Article vending machine, article vending machine system, article purchase system, and expansion unit

Abstract

To provide a service that enables a user who thinks a purchased article unnecessary to convert it into cash on the spot, even if details of a purchase price are unknown.SOLUTION: An article vending machine 1 for dropping an article to a take-out port 1-5, comprises an expansion unit 6 that reads a tab given to the article and purchasing it at a predetermined price. The expansion unit comprises: a recovery port 6-1 that recovers the article to be taken out from the take-out port; a reading unit 17 that reads an IC tag given to the article dropped from the recovery port; a determination unit that determines an appraisal price for conversion into cash based on a code of the article read by the reading unit and an appraisal price to be acquired from a server device; an instruction unit that indicates whether or not to make the purchase while displaying the appraisal value determined by the determination unit on a display unit; a determination unit that determines whether or not the purchase is instructed by the instruction unit; and a purchase unit that refunds a cash voucher from a cash return slot when the determination unit determines that the purchase is instructed by the instruction unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine in which products are dispensed in sequence into a dispenser by inserting money (coins) and turning a knob, and to a vending machine, a vending machine system, a product purchase system, and an expansion unit that expand the functionality of the vending machine to allow for product redemption. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, vending machines have been constructed so that special prizes are stored in plastic capsules, and when a certain amount of coins is inserted into a coin insertion port and a rotating knob is turned, one plastic capsule falls from a product discharge port, and these machines can be easily used in various places such as game arcades, event venues, and amusement parks. In particular, the excitement of being able to get an expensive special product (rare item) for the amount of coins inserted is popular, and this, combined with the entertainment factor, has led to many enthusiasts.

[0003] The following Patent Document 1 discloses that "in order to eliminate manual capsule collection, capsule 70 containing item 100 is opened inside the machine by driving a rod and actuator, etc., and item 100 released from the opened capsule 70 is led outside the machine via release duct 513 and slope 16, etc. Meanwhile, capsule 70 after item 100 has been released is collected to its original position by driving belts 603, 603."

[0004] On the other hand, the following Patent Document 2 discloses a method for exchanging special prizes, which includes: "in order to make the exchange process of special prizes issued by amusement arcades transparent and to improve safety, when a special prize is paid out at an amusement arcade, information specific to the special prize, including the face value, is read from a memory element equipped on the special prize that is capable of reading, writing, and deleting data, and predetermined information including information specific to the payout is encrypted and written to the memory element; when a special prize exchange center purchases a special prize from an owner of the special prize, the predetermined information stored in the memory element is read using a decryption key and the predetermined information including information specific to the purchase is encrypted and written; when a special prize wholesaler purchases a special prize from a special prize exchange center, the predetermined information stored in the memory element is read using the decryption key and the predetermined information including information specific to the purchase is encrypted and written; and when an amusement arcade purchases a special prize from the special prize wholesaler, the predetermined information including information specific to the purchase is encrypted and written." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-346237 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2008-301922 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, a trading environment exists in which the purchase prices assessed by businesses that purchase goods contained in plastic capsules such as those described in Patent Document 1 vary significantly depending on whether the goods are rare or not.

[0007] In addition, users who remove plastic capsules from the prize outlet usually do not know where to submit them to have them purchased and exchanged for cash at the market price, so they end up discarding them without judging their rarity value.

[0008] Furthermore, it has been pointed out that if automated merchandise vending machines had a buy-back function, the environment would not be in place to satisfy the needs of customers who want to purchase merchandise at the price minus fees, and that this would result in a decrease in merchandise turnover.

[0009] In addition, since the market prices of the goods being sold fluctuate, there is a risk of a difference between the pre-stored appraisal value and the secondhand goods trading price, and it has been pointed out that it is difficult to determine an appropriate appraisal value.

[0010] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a product vending machine, a product vending machine system, a product purchasing system, and an expansion unit that can provide a service that allows a user who does not need a purchased product to exchange it for cash on the spot, even if they are unaware of the details of the purchase price, by linking the product to a system that purchases the product after it has been removed from the product vending machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The product vending machine of the present invention is a product vending machine that drops products into a dispenser when a specified operation is received after confirming the insertion of money, and is characterized by having an expansion unit that reads the tab attached to the product and purchases the product at a specified price.

[0012] The product vending machine system of the present invention is a product sales system in which a product vending machine that confirms the insertion of money and then drops a product into a dispensing slot when a specified operation is received communicates with a server device via a communication medium, and is characterized by having an expansion unit that purchases the product at an appraised price obtained from the server device.

[0013] The product purchasing system of the present invention is a product vending machine that drops a product into a dispensing slot when it confirms that an electronic money card is in proximity and accepts a specified operation via a communication medium, and communicates with a server device, and is characterized in that it is equipped with an expansion unit that purchases the product at an appraised price obtained from the server device.

[0014] The expansion unit of the present invention is characterized in that it is configured to connect to a product vending machine which confirms the insertion of money via a specified interface and then drops a product into an outlet when a specified operation is received, and to provide a purchase function which purchases the product at an appraised price obtained from a server device via a specified communication medium.

[0015] The product purchasing system of the present invention is a product purchasing system in which a product vending machine that drops a product into a dispensing slot when it confirms that an electronic money card is in proximity and accepts a specified operation communicates with a server device via a communication medium, and is characterized in that it is equipped with an expansion unit that purchases the product at an appraised price obtained from the server device. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, a new service can be developed in which products dropped into the outlet of a product vending machine are purchased on the spot, and the customer can receive the intended product without having to insert the converted money to discard the unwanted product, thereby contributing to the spread of the original product vending machine. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] The drawings show specific embodiments of the present invention, including essential features of the invention as well as alternative and preferred embodiments. [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a product vending machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a product vending machine system and a product buying back system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the functions of the product vending machine system shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 5 is a flowchart showing a buying process procedure in the product vending machine system according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface for supporting a purchase process. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface for supporting a purchase process. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining functions of the product vending machine system shown in FIG. 3 according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] <System configuration> [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a product vending machine system according to the present embodiment. The following embodiment relates to the product vending machine, product vending machine system, product purchasing system, and expansion unit shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, and includes not only essential configurations of the invention, but also optional and preferred embodiments. In the following embodiment, the products include small goods such as figurines, as well as trading cards. In addition, in the case of card media such as trading cards, it is assumed that a mechanism for taking out other products is different.

[0020] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a product vending machine equipped with multiple product storage units 2-5. Each product storage unit 2-5 has a mechanism for storing, for example, character goods in transparent capsules in a hopper section 1-1, and dropping capsules 1-6 one by one from an opening into an outlet 1-5 when a coin is inserted into a coin slot 1-2 and a rotary dial 1-3 is rotated in a predetermined direction.

[0021] An expansion unit 6 is provided adjacent to the multiple product storage units 2-5 (either in close contact or separate), and the collection port 6-1 is provided with a reading unit 6-2 that reads the tab attached to the capsule 1-6 that contains the product dropped into the take-out port 1-5, and purchases the product at a predetermined price corresponding to the amount read by the reading unit 6-2. A cash conversion unit 7 is provided with an LED 7-1 and a refund port 7-2, and pays the refund amount instructed by the expansion unit 6 in coins to the refund port 7-2.

[0022] Specifically, the touch panel unit 6-3 displays a user interface screen that supports the purchase operation described below, and when the user accepts a purchase instruction on the interface screen, the collection flipper 6-5 of the collection port 6-1 opens downward to collect the product in the collection box 6-6. Next, when the user touches a confirmation button 6-7 to confirm the purchase price displayed on the touch panel unit 6-3 and a refund button 6-8 to refund the product, the product can be exchanged for cash through the refund port 7-2. When the LED 7-1, which indicates whether the product can be exchanged for cash, displays green, this indicates that the product can be exchanged for cash.

[0023] The touch panel unit 6-3 has a function of displaying the amount read by the reading unit 6-2. The cash conversion may have a function of deducting a fee, and may be configured to prevent the purchase instructions from being sent indefinitely.

[0024] [Effects of the first embodiment] According to this embodiment, in a so-called product vending machine, if an unintended good falls into the outlet after inserting a coin, and the user is not interested in that good, the good can be bought on the spot, and the converted voucher can be re-dropped into the product vending machine 1, creating an environment in which the user can obtain the good of interest at a discount.

[0025] Second Embodiment In the above embodiment, the purchase price is fixed at the amount written on the IC tag attached to the goods, but this does not address cases where the goods are traded at high prices in the secondhand market depending on the production volume of the goods. Therefore, as shown in the following embodiment, a configuration may be incorporated in which the distribution price of the goods is obtained from a server device and the purchase price is adjusted.

[0026] 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the product vending machine system and the product buying-back system according to the present embodiment. In this example, a server device 50, a product vending machine 1, and an expansion unit 6 are communicably connected to a predetermined communication medium, such as a network, via a communication unit 20, and the expansion unit 6 provides a function of presenting a buying price to a user for a product that is said to be rare, by referring to the variable product transaction price information stored in the server device 50, higher than the buying price (IC tag) added to the product read by the reading unit 6-2.

[0027] In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU, which loads a control program stored in a ROM 12 into a RAM 13 and executes it to assess the market price of the commodity dropped into the outlet 1-5 and adjust the upper limit of the purchase price.

[0028] Reference numeral 10 denotes a power supply unit, which supplies power to each device connected to an internal bus 14. Reference numeral 15 denotes an input / output interface (I / O), to which an IC card reading / writing unit 6-4, an IC tag reading unit 17, a touch panel unit 6-3, and a coin return control unit 19 are connected.

[0029] The product vending machine 1 is connected to the expansion unit 6 and the server device 50 via the network 51 so as to be able to communicate with each other using a predetermined protocol. This makes it possible to provide services as a product vending machine system or a product purchasing system.

[0030] Furthermore, the expansion unit 6 may be provided as a standalone unit and externally connected to the product vending machine system via a predetermined interface to expand the functions of an existing product vending machine to configure a product vending machine system.

[0031] Fig. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the functions of the product vending machine system shown in Fig. 2. Note that the same reference numerals are used to denote the same components as in Fig. 2.

[0032] 3, the expansion unit 6 has a collection flipper 6-5 of a collection port 6-1 that collects products taken from the take-out port 1-5, which opens downward to collect the products in a collection box 6-6. The expansion unit 6 includes an IC tag reader 17 that reads an IC tag attached to a product dropped from the collection port 6-1, a determination unit 13-1 that determines an appraisal price to be converted into cash based on the product code read by the reader 6-2 and the appraisal price obtained from the server device 50, a judgment unit 13-2 that determines whether or not a real purchase has been instructed while the appraisal price determined by the determination unit 13-1 and an instruction button instructing whether or not a real purchase is possible are displayed on the touch panel unit 6-3, and a purchase instruction unit 13-3 that instructs a refund of a gift certificate from a cash return port when the judgment unit 13-2 determines that a real purchase has been instructed by the instruction unit. At this time, if the judgment unit 13-2 judges that a real buy-back has been instructed by the instruction button, the collection control unit 13-4 is provided which drops the product taken up at the collection port 6-1 into a collection box 6-6.

[0033] The collection control unit 13-4 is equipped with a product information storage unit 13-4-1 that stores the product code and product number linked to the IC tag read by the IC tag reading unit 17, and a number judgment unit 13-4-2 that judges whether the number of times the product code stored in the product information storage unit 13-4-1 has been read exceeds a predetermined number.

[0034] The product vending machine system also includes a sales promotion unit 13-5 that urges the server device 50 to update the product lineup to be stored in the product vending machine 1 when the number of times determination unit 13-4-2 determines that the number of times the product code has been read exceeds the specified number.

[0035] 4 is a flow chart showing the buying process procedure in the product vending machine system according to this embodiment. Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step, and each step is realized by the CPU 11 reading and executing a control program stored in the ROM 12. Note that each step may incorporate other steps or the processing order may be changed due to program updates, etc.

[0036] When a product purchaser inserts a coin into the coin slot 1-2 of any of the product storage units 2-5 arranged in the product vending machine 1 shown in Fig. 1 and then turns the rotary dial 1-3 in a predetermined direction, capsules 1-6 drop one by one from an opening (not shown) into the take-out port 1-5 (1), and the product purchaser decides whether to accept the product or have it purchased. Next, the IC tag reader 17 reads the information on the IC tag attached to the capsule 1-6 (2).

[0037] Specifically, when a product purchaser who has decided to sell the capsule 1-6 puts the capsule 1-6 that has dropped into the take-out port 1-5 into the collection port 6-1 of the expansion unit 6 and then instructs the product purchase according to the user interface UI-1 shown in Fig. 5, the CPU 11 displays the user interface UI-2, an example of which is shown in Fig. 6, on the touch panel unit 6-3, and displays the product information and each purchase price of the read IC tag in a list (3). In this example, the CPU 11 controls the display mode so that the prices of the three capsules 1-6 are displayed, and the purchase price is displayed together with the product name. Here, it is assumed that the information on the IC tag includes a product code that identifies the product and information on the preset purchase price.

[0038] Next, when the CPU 11 presses the purchase confirmation button BT1 while the purchase price information read by the IC tag reading unit 17 from the information on the IC tag attached to capsule 1-6 is displayed on the touch panel unit 6-3, the CPU 11, an example of which is shown in Figure 6, displays a user interface UI-3 on the touch panel unit 6-3.

[0039] Next, if the CPU 11 determines that the button BT2 for issuing a purchase instruction has been pressed (4), the CPU 11 opens the flipper 6-5 downward, drops the product to a predetermined position in the transparent hollow tube of the collection port 6-1, and pauses it there (5).

[0040] Next, the CPU 11 judges whether the product purchaser has pressed the button BT2 for issuing a purchase instruction displayed on the touch panel unit 6-3. If the CPU 11 judges that the button BT2 for issuing a purchase instruction has been pressed, the cashing unit 7 drops coins in the amount displayed on the user interface UI-2 into the refund opening 7-2 via the coin return control unit 19 (6).

[0041] Then, when a sensor (not shown) confirms that the product purchaser has received the coins dropped into the refund opening 7-2 (7), the CPU 11 opens the indication plate downward and, in step (4), collects the product that has fallen to a predetermined position inside the transparent hollow cylinder of the collection opening 6-1 into the collection box 6-6 by opening the support plate downward, and then ends this process.

[0042] On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that button BT2 has not been pressed, it is determined whether the cancel button displayed on the touch panel unit 6-3 has been pressed (8), and if the CPU 11 determines that the cancel button has been pressed, the finger plate is lifted upward, and the product is dropped into the collection port 6-1 (9), and the process ends.

[0043] This allows the product purchaser to decide for himself / herself whether to accept the product again or give up on the purchase, even if he / she is hesitant about whether to purchase the product or not, right up until the last minute.

[0044] [Effects of the second embodiment] According to this embodiment, the resale price of the product can be obtained from the server device 50 and the purchase price can be adjusted, so that a user who has purchased a product can choose to cash it in on the spot or wait for the price to rise further and have it purchased as a collector. This makes it possible to purchase the product at a resale price that is higher than the resale price at the product vending machine 1 at that time, which can stimulate the expectations of the product purchaser and increase their desire to purchase the product.

[0045] Third Embodiment In the above embodiment, a system in which a user inserts coins to purchase a product is used as an example of a product vending machine system, but the present invention is also applicable to a system in which a user holds an electronic money card over the product vending machine system instead of a cash voucher to purchase a product. This embodiment is characterized in that the product vending machine system is a product vending machine 1 that drops a product into a take-out port when it confirms that an electronic money card MC is in close proximity and accepts a predetermined operation via a communication medium, and a server device 50, and includes an expansion unit 6 that purchases the product at an assessed price obtained from the server device 50.

[0046] [Buy-back charge processing using electronic cards] Fig. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the functions of the product vending machine system shown in Fig. 3. Note that the same reference numerals are used to denote the same components as in Fig. 3.

[0047] In this embodiment, the expansion unit 6 has a collection flipper 6-5 of a collection port 6-1 that collects products taken from a take-out port, which opens downward to collect the products in a collection box 6-6. The expansion unit 6 includes an IC tag reading unit 17 that reads an IC tag attached to a product dropped from the collection port 6-1, a determination unit 13-1 that determines an appraisal price to be converted into cash based on the product code read by the IC tag reading unit 17 and the appraisal price obtained from the server device 50, a judgment unit 13-2 that determines whether or not a real buy-back has been instructed while the appraisal price determined by the determination unit 13-1 and an instruction button instructing whether or not a real buy-back are displayed on the touch panel unit 6-3, and a charging unit 13-6 that instructs the electronic money card MC to be charged with a payable amount when the judgment unit 13-2 determines that a real buy-back has been instructed by the instruction unit. At this time, if the judgment unit 13-2 judges that a real purchase by the charge unit 13-6 has been instructed, the collection control unit 13-4 is provided which drops the product received at the collection port 6-1 into a collection box 6-6.

[0048] The collection control unit 13-4 is equipped with a product information storage unit 13-4-1 that stores the product code and product number linked to the IC tag read by the IC tag reading unit 17, and a number judgment unit 13-4-2 that judges whether the number of times the product code stored in the product information storage unit 13-4-1 has been read exceeds a predetermined number.

[0049] [Effects of the third embodiment] According to this embodiment, the product vending machine 1 can accept not only cash but also a wide variety of electronic money cards as the denomination of payment that can be used for purchases, and the user can be charged with an amount equivalent to the amount exchanged for cash or can receive points that can be used on an EC site, thereby improving user convenience.

[0050] [Fourth embodiment] In the above embodiment, the expansion unit 6 is incorporated into the product vending machine system. However, the expansion unit 6 may be connected to the product vending machine 1 having a single function to configure it as a product buying back system.

[0051] [Effects of the fourth embodiment] According to this embodiment, even if an existing single-function product vending machine 1 is used, simply by connecting the expansion unit 6, a product vending machine system capable of providing a product buy-back service can be constructed. In this embodiment, an example of a system in which the product vending machine 1 and the expansion unit 6 that provides the purchase function are integrated is described, but it is also possible to configure the expansion unit 6 as a standalone unit that is externally attached to the product vending machine 1, or to configure a product purchase system in which the product vending machine 1 and the expansion unit 6 that provides the purchase function are integrated. In addition, the present invention can be applied to a product vending machine 1 that sells trading cards as products, in addition to those in which goods are stored in the capsules 1-6. The disclosure of the present invention described above can be summarized at least in the following items.

[0052] (1) A vending machine that drops merchandise into a dispenser when a specified operation is received after confirming that money has been inserted, and is characterized by having an expansion unit that reads the tab attached to the merchandise and purchases it at a specified price.

[0053] (2) A product vending machine system in which a product vending machine that confirms the insertion of money and then drops a product into a dispensing slot upon receiving a specified operation communicates with a server device via a communication medium, and is characterized by having an expansion unit that purchases the product at the appraisal price obtained from the server device.

[0054] (3) The expansion unit is characterized by comprising: a collection port for collecting the goods taken out from the withdrawal port; a reading unit for reading an IC tag attached to the goods dropped out from the collection port; a determination unit for determining the appraisal price to be converted into cash based on the code of the goods read by the reading unit and the appraisal price obtained from the server device; an instruction unit for instructing whether or not to make a real purchase while displaying the appraisal price determined by the determination unit on a display unit; a judgment unit for determining whether a real purchase has been instructed by the instruction unit; and a purchase unit for refunding the gift certificate from a cash return port if the judgment unit determines that a real purchase has been instructed by the instruction unit.

[0055] (4) The present invention is characterized in that it includes a collection control unit that, when the judgment unit determines that a real buy-back has been instructed by the instruction unit, drops the product received at the collection port into a collection box.

[0056] (5) The collection control unit is characterized by comprising: a product information storage unit that stores a product code and a product number linked to the IC tag read by the reading unit; a number determination unit that determines whether the number of times the product code stored in the product information storage unit has been read exceeds a predetermined number; and a sales promotion unit that, if the number determination unit determines that the number of times the product code has been read exceeds the predetermined number, urges the server device to update the product lineup to be stocked in the product vending machine.

[0057] (6) A product purchasing system in which a product vending machine that drops a product into a dispensing slot when it confirms that an electronic money card is in close proximity and accepts a specified operation communicates with a server device via a communication medium, and is characterized in that it has an expansion unit that purchases the product at an appraised price obtained from the server device.

[0058] (7) The expansion unit is characterized in that it comprises a collection port for collecting the goods taken out from the collection port, a reading unit for reading an IC tag attached to the goods dropped out from the collection port, a determination unit for determining the appraisal price to be converted into cash based on the code of the goods read by the reading unit and the appraisal price obtained from the server device, an instruction unit for instructing whether or not to make a real purchase while the appraisal price determined by the determination unit is displayed on a display unit, a judgment unit for determining whether or not a real purchase has been instructed by the instruction unit, and a charging unit for charging the electronic money card with electronic money equivalent to the minimum price if the judgment unit determines that a real purchase has been instructed by the instruction unit.

[0059] (8) A product vending machine system, characterized in that the product is a card medium including goods or trading cards contained in a transparent capsule.

[0060] (9) A product purchasing system, characterized in that in an automatic product purchasing system, the product is a card medium including goods or trading cards contained in a transparent capsule.

[0061] (10) A product vending machine that confirms the insertion of money and then drops a product into an outlet when a specified operation is received communicates via a specified communication medium with a server device that stores and manages the appraisal price at which the product is purchased, and a purchasing unit that purchases the product at the appraisal price obtained from the server device.

[0062] (11) An expansion unit having a configuration for connecting to a product vending machine via a specified interface which confirms the insertion of money and then drops a product into an outlet upon receiving a specified operation, and for providing the product vending machine with a purchasing function for purchasing the product at an appraised price obtained from a server device via a specified communication medium. [Industrial Applicability]

[0063] In addition, in case identity verification is required when purchasing, a process may be added to read the identity card (driver's license, My Number card) and record the read information in a memory unit that manages transaction history, so that in the event of a fraudulent purchase, the product can be tracked and the identity card information can be verified. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1. Product vending machine system 2~5 Product Storage Units 6 Expansion Units 7 Cash Units

Claims

1. A vending machine that drops a product into a dispenser when a predetermined operation is received after confirming that money has been inserted, The vending machine is characterized by having an expansion unit that reads the tab attached to the product and purchases the product at a predetermined price.

2. A vending machine that drops a commodity into a dispenser when a predetermined operation is received after confirming insertion of money is performed and a server device communicate with the vending machine system via a communication medium, A product vending machine system further comprising an expansion unit that purchases the product at an assessed price obtained from the server device.

3. The expansion unit includes: a collection port for collecting the products taken out from the take-out port; A reader that reads IC tags attached to the products dropped from the collection port; a determination unit that determines an assessed price to be converted into cash based on the code of the commodity read by the reading unit and the assessed price obtained from the server device; an instruction unit that instructs whether or not to purchase the item while displaying the appraisal price determined by the determination unit on a display unit; a judgment unit for judging whether or not the instruction unit has instructed the purchase; a purchasing unit that refunds the voucher from a cash return port when the determining unit determines that the instruction unit has instructed the purchase; 3. The product vending machine system according to claim 2, further comprising:

4. a collection control unit that, when the determination unit determines that the instruction unit has instructed the purchase, drops the product received at the collection port into a collection box; 4. The product vending machine system according to claim 3, further comprising:

5. The collection control unit includes a product information storage unit that stores a product code and a product number associated with the IC tag read by the reading unit; a number determining unit that determines whether or not the number of times the product code stored in the product information storage unit has been read exceeds a predetermined number; a sales promotion unit that, when the number determining unit determines that the number of times the product code has been read exceeds the predetermined number, prompts the server device to update a product lineup to be stocked in the product vending machine; 4. The product vending machine system according to claim 3, further comprising:

6. A product buying system in which a product vending machine that confirms that an electronic money card is in close proximity and drops a product into a take-out port when a predetermined operation is received communicates with a server device via a communication medium, The product buying system further comprises an expansion unit for buying the product at the assessed price obtained from the server device.

7. The expansion unit includes: a collection port for collecting the products taken out from the take-out port; A reader that reads IC tags attached to the products dropped from the collection port; a determination unit that determines an assessed price to be converted into cash based on the code of the commodity read by the reading unit and the assessed price obtained from the server device; an instruction unit that instructs whether or not to purchase the item while displaying the appraisal price determined by the determination unit on a display unit; a judgment unit for judging whether or not the instruction unit has instructed the purchase; a charge unit that charges the electronic money card with electronic money equivalent to the lowest price when the determination unit determines that the instruction unit has instructed a real buy-back; The product purchasing system according to claim 6, further comprising:

8. 3. The product vending machine system according to claim 2, wherein the product is a card medium including a good contained in a transparent capsule or a trading card.

9. 7. The product purchasing system according to claim 6, wherein the product is a card medium including a good or a trading card contained in a transparent capsule.

10. A product purchasing system, characterized in that a product vending machine that drops a product into a dispensing slot when a specified operation is received after confirming the insertion of money via a specified communication medium, a server device that stores and manages the assessed price at which the product is purchased, and a purchasing unit that purchases the product at the assessed price obtained from the server device communicate with each other via a specified communication medium.

11. An expansion unit, The expansion unit is configured to connect to a product vending machine which, after confirming the insertion of money via a specified interface, drops a product into a dispensing slot when a specified operation is received, and to provide the product vending machine with a purchasing function for purchasing the product at an appraised price obtained from a server device via a specified communication medium.

Images