JP4844476B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine capable of purchasing products with electronic information such as electronic money.

In a conventional vending machine of this type, electronic information such as a portable information terminal device is transmitted to a portable information terminal identifying means provided in the vending machine, and the change information transmitting means provided in the vending machine is transmitted to the portable terminal device. There has been disclosed a control device that performs settlement when purchasing a product of a vending machine by transmitting (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-92701 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, there is only one electronic information used in the vending machine.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of IC cards, mobile phones, etc., there are multiple types of electronic information such as electronic money, and in the conventional method, the user has the type of electronic money at hand at the vending machine side. In order to solve the problem of not being able to purchase a product if it is not recognized and not leading to the sales promotion of the product in the vending machine, the type of electronic money can be designated with a button or the like so that it can be sold.

  However, the user has a problem of having to specify the type of electronic money.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate as much as possible the trouble of a user specifying the type of electronic money in a vending machine that can use several types of electronic information.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the vending machine according to the present invention is a vending machine capable of purchasing a product using electronic information means having electronic money including money amount data, and a product purchased by a user. Product selection means for selecting data, electronic information read / write means for reading / writing data with the electronic information means, electronic money selection means for selecting the type of the electronic information means used by the user, and what kind of electronic money Electronic money basic setting means for setting whether to preferentially settle at, the electronic money basic setting means sets in advance the type of electronic money to be used preferentially, and the user operates the product selection means Then, the electronic money set preferentially set by the electronic money basic setting means is set to be able to settle with the electronic money.

  As a result, the user can save as much as possible the trouble of specifying the type of electronic money.

  Since the control device of the vending machine of the present invention can use a plurality of types of electronic information with a single vending machine, the user needs to select the electronic information desired to be used on the spot. In the location where electronic information is used, it is possible to save time and effort of selecting.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a vending machine capable of purchasing a product using electronic information means having electronic money including money amount data, and a product selection means for selecting a product to be purchased by a user; Electronic information read / write means for reading / writing data with the electronic information means, electronic money selection means for selecting the type of the electronic information means used by the user, and which type of electronic money is to be preferentially settled Electronic money basic setting means, and when the electronic money basic setting means pre-sets the type of electronic money to be used preferentially and the user operates the product selection means, the electronic money basic setting Basic setting of electronic money is set so that payment can be made with the electronic money used preferentially set by means, and the type of electronic money is not selected. The 憶 means, it is possible to preferentially traded in electronic money stored therein.

  The invention described in claim 2 is the electronic money basic setting effective rank setting means for setting the effective rank setting of the electronic money that is the basic setting among the plurality of electronic money. When the electronic money basic setting effective order storage means for storing the setting set by the electronic money basic setting effective order setting means is provided, and the transaction is not successful in the electronic money setting set first, the electronic money It is possible to switch to electronic money having the next highest priority stored in the money basic setting validity order storage means and perform a transaction.

  The invention according to claim 3 is provided with a procedure notifying means for notifying the operation of purchasing a product by lighting and blinking the lamp in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, and guiding the user's operation. Can be performed smoothly.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising electronic money type transaction counting means for counting the number of transactions for each electronic money type, and the electronic money basic setting Regardless of the electronic money type set by the means, by setting the electronic money type having a large number of counts counted by the electronic money type counting means, erroneous setting due to operation is prevented, and the actual use of electronic money By switching to the electronic money basic setting according to the situation, it is possible to efficiently save the trouble of selecting by the electronic money selection means.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a housing 1 is a vending machine main body, and in the front part, a display means 2 showing a sample of products to be sold to the outside, a product selection means 3 for a product purchaser to select a product at the time of sale, a product Money entry port 4 for cash when making purchases, product entry port 5 for taking out merchandise, electronic information read / write means 7 for reading / writing information of electronic information means 6 (electronic money etc.) used by the product purchaser, product purchase Electronic money selection means 8 is provided for a person to select the type of electronic information means 6.

  The electronic information means 6 is electronic money written on a storage medium of an IC card or a mobile phone, information that can identify an individual (for example, a credit card), etc. Electronic information that can be used for

  The electronic information reading / writing means 7 can transmit / receive information to / from the electronic information means 6 simply by bringing the electronic information means 6 close to the vicinity, and can read / write the contents of the electronic information means 6.

  Originally, the electronic information means 6 has a plurality of standards, and information cannot be transmitted / received unless the standards on the electronic information means 6 side and the standards on the electronic information read / write means 7 side are the same.

  Also, some electronic information means 6 have the same standard but cannot be transmitted / received due to security or the like. For example, although the same hardware standard is applied, the file format for storing in the storage medium is used. In order to prevent unauthorized use, software standards such as encryption specifications and security specifications are different, and the electronic information means 6 is classified into a plurality of types.

  The electronic money selection means 8 selects the electronic information written in the electronic information means 6. A plurality of types of electronic information that can be used in the vending machine are provided, and the product purchaser uses the electronic information means 6. When you do, you can select the type of electronic information you want to use on the spot.

  The “type” of the electronic information means 6 in the present embodiment is easily understood by the user by using the name of a service provided by a company or the like.

  For example, the electronic information means 6 is classified into two types, Type A and Type B, assuming that it conforms to the non-contact type IC card in the international standard ISO 14443.

  For example, assume that there are three Type A non-contact type IC cards that can be used in vending machines.

  The three cards are compliant with the Type A standard. However, as described above, if the types are different from each other due to security, etc., the setting of the electronic information read / write means 7 must be changed. On the other hand, it cannot read and write.

  In the present embodiment, in order to change the setting of the electronic information reading / writing means 7, three types of cards are set in the electronic money selecting means 8, and if the card type is selected, the electronic information reading / writing means 7 The settings will also change. Alternatively, the electronic information read / write means 7 may periodically change the card type setting and read / write the electronic money data of the electronic information means 6 without selecting the card type.

  In the present embodiment, the electronic money selection means 8 is provided with a plurality of buttons on the front face of the vending machine, and each button is set with the type of electronic information means 6 that can be used in the vending machine. As will be described, any item may be used as long as the product purchaser can select the electronic information means 6 by operating the vending machine.

  At present, the number of electronic information means 6 that can be used in vending machines is still limited, but when more electronic information appears in the future, the electronic money selection means 8 is a screen such as a touch panel. First, select the standard of electronic information that you want to use using a device that can make transitions, and then select the standard, and then select the type within the same standard that has been registered in advance. It may be configured so that the service name of the electronic information is sequentially displayed in advance, and the user can select it by himself / herself. The electronic money selection means 8 is used by the user. Any form can be used as long as electronic information to be selected can be selected.

  In FIG. 2, the electronic money basic setting means 9 sets which electronic money is to be used preferentially as a basic setting. The electronic money basic setting storage means 10 stores the settings set by the electronic money basic setting means. The arithmetic control unit 20a sets which electronic money is to be based on the electronic money basic setting means 9, stores the setting in the electronic money basic setting storage means 10, and the product selection means selects the product. In this case, the electronic money setting stored in the electronic money basic setting storage unit 10 is set so that the consumer can prepare for the transaction without operating the electronic money selection unit 8.

  The operation of the control device of the vending machine configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The arithmetic control unit 20a sets the basic electronic money type by the electronic money basic setting means 9 (STEP 1), and the electronic money basic setting storage means 10 stores the electronic money basic settings set by the electronic money basic setting means 9. (STEP 2), a communication rule relating to the determined electronic information is signal-transmitted to the electronic information read / write means 7 which is the basic setting (STEP 3).

  The arithmetic control unit 20a confirms whether or not a button operation has been performed on the product selection means 3 (STEP 4), and if there is a button operation, confirms whether or not the button operation has been performed on the electronic money selection means 8. (STEP 5).

  When a button operation is performed on the electronic money selection unit 8, the operated button is determined (number), and electronic money type data of the electronic information unit 6 assigned to the button is determined (STEP 6). After the electronic information means 6 is confirmed, a communication rule relating to the selected electronic information is signaled to the electronic information read / write means 7 (STEP 7). Based on the transmitted signal, the electronic information read / write means 7 is set to the selected communication rule, and can exchange data with the selected electronic information means 6. If no button operation is performed on the electronic money selection means 8, go to STEP 8.

  It is confirmed whether the electronic information means 6 is held over (STEP 8).

  When the electronic information means 6 is held over, the electronic information read / write means 7 communicates with the electronic information means 6 to acquire the electronic money data and electronic money type data read from the electronic information means 6 and send them to the arithmetic control unit 20a. Data is temporarily stored (STEP 9). If the electronic information means 6 is not held over, the process returns to STEP5.

  Next, the electronic money type data determined in STEP 2 and the electronic money type data acquired from the electronic information means 6 this time are compared (STEP 10). If they are the same, the transaction is completed and the product is carried out (STEP 11). If they are different, return to STEP5.

  As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine of the present embodiment, the basic electronic money type is set in advance by the electronic money basic setting means 9, and the electronic information means 6 for the basic setting It is possible to perform communication only by holding the electronic information means 6 over the electronic information means 6, and it is possible to save the trouble of operating the electronic money selecting means 8.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine of the embodiment.

  In FIG. 4, the electronic money basic setting effective order setting means 11 sets the effective order setting of electronic money as a basic setting among a plurality of electronic money. The electronic money basic setting effective order storage unit 12 stores the setting set by the electronic money basic setting effective order setting unit 11. The arithmetic control unit 20b causes the electronic money basic setting effective order setting means 11 to set the effective order setting of the electronic money to be the basic setting among the plurality of electronic money, and stores the setting as the electronic money basic setting effective order storage means 12. When the product is selected by the product selection means, the electronic money setting stored in the electronic money basic setting storage means 10 is set, and the electronic information means 6 different from the setting by the consumer is set as the electronic information read / write means. 7, the electronic money basic setting effective order storage unit 12 stores the electronic money basic setting stored in the electronic money basic setting order 12 with the next highest priority and performs a transaction.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The arithmetic control unit 20b sets the electronic money basic setting effective order setting means 11 by the electronic money basic setting effective order setting means 11 (STEP 1), and stores it in the electronic money basic setting effective order storage means 12 (STEP 2). A communication rule relating to the determined electronic information is signal-transmitted to the electronic information reading / writing means 7 to be set (STEP 3).

  The arithmetic control unit 20b confirms whether or not a button operation has been performed on the product selection means 3 (STEP 4), and if there is a button operation, confirms whether or not the button operation has been performed on the electronic money selection means 8. (STEP5).

  When a button operation is performed on the electronic money selection unit 8, the operated button is determined (number), and electronic money type data of the electronic information unit 6 assigned to the button is determined (STEP 6). After the electronic information means 6 is confirmed, a communication rule relating to the selected electronic information is signaled to the electronic information read / write means 7 (STEP 7). Based on the transmitted signal, the electronic information read / write means 7 is set to the selected communication rule, and can exchange data with the selected electronic information means 6. If no button operation is performed on the electronic money selection means 8, go to STEP 8.

  It is confirmed whether the electronic information means 6 is held over (STEP 8).

  When the electronic information means 6 is held over, the electronic information read / write means 7 communicates with the electronic information means 6 to acquire the electronic money data and electronic money type data read from the electronic information means 6 and send them to the arithmetic control unit 20b. Data is temporarily stored (STEP 9). If the electronic information means 6 is not held over, the process returns to STEP5.

  Next, the electronic money type data determined in STEP 2 and the electronic money type data acquired from the electronic information means 6 this time are compared (STEP 10). If they are the same, the transaction is completed and the product is carried out (STEP 11). If they are different, the basic setting is switched to the next highest priority setting (STEP 12), and the communication rules relating to the determined electronic information are signaled to the electronic information reading / writing means 7 which is the basic setting (STEP 13), and the process returns to STEP 10.

  As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine of the present embodiment, different electronic information can be obtained by setting the priority order of basic electronic money in advance by the electronic money basic setting validity order setting means 11. Even if the means 6 is held over, by switching to the basic setting having the next highest priority, it is possible to make a transaction, and it is possible to save trouble due to an erroneous operation.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the control device for the vending machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine of the embodiment.

  In FIG. 6, the procedure notification means 13 is composed of a lamp, an audio device, a video device, and the like, and notifies the consumer of the operation procedure (described below as a lamp).

  When a button operation is performed on the product selection unit 3, the arithmetic control unit 20c notifies the consumer which electronic information unit 6 is currently set with a lamp so that the consumer can easily understand the sales. To do.

  The operation of the vending machine control apparatus configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG. STEPs 1 to 3 are the same as those in the first embodiment and are omitted.

  The arithmetic control unit 20c confirms whether or not a button operation has been performed on the product selection means 3 (STEP 4), and if there is a button operation, confirms whether or not the button operation has been performed on the electronic money selection means 8. (STEP5).

  When a button operation is performed on the electronic money selection unit 8, the operated button is determined (number), and electronic money type data of the electronic information unit 6 assigned to the button is determined (STEP 6). After the electronic information means 6 is confirmed, a communication rule relating to the selected electronic information is signaled to the electronic information read / write means 7 (STEP 7). Based on the transmitted signal, the electronic information read / write means 7 is set to the selected communication rule, and can exchange data with the selected electronic information means 6. If no button operation is performed on the electronic money selection means 8, go to STEP 8.

  Then, the lamp corresponding to the electronic money setting set by the electronic money selection means 8 or the basic setting stored in the electronic money basic setting storage means 10 is turned on (STEP 8).

  Next, it is confirmed whether the electronic information means 6 is held over (STEP 9).

  When the electronic information means 6 is held over, the electronic information read / write means 7 communicates with the electronic information means 6 to acquire the electronic money data and electronic money type data read from the electronic information means 6 and send them to the arithmetic control unit 20c. Data is temporarily stored (STEP 10). If the electronic information means 6 is not held over, the process returns to STEP5.

  Next, the electronic money type data determined in STEP 2 is compared with the electronic money type data acquired from the electronic information means 6 this time (STEP 11). If they are the same, the transaction is completed and the product is carried out (STEP 12). If they are different, the lamp corresponding to the electronic money setting set by the electronic money selection means or the basic setting stored in the electronic money basic setting storage means 10 is turned off (STEP 13), and the process returns to STEP 5.

  As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine of the present embodiment, when different electronic information means 6 is held over the electronic information read / write means 7, the electronic money is transmitted by the procedure notification means 13 such as a lamp. By prompting the selection means 8 to be re-operated, the operation procedure can be guided to the consumer.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine according to the fourth embodiment.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of the vending machine of the embodiment.

  In FIG. 8, the electronic money type transaction counting means 14 counts the number of transactions for each electronic money in the electronic information means 6. Regardless of the electronic information means 6 set by the electronic money basic setting storage means 10, the arithmetic control unit 20 d automatically switches to the setting of the electronic information means 6 having a large count by the electronic money type transaction counting means 14.

  The operation of the control device of the vending machine configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG. STEPs 1 to 3 are the same as those in the first embodiment and are omitted.

  The arithmetic control unit 20d confirms whether or not a button operation has been performed on the product selection means 3 (STEP 4), and if there is a button operation, confirms whether or not the button operation has been performed on the electronic money selection means 8. (STEP5).

  When a button operation is performed on the electronic money selection unit 8, the operated button is determined (number), and electronic money type data of the electronic information unit 6 assigned to the button is determined (STEP 6). After the electronic information means 6 is confirmed, a communication rule relating to the selected electronic information is signaled to the electronic information read / write means 7 (STEP 7). Based on the transmitted signal, the electronic information read / write means 7 is set to the selected communication rule, and can exchange data with the selected electronic information means 6. If no button operation is performed on the electronic money selection means 8, go to STEP 8.

  It is confirmed whether the electronic information means 6 is held over (STEP 8).

  When the electronic information means 6 is held over, the electronic information read / write means 7 communicates with the electronic information means 6 to acquire the electronic money data and electronic money type data read from the electronic information means 6 and send them to the arithmetic control unit 20d. Data is temporarily stored (STEP 9). If the electronic information means 6 is not held over, the process returns to STEP5.

  Next, the electronic money type data determined in STEP 2 is compared with the electronic money type data acquired from the electronic information means 6 this time (STEP 10). If they are the same, the transaction is completed and the product is taken out (STEP 11). The number of transactions for the electronic information means 6 traded by the type transaction counting means 14 is counted up (STEP 12), the setting is automatically switched to the setting for the electronic information means 6 with the largest number of transactions (STEP 13), and the electronic information reading / writing means 7 is reached. Then, the communication regulation relating to the automatically switched electronic information is signaled (STEP 7). If they are different, return to STEP5.

  As described above, according to the control device of the vending machine of the present embodiment, even when the operator sets the electronic money basic setting means 9 incorrectly, the electronic money type transaction counting means 14 causes the most transactions. By automatically switching to the setting for the electronic information means 6, it is possible to prevent the operator from making a mistaken setting and reduce the trouble of the button operation by the consumer's electronic money selection means 8.

  As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention allows the consumer to efficiently omit the operation by the electronic money selecting means 8 by providing the basic setting by the operator at the location where the same electronic information means 6 is used. Can do.

Overall configuration diagram of vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine of the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine in the second embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine of the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine in the third embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control apparatus of the vending machine of the embodiment Functional block diagram of the control device of the vending machine in the fourth embodiment of the present invention The flowchart which shows the operation | movement at the time of sale of the control apparatus of the vending machine of the embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing | casing 2 Display means 3 Goods selection means 4 Money inlet 5 Goods outlet 6 Electronic information means 7 Electronic information reading / writing means 8 Electronic money selection means 9 Electronic money basic setting means 10 Electronic money basic setting storage means 11 Electronic money basic settings Effective rank setting means 12 Electronic money basic setting effective rank storage means 13 Procedure notifying means 14 Electronic money type transaction counting means 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d

Claims (4)

  A vending machine capable of purchasing products using electronic information means having electronic money including monetary data, and reading and writing data between the electronic information means and a product selection means for selecting a product to be purchased by a user Electronic money read / write means, electronic money selection means for selecting a type of the electronic information means used by a user, and electronic money basic setting means for setting which kind of electronic money is to be preferentially settled The electronic money basic setting means preliminarily sets the type of electronic money to be preferentially used, and when the user operates the product selection means, the electronic money basic setting means preferentially uses the electronic money basic setting means The vending machine is set to be able to settle with the electronic money.   Electronic money basic setting effective order setting means for setting the effective order setting of electronic money as a basic setting among a plurality of electronic money, and electronic money basic for storing the setting set by the electronic money basic setting effective order setting means An electronic device having a setting effective rank storage means, and when the transaction is not successful with the electronic money set to the highest effective rank, the next highest priority stored in the electronic money basic setting effective rank storage means 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the vending machine switches to money and performs a transaction.   The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a procedure notification means for notifying an operation of purchasing a product by lighting and blinking of a lamp, and guiding a user's operation.   An electronic money type counting means for counting the number of transactions for each electronic money type is provided, and the count number counted by the electronic money type counting means is independent of the electronic money type set by the electronic money basic setting means. The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the number of electronic money types is set.

Images