JP6855871B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vending machine capable of reducing the unsellable state of the vending machine and increasing the opportunity to sell the product.

Vending machines are in a state where it is impossible for users to sell products due to various conditions such as prohibition of product sales and out of change. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a product that prohibits the sale of a product when a minor intends to purchase a product prohibited by a minor. On the other hand, Patent Document 2 describes that the change is limited to a predetermined number of banknotes or coins because it becomes impossible to sell the product after the change occurs.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-297880 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-29696

By the way, conventional vending machines do not accept new money input because they cannot return money if the money return function is out of order or if there is no money return function such as a return lever. In this case, the vending machine becomes unable to sell the product, and there is no opportunity to sell the product in the vending machine. In addition, if the vending machine is out of change and the amount of money that requires change is input when selecting a product, the selected product cannot be sold, the selected product cannot be purchased, and the product is automatically selected. Opportunities to sell products on vending machines will decrease.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of reducing the unsellable state of the vending machine and increasing the opportunity to sell the product.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the vending machine according to the present invention includes a money return function detection unit that detects the presence / absence of a money return function or a failure of the money return function, and the money return function detection unit. However, if it is detected that there is no money return function or the money return function is out of order and the product is not selected within a certain period of time after the money is put in, the money is put in after the certain time has passed. It is characterized by having a control unit for returning the money.

Further, in the above invention, the vending machine according to the present invention has a product selection unit, a change-free selection unit that selects no change required, and a change for the product selected by the product selection unit with respect to the input amount. It is characterized in that it is provided with a control unit that sells a product without returning the change when the change unnecessary selection unit is selected in the case of a break.

Further, in the vending machine according to the present invention, in the above invention, the control unit purchases a product by selection by the change-free selection unit, and money is input within a predetermined time from the purchase of the product. When there is an addition, it is possible to purchase the product with the total amount of the change after the product purchase and the added money, and when the product to be purchased with the total amount is out of change, the change-free selection unit selects. It is characterized in that the product is sold without returning the change when the change is made.

Further, in the above invention, the vending machine according to the present invention is either a bill-variable data that identifies the inserted banknotes and stores and pays out, or a coin mechanism that identifies and stores and pays out the inserted coins. It is characterized by having only one.

Further, in the above invention, the vending machine according to the present invention is either a bill-variable data that identifies the inserted banknotes and stores and pays out, or a coin mechanism that identifies and stores and pays out the inserted coins. It is characterized in that it enables merchandise to be sold even if only one of them is provided.

Further, in the above invention, the vending machine according to the present invention is either a bill-variable data that identifies the inserted banknotes and stores and pays out, or a coin mechanism that identifies and stores and pays out the inserted coins. When only one of them is provided, it is characterized in that the product price corresponding to the denomination unit of banknotes or the denomination unit of coins is set.

Further, according to the present invention, when it is detected that there is no money return function or the money return function is out of order and the product is not selected within a certain period of time after the money is inserted, the above-mentioned Since the money that has been put in is returned after a certain period of time, the acceptance of new money is not prohibited, and the opportunity to sell products increases.

Further, according to the present invention, when the change for the product selected by the product selection unit occurs with respect to the input amount and the change-free selection unit is selected, the change is not returned. In addition, since the products are sold, it is possible to avoid the impossible state of product sales due to running out of change, and the opportunities for product sales increase.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of the vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the outer door of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1 is opened. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for automatically returning money by the vending machine main control unit shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of the vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a product sales processing procedure when the change is exhausted by the vending machine main control unit shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
[overall structure]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of the vending machine 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the outer door 1b of the vending machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is opened. In this embodiment, a vending machine that sells products such as canned beverages, bottled beverages, and PET bottled beverages will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, beverages are placed in cups. It can also be applied to cup-type beverage vending machines that dispense products and vending machines that sell goods.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 1 sells products such as canned beverages and PET bottled beverages in a cold or warm state, and as shown in FIG. 2, the main body cabinet 1a and the outside It has a door 1b. The main body cabinet 1a is formed by combining a plurality of steel plates, and is formed in a box shape having a heat insulating structure with an open front surface. The outer door 1b is for closing the front opening of the main body cabinet 1a, and is supported on one side edge portion (left side edge portion) of the main body cabinet 1a so as to be openable and closable.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 1 is provided with a pop-up handle 11 in the middle of the front right side of the outer door 1b. The pop-up handle 11 is for locking the outer door 1b in a closed state. The vending machine 1 is locked by pushing the pop-up handle 11 in a state where the outer door 1b is closed, and when the unlocking operation is performed, the pop-up handle 11 pops up (protrudes), so that the outer door 1b can be opened. ..

An exhibition room 12 is provided in the upper front area of the outer door 1b. The exhibition room 12 is for displaying the product sample D of the products sold by the vending machine 1. The exhibition room 12 is defined by a middle door 13 that can be opened and closed on the rear side of the outer door 1b and a transparent lighting plate 14 fitted on the front side of the outer door 1b, and the user can use the vending machine. The inside of the exhibition room 12 can be visually recognized from the front side of 1.

Inside the exhibition room 12, three stages 15 for displaying products are installed side by side in the vertical direction, and product samples D are displayed side by side in each stage 15. Further, on the transparent lighting plate 14 fitted to the front side of the outer door 1b, three product selection button groups 16 are installed side by side in the vertical direction and two in the horizontal direction so as to correspond to the stage 15. is there.

The product selection button group 16 functions as a product selection unit and is for selecting a product, and includes a plurality of product selection buttons 17 so as to correspond to the product sample D. It should be noted that each product selection button 17 is lit and displayed when it corresponds to a product that can be displayed by LED and can be purchased with respect to the input amount.

Further, a coin insertion slot 21, a bill insertion slot 22, a display unit 24, and a return lever 28 are provided in the middle of the outer door 1b below the exhibition room 12.

The coin slot 21 is an opening for receiving coins. The coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 21 are housed in the coin mechanism (coin processing device) 31 mounted inside the outer door 1b. The coin mechanism 31 organizes the number of inserted coins and transmits them to the vending machine main control unit 50, which will be described later, while paying out various coins in accordance with a command from the vending machine main control unit 50. The coin mechanism 31 has a money identification function for identifying the authenticity and denomination of coins.

The bill insertion slot 22 is an opening for receiving bills. The bills inserted from the bill insertion slot 22 are housed in the bill validator 32 mounted inside the outer door 1b. The bill burr data 32 organizes the number of inserted bills and transmits them to the vending machine main control unit 50, while paying out the bills in accordance with a command from the vending machine main control unit 50. The bill burr data 32 has a monetary identification function for identifying the authenticity and denomination of banknotes.

The display unit 24 is for displaying various information such as sales, out of fishing, preparation, cancellation of bills, input amount, and information at the time of various settings.

The return lever 28 is for instructing the interruption of the transaction. When the return lever 28 is operated, the transaction is interrupted, change or the like is released from the coin mechanism 31 to the coin return port 41, and banknotes are released from the bill variable data 32. The bill is returned to the insertion slot 22.

Further, an outlet 42 is provided at a position below the outer door 1b. The outlet 42 is an opening for taking out the product carried out from the product storage rack.

Further, a remote controller 33 is arranged inside the outer door 1b. The remote controller 33 is for performing various setting operations and confirmation operations of various sales data, and includes an operation key such as a write key and an end key, as well as a liquid crystal display for displaying various setting data and confirmation data. .. The setting data input from the remote controller 33 is transmitted to the vending machine main control unit 50. Then, the remote controller 33 receives the confirmation data transmitted from the vending machine main control unit 50. The remote controller 33 can be used to set a plurality of products for sale (so-called multi-bend setting).

Further, a door switch 34 is provided inside the outer door 1b. The door switch 34 is for detecting the open / closed state of the outer door 1b, and is turned on when the outer door 1b is opened and turned off when the outer door 1b is closed.

The inside of the main body cabinet 1a is defined as a machine room 103 and a product storage room 104. Further, the product storage chamber 104 is further divided into three product storages 104a, 104b, and 104c by a heat insulating partition plate. Of these three product storages 104a, 104b, 104c, the product storage (hereinafter referred to as "left storage") 104a on the left side when facing the front and the central product storage (hereinafter referred to as "middle storage") 104b are It is possible to switch between cold and hot. When the product storage 104a (104b) is set to be cooled, the inside of the product storage 104a (104b) is cooled, and the products stored in the product storage 104a (104b) are cooled. On the other hand, when the product storage 104a (104b) is set to be heated, the inside of the product storage 104a (104b) is heated, and the products stored in the product storage 104a (104b) are heated. Further, the product storage (hereinafter referred to as "right storage") 104c on the right side when facing the front is a cooling-only storage, which cools the inside of the product storage 104c and cools the products stored in the product storage 104c.

A product storage rack 105 is mounted on each of the product storages 104a, 104b, and 104c. The vending machine 1 is equipped with two rows of product storage racks 105 in the width direction of the left storage 104a and the right storage 104c, and one row of product storage racks 105 in the width direction of the middle storage 104b. Further, the product storage rack 105 is provided with five passages (hereinafter, these passages are referred to as "rack" for convenience) in the depth direction of the product storages 104a, 104b, 104c, and products are stored in each passage. It is possible.

[Vending machine control system]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the vending machine 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the vending machine main control unit 50 of the vending machine 1 includes a coin mechanism 31, a building variable data 32, a display operation unit 20, a remote controller 33, a main body control unit 44, and money in the vending machine 1. The return function 29 and the money return function detection unit 30 are connected.

In addition to the door switch 34, the cooling device 45 and the unloading device 46 are connected to the main body control unit 44. The main body control unit 44 controls the cooling / heating device 45 and the unloading device 46 under the control of the vending machine main control unit 50.

The cooling device 45 is for managing the above-mentioned product storages 104a, 104b, 104c in a set state. The cooling device 45 cools the inside of the product storage set to be cooled, while heating the inside of the product storage set to be heated.

The unloading device 46 is for managing the bend solenoid and the sold-out switch provided for each rack. The main body control unit 44 carries out the product from the rack in accordance with the carry-out command transmitted from the vending machine main control unit 50. Further, the carry-out device 46 outputs a sold-out signal to the main body control unit 44 when all the products stored in the rack are carried out.

The display operation unit 20 includes a product selection button 17 and a display unit 24.

The vending machine main control unit 50 centrally manages the coin mechanism 31, the building variable data 32, the display operation unit 20, the remote controller 33, the main body control unit 44, etc., and is based on various setting data stored in a storage unit (not shown). To control.

The money return function 29 has a return lever 28, and returns the deposited money when the return lever 28 is operated. The money return function detection unit 30 detects the presence or absence of the money return function 29 or the failure of the money return function 29.

[Automatic money return processing control]
Here, the procedure for automatic money return processing by the vending machine main control unit 50 will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the vending machine main control unit 50 first determines whether or not money has been inserted (step S101). This judgment is based on the notification from the coin mechanism 31 or the bill burr data 32. If no money is inserted (steps S101, No), this process ends as it is. On the other hand, when money is inserted (step S101, Yes), further, based on the detection result of the money return function detection unit 30, is there no money return function 29 or is the money return function 29 out of order? It is determined whether or not (step S102).

If there is no money return function 29 or the money return function 29 is out of order (steps S102, Yes), the product selection button 17 is further pressed within a certain time (for example, 30 seconds) after the money is inserted. It is determined whether or not the product has been used (step S103).

If the product selection button 17 is not pressed within a certain period of time after the money is inserted (step S103, No), the inserted money is automatically returned (step S104), and this process ends.

On the other hand, if the product selection button 17 is pressed within a certain period of time after the money is inserted (step S103, Yes), the selected product is sold (step S106), and this process ends.

If the money return function 29 is not provided or the money return function 29 is not out of order (steps S102, No), it is further determined whether or not the product selection button 17 is pressed (step S105). If the product selection button 17 is not pressed (steps S105, No), the determination process of step S105 is repeated. On the other hand, when the product selection button 17 is pressed (step S105, Yes), the selected product is sold (step S106), and this process ends. The above-mentioned process is repeated at predetermined time intervals.

In the first embodiment, even if the money return function 29 is not provided or the money return function 29 is out of order, the inserted money is automatically returned and the money input is accepted after a certain period of time has passed. Since it is not prohibited, it is possible to increase the opportunity to sell products.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the overall configuration of the vending machine 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the vending machine 1 shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, a change-free selection button 25, which is a change-free selection unit for selecting change-free selection, is newly provided. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[Product sales processing when change runs out]
Here, based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, a procedure for processing product sales when the change is exhausted by the vending machine main control unit 50 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the vending machine main control unit 50 first assumes that the vending machine 1 is out of change (step S201). After that, the vending machine main control unit 50 determines whether or not money requiring change has been inserted (step S202). When money requiring change is not inserted (step S202, No), for example, when 90 yen is inserted for a product of 90 yen, the product selected by the product selection button 17 (step S214) The product is sold (step S215), and this process is completed.

On the other hand, when money requiring change is inserted (step S202, Yes), for example, when 100 yen is inserted for a product of 90 yen, it is determined whether or not the change unnecessary selection button 25 is further pressed. (Step S203). When the change-free selection button 25 is not pressed (step S203, No), it is further determined whether or not the return lever 28 is pressed (step S212). If the return lever 28 is not pressed (steps S212, No), the determination process of step S212 is repeated. On the other hand, when the return lever 28 is pressed (step S212, Yes), the inserted money is returned (step S213), and this process ends.

When the change-free selection button 25 is pressed (step S203, Yes), the product selected by the product selection button 17 (step S204) is sold (step S205).

After that, the vending machine main control unit 50 determines whether or not additional money has been input within a predetermined time from the sale of the product in step S205 (step S206). If there is no additional money input within a predetermined time from the sale of the product (step S206, No), the balance of the change is taken into the vending machine 1 (step S211), and this process is terminated. That is, the balance does not come back.

On the other hand, when additional money is input within a predetermined time from the sale of the product (step S206, Yes), it is determined whether or not there is a product that can be sold (step S207). If there are no products that can be sold (steps S207 and No), the balance is taken into the vending machine 1 (step S211), and this process ends.

If there are products that can be sold (step S207, Yes), it is determined whether or not further change is required (step S208). When change is required (steps S208, Yes), the process proceeds to step S203 and the above-described processing is repeated. On the other hand, when change is not required (steps S208, No), the product selected by the product selection button 17 (step S209) is sold (step S210), and this process ends. The above-mentioned process is repeated at predetermined time intervals.

In the second embodiment, even if the change is out, by selecting the change-free selection button 25, the change can be collected, but the desired product can be purchased. Therefore, even if the change is out, the opportunity to sell the product of the vending machine 1 can be increased. In addition, when the products are continuously purchased by inputting additional money, and the products to be purchased are products that do not require change, the change of the previously purchased product can be effectively used.

It should be noted that the above-described first and second embodiments are effective for a vending machine having only one of the building variable data 32 and the coin mechanism 31. In this case, it is set so that the product can be sold only by the bill variable data 32 or only the coin mechanism 31. Further, in a vending machine having only one of the bill Bali data 32 and the coin mechanism 31, it is preferable to set the product price corresponding to the denomination unit of banknotes or the denomination unit of coins.

Further, the components of the first and second embodiments described above can be appropriately combined.

1 Vending machine 1a Main body cabinet 1b Outer door 11 Pop-up handle 12 Exhibition room 13 Middle door 14 Lighting plate 15 Stage 16 Product selection button group 17 Product selection button 20 Display operation unit 21 Coin slot 22 Banknote insertion slot 24 Display unit 25 No change required selection button 28 Return lever 29 Money return function 30 Money return function Detection unit 31 Coin mechanism 32 Bill Bali data 33 Remote control 34 Door switch 41 Coin return port 42 Outlet 44 Main unit control unit 45 Cooling device 46 Carrying out device 50 Vending machine owner Control unit 103 Machine room 104 Product storage room 105 Product storage rack D Product sample

Claims (4)

A money return function detector that detects the presence or absence of a money return function or a failure of the money return function,
When the money return function detection unit detects that there is no money return function or that the money return function is out of order, and the product is not selected within a certain period of time after the money is inserted, the above-mentioned A control unit that returns the money you put in after a certain period of time,
A vending machine characterized by being equipped with. The first aspect of claim 1 is characterized in that it is provided with only one of a bill-variable data for identifying and storing and paying out inserted banknotes and a coin mechanism for identifying and storing and withdrawing inserted coins. vending machine. It enables merchandise sales even if it has only one of the bill-variable data that identifies the inserted banknotes and stores and withdraws them, and the coin mechanism that identifies and stores and withdraws the inserted coins. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the vending machine is characterized in that. If only one of the bill-variable data that identifies the inserted banknote and stores and withdraws it or the coin mechanism that identifies and stores and withdraws the inserted coin is provided, the denomination unit of the banknote or the denomination of the coin The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a product price corresponding to a unit is set.

Images