JPH03116394A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To speedily detect the remained amount of commodities and the presence and absence of abnormality and to enable speedy correspondence by providing a data transmitter composed of a commodity level sensor, abnormality detection sensor automatic vending machine data processing part and a transmitting part. CONSTITUTION:An automatic vending machine 1 is equipped with a data transmitter 10 for which plural sensors 2 and 3 are provided. The data transmitter 10 is composed of the commodity level sensor 2 to detect the number of sold commodities or the remained amount, etc., abnormality detection sensor 3 to detect the abnormality, automatic vending machine data processing part to fetch and process the output data of the commodity level sensor 2 and the abnormality detection sensor 3, and transmission part to transmit the output of the data processing part. Plural automatic vending machines 1 are installed and a communication base station is provided with a host computer to control the automatic vending machines. Thus, the transmission data transmitted from the transmission parts of the respective vending machines are received and summed up and the speedy correspondence processing can be executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a vending machine equipped with a data transmitting device that transmits data, and in particular detects the remaining amount of products, abnormalities in the machine, etc., and transmits data to a host computer. This invention relates to a vending machine that allows for transmission, product management, machine maintenance, etc.

[Conventional technology] Conventional vending machines have a function of storing products in a housing,
It is a complete stand-alone type with a function to select a product using a button after inserting money, and a function to eject the selected product. For this reason, information indicating that a product is out of stock or out of change is only displayed on the instrument panel of the vending machine by means of an electronic bulletin board or the like.

A vending machine manager or a manufacturer's worker regularly visits each vending machine to perform product replenishment and maintenance only on necessary vending machines.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, the sales volume of vending machines varies depending on the location where they are installed, and malfunctions of vending machines can occur suddenly, so all vending machines must be visited on a regular basis. Conventional methods for inspecting vending machines for out-of-stock items and abnormalities in vending machines have had the drawback of being extremely inefficient.

In addition, with conventional vending machines, it is not known which products are out of stock until the machine is actually inspected, so managers must keep large quantities of all parts in stock at all times, which is inefficient and poses problems in terms of quality control. there were.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and realize efficient inspection and response, the vending machine of the present invention detects the number of sold products and the remaining amount for each type of stored product. a product level sensor, an abnormality detection sensor that detects an abnormality, a vending machine data processing unit that takes in the output data of the product level sensor and the abnormality detection sensor, counts the remaining amount of the product, and determines an abnormality; The vending machine is characterized in that it includes a data transmitting device that includes a transmitting section that transmits product remaining amount data output from a vending machine data processing section and a warning based on abnormality determination.

Further, the product level sensor may be set with an alarm level that serves as a reference for causing the vending machine data processing unit to issue an alarm depending on the remaining amount of the product.More specifically, the abnormality detection sensor may be configured to: It is designed to detect power supply abnormalities and functional abnormalities.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the vending machine 1 of this embodiment includes a data transmitting device 1O having a plurality of sensors 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data transmitting device 10 includes a product level sensor 2 that detects the number of products sold and the amount remaining, an abnormality detection sensor 3 that detects an abnormality, and a product level sensor 2 and an abnormality detection sensor 3. It consists of a vending machine data processing section 4 that takes in and processes output data, and a transmitting section 5 that transmits the output of the vending machine data processing section 4.

The above-mentioned product level sensor 2 is provided for each product for all the products handled by the vending machine, and counts the number of products sold, the amount remaining, and the elapsed time after the product is stored in the vending machine, and sends the information to the vending machine data processing unit 4. send. Furthermore, an alarm level can be set in the product level sensor 2 to serve as a reference for issuing an alarm when the remaining amount of the product is below a certain level.

By setting a plurality of alarm levels, it is possible to cause the vending machine data processing unit 4 to issue an alarm depending on the remaining amount of the product (for example, 30% remaining, 10% remaining, 1 item out, etc.).

The abnormality detection sensor 3 detects a power supply abnormality indicating an insufficient supply of electricity or the like, and a functional abnormality indicating an abnormality in a product selection button, discharge function, temperature control function, or the like. The abnormality detection sensor 3 is set with an abnormality alarm number corresponding to the type of abnormality to be detected. Thereby, when the abnormality detection sensor 3 detects an abnormality, the type of abnormality can be determined based on the abnormality alarm number of the abnormality detection sensor 3.

In addition to the product level sensor 2 and the abnormality detection sensor 3, a sensor for detecting sales or running out of change may be provided.

The vending machine data processing section 4 includes a product level sensor 2
The output data from the abnormality detection sensor 3 and the output data from the abnormality detection sensor 3 are taken in to create transmission data 6.

An example of the transmission data 6 is shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, transmission data 6 includes a vending machine number that identifies the vending machine 1, an abnormality alarm number that indicates the type of abnormality, a product number that indicates the type of product, and the number of sales and remaining amount of the product. Product level data indicating such things are written.

Note that if there is no abnormality in the vending machine 1, no abnormality alarm number is written in the transmission data 6. Furthermore, data regarding products that do not need to be replenished is not written in the transmission data 6.

The transmitting section 5 transmits the transmission data 6 created by the vending machine data processing section 4 wirelessly at any time or periodically.

In addition, by installing a plurality of vending machines 1 configured as described above and also installing a communication base station equipped with a host computer that manages the vending machines, the transmission section 5 of each vending machine 1 transmits a signal. Transmission data 6 can be received and aggregation processing can be performed.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the vending machine of the present invention includes a product level sensor that detects the number of products sold and the remaining amount, an abnormality detection sensor, and the output of each of the above sensors and transmits data. Equipped with a data transmission device consisting of a vending machine data processing unit that creates data and a transmission unit that transmits the above transmission data wirelessly, it is possible to quickly detect the remaining amount of products and the presence or absence of abnormalities, and take prompt action. There is an effect.

Furthermore, since the remaining amount of the product can be constantly managed, it is also effective in controlling the quality of the product.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a data transmitting device provided in the vending machine of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of transmission data transmitted by the data transmission device of FIG. Vending machine product level sensor Abnormality detection sensor Vending machine data processing section Transmission section Transmission data Data transmission device

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A product level sensor that detects the number of sales and remaining amount for each type of stored product, an abnormality detection sensor that detects abnormalities, and the output data of the above product level sensor and abnormality detection sensor that captures the remaining amount of the above product. A data transmitting device comprising: a vending machine data processing unit that counts and determines abnormalities; and a transmitting unit that transmits a warning based on the residual quantity data of products outputted from the vending machine data processing unit and abnormality determination. A vending machine characterized by being equipped with. (2) The automatic system according to claim 1, characterized in that the product level sensor is set with an alarm level that is used as a reference for causing the vending machine data processing unit to issue an alarm according to the remaining amount of the product. vending machine. (3) The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the abnormality detection sensor detects a power supply abnormality and a functional abnormality. (4) The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter wirelessly transmits a warning based on remaining amount data of the product and abnormality determination.