JP2021140623A - Automatic dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an automatic dispenser capable of easily performing registration of authentication information for free ejection and extraction of history information for free ejection without providing a large additional facility and capable of easily performing registration and extraction of the information even with a data size increased.SOLUTION: A control unit 3 provided in a housing 1 having a lockable front door 11 can switch between a normal mode and a free mode of ejecting a specific commodity or all commodities for free, and can perform ejection in the free mode, registration of an authentication ID and extraction of history information by holding cards C1, C2 and C3 over a card reader/writer 5 provided in the front door 11. A portable storage device connection terminal 7 such as a USB terminal is provided in the housing 1, and connecting a portable storage device with the portable storage device connection terminal 7 also allows the registration of the authentication ID and the extraction of the history information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The invention of the present application relates to various vending machines such as soft drink vending machines.

Vending machines are often installed on the streets or in stores so that they can be used by an unspecified number of people, but they are installed in certain facilities and business establishments and are used by specific people. Often planned. For example, vending machines for soft drinks and the like are installed in business establishments such as corporate offices and factories, and employees are allowed to purchase them freely to improve convenience. Vending machines are also installed for visitors in public facilities such as hospitals, gymnasiums, concert halls, and various facilities such as hospitals. In addition, membership-based facilities such as fitness clubs have also installed vending machines for members to improve convenience.

In vending machines that are mainly planned to be used by a specific person in this way, in order to provide special convenience to the user who is scheduled to use such a vending machine, the withdrawal of products is free for that user. The configuration may be adopted. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an example of this.
This type of vending machine has a function (free mode function) that allows some or all products to be paid out for free. The free mode function was originally developed in consideration of disaster response, so that products can be paid out free of charge in the event of a disaster such as a major earthquake, and it can be promptly provided to people who have difficulty returning home or victims of the disaster. This is the intended function.

When the free mode function is used for special convenience to a specific person, a certain kind of card is provided to the user as in Patent Document 1. Authentication information is recorded on the card, and the vending machine is equipped with a card reader that reads this card. When the card reader reads the card and determines that the authentication information is correct, the vending machine operates in free mode and the product is paid out free of charge.

Japanese Patent No. 5506996

For vending machines equipped with a function to pay out products to specific users free of charge except in the event of a disaster, it is absolutely necessary to manage such free product payouts. Become. For free payout, it is necessary to register the authentication information for the unit in the vending machine to be authenticated, and to check if there is any unauthorized use, record the payout history in free mode and record it. It is necessary to be able to check by taking out the recorded history and browsing it.

As a configuration for registering authentication information and viewing history information, a general-purpose PC is installed as a data management unit in a place different from the vending machine as in Patent Document 1, and is connected by a signal line. It is conceivable that the authentication information is registered and the history information is extracted. Such a configuration is acceptable, but considering that an additional card reader is installed in the existing vending machine for operation, it may be difficult to connect the vending machine and the PC with a signal line. many. For example, the vending machine may be installed in an employee cafeteria, a break corner, or the like and additional wiring work may not be permitted, or the vending machine may be installed outdoors and wiring may not be possible.

It is possible to exchange information by wireless communication, but there are cases where a management PC cannot be installed within the range of short-range wireless communication, and companies with strict security allow wireless communication to prevent information leakage. It may not be there.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a configuration in which authentication information can be registered and history information can be extracted from the vending machine without the need for wiring or wireless communication. In addition, since the number of users who can pay out free of charge increases in large-scale facilities, the authentication information to be registered and the history information to be extracted also have a large data size. Therefore, it is desirable to have a configuration in which information can be easily registered and extracted even if the data size is large.

The invention of the present application has been made in consideration of such a problem, and is a vending machine that enables a specific user to pay out products in a free mode, and is authentication information for free payout. We would like to provide a vending machine that can easily register and extract history information of free withdrawals without major additional equipment, and can easily register and extract information even if the data size becomes large. The purpose.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention
A housing with a front door and
The product storage unit and product payout mechanism provided in the housing,
It is a vending machine equipped with a plurality of product selection buttons provided on the front door, a product outlet, and a money input unit.
Inside the housing, a control unit that controls the product payout mechanism according to the product selected by the product selection button and the money input from the money input unit is provided.
The control unit can switch between the normal mode and the free mode, and the free mode is a mode in which a specific product or all products are paid out free of charge.
A card reader / writer is provided at a position exposed to the outside of the housing, and the card reader / writer can read the user card and the ID registration card and write information on the history extraction card. Is a reader / writer capable of.
The housing is provided with a free mode management unit to which a card reader / writer is connected. The free mode management unit includes a storage unit, and the storage unit stores an authentication information file in which an authentication ID is recorded and a history information file in which history information is recorded.
Free mode management unit
A free mode switching signal output program that outputs a free mode switching signal to the control unit to switch from normal mode to free mode when the card reader correctly reads the authentication ID from the user card.
A history information recording program that records the history of the free mode switching signal output program when it outputs the free mode switching signal to the control unit in a history information file.
An ID registration program that records the authentication ID in the authentication information file,
A history extraction program that outputs the history information recorded in the history information file to a card reader / writer and writes it to the history extraction card is implemented.
Further, a portable storage device connection terminal is provided in a box provided with an opening / closing door that can be locked with a key in a space that is not exposed to the outside in the housing, and is connected to the portable storage device. The terminal is connected to the free mode management unit.
The ID registration program is a program that records the authentication ID in the authentication information file when the authentication ID is input by connecting the portable storage device to the portable storage device connection terminal, or the portable storage. Another ID registration program that records the authentication ID in the authentication information file when the authentication ID is input by connecting the portable storage device to the device connection terminal is implemented in the free mode management unit.
Further, the history extraction program is a program that outputs the history information in the history information file when the portable storage device is connected to the portable storage device connection terminal, or is a portable type to the portable storage device connection terminal. Another history extraction program that outputs the history information in the history information file when the storage device is connected is implemented in the free mode management unit.
In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine may have a configuration in which the box is a housing and the opening / closing door is a front door of the housing.
In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine may have a configuration in which the box is fixed to the outer surface of the front door or the outer surface of the housing.
In order to solve the above problem, the authentication ID may be the card-specific information of a card issued in another service by giving the card-specific information uniquely identified.

As described below, according to the vending machine according to the present invention, since the portable storage device connection terminal is provided separately from the card reader / writer, a portable storage device having a larger capacity can be connected to obtain information. You can interact. Therefore, a vending machine suitable for installation in a facility with a large number of regular activists is provided.
At this time, since the portable storage device connection terminal is provided in the box provided with the opening / closing door that can be locked with a key in a space that is not exposed to the outside in the housing, the portable storage device can be connected. The terminals are not exposed to wind and rain, and there are no problems of failure or premature deterioration. In addition, there is no problem of mischief or information theft.
Further, in the configuration in which the portable storage device connection terminal is provided in the housing, it is not necessary to manage the key separately, which is convenient in this respect.
Further, if the portable storage device connection terminal is provided in the box fixed to the outer surface of the front door or the outer surface of the housing, the portable storage device connection terminal can be used regardless of the unlocking of the front door. Because it can be done, it becomes easier to manage the free mode.
In addition, if the authentication ID is the card-specific information of a card issued in another service by giving the card-specific information uniquely identified, the free mode is used by using the card issued in the other service. Since you can switch to, you can reduce the cost of using the free mode.

It is a perspective view of the vending machine of an embodiment. It is a perspective schematic view which showed the state which opened the front door in the vending machine shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which showed the outline of the control system in the vending machine shown in FIG. It is the schematic which showed the structure of the unit authentication information file. It is the schematic which showed the structure of the unit history information file. It is the schematic which showed the information held in 3 kinds of cards. It is a flowchart which showed the outline of the card initial program. It is the schematic which showed the management computer. It is the schematic which showed the structure of the issued ID information file. It is a flowchart which showed the outline of the certification issuance program. It is a perspective schematic view of the vending machine of the 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective schematic view of the vending machine of the 2nd Embodiment.

Next, a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the vending machine of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the front door is opened in the vending machine shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 1 and the front door 11 provided on the front surface of the housing 1 are provided. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the front door 11 is opened. The vending machine of the embodiment is a vending machine for soft drinks, and a product storage unit 2 for storing soft drinks in cans or PET bottles to be sold is provided in the housing 1. .. As shown in FIG. 1, on the front door 11, an exhibition unit 111 displaying a sample product, each product selection button 112 for selecting a product to be purchased, a money insertion unit 113 for inserting coins and banknotes for purchase, and the like. An outlet 114 or the like for taking out the purchased product is provided.

Further, a control unit 3 for controlling the operation of the vending machine is provided in the housing 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 3 is provided on the back surface of the front door 11. The control unit 3 includes a processor, a storage unit (memory), and the like, and determines whether or not the money input by the money input unit 113 has reached a predetermined amount.

On the other hand, the product accommodating unit 2 includes a product payout mechanism 21 that pays out products one by one according to a signal from the control unit 3, and the control unit 3 determines that the input money has reached a predetermined amount. If so, a signal is sent to the product payout mechanism 21 to pay out the selected product to the take-out port 114. Since the structure of these configurations and mechanisms can be the same as that of a normal vending machine, detailed description and illustration will be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of a control system in the vending machine shown in FIG.
The vending machine of the embodiment is a vending machine for disaster response, and it is possible to switch between a normal mode and a free mode.
As shown in FIG. 3, the vending machine of the embodiment includes a mode switching mechanism 31 and a free mode locking mechanism 311 electrically or mechanically connected to the mode switching mechanism 31. Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the free mode lock mechanism 311 is provided in the front door 11 or the housing 1. The free mode lock mechanism 311 includes a keyway for inserting the free mode key 312, and by inserting and operating the free mode key 312, the mode switching mechanism 31 can be switched from the normal mode (paid mode) to the free mode. It is possible to output a signal. The mode switching mechanism 31 is connected to the control unit 3, and the switching signal is sent to the control unit 3.

When the mode switching signal is sent, the control unit 3 changes the control of each unit so as to operate in the free mode. For example, with the product selection button 112 on the front door 11, the lamp lights up when money of a specified amount or more is inserted, but in the free mode, the control unit 3 controls each product selection button 112 so that the lamp lights up without inserting money. To control. Then, when the specific product selection button 112 is pressed, the product payout mechanism 21 is controlled to pay out the selected product regardless of whether or not money is input. The configuration of these parts is the same as that of the disaster response type vending machine.

The vending machine of such an embodiment includes a card reader / writer 5 and a free mode management unit 4 in order to manage the free mode.
As shown in FIG. 2, the free mode management unit 4 is provided in the unit box 41. The unit box 41 is mounted and fixed so as to be fitted into an opening provided in the front door 11. The front plate 411 of the unit box 41 is exposed on the side of the front door 11, and the card reader / writer 5 is mounted therein. The front plate 411 has a mounting opening, and the card reader / writer 5 is connected to the front plate 411 so as to be fitted therein. The card reader / writer 5 is connected to the free mode management unit 4 by a wiring (not shown).

As the card reader / writer 5, a reader / writer capable of reading and writing a non-contact IC card such as a Felica card (Felica is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation) is used. Then, in this embodiment, the free mode authentication is performed in a configuration that also serves as a so-called transportation IC card.
As shown in FIG. 3, the free mode management unit 4 is a small computer including a processor 42, a unit unit storage unit 43 such as a memory (RAM) for storing various programs and files, an input / output interface 44, and the like. ..
As shown in FIG. 1, a small display (hereinafter referred to as a front display) 412 is provided on the front plate 411 of the unit box 41. The front display 412 is for displaying the reading result of the user card and the like. The front display 412 is connected to the input / output interface 44.

The unit storage unit 43 contains an authentication information file (hereinafter, unit authentication information file) 431 that records the authentication ID when switching to the free mode, and a history information file (hereinafter, unit history) that records the usage history of the free mode. Information file) 432 and is stored.
Further, the free mode management unit 4 is equipped with a free mode switching signal output program 421, a history information recording program 422, a unit ID registration program 423, and a unit history extraction program 424. That is, these programs 421 to 424 are stored in the unit storage unit 43 and can be executed by the processor 42.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the structure of the unit authentication information file.
The unit authentication information file 431 is a simple database file such as CSV. As shown in FIG. 5, the unit authentication information file 431 is a database file in which as many records as the number of authentication IDs are recorded, which are composed of the authentication ID, the number of issued points, and the number of remaining points. The remaining points mean the number of products that are paid out free of charge by the authentication ID (the remaining number of times that the free mode can be used).
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the structure of the unit history information file. The unit history information file 432 is also a simple database file, and is a file in which the authentication ID and the date of use are recorded in a one-to-one correspondence. The date of use is the date when the free mode switching signal is output.

In the vending machine of such an embodiment, three types of cards, a user card, an ID registration card, and a history extraction card, are used as cards for which information is exchanged by the card reader / writer 5. .. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing information held in these three types of cards.
In this embodiment, it is assumed that the user card C1 also serves as a transportation IC card. In the transportation IC card, each card stores a serial number that can uniquely identify the card at the card manufacturer. In the case of Felica card (Felica is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation), IDm is that. In this embodiment, such identification information of the card itself (hereinafter referred to as card-specific information) is used as an authentication ID.

On the other hand, the ID registration card C2 and the history extraction card C3 are non-contact IC cards having the same format as the user card C1, but are not transportation IC cards. It is a card in which the free mode management in the embodiment is written as a service.
For example, in the case of Felica card, the first 2-byte information read is the system code, which is given a constant that identifies what service it is used for. The transportation IC card is also given a constant that specifies the service, and the reader / writer installed at the ticket gate, etc. is assumed to be the transportation IC of the company (or another company with mutual flexibility) from the read constant. Reads and writes information. In the ID registration card C2 and the history extraction card C3 in the embodiment, constants other than the transportation IC card are recorded as service codes for free mode management.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the ID registration card C2 stores the card authentication information file C21 in the service area, and the history extraction card C3 stores the card history information file C31 in the service area. There is. The service area is a storage area in which a user can freely record information for a service (use) in a non-contact IC card. The identification number (card-specific information) of the card itself is recorded in both the ID registration card C2 and the history extraction card C3.

The free mode management unit 4 is equipped with a program (hereinafter referred to as a card initial program) 425 that is initially executed when the cards C1 to C3 are read by the card reader / writer 5. The free mode switching signal output program 421, the unit ID registration program 423, and the unit history extraction program 424 are programs that are read from the card initial program 425 and executed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an outline of the card initial program.
As shown in FIG. 7, the card initial program 425 is programmed to specify the type of card according to the data initially read from the cards C1 to C3 and execute one of the programs accordingly. That is, if the card is the user card C1, the free mode switching signal output program is executed. If the card is the ID registration card C2, the unit ID registration program 423 is executed. If the card is the history extraction card C3, the unit history extraction program 424 is executed. A file (not shown) for identifying the types of cards C1 to C3 is stored in the unit storage unit 43 of the free mode management unit 4.

For example, if the user card C1 is the Felica card described above, the card initial program 425 determines whether or not it is a transportation IC card according to the system code, and if it is a transportation IC card, the card-specific information that is subsequently read out is used. The free mode switching signal output program 421 is executed with the card-specific information as an argument. If it is not a transportation IC card, the card initial program 425 determines whether it is an ID registration card C2 or a history extraction card C3 by referring to a file (not shown), and if it is an ID registration card C2, the unit ID registration program 423. Is executed, and if it is the history extraction card C3, the unit history extraction program 424 is executed.

The free mode switching signal output program 421 is a program executed with card-specific information as an argument as described above. Although not shown, the free mode switching signal output program 421 determines whether or not information matching the card-specific information is recorded in the unit authentication information file 431. If there is matching information, the value of "remaining points" is confirmed, and if it is not zero, a message indicating authentication is displayed on the front display 412 and a free mode switching signal is output. Then, the history information recording program 422 is called and executed, and the value of the "remaining points" is decremented by 1 to update and the program ends. If there is no information that matches the card-specific information, the front display 412 indicates that authentication is not possible, and the program ends.
The history information recording program 422 is a program executed by using the authentication ID when the free card switching signal is output as an argument. A new record is added to the unit history information file 432, and the authentication ID and the execution date of the program are executed. It is a program that records the day.

The vending machine of such an embodiment is planned to be used together with a management computer. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the management computer.
The management computer 6 is a general-purpose computer such as a desktop PC. The management computer 6 includes a management portable storage device connection terminal 61 such as a USB terminal, and also includes a management card reader / writer 62 as a peripheral device.
The authentication issuing program 63, the management history extraction program 64, and the like are installed in the management computer 6. Further, the management storage unit 600 of the management computer 6 stores the issued ID information file 601 and the management history information file 602.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the structure of the issued ID information file.
As shown in FIG. 9, the issued ID information file 601 is a record composed of fields such as "management number", "name", "authentication ID", "number of issued points", "issue date", and "output date". It is a database file that records information, and may be a file handled by so-called spreadsheet software.
The "management number" is a number managed separately from the authentication ID, and when the vending machine is installed in a business establishment such as an office or a factory, the employee number is recorded. For vending machines installed in membership facilities such as fitness clubs, the membership number is recorded in the "Management No." field. "Number of issued points" is a field that records the number of free payouts that can be made before being reset. 1 point = 1 time. The execution date of the program is recorded in the "issue date".

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an outline of the authentication issuing program 63. As shown in FIG. 10, the authentication issuing program 63 displays a message asking the management card reader / writer 62 to read the user card C1 of the user who issues the authentication. When the user card C1 is read, the authentication issuing program 63 acquires the card-specific information. Therefore, a new record is added to the issued ID information file 601 and the card-specific information is recorded as the authentication ID. At the same time, a form including a field for entering the management number and the name is displayed on the display of the management computer 6 to prompt the input. Then, the input information is programmed to be recorded in the added record.

Further, the authentication output program 65 is installed in the management computer 6. The authentication output program 65 is a program that outputs the authentication ID recorded in the issued ID information file 601 to the ID registration card C2.
Although not shown in the authentication output program 65, the authentication output program 65 reads out the authentication ID of each record of the issued ID information file 601 for which the output date is not recorded and records it on the ID registration card C2. It is a program to do. The ID registration card C2 stores the card authentication information file C21 as an empty database file, and reads out the "authentication ID" and "number of issued points" for all records for which the output date is not recorded, and card authentication. Record in the information file C21. At the same time, the execution date of the program is recorded in the "output date" of the record of the issued ID information file 601.

The management history extraction program 64 is a program that transfers history information from the management portable storage device connection terminal 61 and the management card reader / writer 62 to the management history information file 602. In addition, a program for displaying the contents of the management history information file 602 on the display is also implemented.

On the other hand, the unit ID registration program 423 on the free mode management unit 4 reads the value of each record of the unit authentication information file 431 on the ID registration card C2 and transfers it to the unit authentication information file 431 on the unit storage unit 43. It is a program. The value of "number of issued points" is recorded as "number of remaining points".
The unit history extraction program 424 is a program that transfers each record of the unit history information file 432 to the card history information file C31 of the history extraction card C3. That is, the value of the "authentication ID" and the value of the "usage date" of each record are recorded in the card history information file C31 of the history extraction card C3. At this time, the extraction unit is passed to the unit history extraction program 424 as an argument. The extraction unit is predetermined according to the storage capacity of the history extraction card C3. For example, one week or one month. The unit history extraction program 424 is programmed to extract information within this range.

The vending machine of such an embodiment is specially devised in consideration of the large amount of data. This point will be described below.
The capacity of a non-contact IC card is generally about 2 to 6 kilobytes. For example, when a non-contact IC card applied to a transportation IC card is used for the ID registration card C2, about 300 authentication IDs can be stored at one time. Therefore, if the number is up to about 300, it can be read from the issued ID information file 601 on the management computer 6 and transferred to the unit authentication information file 431 on the free mode management unit 4 at one time. The history information is a little less than this because there is a usage date, and if it is up to about 250 records (history information), it is read from the unit history information file 432 on the free mode management unit 4 and the history is extracted. It can be posted to the management history information file 602 on the management computer 6 via the card C3.

However, if authentication information is issued and used by a large number of users in a large-scale business establishment or facility, the number of cases described above will be greatly exceeded. That is, the number of authentication IDs registered at one time greatly exceeds 300, and the history information to be extracted at one time greatly exceeds 250.
The vending machine of the embodiment takes this point into consideration and implements an additional information input / output unit. Specifically, the vending machine of the embodiment includes a portable storage device connection terminal 7 in addition to the card reader / writer 5. The portable storage device connection terminal 7 is a USB terminal in this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the embodiment, the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is housed in a box provided with an opening / closing door that is not exposed to the outside and can be locked with a key in the housing 1. It is provided. In this embodiment, the box provided with the opening / closing door that is not exposed to the outside and can be locked with a key in the housing 1 is the housing 1 itself. That is, the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is provided in the housing 1.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the unit box 41 has a side surface 413 located inside the housing 1. The portable storage device connection terminal 7 is attached to the side surface 413. As shown in FIG. 3, the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is connected to the input / output interface 44 of the free mode management unit 4.

Further, a small display unit 414 is provided on the side surface 413 of the unit box 41. The display unit 414 is also used as an input unit, and is a small touch screen display.
The free mode management unit 4 is equipped with a program (hereinafter, terminal initial program) 426 that is initially executed when the connection of the portable storage device to the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is detected. The terminal initial program 426 is a program that displays a message on the display unit 414 as to whether to register the authentication ID or extract the history information. When the authentication information registration is selected by the input on the display unit 414 while the message is displayed, the terminal initial program 426 calls and executes the ID registration program 423. If history information extraction is selected, the unit history extraction program 424 is executed. The extraction period is passed as an argument to the unit history extraction program 424, but the terminal initial program 426 passes a longer period as an argument than in the case of the history extraction card C3.

The operation of the vending machine of such an embodiment will be described below.
As described above, the vending machine of the embodiment is suitably installed in a facility where there is a person who is constantly active, such as a business establishment of a company such as an office or a factory, or a membership facility such as a fitness club. NS. Then, there is a manager who manages a person who regularly acts in such a manner (referred to as a steady-state activist in this specification). The manager can be the person in charge of the general affairs department, etc. in the case of a company, and the person in charge of the general affairs of the member in the case of a membership-based facility.

The person in charge of management registers the authentication information according to the wishes of the regular activist. That is, the user card (non-contact IC card) C1 owned by the regular activist is borrowed, read by the management card reader / writer 62, and the authentication issuing program 63 on the management computer 6 is executed. As a result, the card-specific information of the user card C1 is recorded as the authentication ID in the issued ID information file 601 on the management computer 6. At this time, the person in charge of management inputs the name and the number of issued points of the regular activist and records them in the issued ID information file 601.

Next, the person in charge of management holds the ID registration card C2 over the management card reader / writer 62 and executes the authentication output program 65 on the management computer 6. As a result, the authentication information in the issued ID information file 601 is transferred to the card authentication information file C21 in the ID registration card C2.

After that, the person in charge of management goes to the vending machine with the ID registration card C2 and holds the ID registration card C2 over the card reader / writer 5 provided in the vending machine. As a result, the card reader / writer 5 reads the ID registration card C2, and the card initial program 425 is activated. The card initial program 425 calls and executes the unit ID registration program 423 according to the card type. As a result, the authentication ID in the card authentication information file C21 of the ID registration card C2 is transferred to the unit authentication information file 431 on the free mode management unit. This makes it possible to use the free mode with the authentication ID.

When the regular activist holds his / her user card C1 over the card reader / writer 5 of the vending machine, the card reader / writer 5 reads this and the card initial program 425 is activated. The card initial program 425 recognizes that the card is the user card C1 and executes the free mode switching signal output program 421.

The free mode switching signal output program 421 extracts the card-specific information from the read result, and determines whether or not the authentication ID matching the card-specific information exists in the unit authentication information file 431. If there is, the number of remaining points is acquired, and if it is not 0, the free mode switching signal is output to the control unit 3. If there is no matching authentication ID or the number of remaining points is 0, the free mode switching signal output program 421 displays an error message on the front display 412 and ends.

When the free mode switching signal is output, the control unit 3 controls to switch from the paid mode to the free mode. As a result, the product selection button 112 lights up without inserting money, and the product can be paid out. In this embodiment, since the product is not particularly limited, all the product selection buttons 112 are lit. When the stationary activist presses the arbitrary product selection button 112, the displayed product is paid out. After that, when a predetermined time elapses, the control unit 3 controls to return from the free mode to the paid mode (normal mode). Even if the predetermined free mode time elapses without pressing the product selection button 112 after switching to the free mode, the control unit 3 controls to return to the paid mode.

In addition to operating in such a free mode, the vending machine also operates in a paid mode, as a matter of course. That is, when a specified amount of money or more is inserted into the money insertion unit 113 and any of the lit product selection buttons 112 is pressed, the selected product is paid out to the take-out port 114.
In the vending machine of the embodiment, as in the case of a normal vending machine, it is assumed that the person in charge (root serviceman) of the business company that sells the product replenishes the product and collects the price. The route serviceman visits the facility on a regular basis, goes to the vending machine, and opens the front door 11 with a special key. Then, the product is replenished and the price is collected.

In the operation of such a vending machine, the person in charge of management extracts historical information as needed. The situation for extracting historical information is typically the case where unauthorized use of the free mode is suspected. For example, as taught in Patent Document 1, the user card C1 may be provided to an employee for customer service. In this case, if there is a usage history of the free mode on the day when there are no visitors, it is considered to be unauthorized use. Therefore, it is necessary to check the history information to check whether there is any unauthorized use.

When extracting the history information, the person in charge of management goes to the vending machine with the history extraction card C3 and holds it over the card reader / writer 5. The card initial program 425 is activated, determines that the card is the history extraction card C3, and executes the unit history extraction program 424. As a result, each record in the unit history information file 432 is posted to the card history information file C31 of the history extraction card C3. At this time, the unit history extraction program 424 passes the extraction period when the medium is a card as an argument, and the unit history extraction program 424 posts the record of the latest extraction period.

The person in charge of management takes the history extraction card C3 to which the history information is posted, goes to the management computer 6, and holds it over the management card reader / writer 62. As a result, the management history extraction program 64 on the management computer 6 is started, and each record of the history information file C31 in the history extraction card C3 is posted to the management history information file 602 on the management computer 6. .. Then, the person in charge of management displays the contents of the management history information file 602 on the display and browses the history information.

When the volume of information to be registered or extracted is large in such registration of authentication information, use in free mode, extraction and viewing of history information, a portable storage device such as a USB memory or a portable hard disk is used. Information is input / output using the portable storage device connection terminal 7. As a specific situation, it is necessary to initially register a large amount of authentication information at the time of introducing the vending machine of the embodiment, or it is necessary to extract history information over a certain long period (for example, half a year). For example.

For example, when registering a large amount of authentication information, the person in charge of management attaches the USB memory to the portable storage device connection terminal 61 of the management computer 6 and copies the issued ID information file 601 to the USB memory. Then, when the route serviceman of the vending machine visits to replenish the goods and collect the price, he goes to the vending machine, and when the front door 11 is opened, the USB is connected to the portable storage device connection terminal 7. Install the memory. Then, the input for selecting the authentication information registration is input according to the message displayed on the display unit 414. As a result, the unit ID registration program 423 is started, and each record of the authentication information file in the USB memory is posted to the unit authentication information file 431 on the free mode management unit 4.

The same applies to the case of history extraction, and the person in charge of management connects the USB memory to the portable storage device connection terminal 7 when the root service person comes and the front door 11 is opened. Then, when the input for selecting the history extraction is input, the unit history extraction program 424 is started. The unit history extraction program 424 copies the unit history information file 432 to the USB memory. After that, the person in charge of management removes the USB memory, takes it to the management computer 6, and attaches it to the management portable storage device connection terminal 61 of the management computer 6. Then, each record of the history information file is copied and added to the management history information file 602 on the management computer 6 in the USB memory. Then, each record of the management history information file 602 is displayed on the display of the management computer 6 for viewing as needed.

As described above, according to the vending machine of the embodiment, since the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is provided separately from the card reader / writer 5, a portable storage device having a larger capacity is connected to exchange information. Can be done. Therefore, a vending machine suitable for installation in a facility with a large number of regular activists is provided.

At this time, the fact that the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is provided in the housing 1 is important in two respects. One is that the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is not exposed to wind and rain. Like the card reader / writer 5, the portable storage device connection terminal 7 may be provided on the front plate 411 of the unit box 41, but in a vending machine that may be installed outdoors, the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is connected. If the terminal 7 is provided on a member exposed to the outside such as the front plate 411, it can be exposed to wind and rain, and the possibility of failure or premature deterioration becomes extremely high. In the embodiment, since it is inside the housing 1, there is no such problem.

The other is the possibility of mischief and information theft. If the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is exposed to the outside, it may be mischievous and information cannot be exchanged, or an unrelated person may connect the portable storage device and try to steal information. There is also. In the embodiment, since it is inside the locked housing 1, there is no problem of this kind.
In the above embodiment, the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is a terminal for wire-connecting the portable storage device. A configuration in which a portable storage device is wirelessly connected over a short distance is conceivable, but there is a possibility that information can be exchanged without opening the front door 11, and there is a risk of information theft. Therefore, a wired connection is desirable.

Although the description is omitted in the above embodiment, the reset program is implemented in the free mode management unit 4. The reset program is a program that periodically resets the value of the "remaining points" of the unit authentication information file 431. "Regularly" means once a day or once a week, and reset means that the value of "remaining points" of the unit authentication information file 431 is the value of "number of issued points". It is a process to update.
In the embodiment, the value of "number of issued points" is given as the number of free modes that can be used within a certain period. For example, in the case of a setting that can be used once a day for a certain authentication ID (number of issued points = 1), the reset program is automatically executed after one day, and the "number of remaining points" for the authentication ID is updated to 1.

Next, the vending machine of the second embodiment will be described.
11 and 12 are schematic views of the vending machine of the second embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the second embodiment, the unit box 41 is fixed to the outer surface of the front door 11. The free mode management unit 4 in the unit box 41 is connected to a control unit 3 in the housing 1 and a power supply unit (not shown) through an opening for wiring provided in the front door 11.
The fixed position of the unit box 41 is the position above the money input unit 113 in this example. Similar to the first embodiment, the front plate 411 of the unit box 41 is provided with a card reader / writer 5 and a front display 412.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in this embodiment, a part of the front plate 411 of the unit box 41 is an opening / closing door 415. The opening / closing door 415 is provided with a key hole 416, and can be locked with a dedicated key.
FIG. 11 shows a state in which the opening / closing door 415 is closed, and FIG. 12 shows a state in which the opening / closing door 415 is opened. As shown in FIG. 12, when the opening / closing door 415 is opened, the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is exposed. That is, the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is provided at a position in the unit box 41 facing the opening where the opening / closing door 415 is opened / closed.
When a portable storage device is used in the vending machine of the embodiment, it is unlocked, the opening / closing door 415 is opened, and the portable storage device is connected to the connection terminal 7. Other operations are the same as in the first embodiment. When the exchange of information is completed, the portable storage device is pulled out, and then the opening / closing door 415 is closed and locked.

Also in the second embodiment, since information can be exchanged by the portable storage device, a suitable vending machine is provided when installed in a facility having a large number of regular activists. Since the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is provided in the unit box 41 provided with the opening / closing door 415 that can be locked with a key in a space that is not exposed to the outside, it is exposed to wind and rain. There are no problems such as failure or early deterioration due to this, and there are no problems such as mischief or information theft.

Moreover, in the second embodiment, if the key of the opening / closing door 415 is stored by the management person, the portable storage device connection terminal 7 can be used regardless of the visit of the root service person. This makes it easier to manage the free mode.
However, as compared with the first embodiment, it is necessary for the person in charge of management to manage the key of the opening / closing door 415 so as not to lose it, which increases the time and effort. Further, as the cost of the unit box 41, the cost increases by the amount of the opening / closing door 415 and the lock mechanism. Therefore, the first embodiment is preferable in that these labors and costs are not generated.
In the second embodiment, the unit box 41 preferably has a watertight structure. Specifically, it is preferable to provide a sealing member such as packing on the edge of the opening where the opening / closing door 415 opens / closes or the edge of the opening / closing door 415 to prevent rainwater from entering.

In each of the above embodiments, since the user card C1 is a transportation IC card and the authentication ID is card-specific information, it is not necessary to issue a new card in order to use the free mode. Therefore, the introduction cost of the free mode service can be reduced. In the above example, it was a transportation IC card, but as long as it is given uniquely identifiable card-specific information and can be read by the card reader / writer 5, cards issued by other services (for example, convenience stores). It may be a card used for store services). Even if cards issued by a plurality of different services are mixed, they can be used as long as the card-specific information is not duplicated (as long as it can be uniquely recognized).
In addition, a dedicated card other than a card issued by another service may be used as the user card C1. In this case, since the user card C1 is handed to each regular activist in the form of being issued by the person in charge of management, it is not necessary to keep the card held by the regular activist. In this respect, it is simple and hassle-free, and is safe for regular activists.

In each embodiment, the terminal initial program 426 may be programmed to automatically perform both authentication registration and history extraction without having to select either of them. In this case, when the terminal initial program 426 is started, the unit ID registration program 423 and the unit history extraction program 424 are automatically executed in sequence. In the case of this configuration, since the display unit 414 in the first embodiment is not particularly necessary, it may not be provided. Further, even in the case of a configuration in which either authentication registration or history extraction can be selected, a configuration performed using the front display 412 may be adopted.
Further, the authentication registration card C2 and the history extraction card C3 may also be used as one card (management card). In this case, when the card initial program 425 recognizes that it is a management card, the unit ID registration program 423 and the unit history extraction program 424 are automatically executed in sequence.

In each of the above embodiments, the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is a USB terminal, but other interface terminals may be used as long as the portable storage device can be connected and information can be exchanged.
Further, when the portable storage device is connected to the portable storage device connection terminal 7, the terminal initial program 426 is a program that executes the unit ID registration program 423 and the unit history extraction program 424, and the cards C2 and C3 are used. Although it was also used as the program for the above case (arguments may differ), it may be configured to execute another program. That is, when the portable storage device connection terminal 7 is used, another (dedicated) unit ID registration program may be executed, and another (dedicated) unit history extraction program may be executed. ..

In the description of each of the above embodiments, the products provided free of charge are all the products provided by the vending machine, but only specific products (for example, only Japanese tea and canned coffee) are free of charge. It may be provided. In this case, the control unit 3 is configured so that the free mode is enabled on the specific product selection button 112.
Further, the vending machine is not limited to the vending machine for soft drinks, and may be a vending machine for foods and other products.

1 Housing 11 Front door 3 Control unit 4 Free mode management unit 41 Unit box 411 Front plate 415 Opening and closing door 6 Management computer 7 Portable storage device connection terminal C1 User card C2 Authentication registration card C3 History extraction card

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention
A housing with a front door and
The product storage unit and product payout mechanism provided in the housing,
It is a vending machine equipped with a plurality of product selection buttons provided on the front door, a product outlet, and a money input unit.
Inside the housing, a control unit that controls the product payout mechanism according to the product selected by the product selection button and the money input from the money input unit is provided.
The control unit can switch between the normal mode and the free mode, and the free mode is a mode in which a specific product or all products are paid out free of charge.
A card reader / writer is provided at a position exposed to the outside of the housing, and the card reader / writer can read the user card and the ID registration card and write information on the history extraction card. Is a reader / writer capable of.
The housing is provided with a free mode management unit to which a card reader / writer is connected. The free mode management unit includes a storage unit, and the storage unit stores an authentication information file in which an authentication ID is recorded and a history information file in which history information is recorded.
Free mode management unit
If the authentication ID is recorded in the authentication information file when the card reader / writer reads the authentication ID from the user card, a free mode switching signal for switching from the normal mode to the free mode is output to the control unit. Free mode switching signal output program and
A history information recording program that records the history of the free mode switching signal output program when it outputs the free mode switching signal to the control unit in a history information file.
An ID registration program that records the authentication ID in the authentication information file when the card reader / writer reads the authentication ID from the ID registration card.
A history extraction program that outputs the history information recorded in the history information file to a card reader / writer and writes it to the history extraction card is implemented.
Further, a portable storage device connection terminal is provided in a box provided with an opening / closing door that can be locked with a key in a space that is not exposed to the outside in the housing, and is connected to the portable storage device. The terminal is connected to the free mode management unit.
The ID registration program is also a program that records the authentication ID in the authentication information file when the authentication ID is input by connecting the portable storage device to the portable storage device connection terminal, or the portable type. Another ID registration program that records the authentication ID in the authentication information file when the authentication ID is input by connecting the portable storage device to the storage device connection terminal is implemented in the free mode management unit.
Further, the history extraction program is also a program that outputs the history information in the history information file when the portable storage device is connected to the portable storage device connection terminal, or is carried to the portable storage device connection terminal. Another history extraction program that outputs the history information in the history information file when the type storage device is connected is implemented in the free mode management unit.
In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine may have a configuration in which the box is a housing and the opening / closing door is a front door of the housing.
In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine may have a configuration in which the box is fixed to the outer surface of the front door or the outer surface of the housing.
In order to solve the above problem, the authentication ID may be the card-specific information of a card issued in another service by giving the card-specific information uniquely identified.

Claims (4)

A housing with a front door and
The product storage unit and product payout mechanism provided in the housing,
It is a vending machine equipped with a plurality of product selection buttons provided on the front door, a product outlet, and a money input section.
Inside the housing, a control unit that controls the product payout mechanism according to the product selected by the product selection button and the money input from the money input unit is provided.
The control unit can switch between the normal mode and the free mode, and the free mode is a mode in which a specific product or all products are paid out free of charge.
A card reader / writer is provided at a position exposed to the outside of the housing.
The card reader / writer is a reader / writer that can read the user card and the ID registration card and can write information on the history extraction card.
The housing is provided with a free mode management unit to which a card reader / writer is connected.
The free mode management unit has a storage unit and
The storage unit stores an authentication information file in which the authentication ID is recorded and a history information file in which the history information is recorded.
Free mode management unit
A free mode switching signal output program that outputs a free mode switching signal to the control unit to switch from normal mode to free mode when the card reader correctly reads the authentication ID from the user card.
A history information recording program that records the history of the free mode switching signal output program when it outputs the free mode switching signal to the control unit in a history information file.
An ID registration program that records the authentication ID in the authentication information file,
A history extraction program that outputs the history information recorded in the history information file to a card reader / writer and writes it to the history extraction card is implemented.
Moreover,
A portable storage device connection terminal is provided in a box equipped with an opening / closing door that can be locked with a key in a space that is not exposed to the outside in the housing.
The portable storage device connection terminal is connected to the free mode management unit,
The ID registration program is a program that records the authentication ID in the authentication information file when the authentication ID is input by connecting the portable storage device to the portable storage device connection terminal, or the portable storage. Another ID registration program that records the authentication ID in the authentication information file when the authentication ID is input by connecting the portable storage device to the device connection terminal is implemented in the free mode management unit.
The history extraction program is a program that outputs the history information in the history information file when the portable storage device is connected to the portable storage device connection terminal, or the portable storage device is connected to the portable storage device connection terminal. A vending machine characterized in that another history extraction program that outputs the history information in the history information file when is connected is implemented in the free mode management unit. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the box is the housing, and the opening / closing door is the front door. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the box is a box fixed to the outer surface of the front door or the outer surface of the housing. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the authentication ID is the card-specific information of a card issued in another service by adding uniquely identified card-specific information. ..

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