JP4332967B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vending machine including an image display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, vending machines have been developed that are provided with an image display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display so that commercials of products can be displayed. Furthermore, as disclosed in JP-A-10-143732 (G07F 9/00), a touch panel is provided on the image display device provided in the vending machine, a questionnaire screen is displayed on the image display device, and input from the touch panel is performed. In response, vending machines that conduct questionnaires have also been developed.
[0003]
The vending machine displays a number of products, asks which product is preferred among them, and sends the answer results from the touch panel to the host computer via a communication line and totals them. In that way, it investigates the preferences of customers who purchase products and obtains materials for marketing.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with the conventional vending machines described above, it is merely possible to investigate customer preferences and obtain materials for marketing, and it has not been possible to directly reflect the results of the questionnaire on the vending machines.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in consideration of such points, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to directly reflect a questionnaire result in a vending machine.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine according to claim 1 is a vending machine that mixes raw materials to produce and sell a beverage, and displays the image display means and the image after the beverage is produced and sold. A display control means for displaying the contents of the questionnaire on the means, an answer input means for inputting an answer to the questionnaire, a questionnaire counting means for counting the answers inputted from the answer input means, and a counting result of the questionnaire counting means And a sales control means for adjusting the composition of the beverage to be sold. If it does in this way, it will become possible to reflect the result of a questionnaire directly to a vending machine.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a vending machine according to the present invention. The main control unit 1 is a terminal control unit that controls each part of the vending machine, such as the input control unit 4, the display control unit 8, the sales control unit 13, and the coin processing control unit 14, while communicating via the data bus 15. To control. The main control unit 1 has a memory 2 for storing various setting data such as sales conditions. A modem 3 is connected to the main control unit 1 so that it can communicate with the management center via a telephone line network, a mobile phone network, a PHS network, or the like.
[0009]
An input device 5 having a data display 6 and a keyboard 7 is connected to the input control unit 4. Various data settings can be made by operating the keyboard 7 while displaying necessary items on the data display 6. Is done.
[0010]
The display control unit 8 is connected to a product selection button 9 provided on the front face of the vending machine and a price indicator 10, and notifies the main control unit 1 which product selection button 9 has been pressed. The amount inserted into a coin insertion slot (not shown) is displayed on the amount display 10. The display control unit 8 is connected to an image display device 11 made of a CRT, a color liquid crystal or the like, and can display an image of a commercial CM or the like, and can display a questionnaire screen related to a sold product. Further, when a questionnaire screen is displayed on the image display device 11, an answer input device 12 for inputting the answer is also connected. As the answer input device 12, for example, a touch panel attached to the surface of the display surface of the image display device 11 can be used.
[0011]
The sales control unit 13 controls the product carry-out mechanism based on a command from the main control unit 1 to carry out the product to the product take-out port. The coin processing control unit 14 identifies a coin inserted into the coin slot and notifies the main control unit 1 of the result.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is an external view of the vending machine according to the present invention. The reference numerals correspond to those in FIG. 1, 16 is a coin insertion slot, 17 is a return lever, 18 is a coin return slot, 19 is a product outlet, and 20 is a product sample. The image display device 11 is provided at an easily viewable position on the front surface of the vending machine, and a touch panel is provided on the display surface.
[0013]
During the standby period, sales merchandise, sales company CM images, and the like are displayed on the image display device 11 to attract the attention of passersby. When a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 16, the operation guidance screen is displayed. When any product selection button 9 is pressed, the corresponding product is carried out to the product outlet 19.
[0014]
Thereafter, for example, a questionnaire screen as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the image display device 11. At that time, voice guidance may be played. When the customer touches a necessary part on the screen with a finger, the result is notified to the main control unit 1 via the display control unit 8. In the main control unit 1, the results of the questionnaire are totaled. For example, when there are many opinions that the temperature of the product is warm or slightly warm, the main control unit 1 raises the set temperature to the sales control unit 13. To command. Moreover, in the cup type vending machine, for example, as shown in B in FIG. 3, a questionnaire regarding taste is taken and the questionnaire results are totaled in the same manner as described above. Based on the results, the main control unit 1 The taste is adjusted by changing sales conditions such as beverage data set in the memory 2. The beverage data includes raw material amount, sugar amount, milk amount, mixing rate, beverage temperature, and the like.
[0015]
Further, the questionnaire result is transmitted to the management center via the modem 3 and the communication line. In that case, the contents of the questionnaire may be asked for a favorite product, or for hot or cold preference. Further, a questionnaire may be taken on matters that are not directly related to the products sold at the vending machine. The questionnaire results can be transmitted to the management center, and the questionnaire results sent from a plurality of vending machines can be aggregated at the management center to be used as marketing materials.
[0016]
Furthermore, if a vending machine is equipped with a temperature sensor or a human detection sensor that detects the temperature, and sends the questionnaire date and time, temperature, purchased products, traffic information, etc. along with the above questionnaire results to the management center, it becomes more detailed. You can get marketing materials.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained. That is, the vending machine according to claim 1 is a vending machine that prepares and sells beverages by mixing raw materials , and displays questionnaire contents on the image display means and the image display means after the beverage is made and sold. Display control means for displaying; answer input means for inputting answers to the questionnaire; questionnaire count means for counting answers input from the answer input means; and beverages to be sold based on the counting results of the questionnaire count means And sales control means for adjusting the formulation . As a result, the questionnaire results can be directly reflected in the vending machine.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a vending machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external view of a vending machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a questionnaire screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main control part 2 ... Memory 3 ... Modem 9 ... Merchandise selection button 10 ... Amount display 11 ... Image display device 16 ... Coin insertion port 17 ... Return lever 18 ... Coin return port 19 ... Product take-out port 20 ... Product sample

Claims (1)

A vending machine that mixes raw materials to produce and sell beverages, and displays image display means, display control means for displaying questionnaire contents on the image display means after making and selling beverages, and inputting answers to the questionnaire An answer input means, a questionnaire count means for counting the answers input from the answer input means, and a sales control means for adjusting the blend of beverages to be sold based on the count results of the questionnaire count means Vending machine featuring.

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