JPH03196391A - Sale information collection system for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To dispense with the setting of each automatic vending machine by a route man at every site by performing the setting of the automatic vending machine with a center device, transmitting the data of the setting to each automatic vending machine via a transmission line, and automatically performing every kind of setting based on the data. CONSTITUTION:The transfer of the data between plural automatic vending machines 1a, 1b and the center device 11 is performed via the transmission line 7. The center machine 11 is provided with a sale condition setting means 13, a sale condition storage means 14, and an information selection means 16, and the automatic vending machines 1a, 1b are provided with storage means 14 and control means 2 to change a storage means 4 and a sale condition storages area 4a. Then, the setting of the automatic vending machines 1a, 1b are performed with the center device 11, and the data are transmitted to the automatic vending machines 1a, 1b via the transmission line 7, and every kind of setting is performed with the data. In such a way, quick setting is performed, and no setting at every site by the route man is required.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention collects sales information such as sales data of each vending machine through a transmission line with a plurality of vending machines, or collects sales information such as sales data of each vending machine, or The present invention relates to a sales information collection system for vending machines that includes a center device that performs various vibration damping operations such as setting prices and the like.

Conventional technology In recent years, vending machines have changed their selling conditions (sales price,
Various settings can be made (such as continuous selling). The setting method is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-171087. There are keys and a display inside the vending machine to make various settings.While looking at the instruction manual, you can manually enter the necessary settings using the keys and check the settings on the display. While doing so, I started making various settings.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the conventional configuration, the various settings of the vending machine are set when the route man, etc. who is in charge of replenishing the vending machine with products etc. goes to the site. was. However, in recent years, as the controls of vending machines have become more complex, the settings have also become more complex. For example, in a vending machine that sells cup beverages, it is also necessary to set data regarding the flavoring of the beverages it sells. This includes the amount of powder such as coffee, sugar, and cream, as well as the amount of carbonated water and syrup. Since there is a large amount of data to be set and the settings are complicated, it takes too much time to set up the data, leading to an increase in management costs and a decline in service due to a drop in route man service efficiency. Furthermore, since the settings are made on-site, there is a problem in that the settings may be incorrect, causing inconvenience to users of the vending machine.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a vending machine sales information collection system that allows vending machine settings to be made quickly and accurately without bothering the route manager.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine sales information collection system of the present invention communicates with a plurality of vending machines and a center device via a transmission path, and the center device: a sales condition setting means for setting sales conditions for each device of the plurality of vending machine groups; a sales condition storage means for storing the sales conditions set by the sales condition setting means; The vending machine has an information selection means for selecting specific information, and the vending machine has a storage means having a sales condition storage area for storing the sales conditions, and the vending machine selects the sales conditions based on the information sent from the center device. This device is equipped with a control means for changing the storage area.

Effect of the present invention With the above-described configuration, the center device configures settings for each vending machine, transmits the data to each vending machine via a transmission path, and automatically performs various settings based on the data. By doing so, it becomes possible to set up the system quickly, and the route man does not have to set it up every time on site. Furthermore, if the center device is configured with a computer, the setting procedure can be simplified and confirmation can be made easier, and the setting data can be more accurate.

Embodiment Hereinafter, a sales information collection system for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine sales information collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1a, 1b, . . . are a plurality of vending machines. 2 is a control means for controlling the entire vending machine. Reference numeral 3 denotes a sales means that sells products according to instructions from the control means 2. The sales means 3 includes a money discriminating means for inserting money, a selection means for selecting a product, a carrying-out means for carrying out the product, etc. (not shown above). Reference numeral 4 denotes a storage means for storing information on products sold by the vending means, prices of each product, aggregation time, etc., and a sales condition memory for storing various sales conditions (price, amount of powder, syrup, etc.) of the vending machine. It has an area 4a. 5 is an interface means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the outside. Reference numeral 7 denotes a multi-drop capable transmission path for transmitting the signal of the interface means 5. 11 is a center device that collects information on the vending machines 1a, 1b, . . . and sends out vending machine setting data and the like. This center device 11 is a computer,
It consists of a CRT display, keyboard, disk drive, etc. (not shown). Reference numeral 12 denotes an interface means for exchanging data via the transmission line 7. 13 is a sales condition setting means for setting the sales conditions of the vending machines 1a, 1b, . . . Reference numeral 14 denotes a sales condition storage means for storing the sales conditions set by the sales condition setting means 18. Reference numeral 15 denotes changed equipment storage means for storing the equipment code of the equipment (vending machine) whose sales conditions have been changed or newly created by the sales conditions setting means 13. Reference numeral 16 denotes an information selection means for selecting a vending machine 1 a slb .

The operation of the vending machine sales and information gathering system configured as described above will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this system. In FIG. 2, first, the setting of the vending machine is started using the center device 11 (5TEP1), and then the currently set vending machine 1 is retrieved from the sales condition storage means 14.
Load the setting conditions for a, lb... (STEP 2).

Next, set or change the data of the vending machine you want to set using the sales condition setting means 13 of the center device 11 (S
TEP3). 5 The device code of the vending machine changed or set in TEP3 is stored in the changed device storage means 15 (STEP4). Check to see if the sales conditions have been set. 5TEP5) If not, 5TB
Repeat from P3. When finished, the set sales conditions are stored in the sales conditions storage means 14 (5TEP
6). Next, select the sales conditions of the vending machine for which sales conditions need to be set based on the data in the changed device storage means.
5TBP7) and send that information (5TEP8”
). Next, the vending machines 1a, 1b, etc. judge the transmitted signals, and if they judge that the data is for themselves, they receive the information (5TEP9). However, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a case is described in which the sales conditions for the vending machine 1a are set. Next, vending machine 1
It is determined whether item a is on sale, and if it is on sale, it waits until the sale is completed (STEPIO). When the sale is completed, the vending machine 1a automatically changes the sales conditions in the sales conditions storage area 4a (STEP II).

A setting completion signal indicating that the setting of sales conditions is completed is transmitted to the center device 11 (STEP 12).

The center device 11 receives this setting end signal and ends the setting of the device (STEP 13). If there are other devices that require sales conditions to be set, the sales conditions will be changed in the same manner. When the settings for all devices stored in the changed device storage means are completed, the settings are terminated (ST
EP14).

Although only the setting function has been explained here, since the center device 11 and the vending machines 1a and 1b are connected via the transmission line 7, sales information etc. are collected in the center device 11 and processed. Needless to say, sales analysis can be done by doing this.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a plurality of vending machines 1a
, 1b and the center device 11 via the transmission line 7, and the center device 11 communicates with the plurality of vending machines 1a, 1b and the center device 11 via the transmission path 7.
Sales condition setting means 18 for setting sales conditions for each device of b. Sales condition storage means 14 for storing the sales conditions set by the sales conditions setting means 13; and specific information among the sales conditions storage means 14. Information selection means 16 for selecting
Each vending machine 1a, 1b has a storage means 4 having a sales condition storage area 4a for storing the sales conditions thereof;
By providing a control means 2 that changes the sales condition storage area 4a according to information sent from the center device 11, the center device 11 can control the vending machines 1a, 1b.
Settings are made and the data is sent to the vending machine 1a slb via the transmission path 7, and various settings are automatically made using the data. This eliminates the need for personnel to set 9− each time on site. Furthermore, since the center device is composed of a computer, the setting procedure can be simplified and confirmation can be made easier, and the setting data can be more accurate. In addition, by providing the changed device storage means 15, the setting data can be automatically sent after setting the sales information, so forgetting settings due to Daifuku mistakes can be prevented.
And sales conditions of center device 11 and vending machines 1a, 1b
Since the setting conditions of vending machines become completely compatible with each other, the vending machine can be easily managed.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention communicates with a plurality of vending machines and a center device via a transmission path, and the center device
a sales condition setting means for setting sales conditions for each device of the plurality of vending machine groups; a sales condition storage means for storing the sales conditions set by the sales condition setting means;
information selection means for selecting specific information from the sales condition storage means;
- storage means having a sales condition storage area for storing sales conditions;
By providing a control means for changing the sales condition storage area based on the information sent from the center device, the center device configures the vending machine and transmits the data to the vending machine via the transmission line. However, by automatically configuring various settings using this data, quick settings are possible, and route personnel do not have to configure each setting on-site. Furthermore, since the center device is composed of a computer, the setting procedure can be simplified and confirmation can be made easier, and the setting data can be more accurate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine sales information collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this system. 1a, 1b...Vending machine, 2...Control means, 4...Storage means, 4a...Sales information storage area, 7... ...Transmission line, 11...
... Center device, 13 ... Sales condition setting means, 14 ... Sales conditions storage means, 16 ...
・Information selection means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A sales system comprising a plurality of vending machines and a center device that communicates with each of the vending machines via a transmission line to process data such as sales data or control settings of the vending machines. In the information collection system, the center device includes a sales condition setting means for setting sales conditions for each device of the plurality of vending machine groups, and a sales condition setting means for storing the sales conditions set by the sales condition setting means. The vending machine has a storage means and an information selection means for selecting specific information from the sales condition storage means, and the vending machine has a storage means having a sales condition storage area for storing the sales conditions, and the center device. 1. A sales information collecting system for vending machines, comprising: a control means for changing the sales condition storage area according to information sent from the vending machine.