JP2012161413A - Showcase - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a showcase merchandising displayed articles while preventing or suppressing leakage of cool air.SOLUTION: The showcase 1 displays articles while cooling them. The showcase includes: a closed storage chamber 21 for storing the articles; a cooling device 27 for cooling the interior of the storage chamber; a liquid crystal display 14 for displaying an image of the articles stored in the storage chamber in a display state; a touch panel for selecting articles displayed on the liquid crystal display 14; an article output port 16 for providing the articles; and a showcase side conveying device 28 for conveying the articles selected with the touch panel from the interior of the storage chamber to the article output port.

Description

  The present invention relates to a showcase for displaying goods while cooling them.

  Conventionally, a plurality of such showcases are installed in a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store, and a plurality of shelves are installed in the display room, and products to be sold are displayed on each shelf. The display chamber is supplied with cold air that has exchanged heat with the evaporator of the cooling device, and is cooled to a predetermined temperature (refrigeration or freezing temperature).

  The showcase includes a so-called open showcase in which the front surface of the display room is opened (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and a so-called closed type (reach-in showcase) in which an opening on the front is closed with a transparent glass door. (Refer to Patent Document 2, for example).

JP 2008-79675 A JP 2009-279133 A

  In this case, the open showcase is excellent in the visibility and the easiness of taking out the product because the front surface of the display room is open. However, although an air curtain is formed in the opening portion, the cold air inevitably leaks inevitably, so the reduction of the cooling effect and the increase of the energy consumption cannot be denied.

  On the other hand, the showcase closed by the glass door can suppress the leakage of cold air as much as possible, but the customer has to open and close the heavy transparent glass door to take out the displayed goods, and has a shopping basket etc. In particular, it was difficult to take out the product in the state, and there was a problem that hindered product sales.

  The present invention has been made to solve the conventional technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a showcase capable of promoting the sales of displayed products while preventing or suppressing the leakage of cold air. It is what.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the showcase of the present invention is for displaying goods while cooling them, and is a closed storage room for storing goods, a cooling device for cooling the storage room, and storage A display device that displays an image of a product stored in a room in a display state, an input device that selects the product displayed on the display device, a product providing unit that provides the product, and a product selected by the input device. And a transport device that transports the product from the storage chamber to the product providing unit.

  The showcase of the invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the above, the display device displays information relating to the product selected by the input device.

  A showcase according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in each of the above-mentioned inventions, the display device and the input device are constituted by a touch panel type liquid crystal display.

  The showcase of the invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in each of the above inventions, the product providing section is provided with an opening / closing door from which the product can be taken out.

  A showcase according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that in each of the above-mentioned inventions, a plurality of product providing sections are provided.

  The showcase of the invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in each of the above inventions, the storage room is provided with an entrance through which a human body can enter in order to deliver goods into the storage room.

  According to the present invention, in a showcase for displaying goods while cooling, a closed storage room for storing goods, a cooling device for cooling the storage room, and an image of the goods stored in the storage room. Display device for displaying in display state, input device for selecting product displayed on display device, product providing unit for providing product, and transporting product selected by input device to product providing unit from storage room Since the product is displayed on the display device with the input device, the product is transported from the storage room to the product providing unit by the transport device.

  As a result, the product can be displayed on the display device as an image and can be smoothly provided to the customer, the product can be promoted, and the storage room is closed. Therefore, steady cold air leakage from the storage room cooled by the cooling device is prevented or suppressed, and energy saving can be achieved.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the above, the display device displays information on the product selected by the input device, so the customer can also provide information on the material, material, and place of origin of the product. This makes it possible to promote further sales promotion.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the above-mentioned inventions, the display device and the input device are constituted by a touch panel type liquid crystal display, so that the installation space can be reduced while ensuring the information display function and the operability by the customer. It becomes possible to plan.

  According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the above-mentioned inventions, the product providing part is provided with an opening / closing door from which the product can be taken out. As a result, it becomes possible to reduce energy consumption.

  In this case, if a plurality of product providing units are provided as in the invention of claim 5, it is possible to provide products without any trouble even when a plurality of customers select a product for one showcase.

  Further, if the storage room is provided with an entrance through which a human body can enter in order to deliver the goods into the storage room as in the invention of claim 6, the goods can be smoothly carried in / out of the storage room. Is.

It is a perspective view of the showcase of the Example to which this invention is applied. It is another perspective view of the showcase of FIG. It is a perspective view of the other Example of the showcase of FIG. It is a block diagram of the electric circuit explaining the control system of the whole store system including the showcase to which the present invention is applied. It is a vertical side view of the showcase of FIG. It is a plane sectional view of the showcase of FIG. It is a sketch of the store in the store system of the example to which the present invention is applied.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The showcase 1 shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 is installed in the sales floor 3 of the store 2 shown in FIG. The sales floor 3 of the store 2 is provided with a cash register 4 for settlement (accounting) for product purchase in addition to the showcase 1, and the store clerk of the store 2 usually stands by here. Incidentally, the register 4 of the embodiment is provided with a bar code reader (not shown) that constitutes a reading means.

  Further, the store 2 is provided with a stock room (refrigerated warehouse) 6 in parallel with the sales floor 3. The inside of the stock chamber 6 is closed except for an entrance / exit (not shown), and the entrance / exit is also closed by a door, so that the interior is closed and cooled to a predetermined temperature by a stock chamber side cooling device 7 described later. It is assumed that commodities stored in all showcases 1 are stored in the stock room 6. Further, the stock chamber 6 is provided with a stock chamber side transfer device 8 which will be described later, and this stock chamber side transfer device (transfer device) 8 extends to the register 6. The store system 9 of the present invention is constructed by the showcase 1, the cash register 4, the stock room 6, the stock room side cooling device 7, the stock room side transfer device 8, and the like. In addition, 10 is another showcase (non-cold shelf etc.) installed in the sales floor 3.

  The showcase 1 according to the embodiment includes a main body 12 having a front surface, an upper and lower surface, and left and right side surfaces constituted by heat insulating panels, and a prefabricated refrigerator having an open front surface that is connected to the rear surface of the main body 12 and connected to the inside. (Including any temperature zone of refrigeration, freezing, or refrigeration) 13. A touch panel type liquid crystal display 14 constituting a display device and an input device is attached to substantially the entire front surface of the main body 12.

  This liquid crystal display 14 has images (photographs, illustrations, etc.) of plural and plural kinds of products that can be stored in the prefabricated refrigerator 13 and / or the stock room 6 for sale, as if the products are normally open. Although it is displayed on the display shelf of the showcase, it is displayed in a state (display state). 1 and 2 show an example in which refrigerated food R such as caviar and cheese is displayed, and FIG. 3 shows an example in which frozen pizza F is displayed.

  Further, on the right side of the liquid crystal display 14, a product outlet 16 constituting a product providing unit is formed. The product outlet 16 has an opening size from which a product can be taken out. It is closed at 17 so that the product can be taken out. A printer 18 is mounted in the main body 12, and a journal discharge port 19 of the printer 18 is configured on the right side of the product outlet 16.

  A storage chamber 21 is configured in the prefabricated refrigerator 13, and a shelf 22 for storing the products R and F in a predetermined position according to the type is provided at the front of the storage chamber 21. In addition, a space 23 in which a human body can move is formed on the rear side of the shelf 22 of the prefabricated refrigerator 13, and an entrance / exit 24 through which a human body can enter is formed corresponding to the side of the space 23. Is closed by a heat insulating door 26 so as to be freely opened and closed. Both the storage room 21 and the stock room 6 constitute a cooling storage device that stores and stores products in the store system 9.

  The connection body of the main body 12 and the prefabricated refrigerator 13 is surrounded by a heat insulating panel, the product outlet 16 is closed by a door 17, and the doorway 24 is closed by a heat insulating door 26. The inside of the storage room 21 for storing the product R is a closed space. And the showcase side cooling device 27 is provided in the top | upper surface of the prefabricated refrigerator 13, The inside of the storage chamber 21 and the inside of the main body 12 are predetermined | prescribed temperature (FIG. 1, FIG. 1) with the cool air supplied from this showcase side cooling device 27. In the case of FIG. 2, it is cooled to the refrigeration temperature, and in the case of FIG.

  In addition, a showcase side transfer device (transfer device) 28 is provided in the main body 12 corresponding to the front side of the shelf 22. The showcase-side transport device 28 includes a horizontal X-axis 31, a vertical Y-axis 32, an X-axis drive unit 33, a Y-axis drive unit 34, a magic hand 36, and the like. Is moved in the X-axis 31 direction by the X-axis drive unit 33, and is moved in the Y-axis 32 direction by the Y-axis drive unit 34, whereby the arbitrary product R in the front row on the shelf 22 is taken out by the magic hand 36, In addition, the Y-axis drive unit 34 can be reversed and conveyed to the product outlet 16. The stock chamber 6 is also provided with a similar shelf, and the stock chamber side transfer device 8 is also provided with a XY axis moving mechanism similar to the showcase side transfer device 28, and further includes a passage for transferring to the register 4. It is assumed that a conveyor (including a shutter or the like for preventing cold air leakage) provided in the passage is provided.

  Next, in FIG. 4, reference numeral 41 denotes a showcase controller provided in the showcase 1, which is composed of a microcomputer having a memory (storage device) 42. The input of the showcase controller 41 is connected to a touch panel 14T (input device) of the liquid crystal display 14 and an input switch 43 for performing various settings. In addition, the output of the showcase controller 41 includes opening and closing of the printer 17, the showcase side transport device 28, the showcase side cooling device 27, the liquid crystal display 14 (display device), and the door 17 that opens and closes the product outlet 16. A mechanism 44 is connected. The memory 42 stores all information such as information on products (saleable products) stored in the storage chamber 21, display image information, and product position information on the shelf 22.

  Reference numeral 46 denotes a stock room controller for the stock room 6, which is also constituted by a microcomputer. The stock chamber side transfer device 8 and the stock chamber side cooling device 7 are connected to the output of the stock chamber controller 46. The showcase controller 41, the stock room controller 46, and the cash register 4 exchange data with each other. The stock room controller 46 is also provided with a memory (not shown) in which all information such as information on the products stored in the stock chamber 6 and position information of the products in the stock chamber 6 is stored. .

  Next, the operation of the store system 9 with the above configuration will be described. The showcase controller 41 of each showcase 1 displays the product R or F stored in the storage room 21 on the liquid crystal display 14 as described above (FIGS. 1 to 3). The customer can select a desired product by looking at the display. When the customer selects an image of one of the products R and touches it with a finger (touch), the touch panel 14T detects it, and the showcase controller 41 enlarges the selected product R on the liquid crystal display 14. A window is displayed (indicated by D1 in FIGS. 1 and 2).

  Further, at this time, the showcase controller 41 displays the information (name, place of origin, material, material, capacity, weight, expiration date, etc.) of the product R on the liquid crystal display 14 with characters and / or images (FIG. 1). , Indicated by D2 in FIG. 2). By displaying such product information, the customer's willingness to purchase is promoted, so sales can be promoted.

  In addition, the showcase controller 41 displays a purchase button B1 and a cash register feed button B2 in the enlarged window display D1. The display of these buttons B1 and B2 configures the showcase 1 as a product selection device. When the customer touches a part other than the buttons B1 and B2 in the enlarged window display D1 with a finger or when a predetermined time has elapsed, the showcase controller 41 turns off the windows D1 and D2.

(1) When taking out a product from the showcase Next, when the customer touches the purchase button B1, the touch panel 14T detects it, and the showcase controller 41 stores the position information of the selected product R stored in the memory 42. Based on this, the X-axis drive unit 33 and the Y-axis drive unit 34 of the showcase-side transport device 28 are driven, and the magic hand 36 is moved to the front of the commodity R in the front row of the shelf 22. Then, the magic hand 36 is extended to take the product R, and then the X-axis drive unit 33 and the Y-axis drive unit 34 are driven to move the magic hand 36 and the product R to the position of the product take-out port 16. Then, the magic hand 36 is rotated 180 degrees on the horizontal plane, and is extended to release the product R at the product outlet 16. As a result, the product R is conveyed from the shelf 22 to the product outlet 16.

  When the product R is conveyed to the product outlet 16, the showcase controller 41 drives the door opening / closing mechanism 44 to open the door 17. Then, the customer takes out the commodity R conveyed to the commodity outlet 16 and puts it in a cart or a shopping basket and takes it to the cash register 4 for accounting. In this way, the showcase-side transport device 28 takes out the product R in the front row and replenishment of the product is performed from the rear space 23, so that the product R is replenished later and sold in order from the front. Become.

  Here, if the product R is not taken out within a predetermined time after being transported to the product outlet 16, the showcase controller 41 determines that the customer has stopped purchasing, closes the door 17, and closes the showcase-side transport device 28. Thus, the operation reverse to the above is performed to return the product R to the original shelf 22 position again. In addition, even if it does not return by the showcase side conveyance apparatus 28 in this way, you may make it provide a return port separately and a customer may return.

  Thus, according to the showcase 1, the product R displayed on the liquid crystal display 14 as an image is selected by the window display D1, the display button B1, and the touch panel 14T. The product is conveyed from the storage chamber 21 to the product outlet 16.

  This makes it possible to display the product R as an image on the liquid crystal display 14 and to provide the product R to the customer more smoothly than a showcase with a glass door, thereby promoting sales of the product. In addition, since the storage chamber 21 is closed, the steady cold air leakage from the storage chamber 21 cooled by the cooling device 27 is prevented or suppressed, and a normal open showcase is obtained. In comparison, it is possible to achieve significant energy savings.

  Moreover, since the information regarding the product R selected by the window display D1 or the touch panel 14T is displayed by the window display D2 on the liquid crystal display 14, information on the material, material, place of origin, etc. of the product R can also be provided to the customer. As a result, it becomes possible to further promote sales. In particular, when the touch panel type liquid crystal display 14 is used as the display device and the input device as in the embodiment, the installation space can be reduced (thinned) while ensuring the information display function and the operability by the customer. .

  Further, since the product outlet 16 is provided with a door 17 from which the product R can be taken out as in the embodiment, it is possible to prevent or minimize the leakage of cold air from the product outlet 16. Therefore, further energy saving can be achieved. In addition, since the prefabricated refrigerator 13 is provided with an entrance 24 through which a human body can enter in order to deliver the product R into the storage chamber 21, it is possible to smoothly carry in / out the product in the storage chamber 21. .

(2) When transporting directly to the cash register For example, in the case of a relatively small and light product such as cheese, the product is transported from the storage chamber 21 to the product outlet 16 and taken out at the showcase 1 as described above. However, in the case of a heavy product such as a large-capacity beverage in a plastic bottle, it is difficult to carry it to the cash register 4. Therefore, if the customer decides that the product R is not taken out in the showcase 1 and wants to be directly transported to the cash register 4, when the customer touches the cash register feed button B2 of the liquid crystal display 14, the touch panel 14T detects it and the show case. The controller 41 includes information on the selected product R (including customer identification information for identifying the customer. These are information for associating the selected product with the product conveyed to the cash register 4 at the cash register 4. ) As communication data to the stock room controller 46 and the cash register 4.

  Further, the showcase controller 41 uses the printer 18 to print information on the selected product R (including customer identification information for identifying the customer) on a journal and eject the information from the journal outlet 19. Note that customer identification information is printed on the journal as a barcode.

  When the stock room controller 46 receives the communication data from the showcase controller 41, the stock room R selected by the customer based on the information in the data is taken out from the stock room 6 by the stock room side transfer device 8 and transferred to the cash register 4. The cash register 4 is provided with a plurality of storage sections 47A to 47D, and the stock chamber controller 46 transports the commodity R to specific storage sections 47A to 47D. In addition, the stock room controller 46 transmits customer identification information regarding the conveyed product R and information regarding the conveyed storage sections 47A to 47D to the cash register 4 as communication data.

  Next, the customer goes to the cash register 4 with the journal launched by the printer 18. The clerk then reads the barcode printed on the journal with a barcode reader. The cash register 4 displays information related to the product R from the read customer identification information, and information specifying the storage sections 47A to 47D in which the product R corresponding to the information is conveyed. The store clerk sees this information, takes out the product R from the storage sections 47A to 47D, performs accounting, and hands it over to the customer.

  By constructing such a store system 9, the goods to be purchased are selected from the display D1, D2, B2 of the liquid crystal display 14 of the showcase 1 and the touch panel 14T without carrying them from the showcase 1 to the cash register 4, and the stock room It is possible to carry out the accounting for the product using a journal which is directly conveyed from 6 to the cash register 4 and launched by the printer 18. As a result, it is possible to save the trouble of carrying the product by the customer and to improve the convenience in the sale of the product.

  In particular, information relating to the product selected in the showcase 1 is printed out by the printer 18 and the printed journal constitutes an identification means, and the cash register 4 is provided with a barcode reader for reading the barcode of the journal. The goods selected and transported from the stock room 6 to the cash register 4 can be associated with the customer with a simple configuration, and the work at the time of accounting is significantly simplified.

  Since the purchase method for taking out the product R in the storage room 21 in the showcase 1 and the method for transporting the product R directly from the stock room 6 to the cash register 4 can be selected as described above, the product by the customer can be selected. The convenience of purchase is significantly improved.

  In the embodiment, the merchandise outlet 16 is provided in the showcase 1 at a single location, but a plurality of merchandise outlets 16 may be formed. According to such a configuration, even when a plurality of customers select the product of one showcase 1, it is possible to provide the product without any trouble. However, in that case, it is preferable to perform a display or the like for specifying an outlet from which the product R selected by the customer is conveyed.

  Further, in the embodiment, the printer 18 is provided in the showcase 1 and information (including customer identification information) about the product R is put out in a journal, and the selected product and the purchased customer are associated with the cash register 4 using this journal. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the membership card of the store 2 may be used for identification. In that case, reading means for reading information on the membership card is provided in the showcase 1 and the cash register 4. Then, the information on the member card and the selected product are associated with each other so that the stock room-side transport device 8 and the cash register 4 perform the accounting.

  If it does in this way, it will become possible to associate the customer with the goods conveyed to the cash register 4 from the stock room 6 using the membership card of the store 2, and customer service (points etc.) in the store 2 Association is also easy.

  Further, in the embodiment, when the product R is directly transferred to the cash register 4, it is transferred from the stock room 6 using the stock room side transfer device 8. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the storage room 21 of the showcase 1 is not limited thereto. The selected product R may be directly transferred from the (cooling storage device) to the register 4 using the showcase side transfer device 28. In that case, a predetermined heat-insulating passage is formed between the showcase 1 and the cash register 4, and a conveyor (with a shutter or the like for preventing cool air leakage) is added to the showcase-side transport device 28 and arranged in the passage. It is good to install. Then, the merchandise R is placed on the conveyor by the magic hand 36 and conveyed to the register 4.

  However, as in the embodiment, the cooling storage device of the store system 9 is composed of the stock room 6 for storing and storing the goods and the closed storage room 21 provided in the showcase 1 for storing and storing the goods. A stock chamber side transport device 8 that transports products from the stock chamber 6 to the cash register 4 and a showcase side transport device 28 that is provided in the showcase 1 and transports products from the storage chamber 21 to the product outlet 16. If the product is taken out at the product outlet 16 of the showcase 1 and directly transferred to the register 4, the transfer device is changed and transferred from the showcase 1 to the register 4 as described above. On the contrary, compared with the case where the product is transported from the stock chamber 6 to the product outlet 16 of the showcase 1, the transport route can be simplified and the product can be transported smoothly.

  Furthermore, although the input device and the display device are configured by the touch panel type liquid crystal display 14 in the embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a normal liquid crystal display is used as the display device, and a push button for selecting a product is provided at an appropriate position. It may be configured.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Showcase 2 Store 4 Cash register 6 Stock room 7 Stock room side cooling device 8 Stock room side transfer device 9 Store system 14 Liquid crystal display (display device)
14T touch panel (input device)
16 Product outlet (product provision department)
17 Door 18 Printer 21 Storage Room 22 Shelf 24 Entrance 26 Heat Insulating Door 27 Showcase Side Cooling Device 28 Showcase Side Transport Device 41 Showcase Controller 46 Stock Room Controller

Claims (6)

In a showcase for displaying products while cooling,
A closed storage room for storing the goods;
A cooling device for cooling the storage chamber;
A display device for displaying an image of a product stored in the storage room in a display state;
An input device for selecting a product displayed on the display device;
A product providing unit for providing the product;
A showcase, comprising: a transport device that transports a product selected by the input device from the storage chamber to the product providing unit.   The showcase according to claim 1, wherein the display device displays information related to a product selected by the input device.   The showcase according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display device and the input device are configured by a touch panel type liquid crystal display.   The showcase according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the product providing unit includes an opening / closing door from which a product can be taken out.   The showcase according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the product providing units.   The showcase according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the storage room includes an entrance through which a human body can enter in order to deliver goods into the storage room.

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