JP2012033097A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine capable of allowing an article to be selected in advance and displaying desired information in a preparation mode for selling to enhance service.SOLUTION: An automatic vending machine includes an article selection button 20 that is related to an article accommodated in a body cabinet 1 for selecting the article, and a terminal control part 35. The article selection button 20 comprises a plurality of switch elements 211 and 212 and a display 213. The terminal control part 35 outputs an article selection signal when the lower switch element 212 that constitutes the article selection button 20 is depressed in a preparation mode for selling, while displays prescribed information on the display 213 when the upper switch element 211 that constitutes the article selection button 20 is depressed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine that is provided in association with a product stored inside a vending machine body and that has a product selection button for selecting a product. It is.

  Conventionally, a product selection button is provided on the front surface of the vending machine, that is, on the front surface (customer service surface) of the outer door that is arranged in such a manner as to open and close the front opening of the main body cabinet, which is the main body of the vending machine having an opening formed on the front surface. Is arranged. The product selection button is provided in association with the product stored in the product storage rack inside the main body cabinet, and is used for selecting the product, and includes one switch element and a display unit. It has been known.

  In a vending machine equipped with such a product selection button, the product price is displayed on the display unit in the standby state, and when the switch element is pressed, the product associated with the product selection button is displayed on the display unit. If the switch element is pressed in a state where the desired amount of money is displayed and the switch element is pressed in a saleable state, the vending machine control unit controls the operation of the vending machine in an integrated manner. The product selection signal is output, and the corresponding product is sold out from the product storage rack (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-109934 A

  By the way, in the vending machine proposed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the product selection button has only one switch element, so that the product can be selected only in a state where it can be sold with a desired money inserted. The product selection cannot be performed in the sales standby state before the desired money is inserted. In other words, it was not possible to select the product first.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of improving the service by displaying desired information in a sales standby state while enabling the prior selection of a product. .

  To achieve the above object, a vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with a product selection button for selecting a product provided in association with a product stored in the main body of the vending machine. In the vending machine provided, the product selection button has a plurality of switch elements and a display unit, and when the first switch element constituting the product selection button is pressed in the sales standby state. And a control means for outputting preset information on the display section when the second switch element constituting the merchandise selection button is pressed down while outputting the merchandise selection signal. To do.

  The vending machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein when the second switch element is pressed down in a sales standby state, the control means The number of sales for a certain period of the product to which the product selection button is associated is displayed.

  The vending machine according to a third aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein when the second switch element is pressed in the standby state, the control means It is characterized in that the sales order for a certain period of the product to which the product selection button is associated is displayed.

  The vending machine according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vending machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the control means is configured such that the first switch is in a sellable state in which a desired money is inserted. When any one of the element and the second switch element is pressed, the product selection signal is output.

  According to the vending machine of the present invention, the product selection button has a plurality of switch elements and a display unit, and the control means is operated to depress the first switch element constituting the product selection button in the sales standby state. If the second switch element that constitutes the product selection button is pressed, the preset information is displayed on the display unit, so that the desired money is input. In the sales standby state before being performed, it is possible to select a product and display desired information that will motivate the user to purchase. Therefore, it is possible to improve the service by displaying desired information in the sales standby state while enabling the product prior selection.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view showing the product selection button shown in FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the display control processing executed by the terminal control unit shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example in step S102 of FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example in step S104 of FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the display example of the product selection button shown in FIG.

  Exemplary embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2 each show a configuration of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure. The vending machine illustrated here is for selling products such as canned beverages and beverages containing plastic bottles, and includes a main body cabinet 1 which is the main body of the vending machine.

  The main body cabinet 1 is formed as a rectangular heat insulating casing having an open front surface. Inside the main body cabinet 1, a plurality of independent commodity containers 3 partitioned by a heat insulating partition plate 2 are defined in such a manner that they are arranged side by side. These goods storage 3 is for accommodating goods, such as a canned drink and a drink with a plastic bottle, in the state maintained at desired temperature. Each product storage 3 is provided with a product storage rack 4 for storing a product input through a product insertion port at an upper portion thereof, while a lower portion partitioned by a product shooter 5 A heat exchanger (not shown) is provided, and the product stored in the product storage rack 4 can be maintained at a desired cooling temperature or heating temperature by driving the heat exchanger.

  The vending machine is provided with a door 6 at one side edge of the main body cabinet 1. The door body 6 is used to open and close the front opening of the main body cabinet 1, and includes an inner door 6a and an outer door 6b. The inner door 6a is a heat insulating door having a size sufficient to cover the front surface of the commodity storage 3 provided in the main body cabinet 1, and is divided into upper and lower parts. The inner door 6a is provided with a product outlet 6a1 through which products stored in the product storage rack 4 are discharged, and a product outlet 6a2 for opening and closing the product outlet 6a1.

  The outer door 6 b has a size sufficient to cover the front opening of the main body cabinet 1. The outer door 6 b is provided with a display window 7, a product selection button 20, a coin slot 8, a bill insertion slot 9, a display 10, a coin return slot 11, and a merchandise outlet 12 on the front side. On the other hand, a coin processing device 13, a coin collection box 14, and a banknote processing device 15 are provided on the rear side of the outer door 6b.

  The display window 7 is a window for allowing the user to visually recognize the product sample S and the advertisement panel 16 disposed therein. The product selection button 20 is a push button switch for the user to select a purchased product, and is prepared for each product sample S visually recognized through the display window 7. The product selection button 20 will be described later.

  The coin slot 8 is an opening through which a user inserts coins. The coins inserted through the coin insertion slot 8 are identified by the coin processing device 13 and then stored in the coin recovery box 14. The bill insertion slot 9 is an opening for a user to insert a bill. The banknote inserted through the banknote insertion slot 9 is identified in the banknote processing device 15 by its denomination. The bill insertion slot 9 has a function for returning bills that could not be identified by the bill processing apparatus 15. The display 10 is for displaying various kinds of information to the user, such as the amount of money input, whether the sale is in progress, and whether there is a change. The coin return port 11 is an opening for returning to the user a coin that could not be identified by the coin processing device 13 or a coin to be changed. The product outlet 12 is an opening for the user to receive the product paid out from the product storage rack 4.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view showing the product selection button 20 shown in FIG. 1 in an enlarged manner. The product selection button 20 exemplified here includes a circular push button portion 21 and an annular ring portion 22 arranged in a manner surrounding the push button portion 21.

  The push button unit 21 includes an upper switch element 211, a lower switch element 212, and a display unit 213. The upper switch element 211 is provided in the upper part of the push button unit 21 and outputs a message to that effect to the button control unit 23 (see FIG. 4) when a push operation is performed. The lower switch element 212 is provided below the push button unit 21 and outputs a message to that effect to the button control unit 23 when a push operation is performed. The display unit 213 is provided at the center of the push button unit 21 between the upper switch element 211 and the lower switch element 212. For example, the display unit 213 has a 7seg display function and displays numbers, characters, and symbols up to three digits. Is possible. The display unit 213 performs various displays in accordance with display commands given from the button control unit 23.

  The front surface of the annular portion 22 is covered with a translucent resin material, and two light sources 221 and 222 are provided on the top. These two light sources 221 and 222 are, for example, LEDs, and the first light source 221 exhibits orange and the second light source 222 exhibits blue. The first light source 221 and the second light source 222 are turned on in response to a lighting command given from the button control unit 23.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a characteristic control system of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the vending machine includes a vending machine control unit 30, a money processing device 31, a payout mechanism 32, and a terminal control unit 35. The vending machine control unit 30 controls the operation of each part of the vending machine according to programs and data stored in a built-in memory (not shown), for example.

  The money processing device 31 is a general term for the coin processing device 13 and the banknote processing device 15. When such a money processing device 31 is charged with a desired money through the coin insertion slot 8 or the bill insertion slot 9 and is properly processed by the coin processing device 13 or the bill processing device 15, the vending machine control unit 30 informs that effect. Is output.

  The payout mechanism 32 is provided in the lower part of the product storage rack 4, that is, in the lower region of each product storage passage. The payout mechanism 32 is normally in a standby posture and regulates the downward movement of the product stored in the product storage passage. The payout mechanism 32 is driven when a payout command is given from the vending machine control unit 30, and pays down the lowest product among the products stored in the product storage passage.

  The terminal control unit 35 is arranged so as to be able to send and receive data to and from the vending machine control unit 30 via a communication cable, and according to programs and data stored in a built-in memory (not shown), It controls the operation. More specifically, the terminal control unit 35 is communicably connected to the button control unit 23 configuring each product selection button 20, and the upper switch element 211 and the lower switch element 212 are connected via the button control unit 23. When the button is pressed, a signal is input, or a command is given to the display unit 213, the first light source 221 and the second light source 222. In the present embodiment, the terminal control unit 35 is exemplified as a configuration independent of the vending machine control unit 30, but the terminal control unit 35 may be configured integrally with the vending machine control unit 30. Further, the fixed period for determining the number of sales can be arbitrarily changed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the display control processing executed by the terminal control unit 35 shown in FIG. While explaining such display control processing, the operation of the vending machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will also be described.

  The terminal control unit 35 gives a display command to the display unit 213 through the button control unit 23 of the corresponding product selection button 20 and enters the product price information to the display unit 213 when entering the sales standby state (step S101: Yes). It is displayed (step S102). Here, as an example of display of product price information, when the product price information of the product is 150 yen, the terminal control unit 35 causes the button control unit 23 to display the product price information as shown in FIG. When the product associated with the product selection button 20 is a cold product, the terminal control unit 35 turns on the second light source 222 through the button control unit 23. Thereby, the annular portion 22 of the product selection button 20 emits light in a blue ring shape. On the other hand, when the product associated with the product selection button 20 is a hot product, the terminal control unit 35 turns on the first light source 221 through the button control unit 23. As a result, the annular portion 22 of the product selection button 20 emits light in an orange ring shape.

  Thereafter, when the upper switch element 211 is pressed (step S103: Yes), that is, when the terminal control unit 35 inputs that the upper switch element 211 is pressed through the button control unit 23, the terminal control unit 35 Gives a display command to the display unit 213 through the button control unit 23 to display sales information on the display unit 213 (step S104). Here, as a display example of sales information, when the number of sales of the product for a certain period is 64, the terminal control unit 35 displays the number of sales through the button control unit 23 as shown in FIG. .

  After that, when a predetermined time set in advance has elapsed (step S105: Yes), the terminal control unit 35 gives a display command to the display unit 213 through the button control unit 23, and the display unit 213 is displayed in the same manner as in step S102. Product price information is displayed (step S106), and then the procedure is returned to end the current process.

  According to this, even in the sales standby state, when the upper switch element 211 of the product selection button 20 is pressed by the user, the number of sales of the product associated with the product selection button 20 is displayed and the user is displayed. Can be recognized.

  When the commodity price display is displayed on the display unit 213 in step S102 and the lower switch element 212 is subsequently pressed (step S103: No, step S107: Yes), that is, the terminal control unit 35 displays the button control unit 23. When the fact that the lower switch element 212 has been pressed is input through the product selection signal, a product selection signal indicating that the product associated with the product selection button 20 having the lower switch element 212 has been selected is output to the vending machine control unit 30 ( Step S108), after which the procedure is returned to end the current process.

  According to this, the vending machine control unit 30 can recognize that the product has been selected by inputting the product selection signal, and when it is confirmed that the desired money has been inserted through the money processing device 31, the vending machine The control unit 30 gives a drive command to the dispensing mechanism 32 of the product storage rack 4 that stores the corresponding product. As a result, the product stored in the product storage passage in the product storage rack 4 is paid out, rolls the product shooter 5, and is then sold in a state where it can be taken out from the product outlet 12. In other words, in the vending machine according to the present embodiment, it is possible to perform product selection, that is, product pre-selection, in the sales standby state before the desired money is inserted.

  On the other hand, when it is not in the standby state for sale (step S101: No), that is, when it is confirmed that the desired money has been inserted through the money processing device 31 and the sale becomes possible, the terminal control unit 35 displays the corresponding product selection button. A display command is given to the display unit 213 through the 20 button control unit 23, and commodity price information is displayed on the display unit 213 (step S109).

  Thereafter, when any one of the upper switch element 211 and the lower switch element 212 is pressed (step S110: Yes, step S110: No, step S111: Yes), that is, the terminal control unit 35 moves up through the button control unit 23. When it is input that one of the switch element 211 and the lower switch element 212 is pressed, a product indicating that the product associated with the product selection button 20 having the upper switch element 211 and the lower switch element 212 is selected A selection signal is output to the vending machine control unit 30 (step S112), and then the procedure is returned to end the current process.

  According to this, the vending machine control unit 30 can recognize that the product has been selected by inputting the product selection signal, and the vending machine control unit 30 can drive the dispensing mechanism 32 of the product storage rack 4 that stores the corresponding product. Will be given. As a result, the product stored in the product storage passage in the product storage rack 4 is paid out, rolls the product shooter 5, and is then sold in a state where it can be taken out from the product outlet 12.

  As described above, according to the vending machine according to the present embodiment, the product selection button 20 includes the upper switch element 211, the lower switch element 212, and the display unit 213. When the lower switch element 212 constituting the selection button 20 is pressed, a product selection signal is output. On the other hand, when the upper switch element 211 constituting the product selection button 20 is pressed, the display unit Since the number of sales for a certain period of the product for which the product selection button 20 is associated is displayed in 213, the product can be selected in the sales standby state before the desired money is inserted, and the user can It is possible to display desired information that will motivate purchasers. Therefore, it is possible to improve the service by displaying desired information in the sales standby state while enabling the prior selection of the product.

  In addition, according to the vending machine, when any one of the upper switch element 211 and the lower switch element 212 is pressed in a saleable state in which a desired money is inserted, the terminal control unit 35 controls the vending machine. Since the product selection signal is output to the unit 30, the user can select the product with certainty, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

  In the embodiment described above, when the upper switch element 211 is pressed in the sales standby state, the display unit 213 displays the number of sales for a certain period of the product with which the product selection button 20 is associated. In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the sales order of the product for a certain period may be displayed. Also by this, it is possible to improve the service by displaying desired information in the sales standby state. In this case, it is needless to say that the predetermined period can be arbitrarily changed.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention is suitable for selling products such as canned drinks and plastic bottled drinks.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet 6b Outer door 20 Product selection button 21 Push button part 211 Upper switch element 212 Lower switch element 213 Display part 22 Ring part 221 1st light source 222 2nd light source 23 Button control part 30 Vending machine control part 31 Money processing apparatus 32 Delivery Mechanism 35 Terminal control unit

Claims (4)

In a vending machine provided with a product selection button for selecting a product provided in association with the product stored inside the vending machine body,
The product selection button has a plurality of switch elements and a display unit,
When the first switch element constituting the product selection button is pressed in the sales standby state, the product selection signal is output, while the second switch element constituting the product selection button is pressed. Comprises a control means for displaying preset information on the display unit.   When the second switch element is pressed in the sales standby state, the control means causes the display unit to display the number of sales for a certain period of the product associated with the product selection button. The vending machine according to claim 1.   When the second switch element is pressed in the sales standby state, the control means displays the sales order ranking of the product for which the product selection button is associated with the display unit for a certain period. The vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that:   The control means outputs the product selection signal when any one of the first switch element and the second switch element is pressed in a saleable state in which desired money is inserted. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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