JP2012064192A - Automatic vending machine with display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine capable of simultaneously displaying various and different kinds of contents, which allows improvement in sales promotion effect through displaying highly appealing contents and advertising products with their moving images and still pictures displayed, instead of product replicas.SOLUTION: The automatic vending machine has a display screen on a front panel of the machine. A display on the display screen can be divided into a plurality of element screens, being controlled by a software. Each of the element screens can be freely set a size among a variety of sizes. Various kinds of contents are simultaneously displayed on each element screen.

Description

      The present invention relates to a vending machine with a display having high appeal to consumers.

Conventional vending machines display product samples and replicas sold by the vending machine on the top of the front panel of the vending machine. By clearly showing the products sold, the buyer can easily buy them. Yes. However, conventional vending machines have limited differentiation from other vending machines. For example, measures were taken such as making the vending machine stand out, adding a poster for a featured product, or providing a display that displays a small video image in some areas. However, the effect was not sufficient and was limited.

When selling goods with vending machines, go around the vending machine installation site in the city with a truck loaded with goods and replenish the purchased and reduced products so that the vending machine will not run out of stock. Although they are maintaining, the type and quantity of products sold could only be grasped for the first time when they went to the site to replenish the products.

Furthermore, sales of products with vending machines will be maximized for each season by replacing products for the summer and winter seasons at the turn of the season. The product and the replica for display were exchanged, and the collected old products and replicas had to be discarded or otherwise processed. As described above, when changing the product at the turn of the season, all vending machines have to deal with a large cost.

A vending machine equipped with a display can also be seen in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-21457, where ferroelectric liquid crystals are used to take advantage of high-speed electric field response and memory characteristics, and consume less power.
By using a high-quality liquid crystal display with a large screen, wide viewing angle and good contrast, product information and advertising information can be alternately switched and displayed on the same display unit, and there was a certain level of advertising effect. However, since the ferroelectric liquid crystal is a substance that is difficult to control and handle, it is not sufficient from the viewpoint of practicality.
Moreover, because it does not use a screen splitting method, it is not possible to display product information and company information at the same time, and appeal to passers-by was not strong.

In addition, the present invention is provided with a sensor, and when a person approaches, the sensor is activated to display product information or advertisement information. However, when a large screen display is used, the large screen itself is large. Because it has an appealing effect, the passerby notices its presence before approaching the vending machine and pays attention to the display, so it can be said that the effect of the sensor that operates after approaching is small. Furthermore, the present invention has a mechanism for providing a plurality of selection touch panels on the display unit, thereby selecting information to be viewed and displaying an information image. However, a person standing away from the vending machine It is difficult to expect a contribution to sales because it does not exert its appealing effect.

In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-172925 (P2000-172925A), a vending machine is provided with a color display that displays information images and characters, and can receive and display changing information transmitted over the Internet or the like. You can expect a certain appeal effect, but there is no product information or company information for the purpose of promoting product sales,
The effect on sales promotion is limited. Similarly, even if it is possible to select and view favorite information directly from the screen with a built-in touch panel, merchandise information is not displayed, and the effect on sales promotion is limited.

Furthermore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-109625 (P2002-109625A), an order information processing device is provided in the center, and product order information is received from a plurality of vending machines via a network to facilitate product replenishment activities. Although it is used for processing, it was not intended to increase the appeal of product sales, but could only be expected to have an effect that would not cause a shortage.

In addition, as seen in JP2008-59092A (P2008-59092A),
A vending machine has been devised that includes a touch sensor and that, when the touch sensor detects that the product image displayed on the display unit has been touched, the product corresponding to the product image is carried out. It is related to vending machines with a touch panel that pursues only the original functions of the touch panel. It does not lead to feedback on product sales information, and if it does not contribute to product replenishment activities, it cannot be marketing information for popular products. .

In addition, in JP 2001-307220 (P2001-307220A), a vending machine connected to the Internet is equipped with a display, but the display is mainly used for the purpose of paying a fee. No appeal to purchasing can be expected.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-33307 (P2010-33307A) also has means to appeal to passers-by by transmitting images and sounds using a display, but its purpose is to use vending machines using mobile phones. It is specified that the consumption trend is obtained in real time, and only a function necessary for exchanging coupon information is expected, so a display is used to appeal to passers-by. The effect of demonstrating power and promoting sales cannot be expected, and marketing in which sales information is monitored through mobile phones has many drawbacks that depend on the customer's operation to achieve the objectives, and it is difficult to increase the effect. is there.

Special table 2004-517385 (P2004-517385A) is also equipped with a display, and displays the screen including any of the usage method of this device, the health status of the user, and the advertisement screen, but actively appeals to passers-by. The display is not used for this purpose.

JP 10-21457 JP 2000-172925 (P2000-172925A) JP2002-109625A (P2002-109625A) JP2008-59092A (P2008-59092A) JP2001-307220A (P2001-307220A) JP 2010-33307 (P2010-33307A) Special table 2004-517385 (P2004-517385A)

Conventional vending machines are usually decorated to the extent that product samples and replicas are displayed on the top of the panel on the front of the vending machine. There are only a limited number of locations that are advantageous, and there are many vending machines from several competing manufacturers that are installed side by side, and it is difficult to differentiate your vending machines from those of other companies. It was extremely difficult. Some have a display that displays a small video image, but it is not large, and it is difficult to obtain an appealing effect by simply displaying the same screen repeatedly. Also,
In conventional vending machines, it is common to display product replicas on the front upper part of the vending machine. A great deal of cost and effort was spent.

Furthermore, when selling products with vending machines, if the product cannot be sold within a certain period of time after it has been replenished, the remaining number of days until the expiration date will decrease, and the product once filled will be collected and disposed of with effort. For example, the cost of managing and maintaining the freshness of products in vending machines has been enormous. Unlike in-store sales, vending machine sales have not been easy to deal with, for example, manual price changes for all vending machines for products that are about to expire.

The type and quantity of products sold at vending machines can only be grasped when you visit the vending machine installation site to compensate for the products, but as a result, there are a lot of unnecessary products. It was difficult to improve the efficiency of patrols for preparation and patrols, and lack of necessary products. In addition, with current vending machines, products are purchased by pressing the product selection switch on the front panel of the vending machine. Relax
In some cases, if you make a mistake, you can buy a new one and add extra expenses.

In the case of an advanced vending machine having a display on the front panel of the vending machine, the vending machine is often installed on the front panel opposed to a person who passes by. However, the front panel opens and closes like a door with the hinge on one side as a fulcrum for product replenishment, so when a display is installed on the front panel, the hinge part and casing of the vending machine itself are installed due to its weight. Reinforcement was necessary, and further weight increase and cost increase could not be avoided.

The present invention considers the various problems in the vending machines as described above, and devise and improve those problems, thereby enabling a comprehensive profit pursuit through a vending machine sales method. Is to provide. At the top of the front panel of the vending machine,
By replacing the product samples and replicas with a high-resolution large display and displaying high-definition, high-quality beautiful videos and still images, it is possible to increase the appeal of passers-by. In addition, a large screen of a large display can be divided into element screens and used to display a wide variety of contents at the same time. By displaying videos and still images for advertising, sales promotion effects can be awaited.

Also, the QR code is displayed in the image, and the purchaser reads it with a portable terminal for reading the QR code, such as a mobile phone, and through this, accesses a mobile website where detailed product information and company information are posted. This is also effective because it can meet the needs of passers-by and stop at the vending machine. By managing and operating the display contents of each vending machine using the Internet, it is possible to change the display contents of the vending machine located far away in a remote place, so that much labor and cost can be reduced.

In addition, by using a display with a touch panel function, it is easy for a purchaser to intuitively understand the operation method regardless of age or gender, and a product can be purchased with a simple operation. As an operation, since the purchaser can purchase the product by pressing or touching a designated area when he / she wants to purchase the product, problems such as a purchase mistake are unlikely to occur. Further, since the purchase operation on the touch panel can be directly obtained as sales information via the Internet at a remote place, there is an advantage that the information can be remotely operated including the display change of the product image and the price change. In addition, since the input device and the display device are integrated, it is possible to expect downsizing, simplification, and cost reduction of the device.

When installing a display on the front panel of a vending machine, the hinge and casing are reinforced so that the front panel can be opened and closed on both sides to open and close the front panel to refill the product. But because the weight is distributed to the hinges on both sides,
In each hinge part, the weight burden is reduced, and at the same time, the weight burden on the housing itself can be greatly reduced.

As described above, conventional vending machines can only take a very passive sales method in which a product sample is displayed on the upper part of the front panel and a purchaser views the product to purchase. On the other hand, the present invention actively attracts the attention of passersby by effectively utilizing a high-definition display, strongly appeals the appeal of the product, and leads the passersby to purchase behavior with a higher probability. it can. In addition to simplifying purchasing operations for buyers, sales information can be ascertained on-time, and prices can be optimized accordingly. Because it can be adjusted,
Stocks can be properly managed without running out of stock, seasonal products can be replaced and freshness can be managed at low cost, and overall profits can be maximized while increasing sales. In addition, the front panel can be opened and closed on both the left and right sides, and a relatively small display is appropriately distributed on the left and right front panels to increase the appeal of vending machines. Display and a display having a touch panel function for purchasing a product can be provided side by side, and various functions can be combined at a low cost.

It is a front view of the vending machine which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of one Embodiment of a display. It is an embodiment of online operation using a public network. It is one Embodiment in the case of the 2nd display with a touch panel function. It is one Embodiment of the display with a map which showed the shop position. This is an embodiment in the case of a front panel that has a display with a touch panel function and that can be opened in two-way windows.

An embodiment of the invention of claim 1 is shown in FIG. A liquid crystal display is installed on the top of the front panel 2 of the beverage vending machine 1. In a conventional general vending machine, a replica of a product sample is displayed in this part, but a display 3 having a visual appeal and a sufficient size is installed at almost the same position. A passerby sees it and stands in front of the vending machine, and a split element screen 7 at the bottom of the display 2.
Looking at the individual product image display section, the amount in the screen displaying the desired product is put into the money insertion slot, and when the product selection switch 4 corresponding to the number in the screen is pressed, the product is removed from the product outlet 6. To be discharged.

The type of display is a high-resolution, high-definition full-color display that has become the mainstream of commercial televisions that have been put to practical use on the market, such as a liquid crystal system, plasma system, organic EL system, LED system, etc. Can also be used
A display panel configured by combining a low-power-consumption LED light-emitting backlight on the back surface of a high-definition liquid crystal display unit is effective as a high-performance and low-power consumption display. Since a high-resolution full-color display is used, it is possible to display high-quality and beautiful images and images, and it is possible to greatly differentiate from vending machines with general product samples and replicas. Since the display is divided into small sizes and uses multiple element screens 7, it is possible to pursue the improvement of appeal and introduction of products at the same time using the largest possible vending machine size. It is preferable.

On the other hand, from the viewpoint of cost, a great deal of cost and a great amount of labor have been required in the production and replacement of old and new commodity replicas commonly used in conventional vending machines.
Since the display according to the present invention is a display display that does not use them at all, the cost previously consumed can be reduced, and the total cost of the vending machine can be reduced. Moreover, since no waste materials such as product samples are produced, it can be said to be an extremely environmentally friendly advertising method.

The display uses screen splitting technology to display a screen that further appeals to consumers and enhances the appeal effect, while at the same time appealing the appeal of the product on another screen, so that passers-by purchase behavior Easy to connect. To divide into element screens,
Although it is basically a rectangle, it can be divided in any way with respect to the number of screens and the size of element screens, and there are no restrictions on how to use each element screen or assigning audio. Since the screen of the display is divided and divided into small element screens, it is preferable that the size of the display is as large as possible, but if the appeal is sufficient, the size of the display can be compromised and a small display can be used, It is also possible to give priority to low cost by using a low resolution display or a monochrome display by concessioning the resolution.

It is also possible to rent a part of the screen of the display as an advertising space and rent business as advertising media. In addition, a QR code is displayed in the image of corporate advertisement or product advertisement, and the purchaser reads it with a mobile terminal for reading, for example, a mobile phone, through which further detailed information or detailed corporate information of the product is obtained. It is also possible to access. This could spur product purchasing activities and increase sales, or register as a mail member and become a mail member from a mobile website of the company that accessed it, leading to stable purchasing behavior in the long term thereafter We can expect sex.

An example embodiment relating to display display is shown in FIG. First of all, if a horizontally long screen is provided in a place where the upper part of the display screen is easily noticeable and the character news screen 11 is used, and text information such as hot news and RSS headline news that can be obtained through the Internet is flowed, the effect of attracting the attention of passersby is great. . Assigning a relatively large screen just below to the TV screen 12 and broadcasting a television broadcast through the tuner can be expected to have a high appealing effect. By selecting and broadcasting high audience rating programs such as nationally popular sumo, soccer, and baseball broadcasts, the effect can be expected so that passers-bye stops unexpectedly. A recorded program may be screened. Also, famous programs and scenes from the past can be shown. Passers-by sees the screen and stops in front of the vending machine, increasing the chances of selling the product.

The side of the TV screen 12 is assigned to the advertisement screen 13. Vending machine owner companies may advertise their advertising and campaign product information in videos. In addition, it can be expected to increase the appeal of popular videos and animations such as DVD videos, still model photos of popular models, and illustrations. Alternatively, a video image from a locally installed camera or a DVD image can be displayed. HT
The web page can be displayed as it is with ML, or the SWF format on the web can be displayed with FLASH, and the effect of attracting the attention of passersby can be expected. A slightly larger TV screen,
Advertisements and advertisement screens can be used instead of television broadcasting. In addition, sound is generally assigned to the TV screen, but the sound can also be assigned to the advertisement screen with the TV screen silent.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, most of the display screen is allocated to the neighboring map screen 41,
It is expected that passers-by will check the current location and use nearby store information posted there to greatly increase the opportunity to stop in front of the vending machine and make a significant contribution to product sales. In this case, the advertisement screen 42 of the store posted on the map is displayed on an element screen different from the map screen, and the advertisement of those stores is actively promoted, so that the passer's vending machine's The degree of use is expected to increase, and in addition to product sales, additional revenue from advertising fees is also expected.

In this way, video and images of advertising content of products sold at vending machines are fully displayed on the screen of the display, which is packed with the screens that attract attention. Therefore, a large increase in the sales volume of products can be expected. The product display screen 14 is a set of element screens of subdivisions. The products sold by the vending machine are allocated one by one, the price and number are displayed together with the product photos, and the products to be purchased are displayed. If the money of the price displayed on the element screen is inserted from the money insertion slot 5 and the product selection switch at the bottom of the display corresponding to the number displayed on the product display screen 14 is pressed, the product can be purchased. The product purchase can be made possible by providing the product display screen 14 with a touch panel switch function.

A practical embodiment using the Internet to manage and operate each vending machine very efficiently is shown in FIG. As shown in claim 2, a central editing personal computer 21 is connected to the content management server 22 through the Internet, and similarly represents a mechanism for operating each vending machine 23 connected to the Internet. . The content management server 22 is connected to the display 26 via the Internet via a router 24 and a set top box 25 inside the vending machine 23. Information and content necessary for display are stored in the content management server 22 and are taken in and operated in a storage device of a set top box of each display according to a set display schedule.

The router 24 is installed inside or outside the vending machine, and a private network is constructed by connecting the remote content management server 22 and the set-top box 25 in the vending machine via a network environment. At the same time, it is useful for ensuring security. In the management and operation of vending machines, control information to divide the entire display screen into element screens, that is, content information for advertising advertisements of products, brands, companies, etc. displayed on each element screen, if necessary Information necessary for display, including audio information of video and images, selection of contents to be displayed, management of their display schedule, etc., is downloaded to a storage medium provided inside the vending machine and displayed immediately. Or information necessary for display may be transmitted in advance and temporarily stored in a storage medium, and displayed according to a designated display schedule.

Depending on the location of each vending machine, the type of passers-by passing by the vending machine, whether there is a school or event facility nearby, the status of nearby events, etc. It is possible to strategically manage and operate vending machine sales in order to maximize profits, such as by executing individual campaigns or changing product prices.

As described in claim 3, a display with a touch panel function is provided as a second display separately from the large screen display 3 shown in FIG. 1, or all or part of the large screen display 3 is provided with a touch panel function. Thus, after the purchaser selects an arbitrary product, the purchaser can purchase the product with a simple operation by pressing or touching a display screen on which the product is displayed. In this case, since the display device and the input device are integrated and the purchaser directly inputs the product image on the screen, the purchaser can easily understand the operation method intuitively. Further, since the input device and the display device are integrated, there is an advantage that the device can be expected to be reduced in size and simplified. As the touch panel system, the most suitable one according to the type of display, such as a capacitive system, a resistive film system, and an ultrasonic surface acoustic wave system, which are currently in practical use, can be selected and used.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which a display with a touch panel function is provided as a second display below the display 3 in FIG. The display 35 with a touch panel function is used as a product display screen 36 by dividing the screen into element screens of small sections.
Assign each product sold by the vending machine to a section of the element screen, product photos,
Alternatively, the price of the product is displayed together with the moving image, the money of the price is paid from the money slot 5, and the product can be purchased by touching the element screen of the section displaying the product desired to be purchased. Furthermore, by expanding the touch panel function, product sales information,
In other words, in addition to time, place, and sales volume, sales information by content type can be collected online, so that information can be gathered in a short time and quickly developed into a new sales strategy. Can also proceed.

In this way, in the present invention, it is possible to easily change the price of a product sold by a vending machine from a remote place using a personal computer for editing, so that the sales price strategy can be developed in a timely manner. It is possible to maximize sales and profits.
For example, install individual vending machines, such as product lots that have fewer days left in their shelf life, when it is necessary to reduce inventory at the time of product replacement at the change of season, etc. Since individual price changes can be made online to all vending machines in a timely manner, without going to the place, the maximization of profits is pursued without incurring the costs of large-scale inventory disposal as before. it can.

When using the above-mentioned display with touch panel function,
By using the reader / writer 37 for mobile use or the Felica reader / writer 38 for watermelon, etc., it is possible to purchase products without cash, thus greatly improving the convenience of the purchaser and changing the price. Since there is no need to change the change refunding mechanism, the management operation efficiency from a remote location is extremely high.

As shown in FIG. 6, the front left and right panels 51 are separated from the left and right dividing lines 52.
Since a plurality of relatively small displays can be provided on the left and right front panels, the display cost can be greatly reduced, and an advertisement display 53 and a display 54 having a touch panel function for purchasing a product are provided. It is possible to combine various functions without much cost.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vending machine 2 ... Front panel 3 ... Display 4 ... Product selection switch 5 ... Money slot 6 ... Product outlet

11. · Text news screen 12 · · TV screen 13 · · Advertising screen 14 · · Product display screen

21. Editing personal computer 22 Content management server 23 Vending machine 24 Router 25 Set top box 26 Display

31 ·· Character news screen 32 · · TV screen 33 · · Company advertisement screen 34 · · Promotional product screen 35 · · Display 36 with touch panel function · · Product display screen 37 · · Felica · leader · writer-portable 38 · · Felica reader / writer for watermelon

41 ... Map screen 42 ... Store advertising screen

51..Front left and right panels 52..Front left and right panel separation lines 53..Corporate advertisement / new product / promotion product display screen 54..Product display screen 55 with touch panel function..Front panel double door handle 56 .. Product outlet

Claims (4)

The vending machine has a display on its front panel, and its screen display can be divided into multiple element screens under software control, and each element screen can be freely set in various sizes. , Various content on each screen,
For example, in addition to the purpose of dramatically increasing the appeal of the display by simultaneously displaying text information such as TV images being broadcast, news information, map information, videos and still images, photo screens, etc.
A vending machine with a display, which has both the purpose of attractively promoting the products sold by the vending machine and can display them simultaneously. In the vending machine with the above display, the display of the vending machine is connected to the Internet via a router or set-top box as necessary, and is necessary for displaying the display stored in the server for content management. Information,
The vending machine is provided with information such as the method of dividing the display screen, the content of the content to be displayed on each screen, the selection of the content to be displayed, and the display schedule thereof, by online operation from a remote location. A vending machine with a display, which is capable of being downloaded to a storage medium and displaying desired contents in accordance with a designated display schedule. In the vending machine described in claim 2, the entire display screen or a part of the display screen, or the second display provided separately from the display has a touch panel function, and the purchaser selects an arbitrary product. , The purchaser can purchase the product through an operation touching a specific area on the touch panel screen designated to purchase the product, and sales information by the touch panel operation can be collected online at a remote place, In addition, the vending machine with a touch panel function is capable of changing the display content on the display online according to the obtained sales information. The vending machine described in claims 2 and 3 has a front panel that can be opened and closed to the left and right sides with double doors, and either one or both of the left and right panels are equipped with one or more displays. A vending machine characterized in that at least one of the displays has a touch panel function for selecting and purchasing a product.

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