Automatic vending machine

Abstract

To improve the promotion of discount.SOLUTION: A vending machine 1 includes a plurality of article selection buttons 20 which are provided in association with columns containing articles and have various display functions including price display of the articles in the corresponding columns, and dispenses the articles from the columns associated with the article selection buttons 20 for sale when any of the article selection buttons 20 is operated. The vending machine 1 includes a control unit 30 that performs a discount display including words of discount on the corresponding article selection buttons 20 when the articles in any column are eligible for the discount. It is preferable that the control unit 30 performs the discount display according to a preset discount display pattern for the corresponding article selection buttons 20 when the articles in any column are eligible for the discount.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a vending machine that sells beverages and the like contained in containers such as plastic bottles and cans as products, in order to promote sales, there is known one that sells any product at a discounted price during a predetermined discount period. In such a vending machine, when the predetermined discount period arrives, the discounted price is displayed on the corresponding product selection button (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the vending machine proposed in Patent Document 1 above, since the discounted price is displayed on the product selection button corresponding to the predetermined discount period, for users such as purchasers, it is insufficient to recognize whether the price (including the discounted price) displayed on each product selection button corresponds to the discounted price, and there is a problem that the discount appeal is weak.

[0005] In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of improving the discount appeal.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine according to the present invention includes a plurality of product selection units provided in association with columns for accommodating products, and having various display functions including price display of products in the corresponding columns. When any one of the product selection units is operated, products are dispensed and sold from the column associated with the product selection unit. The vending machine is characterized in that when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount, a control unit is provided to perform a discount display including a discount statement on the corresponding product selection unit.

[0007] Further, in the present invention, in the above vending machine, when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount, the control unit performs the discount display on the corresponding product selection unit according to a preset discount display pattern.

[0008] Further, in the present invention, in the above vending machine, when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount, the control unit performs the discount display on the corresponding product selection unit according to a preset discount display pattern according to the remaining quantity of the products subject to the discount or the amount of the discount.

[0009] Further, in the present invention, in the above vending machine, when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount, the control unit performs the discount display on the corresponding product selection unit according to a preset discount display pattern according to the remaining period of the discount period of the products subject to the discount.

[0010] Further, in the present invention, in the above vending machine, when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount, on the condition that while an amount of money equal to or more than the normal price, which is the price before the discount, is inserted and the corresponding product selection unit is operated to dispense products from the column, change including the amount of money of the discount is returned.

[0011] Further, in the present invention, in the above vending machine, when returning change including the amount of money of the discount, the control unit performs a cashback display on any one of the product selection units.

[0012] In addition, in the above vending machine, when a product in any column is to be discounted during cashless settlement, the control unit performs the discount display on the operated product selection unit on the condition that any of the corresponding product selection units has been operated.

[0013] In addition, in the above vending machine, the control unit normally performs an illumination display in which all product selection units are sequentially lit in a predetermined pattern, while when a product in an arbitrary column is to be discounted, the control unit restricts the illumination display for the corresponding product selection unit and performs the discount display.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the present invention, when a product in an arbitrary column is to be discounted, the control unit performs a discount display including discount wording on the corresponding product selection unit, so that it is possible to clearly show the user that the product is being sold at a discount, and the effect of improving the discount appeal can be achieved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the vending machine according to the present invention will be described in detail.

[0017] Figures 1 and 2 show vending machines according to embodiments of the present invention. Figure 1 is a front view showing the external configuration, and Figure 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the characteristic control system.

[0018] The vending machine 1 exemplified here sells products such as beverages contained in containers such as plastic bottles and cans in a cooled, heated, or normal temperature state, and is configured to include a main body cabinet 2.

[0019] The main body cabinet 2 is composed by combining a plurality of steel plates, and forms a box shape with a heat insulation structure having an opening on the front surface. An outer door 3 is provided on this main body cabinet 2 in a manner of opening and closing the opening.

[0020] Although not shown in the figure, a plurality of product storage racks are provided inside the main body cabinet 2, and columns are set in these product storage racks. A column is a storage unit in which the same type of product is stored, and one or a plurality of product storage racks are provided according to the products to be sold. Each product storage rack is provided with a dispensing mechanism 4 for dispensing the products stored therein. The dispensing mechanism 4 is provided for each column.

[0021] Such a vending machine 1 is configured to include a money processing unit 5, a settlement processing unit 6, a remote control 7, a product selection button (product selection unit) 20, and a control unit 30.

[0022] The money processing unit 5 is composed of a coin mechanism and a bill validator. This money processing unit 5 determines whether the money inserted through the coin insertion slot 8 and the bill insertion slot 9 provided on the outer door 3 is regular, and while taking in the regular money into the interior and outputting it to the control unit 30, when it cannot be determined that the money is regular, and when the return lever 10 provided on the outer door 3 is operated after the insertion operation, it returns the money respectively.

[0023] In addition, when the money processing unit 5 returns a bill, it pays out the bill from the bill insertion slot 9, and when returning a coin, it pays it out from the coin return slot 11 provided on the outer door 3.

[0024] The settlement processing unit 6 performs a settlement process with a predetermined recording medium such as a card when the predetermined recording medium such as a card is placed in the communicable area of the reader / writer unit 12 provided on the outer door 3. This settlement processing unit 6 outputs the settlement result to the control unit 30.

[0025] The remote controller 7 is an input means for performing various settings and confirmations related to the sale of products, such as setting columns for the product storage rack, associating columns with product selection buttons 20, setting selling prices, etc. When an input operation is performed, this remote controller 7 gives its output signal to the control unit 30. Note that the remote controller 7 is operated by an operator called the administrator or route man of the vending machine 1, and can be operated only when the locked outer door 3 is unlocked and opened.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the product selection buttons 20 are provided such that a part thereof is exposed from the casing 20a and can be pressed to form a push button device 20b. The push button device 20b is provided corresponding to the display shelves 15 on the front surface of the transparent plate 14 constituting the display window 13 of the outer door 3, and the product selection buttons 20 are respectively provided corresponding to the product samples 16 displayed on the display shelves 15.

[0027] Such product selection buttons 20 have a switch 21 and a light emitting element 22. The switch 21 is turned on when the product selection button 20 is pressed and outputs a selection signal to the control unit 30.

[0028] The light emitting element 22 is composed of a plurality of, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs). These light emitting elements 22 emit light forward when lit, and as shown in FIG. 4, a price display unit 23 or the like with seven segments (hereinafter also referred to as seven segments) capable of displaying any four-digit number (for example, 0 to 9) or alphabet, a character display unit 24 for words such as "￥", "HOT", "COLD", "room temperature", "recommended!", "preparing", "discount", and a sales available display unit 25 in the upper region of the seven segments are arranged in a manner that enables them. Thereby, a plurality of product selection buttons 20 are provided corresponding to the columns for accommodating products, and have various display functions including the price display unit 23 of the products in the corresponding columns.

[0029] The sale display unit 25 is configured to exhibit colors such as blue when the corresponding product is COLD, orange when the corresponding product is HOT, purple when the corresponding product is at room temperature, and so on.

[0030] The control unit 30 is communicably connected to the dispensing mechanism 4, the money processing unit 5, the settlement processing unit 6, the remote control 7, and the product selection buttons 20, and comprehensively controls the operations of the respective parts of the vending machine 1 according to programs and data stored in the storage unit 31 which is also communicably connected, and includes a display control processing unit 30a.

[0031] When it is determined that products in an arbitrary column are to be sold at a discounted price during a predetermined time (for example, between 14:00 and 16:00), the display control processing unit 30a performs product selection button display control processing described later.

[0032] In the storage unit 31, a plurality (four in the present embodiment) of discount display patterns (first discount display pattern, second discount display pattern, third discount display pattern, fourth discount display pattern) are stored in a discount display pattern storage area 31a. These discount display patterns will be described.

[0033] Incidentally, hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the product is COLD, the normal price which is the price of the product before discount is set as "130 yen", the discount amount is set as "30 yen", and the discounted price is set as "100 yen" for unified explanation.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, the first discount display pattern is such that the sale display unit 25 is made blue, and in the text display unit 24, the texts of "￥", "COLD", "discount", and the discounted price ("100") in the price display unit and the like are constantly lit.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), in the second discount display pattern, while the sellable display section 25 is colored blue, in the text display section 24, the characters "￥" and "COLD" are constantly lit, and in the price display section 23, the discounted price ("100") is constantly lit, while the character "discount" in the text display section 24 blinks (for example, it lights for 3 seconds and then goes off for 1 second).

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), in the third discount display pattern, while the sellable display section 25 is colored blue, in the text display section 24, the characters "￥" and "COLD" are constantly lit, while the discounted price ("100") in the price display section 23 and the character "discount" in the text display section 24 blink (for example, it lights for 3 seconds and then goes off for 1 second).

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), in the fourth discount display pattern, while the sellable display section 25 is colored blue, in the text display section 24, the characters "￥" and "COLD" are constantly lit, in the price display section 23, the discounted price ("100") and the discount amount ("30") are alternately lit, and in the text display section 24, the character "discount" blinks. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8(a), while the sellable display section 25 is colored blue, in the text display section 24, the characters "￥", "COLD", and in the price display section 23, the discounted price ("100") are lit for, for example, 3 seconds, and then, as shown in FIG. 8(b), while the sellable display section 25 is colored blue, in the text display section 24, the characters "￥", "COLD", "discount", and in the price display section 23, the discount amount ("30") are lit for, for example, 1 second, and this is repeated.

[0038] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the product selection button display control process performed by the display control processing section 30a of the control section 30 shown in FIG. 2.

[0039] As shown in this FIG. 9, the display control processing section 30a of the control section 30 determines whether the current time has passed the discount sale start time (for example, 14:00) (step S101). If the current time has not passed the discount sale start time (step S101: No), the display control processing section 30a repeats such determination processing.

[0040] When the current time has passed the discount sale start time (Step S101: Yes), the display control processing unit 30a performs a discount display on the corresponding product selection button 20 (the product selection button 20 corresponding to the column containing the product to be discounted) according to a predetermined discount display pattern (any one of the first discount display pattern, the second discount display pattern, the third discount display pattern, and the fourth discount display pattern) (Step S102).

[0041] When the control unit 30 that has performed the discount display in this way is performing a money process of 100 yen or more through the money processing unit 5 and the corresponding product selection button 20 is pressed and a selection signal is output from the switch 21, it drives the payout mechanism 4 of the corresponding column to pay out the product and allows the product to be taken out through the product outlet 17 provided in the outer door 3.

[0042] The display control processing unit 30a that has performed the above-described discount display determines whether the current time has passed the discount sale end time (for example, 16:00) (Step S103). When the current time has not passed the discount sale end time (Step S103: No), the display control processing unit 30a repeats such determination processing.

[0043] When the current time has passed the discount sale end time (Step S103: Yes), the display control processing unit 30a cancels the discount display for the corresponding product selection button 20 (Step S104), and then returns the procedure to end the current process.

[0044] As described above, according to the vending machine 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, when the product of an arbitrary column is targeted for discount, the control unit 30 performs a discount display including a discount statement on the corresponding product selection button 20 according to a preset discount display pattern, so that it is possible to clearly indicate to the user that it is a sale at a discount, and the discount appeal can be improved.

[0045] Incidentally, in the above control unit 30 (display control processing unit 30a), the following discount display control processing may be performed during the above discount sales time (14:00 to 16:00).

[0046] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the discount display control processing performed by the control unit 30 shown in FIG. 2.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 10, the display control processing unit 30a of the control unit 30 performs a discount display in which the sales available display unit 25 is made blue, and the words "￥", "COLD", and "Discount" are displayed in the text display unit 24, and the normal price ("130") is constantly lit in the price display unit 23 for the corresponding product selection button 20 (the product selection button 20 corresponding to the column containing the product to be discounted) as shown in FIG. 11 (step S201).

[0048] The control unit 30 that has performed such a discount display waits for money processing by the money processing unit 5 due to the insertion of money equal to or more than the normal price from the coin insertion slot 8 or the bill insertion slot 9, and waits for product selection when the corresponding product selection button 20 is pressed (steps S202 and S203).

[0049] When money processing equal to or more than the normal price (130 yen) is performed through the money processing unit 5 and the corresponding product selection button 20 is pressed and a selection signal is output from the switch 21 to perform product selection (step S202: Yes, step S203: Yes), the control unit 30 drives the payout mechanism 4 of the corresponding column to pay out the product (step S204).

[0050] In this way, the control unit 30 that has dispensed the product, as shown in FIG. 12, while setting the sales displayable part 25 to blue for the pressed product selection button 20, displays the words "￥", "COLD", and "Discount" in the text display part 24, and while performing a discount amount display that constantly lights up the discount amount ("30") in the price etc. display part 23, as shown in FIG. 13, performs a cashback display that displays "CASH" and "BACK" in the price etc. display parts 23 of the other adjacent product selection buttons 20 (step S205), and returns the change including the money of the discount amount (step S206).

[0051] The control unit 30 that has returned the change in this way cancels the discount amount display and the cashback display (step S207), and then returns the procedure to end the current process.

[0052] According to such a vending machine 1, when a product in an arbitrary column is a discount target, on the condition that money equal to or more than the normal price which is the price before discount is inserted and the corresponding product selection button 20 is pressed to dispense the product from the column, a discount amount display is performed on the corresponding product selection button 20 and a cashback display is performed on any one of the product selection buttons 20, and the change including the money of the discount amount is returned. Therefore, it is possible to clearly show the user that it is a discounted sale, and the discount appeal can be improved. Moreover, by including the discount amount (30 yen) in the change and returning it, a sense of gain can be given to the user.

[0053] When a product in an arbitrary column is a discount target at the time of cashless settlement, the above control unit 30 (display control processing unit 30a) may perform the following discount display control processing at the above discount sales time (14:00 to 16:00).

[0054] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of other discount display control processing performed by the control unit 30 shown in FIG. 2.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 14, the display control unit 30a of the control unit 30 performs normal display in which, for all product selection buttons 20 including the corresponding product selection button 20 (the product selection button 20 corresponding to the column that houses the product subject to discount during cashless payment), the sellable display unit 25 is colored blue, the text display unit 24 constantly lights up the texts "￥" and "COLD", and the price display unit 23 constantly lights up the normal price ("130") (step S301).

[0056] The control unit 30 that has performed such normal display determines whether product selection has been made by pressing the corresponding product selection button 20 (step S302). If the corresponding product selection button 20 has not been pressed (step S302: No), the control unit 30 repeats such determination processing.

[0057] When product selection has been made by pressing the corresponding product selection button 20 and a selection signal is output from the switch 21 (step S302: Yes), the control unit 30 performs discount display in which, for the pressed product selection button 20, as shown in FIGS. 15(a) and (b), the sellable display unit 25 is colored blue, the text display unit 24 constantly lights up the texts "￥" and "COLD", and further, the discounted price ("100") of the price display unit 23, the text "discount" of the text display unit 24, and the text "CArd" of the price display unit 23 are alternately lit (step S303).

[0058] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 15(a), the control unit 30 colors the sellable display unit 25 blue, and in the text display unit 24, the texts "￥", "COLD", and "discount" and, in the price display unit 23, the discounted price ("100") are lit for, for example, 1 second, and then, as shown in FIG. 15(b), the sellable display unit 25 is colored blue, the text display unit 24 lights up the texts "￥" and "COLD", and the price display unit 23 lights up the display "CArd" for, for example, 1 second, and this is repeated for discount display.

[0059] The control unit 30 that performs the discounted display in this way waits for the settlement process through the settlement processing unit 6 (step S304). When the settlement process is performed through the settlement processing unit 6 (step S304: Yes), the control unit 30 drives the payout mechanism 4 of the corresponding column to pay out the product (step S305).

[0060] The control unit 30 that has paid out the product in this way performs normal display (step S306), and then returns the procedure to end the current process.

[0061] According to such a vending machine 1, when a product in an arbitrary column is a discount target during cashless settlement, the control unit 30 performs a discounted display including a discount statement for the operated product selection button 20 on the condition that any of the corresponding product selection buttons 20 is operated. Therefore, it is possible to clearly show the user that it is a discounted sale, and the discount appeal can be improved.

[0062] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various changes can be made.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, the product selection button 20 has been described as an example of the product selection unit. However, in the present invention, it is not limited to the product selection button 20 that is pressed. For example, a product selection area that is displayed on a touch panel or the like and is selected by a touch operation may be the product selection unit.

[0064] In the above-described embodiment, in the product selection button display control process, the discounted display is performed according to any one of the first discount display pattern, the second discount display pattern, the third discount display pattern, and the fourth discount display pattern. However, in the present invention, as long as a discounted display including a discount statement is performed, the display content is not particularly limited.

[0065] In particular, in the present invention, the discount display may be performed as follows. That is, when the products in an arbitrary column are subject to discount, the control unit may perform a discount display according to the size of the remaining quantity of the products subject to discount. That is, when the remaining quantity of the products is, for example, 6 or more, the discount display may be performed according to, for example, the first discount display pattern, and when the remaining quantity of the products is, for example, 5 or less, the discount display may be performed according to, for example, the second discount display pattern.

[0066] Also, when the products in an arbitrary column are subject to discount, the control unit may perform a discount display according to the size of the discount amount of the products subject to discount. That is, when the discount amount is less than 50 yen, the discount display may be performed according to, for example, the first discount display pattern, and when the discount amount is 50 yen or more, the discount display may be performed according to, for example, the second discount display pattern.

[0067] Furthermore, when the products in an arbitrary column are subject to discount, the control unit may perform a discount display according to the size of the remaining period of the discount period of the products subject to discount. That is, when the remaining period (remaining time) of the discount period (discount time) is 1 hour or more, the discount display may be performed according to, for example, the first discount display pattern, and when the remaining period (remaining time) is less than 1 hour, the discount display may be performed according to, for example, the second discount display pattern.

[0068] By these means, it is also possible to clearly indicate to the user that the sale is at a discount, and it is possible to improve the discount appeal.

[0069] In the above-described embodiment, for the sale availability display unit 25, any one of blue, orange, and purple was displayed according to the temperature state of the corresponding product, but the following may also be adopted. That is, in the normal state, the control unit 30 performs an illumination display in which all the sale availability display units 25 in the product selection buttons 20 are sequentially lit in a predetermined pattern, and when the products in an arbitrary column are subject to discount, the illumination display for the corresponding product selection button 20 may be restricted to perform a discount display.

[0070] This can also clearly indicate to the user that it is a discounted sale, and can improve the discount appeal.

[0071] Although not particularly mentioned in the above-described embodiments, when performing the discount display, the phrase "Highly Recommended!" in the text display unit 24 may be appropriately displayed.

[0072] In the above-described embodiments, while displaying the discount amount for the pressed product selection button 20, a cashback display was performed for other adjacent product selection buttons 20. However, in the present invention, the cashback display may be performed on the corresponding product selection button 20, or the phrases "CASH" and "BACK" may be alternately displayed on another product selection button 20. Also, in the present invention, it is only necessary to determine that it is a cashback, and other phrases than "CASH" and "BACK" may be displayed. Furthermore, in the present invention, the cashback display may not be performed.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0073] 1... Vending machine, 2... Main body cabinet, 3... Outer door, 4... Dispensing mechanism, 5... Money processing unit, 6... Settlement processing unit, 7... Remote control, 8... Coin insertion slot, 9... Bill insertion slot, 10... Return lever, 11... Coin return slot, 12... Reader / writer unit, 13... Display window, 14... Transparent plate, 15... Display shelf, 16... Product sample, 17... Product outlet, 20... Product selection button, 20a... Casing, 20b... Button device, 21... Switch, 22... Light emitting element, 23... Price display unit, 24... Text display unit, 25... Sale available display unit, 30... Control unit, 30a... Display control processing unit, 31... Memory unit, 31a... Discount display pattern storage area.

Claims

1. An automatic vending machine provided corresponding to columns for accommodating products, comprising a plurality of product selection units having various display functions including price displays of products in the corresponding columns, and when any one of the product selection units is operated, the product is dispensed and sold from the column associated with the product selection unit, characterized in that it comprises a control unit that performs a discount display including discount wording on the corresponding product selection unit when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount.

2. The control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount, the control unit performs the discount display on the corresponding product selection unit according to a preset discount display pattern.

3. The control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount, according to the remaining quantity of the discounted products or the magnitude of the discount amount, the control unit performs the discount display on the corresponding product selection unit according to a preset discount display pattern.

4. The control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount, according to the magnitude of the remaining period of the discount period of the discounted products, the control unit performs the discount display on the corresponding product selection unit according to a preset discount display pattern.

5. The control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount, on the condition that while money equal to or more than the normal price which is the price before the discount is inserted and the corresponding product selection unit is operated to dispense a product from the column, the control unit returns change including money of the discount amount.

6. The control unit according to claim 5, characterized in that when returning change including money of the discount amount, the control unit performs a cashback display on any one of the product selection units.

7. The control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that when products in an arbitrary column are subject to a discount during cashless settlement, on the condition that any one of the corresponding product selection units is operated, the control unit performs the discount display on the operated product selection unit.

8. The control unit performs illumination display that sequentially lights up all the product selection units in a predetermined pattern in the normal state. On the other hand, when the products in an arbitrary column are subject to discount, the vending machine according to claim 1 is characterized in that the illumination display for the corresponding product selection unit is restricted to perform the discount display.

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