JP2019196255A - Article providing device and article providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress a time required until an article is provided to be short.SOLUTION: An article providing device comprises a plurality of storage parts where each of a plurality of kinds of articles is stored, and a unit which, when input for designating the article is received, takes the designated article from the storage part to move to a predetermined providing place, and has a constitution including a control part which, based on a predetermined condition, partitions an installation area, in which a plurality of the storage parts are installed, into a first area and a second area, and by controlling the unit, stores the article into each storage part of partitioned each area. The control part stores the article relating to which an article providing time required from receiving the input for designating the article to the time that the unit takes the article from the storage part and moves to the providing place is wanted to be shorter than an article providing time of the article stored into the storage part of the second area, into the storage part of the first area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an article providing apparatus and an article providing system.

  An article providing apparatus for providing an article is known. Patent Document 1 describes a vending machine as a specific example of this type of article providing apparatus.

  The vending machine described in Patent Document 1 performs the origin finding operation of the conveyor that conveys the product every time a coin is inserted, and after confirming this origination, conveys the product to the product sales outlet at the shortest distance via the home position. By doing so, the time from when the purchaser inserts a coin until the product is conveyed to the product sales port is shortened.

JP-A-6-195557

  As in the vending machine exemplified in Patent Document 1, there is a constant demand for reducing the time required for providing an article in the article providing apparatus. The present invention aims to further improve the article providing apparatus. That is, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an article providing apparatus and an article provided with the article providing apparatus that are suitable for shortening the time taken to provide the article. To provide a provision system.

  When an article providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention receives a plurality of storage units in which each of a plurality of types of articles is stored and an input for designating an article, the article providing apparatus takes a designated article from the storage unit and performs predetermined processing. A unit that is moved to a provision place, and, based on a predetermined condition, divides an installation area in which a plurality of storage units are installed into a first area and a second area, and controls the unit to Each storage unit in each area has a control unit that stores articles. From the article provision time of the article stored in the storage section of the second area, the control section determines the article provision time required for the unit to take the article from the storage section and move it to the provision place after receiving the input for designating the article. The article to be shortened is stored in the storage unit of the first area.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide articles stored in the first area (for example, products with high sales and products expected to be purchased by customers) in a shorter time.

  The article providing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a storage unit that stores article sales information. In this case, the control unit divides the installation area into the first area and the second area based on the sales information stored in the storage unit, and stores articles with high sales in the storage unit in the first area.

  The sales information is, for example, sales information for each of a plurality of types of articles, and includes sales information for each predetermined period. In this case, the control unit divides the installation area into the first area and the second area and divides the second area into the preparation area and the inventory area based on the sales information. Articles with high sales are stored in the storage area in the first area, articles with high sales in the next period are stored in the preparation area, and articles not stored in the first area and the preparation area are stored in the storage section in the inventory area.

  The control unit divides an inventory area corresponding to each of a plurality of periods after the period including the current time from the second area, and stores each inventory area in each storage unit of the partitioned inventory areas. It is good also as a structure which stores the articles | goods with high sales in the corresponding period.

  The control unit is waiting for the unit in the first area, and when the period including the current time moves to the next period, the first area is set as the elapsed area and the next time when the current time is included. It is good also as a structure which sets the preparation area corresponding to this period to a 1st area, moves a unit to the set 1st area, and waits for a unit in the 1st area of a movement destination.

  When the article specified by the input is not in the storage unit of the first area, the control unit checks whether or not the specified article is in the storage unit of the progress area, and the specified article is the storage unit of the progress area. In such a case, the designated article may be moved from the storage unit of the progress area to the provision place using the unit.

  The sales information for each period includes, for example, any one of sales information for each time zone, sales information for each day of the week, and sales information for each day.

  The article providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a storage unit that stores information on an article that the article provider wants to provide. In this case, the control unit divides the third area from the second area based on the information stored in the storage unit, and stores the article that the provider of the article wants to provide in the storage unit of the third area. Further, the control unit divides the installation area into the first area and the second area based on the information stored in the storage unit, and stores the article that the provider of the article wants to provide in the storage unit of the first area. It is good also as a structure.

  The article providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a holding unit that holds information of a time period in which there is a low possibility of receiving an input specifying an article. In this case, the control unit may determine whether or not it is a time zone in which there is a low possibility of receiving an input for specifying an article based on information held in the holding unit, and may receive an input for specifying the article. If it determines with it being a low time slot | zone, a 2nd area will be subdivided based on predetermined conditions, and goods will be stored in the storage part of a 2nd area according to the result of a re-segmentation.

  An article providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires information about a candidate who is expected to receive provision of an article, and a provision applicant whose information is acquired by the acquisition unit It is good also as a structure provided with the accumulation | storage part which accumulate | stores the information of the articles | goods expected to receive provision. In this case, the control unit may be configured to store, in the storage unit of the first area, an article that is expected to be provided by the provision applicant based on information stored in the storage unit.

  The accumulating unit may be configured to accumulate history information of an article that the applicant for providing actually desires to receive.

  The control unit determines whether or not the provision applicant desires to receive provision of the article stored in the storage unit of the first area, and the provision candidate desires for the article stored in the storage unit of the first area. If it is determined that it did not wish to receive the provision, it is determined whether the article needs to be moved from the first area to the second area, and if it is determined that the article needs to be moved to the second area, the unit It is good also as a structure which moves goods to the storage part of a 2nd area from the storage part of a 1st area using.

  The control unit determines whether or not more than a predetermined number of articles are stored in the first area, and if it is determined that more than a predetermined number of articles are stored in the first area, the control unit should move from the first area to the second area. The article may be specified, and the specified article may be moved from the storage unit in the first area to the storage unit in the second area using a unit.

  The article is, for example, a box-shaped article.

  An article providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a detection unit installed at a place where a person who wants to provide passes and the article providing apparatus described above. The acquisition unit determines whether or not the person detected by the detection unit is a provision applicant. When the control unit determines that the person detected by the detection unit is a provision requester, the control unit selects an article expected to be provided by the provision requester based on information stored in the storage unit. Store in the storage area of the first area.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, there are provided an article providing apparatus and an article providing system that are suitable for reducing the time taken to provide an article.

It is a perspective view which shows the payout apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the dispensing device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which expands and shows the structure of a part of opening vicinity provided in the front panel part of the dispensing device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the one part apparatus connected to the payout apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and a payout apparatus. It is a figure explaining the goods placement operation | movement by the conveyance unit with which the payout apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention was equipped. It is a figure explaining goods discharge operation by the conveyance unit concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the goods arrangement | positioning process A performed with the payout apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the merchandise arrangement | positioning process A of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the merchandise arrangement | positioning process A of FIG. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the goods arrangement | positioning process B performed with the payout apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the merchandise arrangement | positioning process B of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an article providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An article providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a dispensing apparatus such as a vending machine installed in a store, for example, and stores a product designated by a customer with an inventory stocker (including a plurality of storage units) inside the vending machine. ) And discharging from the discharge port, the product stored in the replenishment stocker (having a plurality of storage units) is automatically replenished to the stocker. Therefore, the work burden on the operator when replenishing the articles is reduced as compared with the conventional dispensing device.

  In the present embodiment, when a product is put into the dispensing device by an operator, it is expressed as “a product is replenished (to a supplement stocker)”, and a stocker (a supplement stocker or a stock stocker) in the dispensing device. When the product taken out of the product is put into another empty stocker (stock stocker), it is expressed as “the product is stored in (stock stocker)”. In addition, when the product is put into the dispensing device by the operator, the product is still put in and stored in the stocker. Therefore, in this case as well, it is expressed as “the product is stored in (replenishment stocker)”. it can.

  The article providing device according to the present invention is not limited to a dispensing device such as a vending machine. The article providing apparatus according to the present invention is, for example, a device for automatically taking out a medicine described in a prescription from a medicine shelf installed in a pharmacy or the like, or automatically supplementing a medicine shelf with a medicine shelf, The clothes displayed on the shelves in the store may be automatically taken out or the clothes may be automatically replenished to the shelves.

  As described above, the article providing apparatus according to the present invention includes various forms of article providing apparatuses. Therefore, the articles provided by the article providing apparatus are not limited to products such as cigarettes and drinking water that are generally sold by the dispensing apparatus, but include a variety of items such as medicines and clothes listed in the above examples, miscellaneous goods, toys, foods, etc. It may be a commodity. In addition, this article is not limited to a product, and may be a personal item or another article. That is, the article providing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to one that sells merchandise, but for example, clothes, books, tableware / foods are automatically taken out from a basket, bookshelf, pantry installed at home, or clothes taken out. Or a book and tableware may be automatically returned to the basket, bookshelf, and pantry, or food may be automatically replenished to the pantry. Further, the article stored in the rental warehouse may be automatically taken out from the rental warehouse, or the article desired to be stored may be automatically stored in the rental warehouse.

  FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an appearance of a dispensing device (article providing device) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the dispensing device 1, an opening 10 aa is formed in the front panel portion 10 a of the housing 10. An operator can detachably install a plurality of replenishment stockers 22 inside the dispensing device 1 through an opening 10aa formed in the front panel portion 10a. FIG. 1B is a perspective view when the replenishment stocker 22 is removed with respect to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the dispensing device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, in each drawing including FIG. 2, main components necessary for the description of the present embodiment are illustrated, and components that are not particularly necessary for the description of the present embodiment are appropriately illustrated. Omitted. For the sake of convenience, FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of only the transport unit 100 (described later).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 includes a front panel unit 10a, a back panel unit 10b, and a side panel unit 10c. By assembling each panel part, the box-shaped housing | casing 10 is completed (refer Fig.1 (a) and FIG.1 (b)).

  Two pairs of racks 20 are installed inside the housing 10. A pair of them is installed side by side on the front panel unit 10a side, and the other pair is installed side by side on the back panel unit 10b side.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a part of the configuration near the opening 10aa formed in the front panel portion 10a. The lower rack 20 on the front panel portion 10a side is installed inside the housing 10 and at a position exposed from the opening 10aa. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of guides 20a are provided at equal intervals on the top and bottom surfaces (opposite surfaces of the top surface) of the lower rack 20 on the front panel portion 10a side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the replenishment stocker 22 is formed with a plurality of (10 in the example of FIG. 3) shelf boards 22a arranged in the vertical direction. On each shelf board 22a, products to be replenished in the dispensing device 1 (more specifically, stock stocker 24) are placed. The product sold by the dispensing device 1 according to the present embodiment is a box-shaped article such as a cigarette and has many types (brands).

  The replenishment stocker 22 is provided with a handle 22 b for an operator to hold the replenishment stocker 22. The operator holds the handle 22 b and installs the replenishment stocker 22 in the rack 20. Each replenishment stocker 22 is guided by two pairs of upper and lower guides 20a (a pair provided on the top surface and a pair provided on the bottom surface), and stoppers 20b provided on each surface of the top surface and the bottom surface (in FIG. 3). , Refer to the enlarged view) to install in the rack 20. That is, the replenishment stocker 22 is supported in the housing 10 via the rack 20.

  On the bottom surface of the rack 20, a detection switch 20c (see an enlarged view in FIG. 3) is provided. When the replenishment stocker 22 is installed in the rack 20, the detection switch 20c is pushed by the replenishment stocker 22, and the detection switch 20c is turned on. That is, the detection switch 20 c detects that the replenishment stocker 22 is installed in the rack 20.

  The detection switch 20 c detects that the replenishment stocker 22 is installed in the rack 20, thereby detecting that the shelf board 22 a on which products are placed is installed in a predetermined replenishment place.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a circuit board 30 on which a controller (control unit) 300 is mounted is installed in the housing 10. The controller 300 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) that controls the payout device 1, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a control program executed by the CPU, and various types necessary for executing the control program. A RAM (Random Access Memory) or the like for temporarily storing data is included. When the controller 300 detects that the detection switch 20c is turned on, the controller 300 detects that the replenishment stocker 22 is installed in the rack 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an inventory stocker 24 is detachably installed in each rack 20 on the upper stage on the front panel unit 10a side, and on the upper and lower stages on the rear panel unit 10b side. The rack 20 and the stock stocker 24 have the same configuration as the lower rack 20 and the replenishment stocker 22 on the front panel portion 10a side. Therefore, detailed description of the rack 20 and the stock stocker 24 will be omitted or simplified as appropriate. Note that the stocker 24 is not removed from the rack 20 during normal operation of the dispensing device 1, and is removed from the rack 20 if necessary, for example, during maintenance.

  In the space between each rack (and each stocker) installed on the front panel unit 10a side and each rack (and each stocker) installed on the back panel unit 10b side, there are a transport unit 100 (unit) and a rail unit. 200 is installed (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 1B). Hereinafter, this space is referred to as a “movable space” for convenience.

  The rail unit 200 is provided with an XY rail portion 210. The XY rail unit 210 supports the transport unit 100 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction (X direction in the drawing), and Y supports the X rail unit 220 so as to be movable in the vertical direction (Y direction in the drawing). A rail portion 230 is provided. That is, the transport unit 100 is supported by the rail unit 200 so as to be movable in a two-dimensional direction (X direction, Y direction) within the movable space. For convenience of explanation, the position in the X direction is denoted as “X position”, and the position in the Y direction is denoted as “Y position”.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the dispensing device 1 (mainly components related to the operation of the transport unit 100) and some devices connected to the dispensing device 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the payout device 1 includes a controller 300, a memory 312, an X motor driver 322, an X initial position detection switch 324, an X position detection encoder 326, a Y motor driver 332, and a Y initial position. A detection switch 334, a Y position detection encoder 336, and a transport microcomputer 340 are provided. A rotation motor driver 352, a rotational position detection encoder 354, an arm motor driver 362, and a roller motor driver 372 are connected to the transport microcomputer 340.

  An X motor 322M is connected to the X motor driver 322. The controller 300 controls driving of the X motor 322M via the X motor driver 322. The driving force of the X motor 322M is transmitted to the transport unit 100 via a transmission mechanism (not shown). Thereby, the conveyance unit 100 moves on the X rail part 220 in the X direction. The controller 300 detects the initial position of the transport unit 100 in the X direction from the output of the X initial position detection switch 324, and determines the X position of the transport unit 100 on the X rail unit 220 from the output of the X position detection encoder 326. Detect.

  A Y motor 332M is connected to the Y motor driver 332. The controller 300 controls the drive of the Y motor 332M via the Y motor driver 332. The driving force of the Y motor 332M is transmitted to the X rail unit 220 via a transmission mechanism (not shown). Thereby, the X rail part 220 (and the transport unit 100 supported by the X rail part 220) moves in the Y direction. The controller 300 detects the initial position of the transport unit 100 in the Y direction from the output of the Y initial position detection switch 334, and determines the Y position of the transport unit 100 on the Y rail unit 230 from the output of the Y position detection encoder 336. Detect.

  As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, an illumination lamp 50 is embedded in the front panel portion 10a. The controller 300 controls the lighting state (color, continuous lighting, blinking, etc.) of the illumination lamp 50, so that the status of the payout device 1 (for example, product shortage, product replenishment, product sales, product removal, Discharge completion) is notified to workers and customers. A simple animation may be played by the illumination lamp 50 in order to reduce customer stress during the waiting time from the ordering operation to the product discharge.

  For example, the controller 300 replenishes the dispensing device 1 with a product when the number of products stored in the dispensing device 1 falls below a certain number, or when the stock of popular products falls below a certain number. Is determined to be necessary. When the controller 300 determines that the product needs to be replenished, the controller 300 controls the lighting state of the illumination lamp 50 to notify the user of this.

  When the operator determines that the product needs to be replenished by the illumination lamp 50, the worker starts a product replenishment operation. Specifically, an operator places a product to be replenished in the dispensing device 1 on each shelf plate 22a of the replenishment stocker 22, and installs the replenishment stocker 22 in the rack 20 through the opening 10aa of the front panel portion 10a.

  When the controller 300 detects that the detection switch 20c is turned on (installation of the replenishment stocker 22 in the rack 20), the controller 300 controls the transport unit 100 and the rail unit 200 so that the products placed on the respective shelf plates 22a of the replenishment stocker 22 are displayed. One is stored in each shelf 24a of the stocker 24.

  Specifically, the rail unit 200 moves the transport unit 100 to a position facing the shelf plate 22 a of the replenishment stocker 22. The transport microcomputer 340 communicates with the controller 300 to control the operation of the transport unit 100. Under the control of the transport microcomputer 340, the transport unit 100 performs a product picking operation for taking a product placed on the shelf plate at the opposite position and a product placing operation for placing the product on the shelf plate at the corresponding position.

  FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D are diagrams for explaining the product placement operation by the transport unit 100. The product placement operation will be described with reference to FIG. In the following, for the sake of convenience, a symbol I is attached to the product.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the transport unit 100 includes a unit housing 110. The unit housing 110 is provided with a pair of arms 120, a roller 130, and a push unit 140.

  The arm motor 362M is connected to the arm motor driver 362. The transport microcomputer 340 drives and controls the arm motor 362M via the arm motor driver 362. The driving force of the arm motor 362M is transmitted to the arm 120 via a transmission mechanism (not shown). As a result, the arm 120 is operable between a pull-out position where the arm 120 is pulled out from the product storage area 110a in the unit housing 110 to the shelf plate of each stocker and a pull-in position where the arm 120 is pulled into the product storage area 110a. The arm 120 is stopped at the pull-in position during the product placement operation.

  A roller motor 372M is connected to the roller motor driver 372. The conveyance microcomputer 340 drives and controls the roller motor 372M via the roller motor driver 372. The driving force of the roller motor 372M is transmitted to the roller 130 via a transmission mechanism (not shown). Thereby, the roller 130 rotates in the forward rotation direction or the reverse rotation direction. The roller 130 rotates in the reverse direction to assist the conveyance operation of the product I from the product storage area 110a to the shelf board of each stocker, and rotates in the forward rotation direction to move the product storage area from the shelf board of each stocker. Assisting the transportation operation of the product I to 110a.

  During the product placement operation, the roller 130 rotates in the reverse direction. The product I placed in the product storage area 110a is conveyed toward the shelf plate 22a (or 24a) on the roller 130 that rotates in the reverse direction, and is pushed out of the product storage area 110a by the push unit 140 that is operated by a motor (not shown). (Refer to FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C), it moves to the shelf 22a (or 24a) (see FIG. 5D).

  At the time of the product picking operation, the pair of arms 120 are pulled out from the pull-in position to the pull-out position, and the product I placed on the shelf board 22a (or 24a) is pinched (gripped). When the pair of arms 120 is pulled up to the pull-in position in a state where the product I is held, the pair of arms 120 releases the holding of the product I. At this timing, the roller 130 rotates in the forward rotation direction and conveys the product I to the product storage area 110a.

  The transport unit 100 is provided with a reading device (not visible on the drawing) that reads information on the product I placed in the product storage area 110a by the product picking operation. The reading device is a barcode reader, for example, and reads the barcode printed on the product I. Information on the product I read by the reading device is output to the controller 300.

  The transport unit 100 is moved to a position opposite to the shelf 24a of the stocker 24 when the product I is taken from the shelf 22a of the replenishment stocker 22 by the product picking operation. Next, the transport unit 100 places the product I taken from the shelf 22a on the shelf 24a at the opposite position by the product placement operation.

  The controller 300 holds the address (information on the X position and the Y position) of each shelf board 24 a provided in the stocker 24. When the product I is placed on the shelf 24a by the product placement operation, the controller 300 stores information on the product I acquired from the reading device (in other words, the product I placed on the shelf 24a) and the shelf on which the product I is placed. The address of the plate 24a is associated and stored in the memory 312. In other words, the memory 312 stores product inventory information indicating which product is placed on which shelf 24a.

  An information processing terminal 600 such as a tablet is wired or wirelessly connected to the dispensing device 1. The customer can operate the information processing terminal 600 and specify the product I desired to purchase. When the controller 300 receives information on the product I designated by the customer from the information processing terminal 600, the controller 300 communicates with the transport microcomputer 340. Based on the result of communication with the controller 300, the transport microcomputer 340 performs a product discharge operation of taking the product I designated by the customer from the stocker 24 and paying out from the payout device 1.

  The product discharge operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (c).

  The transport microcomputer 340 moves the transport unit 100 to the address (shelf plate 24a) where the product I indicated by the information received from the controller 300 is placed, and takes the product placed on the destination shelf plate 24a. It accommodates in 100 (refer Fig.6 (a)).

  The rotation motor 352M is connected to the rotation motor driver 352. The transport microcomputer 340 drives and controls the rotation motor 352M via the rotation motor driver 352. The driving force of the rotary motor 352M is transmitted to the transport unit 100 via a transmission mechanism (not shown). As a result, the transport unit 100 rotates around the axis in the Y direction. The conveyance microcomputer 340 detects the rotation angle position around the axis in the Y direction of the conveyance unit 100 from the output of the rotation position detection encoder 354.

  The transport unit 100 rotates around the axis in the Y direction from the direction facing the destination shelf 24a to the non-facing direction (see FIG. 6B), and performs the same operation as the product placement operation. The product I is pushed out from the product storage area 110a and dropped downward (see FIG. 6C). A discharge shooter 40 is installed below the transport unit 100. The product I dropped on the discharge shooter 40 is discharged to the outside (providing place) of the payout device 1 from the discharge port 42 provided at the lower portion of the payout device 1. As a result, the customer can receive the product I desired to purchase. Depending on the discharge position of the product I and the sales form of the product I, it may be difficult for the customer to receive the product I. In this case, the employee may receive the product I that the customer wishes to purchase and give it to the customer.

  At this time, depending on the position of the shelf 24a in which the product I is stored, the transport unit 100 needs to move a long distance in the dispensing device 1. In this case, the time required for the product I to be discharged after the customer performs the ordering operation (that is, the product provision time required for the product I to be provided to the customer) becomes long. In the present embodiment, in order to keep the product provision time short, the controller 300 performs the next product placement process. Here, two examples of product placement processing will be described.

<< Product placement processing A >>
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of the product arrangement process A. 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining the commodity arrangement processing A, and are diagrams schematically showing the stock stocker 24 installed side by side on the back panel portion 10b side. In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, for the sake of convenience, an address is assigned to each shelf 24a. The lower half (addresses (X1, Y1) to (X10, Y10)) indicates the shelf plate 24a of the stocker 24 installed in the lower rack 20, and the upper half (addresses (X1, Y11) to (X10, Y20)). ) Shows the shelf 24a of the stocker 24 installed in the upper rack 20.

  FIG. 8 shows a state in which the product I is not stored in all the shelf boards 24a of all the stock stockers 24. In FIG. 9, the shelf board 24 a to which numbers and letters are attached indicates that the product I is stored. The numbers indicate the sales rank of the product I stored on the shelf 24a (the sales rank at the store where the dispensing device 1 is installed). For example, the shelf 24a to which “1” is attached stores the product I with the highest sales rank among the products I sold by the store (dispensing device 1). New products are stored in the shelf 24a with “new”, and campaign products are stored in the shelf with “ca”.

  On the shelf 24a marked “present”, products not stored in the inventory stocker 24 of the lower rack 20 are stored as inventory products. In the present embodiment, the stock merchandise is stored on each shelf 24 a of the stock stocker 24 of the upper rack 20. It should be noted that products that are higher in sales order I, new products, and campaign products but are not stored in the inventory stocker 24 of the lower rack 20 are also stored as inventory products in the inventory stocker 24 of the upper rack 20. The stock products are also stored in the stock stocker 24 of the upper rack 20 on the front panel unit 10a side.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the system of the dispensing device 1 is activated (step S11), the controller 300 determines whether or not the storage of the product I has been completed (step S12). As an example, when all the products I replenished in the replenishment stocker 22 are stored in each shelf 24a of the stock stocker 24, the controller 300 determines that the storage of the products I has been completed (step S12: YES).

  The controller 300 has a built-in communication interface that can be connected to the Internet, and can access an external Web server 700. The dispensing device 1 and the Web server 700 constitute an article providing system.

  In the Web server 700, for example, sales information of the product I by the dispensing device 1 is accumulated by a POS (Point of sale) system. The Web server 700 also stores information on new products and campaign products. Information in the Web server 700 is sequentially updated to the latest information. When the store holds an event for the product I, the information in the Web server 700 is temporarily rewritten to information suitable for the event (for example, information that focuses on the product I that is to be actively sold at the event). May be.

  If the controller 300 determines in step S12 that the storage of the product I has not been completed (step S12: NO), the controller 300 accesses the Web server 700 and acquires the sales information, the new product, and the campaign product information of the product I. And stored in the memory 312 (step S13). That is, the memory 312 operates as a storage unit that stores the sales information.

  The controller 300 may store sales information of the product I from the dispensing device 1 in the memory 312. That is, the memory 312 may operate as a storage unit that stores sales information of the product I. In this case, sales information of the product I can be obtained without accessing the Web server 700. Further, when the store holds an event for the product I, store employees or the like temporarily rewrite the sales information of the product I in the memory 312 with information suitable for the event using the information processing terminal 600 or the like. Alternatively, information suitable for the event may be added to the memory 312 separately from the sales information of the product I.

  The sales information of the product I is sales information for each type of the product I (for example, for each brand), and includes sales information for each predetermined period. The sales information for each predetermined period is, for example, sales information for each time zone, sales information for each day of the week, and sales information for each day. In this embodiment, the sales information of the product I includes the Monday morning time zone (5:00 to 12:00), Monday afternoon time zone (12:00 to 21:00), and Monday night time zone (21:00 to 21:00). Sales information for each time zone (by day of the week) such as Tuesday morning 5 o'clock, etc., and information indicating the type and number of products I sold at each time zone It has become.

  Based on the sales information acquired from the Web server 700, the controller 300 stores the product I supplemented in the supplement stocker 22 in the inventory stocker 24 (step S14). Specifically, the controller 300 stores the product I in the replenishment stocker 22 in the inventory stocker 24 according to the sales information in the time zone including the current time. Next, the controller 300 stores the product I in the replenishment stocker 22 in the stock stocker 24 according to the sales information for the next time zone. The controller 300 performs this storing process according to the sales information of each time zone.

In the example of FIG. 9A, the controller 300 follows the sales information in the morning time zone on Monday, and has three products I with the first sales, five products I with the fifth sales, and products I with the sixth sales. 2, 7 sales 7-position of the product I, 4 pieces of items I 8 of sales, and stores the shelf plate 24a of the area _{a 1.} According to the sales information in the afternoon of Monday, the controller 300 has three products I with the second highest sales, two products I with the third highest sales, five products I with the fourth highest sales, and products with the sixth sales. two I, 3 pieces of items I 8 of sales, and stores the shelf plate 24a of the area _{a 2.} According to the sales information on Monday night, the controller 300 has 8 products I with the top sales, 8 products I with the 2nd sales, 2 products I with the 3rd sales and 4 products with the 4th sales. two I, 1 pieces of items I sales 5-position, and stores it in the shelf board 24a of the area _{a 3.} The controller 300 follows the sales information in the morning hours on Tuesday, one product I with the highest sales, two products I with the second sales, two products I with the fourth sales, and the products with the seventh sales. 1 to I, one sales position 9 product I, stored in the shelf board 24a of the area _{a 4.}

  In step S14, when the controller 300 finishes storing the product I according to the sales information of each of the plurality of time zones, the shelf in which the product I is not stored among the stock stockers 24 installed in the lower rack 20 is stored. The new product and the campaign product are stored on the plate 24a.

In step S14, when the storage of the new product and the campaign product is completed, the controller 300 stores the remaining product I in the replenishment stocker 22 in each shelf 24a. When all the products I remaining in the inventory stocker 22 are stored in the inventory stocker 24, the controller 300 determines that the storage of the products I has been completed (step S12: YES), and the time zone including the current time is determined. The transport unit 100 is moved into an area (for example, area A ₁ if it is 8 o'clock on Monday), and the transport unit 100 is put on standby in this destination area (step S15). The transport unit 100 stands by at the center of the destination area, for example.

  In the present embodiment, of the entire installation area where the stocker 24 is installed, the area near the discharge port 42 and on which the transport unit 100 stands by is an area in which products I with high sales are stored in the time zone including the current time. The product I, new product, campaign product, and inventory product with high sales in other time zones are stored in the other area (second area).

  Further, in the present embodiment, in the second area, an area near the discharge port 42 and in which the transport unit 100 waits in the future (details will be described later) has high sales in the time zone after the time zone including the current time. The product I is stored as an area (preparation area), an area far from the discharge port 42 is partitioned as an inventory product (stock area), and an area located between the preparation area and the stock area The area is defined as an area (third area) in which new products and campaign products are stored.

  New products and campaign products are examples of products that the store wants to actively sell. In this third area, not only new products and campaign products but also other products that the store wants to actively sell may be stored. In order to motivate customers to purchase, advertisements such as new products and campaign products may be displayed on the screen of the information processing terminal 600.

  In the stock area, for example, a product I (for example, a product I with a high sales ranking) that is highly likely to be stored in the first area, the preparation area, or the third area is stored in a lower position (close to the discharge port 42). The Thereby, the movement distance of the conveyance unit 100 at the time of storing the goods I in a stock area in a 1st area, a preparation area, and a 3rd area is restrained short.

  The controller 300 obtains the current time from a built-in clock or the Internet, and determines whether or not the time zone including the current time has shifted to the next time zone (for example, Monday morning time zone to afternoon time zone) ( Step S16).

  If the controller 300 determines in step S16 that the time zone including the current time has shifted to the next time zone (step S16: YES), the transport unit 100 is placed in the area of the next time zone in which the current time is included. And the transport unit 100 is put on standby in this destination area (step S17). That is, the controller 300 moves the transport unit 100 to a next time zone area (preparation area) in which the current time is included, and waits for this movement / standby destination preparation area. Is set in an area (first area) in which a product I with high sales is stored in a time zone including, and the first area in which the transport unit 100 is waiting until immediately before is set as an elapsed area.

  If the controller 300 determines in step S16 that the time zone including the current time has not shifted to the next time zone (step S16: NO), the elapsed area, that is, the area that has been defined as the first area in the previous time zone. Is determined to be in the installation area (step S18).

  If controller 300 determines in step S18 that the elapsed area is not within the installation area (step S18: NO), controller 300 determines whether or not an ordering operation for product I has been received (step S19).

  In step S19, if the controller 300 determines that an ordering operation for the product I has been received (step S19: YES), the controller 300 determines whether the ordered product I (ordered product I) is stored in the first area. (Step S20).

  In step S20, if the controller 300 determines that the ordered product I is stored in the first area (step S20: YES), the controller 300 controls the transport unit 100 via the transport microcomputer 340. Specifically, the transport unit 100 moves to a position opposite to the shelf 24a in the first area where the ordered product I is stored, performs a product picking operation and a product discharging operation, and removes the ordered product I from the discharge port 42. (Step S21).

  In the present embodiment, the product I with high sales (highly likely to be ordered now) in the time zone including the current time is stored in advance near the standby position (in the first area) of the transport unit 100. When an order is placed on such a product I, the transport unit 100 can take the ordered product I from the shelf 24a by moving a small distance. Since the moving distance of the transport unit 100 can be kept short, the product provision time can be kept short. Further, such a product I is stored in advance at a position close to the discharge port 42. Therefore, the time required for the ordered product I dropped from the transport unit 100 to reach the discharge port 42 is reduced, and as a result, the product provision time is reduced.

  For example, when the product I is a cigarette or the like, the customer tends to purchase a fixed number of brands. Therefore, the goods I stored in the first area based on past sales information are highly likely to be sold. When the product I is a cigarette or the like, by storing the product I in the first area in advance based on the sales information, the moving cost of the transport unit 100 when receiving an order for the product I is more efficient. Can be suppressed.

In the example of FIG. 9, several products I are left in each time zone on Monday morning and afternoon, and the products I in the areas A ₁ and A ₂ are intensively sold (FIG. 9B and FIG. 9). c)).

  If the controller 300 determines in step S20 that the ordered product I is not stored in the first area (step S20: NO), the controller 300 determines whether the ordered product I is in the elapsed area (step S22).

  In step S22, when the controller 300 determines that the ordered product I is in the elapsed area (step S22: YES), the controller 300 controls the transport unit 100 via the transport microcomputer 340. Specifically, the transport unit 100 moves to a position opposite to the shelf 24a in the progress area where the ordered product I is stored, performs a product picking operation and a product discharging operation, and removes the ordered product I from the discharge port 42. It is discharged (step S23).

  The elapsed area is relatively close to the first area. Therefore, the moving distance of the transport unit 100 can be kept short, and the product provision time can be kept short. Further, since the progress area is close to the discharge port 42, the time until the ordered product I that has dropped from the transport unit 100 reaches the discharge port 42 is reduced, and as a result, the product provision time is reduced. Further, by discharging the products I in the progress area and reducing the number of products I in the progress area, the movement cost of the transport unit 100 when the preparation area is repartitioned (described later) can be suppressed.

  In step S22, when the controller 300 determines that the ordered product I is not in the elapsed area (step S22: NO), the controller 300 controls the transport unit 100 via the transport microcomputer 340. Specifically, the transport unit 100 searches for the ordered product I from the areas other than the first area and the elapsed area, moves to the position opposite to the shelf 24a in which the searched ordered product I is stored, A product picking operation and a product discharging operation are performed, and the ordered product I is discharged from the discharge port 42 (step S24).

  The information stored in the memory 312 in step S13 includes information in a time zone when there are few customers who order the product I at the payout device 1, in other words, the time when the payout device 1 is less likely to receive an ordering operation for the product I. Contains band information. In other words, the memory 312 operates as a holding unit that holds information of a time period in which the dispensing device 1 is unlikely to receive an ordering operation for the product I.

  If the controller 300 determines in step S18 that the elapsed area is within the installation area (step S18: YES), it is necessary to replace the product I in the elapsed area, and based on the information held in the memory 312, It is determined whether or not the time zone including the current time is a time zone that is unlikely to receive an ordering operation for the product I (step S25).

  If the controller 300 determines in step S25 that the time zone including the current time is not a time zone in which the possibility of receiving the order operation for the product I is low (step S25: NO), the controller 300 proceeds to step S19 and performs the order operation for the product I. It is determined whether it has been received. If the controller 300 determines that the time zone including the current time is a time zone where the possibility of receiving an ordering operation for the product I is low (step S25: YES), the controller 300 accesses the Web server 700 to Sales information, new product information, and campaign product information are acquired and stored in the memory 312 (step S26).

Based on the sales information acquired from the Web server 700, the controller 300 stores and rearranges the product I in the second area including the progress area (step S27). In the example of FIG. 9 (d), the controller 300, the time zone of the Monday night, the course of high turnover products I in the time zone of afternoon area B ₁ on Tuesday stored in shelves 24a, Tuesday night storing high product I of sales shelves 24a Transitional area B ₂ in the time zone. Among the products I remaining in the elapsed area, the products I whose sales are not high in the afternoon or evening time zone on Tuesday are rearranged in the inventory area.

The size of the area A ₁ in which the product I with high sales was stored in the morning time zone on Monday and the size of the elapsed area B ₁ in which the product I with high sales in the afternoon time zone on Tuesday were stored were respectively It does not necessarily match with the sales information in the time zone. In the example of FIG. 9 (d), the is smaller elapsed area _{B 1.} Therefore, (in other words, the transport unit 100) first area and the discharge port 42 Despite near, for example, shelves 24a during the course area B ₁ and the third area becomes a vacant state. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 9D, new products and campaign products are stored in the shelf plates 24a that can be in an empty state.

  In step S27, the elapsed area of the second area is repartitioned as a preparation area in which the product I with high sales is stored in the time zone subsequent to the time zone including the current time, and the re-partitioned preparation area. The product I with high sales in that time zone is stored.

  When the controller 300 receives an ordering operation for the product I during the storage / relocation of the product I in step S27, the controller 300 interrupts the storage / relocation of the product I and performs a payout operation for the ordered product I. In step S27, by storing / relocating the product I in a time zone where the possibility of receiving the order operation for the product I is reduced, the probability that the storage / relocation of the product I is interrupted by receiving the order operation is reduced. The product I is stored and rearranged efficiently.

  In the above embodiment, the products I with high sales in each time zone are preferentially arranged in the area close to the discharge port 42 and the standby position of the transport unit 100, but in another embodiment, the store side actively Products to be sold (new products, campaign products, etc.) may be preferentially arranged in this area.

<< Product placement processing B >>
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of the product arrangement process B. FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 for explaining the product placement process B, and schematically showing the stock stocker 24 arranged vertically on the back panel unit 10b side. In addition, about the description which overlaps with said product arrangement | positioning process A, it simplifies or abbreviate | omits suitably.

  Two cameras 810 and 820 are installed in the store. The camera 810 is installed in a place (for example, an entrance of a store) that is away from the payout device 1 and through which a customer always passes. The camera 810 operates as a detection unit that detects a person passing through the installation location.

  The camera 820 is installed in a place where a person standing in front of the payout device 1 can be stored in the angle of view (for example, a position near the payout device 1). The camera 820 may be built in the dispensing device 1. The dispensing device 1 and the cameras 810 and 820 constitute an article providing system.

  Cameras 810 and 820 are connected to person recognition device 900. A recognition algorithm for recognizing a person photographed by the camera 810 or 820 is installed in the person recognition apparatus 900. The recognition algorithm implemented in the person recognition apparatus 900 is well known, and detailed description thereof is omitted here. The person recognition apparatus 900 constitutes an article providing system.

  When receiving an ordering operation by the customer, the controller 300 requests the customer recognition device 900 for the customer information. When receiving the request from the controller 300, the person recognition device 900 recognizes the customer who ordered the product I from the captured image of the camera 820 and transmits the information of the recognized customer to the controller 300. The controller 300 associates the customer information received from the person recognition device 900 with the order product I and stores the information in the memory 312. This series of processing is performed for each customer's ordering operation, so that information indicating the preference of each customer (information such as the customer's purchase history and how many brands of products I will purchase in one order ( Hereinafter, for convenience, it will be referred to as “purchase forecast information”).

  In other words, the controller 300 operates as an acquisition unit that acquires information on customers who have purchased the product I with the dispensing device 1 (providers who are expected to receive the provision of goods). The memory 312 is an accumulating unit that accumulates information (information on articles expected to be received by the customer) indicating the preference of the customer whose information has been acquired by the controller 300, and the customer actually purchased the memory 312. It operates as an accumulating unit that accumulates the purchase history of the product I.

  The maintenance destination of the purchase prediction information for each customer may be the Web server 700 instead of the memory 312.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the system of the dispensing device 1 is activated (Step S111), the controller 300 determines whether or not the storage of the product I has been completed (Step S112).

  In step S112, if the controller 300 determines that the storage of the product I in the payout device 1 is not completed (step S112: NO), the controller 300 accesses the Web server 700 to obtain the sales information, the new product, and the campaign product of the product I. Is acquired and stored in the memory 312 (step S113).

  The controller 300 stores the product I based on the sales information of the product I acquired from the Web server 700, information on the new product and the campaign product (step S114). Specifically, the controller 300 divides a part of the entire installation area in which the stock stocker 24 is installed near the discharge port 42 as a first area and the other area as a second area. . In FIG. 11, the area surrounded by a thick frame is the first area, and the other area is the second area.

  The controller 300 stores no product I in the first area and stores the product I only in the second area. For example, the controller 300 preferentially stores the product I with high sales on the shelf 24a in the area close to the first area in the second area (see FIG. 11A). In FIG. 11, for convenience, shelf plates 24 a in the second area that are emptied by storing the product I in the first area are indicated by hatching.

  When the controller 300 determines that the storage of the product I has been completed (step S112: YES), the controller 300 moves the transport unit 100 to the first area and causes the transport unit 100 to wait in the first area (step S115). The transport unit 100 waits at the center of the first area, for example.

  The controller 300 determines whether or not a customer has come to the store (step S116). Here, customer information captured by the camera 810 is input to the controller 300 via the person recognition device 900. When the controller 300 receives the customer information photographed by the camera 810 from the person recognition device 900, the controller 300 determines that the customer has come to the store (step S116: YES), and the customer purchase prediction information is stored in the memory 312. In other words, it is determined whether or not the customer is stored in the memory 312 as a person who wishes to purchase the product I (step S117).

  If the controller 300 determines in step S117 that the corresponding purchase prediction information is stored in the memory 312 (step S117: YES), the controller 300 controls the transport unit 100 via the transport microcomputer 340. Specifically, the transport unit 100 moves to the second area according to the corresponding purchase forecast information, takes the product I indicated by the purchase forecast information from the shelf 24a of the second area, and takes the taken product I in the first area. It stores in the shelf board 24a (step S118). When storing the product I, the transport unit 100 waits again in the first area.

  Consider a case in which the purchase prediction information is information indicating that a customer purchases two products I with the highest sales in one order. In this case, the transport unit 100 takes one product I with the highest sales from the second area one by one and stores a total of two products I in the first area. By performing this process for each visitor, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, several products I are stored in the first area. The product I is preferentially stored on the shelf 24a located in the center of the first area.

  In this embodiment, since the product I expected to be purchased by the customer is stored in the first area, the customer is specified using the captured image, but the method for specifying the customer is not limited to this. For example, information such as an IC tag embedded in a store membership card may be read when the customer passes through a door or the like, and the customer may be identified based on the read information. Moreover, you may make it identify a customer using the application corresponding to this system. The application is installed in an information processing terminal such as a smartphone, and for example, information on the application user is registered. When a customer approaches the store door, a device installed near the door wirelessly communicates with the information processing terminal, reads the information of the application user registered in the application, and identifies the customer based on the read information . The store door may be opened only when the customer is successfully identified.

  In step S119, the controller 300 determines whether or not the number of products I in the first area exceeds a predetermined number. If controller 300 determines that the number of products I in the first area is less than or equal to the predetermined number (step S119: NO), controller 300 determines whether an ordering operation for products I has been received (step S120).

  In step S120, when controller 300 determines that an order operation for product I has been received (step S120: YES), controller 300 determines whether or not order product I is stored in the first area (step S121).

  In step S121, if the controller 300 determines that the ordered product I is stored in the first area (step S121: YES), the controller 300 controls the transport unit 100 via the transport microcomputer 340. Specifically, the transport unit 100 moves to a position opposite to the shelf 24a in the first area where the ordered product I is stored, performs a product picking operation and a product discharging operation, and removes the ordered product I from the discharge port 42. (Step S122).

  In the present embodiment, the product I indicated by the purchase forecast information of the customer who has come to the store (the product I that is likely to be purchased by the customer who has come to the store) is preliminarily placed near the standby position (in the first area) of the transport unit 100. By storing, when an order is placed on such a product I, the transport unit 100 can take the ordered product I from the shelf 24a by moving a small distance. Since the moving distance of the transport unit 100 can be kept short, the product provision time can be kept short. Further, such a product I is stored in advance at a position close to the discharge port 42. Therefore, the time required for the ordered product I dropped from the transport unit 100 to reach the discharge port 42 is reduced, and as a result, the product provision time is reduced.

  In step S121, when the controller 300 determines that the ordered product I is not stored in the first area (step S121: NO), the controller 300 controls the transport unit 100 via the transport microcomputer 340. Specifically, the transport unit 100 searches for the ordered product I from the second area, moves to the position opposite to the shelf 24a where the searched ordered product I is stored, and performs the product picking operation and the product discharge. The operation is performed, and the ordered product I is discharged from the discharge port 42 (step S123).

  Although the product I stored in the first area has a relatively high probability of being sold, it is not necessarily sold. In the example of FIGS. 11 (b) and 11 (c), two products I with the first and fifth sales are sold, but one product I with the third and fifth sales remains unsold. If unsold goods accumulate in the first area, the number of shelves 24a vacant in the first area decreases, and the number of products that can be newly stored in the first area is limited (FIG. 11 (d)). reference).

  Accordingly, in step S119, the controller 300 determines that the number of products I in the first area exceeds a predetermined number (in other words, the number of free shelf boards 24a is equal to or less than a certain number) (step S119: YES), it is determined that the product I in the first area is unsold (a product I did not purchase), and the time zone including the current time is the order of the product I based on the information stored in the memory 312. It is determined whether or not it is a time zone in which there is a low possibility of receiving an operation (step S124).

  If the controller 300 determines in step S124 that the time zone including the current time is not a time zone in which the possibility of receiving the order operation for the product I is low (step S124: NO), the controller 300 proceeds to step S120 and performs the order operation for the product I. It is determined whether or not it has been received. If the controller 300 determines that the time zone including the current time is a time zone where the possibility of receiving an ordering operation for the product I is low (step S124: YES), the controller 300 accesses the Web server 700 to Sales information, new product information, and campaign product information are acquired and stored in the memory 312 (step S125).

  The controller 300 determines whether or not it is necessary to return to the second area for each product I in the first area based on the information acquired from the Web server 700 (step S126). Illustratively, the controller 300 determines that it is necessary to leave the product I having a sales rank higher than a predetermined rank in the first area and return the product I having a sales rank lower than the predetermined rank to the second area. In step S126, the controller 300 controls the transport unit 100 to return the product I determined to be returned to the second area from the first area to the second area. Illustratively, the controller 300 leaves the product I whose sales rank is 3 or higher in the first area, and returns the product I whose sales rank is 4 or lower to the second area (see FIG. 11E). .

  In the first place, there is a high possibility that the product I with the highest sales order will be sold. By leaving such a product I in the vicinity of the standby position of the transport unit 100 (in the first area), it is possible to cut the moving cost of the transport unit 100 necessary for returning the product I into the second area. Instead, when an order is placed on the product I, the product I can be discharged from the discharge port 42 by moving the transport unit 100 slightly.

  The above is the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the embodiment of the present application also includes contents appropriately combined with an example or the like clearly exemplarily shown in the specification or an obvious example.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dispensing apparatus 10 Case 10a Front panel part 10aa Opening 10b Rear panel part 10c Side panel part 20 Rack 20a Guide 20b Stopper 20c Detection switch 22 Replenishment stocker 22a Shelf board 22b Handle 24 Inventory stocker 24a Shelf board 30 Circuit board 40 For discharging Shutter 42 Discharge port 50 Illumination lamp 100 Transport unit 110 Unit housing 110a Product storage area 120 Arm 130 Roller 140 Push part 200 Rail unit 210 XY rail part 220 X rail part 230 Y rail part 300 Controller 312 Memory 322 X motor driver 322M X Motor 324 X initial position detection switch 326 X position detection encoder 332 Y motor driver 332M Y motor 334 Y initial position detection switch 336 Y position detection Encoder 340 conveying the microcomputer 352 for rotating the motor driver 352M rotation motor 354 rotation position detecting encoder 362 arm motor driver 362M arm motor 372 roller motor driver 372M roller motor 600 information processing terminal 700 Web server 810 Camera 900 person recognition apparatus

Claims (16)

An article comprising: a plurality of storage units storing each of a plurality of types of articles; and a unit that receives the designated article from the storage unit and moves the designated article to a predetermined location when receiving an input designating the article. In the providing device,
Based on a predetermined condition, an installation area in which the plurality of storage units are installed is partitioned into a first area and a second area, the unit is controlled, and an article is placed in each storage unit in each partitioned area. Having a control unit to store,
The controller is
Provision of articles for articles stored in the storage section of the second area after receiving an input designating the articles and before the unit takes the articles from the storage section and moves them to the provision location Store the article that you want to make shorter than the time in the storage section of the first area,
Article providing device. A storage unit for storing sales information of the article;
The controller is
Based on the sales information accumulated in the accumulation unit, the installation area is divided into the first area and the second area, and articles with high sales are stored in the storage unit of the first area.
The article providing apparatus according to claim 1. The sales information is
Sales information for each of the plurality of types of articles, including sales information for each predetermined period,
The controller is
Based on the sales information, the installation area is divided into the first area and the second area, and the second area is divided into a preparation area and an inventory area, and the article has high sales in a period including the current time. Are stored in the storage unit of the first area, articles that are highly sold in the next period are stored in the preparation area, and articles that are not stored in the first area and the preparation area are stored in the storage unit of the inventory area. ,
The article providing apparatus according to claim 2. The controller is
The inventory area corresponding to each of a plurality of periods subsequent to the period including the current time is partitioned from the second area, and each storage area of the partitioned inventory areas corresponds to each inventory area. Store goods with high sales over time,
The article providing apparatus according to claim 3. The controller is
Waiting the unit in the first area;
When the period including the current time moves to the next period,
While setting the first area as an elapsed area,
Set the first area as a preparation area corresponding to the next period in which the current time is to be included,
Move the unit to the set first area,
Make the unit stand by in the first area of the destination,
The article providing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. The controller is
If the article specified by the input is not in the storage unit of the first area, check whether the specified article is in the storage part of the progress area,
When the designated article is in the storage area of the progress area, the designated article is moved from the storage area of the progress area to the provision place using the unit.
The article providing apparatus according to claim 5. The sales information for each period is as follows:
Includes sales information for each time zone, sales information for each day of the week, sales information for each day,
The article providing apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6. A storage unit that stores information on an article that the provider of the article wants to provide;
The controller is
Based on the information stored in the storage unit, the third area is partitioned from the second area, and the article that the provider of the article wants to provide is stored in the storage unit of the third area.
The article providing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7. A storage unit that stores information on an article that the provider of the article wants to provide;
The controller is
Based on the information stored in the storage unit, the installation area is divided into the first area and the second area, and an article that the provider of the article wants to provide is stored in the storage unit of the first area. ,
The article providing apparatus according to claim 1. A holding unit that holds information of a time zone that is unlikely to receive an input designating the article;
The controller is
Based on the information held in the holding unit, it is determined whether or not it is a time zone that is unlikely to receive an input designating the article,
When it is determined that it is a time zone in which there is a low possibility of receiving an input designating the article, the second area is subdivided based on the predetermined condition, and the storage unit of the second area is determined according to the result of the reclassification Store goods in,
The article providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. An acquisition unit for acquiring information on a person who is expected to receive provision of an article;
An accumulator that accumulates information on articles expected to be provided by a provision applicant whose information has been acquired by the acquisition unit;
With
The controller is
Based on the information accumulated in the accumulating unit, the article expected to be provided by the provision applicant is stored in the storage unit of the first area.
The article providing apparatus according to claim 1. The storage unit
Accumulating history information of an article that the applicant wishes to actually receive is provided;
The article providing apparatus according to claim 11. The controller is
Determining whether the applicant wishes to receive provision of an article stored in the storage unit of the first area;
If it is determined that the applicant does not wish to receive the article stored in the storage unit of the first area, it is necessary to move the article from the first area to the second area. Determine whether
When it is determined that the article needs to be moved to the second area, the article is moved from the storage unit of the first area to the storage unit of the second area using the unit.
The article providing apparatus according to claim 11 or 12. The controller is
Determining whether a predetermined number of articles are stored in the first area;
When it is determined that more than a predetermined number of articles are stored in the first area, the articles to be moved from the first area to the second area are identified,
Moving the identified article from the storage unit of the first area to the storage unit of the second area by the unit;
The article providing apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 13. The article is a box-shaped article.
The article providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14. A detection unit installed in a place where the applicant desires to pass;
The article providing apparatus according to claim 15 that directly or indirectly cites any one of claims 11 to 14 or claim 11.
With
The acquisition unit
Determining whether or not the person detected by the detection unit is the applicant for provision;
The controller is
When it is determined that the person detected by the detection unit is the person who wants to provide, an article expected to be provided by the person who wants to provide is provided based on the information stored in the storage unit. Storing in the storage section of the first area;
Article provision system.

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