has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-269597 A

  However, in the above-described prior art, since the amount of money is handled as the sales information, the object can be achieved if the sales amount, that is, the number as the sales information is definitely collected. Therefore, it is unreasonable to apply the technology as it is in vending machines that must count the products discharged from the vending machines in order to grasp the actual number of products sold. Not right.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and its purpose is to reliably count the products sold by the vending machine, collect the sales information, and transmit it to the center. On the other hand, it is to provide a product sales information collection system having a reset function.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a product sales information collection system, a case provided with a coin insertion slot, a product purchase instruction operation unit, a product exit unit, and a safe box, and is incorporated in the case. A counter for counting the sales quantity of the product, a data holding unit connected to the counter and collecting data of the counter value, and a communication unit for transmitting the held data to the center. The gist of the invention is that it includes a reader / writer that counts and transmits the count values to the center. In this product sales information collection system, the counter detects the sale of a product by detecting any one of coin insertion at the coin insertion slot, operation at the product purchase instruction operation unit, or product discharge at the product exit unit. Based on the detection result, the sales quantity of the product is counted and the data is transmitted to the reader / writer, and the reader / writer holds the data received from the counter, and gives instructions from the operator or instructions from the center. Alternatively, when a predetermined period elapses, the stored data is automatically transmitted to the center, and the data sent from the reader / writer is stored in the server. The predetermined period can be set by a command from the center, and it is possible to set which vending machine is installed at which location. As a result, merchandise sales information is automatically collected in the center without using human resources, and merchandise sales information is collected quickly and reliably.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, when the counter detects the discharge of the product at the product outlet, an IC chip scanner is disposed near the product outlet, and the product is provided with an IC tag. When discharging from the outlet, the IC tag provided on the product may be read to perform the counting operation. As a result, not only the sales volume of the product but also the data such as the sales location can be collected together, which can be used for analysis related to the product sales.

  As yet another aspect, it is possible to use a QR code and a QR code scanner that can input a large amount of information relating to a product, and perform a counting operation in the same manner as in the case of the IC chip. As a result, not only the sales volume of the product but also the data such as the sales location can be collected together, which can be used for analysis related to the product sales.

  As described above, according to the present invention, merchandise sales information is automatically collected in the center without using manual labor, and merchandise sales information is collected quickly and reliably.

  Moreover, not only the sales quantity of the product but also the data such as the sales location can be collected together, which can be used for analysis related to the product sales.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a merchandise sales information collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vending machine. The vending machine 1 is, for example, a vending machine for selling toys and the like, and has a five-unit structure of vending machine units 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, and 1e in the present embodiment. One vending machine unit (represented by 1a. The same applies to the other units) has a structure in which two upper and lower vending machines are combined so that internal products can be seen from the outside. Sold product, a coin insertion slot 3 for a purchaser to insert coins, a handle unit 4 as a product purchase instruction operation unit for taking out (that is, discharging) a product, and selling products A product outlet 5 for discharging outside the machine is provided. Further, a power switch 6 for turning on / off the power of the vending machine unit 1a is provided in the lower part of the vending machine unit 1a.

  Furthermore, a counter 7 for counting the sales quantity of the product is incorporated in the housing of the vending machine unit 1a at the top of the vending machine unit 1a. In addition to the counter 7, a reader / writer 8 serving as a data accumulating unit is installed inside the casing of the vending machine unit 1e at the top of the vending machine unit 1e. The reader / writer 8 may be attached only to the vending machine unit 1e, and may not be attached to the vending machine units 1a to 1d. The reader / writer 8 has a function of summing up the sales information of the entire vending machine 1, that is, all the units from the vending machine units 1a to 1e, and transmitting the totaled result to the center. Further, the reader / writer 8 is connected to a center server 10 via a network 9. In the center, the server 10 is installed, and a business management system necessary for business execution and management is installed in advance, and master data required for business performance and management is stored in the business management system. ing.

  In the present embodiment, the vending machine 1 is shown in FIG. 1 as having a five-unit structure, but as a modification, FIG. 2 includes one vending machine unit 1f. An example of changing the vending machine (single-unit structure) is shown. The structure of the vending machine is determined in consideration of the installation site conditions and the degree of gathering of people. However, the counter 7 and the reader / writer 8 are installed even in the case of a vending machine having a single-unit structure as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the reader / writer 8 can be connected to a mobile phone 20 or a PDA (mobile terminal) 21 in order to input data related to the operator to the reader / writer 8 or to input an instruction from the operator.

  FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of the counter 7 used in this embodiment. The counter 7 is necessary for a logical operation in the switch 11 having a function as a sensor to detect that a product is sold, a logic circuit 12 that performs a logical operation based on the operation of the switch 11, and the logic circuit 12. It comprises an RFID chip 13 that holds various data and a battery 14 that supplies power to the logic circuit 12. From the logic circuit 12, the counter value obtained by the calculation is output to the reader / writer 8. As the battery 14, various batteries such as a solar battery and a small lithium battery can be used. Moreover, it is also possible to use a normal power supply (AC power supply) instead of the battery.

  FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of the reader / writer 8 used in the present embodiment. The reader / writer 8 includes a data holding unit 15 in which counter value data is accumulated, a communication unit 16 that transmits the held data to the center, and a battery 17 that supplies power to the data holding unit 15 and the communication unit 16. It consists of. The data holding unit 15 includes a memory, and the counter value output from the counter 7 of each of the vending machine units 1a to 1e is input (data input) to the data holding unit 15 and is stored and held in the memory. The communication unit 16 uses wireless communication means based on a communication method such as DoPa, and can perform data transmission with the server 10 at the center via the network 9. The communication unit 16 may employ a communication unit using a communication method other than DoPa, and the communication method may be wireless or wired. As the network 9, the Internet or another public line can be used. As the battery 17, various batteries such as a solar battery and a small lithium battery can be used. Moreover, it is also possible to use a normal power supply (AC power supply) instead of the battery. The counter 7 and the reader / writer 8 can also be connected by wire or wirelessly.

  The operation of the product sales information collection system having the above configuration will be described below. A counting unit (detecting unit) for counting the sale of merchandise can be provided at any one of various locations for one vending machine unit 1a. For example, a coin detector may be attached to the inside of the coin insertion slot 3 so as to be switched on when the purchaser inserts money, or an operation detector is provided on the handle portion 4 for the purchaser to take out the product. May be attached. Further, a product detector may be attached to the product outlet 5. As a structure for attaching the commodity detector to the commodity outlet portion 5, for example, a wire is installed in the commodity outlet passage so as to contact the commodity, and a microswitch is connected to the wire so that the commodity is the commodity outlet portion. There is a configuration in which the microswitch is turned on by contacting the wire when discharged from 5, and the counting operation is performed.

  As another counting method, an example of a reading method by the counter 7 will be described. As a first example, an IC chip scanner is arranged in the vicinity of the product outlet 5, while an IC tag (chip) is printed on each product. Then, when the product is discharged from the product exit 5 by the purchaser's operation, the IC tag printed on the product is read and the count value, operator information, store information, or surface information of the vending machine unit 1a (one vending machine) Data such as information on whether the unit is a combined structure of two upper and lower vending machines, the upper side or the lower side) is acquired.

  As a second example, a QR code scanner is arranged in the vicinity of the product outlet 5, while a QR code (also called a two-dimensional bar code) is printed on each product. When the product is discharged from the product exit 5 by the purchaser's operation, the QR code printed on the product is read to obtain data such as a count value, operator information, store information, or surface information of the vending machine unit 1a. To do. Since the QR code stores a lot of data, depending on the attitude of the product when the product is discharged, it may be difficult to read all the QR code data with a QR code scanner in a short time. That is, when the QR code portion printed on the product discharged to the QR code scanner is behind (behind the product), it is difficult to read the QR code. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a mirror surface portion 23 is provided on the inner surface of the product discharge pipe 22 in the vicinity of the product outlet portion 5, and the QR code is read using reflection.

  The detection operation of the detector is input as the operation of the switch 11 in the counter 7. Each time a product is purchased, it is counted by the counter 7. The counted value data is output from the counter 7 and accumulated in the data holding unit 15 of the reader / writer 8. Data accumulated in the reader / writer 8 is read from the holding unit 15 that is periodically output, and transmitted to the server 10 at the center by the operation of the communication unit 16. The data transmission time from the reader / writer 8 to the server 10 can be set by the operator. For example, it can be set once or twice a day.

  The data sent to the server 10 is collated with the master data in the merchandise sales information collection system in the present embodiment, and the sent data and the collation result are displayed on the computer screen of the head office or output to a form. . Data necessary for collation includes, for example, store information (information on a store in which the vending machine is installed) in addition to the counter value data, and the store information is read when the vending machine 1 is installed. Register with the writer 8 in advance. The operator information is sent from the mobile phone 20 or PDA 21 to the reader / writer 8, combined with the store information and counter value data, and sent to the server 10 at the center. As described above, store information collected in the vending machine, counter value data, and the like are transmitted to the server 10 of the center, so that in the center, the master data of the business management system installed in advance and the store information, Counter value data can be linked. As a result, data such as the location of the store where the vending machine is installed, the type of product being sold, the number of products sold, the product inventory, etc. can be found in the center, and these data can be analyzed and used for business development. Is possible. As for the use in business development, sales can be predicted based on the collected data, and business activities can be modified based on the prediction (for example, change of product replenishment frequency, replacement of sales products, etc.), resulting in loss of chance. (Loss of opportunity that would have been sold) can be eliminated, or efficient sales can be performed.

  By the above operation, the merchandise sales information in the vending machine is temporarily stored and held in the reader / writer 8 of the vending machine 1 and then sent to the server 10 to be aggregated, so that sales information can be collected without help from a person. It is possible to collect product sales information efficiently.

  The merchandise sales information collection system according to the present invention can reliably collect sales information of merchandise sold at vending machines installed in various places and send it to the center without using human hands.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a merchandise sales information collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the change structure of the merchandise sales information collection system shown by FIG. It is a circuit diagram which shows one structural example of the counter 7 used in the said embodiment. It is a circuit diagram which shows one structural example of the reader / writer 8 used in the said embodiment. In the said embodiment, it is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the example of an improved structure of the goods discharge pipe | tube near a goods exit part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 1a-1f Vending machine unit 2 Perspective window 3 Coin slot 4 Handle part 5 Commodity exit part 6 Power switch 7 Counter 8 Reader / writer 9 Network 10 Server 11 Switch 12 Logic circuit 13 RFID chip 14, 17 Battery 15 Data Holding unit 16 Communication unit 20 Mobile phone 21 PDA (mobile terminal)

Claims (3)

A casing provided with a coin slot, a product purchase instruction operation unit, a product exit unit, and a safe box;
A counter built in the housing to count the sales volume of the product,
A data holding unit that is connected to the counter and accumulates the data of the counter value, and a communication unit that transmits the held data to the center, and a reader / writer that counts the count values in the counter and transmits them to the center; With
The counter detects the sale of the product by detecting any one of coin insertion at the coin insertion slot, operation at the product purchase instruction operation unit, or product discharge at the product exit unit, and based on the detection result Count the sales volume of the product and send the data to the reader / writer.
The reader / writer retains the data received from the counter and automatically transmits the retained data to the center when the operator's instruction, the instruction from the center, or a predetermined period of time elapses. A merchandise sales information collection system for storing sent data in a server.   When the counter detects the discharge of the product at the product outlet, an IC chip scanner is disposed in the vicinity of the product outlet, and the product is provided with an IC tag so that the product is discharged from the product outlet. 2. The merchandise sales information collection system according to claim 1, wherein a count operation is performed by reading an IC tag provided on the merchandise. When the counter detects the discharge of the product at the product outlet, a QR code scanner is disposed in the vicinity of the product outlet, and a mirror surface is provided on the inner surface of the product discharge pipe near the product outlet. 2. The product sales information collecting system according to claim 1, wherein a QR code is provided, and when the product is discharged from the product outlet, the QR code printed on the product is read to perform a counting operation.

Images