JP2021117651A - Change dispenser, information management device, and information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable cash processing by reading a commodity identification code even in a place where a POS system cannot be connected, allowing for tighter management of stored cash.SOLUTION: A change dispenser according to the present invention includes: a storage unit that stores commodity information including a commodity code and a commodity price; a code reader that reads the commodity code; and a control unit that performs cash processing using a commodity amount corresponding to the read commodity code with reference to the commodity information in the storage unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a change machine, an information management device and an information management system.

Traditionally, many retail stores such as department stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores withdraw cash (banknotes and coins) used as change reserves, or deposit sales at stores. A cash deposit / withdrawal machine is installed.

Every morning, the person in charge executes a "change withdrawal" transaction to prepare a change reserve for the cash register on the day and withdraws the change reserve. Then, the person in charge replenishes the cash withdrawn from the cash deposit / withdrawal machine to the change machine installed in the register (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "register").

For example, the cash register is connected to a POS (Point Of Sale) server that holds product information such as a product identification code and a product price, and when the product barcode (product identification code) is scanned at the cash register, the product price is displayed. Is displayed on the screen of the cash register (see Patent Document 1).

After the work is completed, the person in charge withdraws the cash including the sales of the day from the change machine to the cash deposit / withdrawal machine, and the cash withdrawn from the change machine is stored in the cash deposit / withdrawal machine. To store in the cash deposit / withdrawal machine.

JP-A-2017-142688

However, for example, in a small store that cannot be connected to a POS server, or in a place where products are sold by exhibiting at an event venue, the person in charge must manually enter the product price at the cash register, which is a typo. There was a possibility of doing. It is also required that there is no mistake in the management of cash (banknotes, coins) stored in the change machine (for example, management of change reserves, sales proceeds, etc.).

Therefore, for example, there is a demand for a change machine, an information management device, and an information management system that can process cash by reading a product identification code even in a place where a POS system cannot be connected and can tighten the management of stored cash. There is.

In order to solve such a problem, the first change machine according to the present invention stores a storage unit for storing product information including a product code and a product price, a code reader for reading the product code, and a product information in the storage unit. It is characterized by including a control unit that performs cash processing using the product amount corresponding to the read product code with reference to it.

The second information management device according to the present invention has a control unit for creating a product information in which the input product code and the product price are associated with each other and storing the product information in the external storage device for the change machine used in the offline state. It is characterized by being prepared.

A third information management system according to the present invention is characterized by including a change machine according to the first invention and an information management device according to the second invention.

According to the present invention, cash processing can be performed by reading the product identification code, and it is possible to tighten the management of stored cash.

It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the information management system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an internal block diagram which shows the internal structure of the information management apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an internal block diagram which shows the internal structure of the change machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the product registration transaction in the information management apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the product information which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation in the change machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the information management system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is an internal block diagram which shows the internal structure of the change machine which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is an internal block diagram which shows the internal structure of the change machine which concerns on a modification embodiment.

(A) First Embodiment In the following, the first embodiment of the change machine, the information management device and the information management system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(A-1) Configuration of First Embodiment [Overall Configuration]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of an information management system according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the information management system 10 according to the first embodiment is also referred to as a change machine 2, an information management device 1, and a file server (hereinafter, also referred to as a "product information providing server" or an "information providing server". ) 3 and.

The information management system 10 changes change to a place or store that cannot be connected to a POS terminal or a POS system, such as a sales floor such as an event venue or a live venue (for example, a goods sales floor) or a store of a small store. An example is an example in which a machine 2 is brought in and cash (banknotes and coins) is deposited and withdrawn using the change machine 2. The place where the change machine 2 is brought in is not limited to the above example. It can be widely applied to places where the POS system cannot function sufficiently.

In the first embodiment, for example, the product information of the product for sale is stored in the external storage device 50 in advance, and the external storage device 50 is connected to the change machine 2 at the sales location. When the change machine 2 reads the product identification code (hereinafter, also referred to as "product code"), the change machine 2 refers to the product information stored in the external storage device 50 and refers to the product selling price corresponding to the product identification code (hereinafter, also referred to as "product code"). In the following, it is also referred to as “commodity amount”) and performs deposit processing and withdrawal processing.

The information management device 1 is arranged in a store such as a retail store, and for example, a cash deposit / withdrawal machine that executes transactions such as change withdrawal, sales deposit, and sales collection can be applied.

The information management device 1 as a cash deposit / withdrawal machine withdraws cash as a change reserve, that is, banknotes and coins withdrawn by denomination to the change machine 2. Further, the information management device 1 deposits the sales amount (the amount including the amount prepared as the change preparation and the sales amount) in the change machine 2 and makes the sales payment. In this way, by coordinating between the information management device 1 and the change machine 2, the delivery of cash can be tightened.

Further, the information management device 1 performs a product registration transaction for registering product information of a product to be sold at a place where the change machine 2 is brought into the external storage device 50 as one of transaction processes such as change withdrawal and sales deposit. .. In other words, the information management device 1 performs a product registration transaction in which the product information of all the products sold at the event venue or the like where the change machine 2 is brought in is registered in the external storage device 50. By connecting the external storage device 50 that stores the product information of the products for sale to the change machine 2, the product information can be referred to by the change machine 2, so that the change machine 2 can also process cash. Become.

Here, the "product information" is information in which the product identification code and the product selling price are associated with each other. Since cash processing is possible even in the change machine 2 in which the product selling price is not registered or the change machine 2 that cannot be connected to the POS system, at least the product identification code and the product selling price are associated with each other in the product information. .. The product information is not limited to the product identification code and the product selling price, and may include, for example, product name, information on the product manufacturer, and the like.

The external storage device 50 is a non-volatile storage medium that stores product information of products for sale. As the external storage device 50, a storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, an SD card, or the like can be applied.

The change machine 2 performs deposit processing and withdrawal processing of cash (banknotes and coins). The change machine 2 is a portable cash processing machine that can be placed in a place or a store that cannot be connected to the POS system. The change machine 2 can be connected to the external storage device 50, and when the customer purchases a product, when the product identification code of the product is read by the code reader 26, the product information stored in the external storage device 50 is stored. Read the product selling price corresponding to the product identification code with reference to. Then, when the cash (banknotes, coins) received from the customer is deposited in the change machine 2, the change machine 2 asks for the difference between the deposited amount and the product selling price, and if there is a difference, the change corresponding to the difference is issued. If there is no difference, the change will not be withdrawn and the cash processing will end.

The file server 3 has a database 31 that holds product information such as a product identification code and a product selling price as file information, and provides product information of the product. For example, a POS server or the like can be applied to the file server 3.

[Information management device]
FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the information management device 1 according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 2, the information management device 1 includes a code reader 120, a connection interface unit 170 to which an external storage device 50 can be connected, a communication unit 180 for exchanging information with and from a file server 3, a bill insertion slot 101, and a bill temporary. The holding unit 103, the banknote identification unit 105, the 10,000-ticket cassette 107, the 5,000-ticket cassette 109, the 1,000-ticket cassette 111, the collection cassette 113, the reject unit 115, the coin slot 117, and the coin identification unit 119. A coin temporary holding unit 121, a coin return box 123, a withdrawal hopper 125, a coin collection box 127, a coin withdrawal box 129, a card reader unit 131, an operation display unit 133, and a control unit 150. , And a storage unit 160.

The information management device 1 can be applied to, for example, a cash deposit / withdrawal machine installed in a retail store such as a department store, a supermarket, or a convenience store. The "medium" handled by the information management device 1 will be described mainly assuming that it is cash such as banknotes and coins, but the description is not limited to this, and for example, gift certificates, checks, tickets, banknote bundles, bars, etc. May be included.

The information management device 1 deposits a change withdrawal for withdrawing cash (banknotes, coins) as a change reserve used in the change machine 2 and cash (cash including the change reserve) sold in the change machine 2. It is possible to execute processing such as sales deposit. The transaction processing in the information management device 1 is not limited to change withdrawal, sales deposit, and product registration transaction.

The code reader 120 reads a product identification code (for example, a bar code, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), etc.) that identifies a product.

The connection interface unit 170 is an interface unit for connecting to the external storage device 50 in order to store the product information in the external storage device 50 when the product registration transaction is executed.

The bill insertion slot 101 is a bill insertion slot into which bills to be deposited in the information management device 1 are inserted. In addition, the banknote slot 101 is also a banknote withdrawal port, and is rejected by the banknote slot 101 as being returned as a cancellation of the sales deposit, the banknotes to be withdrawn, and the banknote identification unit 105 as abnormal. Banknotes are withdrawn from the banknote slot 101.

Banknotes are temporarily accumulated in the banknote temporary holding unit 103 at the time of deposit counting and sales amount creation. Further, the bill identification unit 105 discriminates whether or not the inserted bill is a normal bill by various sensors.

The 10,000-ticket cassette 107, the 5,000-ticket cassette 109, and the 1,000-ticket cassette 111 are cash storage units for storing 10,000-ticket, 5,000-ticket, and 1,000-ticket bills, respectively. Specifically, various bills in a loose state are stored as change reserves in the 10,000-ticket cassette 107, the 5,000-ticket cassette 109, and the 1,000-ticket cassette 111 (each banknote cassette). In addition, various banknotes that have been deposited as sales proceeds and have been identified as normal by the banknote identification unit 105 are stored in each banknote cassette. Further, at the time of withdrawal of change, various banknotes are withdrawn from each banknote cassette.

The collection cassette 113 is a cassette for collecting sales. Specifically, the collection cassette 113 stores the banknotes moved from each banknote cassette as sales proceeds at the time of sales collection.

In the reject unit 115, banknotes that have been identified as not normal banknotes by the banknote identification unit 105, that is, rejected banknotes are accumulated. Specifically, in the reject unit 115, the banknotes rejected by the banknote discrimination unit 105 in the process of transporting the banknotes from the banknote temporary holding unit 103 to each banknote cassette at the time of depositing sales, and the process of withdrawing change from each banknote cassette. The banknotes rejected by the banknote discrimination unit 105 and the banknotes rejected by the banknote discrimination unit 105 in the process of transporting the banknotes from each banknote cassette to the collection cassette 113 at the time of sales collection are accumulated.

The coin slot 117 is a slot into which coins are inserted. Further, the coin discrimination unit 119 discriminates whether or not the inserted coin is a normal coin by various sensors. Further, coins are temporarily accumulated in the coin temporary holding unit 121 at the time of deposit counting and sales collection.

The coin return box 123 is a box for holding the coins to be returned. For example, the counted coins and the coins for which the sales deposit has been canceled are returned from the coin return box 123. Further, the withdrawal hopper 125 (cash storage unit) stores various coins inserted by depositing sales, and various coins are withdrawn from the withdrawal hopper 125 at the time of withdrawal of change.

The coin collection room 127 is a cassette for collecting sales. Specifically, the coins moved from the withdrawal hopper 125 at the time of sales collection are stored as sales in the coin collection storage 127. The coin withdrawal box 129 is a coin withdrawal port for withdrawing coins at the time of withdrawal of change.

The card reader unit 131 is an example of an input unit, and reads information written on a card held by an operator such as a store manager or a person in charge. Information written on the card held by the operator includes, for example, user identification information (for example, user ID number) for identifying the operator who uses the card, register identification number, and type of operator (for example, administrator,). Information indicating the type of regular employee, part-time worker, etc.) can be mentioned.

The operation display unit 133 includes a function as an operation unit or an input unit for detecting an operation by an operator, and a function as a display unit for displaying various screens. The function as a display unit is realized by, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Mode) device. Further, the function as an operation unit is realized by, for example, a touch panel. The functions of the display unit and the operation unit may be configured separately.

The control unit 150 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which is an arithmetic processing unit, a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing programs and arithmetic parameters used by the CPU, a program used for executing the CPU, and appropriately changed in the execution thereof. It is composed of a data storage storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing parameters and the like, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) device for storing data and the like. A processing program (for example, a repetitive type transaction program, a processing program for various transactions, etc.) is stored in the ROM, and is realized by the CPU executing each processing program.

The control unit 150 controls the overall operation of the information management device 1. For example, the control unit 150 includes a function as a management unit for storing the number of cash stored in each bill cassette and the withdrawal hopper 125 in the storage unit 160. The control unit 150 causes the operation display unit 133 to display a menu screen for the operator to select a desired process, and controls the process selected by the operator in the menu.

The control unit 150 performs a product registration transaction in order to store the product information of the product in the external storage device 50. When executing the product registration transaction, the control unit 150 reads the product identification code of the product with the code reader 120 by user operation, and transmits the product information request signal including the product identification code to the file server 3. Then, when the product information response signal including the product information corresponding to the product identification code is received from the file server 3, the control unit 150 stores the product information in the external storage device 50. When there are a plurality of products for sale, the product identification code is read and the product information is acquired for each of the products for sale, and the product information of all the products is stored in the external storage device 50.

[Change machine]
FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the change machine 2 according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 3, the change machine 2 has a deposit / withdrawal control unit 200, an operation display unit 25, a code reader 26, a bill deposit / withdrawal unit 21, a coin deposit / withdrawal unit 23, a coin withdrawal unit 24, and a cash box unit 27.

The banknote deposit / withdrawal unit 21 takes in and counts the deposited banknotes. Under the control of the control unit 201, the banknote deposit / withdrawal unit 21 takes in the inserted banknotes, performs authenticity discrimination and denomination discrimination, and counts the discriminated banknotes. The counted banknotes are transported to the cash box unit 27 and stored as deposits. Information on the deposit amount (that is, the amount counted by denomination) is given to the control unit 201. It also counts withdrawal banknotes as change and releases banknotes. When the control unit 201 gives a change withdrawal instruction, the banknote deposit / withdrawal unit 21 sends out the banknotes from the cash box unit 27, counts the banknotes to be transported, and outputs the banknotes corresponding to the amount instructed to withdraw. discharge.

The coin deposit unit 23 takes in and counts the deposited coins. The coin deposit unit 23 takes in the inserted coins, performs authenticity discrimination and denomination discrimination, and counts the discriminated coins. The counted coins are transported to the cash box unit 27 and stored as deposits. Information on the deposit amount (that is, the amount counted by denomination) is given to the control unit 201.

The coin withdrawal unit 24 counts and releases withdrawal coins as change. When the control unit 201 gives a change withdrawal instruction, the coin withdrawal unit 24 conveys coins from the cash box unit 27, counts the conveyed coins, and releases the counted coins.

The cash box unit 27 stores banknotes and coins. The cash box unit 27 stores cash (banknotes and coins) as a change reserve in advance, and stores the deposited banknotes and coins related to the purchase of goods. The cash box unit 27 may be attached to the information management device 1 as a cash deposit / withdrawal machine, and the information management device 1 may carry out a change withdrawal transaction by an operator to carry out a change withdrawal transaction to obtain a specified number of banknotes and coins. May be stored in the cash box unit 27. Further, after the business is completed, in order to record the sales of the change machine 2 in the information management device 1, the cash box unit 27 is attached to the information management device 1 and the banknotes and coins stored in the cash box unit 27 are information-managed. It may be put into the device 1 to carry out a sales deposit transaction.

The deposit / withdrawal control unit 200 is a device or processing unit that controls the processing of the change machine 2. In FIG. 3, the deposit / withdrawal control unit 200 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, and a connection interface unit 203.

As the hardware of the control unit 201 and the storage unit 202, a device having, for example, a CPU, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, input / output interface, etc. can be applied, and a processing program (for example, information) in which the CPU is stored in the ROM can be applied. Various processes are realized by executing a processing program, a deposit / withdrawal processing program, etc.).

The control unit 201 performs cash deposit / withdrawal processing. When the product identification code is read by the code reader 26, the control unit 201 refers to the product information of the external storage device 50, reads the product selling price corresponding to the product identification code, and derives the purchase price of the product. Then, the difference is derived by comparing the deposit amount deposited from the banknote deposit / withdrawal section 21 and / or the coin deposit / withdrawal section 23 with the purchase amount.

The connection interface unit 203 is an interface unit for connecting the external storage device 50 in which product information is stored.

(A-2) Operation of the First Embodiment Next, the operation of the information management process in the information management system 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of the product registration transaction in the information management device 1 according to the first embodiment.

In the information management device 1, a transaction selection menu is displayed on the operation display unit 133 by a predetermined operation by the operator, and a product transaction selection button is selected from the transaction selection menu (S11). At this time, the external storage device 50 is connected to the connection interface unit 170 of the information management device 1 by the operator.

In order to store the product information of the product to be sold at the place where the change machine 2 is brought into the external storage device 50, the product identification code of each product is read by the code reader 120 (S12), and the product identification code of each product is the control unit. Given to 150.

The control unit 150 generates product information request information including the read product identification code, and transmits the product information request information to the file server 3. At this time, when the product information request information is received, the file server 3 searches for the product selling price (amount) corresponding to the product identification code, and provides information on the product information response information including the product identification code and the product selling price. It is transmitted to the management device 1. Then, in the information management device 1, the control unit 150 analyzes the product information response information and acquires the product identification code and the product selling price corresponding to the product identification code (S13).

The control unit 150 stores the product information in which the product identification code and the product selling price are associated with each other in the external storage device 50 (S14).

For example, FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration example of product information according to the first embodiment. In the product information 51 illustrated in FIG. 5, for example, the product identification code and the corresponding product sales are described by describing the "product sales price (amount) of the product 1" under the "product identification code of the product 1". It is associated with the price (amount). The configuration of the product information 51 stored in the external storage device 50 is not limited to the example of FIG.

Then, if the processing of S12 to S14 is not completed for all the products to be sold (S15: No), the processing of S12 to S14 is repeated for the next other product, and the processing is completed for all the products. If (S15: Yes), the product registration transaction is terminated.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing operation in the change machine 2 according to the first embodiment.

First, the operator connects the external storage device 50 in which the product information is stored to the connection interface unit 203 of the change machine 2.

After that, when the product is sold at the place where the change machine 2 is arranged, the product identification code of the product to be purchased is read by the code reader 26 (S21), and the control unit 201 stores it in the external storage device 50. With reference to the product information, the product selling price corresponding to the read product identification code is read (S22), and the product purchase price is derived (S23). At this time, when a plurality of products are purchased, the product identification code of each product is read and the total amount of the product selling prices is derived as the purchase price. Further, the purchase amount derived by the change machine 2 may be displayed on the operation display unit 25.

After that, cash (banknotes, coins) is received from the purchaser of the product, the banknotes are inserted into the banknote deposit / withdrawal section 21, coins are inserted into the coin deposit / withdrawal section 23 (S24), and the banknotes inserted by the banknote deposit / withdrawal section 21 are inserted. The coins are counted, and the deposited coins are counted by the coin deposit unit 23 (S25).

The control unit 201 adds the counting result (deposit amount) of the banknote deposit / withdrawal unit 21 and the counting result (deposit amount) of the coin deposit / withdrawal unit 23 to derive the deposit amount, and compares the deposit amount with the purchase amount ( S26). If there is a difference between the deposit amount and the purchase amount and there is change (S27: Yes), the cash (banknotes, coins) equivalent to the change is transported from the cash box unit 27 under the control of the control unit 201. , The withdrawn banknotes and coins are counted (S28), and the banknotes are discharged to the banknote deposit / withdrawal section 21 and the coins are discharged to the coin withdrawal section 24 as change (S29). On the other hand, when there is no change (S27: No), since the deposit amount and the purchase amount match, the withdrawal is not performed and the process proceeds to S30.

The control unit 201 stores information regarding the sales of the purchased product in the external storage device 50 (S30).

"Information about product sales" includes the product identification code of the purchased product, the product sales price, points, purchase price, purchase date and time information, the number of denominations deposited, the deposit amount, the number of denominations withdrawn, and the withdrawal amount. Etc., or a part of these information may be included. The information regarding the sales of the product is not limited to the above-mentioned example, and may include, for example, the product purchase number, the identification information of the change machine 2, the person in charge number, and the like.

After the business is completed, all the sales proceeds stored in the cash box unit 27 of the change machine 2 may be put into the information management device 1 as a cash deposit / withdrawal machine to deposit the sales. At that time, the external storage device 50 in which the information on the sales of the product is stored in the change machine 2 may be connected to the information management device 1 so that the information on the sales of the product can be read by the information management device 1.

Then, the information management device 1 that has made the sales deposit collates the amount of the sales deposit of the change machine 2 (the total amount of cash for each denomination and the amount of cash) with the sales amount based on the information on the sales of the product. Then, cash management may be performed.

(A-3) Effect of the First Embodiment As described above, according to the first embodiment, the POS terminal or the POS system is required even in a place or a store where the POS terminal or the POS system cannot be connected. Instead, by connecting an external storage device that stores product information to the change machine, deposit / withdrawal processing and settlement can be performed using the product identification code of the product.

(B) Second Embodiment Next, the first embodiment of the change machine, the information management device, and the information management system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(B-1) Configuration and Operation of the Second Embodiment FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the information management system according to the second embodiment.

In FIG. 7, the information management system 10A according to the second embodiment includes a change machine 2A and a file server 3.

In the first embodiment described above, the case where the information management device 1 stores the product information in the external storage device 50 is illustrated. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the change machine 2A enables information communication with the file server 3 via the communication line NT before the change machine 2A is brought to the place where the product is sold, and the change machine 2A enables information communication with the file server 3. An example shows a case where product information is stored in the external storage device 50.

FIG. 8 is an internal configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the change machine 2A according to the second embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8, the change machine 2A basically has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, except that the deposit / withdrawal control unit 200 further includes a communication unit 204.

When the change machine 2A includes the communication unit 204, the change machine 2A can directly acquire the product selling price for the product identification code from the file server 3 and store the product information in the external storage device 50. Further, in the case of a store where the number of products handled is small, the change machine 2A can be operated independently even when the information management device 1 as a cash deposit / withdrawal machine is not installed.

Further, as in the first embodiment, when the information management device 1 such as a cash deposit machine is provided, the change machine 2A stores information on the sales of the product in the external storage device 50 and cooperates with the information management device 1. Can be planned.

Since the process of registering the product information by the change machine 2A can be described with reference to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment, it will be described here with reference to FIG.

The change machine 2A can be connected to the communication line NT, and the communication unit 204 is in a state of being able to communicate information with the file server 3 under the control of the control unit 201.

For example, the change machine 2A may be provided with a start button for starting a product registration transaction. The start button may be a soft button displayed on the operation display unit 25, or may be a physical button. In any case, when the product registration transaction is carried out, the product registration transaction is started by selecting the start button by the operator (S11).

Then, when the product identification code of the product is read by the code reader 26 of the change machine 2A (S12), the control unit 201 generates the product information request information including the product identification code and transmits it to the file server 3.

At this time, the file server 3 searches for the product selling price (amount) corresponding to the product identification code included in the received product information request information, as in the first embodiment, and searches for the product identification code and the product identification code. The product information response information including the product selling price is transmitted to the change machine 2A.

In the change machine 2A, the control unit 201 analyzes the product information response information, acquires the product identification code and the product sales price corresponding to the product identification code (S13), and obtains the product identification code and the product sales price. The associated product information is stored in the external storage device 50 (S14).

If the processing of S12 to S14 is not completed for all the products to be sold (S15: No), the processing of S12 to S14 is repeated for the next other product, and if the processing is completed for all the products (S15: No). S15: Yes), the product registration transaction is terminated.

(B-2) Effect of Second Embodiment As described above, according to the second embodiment, the effect of the first embodiment is achieved, and the change machine alone is used for entering and exiting the product using the product identification code. Can process and settle money. When the change machine stores the product information in the external storage device, it can communicate with the file server online, and when selling the product, the change machine can settle in the offline state.

(C) Other Embodiments Although the modified embodiments of the present invention have been mentioned in each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention can also be applied to the following modified embodiments.

(C-1) In each of the above-described embodiments, a case where the medium for storing product information is an external storage device such as a USB memory is illustrated. The external storage device is not limited to this, and may be, for example, an IC card or an IC tag on which an IC chip is mounted. That is, the product information may be stored in the IC chip so that the change machine can read the product information from the IC chip such as an IC card.

Further, in order to enable the change machine in the offline state to refer to the product information, the change machine is provided with a communication unit for short-range wireless communication such as NFC, Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc., and is equipped with an information management device or a file. Product information including the product identification code and the product selling price may be acquired from the server.

(C-2) In the first embodiment, the change machine and the information management device are made capable of communicating with each other via a communication line before the product is sold, and after the information management device creates the product information, the change machine is released from the information management device. Product information may be acquired and stored. In other words, before selling the product, the change machine is connected to the information management device in the online state, the product information created by the information management device is notified to the change machine, and when the product is sold, the change machine is offline and cash deposit processing is performed. You may.

(C-3) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the information management device or the control unit of the change machine creates the product information in which the product identification code and the product selling price are associated with each other is illustrated. However, the operator or the like may manually create the product information and register it in the external storage device. Even in this case, by connecting an external storage device that stores the product information to the change machine, cash processing using the product identification code can be performed.

(C-4) FIG. 9 is an internal configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the change machine according to the modified embodiment.

In FIG. 9, the change machine 2B basically has the same configuration as the first and second embodiments, but is a two-dimensional code reader that reads a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark). 41, for example, includes a contactless card reader 42 that reads information from a contactless IC chip such as a contactless IC card. It may be provided with either a two-dimensional code reader 41 or a non-contact card reader 42.

For example, the product information including the product selling price is converted into a two-dimensional code, and the two-dimensional code is printed on paper or the like. Then, when the customer purchases a product, the two-dimensional code reader 41 reads the two-dimensional code on the paper, and the information is notified to the control unit 201. As a result, the control unit 201 can recognize the selling price of the product, so that the purchase price of the product can be derived. Then, the control unit 201 may compare the deposited amount of the deposited cash (banknotes, coins) with the purchased amount and perform cash processing.

As a result, for example, when a new product is added and sold at a sales destination, and when a product that is not registered in the external storage device is sold, cash processing using a two-dimensional code becomes possible.

In the above-mentioned example, the case where the product information is coded in two dimensions is illustrated, but a contactless IC card that stores the product information may be used. Further, the two-dimensional code such as the QR code does not need to be printed on the paper, and the QR code indicating the product information may be displayed on the screen of a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

10 ... Information processing system, 2, 2A and 2B ... Change machine 2 ... Information management device, 3 ... File server, 31 ... Database, 50 ... External storage device, 51 ... Product information,
200 ... Deposit / withdrawal control unit, 201 ... Control unit, 202 ... Storage unit, 203 ... Connection interface unit, 203 ... Communication unit, 21 ... Banknote deposit / withdrawal unit, 23 ... Coin deposit / withdrawal unit, 24 ... Coin withdrawal unit, 25 ... Operation display unit, 26 ... code reader, 27 ... cash box unit, 41 ... two-dimensional code reader, 42 ... non-contact card reader,
150 ... control unit, 160 ... storage unit, 170 ... connection interface unit, 133 ... operation display unit, 120 ... code reader.

Claims (8)

A storage unit that stores product information including the product code and product price,
With a code reader that reads the product code,
A change machine including a control unit that performs cash processing using the product amount corresponding to the read product code with reference to the product information in the storage unit. Equipped with a connection to connect an external storage device
The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the storage unit is an external storage device, the external storage device in which the product information is stored is connected to the connection unit, and the control unit performs the cash processing. Change machine. The change machine according to claim 2, wherein the control unit stores information on sales of a product based on the result of the cash processing in the external storage device. According to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit performs cash processing based on a comparison between a purchase amount and a deposit amount based on the product amount corresponding to the product code read for each product. The listed change machine. An information management device including a control unit that creates product information in which an input product code and a product price are associated with each other and stores the product information in an external storage device for a change machine used in an offline state. It is equipped with a communication unit that exchanges information with and from an information providing server that has information related to the product, including the product code and product price.
The control unit
Request information including the entered product code is transmitted to the information providing server, and the information is provided.
Based on the product price corresponding to the product code included in the response information from the information providing server, the product information including the product code and the product price is created and stored in the external storage device. The information management device according to claim 5. The fifth or sixth aspect of claim 5 or 6, wherein the control unit performs sales processing in the change machine used in the offline state based on information on sales of goods stored in the external storage device. Information management device. An information management system comprising the change machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and the information management device according to any one of claims 5 to 7.

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