JP2018163393A - vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine which can manage a selling state of products inside a locker easily with simple structure.SOLUTION: The vending machine 1 which is able to sell products that are stored respectively in multiple lockers 40 comprises: lock mechanisms 43 which are provided in the respective lockers 40, and each of which locks a door 41 of each locker 40 into a closed state; and a locker control part 31 that instructs the lock mechanisms 43 to make an open state or the closed state of a lock state, as well as manages a selling state of stored products in each locker 40 on the basis of the lock state of lock mechanism 43. That is, this vending machine manages the selling state of the products inside the locker 40 on the basis of only the opening or closing state of the door 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that can easily manage the state of sale of goods in a locker with a simple configuration.

  Conventionally, there are products that store products using storage lockers. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a storage locker connected to a network and managing the storage locker location, availability, storage temperature, and the like by a server. Patent Document 2 describes a system for receiving products ordered through a network using a locker. The locker can also be used as a device for selling various products.

JP 2004-21536 A JP 2002-288562 A

  By the way, in product sales using a locker, it is necessary to provide detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a product in the locker in order to manage product sold-out. However, since the products in the locker are arranged in various shapes and materials, it is necessary for the detection means to have a function capable of detecting in accordance with these various products arranged. As a result, the product detection in the locker becomes complicated, and there is a problem that it is difficult to detect various products.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of easily managing the state of sale of goods in a locker with a simple configuration.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, a vending machine according to the present invention is a vending machine capable of selling products stored in a plurality of lockers, and A lock mechanism that locks the door of each locker in a closed state, and instructs the lock mechanism to open and close the lock state, and also stores the products stored in each locker based on the lock state of the lock mechanism. And a control unit for managing the sales state.

  Further, in the vending machine according to the present invention, in the above invention, when selling the selected product, the control unit opens the lock state of the locker in which the product is stored, and the locker is sold out. It is managed as a state.

  Further, in the vending machine according to the present invention, in the above invention, the control unit closes the lock mechanism after the product is replenished in the locker when the product is sold out. The locker is managed as a product replenishment state.

  Further, in the vending machine according to the present invention, in the above invention, the lock mechanism is an automatic lock mechanism that automatically locks when the door is closed after the door is open, and the control unit is When selling a product selected as a product, the lock state of the locker in which the product is stored is opened, and then the locker that is closed by automatic locking is managed as a product sold out state.

  Further, in the vending machine according to the present invention, in the above invention, the lock mechanism is an automatic lock mechanism that automatically locks when the door is closed after the door is open, and the control unit is When replenishing a product in a locker that has been sold out, after opening the locker, replenish the product to the locker, and then manage the locker closed by automatic lock as a product replenishment state It is characterized by doing.

  According to the present invention, each locker is provided with a lock mechanism that locks the door of each locker in a closed state, and the control unit instructs the lock mechanism to open and close the lock state, and the lock mechanism is locked. Since the sales state such as sold out of the products stored in each locker is managed based on the locker side, the locker side has a simple configuration that only the lock mechanism is provided, and the lock mechanism is easily opened and closed. The product sales state in the locker can be managed by processing.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of the locking mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a sales management control process for products in the locker by the locker control unit. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a product replenishment management control process for products in the locker by the locker control unit. FIG. 5 shows the locker control unit in the case of the first modification, which is an automatic lock mechanism that automatically locks the door in the closed state when the lower part of the door approaches the lock mechanism when the lock mechanism is in the open state. It is a sequence diagram which shows the sales management control process of the goods in a locker. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a product replenishment management control process for products in the locker by the locker control unit according to the first modification. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the lock mechanism of the first modification.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a vending machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 1 is disposed adjacent to each other by a communication connection between a vending machine body 10 and a merchandise sales locker device 30.

  In the vending machine main body 10, a coin mechanism 12, a bill validator 13, a remote controller 14, a display operation unit 15, a main body control unit 16, and a locker display operation unit 32 are connected to the vending machine control unit 11. The main body control unit 16 connects the cooling / heating device 17 and the carry-out device 18. The vending machine control unit 11 includes a main body sales control unit 20, a money processing unit 21, a display control unit 22, and a locker control unit 31. The display operation unit 15 includes a product selection button 23 and a display unit 24.

  The locker display operation unit 32 is a touch panel that performs operations and displays such as product selection for products on the product sales locker device 30 side. The display unit 24 and the locker display operation unit 32 are information related to products on the vending machine body 10 side and the product sales locker device 30 side, for example, sales, out of change, preparation, cancellation of bills, It is for displaying various information such as information at the time of various settings. The locker display operation unit 32 may perform only product selection of the product sales locker device 30 and display other information in common on the display unit 24.

  The merchandise sales locker device 30 has a plurality of lockers 40 for storing merchandise to be sold. Each locker 40 has a transparent door 41 that can be opened and closed, and the products in the locker 40 can be viewed even when the door 41 is closed. The door 41 is provided with a handle 42 for opening and closing the door. In FIG. 1, a handle 42 is provided at the lower part of the door 41, and a hinge mechanism is provided at the upper part, so that the door 42 can be opened and closed from the lower side. Each locker 40 is provided with a lock mechanism 43 that locks the door 41 in the closed state. When the product is sold, the lock mechanism of the locker 40 storing the product to be purchased is opened, and the door can be opened.

  The vending machine body 10 has a money processing mechanism including a money processing unit 21, a coin mechanism 12, and a bill validator 13. In addition, a money processing mechanism is shared at the time of product sales by the product sales locker device 30.

  The cooling / heating device 17 is for managing a plurality of product storage boxes (not shown) in a set cooling / heating state under the control of the main body control unit 16. The cooling / heating device 17 cools the interior of the product storage set for cooling, while heating the interior of the product storage set for heating.

  The carry-out device 18 is for managing bend solenoids and sold-out switches provided for each rack. The main body control unit 16 carries out the product from the rack according to the carry-out command transmitted from the vending machine control unit 11. The carry-out device 18 outputs a sell-out signal to the main body control unit 16 when all the products stored in the rack are carried out.

  The main body sales control unit 20 controls the sale of products stored in the vending machine main body 10. The display control unit 22 performs display control on the product selection button 23 and the display unit 24 in the display operation unit 15 under the instruction of the main body sales control unit 20. The product selection button 23 is used to select a product, and is one of a plurality of product selection buttons arranged so as to correspond to a product sample. The product selection button 23 can be LED-displayed. For example, the product selection button 23 is lit when corresponding to a product for which an amount has been input and the product can be purchased before product selection.

  The remote controller 14 is used for various setting operations and various sales data confirmation operations, and includes a liquid crystal display for displaying various setting data and confirmation data in addition to operation keys such as a write key and an end key. . Setting data set and input from the remote controller 14 is transmitted to the vending machine control unit 11. The remote controller 14 receives the confirmation data transmitted from the vending machine control unit 11.

  The coin mechanism 12 organizes the number of various coins inserted and transmits the coins to the money processing unit 21 of the vending machine control unit 11, while performing a money process of paying out various coins according to a command from the money processing unit 21. is there. The bill validator 13 organizes the number of inserted various banknotes and transmits them to the money processing unit 21 of the vending machine control unit 11, while performing money processing for paying out various banknotes according to instructions from the money processing unit 21. is there.

  The locker control unit 31 controls the sales of products stored in each locker 40 of the product sales locker device 30.

  The lock mechanism 43 of each rocker 40 is an actuator that projects and retracts the engagement pin 44 as shown in FIG. When the door 41 is closed, the engagement pin 44 is inserted into an engagement ring 45 provided on the lower inner side of the door 41. When the door 41 is opened, the engagement pin 44 is removed from the engagement ring 45. 2 inserts the engagement pin 44 into the engagement ring 45 only when the door 41 is locked in the closed state. When the door 41 is in the open state, the lower portion of the door 41 becomes free by the hinge mechanism at the upper portion of the door 41, but is closed by the weight of the door 41. However, in this case, the lock mechanism 43 is not locked.

(Sales management by locker control unit 31)
Here, with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 3, the sales management control of the products in the locker 40 by the locker control unit 31 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the locker control unit 31 receives a deposit (step S101), and further selects a product in the locker 40 via the locker display operation unit 32 (step S102). The door opening instruction is sent to the lock mechanism 43 of the locker 40 (step S103).

  Receiving this door opening instruction, the lock mechanism 43 of the locker 40 unlocks and opens the door 41 (step S104). Accordingly, the product purchaser opens the door 41 and takes out the product selected for the product (step S105).

  On the other hand, the locker control unit 31 immediately notifies the completion of the sale of the product, for example, to the money processing unit 21 according to the door opening instruction (step S103) (step S106), and causes the change to be paid out when there is change. Thereafter, the locker control unit 31 updates the locker 40 that has been sold to a product sold-out state (step S107), and manages the sales state.

(Product replenishment management by the locker control unit 31)
Next, merchandise replenishment management control of the merchandise in the locker 40 by the locker control unit 31 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, since the door 41 is in the open state, the locker 40 that has finished selling the product replenishes the product by opening the door 41 (step S201). When the product replenishment is completed, the locker control unit 31 receives the replenishment completion from the locker display operation unit 32 (step S202). This replenishment completion is performed by a commodity replenishment worker.

  When receiving the replenishment completion (step S202), the locker control unit 31 sends a door closing instruction to the lock mechanism 43 of the locker 40 that has been replenished (step S203).

  Upon receiving this door closing instruction, the lock mechanism 43 of the locker 40 locks the door 41 in the closed state (step S204). Thereafter, the locker control unit 31 receives the door closing information of the lock mechanism 43 (step S205), cancels the product sold-out state of the locker 40 that has been replenished with the product, and updates the product to the product replenished state (step S206). Manage.

[Modification 1]
(Sales management by the locker control part 31 of the modification 1)
Next, referring to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 5, when the lock mechanism 43 is in the open state, the door 41 automatically closes when the lower portion of the door 41 approaches the lock mechanism 43. The sales management control of the product in the locker 40 by the locker control unit 31 in the case of the first modification that is a lock mechanism will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, the locker control unit 31 receives money (step S301), and further selects a product in the locker 40 via the locker display operation unit 32 (step S302). A door opening instruction is sent to the lock mechanism 43 of the locker 40 selected for the product (step S303).

  Upon receiving this door opening instruction, the lock mechanism 43 of the locker 40 unlocks and opens the door 41 (step S304). Thereby, the product purchaser opens the door 41 and takes out the product selected by the product (step S305). Thereafter, the lock mechanism 43 automatically locks the door 41 to close the door 41 (step S306).

  On the other hand, the locker control unit 31 receives the door closing information from the lock mechanism 43 (step S307), notifies the merchandise sales completion to, for example, the money processing unit 21 (step S308), and if there is change, pays out change. Let it be done. After that, the locker control unit 31 updates the locker 40 that has finished selling the product to the product sold out state (step S309), and manages the sales state.

(Product replenishment management by the locker control unit 31 of Modification 1)
Next, with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 6, the merchandise replenishment management control of the merchandise in the locker 40 by the locker control unit 31 of the first modification will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, since the door 41 is closed in the locker 40 in which the product sales are completed, the locker control unit 31 issues a refill instruction from the locker display operation unit 32 (step S401). The locker control unit 31 receives this refill instruction, and sends a door opening instruction to the lock mechanism 43 of the locker 40 to be refilled with goods (step S402).

  The locker 40 that has received this door opening instruction unlocks the door 41 and opens it (step S403). Thereafter, the product is replenished (step S404), and the lock mechanism 43 locks the door 41 in the closed state by automatic locking (step S405).

  The locker control unit 31 receives the door closing information of the locker 40 (step S406), releases the product sold-out state of the locker 40 replenished with the product, updates it to the product replenished state (step S407), and manages the sales state. .

  In the first modification described above, the door 41 is preferably joined using a magnet in order to maintain the closed state when the lower portion of the door 41 approaches the lock mechanism 43. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, you may make it lock from an open state to a closed state reliably using the door closer 50. FIG.

  Although there is one product sales locker device 30 shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of product sales locker devices 30 may be connected to the vending machine body 10. In this case, the product selection number of the locker 40 in each product sales locker device 30 is set to be different. In the embodiment described above, the merchandise sales locker device 30 is configured separately from the vending machine main body 10. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the merchandise sales locker device 30 is configured as the vending machine main body 10. It may be provided inside. In this case, the vending machine main body 10 may sell products only by the locker device 30 for product sales.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 10 Vending machine main body 11 Vending machine control part 12 Coin mechanism 13 Bill validator 14 Remote control 15 Display operation part 16 Main body control part 17 Cooling apparatus 18 Unloader 20 Main body sales control part 21 Money processing part 22 Display control part 23 Product selection button 24 Display unit 30 Product sales locker device 31 Rocker control unit 32 Locker display operation unit 40 Locker 41 Door 42 Handle 43 Lock mechanism 44 Engagement pin 45 Engagement ring 50 Door closer

Claims (5)

A vending machine capable of selling products stored in a plurality of lockers,
A lock mechanism that is provided for each locker and locks the door of each locker in a closed state;
A control unit that instructs the lock mechanism to open and close the lock state, and manages the sales state of the products stored in each locker based on the lock state of the lock mechanism;
Vending machine characterized by comprising   2. The automatic control unit according to claim 1, wherein when selling the selected product, the control unit opens the lock state of the locker in which the product is stored, and manages the locker as a product sold out state. Vending machine.   When the product is replenished in a locker in a sold-out state, the control unit closes the lock mechanism after refilling the locker, and manages the closed locker as a product replenished state. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2. The lock mechanism is an automatic lock mechanism that automatically locks when the door is closed after the door is open,
When selling the selected product, the control unit opens the lock state of the locker in which the product is stored, and then manages the locker that is closed by automatic locking as a product sold out state. The vending machine according to claim 1. The lock mechanism is an automatic lock mechanism that automatically locks when the door is closed after the door is open,
When replenishing a product in the lockout of the product sold out state, the control unit opens the locker lock state, replenishes the locker with the product, and then automatically locks the locker closed. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the vending machine is managed as a product replenishment state.

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