JPH11175829A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine of a simple structure that can easily find out a desired article sample among many article samples displayed in an article display part. SOLUTION: This automatic vending machine is equipped with an article display part 2 having a display and an article selection switch 8 that specify a salable article with respect to articles samples S. In the above arrangement, a group selection switch 9 for further selecting and specifying an article category grounded in advance with regard to a sales object article is equipped. When the group selection switch 9 is operated, a means for selecting and operating a display corresponding to an article in the category classified in accordance with the article category of the group concerned, for example, a selling price, a brand group or characteristics of a product, is equipped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine provided with a display corresponding to each of a plurality of product samples displayed in a product display section.

[0002]

2. Related Art A vending machine such as a cigarette is generally provided with a product display section for displaying a plurality of product samples to be sold (product samples) on the front surface of a door portion thereof. In particular, the product display section is provided with a display (sales display) for specifying a salable product and a product selection switch in association with each of a plurality of product samples arranged in multiple stages.
In addition, the above-mentioned indicator is generally incorporated in a key top of a product selection switch.

[0003] Incidentally, each of the above-mentioned displays is selectively driven to light in accordance with a commodity (commodity sample) which can be sold in accordance with the amount of money inserted through a predetermined currency slot. By such selective lighting of the display, the identification of the commodities that can be sold according to the input amount is performed. Then, when the product selection switch whose indicator is lit is selectively operated, the sales mechanism is driven to pay out the corresponding product from the product column associated with the product selection switch, thereby selling the product. Done.

[0004]

By the way, in recent vending machines, the kind of products to be sold tends to increase, and for example, a vending machine capable of selling more than 50 brands of cigarettes has also been developed. Have been. Accordingly, the number of product samples displayed in the product display section has been increasing, and it has become difficult to find a product to be purchased. In particular, since the display positions of the product samples arranged in the product display section are different for each vending machine, it is difficult to search for a product to be purchased in this regard.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to select a desired product sample (product to be purchased) from a number of product samples displayed in a product display section. An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine having a simple configuration that can be found easily and efficiently.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention relates to a vending machine provided with a product display unit in which a display and a selection switch are arranged in correspondence with a plurality of product samples, and in particular, a vending machine. A first display control unit that newly includes a group selection switch for selecting and specifying a product category that is grouped in advance with respect to a target product, and lights up a display corresponding to a product that can be sold according to the input amount. And second display control means for driving a display corresponding to a product belonging to a product category of the corresponding group when the group selection switch is operated.

That is, the vending machine according to the present invention includes a group selection switch corresponding to a product category grouped in advance by, for example, a selling price or a brand family, and when the group selection switch is operated, it is designated by this. By driving the display corresponding to the products belonging to the group's product category, it is easy to grasp the products belonging to a specific product category among many exhibited product samples, thereby facilitating the selection operation. It is characterized by doing.

It is to be noted that the lighting of the display by the second display control means is controlled in association with the lighting control of the display by the first display control means (identification display of salable products in accordance with the amount of input). Alternatively, the control may be performed irrespective of the insertion of the currency, that is, in association with only the operation of the group selection switch. Specifically, when the group selection switch is operated before the currency is inserted, all the indicators corresponding to the products belonging to the product category of the designated group are driven to light for a certain period of time. Is also good. In this way, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not a product to be purchased is prepared as a product to be sold by the vending machine before the currency is inserted. In this case, it is also effective to provide, in parallel with, for example, a display controlled by the second display control means in parallel with a display controlled by the first display control means. When the same display is shared, it is also useful to make the display contents identifiable by, for example, setting one display mode to be continuously lit and the other display mode to blink. It is also useful to change the display color itself by using a multicolor display.

However, in view of the operation mode of the vending machine, for example, the lighting drive of the display by the second display control means is controlled by the lighting control of the display by the first display control means. It is desirable that the control is performed in association with the saleable product identification display according to the input amount). That is, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the second display control means, a product belonging to a product category designated by the operation of the group selection switch among the products which can be sold in accordance with the inserted amount. It is characterized in that only the corresponding display is driven for lighting. In other words, only for the products that can be sold according to the input amount and that belong to the product category specified by operating the group selection switch, the corresponding display is selectively driven to light. Features.

Further, as described in claim 3, when a plurality of group selection switches are operated, only a display corresponding to a product satisfying all of the product categories respectively designated by the operation of each group selection switch is displayed. It is characterized by lighting driving. In other words, it is characterized in that products belonging to a plurality of specified product categories are subjected to AND (logical product) processing, and only display devices for products satisfying all of the specified conditions are selectively driven to light.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking a cigarette vending machine as an example. FIG. 1 is an external view showing a configuration of a door unit 1 forming a front part of a vending machine of a cigarette according to an embodiment of the present invention.
A product display section 2 on which a plurality of product samples S are displayed is provided at an upper front portion of the door portion 1, and a product outlet 3 is provided at a lower front portion of the door portion 1. Further, a coin insertion slot 4, a bill insertion slot 5, a change return port 6, a change return button 7, and the like are provided as operation sections on the front center right portion of the door portion 1.

The merchandise display section 2 includes a plurality of merchandise display shelves 2a each having a front surface covered with a transparent body, and a plurality of merchandise samples S are arranged on each of the merchandise display shelves 2a. You. Also, at the front end of each product display shelf 2a,
A product selection switch 8 incorporating a display unit is incorporated corresponding to the display position of each product sample S. These product selection switches 8 correspond to product columns (not shown) incorporated inside the vending machine main body, and are provided so as to be pressed from the front side of the product display unit 2. When these product selection switches 8 are selectively pressed under predetermined conditions, the corresponding products (cigarettes) are selectively paid out from the product column corresponding to the product selection switch 8. Then, the commodity selectively paid out from the commodity column is led to the commodity take-out port 3, whereby the commodity is sold.

Incidentally, the display unit integrated with the product selection switch 8 is selectively driven to be lit to indicate a sellable product, for example, a red light emitting diode (LE).
D). Thus, the sales indicator is selectively turned on in accordance with the type (brand) of the product which can be sold according to the result of the judgment of the amount of money inserted through the coin insertion slot 4 or the bill insertion slot 5. When driven, it plays a role of identifying and displaying a salable product.

In addition, a sold-out display for displaying the sold-out state of the product is incorporated in the key top of the product selection switch 8 in addition to the sales display. Here, the technical idea according to the present invention is described. (Display control) is not directly related, and a description thereof will be omitted. Therefore, in the following description, the display incorporated in the product selection switch 8 is a sales display for specifying a product that can be sold according to the amount of input, a product belonging to a specified product category, and the like. Shall mean.

Basically, as described above, the product display section 2
In a cigarette vending machine configured with a man-machine interface unit including an operation unit and the like, particularly, the vending machine according to this embodiment is characterized by:
The point is that a plurality of group selection switches 9 are provided in association with the product display section 2. These group selection switches 9 are provided corresponding to product categories in which a plurality of products for sale are grouped in advance.
Are provided for each type of product category as shown partially enlarged. Specifically, for example, a product group with a selling price of “230 yen”, a product group with “240 yen”, a product group with “250 yen”, and a low tar /
Each of the group selection switches 9 is provided corresponding to each of the product categories classified as a low nicotine mild product group, a menthol product group, and the like.

When the group selection switch 9 is depressed, the vending machine turns on a display corresponding to a product belonging to a product group (commodity category) corresponding to the switch 9, thereby turning on the display. A function is provided for distinguishing and displaying products belonging to the designated product group from other products whose display is in the light-off state. That is, in accordance with the operation of the group selection switch 9, only the display corresponding to the product belonging to the corresponding product category is driven to be displayed under a predetermined condition, whereby a plurality of product samples S displayed on the product display unit 2 are displayed. It is easy to grasp products belonging to the above-mentioned designated category.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic processing procedure in a vending machine having such a display function. The processing procedure will be briefly described. This processing is started by inserting a coin through the coin insertion slot 4 or by inserting a bill through the bill insertion slot 5. When a coin or a bill is inserted, first, an inserted amount determination process is started, and the inserted amount is determined [Step S1]. At this time, the authenticity of coins and bills is also determined at the same time. When the input amount is obtained, a saleable product is determined according to the input amount [Step S2], and a display corresponding to the available item is selectively driven to light [Step S3] (Step S3). First display control means). The lighting drive mode of this display device can be not only a continuous lighting drive of the display device but also a blinking drive at a predetermined cycle. When a multicolor LED is used as the display, it is only necessary to drive the display with a specific display color. As a result, a sellable product is presented as a product sample S corresponding to the lighted display in the product display unit 2.

In such a state, first, it is determined whether or not the change return button (return lever) 7 has been operated (step S4). When it is confirmed that the change return button 7 has been operated, change processing is performed [Step S5]. This change issuance process returns all of the input currency when the product is not sold in accordance with the operation of the product selection switch 3 despite the input of the currency,
This is performed by issuing money corresponding to the input amount as change. Alternatively, when a product is sold in accordance with the operation of the product selection switch 3, the process is executed by issuing the balance amount as change as described later.

On the other hand, if the change return button 7 is not operated, it is next determined whether or not the commodity selection switch 3 is operated [Step S6]. When the operation of the product selection switch 3 is detected, the payout mechanism of the product column corresponding to the selected product selection switch 3 is selectively driven to pay the corresponding product from the product column. Then, the product is sold (step S7).

When the product selection switch 3 whose indicator is not lit is operated, the sale of the product is not permitted because of a shortage of the amount of money to be put in (the product is not a salable product, so it is not sold). ), The operation of the product selection switch 3 is ignored. After the corresponding product is sold in accordance with the selection operation of the product selection switch 3, the balance amount is obtained by subtracting the selling price of the product from the input amount described above, and a new sellable product is obtained based on the balance amount. Is determined (step S8).

If the balance amount exceeds the amount that can be sold, the balance amount is regarded as a new input amount, and the processing procedure from step S2 is repeatedly executed. On the other hand, when the balance amount is less than the amount that can be sold, the change issuing process described above is started,
Issue the above balance amount as change and [Step S
5], the processing procedure ends.

If the product selection switch 3 is not operated, it is determined whether the group selection switch 9 has been operated (step S9). If the operation of the group selection switch 9 is not detected by this determination, the processing from the determination of the operation of the change return button 7 shown in step S4 described above is repeatedly executed. However, when the group selection switch 9 is operated prior to the operation of the product selection switch 3, this is detected, and the selected product group is selected and displayed as follows [Step S10] (second step). Display control means).

The selection display of the designated commodity group (second display control means) is selectively operated by referring to information on the commodity for sale registered in a table in advance as shown in FIG. 3, for example. Group selection switch 9
This is performed by searching for a product belonging to a product category associated with. Then, a product belonging to the corresponding product category, which can be sold according to the input amount described above, is found, and only the display corresponding to the product is lit to drive the product of the designated product group. The identification display of the product belonging to the category is realized.

More specifically, the above table describes the brands and sales prices of the products stored in a plurality of product columns classified by brand, as well as the characteristics of the products and the like. According to the operation of the selection switch 9, a product (product column) belonging to the classification category is obtained. For example, when the selling price "240 yen" is designated by the group selection switch 9, the product whose selling price is set to "240" is obtained from the table. When a mild cigarette is designated by the group selection switch 9, a product designated as "mild" is selected from the features described in the table. Similarly, when a specific cigarette brand group is designated by the group selection switch 9, a product belonging to the brand group is selected.

In this way, the display devices corresponding to the products permitted to be sold according to the input amount among the products belonging to the group selected and designated are driven to light up, so that the products belonging to the designated product category The product sample S corresponding to the product that can be sold inside is identified and displayed with other products whose display is in the unlit state. In this case, for products that belong to the selected and specified product category but cannot be sold due to a shortage of input amount, the products whose indicators are continuously lit by blinking the display or the like. (Products that belong to the specified product category and can be sold according to the input amount), and products that have the display turned off (they do not belong to the specified product category and are sold due to insufficient input amount) (Outside product).

By the way, a display for specifying a product which can be sold according to the input amount and a display for specifying a product belonging to the product group according to the operation of the group selection switch 9 are separately provided. In such a case, these displays may be simultaneously driven in parallel in parallel. In this way, it is possible to independently grasp the products that can be sold according to the input amount and the products belonging to the specified product category. Can be identified more easily than in the case where the numbers are different. Therefore, for example, when purchasing a target product belonging to a specified product category, it is possible to easily grasp a situation such as a shortage of the input amount.

Note that even when a specific product category is designated by operating the group selection switch 9, the designation is appropriately released by operating the group selection switch 9 again. The setting and release of such a product group can be achieved, for example, by providing the group selection switch 9 with a toggle function. In addition, the specification of the product category by operating the group selection switch 9 can be set in parallel as long as there is no inconsistency among a plurality of product categories. Specifically, it is prohibited to simultaneously designate a product group with a selling price of “240 yen” and a product group with a selling price of “250 yen”, but the sales price of “24 yen” is prohibited.
If the types of the product categories are different, such as a product group of "0 yen" and a "mild" product group, these product groups can be specified at the same time. When a plurality of groups having different product categories are specified at the same time in this way, products belonging to each of these product categories are obtained by AND (logical product) processing, and this is specified as a specified product. Good.

Thus, the above-described group selection switch 9 is provided, and the display corresponding to the product belonging to the product category specified by the selection operation of the group selection switch 9 is driven to display, thereby classifying and displaying the product sample S. According to the vending machine having the function, only the product category is specified by operating the group selection switch 9 and the product to be purchased can be quickly and reliably selected from the product samples S displayed in the product display section 2 in many cases. It is possible to find out. As a result, the purchaser operates the product selection switch 3 using the product samples classified and displayed as clues,
It is possible to easily and reliably specify a desired product from a large number of sales target products and purchase the product.

When selecting and displaying a product in a category corresponding to the group selection switch 9 under the operation of the group selection switch 9, for example, the above-mentioned products among the products determined to be available for sale according to the amount of money put in are selected. Only products belonging to a specified category may be identified and displayed. Conversely, when such a restriction is not imposed, a salable product among products belonging to the specified category and a product that cannot be sold due to a shortage of the input amount may be respectively displayed. In this case, if the display colors are made different using, for example, a multi-color display, the buyer is effectively notified that the amount of money to be input is insufficient for purchasing the desired product. It becomes possible.

As described above, it is also possible to combine a plurality of product categories between different categories so that they can be designated. For example, the group selection switch 9 for specifying "mild" and the "240"
The group selection switch 9 for designating "circle" may be made operable at the same time, and a product that satisfies these designated conditions may be selected and group display is performed. In this way, it is possible to easily narrow down the product type, so that it is possible to more easily and reliably select a desired product.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of commodities (A1, A2, A3,
A4, A5), multiple types of products belonging to brand B (B1, B2, B
3, BA4), and a plurality of products belonging to brand E (E1,
E2, E3), and other brands, the brand group can be classified as one category. On the other hand, goods sold at 230 yen (B2, B4, C, D, N), goods sold at 240 yen (A3, E1, E2, E3, F1), and sold at 250 yen (A1, A2, A4, F2, H), and other products, the selling price can be classified as one category.

As described above, even the same product may belong to a plurality of different groups depending on its classification category, and thus is specified by a combination of the plurality of group selection switches 9 in accordance with the selective operation. If a product is selected, it is possible to reliably narrow down the product. Note that, in terms of hardware, the group selection switch 9 belonging to the same type category has its 1
What is necessary is just to comprise so that only one can be designated. With such a contrivance, it is possible to effectively eliminate inconsistent designations such as a cigarette of "230 yen" and a cigarette of "240 yen". In other words, "230
It is possible to permit only duplicate designations by different classification categories, such as a "cigarette" and a "mild" cigarette.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Although the embodiment has been described by taking a cigarette vending machine as an example, the present invention can be similarly applied to a beverage can vending machine. In this case, it is possible to set a group such as “carbonated”, “slightly carbonated”, and “diet drink” as the classification category. It is also possible to set groups such as "new products", "value products" and "products to be promoted" as unique classification categories.

In the embodiment, after the money is input,
Although the operation of the group selection switch 9 is enabled in accordance with the input amount, the service function is provided by configuring so that the product selection display based on the operation of the group selection switch 9 can be performed regardless of whether the money is input. You may make it raise. Further, the products for which the sold-out has been detected may be excluded from the targets of the product identification display by driving the display. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist thereof, such as the number and types of merchandise categories to be grouped, and the number of types of merchandise to be sold.

[0035]

As described above, according to the vending machine of the present invention, the vending machine is provided with a group selection switch for selecting and specifying a product belonging to a pre-grouped category, and when the group selection switch is operated. , The display function to select and display the products belonging to the group, so that even if there are many product samples displayed in the product display section, the product or the product group to be purchased can be easily and It can be reliably found, and has a great effect in practical use such as its handling (operability) can be greatly improved.

[0036] In particular, according to the second and third aspects of the present invention, it is possible to effectively narrow down products to be purchased among salable products, and it is possible to easily find a desired product.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a schematic configuration of a front part of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic processing procedure in the vending machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a table used for selecting products classified by category.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of grouping of a plurality of products and products classified into different categories.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S Product sample 2 Product display section 2a Product display shelf 8 Product selection switch (display) 9 Group selection switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine provided with a product display section in which a display and a product selection switch corresponding to each of a plurality of product samples are arranged. First display control means for driving and lighting a display corresponding to a product which has become available for sale, a group selection switch for selecting and specifying a pre-grouped product category,
A vending machine comprising: a second display control means for driving a display corresponding to a product belonging to a product category of a corresponding group when the group selection switch is operated. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second display control means drives only a display corresponding to a product belonging to a product category designated by operating the group selection switch among the products available for sale. The vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. When a plurality of group selection switches are operated, the second display control means displays only a display corresponding to a product that satisfies all of the product categories specified by the operation of each group selection switch. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine is driven to be lit.