JP3688123B2

JP3688123B2 - Vending machine product replenishment confirmation device and product replenishment method

Info

Publication number: JP3688123B2
Application number: JP18671398A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 啓一水金; 正博米倉
Original assignee: Kubota Corp
Current assignee: Kubota Corp
Priority date: 1998-07-02
Filing date: 1998-07-02
Publication date: 2005-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-02
Also published as: JP2000020809A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、自動販売機の商品補充確認装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
自動販売機においては、缶飲料商品などを加温してホット商品として販売したり、冷却してコールド商品として販売したりしている。その飲料中に乳原料などを含む場合には、長期間にわたってホット商品として加温した状態を維持するとその風味が損なわれることがあるため、風味が損なわれないような保証期間（例えば自動販売機に補充してから３０日）中に商品を販売したり、保証期間を過ぎた商品を巡回員が交換したりすることが望ましい。
【０００３】
巡回員にて各自動販売機に収納されている商品が保証期間を過ぎていないかどうかを認識しようとすると、商品補充の際にその補充日時（または保証期限）および補充数を記録し、なおかつ頻繁にその商品の販売数を確認して、各保証期限に対する在庫数を確認することが考えられる。しかし、その記録および確認作業を行うには多大な手間や時間がかかり、さらに必ずしも頻繁に確認処理を行えるとは限らないため、確実に確認することは現実的には困難である。
【０００４】
これに対処するものとして、特開平８−３１５２２７号公報に、巡回員がその商品の保証期間を入力して自動販売機に記憶させておくとともに、巡回の都度、商品収納コラム毎にその商品の補充数を入力することでこれらのデータを自動販売機に記憶させ、一方で、自動販売機において記憶している各商品収納コラム毎の販売数および販売時から最近の所定期間内（例えば最近の一週間）の平均販売数を算出して滞留期間を予測し、上記保証期間の終了前に設定された判定日が到来すると、上記保証期間と補充日時と在庫数と平均販売数とから品質保証期限切れを判定して、商品収納コラム毎に設けた警告表示器に品質保証期限切れ警告を発したり、販売を停止したり、商品補充の際に適正補充数を表示したりすることが開示されている。
【０００５】
この構成によれば、品質保証期限切れとなった、もしくは品質保証期限切れとなりそうな商品収納コラムを認識できるので、品質保証期限切れの商品を販売することを最小限に抑えることができる。また、商品補充の際に適正補充数を表示することで、商品を補充する際などに予め品質保証期限切れとなりそうな商品の投入自体を巡回員などが認識することができるので、品質保証期限切れになる可能性の高い商品を補充することも防止することができて、付加価値が下がる商品の発生自体をも未然に防止することができる。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、上記特開平８−３１５２２７号公報の構成によれば、巡回員が巡回して商品を補充する都度、商品収納コラム毎にその商品補充数を入力しなければならないため、巡回の度に多くの手間や時間がかかって巡回員に大きな負担をかけることになり、また手間や時間がかかるので巡回員がこの入力操作を行わなくなって、結果的に有効に活用されないおそれもある。
【０００７】
また、一時的に多く売れた場合などに、平均販売数が大きく影響されてしまい、滞留期間の予測が大きく狂うおそれがあり、この場合には品質保証期限切れの判定が不確実となってしまう。
【０００８】
さらに、専用の警告表示器を商品収納コラム毎に設ける必要があるため、製造コストの大幅な増加も招いてしまう。
本発明は上記課題を解決するもので、巡回員などに大きな負担をかけたり、製造コストの大幅な増加を招くことなく、品質保証期限切れの商品を発生することを最小限に抑えることができる自動販売機の商品補充確認装置を提供することを目的とするものである。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記課題を解決するために請求項１記載の本発明は、前面扉と、それぞれ同種類の商品を収納するとともに補充順に商品を払い出す商品払出機能を有する複数の商品収納部と、商品収納部の商品補充口を含む開口部を開閉する内扉とを備えた自動販売機であって、内扉もしくは内扉および前面扉の開閉を検知する扉開閉検知手段と、各商品収納部毎の少なくとも商品の販売数と販売時刻とを記憶する記憶手段と、［商品収納部の満杯補充数／商品の品質保証期間］と巡回員の巡回間隔日数との積を巡回間隔期間に販売できる販売期待本数として算出するとともに、扉開閉検知手段からの信号を入力して内扉または前面扉を開けた際に、内扉を前回閉じてから今回内扉または前面扉を開けた際までの各商品収納部毎の商品販売数と巡回間隔期間を算出する演算手段と、前回巡回時から今回巡回時までの販売本数実績と販売期待本数とを比較し、販売本数実績が販売期待本数よりも大きいか等しい場合に販売好調と判定し、販売本数実績が販売期待本数よりも小さい場合に販売不調と判定する比較判定手段と、この比較判定手段に判定を指示する判定指示手段と、判定指示手段により指示された際に比較判定手段の判定結果に基づいたデータに応じて販売不調の商品収納部と販売好調の商品収納部とを区別して表示する表示手段を設けたものである。
【００１０】
この構成により、複数の商品収納部に対して商品補充を行う際などに、判定指示手段により比較判定動作を行うように指示するだけで、販売不調の商品収納部と販売好調の商品収納部とが区別して表示される。したがって、この表示を見ながら、販売好調の商品収納部にだけ商品を補充して、販売不調の商品収納部には商品を補充しないことで、品質保証期限切れとなる可能性の高い商品の残数が増えないため、品質保証期限切れの商品が発生する可能性を減少させることができる。
【００１１】
請求項２記載の本発明は、請求項１記載の自動販売機の商品補充確認装置において、今回巡回時までに商品の売り切れが発生した場合には前回巡回時から売切れ発生時までを巡回間隔期間として設定するものである。
【００１２】
この構成により、巡回間隔期間に対する販売本数実績を正確に把握することができる。
請求項３記載の本発明は、請求項１または２に記載の自動販売機の商品補充確認装置において、判定指示手段は、前面扉の開閉を検知する前面扉開閉検知手段であり、前面扉が開けられた際に、販売状態を判定して表示手段にて表示させるものである。
【００１３】
この構成により、巡回時などに前面扉を開けるだけで、販売状態が表示されるので、手間や時間がかからない。
請求項４記載の本発明は、請求項１〜３の何れかに記載の自動販売機の商品補充確認装置において、表示手段は、各商品選択ボタンに対応して設けられた販売可能ランプおよび売切れランプであるものである。
【００１４】
この構成により、特別な表示手段を別途に設けなくても販売状態を各商品収納部毎に表示させることができる。
請求項５記載の本発明は、請求項１〜４の何れかに記載の自動販売機の商品補充確認装置において、商品収納部の商品の残数を認識する残数認識手段を設け、残数が所定の数以下の場合は表示手段により販売状態の表示とともに売切れ間近表示をするものである。
【００１５】
この構成により、販売状態の表示の表示とともに売切れ間近表示も行われるため、販売が不調であっても、品切れとならないように商品を少ない数だけ補充することで、品質保証期限切れの商品が発生する可能性を減少させることができながら、商品切れを防止することもできる。
【００１６】
請求項６記載の本発明は、請求項１〜５の何れかに記載の自動販売機の商品補充確認装置において、前回巡回時から今回巡回時までの巡回間隔期間が所定日数よりも小さい場合には、新たな販売状態判断は行わずに、巡回間隔期間が所定日数以上であった最新の判定情報を表示させるものである。
【００１７】
この構成により、巡回の頻度が多くて巡回間隔期間が短い場合には、巡回間隔期間が所定日数以上であった最新の判定情報が表示されるため、一時的に多く売れることがあっても、平均販売数が大きく影響されて販売状態の判断が不確実となることが防止される。
【００１８】
請求項７記載の本発明は、請求項５に記載の自動販売機の商品補充確認装置に商品を補充する商品補充方法であって、販売好調と表示されている商品収納部には商品を満杯になるまで補充し、販売不調と表示されかつ売切れ間近と表示されていない商品収納部には商品を補充せず、販売不調と表示されかつ売切れ間近と表示されている商品収納部には所定数の商品を補充するものである。
【００１９】
この方法により、品質保証期限切れとなる可能性の高い商品の残数が増えないため、品質保証期限切れの商品が発生する可能性を減少させることができる。
請求項８記載の本発明は、請求項１〜６の何れかに記載の自動販売機の商品補充確認装置において、残数認識手段は、内扉および前面扉が閉じられた際に、販売好調の商品収納部については商品の残数を満杯数に設定し直し、販売不調でかつ売切れ間近でない商品収納部には残数をそのまま維持し、販売不調でかつ売切れ間近である商品収納部については商品の残数を所定数増加させて設定し直し、その後の商品販売の度に商品の残数から１つずつ減じることにより商品の残数を認識するものである。
【００２０】
この構成により、商品の残数をほぼ実際の残数に合うように自動販売機に自動的に認識させることが可能となる。
請求項９記載の本発明は、請求項１〜６または８の何れかに記載の自動販売機の商品補充確認装置において、満杯数が設定された後、満杯時から売切れ発生時までの販売数が設定満杯数よりも多い場合にはその販売数を満杯数に設定し直し、満杯時から売切れ発生時までの販売数が設定満杯数よりも連続して少ない場合にはその販売数を満杯数に設定し直すものである。
【００２１】
この構成により、商品収納部に供給する商品の種類が変わった場合でも商品の満杯数が自動的に変更される。
【００２２】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態について、図面に基き説明する。
図２〜図４に示すように、この自動販売機には、一般の自動販売機と同様に、前面扉１と、それぞれ同種類の商品を収納するとともに補充順に商品を払い出す商品払出機能を有する複数の商品収納部２と、商品収納部２の商品補充口２ａを含む開口部３を開閉する内扉４と、前面扉１の裏面に配設られ表示部５ａおよび複数の入力キー５ｂを有する表示入力部５と、前面扉１の前面に複数設けられて各商品収納部２に対応して関係づけられている商品選択ボタン６とが備えられ、各商品選択ボタン６には、図１に示すように、投入金額以下の販売可能な商品を示すための販売可能ランプ６ａと売切れ状態を示すための売切れランプ６ｂとがそれぞれ設けられている。
【００２３】
また、この自動販売機には、図１に示すように、前面扉１の開閉を検知して判定指示手段として機能する前面扉開閉検知センサ１１と、内扉４の開閉を検知する内扉開閉検知センサ１２と、種々のデータなどを記憶する記憶部１３および計時するタイマ１４が接続された制御部１５とが備えられ、さらに制御部１５には演算手段１６および比較判定手段１７が設けられている。
【００２４】
制御部１５は図５、図６に示すような制御処理を行う。
まず、予め、各商品収納部２毎の満杯補充数（例えば３０本）を表示入力部５から入力して記憶部１３に記憶させておくとともに、商品の品質保証期間（例えば３０日間）を表示入力部５から入力して記憶部１３に記憶させておく。また、後述する売切れ間近と判定する場合の売切れ間近判定本数（例えば５本）と販売不調で売切れ間近の場合の設定補充本数（例えば６本）を表示入力部５から入力して記憶部１３に記憶させておくとともに、後述する販売状態を判定させる際の巡回間隔日数の最低規定日数（例えば８日）も表示入力部５から入力して記憶部１３に記憶させておく。なお、これらのデータは予め初期値を自動販売機出荷時までに記憶させておき、初期値と異なる場合のみ入力できる構成としてもよい。
【００２５】
初めに、各商品収納部２にそれぞれ商品を例えば満杯となるように補充した後、内扉４および前面扉１を閉めると、内扉開閉検知センサ１２および前面扉開閉検知センサ１１によりこれらの閉動作が検知され、内扉４が閉じられた時刻が商品が補充された時刻（年月日および時間など）であるとして記憶される（ステップ＃１、＃２）。
【００２６】
その後、ステップ＃３に進み、商品が販売される度にステップ＃４で該当商品の販売本数を１つずつ増やして販売本数をカウントするとともにその商品の残数を１つ減少させて残数を認識させる。そして、この後に巡回員などにより前面扉１が開けられてこの開動作が前面扉開閉検知センサ１１にて検知されると、ステップ＃５からステップ＃６以降に進み、演算手段１６による演算処理と比較判定手段１７による比較判定処理とが加温状態の各商品収納部２それぞれについて指示される。
【００２７】
演算手段１６においては、ステップ＃６で、前面扉１が開けられた時刻と内扉４が閉じられた時刻との差から巡回間隔日数を算出する（例えば巡回間隔日数の小数点以下分を切り捨てて算出する）とともに、巡回間隔日数が最低規定日数（例えば８日）以上である場合にはステップ＃７からステップ＃８に進んで、［商品収納部２の満杯補充数／商品の品質保証期間］と巡回員の巡回間隔日数との積を巡回間隔期間に販売できる販売期待本数として算出する。なお、今回巡回日までに売切れが発生した場合には売切れ発生までの日数を巡回間隔日数とみなす。例えば満杯補充数が３０で、商品の品質保証期間が３０日、巡回員の巡回間隔日数が１０日であった場合には（３０／３０）×１０＝１０と演算して販売期待本数が１０本であると設定する。ここで、販売期待本数とは、商品を満杯にした場合に、これらの数の商品がちょうど商品の品質保証期間で販売される場合での割合でその巡回間隔において販売されると期待される本数である。すなわち、販売期待本数に等しい割合で常に販売されると、品質保証期間が終了する際に、満杯にした商品がちょうど販売されることとなる。
【００２８】
ステップ＃９では、前回巡回時（前回内扉４が閉じられた時刻）から今回巡回時（今回前面扉１が開けられた時刻）までの実際に販売された該当商品の販売実績本数と、上記算出された販売期待本数とが比較され、販売実績本数が販売期待本数よりも大きいか等しい場合（上記例においては販売実績本数が１０本以上であった場合）にはステップ＃１０に進んで販売好調と判定し、また、販売実績本数が販売期待本数よりも小さい場合（上記例においては販売実績本数が９本以下であった場合）にはステップ＃１１に進んで販売不調と判定する。販売好調と判定した商品収納部２については、この商品収納部２に対応する商品選択ボタン６の売切れランプ６ｂを消灯させ、販売不調と判定した商品収納部２については、この商品収納部２に対応する商品選択ボタン６の売切れランプ６ｂを点滅させる。ここで、販売状態が判定された場合には、この情報を記憶部１３に記憶させておく。
【００２９】
なお、ステップ＃７において、巡回間隔日数が最低規定日数（例えば８日）よりも小さい場合には、ステップ＃１２に進んで、前回の販売状態が判断された結果を採用して商品選択ボタン６の売切れランプ６ｂを消灯または点滅表示させる。また、自動販売機を設置してあまり期間が経っておらず、前回の販売状態判断情報がまだない場合に備えて、販売状態判断に対する予め初期値を記憶させておき、この場合に上記初期値を用いて売切れランプ６ｂを消灯または点滅表示させてもよい。
【００３０】
次に、ステップ＃１３で、上記販売状態を判定した商品収納部２における現在の残数が売切れ判定本数（例えば５本）以下であるかどうかを判定し、残数が売切れ間近判定本数（例えば５本）以下である場合には、ステップ＃１４に進んで売切れ間近と判定し、また、残数が売切れ判定本数よりも多い場合には、ステップ＃１５に進んで売切れ間近でないと判定する。売切れ間近と判定した商品収納部２については、この商品収納部２に対応する商品選択ボタン６の販売可能ランプ６ａを点滅させ、売切れ間近でないと判定した商品収納部２については、この商品収納部２に対応する商品選択ボタン６の販売可能ランプ６ａを消灯させる。
【００３１】
この後、巡回員は商品選択ボタン６の販売可能ランプ６ａおよび売切れランプ６ｂを見て、商品の補充が必要であるかどうかを判断し、補充が必要である場合には内扉４を開けて商品を補充する。商品の補充は以下のようにして行う。
【００３２】
売切れランプ６ｂが消灯されている商品選択ボタン６に対応する商品収納部２については販売が好調であるため、販売可能ランプ６ａの表示状態に関係なく、満杯状態となるまで商品を補充する。一方、売切れランプ６ｂが点滅されている商品選択ボタン６に対応する商品収納部２については販売が不調であるため、販売可能ランプ６ａの表示状態を確認する。販売可能ランプ６ａが点滅されている商品選択ボタン６に対応する商品収納部２については、売切れが間近であるため、予め決められた設定補充本数（例えば６本）だけ商品を補充し、販売可能ランプ６ａが消灯されている商品選択ボタン６に対応する商品収納部２については、売切れが間近でないため、商品は補充しない。この場合に、販売不調であるが売切れ間近であると判定された商品収納部２については、商品を設定補充本数だけ投入した際に巡回員がこの動作を行ったことを確認するために商品選択ボタン６を押すと、販売可能ランプ６ａを点滅状態から消灯状態に変更させ、商品を設定補充本数だけ投入したことを認識できるようになっている。すなわち、誤って商品を再度補充することを防止できるようになっている。
【００３３】
商品の補充が終わって前面扉１が閉じられると、ステップ＃１６からステップ＃１７に進んで、残数がプリセットされる。ここで、販売好調と判定された商品収納部２については残数が満杯数にプリセットされ、販売不調であるが売切れ間近であると判定された商品収納部２については残数に設定補充本数を加算した本数を新たな残数としてプリセットされ、販売不調であり売切れ間近でないと判定された商品収納部２については残数をそのまま維持する。なお、このプリセット動作を、前面扉１が閉じられてから所定時間（例えば３０分）後に行うようにして、前記所定時間内に再度前面扉１が開けられた際にはこのプリセット動作をキャンセルするように構成して、頻繁にプリセット動作が行われることを防止してもよい。
【００３４】
また、自動販売機においては商品収納部２に対する商品の種類を変更した際に、直径などの形状が異なると、満杯数も変わることとなるが、本発明においては、初めに満杯数が所定の初期値に設定された後に、満杯時から売切れ発生時までの販売数が設定満杯数よりも多い場合にはその販売数を満杯数に設定し、満杯時から売切れ発生時までの販売数が設定満杯数よりも連続して少ない場合にはその販売数を満杯数に設定するようになっている。
【００３５】
上記の構成によれば、巡回員が商品補充を行う際などに前面扉１を開けるだけで、加温状態の各商品収納部２に対して、販売好調、販売不調、売切れ間近の判断が行われて、各商品収納部２に対応する商品選択ボタン６の販売可能ランプ６ａおよび売切れランプ６ｂにその状態が手間をかけることなく表示される。したがって、巡回員はこの表示を見ることで、販売好調、販売不調、売切れ間近の商品収納部２を容易に確認できる。
【００３６】
また、販売好調と表示されている商品収納部２には商品を満杯になるまで補充し、販売不調と表示されかつ売切れ間近と表示されていない商品収納部２には商品を補充せず、販売不調と表示されかつ売切れ間近と表示されている商品収納部２には所定数の商品を補充するという規則をつくり、制御部１５により、その規則に沿って、自動的に商品の残数を認識させるように構成したため、商品の残数をほぼ実際の残数に合うように自動的に認識させることが可能となり、商品の補充数を毎回入力するような負担を巡回員に強いることもない。
【００３７】
そして、販売好調の商品収納部２にだけ商品を補充して、販売不調で売切れ間近でない商品収納部２には商品を補充しないことで、品質保証期限切れとなる可能性の高い商品の残数を最小限に抑えることができるため、品質保証期限切れの商品が発生する可能性を減少させることができる。さらに、販売が不調であっても、売切れ間近な商品については所定数の商品を補充するため、商品切れの発生も予防することもできる。
【００３８】
また、今回巡回時までに商品の売り切れが発生した場合には前回巡回時から売切れ発生時までを巡回間隔期間として設定することで、巡回間隔期間に対する販売本数実績を正確に把握することができる。また、販売好調、販売不調、売切れ間近の商品収納部２を認識させるための表示手段として、商品選択ボタン６の販売可能ランプ６ａおよび売切れランプ６ｂを用いて、特別な表示手段や警報手段を別途に設けなくても済むため、製造コストを安価に済ますことができる。
【００３９】
また、巡回の頻度が多くて巡回間隔期間が短い場合には、巡回間隔期間が所定日数以上であった最新の判定情報が表示されるため、一時的に多く売れることがあっても、平均販売数が大きく影響されて販売状態の判断が不確実となるようなことがなく、販売状態判断を正確に行うことができる。
【００４０】
さらに、満杯数が初めは所定の初期値に設定された後、満杯時から売切れ発生時までの販売数が設定満杯数よりも多い場合にはその販売数を満杯数に設定し直し、満杯時から売切れ発生時までの販売数が設定満杯数よりも連続して少ない場合にはその販売数を満杯数に設定することにより、商品収納部２に供給する商品の種類が変わった場合でも商品の満杯数が自動的かつ正確に補正され、巡回員によりが満杯数を手動で変更しなくても済んで巡回員の負担を増やすことがない。
【００４１】
また、商品を補充する際に、満杯にしたことは商品投入口の商品を確認することで容易に視認できる一方、販売不調かつ売切れ間近である場合に商品を設定補充本数だけ投入した際に、商品が満杯ではなくて見えない状態であるため、そのままでは、商品を誤って再度投入してしまうおそれがある。しかし、上記実施の形態によれば、商品選択ボタン６を押すと、販売可能ランプ６ａを点滅状態から消灯状態に変更させ、商品を設定補充本数だけ投入したことを確認できるようになっているため、誤って再度投入してしまうことを防止することができる。
【００４２】
なお、上記実施の形態においては、前面扉１を開けた際に販売状態の判定を行うようにしたので、内扉４を開けた際に販売状態の判定を行うように設定した場合と比べると、内扉４を開ける前に判定結果から補充に必要な商品を予め準備できて便利となるとともに商品収納部２の適温空気が外部に逃げることを最小限に抑えることが可能となり、さらに、判定結果から商品の補充を行わなくても済む場合は手数が掛からない利点がある。しかし、内扉４を開けた際に販売状態の判定を行うように設定してもよく、この場合には前面扉開閉検知センサ１１を設けなくても済む。また、他のスイッチ手段により販売状態の判定を指示するようにしてもよく、前面扉１の裏面の表示入力部５による所定操作により販売状態の判定を指示するようにしてもよい。
【００４３】
また、上記実施の形態においては、販売状態の判定結果を各商品選択ボタン６の売切れランプ６ｂで表示し、売切れ間近状態を各商品選択ボタン６の販売可能ランプ６ａで表示させる場合を述べたが、これに限るものではなく、それぞれ逆のランプで示したり、表示方法を変えても（例えば点灯と点滅など）よく、さらに商品収納部２の近傍に表示手段などを個別に設けたり、前面扉１の裏面の表示入力部５に表示させてもよい。
【００４４】
また、上記実施の形態においては、加温状態の各商品収納部２に対してのみ販売状態や売切れ間近の判断を行うようにした場合を述べたが、全商品収納部２に対して判定を行わせて、巡回員がホット商品に係る各商品収納部２に対してのみ参照するようにしてもよい。また、ホット商品だけに限定されるものではなく、コールド商品に対しても別途に品質保証期間を設けて判定することも可能であり、また、特定の種類の商品だけに個別に品質保証期間を設けて判定することも可能である。
【００４５】
また、上記実施の形態においては、前面扉１と内扉４とがそれぞれ個別に設けられている場合を述べたが、これに限るものではなく、例えば商品の補充用投入口に対応する箇所で前面扉１の上部と内扉４の上部とが一体形成されているような自動販売機に対しても適用可能であることは申すまでもない。
【００４６】
【発明の効果】
以上のように本発明によれば、各商品収納部毎の商品の販売数と販売時刻などを記憶手段に記憶させ、判定指示手段により指示した際に演算手段にて、商品収納部の満杯補充数と商品の品質保証期間と巡回員の巡回間隔日数とから販売期待本数を算出させるとともに内扉を前回閉じてから今回内扉または前面扉を開けた際までの各商品収納部毎の商品販売数と巡回間隔期間を算出させ、比較判定手段にて、販売本数実績が販売期待本数よりも大きいか等しい場合に販売好調と判定し、販売本数実績が販売期待本数よりも小さい場合に販売不調と判定し、このデータに応じて販売不調の商品収納部と販売好調の商品収納部とを区別して表示手段で表示させることで、品質保証期限切れとなる可能性の高い商品の残数を抑えることが可能となり、品質保証期限切れの商品が発生する可能性を減少させることができる。
【００４７】
また、今回巡回時までに商品の売切れが発生した場合には前回巡回時から売切れ発生時までを巡回間隔期間として設定することにより、巡回間隔期間に対する販売本数実績を正確に把握することができる。
【００４８】
また、判定指示手段として前面扉の開閉を検知する前面扉開閉検知手段を用いて、前面扉が開けられた際に、販売状態を判定して表示手段にて表示させることにより、巡回時などに前面扉を開けるだけで、販売状態が表示されるので、手間や時間がかからず、さらに作業能率が向上する。
【００４９】
また、表示手段として、各商品選択ボタンに対応して設けられた販売可能ランプと売切れランプを採用することで、特別な表示手段を別途に設けなくても販売状態を各商品収納部毎に表示させることができて、製造コストを低減できる。
【００５０】
また、商品収納部の商品の残数を認識する残数認識手段を設け、残数が所定の数以下の場合は表示手段により販売状態の表示とともに売切れ間近表示をすることにより、品質保証期限切れの商品が発生する可能性を減少させることができながら、商品切れを防止することもできる。
【００５１】
また、前回巡回時から今回巡回時までの巡回間隔期間が所定日数よりも小さい場合には、新たな販売状態判断は行わずに、巡回間隔期間が所定日数以上であった最新の判定情報を表示させることにより、販売状態の判断が不確実となることが防止され、信頼性が向上する。
【００５２】
また、この自動販売機の商品補充確認装置に商品を補充する商品補充方法として、販売好調と表示されている商品収納部には商品を満杯になるまで補充し、販売不調と表示されかつ売切れ間近と表示されていない商品収納部には商品を補充せず、販売不調と表示されかつ売切れ間近と表示されている商品収納部には所定数の商品を補充することにより、品質保証期限切れとなる可能性の高い商品の残数が増えないため、品質保証期限切れの商品が発生する可能性を減少させることができる。
【００５３】
また、残数認識手段は、内扉および前面扉が閉じられた際に、販売好調の商品収納部については商品の残数を満杯数に設定し直し、販売不調でかつ売切れ間近でない商品収納部には残数をそのまま維持し、販売不調でかつ売切れ間近である商品収納部については商品の残数を所定数増加させて設定し直し、その後の商品販売の度に商品の残数から１つずつ減じることにより商品の残数を認識させることにより、商品の残数をほぼ実際の残数に合うように自動的に認識させることが可能となり、一層信頼性が向上する。
【００５４】
また、満杯数が初めは所定の初期値に設定された後、満杯時から売切れ発生時までの販売数が設定満杯数よりも多い場合にはその販売数を満杯数に設定し、満杯時から売切れ発生時までの販売数が設定満杯数よりも連続して少ない場合にはその販売数を満杯数に設定することにより、商品収納部に供給する商品の種類が変わった場合でも商品の満杯数が自動的に変更され、手間や時間が掛からないため、これによっても作業能率が向上する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の形態にかかる自動販売機の商品補充確認装置の概略的なブロック図である。
【図２】同自動販売機の前面扉および内扉を開けた際の全体斜視図である。
【図３】同自動販売機の側面断面図である。
【図４】同自動販売機の全体斜視図である。
【図５】同自動販売機の商品補充確認装置の制御動作を示すフローチャートである。
【図６】同自動販売機の商品補充確認装置の制御動作を示すフローチャートである。
【符号の説明】
１前面扉
２商品収納部
４内扉
５表示入力部
６商品選択ボタン
６ａ販売可能ランプ
６ｂ売切れランプ
１１前面扉開閉検知センサ
１２内扉開閉検知センサ
１３記憶部
１４タイマ
１５制御部
１６演算手段
１７比較判定手段[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a commodity replenishment confirmation device for a vending machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In vending machines, canned beverage products are heated and sold as hot products, or cooled and sold as cold products. If the beverage contains dairy ingredients, the flavor may be lost if the product is kept warm as a hot product for a long period of time. It is desirable that the product be sold within 30 days from the date of restocking, or that the patrolman replace the product whose warranty period has expired.
[0003]
If a patrolman tries to recognize whether the product stored in each vending machine has passed the warranty period, the date and time of replenishment (or the warranty expiration date) and the number of replenishments will be recorded when the product is replenished, and It is conceivable to frequently check the number of products sold and check the number of stocks for each warranty period. However, it takes a lot of time and effort to perform the recording and confirmation work, and furthermore, confirmation processing is not always performed frequently, so it is practically difficult to confirm with certainty.
[0004]
In order to deal with this, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-315227, the patrolman inputs the warranty period of the product and stores it in the vending machine. By inputting the replenishment number, these data are stored in the vending machine. On the other hand, the number of sales for each product storage column stored in the vending machine and within a predetermined period (for example, recent The average number of sales per week is calculated to predict the residence period, and when the judgment date set before the end of the warranty period comes, quality assurance is performed based on the warranty period, the replenishment date and time, the inventory quantity, and the average sales quantity. It is disclosed that the expiration date is judged and a warning display provided for each product storage column is issued, a quality assurance expiration warning is issued, sales are stopped, and the appropriate replenishment number is displayed when the product is replenished. .
[0005]
According to this configuration, it is possible to recognize a product storage column that has expired or is about to expire, so that it is possible to minimize the sale of products that have expired. In addition, by displaying the appropriate replenishment number when replenishing products, it is possible for patrolmen to recognize the introduction of products that are likely to expire in advance when replenishing products. It is also possible to prevent replenishment of products that are highly likely to become, and it is also possible to prevent the occurrence of products that have a low added value.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the configuration of the above-mentioned JP-A-8-315227, every time a patrolman patrolls and replenishes a product, the number of products to be replenished must be input for each product storage column. It takes a lot of time and effort, and places a heavy burden on the patrolman. Also, since it takes time and effort, the patrolman does not perform this input operation, and as a result, there is a possibility that it is not used effectively.
[0007]
In addition, when a large number of items are temporarily sold, the average number of sales is greatly affected, and there is a possibility that the prediction of the staying period may be greatly deviated. In this case, it is uncertain that the quality guarantee has expired.
[0008]
Furthermore, since it is necessary to provide a dedicated warning indicator for each commodity storage column, a significant increase in manufacturing cost is also caused.
The present invention solves the above-described problems, and can automatically minimize the occurrence of a product whose quality assurance has expired without placing a heavy burden on a patrolman or causing a significant increase in manufacturing cost. The object is to provide a product replenishment confirmation device for a vending machine.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention according to claim 1 is a front door, a plurality of product storage units each having a product delivery function for storing the same type of products and delivering the products in order of replenishment, and a product storage unit Vending machine including an inner door that opens and closes an opening including the product replenishment port, door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the inner door or the inner door and the front door, and at least each of the product storage units Expected number of products that can be sold in the cycle interval, the product of the storage means for storing the number of items sold and the time of sale, and the product of [Number of full product replenishment / Product quality assurance period] and the number of patrol cycle days When the inner door or front door is opened by inputting a signal from the door open / close detection means, each product storage section from when the inner door was closed last time to when the inner door or front door was opened this time Number of products sold and period of travel Compare the calculation method with the actual number of sales from the previous tour to the current tour and the expected number of sales. If the actual sales number is greater than or equal to the expected sales number, the sales performance is judged to be good. Based on the determination result of the comparison determination means when instructed by the comparison instruction means, the determination instruction means for instructing the comparison determination means to make a determination, and the determination instruction means. Display means for distinguishing and displaying the product storage unit with poor sales and the product storage unit with good sales according to the data.
[0010]
With this configuration, when replenishing a product to a plurality of product storage units, etc., by simply instructing the comparison instruction operation to be performed by the determination instruction means, the product storage unit with poor sales and the product storage unit with good sales Are displayed separately. Therefore, while looking at this display, by replenishing products only to the product storage unit with good sales and not replenishing products to the product storage unit with poor sales, the remaining number of products that are likely to expire. Therefore, the possibility that a product whose quality guarantee has expired can be reduced.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the commodity replenishment confirmation device of the vending machine according to the first aspect, when the commodity is sold out by the time of the current circulation, the circulation interval period is from the time of the previous circulation to the time of the sale of the commodity. Is set as
[0012]
With this configuration, it is possible to accurately grasp the number of sales for the circulation interval period.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the commodity replenishment confirmation device of the vending machine according to the first or second aspect, the determination instruction means is a front door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the front door, When opened, the sales state is determined and displayed on the display means.
[0013]
With this configuration, the sales status is displayed simply by opening the front door at the time of patrol or the like, so it does not take time and effort.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the commodity replenishment confirmation device of the vending machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, the display means is a sellable lamp provided corresponding to each commodity selection button and sold out. It is a lamp.
[0014]
With this configuration, the sales state can be displayed for each product storage section without providing a special display means separately.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the commodity replenishment check device of the vending machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a remaining number recognizing means for recognizing the remaining number of products in the product storage unit is provided, and the remaining number When the number is less than the predetermined number, the display means displays the sales status and displays a near-sold display.
[0015]
With this configuration, the display of the sales status is displayed as well as a close-to-sold display, so even if sales are not good, replenishing a small number of products so that they will not be out of stock will cause products with expired quality assurance. While the possibility can be reduced, it is possible to prevent the product from running out.
[0016]
The present invention described in claim 6 is the product replenishment confirmation device of the vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tour interval period from the previous visit to the current visit is less than a predetermined number of days. Is to display the latest determination information in which the circulation interval period is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of days without performing a new sales state determination.
[0017]
With this configuration, when the frequency of patrol is high and the patrol interval period is short, since the latest determination information that the patrol interval period is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of days is displayed, even if it may temporarily sell a lot, It is prevented that the average number of sales is greatly influenced and the judgment of the sales state becomes uncertain.
[0018]
The present invention according to claim 7 is a method for replenishing a product to the product replenishment confirmation device of the vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the product storage unit indicated as being in good sales is full of products. The product storage unit that is displayed as poor sales and not sold out is not replenished, and the product storage unit that is displayed as poor sales and is about to be sold out is a predetermined number. Is to replenish the goods.
[0019]
This method does not increase the remaining number of products that are likely to expire, so the possibility that a product that has expired can be reduced.
The present invention according to claim 8 is the product replenishment confirmation device for vending machines according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the remaining number recognizing means is performing well when the inner door and the front door are closed. For the product storage department, set the remaining number of products to the full number, maintain the remaining number in the product storage department that is not selling well and is not nearly sold out, and the product storage department that is not selling well and is about to sell out The remaining number of products is increased by a predetermined number and reset, and the remaining number of products is recognized by subtracting one from the remaining number of products each time the product is sold.
[0020]
With this configuration, it becomes possible for the vending machine to automatically recognize the remaining number of commodities so as to substantially match the actual remaining number.
The present invention according to claim 9 is the product replenishment confirmation device of the vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or 8, wherein after the full number is set, the number of sales from the time of full to the time of selling out If there are more than the set full number, the number of sales is reset to the full number, and if the number of sales from the full time to the time of selling out is continuously less than the set full number, the sales number is filled Is set again.
[0021]
With this configuration, even when the type of product supplied to the product storage unit changes, the full number of products is automatically changed.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, this vending machine, like a general vending machine, has a front door 1 and a product dispensing function for storing the same type of products and delivering the products in the order of replenishment. A plurality of product storage units 2, an inner door 4 that opens and closes an opening 3 including a product replenishment port 2 a of the product storage unit 2, a display unit 5 a and a plurality of input keys 5 b disposed on the back surface of the front door 1. And a product selection button 6 provided in front of the front door 1 and related to each product storage unit 2. Each product selection button 6 includes a display input unit 5. As shown in FIG. 6, there are provided a sellable lamp 6a for indicating a saleable product equal to or less than the input amount and a soldout lamp 6b for indicating a sold-out state.
[0023]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine includes a front door opening / closing detection sensor 11 that functions as a determination instruction unit by detecting opening / closing of the front door 1, and an inner door opening / closing that detects opening / closing of the inner door 4. The detection sensor 12 is provided with a storage unit 13 for storing various data and a control unit 15 connected with a timer 14 for timing, and the control unit 15 is further provided with a calculation means 16 and a comparison determination means 17. Yes.
[0024]
The control unit 15 performs control processing as shown in FIGS.
First, the number of full replenishment (for example, 30) for each product storage unit 2 is input from the display input unit 5 and stored in the storage unit 13 in advance, and the product quality assurance period (for example, 30 days) is displayed. Input from the input unit 5 and stored in the storage unit 13. In addition, the number of sold-out upcoming determinations (for example, 5) when it is determined that the sold-out is near will be input from the display input unit 5 and stored in the storage unit 13. In addition to the storage, a minimum prescribed number of days (for example, 8 days) of the circulation interval for determining the sales state to be described later is also input from the display input unit 5 and stored in the storage unit 13. These data may be stored in advance by the time the vending machine is shipped, and the data can be input only when it is different from the initial value.
[0025]
First, after each product storage unit 2 is replenished with, for example, full products, when the inner door 4 and the front door 1 are closed, the inner door opening / closing detection sensor 12 and the front door opening / closing detection sensor 11 close these items. The time when the operation is detected and the inner door 4 is closed is stored as the time when the product is replenished (date, time, etc.) (steps # 1, # 2).
[0026]
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step # 3, and each time a product is sold, the sales number of the corresponding product is incremented by one in step # 4, the sales number is counted, and the remaining number of the product is decreased by one to reduce the remaining number. Recognize. After that, when the front door 1 is opened by a patrolman and the opening operation is detected by the front door opening / closing detection sensor 11, the process proceeds from step # 5 to step # 6 and the subsequent steps. The comparison determination process by the comparison determination unit 17 is instructed for each product storage unit 2 in the heated state.
[0027]
In the calculating means 16, in step # 6, the number of days in the circulation interval is calculated from the difference between the time when the front door 1 is opened and the time when the inner door 4 is closed (for example, the portion after the decimal point of the circulation interval days is rounded down). In addition, if the number of days between the tours is equal to or more than the minimum prescribed number of days (for example, 8 days), the process proceeds from step # 7 to step # 8, [Number of full replenishment of product storage unit 2 / product quality assurance period] Is calculated as the expected number of sales that can be sold during the tour interval period. In addition, when the sold-out occurs before the current tour date, the number of days until the sold-out occurs is regarded as the tour interval day. For example, if the number of full replenishment is 30, the quality assurance period of the product is 30 days, and the number of patrol interval days is 10 days, (30/30) × 10 = 10 is calculated and the expected number of sales is 10 Set to be a book. Here, the expected number of sales is the number of products that are expected to be sold at the cycle interval in the case that these products are sold during the product quality assurance period when the products are full. It is. In other words, if the product is always sold at a rate equal to the expected number of products sold, the full product will be sold at the end of the quality assurance period.
[0028]
In step # 9, the actual sales number of the corresponding products actually sold from the previous visit (the time when the inner door 4 was closed last time) to the current visit (the time when the front door 1 was opened) The calculated expected sales number is compared, and if the actual sales number is greater than or equal to the expected sales number (in the above example, the actual sales number is 10 or more), the process proceeds to step # 10 for sales. If the number of sales is less than the expected number of sales (in the above example, the number of sales is 9 or less), the process proceeds to step # 11 to determine that the sales are not successful. For the product storage unit 2 determined to be in good sales, the sold-out lamp 6b of the product selection button 6 corresponding to the product storage unit 2 is turned off, and the product storage unit 2 determined to be in poor sales is stored in this product storage unit 2. The sold-out lamp 6b of the corresponding product selection button 6 is blinked. Here, when the sales state is determined, this information is stored in the storage unit 13.
[0029]
In step # 7, if the number of patrol interval days is smaller than the minimum prescribed number of days (for example, 8 days), the process proceeds to step # 12, and the product selection button 6 adopts the result of determining the previous sales state. The sold-out lamp 6b is turned off or blinked. In addition, an initial value for the sales state determination is stored in advance in case the vending machine has not been installed so much has passed and the previous sales state determination information is not yet available. The sold-out lamp 6b may be turned off or blinked using.
[0030]
Next, in step # 13, it is determined whether or not the current remaining number in the product storage unit 2 for which the sales state has been determined is equal to or less than the sold-out determination number (for example, five), and the remaining number is determined to be near the sold-out number (for example, If the remaining number is more than the sold-out determination number, the process proceeds to step # 15, and it is determined that it is not close to being sold out. For the product storage unit 2 determined to be sold out, the sellable lamp 6a of the product selection button 6 corresponding to the product storage unit 2 is blinked, and the product storage unit 2 determined not to be sold out is stored in this product storage unit. The saleable lamp 6a of the product selection button 6 corresponding to 2 is turned off.
[0031]
Thereafter, the patrol person looks at the sale possible lamp 6a and the sold out lamp 6b of the product selection button 6 to determine whether or not the product needs to be replenished, and when the replenishment is necessary, opens the inner door 4. Refill the product. The product is replenished as follows.
[0032]
Since the product storage unit 2 corresponding to the product selection button 6 with the sold-out lamp 6b turned off is selling well, the product is replenished until it becomes full regardless of the display state of the sellable lamp 6a. On the other hand, since the sale of the product storage unit 2 corresponding to the product selection button 6 with the sold-out lamp 6b blinking is not satisfactory, the display state of the sellable lamp 6a is confirmed. The product storage unit 2 corresponding to the product selection button 6 with the flashable lamp 6a blinking is about to be sold out, so the product can be replenished and sold by a preset number of replenishment (for example, 6). The product storage unit 2 corresponding to the product selection button 6 whose lamp 6a is turned off is not sold out, so the product is not replenished. In this case, for the product storage unit 2 that is determined to be out of sales but is about to be sold out, the product selection is performed to confirm that the patrolman has performed this operation when the set number of products is inserted. When the button 6 is pressed, the sellable lamp 6a is changed from the blinking state to the unlit state, and it is possible to recognize that the product has been inserted by the set supplement number. That is, it is possible to prevent the product from being replenished by mistake.
[0033]
When the front door 1 is closed after the product has been replenished, the process proceeds from step # 16 to step # 17, and the remaining number is preset. Here, for the product storage unit 2 determined to be in good sales, the remaining number is preset to the full number, and for the product storage unit 2 determined to be out of sales but close to being sold out, the replenishment number is set as the remaining number. The added number is preset as a new remaining number, and the remaining number is maintained as it is for the product storage unit 2 that is determined not to be sold out and close to being sold out. The preset operation is performed after a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) after the front door 1 is closed, and when the front door 1 is opened again within the predetermined time, the preset operation is canceled. In this way, frequent preset operations may be prevented.
[0034]
In the vending machine, when the type of product for the product storage unit 2 is changed, if the shape such as the diameter is different, the full number will also change. In the present invention, the full number is initially set to a predetermined value. After the initial value is set, if the number of sales from full to sold out is greater than the set full number, the number of sold is set to full, and the number of sold from full to sold out is set. When the number is continuously smaller than the full number, the number of sales is set to the full number.
[0035]
According to the above configuration, it is possible to determine whether the product storage unit 2 in the heated state is in good sales, poor sales, or close to sold out by simply opening the front door 1 when a patrolman replenishes the product. Thus, the state is displayed on the sellable lamp 6a and the sold-out lamp 6b of the product selection button 6 corresponding to each product storage unit 2 without trouble. Therefore, the patrolman can easily confirm the product storage unit 2 that is in good sales, poor sales, or almost sold out by viewing this display.
[0036]
In addition, the product storage unit 2 displayed as being in good sales is replenished until the product is full, and the product storage unit 2 that is displayed as poor sales and is not displayed as soon to be sold out is not replenished. Create a rule to replenish a predetermined number of products to the product storage unit 2 that is displayed as being out of order and displayed as soon to be sold out, and the control unit 15 automatically recognizes the remaining number of products according to the rule Therefore, it is possible to automatically recognize the remaining number of products so as to substantially match the actual remaining number, and it does not impose a burden on a patrolman to input the number of products to be replenished every time.
[0037]
By replenishing only the product storage unit 2 that is in good sales and not replenishing the product storage unit 2 that is not selling well and is not close to being sold out, the remaining number of products that are likely to have expired quality assurance. Since it can be minimized, it is possible to reduce the possibility that a product whose quality assurance has expired will occur. Furthermore, even if sales are not good, since a predetermined number of products are replenished for products that are about to be sold out, it is possible to prevent the product from being sold out.
[0038]
In addition, when the product is sold out by the time of the current tour, by setting the time from the previous tour to the time of the sold-out as the tour interval period, it is possible to accurately grasp the actual sales number for the visit interval period. Further, as a display means for recognizing the product storage unit 2 that is in good sales, poor sales, or close to sell out, a special display means and alarm means are separately provided using the sellable lamp 6a and sold-out lamp 6b of the product selection button 6. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0039]
In addition, when the frequency of patrols is high and the patrol interval period is short, the latest judgment information for which the patrol interval period is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of days is displayed. It is possible to accurately determine the sales status without being uncertain about the sales status because the number is greatly affected.
[0040]
Furthermore, after the full number is initially set to the predetermined initial value, if the number of sales from the full time to the time of selling out is greater than the set full number, the sales number is reset to the full number. If the number of sales from the time when the item is sold out to the time when it is sold out is continuously less than the set full number, by setting the number of sales to the full number, even if the type of product supplied to the product storage unit 2 changes, The full number is corrected automatically and accurately, so that it is not necessary for the patrolman to manually change the full number and does not increase the burden on the patrolman.
[0041]
In addition, when replenishing the product, it can be easily seen by checking the product at the product entry port, but when the product is not well sold and it is about to be sold out, when the set number of products are introduced, Since the product is not full and cannot be seen, if it is left as it is, there is a risk that the product will be accidentally put in again. However, according to the above-described embodiment, when the product selection button 6 is pressed, the saleable lamp 6a is changed from the blinking state to the unlit state, and it can be confirmed that the product has been inserted by the set supplement number. It is possible to prevent accidental re-insertion.
[0042]
In the above embodiment, since the sales state is determined when the front door 1 is opened, compared with the case where the sales state is determined when the inner door 4 is opened. The product necessary for replenishment can be prepared in advance from the determination result before the inner door 4 is opened, and it is possible to minimize the escape of the appropriate temperature air in the product storage unit 2 to the outside. If there is no need to replenish the product from the result, there is an advantage that it does not take time. However, the sales state may be set to be determined when the inner door 4 is opened. In this case, the front door opening / closing detection sensor 11 may not be provided. Further, the determination of the sales state may be instructed by other switch means, or the determination of the sales state may be instructed by a predetermined operation by the display input unit 5 on the back surface of the front door 1.
[0043]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the determination result of the sales state is displayed by the sold-out lamp 6b of each product selection button 6 and the close-sold state is displayed by the sellable lamp 6a of each product selection button 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and each may be indicated by a reverse lamp, or the display method may be changed (for example, lighting and blinking). 1 may be displayed on the display input unit 5 on the back surface of the image.
[0044]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where it was made to judge a sales state or sold-out soon only with respect to each goods storage part 2 of a heating state, determination with respect to all the product storage parts 2 was described. It may be made for a visitor to refer only to each goods storage part 2 concerning hot goods. In addition, it is not limited to hot products, it is also possible to make a judgment with a separate quality assurance period for cold products, and individual quality assurance periods can be set individually for specific types of products. It is also possible to provide and judge.
[0045]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the front door 1 and the inner door 4 were each provided separately was described, it is not restricted to this, For example, in the location corresponding to the insertion port for goods replenishment Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a vending machine in which the upper part of the front door 1 and the upper part of the inner door 4 are integrally formed.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the number of sales of products for each product storage unit, the sales time, etc. are stored in the storage means, and when the instruction is given by the determination instruction means, the product storage unit is fully replenished by the calculation means. Product sales for each product storage unit from the time the inner door is closed or the front door is opened until the expected number of sales is calculated based on the number, the quality assurance period of the product, and the number of patrol intervals When the number of sales is greater than or equal to the expected number of sales, the comparison judgment means determines that the sales are good, and when the number of sales is less than the expected number of sales, the sales are not good. By determining and displaying the product storage unit with poor sales and the product storage unit with good sales according to this data on the display means, it is possible to suppress the remaining number of products that are likely to expire. Made possible, It is possible to reduce the possibility of quality assurance expired products occurs.
[0047]
In addition, when the product is sold out by the time of the current tour, by setting the time from the previous tour to the time of the sold-out as the tour interval period, it is possible to accurately grasp the actual number of sales for the visit interval period.
[0048]
In addition, by using the front door opening / closing detection means for detecting the opening / closing of the front door as the determination instruction means, when the front door is opened, the sales state is determined and displayed on the display means, so that it can be displayed at the time of patrol, etc. The sales status is displayed just by opening the front door, so it takes less time and effort, and the work efficiency is further improved.
[0049]
In addition, by adopting sellable lamps and sold-out lamps provided corresponding to each product selection button as display means, the sales status is displayed for each product storage unit without providing special display means separately. Manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0050]
In addition, there is provided a remaining number recognition means for recognizing the remaining number of products in the product storage section, and when the remaining number is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the display means displays the sales status and displays a near-sold status so that the quality guarantee expires. While reducing the possibility that a product will be generated, it is possible to prevent the product from running out.
[0051]
In addition, when the tour interval period from the previous visit to the current visit is smaller than the predetermined number of days, the latest determination information that the visit interval period is equal to or more than the predetermined number of days is displayed without making a new sales state determination. By doing so, it is prevented that the determination of the sales state is uncertain, and the reliability is improved.
[0052]
In addition, as a product replenishment method for replenishing products to the product replenishment confirmation device of this vending machine, replenish the product storage section, which is displayed as good sales, until the product is full, display that sales are not good and close to being sold out. If the product storage unit that is not displayed is not replenished with the product, and the product storage unit that is displayed as poor sales and is about to be sold out is replenished with a predetermined number of products, the quality guarantee may expire. Since the remaining number of high-quality products does not increase, the possibility that a product whose quality guarantee has expired can be reduced.
[0053]
In addition, when the inner door and the front door are closed, the remaining number recognizing means resets the remaining number of products to the full number for the product storing unit that is selling well, and the product storing unit that is not selling well and is not nearly sold out. The remaining number is maintained as it is, and for the product storage section that is not selling well and is about to be sold out, the remaining number of products is increased by a predetermined number and set again for each subsequent product sale. By recognizing the remaining number of products by gradually decreasing the number of products, it is possible to automatically recognize the remaining number of products so as to substantially match the actual remaining number, thereby further improving reliability.
[0054]
In addition, after the full number is initially set to a predetermined initial value, if the number of sales from the full time to the time of selling out is greater than the set full number, the sales number is set to the full number and If the number of sales until the time of sold out is continuously less than the set full number, the full number of products even if the type of product supplied to the product storage department changes by setting the sales number to full Since this is automatically changed and takes less time and effort, this also improves work efficiency.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a commodity replenishment confirmation device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view when the front door and the inner door of the vending machine are opened.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the vending machine.
FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of the vending machine.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the commodity replenishment confirmation device of the vending machine.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the commodity replenishment confirmation device of the vending machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Front door
2 Product storage
4 Inner door
5 Display input section
6 Product selection button
6a Lamp available for sale
6b Sold out lamp
11 Front door open / close detection sensor
12 Inner door open / close detection sensor
13 Memory unit
14 Timer
15 Control unit
16 Calculation means
17 Comparison judgment means

Claims

A front door, a plurality of product storage units each storing a product of the same type and having a product delivery function for delivering the products in order of replenishment, and an inner door that opens and closes an opening including a product replenishment port of the product storage unit Door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the inner door or the inner door and the front door, storage means for storing at least the number of products sold and the sales time for each product storage unit, The product of the product storage department full replenishment number / product quality assurance period] and the number of patrol interval days is calculated as the expected number of sales that can be sold during the patrol interval period, and a signal from the door open / close detection means is input. When the inner door or the front door is opened, the calculation means for calculating the number of products sold and the circulation interval period for each product storage section from when the inner door was closed last time until this time the inner door or front door was opened, From the previous tour to the current tour Compared with the actual sales number and the expected sales number, if the actual sales number is greater than or equal to the expected sales number, the sales are judged to be favorable, and if the actual sales result is smaller than the expected sales number, the sales are judged to be poor. Comparison determination means, determination instruction means for instructing the comparison determination means to make a determination, and a product storage unit that is in poor sales according to the data based on the determination result of the comparison determination means when instructed by the determination instruction means A product replenishment confirmation device for a vending machine provided with display means for distinguishing and displaying the product storage unit.

The vending machine product replenishment confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein when the product is sold out by the time of the current visit, the period from the previous visit to the time of the sale is set as a visit interval period.

The determination instruction means is a front door opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the front door, and when the front door is opened, the sales state is determined and displayed on the display means. Product replenishment confirmation device for vending machines.

The product replenishment confirmation device for a vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display means is a sellable lamp and a sold-out lamp provided corresponding to each product selection button.

5. A remaining number recognizing unit for recognizing the remaining number of products in the product storage unit is provided, and when the remaining number is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the display unit displays a sold state and a close-to-sold display. Vending machine product replenishment confirmation device.

When the tour interval period from the previous visit to the current visit is smaller than the predetermined number of days, a request to display the latest determination information for which the visit interval period is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of days without making a new sales state determination Item 6. A product replenishment confirmation device for a vending machine according to any one of Items 1 to 5.

6. A product replenishment method for replenishing a product to the product replenishment confirmation device of the vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the product storage unit displayed as being in good sales is replenished until the product is full, A product replenishment method that does not replenish a product in a product storage unit that is displayed and is not displayed as close to being sold out, and replenishes a predetermined number of products in a product storage unit that is displayed as being poorly sold and displayed as close to sellout.

When the inner door and the front door are closed, the remaining number recognizing means resets the remaining number of products to the full number for the product storage unit that is selling well, and the product storage unit that is not selling well and is not nearly sold out. Maintain the remaining number as it is, and for the product storage section that is not selling well and is about to be sold out, set the remaining number of products to a predetermined number and reset it, and each time the product is sold, it will be decremented by one from the remaining number of products. The product replenishment confirmation device for a vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the remaining number of products is recognized.

After the full number is set, if the number of sales from the full time to the time of selling out is greater than the set full number, the sales number is reset to the full number, and the number of sales from the full time to the time of selling out is 9. The product replenishment confirmation device for a vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or 8, wherein when the number is continuously smaller than the set full number, the sales number is reset to the full number.