JPH0230550B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a data aggregation method for vending machines, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a data aggregation method for vending machines. By collecting and aggregating the data, and then outputting it to the data output device,
The present invention relates to a data aggregation method for a vending machine that eliminates the need for an independent data aggregation machine and that can sufficiently cope with the failure of the data output device.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, for example, at a station, a plurality of automatic vending machines such as automatic ticket vending machines have been installed.

For such vending machines, there is a tendency to adopt a method in which sales data for all vending machines is centrally collected using one data collection device or the like.

In such a system, a data collection device or the like is provided with a storage section for each vending machine or for each released product, and each time a vending machine releases a product, the sales data is transferred to the data collection device and the data is stored in the data collection device. The sales data is stored in a storage unit, and when the data is output, for example, a printer is operated to intensively output the sales data.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional system as described above, the storage section is concentrated in the data collection device, so if the data collection device breaks down, all sales data cannot be stored. There was a drawback that it became impossible to collect.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such conventional drawbacks, and even if the data collection device as described above breaks down, it can be sufficiently dealt with, and an independent The purpose is to eliminate the need for data collection devices or data aggregation machines.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is as follows.

In other words, in a vending machine data aggregation method that aggregates sales data from multiple vending machines,
Each vending machine is provided with a control unit that controls its own vending machine and other vending machines, and a vending data storage unit, and the plurality of vending machines and a data output device are connected in series. connection, the release data of each vending machine is stored in the release data storage unit in the vending machine itself for each release, and at the time of aggregation, the release data stored in the release data storage unit of each vending machine is stored. This data aggregation method for vending machines is characterized in that the vending machine data is aggregated in a vending data storage unit in one of the vending machines, and then output to the data output device. .

(Function) Since it is configured as described above, each vending machine has the following functions:
Every time you sell a ticket, etc., the sales data is stored in your own sales data storage unit, and when collecting data, you can use any vending machine by operating the operation switch of the control unit installed in one of the vending machines. To obtain aggregated data by aggregating the sales data of all vending machines within one vending machine.

Then, in response to a data output command, the total data is output to the data output device.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a data aggregation system for a vending machine which is an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 1, 1, . . . are all vending machines, and 2 is a data output device.

The plurality of vending machines and the data output device are removably connected to each other in cascade via a bus line type cable 3 via a connector.

Inside the vending machine 1, there is a release data storage section 4 that can be written and read freely for storing release data, and a release data storage section 4 for controlling the own vending machine and other vending machines, and for storing the data. It includes at least a control device 5 that controls the output device 2 .

It is obvious that the system also includes a coin mechanism, a printing mechanism, etc.

The data output device 2 includes at least a printer 6 for printing total data sent from any one vending machine. The cable 3 includes a data bus line 3a for transmitting sales data from the vending machines, a control bus line 3b for transmitting commands from each vending machine 1, and the like.

In such a configuration, the vending machines 1, 1...
When money is inserted from the money slot on the customer service side and a selection button is operated, a ticket corresponding to the selection button is printed and issued to the receiving tray, and at the same time, change is released.

At the same time, sale data corresponding to the issued ticket is stored in the sale data storage section.

Thereafter, in the same way, each time a ticket is sold, the ticket sales data is stored in the sales data storage section of the vending machine 1 that sold the ticket.

Next, when collecting sales data, select any one vending machine and operate the switch on the control section provided on that vending machine. As a result, a command signal is issued from the selected specific vending machine to other vending machines via the control bus line 3b.

In response to this command signal, the vending data from all other vending machines is temporarily collected and totaled in the vending data storage unit 4 of the specific vending machine.

That is, all the sales data to be aggregated is once centrally collected and aggregated in a release data storage section provided in an arbitrary vending machine.

Thereafter, in response to a command signal from the data output device, the compiled sales data is transmitted from the specific vending machine to the data output device 2, and outputted by printing or the like.

At this time, if the data output device 2 becomes unusable due to a failure or the like, the data output device which is abnormal due to the failure or the like can be removed from the connector and replaced with a new data output device.

Even if such an abnormality occurs, the aggregated data is stored in the vending data storage unit inside the vending machine as described above, so there is no problem and you can use the new data output device that was replaced. You can output the aggregated sales data by printing, etc.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a case was explained in which a printer was used as a means for outputting data, but the present invention is not limited to such a device, and magnetic tape or paper tape may also be used. Alternatively, the data may be transmitted to a central data processing center or the like, where it may be printed or otherwise output.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the present invention has the following effects.

(1) When aggregating vending data, select any one of multiple vending machines and centralize vending data from all vending machines in the vending data storage section of that vending machine. Because the data is collected and aggregated, there is no need for an independent data aggregation machine.

Therefore, the vending machine data aggregation system becomes simple.

(2) Since the sales data is compiled as described in (1) above, even if the sales data output device malfunctions, it is only necessary to replace the malfunctioning sales data output device, and the compiled sales data There are no negative effects on the.

Furthermore, replacing the malfunctioning release data output device can be done by simply removing the malfunctioning device from the connector and inserting a new device into the connector.

(3) To aggregate sales data, you can select and use any one of multiple vending machines.
Even if a vending machine malfunctions, the remaining normal vending machines can be used to compile sales data.

Therefore, it will never become impossible to aggregate sales data.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a data aggregation system for a vending machine which is an embodiment of the present invention. 1: Vending machine, 2: Data output device, 3: Cable, 3a: Data bus line, 3b: Control bus line, 4: Sales data storage section, 5:
Control device, 6: Printer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a vending machine data aggregation device that aggregates sales data from multiple vending machines, each vending machine is equipped with a control unit that controls its own vending machine and other vending machines; a sales data storage unit, and the plurality of vending machines and data output devices are connected in cascade,
The release data of each vending machine is stored in the release data storage unit in the vending machine itself for each release, and when aggregating, the release data stored in the release data storage unit of each vending machine is 1. A data aggregation device for a vending machine, characterized in that data is aggregated in a vending data storage section in one vending machine, and then output to a data output device.