JP3624603B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a terminal device for a wireless telephone installed in each vending machine when various information such as sales data is exchanged between individual vending machines and a remote central management center via a telephone line. The present invention relates to a vending machine characterized by an ingenuity in the arrangement of the machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, various information such as sales data has been exchanged between individual vending machines and a remote central management center via a telephone line. A device (modem) is mounted inside each vending machine and wired to a telephone line (for example, JP-A-5-95586). As a prototype, it is also considered that a PHS modem is installed in a vending machine as a terminal device for a wireless telephone and information is exchanged with a central management center (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-154135). Issue gazette).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When using a wired telephone, it was necessary to draw a telephone line to each vending machine, and the construction cost was high. On the other hand, when using a wireless telephone such as PHS, there is no burden of construction costs, so it is advantageous in terms of cost, but there is a problem in where to place it and it should be put into practical use. Was difficult. For example, if the wireless telephone terminal device is housed inside the casing of the vending machine, the wireless telephone terminal device is shielded by the iron plate of the casing, so that there is a problem that the transmitted / received radio wave intensity is reduced. is there. On the other hand, if the wireless telephone terminal device is installed outside the casing of the vending machine, there is no problem of a decrease in transmitted / received radio wave intensity, but there is a problem that it is easily stolen.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a vending machine having an improved location of a wireless telephone terminal device for transmitting and receiving information to and from a central management center via a telephone line. It is something to be offered.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Vending machine according to the invention comprises a control means for controlling the Rutotomoni vending machine product sample display portion is provided on the front surface therein, the product samples on shelves of the product sample display unit In a vending machine arranged, a wireless telephone terminal device for transferring information via a telephone line between the vending machine and a remote management center, the terminal device and the control Data wiring for connecting to the means, and at least a part of the predetermined product sample among the product samples arranged on the display shelf is made electromagnetic non-shielding, and the bottom of the predetermined product sample, Each of the display shelves corresponding thereto is provided with an opening, the terminal device is arranged inside the predetermined product sample, and the data wiring is connected to the terminal device through the opening. The predetermined It is characterized in that the terminal device located inside the product swatch was invisible from the outside.
[0005]
The product sample display section is not shielded by the iron plate that forms the casing of the vending machine, but is simply covered by the electromagnetic non-shielding transparent plate such as an acrylic plate. When the terminal device of the cellular phone is arranged, there is no problem that the transmission / reception radio wave intensity is lowered, and one of the problems of the prior art can be overcome. In addition, the product sample display unit itself is easy to see from the outside, but since the terminal device is arranged inside the predetermined product sample among the product samples arranged on the display shelf of this product sample display unit , the terminal Where the device is located cannot be seen from the outside, and theft damage can be prevented in advance, so that another problem of the prior art can be overcome. In addition, at least a part of the predetermined product sample on which the terminal device is arranged is made electromagnetic non-shielding, and an opening is provided in each of the bottom of the predetermined product sample and a part of the display shelf corresponding to the terminal product, By connecting the data wiring for connecting the control means to the terminal device through this opening, it is possible to achieve the connection with the internal control means so as not to be seen from the outside, and Wireless communication performance can also be ensured. In this way, may be to the eye, and, since it is not necessary to secure the mounting space of the terminal device to a new, storage efficiency of the vending machine each component is also rather good, also, it is possible to secure wireless communication performance, that Excellent effect .
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an appearance of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen obliquely from the front. As is well known, a predetermined part on the front surface of a casing 1 of a vending machine is a product sample. It is a display part 2. As is well known, the product sample display section 2 is shielded by a transparent plate 3 made of an acrylic plate or the like whose front surface is transparent, and a plurality of product samples 4-1 to 4-n are placed at predetermined positions. Each is arranged. In carrying out the present invention, the transparent plate 3 is an ordinary acrylic plate or glass plate that does not have the property of shielding electromagnetic waves. In addition, on the front face of the vending machine, there are provided a product selection switch, a money insertion port, a money return port, a product payout port, etc., which are not shown.
[0007]
A wireless telephone terminal device (for example, a PHS modem) 5 is disposed at any one of the product samples 4-1 to 4-n displayed on the product sample display unit 2, for example, at the 4-n position. The product sample 4-n is covered or stored in the product sample 4-n so as not to be seen from the outside. When the product is a can beverage, a sample called a dummy can is preferably used as the product sample 4-n without using a real beverage can. That is, the dummy can is preferably made of a non-metal so as not to shield electromagnetic waves. Of course, a dummy can, that is, a part of the product sample 4-n (for example, a side surface) may be made of the same aluminum or tin as the real product, and the upper surface may have electromagnetic wave non-shielding characteristics such as plastic or paper.
[0008]
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a portion of the product sample 4-n in which the wireless telephone terminal device 5 is accommodated. In this case, the product sample 4-n is placed on the display shelf 2a, and the wireless telephone terminal device 5 is housed inside the product sample 4-n. An appropriate opening 2b is formed in the display shelf 2a, and an appropriate opening is also provided in the bottom surface 4b of the product sample 4-n. The data wiring of the terminal device 5 housed inside the product sample 4-n (For example, a serial communication line) 5a passes under the display shelf 2a through these openings 2b and communicates with the inside of the vending machine casing 1, and is connected to a control device provided inside the casing 1. Connected.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing another storage example of the wireless telephone terminal device 5, and there is no substantially rear half of the product sample 4-n and covers the front surface of the terminal device 5 placed on the display shelf 2 a. It looks like it hides.
[0009]
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the configuration of the control device inside the vending machine. A wireless telephone terminal device (for example, a PHS modem) 5 is connected to a communication interface 10 in the control device via a data line 5 a and communicates with the main control unit 11 via a bus 15. Various devices and control mechanisms necessary for the vending machine, such as a coin mechanism 12, a product selection panel control unit 13, and a product transport control unit 14, are connected to the bus 15. Under the control of the main control unit 11, sales of vending machines are managed, and such information is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless telephone terminal device (PHS modem) 5 through the communication interface 10, and the public communication network 20 To the central management center 21 at a remote location. Information given from the central management center 21 via the communication line network 20 is received by the wireless telephone terminal device (PHS modem) 5 and given to the main control unit 11 via the communication interface 10. Individual vending machines according to the present invention having such a configuration are provided in various places, and the central management center 21 communicates with each of the vending machines as described above to obtain sales information and the like. Collect and centrally manage information.
[0010]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a wireless telephone terminal device for transferring information via a public telephone line is arranged in an individual vending machine, it is displayed on the product sample display section on the front side. In any position of the product sample, the terminal device is covered with the product sample arranged at the position or stored in the product sample so as not to be seen from the outside. is there. Therefore, the product sample display section is not shielded by the iron plate constituting the casing of the vending machine, but is only covered by the electromagnetic non-shielding transparent plate such as an acrylic plate. When a wireless telephone terminal device is installed in the mobile phone, there is no problem that the transmitted / received radio wave intensity is lowered, and an excellent effect is achieved in that one of the problems of the prior art can be overcome. In addition, although the product sample display unit itself is easy to see from the outside, at any position of the product sample displayed in the product sample display unit, the terminal device is a product sample arranged at the position. Since it is covered or placed in the product sample so that it cannot be seen from the outside, it is not possible to know where the terminal device is from the outside, and it is possible to prevent theft damage of the terminal device in advance. As a result, it is possible to overcome another problem of the prior art. Furthermore, since the arranged terminal device is hidden by the product sample, it is good in appearance, and it is not necessary to secure a new installation space for the terminal device, so that there is also an advantage that the storage efficiency of each component of the vending machine is good. is there.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an external appearance of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the front.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a product sample portion that accommodates the wireless telephone terminal device in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing another storage example of a wireless telephone terminal device in a product sample.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system in a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine housing | casing 2 Commodity sample display part 2a Commodity sample display shelf 3 Transparent plates 4-1 to 4-n of the front of the commodity sample display part Commodity sample 5 Wireless telephone terminal device 5a Data wiring 10 Communication interface 11 Main control unit 20 Public communication network 21 Central management center

Claims (1)

Comprising a control means for controlling the Rutotomoni vending machine provided with product sample display portion on the front surface to the inside, in the vending machine so as to arrange the items swatch onto shelves of the product sample display unit ,
A wireless telephone terminal device for transferring information between the vending machine and a remote management center via a telephone line ;
Data wiring for connecting the terminal device and the control means;
And at least a part of a predetermined product sample among the product samples arranged on the display shelf is made electromagnetic non-shielding, and a bottom of the predetermined product sample and a part of the display shelf corresponding thereto The terminal device is disposed inside the predetermined product sample, and the data wiring is connected to the terminal device through the opening, whereby the terminal device is disposed inside the predetermined product sample. A vending machine characterized in that the terminal device is not visible from the outside .

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