JP2008171445A - Vending machine and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow merchandise to be readily purchased without carrying a lot of small change. <P>SOLUTION: A vending machine 1 connected through a network to a server device having a database which stores a plurality of user information including fingerprint data and information on the amount of money to vend merchandise, includes a fingerprint sensor 22 detecting the fingerprint of the user who is going to purchase merchandise; a money management part 24 for entering cash; and a control part 21 transferring and storing the amount-of-money information of the balance generated in purchasing merchandise, into the database together with the fingerprint data input from the fingerprint sensor 22 while reading the amount-of-money information stored corresponding to the fingerprint data, from the database based on the user's authentication information detected by the fingerprint sensor 22, and serving the user for merchandise purchase with the input of cash. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells various products.

  Conventionally, vending machines for unattended sales of soft drinks and other cigarettes and various products have been widely used. This type of vending machine, except for models that support some on-site systems, is basically based on the premise of purchasing goods using cash, especially coins, For example, when a total of 200 yen including two 100-yen coins is inserted to purchase 110 yen juice, a change of 90 yen will be obtained.

  However, when using vending machines frequently, it is necessary to always carry an appropriate number and type of coins, and as a result, coin purses and pockets sometimes overflow with coins.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that can easily purchase various products without carrying a lot of coins unnecessarily. There is.

  The invention according to claim 1 relating to the present invention is capable of selling the product by acquiring the amount information associated with the individual by identifying the individual, and the first product group and the second product. A vending machine capable of selling a product with age restriction provided with a group, a first input means for inputting predetermined information, and whether the information is an adult or a minor from the information input by the input means If it is determined that the product is in the first product group when it is determined that the product is in the first product group when the product is determined to be an adult by the adult discriminating unit and the adult discriminating unit, Sales control means for controlling the products in the product group to be unsaleable, wherein the sales control means determines that all the products in the second product group are minors by the adult discrimination means. Can be sold even if it is judged to be an adult We are an automatic vending machine according to claim Rukoto.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the information is birth date information.

  The invention according to claim 3 is capable of selling the product by acquiring the amount information associated with the individual by specifying the individual, and includes the first product group and the second product group. A vending machine capable of selling products with age restriction and having first input means for inputting predetermined information, which is an adult or a minor based on the information input by the input means. If it is determined that the product is in the first product group when it is determined that the product is in the first product group when the product is determined to be an adult by the adult discriminating unit and the adult discriminating unit, And sales control means for controlling the products in the product group to be unsaleable, and the sales control means determines that all the products in the second product group are minors by the adult discrimination means. Even if it is judged to be an adult, it is possible to sell it Is a program, characterized by.

  According to the present invention, it is possible for a user to sell a product without carrying a large amount of coins unnecessarily.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment when the present invention is applied to a vending system capable of handling a wide area using a wireless network will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the entire system excluding a vending machine 1 serving as a terminal. In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a radio base station installed closest to the vending machine 1 and is connected to the radio network 3 in the same manner as many other radio base stations (not shown).

  A center device 4 that is operated and managed by a service provider of the vending system is connected to the wireless network 3. The center device 4 is provided with a server machine 4a that controls transmission and reception of user information when using the vending machine 1, and a database (DB) 4b that stores and holds a large number of user information.

  FIG. 2 illustrates the contents of user information stored and held in the database 4b. Here, a plurality of vending machines can be managed by managing a large number of user information as a set of user information, each of the fingerprint pattern image data, the savings amount, and the usage history following the serial number. 1, the same user can purchase products according to his / her own savings amount anywhere.

  Next, FIG. 3 illustrates an external configuration of the vending machine 1 that is wirelessly connected to the wireless network 3. The vending machine 1 is similar to a normal stand-alone vending machine in appearance, with product samples 11a to 11h, product selection buttons 12a to 12h, an amount display unit 13, a coin insertion slot 14, a bill insertion slot on the front thereof. 15, a refund button 16 and a product outlet 17 are provided, and a fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 is provided. It is assumed that the merchandise outlet 17 also has a refund tray section (not shown).

  The fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 is configured by integrating a fingerprint sensor and an operation button, which will be described later, to obtain an operation signal and to read a fingerprint image of a finger that is in contact therewith. Yes.

  In addition, a transmission / reception antenna 19 for wireless connection with the wireless base station 2 is attached to the upper side of the vending machine 1.

  Next, the configuration of the electronic circuit provided in the vending machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a control unit for executing the control operation of the entire vending machine 1, and a fingerprint sensor 22, a button input unit 23, a money management unit 24, a communication unit 25, and a display unit 26 for the control unit 21. The storage unit 27 and the product management unit 28 are connected.

  The fingerprint sensor 22 constitutes a part of the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18, and binarizes the detected fingerprint image data and sends it to the control unit 21.

  The button input unit 23 includes the product selection buttons 12 a to 12 h, the refund button 16, and the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation by the user to the control unit 21.

  The money management unit 24 manages the amount of money deposited by the user from the coin insertion slot 14 and the banknote insertion slot 15 together with a later-described saving amount, while the total amount of cash accumulated at that time is also stored. to manage.

  The communication unit 25 is connected between the transmission / reception antenna 19 and the control unit 21 and transmits / receives data to / from the radio base station 2.

  The display unit 26 performs display driving corresponding to the amount of money to be displayed on the amount display unit 13, while individually displaying the product samples 11a to 11h and the product selection buttons 12a to 12h as necessary. Allow users to recognize only possible products.

  The storage unit 27 stores various protocols when the communication unit 25 transmits and receives data to and from the wireless base station 2, and also functions as a work area for the control unit 21.

The merchandise management unit 28 manages the remaining amount of merchandise stored in the vending machine 1 and the discharge operation at the time of purchase.
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
5 and 6 exemplify a series of processing contents related to purchase of merchandise, mainly viewed from the control unit 21 of the vending machine 1.

  Initially, it is determined whether or not the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 has been operated (step A01). If it has not been operated, it is determined whether or not cash has been inserted from the coin insertion slot 14 or the bill insertion slot 15. (Step A06), it is determined whether or not the product can be purchased (Step A08).

  First, when the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 is operated, the control unit 21 detects fingerprint pattern image data from the fingerprint sensor 22 (step A02), and this is detected by the communication unit 25 and the transmission / reception antenna 19 to the wireless base station. 2. The data is transmitted to the center device 4 through the wireless network 3, and the server machine 4a checks whether similar data is registered in the user information stored in the database 4b. Is received from the server 4a, it is determined whether or not the user who has operated the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 is registered in the database 4b (step A03).

  Here, when the server unit 4a receives a notification that the corresponding fingerprint data is not registered, the control unit 21 assumes that the operation of the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 is invalid and performs the above step as it is. Proceed to A06.

  Further, if the corresponding fingerprint data is registered from the server machine 4a and the saving amount information shown in FIG. 2 is also received, the control unit 21 includes the saving amount information. Based on this, the amount displayed by the user is displayed on the amount display unit 13 by the display unit 26 (step A04).

  At the same time, the control unit 21 responds to the server machine 4a that it has received the information on the savings amount, thereby temporarily clearing the savings amount information in the user information registered in the database 4b. Then, it is updated and set to “0 (zero)” (step A05), and then the process proceeds to step A06 to accept further cash input.

  However, in step A06, it is determined whether or not cash has been inserted, and if so, the amount displayed on the amount display unit 13 is updated and set according to the amount inserted (step A07), and the amount display unit at that time. By repeatedly executing the process of determining whether or not the product can be purchased with the amount displayed in 13 (step A08), the system waits until the amount of the product can be purchased.

  Then, when the purchase becomes possible, this is determined in step A08, and the product selection buttons 12a to 12h are driven to be lit by the display unit 26 and the operation is validated (step A09).

  Thereafter, whether or not a product has been selected by any one of the activated product selection buttons 12a to 12h (step A10), and the balance displayed on the money amount display unit 13 upon purchase of the product. Whether or not “0” is set to “0 (zero)” (step A13), whether the refund button 16 is operated (step A14), or whether the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 is operated (step A15). By sequentially judging and returning to the process from step A06 again when none of them are applicable, the process waits for any of these to be satisfied.

  When it is determined in step A10 that a product has been selected by any one of the product selection buttons 12a to 12h, the control unit 21 discharges the selected product by the product management unit 28 and outputs the selected product to the product takeout port 17. (Step A11).

  At the same time, the control unit 21 updates the amount subtracted from the amount previously displayed on the amount display unit 13 by the amount of the selected product as a new amount, and displays it again on the amount display unit 13 ( Step A12) and then proceed to Step A13 above.

  If it is determined in step A13 that the balance displayed on the price display unit 13 is exactly “0 (zero)” with the purchase of the product, the above series of processing is terminated at that time. Then, the processing in FIGS. 5 and 6 is terminated.

  If it is determined in step A14 that the refund button 16 has been operated, only the amount displayed on the amount display unit 13 at that time is used as the balance, and the money management unit 24 uses the refund tray in the product take-out port 17. The refund is output from the unit (step A20), the series of processing is finished as described above, and the processing of FIGS. 5 and 6 is finished.

  Further, when it is determined in step A15 that the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 has been operated, the control unit 21 detects fingerprint pattern image data from the fingerprint sensor 22 (step A16), and this is detected by the communication unit 25, the transmission / reception antenna. 19, the server 4a checks whether or not similar data is registered in the user information stored in the database 4b and transmitted to the center apparatus 4 via the radio base station 2 and the radio network 3. By receiving a notification of the collation result from the server machine 4a, it is determined whether or not the user who has operated the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 is already registered in the database 4b (step A17).

  Here, when the server unit 4a receives a notification that the corresponding fingerprint data is not registered, the control unit 21 displays the fingerprint data on the money amount display unit 13 at that time. A request is made to register user information anew in the database 4b by combining the stored amounts as savings amount information (step A19), and the series of processes is completed, and the processes in FIGS. 5 and 6 are terminated. .

  In step A17, when the notification is received from the server 4a that the corresponding fingerprint data is registered, the control unit 21 displays the amount displayed on the amount display unit 13 at that time and the point in time In the above user information, the amount stored as the saving amount information is added, and the sum is re-requested to be updated and set in the database 4b as the saving amount information (step A18). Then, the processes in FIGS. 5 and 6 are finished.

  In this way, by operating the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 at the first use, a certain amount of change is stored in the database 4b on the center device 4 side.

  Therefore, the user does not need to prepare a large amount of coins each time after the second use, and by installing many vending machines 1 that share the stored contents of the database 4b, any of them can be used. It is possible to easily purchase desired products.

  In particular, when authenticating the user of the vending machine 1, the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 is operated to use the fingerprint image of the finger of the user's finger, and the information of the savings corresponding to this is used. It is assumed that it is registered in the database 4b.

  As a result, the fingerprint is “lifetime unchanged” and “everyone universal” authentication information, and the user only touches the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 of the vending machine 1 serving as the terminal of the system. Since the user can be authenticated by the operation, there is no need to carry other certificates to obtain his / her own authentication, so there is no need to worry about theft or the “spoofing” of other people. The user can be authenticated and the desired product can be purchased.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment in the case where the present invention is applied to a vending system capable of handling a wide area using a wireless network will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The overall system configuration excluding the vending machine serving as a terminal is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 1, the external configuration of the vending machine is the same as that shown in FIG. 3, and the electronic circuit configuration in the vending machine is the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  In this embodiment, the user information stored in the database 4b of the center device 4 is described in a card issued by the vending machine 1 instead of the fingerprint data in the contents shown in FIG. It is assumed that the information of the authentication number being stored is stored.

  In other words, the user information stored in the database 4b is for managing a large number of user information as a set of user information, each of the authentication number, savings amount, and usage history following the serial number. And

  Further, in the external configuration of the vending machine 1, a card slot and a “save” button are separately provided in place of the fingerprint authentication / save button 18.

  Correspondingly, in the circuit configuration of the vending machine 1 shown in FIG. 4, the authentication number written optically or magnetically on the card inserted from the card slot is read instead of the fingerprint sensor 22. Assume that a card reader is provided, and a card issuing unit that issues a new card is provided integrally with the card reader.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
FIGS. 7 and 8 exemplify a series of processing contents relating to the purchase of a product mainly viewed from the control unit 21 of the vending machine 1, and at the beginning, whether or not a card is inserted from the card insertion slot. (Step B01), and if it is determined that it has not been inserted, it is then determined whether or not cash has been inserted from the coin insertion slot 14 or the bill insertion slot 15 (Step B06), and the product can be purchased. The process of determining whether or not (step B08) is repeated.

  When a card is first inserted from the card insertion slot, the control unit 21 optically or magnetically reads the authentication number written on the card by the card reader described above (step B02), and this is read out by the communication unit 25. Whether the user information of the same input / output number is registered in the user information transmitted to the center device 4 by the transmission / reception antenna 19 via the radio base station 2 and the radio network 3 and stored in the database 4b. Whether or not the user who inserted the card from the card slot is registered in the database 4b by having the server machine 4a collate whether or not and receiving the notice of the collation result from the server machine 4a. (Step B03).

  Here, when the server unit 4a receives a notification that the user information of the corresponding input / output number is not registered, the control unit 21 assumes that the insertion of the card is invalid and proceeds to step B06 as it is. move on.

  If the user information of the corresponding input / output number is registered from the server machine 4a and the saving amount information shown in FIG. 2 is also received, the control unit 21 saves the saving information. Based on the amount information, the amount displayed by the user is displayed on the amount display unit 13 by the display unit 26 (step B04).

  At the same time, the control unit 21 responds to the server machine 4a that it has received the information on the savings amount, thereby temporarily clearing the savings amount information in the user information registered in the database 4b. Then, it is updated and set to “0 (zero)” (step B05), and then the process proceeds to step B06 to accept further cash input.

  However, in step B06, it is determined whether or not cash has been inserted, and if so, the amount displayed on the amount display unit 13 is updated and set according to the amount inserted (step B07), and the amount display unit at that time. By repeatedly executing the process of determining whether or not the product can be purchased with the amount displayed in 13 (step B08), the system waits for the amount of the product to be purchased.

  Then, when the purchase becomes possible, this is determined in step B08, and the product selection buttons 12a to 12h are driven to be lit by the display unit 26 and the operation is validated (step B09).

  Thereafter, whether or not a product has been selected by the operation of any of the validated product selection buttons 12a to 12h (step B10), and the balance displayed on the money amount display unit 13 with the purchase of the product. Sequentially determines whether or not “0” is set to “0 (zero)” (step B13), whether or not the refund button 16 is operated (step B14), or whether or not the above-described saving button is operated (step B15). Then, if none of them is applicable, the process of returning to the process from step B06 is repeated to wait for any of these to be applicable.

  When it is determined in step B10 that a product has been selected by any one of the product selection buttons 12a to 12h, the control unit 21 discharges the selected product by the product management unit 28 and outputs the selected product to the product takeout port 17. (Step B11).

  At the same time, the control unit 21 updates the amount subtracted from the amount previously displayed on the amount display unit 13 by the amount of the selected product as a new amount, and displays it again on the amount display unit 13 ( Step B12) and then proceed to Step B13 above.

  If it is determined in step B13 that the balance displayed on the money amount display unit 13 is exactly “0 (zero)” with the purchase of the product, the above-described series of processing is terminated at that time. Then, the processing of FIGS. 7 and 8 is terminated.

  If it is determined in step B14 that the refund button 16 has been operated, only the amount displayed on the money amount display unit 13 at that time is used as the balance, and the money management unit 24 uses the refund tray in the product outlet 17 to return. Repayment is output from the unit (step B22), a series of processing is completed, and the processing of FIGS. 7 and 8 is completed.

  Further, when it is determined in step B15 that the saving button described above has been operated, the control unit 21 determines whether there is a card already inserted from the card insertion slot (step B16).

  If it is determined that a card has already been inserted, the authentication number is again optically or magnetically read from the inserted card (step B17), and this is read out by the communication unit 25 and the transmission / reception antenna 19 to the wireless base station. The data is transmitted to the center device 4 via the station 2 and the wireless network 3, and the server machine 4a checks whether similar data is registered in the user information stored in the database 4b. By receiving a notification of the result from the server machine 4a, it is determined whether or not the user who has operated the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18 is already registered in the database 4b (step B18).

  Here, if the server machine 4a receives a notification that the user information of the corresponding authentication number is not registered, the control unit 21 uses the unregistered authentication number again, and at that time The amount displayed on the amount display unit 13 is combined as saving amount information, a request is made to newly register user information in the database 4b, and the card that has been inserted is returned (step B21). Then, the series of processing is finished, and the processing of FIGS. 7 and 8 is finished.

  In step B18, when the server unit 4a receives notification that the user information of the corresponding authentication number is registered, the control unit 21 displays the amount displayed on the amount display unit 13 at that time. And the amount stored as the savings amount information in the user information at that time, and the sum is again requested to update and set in the database 4b as the savings amount information (step B19). The process is terminated, and the processes of FIGS. 7 and 8 are terminated.

  Furthermore, when it is determined that there is no card inserted when the saving button is operated in step B16, a new card with a new authentication number is issued by the card issuing unit, and the card The server 4a is requested to register and set new user information in the database 4b by combining the new authentication number with the amount displayed on the amount display unit 13 at that time as saving amount information. ), The series of processes is finished, and the processes of FIGS. 7 and 8 are finished.

  In this way, by operating the saving button at the first use, a certain amount of change is stored in the database 4b on the center device 4 side together with the authentication number, and the user only has a card on which only the authentication number is written. Issue it.

  Therefore, when the user uses the card for the second time or later, the user does not need to prepare many coins each time, and by installing many vending machines 1 that share the stored contents of the database 4b, It is possible to easily purchase a desired product when using either of them.

  In addition, a card is issued for user authentication, and the issued card contains only the information of the authentication number, and specific contents relating to money are managed only on the server device side. Information on money is not forged from the card, it is easy to issue, and can be operated relatively safely in terms of security.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment when the present invention is applied to a vending system capable of handling a wide area using a wireless network will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The overall system configuration excluding the vending machine serving as a terminal is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 1, the external configuration of the vending machine is the same as that shown in FIG. 3, and the electronic circuit configuration in the vending machine is the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  In this embodiment, the user information stored in the database 4b of the center device 4 is described in the driver's license possessed by the user instead of the fingerprint data in the contents shown in FIG. The information on the license number is stored.

  That is, the user information stored in the database 4b manages a large number of user information as a set of user information including the serial number, the license number, the savings amount, and the usage history as a set of user information. Shall.

  Also, in the external configuration of the vending machine 1, instead of the fingerprint authentication / savings button 18, a driver's license is placed and a license presenting unit for reading the license number and a "savings" button are provided separately. And

  Correspondingly, in the circuit configuration of the vending machine 1 shown in FIG. 4, at least the license number and the year of birth are optically determined from the driver's license placed on the license presentation unit instead of the fingerprint sensor 22. It is assumed that an OCR (Optical Character Reader) unit for reading the date is provided.

  Furthermore, in the vending machine 1, it is assumed that a part of a plurality of sales items includes a product that restricts sales to minors, such as tobacco and alcoholic beverages.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
9 and 10 exemplify a series of processing contents relating to purchase of merchandise as viewed mainly from the control unit 21 of the vending machine 1.

  At the beginning, it is determined whether or not the driver's license is placed on the license presenting section (step C01). If it is determined that the driver's license is not placed, then the coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 14 or the banknote insertion slot 15. Is repeatedly executed (step C06), and it is determined whether or not the product can be purchased (step C08).

  First, when the driver's license is placed in the license presenting unit, the control unit 21 reads out the driver's license number and date of birth by the OCR unit (step C02), and stores them in the storage unit 27. The license number is transmitted to the center device 4 via the radio base station 2 and the radio network 3 by the communication unit 25 and the transmission / reception antenna 19 and stored in the user information stored in the database 4b. Usage in which a driver's license is placed in the above-mentioned license presentation unit by having the server machine 4a collate whether or not a similar license number is registered and receiving a notice of the collation result from the server machine 4a It is determined whether or not the user is registered in the database 4b (step C03).

  Here, when the server unit 4a receives a notification that the corresponding license number is not registered, the control unit 21 reads that the presentation of the driver's license at this point is invalid. After the license number is stored in the storage unit 27, the process proceeds to step C06.

  Further, when the corresponding license number is registered from the server machine 4a and the saving amount information shown in FIG. 2 is also received, the control unit 21 includes the saving amount information. Based on this, the amount stored by the user is displayed on the amount display unit 13 by the display unit 26 (step C04).

  At the same time, the control unit 21 responds to the server machine 4a that it has received the information on the savings amount, thereby temporarily clearing the savings amount information in the user information registered in the database 4b. Then, it is updated and set to “0 (zero)” (step C05), and then the process proceeds to step C06 to accept further cash input.

In addition, after the reading operation from the driver's license in the license presenting unit in the step C02 is completed, the user should not forget that the driver's license is placed in the license presenting unit. For example, “I have finished reading my driver's license, so be sure to close your driver's license so that you do n’t forget it.”
It is good also as what outputs a voice guide message like this.

  However, in step C06, it is determined whether or not cash has been inserted, and if so, the amount displayed on the amount display unit 13 is updated and set according to the amount inserted (step C07), and the amount display unit at that time. By repeatedly executing the process of determining whether or not the product can be purchased with the amount displayed in 13 (step C08), the system waits until the amount of the product can be purchased.

  Then, when the purchase becomes possible, this is determined in step C08. Next, in step C01, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility that the user has to limit sales products. It is determined that a driver's license has been presented, and whether or not the user is an adult based on the date of birth.

  Here, in the case where the driver's license is not presented in the above step C01 and the user purchases the product only with cash, or the driver's license is presented in the above step C01, In the case of the user who has determined that the product is to be sold, the products to be sold must be restricted, so that only the product selection button of the product with no age restriction is lit by the display unit 26 and the operation is validated ( Step C10).

  In addition, in the case of a user who presents a driver's license in step C01 and determines that it is not a minor from the date of birth, there is no need to restrict the products to be sold. The button is turned on by the display unit 26 and the operation is validated (step C11).

  Thereafter, whether or not a product has been selected by an operation of any of the validated product selection buttons (step C12), and the balance displayed on the price display unit 13 upon purchase of the product is “0”. (Zero) ”(step C15), whether or not the refund button 16 is operated (step C16), or whether or not the saving button is operated (step C18). If it does not correspond, the process of returning to the process from step C06 is repeated to wait for any of these to be met.

  If it is determined that a product has been selected by operating any of the product selection buttons activated in step C12, the control unit 21 discharges the selected product by the product management unit 28 and outputs the selected product to the product takeout port 17. (Step C13).

  At the same time, the control unit 21 updates the amount subtracted from the amount previously displayed on the amount display unit 13 by the amount of the selected product as a new amount, and displays it again on the amount display unit 13 ( Step C14) and then proceed to Step C15.

  If it is determined in step C15 that the balance displayed on the price display unit 13 is exactly “0 (zero)” with the purchase of the product, the above series of processing is terminated at that time. Then, the processing of FIGS. 9 and 10 is terminated.

  If it is determined in step C16 that the refund button 16 has been operated, only the amount displayed on the money amount display unit 13 at that time is used as the balance, and the money management unit 24 returns the refund tray in the product outlet 17 to the refund tray. The output is returned (step C18), and the series of processes is completed as described above, and the processes of FIGS. 9 and 10 are completed.

  Further, when it is determined in step C17 that the saving button 18 has been operated, the control unit 21 determines whether or not the driver's license has been presented in step C01 (step C19).

  Here, if it is determined that the driver's license has not been presented, it is not possible to register the balance as a saving amount in association with the corresponding license number by operating the saving button, so that the refund button 16 in step C16 above. As in the case where it is determined that the item has been operated, the money management unit 24 makes a refund output from the refund tray unit in the product outlet 17 as the remaining amount displayed on the amount display unit 13 at that time (step C18). ), A series of processing is finished, and the processing of FIGS. 9 and 10 is finished.

  If it is determined in step C19 that the driver's license has been presented, the communication unit 25 then reads the driver's license read from the driver's license in step C02 and stored in the storage unit 27. It is transmitted to the center apparatus 4 via the radio base station 2 and the radio network 3 by the transmission / reception antenna 19, and the server machine determines whether or not the same license number is registered in the user information stored in the database 4b. 4a is collated, and a notification of the collation result is received from the server machine 4a, thereby determining whether or not the user who has operated the saving button is already registered in the database 4b (step C20).

  Here, when the server unit 4a receives a notification that the corresponding license number is not registered, the control unit 21 displays the license number on the money amount display unit 13 at that time. Requesting that new user information be registered in the database 4b by combining the stored amount as savings amount information (step C22), the series of processing is completed, and the processing of FIGS. 9 and 10 is completed. .

  In step C20, when the server unit 4a receives a notification that the corresponding license number is registered, the control unit 21 displays the amount displayed on the amount display unit 13 at that time and the point in time In the above-mentioned user information, the amount stored as the saving amount information is added, and the sum is re-requested to be updated and set in the database 4b as the saving amount information (step C21). Then, the processes in FIGS. 9 and 10 are finished.

  Thus, when the user who presented the driver's license operates the saving button at the first use, a certain amount of change can be stored in the database 4b on the center device 4 side together with the license number.

  Therefore, the user does not need to prepare a large amount of change every time if he / she has a driver's license for the second and subsequent uses, and install a large number of vending machines 1 that share the stored contents of the database 4b. Therefore, it is possible to easily purchase a desired product when using any of them.

  In addition, in the third embodiment, it has been described that a driver's license is used to authenticate a user. Thus, an identification card including a driver's license is used for user authentication. Then, since the product can be sold in consideration of the age of the user, the user can be surely selected and sold regardless of the time period even for products with age restrictions such as tobacco and alcohol.

  The first to third embodiments have been described with respect to a case where the present invention is applied to a vending system that can handle a wide area using a wireless network. Alternatively, it is possible to reduce the configuration of the center device 4 through a network within an area where the range is limited to some extent by wire, or the functions of the server 4a and the database 4b of the center device 4 can be realized. It is good also as what is integrated and integrated in one of the some vending machines 1. FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2 above, the database 4b of the center apparatus 4 adds the use history of this system to the user information and sets the storage update, so that it is combined with the location information of the vending machine. It can also be used for researching user preferences and product development.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements.

  For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, at least one of the problems described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and described in the column of the effect of the invention. In a case where at least one of the obtained effects can be obtained, a configuration in which this configuration requirement is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

The figure which shows the structure of the whole automatic vending system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure which illustrates the structure of the user information memorize | stored in the database by the side of the center apparatus which concerns on the embodiment. The figure which shows the external appearance structure of the vending machine (terminal) which concerns on the embodiment. The block diagram which shows the internal circuit structure of the vending machine (terminal) which concerns on the same embodiment. The flowchart which shows a series of processing content concerning the goods sale with the vending machine which concerns on the embodiment. The flowchart which shows a series of processing content concerning the goods sale with the vending machine which concerns on the embodiment. The flowchart which shows a series of processing content concerning the goods sale with the vending machine which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows a series of processing content concerning the goods sale with the vending machine which concerns on the embodiment. The flowchart which shows a series of processing content concerning the goods sale with the vending machine which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows a series of processing content concerning the goods sale with the vending machine which concerns on the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vending machine 2 ... Wireless base station 3 ... Wireless network 4 ... Center apparatus 4a ... Server machine 4b ... Database (DB)
11a to 11h ... Samples 12a to 12h ... Product selection button 13 ... Amount display unit 14 ... Coin insertion slot 15 ... Bill insertion slot 16 ... Refund button 17 ... Product take-out slot 18 ... Fingerprint authentication / savings button 19 ... Transmission / reception antenna 21 ... Control unit 22 ... fingerprint sensor 23 ... button input unit 24 ... money management unit 25 ... communication unit 26 ... display unit 27 ... storage unit 28 ... merchandise management unit

Claims (3)

By identifying the individual, you can acquire the amount information associated with the individual and sell the product, and also have the first product group and the second product group to restrict the age and sell the product Vending machine,
First input means for inputting predetermined information;
From the information input by the input means, an adult discrimination means for discriminating whether it is an adult or a minor,
When it is determined that the adult is determined to be an adult, the product of the first product group can be sold. When the adult is determined to be a minor, the product of the first product group is sold. Sales control means to control impossible,
With
The sales control means controls all the products of the second product group so that they can be sold regardless of whether they are determined to be underage or not by the adult discrimination means. Vending machine. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the information is birth date information. By identifying the individual, you can acquire the amount information associated with the individual and sell the product, and also have the first product group and the second product group to restrict the age and sell the product A vending machine comprising first input means for inputting predetermined information,
From the information input by the input means, an adult discrimination means for discriminating whether it is an adult or a minor,
When it is determined that the adult is determined to be an adult, the product of the first product group can be sold. When the adult is determined to be a minor, the product of the first product group is sold. Sales control means to control impossible,
Realized,
The sales control means controls all the products of the second product group so that they can be sold regardless of whether they are determined to be underage by the adult discrimination means. .

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