WO2019196271A1

WO2019196271A1 - Vending cabinet, vending method, and server control method

Info

Publication number: WO2019196271A1
Application number: PCT/CN2018/098666
Authority: WO
Inventors: 季涛; 吕秀凤; 戴江
Original assignee: 合肥美的智能科技有限公司
Priority date: 2018-04-08
Filing date: 2018-08-03
Publication date: 2019-10-17
Also published as: CN108564714A

Abstract

A vending cabinet, a vending method, and a server control method. The vending cabinet comprises: a cabinet body (1), at least one storage chamber (100) being provided in the cabinet body (1); at least one pressure sensor (102), each storage chamber (100) being provided with one pressure sensor (102); and at least one elastic member (104), each storage chamber (100) being provided with one elastic member (104), one end of the elastic member (104) being connected to the pressure sensor (102) located in the same storage chamber (100), and the other end thereof extending to a port of the storage chamber (100) and generating a pressure on the pressure sensor (102) when there is a commodity to be vended abutting against the elastic member (104) in the storage chamber (100). According to the vending cabinet provided in the present invention, by means of the matching between the elastic member (104) and the pressure sensor (102), the change in length of the elastic member (104) can be reflected by detecting a change value of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor (102) after the commodity is vended, so that the number of commodities that are taken away can be indirectly reflected and thus the commodity vended in a vending process and the number thereof are obtained.

Description

Vending container, self-service vending method and server control method

This application claims the priority of the Chinese Patent Application filed on April 8, 2018, the Chinese Patent Office, Application No. 201101307411.3, the title of the invention is the "sales cabinet, self-sale method and server control method", the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference. Combined in this application.

Technical field

The invention relates to the technical field of vending machines, and in particular to a vending machine, a self-service vending method and a control method of a server.

Background technique

At present, there are many new types of unmanned vending machines. Generally, scanning electronic tags is used to attach RFID tags to each product, readers and antennas are installed in the containers, and the tags in the containers are read by readers. In order to obtain the goods in the container before and after closing, and then confirm the goods taken by the user, but the current cost of electronic labels is too high, this method is still not popular. Therefore, how to design a new structure and method to determine the type and quantity of goods sold has become an urgent problem to be solved.

In addition, there is a lack of monitoring measures during the vending machine sales process. If the goods in the container are damaged, it is impossible to check. At the same time, some vending machines are easy to get stuck at the shipping port when they are shipped, and it is difficult to take out.

Summary of the invention

In order to solve at least one of the above technical problems, the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention proposes a vending cabinet.

In a second aspect of the invention, a self-service vending method is also proposed.

In the third aspect of the present invention, a server control method is also proposed.

In view of this, according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a vending cabinet comprising: a casing having at least one storage chamber therein; at least one pressure sensor, each of which is provided with a chamber a pressure sensor; at least one elastic member, each of which is provided with an elastic member, one end of the elastic member is connected with a pressure sensor located in the same storage chamber, and the other end extends toward the port of the storage chamber and exists in the storage chamber The pressure on the pressure sensor is generated when the item for sale abuts against the elastic member.

The vending machine provided by the invention can cooperate with the pressure sensor to reflect the change of the length of the elastic member by detecting the change value of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor after the product is sold, thereby indirectly reflecting that the product is taken. The number of walks, so as to know the goods sold in the sale process and their quantity.

Wherein, for example, the pressure change detected by the pressure sensor reflects that the elastic member is elongated by 30 cm, and the thickness of the single piece for sale with the elastic member is 10 cm, then it can be preliminarily judged that the sale is sold during the sale. Three out of the goods. In short, the type of merchandise sold and the quantity sold can be known by determining the change of the pressure sensor whose pressure value changes and the length of the corresponding elastic member.

In addition, the vending cabinet in the above embodiment provided by the present invention may further have the following additional technical features:

In the above technical solution, preferably, the method further includes: a lighting device disposed in the casing.

In this technical solution, the lighting is used to illuminate the interior of the cabinet so that the user can select the item to be purchased.

In any of the above technical solutions, preferably, the method further includes: an infrared sensor disposed on an outer surface of the cabinet, and the infrared sensor being coupled to the illumination device to control opening or closing of the illumination device.

In the technical solution, the infrared sensor is used to determine whether there is a customer near the vending cabinet. When it is judged that there is a customer near the vending cabinet, the lighting device can be selected to enable the user to know the goods sold in the vending cabinet and the subsequent purchase of the goods, and vice versa. If there are no customers next to the vending cabinet, the lighting device can be temporarily turned off to save energy.

In any one of the above aspects, preferably, the method further includes: a refrigerating device disposed in the casing; and/or a camera disposed in the casing.

In the technical solution, by providing a refrigerating device in the vending cabinet, the vending cabinet is kept in a low temperature state, so as to prolong the storage period of the product or the iced drink, wherein the appropriate temperature range can be selected according to the specific commodity condition, and the cooling is reduced. Power consumption of the device; by setting up a camera in the vending cabinet, it is possible to record and monitor the customer's shopping behavior, and it is also convenient to trace the cause of the damage to the vending container.

In any of the above aspects, preferably, the elastic member is a spring.

In this technical solution, by using a spring as an elastic member in the vending cabinet, the spring force is used to push the forged product to the front of the vending cabinet for the user to take, and the spring shape variable and the formed elastic force are basically A proportional relationship, so that the quantity of goods sold can be indirectly detected by the detection of the spring force.

In any of the above aspects, preferably, the port of the storage chamber is provided with a baffle, and the length of the elastic member is smaller than the distance between the pressure sensor and the baffle.

In this technical solution, a baffle is arranged at the port of the storage chamber, and the forward displacement of the goods for sale is restricted by the baffle, and the goods for sale on the foremost side are close to the baffle, and the last side is to be placed. The merchandise sold is pushed by the elastic member, so that when the user takes away a number of items for sale in the storage chamber, the remaining items for sale are sequentially moved forward and pressed against each other, and the deformation of the elastic member changes during the process. Further, the elastic force formed by the elastic member is changed, and then the change in the length of the elastic member can be fed back according to the change in the elastic force detected by the pressure sensor, and the number of the sold products can be indirectly calculated. In addition, since the length of the elastic member is smaller than the distance between the pressure sensor and the baffle plate, when the goods in the storage chamber are all sold, the elastic member returns to the natural length, and the elastic member does not protrude to the baffle. The pressure value detected by the pressure sensor is about zero. At this time, it can be determined that the goods for sale in the storage chamber where the pressure sensor is located have all been sold, and the replenishment prompt is also issued when it is judged that there is no commodity in the storage chamber. .

For example, the pressure change detected by the pressure sensor reflects that the elastic member is elongated by 30 cm, and the thickness of the single piece for sale with the elastic member is 10 cm, then it can be preliminarily judged that the sale process is sold. Three items for sale. In short, the type of merchandise sold and the quantity sold can be known by determining the change of the pressure sensor whose pressure value changes and the length of the corresponding elastic member.

In any one of the above aspects, preferably, the method further includes: at least one shelf disposed in the casing; at least one partition disposed on the at least one shelf, wherein the compartment forms a storage cavity between the partition and the casing Or when a shelf is provided with a plurality of partitions, a storage chamber is formed between the adjacent two partitions.

In this technical solution, the respective storage chambers are separated by the shelf and the partition plate, wherein the port size of the storage chamber can be adjusted by adjusting the position and size of the respective shelves and the partitions, so as to place different sizes of the waiting chambers in the storage chamber. Selling goods.

In any one of the above aspects, preferably, the method further includes: a door body connected to the box body to open or close the box body; and a seal strip disposed on a surface of the door body near a side of the storage chamber, when the door body is closed When the box body is sealed, it is sandwiched between the door body and the box body.

In the technical solution, the cabinet can be opened or closed by the door body. Generally, when the door body is opened, the shopping is started, and when the door body is closed, the shopping is considered to be finished, and the door is opened and closed. The difference in pressure values detected by the rear pressure sensor can indirectly calculate the quantity of goods sold. In addition, a seal can be arranged on the surface of the door body to ensure the relative sealing of the box body after the door body is closed, to prevent dust or mosquitoes from entering the box body, and to reduce heat exchange inside and outside the box when the box body is cooled and the temperature is low. Prevent cold air leakage and reduce the working load of the refrigeration unit in the tank.

In any one of the above technical solutions, preferably, the method further includes: a door lock disposed on the door body or the box body; a controller, the controller is connected to the door lock, and the controller controls the door lock to make the door body and the cabinet body Lock or loosen.

In the technical solution, the door lock is controlled by the controller to lock or loosen the door body and the box body to ensure the safety of the goods in the box body and avoid theft. Generally, when a shopping activity starts, the door lock is released. At this time, the user can open the door body and select the product in the box body. After the door body is closed, the door body and the box body are locked, and the shopping activity is selected. At the end of the commodity phase, the merchandise and quantity sold can be determined based on the pressure changes of the various pressure sensors for subsequent settlement.

In any one of the above technical solutions, preferably, the charging device is disposed on the door body or the box body, the controller is connected to the charging device, and the controller is further connected to the pressure sensor.

In the technical solution, the charging device is connected to the controller, and the controller is connected with the pressure sensor, and the charging device can determine the sold goods and the quantity according to the change of the pressure value of each pressure sensor, and then the charging device can be sold according to the The quantity of the goods and the quantity of the goods are determined and charged.

The charging device may charge the terminal of the purchaser by means of a two-dimensional code or the like, or the charging device may directly collect cash locally.

The self-sale method provided by the embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention can be used in the above-mentioned vending cabinet, comprising: recording the storage chamber in which all the pressure sensors whose pressure values are changed as a trading chamber, and each trading chamber The characteristic information and the characteristic pressure value are sent to the server, so that the server determines the type information of the sold item according to the characteristic information; and sends the pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor in each trading chamber to the server, so that the server is based on the pressure sensor The amount of change in the pressure value and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber in which the pressure sensor is located determine the quantity information of the sold item, and generate the consumption amount information according to the type information of the sold item and the quantity information of the sold item, and generate the consumption amount information according to the consumption amount information. Deduct the fee information and send the deduction information to the buyer's terminal.

The self-service vending method provided by the present invention firstly sends characteristic information and characteristic pressure values of each transaction chamber to a server, so that the server determines the type information of the sold goods according to the characteristic information, for example, the characteristic information is a compartment of the transaction chamber. No. When the server knows the cabin number of the trading chamber, the information about the type of the product, the name of the commodity, the unit price of the commodity, and the like can be determined therefrom; then the pressure value change of the pressure sensor in each trading chamber is sent to the server. The server can determine the quantity information of the sold goods according to the pressure value change amount of each pressure sensor and the corresponding characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber, and generate the consumption amount according to the type information of the sold goods and the quantity information of the sold goods. The information, the amount of consumption information may include the subtotal of the price of the single item and the total amount of consumption, and the server will eventually send the deduction information to the buyer terminal to complete the payment for the sale. The self-sale method provided by the invention simplifies the purchase process and settlement process of the self-service vending, and the user can directly open the door to purchase when purchasing the product, so that the shopping process is more free and the related technology is avoided. The problem that the goods sold in the card are at the shipping port.

In addition, the self-service vending method in the above embodiment provided by the present invention may further have the following additional technical features:

In the above technical solution, preferably, before the storage chamber in which all the pressure sensors whose pressure values are changed is recorded as the transaction chamber, the method further includes: acquiring the shopping request information sent by the server and opening the door lock of the vending cabinet; After the door of the vending cabinet is closed, the door lock of the vending cabinet is controlled to lock the door body.

In the technical solution, before the storage chamber in which all the pressure sensors whose pressure values change is recorded as the transaction chamber, the shopping request information sent by the server is acquired and the door lock of the vending cabinet is opened, wherein the shopping request information is equivalent to one time. The start signal of the shopping activity is controlled to open the door lock, after which the user can open the door body and select the goods to be purchased by himself; then, when the door of the vending cabinet is closed, the door lock of the vending cabinet is locked to lock the door body, and then the door can be considered. The shopping process has completed the selection of the goods, and then the goods sold and the quantity thereof are determined according to the change of the pressure values of the respective pressure sensors, and finally the payment is received through the server.

In any of the above aspects, preferably, the method further includes: acquiring and displaying the type information of the sold item issued by the server, the quantity information of the sold item, and the consumption amount information.

In the technical solution, the type information of the sold goods issued by the server, the quantity information of the sold goods, and the consumption amount information are obtained and displayed, so that the shopper can understand and check the selected items and the quantity thereof, and the shopping. Amount of consumption.

In any of the above technical solutions, preferably, the method further comprises: controlling a camera of the vending container to record and monitor the purchase behavior and transmitting the record result to the server; if the purchase behavior is abnormal, controlling the vending cabinet alarm or sending the abnormality prompt information to the server.

In the technical solution, by controlling the camera of the vending cabinet to record and monitor the purchase behavior, when the purchase behavior is abnormal, the sales container alarm can be controlled or the abnormal prompt information can be sent to the server, so as to notify the relevant staff; meanwhile, in the process The result of the record will also be sent to the server for storage, so as to facilitate the subsequent investigation of the cause of the damage to the vending container.

The control method of the server provided by the embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention is for a server, the server is connected to the above-mentioned vending cabinet, and the control method of the server includes: acquiring characteristic information and characteristic pressure value of each transaction chamber, wherein The trading chamber is a storage chamber in which the pressure sensor whose pressure value changes; determining the type information of the sold goods according to the characteristic information; obtaining the pressure value change of the pressure sensor in each trading chamber; and the pressure value change according to the pressure sensor And the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located determines the quantity information of the sold product; generates the consumption amount information according to the type information of the sold product and the quantity information of the sold product; generates the deduction information according to the consumption amount information and sends the deduction Fee information to the buyer's terminal.

The server control method provided by the present invention obtains the type information of the sold item according to the feature information by acquiring the feature information and the characteristic pressure value of each transaction chamber, for example, the feature information is the cabin number of the transaction chamber, and the server knows When the compartment number of the trading chamber is numbered, information such as the type of the product, the name of the commodity, the unit price of the commodity, etc. can be determined therefrom; afterwards, the server can also change the pressure value of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located. Determining the quantity information of the sold product, that is, determining the quantity of the sold product; and then generating the consumption amount information according to the type information of the sold product and the quantity information of the sold product, wherein the consumption amount information may include a subtotal of the price of the single product And the total amount of consumption, and the server will eventually send the deduction information to the buyer's terminal to complete the payment for the sale. The control method of the server provided by the invention simplifies the purchase process and the settlement process of the self-service vending, and the user can directly open the door to purchase when purchasing the product, so that the shopping process is more free and the related technology is avoided. The problem that the goods sold in the card are at the shipping port.

In addition, the control method of the server in the above embodiment provided by the present invention may further have the following additional technical features:

In the above technical solution, preferably, the quantity information of the sold commodity is determined according to the change amount of the pressure value of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located, and specifically includes: the amount and pressure of the pressure value according to the pressure sensor The ratio of the characteristic pressure values of the trading chamber in which the sensor is located determines the quantity information of the sold item.

In the technical solution, the quantity information of the sold goods can be determined according to the ratio of the pressure value change of the pressure sensor to the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located, and the accuracy of determining the quantity of the sold goods is ensured. For example, if the pressure value of the pressure sensor changes by 10N, and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber corresponding to the pressure sensor is 5N, the product corresponding to the pressure sensor can be initially determined according to the ratio of the two. Two pieces.

In any one of the above technical solutions, preferably, if the ratio is not within the preset value range, the alarm information is generated and the alarm information is sent to the vending cabinet for the vending container to alarm according to the alarm information.

In this technical solution, the ratio is usually an integer, but the ratio may not be an integer because of the error, but even so, the ratio is usually a value close to an integer, such as 2.9 or 4.1; and if the ratio is not in the preset In the numerical range, for example, if the ratio of the above ratio is larger than the integer value close to it, the ratio may be problematic. For example, if the ratio is 2.5, there is a large error in the calculation of the quantity of goods sold. Then, an alarm message can be generated and an alarm message can be sent to the vending cabinet for the vending cabinet to alarm according to the alarm information, waiting for the staff to overhaul. In addition, if the ratio is not within the preset value range, it may be caused by human beings. For example, the user can place the goods in a certain storage chamber into other storage chambers, and in this case, the sales container alarm can also be controlled, so as to facilitate Troubleshoot in time.

In any one of the above technical solutions, preferably, the method further includes: before acquiring the feature information and the feature pressure value of each transaction chamber, receiving the shopping request information sent by the buyer terminal, and transmitting the shopping request information to the vending cabinet; After the deduction charge information is transmitted to the purchaser terminal, the type information of the sold item, the quantity information of the sold item, and the consumption amount information are transmitted to the purchaser terminal.

In the technical solution, before acquiring the feature information and the feature pressure value of each transaction chamber, receiving the shopping request information sent by the buyer terminal, and transmitting the shopping request information to the vending cabinet, the vending cabinet receiving the shopping request information Generally, the door lock is unlocked, so that the user can open the door to select the product and start the shopping process. In addition, after sending the deduction information to the buyer terminal, the server also sends the type information of the sold product to the buyer terminal. The quantity information of the sold goods and the consumption amount information are used to feedback the purchaser's information about the purchase, so that the purchaser can understand and check the selected items and the quantity thereof, and the purchase amount of the purchase.

Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of the invention.

DRAWINGS

The above and/or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from

1 is a schematic structural view of an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a schematic structural view of another embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic block diagram of a main control system of a vending container in an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic flow chart of a self-service vending method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a self-service vending method according to another embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a schematic flow chart of a self-service vending method according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a schematic flow chart of a method for controlling a server according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a method of controlling a server according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Wherein, the correspondence between the reference numerals and the component names in FIGS. 1 and 2 is:

1 box, 100 storage chamber, 102 pressure sensor, 104 elastic member, 106 lighting device, 108 baffle, 110 shelf, 112 partition, 2 door body, 202 seal, 204 door lock.

detailed description

The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a full understanding of the invention, but the invention may be practiced otherwise than as described herein. Limitations of the embodiments.

A vending container, a self-service vending method, and a server control method according to some embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to FIGS. 1 through 8.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present invention provides a vending cabinet comprising: a casing 1 in which at least one storage chamber 100 is disposed; at least one pressure sensor 102, each of which is provided with a housing 100 a pressure sensor 102; at least one elastic member 104, each of which is provided with an elastic member 104. One end of the elastic member 104 is connected to the pressure sensor 102 located in the same storage chamber 100, and the other end is opposite to the storage chamber 100. The port extends and creates pressure on the pressure sensor 102 when there is an item for sale in the compartment 100 that abuts the resilient member 104.

The vending machine provided by the present invention can cooperate with the pressure sensor 102 to reflect the change of the length of the elastic member 104 by detecting the change value of the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 102 after the product is sold, thereby indirectly reflecting The quantity of goods that are taken away, and the quantity of goods sold during the sale and the quantity thereof.

Wherein, for example, the pressure change detected by the pressure sensor 102 reflects that the elastic member 104 is elongated by 30 cm, and the thickness of the single piece for sale with the elastic member 104 is 10 cm, then the sale can be initially determined. Three pieces of the goods were sold during the process. In short, the type of merchandise sold and the number of merchandise sold can be known by determining the change in the length of the pressure sensor 102 in which the pressure value changes and the length of the corresponding elastic member 104.

In an embodiment of the present invention, preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, a lighting device 106 is further disposed in the casing 1.

In this embodiment, the interior of the cabinet 1 is illuminated by the illumination device 106 to facilitate selection of the item that the user desires to purchase.

In an embodiment of the present invention, preferably, the method further includes: an infrared sensor disposed on an outer surface of the casing 1, and an infrared sensor coupled to the illumination device 106 to control opening or closing of the illumination device 106.

In this embodiment, the infrared sensor is used to determine whether there is a customer near the vending cabinet. When it is determined that there is a customer near the vending container, the lighting device 106 can be selectively opened to facilitate the user to know the merchandise sold in the vending cabinet and the subsequent purchase of the merchandise. Conversely, if there is no customer next to the vending cabinet, the lighting device 106 can be temporarily turned off to save power.

In an embodiment of the present invention, preferably, the method further includes: a refrigerating device disposed in the casing 1; and/or a camera disposed in the casing 1.

In this embodiment, by providing a refrigerating device in the vending cabinet, the inside of the vending cabinet is kept at a low temperature to prolong the storage period of the product or the iced drink, wherein the appropriate temperature range can be selected according to the specific commodity condition, and the cooling is reduced. The power consumption of the device; by setting the camera in the vending cabinet, the customer's shopping behavior can be recorded and monitored, and the cause of the damage of the vending container can be easily traced. At the same time, the image recognition by adding a camera can further assist in identifying the category of the product. Or you can install a camera on top to monitor user behavior to find out where users are stealing merchandise or other disruptive behavior.

In one embodiment of the invention, preferably, as shown in Figure 1, the resilient member 104 is a spring.

In this embodiment, by using the spring as the elastic member 104 in the vending cabinet, the spring of the spring is used to push the forged product to the front of the vending cabinet for the user to take, and the spring shape and the formed elastic force are basically In a proportional relationship, it is possible to indirectly detect the quantity of goods sold by detecting the spring force. In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, when each of the storage chambers 100 is filled with goods, the springs are in a compressed state; when only one commodity is placed in each of the storage chambers 100, the springs are at a minimum pressure state; each of the storage chambers When the product in 100 is emptied, the spring does not touch the baffle 108, and the spring has a pressure value of zero.

In one embodiment of the invention, preferably, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a baffle 108 is provided at the port of the chamber 100, the length of the resilient member 104 being less than the distance between the pressure sensor 102 and the baffle 108.

In this embodiment, a baffle 108 is provided at the port of the compartment 100, and the forward displacement of the item for sale is restricted by the baffle 108, and the item for sale on the foremost side is positioned close to the baffle 108, and is located The last item for sale is pushed by the elastic member 104, so that when the user removes a number of items for sale in the storage chamber 100, the remaining items for sale are sequentially moved forward and pressed against each other, in the process. The deformation of the elastic member 104 changes the elastic force formed by the elastic member 104, and then the change in the length of the elastic member 104 can be fed back according to the change in the elastic force detected by the pressure sensor 102, thereby indirectly calculating the sold product. quantity. In addition, since the length of the elastic member 104 is smaller than the distance between the pressure sensor 102 and the baffle 108, when the goods in the storage chamber 100 are all sold, the elastic member 104 is restored to the natural length, and the elastic member 104 does not reach the top. The baffle 108, then the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 102 is about zero, and it can be determined that the goods for sale in the storage chamber 100 where the pressure sensor 102 is located have all been sold, and the same can be judged. A replenishment prompt is issued when there is no item in the storage chamber 100. The pressure sensor 102 can be embedded in the rear wall surface of the casing 1.

For example, the pressure change detected by the pressure sensor 102 reflects that the elastic member 104 is elongated by 30 cm, and the thickness of the single piece for sale of the elastic member 104 is 10 cm, so that the sales process can be initially determined. Three pieces of goods for sale were sold. In short, the type of merchandise sold and the number of merchandise sold can be known by determining the change in the length of the pressure sensor 102 in which the pressure value changes and the length of the corresponding elastic member 104.

In an embodiment of the present invention, preferably, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, further comprising: at least one shelf 110 disposed in the casing 1; at least one partition 112 standing on at least one shelf In the 110, the storage chamber 100 is formed between the partition 112 and the casing 1, or the storage chamber 100 is formed between two adjacent partitions 112 when a plurality of partitions 112 are disposed on one shelf 110.

In this embodiment, the respective compartments 100 are separated by shelves 110 and partitions 112, wherein the port size of the chambers 100 can be adjusted by adjusting the position and size of the respective shelves 110 and partitions 112 to facilitate placement in the chamber Different sizes of items for sale are placed in 100. The storage chamber 100 can be used for placing goods, and the same product is placed in each storage chamber 100, and different storage chambers 100 can display different and identical commodities.

In an embodiment of the present invention, preferably, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, further comprising: a door body 2 connected to the box body 1 to open or close the box body 1; the seal 202 is disposed at The door body 2 is close to the surface on the side of the storage chamber 100. When the door body 2 closes the case 1, the seal 202 is interposed between the door body 2 and the case 1.

In this embodiment, the cabinet 1 can be opened or closed by the door body 2, wherein, generally, when the door body 2 is opened, the shopping is considered to be started, and when the door body 2 is closed, the shopping is considered to be completed by acquiring The difference in pressure values detected by the pressure sensor 102 before and after the door opening can indirectly calculate the number of items sold. In addition, a seal 202 may be disposed on the surface of the door body 2 to seal the gap between the box body 1 and the door body 2, and ensure the relative sealing inside the box body 1 after the door body 2 is closed to prevent dust or mosquitoes from entering the box body 1. At the same time, when the cabinet 1 is cooled and the temperature is low, the heat exchange between the inside and the outside of the tank 1 can be reduced, the cold air can be prevented from leaking out, and the working load of the refrigeration device in the tank 1 can be reduced. In addition, the door body 2 can be a transparent structure so that the goods on the shelves in the box body 1 can be seen through the transparent door body 2. At the same time, the door body 2 can be mounted with a handle so that the user can open or close the door by pushing and pulling the handle. Body 2.

In an embodiment of the present invention, preferably, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the method further includes: a door lock 204 disposed on the door body 2 or on the cabinet 1; and a controller, the controller and the door lock 204 In connection, the controller controls the door lock 204 to lock or loosen the door body 2 with the case 1.

In this embodiment, the door lock 204 is controlled by the controller to lock or loosen the door body 2 with the case 1 to ensure the safety of the goods in the case 1 and to avoid theft. Generally, when a shopping activity starts, the door lock 204 is released, at which time the user can open the door body 2 to randomly select the goods in the box body 1, and then after the door body 2 is closed, the door body 2 and the box body 1 are locked. The selected merchandise phase of the shopping activity ends, and then the sold merchandise and quantity can be determined according to the pressure change of each pressure sensor 102, so as to facilitate subsequent settlement.

In an embodiment of the present invention, preferably, the utility model further comprises: a charging device disposed on the door body 2 or the box body 1, the controller is connected to the charging device, and the controller is further connected to the pressure sensor 102.

In this embodiment, the charging device is connected to the controller, and the controller is connected to the pressure sensor 102. The charging device can determine the quantity and quantity of the goods sold according to the change of the pressure value of each pressure sensor 102, and then the charging device can be The quantity of the goods sold and their quantity are determined and charged.

In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the vending cabinet includes a main control system, and the main control system includes a main control module, a user information reading module, an illumination lamp, a switch module, a load control module, and a power module. The pressure sensing module, the alarm module and the communication module, wherein each module is connected to the main control module.

In this embodiment, the main functions of the various modules and devices include:

The power module is connected to the main control board (ie, the main control module) for supplying power to the system;

The pressure sensing module is connected to the main control board for sensing the pressure value from the commodity (detected by the pressure sensor) and outputting the pressure change to the main control board;

The alarm module is connected to the main control board, and is used to send a prompt message to the user when an abnormal situation is found, and send relevant information to the staff member, especially for the pressure change of the goods received by the cloud and the inside of the compartment after the user purchases the end. When there is a discrepancy between the pressure change value of the commodity pre-value, the prompt information is sent to the user, and further, if the surveillance camera is installed in the box body, the behavior video of the user during the shopping period may also be sent to the staff;

a communication module, connected to the main control module, for implementing communication between the modules and communication between the main control module and the cloud or the server;

The user information reading module is connected to the main control module for reading the user information and sent to the server. After the server detects and verifies the user information, the server sends a door opening command to the door switch module to open the door lock;

Illumination light, connected to the main control board, used for illumination inside the container, can be in the always-on state, further, can also be in the off state, turn on the illumination after the user scans the code, or add an infrared sensor outside the container door to detect When someone comes, trigger the lighting;

The switch module is connected to the main control module, and is configured to close the door lock when receiving the door opening signal, and when the door closing signal is received;

The load control module is connected to the main control module for controlling the load of the refrigeration system in the container.

In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, the vending process of the vending cabinet may include the following steps:

S402, determining whether the door signal is related, and if yes, proceeding to S404;

S404, determining whether the pressure value of each pressure sensor changes, and if so, then proceeds to S406;

S406: The server calls a pressure change value of a single commodity corresponding to each pressure sensor preset in advance, and calculates a quantity of change of the commodity;

S408, determining whether the quantity of the commodity change is a positive integer (allowing a certain error range), if yes, proceeding to S410; otherwise, proceeding to S412;

S410, confirming that the quantity is the quantity of goods purchased by the user, debiting the payment, and sending the deduction information to the mobile terminal;

S412, sending an alarm message.

Through the above steps, an automatic shopping activity is completed. After the door is judged to be closed, the sold goods and the quantity are determined, the consumption amount and the deduction are determined, and the deduction information is sent to the buyer's mobile terminal that interacts with the vending cabinet. Wherein, if the calculated quantity of the product change is not an integer, an alarm message is issued to indicate a fault.

Specifically, for example, through a large amount of data collection, it is found that the pressure change value of a single commodity of a commodity is X. If the pressure change value of the compartment (the storage compartment) of the commodity received by the server at this time is 2X, it is determined that the commodity is Take two, if the pressure change value of the compartment where the product is received by the server is (9/10)X, the error is (1/10)X, then it can be determined that the commodity is taken away; The information of the products placed in each compartment (the storage compartment) is preset in advance, including but not limited to the category, name, quantity, unit price, shelf life, and individual product pressure change value of the product.

Alternatively, the entire operational flow when the user uses the vending cabinet includes the following steps:

The user scans the code through the mobile terminal, and the user information reading module reads the user information and sends it to the server through the network. After the server checks the user identity, the server feeds back the information to the main control board. After receiving the confirmation information fed back by the server, the main control board sends the unlock. Command to the switch module, the switch module receives the unlock command, and then unlocks;

The user opens the door, removes the goods from the shelf, closes the door, the switch module senses the door closing signal, automatically locks the door, and sends a door closing signal to the main control board. The main control board receives the door closing signal and sends a query command to the pressure sensing module. Inquiring about the change of the pressure value of each compartment (the storage chamber), after the product is taken out, the spring releases a certain pressure, thereby generating a pressure change. Further, it is assumed that there are M-layer shelves, and each shelf is placed with N-1 partitions. , each compartment has an independent number, which is 1, 2, 3, ... M*N, then the pressure sensing module feeds back the pressure change value of all the compartments to the main control module, and the main control module is then sent to the cloud server. The server presets the information of the products placed in each compartment in advance, and the server compares the actual pressure change value of the compartment with the pressure change value of the individual commodity preset in the server, calculates the number of changes of the commodity, and determines that the user purchases the commodity. The number of goods, through the unit price of the commodity, calculate the total price of the goods, perform deduction and deduction, and feedback the deduction information to the user's mobile terminal.

In the vending cabinet proposed by the present invention, the number of products purchased by the user is calculated according to the change value of the pressure sensor in the compartment (storage chamber) before and after the door body is closed, and the deduction is performed, the cost is low, the operation is simple, and the user experience is improved. .

In addition, the signal for inquiring the change value of the pressure sensor can be a door opening signal, or a door opening signal. When the user opens the door and before closing the door, the pressure change value is inquired at the same time, and the display screen can be installed on the side of the container or directly above the door body. The user takes out and puts back the merchandise, and displays the type, quantity and amount of the item removed by the user in real time through the display screen, thereby providing a better shopping experience for the user.

The invention also provides a self-service vending method, which can be used in the above-mentioned vending cabinet, as shown in FIG. 5, comprising the following steps:

S502, the storage chamber where all the pressure sensors whose pressure values are changed is recorded as a transaction chamber, and the characteristic information and the characteristic pressure value of each transaction chamber are sent to the server, so that the server determines the sold goods according to the characteristic information. Type information

S504, sending a pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor in each trading chamber to the server, so that the server determines the quantity information of the sold goods according to the pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located. And generating the consumption amount information according to the type information of the sold product and the quantity information of the sold product, and generating the deduction information according to the consumption amount information and transmitting the deduction information to the buyer terminal.

In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the self-service vending method includes the following steps:

S602. Acquire the shopping request information sent by the server and open the door lock of the vending cabinet;

S604, when the door of the vending cabinet is closed, controlling the door lock of the vending cabinet to lock the door body;

S606, the storage chamber in which all the pressure sensors whose pressure values are changed is recorded as a transaction chamber, and the characteristic information and the characteristic pressure value of each transaction chamber are sent to the server, so that the server determines the sold goods according to the characteristic information. Type information

S608, sending a pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor in each trading chamber to the server, so that the server determines the quantity information of the sold goods according to the pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located. And generating consumption amount information according to the type information of the sold product and the quantity information of the sold product, and generating the deduction information according to the consumption amount information and transmitting the deduction information to the buyer terminal;

S610, acquiring and displaying the type information of the sold goods issued by the server, the quantity information of the sold goods, and the consumption amount information;

S612, controlling the camera of the vending cabinet to record and monitor the purchase behavior and send the recorded result to the server;

S614, determining whether the purchase behavior is abnormal, and if yes, proceeding to S616;

S616, controlling the vending cabinet alarm or sending an abnormality message to the server.

In this embodiment, before the storage chamber in which all the pressure sensors whose pressure values are changed is recorded as the transaction chamber, the shopping request information sent by the server is acquired and the door lock of the vending cabinet is opened, wherein the shopping request information is equivalent to one time. The start signal of the shopping activity is controlled to open the door lock, after which the user can open the door body and select the goods to be purchased by himself; then, when the door of the vending cabinet is closed, the door lock of the vending cabinet is locked to lock the door body, and then the door can be considered. The shopping process has completed the selection of the goods, and then the goods sold and the quantity thereof are determined according to the change of the pressure values of the respective pressure sensors, and finally the payment is received through the server; the sold goods are obtained and displayed by the server. Type information, quantity information of the sold goods, and consumption amount information, so that the shopper can understand and verify the selected items and the quantity of the purchase and the amount of consumption of the purchase; by controlling the camera of the sales container to record and monitor the purchase behavior, when Control the vending cabinet alarm or send an abnormal message to the server when there is an abnormal purchase behavior In order to inform the relevant staff; at the same time, in the process, the record will be sent to the server for storage, so as to facilitate the subsequent damage to the vending cabinet.

In an embodiment of the invention, a self-service vending system is also provided, comprising:

a sending unit, configured to record a storage chamber in which all pressure sensors whose pressure values change is a trading chamber, and send characteristic information and characteristic pressure values of each trading chamber to a server, so that the server determines to sell according to the characteristic information. Information on the type of goods;

The sending unit is further configured to send the pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor in each trading chamber to the server, so that the server determines the sold product according to the pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located. The quantity information, and the consumption amount information is generated according to the type information of the sold item and the quantity information of the sold item, and the deduction information is generated according to the consumption amount information and the deduction information is sent to the buyer terminal.

An obtaining unit, configured to acquire shopping request information sent by the server and open a door lock of the vending cabinet;

The control unit is configured to control the door lock of the vending cabinet to lock the door body when the door of the vending cabinet is closed.

The display unit is configured to acquire and display the type information of the sold item issued by the server, the quantity information of the sold item, and the consumption amount information.

The control unit is further configured to control the camera of the vending cabinet to record and monitor the purchase behavior and send the recorded result to the server;

The control unit is also used to control the vending cabinet alarm or send an abnormality message to the server if the purchase behavior is abnormal.

The various steps of the self-service vending method described above can also be accomplished by the self-service vending system. And the vending cabinet proposed by the present invention may include the self-service vending system to achieve control of the vending process.

The present invention also provides a server control method for a server, the server is connected to the above-mentioned vending cabinet, as shown in FIG. 7, the server control method comprises the following steps:

S702: Acquire characteristic information and a characteristic pressure value of each transaction chamber, where the transaction chamber is a storage cavity where a pressure sensor whose pressure value changes;

S704. Determine, according to the feature information, type information of the sold product.

S706: Obtain a pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor in each transaction chamber;

S708, determining quantity information of the sold commodity according to the pressure value change of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located;

S710, generating consumption amount information according to the type information of the sold product and the quantity information of the sold product;

S712. Generate deduction information according to the consumption amount information and send the deduction information to the buyer terminal.

In the above step, the quantity information of the sold goods is determined according to the change amount of the pressure value of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located, and specifically includes: the transaction according to the pressure value of the pressure sensor and the pressure sensor. The ratio of the characteristic pressure values of the chamber determines the quantity information of the sold item. The quantity information of the sold goods is determined according to the ratio of the pressure value change of the pressure sensor to the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located, thereby ensuring the accuracy of determining the quantity of the sold goods. For example, if the pressure value of the pressure sensor changes by 10N, and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber corresponding to the pressure sensor is 5N, the product corresponding to the pressure sensor can be initially determined according to the ratio of the two. Two pieces.

In addition, if the above ratio is not within the preset value range, an alarm message is generated and an alarm message is sent to the vending cabinet for the vending container to alarm according to the alarm information. The ratio is usually an integer, but the ratio may not be an integer because of the error, but even so, the ratio is usually a value close to an integer, such as 2.9 or 4.1; and if the ratio is not within the preset range, For example, if the ratio of the above ratio is larger than the integer value close to it, the ratio may be problematic. For example, if the ratio is 2.5, there is a large error in the calculation of the quantity of goods sold. In this case, an alarm may be generated. Information and send alarm information to the vending cabinet, for the sales container to alarm according to the alarm information, waiting for the staff to overhaul. In addition, if the ratio is not within the preset value range, it may be caused by human beings. For example, the user can place the goods in a certain storage chamber into other storage chambers, and in this case, the sales container alarm can also be controlled, so as to facilitate Troubleshoot in time.

The invention also provides a server control method for a server, the server is connected with the above-mentioned vending cabinet, as shown in FIG. 8, the server control method comprises the following steps:

S802. Receive shopping request information sent by the buyer terminal, and send the shopping request information to the vending cabinet;

S804, acquiring characteristic information and characteristic pressure values of each transaction chamber, wherein the transaction chamber is a storage cavity where a pressure sensor whose pressure value changes;

S806, determining, according to the feature information, type information of the sold product;

S808, acquiring a pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor in each trading chamber;

S810, determining quantity information of the sold commodity according to the pressure value change of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located;

S812, generating consumption amount information according to the type information of the sold product and the quantity information of the sold product;

S814, generating deduction information according to the consumption amount information and sending the deduction information to the buyer terminal;

S816, transmitting, to the buyer terminal, type information of the sold product, quantity information of the sold product, and consumption amount information;

The server control method provided by the present invention receives the shopping request information sent by the buyer terminal before acquiring the feature information and the characteristic pressure value of each transaction chamber, and sends the shopping request information to the vending cabinet to receive the shopping request information. The vending machine will generally unlock the door lock so that the user can open the door to select the item and start the shopping process. In addition, after sending the deduction information to the buyer terminal, the server also sends the sold item to the buyer terminal. The type information, the quantity information of the sold goods, and the consumption amount information are used to feed back information about the purchase to the purchaser, so that the purchaser can understand and check the selected items and the quantity thereof, and the purchase amount of the purchase.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a control system for a server is also provided, and the server is connected to the above-mentioned vending cabinet. The control system of the server includes:

An acquiring unit, configured to acquire feature information and a characteristic pressure value of each transaction chamber, wherein the transaction chamber is a storage cavity in which the pressure sensor whose pressure value changes;

a determining unit, configured to determine, according to the feature information, type information of the sold item;

The obtaining unit is further configured to acquire a pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor in each trading chamber;

The determining unit is further configured to determine quantity information of the sold goods according to the pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located;

a generating unit, configured to generate consumption amount information according to the type information of the sold item and the quantity information of the sold item;

The generating unit is further configured to generate the chargeback information according to the consumption amount information and send the chargeback information to the purchaser terminal;

The determining unit is specifically configured to determine the quantity information of the sold goods according to the ratio of the pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor to the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located

The generating unit is further configured to generate an alarm message and send an alarm message to the vending cabinet if the ratio is not within the preset value range, so that the sales container can alarm according to the alarm information.

The obtaining unit is further configured to: before acquiring the feature information and the feature pressure value of each transaction chamber, receive the shopping request information sent by the buyer terminal, and send the shopping request information to the vending cabinet;

The generating unit is further configured to send the type information of the sold item, the quantity information of the sold item, and the consumption amount information to the buyer terminal after transmitting the chargeback information to the buyer terminal.

The steps of the above-described server control method can also be completed by the control system of the server. And the present invention also proposes a server including the above-described server control system to implement server-side control of the vending process.

In the present invention, the term "plurality" means two or more, unless specifically defined otherwise. The terms "installation", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood broadly. For example, "connecting" may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; "connected" may They are directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediary. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood on a case-by-case basis.

In the description of the present specification, the description of the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "specific embodiments" and the like means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiments or examples are included in the present invention. At least one embodiment or example. In the present specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention, and various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A vending container, comprising:

a casing having at least one storage chamber disposed therein;

At least one pressure sensor, one of the pressure sensors disposed in each of the chambers;

At least one elastic member, one of the elastic members is disposed in each of the storage chambers, one end of the elastic member is connected to the pressure sensor located in the same storage chamber, and the other end is opposite to the storage chamber The port extends and creates a pressure on the pressure sensor when there is a commodity for sale in the pocket that abuts the resilient member.
The vending machine of claim 1 further comprising:

A lighting device is disposed in the casing.
The vending machine of claim 1 further comprising:

An infrared sensor disposed on an outer surface of the case, the infrared sensor being coupled to the illumination device to control opening or closing of the illumination device.
The vending machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a refrigeration device disposed within the housing; and/or

A camera is disposed in the box.
A vending cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that

The elastic member is a spring.
A vending cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that

A baffle is disposed at a port of the storage chamber, and a length of the elastic member is smaller than a distance between the pressure sensor and the baffle.
The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

At least one shelf disposed in the case;

At least one partition is erected on the at least one shelf, wherein the compartment is formed between the partition and the casing, or when one of the shelves is provided The spacer chamber is formed between two adjacent spacers at the time of the spacer.
The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

a door body, the door body being connected to the box body to open or close the box body;

a seal is disposed on a surface of the door body near a side of the storage cavity, and the seal is sandwiched between the door body and the case when the door body closes the case.
The vending machine of claim 8 further comprising:

a door lock disposed on the door body or on the box body;

a controller, the controller being coupled to the door lock, the controller controlling the door lock to lock or release the door body from the case.
The vending machine of claim 9 further comprising:

A charging device is disposed on the door body or on the box body, the controller is connected to the charging device, and the controller is further connected to the pressure sensor.
A self-service vending method, characterized in that it is used in a vending cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the self-service vending method comprising:

Recording, in the transaction chamber, the storage chamber in which all the pressure sensors whose pressure values are changed are recorded, and transmitting characteristic information and characteristic pressure values of each of the transaction chambers to a server for the server to The characteristic information determines the type information of the sold product;

Transmitting, to the server, a pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor in each of the trading chambers, for the server to vary according to a pressure value of the pressure sensor and the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located The characteristic pressure value of the room determines the quantity information of the sold item, and generates the consumption amount information according to the type information of the sold item and the quantity information of the sold item, and generates deduction information according to the consumption amount information and transmits The deduction information is to the buyer terminal.
The self-service vending method according to claim 11, wherein before the said chamber in which the pressure sensor changes in the pressure value is recorded as a transaction chamber, the method further comprises:

Obtaining shopping request information issued by the server and opening a door lock of the vending cabinet;

Controlling the door lock of the vending cabinet locks the door body when the door body of the vending cabinet is closed.
The self-sale method according to claim 11, further comprising:

Obtaining and displaying the type information of the sold item issued by the server, the quantity information of the sold item, and the consumption amount information.
The self-service vending method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising:

Controlling the camera of the vending container to record and monitor the purchase behavior and send the recorded result to the server;

If the purchase behavior is abnormal, the sales container alarm is controlled or an abnormal prompt message is sent to the server.
A server control method, characterized in that the server is connected to the vending cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and the control method of the server comprises:

Obtaining characteristic information and characteristic pressure values of each transaction chamber, wherein the transaction chamber is the storage chamber in which the pressure sensor whose pressure value changes is located;

Determining, according to the feature information, type information of the sold item;

Obtaining a pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor in each of the trading chambers;

Determining the quantity information of the sold goods according to the pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber where the pressure sensor is located;

Generating consumption amount information according to the type information of the sold product and the quantity information of the sold product;

Generating the chargeback information according to the consumption amount information and transmitting the chargeback information to the buyer terminal.
The control method of the server according to claim 15, wherein the quantity of the sold goods is determined according to the amount of change in the pressure value of the pressure sensor and the characteristic pressure value of the trading chamber in which the pressure sensor is located Information, including:

The quantity information of the sold item is determined according to a ratio of a pressure value change amount of the pressure sensor to a characteristic pressure value of the transaction chamber in which the pressure sensor is located.
The method for controlling a server according to claim 16, further comprising:

If the ratio is not within the preset value range, an alarm message is generated and the alarm information is sent to the vending cabinet for the vending cabinet to alert according to the alarm information.
The method for controlling a server according to any one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising:

Receiving the shopping request information sent by the buyer terminal and transmitting the shopping request information to the vending cabinet before acquiring the feature information and the feature pressure value of each transaction chamber;

After transmitting the deduction information to the buyer terminal, the type information of the sold item, the quantity information of the sold item, and the consumption amount information are transmitted to the buyer terminal.