JP4438567B2 - Vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly, to a vending machine for merchandise for the purpose of preventing change in the vending machine and promoting the sale of merchandise to prevent loss of merchandise sales.

Even if a product sold by a vending machine can be sold for 24 hours, or even if the product is sufficiently stored in the vending machine, the product cannot be sold if there is not enough change. Will occur. In order to avoid this problem, maintenance such as checking the remaining amount of change in the vending machine frequently and replenishing when the change is insufficient is necessary. On the other hand, as a method of resolving the shortage of change, Patent Literature 1 stores an optimal change amount for a money handling device used in a vending machine or the like, holds the optimal change amount as change, If the change amount falls below this optimal change amount, this coin will be held as change when the corresponding denomination is inserted, preventing change in advance and loss of sales opportunities due to change. A money handling apparatus that reduces the cost is described.
JP-A-8-153247

  In the above money handling apparatus, there is a problem that the money of the denomination cannot be replenished unless the user inserts the money of the denomination that is likely to run out of change.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to encourage a customer to purchase a product using a denomination that may cause a change of money, and to increase the amount of the denomination so as to avoid the change of money. Is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine according to the present invention provides an incentive to a customer who has purchased a product using a denomination that may cause a change of money, depending on the degree of replenishment of the denomination. To secure a denomination that could be out of change.

  More specifically, the automatic vending apparatus according to claim 1 includes a currency discriminating unit that discriminates the denomination of the inserted money, a counting unit that counts the number of each inserted money denomination, A change holding unit for holding usable money, a change table storing the number of money usable for change for each denomination, a condition table storing the number of money to be held as change for each denomination, When money is inserted by a customer, the change table and the condition table are referred to, the number of moneys that have not reached the number of money to be held as change is calculated for each denomination, and the money determination unit and the count The replenishment of change with the money input by the customer based on the number of denominations of the inserted money determined by the department and the number of denominations of money that has not reached the number of money to be held as the change To calculate the contribution to Based on an incentive granting section for giving an incentive according to the degree, the number of denominated coins for each denomination and the number of denominations of money that has not reached the number of coins to be held as the change, In addition to updating the number of denominations of money in the change table, the change holding unit replenishes the change holding unit with money.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vending machine according to the first aspect, the condition table stores the quantity of money to be held for each denomination for each denomination.

  The invention of claim 3 is the automatic vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a change payout result table for storing the number of money paid out as change for each time zone for each denomination, In the table, the number of money to be held as change is set for each denomination based on information on the denomination and number of money paid out as change for each time period stored in the change payout record table. It was characterized.

  As described above, in the vending apparatus according to the present invention, when money is inserted by the customer, the change table and the condition table are referred to, and the number of moneys that have not reached the number of moneys to be held as change is determined for each denomination. Based on the number of denominated coins and the number of denominated coins that have not reached the number of denominations to be held as change, calculated by the money discriminating unit and counting unit, The degree of contribution to the change replenishment by the inserted money is calculated, an incentive is given according to the contribution, and the number of the inserted money for each denomination and the number of money to be held as the change are reached. Based on the number of each denomination of money, the number of denominations in the change table was updated, and the change holding part for replenishing money to the change holding part was provided. Money denominations and pieces Incentives can be given to this customer, so when the remaining amount of change is reduced, the customer is encouraged to purchase goods using the denomination used for change, In addition, by adding more denominations that may be deficient, the degree of contribution will be increased and more incentives will be given to the customer, so more denominations that may be deficient can be introduced to the customer. In addition, the shortage of change held in the vending device can reduce loss of opportunity such as the sale of goods, and it is easy to secure the necessary amount of change.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be disclosed below.

  The vending apparatus according to the present invention may be used as a stand-alone type, or connected to a communication line to transmit sales data or the like to the management server, and the sales data is processed on the management server side or the vending apparatus is managed. It may be used in such a system. FIG. 1 shows an example of a sales system using a vending machine according to the present invention. This sales system 10 includes a management server 12 installed in a merchandise sales company or sales base, and vending sales installed in various places. A device 14 is connected via a communication line 16. Along with the identification information for identifying each vending device 14 from each vending device 14, the sales information of the product and data such as failure are transmitted to the management server 12 via the communication line 16. The sales information of the vending machine 14 is collectively managed. The sales information includes a product name, sales number, sales time, remaining number of change, etc., and may be notified from the vending device 14 to the management server 12 in real time or every predetermined time at the time of product sales. The server 12 may access the vending machine 14 to collect sales status data.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the vending machine 14 according to the present invention. The vending apparatus 14 according to the present embodiment can be configured to handle various banknotes, but the description is simplified. Therefore, in this embodiment, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, 500 yen, and 1000 yen are used as input money, and 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen coins are used as change. Shall be used. Moreover, although the vending apparatus 14 of a present Example can sell the goods of various prices, in order to simplify description, it is set as the goods of the same price. Further, FIG. 2 shows a stand-alone vending machine 14, but it can be used in the sales system 10 shown in FIG. 1 by adding a communication function to the illustrated configuration.

  The vending apparatus 14 shown in FIG. 2 includes a display unit 22 for displaying an input amount, out of stock, out of change, out of order, etc., a product selection unit 24 for selecting a product purchased by a customer, and a product storage for sale. A product storage / dispensing section 26 including a section and a discharging section for dispensing. Further, when money is inserted, the vending device 14 is connected to the money discriminating unit 28 for detecting the insertion of the money and discriminating the denomination of the money, and connected to the money discriminating unit 28. A counting unit 30 for counting the number of sheets is provided. When a commodity price or more money is inserted, the commodity selected by the commodity selector 24 is paid out from the commodity storage / dispensing section 26. When change is required, the change is transferred from the change dispensing section 32. To be paid out. In this embodiment, the money inserted by the customer is once held in an input money holding unit (not shown), and when the customer gives up the purchase or when the change is out, the money inserted by the customer is the customer itself. Can be returned to. Further, the change to be paid out from the change dispensing unit 32 is held in the change holding unit 34. The change replenishing unit 35 replenishes the change holding unit 34 with the money held in the inserted money holding unit. Here, the change holding unit 34 is preferably configured to hold money for each denomination, or the change replenishment unit 35 preferably replenishes the change holding unit 34 with money for each denomination.

  The display unit 22, the product selection unit 24, the product storage / dispensing unit 26, the currency determination unit 28, the counting unit 30, the change dispensing unit 32, the change holding unit 34, the change replenishment unit 35, etc. Data can be exchanged. The processing unit 40 includes a microcomputer and the like, and has a time measuring function, and executes various processes based on a program stored in the storage unit 42. The storage unit 42 can store various data, data in the course of processing, and the like in addition to the program. The processing unit 40 further includes a change table storage unit 44 that stores the number of change denominations that can be paid out from the change paying unit 32, and the number of changes that should be held as change per time zone and denomination. A condition table storage unit 46 that stores the denomination and number of coins entered, a change table and a condition table, and a contribution degree table that defines a contribution to the denomination and number of coins entered by the customer. A contribution is calculated in accordance with the denomination and number of money input by the customer, and an incentive granting unit 48 that determines incentives for the customer is connected.

  The above storage units 42, 44, and 46 are illustrated as individual storage units, and the incentive provision unit 48 is illustrated as being separate from the processing unit 40. Alternatively, it may be configured to be stored in a plurality of storage devices, and the function of the incentive provision unit 48 may be executed by the processing unit 40.

  Next, an example of data stored in each of the storage units 42, 44, 46 and the incentive provision unit 48 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  (A) of FIG. 3 shows the product price data sold with the vending machine 14, and stores the product name and the sales price in association with each other. FIG. 3B shows data on the number of denominations of money inserted in the money discriminating unit 28 and counted by the counting unit 30. The input denomination and the number data are updated every time one product is sold.

  (C) of FIG. 3 shows the time when the product is sold, the product name, the number of coins inserted for each denomination inserted at the time of selling the product, and the number of coins paid out as change. In this sales data, for example, at 0:02, the product of the product name A indicates that two 100-yen coins were inserted and three 10-yen coins and one 50-yen coin were paid out as change and sold. Yes.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a change table stored in the change table storage unit 44. As coin types, coins of 10, 50, 100, and 500 yen each include 20, 30, and 20 coins. , 15 pieces can be used as change. In the present embodiment, these changes are stored in the change dispensing unit 32.

  Next, the condition table stored in the condition table storage unit 46 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is data showing the change payout results obtained by tabulating the change payout type data in the sales data (see FIG. 3C) stored in the storage unit 42 for each time zone. The change payout results for each hour and every denomination are shown. In this table, for example, in the time zone 0:00 to 1:00, it is shown that six 10-yen coins and two 50-yen coins are paid out as change. Based on the change payout results for each time zone, the number data for each denomination to be held for each time zone shown in the condition table shown in FIG. 6 is set. Every 2 hours. Since the change payment results between 0: 00 and 0: 00 in FIG. 5 are 9, 3, 0, and 0 for 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen coins, respectively, this time The number of coins that can be paid out as change for the obi is set to 10, 10, 10 and 5 for each coin, which is more than the actual number of each denomination paid out for each denomination. did.

  Here, as the change payout results shown in FIG. 5, the sales data of the previous day for setting the number of denominations in the condition table may be used, or the average value change payout per day for the previous week. The results may be used, and the change payout record data of the vending machine 14 that is grounded in the vicinity, the change payout record data of the vending machine 14 having the same or similar installation conditions such as in front of the station or downtown, etc. are used as appropriate. It is possible. In particular, when the number of denominations in the condition table is set using the change payment result data of a plurality of vending machines 14, the configuration of the sales system 10 having the management server 12 shown in FIG. It is preferable to the vending machine 14.

  Further, for each denomination in the change payout record data, the number of sheets in the condition table may be set based on the number of payout records having the highest payout record. For example, in the example of FIG. 5, there are most 6 sheets of time zone 0: 00 to 1: 00, 6: 00 to 7:00 for 10 yen, and for 50 yen, 2 sheets of the same time zone For the 100 yen, the largest number is 3 from 6:00 to 7:00, and for the 500 yen, if the change payout record is 0 at any time, 6 for the 10 yen, 2 pieces for 50 yen, 3 pieces for 100 yen, 0 pieces for 500 yen are considered to be the maximum change payout results, and the number of denominations set for each time zone in the condition table is 10 yen, For 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen, for example, 25 sheets, 25 sheets, 30 sheets, and 10 sheets may be set, respectively. Further, the time zone may be set to 0:00 to 24:00, and each of these numbers may be set as the set number.

  With reference to FIG. 7, the contribution table which shows a contribution and the incentive corresponding to each contribution is demonstrated. In this example, the incentive to the customer was the winning rate for winning extra products. FIG. 7 showing an example of the contribution table shows a setting in which the higher the contribution is, the higher the winning rate, which is this incentive. Here, a specific example of a method for calculating a contribution related to replenishment of a customer's change when the customer purchases a product by inserting money will be described.

  The first contribution is determined when the number of changes in the change table stored in the change table storage unit 44 is less than the number set in the condition table in the condition table storage unit 46. 5 is an example of calculating the contribution when reducing the shortage of change in the change table. This contribution is based on the ratio of the total number of coins that reduces the shortage of change in the money thrown by the customer to the total number of coins of the shortage of change. For example, with respect to the number of 10 yen, 50 yen, and 100 yen coins set in the condition table in a certain time zone, the number of the same denomination shown in the change table is 3, 2, or 4 respectively. If there is a shortage and the customer purchases a 120 yen product with two 10 yen coins and two 50 yen coins, this contribution will be (2 + 2) ÷ (3 + 2 + 4) = 44.4%. Round off the first digit to make the contribution 40%.

  As another method for calculating the degree of contribution, the degree of contribution in a certain time zone is calculated for the total number of denominations set in the condition table in the condition table storage unit 46 for that time zone. It is an example which calculates the contribution in case the money which the customer put in reduces the shortage number of a shortage denomination about the shortage money type in the change table of the change table storage part 44 of a belt | band | zone. This contribution is based on the ratio of the total number of denominations in the money inserted by the customer to the total number of each denomination in the condition table. In this example of calculating the contribution, the contribution of a certain time zone is 10 for 10 yen, 10 for 50 yen, 10 for 100 yen for each denomination determined in the condition table for this time zone. 5 pieces for 500 yen, and 10 yen from the change table data, 2 pieces for 50 yen, and 4 pieces for 100 yen are calculated as 11.4%. The first digit is rounded down to 10%.

  As another method for calculating the above-mentioned contribution degree, it is possible to use a method of obtaining a contribution degree for reducing short change for each denomination and further considering a weighting count for each denomination. Provides incentives to customers who have purchased products with denominations and quantity that reduce the number of changes that are insufficient for the necessary changes for each denomination set in the condition table. In addition, in order to promote the elimination of the shortage of change, the amount of money that reduces the shortage of change is introduced, and the degree of contribution that gives a greater incentive to customers who purchase products is set. There is in point to do.

  As an incentive above, the winning rate of winning products for customers is used, but depending on the degree of contribution, the bonus products offered to the customer may be different depending on the degree of contribution, One product may be additionally provided, and points may be given.

  Next, the processing flow of the vending machine 14 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. When the process is started (S100), the vending machine 14 is in a state of waiting for the insertion of money, and when the insertion of money is detected by the money determination unit 28 (YES in S102), the denomination is determined and the counting unit At 30, the number of inserted coins (the number of inserted coins is also referred to as the number of coins) is counted (S104). These denomination and number data are sent to the processing unit 40 and stored in the storage unit 42.

  The processing unit 40 updates the input denomination and the number data shown in FIG. 3B every time the counting unit 30 receives the input denomination and the counted number. Then, it is determined whether or not the input amount has reached the product price in the processing unit 40 (S106). If the product price has been reached (YES in S106), the processing unit 40 determines for each input denomination. Whether or not change is required is determined from the number of items and the product price (S108). If change is required (YES in S108), the number of change types to be paid out is stored in the change table. It is compared with the number of denominations stored in the section 44 to determine whether or not change can be paid out (S110). If the change can be paid out (YES in S110), the merchandise sales process in S114 is performed. In this merchandise sales process, the merchandise selected by the customer is paid out from the merchandise storage / payout unit 26, and each denomination of the input denomination and number data shown in FIG. As for the number data, sales data shown in FIG. 4C stores the data of the time when the merchandise sales process of S114 is performed, the sales merchandise, the input money type, and the payout money type as sales data.

  In S106, if the input amount has not reached the commodity price (in the case of NO in S106), it enters a state of waiting for money input, and if no change is required in S108 (in the case of NO in S108), the process of S114 Shift processing to merchandise sales processing. In addition, when there is no change to be paid out in S110 (NO in S110), a customer held in an input money holding unit (not shown) inputs the money to return the inserted money to the customer. To discharge the money.

  Next, the process proceeds to S116, and the incentive process is performed in S116 on the merchandise sales process processed in S114.

  Details of the incentive process of S116 described above will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, when the merchandise sales process in S <b> 114 is finished, the input denomination and the number data shown in FIG. 3B stored in the storage unit 42 are acquired (S <b> 400) and stored in the change table storage unit 44. The denomination data and the number data of the change table are acquired (S402). Next, the number-of-holds data of each denomination in the corresponding time zone is acquired from the condition table stored in the condition table storage unit 46 (S406). Based on the change table data acquired in S402 and the condition table acquired in S404, the change table has a shortage of denominations that are insufficient with respect to the number of changes to be held (held number) in the current time period. It is determined whether or not there is (S406). If there is a deficient denomination (if it exists in S406), an incentive corresponding to the corresponding contribution is obtained from the contribution table stored in the incentive granting unit 48 shown in FIG. (S408). An incentive for the acquired contribution is provided to the customer (S410), and the process proceeds to S120.

  If it is determined in S406 that there are no denominations in the change table (if it is not in S406), the process proceeds to S122.

  If it is determined in S406 that the input money of the customer is incentive, the change table in the input money of the customer held by the input money holding unit (not shown) is insufficient in the change replenishment process. A change replenishment process for replenishing the denomination to the change change holding unit 34 is performed by the change replenishment unit 35 (S120), an end process is performed (S122), and the input denomination and the number data stored in the storage unit 42 (see FIG. 3 (b)) is reset.

  The vending apparatus 14 according to the first embodiment has change data for each denomination to be held indicated in the condition table, and the customer sets the shortage denomination for the shortage denomination in the change data for each denomination. Automatic sales to avoid loss of sales opportunities due to lack of change by offering incentives when purchasing by making up supplementary money and using more denominations that may cause change Device 14. The automatic vending apparatus 14 according to the second embodiment of the present invention stores the maximum number of change in the change payout unit 32, and shows the change payout status of the sale for 2 hours on the day, for example, as shown in FIG. Based on the above, assuming that double change is also required during the next 2 hours or 4 hours of sales, the number of changes considered to be necessary is determined for each denomination of the condition table in the condition table storage unit. The vending machine 14 may be configured so as to avoid the loss of sales and avoid the loss of sales by considering the necessary number of sheets and using this condition table to give incentives as in the first embodiment.

  Unlike the first and second embodiments, the vending machine 14 according to the third embodiment handles multi-price products, enables sales of 150 yen products in addition to 120 yen products, and allows customers to sell 120 yen products. If you want to purchase two coins of 100 yen and you have 30 yen change but no 20 yen remaining, if you purchase 150 yen product on the display 22, It is good also as a structure which notifies that the incentive is given by displaying to the effect that the product is provided, and promotes high-priced product sales to customers.

  The following appendices are further disclosed with respect to the embodiments including the first to third embodiments.

(Supplementary note 1) A currency discriminating unit for discriminating the denomination of the inserted money, a counting unit for counting the number of coins inserted for each denomination, and holding a currency usable for change for each denomination A change holding section;
A change table that stores the number of money that can be used for change for each denomination, a condition table that stores the number of money to be held as change for each denomination, and the change table when money is inserted by a customer. , And referring to the condition table, calculating the number of money that has not reached the number of money to be held as change for each denomination, and calculating the money of the inserted money obtained by the money determination unit and the counting unit. Based on the number of each type and the number of denominations of money that has not reached the number of money that should be held as the change, the degree of contribution to the change replenishment by the money input by the customer is calculated. Based on an incentive granting section for granting a corresponding incentive, and the number of denominated coins for each denomination and the number of denominations of money that has not reached the number of coins to be held as the change Te It updates the money number of each denomination of Bull vending apparatus characterized by comprising, a change supplement section to supplement each denomination of money on the change holder.

  (Supplementary note 2) The vending machine according to supplementary note 1, wherein the condition table stores a quantity of money to be held for each denomination for each denomination.

  (Supplementary note 3) In the vending machine according to Supplementary note 1 or Supplementary note 2, the vending device has a change payout result table for storing the number of money paid out as change for each time zone for each denomination, and the condition table includes the change change The number of coins to be held as change is set for each denomination based on information on the denomination and number of money paid out as change every time period stored in the payout record table Sales equipment.

  (Supplementary Note 4) In a sales system in which the vending machine described in Supplementary Note 1 and a management server are connected via a communication line, the management server receives sales data from the vending apparatus, and the management server converts the sales data to the sales data. And calculating the number of money to be held as change by the vending device for each denomination, and setting the calculated number of money to be held for each denomination in the condition table of the vending device. A sales system characterized by

  (Supplementary note 5) In the vending machine according to supplementary note 1, the contribution is calculated based on the total number of money that is insufficient with respect to the number of denominations of money to be held in the condition table, and the vending machine. A vending machine characterized in that it is determined based on a ratio to the total number of the shortage of money in the inserted money.

  (Supplementary note 6) In the vending machine according to supplementary note 1, the contribution is calculated based on the total number of money to be held in the condition table and the denomination to be held as change in the money put into the vending machine. A vending machine characterized in that it is determined on the basis of the ratio of the total number of coins that are insufficient to the number of coins.

  In order to avoid running out of change, the vending machine of the present invention includes a function for promoting the purchase of a product by a customer with a denomination that is likely to run out of change or change, so It is possible to reduce the loss of sales opportunities, and to check and replenish the remaining amount of change in each vending machine without manpower in order to avoid running out of change. Since it is possible without manpower, it is effective in increasing sales of vending machines and reducing maintenance costs.

The figure which shows an example of the sales system using the automatic vending apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows the structural example of the automatic vending apparatus of this invention. The figure which shows the example of data recorded on a memory | storage part. The figure which shows a change table. The table which shows the change payment result for every time slot | zone. The figure which shows a condition table. The figure which shows an example of a contribution table. The figure which shows a processing flow. The figure which shows the processing flow of an incentive.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Vending machine 22 Display part 24 Goods selection part 26 Goods storage / dispensing part 28 Money discriminating part 30 Counting part 32 Change paying part 34 Change holding part 40 Processing part 42 Storage part 44 Change table storage part 46 Condition table storage part 48 Incentive provision Part

Claims (3)

A money discriminating unit for discriminating the denomination of the inserted money;
A counting unit for counting the number of denominations of the inserted money;
A change holder for holding money that can be used for change;
A change table that stores the number of money that can be used for change for each denomination,
A condition table storing the number of money to be held as change for each denomination,
When money is inserted by a customer, the change table and the condition table are referred to, the number of moneys that have not reached the number of money to be held as change is calculated for each denomination, and the money determination unit and the count The replenishment of change with the money input by the customer, based on the number of denominations of the inserted money determined by the Department and the number of denominations of money that has not reached the number of money to be held as the change An incentive granting unit that calculates the degree of contribution to and grants an incentive according to the contribution,
Based on the number of denominations of the inserted money and the number of denominations of money that has not reached the number of money to be held as the change, the number of denominations of money in the change table is updated. And a change replenishment unit for replenishing the change holding unit with money,
A vending machine comprising: In the vending machine according to claim 1,
The vending machine is characterized in that the condition table stores the quantity of money to be held for each denomination for each denomination. In the vending apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
It has a change payout record table that stores the number of money paid out as change for each time period for each denomination,
In the condition table, the number of coins to be held as change is set for each denomination based on information on the denomination and number of money paid out as change for each time period stored in the change payout record table. Vending machine characterized by that.

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