JPH09190571A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the utilization value of an automatic vending machine for both of the provider and the user of mail-order business. SOLUTION: When a user inserts an ID card 9 storing a product delivery destination, etc., to a card reader 6, a main control part 5 reads and stores this data. When the user refers to a product display 11 and inputs an ordering product from a product selection button 4, the main control part 5 transmits this selected product, a delivery destination stored in advance or a delivery destination by means of an input confirming device 8 to POS center 1 through a POS system 2. Thereby, the use can order the product of mail-order business from the automatic vending machine without going to a place where a terminal is installed and the center side can deliver the ordered product by means of data from the vending machine.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is connected to a center or a merchandise seller via a communication line or a communication network.
The present invention relates to a vending machine having a terminal function for mail order (hereinafter referred to as a vending machine).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when purchasing a product by mail order, a user goes to a place where a dedicated terminal is installed, orders a product by designating a delivery destination, pays the price, and orders from the terminal to a center. A system is known in which, when data is transmitted, the center delivers the product to a designated delivery destination.

On the other hand, as a vending machine, there is known a vending machine which sells products housed in the machine and transmits sales data such as sales to the center via a communication line. Further, a method of conducting electronic commerce through a network such as personal computer communication is also known. In this case, the user performs purchaser name, purchased product, delivery destination, money transfer, etc. between the personal computers or between the personal computer and the center.

[0004]

The system using the above-mentioned dedicated terminal has the following problems. In other words, the center side has to reduce the investment effect and marketability because it is necessary to increase the product lineup and to make a large amount of initial investment for constructing a dedicated line or a dedicated processing system. Also, on the user side, it is necessary to go to the place where the terminal is located each time an order is placed, which is troublesome and difficult to use.

On the other hand, in the vending machine, even though there is a communication line with the center, the user cannot purchase the products other than the products stored in the vending machine. As described above, there are many products that can be provided by mail order, but a dedicated system is required. Further, although the vending machine has a communication function but the products that can be handled are limited, there are merits and demerits.

Further, there are the following problems in electronic commerce by the above personal computer communication. That is, the account number or the like may be stolen by a third party because the account or credit is debited on the network instead of giving and receiving cash. Further, such electronic commerce requires a dedicated personal computer and is not suitable for use by an unspecified number of purchasers. Further, the dedicated terminals for an unspecified large number of users are also required to have robustness and the effect of development investment is small, so that they are not popular. For this reason, there is a problem that the number of users cannot be promoted by electronic transactions, although it is convenient.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an existing vending machine with a mail-order sales function and increase the utility value of the vending machine from the viewpoint of both the provider and the user.

[0008]

The vending machine according to the invention 1 is
In a vending machine that sells data stored in the machine and the center sends and receives data via a communication line, product selection that allows you to enter orders for products other than those stored in the machine Means, reading means for reading the data of the card storing the address of the product delivery destination, input means for inputting the address of the delivery destination other than the product delivery destination in the card, when the product is selected by the product selection means, And a control means for selecting and transmitting the merchandise item and / or a merchandise item delivery destination of at least one of the in-card address and the address entered by the inputting means.

With this, it is possible to order the products other than those stored in the machine by the product selection means, and to select one or both of the address stored in the card and the address by the input means as the product delivery destination. Since the ordering function is added to the conventional vending machine, the utility value of the vending machine is increased from the perspective of both the provider and the user. The vending machine according to invention 2 is
An automatic vending machine that sells products stored in the machine and a product seller that is connected to a communication network to send and receive data can enter orders for products other than those stored in the machine. Product selection means, identification number input means for inputting a transaction identification number issued at the time of sales request, money processing means for performing money processing of ordered products, and identification number when a product is selected by the product selection means And a transaction notification means for notifying the completion of the commercial transaction when the confirmation and the monetary processing are properly performed.

As a result, the products other than those stored in the machine can be ordered by the product selection means, and the cash processing function on the vending machine side and the identification number confirmation function on the network are added to the conventional vending machine. The utility value of the vending machine is increased from the perspective of both the provider and the user. The vending machine according to Invention 3 is
The vending machine according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a sale item display unit that displays the content of the item sold by the item seller.

As a result, the products that can be selected and input by the product selection means are known. A vending machine according to invention 4 is the vending machine according to invention 2, wherein the communication network is either a personal computer communication network or the Internet. As a result, the existing vending machine has a mail-order function by using the existing communication network.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an embodiment of the invention 1. As shown in FIG. 1 is a POS center that handles mail-order products, 3 is a vending machine with ordinary functions,
Reference numeral 2 is a POS system that sends and receives data between the POS center 1 and the vending machine 3 via a communication line.

The vending machine 3 includes a main control section 5 for controlling the entire vending machine, and the following equipment is connected to the main control section 5. That is, a card reader 6 that reads the data of the ID card 9 or the credit card 10, a money processing device 7 that performs money insertion and change processing, an input confirmation device 8 that inputs and displays data from a keyboard, and a product selection button 4 that selects a purchased product. Is.

Reference numeral 11 is a product display such as pictures and characters showing mail-order products, and reference numeral 12 is a product sample of a conventional vending machine. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment. The operation will be described with reference to FIG. When the user inserts the ID card 9 into the card reader 6, the card reader 6 reads the data such as the user's address, name, and delivery destination of the product stored in the card, and the storage unit of the main control unit 5 (see FIG. (Not shown) to store (step S1)
0).

When the user deposits money into the money processing device 7 (step S11), the main control section 5 waits until the deposit amount reaches the communicable sale amount of the product (step S12,
At branch N), when the sale amount is reached (branch Y), the sale possible display is displayed. Next, the main control unit 5 waits until the user pushes the merchandise sale button 4 for mail order (step S13, branch N), and when pushed (branch Y), the user
From the keyboard of the input confirmation device 8, predetermined data such as a delivery destination stored in the ID card or another delivery destination is input. The main control unit 5 reads this data from the input confirmation device 8 and stores it in the storage unit (step S
14).

Thereafter, the data indicating the ordered product and the user data stored in step S10 are transmitted to the POS center 1 via the POS system 2 (step S15). Then, money processing such as return of change is carried out to end the sale (step S16). Thereafter, the POS center 1 delivers the ordered product to the user based on the data received from the vending machine 3 side (step S17).

In this flowchart (FIG. 2),
Although the user's data is read by inserting the ID card in step S10, the data may be input from the input confirmation device 8 in step S14 without inserting the ID card. Through the above operation, the user can order the product by designating the desired delivery destination from the place where the vending machine is located, without going to the place where the terminal is installed.

Further, a credit card 1 having a function added
It is also possible to insert 0 into the card reader 6 and determine whether or not the product can be sold based on the data read from this credit card. This allows the user to order merchandise with a credit card without throwing money into the vending machine. If a monitor is brought in as a product display for mail order, it is possible to sell a wide variety of products.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of inventions 2 to 4. According to the present invention, the vending machine 3 and the POS center 1 are each connected to a communication network such as personal computer communication or the Internet so that data and the like necessary for electronic commerce can be exchanged with each other. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment. The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the user displays the product display 11 on the vending machine 3.
Referring to, a product seller is selected (step S20), then a purchased product is selected and input from the input confirmation device 8 (step S21). Next, the user determines whether the money is processed on the communication line (online) or in the vending machine (step S22). This notification of the determination result may be input from the input confirmation device 8 or may be determined by the main control unit 5 when a card or money is inserted into the card reader 6 or the money processing device 7. .

When online, data such as a bank account name, a credit ID, and a personal identification number are input from the input confirmation device 8 (step S23), and further data such as a purchaser's name, a delivery destination of a product, and a telephone number is input. When input, these data are read by the main control unit 5 (step S2
4) The product seller confirms the processing via the POS center 1 or directly via the communication network (step S25), and the transaction ends.

When the vending machine performs the money processing in step S22, first, the ID for the money processing is determined between the product seller and the user (step S26), and the ID displayed on the input confirmation device 8 or the like. Confirm input (step S2
7). Next, the user puts money into the money processing device 7 (step S28), and when the transaction amount is reached (step S29), the data such as the commodity delivery destination is input from the input device 8 (step S30). The input data is processed via the POS center 1 or at the POS center,
Alternatively, when the commodity seller processes the communication on the communication network to confirm the money processing (step S31) and the money processing is confirmed and the commercial transaction is established, the vending machine performs money processing such as return of change (step S32). finish.

By the above operation, the vending machine operates as a money processing device and at the same time functions as a mail-order terminal device on the communication network, so that the utility value of the vending machine is increased from the viewpoint of both the provider and the user. Also, even if there is no dedicated personal computer for electronic commerce, it can be used by an unspecified number of users from the vending machine.

[0024]

According to the present invention, the merchandise selecting means orders the merchandise that is not stored in the vending machine, selects the merchandise delivery destination input from the input means such as a card or a keyboard, and the communication line is used from the vending machine. Since the information is sent to the center, the user can order the product without going to the terminal installation location, and the center can deliver the ordered product.

Further, since the delivery destination can be input through an input means such as a keyboard, any product delivery destination can be designated and input, and the product can be sold / delivered to a person other than the user such as a gift. In addition, since it can be used as a mail-order terminal by simply adding necessary devices to the existing vending machine, the added value of the vending machine increases.

Furthermore, if the existing communication network such as personal computer communication or the Internet is used, the vending machine can be easily used as a terminal for mail order.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a first invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the invention 1.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of inventions 2 to 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of inventions 2 to 4.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... POS center, 2 ... POS system, 3 ... vending machine,
4 ... Product selection button, 5 ... Main control unit, 6 ... Card reader, 7 ... Money processing device, 8 ... Input confirmation device, 9 ... ID card, 10 ... Credit card, 11 ... Product display, 12
... commodity sample, 13 ... personal computer communication network, 14, 15 ... communication line.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An automatic vending machine that sells products stored in a machine and a center sends and receives data via a communication line to an automatic vending machine, in which an order for products other than those stored in the machine is input. A possible product selection means, a reading means for reading data of a card storing an address of a product delivery destination, an input means for inputting an address of a delivery destination other than the product delivery destination in the card, and a product selection means When selected, the product,
An automatic vending machine, comprising: a control means for selecting and transmitting at least one of the in-card address and the address input by the input means. 2. An automatic vending machine that sells products stored in the machine and a product seller that is connected to a communication network to send and receive data, and that orders for products other than those stored in the machine. Is selected by the product selection means, the identification number input means for inputting the transaction identification number issued at the time of sales request, the money processing means for processing the money of the ordered product, and the product selection means. In this case, the vending machine is provided with a transaction notification means for notifying the completion of the commercial transaction when the identification number is confirmed and the money is properly processed. 3. The vending machine according to claim 2, further comprising: a sale item display means for displaying the content of the item sold by the item seller. 4. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the communication network is either a personal computer communication network or the Internet.