JPH07107717B2 - Automatic transaction equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Outline] In an automatic transaction device, after commodities to be replenished are stored in empty storage shelves, the control means sequentially takes out the commodities from a plurality of storage shelves and conveys them to an identification means. In addition, if there is a vacancy in the storage shelf according to the type of the product identified by the identification means, this product is transported and stored in this vacant storage shelf, and there is no vacancy in the storage shelf in which this product should be stored. Occasionally, this product is temporarily stored in a temporary storage shelf, and an automatic transfer means is provided so that the storage shelf corresponding to the type of the product is emptied and the product in the temporary storage shelf is transferred and stored in this empty storage shelf. The control is performed so that the products are automatically stored in the storage shelves assigned corresponding to the types of the products.

As a result, it is necessary to effectively use the product storage space in the automatic transaction device, prevent erroneous release of traded products caused by an error in the product storage position, and consider the product storage position when replenishing products. Disappear.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an automatic transaction device such as an automatic vending machine or an automatic lending machine that sells or rents products.

[Conventional technology]

This kind of automatic transaction device handles many types of products, and the products to be traded are stored in storage shelves predetermined for each type, and a product takeout means for selling or lending. Conducts transactions by taking out and releasing products from the storage shelves according to the types of products specified by the customer.

Therefore, when replenishing merchandise, it is necessary to store the merchandise in a predetermined storage shelf according to the type of the merchandise. The possibility of storing is greatly increased.

[Problems to be Solved by the Present Invention]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention effectively prevents the erroneous release of a transaction product caused by an error in the storage position of the product while reducing the burden on the worker who replenishes the product while effectively utilizing the storage space of the product in the automatic transaction device. With the goal.

[Means for solving problems]

Multiple storage shelves (# 1, #
2, ... # n) and at least 2 to temporarily store products
One temporary storage shelf (X ₁ , X ₂ ) and the storage shelves and the products taken out from the temporary storage shelves are transferred to and stored in the identification means (4) or these storage shelves and temporary storage shelves, and
An automatic transfer means (3) capable of carrying and storing the product taken out from the identifying means on the storage shelf and the temporary storage shelf, and an identifying means (4) for identifying the kind of the product taken out from the storage shelf by the automatic transferring means. ), The articles are sequentially taken out from the plurality of storage shelves and conveyed to the identification means, and if there is a vacancy in the storage shelf corresponding to the type of the article identified by the identification means, this article is stored in the empty storage side. When there is no room in the storage shelf for transporting and storing this product, this product is temporarily stored in the temporary storage shelf, and waits until the storage shelf corresponding to the type of this product is available A control means (6) for controlling the automatic moving means is provided on the shelf so as to convey and store the products on the temporary storage shelf.

[Work]

In order to effectively use the product storage space in the automatic transaction device, the present invention also serves as an empty storage shelf as a shelf for storing products to be replenished when a service person or the like replenishes the products. Therefore, a service person or the like who replenishes the commodity appropriately stores the commodity to be replenished in the empty storage shelf of the automatic transaction device.

In the specification and drawings of the present application, the term "storage" is used for products placed at a temporary position (shelf), and the term "stored" is used for products stored in a predetermined storage shelf. I am using.

After the replenishment product is stored, in the automatic transaction device, the products stored in the storage rack are sequentially taken out by the automatic transfer means, and a code indicating the kind of the product such as a bar code attached to the taken-out product. Is read by a code reader or the like to identify the type of the product by the identifying means, and the automatic transfer means stores it in the storage rack allocated to the type of the product identified by the identifying means.

At this time, if the product is already stored in the storage shelf to be stored and it is impossible to store the product in a predetermined shelf, the product should be temporarily stored in the temporary storage shelf and then stored in the storage shelf. After waiting for the storage shelves to be empty, the automatic transfer means is controlled by the control means to convey and store the products stored in the temporary storage shelves to the empty predetermined storage shelves.

FIG. 1 is for explaining the principle of the present invention. 300 storage shelves # 1 to # 300 each storing one product and two temporary storage shelves # x1 and # x2 are shown. Is provided.

In the following description, the number of the storage shelf to be stored in each product will be described as a bar code for convenience, but the actual product code is the content of the product. Names, numbers, etc. are used, and as will be described in the embodiments described later, the numbers of storage shelves to be stored are the types of products (names to be stored corresponding to the storage shelves using these names or numbers as keys. Alternatively, it can be obtained by searching a storage device storing a number or the like).

FIG. 1 (a) shows a state where a service person or the like appropriately stores the product in the automatic transaction device, and the product stored in the storage shelf is not necessarily a predetermined product. The storage shelf of "001" stores the product of "001" which should be stored in this storage shelf, but the storage shelf of # 2 stores
The product of “013” and the product of “299” are stored in the # 3 storage shelf.

Now, when the control means including the processor is instructed to store the goods in a predetermined storage rack, the control means feeds the goods stored in the storage rack # 1 to the identification means in a predetermined order. Then, the code attached to the product is read, and since it is "001", this product is returned to the original # 1 storage shelf and stored.

Then, follow the same order as above for the storage shelves #
When the product stored in No. 2 is taken out and the code attached to this product is identified, this code is "103", so the control means indicates the empty state of the # 13 storage shelf indicated by this code. This is checked, and since the storage shelf # 13 is empty, the products stored in the storage shelf # 2 are stored in this storage shelf.

Next, in the same order as above, the storage shelves #
When the product stored in No. 3 is taken out and the code attached to this product is identified, since this code is "299", the control means indicates the empty state of the # 299 storage shelf indicated by this code. If you check it, the product is stored there, so the product with the code of "299" is temporarily stored in the temporary storage shelf # x1.

Then, when the product stored in the # 299 storage shelf is taken out and the code is identified, it is "011", so the control means checks the empty state of the # 011 storage shelf indicated by this code and Since the items are stored in
The product with the code of "011" is stored in the temporary storage shelf # x2, and then the product of "299" stored in the storage shelf # 3 which is temporarily stored in the temporary storage # x1. It is taken out and stored in a predetermined # 299 storage shelf.

Next, take out the product on the storage shelf # 011 in which the items temporarily stored in the temporary storage shelf # x2 should be stored, and identify the code, and it is "300". Upon inspection, this storage shelf is empty, so store it immediately in this product # 300 storage shelf.

As a result, both temporary storage shelves # x1 and # x2 became empty, so the process moves to # 4 storage shelves according to a predetermined order, and the products stored in this storage shelves are marked with "002". As a result, the product is stored in the # 2 storage shelf which has become empty in the previous process by the automatic transfer means.

By continuing such processing, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), all products are stored in a predetermined storage rack. It should be noted that when the storage shelf to be processed does not contain the product, it is clear that the next storage shelf may be processed without performing the processing on this storage shelf.

It should be noted that "sequential taking out" in the claims includes the case of taking out according to a predetermined order of each storage shelf as described above, and the case of taking out products stored in the wrong storage shelf from the temporary storage shelf. .

〔Example〕

3 and 4 show, as an example of an automatic transaction apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, the applicant previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 61-272983 filed by the applicant. The automatic transaction apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application No. 60-212625 and Japanese Patent Application No. 60-222679 are shown. First, the outline of the automatic transaction apparatus will be described.

Products 1 such as video tapes to be sold or rented are stored in a plurality of storage shelves 2 for storing these products, respectively, and are stored by a vertical guide rail 3 ₁ and a lateral guide shaft 3 _2. automatic transport mechanism 3 including the motor ₃₅ for rotating 180 degrees the transfer head 3 ₃ and the transfer head comprising a pawl 3 ₄ for goods engagement be movable to a position opposite to the product 1 that is, the above placing the product 1 on the transfer head 3 ₃ by pulling the product 1 which is stored in the storage shelf 2 from are engaged with the pawl 3 ₄ in the protruded state of the transfer head 3 ₃ a pawl, the customer a product from the product outlet 7 by causing the transfer head and the motor ₃₅ such as FIG again the pawl 3 ₄ after rotated by 180 degrees by the motor ₃₅ from moving from the position shown in dotted lines project To release.

When the customer returns the product began borrowed previously receives the goods inserted from the product outlet 7 on the transfer head 3 _3,
After moving to the position of the shelf to be stored this item while placing the items this transfer head is the time of lending rotated 180 degrees in the opposite, by the pawl 3 ₄ push the items 1 to storage shelf 2 Store. If the rented products are replenished or other products are stored in the storage shelf at the time of renting, prepare a spare storage location and store the returned products there. You can

This device is a card reader 8 that reads customer information from a customer card such as a credit card inserted by the customer in order to automatically control sales, lending, and returning, and a product code for designating a product desired by the customer. , PIN code
It is provided with an operation panel 9 for inputting product information such as video tape standards such as VHS and β, a display 10 for displaying guidance to customers, and a control device 6 for controlling the operation of this device.

Then, a code reading mechanism 4 for reading a mechanically readable product code such as a barcode attached to a product released or received from the product outlet 7 is provided inside the product outlet 7 to trade the products. When this is done, the code of the product is read by this reading mechanism to detect the content of the product, the product is released after confirming that it matches the product specified by the customer, or the product returned by the customer. Make sure to accept.

On the other hand, the storage device 5 for storing the contents of the product 1 stored in this shelf corresponding to the storage shelf 2 is the control device 6 described above.
The correspondence between the storage shelves and the products stored in the storage shelves is stored as follows, for example.

When storing merchandise to be sold or rented, a plurality of merchandise storage patterns in which merchandise to be stored are specified in advance for each storage shelf so as to match the installation location of the automatic merchandise trading apparatus, and the storage device 5 is used. Input is made from the operation panel 9, for example, so that the storage content of the above will match the storage pattern.

When the control device 6 of the automatic commodity transaction device is connected to the host processor online, the above-mentioned commodity pattern is transmitted from the host processor to the control device 6 of the automatic commodity transaction device to store the stored contents. Update according to the product pattern.

In the invention described in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-272983, the control device 6 takes out a product from a storage shelf and transfers it to the code reading mechanism 4 by the transfer mechanism 3 to attach a code to the product. To provide a function of performing control for inspecting the correspondence between the storage shelves stored in the storage device and the goods, and further storing the storage stored in the storage device 5 based on the result of the inspection. The correspondence between the shelves and the products stored therein is updated, or the control device 6 is connected to the host processor via a communication line, and the control device starts the inspection according to a command from the host processor. Also, the inspection result can be returned to the host processor.

FIG. 4 is an automatic commodity transaction device T described in FIG.
However, as described above, the host processor P is connected via the communication line.
2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of a control system when connected to a host processor P, which is a component relevant to the present invention for a host processor P, a system data storage device 22, a communication control device 23, Only the display device 24 and the keyboard 25 are shown, and the components of the automatic commodity transaction device T corresponding to those of FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals. Note that the processor 6-1, the transfer mechanism control device 6-2, and the transfer mechanism drive device 6-3 of the automatic commodity transaction device T are shown in FIG.
Since they are collectively shown as, the branch numbers are shown.

After the customer inserts a customer card such as a credit card into the card reader 8 and inputs the product code of the product desired to be borrowed by the customer input means such as the operation panel 9, the product is designated. Leader 8
After sending the customer information read by the host processor P to confirm the trust of the customer, the storage device 5 is accessed by this product code and the product code and storage position stored in the storage device as described above. towards product outlet 7 by the corresponding by the customer to identify the storage location of the product was desired, the transfer mechanism 3 items from the storage shelf has its contents are indicated by the bar code is taken out by a transfer head 3 ₃ a After transferring and confirming the product by the bar code reader 4, the product is released to the customer from the outlet 7, and the information on the stored product in the storage shelf of the storage device 5 from which the product is taken out has already been lent. Or update as sold.

When the customer returns the merchandise, after inserting the customer card into the card reader 8 and inputting that the merchandise is to be returned from the operation panel 9, the merchandise attached to the merchandise by the code reader 4 when the merchandise is inserted from the merchandise outlet 7. The code is read, the storage device 5 is searched by the product code and the customer code read by the card reader 8 from the customer card, and it is confirmed that the product is properly rented. It reads the position of the storage shelves to be stored, by the transfer head 3 ₃ the returned goods to clear rental information stored from the storage to the storage location in the storage device 5.

Although the automatic transaction device as described above is provided with a means for preventing mistakes in traded products, it is impossible to sell or rent a product that has been erroneously stored to a customer, or Since unnecessary operations are performed, it is necessary that the predetermined products are accurately stored in the respective storage shelves. However, if the number of storage shelves and the types of products stored are increased, the It becomes extremely difficult for a service person or the like to store a predetermined product in the storage shelf without error.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the operation of the automatic transaction device according to the present invention, and the circled numbers in the following description are the circled numbers attached to each step of this flowchart. Further, S is a storage shelf, X is a temporary storage shelf, F is a processing flag corresponding to each storage shelf, and the subscripts attached to these codes are the codes of the storage shelves stored or stored, G is a product, and M Is a code attached to the product, and the subscripts attached to these symbols are the codes of the storage shelves in which the products were stored.

When a service person or the like issues an instruction to the control device 6 by using an operation key or the like so as to store the products properly stored in the storage shelves in the predetermined storage shelves, the z storage shelves S _{1 to} Sz stored in the storage device 5 are stored. of set to "0" indicating all outstanding processing flag F ₁ ~Fz in storage information about each, and also sets "0" as an initial value of the storage shelf number to be processed.

In the next step, 1 is added to the initial value of the storage shelf number to be processed so that the storage shelf S ₁ is processed as “1”, and the storage shelf number to be processed in the step is the number of storage shelves to be processed. That is, it is checked that the maximum value z is not exceeded, but when the first storage shelf S ₁ is processed, the process proceeds to the step of 1 <z and the processing flag F of the storage shelf to be processed is set. A check is performed to identify whether or not the processing of this storage shelf has already been performed, but when processing the product G ₁ stored in the storage shelf S ₁ that is the first processing target, all storage is performed in steps. Flag F _{1 on} shelves S _{1 to} Sz
Flag F ₁ of the storage shelf S ₁ to which is set to "0" to ~Sz is always "0", and proceeds to the next step.

In this step, the commodity G ₁ stored in the storage shelf S ₁ being processed by the transfer mechanism 3 is taken out and the processing flag F ₁ of this storage shelf is set to “1” indicating that it is in an empty state. set. At this time, if it is detected in step that the product is not stored in the storage shelf S ₁ by the transfer mechanism or the like, it is not necessary to process the product on the storage shelf, so the process returns to (a) and should be processed. The number of the storage shelf is incremented by 1 and the process proceeds to the next storage shelf S ₂ .

This stored at step if items G ₁ is housed in the rack S ₁ This product G ₁ is transferred to the code reader 4 is taken out by the transfer mechanism, code M ₁ attached to the product by the code reader reading The storage shelf S to be stored by accessing the storage device with this code
Recognize the number N'of n '.

In the next step, the processing flag Fn ′ of the storage shelf Sn ′ to be stored, which is recognized as described above, is checked, and if this flag Fn ′ is “1” indicating the empty state, the process moves to the step. G ₁ is stored in this predetermined storage shelf Sn ′, and the processing flag Fn ′ of this storage shelf Sn ′ is set to “2” indicating that it has been processed, and the next storage shelf S ₂ is processed. Returning to (a) to perform, when processing the product G ₁ stored in the storage shelf S ₁ which is the first processing target, the flags F _{1 to} Fz of all the storage shelves S _{1 to} Sz of the step are processed. the "0" in all treated flag F of the storage shelves unprocessed to have the set "0" and is turned, the 'flags Fn' the product G ₁ stores predetermined storage shelf to be Sn also always " Since it is 0 ", move to the step.

In this step, the above-mentioned product G ₁ is temporarily stored in the storage shelf X ₁
Store in once. In this step, the product G ₁
After being stored in the temporary storage rack X ₁ , this temporary storage rack will not be confused in the explanation of the loop processing that follows.
Product G _1, which is housed in the X ₁ instead referred to as Gx _1, also this product G
The storage shelf Sn ′ in which x ₁ is to be stored is called Sx ₁ ′.

Then, the goods stored in the storage shelves Sx ₁ ′ to be stored, which are recognized as described above in step S, are taken out by the transfer mechanism and the processing flag Fx ₁ ′ is set to “1” indicating the empty state. If the transfer mechanism detects that no product is stored in the storage shelf Sx ₁ in the step, the product Gx ₁ is taken out from the temporary storage shelf X ₁ and is stored in a predetermined storage shelf Sx ₁ ′ in step. It is set to "2" processing flag Fx ₁ '' of the storage shelves Sx ₁ to indicate that a given product Gx ₁ to is stored 'storage shelf Sx ₁ stores the product.

If it has been the storage shelf Sx ₁ accommodated 'product Gx ₁ to' is detected by the transfer mechanism in step is transferred to the code reader 4 retrieves this product Gx ₁ 'in step this product The code Mx ₁ ′ attached to Gx ₁ ′ is read, and the code accesses the storage device to recognize the number x ₁ ″ of the storage shelf Sx ₁ ″ to be stored.

In the next step, check the "processing flag Fx ₁ for" the storage shelf Sx _1, this flag is "1" if the storage shelf Sx ₁ "because is in the idle state, the product in step Gx ₁ ' Was stored in the storage shelf Sx ₁ ″, the processing flag Fx ₁ ″ of this storage shelf was set to “2” indicating that the predetermined storage was completed, and it was stored in the temporary storage shelf X ₁ in the following step. sets to "2" which indicates that the predetermined storage has been completed 'processing flag Fx ₁ in the storage shelf stores the' product Gx ₁ predetermined storage shelf Sx _1. in this case the storage shelf S ₁ Since the processing of (1) is completed, the processing returns to (a) and the processing of the product G ₂ stored in the next storage shelf, for example, S ₂ is performed.

In the above step, the storage shelf Sx in which the product G ₁ should be stored
If there is another item into storage shelf Sx ₁ "to store the 'product Gx ₁ was in' _1, this product Gx in step
Once housed the ₁ 'another one of the temporary storage shelves X _2. In addition,
Hereinafter, the product Gx ₁ ′ stored in the temporary storage shelf X ₂ will be referred to as Gx _2, and the storage shelf Sx ₁ ″ in which the product Gx ₂ is to be stored will be referred to as Sx ₂ ′. The product Gx ₁ previously stored in the temporary storage rack X ₁ is stored in the predetermined storage rack Sx ₁ ′ and the processing flag F of this storage rack is set.
x ₁ ′ is set to “2” indicating that the predetermined storage is completed.

To store the products Gx ₂ housed in the temporary storage rack X ₂ in the subsequent step, the storage flag is taken out 'products Gx ₂ was in' storage shelf Sx ₂ to store this product Gx ₂
Fx ₂ 'sets to "1" indicating the free state, but the storage shelf Sx _2' in the case where the product Gx ₂ 'that has not been stored step' was confirmed in the above item Gx ₂ by step 'stores, this storage shelf Sx _2' storage shelf Sx ₂ are taken out from the temporary storage bin X ₂ process flag Fx ₂ of '
Is set to "2" indicating that the predetermined storage is completed, the process returns to the position (a) and the next process is performed.

If the transfer mechanism detects that the product Gx ₂ ′ is not stored in the storage shelf Sx ₂ ′ in the above step ′, the code Mx ₂ ′ attached to the product Gx ₂ ′ taken out in the step is read. The lever code is used to access the storage device and recognize the storage shelf Sx ₂ ″ that stores this product.

In step, check the flag Fx ₂ ″ of this storage shelf Sx ₂ ″. If this flag is “1”, the storage shelf Sx ₂ ″ is empty, so store the product Gx ₂ ′ in this storage shelf,
Then, the product Gx ₂ in the temporary storage rack X ₂ is stored in the storage rack Sx ₂ ′, and these storage racks and processing flags Fx ₂ ″, Fx ₂ ′ are set to “2” indicating the end of processing.

If the flag Fx ₂ ″ is not “1” in the step, the product Gx ₂ ′ taken out in the step is stored in the empty temporary storage shelf X ₁ and the product Gx stored in the other temporary storage shelf X _{2. 2} 'is stored in. in addition, product Gx ₂ in step' a storage shelf Sx ₂ after storing in the temporary storage rack X ₁ is the temporary storage rack X ₁ accommodated goods Gx ₂ 'and Gx ₁ Recall, storage rack S for this product Gx ₁ to be stored
Rename x ₂ ″ as Sx ₁ ′.

In this state, since the temporary storage rack X ₁ commodity Gx ₁ is accommodated the processing returns to (b), in the same manner as described above, to the store merchandise Gx ₁ housed in the temporary storage rack X ₁ The process is repeated so that the data is stored in the power storage shelf Sx ′.

As described above, the process of storing the products, which are alternately stored in the temporary storage shelves X ₁ and X ₂ , in the storage side is repeated until the processing of all the storage shelves is completed.

Then, when the processing of all the storage shelves is completed, the condition of the step is not satisfied, and as described with reference to FIG. 1, all the stored products are stored in the predetermined storage shelves.

The above explanation is for products with one type of code and
Although the case where there is one storage shelf for storing each time coded product has been described, the present invention can also be applied to one or more of the product and the storage shelf, for example. When there are a plurality of storage shelves, referring to the flow chart shown in FIG. 2, when the products are stored in the storage shelves in which the products should be stored, the states of other storage shelves in which the same type of products should be stored are checked. If there is a vacant storage shelf, it is stored in that storage shelf, and if there is no vacant storage shelf, the processing can be performed according to the flowchart of FIG.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an error in the storage position of a product while effectively using the storage space of the product in the automatic transaction device, and thus prevent the transaction product from being erroneously released and lending the product to the customer.・ The time required for sale is shortened, and since the worker who replenishes the goods does not need to consider the storage position of the replenished goods, the work can be performed easily and quickly, which reduces the burden. The effect of can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an automatic transaction device to which the present invention can be applied, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a control device of the automatic transaction device shown in FIG. 3.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of storage shelves (# 1, # 2, ...
... #n), at least two temporary storage shelves (X ₁ , X ₂ ) for temporarily storing products, the storage shelves and the product taken out from the temporary storage shelves, or the storage means (4). An automatic transfer means (3) capable of carrying / storing to / from a shelf and a temporary storage shelf and also carrying / storing the product taken out from the identifying means to the storage shelf and the temporary storage shelf, and from the storage shelf by the automatic transfer means. Identification means (4) for identifying the type of the taken-out merchandise, and the merchandise sequentially taken out from the plurality of storage shelves and conveyed to the identification means, and the storage shelf according to the kind of the merchandise identified by the identification means. If there is free space, this product is transported and stored in this empty storage side, and if there is no space in the storage shelf where this product should be stored, this product is temporarily stored in the temporary storage shelf, and depending on the type of this product Storage shelf An automatic transaction device for controlling the automatic transfer means so as to convey and store the goods on the temporary storage shelf in the empty storage shelf after waiting for the empty storage shelf.