JPH04157592A - State detection and notification system for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To immediately recognize the abnormal state of an automatic vending machine and to quickly take a measure for repair by providing the automatic vending machine with an abnormal state detection function, a detection function for the fully empty state of any kind of money, a detection function for the number of remaining merchandise, a counting function for the number of sold merchandise and an information transmission function informing the center of the state of each function. CONSTITUTION:An automatic vending machine 1 consists of an abnormal state detection function 2, a detection function 3 for the fully empty state of any kind of money, a detection function 4 for the number of remaining merchandise, a counting function 5 for the number of sold merchandise and an information transmission function 6. The information transmission function 6 is informed by the abnormal state detection function 2, the detection function 3 for the fully empty state of any kind of money, the detection function 4 for the number of remaining merchandise and the counting function 5 for the number of sold merchandise of the state of each function and informs the center of each state by means of a telephone line to suggest to the center to take a necessary measure. Thus, a faulty state and the non- available state due to the fully charged state of coin can be immediately recognized and trouble with the preparation for a periodical check can be eliminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an operating method for a vending machine, and particularly to a state detection/notification method thereof.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of vending machine has no way of automatically detecting and notifying its status, and is periodically refilled with items.

Furthermore, when replenishing the vending machine, the amount to be refilled is not known, so a large quantity of all types of items in the vending machine is prepared and used for replenishment.

Also, you won't know the operating status or other conditions unless you go to the vending machine.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As mentioned above, with conventional vending machines, you cannot tell which items have decreased in quantity and which items still have large quantities left until you start replenishing them. You have to prepare a large amount of items.

Also, you don't know when the item will run out, so you have to periodically check the remaining quantity.

Furthermore, since it is not immediately obvious whether the coin is out of order or unusable due to full coins, etc., there is a drawback that preparations for regular checks are hindered.

[Means to solve the problem]

The vending machine condition detection/notification method of the present invention has an abnormal condition detection function that detects an abnormal condition due to a malfunction of the vending machine or a broken lock, and notifies you of the abnormal condition, and is used in the vending machine. There is a denomination full empty detection function that detects the quantity of each type of banknote and coin and notifies you of the status of that quantity, and an item-remaining function that detects the number of each type of item left in a vending machine and notifies you of the status of that item. Quantity detection function, item sales count function that counts the number of sales of each type of item in the vending machine and reports the count information, abnormal condition detection function, denomination full empty detection function, and item remaining number detection function and an information transmission function that reports information on each status notified by each function of the item sales number counting function to the center and prompts for necessary measures.

〔Example〕

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine to which a state detection/notification method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 1, the vending machine 1 of this embodiment includes an abnormal state detection function 2, a denomination full empty detection function 3, a remaining number of items detection function 4, an item sales count function 5, and an information transmission function 6. ing.

Here, the abnormal state detection function 2 detects an abnormality such as a malfunction of the vending machine 1 or a broken lock, etc., reports the abnormal state to the center, and notifies the information transmission function 6 to prompt repair.

The denomination full empty detection function 3 detects the quantity of various banknotes and coins used in the vending machine 1, and when the change runs out or the coins are full, it reports to the center and prompts for replenishment and collection. The information transmission function 6 is notified.

The remaining number of items detection function 4 detects the remaining number of each type of item in the vending machine 1, and when the number of items remaining is low or empty, the information transmission function 6 requests the center to replenish the item. Notice.

The item sales number counting function 5 counts the number of sales of each type of item and notifies the information transmission function 6 to report the count information to the center every certain period or when requested by the center.

As mentioned above, the information transmission function 6 is the abnormal state detection function 2.
, denomination full empty detection function 3, item remaining quantity detection function 4
, receives notification of the status of each function from the item sales count function 5, reports this status to the center using a telephone line, etc., and prompts for necessary action 1.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, a vending machine has an abnormal state detection function, a denomination full empty detection function, a remaining item detection function, an item sales count function, and the status of each function. By having an information transmission function to report to the center, abnormal conditions of the vending machine can be immediately known, and repairs can be carried out immediately.

In addition, you can know when to replenish and collect bills and coins and when to replenish items without having to go to the vending machine location, and at the same time, you can know which items are selling well. There is.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine to which a state detection/notification method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. 1... Vending machine, 2... Abnormal condition detection function, 3.
・・Denomination full empty detection function, 4・Remaining item detection function, 5・Item sales count function, 6・・
・Information transmission function.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An abnormal state detection function that detects an abnormal state due to a malfunction of a vending machine or a broken lock, and notifies you of the abnormal state; and the quantity of various banknotes and coins used in the vending machine. a denomination full empty detection function that detects the number of items remaining in each type of vending machine and notifies the status of the quantity; an item sales number counting function that counts the number of sales of each type of item of the vending machine and notifies the count information; the abnormal state detection function; the denomination full empty detection function; the item remaining number detection function; A state detection/notification method for a vending machine characterized by having an information transmission function that reports information on each state notified by each function of an item sales number counting function to a center and prompts necessary measures.