JPH03116293A - Sales controller for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase sales opportunity by not displaying a sell-out even for merchandise columns which are sold out, when the same merchandise is housed in plural merchandise columns and there is at least one merchandise column which is not sold out. CONSTITUTION:For plural merchandise columns 1-n which are set at a same merchandise information setting means (h) to house the same merchandise, whether or not there is a merchandise column which the sell-out detection part (a) has not detected a sell-out is discriminated by a sell-out discriminating means (e). When it is discriminated that there is the merchandise column which is not sold out, all of the sell-out displays of sell-out display parts (c) are controlled by a sell-out display controlling means (f) to not operate on the merchandise columns which are set to house the same merchandise. And, when a selection switch (d) is operated, a send-out controlling means (g) sends out the merchandise from the send-out device (b) of the merchandise column which the sell-out detection part (a) has not detected a sell-out. Thus, the sales opportunity can be increased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a vending control device for a vending machine having a plurality of product columns.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional vending machines have a selection switch that is operated to select a desired product, a carry-out device that carries out stored products based on the operation of the selection switch, and a detection device that detects when the stored products are sold out. A plurality of product rows each having a sold-out detection switch and a sold-out display lamp that indicates sold-out based on the sold-out detection of the sold-out detection switch, and when one product row is sold out, the product row is There is a method that lights up a sold-out indicator lamp to stop the sale of that product line (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 126900/1983).

In addition, in a vending machine that stores the same product in at least two of a plurality of product rows, the storage devices of the product rows that store the same product are ordered in order regardless of what was selected by the selection operation with the selection switch. There are also known devices that operate in
Publication No.).

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the former case, even when selling the same product in multiple product rows, when one product row is sold out, that product row is sold out. is displayed, so there is a drawback that the customer may not notice that there are other product rows containing the same product.

In addition, in the latter case, the product rows that store the same product are determined, and it is not possible to store and sell different products in these product rows, so each product row is divided according to the sales of the product. There was an inconvenience in that there were times when I wanted to change the products stored in the store, but I was unable to do so.

In view of the above-mentioned points, the present invention, when storing the same product in multiple product rows, does not display a sold-out display even for sold-out product rows as long as there is a product row that is not sold out even in one of the product rows. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sales control device for a vending machine that enables selection operations of product rows and also enables sale of different products stored in each product row.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention, as shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. A plurality of product rows each including an unloading device for unloading, a sold-out detection section for detecting sold-out of the stored products in the unloading device, and a sold-out display section for displaying sold-out based on the sold-out detection by the sold-out detection section. In the vending machine sales control device, the same product information setting means is capable of setting information indicating that the same product is stored in a plurality of the plurality of product rows; a sold-out determination means for determining whether or not a sold-out detection unit detects any sold-out item in a plurality of product rows in which the same product storage setting is made; a sold-out display control means that controls to deactivate sold-out displays of all sold-out display sections of the product row in which the same product storage setting is made when it is determined that the same product is stored; and the sold-out determining means When it is determined that there is a product that is not sold out, and the selection switch of the product row for which the sold-out detection unit detects that it is sold out among the plurality of product rows in which the same product storage is set is operated, The present invention is characterized by comprising a carry-out control means for controlling the carry-out device to carry out the goods for the line of goods for which the sold-out detection unit has not detected that the goods are sold out.

[Effect]

In the present invention, when the same product is stored in a plurality of product rows, information indicating this is set in the same product information setting means. Then, the sold-out determination means determines whether or not there is any item for which the sold-out detection unit has not detected that the sold-out item is sold out among the plurality of product rows for which the same product storage is set in the same product information setting means, and When it is determined that there is an item that is not sold out, the sold out display control means is controlled to deactivate the sold out display of all the sold out display parts of the product row for which the same product storage is set. As long as there are product rows that are not sold out at any time, even sold-out product rows will not be displayed as sold out. Here, when the selection switch of the product row for which the sold-out detection section has detected that the product is sold out is operated, the carry-out control means carries out the product from the delivery device for the product row for which the sold-out detection section has not detected that the product is sold out. Therefore, the selection operation of the selection switch is valid.

Furthermore, for product rows for which information indicating that the same product is stored in the same product information setting means is not set, each product row operates independently, so it is not possible to store and sell different products in each product row. It becomes possible.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
A to D are product rows, and each product row can be sold in parallel or non-parallel. Here, sales of the same product stored in multiple product rows are called parallel sales, and information to that effect is set in the parallel sales information human resources department, which will be described later.

And 1 2, 3, 4.20 is the equipment of product row A, 5,
6, 7.8', 21 are equipment of product row B, 9゜10.11
．． 12.22 is the equipment of product row C, 13゜14.15,1
6.23 is a product line device, 1.5.9.13 is a sold-out detection unit that detects sold-out of a product and sends out sold-out signals SLl to S14, and 2゜6.10.14 is a sold-out detection unit that will be described later. 3.7 and 11.15 indicate each product by the operation of the product purchaser. Product selection switches 4, 8, 12, and 16 send out selection signals 331 to S34 corresponding to the rows, and reference numerals 4, 8, 12, and 16 are unloading devices that unload products by being driven by unloading signals 341 to S44 supplied from a control calculation section to be described later. .

Furthermore, 17 is a control calculation unit that performs logical operations on various input information and outputs various control signals, and 18 is a sales condition input unit. The sales condition input unit 18 performs control calculations on information D1 including the contents of input coins (for example, number of coins by denomination), product price, presence or absence of change, and information D2 regarding priority order of product sales for each product row A to D. 17. Reference numeral 19 denotes a parallel sales information input unit that stores the presence or absence of parallel sales in each product line A to D and supplies the parallel sales information D3 to the control calculation unit 17. This information D3 can be set by operating key buttons or the like. This is done by storing it in memory. 20,2
1, 22, and 23 are sold-out display parts for each product row A to D,
Sold out display signals 351 to 3 supplied from the control calculation unit 17
54 turns on the sold-out indicator lamp.

Next, the operation of such an embodiment will be explained.

First, if there is no setting of parallel sales information in the parallel sales information input section 19, in response to the product purchaser's input of money, the sales condition input section 18 will set the parallel sales information corresponding to the content of the input money and each product. Sales conditions information D including product price and presence or absence of change
I is supplied to the control calculation section I7. At the same time, product rows A-D
The sold-out detection unit 1.5.9.13 supplies sold-out signals S11 to 314 to the control calculation unit 17 in the case of sold out. The control calculation unit 17 sends the sold-out signals Sll to S14 to the sold-out display units 20, 21, 22, and 23 to turn them on and display that they are sold out.

Next, based on the above information D1 and signals Sll to S14,
The control calculation unit 17 determines whether or not the product can be sold, and only when the product is sellable, sends the sellable signals 321 to S24 to the sellable signal display units 2.6 and 10.14 to turn them on and display the sellable display. let

Thereafter, when any of the selection switches 3, 7, 11.15 is operated by the purchaser, the control calculation unit 17 outputs the sellable signal 521-324 and the selection switch 3, 7.11.15 corresponding to each product row. Selection signals 331 to 3 supplied from
34, and the resulting output signal 3
41 to 344 are unloading devices 4 corresponding to each product row A to D,
8, 12. Send to 16.

However, if two or more results of this logical product occur, the control calculation unit 17 determines the priority order based on the information D2 regarding the product sales priority that is supplied to the control calculation unit 17 from the sales condition input unit 1st. Export signal 341 to the product row corresponding to
- S44 is output. This carry-out signal drives any one of the product carry-out devices 4, 8, 12.16 to carry out the product selected by the purchaser.

Next, when parallel sales information is set in the parallel sales information human resource department 19, for example, as parallel sales information D3, it is specified that the same product is stored in A and B of the four product columns A-D. The case where the information is set will be explained.

Since this parallel sales information D3 is stored in advance in the memory in the parallel sales information input section 19, it can be supplied to the control calculation section 17 whenever it needs it. In addition, as an example, we assume that the same product is stored only in product rows A and B, so the memory in the parallel sales information human resource department 19 stores the content that "A and B can be sold in parallel." However, such content is not stored for the other product rows C and D (that is, the fact that they are independent product rows is stored).

In this case, if the signals Sll and 512 of the sold-out detectors 1 and 5 are both "sold out" or 'not sold out', the system is set to II as in the non-parallel sales operation where parallel sales are not performed. However, the sold-out signal Sll is sent from the sold-out detection units 1 and 5.
Alternatively, when only one of S12 is output, there will be a difference in control between non-parallel sales and parallel sales, as will be described later.

First, a case where product row A is sold out and product row B is not sold out will be described. For product rows C and D that are not sold in parallel, the contents of sold-out detection units 9 and 13 are output as they are to sold-out display units 22 and 23, but for product rows A and B that are sold in parallel, product row A is sold out. However, since product row B is not sold out, the message "sold out" is not displayed in the sold-out display section 21 of product row B as well as the sold-out display section 20 of product row A.
To enable a product purchaser to select products in both product rows A and B.

Therefore, for example, based on the parallel sales information D3 containing the content "A and B can be sold in parallel" supplied from the parallel sales information input section 19, the control calculation section 17 calculates the logical sum of the sell-out signals S11 and 312, and The calculated output obtained as a result is controlled to be inverted and applied to the sold-out display sections 20 and 21. That is, the sold-out signal Sll is "0" indicating sold-out.
", which indicates that the sold-out signal S12 is not sold out.
1°'', the above-mentioned calculation causes both sales display signals S51 and S52 from the control calculation section 17 to not be supplied to the sold-out display sections 20 and 21, and the both sales display sections 20 and 21 to display "sold out". There is no indication that "Yes".

At the same time, the control calculation unit 17 places the result of the logical sum of the above-mentioned signals 311 and 312 on the signals 311 and 312, thereby generating the sold-out signals Sll and S12 as one of the conditions for issuing the sales enable signals S21 and 322. is replaced with the information that "Neither A nor B is sold out." Here, since parallel sales mean the same product, that is, the same price, we also add the condition that "A and B are not sold out" and the information D1 about the contents of the input coins and the presence or absence of change. The sale enable signals S21 and 322 of both product rows A and B are the same.

Therefore, when either of the product lines A and B is available for sale, the control calculation section 17 sends out the sale availability signals S21 and S22 with the same content to the both sale availability signal display sections 2 and 6,
Lights up to indicate that it is available for sale.

Thereafter, when the product purchaser presses the selection switch 7 for product row B, the product is carried out in the same way as in a normal sales operation, and the product is carried out from the delivery device 8 for product row B. Also, since product row A is not displayed as being sold out, the product purchaser may press the selection switch 3 for product row A, but in that case, the product is taken out from the delivery device 8 for product row B. Therefore, in the control calculation unit 17, when a selection signal is supplied from the selection switch 3, for example, the sold-out signal Sll and 31
In this case, since product row B is not sold out, control 2I is performed to output a carry-out signal S42 for product row B.

In this way, if either one of the product rows A and B for which parallel sales are permitted is not sold out, the product row, including the sold out product row, may be displayed without displaying that it is sold out or that it is not sold out. is displayed, and as long as the sale enable signal S21.322 is output, the input to the selection switch 3 of the sold-out product row A is considered valid, and the products are carried out from the product row B that is not sold out.

In other words, for the product rows A and B that are sold in parallel, for the sold-out display signals 351 and S52, the logical sum of the sold-out signals 311 and Si2 of the product rows A and B is output, and the result is output. Regarding the output of enable signals S21 and 322 and the input of selection switches 3 and 7, by using the result of the logical sum operation, product rows A and B can be treated as one product row, and only the products to be carried out can be sold out. I am trying to do this from product row B, which is not the same. Therefore, as the number of product lines for which parallel sales are permitted increases, the number of products until sold out increases, and it is possible to prevent loss of sales opportunities and service degradation due to sold out items.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the control operation of parallel sales in the embodiment of FIG. Here, in order to simplify the explanation of the operation, we will show a case where there are two product rows, A and B, and the information D3 "Product rows A and B are parallel sales" is the parallel sales information input in Figure 3. It is assumed that the signal is input from the unit 19 to the control calculation unit 17.

First, in judgments 100 and 101, it is determined whether or not the product rows A and B are sold out based on the sold-out signals Sll and 512 from the sold-out detection units 1 and 5. When both product rows A and B are sold out, both product rows A and B are displayed as sold out in step 102 and are placed in a standby state.

If either product row A or B is not sold out, the process proceeds to step 103, where both product rows A and B are not displayed as sold out, that is, the result of the logical sum of sold-out signals 311 and 312 is used for parallel sales. output to all product columns A and B.

Next, in steps 104 to 106, it is determined whether the sale is possible or not based on the information D1 about the contents of the input coins, the product price, and the state of the presence or absence of change, and if the sale is not possible, the state goes into a standby state. . In addition, in the standby state, after other necessary processing is performed, the parallel sales control operation is returned again and this operation is repeated.

If it is determined in judgment 106 that the products can be sold, in process 107, the sales possible signals S21 and 322 for both product rows A and B are set.
In judgments 10B and 109, selection signal S31 is sent.
and waits for input of 332.

Next, when the selection switch 3 or 7 for either product row A or B is operated and the selection signal S31 or S32 is input to the control calculation unit 17, the process proceeds to judgment 110, and the sold-out signal Sl
It is determined which product row A or B to carry out according to l and Si2. In other words, if both product rows A and B are sold out, the product row corresponding to the operated selection switch 3 or 7 is carried out. Select switch 3 or 7
If the product row corresponding to the item is sold out, it is determined that the product row that is not sold out is to be carried out), and depending on the result, the process proceeds to process 111 or 112, where the product is carried out from that product row and placed in a standby state.

In addition, when there are three or more rows of the same product, it is only necessary to prioritize the product rows and decide which product row should be carried out first.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention as described above, information indicating that the same product is stored in a plurality of product rows is set in the same product information setting means, and the sold-out detection unit is set for the plurality of product rows. A sold-out determination means determines whether there are any items that have not been detected as sold out,
The sold-out display control means prevents a sold-out product row from being displayed as long as there is a sold-out product row as long as there is a product row that is not sold out. The selection operation of the selection switch is now enabled, so when storing the same product in multiple product rows, the product purchaser can only see the sold-out display for one product row and check other product rows. It is possible to eliminate the inconvenience of thinking that a product is sold out even though the product row is not sold out, and sales opportunities can be increased.

Furthermore, for product rows where information indicating that the same product is stored in the same product information setting means is not set, each product row is made to operate independently and different products are stored in each product row for sale. This makes it possible to store the same or different products in multiple product rows depending on the sales of each product, making it highly versatile and making effective use of limited product rows. can increase sales.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of the invention. 1.5, 9.13... Sold out detection unit, 3.7, 11.15... Product selection switch, 4.8.
12.16... Product carrying out device, 17... Control calculation section, 19... Parallel sales information input section, 20.21, 22.23... Sold out display section, A, B, C
, D... Product row. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) A selection switch that is operated to select a desired product, an unloading device that unloads stored items based on the operation of the selection switch, and a sold-out detection unit that detects when the stored items of the unloading device are sold out. , a vending machine sales control device including a plurality of product rows, each having a sold-out display section that displays sold-out information based on sold-out detection by the sold-out detection section,
A same product information setting means that can set information indicating that the same product is stored in a plurality of the plurality of product rows, and a plurality of products for which the same product storage is set in the same product information setting means. a sold-out determination means for determining whether or not there is an item in the column for which the sold-out detection unit has not detected that an item is sold out; a sold-out display control means that controls the sold-out display of all sold-out display parts of the set product row to be inactive, and the sold-out determination means determines that some items are not sold out, and the same Among the multiple product rows for which product storage is set, when the selection switch for the product row for which the sold-out detection section detects that the product is sold out is operated, the product for which the sold-out detection section does not detect that the product is sold out. 1. A sales control device for a vending machine, comprising a carry-out control means for controlling the carry-out of products from a column carry-out device.