JPS63291191A - Automatic commodity leasing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention stores products in a plurality of storage chambers in a device, and collects fees for renting out these products for a certain period of time according to the operations of a customer. The present invention relates to an automatic product lending device that automatically lends out products.

[Conventional technology]

From an industrial perspective, so-called vending machines, which are devices that automatically dispense and sell products by inserting cash, are widely used in industries that sell specialty products, such as food, alcohol, and tobacco. Everyone agrees that it has greatly contributed to the expansion of consumption.

On the other hand, some of the products we use today do not develop the desire to purchase, but by borrowing, we receive the benefits of using them only for a specified purpose and period, pay a commensurate price, and after using them, we Rental-oriented consumption, such as returning products, is rapidly becoming popular.

These rental products come in a variety of sizes, ranging from vinyl records to automobiles, but demand for video software has increased particularly recently with the spread of video decks in general households.

The handling of such rental products involves more than simply discharging products like a normal vending machine; it also involves accepting returned products, checking the reliability of customers at the time of rental, and checking the degree of wear and tear. Automation has not been achieved due to the need for processing such as quality checks such as whether there is any damage or damage.

This is because the above-described processing requires the device to be brought online and complicated, and the cost of the device itself is not commensurate with sales.

In addition, especially for products such as video software, new software is released on the market every day, so the demand cycle for a single software is short, and those who operate the rental business have to update the stock of rental software one after another. Without it, you will not be able to generate sufficient profits.

Therefore, if automation were to be used, the product storage capacity of the equipment would be limited, so the frequency of updating the stock of rental software would be much higher, which would require the hands of the equipment operator, and the product storage capacity would be limited. It may also cause problems with customers.

For the above reasons, conventionally, a handling store was set up and relied on human resources to lend out products to customers, collect the associated rental fees, receive returned products from customers, and use them at the time of lending. The rental process included checking the customer's credibility, checking the identity of the rental item when returning the item, and checking quality such as the degree of wear and damage.

4 [Problems to be solved by the invention] However, when the product rental process is performed manually as described above, when the frequency of lending and returning is high, the number of staff members is insufficient for the large number of customers. As a result, customers are forced to wait for a long time, leading to a decline in service, and there is also the problem of placing a heavy burden on staff.

In addition, if automation is attempted to solve this problem, as mentioned above, the price of the equipment will increase, and due to frequent product replacement work, equipment management will become cumbersome in terms of maintenance. There was a problem that occurred.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device that is easy to manage and can automatically perform product lending operations off-line.

[Failure to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a device with an automatic maintenance operation function.

That is, the present invention provides a product storage system comprising a product takeout port for taking out products when a customer rents them out and putting the products in when returning them, a product return [ko] or product takeout/return [ ], and a plurality of storage chambers. a shelf, a product take-out and return mechanism that transfers and receives products between the product storage shelf and the product take-out and return port; a cash processing mechanism that counts cash inserted by customers and releases change; An input operation section consisting of various keys that allow customers to enter information by operation, and an input operation section that allows customers to rent out products.
An operation guidance display section that displays the information necessary for transactions such as returns, °, and operation guidance for customers, a card reader/writer that writes and reads information on the card inserted by the customer, handling contents, and rental products. A printing device that prints details such as name, rental period, etc. on a printing medium and issues a statement to the customer, and an information storage that stores information about products and customers necessary for transactions such as lending and returning products. In an automatic product lending device equipped with means and a control means for controlling these, in addition to a transaction mode in which customer operations such as lending and returning products are performed, there is also a transaction mode in which products are set, taken out, cash is scrutinized, and the device It has a maintenance mode in which the device operator performs operations such as testing the operation of each mechanism in the device, and determines whether an attendant card owned by the device operator is inserted based on the data on the card read by the card reader/writer. and when the determining means determines that the attendant card has been inserted, the mode is switched to the maintenance mode, the input operation section is enabled as an information input means in the maintenance mode, and the operation guidance display section allows It is characterized by displaying information necessary for maintenance operations and operational guidance for equipment operators.

[Effect]

The present invention having the above-mentioned configuration can be implemented by using a membership card with a writable/erasable recording section issued to a customer in advance, and by reading the information on this membership card with a card R/W. Based on the read information, the goods in and out of the storage compartment of the product storage shelf can be taken out and taken out by the product collection and return mechanism, and processes corresponding to transactions such as lending and returning of products can be performed. At the cash processing facility, cash was collected from the customer, and after the transaction, the member card returned to the customer memorized the transaction and the transaction layer, and the same member card was reinserted. Information on the customer's identification, transaction level, and transaction model can all be obtained from the membership card.

In addition, when equipment management is required, such as setting and sampling products, examining cash, and testing the operation of each mechanism within the equipment, when the equipment operator inserts the staff card, the information on this card is transferred to the card R. /W is read, and the determination means determines whether the attachment card has been inserted, thereby switching the mode to maintenance mode, enabling the input operation section as an information input means in maintenance mode, and displaying the operation guidance display section necessary for maintenance operations. It is possible to display various information and operation guidance to the equipment operator, and perform various maintenance operations mechanically according to the input operations of the equipment operator.

〔Example〕

Examples will be described below according to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a main control section, and this main control section 1 handles information etc. sent from components 2 to 18 described below. It has a function to appropriately control the operation of each of these components based on the above information.

Further, in this embodiment, the data on the card read by the card R/W (to be described later) also serves as a determining means for determining whether an attendant card owned by the device operator is inserted.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) that stores a control program for the device. In addition to the transaction mode in which the device of the present invention performs customer operations such as lending and returning products, the device also performs device operations such as setting products, collecting goods, examining cash, and testing the operation of each mechanism within the device. The control program for each mode is stored in the ROMZ and is selectively pulled out according to the judgment of the main control section 1.

3 is a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as R
AM).

4 is a calendar that outputs the current date, current time, etc. as necessary; 5 is a battery backup RAM for securing necessary information when the power of the device is cut off; the battery of this battery backup RAM 5 is It also serves as a backup for Calendar 4.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a floppy disk drive (hereinafter referred to as FDD) for reading information from a floppy disk (hereinafter referred to as FD) as a storage medium, that is, information storage means, and for writing new information therein.

In this embodiment, the FD installed in the FDD 6 inputs and stores information regarding the customer, such as the storage position and product number of each product currently stored, and the card information.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a product storage shelf consisting of a plurality of storage chambers 8 for storing rental products one by one.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a product take-out and return mechanism that mechanically takes out and stores products in the product storage shelf 7; 12 controls the product storage shelf γ and the product take-out and return mechanism 9 based on instructions from the main control unit 1; These 7 to 10 constitute an automatic warehouse.

A bar code indicating each product number is affixed to the product of the transaction medium in this embodiment, and a reading means 11 for reading the bar code is provided in the product pick-up and return mechanism 9.

12 is a cash processing mechanism for processing cash such as membership fees;
It has a deposit function that counts and processes cash deposited by customers and releases change as necessary.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a printing mechanism that prints the rented product, returned product, amount of money spent, etc. on the rent, and 14 is an operation guidance display that shows the member the parts to be operated when lending or returning the product. uses a flicker lamp here.

Reference numeral 15 indicates an input operation section consisting of input keys to be described later, and reference numeral 16 indicates an operation guidance display section (hereinafter referred to as CR) for displaying necessary information to guide and display equipment operations to the customer or the equipment operator.
T), 17 is a card reader/writer (hereinafter referred to as card R/W) for reading information from a member or staff card and writing information to the card, and 1B is the CRT 1
This is a voice generating mechanism that outputs the words corresponding to the guidance of 6 etc. by voice.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement relationship between the C'RT 16 and the input operation section 15. As seen in this figure, the input operation section 15
The F keys 15a are arranged along both sides of the CRTl6,
A display indicating the input contents of the F key 15a is displayed on the CRT 16 as necessary. 15b is a numeric key w, 15c is a cancellation key, and 15d is a confirmation key.

The operation of this embodiment with the above configuration will be explained according to a flowchart. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment.

In this embodiment, a user who wishes to borrow a product first informs a staff member at the store and receives a membership card. At that time, the user presents an identification card to the staff member that supports the credibility of the user, and based on this, the staff member writes the issuing store number, membership number, attributes such as date of birth and age, and the member's name on the membership card. After entering the information on the card as member information, the card is issued to the user.

Membership cards also have expiry dates, transaction tiers,
It has a recording section that can write and erase transaction model information.

A user who has been issued a membership card with the above configuration can use the automatic product lending device as a member.

On the other hand, in contrast to the membership card, the present invention provides an attendant card for use by the store's attendant, and information indicating that the operator of the device is the person who maintains the device is written on the attendant card.

The process will be explained below according to the steps of the flowchart shown in FIG.

A member card or an attendant card is inserted into the Sl device.

S2 The card R/W 17 is provided with a card detection means (not shown), and based on information from the card detection means, the main control section 1 determines whether or not a card has been inserted. If the card is inserted, the card is taken in to a predetermined position in the card R/W 17, and then the process moves to S. If the card is not inserted, that is, if the sl operation is not performed, the card is in a state of waiting for insertion.

Information written on the card is read by the card R/W 17 according to instructions from the main control section 1, transferred to the main control section 1, and stored in the RAM 3.

S4 It is determined by the main control unit 1 whether or not the inserted card is a regular membership card. If so, the process moves to S9 and the transaction mode is entered. If not, the process moves to S5.

S5 It is determined by the main control unit 1 whether or not the inserted card is a regular staff card. If so, the process moves to So and enters the maintenance mode; otherwise, the process moves to S6.

S6: In response to an instruction from the main control unit 1, a message indicating that the card is not valid and that the card is to be returned is displayed on the pcRT 16.

S7: The card is ejected from the device, and at the same time, a display prompting the user to remove the card is displayed on the CRT 16, and a sound to that effect is also output from the sound generating mechanism 18.

S8: When the card detection means confirms that the card has been removed, the process ends and the device returns to its initial state, that is, to the state of waiting for card insertion again.

Transaction mode> S9 If it is determined in S11 that the card is a regular membership card, then a message to guide the selection of handling details is displayed on the CRT 16 according to instructions from the main control unit 1, and an audio message to that effect is displayed. is outputted by the sound generating mechanism 18, and at the same time the content of the key is displayed. Next to a predetermined F key 15a of the fingertip input operation section 15, characters such as membership fee, loan, return, reservation, etc. are displayed.

In response to an instruction from the Slo main control unit 1, the F key 15 & is used as a service content selection key, that is, a membership fee key, a lending key, a return key, a reservation key, etc., and input by pressing these keys is enabled.

This is the state of the F key 15a and CRT 16 shown in FIG.

Here, when the membership fee key is pressed, the device displays on the CRT 16 the amount of the membership fee and prompting the user to insert cash.

When the customer follows this instruction and inserts cash into the device, the device counts the cash in the cash processing mechanism 12, and after confirming the payment of the membership fee displayed on the CRT 16, writes the expiration date on the membership card in the card R/W 17. I do.

The customer now has a membership card that can be rented and used for transactions. The device allows the F key 15a to be input as a transaction content selection key so that the customer can proceed directly to the rental transaction.

Next, when the lending key is pressed, the device displays a list of products on the CRT 16.

When a customer selects a desired product from this list and requests lending of the desired product using the input operation unit 15, the device drives the FDD 6 to transfer the storage room 8 in which this product is stored to an FD. The desired product is retrieved from a predetermined storage chamber 8 of the product storage shelf T by activating the product take-out and return mechanism 9.

Next, the card R/W 17 writes information regarding product rental onto the customer's membership card, and the printing mechanism 13 creates a receipt with the product number, return deadline, etc. of the rental product printed, and these membership cards and receipts are stored. It is discharged to the customer along with the products taken out from the chamber 8.

The above-mentioned operation will be performed only if the user who has not yet paid the membership fee pays the membership fee or
This is a series of product lending transactions, and for usage fees for which the membership fee has already been paid, the member card is inserted and the lending key is pressed directly to perform the above lending transaction.

After using the product, the customer who rented the product as described above,
Return the product to this device again.

First, when a customer inserts a membership card, the device performs the steps 81 to S1o described above. If the inserted money card is a legitimate one, it will reach S10 and press F key 15 &
Enable input as the handling content selection key.

Here, when the return key is pressed, the device prompts the CRT 16 to insert the returned product.

When the customer follows this instruction and inserts the product into the device, the product number is read by the reading means 11 of the product pick-up/return mechanism 9, and if it matches the product number in the rental information read from the membership card, the product is authentic. It is determined that the product is to be returned, the FDD 6 is driven to search for the storage chamber 8 in which the product should be stored, and the product is stored in a predetermined storage chamber 8 of the product storage shelf T by the product take-out/return mechanism 9. .

Subsequently, the number of overdue days is calculated from the return slot using the calendar 4, and if there is no overdue date, the lending information on the membership card is cleared using the card R/W 17 and the card is returned to the customer.
.

If there is a delay, the overdue charge is calculated, and the number of overdue days and the overdue charge are displayed on the CRT 16 to prompt the customer to pay the overdue charge.

When the customer follows this instruction and inserts cash into the device, the device counts the amount in the cash processing mechanism 12, and after confirming the payment of the late fee displayed on the CRT 16, the card R/W 17 reads the lending information on the member card. □Rear and return this to the customer.

The processing of other transactions after the reservation key is pressed is not directly related to the gist of the present application, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The above are the effects of each transaction mode.

Since the maintenance mode is the gist of the present invention, detailed explanation will be given below using a flowchart.

Maintenance Mode> If it is determined in S14 that the inserted card is not a regular member card, and if it is determined in S5 that the card is a regular staff card, the maintenance mode is entered and the process moves to DSu.

Sll Displays maintenance mode selection guidance on the CRT 16 according to instructions from the main control unit 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of maintenance mode selection guidance.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4 S1, S15 to S21,
Product sampling, cash inspection, cash setting, printer test, cash test, storage test, and card R/W test are examples of maintenance mode selections, but are not limited thereto.

S12 According to instructions from the main control unit 1, the F key 15ae maintenance content selection keys, namely, product sampling key, product set key, cash inspection key, cash set key, printer test key, cash test key, storage test key, card R/W Inputs made by pressing these keys as a test key and an end key are made valid.

Thereafter, in accordance with the necessity of the maintenance content specified by pressing the above-mentioned key, the operation of the selected maintenance content is executed while displaying operation guidance for the device operator on the CRT 16.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained in detail above, according to the present invention, a customer selects and lends out a desired product from among the products stored in the device according to a predetermined procedure, and returns the loaned product within a certain period of time. In an automatic product lending device that collects predetermined fees based on customer service, in addition to the transaction mode that performs operations for customers such as lending and returning products, it also handles the loading and unloading of products, checking cash, and various mechanisms within the device. It has a maintenance mode that performs operations for the device operator such as operation tests, and is provided with a determination means for determining whether an attendant card owned by the device operator is inserted based on the data on the card read by the card reader/writer. ,
When the determination means determines that the attendant card has been inserted, the mode is switched to the maintenance mode, the input operation section is enabled as an information input means in the maintenance mode, and the operation guidance display section displays information necessary for the maintenance operation and Since operation guidance is displayed for the equipment operator, various maintenance operations can be performed mechanically according to the input operations of the equipment operator.
No one other than the equipment operator is allowed to perform maintenance-related operations.

This makes it possible to provide the device with a safe and automatic maintenance operation function, and has the effect of providing an automatic product dispensing device that is easy to manage.

Furthermore, according to the device of the present invention, if a membership card with a writable and erasable recording section issued to a customer in advance is used, the information on this membership card can be read by the card R/W. Based on the read information, processing corresponding to transactions such as lending and returning products can be performed, and after the transaction, the transaction,
Furthermore, transaction layers, etc. can be recorded. This makes it possible to obtain detailed information on the customer's identification, transaction level, and transaction model all from the membership card, and it is also possible to take the device offline.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the CRT and input operation section of the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the embodiment, and FIG. 4 FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of maintenance mode selection guidance in the same embodiment. 1... Main control unit 2... R (5M 3... RA
M 4... Calendar 5... Battery grasshopper up RAM 6... FDD 7... Product storage shelf 8.
・・Product storage room Q- 9 ・Product collection and return mechanism 10 ・Product control unit 1
1... Reading means 12... Cash processing mechanism 13...
・Printing mechanism 14...Operation guide display 15...Input operation unit 16...CRT 17...Card R/W
18...Speech generation mechanism

Claims (1)

[Scope of Patent Claims] 1. A product storage comprising a product take-out port, product return port, or product take-out/return port for taking out products when rented by a customer and inserting products when returning the product, and a plurality of storage chambers. a shelf; a product take-out and return mechanism that transfers and receives products between the product storage shelf and the product take-out and return port; a cash processing mechanism that counts cash inserted by customers and releases change; An input operation section consisting of various keys that allow customers to input information by operation, an operation guidance display section that displays information necessary for transactions such as lending and returning products, and operation guidance for customers; A card reader/writer that writes and reads information on the card inserted by the customer; a printing device that prints details such as handling details, rental product names, and rental periods on a print medium to issue a statement to the customer; and a product. In an automatic product lending device equipped with information storage means for storing information on products and customers necessary for transactions such as lending and returning of products, and control means for controlling these, In addition to the transaction mode in which the customer performs operations, there is a maintenance mode in which the device operator performs operations such as loading and unloading products, inspecting cash, and testing the operation of each mechanism in the device, and the card reader A determining means is provided for determining whether an attendant card owned by the device operator has been inserted based on the data on the card read by the writer, and when the determining means determines that the attendant card has been inserted, the mode is switched to the maintenance mode, and An automatic product lending device characterized in that the input operation section is enabled as an information input means in a maintenance mode, and the operation guidance display section displays information necessary for maintenance operations and operation guidance for a device operator.