JP2016218608A - Automatic dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic dispenser comprising excellent customer attraction, and capable of being found by a customer even from a distance.SOLUTION: A head part 3 comprising a face of a human being, animal or robot, is provided on a top face 20 of a box-state body part 2 of an automatic dispenser 1, and plural expressions can be formed such as an expression with smile, or chattering expression with a pair of eyes, a pair of eyebrows, nose and mouth disposed on a front face 30 of the head part 3, and the head part 3 is horizontally rotated or inclined in a cross direction (bow-making posture operation), thereby achieving higher customer attraction relative to a conventional automatic dispenser.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine having excellent customer attraction.

In the case where multiple vending machines that sell similar products are installed in one sales space, it is desirable to improve the customer attraction of the vending machine relative to the vending machines of other companies. ing. However, most vending machines have the same box shape due to the limited installation space and increased product capacity, and there is little difference in customer attraction between the vending machines of each company.

In order to improve the customer attraction of the vending machine, Patent Document 1 adopts a front door larger than the main body of the vending machine, and Patent Document 2 proposes to install a signboard on the side of the vending machine. Yes.

However, even if a large front door is adopted, there is almost no difference in shape from a large-sized vending machine, so Patent Document 1 does not sufficiently improve the customer attraction of the vending machine. The vending machine of Patent Document 2 in which a signboard is added on the side of the vending machine has a drawback that a required installation space increases.

JP 2013-250626 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-21699

An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine having an excellent customer attraction.

The vending machine of the present invention has a head protruding upward from the upper surface of the box-shaped main body, and the front surface of the head has a face such as a person, an animal, or a robot.

The front surface of the head has a face having at least eyes and a mouth. Preferably, the face has a pattern or shape recognizable as eyebrows and / or nose and / or ears and / or eyelids and / or hair. This face has a desirable expression such as a smile. Since ordinary humans, especially children, are strongly attracted by the desirable expressions of humans, animals and robots, this vending machine can exert a strong customer attraction. Small animals such as cats and rabbits and heads of children and the like are particularly preferred because they are preferred by most people. Since the body of the box-like vending machine is similar to the body of the robot, the head of the robot is most suitable.

After all, the vending machine of the present invention, which is very conspicuous, can give children a strong feeling of friendship compared to the conventional inorganic box-shaped vending machine, and therefore can exhibit excellent sales promotion. .

Since the head is installed above the main body corresponding to a conventional vending machine, the capacity of the vending machine for storing goods does not decrease and the installation area of the vending machine does not increase. Furthermore, since this head does not need to change the main body structure of the vending machine, it can be easily added to an existing vending machine.

Preferably, the head is detachably installed on the main body. Thereby, the main-body part of this vending machine can be installed also in a low installation space by removing a head. The head can be changed regularly. It is also possible to illuminate the head.

Preferably, the head can change its facial expression. In one example, the vending machine has a function of speaking, and the mouth moves when speaking. In another example, the vending machine can open and close the bag. In another example, the head has a function of rotating or tilting. Changes in head movement or facial expression improve customer preference.

It is a model front view which shows an example of the vending machine of this invention. It is a block circuit diagram which shows an example of the circuit for driving a head.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing one embodiment of the vending machine of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the vending machine 1 includes a box-shaped main body 2 and a head 3 fixed to the upper surface 20 of the main body 2. The main body 2 has at least a money receiving function, a product or service display function, and a sales function. Since the main body 2 has essentially the same structure and shape as a conventional beverage vending machine, further description is omitted. The front surface 30 of the head 3 formed in a substantially ball shape has a robot face. The head 3 can have a shape similar to a well-known robot head.

The front surface 30 of the head 3 has a pair of eyes, a pair of eyebrows, a nose and a mouth. An unillustrated pedestal is fixed to the upper surface 20 of the main body 2, and the lower portion of the head 3 is detachably fixed to the pedestal 3 with a screw or the like.

The head can form multiple facial expressions, such as a smiling expression or a scolding expression. The head 3 can perform a horizontal rotation operation or a forward / backward tilt operation (bowing operation). The head can incorporate lighting fixtures such as flashing lights.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit for moving the head 3. The head 3 is supported by the pedestal so as to be horizontally rotatable. The motor 4 rotates the head 3 horizontally. The motor drive circuit 5 controls the rotation of the motor. When the insertion of a coin is detected, the controller 6 instructs the motor drive circuit 5 to drive the motor, and the motor drive circuit 5 energizes the motor 4. Thereby, the head 3 rotates horizontally. Instead of the horizontal rotation of the head 4, it is also possible to employ a lifting / lowering operation or a bowing operation of the head 4.

Claims (4)

A box-shaped main body having at least a function of receiving money and selling goods or services, and a head protruding upward from the upper surface of the main body,
A vending machine characterized in that the front surface of the head has at least one face of a human, an animal, and a robot.   The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of the head has at least eyes, a nose and a mouth.   The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the head is detachably fixed to the main body.   The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a motor for driving a head supported by the main body portion so as to be relatively movable, and a circuit for driving the motor.