JP4021155B2 - Heated food sales system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a heated food sales system in which a seller sells heated food to a purchaser at a convenience store, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, convenience stores (hereinafter simply referred to as convenience stores) have been supported by the convenience of easily purchasing food, stationery, magazines, miscellaneous goods and the like, and the number of stores has increased greatly. In such a convenience store, a refrigerated storage that refrigerates and stores heated food such as lunch boxes and burgers, a cash register that pays for the purchased food that the purchaser of the heated food decides to purchase from the stored heated food, and A heated food sales system is constructed with a microwave oven that heats purchased food according to the purchaser's wishes.
[0003]
In this heated food sales system, sales of heated food and provision of heating services are performed as follows. First, the purchaser of the heated food selects a purchase (purchased food) from the stored heated food, and takes the purchased food to the cash register. The merchant is waiting at the cash register, receives the purchased food from the purchaser, and collects the price. At this time, the seller asks the purchaser whether to heat the purchased food, and when receiving a reply that the food is heated, puts the purchased food in a microwave oven and purchases the microwave. Set the heating time suitable for food and heat. After the heating is completed, the purchased food is packaged and handed to the purchaser.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a heated food sales system, when the purchaser wishes to heat the purchased food, the purchaser waits at the cash register for a period from the payment of the price until the heating of the purchased food is completed. The problem that occurred. Moreover, during the time when a large number of customers come to the store, such as at noon and evening, multiple buyers may line up at the cash register, and if each buyer wants a heating service, There was also a problem that the waiting time at the cash register became very long as the subsequent buyers accumulated.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a heated food sales system that can shorten the waiting time at the cashier of the purchaser when heating purchased food. is there.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The heated food sales system according to claim 1, wherein a heated food storage for storing the heated food, a cash register for payment of the purchased food selected by the purchaser of the heated food from the heated food, and the purchaser In a heated food sales system comprising heating means for heating the selected purchased food, the purchased food is configured to be selectable by the purchaser from the heated food, and the type related to the selected purchased food, Purchased food selection means for outputting purchase information such as quantity, heating selection means for outputting the heating information on the selected presence or absence of heating, and a selection to the seller. A notification means for notifying the information,Transport means for taking out the purchased food from the heated food stored in the heated food storage and transporting it to the outlet;Control means for inputting purchase information and heating information from the purchased food selection means and heating selection means and notifying the seller of the type, quantity, presence / absence of heating, etc. of the purchased food as the information content; Equipped withThe control means conveys the purchased food to the take-out port by the take-out carrying means based on the purchase information.It is characterized by that.
[0007]
  According to such a configuration, the type of purchased food selected by the purchaser of the heated food,quantityas well asPresence or absence of heatingBut,cash registerThe seller of the heated food that is waiting for the information is notified so that the seller can immediately know the information. This allows the seller tocash registerBefore the payment is made, the purchased food can be taken out of the heated food storage and heated by the heating means. On the other hand, since the purchaser only needs to select the purchased food, the purchased food is removed from the heated food storage as in the past.cash registerCan be saved. Moreover, the buyercash registerWhen you went to pay forNeed heatingSince the heating of the purchased food has been completed, the purchaser is freed from the waiting time when heating the purchased food as in the past, and can quickly pay for it and receive the heated purchased food. it can.
[0010]
  In addition, the aboveAccording to the configuration, the purchased food is automatically conveyed to the take-out port by the take-out conveying means, so that the seller can save the trouble of taking out the purchased food from the heated food storage. As a result, the seller can spend a lot of time working at the cash register, so the waiting time at the cash register of the purchaser can be further reduced.
[0011]
  Claim2The heated food sales system described above includes a heated food storage that refrigerates and stores the heated food, a cash register that pays for the purchased food selected by the purchaser of the heated food from the heated food, and the purchaser's In a heated food sales system comprising heating means for heating the purchased food according to selection, the purchased food is configured to be selectable by a purchaser from the heated food, and the selected purchased food Purchased food selection means for outputting purchase information such as type, quantity, etc., heating selection means configured to be able to select whether or not the purchased food is heated, and heating information relating to the selected presence or absence of heating, and the heating A heating conveying means for taking out the purchased food from the heated food stored in the food storage and conveying it to the inside of the heating means; the purchased food selecting means; The purchase information and heating information from the selection means are input, and based on the purchase information and heating information, a conveyance command is transmitted to the heating conveyance means, and the purchased food to be heated by the heating conveyance means is stored in the warehouse. And a control means for transmitting a heating command to the heating means and heating the purchased food by the heating means.
[0012]
  According to such a configuration, since the purchased food is automatically conveyed to the inside of the heating means by the heating conveyance means, the seller can save the trouble of putting the purchased food in the inside of the heating means. it can. Moreover, since the purchased food conveyed to the inside of the warehouse is automatically heated by the heating means, the seller can save time and effort for performing the heating operation of the heating means. This allows sellers tocash registerYou can spend more time working on thecash registerThe waiting time can be further reduced.
[0013]
  Claim3The heated food sales system described in the above is provided with a transporting means for taking out the purchased food from the heated food stored in the heated food storage and transporting it to an outlet, and the control means includes the purchase information and Based on the heating information, when the purchased food is not heated, a conveyance command is transmitted to the take-out conveyance means, and the purchase food is conveyed to the take-out port by the take-out conveyance means. In the case of heating, a conveying command is transmitted to the heating conveying means, and the purchased food is conveyed to the inside by the heating conveying means.
[0014]
  According to such a configuration, the purchased food to be heated is automatically heated, and the purchased food that is not heated is automatically transported to the outlet. For example, a heating service for the purchased food is provided according to the purchaser's request. In the case of providing, the seller can save the trouble of taking out the purchased food from the heated food storage and heating the purchased food with the heating means. This allows sellers tocash registerCan spend more time working on thecash registerThe waiting time can be further reduced.
[0015]
  Claim4The described heated food sales system is characterized in that the heated food storage and the heating means are arranged on the cash register side.
  According to such a configuration, the seller can collect the price, take out the purchased food, and heat the purchased food at a certain place. Thus, more time can be spent, and the waiting time at the cashier of the purchaser can be further reduced.
[0016]
  Claim5The heated food sales system described above includes inventory management means for managing the number of stocks of the heated food stored in the heated food storage and outputting the inventory information, and the control means is based on the inventory information. In addition, the purchased food selection means makes it impossible to select out-of-stock heated food.
  According to such a configuration, the heated food that is out of stock in the heated food storage is automatically detected and the sale is stopped, so that it is possible to prevent an erroneous order such that an out of stock item is selected. can do. Moreover, since the seller can save the trouble of inventory management by himself, the seller can spend more time on the checkout work, and the waiting time at the checkout of the purchaser can be further reduced. it can.
[0017]
  Claim6The described heated food sales system includes heating completion notification means for notifying the purchaser that the heating of the purchased food is completed.
  According to such a configuration, since the heating completion notification means notifies that the heating of the purchased food is completed, the purchaser pays the cash to the cash register after the heating of the purchased food is surely completed. be able to. Further, the purchaser can effectively use the time until the notification is given as time for enjoying shopping slowly, not as waiting time at a cash register as in the prior art.
[0018]
  Claim7The heated food sales system described above includes verification information associated with the purchased food in a verification information recording medium, and includes verification information supply means for supplying the verification information recording medium to the purchaser. The verification information is notified to the seller by the notification means.
[0019]
  According to such a configuration, when the purchaser shows the verification information recording medium supplied from the verification information supply means to the seller at the payment settlement means, the seller can verify the verification information notified by the notification means with the verification information. It is possible to quickly determine the purchase product of the purchaser by collating with the collation information recorded on the information recording medium. Thus, for example, even if a plurality of heating means are provided and a plurality of purchased foods are heated at the same time, the purchased product can be correctly handed to the purchaser. In addition, by providing a plurality of heating means, it is possible to improve the processing ability to heat the purchased food, the purchaser'scash registerThe waiting time can be further reduced.
[0020]
  Claim8The heated food sales system described above includes a verification information detection unit that detects the identification information from an identification information recording medium in which the identification information of the purchaser is recorded, and outputs verification information associated with the purchased food, and the control The means notifies the detected information to the seller by the notifying means.
  According to such a configuration, the purchaser shows the identification information recording medium to the seller at the cash register.7The same effect can be obtained.
[0021]
  Claim9The described heated food sales system includes a heating completion time estimating means for estimating a heating completion time when heating is completed by the heating means when the purchased food is selected to be heated.
  According to such a configuration, for example, notification by the heating completion notifying unit can be performed based on the estimated heating completion point. Further, for example, the estimated heating completion time can be recorded on the verification information recording medium. By these, the purchaser can go to the cash register to pay for the time when heating of the purchased food is completed.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment when the heated food sales system of the present invention is applied to a convenience store (hereinafter simply referred to as a convenience store) will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the heated food is applied to the lunch box.
[0023]
First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a heated food sales system 1. In FIG. 1, a host server 2 as a control means is composed of an electric circuit mainly composed of a CPU (not shown), and based on reading a control program recorded in a ROM, a heated food sales system 1 The entire electrical control is performed. And by this control program, the heating completion time estimation function 3 which is a heating completion time estimation means is formed. This heating completion time estimation function 3 estimates a heating completion scheduled time that is a heating completion time when heating is completed by the microwave oven 4 as a heating means when a purchased food (described later) is selected to have heating.
[0024]
A heated food vending machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a vending machine) 5 is a heated food purchased by a purchaser of heated food (hereinafter simply referred to as a purchaser) from among a plurality of heated foods that are displayed for sale. Purchased food selection unit 6 as a purchased food selection means for selecting (hereinafter referred to as purchased food), a heating selection unit 7 as a heating selection means for selecting whether or not the purchaser heats the purchased food, and The verification information of the purchaser is recorded on a purchase exchange ticket 22 (described later) as a verification information recording medium, and the purchase exchange ticket supply unit 8 is a verification information supply means for supplying the purchase exchange ticket 22 to the purchaser. The purchased food selection unit 6, the heating selection unit 7 and the purchase voucher supply unit 8 are connected so as to be capable of bidirectional communication with the host server 2 and are controlled by the host server 2.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows a front view of the vending machine 5. A menu panel 9 is mounted in the center of the front, and this menu panel is composed of four menu blocks 10a to 10d of menus 1 to 4. Each menu block 10a to 10d is a heated food explanation block 11a to 11d in which a name, a photograph and a price of the heated food are presented, an order block with heating 11e to 11h for ordering the heated food with heating, and a heated food It is composed of order blocks 11i to 11l which are not heated and are ordered.
[0026]
These order blocks with heating 11e to 11h and order blocks without heating 11i to 11l are equipped with order buttons 12e to 12l at the right end. Inside the front surfaces of the order buttons 12e to 12l, there are built-in indicator lights with the words “order” and “out of stock”. In addition, order quantity display portions 13e to 13l are attached to the center of each order block 11e to 11l. Each time a predetermined order button is pressed by the purchaser, the added number is displayed on the order quantity display section in the same order block. The order buttons 12e to 12l and the order quantity display sections 13e to 13l are components of the purchased food selection section 6 and the heating selection section 7.
[0027]
A purchase decision button 14 and a redo button 15 are attached to the lower center portion of the menu panel 9. These buttons 14 and 15 are also components of the purchased food selection unit 6 and the heating selection unit 7. When the purchase decision button 14 is pressed after the purchase food is selected by the purchaser using the order buttons 12e to 12l, purchase of the purchase food is decided, and when the redo button 15 is pressed, The order quantity display sections 13e to 13l are reset to zero, and the purchased food is reselected. When the purchase of the purchased food is determined, the purchased food name and the ordered quantity for each purchased food are transmitted to the host server 2 as purchase information based on the numbers displayed on the order quantity display units 13e to 13l. In addition, the number of items requiring heating for each purchased food is transmitted to the host server 2 as heating information.
[0028]
A purchase voucher receiving port (hereinafter simply referred to as a receiving port) 16 from which the purchase voucher 22 is taken out is installed on the right side of the lower center of the menu panel 9. In addition, a display monitor 17 for displaying purchase information and heating information of the determined purchased food is installed on the left side of the center lower portion of the menu panel 9.
[0029]
In FIG. 1, a cash register 18, which is a payment settlement means for a purchaser to pay for purchased food, includes a cash register 18a, a key operation unit 18b for accounting for the price, a code reader for reading a code attached to a product, and a receipt. A receipt creation unit that creates and outputs a receipt, and a drawer-type money storage box (none of which is shown) for storing money are provided. The cash register body 18a is provided with a monitor 19 as a notification means. The monitor 19 is connected to the host server 2 and displays purchase information, heating information, a reference number (described later), inventory information (described later), etc. sent from the host server 2, and is a convenience store serving as a heated food seller. To notify the salesperson.
[0030]
The microwave oven 4 serving as a heating means is configured to perform a heating operation when a salesperson manually operates, and is installed on the cash register 18 side.
The heated food storage (hereinafter simply referred to as storage) 20 stores the menu (heated food) displayed on the menu panel 9 of the vending machine 5 in a refrigerated state and is installed on the cash register 18 side. The storage 20 is provided with an inventory management unit 21 as inventory management means for managing the number of stocks of each type of stored heated food and detecting the number of stocks as stock information. The inventory management unit 21 is connected to the host server 2 and is configured to intermittently transmit inventory information to the host server 2.
[0031]
The heated food sales system 1 is constructed by the host server 2, the vending machine 5, the cash register 18, the monitor 19, the microwave oven 4 and the storage 20. In addition, not only heated foods but also, for example, bread, instant foods, drinking water, confectionery, stationery, magazines, daily goods, etc. are sold in the convenience store, and the purchaser can purchase these products as well. it can.
[0032]
<Operation of the heated food sales system 1>
Next, the operation of the heated food sales system 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control contents of each part by the host server 2 (control program) in the process of purchasing the purchased food by the purchaser.
[0033]
First, when the heated food sales system 1 is started by turning on the power or the like, the purchase information of the purchased food selection unit 6 and the heating information of the heating selection unit 7 are reset, and all zeros are displayed on the order quantity display units 13e to 13l. (Step S1).
[0034]
Subsequently, the mode shifts to a purchase food selection mode (step S2), and an indicator light of “order” built in each of the order buttons 12e to 12l is lit (see FIG. 2). Thereby, the purchaser can select the purchased food from the menus 1 to 4. FIG. 2 shows a state where the purchaser has ordered two menus 1 with heating and one menu 3 without heating.
[0035]
This selection mode is canceled when the purchase decision button 14 or the redo button 15 is pressed (step S3). That is, until the purchase decision button 14 or the redo button 15 is pressed, the loop operation of steps S2 to S3 is performed and the selection mode is maintained.
[0036]
When the selection mode is cancelled, the indicator light of “Order” is turned off. Further, although not shown in FIG. 3, the menu is constantly monitored for out of stock based on the inventory information detected intermittently. For example, when the order button of a predetermined menu is pressed, the menu is displayed. When the item is out of stock, the indicator light of “Order” on the order button is turned off, and the indicator light of “Out of stock” is turned on instead. After this “out of stock” is displayed, the menu selection is invalid (impossible).
[0037]
When the purchase determination button 14 or the redo button 15 is pressed and the selection mode is canceled, it is determined whether the pressed button is the purchase determination button 14 (step S4). Here, when it is determined that the pressed button is not the purchase determination button 14, the process proceeds to step S1, the purchase information and the heating information are reset, and the purchaser reselects the purchased food. .
[0038]
When it is determined that the pressed button is the purchase button 14, purchase information and heating information are confirmed, and a verification number is generated (step S5). The verification number starts from “1” when the purchase determination button 14 is pressed, and is generated by adding “1” each time the purchase determination button 14 is pressed. It is also updated daily.
[0039]
Subsequently, based on the purchase information and the heating information, it is determined whether there is a purchased food to be heated. Here, when it is determined that there is purchased food to be heated, the time when the purchase determination button 14 is pressed (order received time) based on a timer function (not shown) built in the host server 2 Is detected. Then, the estimated heating completion time is estimated by the heating completion time estimation function 3 based on the order reception time, purchase information, and heating information (step S6). The host server 2 records information related to the required heating time for each menu in advance, and information related to the required heating time is added to the estimated heating completion time. In addition, when the heat treatment of the purchased food ordered in the past is not completed, the delay time is also taken into account.
[0040]
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a purchase voucher 22 to be described later. In FIG. 4, the purchase order time (detected order time) by the purchaser is “19:06”, whereas The scheduled completion time is estimated to be “19:10”. In this estimation, it takes into account that the heating time of the menu 1 is 1 minute, and the heating processing of the purchased food ordered in the past is completed.
[0041]
Subsequently, the verification number, the order receipt time, the scheduled heating completion time, the purchase information, and the heating information are transmitted to the purchase voucher supply unit 8. In the purchase voucher supply unit 8, a purchase voucher 22 (see FIG. 4) on which these pieces of information are printed is generated. In addition, purchase information, heating information, and a reference number are collectively recorded (printed) on this purchase voucher 22, and the reference number is associated with the purchased food. Then, the generated purchase exchange ticket 22 is taken out from the receiving port 16 and supplied to the purchaser (step S7). When the purchaser receives the supplied purchase voucher 22 and goes to the cash register 18 to pay for the purchased food, the purchaser passes the purchase voucher 22 to the salesperson.
[0042]
Subsequently, purchase information, heating information, and a reference number are transmitted to the monitor 19, and such information is displayed on the monitor screen (step S8). Thereby, the salesperson immediately recognizes that the heated food has been ordered, confirms the type and quantity, and takes out the corresponding heated food (that is, purchased food) from the storage 20. And when there exists purchased food to heat, it heats with the microwave oven 4. FIG.
[0043]
Further, the purchaser estimates the scheduled heating completion time displayed on the purchase voucher 22, goes to the cash register 18 to pay for the purchased food, and hands the purchase voucher 22 to the salesperson at the cash register 18. At this time, the salesperson compares the collation number printed on the handed purchase voucher 22 with the collation number displayed on the monitor screen, and discriminates the purchased food purchased by the purchaser from the other. . The price of the purchased food is collected from the purchaser, and the determined purchased food is packaged and handed to the purchaser.
[0044]
As described above, according to the first embodiment, the vending machine 5 is configured by the purchased food selection unit 6 from which purchased food can be selected and the heating selection unit 7 from which the presence or absence of the heating can be selected. The purchase information and heating information of the purchased food selected by the vending machine 5 are detected and displayed on the monitor 19.
[0045]
According to such a configuration, the type and number of purchased foods that the purchaser has decided to purchase and the presence / absence of heating are displayed on the monitor, so the salesperson can immediately know the information. As a result, the salesperson takes out the purchased food from the storage 20 on the side of the cash register 18 and heats the purchased food to be heated in the microwave oven 4 before the purchaser pays the cash to the cash register 18. Can be kept. On the other hand, since the purchaser only has to select the purchased food and whether or not to heat it, the trouble of carrying the purchased food from the storage 20 to the cash register 18 can be saved. Moreover, when the purchaser pays for the payment to the cash register 18, since the heating of the purchased food desired to be heated has already been completed, the purchaser cannot wait for the conventional waiting time for heating the purchased food. Freed, promptly paid for payment, and ready to receive heated purchased food.
[0046]
In addition, an inventory management unit 21 is provided in the storage 20 so that the number of heated foods stored in the host server 2 is intermittently detected so that the sold-out foods cannot be selected by the vending machine 5. Therefore, it is possible to automatically stop selling the heated food that is out of stock in the storage 20. As a result, it is possible to prevent an erroneous order such that an out-of-stock item is ordered. In addition, since the seller can save the trouble of managing the inventory by himself, more time can be spent on the work of the cash register 18, and the waiting time at the cash register 18 of the purchaser can be further reduced. .
[0047]
In addition, the purchase number and the heating information (ie, associated with the purchased food) are recorded in the purchase voucher 22 together with the verification number, and the purchase voucher 22 is supplied to the purchaser. The salesperson handed over the purchase voucher 22 from the buyer collates the collation number recorded on the purchase voucher 22 with the collation number displayed on the monitor 19 in association with the purchased food. Products can be quickly identified.
[0048]
If the purchased food is selected to be heated, the heating completion time estimation function 3 estimates the heating completion scheduled time based on the order reception time, the purchase information and the heating information. Since the purchase voucher 22 is recorded, the purchaser can go to the cash register 18 to pay for it when the heating of the purchased food is completed. In addition, the time until the heating completion time can be effectively used not as a waiting time at the cash register 18 as in the prior art but as a time for enjoying shopping slowly.
[0049]
Further, since the storage 20 and the microwave oven 4 are arranged on the cash register 18 side, the salesperson can perform the collection work of the price, the operation of taking out the purchased food, and the heating operation of the purchased food at a certain place. . Thus, the seller can spend more time on the work at the cash register 18, and the waiting time at the purchaser's payment settlement means can be further shortened.
[0050]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described below.
[0051]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the heated food sales system 30. In FIG. 5, the storage chamber 31 is provided with a take-out transport section 32 that is a take-out transport means. The take-out transport unit 32 is configured to take out a predetermined food from the stored heated food and transport it to the take-out port 33 provided outside the side wall of the storage chamber 31. Further, it is connected to the host server 2 and performs the transport operation based on a transport command sent from the host server 2.
These host server 2, vending machine 5, cash register 18, monitor 19, microwave oven 4, and storage 31 constitute a heated food sales system 30.
[0052]
<Operation of the heated food sales system 30>
Next, the operation of the heated food sales system 30 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control contents of each part by the host server 2 (control program) in the process of purchasing the purchased food by the purchaser.
[0053]
In FIG. 6, the same control as in the first embodiment is performed from step S1 to step S8. Subsequently, after the completion of step S <b> 8, a purchase food conveyance command is transmitted to the take-out conveyance unit 32. Then, the picked-up food is taken out from the heated food stored in the storage 31 by the pick-up transport unit 32, and the picked-up food that has been picked up is transported to the pick-up port 33 and placed in the pick-up port 33 (step S9). ).
[0054]
Based on the purchase information and heating information displayed on the monitor screen, the salesperson heats the purchased food placed in the outlet 33 with the microwave oven 4 if there is anything to be heated. Hereinafter, collection of the price between the purchaser and the salesperson and delivery of the purchased food are performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
[0055]
As described above, according to the second embodiment, on the basis of the transport command from the host server 2, the take-out transport unit 32 takes out the purchased food from the heated food stored in the storage 31, and the take-out port 33. The seller can save the trouble of taking out the purchased food from the storage 31. Thereby, the seller can spend more time on the work of the cash register 18, and the waiting time at the cash register 18 of the purchaser can be further shortened.
[0056]
[Third embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described below.
[0057]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the heated food sales system 40. In FIG. 7, a vending machine 41 is provided with a collation information detection unit 42 serving as collation information detection means. The verification information detection unit 42 is a registration number that is identification information of a purchaser when a shopping card (not shown) that is an identification information recording medium owned by the purchaser is inserted into a predetermined insertion slot (not shown). Is configured to detect. This shopping card is supplied to the purchaser when the purchaser requests the salesperson to create it, and identification information such as the purchaser's name and a registration number are magnetically recorded. The registration number is printed on the surface of the shopping card so as to be visible. The registration number detected by the verification information detection unit 42 is output to the host server 2 together with the purchase information and heating information of the purchaser (in association with the purchase product of the purchaser).
[0058]
The storage chamber 43 includes a heating transport unit 44 serving as a heating transport unit. The heating transport unit 44 is configured to take out a predetermined item from the stored heated food and transport it to the inside of the microwave oven 45 installed outside the side wall of the storage chamber 43. Further, it is connected to the host server 2 and performs the transport operation based on a transport command sent from the host server 2.
[0059]
The microwave oven 45 is connected to the host server 2 and performs a heating operation based on a heating command sent from the host server 2. Opening doors 45a and 45b are provided on a pair of opposite side surfaces, and one opening door 45a is opened and closed by a salesperson. The other opening / closing door 45 b is provided on the conveyance path (not shown) of the heating conveyance unit 44 and automatically opens and closes based on an opening / closing command from the host server 2.
[0060]
The notification lamp 46 serving as a heating completion notification means includes a plurality of 7-segment LEDs (not shown) and is installed on the cash register 18 side. The notification lamp 46 is connected to the host server 2 and displays a registration number (described later) sent from the host server 2.
The host food 2, vending machine 41, cash register 18, monitor 19, notification lamp 46, microwave oven 45, and storage 43 constitute a heated food sales system 40.
[0061]
<Operation of the heated food sales system 40>
Next, the operation of the heated food sales system 40 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control contents of each part by the host server 2 (control program) in the process of purchasing the purchased food by the purchaser.
[0062]
First, when a purchaser inserts a shopping card into the insertion slot of the verification information detector 42, the purchaser's registration number registered in the shopping card is detected (step S10). Next, the control of steps S1 to S4 is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the purchased food is determined. Subsequently, the shopping card is taken out from the verification information detection unit 42 and returned to the purchaser (step S11). And purchase information, heating information, and a registration number are transmitted to the monitor 19, and such information is displayed on a monitor screen (step S12).
[0063]
Subsequently, based on the purchase information and the heating information, a conveyance command is transmitted to the extraction conveyance unit 32 and the heating conveyance unit 44. Here, when there is purchased food to be heated, a conveyance command is transmitted to the heating conveyance unit 44, and the purchased food is conveyed to the inside of the microwave oven 45 by the heating conveyance unit 44. In conjunction with this, an open / close command is transmitted to the microwave oven 45, and the open / close door 45b is opened when the purchased food is transported into the cabinet, and is closed after the purchased food is contained in the cabinet. It is done. On the other hand, when there is purchased food that is not heated, a conveyance command is transmitted to the take-out conveyance unit 32, and the purchase food is conveyed to the extraction port 33 in the same manner as in the second embodiment (step S13). ).
[0064]
When the purchased food to be heated is stored in the microwave oven, a heating command is transmitted to the microwave oven, and the purchased food in the oven is heated (step S14). The heating time at this time is set based on information relating to the required heating time for each menu recorded in advance in the host server 2.
[0065]
When the completion of heating by the microwave oven 45 is detected based on the time required for heating, the registration number associated with the purchased food is transmitted to the notification lamp 46. Then, the registration number is displayed on the notification lamp 46.
[0066]
After confirming that the registration number of his / her shopping card is displayed, the purchaser goes to the cash register 18 to pay for the purchased food, and hands the shopping card to the salesperson at the cash register 18. At this time, the salesperson compares the registration number printed on the handed shopping card with the registration number displayed on the monitor screen, and determines the purchased food purchased by the purchaser from the other. The price of the purchased food is collected from the purchaser, and the determined purchased food is packaged and handed to the purchaser. The shopping card is also returned.
[0067]
Thus, according to the third embodiment, in the case of purchased food that requires heating, the purchased food is taken out of the heated food stored in the storage 43 by the heating transport unit 44 and stored in the microwave oven 45. The seller can save the trouble of putting the purchased food into the microwave oven 45. In addition, since the purchased food conveyed to the inside of the cabinet is automatically heated by the microwave oven 45, the seller can save time and effort for performing the heating operation of the microwave oven 45. Thereby, the seller can spend more time for the work of the cash register 18, and the waiting time at the cash register 18 of the purchaser can be further shortened.
[0068]
In addition, since the registration number recorded on the shopping card owned by the purchaser is detected and the registration number is displayed on the monitor 19 in association with the purchased food, the shopping card is handed to the purchaser at the cash register 18. The salesperson can quickly determine the purchase food of the purchaser by collating the registration number printed on the shopping card with the registration number displayed on the monitor 19 in association with the purchase food.
[0069]
In addition, when heating of purchased food that requires heating is completed, the registration number is displayed on the notification lamp 46 to notify that the heating has been completed, so that the purchaser can ensure that the purchased food is heated. Once completed, you can go to the cashier to pay for it. Further, the purchaser can effectively use the time until the notification is given as time for enjoying shopping slowly, not as waiting time at a cash register as in the prior art.
[0070]
  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and the following modifications and expansions are possible..
[0071]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the inventory management means for managing the stock quantity of the heated food stored in the heated food storage is provided, but this inventory management means may be provided as necessary.
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention, the collation information supply means for generating the collation information recording medium and supplying it to the purchaser is provided, but this collation information supply means is provided if necessary. That's fine.
[0072]
In the third embodiment of the present invention, the collation information detecting means for detecting the purchaser's identification information from the identification information recording medium is provided. However, this collation information detecting means may be provided as necessary.
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention, the heating completion time estimation means for estimating the heating completion time point at which the heating of the purchased food is completed is provided. What is necessary is just to provide.
[0073]
In the third embodiment of the present invention, the heating completion notification means for notifying the purchaser that the heating of the purchased food is completed is provided. However, the heating completion notification means may be provided as necessary.
Although not shown in the embodiment of the present invention, a heating food sales system is configured by providing a heating completion time estimation means and a heating completion notification means, and heating completion is performed based on the heating completion time estimated by the heating completion time estimation means. You may make it perform the heating completion notification by a notification means.
[0074]
  In an embodiment of the present invention, the heated food storage and the heating means arecash registerHowever, this arrangement may be performed as necessary.
  In the third embodiment of the present invention, the heating food sales system is constructed by providing the heating selection means for selecting whether or not the purchased food is heated and the take-out transport means for transporting the unheated purchased food to the outlet., TakeThe delivery conveying means may be provided as necessary..
[0075]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the heated food sales system is applied to a convenience store. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to any store handling heated food.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the heated food is applied to the lunch box. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any food that can be heated by the heating means may be used.
[0076]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the heating means is applied to the microwave oven, but the present invention is not limited to this, as long as the heated food can be heated.
In the embodiment of the present invention, the heating completion time estimation means estimates the heating completion scheduled time as the heating completion time. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, after purchase of purchased food is determined. You may make it estimate the time until the heating of this purchased food is completed as a heating completion time.
[0077]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the collation information and the identification information are applied to the collation number and the registration number. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be anything as long as the purchaser who purchased the purchased food can discriminate. .
In the third embodiment of the present invention, the identification information recording medium is applied to the shopping card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it suffices that the identification information of the purchaser is recorded.
[0078]
【The invention's effect】
  As is clear from the above description, the heated food sales system of the present invention is provided with a purchased food selection means capable of selecting a purchased food, and heating selection means for outputting heating information relating to the presence or absence of heating of the selected purchased food. The control means detects the purchase information of the purchased food selected by the purchased food selection means and the heating information related to the presence or absence of the heating selected by the heating selection means, and the notification means detects the purchase information and the heating. Since the information is notified to the seller of the heated food, the seller can immediately know the type and quantity of the purchased food ordered by the purchaser and the presence or absence of heating.In addition, since the purchased food is automatically conveyed to the take-out port by the take-out conveying means, the seller can save the trouble of taking out the purchased food from the heated food storage.it can. As a result, the seller can take out the purchased food that needs to be heated from the storage and heat it in advance with the heating means before the purchaser pays for the cash at the cash register. The waiting time can be shortened.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a heated food sales system showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
[Fig.2] Front view of heated food vending machine
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the host server.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of a purchase voucher
FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a view corresponding to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is equivalent to FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
In the drawing, 1, 30 and 40 are heated food sales systems, 2 is a host server (control means), 3 is a heating completion time estimation function (heating completion time estimation means), 4 and 45 are microwave ovens (heating means), 5 , 41 is a heated food vending machine, 6 is a purchased food selection section (purchased food selection means), 7 is a heating selection section (heating selection means), 8 is a purchase voucher supply section (matching information supply means), 18 is a cash register, 19 is a monitor (notification means), 20, 31 and 43 are heated food storage rooms, 21 is an inventory management section (inventory management means), 22 is a purchase voucher (verification information recording medium), and 32 is a take-out transport section (removal) Transport means), 33 is an outlet, 42 is a collation information detection unit (collation information detection means), 44 is a heating transport part (heating transport means), and 46 is a notification lamp (heating completion notification means).

Claims (9)

A heated food storage for storing the heated food, a cashier paying for the purchased food selected by the purchaser of the heated food from the heated food, and for heating the purchased food selected by the purchaser. In a heated food sales system comprising heating means,
Purchased food selection means configured to be able to select purchased food by the purchaser from the heated food, and outputting purchase information such as the type and quantity of the selected purchased food,
The heating selection means configured to be able to select whether or not the purchased food is heated, and outputs heating information relating to the selected heating or not,
A notification means for notifying the seller of predetermined information;
Transport means for taking out the purchased food from the heated food stored in the heated food storage and transporting it to the outlet;
Control means for inputting purchase information and heating information from the purchased food selection means and heating selection means and notifying the seller of the type, quantity, presence / absence of heating, etc. of the purchased food as the information content; equipped with,
The said control means transmits a conveyance command to the said conveyance means based on the said purchase information, and conveys the said purchased food to the said extraction port by the conveyance means for extraction, The heating food sales system characterized by the above-mentioned . A heated food storage for refrigerated and storing heated food, a cash register for payment of the purchased food selected by the purchaser of the heated food from the heated food, and the purchased food according to the purchaser's selection In a heated food sales system comprising heating means for heating,
Purchased food selection means configured to be able to select the purchased food by the purchaser from the heated food, and to output purchase information such as the type and quantity of the selected purchased food,
The heating selection means configured to be able to select whether or not the purchased food is heated, and outputs heating information relating to the selected heating or not,
A transporting means for heating that takes out the purchased food from the heated food stored in the heated food storage and transports it to the inside of the heating means;
Input purchase information and heating information from the purchased food selection means and heating selection means, and based on the purchase information and heating information, send a conveyance command to the heating conveyance means and heat by the heating conveyance means. to purchase food is transported up in the box, pressurized heat food sales system that is characterized by comprising a control means for heating the purchase food by its heating means sends a heated command to the heating means. A take-out conveying means for taking out the purchased food from the heated food stored in the heated food storage and conveying it to an outlet;
When the purchased food is not to be heated based on the purchase information and the heating information, the control means transmits a conveyance command to the take-out conveying means and takes out the purchased food by the take-out conveying means. is conveyed to the outlet, in the case of heating the purchase food, claims, characterized in that to transport the purchased food by its heating transfer means sends a transport command to said heating transfer means to within said chamber 2. The heated food sales system according to 2. The heated food storage system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heated food storage and the heating means are arranged on the cash register side . Comprising inventory management means for managing the number of stocks of the heated food stored in the heated food storage and outputting the inventory information;
The heated food sales system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means disables selection of out-of-stock heated food by the purchased food selection means based on the inventory information . 6. The heated food sales system according to claim 1 , further comprising a heating completion notification means for notifying the purchaser that the heating of the purchased food is completed . Wherein the verification information associated with the purchase food recorded the verification information recording medium, comprising a verification information supplying means for supplying verification information recording medium of this to the purchaser,
The heated food sales system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control means notifies the seller of the detected collation information by the notification means . A collation information detecting means for detecting the identification information from an identification information recording medium in which the purchaser's identification information is recorded, and outputting collation information associated with the purchased food ;
The heated food sales system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control means notifies the seller of the detected collation information by the notification means. When the purchase food is selected there heating, according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a heating completion estimating means for estimating the heating completion time heating is completed by the heating means Heating food sales system.

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