JP4136456B2 - Vending machine inventory management system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a product inventory management system for a vending machine capable of managing the inventory number of a vending machine that sells various articles such as beverages and monitoring the presence or absence of a product whose expiration date has expired.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a product inventory management system in a vending machine, an operator inputs the number of products input for each column at the time of product replenishment using an input device or installs a product detection sensor such as a photoelectric switch near the input port. Then, the number of products inserted is counted and stored together with the date / time data.
[0003]
The data stored in this way is handled as inventory quantity data, and the inventory quantity data is subtracted every time a product is sold to update the inventory quantity, and the expiration date data set separately. Compare.
Based on this data, a method is known in which the number of replenishments is determined, or when there is a product whose expiration date has passed, the sale of that product is stopped.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above method, when inputting the number of products input by the operator at the time of product replenishment using the input device, it is necessary to interrupt the input operation and perform the input operation. The number may be entered incorrectly.
In addition, even when the number of inputs is automatically counted by a sensor installed at the input port, etc., if the product is simply replenished to each column until it is full, it is a product with a short shelf life, and the sales are unlikely There is a possibility that the product will be wasted due to expiration of the best-before date.
[0005]
Therefore, when managing the appropriate stock quantity of products from sales forecasts, etc., as described above, the worker needs to know the stock quantity in real time in order to replenish the products to the specified appropriate stock quantity. In addition, since it is necessary to work while considering how many more are to be thrown in, it can be a heavy load on the operator and may cause mistakes.
[0006]
On the other hand, the vending machine is managed by the manager, but the manager may manage a plurality of vending machines arranged in a wide area. In this case, it is difficult for the administrator to directly check the sales status and inventory, and the sales status and inventory status of each vending machine are managed based on the data collected by the worker when replenishing. In addition, there are cases where sales prediction, determination of an appropriate inventory quantity, and the like are performed.
[0007]
In this method, the administrator instructs the worker who replenishes each vending machine to the number of products to be replenished in each column of each vending machine, but the amount of information increases and the operator may make a mistake. In addition, since time elapses from the replenishment number instruction to the actual instruction, it is conceivable that the inventory number intended by the administrator will not be achieved.
Moreover, information can be collected only when replenishment work is performed, and the replenishment work is not performed at the same time, so all vending machine information is not collected at once, and detailed management is not possible. .
[0008]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a product inventory management system for a vending machine that eliminates the above-described problems and enables the inventory management of products to be accurately performed by workers and managers. It is in.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve such a problem, in the invention of claim 1,
A system comprising a vending machine and a center device,
In the vending machine,
Clock means for managing the date and time, input number detection means for detecting the number of product inputs in each column, and the number of product replenishment in each column and the number of products based on this input number detection means and the clock means First storage means for storing the replenishment date and time, second storage means for storing the current product inventory quantity of each column, product sales detection means for detecting that the product has been sold, and this product sales detection A third storage means for storing the products sold based on the means and the clock means and the date and time of sale thereof, and calculating the current product inventory quantity from the input number detection means and the product sales detection means, Stock quantity calculation means for rewriting the product inventory quantity in the second storage means with this inventory quantity as a new inventory quantity, display means installed near the product input port of each column, and data of each storage means to the center device With a means to send e,
The center device includes
Means for calculating the appropriate inventory quantity based on the data of each storage means transmitted from the vending machine, and means for transmitting the appropriate inventory quantity to the vending machine,
The vending machine calculates the replenishment number based on the current stock quantity and the transmitted proper stock quantity, and displays the replenishment number on the display means.
In the invention of claim 2, in the product inventory management system number counting device of the vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a fourth storage means for storing the expiration date of each product put into the vending machine, Applicable when the data in the first storage means is subtracted for each sale and the expiration date stored in the fourth storage means is compared, and there is a product that is less than a predetermined number of days before the expiration date or expired. Display on the display means of the column to be transmitted, and transmit to the center device.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the commodity inventory management system for the vending machine according to the first or second aspect, the display form of the display means is changed according to the number of replenishments and the expiration date. Product inventory management system.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the commodity inventory management system for a vending machine according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a door open / close detection means for detecting an open / closed state of the door of the vending machine is provided, In response to this, the display means is controlled to be turned on or off, or the detection start / end of the input number detecting means is controlled.
According to the above means, the manager can manage the number of merchandise inventory and the expiration date management of each vending machine while in a remote place.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 3 are block diagrams of a vending machine inventory management system showing a first embodiment of the present invention, which will be described below.
In FIG. 1, A, A1, A2, and An are vending machines (vending machines), 1 is a management server of a vending machine including a communication means 1a, and 2 is between each vending machine A to An and the management server 1. It is a network means for relaying data transmission / reception, and various transmission methods such as wireless and wired can be considered for the network means 2.
[0012]
First, the configuration on the vending machine side according to the first embodiment will be described using the vending machine A.
n1 is an object detection unit of the first column, and the object detection unit n1 includes a first detection unit 11 and a second detection unit 21, and the first detection unit 11 puts products in the product storage rack 50 of the column. The product 17 is installed near the input port 30 where the product 17 starts rolling or sliding on the top tray 20, and the second detection unit 12 detects the product from the input port 30 in the middle of the product storage rack 50 of the column. It is inserted, rolls or slides on the top tray 20 and starts to fall from the top tray 20 into the commodity storage rack 50 or is placed below the place.
[0013]
Reference numeral 111 denotes a display device (LED) in the first column, which is provided at a position where an operator can visually recognize from the front surface near the insertion port 30. The display device includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel and an LED display that can display numerical values. In view of the fact that it is installed in a column, the cost of parts, wiring, etc. increases, and it is necessary to secure a new installation location, so only one visible light emitting diode (LED) is provided in each column.
[0014]
The object detection unit and the display device are provided for each column of the vending machine. The number of the object detection unit and the display device is different depending on the number of columns. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. In addition to the object detection unit n1 in the first column, the object detection unit n2 in the second column (first detection unit 12, second detection unit 22), the object detection unit nn in the nth column (first detection unit 1n, In addition to the second detector 2n), the N-th column object detector nN (first detector 1N, second detector 2N), and the first column display device 111, the second column display device 112, An n-column display device 11n and an N-th column display device 11N are illustrated.
[0015]
Next, 4 is an object discriminating unit that discriminates whether a product or an object other than a product passes by a signal from the object detection unit. 7n is a sales switch, which is installed in front of the vending machine and pressed when a customer purchases a product. Reference numeral 8n denotes a sold-out detection unit that detects that a product provided in each column has been sold out. Reference numeral 9 denotes a door open / close detection unit that detects the open / closed state of the door of the vending machine. Reference numeral 10 denotes a clock, which is used, for example, for replenishment date / time data, sales date / time data, and expiration date management. Reference numeral 3 denotes a counting processing unit. The counting processing unit 3 includes an object discriminating unit 4 and storage means 3a for each data, and performs counting of the number of inputs, inventory management (storage), and calculation. The sales switch 7n, the sold-out detector 8n, the door opening / closing detector 9, and the timepiece 10 are connected. Reference numeral 5 denotes a communication means for transmitting / receiving data to / from the management server 1 of the vending machine via the network means 2.
[0016]
In FIG. 1, the sales switch 7n and the sold-out detection switch 8n corresponding to the nth column are displayed, and those corresponding to the other columns are not shown.
In this configuration, a method for detecting the number of product inputs for n columns will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the first detection unit 1n detects an object when it is thrown in, and can detect it even if the merchandise storage rack 50 is filled up with the merchandise 17 as shown in the figure. In addition, although the first detection unit 1n is composed of two photosensors 101n and 102n here, not only the photosensor but also an equivalent element can be used. In this optical sensor, a light emitting element and a light receiving element are arranged side by side. The light emitted from the light emitting element is irradiated onto the object, and the presence or absence of the object is detected by detecting the reflected light with the light receiving element. That is, when the product 17 is first inserted, the light emitted from the light emitting element of the optical sensor 101n is reflected by the product 17, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving element of the optical sensor 101n to detect the product. At this time, the optical sensor 102n does not detect the product because the emitted light does not yet hit the product 17, but by moving on the top tray 20 along the product guide 19, the product 17 is slightly delayed from the optical sensor 101n. Is detected.
[0017]
Next, the second detection unit at the time of loading the product 17, for example, in the middle of the product storage rack 50 of the nth column, the product 17 is loaded from the loading port 30 and moves along the guide 19 on the top tray 20. It is installed at or below the place where it starts rolling or sliding and starts to fall into the product storage rack 5 from the top tray 20. The second detection unit 2n shown in FIG. 3 also uses the same optical sensor 201n as the first detection unit 1n, and therefore the detection principle is the same.
[0018]
Since the second detection unit 2n detects the product after it starts to drop, it is not necessary to assume that the product will be taken out later, and objects other than the product will not enter this position. Is detected as a product by the object discriminating unit 4 and counted by the counting processing unit 3.
The above-described method for detecting the number of product inputs is described in more detail in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-337842 filed earlier by the present applicant. Management and expiration date management will be described below.
[0019]
First, when the vending machine A detects that the door is open based on a signal from the door opening / closing detection unit 9, the vending machine A monitors a signal from the object detection unit nn in the nth column, and the object determination unit 4 If it is determined whether or not the product 17 has been inserted, the counting processing unit 3 adds the number of stocks in the column by the number of the inserted products, and each column is replenished when the product is replenished. How many were replenished with the date and time. At the time of sale, the count processing unit 3 monitors the sale switch 7n, subtracts the number of sold columns one by one, and stores the date and time when the item is sold. In this way, the stock quantity of each column can be counted and stored in real time.
[0020]
That is, together with the number of stocks in each column, the count processing unit 3 stores the information on the stock remaining in each column before the replenishment is performed in the storage means. The number of items supplemented and the date and time are stored together. At the time of sale, the product is sold from the product replenished earlier, so the data in the storage means is updated by subtracting from the earlier of the replenishment date and stored together with the date and time when the product is sold.
[0021]
Each data of this vending machine (inventory quantity data, replenishment quantity (date / time) data, sales quantity (date / time) data) is sold to the vending machine from the vending machine side or the administrator side when the transmission data is generated, for example. When requesting status information, the communication means 5 transmits the information to the management server 1 on the administrator side via the network means 2.
The management server 1 performs the above data collection processing for all the vending machines A to An having jurisdiction, and stores the stock quantity data, replenishment quantity (date / time) data, and sales quantity (date / time) data received from each vending machine. Based on this, it is possible to aggregate and check the stock status, so detailed management is possible.
[0022]
In other words, the management server 1 can determine the appropriate inventory quantity because the management server 1 can grasp the number of inputs replenished last time and the date and time, the current inventory quantity, the sales quantity and the date and time data from the previous aggregation to the present. it can.
The administrator transmits the appropriate stock quantity determined from the management server 1 via the network means 2 to each vending machine. In the vending machine, when the door opening / closing detection unit detects the opening of the door, it is considered that the product is being replenished, and if the current inventory quantity is subtracted from the appropriate inventory quantity received at this time, Replenishment quantity is obtained. Furthermore, the display device installed near the product inlet of each column instructs the worker on the number of replenishments required for that column.
[0023]
As the instruction method, for example, when it is necessary to put 5 or more, the display device 11n is continuously lit, and when it is 1 or more and less than 5, it is lit in a blinking manner. In a column that does not require input, the display device does not light up, and the specific work flow is as follows. The worker opens the door of the vending machine and puts the product into the column where the LED is lit. Count the number of products that have been put in, calculate the number of stocks at any time, calculate the difference from the number of appropriate stocks, and if there are still more than five, turn on the LEDs continuously. When it becomes less than the number, it lights up. When the operator confirms that the LED is blinking, the operator puts in the product while monitoring the display of the LED, and when the LED is turned off, stops the introduction of the product.
[0024]
In this way, an appropriate number of products can be reliably introduced with one display device.
Next, the expiration date management using this inventory management will be described.
As described above, the product inventory management also stores the replenishment date and time of each product, so the expiration date is also set at that time, and when sales are performed, the oldest of the stored data By subtracting from the replenishment data, the number of remaining days until the expiration date can be obtained by comparing the oldest replenishment data currently stored with the expiration date data. Based on this data, It is possible to detect that the expiration date for each stock item is about to pass or has passed.
[0025]
The vending machine can also send information from the vending machine to the management server and issue an alarm to the administrator. The administrator also uses the management server to check the current number of vending machines in stock, Since the inventory replenishment date and the expiration date are obtained, it is possible to monitor that the expiration date of the inventory product is about to expire.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the expiration date from expired by instructing the operator that the expiration date is about to expire on the management server side.
[0026]
Also, at this time, there is a product that is about to expire due to a blinking cycle of 2 Hz for the flashing lighting at the time of replenishment so that the operator does not misunderstand the display device of the corresponding column by an instruction from the vending machine alone or the management server Is set to 10 Hz, and a display different from that at the time of replenishment is performed, so that the state of the column can be determined. In addition, when a dairy product or a beverage containing them is heated and sold, the expiration date is short, and inevitably the stock product may pass the expiration date. In such a case, the vending machine stops selling the products whose expiration date has expired, and the inventory products whose expiration date has expired are collected by the operator in the same manner as the replenishment of the products. For example, the operator is instructed by blinking. In this case as well, the column of the product to be collected is displayed so that it can be easily determined by changing the blinking period at the time of replenishment and when the expiration date is about to expire.
[0027]
The display device does not need to be displayed when the door is closed, but only needs to be detected when the door is open. The product detection by the object detection unit 4 only needs to be performed when the door is open, so that the counting process is efficiently performed. be able to.
[0028]
With the above method, it is possible to finely manage the vending machine's product inventory with the management server, and it is possible to collect such information in a batch, so it is possible to efficiently determine the purchase of products and simplify management. There are also benefits. When a product is sold out (or when it is about to be sold out), there is a function of transmitting the information to the administrator, and it is understood that the administrator needs to replenish the product. Therefore, it is possible to avoid missing a sales opportunity due to sold out.
[0029]
Further, the manager makes a sales forecast, for example, predicts the quantity sold for each vending machine until the next replenishment, and determines the necessary inventory quantity in consideration of the expiration date.
As a result, it is possible to avoid long-term stagnation of stock products, reduce waste of products due to expiration of expiration dates, and reduce the amount of product replenishment work and on-site management items, increasing efficiency and reducing overall management costs. Can be reduced.
[0030]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. Although the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the description thereof is omitted, a sales switch provided in the vending machine is originally provided. 7n, the sold-out detection unit 8n, the door opening / closing detection unit, and the like are connected via the control / processing unit 6 of the vending machine that controls the vending machine main body, thereby simplifying wiring and the like.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the sales situation of the vending machine can be managed remotely by the communication means, or the sales situation of a plurality of vending machines can be managed in one place. Make sales forecasts quickly and determine the appropriate inventory. This can reduce the waste of merchandise due to expiration of the shelf life.
[0032]
In addition, if an operator only inputs the product by looking at the instructions on the display device installed near the input port, the appropriate stock quantity can be set as instructed by the administrator, so mistakes such as mistakes in the number of replenishments can be reduced. Since the data such as the number of replenishments (date and time) and the inventory quantity data are also transmitted to the manager using the communication means, the worker can omit these works and work efficiency is improved.
[0033]
Furthermore, a column near the expiration date or a column with a product whose expiration date has expired can be determined at a glance by using a display device near the inlet, and if the product expiration date has passed, the operator can easily Since it can be identified and recovered, the management cost of the vending machine can be reduced as a whole.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a vending machine.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an internal structure of a product storage rack.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS A-An ... Vending machine, 1 ... Management server, 1a ... Communication means, 2 ... Network means, 3 ... Counting processing part, 3a ... Memory | storage means, 4 ... Object discrimination | determination part, 5 ... Communication means, n1-nN ... Object Detection unit, 11-1N: First detection unit, 21-2N: Second detection unit, 6: Control / processing unit, 7n: Sales switch, 8n: Sold-out detection unit, 9: Door open / close detection unit, 10: Clock, 17 ... commodity, 30 ... commodity slot, 50 ... commodity storage rack, 111-11N ... display device.

Claims (4)

A system comprising a vending machine and a center device,
The vending machine includes a clock means for managing the date and time, an input number detection means for detecting the number of product inputs in each column, and each column based on the input number detection means and the clock means. First storage means for storing the number of products replenished and the date and time of replenishment of the products, second storage means for storing the current number of products in stock in each column, and product sales detection for detecting that products have been sold Means, a third storage means for storing the product sold based on the product sales detection means and the clock means, and the date and time of the sale, and the input number detection means and the product sales detection means. A stock quantity calculating means for calculating the stock quantity of goods and rewriting the stock quantity of goods in the second storage means using this stock quantity as a new stock quantity, a display means installed in the vicinity of the product inlet of each column, a center Data of each storage means to the device And means for transmitting
The center device comprises means for calculating the appropriate inventory quantity based on the data of each storage means transmitted from the vending machine, and means for transmitting the appropriate inventory quantity to the vending machine,
The vending machine calculates the replenishment number based on the current inventory quantity and the transmitted appropriate inventory quantity, and displays the replenishment quantity on the display means. 2. The product inventory management system number counting device for a vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising fourth storage means for storing a shelf life of each product put into the vending machine, and data of said first storage means Is subtracted for each sale, and the expiration date stored in the fourth storage means is compared. If there is a product that is less than a predetermined number of days until the expiration date or expires, the display means in the corresponding column A vending machine product inventory management system characterized by displaying and transmitting to a center device. 3. The product inventory management system for a vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display form of the display means is changed according to the number of supplements and the expiration date. 4. The product inventory management system for a vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising door opening / closing detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the door of the vending machine, wherein the display means is in accordance with opening / closing of the door. A product inventory management system for a vending machine, characterized in that it controls the turning on / off or the detection start / end of the number-of-insertion detection means.

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