JP2019175324A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress an increase in production costs while shortening the time required for developing international business.SOLUTION: Provided is an automatic vending machine 1 including a money processing device 20 that performs money deposit processing and control means 40 that, in a case where information about an amount subjected to the deposit processing in the money processing device 20 is given, causes the amount information to be displayed on an amount indicator 18, and selling a commodity stored inside. In a case where input of a shift digit number for omitting a predetermined digit number is made via a remote controller 30, the control means 40 causes the amount information to be displayed on the amount indicator 18 with a display of the predetermined digit number being omitted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells products.

  Conventionally, Patent Document 1 has proposed a vending machine that sells products stored in a vending machine main body. In such a vending machine, when money is input from a user, the money processing apparatus performs a money receiving process, and the amount information of the money inserted is given to the control unit. The control unit displays the amount information on the amount display and activates a product selection button for selecting a product whose sales price is equal to or less than the amount information. When one of the activated product selection buttons is pressed, the control unit drives the dispensing mechanism of the column that stores the product associated with the product selection button to pay the product to the product outlet. Make it ready for removal. Further, the control unit gives the sales price information of the selected product to the money processing apparatus, and if there is a difference between the money amount information and the sales price information in the money processing apparatus, the difference is processed as a change.

JP 2006-206753 A

  By the way, since the vending machine described above is manufactured on the assumption that it is applied in Japan, the number of digits displayed on the amount indicator is a maximum of five digits, and the number of digits for setting the sales price is the maximum. It is 4 digits.

  Therefore, there are the following problems when such vending machines are deployed overseas. In other words, if it is necessary to make the number of digits of the sales price of the goods to be stored into a multi-price number of 5 digits or more depending on the price of the applicable country, the current price display or the sales price It was not possible to make settings, and it was necessary to develop software in accordance with the prices of the country concerned. As a result, it took time for overseas expansion and increased manufacturing costs.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost while shortening a time required for overseas expansion.

  In order to achieve the above object, the vending machine according to the present invention, when given the money processing means for depositing money and the amount information processed by the money processing means, Control means for displaying on the money amount display, and in a vending machine that sells products stored inside, the control means inputs the number of shift digits omitting a predetermined number of digits through the input means. The amount information is displayed in a state where a predetermined number of digits are not displayed on the amount display.

  In the vending machine according to the present invention, in the vending machine, the money processing unit includes a settlement unit that performs electronic settlement with a recording medium held in a predetermined communicable area, and the recording medium passes through the settlement unit. The amount information read out from is output to the control means.

  In addition, the vending machine according to the present invention, when given the money processing means for depositing money and the amount information processed by the money processing means, the product with the sales price below the amount information. A vending machine that sells the product when a product is selected through the activated selection unit, the control unit includes a predetermined unit through the input unit. When the number of shift digits that omits the number of digits is input, the shift sales price is set by omitting the predetermined number of digits in the sales price, and when the amount information is given, It is characterized in that shift amount information in which a predetermined number of digits is omitted is set and a means for selecting a product with a shift sales price equal to or less than the shift amount information is validated.

  According to the present invention, in the vending machine, the input means is a remote controller electrically connected to the control means.

  According to the present invention, when the control unit inputs a shift digit number that omits the predetermined number of digits through the input unit, the amount of money is displayed in a state in which the display of the predetermined number of digits is omitted on the amount indicator. Since the information is displayed, the vending machine manufactured in Japan can be applied even in a country where the number of digits of the sales price of the product needs to be multi-price digits. Moreover, it is not necessary to develop software according to the price of the country. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost while shortening the time required for overseas expansion.

  Further, according to the present invention, the control means sets the shift sales price by omitting the predetermined number of digits in the sales price when the input of the number of shift digits omitting the predetermined number of digits is performed through the input means. And when the amount information is given, the shift amount information in which the predetermined number of digits in the amount information is omitted is set and the product selection means for the shift sales price below the shift amount information is validated. A vending machine manufactured in Japan can be applied even in a country where the number of digits of the sales price needs to be a multi-price digit. Moreover, it is not necessary to develop software according to the price of the country. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost while shortening the time required for overseas expansion.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing main components of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of the money amount display shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the remote controller shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the sales control processing executed by the control means shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the money amount display 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.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing main components of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The vending machine 1 illustrated here sells beverages in containers such as canned beverages and beverages in plastic bottles as products. Although not shown in the figure, the main body cabinet of the vending machine 1 is provided with a plurality of product storage racks, and columns are set in these product storage racks. The column is a storage unit in which the same type of product is stored, and one or a plurality of product storage racks corresponds to the product to be sold.

  The merchandise storage rack is provided with a bend mech 10 for performing payout control of the merchandise stored in each of the merchandise storage racks, and a sell-out sensor 12 for detecting the sold-out of the merchandise in each bend mech 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 1 is provided with a product selection button 14 and a sold-out lamp 16 corresponding to a column, as well as an amount display 18 and a money processing device 20.

  The product selection button 14 is a selection means for the user to select a purchased product, and is not shown in the figure, but is arranged with a product sample on the front surface of the main body cabinet. Each product selection button 14 outputs an output signal to the control means 40 described later when pressed by the user. The sold-out lamp 16 is for displaying whether or not the product can be sold to the user, and is provided corresponding to each product selection button 14.

  The amount display 18 is for displaying data necessary for purchasing a product, such as the amount of money to be input, and can display up to 5 digits as shown in FIG. The money processing device 20 is referred to as a coin mechanism or bill validator. When money is inserted by a user, the money processing device 20 discriminates the money and outputs the discrimination result to the control means 40 as money information. It is.

  The vending machine 1 is provided with a remote controller 30. The remote controller 30 is an input means for performing various settings and confirmations related to product sales such as column settings for product storage racks, correspondence between columns and product selection buttons 14, and sales price settings. As shown in FIG. 3, the remote controller 30 includes an input unit 31 such as various function keys and cursor keys, and a display unit 32 such as a liquid crystal display. The remote controller 30 can input the number of shift digits omitting a predetermined number of digits as a characteristic function. Such a remote controller 30 is operated by a product replenisher called an administrator of the vending machine 1 or a route operator, and is operated only when the locked outer door is unlocked and opened. It is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control means 40 of the vending machine 1 stores the output signal from the sold-out sensor 12, the product selection button 14, the money processing apparatus 20, and the remote controller 30 in advance in the memory 42. Controls the operations of the bend mech 10, the sold-out lamp 16, the price indicator 18, and the remote controller 30 of the product storage rack according to programs and data, and includes an input control unit 40a, an output control unit 40b, and a sales control unit 40c. Yes.

  When the input unit 31 of the remote controller 30 is operated, the input control unit 40a gives a command corresponding to the input operation to each unit. The output control unit 40b performs a desired display through the money amount display 18 or the display unit 32 when a display command is given.

  The sales control unit 40c performs overall control of processing related to sales of products. More specifically, when the column is set for the product storage rack by the operation of the input unit 31, and the product selection button 14 and the sales price are further associated with the column, the sales control unit 40c sets the column number. , The product storage rack, the product selection button 14, and the sales price are associated with each other and stored in the memory 42.

  In addition, when money is inserted into the money processing apparatus 20, the sales control unit 40c activates the corresponding product selection button 14 when the inserted money becomes equal to or higher than the selling price. When the activated product selection button 14 is pressed, the sales control unit 40c operates the bend mec 10 provided in the product storage rack of the corresponding column to perform the operation of paying out one product.

  Further, the sales control unit 40c monitors the products in the product storage rack through the sold-out sensor 12, and when detecting that there is no product, the sales control unit 40c turns on the sold-out lamp 16 of the corresponding column to notify that the product is sold out. I do.

  As will be described in detail later, the sales control unit 40c sets the shift sales price and the shift amount information when the shift digit number is input through the remote controller 30.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the sales control processing executed by the control means 40 shown in FIG. The operation of the vending machine 1 to be applied will be described while explaining the sales control process. Note that this sales control processing is described as being performed not in Japan but in the Republic of Indonesia, for example.

  In this sales control process, when the outer door is unlocked / opened and the shift digit number is input at the input unit 31 of the remote controller 30 (step S101: Yes), the control means 40 passes each sales price through the sales control unit 40c. A shift sales price is set for (Step S102). This will be specifically described. For example, when the number of shift digits omitting, for example, three digits is input in the input unit 31, the shift sale price is set by omitting the three digits in the sale price. That is, when the selling price is “10000 (Rupia)”, the shift selling price is set to “10”.

  After performing the shift sales price for each product in this way, the outer door is closed and locked to enter a standby state and waits for the insertion of money (step S103).

  When money is inserted into the money processing apparatus 20, the money entered is discriminated and the amount information as a result of the discrimination is input (step S103: Yes), the control means 40 sets the shift amount information through the sales control unit 40c. This is performed (step S104). That is, the control means 40 sets the shift amount information in which the three digits in the amount information are omitted according to the input of the number of shift digits in step S101. Specifically, when the amount information is “10000 (Rupia)”, the shift amount information is set to “10”.

  The control means 40 that has set the shift amount information in this way sends a display command for the shift amount information from the sales control unit 40c (step S105). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the shift amount information is displayed on the amount display 18 through the output control unit 40b.

  Then, the control means 40 activates the product selection button 14 whose shift sales price is equal to or less than the shift amount information through the sales control unit 40c (step S106), and waits for a pressing operation of any activated product selection button 14 ( Step S107). When one of the activated product selection buttons 14 is pressed (step S107: Yes), the sales control unit 40c sends a payout command to the bend mech 10 provided in the product storage rack of the corresponding column (step S107). S108). Thus, one product is paid out and can be taken out by the user. Thereafter, if there is a change, the procedure is returned after the return and the current process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the vending machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the control means 40 inputs the number of shift digits through the remote controller 30, the amount display 18 is displayed. Since the shift amount information is displayed, a product manufactured in Japan can be applied even in a country where the number of digits of the sales price of the product needs to be a multiple price digit. Moreover, it is not necessary to develop software according to the price of the country. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost while shortening the time required for overseas expansion.

  According to the vending machine 1, when the control means 40 inputs the number of shift digits through the remote controller 30, the shift sales price is set and the shift amount information is set to be equal to or less than the shift amount information. Since the product selection button 14 of the product with the shift sales price is activated, the product manufactured in Japan can be applied even in a country where the number of digits of the sales price of the product needs to be multi-price digits. . Moreover, it is not necessary to develop software according to the price of the country. Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost while shortening the time required for overseas expansion.

  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 above-described embodiment, the remote controller 30 has been described as the input unit. However, in the present invention, the input unit is not limited to the remote controller 30 and a host device that manages a plurality of vending machines may be configured.

  In the above-described embodiment, the money processing apparatus 20 has been described as the money processing means. However, in the present invention, the money processing means performs a settlement for electronic settlement with a recording medium held in a predetermined communicable area. May be provided to output the money amount information read from the recording medium through the settlement unit to the control means.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 10 Bendmec 12 Sold-out sensor 14 Product selection button 16 Sold-out lamp 18 Amount indicator 20 Money processing apparatus 30 Remote controller 40 Control means 42 Memory

Claims (4)

Money processing means for depositing money;
Control means for displaying the amount information on the amount indicator when the amount information given by the money processing means is given;
In vending machines that sell products stored inside,
The control means displays the amount information in a state in which the display of the predetermined number of digits is omitted on the amount display when the number of shift digits omitting the predetermined number of digits is input through the input means. Vending machine characterized by letting   The money processing unit includes a settlement unit that performs electronic settlement with a recording medium held in a predetermined communicable area, and outputs money amount information read from the recording medium through the settlement unit to the control unit. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein: Money processing means for depositing money;
Control means for activating a selection means for selecting a product having a sales price equal to or less than the amount information when the amount information received by the money processing means is provided; and
In the vending machine that sells the product when the product is selected through the activated selection means,
The control means sets a shift sales price by omitting a predetermined number of digits in the sales price when a shift digit number omitting a predetermined number of digits is input through the input means, and the amount information A shift amount information in which a predetermined number of digits in the amount information is omitted, and a means for selecting a product with a shift sales price below the shift amount information is validated. .   The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the input means is a remote controller electrically connected to the control means.

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