JPS6259357B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a sales data processing method for a vending machine that processes sales data such as the type, quantity, and sales amount of sold products.

(Prior art) In recent years, the popularity of vending machines has increased rapidly, and the number of vending machines that operators are responsible for has also increased, making it extremely difficult to collect various sales data for each vending machine. ing.

Under these circumstances, each vending machine is equipped with a memory unit that aggregates and stores sales data such as the type and quantity of products sold, sales amount, etc., and the operator stores the sales data in this memory unit in a portable data storage device, for example. It is desired that sales data collected by a collection unit, taken back to a processing center, and stored in the data collection unit can be processed as appropriate by simply providing the sales data stored in the data collection unit to the processing unit of the processing center.

By the way, the applicant of this application has filed a patent application for a vending machine equipped with a memory unit that aggregates and stores sales data such as the types and quantities of products sold in the vending machine, the sales amount, and the date and time of aggregation. 54−
Although it was already proposed in No. 170854 (title of the invention ``Vending machine sales information check method''), what method should be adopted for transmitting and receiving sales data between the storage unit and the processing unit by the data collection unit as described above? The question is whether to do so. As one method, it has conventionally been considered to connect the data acquisition unit, storage unit, and processing unit using generally known mechanical contact type connectors.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, when the data acquisition unit, storage unit, and processing unit are connected using the mechanical contact type connector as described above, contact wear due to insertion and removal of the mechanical contact type connector is significant. It is predicted that contact failure due to dirt and dust is likely to occur, and that good data transmission and reception cannot be expected.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine sales data processing method that allows reliable data transmission and reception between a data collection unit, a storage unit, and a processing unit without any wired connection. It is.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, the present invention provides a memory unit that is provided on the vending machine side and stores sales data such as the type, quantity, and sales amount of products sold in the vending machine; A processing unit that is provided independently of the vending machine and performs arithmetic processing on the sales data and displays, prints, or stores the data, and a processing unit that is provided independently of the vending machine and the processing unit and that stores the sales data within the storage unit. a data collection unit that reads and temporarily stores sales data and supplies the sales data to the processing unit, the data collection unit having a secondary battery therein as a power source for driving the data collection unit; The present invention is characterized in that sales data is sent and received between the data collection unit and the storage unit and data processing unit by spatial transmission using optical communication.

(Operation) The data collection unit reads the sales data in the storage unit and temporarily stores it. This temporarily stored sales data is then given to a processing unit, which performs arithmetic processing and displays, prints, or saves the data. The data collection unit reads the sales data in the storage unit and reads the sales data to the processing unit by spatial transmission using optical communication.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a vending machine sales data processing method according to the present invention.

In Fig. 1, numeral 1 is a vending machine, and on the inside of its front door 2 is a memory unit 3 which will be described below.
is attached. 4 is a data collection unit, and 5 is a processing unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 3 inputs sales data such as the number of sales and sales amount for each type of product on each day, the total sales amount, etc. through the input/output control circuit 13, and processes the data. A microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as microcomputer) 12 consisting of a central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), etc. (not shown) that stores memory, and various signals to this microcomputer 12. The input/output control circuit 13 for controlling the input/output of the optical transmitter/receiver 30 is provided. The optical transmitter/receiver 30 includes an electric/
Based on the light emitting diode (LED) 17 which is an optical converter, the light receiving element 16 which is an optical/electrical converter, and the sales data signal from the microcomputer 12, the LED
17 and the light receiving element 1
The input signal obtained by the action of 6 is amplified and given to the microcomputer 12 from the input/output control circuit 13,
2, and an amplifier circuit 15 that operates the amplifier circuit 2.

The data collection unit 4, which is provided separately from the vending machine 1, includes an optical transmitter/receiver 29.
, input/output control circuit 6, CPU, RAM and
A microcomputer 36 consisting of a ROM or the like, a keyboard 7 for operating the microcomputer 36, a display 32 for displaying the type, quantity, price, etc. of products to be sold, the microcomputer 36, the input/output control circuit 6, the keyboard 7, and the display. 32 and a secondary battery 33 as a power source for driving the optical transmitter/receiver 29. The optical transmitter/receiver 29 includes a light receiving element 10, an amplifying circuit 8 that amplifies an input signal (sales data signal) obtained by the action of the light receiving element 10, and supplies the amplified signal to a microcomputer 36 from an input/output control circuit 6, and an LED 11. , the above LED based on the signal from the above microcomputer 36
The drive circuit 9 drives the drive circuit 11.

A processing unit 5 installed in an operator's office etc. includes an optical transmitter/receiver 31 and an input/output control circuit 1.
9, a microcomputer 18 comprising a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc.; a keyboard 20 for operating the microcomputer 18; and a printer for printing sales data when the microcomputer 18 receives a sales data signal via an interface 25. 27, a floppy disk device 28 for recording the sales data via the interface 26, and a CRT for displaying the sales data via the interface 34.
(Cathode Ray Tube) Consists of 35. The optical transmitter/receiver 31 includes a light receiving element 23 and an input signal (sales data signal) obtained by the action of the light receiving element 23.
The microcomputer 18 is provided with an amplifier circuit 21 that amplifies the signal and supplies the amplified signal to the microcomputer 18 from the input/output control circuit 19, and a drive circuit 22 that drives the LED 24 based on the signal from the microcomputer 18.

In the above configuration, an operator carries the data collection unit 4, opens the door 2 of a predetermined vending machine 1, and connects the optical transceiver section (not shown) of the data collection unit 4 to the optical transceiver section (not shown) of the storage unit 3. When a data collection key (not shown) in the keyboard 7 of the data collection unit 4 is extended toward the input/output control circuit 6, a data collection signal is output from the keyboard 7, and this is transmitted from the input/output control circuit 6 to the microcomputer 36. Based on this input signal, the microcomputer 36 applies a data collection command signal to the drive circuit 9 through the input control circuit 6 to cause the LED 11 to emit light.

The light output from this LED 11 is emitted into space and received by the light receiving element 16 on the side of the storage unit 3.The light receiving element 16 converts the light into an electric signal again, and after amplifying it in the amplifier circuit 15, data is collected. The signal is input to the microcomputer 12 via the input/output control circuit 13 as a command signal.

Then, the microcomputer 12 recognizes the input signal as a data collection command signal and outputs the sales data stored in RAM (not shown) as a sales data signal via the input/output control circuit 13. and provides it to the drive circuit 14. Coupled with this,
The drive circuit 14 drives the LED 17 to emit light, and the light is emitted into space and sent to the light receiving element 10 on the data collection unit 4 side.

Then, the light receiving element 10 converts the received light into an electrical signal (sales data signal), amplifies the signal in the amplifier circuit 8, and then supplies it to the microcomputer 36 via the input/output control circuit 6. In conjunction with this, the microcomputer 36 operates and sequentially stores the sales data contained in the sales data signal at a predetermined address in its RAM (not shown).

This completes the collection of sales data from the storage unit 3 of one vending machine, and the operator can sequentially collect sales data from the storage units of other vending machines in this manner.

When the collection of sales data for each vending machine is completed, the data collection unit 4 is taken back to the operator's office, etc., and the collected sales data is supplied to the processing unit 5.

That is, first, the operator connects the optical transceiver (not shown) of the data collection unit 4 to the processing unit 5.
the optical transmitter/receiver (not shown).

Next, when a data memory key (not shown) in the keyboard 20 of the processing unit 5 is pressed, the data memory command signal output from the keyboard 20 is input to the microcomputer 18 via the input/output control circuit 19, and the microcomputer 18 Based on this input signal,
A data transfer command signal is given to the drive circuit 22 through the input/output control circuit 19 to cause the LED 31 to emit light.

The light output from this LED 31 is emitted into space and received by the light receiving element 10 on the side of the data collection unit 4.The light receiving element 10 converts the light into an electric signal again, and after amplifying it in the amplifier circuit 8, data is transmitted. The signal is input to the microcomputer 36 via the input/output control circuit 6 as a transfer command signal.

Then, the microcomputer 36 recognizes the input signal as a data transfer command signal, and the RAM
The sales data of each vending machine 1 stored in memory (not shown) is sequentially applied to the drive circuit 9 via the input/output control circuit 6 as a sales data signal to the LED 1.
1 to emit light.

The light of this LED 11 is emitted into space and sent to the light receiving element 23 of the processing unit 5, where it is converted into an electric signal (sales data signal) and is also sent to the amplifier circuit 2.
1 and then sent to the microcomputer 18 via the input/output control circuit 19.
This data is stored in the RAM as sales data, and is also written to the floppy disk 28 via the interface 26.

Thereafter, the operator operates the keyboard 20 of the processing unit 5 to give a command to the microcomputer 18 via the input/output control circuit 19.According to this command, the microcomputer 18 sends a command to the printer 27 via the input/output control circuit 19 and the interface 25. You can print sales data on the CRT3 via the interface 34.
Sales data can be displayed on the screen of 5.

In the above explanation, basic embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various configurations can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the detailed description above, the present invention provides an optical communication method for transmitting and receiving sales data between a data collection unit, a storage unit, and a processing unit in a vending machine sales data processing system. Unlike the case of sending and receiving sales data by wire, there is no contact failure due to connector wear, dirt, dust, etc., and optical communication is used for spatial transmission, making it even more reliable. You can expect to send and receive sales data, and
Processing operations such as collecting sales data and printing sales data can be reliably executed.

Further, according to the present invention, since each vending machine is provided with a unit for storing sales data, if at least one data collection unit is provided for a large number of vending machines, sales data can be collected. and processing.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the data collection unit uses a secondary battery, there is no need to replace the battery, and moreover, charging of the secondary battery can be done using the secondary battery of one data collection unit. All you have to do is charge it, and it takes less time and effort to charge it.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a vending machine sales data processing method according to the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of each storage, data collection, and processing unit applied to the vending data processing method of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1: Vending machine, 3: Storage unit, 4: Data collection unit, 5: Processing unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A storage unit provided on the vending machine side for storing sales data such as the type, quantity, and sales amount of products sold in the vending machine, and a storage unit provided independently of the vending machine for calculating the sales data. A processing unit that processes and displays, prints, or stores data is provided independently of the vending machine and the processing unit, and reads and temporarily stores the sales data in the storage unit, and also processes the sales data. The data collection unit has a secondary battery inside as a power source for driving the data collection unit, and the sales data is stored between the data collection unit and the storage unit and data processing unit. A vending machine sales data processing method characterized by transmitting and receiving data by spatial transmission using optical communication.