JP2007293752A - Controller for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for an automatic vending machine for selling a selected article, even if the automatic vending machine side determines that it cannot sell the selected article owing to an insufficient amount of money, by determining whether to sell the article based on data of a purchase history, thereby preventing an opportunity of selling the article from being missed. <P>SOLUTION: If a customer 2 can establish communication through a communication means 4 by using a contactless medium 3 after the customer 2 selects an article to purchase by an article selecting means 6, and if the price of the article to purchase is higher than the balance and the customer 2 has purchased any article in the past, the automatic vending machine determines that a shortfall can be paid later to write the deficit amount on the non-contact medium 3, thereby allowing the article to be dispensed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device for a vending machine that can purchase products of the vending machine using a non-contact type medium such as a mobile phone.

  Conventionally, a control device for this type of vending machine is known in which a product can be purchased by holding a non-contact type IC card or a non-contact type terminal over the vending machine (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  FIG. 12 shows a control device for a conventional vending machine described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. As shown in FIG. 12, the product selection means 1a for selecting a product, the communication means 3a for always communicating with the non-contact terminal 2a, and the product carry-out means for carrying out the selected product. In the sales standby state, it is constituted by means for determining whether the selection is first made by the product selection means 1a or the communication with the non-contact type mobile first.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

First, when it is determined that the selection is made by the product selection unit 1a in the sales standby state, after the product is selected, the settlement with the non-contact type terminal 2a is normally performed by the communication unit 3a, and then the product is taken out by the product delivery unit. When it is determined that the contact is made by the contactless terminal 2a in the sales standby state, the product selection is performed after the communication with the contactless terminal 2a is normally performed, and then the settlement is normally performed. By doing so, the product is carried out.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-110761

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when it is determined that the selection is made by the product selection unit 1a in the sales standby state, after the settlement with the non-contact terminal 2a is normally performed by the communication unit 3a after the product selection, When the product is unloaded by the product unloading means 4, but the vending machine determines that the selected product cannot be sold based on the remaining amount data, that is, the amount in the remaining amount data is insufficient for the amount of the selected product. If you were not able to sell everything.

  However, it becomes possible to purchase goods without actually preparing money by the non-contact terminal 2a, and the purchase willingness by the non-contact terminal 2 is increasing, and when such amount data is insufficient, it can usually occur. Even in such cases, being able to purchase products easily leads to the spread of vending machines, and even if there is a shortage of remaining data temporarily, if certain conditions are cleared An object is to provide a vending machine that can be purchased by anyone and that further enhances the user's willingness to purchase.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the control device of the vending machine according to the present invention enables sales by enabling liquidation at a later date even when the balance is insufficient at the time of product purchase.

  The control device of the vending machine according to the present invention can promote purchase by enabling liquidation at a later date even when the balance is insufficient at the time of product purchase.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a product selection means for selecting a product, a carry-out means for carrying out the selected product, a control unit for controlling the entire vending machine, and a communication that can always communicate with a non-contact terminal. A balance data storage unit that stores balance data in a communication control unit that performs control based on communication between the contactless terminal and the communication unit, and a purchase record data storage unit that stores purchase record data by the contactless terminal. When it is determined that there has been a product selection by the product selection means at the time of sales standby, the vending machine first determines whether or not the selected product can be sold based on the remaining amount data, and the selected product is sold. If it is determined that it is not possible, the vending machine can then determine whether or not the selected product can be sold based on the purchase record data.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, further comprising post-payment processing means for purchasing the product selected by the product selection means by post-payment if the purchase record data is not less than a predetermined condition. When the postpayment processing means is set, the postpayment amount data is stored in the remaining amount data storage unit as the remaining amount data, communicated with the contactless terminal by the communication means, and when the remaining amount data is recorded in the contactless terminal, Can sell.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, further comprising setting means capable of arbitrarily setting an amount that can be purchased in the case of postpay, and an amount that can be postpaid according to purchase record data. It can vary arbitrarily.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2, further comprising setting means capable of arbitrarily setting commodities that can be purchased in the case of postpay, and setting the first period when the postpayment processing means is set. The saleable product set by the means can be sold.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 2, further comprising setting means for enabling post-payment of a product with a small number of sales, and when the post-payment processing means is set, the setting is made by the previous period setting means It is possible to sell the sold products that have been sold.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the conventional example or the embodiments described above, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine of the same embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  1 and 2, the product selection means 6 of the vending machine body 1 operates when purchasing a product, and the carry-out means 9 operates when carrying out a product corresponding to the product selection means. The communication means 4 reads / writes data from / to the non-contact medium 3 to which money amount data such as an IC card or personal information is input. The balance data storage unit 7 temporarily stores information of the non-contact medium 3 after being communicated with the non-contact medium 3 by the communication means 4, and after the amount data of the purchased product is compared with the control unit 5a, the data is Erased.

  Further, after the purchase data storage unit 8 is also communicated with the non-contact medium 3 by the communication means 4, the information of the non-contact medium 3 is temporarily stored, and after the amount data of the purchased product is compared with the control unit 5a, the data Is erased.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  After the customer 2 selects the purchased product by the product selection means 6 (STEP 1), when the customer 2 can communicate normally using the non-contact medium 3 by the communication means 4 (STEP 2), the balance of the customer 2 and the purchase product If the balance is high as compared with the amount of money, the product is directly carried out by the carrying-out means 9 (STEP 4).

  However, if the purchased product is higher than the balance (STEP 3), if the customer 2 has purchased the product in the past (STEP 5), it is determined that the deficient amount can be postpaid, and the deficient amount is temporarily stored in the non-contact medium 3. Write (STEP 6) and carry out the product (STEP 7). However, if there is no purchase record in the past, it ends as it is.

  As described above, according to the vending machine of this embodiment, even if the amount is insufficient, if there is a purchase record in the past, it can be liquidated at a later date and the product can be purchased, and the product sales can be promoted. .

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine of the embodiment.

  In addition, the thing of the same structure as Embodiment 1 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the detailed description. In FIG. 4, the control unit 5b can arbitrarily set a postpaid amount based on purchase data.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  After the customer 2 selects the purchased product by the product selection means 6 (STEP 11), when the customer 2 can communicate normally using the non-contact medium 3 by the communication means 4 (STEP 12), the balance of the customer 2 and the purchase product If the balance is high as compared with the amount of money, the product is directly carried out by the carrying-out means 9 (STEP 14). However, if the purchased product is higher than the balance (STEP 13), if the customer 2 has purchased the product in the past (STEP 15), it is determined that the shortage amount can be postpaid, and the past sales amount exceeds the predetermined amount. If so (STEP 16), the shortage amount is temporarily written in the non-contact medium 3 (STEP 17), and the product is carried out (STEP 18). However, if there is no purchase record in the past, it ends as it is.

  As described above, according to the vending machine of the present embodiment, even if the amount is insufficient, if there is a purchase record in the past, it can be liquidated at a later date and the product can be purchased up to an arbitrary amount. Can promote sales.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine of the embodiment.

  In addition, the thing of the same structure as Embodiment 2 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the detailed description. In FIG. 6, the control unit 5 c can automatically set an amount that can be postpaid based on purchase data in the past of the customer 2 according to the record.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  After the customer 2 selects the purchased product with the product selection means 6 (STEP 21), when the customer 2 can communicate normally using the non-contact medium 3 with the communication means 4 (STEP 22), the balance of the customer 2 and the purchase product If the balance is high as compared with the amount of money, the product is directly carried out by the carrying-out means 9 (STEP 24).

  However, if the purchased product is higher than the balance (STEP 23), if the customer 2 has purchased the product in the past (STEP 25), it is determined that the insufficient amount can be postpaid and can be postpaid according to the past sales amount A correct amount is automatically set (STEP 26), the shortage amount is once written in the non-contact medium 3 (STEP 27), and the product is carried out (STEP 28). However, if there is no purchase record in the past, it ends as it is.

  As described above, according to the vending machine of the present embodiment, even when the amount is insufficient, the upper limit of the purchaseable amount is set according to the purchase record in the past, and the product can be liquidated at a later date and purchased. Can promote product sales.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine of the embodiment.

  In addition, the thing of the same structure as Embodiment 2 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the detailed description. In FIG. 8, the control unit 5d can set a postpaid product.

The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.
After the customer 2 selects the purchased product with the product selection means 6 (STEP 31), when the customer 2 can communicate normally using the non-contact medium 3 with the communication means 4 (STEP 32), the balance of the customer 2 and the purchase product If the balance is high as compared with the amount of money, the product is directly carried out by the carrying-out means 9 (STEP 34).

  However, if the purchased product is higher than the balance (STEP 33), if the customer 2 has purchased the product in the past (STEP 35), the shortage amount is determined to be postpaid, and if the product is arbitrarily set (STEP 36), the shortage amount is temporarily written in the non-contact medium 3 (STEP 37), and the product is carried out (STEP 38). However, if there is no purchase record in the past, it ends as it is.

  As described above, according to the vending machine of the present embodiment, even if the amount is insufficient, a product arbitrarily set according to the purchase record in the past can be purchased as liquidation possible at a later date, Product sales can be promoted.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine of the embodiment.

  In addition, the thing of the same structure as Embodiment 2 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the detailed description. In FIG. 10, the control unit 5e can automatically set a postpaid product.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

  After the customer 2 selects the purchased product by the product selection means 6 (STEP 41), when the customer 2 can communicate normally using the non-contact medium 3 by the communication means 4 (STEP 42), the balance of the customer 2 and the purchase product If the balance is high as compared with the amount of money, the product is directly carried out by the carry-out means 9 (STEP 44).

  However, if the purchased product is higher than the balance (STEP 43), if the customer 2 has purchased the product in the past (STEP 45), the shortage amount is determined to be postpaid, and the product with a small number of sales or the number of sales If it is an automatically determined product such as a large number of products (STEP 46), the shortage amount is once written in the non-contact medium 3 (STEP 47), and the product is carried out (STEP 48). However, if there is no purchase record in the past, it ends as it is.

  As described above, according to the vending machine of the present embodiment, even if the amount is insufficient, products that have been automatically set in the past according to the purchase record can be settled at a later date and purchased. Can promote product sales.

  As described above, the control device of the vending machine according to the present invention can purchase the product of the vending machine even if the remaining amount data of the non-contact terminal is insufficient, if the product satisfies certain conditions. It can be applied not only to vending machines but also to unattended payments at cash registers such as supermarkets and gas stations.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine in the embodiment The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine in the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine in the second embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine in the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine in the third embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine in the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine in the fourth embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine in the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine in the fifth embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine in Embodiment 5 The figure which shows schematic structure of the front of the conventional vending machine

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine main body 2 Customer 3 Non-contact medium 4 Communication means 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e Control part 6 Goods selection means 7 Balance data storage part 8 Purchase data storage part 9 Unloading means

Claims (5)

  Product selection means for selecting a product, carry-out means for carrying out the selected product, a control unit for controlling the entire vending machine, communication means capable of always communicating with a non-contact terminal, the non-contact terminal, and the A communication control unit that performs control based on communication of a communication unit includes a remaining amount data storage unit that stores remaining amount data and a purchase result data storage unit that stores purchase result data by the non-contact terminal, and the product selection is first performed at the time of sales standby. When the product is selected by operating the means and then the contactless terminal is held over, the vending machine first determines whether or not the selected product can be sold based on the remaining amount data, and it is determined that the product cannot be sold. A vending machine control device that determines whether or not the selected product can be sold based on the purchase record data stored in the purchase record data storage unit.   A post-payment processing unit for purchasing the product selected by the product selection unit by post-payment, and if the purchase record data satisfies a predetermined condition, the post-payment processing unit is set and the post-payment amount data is stored in the remaining amount data storage unit The vending machine control device according to claim 1, wherein when the communication means communicates with the non-contact terminal and the remaining amount data is recorded in the non-contact terminal, the selected product is sold.   The control device for a vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the amount that can be postpaid varies arbitrarily depending on the purchase results of the purchaser in the past.   The vending machine controller according to claim 2, wherein the vending machine administrator arbitrarily sets a product that can be purchased in the case of postpay.   3. The vending machine control device according to claim 2, wherein a product with a small number of sales can be postpaid according to the purchase results of the vending machine.

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