JP5363842B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine for efficiently managing replenishment by displaying the number of sold commodities and a time period elapsed after the commodities are sold out for each column. <P>SOLUTION: In the vending machine 80, when a first detection unit 40 detects a first open operation, the number of sold commodities in the column is automatically displayed on a commodity information display unit 34. In addition, when a second detection unit 42 detects a second open operation, a time period elapsed after the commodities are sold out is automatically displayed on the commodity information display unit 34. Furthermore, when the first and second detection units 40, 42 detect first and second close operations, the number of sold commodities is cleared and a counter 44 is reset automatically. Therefore, a patrol can carry out efficient replenishment management work. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine capable of efficiently performing replenishment management of merchandise.

  Currently, there are many vending machines that sell cans, bottles, beverages in PET bottles, tobacco, and other items. In these vending machines, a regular patrolman periodically visits a plurality of vending machines and performs various replenishment management operations including replenishment of goods. Therefore, the efficiency of replenishment management work of these vending machines is required from the viewpoint of reducing the management cost of vending machines, reducing the load on patrolmen, and shortening the work time.

  Here, in [Patent Document 1] below, the total sales number of products and the sales ratio between hot products and cold products can be displayed, so that the patrolman can indicate the composition ratio of hot products and cold products in the sales products. An invention relating to a vending machine that can be easily reviewed is disclosed.

JP 2008-70932 A

  However, in order to increase the efficiency of the product replenishment operation, it is preferable to specifically and directly present to the patrolmen which products should be replenished and how much.

  Moreover, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of the sales efficiency of the vending machine that the product is sold out and a sold-out period occurs. Therefore, it is preferable to determine the patrol period of the patrolmen so that the sold-out period does not occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to efficiently perform replenishment management by displaying the number of products sold for each column and the elapsed time since the product was sold when the product was sold out. The purpose is to provide a vending machine that can handle the above.

The present invention
(1) a plurality of columns for storing products;
A plurality of product information display units 34 for displaying the sales price of the product corresponding to the column, a door unit 30 that opens and closes when managing the product, a sales number recording unit 43 for recording the number of products sold for each column, A first detection unit 40 for detecting a first opening operation and a first closing operation of the door unit 30; a counter unit 44 for counting an elapsed time since the sale of the product for each column; 2 and a second detection unit 42 for detecting a second closing operation, and when the first detection unit 40 detects the first opening operation, the previous door unit 30 performed the first closing operation. The sales quantity for each column from the time is acquired from the sales quantity recording unit 43 and displayed on the corresponding product information display unit 34. When the second detection unit 42 detects the second opening operation, the progress of each column The time is acquired from the counter unit 44 and the corresponding product information display unit 34 To respectively display, together with the first detection unit 40 clears the selling number of items of all column recorded in the sales number recording unit 43 and detects the first closing operation, the second detection unit 42 second The above problem is solved by providing a vending machine 80 which is characterized by resetting the elapsed time of all the columns of the counter unit 44 when the closing operation of the counter unit 44 is detected .

  The vending machine according to the present invention displays the number of items sold for each column that stores products in conjunction with the first opening operation of the door portion performed during replenishment management. Thereby, efficient and quick replenishment management work can be performed.

  In addition, the vending machine according to the present invention displays the elapsed time since the product was sold out in conjunction with the second opening operation of the door. As a result, it is possible to easily review an appropriate circulation period that does not cause a sold-out period, and efficient replenishment management can be performed.

1 is an external view of a vending machine according to the present invention. It is a figure explaining the goods information display part and goods state display part of the vending machine which concern on this invention. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine according to the present invention. It is a flowchart of the vending machine which concerns on this invention.

  An embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the product information display unit and the product status display unit of the vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the vending machine according to the present invention. Here, a vending machine for beverages will be described as an example, but the present invention is not particularly limited to that for beverages, and can also be applied to tobacco and other vending machines. In addition, here, an explanation is given using an example in which the number sold and the elapsed time since sold out are displayed, but only the number sold may be displayed. In the following description, some illustrations and descriptions are omitted for configurations and operations not directly related to the present application.

  A vending machine 80 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is mainly composed of a main body cabinet 20 having an open front surface and a door portion 30 installed at the opening of the main body cabinet 20 by a hinge 22 or the like. It is configured. A second detection unit 42 that detects opening and closing of the door 30 is installed at an opening and closing portion between the main body cabinet 20 and the door 30.

  In the main body cabinet 20, a plurality of columns (not shown) that can store a predetermined number of products, and the products stored in the columns are heated or cooled to a desired temperature for each column or for each predetermined block of the column. There are provided a temperature control unit (not shown), and a sold-out detection unit (not shown) for detecting that the product stored in the column is sold out.

  The door portion 30 includes a display chamber 12 whose front surface is made of transparent glass or plastic, the inside of which can be visually observed, a product selection button 14 corresponding to each column, and a money processing for processing money to be inserted by a product purchaser. Part 49, return port 54 for discharging change or input coins, product take-out port 16 for carrying out purchased goods, key part 32 for locking door part 30, and detection of locking and unlocking of key part 32 A first detection unit 40.

  In the product selection button 14, a sales availability display unit including a saleable lamp indicating that the product corresponding to the product selection button 14 can be sold, and a sold-out lamp indicating that the corresponding product is sold out. 15 is installed.

  In the display room 12, a product sample 10 corresponding to the product accommodated in the column, and an individual product installed in the vicinity of the corresponding product sample 10, corresponding to each column, and the sales price of the product in the corresponding column, etc. A product information display unit 34 to be displayed and a product that is individually installed in the vicinity of the corresponding product sample 10 and displays whether the product in the corresponding column is in a heated state (HOT) or a cooled state (COLD) A status display unit 36 is installed.

  The money processing unit 49 is used when the product purchaser returns a bill insertion unit 50 into which a bill is inserted, a coin insertion unit 51 into which a product purchaser inserts coins, and the inserted money (banknotes and coins). A return lever 53; a money checking unit (not shown) for determining the type and authenticity of the inserted money and calculating the input amount; and an input amount display unit 52 for displaying the calculated input amount. Yes.

  Next, schematic configurations of the product information display unit 34 and the product status display unit 36 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, the product information display unit 34 and the product status display unit 36 mainly include a display plate 60 and a liquid crystal display 62.

The display plate 60 includes a region 60a that constitutes the product information display unit 34, and a region 60b and a region 60c that constitute the product state display unit 36. In the region 60a, for example, the background is white and the character “¥” is printed at a predetermined position. In the area 60b, for example, characters such as “Finger” or “COLD” indicating that the background is blue and the product is in a cooled state are printed at a predetermined position. Further, in the region 60c, for example, characters such as “Welcome” or “HOT” indicating that the background is red and the product is heated at a predetermined position are printed.

  The liquid crystal display 62 includes a number display unit 62a that constitutes the product information display unit 34, and a liquid crystal shutter 62b and a liquid crystal shutter 62c that constitute the product state display unit 36. The number display unit 62a is composed of, for example, a three-digit 7-segment display, and displays the sales price of the product, the number of products sold, which will be described later, the elapsed time since the sale. In addition, the liquid crystal shutter 62b and the liquid crystal shutter 62c mask either one of the region 60b and the region 60c of the display plate 60 according to the setting of the sales temperature of the product. For example, when the sales price of the product is 150 yen and the sales temperature of the product is set to cooling, the number display unit 62a displays “150” as shown in FIG. Further, the liquid crystal shutter 62b is in a translucent state so that the characters “clawed” in the region 60b on the display plate 60 can be seen, and at the same time, the liquid crystal shutter 62c is in the shielded state and the characters “caught in the region 60c” are masked And cannot be seen. As a result, the character “¥ 150” is displayed on the product information display unit 34, and the character “Finger” is displayed on the product state display unit 36. Further, for example, when the sales price of the product is 120 yen and the sales temperature of the product is set to warming, the number display unit 62a displays “120” as shown in FIG. In addition, the liquid crystal shutter 62b is in a shielded state, and the characters “jamming” in the region 60b are masked to be invisible, and at the same time, the liquid crystal shutter 62c is in a translucent state and the characters “in warm” in the region 60c are visible. And As a result, a character “¥ 120” is displayed on the product information display unit 34, and a character “warm” is displayed on the product status display unit 36.

  Next, the operation of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 3 and the flowchart of FIG.

  First, a block diagram of a vending machine according to the present invention is shown in FIG. As described above, the description and description of blocks that are not directly related to the present invention are omitted.

  The vending machine 80 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 3 includes a main control unit 70 that controls each part of the vending machine 80, a column in addition to the first detection unit 40, the second detection unit 42, and the money processing unit 49. A sales number recording unit 43 that records the number of products sold for each product, a counter unit 44 that counts the elapsed time since the sales of the products in the column for each column, and a carry-out for controlling the delivery of the products stored in the column A control unit 74 and a display control unit 72 that controls each display unit of the vending machine 80 are provided.

  Next, the operation of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described.

  First, in an initial state, each column of the vending machine 80 stores a predetermined quantity of a predetermined product. The main controller 70 of the vending machine 80 is set with the selling price and selling temperature of the products in each column. It should be noted that the replenishment management of the vending machine 80 can be performed more efficiently by performing these settings wirelessly from the mobile terminal of the patrolman.

  When the sales price and the sales temperature of the products in each column are set, the main control unit 70 controls the display control unit 72 so that the sales price corresponding to the sales price setting corresponds to each product information display unit corresponding to each column. 34 is displayed. Further, the main control unit 70 controls the display control unit 72 to display the product state display (cooling state display, heating state display) corresponding to the sales temperature setting on each product state display unit 36 corresponding to each column. Let Further, the main control unit 70 controls the temperature control unit to cool or warm the products in each column to a desired temperature according to the sales temperature setting. When the products in each column reach a desired temperature, the vending machine 80 enters a sales standby state (S100).

  When the vending machine 80 is in the sales standby state (S100), when the product purchaser inserts money (banknote or coin) into the bill insertion unit 50 or the coin insertion unit 51 of the currency processing unit 49, the currency processing unit 49 The money inspection unit discriminates the type of money inserted and calculates the input amount. Then, the money processing unit 49 displays the input amount calculated by the money inspection unit on the input amount display unit 52 and outputs the input amount to the main control unit 70. When the type of money inserted by the money inspection unit cannot be determined, the money inspection unit determines that the inserted money is unusable money or goods, and discharges and returns it from the bill insertion unit 50 or the return port 54.

  The main control unit 70 receives the input amount from the money processing unit 49 and controls the display control unit 72 to turn on the sellable lamp of the sales availability display unit 15 corresponding to the column of products that can be purchased with the input amount.

  The merchandise purchaser visually recognizes the sellable lamp on the sale availability display unit 15 and presses the merchandise selection button 14 corresponding to the desired merchandise. When the main control unit 70 detects that the product selection button 14 is pressed, the main control unit 70 controls the carry-out control unit 74 to carry out the corresponding column of products to the product take-out port 16. In addition, when there is change, the money processing unit 49 discharges predetermined change from the return port 54. As a result, the product is sold.

  When the product is sold (S102), the sales number recording unit 43 adds the sold number to the sales number of the corresponding column (S104).

  In addition, when the product in the corresponding column is sold out due to the sale of the product, the sold-out detection unit provided in the column outputs a signal indicating that the product in the column is sold out to the main control unit 70. The main control unit 70 receives the signal from the sold-out detection unit and determines that the product in the column has been sold out (S106). Then, the main control unit 70 controls the display control unit 72 to always turn on the sold-out lamp of the sales availability display unit 15 corresponding to the sold-out column. The main control unit 70 outputs a predetermined signal to the counter unit 44, and starts counting the counter corresponding to the sold-out column (S108). As a result, the counter unit 44 counts the elapsed time since the column was sold out. Thereafter, the vending machine 80 returns to the sales standby state (S100).

  Next, when the patrolman performs replenishment management or the like in the sales standby state (S100), the patrolman first performs the unlocking operation of the key unit 32 provided in the door unit 30. Then, the first detection unit 40 detects the unlocking of the key unit 32 as the first opening operation and outputs a predetermined signal to the main control unit 70. Thus, the main control unit 70 determines that the first opening operation has been performed (S200), and acquires the sales number of each column from the sales number recording unit 43. Then, the display control unit 72 is controlled to display the sales quantity of each column on the product information display unit 34 corresponding to each column (S202). The sales number displayed at this time is from the time when the door part 30 performs the first closing operation described later to the time when the first opening operation is performed.

  As described above, when the first opening operation for the vending machine 80 is performed, the number of products sold in the column is automatically displayed on the product information display unit 34 corresponding to each column. It is possible to instantly grasp which product should be replenished and how much.

  Next, the patrolman opens the door 30. Then, the second detection unit 42 detects the opening operation of the door 30 as the second opening operation and outputs a predetermined signal to the main control unit 70. As a result, the main control unit 70 determines that the second opening operation has been performed (S204), and obtains the elapsed time since the counter unit 44 was sold out for each column. And the display control part 72 is controlled and each elapsed time is displayed on the merchandise information display part 34 corresponding to each column (S206). At this time, the elapsed time displayed on the product information display unit 34 is preferably in units of hours or days. Further, the elapsed time may be displayed in units of hours and automatically changed to units of days when it exceeds 999 hours. In this case, in order to identify the time unit and the day unit, it is preferable to display, for example, a letter “d” indicating the day unit display in the first digit or the third digit of the product information display unit 34 when displaying the day unit. .

  As described above, when the second opening operation for the vending machine 80 is performed, the elapsed time since the product in the column is sold out is automatically displayed on the product information display unit 34 corresponding to each column. The patrolman can instantly know how many days ago the sold-out product was sold out, and can review the appropriate patrol period.

  Next, the patrolman performs replenishment management work such as replenishment of merchandise, replacement of merchandise, sales price, and change of temperature setting. When the replenishment management by the patrolman is completed, the patrolman closes the door 30. Then, the second detection unit 42 detects the closing operation of the door 30 as the second closing operation, and outputs a predetermined signal to the main control unit 70. Accordingly, the main control unit 70 determines that the second closing operation has been performed (S208), resets the counters of all the columns of the counter unit 44, and sets the elapsed time to “0” (S210). Then, the counter unit 44 stands by until a signal from the main control unit 70 indicating that the product has been sold is input. Therefore, the elapsed time that the product information display unit 34 displays next time is the elapsed time from the time when the product is sold out after the door 30 is closed for the second time to the time when the door 30 is opened for the next time. It becomes.

  Next, the patrolman performs the locking operation of the key part 32. Then, the first detection unit 40 detects the locking of the key unit 32 as the first closing operation and outputs a predetermined signal to the main control unit 70. Thus, the main control unit 70 determines that the first closing operation has been performed (S212), and clears the sales numbers of all the columns recorded in the sales number recording unit 43 (S214). Thereby, the number of sales displayed next time by the product information display unit 34 is the number of sales from the time when the door 30 is closed for the first time to the time when the door 30 is opened for the next time. Thereafter, the vending machine 80 returns to the sales standby state (S100).

  As described above, according to the vending machine 80 according to the present invention, when the first detection unit 40 detects the first opening operation, the number of products sold in the column is displayed on the product information display unit 34 corresponding to each column. Display automatically. As a result, the patrolman can instantly grasp how many products should be replenished, and can perform efficient replenishment management work. Further, when the second detection unit 42 detects the second opening operation, an elapsed time after the product in the column is sold out is automatically displayed on the product information display unit 34 corresponding to each column. As a result, patrolmen can instantly know how many days ago sold-out products were sold out, and efficient replenishment management by reviewing the appropriate patrol period so that the patrolmen do not sell out. It can be performed.

  Further, when the first detection unit 40 and the second detection unit 42 detect the first closing operation and the second closing operation, the number of products sold is automatically cleared and the counter unit 44 is reset, so that the next display is performed. The sold number is automatically the sold number from the time when the door 30 is closed for the first time until the next time when the door 30 is opened for the first time. The elapsed time to be displayed next time is automatically the elapsed time from when the product is sold out after the door 30 is closed for the second time to the time when the door 30 is opened for the next time. Therefore, the patrolman does not need to perform a special operation for clearing the number of sales and resetting the counter unit 44, and can perform efficient replenishment management work.

  The above vending machine 80 is a preferred example of the vending machine according to the present invention. Therefore, the configuration and operation of each part of the vending machine 80 are changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Is possible.

30 Door
34 Product information display
40 1st detection part
42 Second detector
43 Sales unit
44 Counter section
80 vending machines

Claims (1)

Multiple columns to house the goods,
A plurality of product information display sections for displaying the sales price of the product corresponding to the column;
A door that opens and closes when managing products,
A sales number recording unit for recording the number of products sold for each column;
A first detection unit that detects a first opening operation and a first closing operation of the door unit;
A counter unit that counts the elapsed time since the product sold out for each column;
A second detection unit that detects a second opening operation and a second closing operation of the door ,
When the first detection unit detects the first opening operation, the number of sales for each column from the time when the door unit performed the first closing operation is acquired from the sales number recording unit and displayed on the corresponding product information display unit. Display
When the second detection unit detects the second opening operation, the elapsed time for each column is acquired from the counter unit and displayed on the corresponding product information display unit,
When the first detection unit detects the first closing operation, the sales number of the products in all the columns recorded in the sales number recording unit is cleared ,
A vending machine characterized in that when the second detection unit detects the second closing operation, the elapsed time of all the columns of the counter unit is reset .

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