JPH01237899A - Automatic drink vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten a sale time by storing the number of cups of drink corresponding to an estimated value of the number of cups of drink within a time set in advance. CONSTITUTION:In case when selling is concentrated in a time zone set is advance, for example, a rest time in a factory, etc., the number of cups of drink corresponding to the estimated value of the number of cups for selling within the time zone is extracted in advance by the starting time of the time zone, and is stored in a storage part 18. In the storage part 18, a heater 19 for keeping warm and a residual quantity detecting electrode 20 are incorporated. The drink is supplied to the cup 11 from the storage part 18 at every selling via a nozzle 23.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (b) Industrial application fields The present invention relates to a beverage vending machine equipped with a brewing machine.

Conventional technology In general, beverage vending machines equipped with a brewing machine use the brewing machine to extract the beverage for one person and supply it to the beverage supply section for each sale. If you try to buy all at once, there is a drawback that it takes a long time to finish purchasing because the brewing machine extracts the beverage each time one person is sold.

Therefore, in the beverage vending machine disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-89190, if the customer sets the number of cups and the finishing/finishing time, then when the decanter filling start time calculated from the reserved finishing time is reached, Beverage is supplied to the decanter for the set number of cups. Therefore, the beverage is supplied from the decanter to the cup while the set number of cups of coffee is stored in the decanter, so that when purchasing in bulk, the time required to finish the purchase is shortened.

(C) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The beverage vending machine disclosed in the above-mentioned publication can shorten the sales time when one customer buys multiple drinks at once. For example, in a beverage vending machine installed in a factory, sales are concentrated during break times, and in cases where individual customers continuously purchase one drink at a time, the beverage dispensing device described above may have multiple beverage vending machines in a carafe. Because a cup of beverage cannot be stored, it is necessary to use a brewing machine to extract the beverage each time it is sold, making it impossible to shorten the sales time, creating the problem of not being able to sell as many beverages during limited breaks. do.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is based on the actual value of the number of cups sold in a preset time period, and also based on the comparison between the predicted value and the actual value of the said time period that has already passed. A predicted value of the number of cups sold is calculated, a number of drinks corresponding to the predicted value are extracted from a brewing machine by the start time of the time period, stored in a storage section, and from the storage section to a beverage supply section. Supply beverages. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage vending machine that can shorten the sales time, improve sales efficiency during the time period, and increase the number of drinks sold.

(d) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is a beverage vending machine having a storage section capable of storing a plurality of volatile beverages extracted by an extraction machine. A counting means for counting the actual number of cups sold in a set time period, and a prediction of the number of cups sold in the next time period based on a comparison between the predicted value and the actual number of cups sold in the time period that has already passed. and a calculation means for calculating a value, and at the start of the time period, the number of drinks corresponding to the predicted value calculated by the calculation means is extracted in advance by the extraction machine and stored in the storage section. To solve the above problem.

(e) Function: According to the beverage vending machine of the present invention, the actual number of cups sold during a preset time period is counted by the counting means,
Further, the calculating means calculates a predicted value of the number of cups sold in the next time period based on a comparison between the predicted value of the number of sold cups in the time period that has already passed and the actual value. At the start of the time period, the number of cups of beverage corresponding to the predicted value calculated by the calculation means is extracted in advance by a brewing machine and stored in the storage section, and during the time period, the beverage stored in the storage section is Sell. Therefore, the number of cups of beverage stored in the storage section does not require extraction time using a brewing machine.

(F) Embodiment To explain the present invention in detail according to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a beverage vending machine as an embodiment of the present invention. The input amount is calculated based on an input money signal from a device (not shown), and the sales price of each product for sale is compared with the input amount to determine the products that can be sold. Next, when the customer selects a product that can be sold by operating the selection switch, the sales control unit (1) controls the extraction bag e (2) and the beverage supply device (3) to extract and supply the beverage. conduct.

(4) is a data input means composed of, for example, a keyboard, which inputs time periods when sales are concentrated, such as factory holidays, and predicts how many cups will be sold during that time period. C for various correction coefficients that will be revealed later for calculating values.

Enter D, E, F, G.

(5) is a counting means that counts the actual number of cups sold in the time period specified by the data input means (4) based on the number of times the sales signal is output from the sales control section (1).

(6) is a calculation means for calculating the predicted value of the number of cups sold in the time period specified by the data input means (4), for example, the average of the actual number of cups sold counted by the counting means (5). value, the difference between the past actual value and the predicted value, the data input means (
4) C, D, E, F, G to the various correction coefficients input in
, calculates a predicted value of the number of cups sold in the next time period based on the temperature correction coefficient H, etc. corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit (7), and sells the number of drinks corresponding to the predicted value. The preparation time is calculated taking into account the time to be extracted.

Then, the extraction device (2), based on the signal from the sales control unit (1), extracts the number of drinks corresponding to the predicted value calculated by the calculation means (6) for the next time period. Extract by the start time.

The above is an explanation of the configuration of the block diagram shown in FIG.

Further, FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a beverage vending machine as an embodiment of the present invention. To explain FIG. tank,
(10) is a raw material container storing powdered coffee beans, and (11) is a cup placed on the beverage supply section. (
12) is an extractor, which is supplied with hot water from a hot water tank (9) by opening a hot water supply solenoid valve (13), and powderizes the raw material in the raw material container (10) by rotating an auger (15). After being supplied with coffee beans, high-pressure compressed air is applied to send the coffee through a filter (17) for extraction.

(18) is a storage part that can store the beverage of multiple volatiles extracted from the extractor (12), and a heater for keeping warm (
19) and a remaining amount detection electrode (20) for detecting the remaining amount of coffee in the storage section (18). (21) is a beverage supply valve, which is installed in the beverage supply pipe (22) communicating with the storage section (18), and is opened every time a sale is made to supply the beverage to the cup (11) via a nozzle 23). supply

The above is an explanation of the schematic diagram shown in FIG.

The extraction device (2) shown in the block diagram of Fig. 1 includes a hot water tank (9), a hot water supply solenoid valve (13), a raw material container (16),
Auger (15), extractor (12) and filter (1
The beverage supply device (3) shown in the block diagram of FIG.
, a remaining amount detection electrode (20), a beverage supply valve (21), and a nozzle (23).

Next, to explain the operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, first, the administrator inputs AMlo:00-AMl into the data input means (4) as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
o:10. PM12:00-PM12:10. PM3:
00-PM3:10゜PM5, OO~PM5: 1
Enter a time zone such as 0 in advance. Specifically, this time period is a time when factories and the like are closed, and is a time period when beverage sales are concentrated. Then, the predicted number of cups sold for each time period inputted above, for example, AMlo, OO~AMI.
An initial predicted value of 35 cups predicted to be sold during O:10 is input into the data input means (4). Furthermore, the calculation means (6) includes C, D, E, F,
Input G into the data input means (4>).

When the above-mentioned input operation by the administrator is completed, the beverage vending machine enters the vending state.

Here, among the time slots input in advance to the data input means (4), for example, the AMlo of the earliest arriving time slot
:00 to AMIO:10, and the predicted number of sales in that time period is 35 cups, the brewing machine (12) can extract up to 5 cups of coffee at a time, and Assuming that the required time is 1 minute, the calculating means (6) calculates that 7 minutes are required to brew 35 cups of coffee, and calculates the preparation time to start coffee extraction as 9:53 AM. The preparation time can be before 9:53 AM, but since you want to sell freshly brewed coffee to your customers, it is better to delay the preparation time as much as possible, taking into account the extraction time for the predicted number of cups. preferable.

When the preparation time calculated by the calculation means (6) as described above is reached, the sales control section (1) outputs a signal to a motor (not shown) that can drive the hot water supply solenoid valve (13) and the auger (15). Then, the hot water supply solenoid valve (13) is opened, the auger (15) is rotated, and the extractor (12) is opened.
The hot water in the hot water tank (14) and the powdered coffee beans in the raw material container (16) are supplied to the machine.

The extractor (12) supplied with hot water and coffee beans extracts the predicted number of cups of coffee by applying high-pressure compressed air and passing through the filter (17).
To brew 5 cups of coffee, turn the brewer (12> to 7).
This means that the extraction time will be 7 minutes. In addition, the extracted coffee is sequentially sent to the storage section (18) each time the brewing machine (12) is operated, but since the storage section (18) has a built-in heater (19) for keeping it warm. , the coffee never gets cold in 7 minutes.

The start time of the time zone entered in advance as above,
For example, AMIO:00 contains 3 as the number of cups of the predicted value.
Five cups of coffee have been extracted and are stored in the storage section (18). Here, sales are carried out from AMIO:00 as the above-mentioned time period, and when the customer inserts a coin and selects a product that can be sold, the sales control unit (1>
outputs a signal to the beverage supply pipe (22) from the storage section (18).
), the beverage supply valve (21) is opened for a period of time for one cup of coffee to flow out through the cup (11).
). This beverage supply operation is completed in 7 seconds, which significantly shortens the beverage supply time, compared to the 30 seconds it would take in the conventional case where extraction was performed using an extractor for each sale.

Then, the above sales operation is repeated until the predicted value of 35 cups of coffee in the storage section (18) is sold out, or the coffee in the storage section (18) is discarded due to a decrease in flavor after 30 minutes have passed since the completion of extraction. Therefore, the storage section (18
), and after 35 cups of coffee have been sold out as the predicted value of the storage section (18), or after 30 minutes have elapsed from the completion of coffee extraction, the storage section (18)
After discarding the coffee, the system switches to general sales where the coffee is extracted by an extraction machine (12) and supplied every time it is sold.

On the other hand, the counting means (5) counts the signals output from the sales control unit (1) for each sale during AMIO:00-AMIO:10, which is a pre-input time period, and calculates the sales of the sales in the said time period. Counting the actual value of the number of cups, calculating means (6)
stores actual values.

Here, FIG. 4 is a table showing the time periods input in advance into the data input means (4) and the actual values for the time periods. When the data input operation to means (4) is completed, the AM
8: General sales will begin from OO and will continue until preparation time.

If the initial predicted value of AMlo: 00 to AMIO: 10 is 35 cups, then 9:53 AM will be the preparation time as described above, and from the preparation time to AMlo: 00, 35 cups will be prepared.
A cup of coffee is extracted by the brewing machine (12) and stored in the storage section (18), and sold in this state, resulting in an actual value of 1*R.
The IO is counted by the counting means (5) and the actual value is 1. R1° is stored in the calculation means (6).

Similarly, even during the hours of 12:00 PM to 12:10 PM,
Based on the initial value of the number of cups sold input into the data input means (4), the calculation means (6) calculates the preparation time and stores the predicted number of cups of coffee from the preparation time to 12:00 PM. Sales are carried out after preparation in section (18), and the actual value is...
Count R, , and add the actual value + 1 R to the calculation means (6).
I! remember.

Thereafter, the above-mentioned operations are repeated, coffee is prepared according to the initial predicted value input into the data input means (4), and the actual value taRs l 1. R, is counted by the counting means (5) and stored in the calculating means (6).

Furthermore, once the time period inputted to the data input means (4) is recorded, the predicted value of the number of cups sold for each time period next time is calculated by the calculation means (6).

Here, the correction coefficient that has already been input to the data input means (4) and used to calculate the predicted value by the calculation means (6),
C, D, E, F, G and temperature correction coefficient H will be explained below.

(1) Correction coefficient The correction coefficient is a value for changing the calculation formula for calculating the predicted value, depending on whether the difference between the predicted value and the actual value exceeds K or not.For example, a value such as 6 cups. It is.

(2) Correction coefficient C Correction coefficient C corrects the increase and decrease in the number of cups sold before and after the payday or bonus payment date. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the correction coefficient C The number of cups sold shows a decreasing trend from about a week ago, increases the day after the payday or bonus payment date, and then decreases over the following weeks. Standard value of correction coefficient is 1.0
For example, the day before payday, the value will be 0.7, and the day after payday, the value will be 1.3, etc.

(3) Correction coefficient The correction coefficient is the change in the number of cups sold when replacing with a novel new flavor. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the unit of change is one week, and the first month is the change in the number of cups sold. If the flavor before replacement is 1.0 and is taken as a standard value, the maximum value may be 6 times or 10 times higher. The number of cups sold begins to decline after one month of flavor loss, but returns to the standard value of 1.0 after three months.

(4) Correction coefficient E Correction coefficient E is used to estimate the sales value when more customers start to gather at the beverage vending machine due to replacing the signboard in the display room of the beverage vending machine or placing plants next to it.
This is to compensate for the increase in the number of cups sold, and for example, as shown in Figure 8, it changes on a monthly basis, and if the standard value is 1.0 before replacing a signboard or installing plants, the maximum value is twice as high. The number of cups sold decreases after the third month, and returns to the standard value of 1.0 after the third month.

(5) Correction coefficient F Correction coefficient F is used to correct a decrease in the number of drinks sold when another beverage vending machine is newly installed. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, It changes on a monthly basis, and if the number of drinks sold remains at its highest during the first three months, and the standard value is 1.0 before a new beverage vending machine is installed, then the highest value has a value of 0.5, and 3
After 6 months, the number of cups sold increases and returns to the standard value after 6 months. However, there may be cases where the effects of newly installed beverage vending machines are permanent and the values do not return to standard.

(6) Correction coefficient G Correction coefficient G is a correction based on changes in the number of people selling drinks at the location where the beverage vending machine is installed.For example, if the vending machine is installed in a company and all employees are dispatched, the correction coefficient G is 1.0, which is 30% of the people. If it is dispatched, the value will be 0.3 mag.

(7) Temperature correction coefficient H The temperature correction coefficient H is a correction based on the change in the number of cups sold corresponding to the outside temperature. This is a characteristic diagram, where the highest number of cups sold is taken as 100%, and in the case of hot beverages such as coffee, the number of cups sold increases when the outside temperature is low.
The number of cups sold decreases as the outside temperature rises. Further, the calculation means (6) determines the temperature correction coefficient H based on the outside air temperature measured by the temperature detection section (7) and the characteristic diagram shown in FIG. 10 described above.

The above is an explanation of the correction coefficient used by the calculation means (6) to calculate the predicted value of the number of cups sold.

Next, the arithmetic expression of the arithmetic means will be explained. First, the time period input in advance to the data input means (4) is set to time period 0. There are four types, p, q, and r, and the time period is, for example, AMl.
It is assumed that the time slots are predetermined times of the day, such as o:00-AMIO:10, and the time order is o, p, q, and r.

Let i be the number of times the time slots o+p, q, and r have arrived.

The calculation formulas ■, ■, ■, ■, ■, ■, ■, ■ are described below.

0, 7 (JR, -IA,)) X H +0.7 (+++R0-+++A-))XHF X G
+0.7(+,IR,-1.1A,))XHF'
X c + 0.7 (+++R, -5++AQ))
x HXH XFXGXH XFXGXH And C, D, E for the various correction coefficients mentioned above.

Arithmetic expressions using F, G, and H ■, ■, ■, ■, ■.

One calculation formula is selected from ■, ■, and ■ to calculate the predicted value of the number of sales.

To select an arithmetic expression, first select a time period for which a predicted value is to be calculated, and then compare the absolute value of the difference between the predicted value and the actual value in the time period before the selected time period with a correction coefficient.

To explain concretely, if you want to calculate the predicted value for time period 0, you will select either the calculation formula ■ or ■, and if the time period P is the calculation formula ■ or ■1 if the time period q is the calculation formula ■ and ■ If the time zone r is 2, then either the calculation formula 〇 or ■ must be selected.

For example, in order to select either formula (■) or (■) to obtain the predicted value 1+IAp for the time period P, the predicted value 1+IA* for the time period O in the time period before the time period P, the actual value, +.

If Ro, I, +, R0-7+, A. If l>K, the arithmetic expression becomes 〇, and if I,...,Ro-+++CI≦, the arithmetic expression becomes . This is the previous predicted value, +1A. and actual value 1+lA. If the absolute value of the difference exceeds K, that is, if the previous predicted value deviates greatly,
+R, +ya.

Using the calculation formula ■ which is the addition of the term A,), and if it is greater than or equal to the previous predicted value, the predicted value and actual value will be close, so 0.7X (+++R-++++A-) This means using the arithmetic expression 〇 with the term omitted.

In the same way, the following expressions: ■ and ■, operations 〇 and ■, operations 〇 and ■
The selection is also made.

When the selection of the calculation formula is completed as described above, the calculation means (6)
enters the actual value of the number of cups sold in the past into the calculation formula to calculate the predicted value of the number of cups sold in the next time period.

Here, an example of calculation of predicted values will be explained based on the examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. For example, PM3 on November 26th
: 00-PM3: The predicted value for the time period of 10 is. A
, is ItJ+t zaA+*I>K then X F +
0.7 X (*aR+ t-□A11))

The above is an example of calculating the predicted value of the number of cups sold, which is used in the embodiment of the present invention, but the calculation method is not limited to the above method. During the first week, no calculations are performed,
A predicted value of the input initial value may be used. In addition, if the predicted number of cups sold exceeds the actual value, that is, if the coffee in the storage unit is sold out within the time period, the sales time per person will be approximately Whereas it used to take 7 seconds, starting from the next sale, the coffee must be extracted and sold using a brewing machine for each sale, so the sales time per person takes about 30 seconds. For this reason 10
If the break time is 5 minutes, the coffee prepared in the storage unit will be sold out in the first 5 minutes, and if customers line up to purchase coffee continuously during that 5 minutes, approximately 40 cups of coffee will be sold. It turns out. However, the remaining 5 during the break
Each sale takes at least about 30 seconds per minute, so at most only 10 cups of coffee can be sold. For this reason, the actual number of cups sold may be lower.

Therefore, the time when the coffee is sold out may be detected, and a calculation formula may be selected according to the time to prevent the actual value from being too low.

After calculating the predicted value of the number of cups sold, the calculation means (6) calculates a preparation time based on the predicted value, and at the preparation time, the storage unit (18) stores coffee for the number of cups corresponding to the predicted value. )
Prepare for.

The above is the operation of the beverage vending machine as an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Next, a flowchart of the operation of the beverage vending machine as an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 will be explained.

In step Sl, the data input means (4) inputs one or more predetermined time periods as data, the initial value of the predicted value of the number of cups sold in the time period, and the calculating means (6) inputs the sales amount in the time period. C, D, E, F are included in the various correction coefficients used in the calculation formula used when calculating the predicted value of the number of cups.
, G, and H are input, and if it is determined that data has been input, the process moves to the data input mode of step S, and then moves to step S.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S that no data has been input, the process moves to step S, and in step S4, the customer inputs the amount necessary to sell the product and presses the selection switch (not shown) to sell the product. It is determined whether or not the sales start state has been started in which a possible product has been selected. If it is determined in step S4 that the sales start state has started, the process moves to step S6 and a cup of coffee is extracted according to the sales signal from the sales control unit (1). is extracted by the machine (12) and supplied to the cup (11), and then returns to step S1. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S that the sales start state is not reached, the process returns directly to step S.

In step S, the time required for brewing by the coffee brewing machine (12) for the predicted number of cups sold in the time period is set before the start time of the time period inputted in advance into the data input means (4). It is determined whether it is preparation time or not, and if it is determined in step S that it is not preparation time, the process moves to step S described above.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S that it is the preparation time,
Proceeding to step S, the extraction machine (12) starts extracting the number of cups of coffee corresponding to the predicted value of the number of sold cups from the above-mentioned preparation time, and corresponds to the predicted value by the start time of the above-mentioned time period. Once the coffee has been extracted for several cups, the storage section (
18) and move on to step S.

In step S, it is determined whether or not it is the start time of the time period, and if it is determined that it is not the start time, the process remains in step S.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S that it is the start time, the process moves to step S, and in step Ss, the customer inputs the amount required to sell the product and selects a product that can be sold using a selection switch (not shown). If it is determined in step S8 that sales have started, the process moves to step S. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that sales have not started, the process remains in step S8.

In step S, whether or not there is coffee in the storage section (18) is detected by the remaining amount detection electrode (20), and in step S
If it is determined that there is coffee in the storage unit (18), the process moves to step S1°, and in step S1°, volatilized coffee is supplied to the cup (11) in response to a sales signal from the sales control unit (1). The beverage supply valve (21) is opened and the coffee stored in the storage section (18) is poured into the cup (
11), and then the process moves to step S1.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S that there is no coffee in the storage unit (18), the process moves to step S11, in which a cup of coffee is extracted by the brewing machine (12>) and the extracted coffee is used as a beverage. The supply valve (21>) is opened to supply the cup (11), and then step S
Move to Ll.

Step SI! Then, the number of sales signals from the sales control section (1) is counted by the counting means (5), the actual value of the number of sold cups is added to the number of cups, and the process moves to step 313.

In step S13, it is determined whether or not it is the end time of the time period, and if it is not determined in step S13 that it is the end time, the process returns to step S8.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S+s that it is the end time, the process moves to step S14, and in step S14, the actual value Rn counted by the counting means (5) in step 5lffi and the predicted value A in step S are calculated. It is determined whether the absolute value of the difference between the force and the force exceeds the correction coefficient K inputted in advance to the input means (4), and in step S14, IRo-A. If it is determined that l>K, the process moves to step srs, and in step SI6, the calculation formulas 〇, ■, ■, Select an arithmetic expression according to the time zone from among them, calculate the predicted value using the arithmetic expression, and proceed to step S.
17.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that IRn-A, l≦, then in step S14, similarly, an arithmetic expression is selected from among arithmetic expressions ■, ■, ■, and ■ according to the time period, and the arithmetic expression is A predicted value is calculated using the formula, and the process moves to step S17.

In step S B, a temperature correction coefficient H is determined based on the outside temperature detected by the temperature detection unit (7), and a predicted value is further calculated by the calculation means (6>) to determine the predicted value, and the process proceeds to step S. and return.

The above is an explanation of the flowchart of the operation of the beverage vending machine as an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.

(G) Effects of the Invention According to the beverage vending machine of the present invention, when sales are concentrated during a preset time period, such as factory holidays, sales within the time period can be completed by the start time of the time period. Beverage for the number of cups corresponding to the predicted value of the number of cups is extracted in advance by a brewing machine and stored in a storage section, and if there is a sale, the already extracted beverage is supplied from the storage section.

For this reason, unlike the conventional beverage vending machine, which extracts and supplies beverages every time it is sold, the beverage vending machine of the present invention allows the beverage to be dispensed if there is a sale within a preset time slot. Since the beverage is supplied from the storage unit, it is possible to omit the extraction time using the extraction machine, and it is possible to shorten the sales time per person during the preset time slot, so the extraction time can be reduced within a limited time. To efficiently sell beverages extracted by a machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a beverage vending machine as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the beverage vending machine, FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the beverage vending machine, and FIG. Figures 6 and 5 are tables showing the actual and predicted values of the number of cups sold in each time period, Figures 6 to 9 are characteristic charts of various correction coefficients versus time, and Figure 10 is the temperature correction coefficient of temperature. FIG. (5)...Counting means, (6)...Calculating means, (
12)...extraction machine, (18)...storage section. Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a beverage vending machine having a storage section capable of storing multiple cups of beverages extracted by a brewing machine, a counting means for counting the actual number of cups sold in a preset time period, and a counting means for counting the actual number of cups sold in a preset time period; calculation means for calculating a predicted value of the number of cups sold in the next time period based on a comparison between the predicted value of the number of sold cups in the time period and the actual result; A beverage vending machine characterized in that the number of cups of beverage corresponding to the predicted value is extracted in advance by the extraction machine and stored in the storage section.