JPH0330086A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To constitute an automatic vending machine so that a user can select a commodity being similar to his choice by displaying hierarchically a sales commodity or a user's desire, and retrieving and displaying a feature in the lower rank hierarchy of an inputted feature and a commodity having its feature. CONSTITUTION:In a feature storage means 1, a feature of a sales commodity or a user's desire and a commodity corresponding thereto are classified and stored hierarchically, for instance, to a first hierarchy, a second hierarchy and a third hierarchy. A feature display means 6 displays the feature to the user in order from the upper rank hierarchy, and the user selects and inputs the feature of his choice by a feature input means 7. The commodity having the inputted feature is retrieved from the storage means 1 by a retrieving means 2. A commodity display means 3 displays all the retrieved commodities to the user, and from in the displayed commodities, the user selects and inputs the commodity of his choice by a commodity input means 4. A hierarchy selecting means 5 selects the hierarchy under the inputted feature and displays the feature in its hierarchy on a display means 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a vending machine that sells canned and cuffed beverages, and relates to a product selection method for selecting a desired product (beverage).

Conventional Technology The conventional product selection method for vending machines that sell canned and cupped beverages (hereinafter simply referred to as vending machines) is, for example, in the case of canned beverages, the user first inserts a coin and presses the button in the display on the front of the vending machine. The user compares the installed sample cans in order starting from the one that is most visible, finds the product closest to his or her taste, and selects the product by pressing the selection switch corresponding to that product.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the method described above, if the user has decided in advance the product he or she wants to buy, he or she only needs to search to see if the product is available, but if the user has not yet decided on the product he or she wants to buy, In this case, you have a vague sensual desire (for example, you are thirsty and want to drink something cold, etc.), and in this case, you can start with the sample can that is the most visible, then choose the one that suits your taste ( When there are many types of products to sell (many sample cans), many users will have to search for products that are close to their desires (desires). Instead of comparing sample cans, when you find a product that suits your tastes, select that product. Furthermore, if a person looks at a sample can and has no experience drinking the beverage before, and it is difficult to imagine the taste of the beverage based on the information provided from the sample can, such as the product name and the printing on the can, it is difficult to select a beverage. For this reason, there has been a problem in that the products that are closest to the user's preferences are not necessarily provided to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a product selection method that allows a user to easily and reliably select the product closest to his or her preference.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine of the present invention hierarchically classifies and stores the characteristics of the goods sold or the desires of the users and the corresponding products. a feature storage means; a feature display means for displaying the features to the user in order from the upper hierarchy;
A feature input means by which a user selects and inputs his/her favorite feature from among the displayed features, a search means to search the storage means for products having the input feature, and all searched products. a product display means for displaying to the user, a product input means for the user to select and input the desired product from among the displayed products, and a product input means for selecting the hierarchy below the input characteristics and a hierarchy selection means for displaying the features by the feature display means.

Function: Based on the above-described structure, the present invention hierarchically classifies the characteristics of the products to be sold or the desires of the users, and displays the characteristics and the products having the characteristics to the user in order from the upper hierarchy. If any one of these is input, the feature in the lower hierarchy of the input feature and the product having that feature will be searched and displayed.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, a vending machine according to an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of a can or cup beverage vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is the product (
Taste of beverages). Characteristic storage means stores hierarchically classified characteristics such as temperature, 2 a search means for retrieving products having specified characteristics from the 1,000-level characteristic memory, and 3 stores the product names of all retrieved products. 4 is a product input means for the user to select and input his or her favorite product from among the displayed product names; 6 is a hierarchy selection means for selecting a hierarchy of features; 7 is a feature input means for allowing the user to select and input his or her favorite feature from among the displayed features; 8 is a feature input means for receiving coins from the user and asking for change; 9 is a coin receiving means for making a refund; 9 is a product carrying means for carrying out the product selected by the user; and 10 is a control means for controlling the operation of the entire vending machine.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the display/input device showing the arrangement of the product display means 3 and feature display means 6, as well as the product input means 4 and feature input means 7. In this embodiment, the product display means 3
and feature display means 6 are configured with the same EL spring/I/11 as a display device, and product input 1,000 steps 4 and feature input means 7 are pointing devices arranged on the display screen of EL panel/I/11. The touch screen 12 is configured as an input device. That is, the product name and features of the product are displayed as characters on the screen of the EL panel 11, and the user selects the product or feature of his/her preference from among them and selects the product name and features on the screen where the characters are written. A product name 1 or characteristics can be input by directly touching the position with a finger.

FIG. 3 is a feature hierarchy diagram showing the correspondence between the hierarchical features and products stored in the feature memory 1,000 steps 1. The first layer of characteristics is classified into hot and cold, which represents the temperature of the product, and the second layer is classified into hot and cold.
The tiers are classified into sweet and sour, which represent the taste characteristics of the product, and the third tier is only when the characteristics of the first tier are cold, and are classified into carbonated or fruit juice (non-juicy), which represents another characteristic of the product. It is classified as carbonic acid type. Regarding the above hierarchical characteristics, A. B, C, . . . products are associated as shown in FIG. Note that this hierarchy is arranged by prioritizing the product determining factors (features) in order to examine them in order from the top concepts.

Regarding the vending machine configured as described above, an example of the sales movement centered on the product selection method is based on the flowchart in FIG. 4 and the display screen diagram of the EL panel 11 corresponding to the processing in FIGS. 6 to 8. Explain.

First, the stepper 101 determines whether a coin has been inserted into the coin receiving means 8, and if a coin has been inserted, the process proceeds to step 102. In step 102, the control means 1
0 instructs the hierarchy selection stage 5 to select the first hierarchy (hot, cold), and in step 103, the retrieval means 2 searches the characteristic storage means 1 (search 1) and searches for the characteristics hot and cold. Extract the products that you have (all products) and proceed to step 10.
In step 4, the product name and characteristics of the extracted products (all products) are EI,
It is displayed on panel jL'11 (display 1). FIG. 6 shows a diagram of the display screen. Appropriate comments are displayed in the first display zone at the top of the display screen (the characteristic of the desired button drink is one).
The characteristics entered by the user are listed and displayed (at this point, the characteristics are blank as they have not been entered), and in the second display zone in the middle, an appropriate comment (the corresponding drink is the following 9. Favorite) Please select the item(s) using the button.） and the extracted items(
In this case, all products) product names (A, B, C,...
・Enter and display ・Engineering) one by one in the square frame, and then, in the -3rd display zone at the bottom, write an appropriate comment (Enjoy ・Please select the characteristics of your favorite drink.) and the first layer. Display the characteristics of the inside (hot and cold) by writing them one by one in each square frame. Then, on the display screen of the EL panel/L'11, as shown in FIG. 2, the product input means 4. A touch screen 12 is arranged as the characteristic input means 7, and when inputting the product name 1 or the characteristic, it is done by touching the corresponding square frame with a finger. And step 106
If the user has decided on the product he/she wants to buy, the user inputs the name of the product; if not, inputs the desired characteristics (input 1). In this sales operation example, it is assumed that the characteristic cold is input, and in step 108, a product having the characteristic cold is searched and extracted (Search 2), and the hierarchy selection means 6 is searched for a product having the characteristic cold. Select the second level (Sweet and Vinegar), and display the product name and characteristics of the extracted product on the EL panel (EL panel) v11 using the Stesop 107 (Display 2
). Figure e shows a diagram of the display screen. In the display screen, the first
In the display zone, an appropriate comment and the characteristic (cold) entered by the user in the upper layer are displayed, and in the second display zone, an appropriate comment and the product name of the extracted product (D, E, F, ・
...), and in the third display zone, appropriate comments and characteristics of the selected hierarchy (sweet and vinegary) are displayed. Further, a cancellation box surrounded by a square frame is displayed in the right corner of the third display zone, and when the user inputs cancellation using the touch screen 12, all the inputs made in step 1 are canceled. Then, in step 10B, the user inputs the product name or characteristics (input 2).

In this sales operation example, it is assumed that the characteristic sweetness is input, and in step 109, a search is made to search for a product having the characteristic sweetness from among the products extracted by Nuteg 106. Three levels (fruit juice type and carbonated type) are selected, and in step 110, the product name and characteristics of the extracted product are displayed on the EL panel 11 (display 3). FIG. 7 shows a diagram of the display screen. On the display screen, the first display zone displays an appropriate comment and the characteristics entered by the user in the upper layer (cold, sweet), and the second display zone displays an appropriate comment and the product name of the extracted product (E, F). , G), and in the third display zone, appropriate comments, features in the selected hierarchy (juice and carbonic acid), and the cancel input position are displayed. Then, in step 111, the user inputs the product name or characteristics (input 3)
. In this sales operation example, it is assumed that the characteristic carbonic acid is input,
In step 112, products having the characteristic of carbonic acid are searched and extracted from the products extracted in step 109 (
Search 4), and in step 113, the product name of the extracted product is displayed on the EL panel/v11 (Display 4).

FIG. 8 shows a diagram of the display screen. On the display screen, the first display zone displays an appropriate comment and the characteristics entered by the user in the upper layer (cold, sweet, fruit juice), and the second display zone displays an appropriate comment and the product name of the extracted product (E, F). ), and only the cancellation input position is displayed in the third display zone.

Then, in step 114, the user selects and inputs one of the two product names. In this sales operation example, the product was finally narrowed down to two products,
Even in the case of one product, the user must input the product name for confirmation. Furthermore, even if there are three or more, only one should be selected and input. and step 116
Then, the user takes out the selected product, and if there is change, the change is refunded in step 106 and the series of sales operations ends. In addition, if the user inputs a product name in steps 105, 108, and 111, the process proceeds to step 116 to carry out the product, and if the user inputs characteristics other than those shown in the sales operation example, the same applies. The explanation is omitted as it is a process of . If the user inputs cancellation in steps 108, 111, and 114, the process returns to Nutenop 102.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the taste of the products to be sold.
Characteristics such as temperature are classified hierarchically in order from the upper level concept, and the characteristics are displayed in hierarchical order to search for and display products that have the desired characteristics input by the user, as well as to display products that have the characteristics input by the user in the lower hierarchy. Since the features are displayed at the same time and the user is asked to select and input either the product name or the features, if the user has already decided on the product he or she wants to buy, he or she can enter the product name. You can make a selection quickly, and even if you don't have that option, you can easily and reliably select the product that most closely matches your preferences by inputting your favorite features in order from the top concepts. In addition, even if you are not sure about the product you want to buy or the characteristics you like, the characteristics of the product will be displayed in order from the top hierarchy, and at the same time, the name of the product that has the characteristics will be displayed.
Users can compare and select features and product names of products that have those features, and can easily find products of their choice.

In this example, hot/cold. Sweet/vinegar-like. The taste of the products we sell, such as fruit juice/carbonated water. Although characteristics such as temperature are classified hierarchically in order from the top concepts, this is just an example, and the classification must be performed using the optimal characteristics depending on the product to be sold (it may be other than beverages). Furthermore, the same effect can be obtained even if the characteristics are classified hierarchically from the top concepts as characteristics of the user's desires and correspond to the products, rather than the characteristics of the products being sold.

Further, in this embodiment, the 1,000-level product display 3 and the feature display means 6 are the EL springs/L/11, and the 1,000-level product input 4 and the feature input means 7 are the touch screen 12.
Similar effects can be obtained using other display means such as a CRT or voice recognition means. Furthermore, the product display means 3 and the product input stage 4 are installed in or near the sample can case or the selection switch 1 of a conventional vending machine, and the lamp and selection switch are installed to display to the user, and the search means 2 A similar effect can be obtained when a lamp corresponding to the searched product is lit.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the vending machine of the present invention has a feature storage means that hierarchically classifies and stores the characteristics of the products to be sold or the user's desires and the corresponding products, and stores the features in order from the upper hierarchy. a characteristic display means for displaying a characteristic to a user; a characteristic input means for the user to select and input a characteristic of his/her preference from among the displayed characteristics; and a characteristic input means for searching the storage means for products having the input characteristic. a product display means for displaying all searched drinks to the user; a product input means for the user to select and input a desired product from among the displayed products; By providing a layer selection means that selects the lower layer and displays the features in that layer using the feature display means, even if the user has not decided in advance the product he or she wants to buy, he or she can easily select the product he or she likes. If the characteristics of the user's desires are clear, it is possible to easily and reliably select the product that most closely matches the user's preferences. In addition, even if the product you want to buy, the characteristics of your favorite products, or the characteristics of your desires are not clear, the characteristics are displayed in order from the top hierarchy, and the product name of the product that has the characteristics is displayed, so users can This has the effect of allowing users to compare and select a feature and products that have the feature, and easily find a product of their choice.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram of the display/input device configuration, Fig. 3 is a feature hierarchy diagram, and Fig. 4 is a vending operation diagram. Flowchart shown in Figure 6~
FIG. 8 is a front view showing each state of the display screen. 1...Feature storage means, 6...Feature display means, 7...Feature input means, 2...Search means, 3...... Product display means, 4...
Product input means, 5...Hierarchy selection means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a feature storage means for hierarchically classifying and storing features of products to be sold or user desires and products corresponding thereto;
A feature display means for displaying features to a user in order from a higher hierarchy; a feature input means for a user to select and input a desired feature from among the displayed features; a search means for searching from the storage means; a product display means for displaying all searched products to the user; and a product input means for the user to select and input a desired product from among the displayed products. . A vending machine comprising a layer selection means for selecting a layer below the input feature and displaying the feature in the layer by the feature display means.