JP2008027297A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine that collects contributions without requiring article purchase. <P>SOLUTION: The vending machine, which sells articles when article selection switches are selected, is provided with a setting means for setting one article selection switch as a fund-raising selection switch for contributing a deposit amount. The the fund-raising selection switch is operated either after or before a money deposit to collect contributions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine capable of making a donation.

Conventionally, a donation system that uses a vending machine to specify a service such as a product or parking fee, and when the purchase price is settled, instead of paying the change, the donation system sends the change to a predetermined donation destination. Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-83344 A

However, in the conventional fund-raising system using a vending machine, it is a precondition to purchase a product. For example, if you want to make a donation without purchasing a product, it is impossible to do so. It was.
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that can raise money without purchasing a product.

In order to solve the above-described problems, in the present invention, in a vending machine that sells products by selecting a product selection switch, setting means for setting the product selection switch as a selection switch for donation for raising an input amount; The fund-raising is performed by operating a selection switch.
In addition, the operation of the donation selection switch can be performed at any time after the insertion of money and before the insertion of money.
Furthermore, the present invention can be achieved by appropriately combining the following methods.
1) It is characterized by making a donation with electronic money instead of inserting money.
2) A fundraising selection switch is associated with an imaginary column.
3) The donation amount is preset based on the relationship between the donation selection switch and the fictitious column.
4) The donation amount is an arbitrary amount.
5) The fund-raising amount is characterized in that it is the amount that has been put in until the donation selection switch is operated.
6) The donation amount is determined based on the number of selections of the donation selection switch.
7) A plurality of donation selection switches for donation are provided, and a different donation amount is set for each donation selection switch.
8) The present invention is characterized by having a totaling means for totaling the amount of money raised.
9) The fund-raising amount aggregated by the aggregation means is displayed on a display.
10) It is characterized in that it is possible to raise money even after a change has been made.

In the present invention, the product selection switch is a donation switch, so that the donation can be easily performed by the same operation as the normal product sales, and the number of columns of the existing vending machine is also set with respect to the setting of the donation switch. By using the mode for performing the setting, there is an effect that it can be easily handled.
In addition, the total amount of donations can be calculated as sales corresponding to the donation selection switch, so the total amount of donations can be immediately identified, and it is easy to understand that users are making donations by displaying them. become able to.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
FIG. 6 shows an example of a schematic front view of a vending machine that is an object of the present invention, and the vending machine 1 includes a plurality (n) of columns in the cabinet. This column is composed of, for example, a serpentine rack, and stores a plurality of types of products individually. On the other hand, a product selection switch 4a which is pressed when a product selection switch 4a described later is pressed and a sales instruction is given. Payout the product corresponding to.
Further, on the front face of the vending machine, there are a product sample display room 2, a plurality of product samples 2a provided in the product sample display room 2, a product price display unit 3 corresponding to the product sample 2a, and a product sample 2. To hold a product selection switch 4a incorporating a corresponding saleable lamp and sold-out lamp, a banknote slot 5 for depositing banknotes, a coin slot 6 for inserting coins, a return lever 7, and an electronic money card Reader / writer unit 8, a coin return port 6 a for returning change, an amount display 9 for displaying an input amount and a donation amount, and a product outlet 10 for taking out the dispensed product.

The merchandise sample display room 2 is a transparent window formed in the upper part of the front surface, and the merchandise sample 2a arranged inside can be seen outside. The product sample 2a visually recognized through the product sample display room 2 represents the product stored in the column, and is provided in correspondence with the product selection button 4. In this embodiment, the product sample display room 2 is enlightened with the donation. A donation display unit 2b, a donation amount display unit 3b corresponding to the donation display unit 2b, and a donation switch 4b using a product selection switch 4a are newly provided.
Next, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a main control unit that controls the entire vending machine and includes a memory 11a that stores a control program and a memory 11b that stores various data.
The main controller 11 carries the reader / writer 8, a remote controller 12 for performing various settings, a coin processing unit 13 for receiving and calculating coins or bills, a cooling control unit 14 for controlling a cooling device, and a product. An unloading control unit 15a for controlling the unloading device, a donation switch 4b, an amount display 9 and the like are connected to each other.

Here, in the present embodiment, the setting of the fund raising switch 4b will be described.
First, using the structural mode that presets the number of buttons and columns, which is one of the functions of the vending machine, add the number of columns not associated with the carry-out device to the actual number of columns, and add this The set imaginary column is set in advance.
In this state, the correspondence relationship between the column and the donation switch 4b is set. In the setting mode of the column and the switch, the fictitious column and the donation switch 4b are displayed by pressing the donation switch 4b after displaying the fictitious column. Are stored.
Thereafter, the price setting mode is set, and the donation amount is set as a provisional price associated with the fictitious column, and the donation amount is set and stored by pressing the donation switch 4b.
The set contents are stored in the memory 11b, and the donation amount is displayed on the donation amount display unit 3b.

When the donation is performed, the donation amount is totaled and stored in a predetermined area of the memory 11b as the sales of the fictitious column, and since there is no relation with the actual column, there is no need to operate the carry-out device, and an empty column is provided. There is no need.
The donation amount may be set in the same manner as the price setting of the product as described above. However, the amount of money until the donation switch 4b is pressed and the switch when the donation amount is set. Various methods such as a sum of the number of operations are conceivable.
The money amount display 9 can display the total amount of coins or bills received, or can display the amount of money raised or the total amount of money raised.
Next, processing at the time of product purchase and fund-raising will be described.
First, processing at the time of product purchase will be briefly described using the flowchart of FIG.

When a predetermined amount of coins is inserted into the coin insertion slot 6 in the sales standby state (step S71, Yes), the sale enable lamp of the product selection switch 4a is turned on (step S72), and the product selection button 4 is pressed. (Step S73, Yes), a product take-out command is issued to the carry-out device via the carry-out control unit 15 corresponding to the product selection button 4 pressed from the carry-out control unit 15, and the product is picked up from the corresponding column. When it is carried out to the exit 10 (step S74) and there is a change (step S75, Yes), the change is returned from the coin return port 6a (step S76), and one sale of the product is finished.
In addition, although the example by a coin was shown, it becomes the same sales form also in a banknote or electronic money.
Next, a plurality of methods will be described in order regarding the processing at the time of donation.
1) When the donation amount is set First, when the donation amount corresponding to the price is set in association with the donation switch 4b, the donation amount is displayed in the price display unit 3b, for example, 50 It is assumed that a yen and a donation amount are set.

Here, one embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 2. When 50 yen coins are inserted into the coin insertion slot 6 as a donation amount (step S21, Yes), a saleable lamp of the donation switch 4b. Is turned on (step S22), and the donation switch 4b is pressed (step S23, Yes), the donation amount is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 11b (step S24), and a series of donation processing is completed.
Here, every time a donation is made, the donation amount of an imaginary column in a predetermined area of the memory 11b is added.
In the above embodiment, the processing at the time of product purchase and the time of fund-raising is shown in different flowcharts. However, if 100 yen is inserted after coins are inserted, if the product can be purchased at 100 yen, it can be handled. The saleable lamp of the product selection switch 4a to be turned on and the saleable lamp of the donation switch 4b are also turned on, and the user selects the switch based on whether the product is purchased or donated.

At this time, if the donation switch 4b is pressed, 50 yen is returned as change.
As another example, 100 yen may be donated by pressing the donation switch 4b set to 50 yen twice.
In the case of an electronic money card instead of money, when the card is touched on the reader / writer unit 8, the balance of the card is read, and when the card balance is equal to or greater than the donation amount, the electronic money card is pushed by pressing the donation switch 4 b. In this case, since there is no actual deposit, it is stored separately in the memory 11b.
Next, another embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 3. When the donation switch 4b is pushed before coin insertion as a pre-selection (step S31), the sellable lamp of the pushed donation switch 4b is turned on. (Step S32), it is determined whether or not coins are inserted (Step S33).

Here, coins are inserted (step S33, Yes), and then it is determined whether or not there is a change (step S34), and if it is an insertion of a predetermined donation amount (eg, 50 yen) (step S34). , Yes), the fund-raising amount is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 11b (step S35), and when change is required (No in step S34), the change is paid out (step S36), and the predetermined area of the memory 11b is used as the amount of donation. Is stored (step S35), and a series of fund-raising processing is completed.
On the other hand, the number of operations of the donation switch 4b before coin insertion can be added as the amount of donation. In this case, since it is set to 50 yen, for example, if it is pressed four times, At this time, by inserting coins worth 200 yen, the donation amount is stored in the predetermined area of the memory 11b as the donation amount of 200 yen, and the series of donation processing is completed.

In the case of this embodiment, the amount display 9 may be used for display so that the donation amount can be easily understood.
As in the above embodiment, it is possible to make a donation using an electronic money card.
In addition, in the case of the prior selection of the donation switch 4b, in order to prevent mischief, a photo sensor or the like that can be cleared if a money is inserted or an electronic money card is not touched within a predetermined time or a user of the vending machine is detected It may be provided and cleared if not detected by the sensor.
2) Case where the donation amount is not set The case where the donation amount is not set will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 4. When a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 6 (step S41), the donation switch 4b The sellable lamp is turned on (step S42), and then it is determined whether the donation switch 4b is pressed (step S43).

Here, until the donation switch 4b is pressed, it waits for the insertion of coins. For example, when seven donations of 10 yen are inserted from the coin insertion slot 6 and then the donation switch 4b is pressed (step S43, Yes), the memory 11b. Is stored in the predetermined area (step S44), and a series of fund-raising processes is completed.
As described above, in this embodiment, an arbitrary total amount inserted until the donation switch 4b is pressed becomes the donation amount.
3) About change donation processing In the following embodiment, change change can be donated.
First, change was returned in step S75 at the time of purchase of the product in FIG. 7, but as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, in addition to the flowchart of FIG. 7, a predetermined time before being paid out as change is measured ( If the donation switch 4b is pressed during this predetermined time (step S57, Yes), the change may be stored as a donation in a predetermined area of the memory 11b (step S58).
4) Aggregation processing Further, as another embodiment, a fund-raising amount aggregation mode will be described.

In this aggregation mode, similar to the sales aggregation confirmation mode in merchandise sales, the total amount can be confirmed only by the donation amount by operating the remote controller 12 and pressing the donation switch 4b. If the donation amount can be printed and the donation amount can be immediately understood, it becomes easy to collect the donation amount different from the normal sales.
Further, as described above, the total donation amount may be displayed by using the amount display unit 9 during the standby state, and when the display unit is large, the period of the donation is displayed. May also be displayed.
That is, once the total amount is collected and collected, the period is displayed in order to start as a new donation.
In addition, although one fund-raising switch 4b is provided, a plurality of fund-raising switches 4b may be provided. In that case, by making the fund-raising amount different for each fund-raising switch 4b, it is possible for the user to expand. It is possible to raise funds, and to raise the interest in donations by offering services such as offering products free of charge to the fundraiser when the predetermined amount of money is reached. In the vending machine provided, various embodiments are possible, such as notifying each piece of information related to donation by voice.

1 is a configuration block diagram showing a control device of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention The flowchart figure which shows the fund-raising process of this invention The flowchart figure which shows the other fund-raising process of this invention The flowchart figure which shows the other fund-raising process of this invention The flowchart figure which shows the other fund-raising process of this invention 1 is a schematic front view of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart figure which shows the process at the time of the goods purchase of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Product sample display room 2a Product sample 2b Donation display part 3a Price display part 3b Donation amount display part 4a Product selection switch 4b Donation switch 5 Banknote deposit slot 6 Coin slot 8 Reader / writer part 9 Amount indicator 10 Item Exit 11 Main control unit 11b Memory 12 Remote control

Claims (13)

In a vending machine that sells products by selecting a product selection switch, setting means for setting the product selection switch as a selection switch for donation that raises the input amount;
A vending machine that performs donations by operating a product selection switch for donations. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein after the money is inserted, the donation is performed by operating a product selection switch for donation. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the donation is performed by inserting money after operating the selection switch for donation. 4. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein a donation is made by electronic money instead of money. 5. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the donation selection switch is associated with a column not associated with the carry-out device. 6. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the donation amount is an arbitrary amount. 7. The vending machine according to claim 6, wherein the donation amount is an amount that has been inserted until the donation selection switch is operated. 6. The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the donation amount is preset based on the relationship between the selection switch and the imaginary column. 9. The vending machine according to claim 6, wherein the donation amount is determined based on the number of selections of the product selection switch. 10. A vending machine according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of selection switches for donation are provided, and a different donation amount is set for each of the selection switches for donation. 11. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a counting unit that totals the amount of the donated money based on a donation selection switch. 12. The vending machine according to claim 11, wherein the amount of money collected by the counting means is displayed on a display. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it can also raise money for change after the purchase of goods.

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