JP2011207576A - Commodity carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a commodity carrying device for efficiently performing work even if a carrying-in package commodity is a small number.SOLUTION: Not only the package commodity STP stocked inside can be carried out to an external part from a commodity carrying-out position by a commodity takeout mechanism 140 and a commodity carrying-out mechanism 150 but also the package commodity STP carried in a commodity carrying-in position from the external part can be input inside by a commodity carrying-in mechanism 150 and a commodity input mechanism 160. Thus, when desiring to carry in a very small number of package commodities STP, there is no need, for example, to pull out an inside mechanism by opening a rear surface of the commodity carrying device 100 and carry in the small number of package commodities STP to the inside mechanism.

Description

  The present invention relates to a merchandise carrying apparatus for carrying out and carrying in packaged goods that are sold face-to-face at a supply chain store such as a convenience store.

  At present, supply chain stores such as convenience stores sell various packaged products on so-called furniture and product inventory racks. Furthermore, in the supply chain stores as described above, sales processing devices called so-called POS (Point Of Sales) terminals and electronic cash registers are installed.

  In general supply chain stores, furniture and product inventory racks are installed in so-called product sales floors, and sales processing devices are installed in register counters in so-called cash register worker spaces.

  Therefore, the general consumer acquires a desired packaged product from a fixture or a product inventory rack and transfers it to the cashier worker space. Then, the general consumer and the store worker face each other through the cashier counter, and in this state, the store worker executes the sales process using the sales processing device.

  However, for example, some products such as cigarette packages are not stored in the product storage rack in the user movement space of the convenience store, but are stored in the product storage rack installed behind the cashier worker space called the so-called cash register back. It is common that

  In such a case, in order for a general consumer to purchase a desired cigarette package, it is necessary to verbally convey the name to the store worker and obtain it from the commodity storage rack. However, there are numerous types of cigarette packages, and it is difficult to convey verbal names, such as the sale of multiple types of cigarette packages with different tastes for a common brand name.

  The cigarette package referred to here is a minimum unit package that is sold by storing a predetermined number of cigarettes that are actually smoked in soft packaging or hard boxes.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, for example, there is a proposal of a unit that can be used for product sales that can display products in a store and that does not increase the burden on store workers. The technology includes a cashier counter having a merchandise sample display section on the front, a merchandise storage section provided at a position separate from the cashier counter, and a merchandise unloading section. It is made to carry out by a goods carrying-out part more (patent document 1).

  As a similar proposal, a store worker sets up a product sample display section in front of a cashier counter corresponding to a general consumer to display a plurality of product samples, and the general worker offers a bar code on the cashier counter to the store worker. There is also a proposal in which a product is selected from a table by a barcode reader, a selection signal is sent to a product carry-out unit, and the product storage unit inside the register counter is carried out by the product carry-out unit to the product carry-out port (Patent Document 2).

  In addition, it can be used for a sales method in which a cashier is used to settle the price, and the selected product can be taken out without fail, and the internal structure can be simplified to reduce the manufacturing cost, and the product using this fixture. There is also a sales system proposal.

  In that technology, a display shelf for multiple types of product samples, a selection button, a column that accommodates multiple types of products, and a setting operation for each column to be carried out when a product is selected by the selection button This product is equipped with a product delivery device and a product outlet provided on the back or side of the main body so that the product carried out by the product delivery device can be taken out. An outlet is provided (Patent Document 3).

JP 2004-298344 A JP 2004-275516 A JP 2009-098714 A

  However, the above-described Patent Documents 1 to 3 do not disclose how to carry packaged goods into the commodity transport apparatus. For this reason, the complicated operation | work at the time of carrying in package goods in a goods conveyance apparatus is anticipated.

  As a general structure, the rear surface of the product conveying device is openable and closable, and it is expected that the internal mechanism is pulled out from the opened rear surface, and the packaged product is carried there. However, this makes it difficult to release the rear surface and carry in the merchandise when stock merchandise is placed behind the merchandise transport device.

  Furthermore, when carrying a large amount of packaged goods into the product transport device, the above-described operation may be performed. For example, when a product transport device is to be filled, a very small number of packaged products are required. You may want to carry in. In such a case, as described above, it is complicated and inefficient to open the rear surface of the product conveying device, pull out the internal mechanism, and carry a small number of packaged products there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a commodity transport apparatus that can efficiently carry in and out packaged goods represented by a tobacco package regardless of the quantity.

  The product transporting apparatus of the present invention includes a product stacking member on which a plurality of packaged products are stacked in the vertical direction, a holding lift mechanism that lifts and lowers the product stacking member and lifts the stacked package product, and a product by the holding lift mechanism A carry-out control unit that controls the lifting of the loading member and places the top package product loaded at a predetermined product take-out position, and a product take-out that takes the top package product placed at the product take-out position to the side The mechanism, the product unloading mechanism for unloading the packaged product taken out from the side from the predetermined product unloading position, and the lowering of the product loading member by the holding elevating mechanism are controlled, and the uppermost packaged product loaded A loading control unit that is positioned below a predetermined product loading position and a packaged product that is loaded from the outside to the predetermined product loading position are arranged on the side of the product loading position. It has a product loading mechanism, and product shooting mechanism of the packaged product which is placed on the product loading mechanism is introduced to the product loading position of the lateral, loading the product loading member.

  In the product transport device of the present invention, a plurality of packaged products are stacked on the product stacking member in the vertical direction. The holding elevating mechanism moves the product stacking member up and down to raise and lower packaged products. A carry-out control unit that controls the raising of the product stacking member by the holding lift mechanism arranges the uppermost packaged product loaded at a predetermined product takeout position. The product takeout mechanism takes out the uppermost packaged product arranged at the product takeout position to the side. The product carry-out mechanism carries out the packaged product taken out from the side to the outside from a predetermined product carry-out position. A carry-in control unit that controls the lowering of the product stacking member by the holding lift mechanism positions the uppermost packaged product loaded below a predetermined product input position. A product carry-in mechanism arranges a packaged product to be carried into a predetermined product carry-in position from the outside on the side of the product throw-in position. The package product placed on the product carry-in mechanism is loaded into the product loading position by the product loading mechanism and loaded on the product loading member. For this reason, in the merchandise conveying apparatus of the present invention, the packaged merchandise stocked inside is not only carried out from the merchandise take-out position to the outside by the merchandise take-out mechanism and the merchandise take-out mechanism, but is also carried from the outside to the merchandise carry-in position. The packaged product can be put into the inside by the product carry-in mechanism and the product input mechanism. Therefore, the carry-in operation and the carry-out operation of the packaged product can be easily performed regardless of the quantity.

  Further, in the product transport apparatus as described above, the product take-out position and the product input position are common as the product load / unload position, and the product carry-out position and the product carry-in position are common as the product transport position, and the product carry-out mechanism And the product carry-in mechanism may be used as a product transport mechanism.

  Further, in the product transport apparatus as described above, the product stacking member and the product unloading mechanism are arranged in parallel in two rows on the left and right sides, and a common product take-out mechanism placed above the two rows of product stacking members on the left and right Then, the packaged products held in the left and right two-row product holding mechanisms may be carried out to the left and right two-row product carrying mechanisms.

  Further, in the above-described merchandise transporting apparatus, the merchandise loading member and the merchandise throwing mechanism are arranged in parallel in two left and right rows separated via a merchandise carry-in mechanism, and are carried in by the merchandise carry-in mechanism. The packaged product may be put into the left and right two-row product holding mechanism by a common product loading mechanism.

  Further, in the product transport apparatus as described above, a plurality of product take-out mechanisms are arranged in the front-rear direction together with a plurality of product stacking members, and a carry-out designation unit that designates one type of carry-out from a plurality of types of packaged products, And a corresponding product takeout mechanism may take out the designated packaged product.

  Further, in the product transport device as described above, a plurality of product loading mechanisms are arranged in the front-rear direction together with a plurality of product stacking members, and a carry-in designation unit that designates one type of carry-in from a plurality of types of packaged products, And a corresponding product input mechanism may input the designated package product.

  Further, in the commodity transport apparatus as described above, a number accumulating means for accumulating the number of packaged goods that are successively carried in at a time, and a number monitoring means for monitoring whether the accumulated number is a predetermined number, You may have.

  Further, in the commodity transport apparatus as described above, it may be built in at least the lower space of the cashier counter on which the sales processing apparatus is placed.

  Further, in the commodity transport apparatus as described above, at least a cash register counter on which the sales processing apparatus is placed may be formed integrally.

  Moreover, in the above-described merchandise conveying apparatus, the package merchandise may be a cigarette package.

  The various constituent elements of the present invention need only be formed so as to realize their functions. For example, dedicated hardware that exhibits a predetermined function, and a computer device provided with a predetermined function by a computer program It can be realized as a predetermined function realized in a computer apparatus by a computer program, any combination thereof, or the like.

  In addition, the various components of the present invention do not have to be individually independent, a plurality of components are formed as a single member, and a single component is formed of a plurality of members. It may be that a certain component is a part of another component, a part of a certain component overlaps a part of another component, and the like.

  Note that the product conveyance device built in the lower space of the cash register counter in the present invention means that the product conveyance device is installed in the lower space of the cash register counter with almost no gap, but the predetermined gap is It is allowed to occur.

  In the product transport apparatus of the present invention, packaged products that are stocked inside are not only carried out from the product take-out position to the outside by the product take-out mechanism and the product take-out mechanism, but are also brought into the product carry-in position from the outside. Can be introduced into the interior by the product carry-in mechanism and the product input mechanism. Therefore, packaged goods represented by tobacco packages can be efficiently carried in and out regardless of the quantity. For this reason, even when a very small number of packaged products are carried in, or when a large amount of packaged products are carried in, it is possible to carry out the loading work efficiently without the need for complicated work.

It is a typical longitudinal section rear view which shows the internal structure of the goods conveyance apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a typical vertical side view which shows the internal structure of a goods conveyance apparatus. It is a rear view which shows the external appearance of the rear surface of a goods conveyance apparatus. It is a typical perspective view which shows the external appearance of the cashier worker space of the convenience store which is a supply chain store where the goods conveyance apparatus etc. were installed. It is an enlarged rear view which shows the external appearance of the principal part of a goods conveyance apparatus. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the external appearance of the principal part of a goods conveyance apparatus. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the card accommodation panel which accommodated the tobacco dummy card. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which the cigarette dummy card was accommodated in the card accommodation pocket of a card accommodation panel. It is a typical front view which shows the external appearance of various tobacco dummy cards. It is a typical back view which shows the external appearance of a tobacco dummy card. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state where the general consumer and the shop worker faced through the cashier counter with which the goods conveyance apparatus was built-in. It is a typical rear view which shows the process in which the goods extraction unit which is a goods extraction mechanism carries out the tobacco package which is a packaged product. It is a typical rear view which shows the process in which the goods insertion unit which is a goods insertion mechanism carries in a tobacco package. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which a goods conveyance mechanism carries out a tobacco package. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement in which a goods conveyance mechanism carries in a tobacco package. It is a typical rear view which shows the internal structure of the goods extraction unit which is the goods extraction mechanism of one modification. It is a typical vertical section back view showing an internal structure of a goods conveyance device of other modifications.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the product transport apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment lifts and lowers a product lifter 110 that is a product stacking member on which a plurality of cigarette packages STP are stacked in the vertical direction, and the product lifter 110. The lifter lifting / lowering mechanism 120, which is a holding / lifting mechanism for lifting / lowering the loaded cigarette package STP, and the lift of the product lifter 110 by the lifter lifting / lowering mechanism 120 are controlled, and the uppermost cigarette package STP loaded is transferred to a predetermined product. An operation control unit 130 which is a carry-out control unit arranged at the take-out position, a product take-out unit 140 for taking out the uppermost cigarette package STP arranged at the product take-out position, and a cigarette package STP taken out from the side A product transporting conveyor 150 that is a product transporting mechanism that transports the product from a predetermined product transporting position to the outside; An operation control unit 130, which is a carry-in control unit that controls the lowering of the product lifter 110 by the data raising / lowering mechanism 120 and positions the stacked cigarette package STP below a predetermined product input position; A product carrying conveyor 150 that is a product carrying mechanism for placing the cigarette package STP carried into the product carrying position on the side of the product loading position, and a cigarette package STP placed on the product carrying conveyor 150 is loaded on the side And a product input unit 160 that is loaded into the position and loaded on the product lifter 110.

  More specifically, in the product transport apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the product take-out position and the product load position are common as the product load / unload position, and the product carry-out position and the product carry-in position are common as the product transport position. The product carry-out mechanism and the product carry-in mechanism are also used as a product carrying conveyor 150 which is a product carrying mechanism.

  Here, having both the product take-out position and the product input position, and the product take-out position and the product carry-in position means that at least a part of the cigarette packages STP passing through these positions overlap, Does not require exact agreement.

  Further, in the product transport apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the product lifter 110 and the lifter lifting mechanism 120 are formed in four rows in the left-right direction, and these are arranged as two sets of left and right rows. Has been.

  Note that the front, back, left, right, top, and bottom referred to here do not have to be strictly orthogonal to each other. For example, the positions of the merchandise lifter 110, the lifter lifting mechanism 120, and the merchandise transport conveyor 150 may be displaced from front to back, left, right, up and down, or may be inclined (not shown).

  A common product take-out unit 140 is disposed above the left and right two-row product lifters 110, and the left and right two-row cigarette packages STP are taken out by the common product take-out unit 140 to the left and right two-row product transport conveyor 150. .

  However, since the product transfer conveyor 150 and the product input unit 160 located in the center of the product lifter 110 and the lifter lifting mechanism 120, which are composed of two sets of left and right two rows, are shared, the product transfer conveyor 150 and The product insertion units 160 are arranged in three rows in the left-right direction.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the product lifter 110, the lifter lifting mechanism 120, the product take-out unit 140, and the product insertion unit 160 are arranged in five sets in the front-rear direction, and from the front end to the rear end on the side. A commodity conveyor 150 is located.

  For this reason, the commodity transport apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment accommodates 4 × 5 = 20 types of cigarette packages STP. In addition, the part which accommodates the cigarette package STP for every kind in this way is called a product column below.

  In the product transport apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the product transport conveyor 150 is a so-called belt conveyor, and is rolled in the forward and reverse directions by a conveyor drive motor (not shown).

  The product holding unit 171 includes a product lifter 110 and a lifter lifting mechanism 120 that are unitized every two rows, and is supported by a slide rail 172 laid on the lower surface of the transport device housing 170 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction. Yes.

  A guide handle 173 is attached to the front end of the product holding unit 171. Therefore, by holding the guide handle 173, the product holding unit 171 can be manually moved back and forth.

  When the product holding unit 171 is inserted to the front end of the transport device housing 170, a unit detection sensor 174 that detects this is attached to the front of the transport device housing 170.

  The lifter lifting mechanism 120 supports the product lifter 110 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction by guide rails (not shown) communicating in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the product lifter 110 has a female screw member 111 projecting laterally from the product lifter 110, which is screwed into the male screw shaft 121 of the lifter lifting mechanism 120.

  The male screw shaft 121 is rotatably supported so that the axial direction is parallel to the vertical direction, and the lower part is connected to the lifter drive motor 123 by the belt mechanism 122. For this reason, when the lifter drive motor 123 is driven, the male screw shaft 121 is rotated by the belt mechanism 122 and the product lifter 110 is moved up and down.

  An upper limit detection sensor 131 that detects that the product lifter 110 has been raised to the uppermost position and a lower limit detection sensor 132 that detects that the product lifter 110 has been lowered to the lowest position are located near the lower and upper portions of the male screw shaft 121. Has been placed.

  Furthermore, in the product transport apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, when the product lifter 110 is arranged at a position where a predetermined number of cigarette packages STP can be stacked, the replenishment detection sensor 133 that detects this is also the male screw shaft 121. It is arranged on the side of.

  As described above, since a large number of cigarette packages STP are loaded on the product lifter 110, dropout prevention guides 124 for preventing the dropout are provided at the center and both sides of the left and right product columns. .

  In addition, the product take-out unit 140 is provided with a product take-out arm 141 that projects the cigarette package STP at the highest product take-in / out position loaded on the product lifter 110 to the side. Is supported movably in the left-right direction.

  Similarly, the product input unit 160 is also provided with a product input arm 161 that projects the cigarette package STP placed on the product transfer conveyor 150 to the side product input position. 161 is supported movably in the left-right direction.

  The product take-out unit 140 is also provided with a package detection sensor 134 that projects that the uppermost cigarette package STP has been placed at the product entry / exit position. The package detection sensor 134 can be moved up and down in the vertical direction. Is formed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the commodity transport apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is built in the lower space of the register counter 200. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, a product entrance / exit 175 is formed on the rear surface of the product transport apparatus 100 at a position where the three rows of product transport conveyors 150 communicate with each other. A product holding tray 176 for holding the cigarette package STP to be carried out is formed at the three product entrances 175.

  In addition, a product detection sensor 135 that detects a cigarette package STP that is carried in is installed above the product entrance / exit 175. Further, a carry-out completion lamp 181 for notifying the carry-out of the cigarette package STP is installed above the product entrance / exit 175.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, above the rear surface of the commodity transport apparatus 100, twenty color stock lamps 182 for notifying the stock status of the cigarette package STP for each of four rows and five sets of product columns in a colored manner. Are installed in four rows and five rows.

  The color inventory lamp 182 is lit in green when the product lifter 110 is not detected by the replenishment detection sensor 133 and the inventory quantity is sufficient. Further, in a state where the commodity lifter 110 is detected by the replenishment detection sensor 133, it is lit in yellow because the stock quantity is ten or less. Then, in a state where the product lifter 110 is detected by the upper limit detection sensor 131, it blinks red because there is no stock.

  A cigarette brand switch 183 for displaying the product name of the corresponding cigarette package STP is individually installed on the side of each such color stock lamp 182. As will be described in detail later, the cigarette brand switch 183 is a display for displaying the product name of the cigarette package STP as described above, and also serves as a switch for designating the cigarette package STP to be carried out or carried in. .

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a barcode reader 184 is provided at the center of the rear upper surface of the commodity transporting apparatus 100 as a carry-out designation unit for designating one type of carry-out from a plurality of types of cigarette packages STP. It is installed with 185.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, a cigarette dummy card 320 having a product barcode 321 written on the back surface is detachably inserted into the cigarette card holder 185. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the above-described cigarette card holder 185 is also formed with a merchandise insertion recess 186 for causing the bar code reader 184 to read the merchandise barcode of the cigarette package STP. Has been.

  On the side of the cigarette card holder 185, as shown in FIG. 3, a number designation switch 187 for designating the number of cigarette packages STP to be carried out is installed. Here, the number designation switch 187 includes three types of one, two, and three.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, for example, the cigarette dummy card 320 is printed on the surface with a pattern schematically representing the face of the cigarette package STP. In particular, as shown in FIG. 9, a promotional message, a guidance message for the promotional material 330, and the like are printed as necessary.

  Such a cigarette dummy card 320 is accommodated in the cigarette card pocket 310 of the card accommodation panel 300 as shown in FIGS. In addition, since the goods conveyance apparatus 100 of this Embodiment accommodates 20 types of cigarette packages STP as mentioned above, here the 20 types of tobacco dummy cards 320 are fundamentally prepared.

  However, when a promotional item is given as described above, for example, a promotional message guide message is written on the cigarette dummy card 320 as shown in FIGS. 8B and 9C. At the same time, the promotional material 330 may be attached to the cigarette card pocket 310.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the card storage panel 300 for storing the cigarette dummy card 320 as described above is installed, for example, in a movement area of a general consumer CUU in a convenience store CVS store.

  In the configuration as described above, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the commodity transport apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is built-in at least in the lower space of the cashier counter 200 on which the POS terminal 210 as a sales processing apparatus is placed. Is done.

  Twenty kinds of cigarette packages STP are individually accommodated in twenty-four commodity columns in four rows and five sets of the commodity transport apparatus 100. On the other hand, a card storage panel 300 is installed in a movement area of a general consumer CUU in a convenience store CVS store, and a cigarette dummy card 320 corresponding to twenty kinds of tobacco packages STP is stored in the card storage panel 300.

  In this state, when the general consumer CUU who has visited the convenience store CVS requests to purchase the cigarette package STP, as shown in FIG. 4, it is installed in the movement area of the general consumer CUU in the store. A desired cigarette dummy card 320 is selected and acquired from the card storage panel 300.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 11, such a general consumer CUU moves to the cashier counter 200 and hands the cigarette dummy card 320 to the store worker CSC. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, the store worker CSC inserts the cigarette dummy card 320 into the cigarette card holder 185 of the merchandise carrying device 100 that is set to the merchandise carry-out mode (step S1-Y).

  Then, the merchandise carrying device 100 specifies the cigarette package STP to be carried out by reading the merchandise barcode 321 of the cigarette dummy card 320 with the barcode reader 184 (step S2-Y).

  In addition, the general consumer CUU may bring a cigarette package STP that he / she wishes to purchase. In such a case, the cigarette package STP is inserted into the commodity insertion recess 186 of the cigarette card holder 185.

  Then, since the barcode reader 184 reads and operates the product barcode on the side surface of the cigarette package STP (step S2-Y), the product transport apparatus 100 identifies the tobacco package STP to be carried out.

  In addition, the general consumer CUU may verbally convey the purchase of the cigarette package STP to the store worker CSC without bringing the cigarette dummy card 320. In such a case, the merchandise carrying device 100 identifies the cigarette package STP to be carried out by manually operating the tobacco brand switch 183 corresponding to the store worker CSC (step S3-Y).

  When the cigarette package STP to be carried out is specified as described above (steps S2-Y, S3-Y), for example, the three number designation switch 187 blinks, so that the store worker CSC asks the general consumer CUU to purchase. Ask the number of

  Therefore, when the purchase quantity is transmitted from the general consumer CUU to the store worker CSC, the store worker CSC manually operates the corresponding number designation switch 187 (step S4-Y).

  However, the number designation switch 187 is composed of three for designating one, two, or three. Therefore, if five pieces are requested, the two and three number designation switches 187 are manually operated. If eight pieces are desired, the two number designation switches 187 are set once. The three number designation switches 187 are operated twice.

  When the cigarette package STP to be carried out is specified together with the number as described above, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the product input arm 161 of the product input unit 160 at the position corresponding to the cigarette package STP is reversed. (Step S5).

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 12B and 12C, the cigarette package STP is carried out from the product column to the product transport conveyor 150 by the product take-out arm 141 of the product take-out unit 140 at the corresponding position (step S6). .

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 12 (c), since the product input arm 161 is located at the end of the cigarette package STP to be carried out, the cigarette package STP pressed by the product take-out arm 141 is dropped from the product transport conveyor 150. Is prevented.

  When the cigarette package STP is placed on the merchandise transport conveyor 150 in this way, as shown in FIG. 12D, the merchandise transport conveyor 150 operates to carry the cigarette package STP from the merchandise entrance 175 to the merchandise holding tray 176. (Steps S7 and S11).

  At this time, when the cigarette package STP is carried out from the product column to the product transport conveyor 150 (step S6), the product lifter 110 is driven to rise until the stacked cigarette package STP is detected by the package detection sensor 134. Therefore, the uppermost cigarette package STP is disposed at the commodity entry / exit position where it is taken out by the commodity transport conveyor 150 (step S8).

  Therefore, when it is desired to purchase a plurality of cigarette packages STP as described above, the above operation is repeated (steps S6 to S10), and the plurality of cigarette packages STP are carried out (step S11). ).

  At this time, the cigarette package STP may be carried out from the merchandise entrance / exit 175 to the merchandise holding tray 176 and then the next-stage cigarette package STP may be carried out. May be.

  When the carry-out of the cigarette package STP is completed as described above, the carry-out completion lamp 181 at the carry-out position flashes (step S12). Therefore, the store worker CSC can sell the cigarette package STP held in the product holding tray 176 to the general consumer CUU.

  Of course, the number of inventory of the cigarette package STP is reduced by carrying out as described above. Therefore, when the number of stocked cigarette packages STP becomes zero (step S13-Y), the color stock lamp 182 corresponding to the cigarette package STP blinks red (step S18).

  In addition, when the stock quantity is less than the predetermined quantity of 10 (step S14-Y), the color stock lamp 182 is lit yellow (step S21). When the stock quantity is 10 or more, which is the specified quantity (step S14-N), the color stock lamp 182 remains lit in green (step S15).

  In addition, the inventory of the cigarette package STP may be insufficient in the middle of carrying out as described above. In this case, when the upper limit detection sensor 131 detects the product lifter 110, the shortage of inventory is specified (step S9-Y).

  Then, as many cigarette packages STP as possible are carried out (step S16), the carry-out completion lamp 181 blinks (step S17), and the color stock lamp 182 corresponding to the cigarette package STP blinks red (step S18). .

  For this reason, the store worker CSC can quickly recognize the shortage of the cigarette package STP. Therefore, the store worker CSC can inform the general consumer CUU of the shortage of inventory, and can sell, for example, only the cigarette package STP that has been carried out or immediately take out and sell the cigarette package STP from the backyard.

  When the color stock lamp 182 is lit yellow or blinks red as described above, the store worker CSC carries the corresponding cigarette package STP into the merchandise transport apparatus 100 at an appropriate timing.

  For example, at the timing when there is no general consumer CUU in the convenience store CVS store and the number of visitors is expected to be small, the store worker CSC pulls out the product holding unit 171 backward, and installs a plurality of cigarette packages STP in the product column. Can be refilled at once (not shown).

  However, when it is desired to carry in a very small number of cigarette packages STP, the cigarette packages STP can be carried into the product column from the product inlet / outlet 175 without pulling out the product holding unit 171 as described above.

  In that case, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the operation mode of the product transport apparatus 100 is switched from the product carry-out mode to the product carry-in mode by a designated operation (steps S1-N, S19-Y, S20, T1-Y).

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 15, for example, a cigarette dummy card 320 corresponding to the cigarette package STP carried in by the store worker CSC is inserted into the cigarette card holder 185.

  Then, the merchandise transport device 100 specifies the cigarette package STP to be carried in by reading the merchandise barcode 321 of the cigarette dummy card 320 with the barcode reader 184 (step T2-Y).

  Even if the cigarette package STP is inserted into the product insertion recess 186 of the cigarette card holder 185 as described above, and the product barcode on the side surface of the tobacco package STP is read by the barcode reader 184 (step S2-Y), The cigarette package STP to be carried in is specified.

  Further, the commodity transport device 100 also specifies the cigarette package STP to be carried in by manually operating the tobacco brand switch 183 corresponding to the cigarette package STP carried in by the store worker CSC (step S3-Y).

  When the cigarette package STP to be carried in is specified as described above, the merchandise transporting apparatus 100 moves the merchandise throwing arm 161 to the side so that the merchandise throwing unit 160 is moved to the side as shown in FIGS. The preparation state is entered (step T4).

  Further, since the product lifter 110 is lowered, there is no uppermost tobacco package STP at the product entry / exit position. In this state, when the store worker CSC manually inserts the cigarette package STP into the product entrance / exit 175, this is detected by the product detection sensor 135 (step T6-Y).

  Then, the product transport conveyor 150 is driven and the cigarette package STP is transported to the side of the corresponding product column (step T7). In this state, as shown in FIGS. 13B to 13D, the cigarette package STP placed on the product transport conveyor 150 is moved to the top of the product column by the product input arm 161 of the product input unit 160. The product is placed at a higher product entry position (step T8).

  Thus, when the cigarette package STP is carried into the top product entry / exit position of the product column, this is detected by the package detection sensor 134 as shown in FIG. 13D, and the inventory quantity is incremented (step T9). ).

  Therefore, when the cigarette package STP is further inserted into the product entrance / exit 175 (step T6-Y), the above-described processing operation is repeated, and the cigarette package STP is carried into the product column (steps T6-Y to T9).

  When the carry-in as described above is completed, when the tobacco brand switch 183 of the cigarette package STP is operated again, the product carry-in operation is terminated. Also in this case, the inventory quantity of the tobacco package STP is confirmed in all the product columns.

  Therefore, in the commodity column in which the number of cigarette packages STP in stock is zero (step T11-Y), the color stock lamp 182 corresponding to the cigarette package STP flashes red (step T14).

  In a product column with fewer than ten stocks whose stock quantity is the specified quantity (step T12-Y), the corresponding color stock lamp 182 is lit yellow (step T17). In ten or more product columns whose stock quantity is the specified quantity (step T12-N), the corresponding color stock lamp 182 is lit in green (step T13).

  In the commodity transport apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, as described above, a plurality of rectangular parallelepiped tobacco packages STP are stacked on the commodity lifter 110 in a flat state in the vertical direction. The lifter lifting / lowering mechanism 120 displaces the stacked cigarette package STP in the vertical direction by lifting and lowering the product lifter 110.

  The operation control unit 130 arranges the uppermost cigarette package STP loaded by controlling the lift of the product lifter 110 by the lifter lifting mechanism 120 at a predetermined product entry / exit position.

  The product take-out unit 140 carries out the uppermost tobacco package STP arranged at the product take-out position to the side. The cigarette package STP taken out from the side is held, and the product transport conveyor 150 transports the product in the front-rear direction.

  The product transport conveyor 150 is driven, and the operation control unit 130 carries the cigarette package STP to the product transport position. The operation control unit 130 positions the uppermost cigarette package STP loaded by controlling the lowering of the product lifter 110 by the lifter lifting mechanism 120 below the product input position.

  The carry-in drive unit arranges the cigarette package STP carried from the product carrying position by driving the product carrying conveyor 150 to the side of the product loading position. The product input unit 160 inputs the cigarette package STP placed on the product transport conveyor 150 into the product input position on the side and loads it on the product lifter 110.

  Accordingly, the product transport conveyor 150 carries out and carries in the cigarette package STP at the top product entry / exit position of the plurality of cigarette packages STP loaded with the product lifter 110.

  For this reason, in the commodity transport apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, when it is desired to carry in a very small number of cigarette packages STP, the cigarette is introduced into the commodity column from the commodity inlet / outlet 175 without pulling out the commodity holding unit 171 as described above. Package STP can be carried in.

  Moreover, since the cigarette package STP can be carried out and carried in at the upper part of the product transporting apparatus 100, for example, the store worker CSC can carry out the cigarette package STP while maintaining the facing state with the general consumer CUU at the register counter 200. Carrying in can also be performed.

  The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and various modifications are allowed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the product take-out arm 141 of the product take-out unit 140 and the product take-in arm 161 of the product take-in unit 160 are horizontally moved in a straight line to execute the carry-out and carry-in of the cigarette package STP.

  However, the moving direction of the product take-out arm 141 and the product input arm 161 is not limited to the linear horizontal movement as described above. More specifically, in the product take-out unit 190 illustrated in FIG. 16, a female screw slider 192 is screwed onto a male screw shaft 191 that is rotatably supported.

  A product take-out arm 193 is pivotally supported by the female screw slider 192 and is elastically maintained vertically by a tension spring 194. However, stopper members 195 that are in contact with the upper end of the product take-out arm 193 so as to be able to come into contact with and away from each other are located at both ends.

  In the product take-out unit 190 having such a structure, as the male screw shaft 191 is rotationally driven, as shown in FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b), the product take-out arm 193 is horizontally moved together with the female screw slider 192 as an initial operation. Thus, the cigarette package STP is carried out.

  When the horizontally moving female screw slider 192 reaches the side end, as shown in FIGS. 16B and 16C, the stopper member 195 comes into contact with the upper end, so that the commodity take-out arm 193 is inclined.

  For this reason, the lower end of the product take-off arm 193 moves significantly to the side without the male screw shaft 191 interfering with the other adjacent product take-out unit 190, and the cigarette package STP is conveyed to the side. The upper surface of the conveyor 150 can be reliably discharged.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in the above embodiment, it is assumed that the product take-out unit 140 (and the product input unit 160) is individually installed for each of a plurality of product columns in the front-rear direction.

  However, one product take-out unit 140 (and product input unit 160) is provided for each of a plurality of product columns in the front-rear direction, and the product take-out unit 140 (and product input unit is moved to the position of the product column where the cigarette package STP is carried out and loaded. 160) may move back and forth (not shown).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the above embodiment, the product lifter 110, the lifter lifting mechanism 120, and the product transporting conveyor 150 are arranged in two left and right rows in parallel, and are shared above the left and right two rows of product lifters 110. The product take-out unit 140 is arranged, and the left and right two-row cigarette packages STP are taken out by the common product take-out unit 140 to the left and right two-row product transport conveyor 150.

  However, as in the product conveyance device 400 illustrated in FIG. 17, the product lifter 110 and the lifter lifting mechanism 120 are arranged in two rows in parallel on the left and right sides, and the left and right rows of the product lifter 110 and the lifter lifting mechanism 120. The goods conveyance conveyor 150 may be arrange | positioned in the center. In this case, the overall width can be reduced by reducing the number of the commodity conveyance conveyors 150.

  However, in the above embodiment, the commodity conveyance device 100 having four commodity columns is illustrated. However, corresponding to the space of the cashier counter, etc., the product column may form a six-row or eight-row product transport device (not shown), and the product column has two rows of product transport device (not shown). May be formed.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the cigarette package STP is carried in from the product entrance / exit 175, the cigarette package STP carried in by the cigarette brand switch 183 or the barcode reader 184 is designated in advance.

  However, such a barcode reader 184 may be installed at the commodity entrance / exit 175 to automatically detect the brand of the cigarette package STP that is carried in. In this case, it is necessary to limit the direction of the tobacco package STP to be inserted when the barcode reader 184 is installed on both sides of the product entrance / exit 175 or when the barcode reader 184 is installed on one side. Can be specified.

  Moreover, in the said form, only detecting the number of cigarette packages STP carried in was illustrated. However, the number of cigarette packages STP carried in at a time may be accumulated by the number accumulating means, and the number monitoring means may monitor whether the accumulated number is a predetermined number.

  In this case, for example, when the number of cigarette packages STP carried in at one time does not correspond to the number of cigarette cartons, an alert can be recorded or output.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the product take-out position and the product take-in position are common as the product take-out position, the product carry-out position and the product carry-in position are common as the product carry position, and the product carry-in mechanism and the product carry-out mechanism Is also used as a product transport conveyor 150 which is a product transport mechanism.

  However, the product take-out position and the product input position are arranged separately, and the product carry-out position and the product carry-in position are arranged separately, and the product carry-out conveyor which is the product carry-out mechanism and the food carry-in which is the product carry-in mechanism The conveyor may be formed separately (not shown).

  Furthermore, in the said form, it illustrated that the goods conveyance apparatus 100 carries out the cigarette package STP as package goods. However, such a packaged product may be a cigarette carton (not shown).

  Moreover, in the said form, it illustrated that the goods conveyance apparatus 100 was built in the lower space of the cash register counter 200 formed separately. However, such a cashier counter and the commodity transporting device may be integrally formed from the beginning (not shown).

  Needless to say, the above-described embodiment and a plurality of modifications can be combined within a range in which the contents do not conflict with each other. Further, in the above-described embodiments and modifications, the structure of each part has been specifically described, but the structure and the like can be changed in various ways within a range that satisfies the present invention.

100 Product Conveying Device 110 Product Lifter 111 Female Screw Member 112 Recess 113 Guide Member 120 Lifter Lifting Mechanism 121 Male Screw Shaft 122 Belt Mechanism 123 Lifter Drive Motor 124 Drop-off Prevention Guide 130 Operation Control Unit 131 Upper Limit Detection Sensor 132 Lower Limit Detection Sensor 133 Replenishment Detection Sensor 134 Package detection sensor 135 Carry-in detection sensor 140 Product take-out unit 141 Product take-out arm 150 Product transfer conveyor 160 Product transfer unit 161 Product input arm 170 Transfer device housing 171 Product holding unit 172 Slide rail 173 Guide handle 174 Unit detection sensor 175 Product entrance / exit 176 Product holding tray 181 Unloading completion lamp 182 Color stock lamp 183 Tobacco brand switch 184 Barcode reader 1 5 Cigarette card holder 186 Recess 187 Quantity designation switch 190 Product take-out unit 191 Male screw shaft 192 Female screw slider 193 Product take-out arm 194 Tension spring 195 Stopper member 200 Cash register counter 210 POS terminal 300 Card receiving panel 310 Cigarette card pocket 320 Cigarette card pocket 321 Product Bar Code 330 Promotional Product 400 Product Conveying Device CSC Store Worker CUU General Consumer CVS Convenience Store STP Cigarette Package

Claims (10)

A product stacking member on which a plurality of packaged products are stacked vertically;
A lifting and lowering mechanism for raising and lowering the product stacking member and lifting and lowering the packaged product being loaded;
A carry-out control unit that controls the raising of the product stacking member by the holding lifting mechanism and arranges the uppermost packaged product being loaded at a predetermined product take-out position;
A product take-out mechanism for taking out the topmost packaged product arranged at the product take-out position to the side;
A product unloading mechanism for unloading the packaged product taken out from the side from a predetermined product unloading position;
A carry-in control unit that controls the lowering of the product stacking member by the holding lift mechanism and positions the uppermost packaged product being loaded below a predetermined product input position;
A product carry-in mechanism for arranging the packaged product carried into a predetermined product carry-in position from the outside to the side of the product input position;
A product input mechanism that inputs the packaged product placed on the product carry-in mechanism into the product input position on the side and loads the product on the product stacking member;
Commodity transport device having The product take-out position and the product input position are common as product entry / exit positions,
The product delivery position and the product delivery position are common as product delivery positions,
The product carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the product carrying-out mechanism and the product carrying-in mechanism are also used as a product carrying mechanism. The product loading member and the product carry-out mechanism are respectively arranged in parallel in two left and right rows,
The packaged products held by the left and right rows of the product holding mechanisms are carried out to the left and right two rows of the product carry-out mechanisms by the shared product take-out mechanism arranged above the left and right rows of the product stacking members. The goods conveying apparatus of Claim 1 or 2. The product loading member and the product input mechanism are respectively arranged in parallel in two left and right rows separated via the shared product carry-in mechanism,
4. The product transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the packaged product that is carried in by the product carry-in mechanism is put into the left and right two-row product holding mechanisms by the shared product loading mechanism. 5. A plurality of the product takeout mechanisms are arranged in the front-rear direction together with the plurality of product stacking members,
It further has a carry-out designation unit for designating one type of carry-out from a plurality of types of packaged products,
The goods conveyance apparatus as described in any one of Claim 2 thru | or 4 with which the said goods taking-out mechanism corresponding to the specified said package goods is taken out. A plurality of the product introduction mechanisms are arranged in the front-rear direction together with a plurality of the product stacking members,
It further has a carry-in designation unit for designating one type of carry-in from a plurality of types of packaged products,
6. The product transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the product input mechanism corresponding to the specified packaged product inputs the product. A number accumulating means for accumulating the number of the packaged goods that are successively carried in at a time;
Number monitoring means for monitoring whether the accumulated number is a predetermined number;
The product transport device according to claim 1, further comprising:   The commodity transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the commodity transport apparatus is built in at least a lower space of a cashier counter on which a sales processing apparatus is placed.   8. The commodity transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the commodity transport apparatus is formed integrally with a cash register counter on which at least a sales processing apparatus is placed.   The product conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein the packaged product is a cigarette package.

Images