JP4734918B2 - Showcase - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a showcase in which various products are displayed.

Conventionally, when the front door is closed and locked, it enables unattended sales of products displayed inside, while in the state where the front door is unlocked, the user (purchaser) can freely open the front door. There are known showcases that can be opened and closed to allow removal of products.

In such a showcase, it is common to have a commodity transport device inside. At the time of one sale, the merchandise transport device moves to the merchandise display shelf on which the merchandise selected by the user based on a request from the user is received, receives the merchandise, and then picks up the merchandise. It conveys to an exit (for example, refer patent document 1 and patent document 2).

JP-A-4-181497 JP 2004-152165 A

By the way, when the showcase is used as an unmanned vending machine, that is, when used in the same form as a vending machine in an unmanned store or the like, the merchandise carrying apparatus can carry only one merchandise at one sale. Therefore, when one user selects a plurality of products, the time required for sales per person becomes longer, which may lead to a decrease in sales efficiency. In particular, during hours when users are concentrated, such as during lunch breaks, the sales time per person becomes longer, resulting in a situation where users are hesitant, resulting in less use of showcases and reduced sales efficiency. Was remarkable. In addition, since the product conveying device itself is expensive, there is a problem that the cost required for the showcase is high as a result.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a showcase capable of reducing costs and improving sales efficiency.

In order to achieve the above object, according to claim 1 of the present invention, in the showcase in which various products are displayed, identification information unique to the information recording medium read from the presented information recording medium is stored in advance. A product take-out permitting means for allowing the take-out of the product by unlocking the locking mechanism and allowing the front door to open, and taking out the product by the product take-out permitting means when the determined condition is satisfied; , The lock mechanism is locked when the card settlement button is pressed, and the total price of the product extracted from the column price driven by the product detection mechanism and the product price assigned to the column number stored in advance is calculated, And a payment means for paying out the calculated total amount with payment amount information stored in advance in the information recording medium .

According to the showcase of the present invention, when the identification information unique to the information recording medium read from the presented information recording medium has a predetermined condition, the product is permitted to be taken out, and is taken out after being permitted. Since the total amount of the merchandise is settled, a plurality of merchandise can be sold at the time of one sale, and the sales efficiency can be improved. In addition, such a showcase does not require an expensive commodity transport apparatus that has been necessary in the past, and thus the cost can be reduced. Therefore, for example, it is possible to reduce the cost and improve the sales efficiency while installing in a place such as an unmanned store and enabling unattended sales.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a showcase of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 each show a configuration of a showcase according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the showcase, and FIG. 2 schematically shows a configuration of the showcase. It is the block diagram shown in FIG. This showcase is for selling various commodities such as beverages and food stored in a container, and includes a main body cabinet 1.

The main body cabinet 1 is formed as a rectangular heat insulating casing having an open front surface. A product storage chamber 2 is formed inside the main body cabinet 1. The product storage room 2
This is for containing the product while maintaining the desired temperature. In this commodity storage room 2,
The merchandise display shelves 3 are arranged in a plurality of stages along the vertical direction, and a heat exchanger (not shown) is arranged. The merchandise display shelf 3 is for placing the merchandise W, and a plurality of columns 4 are formed in a grid pattern on each. Column 4 is a stage on which one product W is placed. The column 4 will be described in more detail. Each column 4 is provided with a product detection mechanism 5 for detecting whether or not the product W is placed. The commodity detection mechanism 5 includes an actuator 6 as shown in FIG. The actuator 6 is connected to a micro switch (not shown), and drives the sold-out display board 7 from the inverted state to the standing state by driving. More specifically, the actuator 6 normally puts the sold-out display board 7 in an inverted state and allows the product W to be placed on the sold-out display board 7, while the product W is taken out. In this case, the sold-out display board 7 is driven to stand up. The heat exchanger drives the product W placed on the column 4 (product display shelf 3) by driving.
Is maintained at a desired cooling temperature or heating temperature.

The main body cabinet 1 is provided with a front door 8 for opening and closing the front opening. Front door 8
As shown in FIG. 1, it has a left door 8a pivotally supported on the left edge of the front opening and a right door 8b pivotally supported on the right edge of the front opening. The left door 8a and the right door 8b are configured by fitting a transparent plate material such as glass into a rectangular frame. The left door 8a and the right door 8b are provided with a handle 9 for hooking a finger when opening and closing the front opening with left and right opening. The handle 9 is the left door 8
It is provided in the site | part used as the right end in a, and the site | part used as the left end in the right door 8b, respectively. The front door 8 having such a configuration is configured to be locked and unlocked by a lock mechanism 10 (see FIG. 2).

The front panel 11 of the main body cabinet 1 is provided with a card insertion slot 12, a settlement button 13, a card settlement button 14, a coin insertion slot 15, a bill insertion slot 16, an integrated display 17 and a coin return slot 18. On the other hand, on the rear side of the front panel 11, a coin processor 19, a money collection unit (
(Not shown) and a banknote handling machine 20 are provided.

The card insertion slot 12 is an opening for inserting an information recording medium (hereinafter referred to as an IC card) such as an employee ID card or an IC (Integrated Circuit) card. This card slot 1
2 has a function for returning the inserted IC card. The checkout button 13 is a pushbutton switch for checking out the product W taken out by the user. Card checkout button 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a push button switch for adjusting the product W taken out by the user based on the information stored in the IC card inserted into the card insertion slot 12. The coin slot 15 is an opening through which a user inserts coins. The coins inserted through the coin insertion slot 15 are identified by the coin processor 19 and then stored in the money collection unit. The bill insertion slot 16 is an opening for a user to insert a bill. The banknote inserted through the banknote insertion slot 16 has its denomination identified by the banknote handling machine 20 and then accommodated in the money collection unit. The bill insertion slot 16 has a function for returning bills that could not be identified by the bill processing machine 20. The integrated display 17 is for displaying various kinds of information such as the amount settled through the control means 30 described later to the user. The coin return port 18 is an opening for returning to the user a coin that could not be identified by the coin processor 19 or a coin to be changed.

The showcase includes a control means 30 inside the main body cabinet 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 30 includes a main control unit 31, a reader / writer 32, a lock control unit 33, an extracted product detection unit 34, a total amount calculation unit 35, a settlement processing unit 36, A card settlement processing unit 37 is provided. The main control unit 31 performs overall control of the operation of the control means 30 based on data and programs stored in a memory 38 such as RAM or ROM. Here, the memory 38 stores necessary information in addition to the above data and programs, for example, information related to the price of the product assigned to each column number, information related to sales permission conditions, and the like.

The reader / writer 32 performs wireless communication with the IC card inserted into the card insertion slot 12, and reads and writes necessary information with respect to the IC card. IC
The card stores identification information (ID information), which is a unique identifier, and information related to the paid-in amount paid in advance as necessary. That is, the reader / writer 32 reads the identification information unique to the IC card, and writes the balance information regarding the balance after settlement as necessary.

The lock control unit 33 controls the operation of the lock mechanism 10 that locks and unlocks the front door 8. The taken product detection unit 34 detects the product W taken out by the user after unlocking the lock mechanism 10 through the lock control unit 33. More specifically, the take-out merchandise detection unit 34 detects the column number driven by the merchandise detection mechanism 5 after the lock mechanism 10 is released.

The total price calculation unit 35 calculates the total price of the product W taken out by the user from the column number detected through the extracted product detection unit 34 and the product price assigned to the column number stored in advance. It is. The total amount calculated by the total amount calculation unit 35 is displayed on the integrated display unit 17.

The settlement processing unit 36 performs settlement processing based on money identified through the coin processing machine 19 and the banknote processing machine 20. Specifically, the money corresponding to the total amount calculated through the total amount calculation unit 35 among the moneys identified through the coin processing unit 19 and the banknote processing unit 20 is accommodated in the money collection unit. On the other hand, the amount exceeding the total amount is returned as change through the coin return slot 18 or the bill insertion slot 16.

When the IC card is settled as electronic money, the card settlement processing unit 37 calculates the amount of electronic money corresponding to the total amount calculated through the total amount calculation unit 35 from the payment amount information of the IC card read out through the reader / writer 32. It will be withdrawn and settled.

The showcase having the above configuration sells the internal product W as follows.
For convenience of explanation, a case where payment is first made with cash will be described.

When the user inserts the IC card into the card insertion slot 12, the main control unit 31 of the control means 30 reads the identification information of the IC card inserted into the card insertion slot 12 through the reader / writer 32. When the identification information read out here includes the sales permission conditions stored in the memory 38 in advance, the main control unit 31 unlocks the lock mechanism 10 through the lock control unit 33. Accordingly, the user can open the front door and take out the product W inside the product storage chamber 2. At that time, the user can take out not only one product W but also a plurality of products W. In the column 4 from which the product W is taken out by the user, the actuator 6 is driven to bring the sold-out display board 7 into an upright state. On the other hand, when the user returns the product W, it may be placed on the original column 4 on which the product W was placed.

When the user who has taken out the necessary product W presses the settlement button 13 after closing the front door, the main control unit 31 locks the lock mechanism 10 through the lock control unit 33. And the main control part 3
1 detects the column number of the product W taken out by the user after releasing the lock mechanism 10, that is, the column number driven by the product detection mechanism 5 through the taken-out product detection unit 34. The main control unit 31 that has detected the column number of the retrieved product W, through the total price calculation unit 35, uses the column number and the product price assigned to the column number stored in the memory 38 to The total amount of the product W taken out is calculated, and the amount is displayed through the integrated display 17. Thus, the user inserts money that satisfies the total amount displayed on the integrated display 17 through the coin insertion slot 15 or inserts it through the bill insertion slot 16. The denomination of the coin inserted through the coin insertion slot 15 is identified by the coin processor 19, and the denomination of the banknote inserted through the bill insertion is identified by the banknote processor 20.

And the main control part 31 performs a payment process based on the money identified by the coin processing machine 19 and the money processing machine through the payment processing part 36. Specifically, the main control unit 31 stores the money corresponding to the total amount of money identified through the coin processing machine 19 and the bill processing machine 20 through the settlement processing unit 36 in the money collection unit. The amount exceeding the total amount is returned as change through the coin return slot 18 or the bill insertion slot 16.

When the settlement process is completed, the main control unit 31 returns the IC card inserted into the card insertion slot 12 and enters a standby state.

On the other hand, when paying based on the payment amount information stored in advance on the IC card, that is, when paying the IC card as electronic money, the showcase sells the internal product W as follows. become.

When the user inserts the IC card into the card insertion slot 12, the main control unit 31 of the control means 30 reads the identification information of the IC card inserted into the card insertion slot 12 through the reader / writer 32. When the identification information read out here includes the sales permission conditions stored in the memory 38 in advance, the main control unit 31 unlocks the lock mechanism 10 through the lock control unit 33. Accordingly, the user can open the front door and take out the product W inside the product storage chamber 2. At that time, the user can take out not only one product W but also a plurality of products W. In the column 4 from which the product W is taken out by the user, the actuator 6 is driven to bring the sold-out display board 7 into an upright state. On the other hand, when the user returns the product W, it may be placed on the original column 4 on which the product W was placed.

When the user who has taken out the necessary product W presses the card check button 14 after closing the front door, the main control unit 31 locks the lock mechanism 10 through the lock control unit 33. Then, the main control unit 31 detects the column number of the product W taken out by the user after releasing the lock mechanism 10, that is, the column number driven by the product detection mechanism 5 through the taken-out product detection unit 34. The main control unit 31 that has detected the column number of the retrieved product W, through the total price calculation unit 35, uses the column number and the product price assigned to the column number stored in the memory 38 to The total amount of the product W taken out is calculated, and the amount is displayed on the integrated indicator 17.
Display through. At the same time, the main control unit 31 reads the payment amount information stored in the IC card inserted into the card insertion slot 12 through the reader / writer 32.

Then, the main control unit 31 deducts electronic money corresponding to the total amount calculated through the total amount calculation unit 35 from the payment amount information of the IC card read out by the reader / writer 32 through the card settlement processing unit 37. Check out. Thereafter, the main control unit 31 returns the IC card inserted into the card insertion slot 12 and enters a standby state.

The showcase according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described generally. The control means 30 and the lock mechanism 10 have predetermined conditions for the identification information read from the presented IC card (information recording medium). In this case, a product take-out permitting unit that permits take-out of the product W is configured. Moreover, the control means 30, the coin processing machine 19, and the banknote processing machine 20 comprise the adjustment means which settles the total amount of the goods W taken out after the taking-out of the goods W was permitted by the goods take-out permission means.

As described above, according to the showcase according to the embodiment of the present invention, the presented I
When the identification information read from the C card has a predetermined sales allowance condition, the product W is allowed to be taken out, and the total amount of the product W taken out after being authorized is settled. A plurality of products W can be sold at the time of sales, and the sales efficiency can be improved. In addition, such a showcase does not require an expensive commodity transport apparatus that has been necessary in the past, and thus the cost can be reduced. Therefore, for example, it is possible to reduce costs and improve sales efficiency while enabling unattended sales by installing in a place such as an unmanned store.

In addition, according to the above showcase, once the product W once taken out can be returned to the original place (column 4) before being settled, the product W has the same feeling as a normal manned store for the user. Can be purchased.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, a combination of the actuator 6 and the microswitch is used as the commodity detection mechanism 5. However, in the present invention, the commodity detection mechanism may be configured using an optical sensor or the like. The product detection mechanism may be configured by attaching an IC tag to the product itself.

As described above, the showcase according to the present invention is useful for selling various products displayed inside.

It is the perspective view which showed the structure of the showcase which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed typically the structure of the showcase which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed an example of the goods detection mechanism which comprises the showcase shown in FIG. It is the block diagram which showed typically the structure of the control means shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet 2 Commodity storage room 3 Commodity display shelf 4 Column 5 Commodity detection mechanism 6 Actuator 7 Sold out display board 8 Front door 9 Handle 10 Lock mechanism 11 Front panel 12 Card insertion slot 13 Checkout button 14 Card settlement button 15 Coin insertion slot 16 Banknote Insertion Port 17 Integrated Display 18 Coin Return Port 19 Coin Processing Machine 20 Banknote Processing Machine 30 Control Unit 31 Main Control Unit 32 Reader / Writer 33 Tablet Control Unit 34 Takeout Product Detection Unit 35 Total Price Calculation Unit 36 Settlement Processing Unit 37 Card Checkout processing unit 38 Memory W Product

Claims (1)

In the showcase where various products are displayed inside,
When the identification information unique to the information recording medium read out from the presented information recording medium has a predetermined condition, the product can be taken out by unlocking the lock mechanism and opening the front door. Permission means,
After the product take-out permitting means is allowed to take out the product , the card adjusting button is pressed to lock the lock mechanism, and the column number driven by the product detection mechanism is assigned to the column number stored in advance. A showcase comprising: a settlement means for calculating a total amount of products taken out from a product price, and adjusting the calculated total amount with payment amount information stored in advance in the information recording medium .

Images