JP2008059092A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine that enables a user to select a desired article accurately and quickly. <P>SOLUTION: A second control part is provided for displaying a plurality of tabs B1 to B5 for selecting types of articles C on an LCD 14, and when each of the tabs B1 to B5 is touched, extracting articles C corresponding to the type and displaying images of the extracted articles C on the LCD 14 differently from images of the other articles, so that the image of a desired article can be easily distinguished from the images of the other types of articles. When a carbonated beverage is desired, for example, the desired article can be selected accurately and quickly from all the carbonated beverage articles. Increased user convenience can thus be provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells products such as canned beverages, paper-packed beverages, and boxed confectionery.

Conventionally, as this type of vending machine, a display unit capable of displaying an image of a product and a touch sensor provided on the display unit are provided, and the touch sensor indicates that the product image displayed on the display unit has been touched. When it detects, the thing which carried out the goods corresponding to the goods image is known (for example, refer to patent documents 1).
JP-A-6-89385

  However, in the above-described conventional example, images of all the products that can be sold are displayed on the display unit. For example, even though the user desires a carbonated beverage, a non-carbonated juice-containing beverage is erroneously selected. However, there is a problem that the convenience for the user is lowered, for example, it takes a long time to select a desired product for sale.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of accurately and quickly selecting a product desired by a user.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a display unit capable of displaying an image of a product and a touch sensor provided in the display unit, and touches that the product image displayed on the display unit is touched. When detected by the sensor, in the vending machine adapted to carry out the product corresponding to the product image, when the type selection unit for selecting the type of the product is displayed on the display unit and the type selection unit is touched And a control means for extracting a product corresponding to the type and displaying an image of the extracted product on the display unit in a mode different from images of other products.

  As a result, the image of the product corresponding to the type selected by the type selection unit is displayed in a different form from the image of the other product, so that the image of the desired product can be easily distinguished from the image of the other type of product. It becomes possible to do.

  According to the present invention, an image of a desired product can be easily discriminated from an image of another type of product. For example, when a carbonated beverage is desired, the desired product is accurately identified from the products of the carbonated beverage. It is possible to reduce the time until the user selects a desired product for sale, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

  1 to 10 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a vending machine, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control system configuration of the vending machine, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the data structure of the product information, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the product sales operation in the vending machine shown in FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a product sales screen, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a product sales screen and an extraction screen, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a product sales screen and an extraction screen after selecting a type, and FIG. 9 is a product sales screen after selecting a product and The figure which shows an extraction screen, FIG. 10 is a figure which shows the modification of a goods sales screen.

  First, the structure of the vending machine will be described with reference to FIGS. In the description here, the front side in FIG. 1 is represented as the front, the back side as the rear, the left side as the left, and the right side as the right.

  The vending machine main body 1 has a box shape and is provided with a heat insulating chamber 1a having an open front. The heat insulation chamber 1a is divided into a plurality of storage rooms SR arranged side by side with a heat insulating partition plate (not shown).

  A merchandise storage rack 2 composed of a serpentine rack is disposed in each warehouse SR. Each merchandise storage rack 2 has a merchandise inlet 2a in the upper part on the front side, and stores merchandise C such as canned drinks, bottled drinks, and plastic bottled drinks in a meandering storage path 2b stacked in a horizontal direction. ing. Further, at the lower part of each product storage rack 2, a product carry-out mechanism 2 c for dropping and carrying the stored product C onto the chute plate 3 for one piece is provided. Furthermore, each of the product storage racks 2 arranged for each storage room SR is provided with a sold-out detection sensor (not shown) that detects the presence or absence of the product C in units of storage passages 2b. The merchandise storage rack 2 is not limited to a serpentine rack, but can use other types of racks that can carry out one stored merchandise as in the serpentine rack.

  In each warehouse SR, a chute plate 3 and a duct plate 4 are provided from the bottom to the back. In the space below and on the rear side of the chute plate 3 and the duct plate 4, an evaporator 5, an electric heater 6, a cooling / heating air circulation blower 7, etc. of the refrigeration equipment are arranged. The back side space is configured as a duct D. Furthermore, a temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature of the product that is about to be carried out in the product storage rack 2 is provided in each storage room SR.

  A machine room MR is provided below the bottom plate 1b of the heat insulation room 1a. In the machine room MR, a condenser 8, a compressor 9 and expansion means (not shown) of the refrigeration equipment are provided. The exhaust heat blower 10 and the like are arranged.

  Further, a heat insulating inner door 11 is provided on the front side of the heat insulating chamber 1a so as to cover the front opening of the heat insulating chamber 1a. A product storage room (each storage room SR) is provided with the inner door 11 closed at the front end of the heat insulating chamber 1a (upper and lower left and right) (the lower front end is the front end of the bottom plate 1b) and the front end of each partition plate. Packing (no reference) is provided for airtightness, and each storage room SR becomes an independent heat insulation space with the inner door 11 closed. Further, a plurality of window holes 11a corresponding to the chute plates 3 of the respective compartments SR are formed in the lower part of the inner door 11, and the window holes 11a are pushed open by the products C sliding down the chute plates 3. A flap door 11b is provided.

  That is, in this vending machine, each storage room SR constitutes an independent heat insulation space, and the evaporator 5 and the electric heater 6 are provided independently in each storage room SR. Any one of the three modes of cooling, heating, uncooling, and heating can be arbitrarily selected and implemented for each storage room SR by the setting device 30 (see FIG. 3).

  The outer door 12 is provided at the front opening of the vending machine main body 1 so as to be openable and closable. A decorative panel 13 is provided on the upper surface of the outer door 12. The decorative panel 13 has a rectangular window hole 13a for exposing the screen of the liquid crystal display 14, and an advertisement part 13b for displaying a product manufacturer name, a product name, and the like in characters.

  A liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) 14 is for displaying still images, moving images, and the like constituting a product sales screen and an extraction screen, which will be described later, so that the screen is exposed from the window hole 13a. Is disposed inside the decorative panel 13. The LCD 14 has a predetermined size and a predetermined resolution, for example, a size of 18 inches and a resolution of 1280 × 1024 pixels. Instead of the LCD 14, a well-known display that enables similar display, such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), or the like, can be used.

  Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the LCD 14 is provided with a touch sensor 33 (see FIG. 3) that detects the position touched by the user on the screen and designates the coordinate position on the screen. Yes. In addition to the well-known electrostatic transparent touch panel and pressure-sensitive transparent touch panel, the touch sensor 33 includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit that constitute an infrared sensor arranged at equal intervals on the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides of a rectangular frame. It can be used as appropriate.

  Further, on the front surface of the outer door 12, a lock operation lever 15, a coin insertion slot 16, a return lever 17, a bill insertion slot 18, a coin return slot 19, and a product outlet 20 are provided in the layout shown in FIG. Incidentally, the lock operation lever 15 is for operating a lock mechanism (not shown) provided in the outer door 12, and can be used by a dedicated key. Further, the product outlet 20 is provided with a flap door 21 that can be opened manually, and a product receiving plate 22 that receives the product C discharged from the flap door 11b is provided inside thereof.

  Next, the control system configuration of the vending machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The first control unit 23 is mainly for controlling the temperature adjustment and unloading of the product C, and the second control unit 24 is for mainly controlling the display of the LCD 14 and data communication with the outside. Both the control units 23 and 24 are composed of a computer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM and the like, and can exchange data necessary for control with each other. Of course, you may comprise the 1st control part 23 and the 2nd control part 24 with one computer. The second control unit 24 constitutes a control means in the claims of the present application.

  The first control unit 23 is connected to a coin processor 25, a bill validator 26, a carry-out drive unit 27, a compressor drive unit 28, a heater drive unit 29, and a temperature adjustment setting device 30. In addition, the first control unit 23 includes a sold-out detection sensor (not shown) that detects the presence / absence of the product C in the product storage rack 2 arranged for each storage room SR in units of storage passages 2b. A temperature sensor (not shown) is connected via a temperature detection unit (not shown), which is connected via (not shown), and detects the temperature of a product that is about to be unloaded in each warehouse SR.

  The coin processor 25 and the bill validator 26 are disposed in the outer door 12, and the coin processor 25 performs authenticity identification, counting and storage of coins inserted through the coin insertion slot 16, and relates to the amount of coins inserted. Data is sent to the first control unit 23. The bill validator 26 performs authenticity identification and storage of the bill inserted through the bill insertion slot 18, and sends data related to the amount of the inserted bill to the first control unit 23.

  The carry-out drive unit 27 is for controlling the operation of the product carry-out mechanism 2c provided in each product storage rack 2, more specifically, the operation of an actuator such as a solenoid used in the product carry-out mechanism 2c. Based on the control signal from the unit 23, the predetermined product carry-out mechanism 2c is operated to carry out the desired product carry-out.

  The compressor drive unit 28 is for controlling the operation of the compressor 9 constituting the refrigerator, specifically, the operation of the motor for driving the compressor 9, and is based on the control signal from the first control unit 23. The desired compressor is driven.

  The heater drive unit 29 is for controlling energization to each electric heater 6, and energizes a predetermined electric heater 6 based on a control signal from the first control unit 23.

  The temperature adjustment setting device 30 is for selecting any one of the three modes described above for each storage room SR, and includes a push button switch for mode selection and the like, and relates to the selected mode. Data is sent to the first control unit 23.

  Connected to the second control unit 24 are an LCD drive unit 31, a coordinate detection unit 32, an audio output unit 34, a memory card adapter (hereinafter referred to as MC adapter) 36, a modem 38, and a wireless communication unit 40. Yes.

  The LCD drive unit 31 is for controlling the display of the LCD 14 provided on the outer door 12. The LCD drive unit 31 drives the LCD 14 based on image data and control signals from the second control unit 24 to display an intended image display. Do.

  The coordinate detection unit 32 sends data related to coordinates on the screen to the second control unit 24 based on the detection signal of the touch sensor 33. Since the area displayed on each screen to be described later is set with reference to the coordinates on the screen of the LCD 14, which area is selected on various screens by the data sent from the coordinate detection unit 32 to the second control unit 24. Easy to judge.

  The audio output unit 34 drives the speaker 35 on the basis of the audio signal and the control signal from the second control unit 24 to perform an intended audio output. At least one speaker 35 is arranged on both sides of the LCD 14 in the outer door 12 so that a three-dimensional sound effect can be obtained by a stereo method.

  The MC adapter 36 enables connection of a memory card (hereinafter referred to as MC) 37. The modem 38 is for performing data communication with an external server or the like using a public telephone line 39 or the like, and the wireless communication unit 40 is connected to an external server or the like using a mobile phone network or a PHS telephone network or the like. For performing data communication wirelessly.

  Image data such as still images and moving images that can be displayed on the LCD 14, character data, and audio data output from the speaker 35 are data communication via the MC 37 and the modem 38, or data via the wireless communication network 40. By communication, the data can be taken into a storage means such as a hard disk provided in the second control unit 24, and data can be updated arbitrarily.

  The image data, character data, and voice data include display images (including a plurality of product images corresponding to each of the products that can be sold), display characters and output voices, and display on the extraction screen. Images, display characters, output sound, and the like are included.

  Further, the storage means of the second control unit 24 stores a plurality of product information displayed on the product sales screen and the extraction screen. Each product information represents the contents of the product C, and is composed of a product code for identifying the product C and a plurality of attributes such as a product image, price, product name, brand, calorie and capacity as shown in FIG. Has been. The product image is created in a size (horizontal pixel × vertical pixel number) that can be displayed in actual size on the LCD 14 having a predetermined size and resolution.

  Next, the merchandise sales operation in the vending machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  When the vending machine is turned on, the merchandise sales screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the LCD 14 (step S1).

  This merchandise sales screen includes a plurality of merchandise sample display areas A1 to A30, an operating state display area A31 for displaying the operating state of the vending machine depending on whether the vending machine is being sold or being prepared, An insertion amount display area A32 for displaying the amount inserted through the bill insertion slot 18, a product attribute display area A33, a product information display area A34, and a return area B35 for returning to the product sales screen at power-on. The layout shown in FIG. 6 is set.

  In the center of each product sample display area A1 to A30, a product image indicating a product that can be sold is displayed in a reduced size. This reduced-size product image SDI is obtained by reducing the product image of the product information stored in the storage unit of the second control unit 24 to 70% to 30%.

  In addition, a number indicating the price of the product C is displayed below the reduced-size product image SDI displayed in each product sample display area A1 to A30, and the product cooling / reduction is displayed above the reduced-size product image SDI. COLD or HOT temperature control characters indicating the heating state are displayed. This temperature control character may be displayed adjacent to the product price. When the temperature control character is COLD, a blue cold color is used for the temperature control character or its background, and when the temperature control character is HOT, the temperature control character or a red warm color is used for the background. An icon such as a new product or a campaign can be displayed between the reduced-size product image SDI and the temperature control character by an arbitrary setting. In addition, when the product C is in a state of being cooled or heated and unsuitable for sale, characters being cooled or heated can be displayed in the product price display area.

  Here, the flow of display setting of the product sample display areas A1 to A30 will be briefly described. First, the product C is stored in the storage passage 2b of each product storage rack 2, and then a product code corresponding to the stored product C can be wirelessly communicated with the remote controller or the first control unit 23 that can be connected to the first control unit 23. An operation is performed by assigning the product code to each of the product sample display areas A1 to A30. Since the product image and the product price corresponding to each product code are stored in advance in the storage means of the second control unit 24, the product image SDI of a predetermined reduced size and the product price are displayed on each product sample by inputting the product code. Displayed in the areas A1 to A30. The temperature adjustment characters are displayed according to the contents set by the temperature adjustment setting device 30. When displaying an icon such as a new product or a campaign, a product sample display area where an icon should be displayed may be selected after selecting a predetermined icon from a group of icons prepared in advance.

  In addition, in the product attribute display area A33, areas A33a to A33c indicating product names, brands, and calories constituting the product information are displayed, and any one of the areas A33a to A33c is touched. The attributes of the desired product are selected.

  Next, when any one of the areas A33a to A33c is touched to select an attribute of a desired product (step S2), an extraction screen B as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed (step S3). ).

  On this extraction screen B, a plurality of tabs B1 to B5 as type selection units for selecting the type of desired product and a product image of the product C corresponding to the type selected by each tab B1 to B5 are displayed. The extracted product display area B6 is set in the layout shown in FIG. Note that the extraction screen B shown in FIG. 7 is displayed when the region A33a indicating the product name is touched, and the number of tabs on the extraction screen B is the number of types of product names of the sellable products (this embodiment) Then, it is arbitrarily changed according to 5).

  When one of the tabs B1 to B5 is touched to select a type (step S4), the product C corresponding to the selected type is extracted from the storage unit of the second control unit 24. (Step S5), the extracted product image of the product C is displayed in the extracted product display area B6 (Step S6). For example, when the tab B1 to which “coffee” is assigned as the product name type is touched, product information with “coffee” added to the product name is extracted from the storage means of the second control unit 24, and the extracted product is extracted. Information product images are displayed in a plurality of product sample display areas B1a to B1f laid out as shown in FIG. Needless to say, the number of product sample display areas on the extraction screen B changes according to the number of extracted product information.

  When a product image is displayed on the extraction screen B, whether or not a product is selected, that is, whether one of the product sample display areas B1a to B1f displayed on the extraction screen B is touched by the user It is determined whether or not (step S7).

  When the product is selected, the product image of the selected product is displayed in the actual size in the product information display area A34 as shown in FIG. As described above, the product image stored in the storage unit of the second control unit 24 is created in a size that can be displayed on the LCD 14 having a predetermined size and resolution. Is displayed in the product information display area A34 as it is, the product image becomes an actual product image RSI. Further, in the same product information display area A34, the product description CE of the selected product, for example, the volume, calorie, raw material name, etc. is displayed in a vertical scroll, a horizontal scroll or a stationary state, and further product appeal is performed.

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the input amount is equal to or higher than the commodity price (step S8).

  If it is determined in step S8 that the inserted amount is less than the commodity price, for example, if the inserted amount is somewhat insufficient, or if no coin or bill is inserted at this stage, the process proceeds to step S2. That is, the display of the actual size product image RSI and the display of the product description CE in step S8 are performed based on the product selection operation until the product is selected when the input amount is equal to or higher than the product price. In other words, the user arbitrarily displays the product image RSI of the actual size of the desired product and the display of the product description CE so that information related to the product or information necessary for making a purchase decision can be obtained from these displays. It can be obtained as appropriate.

  By the way, if the input amount is somewhat insufficient in step S8, a message indicating that the input amount is insufficient, etc., if necessary, scrolls vertically or horizontally until the input amount reaches the product price, You may make it display with.

  If it is determined in step S8 that the input amount is equal to or higher than the product price, the purchase decision area A36 is displayed in the product information display area A34 as shown in FIG. In this case, the presence / absence of purchase decision is determined by whether or not the purchase decision area A36 is touched (step S9). When the purchase decision is made, that is, when the purchase decision area A36 is touched, the product carry-out mechanism 2c of the product storage rack 2 in which the selected product is stored is operated to carry out the product (step S10). .

  After the product has been taken out, the display of the actual size product image RSI and the product description CE in the product information display area A34 is cleared, and the product sales screen is returned to when the power is turned on.

  If no attribute selection has been made in step S2, no type selection has been made in step S4, and no purchase decision has been made in step 9, the process proceeds to step S7. If no product is selected in step S7, the process proceeds to step S2.

  When the area A33c indicating calories is touched, for example, a plurality of tabs assigned such as “less than 50 kcal”, “50 to 99 kcal”, “100 kcal or more”, and the like are displayed on the extraction screen B. Then, when any one of the tabs is touched, product information to which the calorie corresponding to the touched tab is extracted is extracted, and a product image of the extracted product information is displayed in the extracted product display area B6. .

  As described above, according to the vending machine of the present embodiment, when the tabs B1 to B5 for selecting the type of the product C are displayed on the LCD 14 and each tab B1 to B5 is touched, the type is changed. The second control unit 24 that extracts the corresponding product C and displays the extracted image of the product C on the LCD 14 in a mode different from the image of the other products is provided. It can be easily distinguished from the product image. Therefore, for example, when a carbonated beverage is desired, it is possible to accurately select a desired product from products of the carbonated beverage, and it is possible to shorten the time until the desired sale product is selected. Can be improved.

  Further, since only the image of the product C extracted from the images of the product C is displayed on the LCD 14, only the image of the product desired by the user can be displayed on the LCD 14. It can be improved further.

  Further, the extraction screen B displaying only the image of the extracted product C is displayed on the LCD 14 so as to overlap the product sales screen, and the touch sensor 33 detects that the product image displayed on the extraction screen B has been touched. Then, since the product C corresponding to the product image is carried out, only the image of the extracted product C is displayed on the front, so that the user's attention can be drawn. Therefore, the product desired by the user can be selected more accurately.

  Furthermore, since the number of types of products C that can be selected by the tabs B1 to B5 can be changed according to the number of types of products that can be sold, the user can easily check the types of products that can be sold. , User convenience can be further improved.

  In addition, the said embodiment is only a specific example of this invention, and this invention is not limited only to the said embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the extraction screen B is displayed on the product sales screen, but the product image of the product C that is not extracted on the product sales screen as shown in FIG. You may comprise so that it may hide by covering. In this case, in the product information display area A34, a plurality of areas A33d to A33h indicating the types of products corresponding to the selected attribute are displayed, and when any one of the areas A33d to A33h is touched, Extraction is to be performed.

  In the above embodiment, the product C is extracted based on the product name, brand or calorie of the product C, but the product price, capacity, container (such as a plastic bottle or aluminum can), and further, such as HOT or COLD. A temperature setting or the like may be displayed in the product attribute display area A33, and the product C may be extracted based on these attributes.

The front view of the vending machine which shows one Embodiment of this invention Side sectional view of the vending machine shown in FIG. The block diagram which shows the control system structure of the vending machine shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the data structure of merchandise information Flow chart showing the flow of product sales operation in the vending machine shown in FIG. Figure showing the product sales screen Diagram showing product sales screen and extraction screen Diagram showing product sales screen and extraction screen after type selection The figure which shows the goods sales screen and extraction screen after goods selection The figure which shows the modification of the commodity sales picture

Explanation of symbols

14 ... LCD, 24 ... 2nd control part, 33 ... Touch sensor, B ... Extraction screen, B1-B5 ... A plurality of tabs.

Claims (4)

A product that includes a display unit capable of displaying an image of a product and a touch sensor provided on the display unit, and detects that the product image displayed on the display unit has been touched by the touch sensor, the product corresponding to the product image In a vending machine designed to carry out
A type selection unit for selecting the type of the product is displayed on the display unit, and when the type selection unit is touched, the product corresponding to the type is extracted, and an image of the extracted product is displayed on another product. A vending machine comprising control means for displaying on a display unit in a mode different from an image. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to display only the image of the extracted product among the images of the product on the display unit. The control means displays a predetermined extraction screen that displays only the image of the extracted product on the display unit so as to overlap the product image, and a touch sensor indicates that the product image displayed on the extraction screen has been touched. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the vending machine is configured to carry out a product corresponding to the product image when detected. The vending machine according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the number of types of products that can be selected by the type selection unit can be changed according to the number of types of products that can be sold.

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