JP4494084B2 - Vending machine and vending system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention determines whether or not a user satisfies a predetermined condition based on information read from a recording medium, and sells a product when the predetermined condition is satisfied. In particular, the present invention relates to a vending apparatus and a vending system that reduce the user's labor in determining whether or not to sell.

  Conventionally, in sales of beverages and cigarettes, vending machines that greatly reduce selling costs and are not restricted by selling time are widely used.

  Generally, in a vending machine, a product sample is displayed so as to be visible from the outside, and a user selects a desired product from the displayed product sample and sells the selected product. As a means for selecting a product, there is a method of providing a selection button in the vicinity of a product sample, and this selection button and a plurality of product storage units (product columns) provided inside the vending machine have a predetermined correspondence relationship. Is set.

  Therefore, when the user presses the selection button near the product sample, the product is supplied from the corresponding product column and the price is settled.

  By the way, although tobacco and alcoholic beverages are prohibited from being sold to minors, conventional vending machines have been sold regardless of whether the user is an adult or a minor.

  Therefore, in recent years, a technology for confirming that a user is an adult has been devised in a vending machine that sells tobacco and liquor. For example, in the vending machine with an adult confirmation function disclosed in Patent Document 1, whether or not the user is an adult by inserting a driver's license or an adult confirmation card issued after confirming the person's age. I have confirmed.

JP 2002-342817 A

  By issuing an adult confirmation card as in the above-mentioned conventional technology, the vending machine reliably identifies whether the user is an adult and prevents the sale of tobacco and liquor to minors. be able to.

  However, on the user side, labor is required to insert a card each time a product is purchased. Therefore, there is a problem that the convenience of sales, which is the original advantage of the vending machine, may be impaired.

  The present invention was made to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sales management device that can reduce the labor of a user while preventing sales to minors. To do.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an automatic vending apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 includes:
A vending device that determines whether or not a user satisfies a predetermined condition based on information read from a recording medium, and sells a product when the predetermined condition is satisfied. Storage means for storing at least the user 's face information and purchase history of the user's recording medium, photographing means for photographing the user's face image, and information read from the recording medium satisfying a predetermined condition, or photographing When the face image photographed by the means is stored in the storage means, the sales determination means that permits the sale of the product, the product storage unit that stores the product, and the product storage when the sales determination means permits the sale A sales processing unit that dispenses a product from the department and settles the price; a registration determination unit that determines whether or not to register the user's face information in the storage unit based on the purchase history stored in the storage unit; With Information read from the recording medium in the condition that satisfies a predetermined condition, characterized in that to enable registration of the facial image in the storage means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vending machine according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the sales determining means uses the user as an adult as a predetermined condition.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the face information of the user stored in the storage means is shared by a plurality of vending apparatuses.

The vending system according to the invention of claim 4 determines whether or not the user satisfies a predetermined condition based on information read from the recording medium, and when the predetermined condition is satisfied. A vending system that sells products, a storage unit that stores at least the face information of a specific user and a purchase history of the user using the recording medium, and a photographing unit that captures a face image of the user; When the information read from the recording medium satisfies a predetermined condition, or when the face image taken by the photographing means is stored in the storage means, the sales determination means that permits the sale of the product and the purchase stored in the storage means A sales management device comprising a registration determination means for determining whether or not to register the user's face information in the storage means based on the history, and when the sales management device permits the sale, the product is dispensed and paid of And a vending apparatus for performing already on condition information read from the recording medium that satisfies a predetermined condition, characterized in that to enable registration of the facial image in the storage means.

The vending system according to the invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 4 , the sales judging means uses the user as an adult as a predetermined condition.

The vending system according to the invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 4 or 5 , the face information of the user stored in the storage means is shared by a plurality of vending machines.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the vending device stores in advance the face information of the user who has inserted the predetermined recording medium in the past and photographs the user's face, and when the predetermined recording medium is inserted, Alternatively, since the product is sold when the photographed face image is stored in the storage means, the user who stores the face information obtains a vending device capable of selling the product without imposing the labor of inserting a recording medium. There is an effect that can be. Further, the vending machine further stores the purchase history by the user, and determines whether or not to register the user's face information in the storage means based on the purchase history stored by the storage means. For a high user or a user with a large purchase price, there is an effect that it is possible to obtain a vending device capable of determining whether or not a product can be sold without imposing the labor of inserting a recording medium.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 2, the vending apparatus stores the face information of a specific user in advance and takes a picture of the user's face, and a recording medium indicating that the user is an adult is inserted. Or if the photographed face image is stored in the storage means, the product is sold, so that the user who stores the face information can use cigarettes that can only be sold to adults without imposing the labor of inserting a recording medium. There is an effect that it is possible to obtain a vending machine capable of determining whether or not liquor can be sold.

In addition, since the vending device according to the invention of claim 3 shares the user's face information stored in the storage means with a plurality of vending devices, the labor for registering the face information is also reduced, and further convenience is provided. There is an effect that an improved vending machine can be obtained.

According to the invention of claim 4, the vending system stores in advance the face information of the user into which the sales management device has inserted the predetermined recording medium in the past and photographs the user's face, and the predetermined recording medium Since the operation of the vending machine is controlled based on whether or not the photographed face image is stored in the storage means, a recording medium is inserted for the user who stores the face information. To obtain a vending system that can determine whether or not a product can be sold without imposing a labor to do so, and that can prevent the sales of inappropriate products even if the vending device does not have a function for determining whether or not to sell. There is an effect that can be. In the vending system, the sales management device further stores the purchase history by the user, and determines whether or not to register the user's face information in the storage unit based on the purchase history stored by the storage unit. For a user with a high purchase frequency or a user with a large purchase price, there is an effect that it is possible to obtain an automatic sales system that can determine whether or not a product can be sold without imposing the labor of inserting a recording medium.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, the vending system stores the face information of a specific user in advance and photographs the user's face, and a recording medium indicating that the user is an adult is inserted. Or if the photographed face image is stored in the storage means, the product is sold, so that the user who stores the face information can use cigarettes that can only be sold to adults without imposing the labor of inserting a recording medium. There is an effect that it is possible to obtain a vending system capable of determining whether or not liquor can be sold.

In addition, since the vending system according to the invention of claim 6 shares the user's face information stored in the storage means among a plurality of vending machines, the labor for registering the face information is also reduced and the convenience is further improved. There is an effect that an improved vending system can be obtained.

  Exemplary embodiments of a sales management device and a vending system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vending machine 1 which is Embodiment 1 of the present invention and is a cigarette vending apparatus. As shown in the figure, the vending machine 1 includes a product selection button 11, a display unit 12, a cash processing unit 13, a product dispensing unit 14, a card reader 15, a camera 16, a touch panel display 17, a main control unit 20, and a storage. Part 31.

  The product selection button 11 is an operation means used by the user to select a desired product, and the display unit 12 relates to a sales process such as a product that can be purchased with the amount of money that has been inserted or a product selected by the user. It is a means for displaying information.

  The cash processing unit 13 is a processing unit that accepts money input, settles a price, changes money, and the like. The product dispensing unit 14 dispenses a product selected by a user from a product column (not shown). Perform processing.

  The card reader 15 is a processing unit that accepts an adult confirmation card indicating that the user is an adult and reads information, and the camera 16 is a photographing unit that photographs the face of the user. Furthermore, the touch panel display 17 is input / output means for providing information related to adult confirmation and receiving input from the user, such as card insertion instructions and face registration guidance.

  The main control unit 20 is a control unit that controls the vending machine 1 as a whole, and includes a sales processing unit 21, a sales availability determination unit 22, and a registration processing unit 23 therein.

  The sales processing unit 21 receives the input from the product selection button 11 or the input from the cash processing unit 13 and performs the sales process of the product. As a general sales procedure, when a user inserts cash into the cash processing unit 13, a product that can be sold at that amount is indicated by the display unit 12, and a product is selected by the product selection button 11. Then, the merchandise is thrown out to the merchandise throwing unit 14 and the price is settled. When change is necessary, the change is paid out from the cash processing unit 13.

  Here, in a vending machine that sells a product that can be purchased by a minor and a product that can be purchased only by an adult, when a product that can be purchased only by an adult is selected by the product selection button 11, the sales availability determination unit 22. Execute the sale availability determination by. On the other hand, when all the products can be purchased only by adults, it is desirable to execute the sale availability determination unit 22 by the sale availability determination unit 22 before starting the sales process.

  Specifically, the sale permission / inhibition determination unit 22 includes a card authentication unit 22a and an image authentication unit 22b. The card authentication unit 22a determines whether or not the card inserted into the card reader 15 is a regular adult confirmation card, and notifies the sales processing unit 21 of the sales permission when determining that the card is a regular adult confirmation card. To do.

  Further, the image authentication unit 22 b refers to the customer data 32 stored in the storage unit 31, determines whether the user's face photographed by the camera 16 is registered in the storage unit 31 in advance, and the storage unit 31. If the user is registered, the sales processing unit 21 is notified of the sales permission.

  That is, if the vending machine 1 is a user whose face information is registered in the storage unit 31, it is possible to purchase a product without inserting an adult confirmation card, and the face information is registered in the storage unit 31. For users who are not, sales to minors can be prevented by determining whether or not to sell based on the adult confirmation card.

  Registration of the user's face information in the storage unit 31 is executed by the registration processing unit 23. As shown in FIG. 2, the customer data 32 stored in the storage unit 31 stores the card ID of the user who purchased the product from the vending machine 1 and the purchase history in association with each other. As specific contents of the purchase history, the purchase date / time, purchase brand, number of purchased products, purchase price, and the like are stored. Further, the card ID and purchase history are registered / updated when the sale possibility determination unit 22 authenticates the adult confirmation card and permits the sale, and the sale processing unit 21 executes the sale process.

  When registering face information, the registration processing unit 23 further stores the face information of the user in association with the card ID and purchase history. Accordingly, the customer data 32 stores the purchase history of all users who have purchased products from the vending machine 1, and further sells the user based on face authentication (without using an adult confirmation card). The face information of the permitted user is stored.

  As for the registration of face information by the registration processing unit 23, for example, a user with a large use frequency or use amount may be registered, or a user who desires to register may be registered.

  Next, the structure of the vending machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the vending machine 1 displays a product sample 18 so as to be visible from the outside, and a product selection button 11 is arranged in the vicinity of the product sample 18. Here, the product selection 11 is further provided with the function of the display unit 12, the product selection button 11 arranged in the vicinity of the product sample that can be purchased with the amount of money inserted is lit, and then any of the product selection buttons 11 is turned on. When the button is pressed, the product selection buttons 11 other than the pressed button are turned off.

  Further, in the cash processing unit 13, input / output devices relating to adult confirmation such as a camera 16, a touch panel display 17, and a card reader 15 are provided in the vicinity of the cash input unit 13 a, and the change dispensing unit 13 b is disposed in the vicinity of the product dispensing unit 14 By providing in, the operability of the user is improved.

  Next, the processing operation of the vending machine 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the vending machine 1. First, the vending machine 1 displays a “face pass sale button” to be pressed on the touch panel display 17 when the user designates sales by face authentication (without using an adult confirmation card).

  If this “face pass sales button” is pressed (step S101, Yes), face image authentication processing is executed (step S102), and it is determined that the user is a registered face information. A sales process is executed (step S104).

  On the other hand, when the “face pass sales button” is not pressed (No at Step S101) or when it is determined that the user has not registered the face information (No at Step S103), the vending machine 1 A message requesting insertion of the adult confirmation card is displayed on the touch panel display 17 (step S110).

  Thereafter, if an adult confirmation card is inserted (step S111, Yes), the card authentication unit 22a of the adult confirmation card executes authentication of the adult confirmation card, and if the card is authenticated (step S112, Yes), A sales process is executed (step S104).

  On the other hand, when the adult confirmation card cannot be authenticated (No at Step S112), the vending machine 1 displays an error message on the touch panel display 17 (Step S113), and returns the inserted card (Step S114). ), The process is terminated.

  Further, after executing the sales process (step S104), the vending machine 1 registers and updates customer data (step S105). Thereafter, referring to the customer data 32, if the user satisfies the registration condition of the face information by this sale (step S106, Yes), the registration process is executed (step S107). As this registration condition, for example, a condition may be set for the number of times of use, the frequency of use, the past total purchase amount, and the like.

  When the registration condition is not satisfied (No at Step S106), or after the registration process (Step S107) ends, the vending machine 1 ends the process.

  Next, the face image authentication process shown as step S102 in FIG. 4 will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the face image authentication process. First, the vending machine 1 takes a user's face image with the camera 16 (step S201). Next, the image authentication unit 22b calculates a facial feature amount from the face image captured by the camera 16 (step S202). Here, as the feature amount, for example, a value calculated from the position and size of eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, etc., their relative positional relationship, contour shape, etc. may be used. It should be noted that any known technique can be used for calculating a feature amount from a face image and collating a face.

  The image authentication part 22b reads the feature-value from the face information memorize | stored in the customer data 32 after completion | finish of step S202 (step S203). The customer data 32 includes a method of storing the face image itself in addition to a method of storing the feature amount. When the face image itself is stored in the customer data 32, the image authentication unit 22b reads the face image from the customer data and calculates the feature amount in step S203.

  Then, the image authentication unit 22b compares the feature amount calculated from the photographed face image with the feature amount acquired from the customer data 32, and a face whose feature amount difference is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value is registered in the customer data 32. It is determined whether or not (step S205).

  As a result, if a face whose feature value difference is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value is registered in the customer data 32 (Yes in step S205), the image authentication unit 22b identifies the photographed user as “Registering face information. If the face having a feature amount difference equal to or less than a predetermined value is not registered in the customer data 32 (No in step S205), the image authentication unit 22b captures the image. The determined user is determined not to be a user who has registered face information, and the process is terminated.

  Next, the sales process shown as step S104 in FIG. 4 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the sales process. First, the sales processing unit 21 determines whether or not cash has been inserted (step S301). If no cash has been inserted (No in step S301), the sales processing unit 21 waits for the insertion of cash.

  On the other hand, if cash is inserted (step S301, Yes), the sales processing unit 21 displays a product that can be sold based on the inserted amount (step S302). Thereafter, the user waits for the product selection button 11 to be pressed (step S303). If the product selection button 11 is pressed (step S303, Yes), the selected product is thrown out (step S304).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not change is necessary (step S305). If no change is necessary (step S305, No), the processing is terminated as it is. If change is required (step S305, Yes), the change is paid out (step S306), and then the process ends.

  Next, the registration process shown as step S107 in FIG. 4 will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the registration process. First, the registration processing unit 23 notifies the user that the face can be registered using the touch panel display 17 (step S401). At this time, the touch panel display 17 displays a registration button to be pressed when the user wants to register.

  Thereafter, if the user uses the registration button to indicate the intention to register (step S402, Yes), the touch panel display 17 is used to instruct photographing of the face image (step S403). Then, the user's face image is photographed using the camera 16 (step S404), and it is determined whether or not photographing is normally completed (step S405).

  If the photographing has not ended normally (step S405, No), the process proceeds to step S403 again to instruct photographing of the face image. On the other hand, if the photographing of the face image is normally completed (step S405, Yes), the facial feature amount is calculated from the photographed face image (step S406).

  Thereafter, the calculated facial feature quantity is stored in the customer data 32 in association with the card ID and purchase history acquired in the sales process (step S407), and a display notifying that the registration is completed is performed on the touch panel display 17. (Step S408), and the process ends.

  By the way, the registration process of face information is not necessarily limited to when the purchase history of the user satisfies a predetermined condition. For example, the user may be able to register arbitrarily, or the administrator of the vending machine 1 May register a specific user.

  A specific example of the processing operation when registering face information without depending on the purchase history is shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the vending machine 1 shifts to a registration mode for registering face information based on an input signal from any input means such as the touch panel display 17 (step S501).

  Thereafter, the insertion of the adult confirmation card is requested (step S502). If the adult confirmation card is inserted (step S503, Yes), the authentication of the adult confirmation card is executed.

  As a result, when the adult confirmation card cannot be authenticated (step S504, No), the vending machine 1 displays an error message on the touch panel display 17 (step S511), and returns the inserted card (step S511). S512), the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the card is authenticated (step S504, Yes), the vending machine 1 instructs the photographing of the face image using the touch panel display 17 (step S505). Then, the user's face image is photographed using the camera 16 (step S506), and it is determined whether or not photographing is normally completed (step S507).

  If the photographing has not been completed normally (No at Step S507), the process proceeds to Step S505 again to instruct photographing of the face image. On the other hand, if the photographing of the face image is normally completed (step S507, Yes), the facial feature amount is calculated from the photographed face image (step S508).

  Thereafter, the calculated facial feature quantity, the card ID, and the purchase history are associated with each other and stored in the customer data 32 (step S509), and the touch panel display 17 is notified of the completion of registration (step S510). The process is terminated.

  As described above, the vending machine 1 according to the first embodiment registers information related to a face for a specific user, and uses a camera 16 for image authentication for a user who has registered the face information. Therefore, the user who registered the face information can purchase the product without inserting the adult confirmation card.

  Further, for users who have not registered their face information, it is possible to prevent the sale of cigarettes for minors because the adult confirmation card is authenticated and the sale is determined.

  In addition, when registering a face, it identifies the user with high sales frequency and the user with a large sales amount based on the sales results managed for each user, and guides the registration of face information, so it is adapted to the usage status Registration can be realized and the user's labor can be reduced efficiently.

  In addition, for users who are expected to be used at a high frequency in advance, the user's labor can be reduced in advance by registering face information without depending on the purchase history.

  By the way, in the first embodiment, the processing operation for determining whether or not sales are possible before the start of the sales process has been described on the assumption that all the sales products should not be sold in minors. If the product is selected by the user, it is determined whether the product can be sold by minors. If the product cannot be sold, whether the user is an adult This determination may be made.

  In the first embodiment, registration and use of information with respect to the customer data 32 has been described, but it goes without saying that the registered information can be deleted appropriately. For this deletion, for example, information related to a card ID that has not been sold for a predetermined period may be deleted. For a user who has registered face information, only the face information may be deleted when the face information is not used for a certain period, and the card ID and purchase history may be deleted when the face information is not used for a predetermined period.

  Furthermore, the input / output means provided in the vending machine 1, particularly a human interface such as a touch panel display, can be implemented with appropriate changes. For example, instead of the touch panel display 17, an output unit such as an LED or a liquid crystal display and an input unit such as a button may be provided.

  More specifically, in the first embodiment, a “face pass sale button” or a “registration button” is displayed on the touch panel display 17 and a virtual button is realized using the touch panel function. The button may be installed as an independent operation button.

  Furthermore, the output means is not limited to a display or an LED, and information may be supplied to the user by voice using a speaker.

  In the first embodiment, the face image authentication process is started when the “face pass sale button” virtually created on the touch panel display 17 is operated. For example, the face image authentication process is started. If the face is automatically photographed and the face image authentication process is started, the user does not need to operate the “face pass sales button”, and the labor can be further reduced.

  If face images are automatically taken, face information can be acquired even when a user purchases a product using an adult confirmation card, so that the registration condition is satisfied by the purchase. If the face image is registered, it is not necessary to take a picture at the time of registration, and the registration process can be simplified. At this time, it is needless to say that it is desirable to execute imaging again if the automatically captured face image does not have sufficient quality as a registration face image.

  In the first embodiment, the description has been made on the assumption that the adult confirmation card is a magnetic card or a contact type IC card. However, the adult confirmation card may be, for example, a non-contact type IC card. . In addition to a card indicating that the user is an adult, a recording medium that records the date of birth, such as a driver's license, can be used to determine whether or not the user is an adult.

  Further, in the first embodiment, a cigarette vending machine is described as an example, and whether or not the user is an adult is used to determine whether or not to sell, but the use of the present invention is limited to this. It is not applicable, but can be widely applied to transactions with restrictions on users.

  In the above-described first embodiment, the vending machine 1 has a function of determining whether or not to sell, and the configuration in which the customer data 32 is used alone has been described. However, in the second embodiment, the present invention is applied to automatic cigarettes. Another configuration example when applied to sales will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration in a case where a device separate from the vending machine has a function of determining whether or not to sell. As shown in the figure, the adult authentication device 3 is connected to the vending machine 2 and determines whether or not the vending machine 2 can be sold independently of the vending machine 2. That is, the adult authentication device 3 functions as a sales management device of the vending machine 2 that is a vending device.

  The vending machine 2 includes a product selection button 11, a display unit 12, a cash processing unit 13, a product dispensing unit 14, and a main control unit 41, and the main control unit 41 includes a sales processing unit 21 therein. Have.

  The adult authentication device 3 includes a card reader 15, a camera 16, a touch panel display 17, a storage unit 31, and a main control unit 42, and the main control unit includes a sale availability determination unit 22 and a registration processing unit therein. 23.

  In this configuration, the main control unit 41 on the vending machine 2 side makes an inquiry to the adult authentication device 3 as to whether or not to sell the product that can be sold only to adults. Further, the adult authentication processing unit 3 determines whether or not to sell based on the information on the adult confirmation card read by the card reader 15 and the face image of the user taken by the camera 16, and the determination result is sent to the vending machine 2. Send to.

  That is, in the configuration shown in FIG. 9, whether or not the vending machine 2 can be sold is determined by the adult authentication device 3 having an independent casing. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the vending machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the configuration in which the adult authentication device 3 is separated from the vending machine 2, the card reader 15, the camera 16, and the touch panel display 17 of the adult authentication device 3 are connected to the cash of the vending machine 2 as shown in FIG. 10. It is desirable to improve the operability of the user by arranging it in the vicinity of the insertion unit 13a.

  Next, a configuration when customer data is shared by a plurality of vending machines will be described. In FIG. 11, the vending machines 4 to 6 each have a function for determining whether or not to sell and a storage unit for storing customer data. The vending machines 4 to 6 and the management center 7 are connected to each other via a network 8.

  The storage unit 51 of the vending machine 4 stores face information of users who frequently use the vending machine 4 in the customer data 32a. Further, the storage unit 52 of the vending machine 5 stores face information of users who frequently use the vending machine 5 in the customer data 32b. Similarly, the storage unit 53 of the vending machine 6 stores face information of users who frequently use the vending machine 6 in the customer data 32c.

  On the other hand, the management center 7 receives customer data 32 a to 32 c from the vending machines 4 to 6 via the network 8 and stores them in the storage unit 50. Moreover, the management center 7 can transmit customer data 32a-32c, when there exists a request | requirement from the vending machines 4-6.

  Accordingly, the vending machines 4 to 6 receive the request for face image authentication from the user, and even if the face information corresponding to the user does not exist in its own storage unit, the vending machine 4 to 6 stores the customer. Face image authentication can be executed by referring to data, that is, customer data registered from another vending machine.

  At this time, the face information itself may be received from the management center 7 and face image authentication may be performed on the vending machine side, but the face information calculated from the user's face image is transmitted from the vending machine side to the management center 7. If the management center 7 executes authentication and receives the authentication result, the communication load on the network 8 can be reduced.

  As a result of authentication via the network, if it is determined that the user has registered facial information, the corresponding facial information is sent to the vending machine and registered in the customer data on the vending machine. It is desirable.

  In this way, by making it possible to share customer data between vending machines, users can register face information with one vending machine without inserting an adult confirmation card with other vending machines. The product can be purchased and the convenience is further improved.

  By the way, when sharing customer data with multiple vending machines, for example, sharing information only within the same district, or sharing information only within the same building, reducing the capacity required for the storage unit Efficient information sharing can be realized.

  Also, when deleting the registered face information, the information on the vending machine side may be deleted to leave the information on the management center side, and the information may be acquired from the management center side when it becomes necessary again.

  Note that the management center is not necessarily required, and for example, information sharing processing between vending machines may be realized. In the configuration shown in FIG. 11, each of the vending machines 4 to 6 stores unique customer data. For example, all the vending machines store face information registered in any of the vending machines. The vending machines 4 to 6 may be configured to store the same customer data.

  As described above, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained even when the apparatus for performing adult authentication is configured separately from the vending machine. In addition, it is possible to further reduce the labor of the user by connecting the vending machine to the network and sharing customer information.

  As described above, the vending apparatus and the vending system according to the present invention are useful for vending products with restrictions on users, and are particularly suitable for reducing the labor of users in determining whether or not to sell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a schematic block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the vending machine which is Example 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the customer data shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the structure of the vending machine shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the processing operation of the vending machine shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the face image authentication process shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the sales process shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the registration process shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the registration process which does not depend on a purchase history. It is a general | schematic block diagram which shows the general | schematic structure in the case of giving the function which determines whether sale is possible to the apparatus separate from a vending machine. It is explanatory drawing explaining the structure of the adult authentication apparatus shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the structure in the case of sharing customer data with a some vending machine.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 4-6 Vending machine 3 Adult authentication device 7 Management center 8 Network 11 Product selection button 12 Display unit 13 Cash processing unit 13a Cash input unit 13b Change dispensing unit 14 Product dispensing unit 15 Card reader 16 Camera 17 Touch panel Display 18 Product sample 20, 41, 42 Main control unit 21 Sales processing unit 22 Sales availability determination unit 22a Card authentication unit 22b Image authentication unit 23 Registration processing unit 31, 50-53 Storage unit 32, 32a-32c Customer data

Claims (6)

Based on information read from a recording medium, it is a vending device that determines whether a user satisfies a predetermined condition and sells a product when the predetermined condition is satisfied,
Storage means for storing at least face information of a specific user and purchase history of the user using the recording medium ;
Photographing means for photographing the face image of the user;
When the information read from the recording medium satisfies the predetermined condition, or when the face image captured by the imaging unit is stored in the storage unit, a sales determination unit that permits the sale of the product;
A product storage section for storing the product;
A sales processing means for throwing out a product from the product storage unit and performing a settlement of the price when the sales judging means permits the sale ;
Registration determination means for determining whether or not to register the user's face information in the storage means based on the purchase history stored in the storage means ,
An automatic vending apparatus that enables registration of the face image in the storage means on condition that the information read from the recording medium satisfies the predetermined condition.   The vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sales determination unit uses that the user is an adult as the predetermined condition. 3. The vending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user face information stored in the storage means is shared by a plurality of vending apparatuses. A vending system that determines whether a user satisfies a predetermined condition based on information read from a recording medium and sells a product when the predetermined condition is satisfied,
Storage means for storing at least the face information of a specific user and purchase history of the user using the recording medium, photographing means for photographing a user's face image, and information read from the recording medium are the predetermined information. Or when the face image taken by the photographing means is stored in the storage means, based on the sales determination means for permitting the sale of the product and the purchase history stored in the storage means A sales management device comprising: registration determination means for determining whether or not to register the user's face information in the storage means ;
A vending device that carries out product withdrawal and payment when the sales management device permits sales; and
A vending system capable of registering the face image in the storage means on condition that information read from the recording medium satisfies the predetermined condition. 5. The vending system according to claim 4 , wherein the sales determination means uses that the user is an adult as the predetermined condition. 6. The vending system according to claim 4, wherein the user face information stored in the storage means is shared by a plurality of vending machines.

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