Automatic vending machine

Abstract

To provide an automatic vending machine capable of selling another commodity different from a commodity stored inside the automatic vending machine, and dispensing with securing an exclusive space around the automatic vending machine.SOLUTION: An automatic vending machine 11 for housing a commodity to be sold includes a body 51 for housing the commodity, and a different commodity display part 33 provided on an outer surface of the body 50 and displaying information of the different commodity different from the commodity housed in the body 50, and the different commodity display part 33 displays a two-dimensional code 34 for connecting a communication device of a user desiring to purchase the different commodity to a web site on a network for selling the different commodity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vending machine that can sell products that are not contained within the vending machine in addition to products contained within the vending machine. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a conventional vending machine that can sell products not contained within the vending machine in addition to the products contained within the vending machine is described in Patent Document 1. The vending machine described in Patent Document 1 includes a vending machine that sells one or more internal products, an attached product storage that stores at least the one or more products and from which users can freely remove products, and a payment unit that performs internal payment processing related to payments for sales of the internal products and external payment processing related to payments for sales of external products that are products stored in the attached product storage. The attached product storage is a product storage separate from the vending machine and is located to the side of the vending machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6831893 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors of the present application recognized a problem in that the vending machine described in Patent Document 1 requires a space to be secured on the side of the vending machine for placing an accessory product storeroom.

[0005] To provide a vending machine that can sell products different from the products stored inside the vending machine and does not require a dedicated space around the vending machine. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This embodiment is a vending machine that stores products for sale, and includes a storage section in which the products are stored, and a separate product display section that is provided on the outer surface of the storage section and displays information about a separate product that is different from the product stored inside the storage section, and the separate product display section displays a two-dimensional code that connects the communication device of a user who wishes to purchase the separate product to a website on a network that sells the separate product. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this embodiment, it is possible to sell products that are different from the products stored inside the vending machine, and there is no need to secure a dedicated space around the vending machine. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a product sales system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a vending machine. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of purchasing another product from a vending machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (overview) This embodiment discloses an example of a vending machine that can sell products not contained within the vending machine in addition to the products contained within the vending machine. A product vending system 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a vending machine 11, a user terminal 12, a management computer 13, and a network 14. The vending machine 11 is installed outdoors, inside a building, in an aisle, or the like. The vending machine 11 contains a product 15, and a user 16 can purchase the product 15 by operating the vending machine 11.

[0010] The vending machine 11 is also configured to sell a separate product 17 that is not contained within the vending machine 11 to the user 16. The user terminal 12 can be connected to the management computer 13 via the network 14. The user 16 can purchase the separate product 17 by operating the user terminal 12.

[0011] (Vending machine configuration) The vending machine 11 is a product vending device managed by a product seller or the like. The vending machine 11 is placed on an installation location 18. The vending machine 11 has a box-shaped main body 51 and a front face 19 attached to the main body 51. The front face 19 is a door attached to the front of the main body 51 in an openable and closable manner. A locking mechanism is provided to keep the front face 19 closed relative to the main body 51. The main body 51 and the front face 19 are primarily made of metal. A product insertion opening, rack, product chute, product delivery mechanism, control device 54, etc. are provided inside the main body 51, and products 15 are placed in the product rack through the product insertion opening. The products 15 are beverage containers, and examples of the containers include plastic bottles, aluminum cans, iron cans, etc., and the beverages contained in the containers include juice, coffee, green tea, sports drinks, etc.

[0012] The control device 54 is a microcomputer having input and output ports, an arithmetic processing unit, a storage device, etc. The control device 54 processes the operation signal of the product selection button 32 and controls the product delivery mechanism. The vending machine 11 may also be equipped with a communicator 53. The control device 54 and the communicator 53 are connected by a communication cable. The communicator 53 is a module equipped with an antenna and a communication circuit. In other words, the communicator 53 is an interface connected to the management computer 13 via the network 14.

[0013] When viewed from the front, the vending machine 11 has a front surface 19 that is generally quadrangular, specifically rectangular. The front surface 19 is provided with an electric lighting unit (product display unit) 20, a coin slot 21, a bill insertion slot 22, a reader 23, a return lever 24, a coin return slot 25, a product removal slot 26, a sales promotion panel 27, and a sales promotion sticker 28. When the vending machine 11 is placed in the installation location 18, the product removal slot 26 is located below the sales promotion panel 27 in the direction of gravity, i.e., the vertical direction in FIG. 1. A cover is provided to cover the product removal slot 26. The cover is made of synthetic resin and is openable and closable. The electric lighting unit 20, the sales promotion sticker 28, the coin slot 21, the reader 23, the bill insertion slot 22, and the return lever 24 are located between the sales promotion panel 27 and the product removal slot 26 in the vertical direction in FIG. 1.

[0014] The promotional panel 27 is made of synthetic resin, for example, and is attached to the upper end of the front part 19. The promotional panel 27 displays an explanation, a catchphrase, etc. for selling a separate product 17 that is different from the product 15 housed inside the main body 51. The promotional sticker 28 is affixed to the surface of the front part 19, and displays a specific explanation, etc. of the separate product 17.

[0015] The separate product 17 that is different from the product 15 includes, for example, a separate product 17 that is a different type from the product 15, a separate product 17 that is a different unit price from the product 15, a separate product 17 that is made of a different material from the product 15, a separate product 17 that is a different purpose from the product 15, a separate product 17 that is different in at least one of size or weight from the product 15, etc. The separate product 17 that is different in purpose or material from the product 15 includes the separate product 17 being a beverage. The separate product 17 that is not a beverage includes, for example, seasonings, tableware, clothing, etc. The separate product 17 that is different in at least one of size or weight from the product 15 includes the separate product 17 being a size or weight that cannot be accommodated within the main body 51.

[0016] The illuminated section 20 is a section that indicates the type of product 15 to the purchaser. The illuminated section 20 includes product dummy rows 29, 30, and 31, product selection buttons 32 corresponding to the product dummy rows 29, 30, and 31, an alternative product display section 33, and a cover 52 that covers the product dummy rows 29, 30, and 31 and the alternative product display section 33. The product dummy row 29 is configured by arranging a plurality of dummies 29A in the horizontal direction. The product dummy row 30 is configured by arranging a plurality of dummies 30A in the horizontal direction. The product dummy row 31 is configured by arranging a plurality of dummies 31A in the horizontal direction. The dummies 29A, 30A, and 31A are labels that imitate the actual product 15 or replicas of the product 15 containers.

[0017] 2, dummy product row 30 is arranged below dummy product row 29, and dummy product row 31 is arranged below dummy product row 30. Product selection buttons 32 are arranged below dummies 29A, 30A, and 31A in dummy product rows 29, 30, and 31, respectively. The surfaces of product selection buttons 32 are exposed to the outside of cover 52. Cover 52 is made of, for example, a light-transmitting synthetic resin, and the inside of cover 52 can be seen from the outside of cover 52.

[0018] Furthermore, a surplus area A1 exists to the side of the dummy product row 31 and between the product selection buttons 32 of the dummy product row 31 and the product selection buttons 32 of the dummy product row 30. A separate product display section 33 is provided in the surplus area A1. The separate product display section 33 is configured by a sticker attached to the front surface section 19 or a display provided on the front surface section 19.

[0019] The separate product display section 33 is an advertisement for making the user 16 aware of the separate product 17, and an image of the separate product 17 is displayed on the separate product display section 33. The image may be either a still image or a video. The separate product display section 33 also displays a two-dimensional code 34. The two-dimensional code 34 may be either a matrix code or a stack code, and for example, a QR code (registered trademark) is displayed. This two-dimensional code 34 corresponds to, for example, an account for logging in to the management computer 13 that sells the separate product 17, or the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of a website that the management computer 13 provides on the network 14 to sell the separate product 17.

[0020] (User terminal description) The user terminal 12 is a computer used and operated by a user 16. The user terminal 12 is a portable computer that the user 16 can carry and move around outdoors. Portable computers include smartphones and tablet computers. The user terminal 12 is connected to the management computer 13 via a network 14. The user terminal 12 includes a main body (casing), a processor 35, a main memory 36, an auxiliary memory 37, an operation unit 38, a display unit 39, an image acquisition device 40, a communicator 41, etc. The processor 35 is provided inside the main body and is composed of a central processing unit (CPU (Central Processing Unit)) that integrates an arithmetic unit (arithmetic circuit) and a control unit (control circuit). The processor 35 is communicably connected to the main memory 36, the auxiliary memory 37, the operation unit 38, the display unit 39, the image acquisition device 40, the communicator 41, etc. via a bus 57. The processor 35 has a configuration that comprehensively controls other devices and circuits provided inside the main body and devices and circuits provided outside the main body.

[0021] The processor 35 processes the acquired information. Information processed by the processor 35 includes data, text, barcodes, two-dimensional codes, images, signals, etc. Text includes letters, numbers, sentences, symbols, figures, etc. Images include videos, moving images, still images, photographs, etc. The processes executed by the processor 35 include calculation, judgment, comparison, control, etc. The processes executed by the processor 35 include reading information from the auxiliary memory 37, adding, changing, and updating information stored in the auxiliary memory 37, processing information acquired from the management computer 13, and transmitting various types of information to the management computer 13, etc.

[0022] The main memory 36 is a volatile storage device, and functions as a work area and a buffer area when the processor 35 executes processing. The auxiliary memory 37 has a larger capacity than the main memory 36, and operates in response to input and output commands from the processor 35. The auxiliary memory 37 is realized by, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a flash memory, or the like.

[0023] The auxiliary memory 37 is a non-volatile storage device, i.e., a non-transitory storage medium. The auxiliary memory 37 stores non-transitory applications and information processed by the processor 35. The applications include programs, setting files, files for storing data, various libraries, etc. The information stored in the auxiliary memory 37 includes the processing results of the processor 35, various data, the operation contents of the operation unit 38, etc.

[0024] The processor 35 is configured to read and execute non-temporary applications stored in the auxiliary memory 37, process the operation content of the operation unit 38, the content displayed on the display unit 39, the images acquired by the image acquisition device 40, the signals output from the communicator 41, and the signals input from the communicator 41, and to execute processing to store information in the auxiliary memory 37.

[0025] The communication device 41 connects the user terminal 12 to the network 14 via at least one of a wireless communication system and a wired communication system.

[0026] The operation unit 38 is operated when inputting information, signals, etc. to the user terminal 12, when executing various processes on the user terminal 12, when sending various information from the user terminal 12 to the management computer 13, when the user terminal 12 obtains various information from the management computer 13, etc.

[0027] The operation unit 38 includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystal display, an organic electroluminescence display, and the like. The display unit 39 is a display visually viewed by the user 16, and includes structures such as a liquid crystal display, an organic electroluminescence display, and the like. The display may also be defined as a monitor. The display unit 39 displays various screens and information about websites on the network 14. The display unit 39 can also display operation buttons, operation tabs, and the like on the screen. In other words, the display unit 39 and the operation unit 38 are configured as an integrated touch panel.

[0028] The image capture device 40 captures an image of an object, converts the image into an electrical signal, and outputs the image. The image capture device 40 may be configured, for example, as a camera, scanner, barcode reader, or the like. The image capture device 40 may be either directly attached to the main body or connected to the main body via a cable. Objects captured by the image capture device 40 include two-dimensional codes, scenery, people, documents, and the like. Images include videos, still images, photographs, and the like. Images captured by the image capture device 40 are stored in the auxiliary memory 37.

[0029] (Administrative computer description) The management computer 13 is a computer equipped with a main body (casing), a processor 42, a main memory 43, an auxiliary memory 44, a communication interface 45, etc. The processor 42 is provided inside the main body and is composed of a central processing unit (CPU (Central Processing Unit)) that integrates an arithmetic unit (arithmetic circuit) and a control unit (control circuit). The processor 42 is communicatively connected to the main memory 43, the auxiliary memory 44, the communication interface 45, etc. via a bus 56. The processor 42 comprehensively controls other devices and circuits provided inside the main body and devices and circuits provided outside the main body.

[0030] The processor 42 loads applications and processes the acquired information. Information processed by the processor 42 includes data, text, images, signals, etc. Text includes letters, numbers, sentences, symbols, figures, etc. Images include videos, moving images, still images, photographs, etc. The processes executed by the processor 42 include calculations, judgments, comparisons, controls, etc. The processes executed by the processor 42 include reading information from the auxiliary memory 44, processing and judgments on information acquired from outside, adding, changing, and updating information stored in the auxiliary memory 44, etc.

[0031] The main memory 43 is a volatile storage device that functions as a work area and a buffer area when the processor 42 executes processing. The auxiliary memory 44 is a non-volatile storage device, i.e., a non-transitory storage medium. The auxiliary memory 44 has a larger capacity than the main memory 43, and operates in response to input and output commands from the processor 42.

[0032] The auxiliary memory 44 is realized by, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a flash memory, etc. An example of a magnetic disk is a hard disk drive. An example of an optical disk is a compact disk, a digital video disk, a Blu-ray disk, etc. A flash memory is a type of semiconductor memory, and examples of flash memory include an SD memory card, a USB flash drive, a solid state drive, etc. One or more elements included in the auxiliary memory 44 can be defined as a storage medium 44A that can be attached to and detached from the main body.

[0033] Non-transient applications are stored in the auxiliary memory 44. The applications include programs, setting files, files for storing data, various libraries, etc. The auxiliary memory 44 also stores information to be processed by the processor 42. The information stored in the auxiliary memory 44 includes processing results, data, instructions, requests, etc., of the processor 42.

[0034] The processor 42 is configured to function as a website management unit 46, an order processing unit 47, a shipping processing unit 48, and a vending machine control unit 55 by loading and launching non-transient applications stored in the auxiliary memory 44.

[0035] The website management unit 46 provides a website including information about the separate product 17 to the network 14. The website management unit 46 is configured to transmit web pages written in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or the like to the user terminal 12 and to receive information transmitted from the user terminal 12.

[0036] The order processing unit 47 is configured to process order information obtained from the user terminal 12 and store the processed order information in the auxiliary memory 44. The order information includes the name of the ordered separate product 17, the ordered quantity of the separate product 17, the unit price and total amount of the separate product 17, the name, address, telephone number, email address of the user 16 who placed the order, the shipping method of the separate product 17, the payment method, the delivery location of the separate product 17, etc. The processing of the order information performed by the order processing unit 47 also includes a process of sending to the user terminal 12 information that the purchase application for the separate product 17 has been accepted and that the shipping of the separate product 17 has been completed, and a process of sending to the user terminal 12 a purchase certificate indicating that the separate product 17 has been purchased. The purchase certificate may be any of a purchase number including multiple digits and symbols, a two-dimensional code, etc.

[0037] The shipping processing unit 48 is configured to perform the following processes: requesting the separate product shipping department 49 to ship the ordered separate product 17 to a delivery location designated by the user 16; transmitting to the user terminal 12 a notification that the separate product shipping department 49 has completed shipping of the separate product 17; and storing these processes in the auxiliary memory 44.

[0038] The vending machine control unit 55 is configured to control the information about the separate product 17 displayed on the display when the separate product display unit 33 of the vending machine 11 is equipped with a display. The vending machine control unit 55 is configured to change, for example, the information about the separate product and the two-dimensional code displayed on the display of the separate product display unit 33.

[0039] The communication interface 45 includes devices, equipment, and standards that connect the management computer 13 to the network 14 via at least one of a wireless communication system and a wired communication system. Devices and equipment that connect the management computer 13 to the network 14 include cables, antennas, routers, etc.

[0040] (Example of purchasing a product) An example of a user 16 purchasing a product 15 using the vending machine 11 is as follows. When the user 16 inserts a coin into the coin slot 21 or a bill into the bill slot 22, the control device 54 lights up the lamps of the product selection buttons 32 corresponding to the available products 15. When the user 16 presses one of the product selection buttons 32 with the lamp lit, the control device 54 operates the product delivery mechanism. As a result, the actual product 15 corresponding to the dummy product positioned above the product selection button 32 is transported to the product removal slot 26 and stops. The user 16 can open the cover of the product removal slot 26 and remove the actual product 15. When the user 16 operates the return lever 24, the change is returned to the coin return slot 25.

[0041] When purchasing a product using a cashless device other than cash, first press the product selection button 32 to turn on the lamp, then hold the cashless device over the reader 23, and the control device 54 activates the product delivery mechanism. As a result, the actual product 15 is transported to the product removal slot 26 and stops there. The cashless device may be a cashless card, a user terminal 12, a wristwatch-type device, or the like.

[0042] (Example of purchasing a different product) 3 shows an example in which a user 16 uses a vending machine 11 to purchase another product 17. In step S10, the management computer 13 provides a website on the network 14. In step S11, the user 16 reads the two-dimensional code 34 attached to the vending machine 11 with the image capture device 40 of the user terminal 12. The processor 35 then processes the read two-dimensional code 34, and in step S12, causes the user terminal 12 to access a website on the network 14 that sells the other product 17.

[0043] Then, the screen of the display unit 39 changes, and a web page of a website selling the separate product 17 is displayed on the display unit 39. The web page displays an explanatory menu (information) for the separate product 17, an order menu for purchasing the separate product 17, etc. The explanatory menu for the separate product 17 includes the type, name, unit price, etc. of the separate product 17. Furthermore, the order menu for purchasing the separate product 17 includes the name and quantity of the separate product 17 to be purchased, the payment method, the address and name of the orderer, the phone number and email address of the orderer, etc.

[0044] In step S13, the user 16 operates the operation unit 38 of the user terminal 12 to input order information such as the name and quantity of the other product 17 to be purchased, the payment method, the orderer's address and name, the orderer's telephone number and email address, and so on, and transmits the order information to the management computer 13.

[0045] In step S14, the management computer 13 processes the order information acquired from the user terminal 12. In step S14, the management computer 13 also transmits a purchase certificate to the user terminal 12 indicating that the purchase application for the separate product 17 has been accepted and that the separate product 17 has been purchased. In step S15, the user terminal 12 acquires the purchase certificate from the management computer 13 and stores it in the auxiliary memory 37.

[0046] Furthermore, in step S16 following step S14, the management computer 13 requests the separate product shipping department 49 to ship the ordered separate product 17 to a delivery location, for example, the home 50 of the user 16. In step S16, the separate product shipping department 49 performs processing to ship the separate product 17 to the home 50 of the user 16. Thereafter, the management computer 13 performs processing to send to the user terminal 12 a purchase certificate indicating that the separate product shipping department 49 has completed shipping of the separate product 17. The user terminal 12 obtains the purchase certificate indicating that the shipping of the separate product 17 has been completed. Furthermore, in step S17 following step S16, the user 16 receives the separate product 17 at his home 50.

[0047] In this manner, the vending machine 11 in this embodiment displays the two-dimensional code 34 on the separate product display section 33. The user 16 can read the two-dimensional code 34 with the user terminal 12 and connect the user terminal 12 to a website on the network 14. The user 16 can then order the separate product 17 on the website and receive the separate product 17 at a delivery location, for example, their home 50.

[0048] Therefore, it is possible to sell a separate product 17 that is different from the product 15 stored inside the vending machine 11, and there is no need to provide a dedicated space around the vending machine 11 for selling the separate product 17. In addition, the size of the vending machine 11 can remain the same, and there is no need to change the design of the vending machine 11. Furthermore, the separate product display section 33 is provided in the surplus area A1 surrounded by the multiple product selection buttons 32 and the dummy product column 31.

[0049] Therefore, the excess area A1 originally present on the exterior surface of the vending machine 11 can be effectively used as a location for arranging the separate product display unit 33. Furthermore, because the separate product display unit 33 is covered by the cover 52, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from adhering to the separate product display unit 33 and to prevent the separate product display unit 33 from being scratched. This prevents a decrease in the accuracy with which the image capture device 40 of the user terminal 12 reads the two-dimensional code on the separate product display unit 33, and ensures that the user terminal 12 is guided to the website.

[0050] (Application example) When the separate product display unit 33 is configured by a display, the display includes at least one element of a liquid crystal display, an organic electroluminescence display, etc. The two-dimensional code 34 may be displayed on the display, or the two-dimensional code 34 may be displayed on a label.

[0051] Furthermore, the vending machine 11 is provided with a communicator 53. The control device 54 of the vending machine 11 is connected to the communicator 53 and the display of the separate product display unit 33. The communicator 53 is connected to the management computer 13 via the network 14. The processor 42 of the management computer 13 has a vending machine control unit 55, which is configured to control the display of the separate product display unit 33.

[0052] With this configuration, if the type, price, etc. of the separate product 17 sold on the website changes, the information can be displayed on the display of the separate product display unit 33. This allows the user 16 to quickly learn about updated information on the separate product 17. Furthermore, compared to when the separate product display unit 33 is configured as a label, there is no need to replace it.

[0053] (Other explanations) An example of the technical meaning of the matters disclosed in this embodiment is as follows: The vending machine 11 is an example of a vending machine. The main body 51 and the front part 19 are an example of a storage part. The product 15 is an example of a product. The separate product 17 is an example of a separate product. The separate product display part 33 is an example of a separate product display part. The user terminal 12 is an example of a communication device. The two-dimensional code 34 is an example of a two-dimensional code. The product dummy columns 29, 30, and 31 are an example of a dummy placement part. The dummies 29A, 30A, and 31A are an example of dummies. The product selection button 32 is an example of a product selection button 32. The excess area A1 is an example of an excess area. The cover 52 is an example of a cover. The promotional panel 27 and the promotional sticker 28 are examples of an auxiliary display part.

[0054] The application that connects a communication device to a website may be a native application that is installed and runs on the communication device, a web application that runs on a web browser, or a hybrid application. A hybrid application has the properties of both a native application and a web application. The administrator (management company) that manages the management computer and the product shipping department (company) may be the same company or different companies.

[0055] The management computer includes a single computer and a distributed computer consisting of multiple devices. The management computer is composed of one or more computers such as a supercomputer, mainframe, server, or workstation. [Industrial Applicability]

[0056] This embodiment can be used as a vending machine that can sell products that are not contained within the vending machine in addition to the products contained within the vending machine. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 11...vending machine, 12...user terminal, 15...product, 17...other product, 19...front portion, 27...sales promotion panel, 28...sales promotion sticker, 29, 30, 31...product dummy row, 29A, 30A, 31A...dummy, 32...product selection button, 33...other product display section, 34...two-dimensional code, 51...main body, 52...cover, A1...surplus area

Claims

1. A vending machine that stores products for sale, a storage section in which the product is stored; a separate product display section provided on an outer surface of the storage section and displaying information about a separate product different from the product stored inside the storage section; and The separate product display unit displays a two-dimensional code that connects a communication device of a user who wishes to purchase the separate product to a website on a network that sells the separate product.

2. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, The outer surface of the storage section has a dummy placement unit that places a dummy that resembles the product; Product selection buttons arranged corresponding to the dummies included in the dummy arrangement section; a surplus area surrounded by the dummy placement section and the product selection buttons; is established, The vending machine, wherein the other product display unit is arranged in the surplus area.

3. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, A vending machine in which a light-transmitting cover that covers the separate product display section is attached to the outer surface of the storage section.

4. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, The vending machine further comprises an auxiliary display unit on the outer surface of the storage unit that displays information about the other product.

Images