JP6948239B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vending machine in which a plurality of columns for accommodating a plurality of products are stored in a storage cabinet provided with a temperature control function.

There are known vending machines configured to heat or cool products such as beverages in cans and PET bottles to a temperature suitable for selling the products (Patent Documents 1 to 3).

In such a vending machine, a plurality of columns each accommodating a plurality of products are stored inside a storage box surrounded by a heat insulating wall, and the temperature control device (heating device,) is stored in the storage room. A cooling device or a combination of both) is attached. A sensor is installed in the storage, and the temperature control device is controlled so that the temperature of the product is suitable for sale based on the temperature inside the storage measured by the sensor.

In such a vending machine, when the product is filled for the first time after installation, the temperature inside the storage is equal to the outside air temperature. Further, when the front door (a part of the heat insulating wall) of the storage is opened to replenish the column in the storage, the temperature inside the storage temporarily deviates from the temperature suitable for selling the product. Then, when the front door of the storage is closed after the replenishment of the product is completed, the temperature inside the storage changes to a temperature suitable for selling the product by the operation of the temperature adjusting device.

In a conventional vending machine, all of these are performed only when the temperature inside the refrigerator measured by the sensor reaches a temperature suitable for selling all the products stored in the columns in the storage. It was configured to be able to sell the products of.

However, the temperature of the products stored in the column differs depending on the part inside the storage, for example, the products stored in the column near the outer edge of the storage, which are easily affected by the installation environment (temperature, wind, sunshine, etc.), are cooled or heated. On the other hand, the goods housed in the column near the center of the storage reach a temperature suitable for sale in a shorter time than the goods housed in the column near the outer edge. That is, even if the temperature inside the refrigerator measured by the sensor does not reach a temperature suitable for selling all the products housed in the columns in the storage, for some products. Is likely to have already reached a temperature suitable for sale.

Therefore, in the conventional vending machine, although the product having reached the temperature suitable for sale is held in inventory, it cannot be sold, which leads to the loss of the sales opportunity of the product.

On the other hand, in the vending machine as described above, the same type of product may be stored and sold in a plurality of columns. In this case, there is known a method of alternately carrying out products from a plurality of columns regardless of which of the product selection buttons corresponding to each of the plurality of columns is pressed (Patent Documents 4 to 5).

However, as described above, the temperature of the product contained in the column differs depending on the part in the storage, and therefore, if the product is simply carried out from a plurality of columns alternately without considering this, it is suitable for sale. There is a risk that products that have not reached the temperature (particularly products stored in columns near the outer edge of the storage) will be carried out (sold).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-118911 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-118921 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-12238 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-4892 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-53994

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine with a temperature control function capable of selling a product having a temperature suitable for sale in a timely manner. do.

In order to solve the above problems, the vending machine of the present invention includes a storage cabinet provided with a temperature control device, a plurality of columns stored in the storage cabinet and accommodating a plurality of products, and the respective columns. A unloading device for unloading the product from the column, a sensor for measuring the representative temperature in the refrigerator at a predetermined part in the storage, and at least whether the product is on sale or in preparation. A display for displaying, the carrying-out device, the sensor, and a control unit electrically connected to the display are provided, and the control unit has the product in which the column has a maximum capacity for each of the columns. Correlation data showing the relationship between the representative temperature in the refrigerator and the total number of the products that can be carried out under the representative temperature in the refrigerator, and the remaining number of the products in the column. The control unit holds the indicated inventory data, and the control unit sets the maximum number of items that can be carried out for each of the columns based on the representative temperature in the refrigerator and the correlation data input from the sensor. The total number of items that have been carried out is calculated by subtracting the remaining number of items based on the inventory data from the number of items that can be stored. When an instruction is given to indicate that the product is on sale, and when a sales command signal is input, a carry-out command signal is output to the carry-out device, and the total number of items that can be carried out is equal to the total number of items that have been carried out. It is characterized in that the display is instructed to indicate that the product is being prepared and the sale is stopped.

Preferably, the plurality of columns include at least one column group composed of the plurality of columns accommodating the same type of goods, and the control unit corresponds to the plurality of the columns belonging to the column group. The unloading device is integrated and controlled, and the control unit holds unloading order data that defines the correspondence between the unloading order of the product from the column group and the column to which the product should be unloaded in the unloading order. When the total number of items that can be carried out is larger than the total number of items that have already been carried out and the sales command signal is input, the control unit outputs a carry-out command signal to the carry-out device based on the carry-out order data. good.

According to the present invention, for a column in which at least one of the contained products has reached the unloadable temperature, the product can be carried out (sold), so that the loss of sales opportunity of the product is reduced / It can be avoided. In addition, when the same type of products are stored in multiple columns and sold, the products that reach the unloadable temperature in a short time are unloaded in order, so the products that do not reach the unloadable temperature are unloaded (sold). It is avoided that it is done.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the vending machine of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the vending machine of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. In the vending machine of the second embodiment of the present invention, it is the schematic explanatory drawing which illustrates the delivery order of the goods from two columns which make up a column group.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing a vending machine 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The vending machine 10 includes a storage 20, a cooling device (temperature adjusting device) 30, and a control unit C.

A plurality of columns CL (CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn; where n is a natural number of 2 or more) are stored in the storage 20. In the storage 20, the columns CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn may be arranged side by side in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the vending machine 10 or arranged side by side in the depth direction (front-back direction). You may be.

The columns CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn accommodate a plurality of different types of products (beverages in cans, PET bottles, etc.) P (P1, P2, P3, ... Pn). As shown in FIG. 1, the storage mode of the products in each column may be a direct stacking type in which other products are sequentially stacked on one product, or along a path meandering in the vertical direction. It may be a serpentine type in which products are sequentially stacked. Further, the maximum number of products P that can be accommodated by each column is referred to as the maximum number of products N that can be accommodated. In this specification, it is assumed that the maximum number of columns N of all columns CL is the same, but the maximum number of columns N may differ depending on the column.

Each column CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn is provided with a carry-out device DC (DC1, DC2, DC3, ... DCn) for carrying out the stored goods P1, P2, P3, ... Pn. It should be noted that the goods may be carried out from the two adjacent columns by one carrying-out device common to these two columns.

Further, the display DP (DP1, DP2, DP3, ... DPn) that displays the sales status of the products contained in the respective columns CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn is placed on the front surface of the vending machine 10, for example, each column. (In FIG. 1, for convenience, the indicators DP1, DP2, DP3, ... DPn are shown to be arranged below the vending machine 10). However, this does not reflect the actual placement).

The sales status of the product displayed by the display DP is "on sale" (the product is in stock and there is a product at a temperature suitable for sale), "in preparation" (the product stock is in stock). Either there is no product at a temperature suitable for sale) or "sold out" (the product is out of stock).

The storage 20 is surrounded by a heat insulating wall, and the internal temperature (inside temperature) is adjusted by a cooling device 30 described later. Therefore, an air passage (not shown) is provided along the rear wall of the storage 20. The air passage is provided, for example, as an air duct (not shown) arranged along the rear wall of the storage 20 or separately from the rear wall (not shown) attached to the column CL or the column CL. It is formed as a space separated from the space in front by a partition wall (not shown). By using a blower fan (not shown) installed inside the air passage or near the inlet or outlet thereof, the air cooled by the cooling device 30 is flowed upward or downward in the air passage to store the air. A flow of cold air that circulates throughout the interior of the chamber 20 is formed, whereby the product P housed in the column CL is cooled. Since the product P is carried out from the column CL downward, a circulating flow of cold air is used to preferentially cool the product P below the column CL that is in a state immediately before being carried out (that is, sold). The air passage may be configured so that is formed below the storage 20.

Further, in the storage 20, a sensor TS for measuring the temperature inside the storage (representative temperature T inside the storage) is installed for the purpose of indirectly grasping the temperature of the product stored in the column CL. There is. The sensor TS can be installed at an appropriate position in the storage 20 such as inside the above-mentioned air passage, above or below the column CL (in FIG. 1, for convenience, the sensor TS is the height of the vending machine 10. It is shown to be located in the center of the vertical direction, but this does not reflect the actual arrangement).

The cooling device 30 is a device that is arranged below the storage 20 and has a function of cooling the air in the storage 20. As the cooling device 30, for example, a cooling device having a built-in refrigeration circuit can be used, but the cooling device 30 is not limited to this.

The control unit C has a function of controlling the overall operation of the vending machine 10, and as a characteristic function related to the present invention, it is a display based on the representative temperature T in the refrigerator input from the sensor TS. A signal for displaying the sales status of the product is output to the DP, and the delivery device DC corresponding to the column CL accommodating the selected product is received from the customer's input of money and the selection of the product. It has a function to output a carry-out command signal Sdc (described later). Therefore, the control unit C is electrically connected to each of the sensor TS, the plurality of unloading devices DC, and the plurality of display DPs.

Next, the data held by the control unit C and the operation of the control unit C based on the data will be described.

The control unit C holds the correlation data DATc and the inventory data DATr described below for each of the columns CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn in the built-in storage medium (not shown).

Correlation data DATc is data showing the relationship between the representative temperature T in the refrigerator and the total number of products (total number of products that can be carried out) Nd whose temperature has dropped below the unloadable temperature Td under the temperature. This data is acquired in advance by an experiment using the vending machine 10 (or a device simulating the vending machine 10).

In this experiment, in a state where the maximum number of products N can be stored in each of the columns in the storage 20, the representative temperature T in the storage is gradually lowered, and the temperature that can be carried out under each temperature is Td or less. The number of products that have reached the temperature is recorded for each column.

For example, for a certain column, when the representative temperature in the refrigerator is T1, the first product (total of 1 product) is, and when the representative temperature in the refrigerator is T2, the second product (total of 2 products) is. ... Assuming that the Nth product (total of N products) reaches a temperature equal to or lower than the unloadable temperature Td when the representative temperature in the refrigerator is TN, the correlation data DATc of the column is shown in Table 1. It can be configured as data in such a table format (however, T1> T2> ...> TN. Further, the maximum number of sheets N = 12).

The inventory data DATr is data indicating the number (remaining number) Nr of the products remaining in each of the columns CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn.

During the normal operation of the vending machine 10, that is, during the period from the replenishment of the product to the next replenishment of the product, the control unit C has the internal representative temperature T input from the sensor TS and each column. By comparing with the correlation data DATc of CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn, the total number Nd of each column CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn that can be carried out at that time is grasped.

Further, the control unit C grasps the remaining number Nr of each column CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn at that time by referring to the inventory data DATr of each column CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn, and the remaining number Nr. By subtracting the number Nr from the maximum number N, the total number of products already carried out from each column CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn, that is, the total number Ne that has already been carried out is grasped.

Here, in a certain column, if the total number of items Nd that can be carried out is larger than the total number of items that have been carried out Ne (that is, if Nd> Ne), the products (of which (Nd-Ne) pieces) are contained in the column. The temperature has dropped below the unloadable temperature Td, and the unloadable (sale) is possible. On the other hand, when the total number of items that can be carried out Nd is equal to the total number of items that have been carried out (that is, Nd = Ne), the products contained in the column whose temperature has dropped below the carryable temperature Td The number is 0, which means that it is impossible to carry out (sell). The total number of Nes that have been carried out does not become larger than the total number of Nd that can be carried out (that is, Ne> Nd).

Based on the above, the control unit C compares the total number Nd that can be carried out and the total number Ne that has been carried out for each column CL1, CL2, CL3, ... CLn, and the total number Nd that can be carried out is larger than the total number Ne that has been carried out. Instructs the corresponding indicators DP1, DP2, ... DPn to indicate that the product is "on sale", and when the product sales command signal is input, that is, the customer gives money. When the product is put in and the product is selected, the unloading command signal Sdc is output to the unloading device DC corresponding to the column CL accommodating the selected product.

On the other hand, the control unit C instructs the corresponding display DP to indicate that the product is "in preparation" for the column in which the total number of items that can be carried out Nd is equal to the total number of items that have been carried out Ne. , Discontinue sales.

As a matter of course, the control unit C instructs the corresponding display DP to indicate that the product is "sold out" for the column in which the remaining number Nr is 0.

With the above configuration, in the vending machine 10 of the first embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the contained products has reached a temperature below the unloadable temperature Td. Since it is possible to carry out (sell) the product, all the products contained in the multiple column CLs have been "prepared" until the temperature reaches the carry-out temperature Td or less. Compared to vending machines, it is possible to reduce / avoid lost sales opportunities for products.

The experiment for acquiring the correlation data DATc is performed in a state where the products having the maximum storage number N are stored in each of the columns in the storage 20, but during the normal operation of the vending machine 10, the columns are displayed. The number of stored goods is less than the maximum number of stored items N. Even in this case, by using the correlation data DATc obtained by the experiment, it is possible to more reliably carry out the product at a temperature equal to or lower than the carry-out temperature Td.

For example, in the state after the three products have been carried out (sold) after the products have been replenished, the product housed fourth from the bottom in the column has moved to the bottom. At this time, since the product is in a state where it is easier to be cooled than when it is stored fourth from the bottom, it can actually be carried out when the representative temperature T in the refrigerator reaches a temperature between T3 and T4. It is estimated that the temperature will be Td or less. This means that, from a different point of view, if the representative temperature T in the refrigerator reaches T4, the situation in which the product does not reach the temperature below the unloadable temperature Td is surely avoided.

In the above description, it has been described that the vending machine 10 cools and sells the products housed in the column CL in the storage 20. However, instead of the cooling device 30, for example, a heat pump circuit is built in. It is also possible to employ a heating device that uses a heating device or a temperature control device that combines a cooling device and a heating device.

In any of these cases, the temperature of the products stored in the column near the outer edge of the storage 20, which takes a long time to cool or heat due to the influence of the installation environment (temperature, wind, sunshine, etc.), is suitable for sale. Without waiting, it is possible to sell the products stored in the column near the center of the storage 20, which are cooled or heated in a shorter time than the products stored in the column near the outer edge, in a timely manner.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a vending machine 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The vending machine 110 has almost the same configuration as the vending machine 10 of the first embodiment, but the same type of product P0 (beverage in a can or a PET bottle, etc.) is stored in the storage 120. It differs from the vending machine 10 of the first embodiment in that at least one column group CG composed of a plurality of column CLs to be accommodated is stored.

In the following description, it is assumed that there is one column group CG composed of two columns CL1 and CL2, both of which accommodate the product P0, in the storage 120 of the vending machine 110.

Corresponding to the above-mentioned difference, the control unit C integrates and controls the unloading devices DC1 and DC2 corresponding to the columns CL1 and CL2 belonging to the column group CG.

Then, the control unit C holds the carry-out order data DATs for the column group CG. The unloading order data DATS is data that defines the correspondence between the unloading order of the products from the column group CG and the column (either CL1 or CL2) to unload the products in the unloading order. This data is acquired in advance by an experiment using the vending machine 110 (or a device simulating the vending machine 110).

In this experiment, in a state where the products having the maximum storage number N are stored in each of the plurality of columns in the storage 120, the column belonging to the column group CG under each temperature while gradually lowering the representative temperature T in the storage. The order in which the products contained in CL1 and CL2 reach the unloadable temperature Td or less is recorded.

For example, in the above-mentioned experiment, the products contained in columns CL1 and CL2 (here, the maximum number of items N = 6) reached a temperature equal to or lower than the unloadable temperature Td in the order shown in FIG. Then, the carry-out order data DATs of the column group CG can be configured as the data in the table format as shown in Table 2.

For example, m (however, m <N) of the products housed in the column (here, column CL2) closer to the center of the storage 20 which is not easily affected by the installation environment (temperature, wind, sunshine, etc.) If it is empirically known that the temperature reaches the unloadable temperature Td or less first, the 1st to m ranks of the unloading order are assigned to the column CL2 without performing the above-mentioned experiment, and the following unloading order is the column. CL1 and column CL2 may be assigned alternately.

Further, in response to the above-mentioned differences, the control unit C holds the correlation data DATc and the inventory data DATc for the column group CG instead of the correlation data DATc and the inventory data DATc for each of the columns CL1 and CL2. ing.

Then, during the normal operation of the vending machine 110, the control unit C compares the representative temperature T in the refrigerator input from the sensor TS with the correlation data DATc, so that the total unloadability of each column CL1 and CL2 at that time is reached. Instead of the number Nd, the total number Nd that can be carried out of the column group CG is grasped.

Similarly, the control unit C grasps the remaining number Nr of the column group CG at that time by referring to the inventory data DATr of the column group CG instead of the inventory data DATr of each column CL1 and CL2, and the remaining number. By subtracting Nr from the maximum storage quantity (2 × N), the total number of products already carried out from the column group CG, that is, the total number of goods carried out Ne is grasped.

Then, the control unit C compares the total number Nd that can be carried out and the total number Ne that has been carried out for the column group CG, and if the total number Nd that can be carried out is larger than the total number Ne that has been carried out, the corresponding display DP1 and DP1 When the DP2 is instructed to indicate that the product is "on sale" and the sales command signal of the product contained in any of the columns CL1 and CL2 belonging to the column group CG is input, Based on the above-mentioned carry-out order data DATs, the carry-out command signal Sdc is output to any of the carry-out devices DC1 and DC2.

On the other hand, when the total number of items that can be carried out Nd is equal to the total number of items that have been carried out Ne, the control unit C instructs the indicators DP1 and DP2 to indicate that the product is "in preparation". Discontinue sales.

As a matter of course, when the remaining number Nr is 0, the control unit C instructs the corresponding indicators DP1 and DP2 to indicate that the product is "sold out".

With the above configuration, in the vending machine 110 of the second embodiment of the present invention, the same type of product P0 is simply carried out from the plurality of columns alternately from the plurality of columns. Rather, among the products P0 housed in these multiple columns, the products P0 that reach the unloadable temperature Td or less in a short time are performed in order. It is avoided that products whose temperature has not deteriorated are carried out (sold).

In the vending machine 110, instead of the cooling device 130, a heating device using a heating device or a temperature adjusting device combining the cooling device and the heating device can be adopted.

10, 110 Vending machine 20, 120 Storage 30 Temperature control device C Control unit CG Column group CL Column DC Carry-out device DP Display P Product T Representative temperature in the warehouse Td Carry-out temperature TS Sensor DATc Correlation data DATr Stock data DATs Carry-out Order data N Maximum capacity Nd Total number that can be carried out Ne Total number that has been carried out Nr Remaining number Sdc Carry-out command signal

Claims (2)

A storage room equipped with a temperature control device and
A plurality of columns stored in the storage and each containing a plurality of products, and
A unloading device attached to each of the columns to carry out the product from the column,
A sensor that measures the representative temperature inside the storage at a predetermined part in the storage, and
At least a display that indicates whether the product is on sale or in preparation,
A control unit electrically connected to the unloading device, the sensor, and the display,
With
The control unit is responsible for each of the columns.
Correlation data showing the relationship between the representative temperature in the refrigerator when the column is accommodating the maximum number of the products and the total number of the products that can be carried out under the representative temperature in the refrigerator.
Inventory data indicating the remaining quantity of the product in the column and
Owns and
The control unit is responsible for each of the columns.
Based on the representative temperature in the refrigerator and the correlation data input from the sensor, the total number of items that can be carried out is determined.
By subtracting the remaining number based on the inventory data from the maximum storage number, the total number of items that have been carried out can be calculated.
Calculate each
When the total number of items that can be carried out is larger than the total number of items that have been carried out, the display is instructed to indicate that the product is on sale, and when a sales command signal is input, the item is carried out. Outputs a carry-out command signal to the device and
A vending machine characterized in that when the total number of items that can be carried out is equal to the total number of items that have been carried out, the display is instructed to indicate that the product is being prepared and the sale is stopped. .. The plurality of columns include at least one column group consisting of the plurality of the columns accommodating the same type of goods.
The control unit integrates and controls a plurality of the unloading devices corresponding to the plurality of columns belonging to the column group.
The control unit holds the carry-out order data that defines the correspondence between the carry-out order of the goods from the column group and the column in which the goods should be carried out in the carry-out order.
When the total number of items that can be carried out is larger than the total number of items that can be carried out and the sales command signal is input, the control unit outputs a carry-out command signal to the carry-out device based on the carry-out order data. The vending machine according to claim 1, which is a feature.

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