JP6704633B2 - Article dispensing apparatus and method of controlling article dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an article dispensing device and a method of controlling the article dispensing device.

An article dispensing device, which is commonly called a toy cart, is known.

The article dispensing device stores a plurality of capsules containing different kinds of articles in an article storage section, and when a user inserts a predetermined amount of money to operate an operation section, the article storage apparatus operates in synchronization with the operation. One of the plurality of capsules stored in the unit is discharged to the outside.

Initially, a single item dispensing device was the mainstream, but in consideration of the installation efficiency of the device, the appearance of the device, etc., several item dispensing devices are stacked one above the other, etc. to improve the user's willingness to purchase. (See Patent Document 1).

JP, 2003-123135, A

An object of the present invention is to provide an article dispensing apparatus and a method of controlling the article dispensing apparatus, which can further enhance the user's willingness to purchase.

An article dispensing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an article storage section that stores a plurality of first articles to which information has been added, and a dispensing operation section that performs an operation of dispensing the first article, An article dispenser for dispensing the first article, an article placement section on which a plurality of second articles are placed, a crane that holds the second article, and a crane operation section that operates the crane, A crane game machine having an article information reading unit for reading information given to the first article, and being controlled based on the information given to the first article read by the article information reading unit; It is characterized by having.

In the article dispensing device described above, a plurality of the article dispensing machines may be provided, and the plurality of article dispensing machines and the crane game machine may be incorporated in one housing.

In the above-mentioned article dispensing device, a barcode may be attached to the first article, and the article information reading unit may read the barcode attached to the first article.

In the above-described article dispensing device, the crane game machine is provided with identification information for identifying the crane game machine, and the information provided for the first article is the crane game machine identification information. It may be included.

In the above-described article dispensing device, the information provided to the first article may include information on the number of times the crane game machine can play the game.

A method of controlling an article dispensing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an article housing section that houses a plurality of first articles to which information has been added, and a dispensing operation section that performs an operation of dispensing the first article. Then, an article dispensing machine that dispenses the first article, an article placement section on which a plurality of second articles are placed, a crane that holds the second article, and a crane operation that operates the crane. Unit and an article information reading unit that reads information given to the first article, and is controlled based on the information given to the first article read by the article information reading unit A method of controlling an article dispensing device comprising a game machine, the step of dispensing the first article from the article dispensing machine based on an operation on the dispensing operation unit, and the dispensing from the article dispensing machine. Based on the information given to the first article read by the article information reading unit, the step of reading the given information given to the first article by the article information reading unit of the crane game machine. And a step of controlling the crane game machine.

In the above-described method of controlling the article dispensing device, the crane game machine is provided with identification information for identifying the crane game machine, and the information provided to the first article is the crane game machine Identification information is included, and in the step of controlling the crane game machine, the identification information of the crane game machine included in the information given to the first article matches the identification information of the crane game machine. It may be determined whether or not there is a match, and only when the two match, execution of the game of the crane game machine may be permitted.

In the above-described method for controlling the article dispensing device, the information provided to the first article includes information on the number of games that can be played on the crane game machine, and the step of controlling the crane game machine includes The execution of the game of the crane game machine may be permitted for the number of times of the game number information included in the information given to the first article.

As described above, according to the present invention, it has the article storage unit that stores the plurality of first articles to which the information is added, and the dispensing operation unit that performs the operation of dispensing the first article, An article dispenser for delivering articles, an article placement section on which a plurality of second articles are placed, a crane that holds the second article, a crane operation section that operates the crane, and a first article A crane game machine that has an article information reading unit that reads the given information and is controlled based on the information given to the first article read by the article information reading unit is provided. It is possible to further increase the purchase will of the person.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the article dispensing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the article dispensing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the goods dispensed by the goods dispensing device by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the memory in the goods delivery apparatus by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation|movement of the goods delivery apparatus by 1st Embodiment of this invention.

[First Embodiment]
The article dispensing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. 1 is a front view of the article dispensing apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the article dispensing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing articles dispensed by the article dispensing apparatus according to the present embodiment. Yes, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the memory in the article dispensing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the article dispensing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

(Structure of article dispensing device)
The appearance of the article dispensing device according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG.

The article dispensing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has, in a single housing 12, four article dispensing machines 20 for dispensing articles and one crane game machine 40 for playing a crane game. For example, two article dispensing machines 20 are stacked on each of the right and left front sides of the article dispensing apparatus 10, and a crane game machine 40 is provided at the center of the front of the article dispensing apparatus 10. The crane game machine 40 is sandwiched between two stacked article dispensers 20 from the left and right sides. A caster (not shown) and a stopper (not shown) for moving and installing the article dispensing device 10 are provided on the bottom of the housing 12 as necessary.

The article dispenser 20 is a game machine, which is commonly referred to as a toy cart, which dispenses an article by inserting a coin and operating a handle.

The crane game machine 40 is a game machine in which a user operates a crane to grip and acquire an article.

On the upper part of the article dispenser 20, for example, an article storage unit 24 that stores a large number of articles 22 encapsulated in capsules is provided. A handle 26, which is a payout operation unit operated by a user at the time of purchasing an article, is provided below the article storage unit 24. On the right side of the handle 26, a coin slot 28 for inserting coins or coins for purchasing goods is provided. Below the coin slot 28, a coin outlet 31 for discharging unnecessary coins or coins is provided.

Inside the article dispenser 20, there is provided a passage (not shown) through which the articles 22 dispensed from the article storage unit 24 fall and pass. The article is delivered from the article delivery outlet 30 through a passage (not shown).

An article placement section 44, on which a plurality of articles 42 are placed, is provided above the crane game machine 40. A crane 46 that holds the article 42 is provided in the article placement section 44. A crane operation unit 48 for operating the crane 46 is provided below the article placement unit 44. The crane operation unit 48 is provided with an operation button 48a for instructing the crane 46 to move in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction in FIG. 2, and an operation button 48b for instructing a gripping operation of the article 42. .. By depressing the operation button 48b, the crane 46 is automatically moved in the downward direction of FIG. 2, the article 42 is grasped by the crane 46, and the grasped article 42 is trapped in the article placing section 44 (not shown). Perform an action to release it. If the crane 46 is not in the proper position above the article 42 when the operation button 48b is pressed, the crane 46 fails to grab the article 42 and cannot acquire the article 42.

Inside the crane game machine 40, a passage (not shown) through which the article 42 held by the crane 46 is dropped and passed is provided. An article discharge port 49 for discharging the article 42 to the outside is provided below the crane operation unit 48.

On the right side of the crane operation unit 48 of the crane game machine 40, a bar code reading unit 50 for reading the bar code attached to the article dispensed from the article dispenser 20 is provided.

A block diagram of the article dispensing device 10 of the present embodiment is shown in FIG.

The article dispensing device 10 is provided with four article dispensing machines 20 and one crane game machine 40.

The crane game machine 40 has a crane 46 that holds an article 42, a crane operation unit 48 that operates the crane 46, a crane control unit 62 that controls the crane operation unit 48, and a control that stores control information that controls the crane. An information memory 64, a control information table 65 that stores identification information (ID) that is information for identifying the crane game machine 40, and control information of various crane game machines described below, and a barcode reading unit that reads a barcode. 50, a bar code temporary memory 67 for temporarily storing the bar code information read by the bar code reading unit 50, and a bar code memory 66 for storing the bar code read by the crane game machine 40 and executing the crane game. It is provided.

The article payout device 10 is provided with a voice output unit 70 for outputting game operation guidance and BGM (background music). For example, when the crane game machine 40 is activated, a signal indicating that the crane game machine 40 is activated is transmitted to the audio output unit 70. From the audio output unit 64, for example, an operation description of the article dispensing device 10, BGM (background music) notifying that the crane game machine 40 has been activated, and an operation description of the crane game machine 40 are output as audio. It

(Article)
The articles 22 dispensed by the article dispensing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the article 22, and FIG. 3B is a view showing a bar code label 22c attached to the article 22.

The articles 22 dispensed by the article dispensing machine 20 of the article dispensing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment store various prizes 22b in a capsule 22a which is a case. Further, a barcode label 22c is attached to the surface of the capsule 22a.

For example, an icon 22d indicating a crane game machine and a predetermined barcode 22e are printed on the barcode label 22c.

The aspect of attaching the barcode to the article 22 may be other than attaching the barcode label to the surface of the capsule 22a. For example, a barcode label may be attached to the inner surface of the capsule 22a. The barcode label may be stored in the capsule 22a together with the prize 22b. A barcode may be attached to the prize 22b stored in the capsule 22a.

Further, the information may be attached to the article 22 in a form other than the barcode. For example, characters, symbols, etc. may be attached to the article 22 at any place.

(Bar code system)
In the article dispensing device 10 of the present embodiment, the article 22 dispensed by the article dispensing machine 20 is attached with the barcode 22e, and the barcode reading unit 50 of the crane game machine 40 reads the barcode 22e attached to the article 22. I am making it.

By doing so, in the article dispensing device 10 of the present embodiment, the hardware of the article dispensing machine 20 and the bar code game machine 40 is not significantly changed, and the bar code game is executed from the article dispensing machine 20 via the article 22. Information can be transmitted to the machine 40.

A bar code system used in the article dispensing device 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, the system is completed by the article dispensing machine 20 and the crane game machine 40 which are incorporated in the same housing 12. The crane game machine 40 incorporated in the same housing 22 is controlled only by the articles 22 dispensed from the article dispensing machine 20 incorporated in the housing 12.

The bar code used in the article dispensing device 10 of this embodiment includes a game machine ID, a group number, and a serial number.

The game machine ID is information for identifying the crane game machine 40 of the article dispensing device 10 that can be activated by this barcode. The four article dispensing machines 20 integrated with the crane game machine 40 accommodate capsules 22a to which a barcode label 22c including the game machine ID of the crane game machine 40 is attached.

The barcode label 22c attached to the capsule 22a is provided, for example, by printing 100 pieces of barcodes on one sheet. Serial numbers of 001, 002,..., 100 are printed on the barcode label 22c of 100 pieces of one sheet. The individual barcode label 22c is peeled off from the paper and attached to each capsule 22a.

A group number is set in addition to the serial number in order to distinguish each sheet on which the barcode is printed. Group numbers such as 001, 002, 003,... Are given to each sheet.

In this way, the bar code label 22c attached to the capsule 22a does not have the same bar code printed thereon.

(Control information memory/control information table)
As shown in FIG. 4B, the control information memory 64 stores control information for controlling the crane game machine 40.

The control information stored in the control information memory 64 includes, for example, information such as the number of games, the game difficulty, and the game time.

The number of games means the number of times a crane game can be played. The game ends when the number of games reaches zero.

The game difficulty level is a parameter that determines the game difficulty level. For example, the strength of the spring in which the crane 46 holds the capsule 22a. If the spring is weak, it is difficult to grip the capsule 22a, and thus the difficulty level is high. If the spring is strong, it is easy to grip the capsule 22a, so that the difficulty level is low.

The game time is also a kind of parameter that determines the difficulty level of the game. A game time in which the operation button 48a for instructing to move the crane 46 to the left and right and back and forth can be operated is determined. For example, when the game time is short, the difficulty level is high, and when the game time is long, the difficulty level is low.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the control information table 65 stores the game machine ID of the crane game machine 40 and the game control information corresponding to each serial number of the barcode.

The game machine ID is the ID of the crane game machine 40, for example, "A".

The game control information is the number of games, the game difficulty, the game time, etc. for each of the serial numbers 001 to 100. The game control information of the crane game played by the user is determined from the serial number of the read barcode.

The game control information is, for example, the number of games, the game difficulty, and the game time.

Regarding the number of games in the game control information, for example, in the case of the capsule 22a to which the barcode label 22c having the serial number of "0" is attached, the crane game cannot be performed, and thus the game is "disconnected".

In the case of the capsule 22a to which the barcode label 22c having the serial number of "1" is attached, the crane game can be played once.

Further, in the case of the capsule 22a to which the bar code label 22c having the serial number with the number of games of "2" is attached, the crane game is a "hit" that can be played twice.

Further, in the case of the capsule 22a to which the bar code label 22c having the serial number with the number of games of "3" is attached, the crane game is a "big hit" which can be played three times.

Then, the difficulty level of the crane game is determined by the game difficulty level and the game time of the game control information.

(Bar code memory/Bar code temporary memory)
The barcode memory 66 stores the barcode read by the barcode reading unit 50 of the crane game machine 40 of the article dispensing apparatus 10 and the crane game is actually executed. As shown in FIG. 4D, the game machine ID of the barcode, the group number, the serial number, etc. are stored.

By collating with the bar code stored in the bar code memory 66, it is possible to prevent the claim game from being played many times with the same bar code.

Since the barcode memory 66 stores all the barcodes read by the barcode reading unit 50 of the article dispensing device 10 and playing the crane game since the article dispensing apparatus 10 is installed, a sufficient storage capacity is secured. You need to do it.

When it is desired to replace all of the items such as re-installing the article dispensing device 10 at a new place, the barcode memory 66 may be reset and all the barcodes may be deleted.

The barcode temporary memory 67 temporarily stores the barcode read by the barcode reading unit 50 of the crane game machine 40 of the article dispensing apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 4E, the game machine ID of the barcode, the group number, the serial number, etc. are stored.

(Operation of the article dispensing device)
The operation of the article dispensing device 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the user inserts a specified amount of coins from the coin insertion slot 28 (step S11).

Next, the user rotates the handle 26 of the article dispensing machine 20 (step S12).

When the user rotates the handle 26, the articles 22 stored in the article storage unit 24 fall through a passage (not shown) (step S13) and are dispensed from the article dispensing port 30.

The user takes out the articles 22 dispensed from the article outlet 30 (step S14).

Next, the user brings the taken-out article 22 close to the barcode reading unit 50 of the crane game machine 40 to read the barcode 22e attached to the article 22, and stores the barcode in the temporary barcode memory 67. (Step S15).

Next, the game machine ID stored in the bar code temporary memory 67 is compared with the game ID stored in the control information table 65, and it is determined whether the game machine IDs match (step S16).

If the game machine IDs match, it means that the barcode is affixed to the capsule 22 dispensed from the article dispenser 20 of the same housing 10, so the game proceeds.

If the game machine IDs do not match, it is considered that the barcode is pasted on the capsule 22 dispensed from the article dispenser of the other casing or a completely unrelated barcode. The game cannot be played on the crane game machine 40, and the game ends.

If the game machine IDs match, then the bar code stored in the bar code temporary memory 67 is compared with the bar code stored in the bar code memory 66 to determine whether the bar code has already been read. It is determined (step S17).

If the barcode is already read, the crane game cannot be played multiple times with the same barcode, so the game is ended.

If the barcode is not already read, the barcode stored in the barcode temporary memory 67 is stored in the barcode memory 66 (step S18). This prevents you from playing the crane game multiple times with the same bar code.

Next, based on the serial number of the read barcode, the number of games, the game difficulty, the game time, etc., which are the crane control information, are acquired from the control information table 65 and stored in the control information memory 64 (step S19).

Then, the crane game machine 40 is operated based on the acquired crane control information (step S20).

First, the lighting in the crane game machine 40 and the switch of the crane operation unit 62 are turned on, and the voice output unit 70 informs that the crane game operation is possible, and the crane game guide such as guidance of the crane game play operation method. Is performed (step S21).

Subsequently, the crane game machine 40 operates based on the acquired crane control information, and the user operates the operation buttons 48a and 48b of the crane operation unit 48 to execute the crane game (step S22).

When the article 42 can be acquired according to the user's execution result of the crane game, the article 42 drops in the passage (not shown) of the crane game machine 40, and the article discharge port 49 as a prize outlet. (Step S23).

The user takes out the article 42 discharged to the article discharge port 49 (step S24).

As a result, the operation of the article dispensing device 10 of the present embodiment ends.

If the user cannot obtain the article 42 by the crane game, the operation of the article dispensing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment ends in step S22.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the article is purchased from the article dispensing machine, the crane game can be enjoyed as a bonus. For the user, the crane game is a game at risk of not being able to obtain goods if it fails, but as a bonus, it can be enjoyed easily. If you succeed in the crane game, you can get more goods. Even if the crane game fails, the initial purpose of purchasing goods can be achieved. As a result, the user's willingness to purchase can be further enhanced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the crane game machine is controlled based on the bar code attached to the article, it is possible to enjoy a thrill of lottery and a crane game of various difficulty levels.

[Modified Embodiment]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

For example, in the above embodiment, four article dispensing machines are provided in one housing of the article dispensing apparatus, but one, two, three, or five or more article dispensing machines are one of the article dispensing apparatuses. It may be incorporated in the housing.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, one crane game machine is provided in one housing of the article dispensing apparatus, but two or more crane game machines may be incorporated in one housing of the article dispensing apparatus. ..

Further, the article dispensing device, the article dispensing machine, and the crane game machine according to the above-described embodiments are examples, and may have other structures.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Article dispensing device 12... Housing 14... Caster 16... Stopper 20... Article dispensing machine 22... Article 22a... Capsule 22b... Prize 22c... Bar code label 22d... Icon 22e... Bar code 24... Article storage 26... Handle 28 Coin slot 30... Article payout port 31... Coin discharge port 32... Coin detection unit 34... Article payout unit 40... Crane game machine 42... Article 44... Article placement unit 46... Crane 48... Crane operation unit 48a... Operation button 48b... Operation button 49... Article discharge port 50... Bar code reading section 62... Crane control section 64... Control information memory 65... Control information table 66... Bar code memory 67... Bar code temporary memory 70... Voice output section

Claims (6)

An article dispenser for delivering a plurality of first articles to which information is attached, and a dispensing operation section for performing an operation of dispensing the first article, and an article dispensing machine for dispensing the first article. ,
An article placement section on which a plurality of second articles are placed, a crane that holds the second article, a crane operation section that operates the crane, and information read to the first article and an article information reading unit, and a crane game machine is controlled on the basis of the article information reading unit the applied information into first article read by,
A plurality of article dispensing machines are provided, and the plurality of article dispensing machines and the crane game machine are incorporated in one housing . An article dispenser for delivering a plurality of first articles to which information is attached, and a dispensing operation section for performing an operation of dispensing the first article, and an article dispensing machine for dispensing the first article. ,
An article placement section on which a plurality of second articles are placed, a crane that holds the second article, a crane operation section that operates the crane, and information read to the first article and an article information reading unit, and a crane game machine is controlled on the basis of the article information reading unit the applied information into first article read by,
The crane game machine is provided with identification information for identifying the crane game machine,
The article dispensing apparatus , wherein the information given to the first article includes identification information of the crane game machine . In the article dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2,
A barcode is attached to the first article,
The article information reading unit reads a bar code attached to the first article. The article dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The item dispensing device, wherein the information given to the first item includes information on the number of times the crane game machine can play the game. An article dispenser for delivering a plurality of first articles to which information is attached, and a dispensing operation section for performing an operation of dispensing the first article, and an article dispensing machine for dispensing the first article. , An article placement section on which a plurality of second articles are placed, a crane that holds the second article, a crane operation section that operates the crane, and information provided to the first article. And a crane game machine that is controlled based on the information given to the first article read by the article information reading section, and a method of controlling the article dispensing apparatus. hand,
Dispensing the first article from the article dispensing machine based on an operation on the dispensing operation unit,
Reading information given to the first article paid out from the article payout machine by the article information reading unit of the crane game machine,
On the basis of the article information reading unit the applied information into first article read by, and a step of controlling the crane game machine,
The crane game machine is provided with identification information for identifying the crane game machine,
The information given to the first article includes identification information of the crane game machine,
The step of controlling the crane game machine,
It is determined whether the identification information of the crane game machine included in the information given to the first article matches the identification information of the crane game machine. A method of controlling an article dispensing device, which permits execution . The method of controlling the article dispensing device according to claim 5 ,
The information given to the first article includes information on the number of games that can be played on the crane game machine,
The step of controlling the crane game machine,
A method of controlling an article dispensing device, which allows the game of the crane game machine to be executed by the number of times of the game number information included in the information given to the first article.

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