Vending machine system

Abstract

Value-added services can be provided for the commodity selection button by the terminal equipment, and the purchase desire of a user is increased. A vending machine system (1) is provided with a vending machine (10) for selling selected products by means of an input operation on a plurality of product selection buttons (11) corresponding to a plurality of products, and a terminal device (20) capable of communicating with the vending machine (10), and the vending machine (10) is provided with a vending machine control unit (15). The vending machine control part (15) stops the control of the plurality of commodity selection buttons (11) and allows the terminal device (20) to provide the value-added service on the condition that a value-added service providing instruction is given to the plurality of commodity selection buttons (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine system. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, Patent Document 1 and the like have proposed adjusting the lighting pattern of a lamp built into a product selection button for selecting a product in an automatic vending machine that sells products, for the purpose of attracting the user's attention or the like. Prior art literature Patent Literature

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-169638 Summary of the invention Technical problem to be solved by the invention

[0004] However, in recent years, the light source built into the commodity selection button is also composed of LEDs, etc., and the commodity selection button can perform various displays. Therefore, there is a request to provide value-added services such as display of commodity selection buttons through terminal devices different from the vending machine. On the other hand, in the vending machine, the output device such as LED in the commodity selection button is periodically controlled (refresh control). Through this control, the terminal device is restricted from providing value-added services.

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned actual situation, the present invention aims to provide a vending machine system that can provide value-added services to the commodity selection buttons of the terminal device and can increase the user's desire to buy. Technical means for solving technical problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the vending machine system involved in the present invention has a vending machine and a terminal device, wherein the vending machine sells selected commodities by inputting operations on multiple commodity selection buttons corresponding to multiple commodities, and the terminal device is capable of communicating with the vending machine. The vending machine system is characterized in that the vending machine includes a vending machine control unit, which, upon being given a value-added service provision instruction for the multiple commodity selection buttons, stops its own control over the multiple commodity selection buttons and allows the terminal device to provide value-added services.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the automatic vending machine system, when the automatic vending machine control unit is given the value-added service provision instruction, the terminal device allows the value-added service to be provided to the plurality of commodity selection buttons.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the automatic vending machine system, when the automatic vending machine control unit is given the value-added service provision instruction, the automatic vending machine control unit allows the terminal device to provide the value-added service to the plurality of commodity selection buttons via itself.

[0009] In addition, the present invention is characterized in that, in the vending machine system, when exception processing information is issued in advance by the terminal device, the vending machine control unit ends the provision of the value-added service by the terminal device on the condition that the vending machine is exceptionally processed. Effects of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, the control unit of the vending machine stops its own control over the multiple commodity selection buttons and allows the value-added services to be provided by the terminal device, under the condition that it is given the instruction to provide value-added services for the multiple commodity selection buttons. Therefore, the terminal device can provide value-added services to the commodity selection buttons, thereby increasing the user's desire to buy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 This is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a characteristic configuration of an automatic vending machine system which is an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 Yes means Figure 1 A flowchart of the steps of providing value-added services in the vending machine system shown. Figure 3 Yes means Figure 1 Flowchart of a variation of the steps for providing value-added services in the vending machine system shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the automatic vending machine system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] Figure 1 The automatic vending machine system 1 shown here is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a characteristic structure of an automatic vending machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The vending machine 10 sells beverages in containers such as plastic bottles and cans as commodities, and includes a commodity selection button 11 , a money processing unit 12 , a commodity dispensing unit 13 , a commodity cooling and heating unit 14 , and a vending machine control unit 15 .

[0015] The commodity selection button 11 is provided corresponding to a plurality of commodities (commodity samples) and is a selection unit for selecting a commodity. Such a commodity selection button 11 has a contact member 11a and a light emitting element 11b built therein.

[0016] When the commodity selection button 11 is input (pressed), the contact member 11a switches a desired electronic circuit to an on state. Thus, the commodity selection button 11 transmits operation information indicating that an input operation has been performed to the vending machine control unit 15 .

[0017] A plurality of light emitting elements 11b are provided, and are constituted by, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and can perform various displays. These light emitting elements 11b emit light when output information is given to themselves.

[0018] The money processing unit 12 includes a coin processor that performs deposit and withdrawal processing of coins, a bill processor that performs deposit and withdrawal processing of bills, and a settlement unit that performs settlement using electronic money, and performs various money processes.

[0019] The commodity dispensing unit 13 dispenses the selected commodity from the machine on the condition that a commodity is selected by the commodity selection button 11 and money processing is appropriately performed by the money processing unit 12 .

[0020] The commodity cooling and heating section 14 is configured to include a cooling unit such as an evaporator and a heating unit such as a heater, and is used to cool or heat the commodities in the machine.

[0021] The vending machine control unit 15 is connected to the commodity selection button 11, the money processing unit 12, the commodity disbursement unit 13, and the commodity hot and cold unit 14, and controls the operation of the vending machine 10 in a unified manner according to the program or data stored in the storage unit 16 which is also connected. The vending machine control unit 15 can communicate with the external terminal device 20, the management server (not shown), etc. through a predetermined communication method via a communication processing unit (not shown).

[0022] The control unit may cause a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a program, that is, may be implemented by software, may be implemented by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or may be implemented by a combination of software and hardware.

[0023] The terminal device 20 is constituted by, for example, a tablet terminal, and can communicate with the vending machine control unit 15 (vending machine 10). The terminal device 20 includes a terminal control unit 21. The terminal control unit 21 controls the operation of the terminal device 20 in a unified manner based on a program or data stored in a memory (not shown).

[0024] The terminal device 20 of this embodiment obtains the value-added service for the commodity selection button 11 from a server (not shown) via a network by a predetermined communication method, and provides the value-added service to the corresponding automatic vending machine 10 .

[0025] Figure 2 Yes means Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of steps for providing value-added services in the vending machine system 1 shown.

[0026] If the Figure 2 As shown, the terminal control unit 21 obtains the value-added service from the server (step S101), and then sends information indicating the acquisition of the right to use the value-added service (value-added service right acquisition information) to the automatic vending machine control unit 15 of the corresponding automatic vending machine 10 (step S102). The value-added service right acquisition information includes the validity period or target function of the value-added service.

[0027] The automatic vending machine control unit 15 that has received the value-added service usage right acquisition information transmits a response (value-added service usage right start response) indicating the start of the value-added service usage right to the terminal control unit 21 (step S103).

[0028] By sending the value-added service use right start response, the automatic vending machine control unit 15 stops the previous regular update control of the commodity selection button 11 (for example, the lighting timing of each light emitting element 11b or the price display, etc.).

[0029] The terminal control unit 21 that receives the above-mentioned value-added service usage right start response becomes capable of providing the value-added service to the product selection button 11 (for example, flashing of the light-emitting element 11b of the product selection button 11 of the discounted product during a limited-time promotion period, display of text or pictograms, etc.) (step S104), and sends output information to the light-emitting element 11b of the product selection button 11 (for example, instructions to light up, flash, or turn off, or instructions to change the flashing cycle, etc.) to the product selection button 11 (step S105).

[0030] In such a state that the terminal control unit 21 can provide value-added services, when an operation (pressing operation) is input to any commodity selection button 11 (step S106), the commodity selection button 11 sends operation information indicating that the operation has been input to the automatic vending machine control unit 15 (step S107). The automatic vending machine control unit 15 that receives the operation information directly transmits the operation information to the terminal control unit 21 (step S108).

[0031] The terminal control unit 21 that receives the operation information from the vending machine control unit 15 sends output information (such as a flashing indication of the light emitting element 11b indicating that the product can be sold) to the corresponding product selection button 11 (the product selection button 11 that sent the above operation information) (step S109).

[0032] In this way, when the terminal control unit 21 becomes capable of providing value-added services, the terminal control unit 21 assigns output information to the light-emitting element 11b to the product selection button 11, and the input operation to the product selection button 11 is assigned to the terminal control unit 21 via the vending machine control unit 15.

[0033] Afterwards, the vending machine control unit 15 determines whether the validity period of the value-added service usage right granted in step S102 has expired (step S110). If the validity period has not expired (step S110 is No), the terminal control unit 21 is maintained in a state where the value-added service can be provided, and the update control of the commodity selection button 11 by the vending machine control unit 15 is continuously stopped.

[0034] On the other hand, when the validity period has passed (Yes in step S110), the vending machine control unit 15 transmits information indicating the expiration of the right to use the value-added service (value-added service right expiration information) to the terminal control unit 21 (step S111).

[0035] As a result, the provision of value-added services by the terminal control unit 21 ends, and the vending machine control unit 15 performs the previously stopped update control of the output information (such as the lighting timing or price display of each light emitting element 11b) sent by the product selection button 11 to the light emitting element 11b (step S112).

[0036] In this way, the vending machine control unit 15 stops its own update control of the multiple product selection buttons 11 and allows the terminal device 20 to provide value-added services to the multiple product selection buttons 11, subject to the condition that the terminal control unit 21 is given an instruction to provide value-added services to the multiple product selection buttons 11.

[0037] As described above, according to the above-mentioned vending machine system 1, the vending machine control unit 15 stops its own update control of the multiple product selection buttons 11 and allows the terminal device 20 to provide value-added services to the multiple product selection buttons 11, on the condition that it is given an instruction to provide value-added services to the multiple product selection buttons 11 from the terminal control unit 21. Therefore, the terminal device 20 can provide value-added services to the product selection buttons 11, which can increase the user's desire to buy.

[0038] Figure 3 It means in Figure 1 Flowchart of a variation of the steps for providing value-added services in the vending machine system 1 shown.

[0039] If the Figure 3As shown, the terminal control unit 21 obtains the value-added service from the server (step S201), and then sends information indicating the start of the transmission of the value-added service (value-added service transmission start information) to the vending machine control unit 15 of the corresponding vending machine 10 (step S202).

[0040] By receiving the value-added service delivery start information, the automatic vending machine control unit 15 stops the previously periodically performed update control of the commodity selection button 11 (for example, the lighting timing of each light emitting element 11b or the price display, etc.).

[0041] The terminal control unit 21 that sends the above-mentioned value-added service transmission start information becomes capable of providing the value-added service to the product selection button 11 (for example, flashing of the light-emitting element 11b of the product selection button 11 of the discounted product during a limited-time promotion period, display of text or pictograms, etc.) (step S203), and sends the output information (for example, instructions to light up, flash, or turn off, or instructions to change the flashing cycle, etc.) output to the light-emitting element 11b of the product selection button 11 to the vending machine control unit 15 (step S204).

[0042] The automatic vending machine control unit 15, which has received the output information output to the light emitting element 11b of the commodity selection button 11 from the terminal control unit 21, transmits the output information output to the light emitting element 11b of the corresponding commodity selection button 11 (step S205). In addition, after performing the transmission of step S205, the automatic vending machine control unit 15 performs refresh control to send the transmitted output information to the commodity selection button 11 (step S206).

[0043] In such a state where the terminal control unit 21 can provide value-added services, when an operation (pressing operation) is input to any commodity selection button 11 (step S207), the commodity selection button 11 sends operation information indicating that the operation has been input to the automatic vending machine control unit 15 (step S208). The automatic vending machine control unit 15 that receives the operation information directly transmits the operation information to the terminal control unit 21 (step S209).

[0044] The terminal control unit 21 that receives the operation information from the vending machine control unit 15 sends the output information (for example, a flashing indication of the light emitting element 11b indicating that the product can be sold, etc.) output to the light emitting element 11b for the corresponding product selection button 11 (the product selection button 11 that sent the above-mentioned operation information) to the vending machine control unit 15 (step S210).

[0045] The vending machine control unit 15, which has received the output information to the light emitting element 11b for the corresponding commodity selection button 11 from the terminal control unit 21, transmits the output information to the light emitting element 11b to the corresponding commodity selection button 11 (step S211).

[0046] In this way, when the terminal control unit 21 becomes capable of providing value-added services, output information to the product selection button 11 is given from the terminal control unit 21 via the vending machine control unit 15, and input operation to the product selection button 11 is given to the terminal control unit 21 via the vending machine control unit 15.

[0047] Thereafter, on condition that the provision period of the value-added service has ended, the terminal control unit 21 transmits information indicating the end of the delivery of the value-added service (value-added service delivery end information) to the automatic vending machine control unit 15 (step S212).

[0048] Thus, the provision of value-added services by the terminal control unit 21 ends, and the vending machine control unit 15 performs the previously stopped update control of the output information (such as the lighting timing or price display of each light emitting element 11b) sent by the product selection button 11 to the light emitting element 11b (step S213).

[0049] In this way, the vending machine control unit 15 stops its own update control of the multiple product selection buttons 11 and allows the terminal device 20 to provide value-added services to the multiple product selection buttons 11, subject to the condition that the terminal control unit 21 is given an instruction to provide value-added services to the multiple product selection buttons 11.

[0050] As described above, according to the above-mentioned vending machine system 1, the vending machine control unit 15 stops its own update control of the multiple product selection buttons 11, and allows the terminal device 20 to provide value-added services to the multiple product selection buttons 11 through itself, on the condition that the terminal device 20 is given an instruction to provide value-added services to the multiple product selection buttons 11 from the terminal control unit 21. Therefore, the terminal device 20 can provide value-added services to the product selection buttons 11, which can increase the user's desire to buy.

[0051] As mentioned above, although the preferred embodiment and modification of this invention were described, this invention is not limited to these, and various changes can be made.

[0052] In the above embodiment, provision of the value-added service is terminated on condition that the validity period has expired. In the above variation, provision of the value-added service is terminated by sending value-added service delivery termination information from the terminal control unit 21. However, in the present invention, it may be as follows.

[0053] That is, when exception processing information is sent in advance from the terminal control unit 21 to the automatic vending machine control unit 15, provision of the value-added service by the terminal device 20 may be terminated on the condition that the automatic vending machine 10 is subjected to exception processing.

[0054] The structures illustrated in the above embodiments are functional schematic structures and do not necessarily have to be physically formed as the illustrated structures. In other words, the separation and combination of each device and component is not limited to the illustrated structure, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically separated or combined in any unit according to various usage conditions. Description of symbols 1… vending machine system, 10… vending machine, 11… commodity selection button, 11a… contact member, 11b… light emitting element, 12… money processing unit, 13… commodity disbursement unit, 14… commodity hot and cold unit, 15… vending machine control unit, 16… storage unit, 20… terminal device, 21… terminal control unit.

Claims

1. A vending machine system, comprising a vending machine and a terminal device, wherein the vending machine sells selected commodities by inputting operations on a plurality of commodity selection buttons corresponding to a plurality of commodities, and the terminal device is capable of communicating with the vending machine, wherein the vending machine system is characterized in that: The vending machine includes a vending machine control unit that stops controlling the plurality of commodity selection buttons and allows the terminal device to provide the value-added service, if a value-added service provision instruction is given to the plurality of commodity selection buttons.

2. The vending machine system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic vending machine control unit, when the value-added service provision instruction is given, allows the terminal device to provide the value-added service to the plurality of commodity selection buttons.

3. The vending machine system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The automatic vending machine control unit, when the value-added service provision instruction is given, allows the terminal device to provide the value-added service to the plurality of commodity selection buttons via the automatic vending machine control unit.

4. The automatic vending machine system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: When exception processing information is issued in advance by the terminal device, the automatic vending machine control unit terminates provision of the value-added service by the terminal device on the condition that the automatic vending machine is subjected to exception processing.

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