JP6024518B2 - Vending machine setting system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine setting system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a cup-type beverage vending machine in which a beverage such as a hot beverage obtained by diluting a powder raw material with hot water is cooked inside and placed in a container such as a cup for sale. Such a cup-type beverage vending machine includes a canister that stores powder raw materials for each type, a hot water tank that stores hot water, and the like.

  Further, the cup-type beverage vending machine is operated by pressing a selection button and a recipe storage means for storing a recipe of the beverage (a raw material constituting the beverage and an amount of the raw material) in association with the beverage to be sold. And a recipe executing means for cooking the beverage by controlling the canister and the hot water tank according to the beverage recipe stored in the recipe storage means when the beverage is selected.

  Further, the cup-type beverage vending machine includes a recipe setting input unit, and the beverage recipe input from the recipe setting input unit is associated with each selection button and stored in the recipe storage unit.

  Such a cup type beverage vending machine sets or changes a beverage recipe by inputting a beverage recipe from the recipe setting input means.

  Therefore, when setting or changing beverage recipes in this cup-type beverage vending machine, it is necessary to individually input beverage recipes through the recipe setting input means, and it takes a long time to set and change beverage recipes. Or erroneous input of beverage recipes may occur.

  Therefore, when an external device that stores a beverage recipe to be set or changed is connected to a cup-type beverage vending machine, the cup-type beverage vending machine acquires a new beverage recipe from the external device, and the recipe By setting the beverage recipe acquired in the storage means or changing the beverage recipe stored in the recipe storage means to the acquired beverage recipe, it is possible to shorten the time required for setting / changing the beverage recipe and A device that prevents input is proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-253456 A

  By the way, in a beverage recipe setting operation or a beverage recipe changing operation, it is common to set or change the assignment between a selection button and a column number determined for each beverage provision type.

  The one proposed in Patent Document 1 described above is very useful in terms of preventing erroneous input of a beverage recipe while shortening the time required for setting / changing a beverage recipe, but a selection button and a column number. In the same way as in the prior art, it has to be performed individually through a predetermined input means. As a result, there is a possibility that the work of setting / changing the beverage recipe may be complicated.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a setting system for a vending machine capable of simplifying a setting / changing operation of a beverage recipe.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the vending machine setting system according to claim 1 of the present invention, any selection button is activated by associating a column number and a beverage recipe with each selection button. A vending machine capable of providing a container with a beverage prepared according to a beverage recipe associated with the selection button when the operation is performed, and enabling various settings of the vending machine A vending machine setting system including a mobile terminal device storing application software, wherein the mobile terminal device has a beverage name and a container size associated with a predetermined selection button in a state where the application software is activated. If selected, the column name and beverage level corresponding to the beverage name and the container size stored in the server by accessing the server are stored. Get the pin from the server, and characterized by comprising a control means for associating the acquired column numbers and beverage recipes to said predetermined selection button of the vending machine.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine setting system according to the first aspect, wherein the portable terminal device downloads and stores the application software from the server.

  The vending machine setting system according to claim 3 of the present invention is the vending machine setting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control means is provided with beverage recipe change data from the vending machine, The change data is transmitted to the server in association with a corresponding column number.

  According to the vending machine setting system of the present invention, the control unit of the mobile terminal device accesses the server when the beverage name and the container size associated with the predetermined selection button are selected in a state where the application software is activated. The column number and beverage recipe corresponding to the beverage name and the container size stored in the server are obtained from the server, and the column number and beverage recipe obtained for the predetermined selection button of the vending machine are obtained. Because it associates, even if the operator does not have expertise in setting beverage recipes, it is possible to set and change the beverage recipe for each selection button while allocating the selection button and column number. There is an effect that the operation of setting / changing the beverage recipe can be simplified while preventing erroneous setting.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a characteristic configuration of a vending machine setting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the selection buttons illustrated in FIG. FIG. 3 is a chart for showing an image of beverage recipe information stored in the management memory shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the processing contents of the selection button setting process performed by the setting system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example displayed on the display unit in the selection button setting process shown in FIG.

  Exemplary embodiments of a vending machine setting system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a characteristic configuration of a vending machine setting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vending machine setting system illustrated here includes a vending machine 10, a mobile terminal device 20, and a server 30.

  The vending machine 10 is referred to as a cup-type beverage vending machine, and includes a vending machine control unit 11, a selection button 12, a cooking unit 13, a money processing unit 14, and a setting input unit 15.

  The vending machine control unit 11 comprehensively controls the operation of the vending machine 10 according to programs and data stored in the vending machine memory 16. The selection button 12 is a selection means for the user to select a desired product. As shown in FIG. 2, the selection button 12 is provided corresponding to the product sample S, and gives a selection signal to the vending machine control unit 11 when pressed. In FIG. 2, the numbers “No. 1”, “No. 2”, “No. 3”, “No. 4”,... .

  The cooking unit 13 is a general term for equipment necessary for cooking a beverage as a product, a supply valve for supplying hot water from a hot water tank, a water pump for sending water from a water reservoir, and a cup as a container. A cup conveyance mechanism for conveying the material, a material motor for feeding the material from the material canister for accommodating the material, and the like. Since the components of the cooking unit 13 constitute a conventional cup-type beverage vending machine, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  The money processing unit 14 is a general term for a coin processing device and a banknote processing device (not shown). The coin processing device discriminates the authenticity and denomination of coins inserted through a coin slot and performs money processing for storing coins for each denomination. A banknote processing apparatus identifies the authenticity and denomination of the banknote inserted through the banknote insertion slot, and accommodates a banknote for every denomination. This banknote processing apparatus returns a banknote that could not be identified when the denomination or the like of the inserted banknote could not be identified.

  The said money processing part 14 will output that to the vending machine control part 11, if a desired money is thrown in through a coin insertion slot or a banknote insertion slot, and it processes appropriately by a coin processing apparatus or a banknote processing apparatus. .

  The setting input unit 15 includes, for example, a keyboard and a remote controller, and is input means for an operator to input settings.

  The mobile terminal device 20 is a generic term for mobile phones, smartphones, tablet computers, and the like, for example, and includes a terminal control unit (control means) 21 and a display unit 22. The terminal control unit 21 comprehensively controls the operation of the mobile terminal device 20 according to programs and data stored in the terminal memory 23, and includes a communication control unit 211 and a display control unit 212.

  The communication control unit 211 controls communication such as transmission and reception of data and signals with the vending machine 10 and the server 30 wirelessly or by wire. The display control unit 212 controls the content displayed on the display unit 22.

  The display unit 22 is a so-called touch panel display screen, and is a display unit that displays predetermined information in response to a command given from the display control unit 212. Further, the display unit 22 has a function as an input unit that gives an input signal corresponding to the pressed position to the terminal control unit 21 when a predetermined position on the display screen is pressed with a fingertip.

  The server 30 includes a management control unit 31. The management control unit 31 comprehensively controls the operation of the server 30 according to programs and data stored in the management memory 32. In this management memory 32, application software that enables various settings of the vending machine 10 is stored for each type of the vending machine 10. The management memory 32 stores beverage recipe information as shown in FIG. 3 for each type of vending machine 10. Here, the beverage recipe information relates to the beverage name, cup size (oz: ounce), column number, and recipe data.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the processing contents of the selection button setting process performed by the setting system according to the embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the operation of the setting system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The terminal control unit 21 of the mobile terminal device 20 requests application software corresponding to the vending machine 10 to be processed in the setting process from the management control unit 31 of the server 30 through the communication control unit 211 (SQ101).

  When the application software requested by the management control unit 31 is transmitted (SQ102), the terminal control unit 21 downloads and acquires the application software through the communication control unit 211 and stores it in the terminal memory 23 (SQ103).

  Thereafter, the terminal control unit 21 given an input signal by the operator touching the display unit 22 of the mobile terminal device 20 activates the application software stored in the terminal memory 23 (SQ103), and the communication control unit 211. Then, a communication connection request is made to the vending machine control unit 11 of the subject vending machine 10 (SQ104), and mutual authentication processing is performed with the vending machine control unit 11 (SQ105).

  After such mutual authentication is established, the terminal control unit 21 causes the display unit 22 to display the setting mode input screen of the selection button 12 through the display control unit 212. When the operator touches the input screen and an input signal of the setting mode of the selection button 12 is given (SQ107), the terminal control unit 21 sends the display unit 22 through the display control unit 212 to the display unit 22 as shown in FIG. The settable beverage name and cup size are displayed (SQ108). Here, the beverage name and the cup size displayed on the display unit 22 are portions corresponding to the one-dot chain line in FIG.

  When an operator touches one of the regions surrounded by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, the “No. 1” selection button 12 (hereinafter, also referred to as “No. 1 selection button 12”) shown in FIG. The name of the beverage to be allocated and the cup size are selected (SQ109), and the terminal control unit 21 that has input the selection input signal through the display control unit 212 assumes that “lactic acid beverage A having a cup size of 9 ounces” has been selected. The selected beverage name (“lactic acid beverage A”) and the selected cup size (9 ounces) are transmitted to the management control unit 31 through the communication control unit 211 (SQ110).

  The management control unit 31 to which the selected beverage name and the selected cup size are transmitted from the terminal control unit 21 reads the column number (“100”) from the beverage recipe information stored in the management memory 32, and uses the column number as the terminal. It transmits to the control part 21 (SQ111).

  By inputting the column number transmitted from the management control unit 31 through the communication control unit 211, the terminal control unit 21 acquires the column number (SQ112), and through the communication control unit 211, assigns the column number to the vending machine control unit 11. It transmits and requests recipe data from the management control unit 31 (SQ113, SQ114).

  The management control unit 31 that has received the recipe data request from the terminal control unit 21 reads the recipe data from the beverage recipe information stored in the management memory 32, and transmits the recipe data to the terminal control unit 21 (SQ115). ).

  On the other hand, the vending machine control unit 11 to which the column number (“100”) is transmitted from the terminal control unit 21 is No. The column number of the 1 selection button 12 is set to “100” (SQ116), and a column setting response is transmitted to the terminal control unit 21 (SQ117).

  The terminal control unit 21 that has input the column setting response transmitted from the vending machine control unit 11 through the communication control unit 211 transmits recipe data to the vending machine control unit 11 through the communication control unit 211 (SQ118).

  The vending machine control unit 11 to which the recipe data is transmitted from the terminal control unit 21 in this way is The beverage recipe of the 1 selection button 12 is set (SQ119), and a beverage recipe setting response is transmitted to the terminal control unit 21 (SQ120).

  By repeating the processes of SQ109 to SQ120, the column number and the beverage recipe are set for all the selection buttons 12 or all the selection buttons 12 to be changed.

  Thereafter, the vending machine control unit 11 performs the taste adjustment (tasting) by changing the beverage recipe data in which the beverage recipe is set by appropriately operating the setting input unit 15 of the vending machine 10, so that the vending machine control unit 11 is Post-processing adjustment for adjusting the taste of the beverage is performed (SQ121, SQ122). When the recipe data to be changed is determined by performing such post-processing adjustment, the vending machine control unit 11 transmits the post-processing recipe data to the terminal control unit 21 (SQ123).

  The terminal control unit 21 that has input the post-processing recipe data transmitted from the vending machine control unit 11 through the communication control unit 211 transmits the post-processing recipe data to the management control unit 31 through the communication control unit 211 (SQ124). The management control unit 31 that has input the post-processing recipe data changes the beverage recipe by overwriting the post-processing recipe data on the beverage recipe information (SQ125).

  After such processing is performed, when the operator touches the display unit 22, the terminal control unit 21 to which the application software termination instruction is given through the display control unit 212 terminates the application software (SQ126). ) A communication cancellation command is given to the vending machine control unit 11 and the management control unit 31 through the communication control unit 211 (SQ127, SQ128), and the current process is terminated.

  As described above, according to the setting system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the terminal control unit 21 of the portable terminal device 20 associates the beverage name and cup with the predetermined selection button 12 in a state where the application software is activated. When a size is selected, the server 30 is accessed, the beverage name stored in the server 30 and the column number and beverage recipe corresponding to the cup size are acquired from the server 30, and the vending machine 10 Since the acquired column number and the beverage recipe are associated with the predetermined selection button 12, the selection button 12 and the column number are allocated while the operator does not have expertise in setting the beverage recipe. Beverage recipe can be set / changed every twelve, and recipe recipe setting / change work while preventing erroneous setting of recipe data It can be a simple thing.

  In particular, since the operator only has to select the beverage name and the cup size via the portable terminal device 20, it is easy to make an image of the beverage to be allocated to the selection button 12 while looking at the sample cup. Incorrect settings can be prevented. Moreover, since the terminal control part 21 inputs only the recipe data required for a setting from the server 30 (management control part 31) and gives it to the vending machine 10 (vending machine control part 11), it seems to memorize | store all the recipe data. It is possible to use a relatively inexpensive one without requiring a storage means.

  According to the above setting system, since the mobile terminal device 20 downloads and stores application software from the server 30, one mobile terminal device 20 is prepared by preparing application software corresponding to each vending machine 10 in the server 30. Can be used to easily perform various operations such as setting a beverage recipe.

  According to the setting system, when the post-processing recipe data of the beverage recipe is given from the vending machine control unit 11 (the vending machine 10), the terminal control unit 21 manages the post-processing recipe data in association with the corresponding column number. Since the beverage recipe is changed by sending it to the control unit 31 (server 30), it is possible to construct recipe data for which the taste has been actually confirmed and to share the recipe data after tasting with other vending machines 10 Can be achieved.

  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.

  In the embodiment described above, post-processing adjustment is performed. However, in the present invention, post-processing adjustment is not necessarily performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the recipe data is acquired after acquiring the column number from the server 30. However, in the present invention, the control unit may acquire the column number and the recipe data from the server at the same time.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vending machine 11 Vending machine control part 12 Selection button 13 Cooking unit 14 Money processing part 15 Setting input part 16 Vending machine memory 20 Portable terminal device 21 Terminal control part (control means)
211 Communication Control Unit 212 Display Control Unit 22 Display Unit 23 Terminal Memory 30 Server 31 Management Control Unit 32 Management Memory S Sample Product

Claims (3)

By associating a column number and a beverage recipe with each selection button, when operated with one of the selection buttons activated, a beverage prepared according to the beverage recipe associated with the selection button is stored in the container. Vending machines that can be provided and
A vending machine setting system comprising: a mobile terminal device storing application software that enables various settings of the vending machine;
The portable terminal device accesses the server and stores the beverage name and the container size when the beverage name and the container size associated with the predetermined selection button are selected in a state where the application software is activated. Vending machine comprising control means for acquiring a column number and a beverage recipe corresponding to the item from the server and associating the acquired column number and the beverage recipe with the predetermined selection button of the vending machine Machine setting system.   The vending machine setting system according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal device stores the application software downloaded from the server.   3. The control unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the beverage recipe change data is given from the vending machine, the control unit sends the change data to the server in association with a corresponding column number. The vending machine setting system described.

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