JPH06180782A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase customer's desire for purchasing by making the customer feel like purchasing a commodity through a shop assistant and employing a factor of game feeling. CONSTITUTION:The automatic vending machine is equipped with a commodity stocker 17 having plural article storage parts 18 which store plural kind of commodities 19 by the kinds, an commodity selecting means which is actuated by customer's actuating operation and selects one of the commodity storage parts 18 at random, a display means 24 which displays the selection result of the commodity selecting means, and an arrangement robot 29 which takes a commodity 19 out of the commodity storage part 18 selected by the commodity selecting means and carries it to a commodity passing part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a product selection means comprising a game means such as a roulette device or a slot machine device, and a hieroglyphic robot imitating a human body or a character carrying the product selected by the product selection means. The present invention relates to a vending machine equipped with a configured catering robot.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vending machine provided for the purpose of saving labor, saving space, etc., for example, regarding the design, it is greatly improved from the point of view of improving motivation to purchase, harmony with the installation environment, and improvement of aesthetic appearance. Various improvements and changes have been made. In this vending machine, not only the design side, but recently, based on the concept of the man-machine interface adopted in various devices, it is not only a position of dry vending machine, but also from the software side. Various reviews and studies are being made.

[0003] For example, not only the function of selling a product but also a service equivalent to a service felt by a sales person when selling a product, or a software-added function for giving a "feeling of kindness" is adopted. For example, due to advances in voice synthesis technology, we have attached voice guidance devices that allow users to say greetings such as "Welcome." And "Thank you."
By adopting a lift-up mechanism, the structure in which the customer bends and takes out the product dropped at the product outlet provided in the lower part is conveyed to the product outlet provided in the upper part. Became.

From a broad interpretation, the above-mentioned voice guide device, lift-up mechanism, etc. belong to the category of a kind of robot. In this way, various vending machines equipped with individual functional robot-like mechanisms have been provided in the past, but the so-called hieroglyphic robot, which is intuitively seen from the "robot", merely has a design function. The role of functional robots in this hieroglyphic robot has not been provided yet.

As an automatic vending machine having a new additional function, such as an automatic vending machine for drinks,
A roulette device consisting of multiple light-emitting elements is attached, and when the roulette device is activated each time one is purchased and a "win" is awarded, one more is provided free of charge. It is provided.

[0006] On the other hand, vending machines are widely used in a wide range of fields such as "goods
From the perspective of including devices that provide "services," various game consoles will also be covered. In this type of "game vending machine", the so-called lift hand game machine, in which the lift hand is driven by lever operation to pick up products placed in bulk, is a vending machine with a kind of functional robot described above. I can say.

[0007]

As described above, in a broad sense, vending machines equipped with game functions or robots have already been provided. However, the voice guide device that simply greets or operates by voice does not have the feeling of directly speaking to the customer, and the device with a corner merely has the impression that sound is emitted from the machine. In addition, the robot that is conventionally installed in a vending machine is also only a part of the mechanism, and the idea of increasing the added value by this robot has not been adopted at all.

That is, although some vending machines as software functions have additional functions such as a voice guide device or a lift mechanism, such vending machines also have
It is extremely unlikely to get the "purchase feeling" that is felt when purchasing a product through a salesperson.

On the other hand, the vending machine with a roulette device is
In terms of making customers feel the "extra benefit", it is an additional function that is one step further than the conventional equipment for sale. However, this roulette device is also merely a "bonus" function, and does not fulfill the function of increasing the customer's willingness to purchase due to its game nature.

That is, the conventional vending machine is installed in every place, and it is a device that can purchase a product at any time for 24 hours. Only convenience is prioritized. From the vending machine itself, “Purchase” of products to customers
There is no pursuit of a function such as giving a license or inviting a customer to purchase.

Therefore, the present invention further enhances the customer's willingness to purchase by giving the customer a "purchase feeling" of a product close to that purchased through a salesperson and by incorporating a game-like element. It was proposed for the purpose of providing a completely new vending machine.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems An automatic vending machine according to the present invention, which has achieved this object, comprises a product stocker having a plurality of product storage units for storing a plurality of product types,
It is activated by a customer's activation operation and randomly selects any one of the plurality of product storage units, a display unit for displaying a selection result by the product selection unit, and the product selection unit. And a food-serving robot that picks up a product from the product storage unit and conveys the product to the product delivery unit.

Further, the vending machine according to the present invention is characterized in that the product selection means and the display means are constituted by a game means such as a roulette device or a slot machine device. Further, it is characterized in that the catering robot is constituted by a hieroglyphic robot imitating a human body or a character. Further, the servicing robot is equipped with voice guidance means such as operation guidance to customers and reporting of selection results of products by the product selection means.

The vending machine according to the present invention is a product stocker having a plurality of product storage units for storing a plurality of types of products, and a product stocker that is activated by a customer product selection operation. The present invention is characterized by comprising a serving robot configured by a hieroglyphic robot imitating a human body, a character, or the like that takes out and conveys it to a product delivery section. In addition, the catering robot is characterized in that it is equipped with voice guidance means such as operation guidance to the customer.

[0015]

According to the automatic vending machine of the present invention, the customer inserts coins and starts the operation, thereby selecting the commodity selection means,
For example, a game means such as a roulette device or a slot machine device is activated, and a certain product is randomly selected from a plurality of types of products stored in the plurality of product storage sections for each type. The selection result is displayed by a display means such as a roulette wheel or a numeric drum of a slot machine, and is also transmitted by a voice from the catering robot.

On the basis of the selection result by the product selection means including the game means, a catering robot constituted by a hieroglyphic robot imitating a human body or a character operates to take out the selected product from the product storage portion and to sell the selected product. Products are sold by transporting them to the delivery section.

The catering robot takes the form of talking to the customer, bowing, etc., during a series of sales, and calling by the voice guidance means installed, operation guidance of the apparatus, and product selection means operating. , Voice notification of selection results, thanks, etc. Further, the catering robot takes out the selected merchandise from the merchandise storage section and conveys it to the merchandise delivery section by the customer's merchandise selection operation.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, a game unit 22 including a roulette device in which a number drum 24 rotates when a customer inserts a predetermined amount of coins, and a product randomly selected by the game unit 22 are taken out from a product stocker 17 and provided to the customer. An automatic vending machine that includes a catering robot 29 and sells boxed snacks, for example, and the overall configuration will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 showing an overall external view and FIG. 2 showing overall configuration blocks. .

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the automatic vending machine of the embodiment has a substantially box-shaped main body 1 with an open front,
A front panel section 2 that is openably and closably attached to the front opening section constitutes a housing that resembles a spaceship. Inside, a product stocker 17, a game section 22 including a roulette device, and a catering robot 29. Are incorporated respectively. A large window 4 in which a transparent plate 3 is fitted is provided in a part of the front panel portion 2, and a window in which a transparent plate is fitted is also provided on both side surfaces of the main body 1 so that the automatic vending machine according to this embodiment has an internal structure. Can be seen through. In addition, the catering robot 29 is configured as a character robot in the image of an astronaut.

The front panel 2 is provided with an operation panel 5 for an automatic system and an operation panel 6 for a manual system. Of course, the front panel portion 2 is normally firmly locked to the housing 1 and is used for maintenance or the stocker 17 of the product.
The opening operation is performed from the housing 1 when replenishing the product with the product. The automatic system operation panel 5 incorporates a visitor sensor 7 and an operation switch 9 for activating a coin insertion portion 8 having a coin sensor 8a or a roulette device 22.
Is provided. In addition, the operation panel 6 for the manual system
Is incorporated in a part of the automatic system operation panel 5, and is provided with a manual switch 10, a sold-out display 11 or the like.

A part of the transparent plate 3 is provided with a product delivery section 1.
The product delivery window 13 constituting the item 2 is opened. Figure 1
In FIG. 1, the product delivery window 13 is shown merely as an opening window. However, in order to prevent dust or mischief,
For example, the product delivery window 13 is provided with a well-known shutter mechanism, which is normally closed by a shutter, and when the product 19 is conveyed by an operation described later, the shutter is driven and opened. There is.

Further, inside the product delivery window 13,
The product 19 selected by the product selection operation described later is conveyed by the character robot 29, and the product take-out sensor 14 for detecting whether or not the customer receives the product 19 is arranged, and the product 19 is conveyed and the shutter is released. A product delivery mechanism including a valve 15 and an air cylinder 16 for delivering the product 19 from the product delivery window 13 to the outside in a state in which the product 19 is opened is provided.

The product stocker 17 includes a plurality of types of products 19
(19a), each of which includes a plurality of product storage units 18 (18a, ..., 18n). A well-known product unloading mechanism including, for example, a spiral bar that is rotated by a motor is attached to each product storage unit 18 that is open on the front side. Therefore, product 19
Are filled in the commodity storage sections 18 from the front opening side so as to be fitted into the respective holding sections of the spiral bar. The plurality of types of products 19a, ..., 19n
Are classified into 1st class, 2nd class, ... N class, and are priced.

Further, the products 19 which are filled and stored in the respective product storage units 18 according to their types, when the product storage unit 18 is designated by the product selection operation described later, the product unloading mechanism of the corresponding product storage unit 18 operates. It operates so that one commodity 19 filled in the inside thereof is unloaded to the front opening. The carry-out operation of the product 19 is detected by a carry-out sensor 20 provided in each product storage unit 18. Further, in the vicinity of the opening of each product storage unit 18, a sold-out sensor 21 that outputs an ON output when the number of stored products becomes less than a certain number is arranged.

A roulette device constituting the game section 22 is arranged adjacent to the product stocker 17.
That is, the roulette device 22 is provided with the motor 2 driven by the customer pressing the operation switch 9.
3, a numeral drum 24 rotated by the motor 23, an origin sensor 25, and the like. The numeral drum 24 is provided with numbers 1 to N at random on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a part of the outer peripheral surface faces the display window 26 provided adjacent to the product stocker 17 so that the apparatus frame It is rotatably supported by.

The number drum 24 is rotated by the customer's product selection operation, that is, the pressing operation of the operation switch 9 for activating the roulette device 22, and is stopped by the re-press operation of the operation switch 9. The number corresponding to the pointer 27 provided on a part of the display window 26 of the number drum 24 is read by the origin sensor 25, and by counting the output from the origin sensor 25, one of the plurality of product storage units 18 is The products 19 designated and filled and stored therein are selected.

An appropriate space 28 is formed between the front panel 2 of the main body 1 and the product stocker 17,
A character robot 29 is movably arranged in the space 28. The character robot 29
Usually, the front panel 2 has a posture facing the transparent plate 3 side, and includes the motor 30, the valve 31, and the air cylinder 3.
2, such as a head, an eye, a mouth, an arm,
Various parts of the body such as the elbow, the hand, and the waist are made movable, and the output of the sensor 33 controls the positioning and recovery operation of the various parts of the body configured as the movable part.

The character robot 29 is assembled and supported on a pedestal portion 34 which is movable along a conveyance path provided in parallel to the front position of the product stocker 17. The pedestal portion 34 is provided by the character robot 29 on the front panel portion 2
The product storage section 18 of the product stocker 17 designated by the above-mentioned numeral drum 24 from the initial state facing the side.
It is in charge of the overall movement of the character robot 29 when performing a series of movements such as moving to, picking up the product 19, and returning to the initial state. The overall operation of the character robot 29 will be described later.

In order to take charge of the entire operation of the character robot 29, the pedestal portion 34 is equipped with a driving means including a driver 35, a motor 36 controlled by the driver 35, and a sensor 37. The sensor 37 sends an output for controlling the position of the pedestal portion 34 and controlling the recovery operation. The drive means also drives the pedestal portion 34 itself and also acts as drive means for rotationally driving the character robot 29 with respect to the pedestal portion 34. Further, this pedestal portion 34 is not directly visible from the outside.

The automatic vending machine is equipped with a main CPU 38 which has a function of receiving output signals from the sensors or switches of the above-mentioned components and sending control signals to the driving means. Main CPU
38. Sub-CP operated by the stop position data output of the numerical drum 24 controlled by the random number table from 38.
Equipped with U39. The sub CPU 39 is in charge of detecting the position of the numeral drum 24 of the roulette device 22 and controlling the motor 23.

Although not shown, the main body 1, the front panel portion 2, the game portion 22, etc. are appropriately provided with an electric decoration 40.
Further, it is provided with an alarm means 41 for monitoring an illegal operation, a voice board 43 for giving a voice guidance for an operation method through a speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29 in each operation described later, and the like.

The operation of the automatic vending machine having the above-described structure will be described below with reference to the operation flowcharts shown in FIGS. The operation of the automatic vending machine according to this embodiment is roughly performed by setting and switching the automatic system mode / manual system mode. B. Performing setting operations, calling in customers, etc. C. such as a visitor response operation and activation of the character robot 29 based on a customer operation. Initial operation, D. Product selection operation 1 (automatic selection operation), E. Product selection operation 2 (manual selection operation), G. It can be roughly classified into a product picking / conveying operation F and a recovery operation, and each of these operation classifications will be described below.

[A. Setting Operation] In the automatic vending machine, as shown in FIG. 3, the setting operation is performed first. That is, first, "selection of system mode" for checking whether the system is set to the automatic system mode or the manual system mode is performed. (Step A1). As will be described later, the automatic system mode is a system mode for randomly and automatically selecting products through the roulette device 22, and the manual system mode is the roulette device 2 described above.
This is a system mode in which the customer directly specifies the product, as in the case of an ordinary vending machine, without going through 2. Therefore, in the setting operation, after checking both system modes, "operation mode switching" to one of the system modes is performed. (Step A2).

When the system mode is set as described above, the ON / OFF state of each sold-out sensor 21 of the product stocker 17 is checked next. (Step A
3). O from any one of these sold-out sensors 21
When the N output is detected, the output of the sold-out guide is sent from the main CPU 38 to the audio board 43 and the sold-out display 11. (Step A4). The voice output of "Sold Out" from the voice board 43 is displayed on the character robot 2.
The information is sent to the speaker 42 mounted on the vehicle 9 and voiced to inform the sold-out. In addition, the sold-out indicator 11 is turned on by an output signal from the main CPU 38, the sold-out information is optically notified, and the insertion of coins is blocked.

"B. Customer Service Operation" Next, the customer service operation will be described with reference to FIG. After the setting operation is completed, the ON / OFF state of the visitor sensor 7 is checked, and the presence or absence of the visitor is detected. (Step B1). When this visitor sensor 7 is OFF,
The output of the call-in guide is sent from the main CPU 38 to the voice board 43, and the voice output of the call-in from the voice board 43 is sent to the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29.
And is called by the voice call. (Step B2). This operation is appropriately repeated until the visitor sensor 7 shifts to the ON state.

In step B1, when the visitor sensor 7 is in the ON state, that is, when the customer stands in front of the vending machine, the main CPU 38 sends the output of the response guide to the voice board 43 and the voice board 43. The voice output of "Welcome to me." Is sent to the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29, and a voice response is performed. (Step B3).

Next, the ON / OFF state of the coin sensor 8a of the coin insertion portion 8 is checked, and the presence or absence of coin insertion is checked. (Step B4). When the coin sensor 8a is OFF, the main CPU 38
The output of the response guide is sent to the voice board 43 again, and the voice output of "Welcome." From the voice board 43 is sent to the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29 to perform voice response.

When the coin sensor 8a is ON, the number of inserted coins is checked. (Step B5). Main CPU38 with coin insertion
When the timer is activated and the number of inserted coins is insufficient to the specified number, and if additional coins are not inserted within the set time of the timer, the time-out ON output is sent. (Step B6). By this timer ON output, the output of the number guide is sent from the main CPU 38 to the voice board 43, and the voice output of "there are X coins" from the voice board 43 is sent to the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29. Then, a reminder to add more is given by voice. (Step B7).

"C. Initial Operation" Next, the initial operation will be described with reference to FIG. Step B5 above
When it is confirmed that the specified number of coins have been inserted, the character robot 29 is activated by the output of power-on to the drive means of the character robot 29 from the main CPU 38. (Step C1). By turning on the power to the driving means, the character robot 2
9 is a product delivery unit 1 in which the arm, elbow and hand are driven.
The tray 44 placed on No. 2 is lifted, and it stands by in this state. (Step C2).

"D. Product Selection Operation 1" Next, the product selection operation in the automatic system mode will be described with reference to FIG. When the above-mentioned initial operation is completed, the main CP
The output of the start guide is transmitted from U38 to the voice board 43, and the voice output of "Please start." From the voice board 43 is transmitted from the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29. (Step D1). Based on this signal, the customer presses the operation switch 9. (Step D2). The time of the pressing operation of the operation switch 9 is measured by the timer of the main CPU 38, and if the pressing operation is not performed within the specified time, the time-up output is sent. (Step D3).

Based on this time-up output, the main C
The PU 38 outputs the start instruction to the voice board 43.
And to the roulette device 22, the roulette device 22 is driven, and the voice output of “Start.” From the voice board 43 is output by the character robot 29.
It is transmitted from the speaker 42 mounted on the. (Step D
4). On the other hand, when the operation switch 9 is pressed within a predetermined time, the drive output is sent to the main CPU 38, and the start output of this main CPU 38 is the sub CP.
It is sent to U39, the motor 23 is driven, and the numeral drum 24 starts to rotate. (Step D5).

After a lapse of a predetermined time from the rotation of the number drum 24, an output of a stop instruction is sent from the main CPU 38 to the sound board 43, and the sound output of "Please stop" from the sound board 43 is output by the character robot 2.
It is transmitted from the speaker 42 mounted on the No. 9. (Step D6). Next, it is checked whether or not there is a stop operation by pressing the operation switch 9. (Step D7).

The time of the stop operation by pressing the operation switch 9 is timed by the timer of the main CPU 38, and when the stop operation is not performed within the specified time, the time-up output is sent out. (Step D8). The time-up output is sent to the voice board 43, and the voice guidance output of forced stop of "Stop." From the voice board 43 is sent from the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29. (Step D
9).

The forced stop output or operation switch 9
The number drum 24 of the roulette device 22 is stopped by the stop output based on the pressing operation of. (Step D1
0) The position of the numeral corresponding to the pointer 27 of the numeral drum 24 and the position of the origin sensor 25 are counted by the sub CPU 39, and it is judged whether they are 1 or the like. (Step D11). Below, it is judged whether or not it is 2 mag (step D1
2) The determination of whether or not it is 3 or the like (step D13) is sequentially performed.

The description will be represented by the determination operation of 1st grade, but the 1st grade determination data is sent to the main CPU 38, the output of the 1st grade guide is sent from the main CPU 38 to the voice board 43, and "Congratulations" from the voice board 43. Jackpot. "Voice output and music output such as fanfare
It is transmitted from the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29. (Step D14).

"E. Product Selection Operation 2" The product selection operation 1 is for explaining the product selection operation in the automatic system mode. The product selection operation in the manual system mode will be described below with reference to FIG. To do. In the manual system mode, when the initial operation described above is completed,
The output of the product selection guide is sent from the main CPU 38 to the voice board 43, and the voice output of “Please select a product” from the voice board 43 is sent from the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29. (Step E
1).

Based on this guide, the customer operates the manual switch 10 of the manual system operation panel 6 to specify the desired product storage section 18 number of the product stocker 17.
(Step E2). The operation time of the manual switch 10 is measured by the timer of the main CPU 38, and if the specified operation is not performed within the specified time, a time-up output is sent. (Step E3). Based on this time-up output, an output of a reminder instruction is sent from the main CPU 38 to the voice board 43, and a voice output of “Please select early” from the voice board 43 is output from the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29. Sent out.
(Step E4).

Hereinafter, the commodity storage unit 1 in which the commodity 19 is designated
The method of taking out from 8 and conveying to the product delivery section 12 is
Similar to the automatic system mode, the character robot 29
Therefore, the description thereof will be omitted. Further, in this manual system mode, the roulette device 22
The product stocker 17
All the products 19 stored in will be of the same price.

[F. Product Picking / Conveying Operation] When the product selecting operation 1 or 2 is performed and the product 19 is selected,
The character robot 29 takes out a product 19 from the product storage unit 18 and carries out a product picking / transporting operation of transporting the product 19 to the product delivery unit 12. This product grabbing / conveying operation will be described with reference to FIG.

By the selection operation by the roulette device 22 or the selection operation by the manual switch 10, the power-on output from the main CPU 38 is output to the driving means of the character robot 29 and the pedestal portion 34 which are held in the standby state by lifting the tray 44. The character robot 29 is activated by being sent. (Step F1).

When the driving means is turned on, the pedestal portion 34 rotates the character robot 29 from the frontward state to the commodity stocker 17 side and moves on the conveyance path provided in the space portion 28. The designated product stocker 17 is moved to a position corresponding to the product storage section 18. The character robot 29 moved to the product storage unit 18 is driven so that the gripped tray 44 is positioned corresponding to the front opening. (Step F2).
The operations of the character robot 29 and the pedestal 34 are
Main C as output information of each sensor 33, 37
It is sent to the PU 38.

When the character robot 29 is moved to the corresponding product storage unit 18, a drive output is sent from the main CPU 38 to the product transfer unit of the product storage unit 18, and the product transfer unit is driven to store the stored product 19. Is delivered to the front opening. (Step F3). This state is detected by the carry-out sensor 20, and the output thereof drives the character robot 29 via the main CPU 38 to place the product 19 from the product storage unit 18 on the tray 44. (Step F4).

The character robot 29, while holding the tray 44 on which the goods 19 are placed, returns to the initial position in a state of turning forward according to the operation of the pedestal portion 34. (Step F5). The character robot 29 that has returned to the initial position operates the respective parts of the body by the output of the main CPU 38 and places the tray 44 on the table of the product delivery unit 12. On the other hand, the shutter mechanism of the product delivery section 12 is operated to open the product delivery window 13, and the delivery mechanism including the valve 15 and the air cylinder 16 is operated to deliver the product 19 through the product delivery window 13. (Step F6).

This state is detected by the product take-out sensor 14, and when the output of the product take-out sensor 14 is sent to the main CPU 38, this main CPU 38
Is output to the voice board 43, and the voice output of "please take merchandise." From the voice board 43 is output from the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29.
Sent from. (Step F7).

[G. Restoration Operation] When the above-mentioned product picking-up / conveying operation is completed, each unit of the apparatus is restored to the initial state. The recovery operation will be described with reference to FIG. The character robot 29 having the tray 44 placed on the table of the product delivery section 12 returns to the initial state by the restoration operation of the driving means. (Step G1).

The product 19 sent from the product delivery window 13
The customer's take-out operation is performed by the product take-out sensor 1
The timer of the main CPU 38 measures the time depending on the presence or absence of the output of 4. (Step G2). Therefore, when the product is not taken out within the specified time and there is no output of the product take-out sensor 14, the output of the reminder instruction is sent to the voice board 43 based on the time-up output,
The voice output of "please pick up merchandise quickly" from the voice board 43 is transmitted from the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29. (Step G3).

When the customer picks up the product 19 and outputs it from the product removal sensor 14 to the main CPU 38, the output of the response guide is sent from the main CPU 38 to the voice board 43, and the voice board 43 says "Thank you very much. Is output from the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29. (Step G4). Further, when the customer leaves the vending machine, the output of the response sensor is sent from the main CPU 38 to the voice board 43 by the output of the visitor sensor 7, and the voice output of "please come again" from the voice board 43. Is transmitted from the speaker 42 mounted on the character robot 29. (Step G5).

Although the general operation of the automatic vending machine according to the embodiment has been described above, it goes without saying that, for example, the contents of the voice guide may be appropriately changed. Further, not only the voice guide but also music or the like is appropriately transmitted from the voice board, and this music is transmitted from, for example, a speaker arranged at a proper position of the device. In addition, the blinking control of the illumination 40 is also appropriately performed by the output from the main CPU 38 according to each operation.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a representative operation of the character robot 29, particularly in the above-described operation of the automatic vending machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 1A shows a state at the time of a visitor reception operation, and as described above, the character robot 2
9 is facing the front and is calling in at an appropriate interval. Then, FIG. 3B shows a state at the time of initial operation in which, when a customer arrives and a coin is inserted, the tray 44 placed on the product delivery section 12 is taken up and in a standby state. .

FIG. 6C shows a state at the time of product selection operation, in which the character robot 29 voice guides the usage instructions of the device while the arm, elbow or eyes, mouth, etc. configured as movable parts. Are driven appropriately, which promotes the customer's sense of play. Further, FIG. 3D shows a state in which the product 19 is selected by the roulette device 22 and the selected product 19 is headed to the product storage unit 18. In this case, the character robot 29 uses the pedestal 34
It is turned sideways with respect to, the arm and elbow are driven,
The tray 44 gripped by the hand is positioned corresponding to the front opening of the product storage unit 18.

FIG. 6E shows a state in which the product 19 picked up from the product storage unit 18 is placed on the product delivery unit 12,
The character robot 29 drives the head and waist, which are movable parts, to bow to the customer, and arms and elbows so that the tray 44 on which the product 19 is placed can be delivered to the product delivery unit 12. And are driven. Further, (F) of the figure shows a state at the time of a recovery operation, in which the character robot 29 performs an operation of returning to the initial state and at the same time, the eyes and mouth are driven to perform a thank-you voice guide.

Although the vending machine that sells box-shaped snacks has been introduced in the above embodiment, it goes without saying that the vending machine according to the present invention can be applied to various other products. Further, since the box-shaped snacks are sold, the snacks are dropped from the product storage unit 18 onto the tray 44. However, for example, in the case of a bag-shaped product, the character robot 29 is configured to directly grab it. May be.

In the above embodiment, the vending machine using coins is shown, but means other than coins such as tokens can be used as well as prepaid cards and bills. When used as a service device, it may be configured so that it can be directly driven by operating an operation switch without inserting a coin or the like.

The character robot 29 may have a form adapted to the designs of the main body 1 and the front panel portion 2 and may have a form not only imitating a human body but also a form imitating an animal or the like. Further, the operation mode is not limited to the operation mode shown in FIG. 7, and various operation modes can be adopted.
However, this mode of operation should be considered to be a series of modes of operation related to selling operations, rather than simply being “in motion”.

Furthermore, in the automatic vending machine of the embodiment, the entire structure is substantially sealed by the housing 1 and the front panel portion 2. By utilizing such a structure, the character robot 29 configured as a catering robot, It can be configured as a cooking robot that performs simple cooking based on raw materials, and can also be applied to a vending machine for cooking that sells cooked products.

[0066]

As described in detail above, according to the vending machine according to the present invention, a plurality of types of merchandise are stored in a plurality of merchandise storage portions, respectively, and the merchandise means such as a roulette device is stored. The product selection means is configured to randomly select the product as if playing a game, and the selected product is configured to be delivered to the product delivery section by a food-serving robot. Since it is configured to respond and operate, it is not limited to the conventional category of sales equipment for products, it also encourages customers to feel a game when purchasing products, and is equivalent to purchasing through sales staff. Will provide a completely new vending machine that makes you feel like you are purchasing a product and being serviced. Further, by mounting the above-mentioned additional function, the customer's willingness to purchase can be further improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of the vending machine.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the vending machine, and is a flowchart of a setting operation, a customer reception operation, and an initial operation portion.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the vending machine, and is a flowchart of a product selection operation portion in the automatic system mode.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the vending machine, and is a flowchart of a product selection operation portion in the manual system mode.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the vending machine, and is a flowchart of a product picking / conveying operation and a recovery operation part.

7A and 7B are perspective views for explaining the operation of the character robot in the vending machine, where FIG. 7A is a state during a customer service operation, FIG. 7B is a state during an initial operation, and FIG. ) Is a state during product selection operation, FIG. 7D is a state during product removal, FIG. 8E is a state during product delivery, and FIG. 9F is a state during recovery operation. is there.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Main body 2 ... Front panel 5 ... Automatic system operation panel 6 ... Manual system operation panel 8 ... Coin insertion section 9 ... Operation switch 12 ... Product delivery section 13 ... Product delivery window 17 ... Product stocker 18 ... Product storage 19 ... Product 22 ... Game part (roulette device) 24 ... Numerical drum 26 ... Display window 27 ...・ Pointer 29 ・ ・ ・ Character robot (serving robot) 34 ・ ・ ・ Pedestal section 38 ・ ・ ・ Main CPU 44 ・ ・ ・ Tray

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A product stocker having a plurality of product storage units for storing a plurality of types of products, and a random selection of any one of the plurality of product storage units, which is activated by an activation operation of a customer. A commodity selection means; a display means for displaying a selection result by the commodity selection means; and a distribution robot for picking up the commodity from the commodity storage section selected by the commodity selection section and conveying it to the commodity transfer section. Characteristic vending machine. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the product selection means and the display means are constituted by a game means such as a roulette device or a slot machine device. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the catering robot is constituted by a hieroglyphic robot imitating a human body or a character. 4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein the catering robot is equipped with voice guidance means such as operation guidance to the customer and reporting of the result of product selection by the product selection means. 5. A product stocker having a plurality of product storage units for storing a plurality of types of products, and a product stocker that is activated by a product selection operation of a customer and is taken out from the selected product storage unit to a product delivery unit. And a catering robot configured by a hieroglyphic robot imitating a human body or a character to be transported. 6. The vending machine according to claim 5, wherein the catering robot is equipped with voice guidance means such as operation guidance to the customer.