KR20040036804A - Managing method for selling of commodities for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method for managing the products sale of a vending machine is provided to easily manage the products sale without opening the front case of the vending machine body. CONSTITUTION: A method for managing the products sale of a vending machine includes the steps of: a first step of converting the vending machine from sale standby mode to the management mode by pushing at least one products selection keys among the products selection keys(301-312) with a predetermined method; and a second step of selecting the fine setting menu by controlling the products selection keys(312) and controlling the set value.

Description

How to manage product sales for vending machines {Managing method for selling of commodities for automatic vending machine}

The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly, to a product sales management method of a vending machine, such as raw material discharge amount control and product selling price control.

Typically, a vending machine is a device capable of selling a product on its own without a seller, and is classified into a vending machine for beverage sales and a vending machine for cigarette sales according to the type of merchandise sold.

These vending machines have a product sales management device installed inside the vending machine main body for setting the price of the goods to sell or for sales aggregation. Therefore, the operation of the merchandise sales management device is possible when the front cover of the vending machine body is open. However, a vending machine for beverage sales that sells mixed beverages such as coffee requires more product sales management, such as adjusting the amount of raw material dispensed. In this case, the manager must adjust the amount of raw material while tasting the beverage being dispensed. It is very inconvenient to operate the merchandise sales management device while opening and closing the front cover of the vending machine body.

In order to solve the above problem, as shown in Figure 1, the conventional vending machine 100 includes a merchandise sales management remote control 130 for externally controlling the merchandise sales management device described above. The merchandise sales management remote control 130 includes a plurality of function keys 131 to perform the same function as the merchandise sales management apparatus described above, and a control unit (not shown) inside the vending machine main body 110 through a cable 135. Is connected to And, the product sales management remote control 130 is detachably fixed to a predetermined position inside the vending machine body 110 when not in use.

However, the conventional vending machine 100 configured as described above has an advantage that the control of the amount of raw material discharge can be performed while the manager directly tasting the beverage to be dispensed, but by operating the locking device 125 for the merchandise sales management. Still having the inconvenience of opening the front cover 120 of the vending machine body 110 and taking out the merchandise sales management remote control 130. In addition, since the product sales management remote control 130 is detachably mounted inside the vending machine main body 110 and the remote control 130 and the control unit need to be connected with a cable 135, the manufacturing cost of the vending machine 100 is increased. There are a lot of problems.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, it is possible to perform product sales management without the inconvenience of opening and closing the front case of the vending machine main body and the product of the vending machine that can reduce the manufacturing cost of the vending machine The purpose is to provide a sales management method.

1 is a perspective view showing a conventional vending machine for beverage sales;

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 3 is a front view showing a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention,

4 is a front view showing an extract of the operation panel of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

200: vending machine 210: vending machine body

220: control unit 225: memory

230: product selection unit 235: operation panel

240: currency input / processing unit 241: currency input device

245: money return device 250: product discharge unit

255: product outlet 260: display unit

300 ~ 321: Product selection key 320: Selection indicator

330: Sold out indicator 340: Function indicator

The product sales management method of the vending machine according to the present invention for achieving the above object is, by pressing at least one or more product selection keys selected from the product selection keys in a predetermined manner to switch the vending machine from the sales standby mode to the management mode; And a second step of selecting a detailed setting menu and adjusting the set value by operating the product selection keys.

According to this, the merchandise sales management can be made easily through the product selection key, and the manufacturing cost of the vending machine can be reduced because a separate merchandise sales management device is not required.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the management mode switching of the vending machine is performed by operating a plurality of product selection keys stored in the memory in a predetermined order.

The second step may include a third step of selecting a desired detailed setting menu and a product requiring the detailed setting menu by pressing at least one or more product selection keys among the product selection keys, and selecting some of the product selection keys. And a fourth step of adjusting the setting value of the detailed setting menu selected in the third step by operating.

Each of the product selection keys may include a function indicator on which the function information performed by each of the product selection keys is displayed in the management mode, and the function indicator light may blink only in the management mode of the vending machine.

On the other hand, after the second step, by operating a portion of the product selection key in a predetermined method to store the setting value adjusted in the second step in the memory and the vending machine in the management mode in the product selling mode It is preferred to further include the step of switching to.

Here, the setting value storage and mode switching is preferably performed by pressing any one of the product selection keys for a predetermined time.

The detailed setting menu may further include a raw material discharge amount adjusting menu and a selling price adjusting menu for each of the discharged products discharged from the vending machine.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The vending machine according to the present invention is switched from the sales standby mode to the management mode by operating the product selection keys provided on the operation panel for product selection, and can adjust the setting values of the detailed setting menus in the management mode. According to this, product sales management can be performed without the inconvenience of opening and closing the front case of the vending machine main body.

To this end, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the vending machine 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a control unit 220, a memory 225, a product selection unit 230, money input And a processing unit 240, a product dispensing unit 250, and a display unit 260.

The money input / processing unit 240 is for processing money inputted or returned by the buyer to purchase a product, and a money input device 241 and a money return device provided in the vending machine body 210 like a normal vending machine. (245). The money input device 241 outputs a signal corresponding to the purchaser's money input to the controller 220. In response, the controller 220 operates the product selector 230 so that a buyer can select a desired product. In this case, the display unit 260 displays the amount of money that is input / returned or the amount of money that is returned.

The product selection unit 230 includes an operation panel 235 having a plurality of product selection keys 300. When the purchaser specifies a product to be sold by operating the operation panel 235, the controller 220 outputs a control signal to the product discharge unit 250 and drives the product discharge unit 250 to open the product discharge port 251. Eject selected product through

Here, each of the product selection keys 301-312 in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the selection indicator 320 flashing in accordance with the operation of the product selection key, and whether or not to sell Sold out indicator 330 for displaying and a function indicator 340 for displaying a function performed by each product selection key (301 ~ 312) in the management mode of the vending machine. When the buyer selects a product to purchase, the selection indicator 320 lights only those built in the product selection keys 301 to 312 corresponding to the selected product, and in the management mode, the product selection keys 301 to 312 selected by the manager. Only the built-in lights up. The function indicator 340 flashes as the manager operates the product selection keys 301-312 when the vending machine is switched to the management mode. The function of the function display and the sold out light (330, 340) can be replaced by the display unit 260 of the vending machine body 210, in this case, the function display and each of the product selection keys (301 ~ 312) Of course, the installation of the sold out indicator (330, 340) can be excluded.

On the other hand, the control unit 220 recognizes the signal input by operating the product selection keys (301 ~ 312) as a product selection signal when the vending machine is in the sales standby state, when the vending machine is in the management mode for product sales management Recognize it as an operation signal.

The memory 225 stores a method of recognizing a signal of the controller 220 corresponding to a signal output from each of the product selection keys 301-312 in the sales standby mode and the management mode. The detailed setting values manually adjusted by the administrator in the management mode of the vending machine are stored. Accordingly, the controller 220 controls the driving of each component according to a preset detailed setting value when selling the vending machine.

Hereinafter, a product sales management method of a vending machine according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a plurality of product selection keys 301 ˜ 312 are selected and pressed in a preset order to switch the vending machine 200 in the sales standby mode to the management mode. The mode switching method of the vending machine 200 may be performed by repeatedly operating any one of the product selection keys in a predetermined pattern, or by pressing a plurality of product selection keys in a predetermined order. The vending machine 200 in this embodiment uses a method of switching to the management mode by pressing the plurality of product selection keys 301-312 in a predetermined order. The merchandise selection keys 301 to 312 and the operation sequence which are operated to change the vending machine 200 to the management mode are stored in the memory 225 at the time of manufacture of the product, or the memory is set by the administrator before use. It is memorized at 225.

When the vending machine is switched to the management mode, the product selection keys 301 to 312 serve as function keys for selecting the detailed setting menu and adjusting the setting value, unlike in the sales standby mode. The function conversion may be applied to a part of the product selection keys 301 to 312 according to the type of the vending machine, or may be applied to all of the product selection keys 301 to 312. Next, the product sales management method of the vending machine will be described taking the case of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 4 as an example.

In the present embodiment, each of the " advanced black coffee " product selection key 304 and the spare product product selection keys 309 to 312 for which the sale product is not specified are selected, such as product selection, menu selection, type selection, and setting value change. Detailed setting menu selection function and setting value adjustment function can be performed. The functions of the product selection keys 304, 309 to 312 are stored in the memory 225 as described above. On the other hand, the function indicator 340 of each of the product selection keys 304, 309 to 312 performing the above functions is turned on at the same time as the management mode is switched, and remains lit until the end of the management mode.

To operate the vending machine 200 of the present embodiment configured as described above, the manager must operate the product selection keys 301 to 312 in the following order to adjust the amount of coffee discharged from the "premium sugar coffee".

First, the "advanced black coffee" product selection key 304 is repeatedly pressed a predetermined number of times so that the selection indicator 320 of the "high sugar coffee" product selection key 303 is turned on. At this time, each time the "Advanced Black Coffee" product selection key 304 is pressed, the selection light of the "Advanced Milk Coffee" product selection key 301 from the selection light 320 of the "Black Coffee" product selection key 308 is selected. Since the light is turned on one by one in order, the " premium sugar coffee " repeatedly presses the " premium black coffee " product selection key 304 until the selection indicator 320 of the " premium sugar coffee " Coffee " so that the selection indicator 320 of the product selection key 303 is lit.

Then select the Raw Material Dose Adjustment Menu. This is done by pressing the preliminary product commodity selection key 309 having a menu selection function so that the function indicator 340 of the "premium sugar coffee" commodity selection key 303 indicated as "raw material setting" lights up. Here, each time the function indicator 340 is turned on one by one in order of "sales aggregation", "price setting", and "raw material setting" each time the preliminary product selection key 309 having a menu selection function is pressed, the "raw material setting" is performed. It is necessary to repeatedly press the preliminary product commodity selection key 309 until the function indicator 340 of the "high-grade sugar coffee" commodity selection key 303 indicated by "" lights up.

Next, the commodity raw material to which "raw material setting" is applied is selected. The selection is completed by pressing the plurality of preliminary product selection keys 310 having the type selection function so that the function indicator 340 of the "milk coffee" product selection key 305 indicated by "coffee" is turned on.

After the detailed setting menu, the setting target product, and the setting target product raw material are set, the plurality of preliminary product selection keys 311 and 312 having the " increase " or " decrease " Adjust the value. At this time, the increase and decrease of the adjustment value can be accurately adjusted by the administrator by looking at the numerical value displayed on the display unit 260. Thereby, it is possible to adjust the dispensing amount of the coffee of "high-grade sugar coffee".

In this way, when the desired product sales management setting is completed, the predetermined one of the product selection keys 301-312 is pressed for a predetermined time, for example, about 3-4 seconds to switch the vending machine back to the product sales mode. At this time, the controller 220 recognizes the end of the management mode and stores the adjusted setting values in the memory 225 as described above. Therefore, in the subsequent merchandise sales, the product dispensing unit 250 and the currency input / processing unit 240 are driven based on the setting values stored in the memory 225.

In the above description of the present invention, the raw material setting method of the vending machine for beverage sales was described as an example. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this, and since the product selection keys 301 to 312 may be operated until product sale management such as price setting and sales aggregation of each product to be sold, there is no need to adjust the amount of raw material discharge. The application is also applicable to vending machines that handle other products, such as cans vending machines.

Further, if the management mode switching of the vending machine is made by operating the product selection keys as described above, the operation method of the product selection keys 301 to 312 for each detailed setting made thereafter can be variously modified. Of course.

According to the present invention described above, since the product sales management of the vending machine is possible only by operation of the product selection keys, there is an effect that the product sales management can be easily performed without opening or closing the front case of the vending machine body.

In addition, since there is no need to install a separate product sales management remote control as in the related art, there is an effect that the manufacturing cost of the vending machine can be saved.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments for illustrating the principles of the invention, the invention is not limited to the construction and operation as shown and described. Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, all such suitable changes, modifications, and equivalents should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

Merchandise sales management of a vending machine including a plurality of product selection keys provided on an operation panel of the vending machine main body and a memory storing a control method of a control unit for driving each component of the vending machine main body in response to the operation of the product selection key. In the method, A first step of pressing the at least one selected product selection key selected from the product selection keys in a preset manner to switch the vending machine from the sales standby mode to the management mode; And And a second step of selecting a detailed setting menu by adjusting the product selection keys and adjusting a set value thereof. The method of claim 1, Switching the management mode of the vending machine is a product sales management method of the vending machine, characterized in that the plurality of product selection keys stored in the memory is operated in a predetermined order. The method of claim 1, wherein the second step, A third step of selecting a desired detailed setting menu and a product requiring the detailed setting menu by pressing a plurality of product selection keys of at least one of the product selection keys; And And a fourth step of adjusting a setting value of the detailed setting menu selected in the third step by manipulating some of the product selection keys. The method of claim 3, wherein Each of the product selection keys includes a function indicator on which function information each of the product selection keys performs in the management mode, wherein the function indicator flashes only in the management mode of the vending machine. How to manage sales. The method of claim 1, After the second step, a part of the product selection key is operated in a predetermined method to store the setting value adjusted in the second step in the memory and to switch the vending machine from the management mode to the product sale mode. The product sales management method of the vending machine further comprising the step of making. The method of claim 5, wherein The setting value storage and mode switching is performed by pressing any one of the product selection keys of the product selection key for a predetermined time. The detailed setting menu according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The product sales management method of the vending machine, characterized in that it comprises a raw material discharge amount control menu and the selling price adjustment menu for each of the discharged goods discharged from the vending machine.