Rotation operation detection device for a product sales device, sales management system equipped with the rotation operation detection device, rotation operation detection program for a product sales device, and rotation operation detection method for a product sales device.

Abstract

This eliminates the need for high-precision alignment of the detection unit and accurately detects the rotation angle of the operating section or rotating member with a simple configuration. [Solution] A rotation operation detection device for a product sales device comprising a rotatable operating unit and a discharge member that discharges products in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operating unit comprises a detection unit fixed to the rotating member that rotates in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operating unit. The detection unit includes an acceleration sensor that detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the rotating member in the direction of at least two orthogonal axes, a storage unit that stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration, a control unit that causes the detection information to be stored in the storage unit at predetermined time intervals in order to detect the angle of rotation of the rotating member, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the storage unit and the control unit, respectively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotation operation detection device for a merchandise vending apparatus that detects rotation of a rotatable operation unit of the merchandise vending apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to a detection device including a detection unit fixed to an operation unit or a rotating member that rotates together with the operation unit, wherein the detection unit includes an acceleration sensor that detects a change in the magnitude of gravitational acceleration accompanying rotation of the operation unit or the rotating member, for the merchandise vending apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various sales management systems including a detection device that detects rotation of an operation unit of a capsule merchandise vending machine in order to collect sales information of the capsule merchandise vending machine have been proposed. For example, in the sales management information collection system described in Patent Document 1, each managed vending machine includes a dial that is rotationally operated by a user, a gear that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the dial, a magnet bonded to the gear, a sensor unit that detects the magnetic force of the magnet, and a node that transmits detection information from the sensor unit via a LAN cable. The sensor unit includes a reed switch that opens and closes by the magnetic force of the magnet, and is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position on the frame of the vending machine main body so as to detect a specific rotational position of the magnet. The sales management information collection system described in Patent Document 1 includes a control device, and a management server that communicates with the control device via a network. The control device receives sales information transmitted from the node of each of the plurality of vending machines, and transmits the sales information to the management server. The sales information includes detection information from the sensor unit and identification information unique to the vending machine. The management server includes a database that stores sales date and time, identification information unique to the vending machine, and cumulative sales quantity.

[0003] Furthermore, in the product management system described in Patent Document 2, each managed vending machine includes a handle operated by the user, a gear that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the handle, a permanent magnet attached to the gear, and a counter unit that detects the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. The counter unit includes a reed switch and an RFID connected to the reed switch, and the reed switch and RFID are housed in a single case. The counter unit is positioned and fixed in a predetermined position inside the vending machine so as to detect a specific rotational position of the permanent magnet. The reed switch opens and closes due to the magnetic force of the permanent magnet. The RFID includes a button battery, a semiconductor memory, a control unit, and an antenna. The semiconductor memory stores data corresponding to the sales quantity and sales time of the capsule products, and an ID unique to the counter unit. The control unit communicates with an external reader / writer via the antenna and reads and writes data to the semiconductor memory. The external reader / writer is mounted on an information terminal device such as a PDA.

[0004] In the vending machines described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a magnet is fixed to a gear that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of an operating part such as a dial and a handle. Furthermore, a detection unit such as a sensor unit and a counter unit is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position inside each vending machine corresponding to a specific rotational position of the magnet at the time when a capsule product is dispensed from the vending machine. However, in order to detect when a capsule product is dispensed, it is necessary to precisely align the magnet attached to the gear and the reed switch inside the detection unit for each vending machine.

[0005] A product sales management system has been proposed that does not use magnets and reed switches to detect when a capsule product is dispensed. For example, in the product sales management system described in Patent Document 3, the product sales device is equipped with an acceleration sensor to detect when a capsule product is dispensed. The product sales device described in Patent Document 3 is effective because the inclusion of an acceleration sensor eliminates the need to precisely align magnets and reed switches. In the product sales device described in Patent Document 3, a dispensing tray for dispensing products is rotatably arranged around a vertically extending axis. The dispensing tray has a housing recess into which the acceleration sensor is mounted. When the user rotates the operating handle, the dispensing tray rotates by a relatively small predetermined angle of 72 degrees, and stops after one product has been dispensed. The acceleration sensor repeatedly moves and stops in accordance with the predetermined angle of rotation of the dispensing tray, generating a waveform on an XYZ axis graph representing the direction of movement of the acceleration sensor. This waveform on the XYZ axis graph is compared with a waveform that is data of movement in the direction of rotation, which is pre-programmed into the software. Based on this waveform comparison, it is determined whether the waveforms of the XYZ axes are normal waveforms that differ from waveforms that merely represent vibration or oscillation.

[0006] The acceleration sensor described in Patent Document 3 generates waveforms in the XYZ axes that represent the direction of movement of the acceleration sensor. However, Patent Document 3 does not specifically describe how the rotation angle of the dispensing tray to which the acceleration sensor is attached is determined from the XYZ axis waveforms that have been determined to be normal. Since the dispensing tray rotates around an axis that extends in the vertical direction, the relative direction of gravitational acceleration acting on the acceleration sensor attached to the dispensing tray is always constant. For this reason, the waveforms in the XYZ axes that represent the direction of movement of the acceleration sensor are waveforms generated based on dynamic accelerations other than gravitational acceleration, which is a static acceleration, that act on the acceleration sensor as the dispensing tray rotates and stops. The dynamic accelerations acting on the acceleration sensor are inertial force due to tangential acceleration and centrifugal force due to normal acceleration, and are extremely small forces compared to gravity due to gravitational acceleration. The XYZ axis waveforms representing the direction of movement of the acceleration sensor are generated by extremely small forces and change into various waveforms depending on the user's rotation of the operating handle. Therefore, there is a risk that it may not be possible to accurately determine the rotation of the dispensing tray to a predetermined angle by analyzing the XYZ axis waveforms. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-184321 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4814515 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-80216 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a rotation operation detection device for a product sales device that eliminates the need for high-precision alignment of the detection unit and can accurately detect the rotation angle of the operating part or rotating member with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The first embodiment of the invention described in claim 1 is a rotation operation detection device for a product sales device comprising an operating unit that can be rotated by a user and a discharge member that discharges products in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operating unit, wherein the operating unit or the rotating member in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operating unit is rotatable about an operating rotation axis intersecting the vertical direction, and comprises a detection unit fixed to the operating unit or the rotating member. In the embodiment of the invention, the detection unit includes an acceleration sensor that detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or the rotating member in at least two mutually orthogonal axes and at least two axes intersecting the operating rotation axis, a storage unit that stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, a control unit that causes the detection information to be stored in the storage unit at predetermined time intervals in order to detect the angle of rotation of the operating unit or the rotating member, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the storage unit and the control unit, respectively.

[0010] In this embodiment of the present invention, the operating unit needs to be rotated by a predetermined angle for the discharge member to discharge one item, but this predetermined angle is not limited to 360 degrees, which corresponds to one rotation of the operating unit. The predetermined angle can be any angle within the range from the minimum angle at which the operating unit is rotated to discharge one item to the maximum angle at which the operating unit is rotated to a position where the next item can be discharged.

[0011] In aspects of the present invention, the means of fixing the detection unit to the operating part or rotating member are not limited, as long as the detection unit is fixed to the operating part or rotating member. For example, various means can be used as fixing means, such as adhesive means using double-sided tape or adhesive, or mechanical fixing means such as a structure that fits into a recess.

[0012] In aspects of the present invention, various types of sensors can be used as acceleration sensors. For example, any of the following methods may be used as detection methods: capacitance detection, piezoresistive detection, and thermal detection.

[0013] In aspects of the present invention, the storage unit may be configured to store at least one piece of detection information, or it may be configured to store a number of pieces of detection information that are generated between the time the rotation operation of the operating unit is started and the time when one product is discharged by the discharge member.

[0014] In aspects of the present invention, the predetermined time interval is a sufficiently short interval, shorter than the time from when a typical user rotates the operating unit until one product is discharged by the discharge member, and is sufficient to detect that the operating unit has been rotated.

[0015] In aspects of the present invention, the rotating member may be configured to rotate around the same axis as the rotation axis of the operating unit, or it may be configured to rotate around an axis parallel to or intersecting the rotation axis of the operating unit, and may be connected to the operating unit via a transmission means such as a gear train. Furthermore, the "operating rotation axis" is the axis on which the operating unit or the rotating member rotates, and may be an axis that intersects the vertical direction and also intersects the directions of at least two mutually orthogonal axes in the detection unit.

[0016] In aspects of the present invention, the control unit may have at least a memory control function that controls the operation of storing detection information in the memory unit at predetermined time intervals. The control unit may be configured to perform control operations in cooperation with other control units in order to calculate the angle at which the operating unit or rotating member rotates, or it may be configured to perform the operation of calculating the angle itself.

[0017] In aspects of the present invention, the power supply unit is preferably a replaceable and energy-storing device such as a button battery, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, even if the power supply unit is not replaceable, it may be connected to a power generation means such as a solar panel installed on the operating unit and have an energy-storing function. Furthermore, the power supply unit may be configured to supply power to the acceleration sensor depending on the type of acceleration sensor, or it may be configured to supply power only to a portion of the storage part of the storage unit.

[0018] In the specific embodiment described in claim 2, the product sales device comprises a power transmission mechanism that transmits rotational force, which is applied by the user to the operation unit, to a discharge member, and a connecting member that connects the operation unit to the power transmission mechanism, wherein the operation unit has a gripping portion on the surface side of the operation unit that is exposed from the product sales device, which can be grasped by the user, and a housing space for housing a detection unit between the operation unit and the connecting member on the back side of the operation unit that is not exposed from the product sales device.

[0019] In this specific embodiment, the detection unit may be fixed to either the operating unit or the connecting member, as long as it is housed within the containment space.

[0020] In the specific embodiment described in claim 3, the product sales device includes a clutch mechanism that transmits the rotation of an operating part in a predetermined direction to a connecting member and prevents the transmission of the rotation of an operating part in the opposite direction to the connecting member, the operating part is connected to the connecting member via the clutch mechanism, and the detection unit is fixed to the connecting member as a rotating member inside the housing space.

[0021] In this specific embodiment, the clutch mechanism can be configured to transmit only the rotation of the operating part in a predetermined direction to the connecting member, and various configurations such as a coil spring type clutch spring or a clutch equipped with a ratchet can be adopted as the clutch mechanism.

[0022] In the specific aspect recited in claim 4, the operation unit or the rotating member has a mounting surface that is disposed inside an accommodation space between the operation unit and the connecting member and is perpendicular to an operation rotation axis orthogonal to the vertical direction, and the detection unit is fixed to the mounting surface such that the two axes of the acceleration sensor are parallel to the mounting surface.

[0023] In the specific aspect recited in claim 5, the operation unit has a grip portion that can be gripped by a user on the surface side of the operation unit exposed from the merchandise vending apparatus, and has an accommodation recess for accommodating the detection unit on the back side of the operation unit that is not exposed from the merchandise vending apparatus, and the detection unit is accommodated in the accommodation recess and fixed to the operation unit.

[0024] In the specific aspect recited in claim 6, the merchandise vending apparatus includes a power transmission mechanism that transmits rotational force generated by a user performing a rotation operation on the operation unit to a discharge member, and a connecting member that connects the operation unit to the power transmission mechanism, the power transmission mechanism includes, as the rotating member, a transmission shaft that extends along the operation rotation axis and is rotatable around the operation rotation axis, and the detection unit is fixed to the transmission shaft.

[0025] In the specific aspect recited in claim 7, the control unit has a standby mode and a merchandise sales mode. The control unit executes a change determination process of determining whether or not detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor has changed by a predetermined value or more, and a mode setting process of setting the standby mode when it is determined in the change determination process that the detection information has not changed by the predetermined value or more, and setting the merchandise sales mode when it is determined in the change determination process that the detection information has changed by the predetermined value or more, and the predetermined time interval in the standby mode at which the detection information is stored in the storage unit is set to be longer than the predetermined time interval in the merchandise sales mode at which the detection information is stored in the storage unit.

[0026] In this specific embodiment, the predetermined time interval in standby mode during which detection information is stored in the storage unit should be set to a sufficiently long interval so that the power consumed by the control operation that causes the control unit to store detection information in the storage unit in standby mode is sufficiently smaller than the power consumed by the control operation that causes the control unit to store detection information in the storage unit in product sales mode.

[0027] In this specific embodiment, due to play in the power transmission mechanism that transmits rotational force from the operating unit or rotating member to the discharge member, the discharge member may not perform the movement necessary to discharge the product even when the operating unit or rotating member rotates. In this case, the predetermined value in the change judgment process is set to a value greater than or equal to the value at which the detection information changes when the operating unit or rotating member rotates within the range of play.

[0028] In the specific embodiment described in claim 8, the control unit further performs a transmission process to transmit identification information for identifying the product sales device and detection information stored in the storage unit to an external device.

[0029] In this specific embodiment, the transmission process may be a process that transmits one piece of detection information at predetermined time intervals, or it may be a process that transmits multiple pieces of detection information together when multiple predetermined time intervals have elapsed. Furthermore, the identification information only needs to be transmitted to an external device at least once while the operation to discharge one product is being performed.

[0030] In the specific embodiment described in claim 9, the control unit further performs calculation processing to calculate the angle at which the operating unit or rotating member rotates, based on the detection information stored in the storage unit.

[0031] In this specific embodiment, the control unit only needs to be configured to perform at least calculation processing. For example, the accumulation processing and angle determination processing may be performed by an external device.

[0032] In this specific embodiment, the calculation process can be performed in various ways, as long as it can calculate the angle at which the operating unit or rotating member rotates. For example, if vectors representing the direction and magnitude of gravitational acceleration are used as detection information, the angle at which the operating unit or rotating member rotates may be calculated by calculating the dot product of two vectors generated at predetermined time intervals, or the cross product of two vectors. Alternatively, although it increases the burden on the calculation process, the calculation process may be implemented using frequency analysis on the vibration waveform detected by the acceleration sensor.

[0033] In the specific embodiment described in claim 10, the storage unit stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, and also stores identification information for identifying the product sales device. The control unit performs the following operations based on the detection information previously stored in the storage unit and the detection information currently stored in the storage unit: a calculation process for calculating the angle at which the operating unit or the rotating member rotates; an accumulation process for calculating an accumulated angle by accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation process; an angle determination process for determining whether the accumulated angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle at which the operating unit rotates until the product is discharged by the discharge member; and a transmission process for transmitting sales information, including the determination result from the angle determination process and the identification information, to an external device.

[0034] In this specific embodiment, the predetermined angle in the angle determination process is any angle within the range from the minimum angle at which the operating unit is rotated to discharge one product to the maximum angle at which the operating unit is rotated to a rotation angle position that enables the discharge of the next product.

[0035] The second embodiment of the invention described in claim 11 is a rotation operation detection program executed by a computer that manages the quantity of goods sold based on detection information, for a product sales device, comprising: an operating unit that can be rotated by a user; a discharge member that discharges goods in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operating unit; and a detection unit that generates detection information representing the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or the rotating member linked to the rotation operation of the operating unit in the directions of at least two mutually orthogonal axes, wherein the operating unit or the rotating member is rotatable about an operating rotation axis that intersects the vertical direction and intersects the directions of at least two mutually orthogonal axes. The rotation operation detection program according to an embodiment of the present invention causes a computer to execute the following steps: an acquisition step of acquiring detection information generated by a detection unit and storing it in a memory unit at predetermined time intervals; a calculation step of calculating the angle of rotation of the operation unit or the rotating member based on the previously acquired detection information and the currently acquired detection information; an accumulation step of accumulating the angles calculated in the calculation step to calculate an accumulated angle; and an angle determination step of determining whether the accumulated angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle of rotation of the operation unit until the product is discharged by the discharge member.

[0036] In aspects of the present invention, the rotation operation detection program may be executed by a computer built into the detection unit, or by a computer built into a management device located outside the product sales device.

[0037] A third embodiment of the invention described in claim 12 is a rotation operation detection method for a product sales device, comprising an operating unit that can be rotated by a user, and a discharge member that discharges a product in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operating unit, wherein the operating unit, or the rotating member in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operating unit, is rotatable about an operating rotation axis intersecting the vertical direction. The rotation operation detection method according to the embodiment of the invention comprises: a detection step of generating detection information that represents the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or the rotating member in directions of at least two mutually orthogonal axes, at least two axes that intersect the operating rotation axis; an acquisition step of acquiring the detection information generated by the detection step by storing it in a storage unit at predetermined time intervals; a calculation step of calculating the angle of rotation of the operating unit or the rotating member based on the previously acquired detection information and the currently acquired detection information; an accumulation step of accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation step to calculate an accumulated angle; and an angle determination step of determining whether the accumulated angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle of rotation of the operating unit until the product is discharged by the discharge member.

[0038] In aspects of the present invention, the rotation operation detection method may be implemented in any of the following: a product sales device, a management device installed outside the product sales device, or a management system including the product sales device and the management device.

[0039] In the specific embodiment described in claim 13, the calculation step involves calculating the cross product of a first vector representing the direction and magnitude of gravitational acceleration represented by previously acquired detection information and a second vector representing the direction and magnitude of gravitational acceleration represented by currently acquired detection information, and then calculating the angle formed by the first vector and the second vector as the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the result of the calculation of the cross product.

[0040] The fourth embodiment of the invention described in claim 14 is a sales management system comprising a plurality of product sales devices and a management device capable of communicating with each of the plurality of product sales devices. In a sales management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, each product sales device includes an operating unit that can be rotated by a user, a discharge member that discharges products in conjunction with the rotation of the operating unit, and a detection unit fixed to the operating unit or the rotating member that is linked to the rotation of the operating unit, wherein the operating unit or the rotating member is rotatable about an operating rotation axis intersecting the vertical direction, and the detection unit includes an acceleration sensor that detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or the rotating member in at least two mutually orthogonal axes and at least two axes that intersect the operating rotation axis, a storage unit that stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor and also stores identification information for identifying each product sales device, and a control unit that stores detection information from the acceleration sensor in the storage unit at predetermined time intervals in order to detect the angle of rotation of the operating unit or the rotating member, a control unit that transmits the detection information and the identification information to a management device, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the storage unit and the control unit, respectively. The management device performs the following operations: a calculation process that calculates the angle at which the operating unit or rotating member rotates based on the previously stored detection information in the storage unit and the currently stored detection information in the storage unit; an accumulation process that calculates an accumulated angle by accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation process; and an angle determination process that determines whether the accumulated angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle at which the operating unit rotates before the product is discharged by the discharge member.

[0041] The fifth embodiment of the invention described in claim 15 is a sales management system comprising a plurality of product sales devices arranged in a predetermined sales area, a portable terminal device capable of wirelessly communicating with each of the plurality of product sales devices, and a management server capable of communicating with the portable terminal device via a network, the management server collecting and storing sales information. In a sales management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, each product sales device includes an operating unit that can be rotated by a user, a discharge member that discharges products in conjunction with the rotation of the operating unit, and a detection unit fixed to the operating unit or the rotating member that is linked to the rotation of the operating unit, wherein the operating unit or the rotating member is rotatable about an operating rotation axis intersecting the vertical direction, and the detection unit includes an acceleration sensor that detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or the rotating member in at least two mutually orthogonal axes, and at least two axes that intersect the operating rotation axis, a storage unit that stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor and also stores identification information for identifying each product sales device, a control unit that stores the detection information from the acceleration sensor in the storage unit at predetermined time intervals in order to detect the angle of rotation of the operating unit or the rotating member, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the storage unit and the control unit, respectively. The control unit performs the following operations: a calculation process that calculates the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the previously stored detection information in the memory unit and the currently stored detection information in the memory unit; an accumulation process that calculates an accumulated angle by accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation process; an angle determination process that determines whether the accumulated angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle of rotation of the operating unit until the product is discharged by the discharge member; and a transmission process that transmits sales information, including the determination result from the angle determination process and identification information, to the mobile terminal device when the mobile terminal device is located inside a predetermined sales area or inside an area adjacent to the predetermined sales area. The mobile terminal device transmits the sales information transmitted by the control unit's transmission process to the management server.

[0042] In this embodiment of the present invention, the "area adjacent to the predetermined sales area" is an area surrounding the predetermined sales area in which the detection unit can communicate with a mobile terminal device for the transmission of sales information.

[0043] In the second to fifth embodiments of the invention, the calculation step or calculation process can be performed in various ways to calculate the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member. For example, the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member may be calculated using the cross product or dot product of two vectors indicating the direction and magnitude of gravitational acceleration.

[0044] The second to fifth embodiments of the invention are embodied in various forms with respect to the configuration of the product sales device and the detection unit, similar to the first embodiment of the invention and its specific embodiments. [Effects of the Invention]

[0045] (First embodiment of the invention and its specific embodiments and their effects) In the rotation operation detection device according to the first embodiment of the invention described in claim 1, the detection unit is fixed to an operating unit or a rotating member that is linked to the rotation operation of the operating unit. The detection unit includes an acceleration sensor that detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or rotating member in at least two mutually orthogonal axes and at least two axes that intersect the operating rotation axis; a storage unit that stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor; a control unit that causes the detection information to be stored in the storage unit at predetermined time intervals in order to detect the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member; and a power supply unit that supplies power to the storage unit and the control unit, respectively. As a result, with a simple configuration in which the detection unit is fixed to the operating unit or rotating member, the acceleration sensor of the detection unit detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or rotating member, thus eliminating the need for high-precision alignment of the detection unit and enabling accurate detection of the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member.

[0046] In the specific embodiment described in claim 2, the product sales device includes a power transmission mechanism that transmits rotational force, generated by a user rotating an operating unit, to a discharge member, and a connecting member that connects the operating unit to the power transmission mechanism. The operating unit has a gripping portion on the surface side of the operating unit that is exposed from the product sales device, which can be grasped by the user, and a housing space for housing a detection unit between the operating unit and the connecting member on the back side of the operating unit that is not exposed from the product sales device. As a result, when an operator performs the installation work of the detection unit, the detection unit is housed in the housing space of the operating unit, which is an area that is easily accessible to the operator from outside the product sales device, making it easier to install the detection unit in the product sales device and also facilitating maintenance and inspection of the detection unit.

[0047] In the specific embodiment described in claim 3, the product sales device includes a clutch mechanism that transmits the rotation of an operating part in a predetermined direction to a connecting member and prevents the transmission of the rotation of the operating part in the opposite direction to the connecting member. The operating part is connected to the connecting member via the clutch mechanism, and the detection unit is fixed to the connecting member as a rotating member within the housing space. As a result, since the detection unit is fixed to the connecting member as a rotating member, even if the user accidentally rotates the operating part in the opposite direction, the detection unit will not rotate in the opposite direction, and the angle of rotation of the connecting member can be accurately detected.

[0048] In the specific embodiment described in claim 4, the operating unit or rotating member is mounted on a mounting surface located within the accommodating space between the operating unit and the connecting member, and the mounting surface is perpendicular to the operating rotation axis which is perpendicular to the vertical direction, and the detection unit is fixed to the mounting surface such that the directions of the two axes of the acceleration sensor are parallel to the mounting surface. As a result, since the detection unit is fixed to the mounting surface such that the directions of the two axes of the acceleration sensor are parallel to the mounting surface which is perpendicular to the operating rotation axis, the acceleration sensor can accurately detect changes in the magnitude of gravitational acceleration.

[0049] In the specific embodiment described in claim 5, the operating unit has a gripping portion on the surface side of the operating unit that is exposed from the product sales device, which can be grasped by the user, and a housing recess for housing a detection unit on the back side of the operating unit that is not exposed from the product sales device, and the detection unit is housed in the housing recess and fixed to the operating unit. As a result, when an operator performs the installation work of the detection unit, the detection unit is housed in the housing recess of the operating unit, which is an area that the operator can easily access from outside the product sales device, making it easier to install the detection unit on the operating unit and also facilitating maintenance and inspection of the detection unit.

[0050] In the specific embodiment described in claim 6, the product sales device includes a power transmission mechanism that transmits rotational force, generated by the user rotating an operating unit, to a discharge member, and a connecting member that connects the operating unit to the power transmission mechanism. The power transmission mechanism includes a transmission shaft as a rotating member, which extends along the operating rotation axis and is rotatable about the operating rotation axis, and the detection unit is fixed to the transmission shaft. As a result, the area around where the transmission shaft is located inside the product sales device is generally wider than the limited area between the operating unit and the connecting member, allowing for relatively free selection of the fixing position of the detection unit without being restricted by the size and shape of the detection unit.

[0051] In the specific embodiment described in claim 7, the control unit has a standby mode and a product sales mode. The control unit performs a change determination process to determine whether detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor has changed by a predetermined value or more, and a mode setting process to set the standby mode when the change determination process determines that the detection information has not changed by a predetermined value or more, and to set the product sales mode when the determination process determines that the detection information has changed by a predetermined value or more. The predetermined time interval in the standby mode, during which the detection information is stored in the storage unit, is set to be longer than the predetermined time interval in the product sales mode, during which the detection information is stored in the storage unit. As a result, since the predetermined time interval in the standby mode is set to be longer than the predetermined time interval in the product sales mode, the power consumption for the control operation of the control unit can be reduced.

[0052] In the specific embodiment described in claim 8, the control unit further performs a transmission process to transmit identification information that identifies the product sales device and detection information stored in the storage unit to an external device. As a result, the control unit of the detection unit does not perform a series of processes including calculation processing, accumulation processing, and angle determination processing for calculating the angle at which the operating unit or rotating member rotates, and thus the power consumption of the power supply unit of the detection unit can be reduced.

[0053] In the specific embodiment described in claim 9, the control unit further performs calculation processing to calculate the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the detection information stored in the storage unit. As a result, since the calculation processing sequentially processes the detection information stored in the storage unit at predetermined time intervals to calculate the angle, the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member can be accurately calculated without being affected by the transmission environment with external devices.

[0054] In the specific embodiment described in claim 10, the storage unit stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, as well as identification information identifying the product sales device. The control unit performs the following operations based on the detection information previously stored in the storage unit and the detection information currently stored in the storage unit: a calculation process to calculate the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member; an accumulation process to calculate an accumulated angle by accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation process; an angle determination process to determine whether the accumulated angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle of rotation of the operating unit until the product is discharged by the discharge member; and a transmission process to transmit sales information including the determination result from the angle determination process and the identification information to an external device. As a result, since the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member is calculated based on the change in detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration, which is a static acceleration acting on the operating unit or rotating member, the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member can be accurately calculated with a simpler process compared to detecting changes in dynamic acceleration.

[0055] (Effects of the second embodiment of the invention) The rotation operation detection program, which is a second embodiment of the invention as described in claim 11, causes a computer to execute the following steps: an acquisition step of acquiring detection information, which represents the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on an operating unit or a rotating member, by storing the detection information generated by a detection unit in a storage unit at predetermined time intervals; a calculation step of calculating the angle at which the operating unit or a rotating member rotates based on the previously acquired detection information and the currently acquired detection information; an accumulation step of accumulating the angles calculated in the calculation step to calculate an accumulated angle; and an angle determination step of determining whether the accumulated angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle at which the operating unit rotates before the product is discharged by the discharge member. As a result, since the angle at which the operating unit or a rotating member rotates is calculated based on changes in detection information, which represents the magnitude of gravitational acceleration, a static acceleration acting on the operating unit or a rotating member, the angle at which the operating unit or a rotating member rotates can be accurately calculated with simpler processing compared to detecting changes in dynamic acceleration.

[0056] (Third embodiment of the invention and its effects) The rotation operation detection method according to the third embodiment of the invention described in claim 12 comprises: a detection step of generating detection information that represents the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on an operating unit or a rotating member linked to the rotation operation of the operating unit in directions of at least two mutually orthogonal axes, and at least two axes that intersect the operating rotation axis; an acquisition step of acquiring the detection information generated by the detection step by storing it in a storage unit at predetermined time intervals; a calculation step of calculating the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the previously acquired detection information and the currently acquired detection information; an accumulation step of accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation step to calculate an accumulated angle; and an angle determination step of determining whether the accumulated angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle of rotation of the operating unit until the product is discharged by the discharge member. As a result, since the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member is calculated based on changes in detection information that represents the magnitude of gravitational acceleration, which is a static acceleration acting on the operating unit or rotating member, the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member can be accurately calculated with simpler processing compared to detecting changes in dynamic acceleration.

[0057] In the specific embodiment described in claim 13, the calculation step calculates the cross product of a first vector representing the direction and magnitude of gravitational acceleration represented by previously acquired detection information and a second vector representing the direction and magnitude of gravitational acceleration represented by currently acquired detection information, and calculates the angle formed by the first vector and the second vector as the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the result of the calculation of the cross product. As a result, the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member can be calculated by a relatively simple process of calculating the cross product of two vectors.

[0058] (Effects of the fourth embodiment of the invention) In the sales management system according to the fourth embodiment of the invention described in claim 14, each product sales device comprises an operating unit that can be rotated by a user, a discharge member that discharges products in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operating unit, and a detection unit fixed to the operating unit or the rotating member that is linked to the rotation operation of the operating unit, wherein the operating unit or the rotating member is rotatable about an operating rotation axis intersecting the vertical direction. The detection unit includes an acceleration sensor that detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or the rotating member in at least two mutually orthogonal axes and at least two axes that intersect the operating rotation axis, a storage unit that stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor and identification information for identifying each product sales device, and a control unit that stores detection information from the acceleration sensor in the storage unit at predetermined time intervals in order to detect the angle of rotation of the operating unit or the rotating member, a control unit that transmits the detection information and the identification information to a management device, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the storage unit and the control unit, respectively. The management device performs the following operations: a calculation process to calculate the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the previously stored detection information in the memory unit and the currently stored detection information in the memory unit; an accumulation process to calculate the accumulated angle by accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation process; and an angle determination process to determine whether the accumulated angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle of rotation of the operating unit before the product is discharged by the discharge member. As a result, with a simple configuration in which the detection unit is fixed to the operating unit or rotating member, the acceleration sensor of the detection unit detects the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or rotating member, thus eliminating the need for high-precision alignment of the detection unit and enabling accurate detection of the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member. Furthermore, since the management device performs a series of numerous processes, including the calculation process to calculate the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member, the processing load on the control unit of the detection unit can be reduced.

[0059] (Effects of the fifth embodiment of the invention) In the sales management system according to the fifth embodiment of the invention described in claim 15, each product sales device comprises an operating unit that can be rotated by a user, a discharge member that discharges products in conjunction with the rotation of the operating unit, and a detection unit fixed to the operating unit or the rotating member that is linked to the rotation of the operating unit, wherein the operating unit or the rotating member is rotatable about an operating rotation axis intersecting the vertical direction. The detection unit includes an acceleration sensor that detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or the rotating member in at least two mutually orthogonal axes and at least two axes that intersect the operating rotation axis, a storage unit that stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor and also stores identification information for identifying each product sales device, a control unit that stores the detection information from the acceleration sensor in the storage unit at predetermined time intervals in order to detect the angle of rotation of the operating unit or the rotating member, and a power supply unit that supplies power to the storage unit and the control unit, respectively. The control unit performs the following operations: a calculation process that calculates the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the previously stored detection information in the memory unit and the currently stored detection information in the memory unit; an accumulation process that calculates an accumulated angle by accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation process; an angle determination process that determines whether the accumulated angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle of rotation of the operating unit until the product is discharged by the discharge member; and a transmission process that transmits sales information, including the determination result from the angle determination process and identification information, to the mobile terminal device when the mobile terminal device is located inside a predetermined sales area or inside an area adjacent to the predetermined sales area. The mobile terminal device transmits the sales information transmitted by the control unit's transmission process to the management server. As a result, with a simple configuration in which the detection unit is fixed to the operating unit or rotating member, the acceleration sensor of the detection unit detects the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or rotating member, thus eliminating the need for high-precision alignment of the detection unit and enabling accurate detection of the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member.Furthermore, since the control unit transmits sales information to the mobile terminal device when the mobile terminal device is located within or adjacent to a designated sales area, there is no need to install dedicated transmission equipment in the designated sales area to transmit sales information from the control unit to the management server. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0060] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of the sales management system 1, which is the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view showing the detailed configuration of the vending machine 2 in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the handle 16 of vending machine 2, seen from the rear. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view from the front of vending machine 2 with the product dispensing mechanism 30 removed. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram of the detection unit 100 installed in vending machine 2. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart showing the detection and control process. [Figure 7] This is a flowchart showing the sales detection process. [Figure 8] This is a block diagram of a sales management system 1, which is a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a block diagram of the detection unit 200 installed in vending machine 2. [Figure 10] This is a flowchart showing the detection and control process. [Figure 11] This flowchart shows the sales detection process SA6. [Figure 12] This flowchart shows the sales information transmission process SA7 of the detection unit 200 and the sales information reception process of the mobile terminal device 180. [Figure 13] This is a flowchart showing the sales management process on sales management server 6. [Figure 14] This is a rearward perspective view of the handle 16 and detection unit 300 in a modified example. [Figure 15]In another modified example, the storage unit 12 is removed from the housing 10 of the vending machine 2, and the drum 32 of the product dispensing mechanism 30 is omitted. This is a perspective view showing the inside of the vending machine 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0061] [First Embodiment] The following describes a sales management system 1, which is a first embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. In Figure 1, the sales management system 1 includes a number of vending machines 2A to 2W, a relay device 4, and a sales management server 6. The number of vending machines 2A to 2W are arranged in a predetermined sales area SP defined within a shop or train station. Each of the number of vending machines 2A to 2W is equipped with a detection unit 100, which will be described later. The relay device 4 is installed inside the predetermined sales area SP. The relay device 4 communicates wirelessly with the detection unit 100 of each of the number of vending machines 2A to 2W and also communicates with the sales management server 6 via a network NT. Each vending machine is a machine that sells capsule products 8 and has a mechanical configuration that allows it to perform sales operations without receiving a power supply.

[0062] <Detailed configuration of vending machine 2> The detailed configuration of the vending machines will be explained with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Since the multiple vending machines 2A to 2W have the same configuration, the detailed configuration of one vending machine will be explained. When referring to the multiple vending machines 2A to 2W collectively, they will be referred to as vending machine 2. In Figures 2 to 4, the three mutually orthogonal directions are indicated by arrows as the up / down direction, the front / back direction, and the left / right direction.

[0063] The vending machine 2 comprises a roughly box-shaped casing 10. A storage container 12 is located in the upper part of the casing 10 and stores a large number of capsule products 8. The storage container 12 is made of a transparent container that allows the capsule products 8 to be viewed from the outside. The storage container 12 is configured to be detachable from the casing 10 for replenishment and replacement of the capsule products 8. A front door 14 is located in the lower part of the casing 10 and is detachable. Figure 2 shows the front door 14 in the open position. The sales operator can lock the front door 14 in the closed position using a special key, and can also unlock and open the front door 14 for inspection of the vending machine 2, etc.

[0064] The vending machine 2 is equipped with a circular handle 16. The handle 16 has a gripping portion 16A on its front side, and on its rear side, it has a receiving recess 16B and a flange-like portion 16C. A regulating wall portion 18 is formed to protrude rearward from the flange-like portion 16C of the handle 16. The restricting wall portion 18 includes arc-shaped wall portions 20A and 20B that are concentric with the circular shape of the outer circumference of the handle 16, bulging wall portions 22A and 22B that bulge radially, i.e., vertically in the direction shown in Figure 3, an inclined connecting portion 24A that extends gently inclined from the arc-shaped wall portion 20A to the bulging wall portion 22A, an inclined connecting portion 24B that extends gently inclined from the arc-shaped wall portion 20B to the bulging wall portion 22B, a stepped connecting portion 26A that extends from the arc-shaped wall portion 20B to the bulging wall portion 22A, and a stepped connecting portion 26B that extends from the arc-shaped wall portion 20A to the bulging wall portion 22B.

[0065] The vending machine 2 is equipped with a product dispensing mechanism 30 that dispenses capsule products 8 one at a time. The product dispensing mechanism 30 is located at the bottom of the container 12 and includes a disc-shaped drum 32, a power transmission mechanism 34, and a coupling mechanism 36, as shown in Figure 4. The drum 32 is supported by the housing 2 so as to be rotatable around a support shaft 38 that extends vertically. The drum 32 has five product dispensing openings 32A. Each product dispensing opening 32A is formed as a circular hole with a diameter that can capture one capsule product 8 at a time inside the container 12. A fixed cover (not shown) is located below the drum 32 and has a product drop opening. When a capsule product 8 captured by each product dispensing opening 32A reaches the position of the product drop opening in the fixed cover, the capsule product 8 drops and is dispensed.

[0066] The power transmission mechanism 34 includes a circular rack 40, a gear train 42, and a transmission shaft 44. The rack 40 is formed around the entire circumference of the lower outer edge of the drum 32. The transmission shaft 44 is rotatably supported by the housing 2, extending horizontally in the front-rear direction. The gear train 42 consists of a plurality of gears positioned between the rack 40 and the transmission shaft 44, and includes a gear 46 fixed to the transmission shaft 44 and a gear that meshes with the rack 40.

[0067] The connecting mechanism 36 includes a disc-shaped support plate 50, a connecting plate 52, and a locking mechanism 54. The support plate 50 and the connecting plate 52 are fixed to the front end portion of the transmission shaft 44, respectively, and rotate together with the transmission shaft 44. The locking mechanism 54 is positioned between the support plate 50 and the connecting plate 52 and includes a pair of locking pieces 56A and 56B and a pair of springs (not shown). The locking pieces 56A and 56B are positioned point-symmetrically with respect to the transmission shaft 44 and are assembled to the support plate 50 and the connecting plate 52 so as to be able to move radially with respect to the transmission shaft 44. The locking pieces 56A and 56B are constantly biased away from the transmission shaft 44 by the elastic force of the springs. The connecting plate 52 has a flat front mounting surface 52A perpendicular to the transmission shaft 44. The connecting plate 52 has a shape in which the upper and lower portions of a disc are cut out. The ends of both locking pieces 56A and 56B protrude from the notches on the connecting plate 52 in the vertical direction as shown in Figure 4. The locking pieces 56A and 56B, which are constantly biased, are restricted by a regulating means such as a stopper placed between the support plate 50 and the connecting plate 52 to a position where the amount of protrusion of both ends is a predetermined amount.

[0068] When the connecting plate 52 fits into the housing recess 16B of the handle 16, the tip of the locking piece 56A fits into the space defined by the bulging wall portion 22A, the inclined connecting portion 24A, and the stepped connecting portion 26A of the handle 16, and the tip of the locking piece 56B fits into the space defined by the bulging wall portion 22B, the inclined connecting portion 24B, and the stepped connecting portion 26B of the handle 16. When the handle 16 is rotated to the right, that is, clockwise in Figure 2, the tips of both locking pieces 56A and 56B come into contact with the stepped connecting portions 26A and 26B, respectively, so that the rotation of the handle 16 is transmitted to the connecting mechanism 36, which rotates the drum 32 via the power transmission mechanism 34. On the other hand, when the handle 16 is rotated to the left, that is, counterclockwise in Figure 2, the ends of both locking pieces 56A and 56B engage with the inclined connecting parts 24A and 24B respectively, so that both ends retract into the connecting plate 52 against the elastic force of the springs. As the ends retract, the rotation of the handle 16 is not transmitted to the connecting mechanism 36, and the drum 32 remains stationary. In other words, only the handle 16 rotates freely in the counterclockwise direction. When the handle 16 is rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise, the end of locking piece 56A fits into the space defined by the bulging wall portion 22B, the inclined connecting part 24B, and the stepped connecting part 26B of the handle 16, and the end of locking piece 56B fits into the space defined by the bulging wall portion 22A, the inclined connecting part 24A, and the stepped connecting part 26A of the handle 16.

[0069] A ring-shaped mounting frame 60 is provided for attaching the handle 16 to the connecting mechanism 36. With the connecting plate 52 fitted into the housing recess 16B of the handle 16, the mounting frame 60 engages with the flange portion 16C of the handle 16 from the front and is fixed to the front panel 2A of the housing 2 by four screws 62A to 62D.

[0070] A coin slot 64 is located in the upper right part of the front panel 2A. After the user inserts the required coins into the coin slot 64, when the handle 16 is rotated clockwise by a predetermined angle, for example, approximately 360 degrees, one capsule product 8 is dispensed from the product discharge port 66 located in the lower left part of the front panel 2A. By pressing the return lever 68, any coins inserted by mistake are returned from a return port (not shown). Multiple openings of predetermined shapes are formed in the front door 14 so that the coin slot 64, product discharge port 66, and return lever 68 are exposed to the front from the closed front door 14.

[0071] Vending machine 2 is equipped with a known coin sorting device. The coin sorting device determines the authenticity of coins and detects whether the required number of coins have been inserted. The coin sorting device is configured to allow the handle 16 to rotate clockwise only when the required number of genuine coins have been inserted.

[0072] <Detailed configuration of detection unit 100> The detailed configuration of the detection unit 100 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 5. Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the detection unit 100. As shown in Figure 2, the detection unit 100 is attached to the front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52 by adhesive means such as double-sided tape. The detection unit 100 is configured as a single unit including a control processing unit 102, a detection and measurement unit 104, and a battery 106. A commercially available RFID tag with a built-in acceleration sensor is generally used as the detection unit 100.

[0073] The control processing unit 102 includes a CPU 110, ROM 112, RAM 114, input / output interface 116, data storage unit 118, transceiver 120, and antenna 122. The CPU 110, ROM 112, RAM 114, and input / output interface 116 are each connected to a data bus 124. The ROM 112 is a non-volatile memory that stores a program executed by the CPU 110 and predetermined setting values. As a program, the program that executes the detection control processing shown in Figure 6 is stored in the ROM 112. The RAM 114 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores the processing results of the CPU 110, measurement information transmitted from the detection measurement unit 104, and information transmitted from the input / output interface 116. The data storage unit 118 is a memory that stores a vending machine number that identifies the vending machine 2 on which the detection unit 100 is installed. The data storage unit 118 is a memory that allows data to be written to and read from, and is composed of, for example, flash memory. The data storage unit 118 is connected to the input / output interface 116. The transceiver 120 communicates with the relay device 4 via the antenna 122. The transceiver 120 is connected to the input / output interface 116.

[0074] The detection and measurement unit 104 includes an acceleration sensor 130, an AC oscillation circuit 132, an inverting amplifier circuit 134, an inverting summer circuit 136, a low-pass filter 138, and an A / D converter 140. That is, the detection unit 100 incorporates the acceleration sensor 130. The acceleration sensor 130 detects acceleration acting in two orthogonal axis directions. In this embodiment, when the detection unit 100 is in the position shown in Figure 4, the X-axis direction of the acceleration sensor 130 is parallel to the left-right direction, with the right direction set to the positive X-axis. The Y-axis direction of the acceleration sensor 130 is parallel to the up-down direction, with the up direction set to the positive Y-axis. As the detection unit 100 rotates together with the connecting plate 52, the X-axis and Y-axis directions of the acceleration sensor 130 change with respect to the vertical direction, and the acceleration sensor 130 detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the acceleration sensor 130 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. In this embodiment, a capacitive acceleration sensor 130 is used, in which the capacitance changes according to the magnitude of the acceleration detected in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. The acceleration sensor 130 includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor as a pair, corresponding to the X-axis and Y-axis directions. The capacitance of the first capacitor increases in response to an increase in acceleration and decreases in response to a decrease in acceleration. Conversely, the capacitance of the second capacitor decreases in response to an increase in acceleration and increases in response to a decrease in acceleration.

[0075] The basic configuration of the detection and measurement unit 104 is well known from publications such as Japanese Patent No. 5496515, so a brief explanation of the configuration of the detection and measurement unit 104 will be given. The detection and measurement unit 104 generates X-axis direction measurement information for measuring acceleration in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction measurement information for measuring acceleration in the Y-axis direction. In the following explanation, the generation of X-axis direction measurement information will be used as an example.

[0076] In order for the detection and measurement unit 104 to perform acceleration measurement operations in synchronization with the control operation of the CPU 110, the AC oscillator circuit 132 generates a square wave voltage corresponding to the X-axis direction based on a clock signal supplied from the CPU 110. The square wave voltage is generated by repeatedly generating high-level and low-level voltages at predetermined intervals. The inverting amplifier circuit 134 inverts and amplifies the square wave voltage corresponding to the X-axis direction from the AC oscillator circuit 132. The amplification factor of the inverting amplifier circuit 134 corresponding to the X-axis direction is determined by the ratio of the capacitance of the first capacitor and the capacitance of the second capacitor corresponding to the X-axis direction.

[0077] The inverting summer circuit 136 adds the output voltage corresponding to the X-axis direction from the inverting amplifier circuit 134 and the square wave voltage corresponding to the X-axis direction from the AC oscillator circuit 132, and then inverts and amplifies the added voltage. The amplification factor corresponding to the X-axis direction of the inverting summer circuit 136 is set to a constant amplification factor. The low-pass filter 138 receives the output voltage corresponding to the X-axis direction from the inverting summer circuit 136 and removes voltages with frequencies above a certain frequency from the received output voltage, thereby allowing voltages representing changes in the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction that change at relatively low frequencies to pass through.

[0078] The A / D converter 140 receives a voltage from the low-pass filter 138 that represents the change in the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction, and converts this received voltage into digital information corresponding to the X-axis direction. The digital information corresponding to the X-axis direction is transmitted to the CPU 110 via the data bus 124 of the control processing unit 102 as X-axis direction measurement information. Digital information corresponding to the Y-axis direction is generated in the same way as the digital information corresponding to the X-axis direction, and is transmitted to the CPU 110 via the data bus 124 of the control processing unit 102 as Y-axis direction measurement information.

[0079] Battery 106 supplies power to the control processing unit 102 and the detection and measurement unit 104, respectively. In this embodiment, a replaceable button battery is used as battery 106. Battery 106 supplies power to at least the CPU 110, RAM 114, and transceiver 120 among the components of the control processing unit 102. Battery 106 also supplies power to at least the components of the detection and measurement unit 104, excluding the acceleration sensor 130.

[0080] <Detailed configuration of sales management server 6> The detailed configuration of the sales management server 6 will be explained with reference to Figure 1. The sales management server 6 includes a CPU 150, ROM 152, RAM 154, input / output interface 156, transceiver 158, operation unit 160, display unit 162, database 164, real-time clock circuit 166, and oscillator 168. The CPU 150, ROM 152, RAM 154, input / output interface 156, operation unit 160, display unit 162, database 164, and real-time clock circuit 166 are each connected to the data bus 170. ROM 152 is a non-volatile memory that stores programs executed by the CPU 150 and predetermined setting values. As a program, the program that executes the sales detection process shown in Figure 7 is stored in ROM 152. RAM 154 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores the processing results of the CPU 150, various variables used in the sales detection process, and information transmitted from the input / output interface 156. The transceiver 158 communicates with the relay device 4 via the network NT. The transceiver 158 is connected to the input / output interface 156.

[0081] The database 164 is a large-capacity non-volatile memory that can be read from and written to, and stores sales information for each of the numerous vending machines 2A to 2W, such as the number of capsule products 8 sold and the time of sale. The operation unit 160 is an information input unit, including a keyboard and a touch panel. The display unit 162 displays the sales information stored in the database 164. The real-time clock circuit 166 generates time information representing the current time based on the clock signal oscillated by the oscillator 168.

[0082] <Management and control operations of sales management system 1> The management and control operations of the sales management system 1 will now be explained. The management and control operations of the sales management system 1 include detection and control processing performed by the detection unit 100 and sales detection processing performed by the sales management server 6.

[0083] (Detection and control processing) The detection control process will be explained with reference to Figure 6. The detection control process starts when the battery 106 is installed in the detection unit 100, by the CPU 110 reading and executing a program from the ROM 112. The detection control process is executed repeatedly as long as the voltage stored in the battery 106 is above a predetermined operating voltage. Processes FA1 to FA9 of the detection control process shown in Figure 6 are processes executed by the CPU 110.

[0084] When the battery 106 is installed in the detection unit 100, the vending machine number is read from the data holding unit 118 and temporarily stored in the RAM 114 (FA1).

[0085] The process is paused for 1 second (FA2). In this embodiment, 1 second is set as the time interval for repeatedly detecting the rotation angle of the handle 16 in order to detect whether or not the handle 16 has been rotated by the user. This 1 second is set considering the normal time it takes for the user to rotate the handle 16 once and the power consumption of the battery 106, and is the detection time interval in standby mode.

[0086] The detection information is calculated based on the digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 140 of the detection measurement unit 104 and temporarily stored in the RAM 114 (FA3). The detection information includes X-axis detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction and Y-axis detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the Y-axis direction. The method by which the detection information is calculated based on the digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 140 is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5496515 and is well known. The calculation method will be briefly explained below. At a first point in time, after a certain amount of time has elapsed since the square wave voltage from the AC oscillation circuit 132 rose from a low level to a high level, the CPU 110 reads the first digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 140 when the square wave voltage is at a high level. At a second point in time, a certain amount of time has elapsed since the square wave voltage from the AC oscillator circuit 132 rose from a low level to a high level, the CPU 110 reads the second digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 140 while the square wave voltage is at a low level. The CPU 110 calculates the value obtained by subtracting the second digital information from the first digital information as detection information.

[0087] The rotation angle of the handle 16 is calculated based on the detection information stored in the RAM 114 (FA4). Based on the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration represented by the X-axis detection information and the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration represented by the Y-axis detection information, the rotation angle, which is the tilt of the handle 16, i.e., the rotation angle of the connecting plate 52 to which the handle 16 is connected, is calculated.

[0088] It is determined whether the rotation angle of the handle 16 is greater than a predetermined value (FA5). The predetermined value is an angle value set considering the play in the connecting means between the connecting plate 52 and the drum 32. In this embodiment, the predetermined value is set to a value in radians corresponding to 15 degrees. If the rotation angle of the handle 16 is less than or equal to the predetermined value (FA5: NO), the process returns to process FA2. If the rotation angle of the handle 16 is greater than the predetermined value (FA5: YES), the process moves to process FA6. The series of processes FA2 to FA5 are processes in standby mode.

[0089] The process is paused for 0.2 seconds (FA6). In this embodiment, 0.2 seconds is set to be a time that is sufficiently short to allow the user to rotate the handle 16 once to purchase the capsule product 8, and to allow the user to reliably detect a large number of changes in the rotation angle of the handle 16 during the rotation operation, for example, 10 or more times. 0.2 seconds is the detection time interval in the product sales mode.

[0090] The detection information is calculated based on the digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 140 of the detection measurement unit 104 and temporarily stored in the RAM 114 (FA7). The detection information includes X-axis detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction and Y-axis detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the Y-axis direction. The method by which the detection information is calculated based on the digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 140 is the same as the method described in processing FA3.

[0091] The vending machine number and detection information are transmitted to the relay device 4 (FA8). The vending machine number is information stored in RAM 114 during processing FA1. The detection information is information stored in RAM 114 during processing FA7. The relay device 4 receives the vending machine number and detection information from the vending machine 2 and sends them together to the sales management server 6.

[0092] The system determines whether or not a sales completion notification has been received (FA9). The sales completion notification is sent from the sales management server 6 to the vending machine 2 via the relay device 4. If a sales completion notification is not received (FA9: NO), the process returns to process FA6. If a sales completion notification is received (FA9: YES), the process returns to process FA2. The series of processes FA6 to FA9 are repeatedly executed at 0.2-second intervals until a sales completion notification is received. The series of processes FA6 to FA9 are processes in product sales mode.

[0093] (Sales detection process) The sales detection process will be explained with reference to Figure 7. The sales detection process starts when the sales management server 6 is powered on, by the CPU 150 reading and executing a program from the ROM 152. The sales detection process is executed repeatedly while the sales management server 6 is powered on. Processes FB1 to FB17 of the sales detection process shown in Figure 7 are executed by the CPU 150.

[0094] The system determines whether information combining the vending machine number and detection information has been received from one of the vending machines 2A to 2W (FB1). If no information is received (FB1: NO), the determination process FB1 is executed repeatedly. If information is received (FB1: YES), the process moves to process FB2.

[0095] It is determined whether the sales status flag SF is set to "0" (FB2). The sales status flag SF is stored in RAM154 and is initialized to "0" before the sales detection process starts. If the sales status flag SF is set to "0" (FB2:YES), the process moves to process FB3. If the sales status flag SF is not set to "0" (FB2:NO), the process moves to process FB5.

[0096] When the sales status flag SF is set to "0" (FB2:YES), the received vending machine number is stored in RAM154 as information J to identify vending machine 2 (FB3).

[0097] The information GX1, GY1, V, P, and R, which represent various variables stored in RAM154, are initialized and set to "0" (FB4). Information GX1 is the X-axis detection information that represents the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction from the detection information received first. Information GY1 is the Y-axis detection information that represents the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the Y-axis direction from the detection information received first. Information V represents the cross product of the first vector represented by the detection information received first and the second vector represented by the detection information received next. Information P represents the angle from the first vector to the second vector. Information R represents the cumulative angle obtained by accumulating the angles represented by Information P.

[0098] The detection information received from vending machine 2 is stored in RAM 154 as the next detection information to be received (FB6). Specifically, the X-axis detection information from the detection information received from vending machine 2 is stored in RAM 154 as the X-axis detection information GX2 of the next detection information to be received, and the Y-axis detection information from the detection information received from vending machine 2 is stored in RAM 154 as the Y-axis detection information GY2 of the next detection information to be received.

[0099] The information V representing the cross product is calculated using the following formula (FB7). Specifically, information V is the value obtained by subtracting the product of Y-axis detection information GY1 and X-axis detection information GY2 from the product of X-axis detection information GX1 and Y-axis detection information GY2. V = GX1 × GY2 - GY1 × GX2

[0100] The angle information P is calculated using the following formula (FB8). Specifically, the information P is calculated when the sine value (sinP) is the value obtained by dividing information V by the product of information G1 and information G2. Information G1 represents the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration represented by the detection information received first. Information G2 represents the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration represented by the detection information received next. Both information G1 and information G2 are gravitational acceleration of 9.8 meters per second squared (m / sec). 2 This is the value of ). P = arcsin[V / (G1 × G2)]

[0101] The cumulative angle information R is calculated using the following formula (FB9). Specifically, the calculated information P is added to the previously calculated cumulative angle information R to calculate a new cumulative angle information R. R = R + P

[0102] It is determined (FB10) whether the information R representing the cumulative angle is greater than the predetermined angle (in radians) for sale (2π-TH). If the information R is less than or equal to the predetermined angle for sale (FB10: NO), the process moves to process FB11. If the information R is greater than the predetermined angle for sale (FB10: YES), the process moves to process FB14. The predetermined angle for sale (2π-TH) is the value obtained by subtracting the radian TH, which corresponds to the predetermined threshold angle, from 2π, which corresponds to 360 degrees. The radian TH of the predetermined threshold angle is a value in radians that corresponds to the angle set considering the play that occurs in the connecting means between the connecting plate 52 and the drum 32. In this embodiment, the radian TH is set to a value in radians that corresponds to 15 degrees.

[0103] When information R is less than or equal to a predetermined angle for sale (FB10:NO), X-axis detection information GX2 is stored in RAM154 as X-axis detection information GX1, and Y-axis detection information GY2 is stored in RAM154 as Y-axis detection information GY1 (FB11).

[0104] The process will be delayed for 0.2 seconds (FB12).

[0105] The sales status flag SF is set to "1" and stored in RAM154 (FB13). After the execution of process FB13, the process returns to process FB1.

[0106] When information R is greater than a predetermined angle for sales (FB10: YES), information S(J) representing the total number of items sold by vending machine 2 to date is calculated by the following formula (FB14). Specifically, "1" is added to information S(J) representing the total number of items sold by vending machine 2 to date, and this new information S(J) representing the total number of items sold is stored in RAM154. Information S(J) representing the total number of items sold represents the total number of items sold by vending machine 2, which is identified by the vending machine number stored as information J in processing FB3. S(J) = S(J) + 1

[0107] Sales information, including the time of sale, is stored in RAM 154 (FB 15). The time of sale is the current time obtained from the real-time clock circuit 166. The sales information includes the time of sale for each capsule product 8, the total number of units sold calculated in processing FB 14, and the vending machine number. The sales information is temporarily stored in RAM 154 and also stored in database 164.

[0108] The sales status flag SF is set to "0" and stored in RAM154 (FB16).

[0109] A sales completion notification is sent to vending machine 2 (FB17). The vending machine 2 to which the notification is sent is the vending machine 2 identified by the vending machine number stored as information J in process FB3. After the execution of process FB17, the process returns to process FB1.

[0110] <Effects of the First Embodiment> (1) In this embodiment, the detection unit 100 is attached to the front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52. Therefore, by working from the front of the vending machine 2, the salesperson can easily attach the detection unit 100 to the connecting plate 52 by opening the front door 14, removing the mounting frame 60, and releasing the connection between the handle 16 and the connecting plate 52. This also makes it easy to perform maintenance and inspection of the detection unit 100.

[0111] (2) In this embodiment, the detection unit 100 is attached and fixed to the front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52, and the handle 16 is connected to the connecting plate 52 via a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes the locking mechanism 54 of the connecting mechanism 36 and the restricting wall portion 18 of the handle 16. Due to the operation of the clutch mechanism, the connecting plate 52 does not rotate in the counterclockwise direction even when the handle 16 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in Figure 2. With this configuration, the detection unit 100 can accurately detect the rotation angle of the handle 16 when it is rotated in the clockwise direction.

[0112] (3) In this embodiment, with the vending machine 2 installed, the front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52 is positioned parallel to the vertical direction, and the detection unit 100 is attached to the front mounting surface 52A. With this configuration, the acceleration sensor 130 of the detection unit 100 rotates together with the connecting plate 52 and can easily and reliably detect the magnitudes of the X-axis and Y-axis directions of a relatively large gravitational acceleration that is always directed vertically, without performing frequency analysis which requires processing a large amount of information.

[0113] (4) In this embodiment, processing FB9 calculates information R representing the cumulative angle, which is the cumulative amount of information P representing the rotation angle at which the handle 16 and the connecting plate 52 are rotated. Processing FB10 determines whether the handle 16 and the connecting plate 52 have rotated to at least the angle position at which the capsule product 8 is ejected. With this configuration, even when the detection unit 100 cannot be accurately attached to the connecting plate 52 in a predetermined position and orientation, the sales management server 6, which performs the sales detection process shown in Figure 7, can reliably detect the sale of one capsule product 8.

[0114] (5) In this embodiment, the processing FB10 determines whether the connecting plate 52 has been rotated by an angle close to approximately 360 degrees in order to discharge one capsule product 8. With this configuration, compared to the product sales device described in Patent Document 3 in which it is determined whether the dispensing tray has been rotated by only 72 degrees in order to discharge one product, the configuration of this embodiment allows for accurate detection of the rotation angle of the connecting plate 52 from which one capsule product 8 is discharged, even if the detection resolution for detecting the discharge of one capsule product 8 is low.

[0115] (6) In this embodiment, in the product sales mode, the X-axis detection information and Y-axis detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration are acquired from the detection and measurement unit 104 at time intervals of 0.2 seconds by the processing FA7 and temporarily stored in the RAM 114. Compared to the configuration described in Patent Document 3, which detects dynamic acceleration that fluctuates frequently with relatively small values ​​in order to determine the rotation angle of the dispensing tray, the configuration of this embodiment allows the time interval for acquiring the X-axis detection information and Y-axis detection information from the detection and measurement unit 104 to be set to a relatively long time of 0.2 seconds, thereby reducing the control processing burden on the CPU 110.

[0116] (7) In this embodiment, the cross product of the first vector represented by the detection information received from the vending machine 2 and the second vector represented by the detection information to be received next is calculated by process FB7. Process FB8 calculates information P representing the angle from the first vector to the second vector. In this embodiment, since the angle of rotation of the handle 16 is calculated using vector operations such as the cross product, the rotation angle of the handle 16 can be accurately calculated with simple control processing without having to perform complex and large-scale information processing such as DFT (Discrete Fast Fourier Transform).

[0117] (8) In this embodiment, the detection unit 100 executes the detection control process shown in Figure 6, and the sales management server 6 executes the sales detection process shown in Figure 7. The detection unit 100 is configured to transmit the vending machine number and detection information to the relay device 4 via processing FA8. This configuration reduces the control processing load on the CPU 110 of the detection unit 100 and reduces the power consumption of the battery 106.

[0118] (9) In this embodiment, a standby mode by process FA2 and a product sales mode by process FA6 are set according to the determination results of processes FA5 and FA9. The standby time for the standby mode is set to a longer interval than the standby time for the product sales mode. This configuration reduces the power consumption of the battery 106, and the detection unit 100 can reliably transmit detection information to the sales management server 6 for product sales management over a relatively long period of time.

[0119] (10) In this embodiment, the sales management server 6 sends a sales completion notification to the detection unit 100 of the vending machine 2 by process FB17 in the sales detection process. The detection unit 6 determines whether or not it has received the sales completion notification by process FA9 in the detection control process, and sets either the standby mode or the product sales mode according to the result of that determination. With this configuration, the standby mode is set immediately when the sales completion notification is received, so the power consumption of the battery 106 can be reduced.

[0120] [Second Embodiment] The following describes a sales management system 1, which is a second embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, the same components as in the first embodiment will be described using the same numbers and symbols. In Figure 8, the sales management system 1 includes a number of vending machines 2A to 2W, a sales management server 6, and a portable terminal device 180. The number of vending machines 2A to 2W are arranged in a predetermined sales area SP defined within a shop or train station. Each of the number of vending machines 2A to 2W is equipped with a detection unit 200, which will be described later. The portable terminal device 180 can communicate wirelessly with the detection units 200 of each of the number of vending machines 2A to 2W within the predetermined sales area SP. The portable terminal device 180 can also communicate with the sales management server 6 via a network NT. Each vending machine is a machine that sells capsule products 8 and has a mechanical configuration that allows it to perform sales operations without receiving a power supply. The configuration of the vending machines in the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the vending machines in the first embodiment, so its description will be omitted.

[0121] <Detailed configuration of detection unit 200> The detailed configuration of the detection unit 200 will be described with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the detection unit 200. Similar to the detection unit 100 shown in Figure 2, the detection unit 200 is attached to the front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52 by adhesive means such as double-sided tape. The detection unit 200 is configured as a single unit including a control processing unit 202, a detection and measurement unit 204, and a battery 206. A commercially available RFID tag with a built-in acceleration sensor is generally used as the detection unit 200.

[0122] The control processing unit 202 includes a CPU 210, ROM 212, RAM 214, input / output interface 216, data holding unit 218, transceiver 220, antenna 222, real-time clock circuit 224, and oscillator 226. The CPU 210, ROM 212, RAM 214, input / output interface 216, and real-time clock circuit 224 are connected to the data bus 228, respectively. The ROM 212 is a non-volatile memory that stores programs executed by the CPU 210 and predetermined setting values. As programs, the ROM 212 stores a program that executes the detection control process shown in Figure 10, a program that executes the sales detection process shown in Figure 11, and a program that executes the sales information transmission process shown in Figure 12. The RAM 214 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores the processing results of the CPU 210, measurement information transmitted from the detection measurement unit 204, various variables used in the sales detection process, and information transmitted from the input / output interface 216. The data storage unit 218 is a memory that stores a vending machine number that identifies the vending machine 2 on which the detection unit 200 is installed. The data storage unit 218 is a memory that allows data to be written to and read from, and is composed of, for example, flash memory. The data storage unit 218 is connected to the input / output interface 216. The transceiver 220 communicates with the mobile terminal device 180 via the antenna 222. The transceiver 220 is connected to the input / output interface 216. The real-time clock circuit 224 generates time information representing the current time based on the clock signal oscillated by the oscillator 226.

[0123] The detection and measurement unit 204 includes an acceleration sensor 230, an AC oscillation circuit 232, an inverting amplifier circuit 234, an inverting summer circuit 236, a low-pass filter 238, and an A / D converter 240. That is, the detection unit 200 incorporates the acceleration sensor 230. The acceleration sensor 230 detects acceleration acting in two orthogonal axis directions. In this embodiment, when the detection unit 200 is in the position shown in Figure 4, the X-axis direction of the acceleration sensor 230 is parallel to the left-right direction, with the right direction set to the positive X-axis. The Y-axis direction of the acceleration sensor 230 is parallel to the up-down direction, with the up direction set to the positive Y-axis. As the detection unit 200 rotates together with the connecting plate 52, the X-axis and Y-axis directions of the acceleration sensor 230 change with respect to the vertical direction, and the acceleration sensor 230 detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the acceleration sensor 230 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. In this embodiment, a capacitive acceleration sensor 230 is used, in which the capacitance changes according to the magnitude of the acceleration detected in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. The acceleration sensor 230 includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor as a pair, corresponding to the X-axis and Y-axis directions. The capacitance of the first capacitor increases in response to an increase in acceleration and decreases in response to a decrease in acceleration. Conversely, the capacitance of the second capacitor decreases in response to an increase in acceleration and increases in response to a decrease in acceleration.

[0124] The basic configuration of the detection and measurement unit 204 is well known from publications such as Japanese Patent No. 5496515, so a brief explanation of the configuration of the detection and measurement unit 204 will be given. The detection and measurement unit 204 generates X-axis direction measurement information for measuring acceleration in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction measurement information for measuring acceleration in the Y-axis direction. In the following explanation, the generation of X-axis direction measurement information will be used as an example.

[0125] In order for the detection and measurement unit 204 to perform acceleration measurement operations in synchronization with the control operation of the CPU 210, the AC oscillator circuit 232 generates a square wave voltage corresponding to the X-axis direction based on a clock signal supplied from the CPU 210. The square wave voltage is generated by repeatedly generating high-level and low-level voltages at predetermined intervals. The inverting amplifier circuit 234 inverts and amplifies the square wave voltage corresponding to the X-axis direction from the AC oscillator circuit 232. The amplification factor of the inverting amplifier circuit 234 corresponding to the X-axis direction is determined by the ratio of the capacitance of the first capacitor and the capacitance of the second capacitor corresponding to the X-axis direction.

[0126] The inverting summer circuit 236 adds the output voltage corresponding to the X-axis direction from the inverting amplifier circuit 234 and the square wave voltage corresponding to the X-axis direction from the AC oscillator circuit 232, and then inverts and amplifies the added voltage. The amplification factor corresponding to the X-axis direction of the inverting summer circuit 236 is set to a constant amplification factor. The low-pass filter 238 receives the output voltage corresponding to the X-axis direction from the inverting summer circuit 236 and removes voltages with frequencies above a certain frequency from the received output voltage, thereby allowing voltages representing changes in the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction that change at relatively low frequencies to pass through.

[0127] The A / D converter 240 receives a voltage from the low-pass filter 238 that represents the change in the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction, and converts this received voltage into digital information corresponding to the X-axis direction. The digital information corresponding to the X-axis direction is transmitted to the CPU 210 via the data bus 228 of the control processing unit 202 as X-axis direction measurement information. Digital information corresponding to the Y-axis direction is generated in the same way as the digital information corresponding to the X-axis direction, and is transmitted to the CPU 210 via the data bus 228 of the control processing unit 202 as Y-axis direction measurement information.

[0128] Battery 206 supplies power to the control processing unit 202 and the detection and measurement unit 204, respectively. In this embodiment, a replaceable button cell battery is used as battery 206. Battery 206 supplies power to at least the CPU 210, RAM 214, and transceiver 220 among the components of the control processing unit 202. Battery 206 also supplies power to at least the components of the detection and measurement unit 204, excluding the acceleration sensor 230.

[0129] <Detailed configuration of sales management server 6> The detailed configuration of the sales management server 6 will be described with reference to Figure 8. The sales management server 6 includes a CPU 250, ROM 252, RAM 254, input / output interface 256, transceiver 258, operation unit 260, display unit 262, and database 264. The CPU 250, ROM 252, RAM 254, input / output interface 256, operation unit 260, display unit 262, and database 264 are each connected to the data bus 266. ROM 252 is a non-volatile memory that stores programs executed by the CPU 250 and predetermined setting values. As a program, the program that executes the sales management processing shown in Figure 13 is stored in ROM 252. RAM 254 is a volatile memory that temporarily stores the processing results of the CPU 250, various variables used in the sales management processing, and information transmitted from the input / output interface 256. The transceiver 258 communicates with the mobile terminal device 180 via the network NT. The transceiver 258 is connected to the input / output interface 256.

[0130] The database 264 is a large-capacity non-volatile memory that can be read from and written to, and stores sales information for each of the numerous vending machines 2A to 2W, such as the number of capsule products 8 sold and the time of sale. The operation unit 260 is an information input unit, including a keyboard and a touch panel. The display unit 262 displays the sales information stored in the database 264.

[0131] <Basic configuration of mobile terminal device 180> The mobile terminal device 180 has a known configuration comprising a CPU, ROM, RAM, an operation unit, and a display unit, and communicates with each vending machine 2 and the sales management server 6 via the network NT. The ROM of the mobile terminal device 180 stores an application program that performs the sales information reception processing shown in Figure 12. The CPU of the mobile terminal device 180 performs the sales information reception processing when the vendor performs an operation to start the application program.

[0132] <Management and control operations of sales management system 1> The management control operations of the sales management system 1 will now be explained. The management control operations of the sales management system 1 include a detection control process performed by the detection unit 200, a sales detection process performed by the detection unit 200, a sales information transmission process performed by the detection unit 200, a sales information reception process performed by the mobile terminal device 180, and a sales management process performed by the sales management server 6.

[0133] (Detection and control processing) The detection control process will be explained with reference to Figure 10. The detection control process starts when the battery 206 is installed in the detection unit 200, by the CPU 210 reading and executing a program from the ROM 212. The detection control process is executed repeatedly as long as the voltage stored in the battery 206 is above a predetermined operating voltage. Processes SA1 to SA7 of the detection control process shown in Figure 10 are executed by the CPU 210.

[0134] When the battery 206 is installed in the detection unit 200, the vending machine number is read from the data holding unit 218 and temporarily stored in the RAM 214 (SA1).

[0135] The process is paused for 1 second (SA2). In this embodiment, 1 second is set as the time interval for repeatedly detecting the rotation angle of the handle 16 in order to detect whether or not the handle 16 has been rotated by the user. This 1 second is set considering the normal time it takes for the user to rotate the handle 16 once and the power consumption of the battery 106, and is the detection time interval in standby mode.

[0136] The detection information is calculated based on the digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 240 of the detection measurement unit 204 and temporarily stored in the RAM 214 (SA3). The detection information includes X-axis detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction and Y-axis detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the Y-axis direction. The method by which the detection information is calculated based on the digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 240 is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5496515 and is well known. The calculation method will be briefly explained below. At a first point in time, after a certain amount of time has elapsed since the square wave voltage from the AC oscillation circuit 232 rose from a low level to a high level, the CPU 210 reads the first digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 240 when the square wave voltage is at a high level. At a second point in time, a certain amount of time has elapsed since the square wave voltage from the AC oscillator circuit 232 rose from a low level to a high level, the CPU 210 reads the second digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 240 while the square wave voltage is at a low level. The CPU 210 calculates the value obtained by subtracting the second digital information from the first digital information as detection information.

[0137] The rotation angle of the handle 16 is calculated based on the detection information stored in the RAM 214 (SA4). Based on the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration represented by the X-axis detection information and the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration represented by the Y-axis detection information, the rotation angle, which is the tilt of the handle 16, i.e., the rotation angle of the connecting plate 52 to which the handle 16 is connected, is calculated.

[0138] It is determined whether the rotation angle of the handle 16 is greater than a predetermined value (SA5). The predetermined value is an angle value set considering the play in the connecting means between the connecting plate 52 and the drum 32. In this embodiment, the predetermined value is set to a value in radians corresponding to 15 degrees. If the rotation angle of the handle 16 is less than or equal to the predetermined value (SA5: NO), the process moves to process SA7. After the execution of process SA7, the process returns to process SA2. If the rotation angle of the handle 16 is greater than the predetermined value (SA5: YES), the process moves to process SA6. The series of processes SA2 to SA5 and SA7 are processes in standby mode.

[0139] Process SA6 is the sales detection process shown in Figure 11 and consists of subroutines. Process SA7 is the sales information transmission process shown in Figure 12 and consists of subroutines.

[0140] (Sales detection process SA6) The sales detection process SA6 will be explained with reference to Figure 11. Processes SB1 to SB14 of the sales detection process SA6 shown in Figure 11 are executed by the CPU 210.

[0141] It is determined whether the sales status flag SF is set to "0" (SB1). The sales status flag SF is stored in RAM254 and is initialized to "0" before the detection control process starts. If the sales status flag SF is set to "0" (SB1:YES), the process moves to process SB2. If the sales status flag SF is not set to "0" (SB1:NO), the process moves to process SB3.

[0142] When the sales status flag SF is set to "0" (SB1:YES), the information GX1, GY1, V, P, and R, which represent various variables stored in RAM254, are initialized and set to "0" (SB2). Information GX1 is the X-axis detection information that represents the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction from the detection information received first. Information GY1 is the Y-axis detection information that represents the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the Y-axis direction from the detection information received first. Information V represents the cross product of the first vector represented by the detection information received first and the second vector represented by the detection information received next. Information P represents the angle from the first vector to the second vector. Information R represents the cumulative angle obtained by accumulating the angles represented by information P.

[0143] The detection information is calculated based on the digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 240 of the detection measurement unit 204 and temporarily stored in the RAM 214 (SB3). The detection information includes X-axis detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction and Y-axis detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the Y-axis direction. The method by which the detection information is calculated based on the digital information transmitted from the A / D converter 240 is the same as the method described in processing SA3.

[0144] The detection information acquired from the detection measurement unit 204 is stored in the RAM 214 as the next detection information to be acquired (SB4). Specifically, the X-axis detection information acquired from the detection measurement unit 204 is stored in the RAM 214 as the X-axis detection information GX2 of the next detection information to be acquired, and the Y-axis detection information acquired from the detection measurement unit 204 is stored in the RAM 214 as the Y-axis detection information GY2 of the next detection information to be acquired.

[0145] The information V representing the cross product is calculated using the following formula (SB5). Specifically, information V is the value obtained by subtracting the product of Y-axis detection information GY1 and X-axis detection information GY2 from the product of X-axis detection information GX1 and Y-axis detection information GY2. V = GX1 × GY2 - GY1 × GX2

[0146] The angle information P is calculated using the following formula (SB6). Specifically, the information P is calculated when the sine value (sinP) is the value obtained by dividing information V by the product of information G1 and information G2. Information G1 represents the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration represented by the detection information received first. Information G2 represents the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration represented by the detection information received next. Both information G1 and information G2 are gravitational acceleration of 9.8 meters per second squared (m / sec). 2 This is the value of ). P = arcsin[V / (G1 × G2)]

[0147] The cumulative angle information R is calculated using the following formula (SB7). Specifically, the calculated information P is added to the previously calculated cumulative angle information R to calculate a new cumulative angle information R. R = R + P

[0148] It is determined (SB8) whether the information R representing the cumulative angle is greater than the predetermined angle (in radians) for sale (2π-TH). If the information R is less than or equal to the predetermined angle for sale (SB8: NO), the process moves to process SB9. If the information R is greater than the predetermined angle for sale (SB8: YES), the process moves to process SB12. The predetermined angle for sale (2π-TH) is the value obtained by subtracting the radian TH, which corresponds to the predetermined threshold angle, from 2π, which corresponds to 360 degrees. The radian TH of the predetermined threshold angle is a value in radians that corresponds to the angle set considering the play that occurs in the connecting means between the connecting plate 52 and the drum 32. In this embodiment, the radian TH is set to a value in radians that corresponds to 15 degrees.

[0149] When information R is less than or equal to a predetermined angle for sale (SB8:NO), X-axis detection information GX2 is stored in RAM214 as X-axis detection information GX1, and Y-axis detection information GY2 is stored in RAM214 as Y-axis detection information GY1 (SB9).

[0150] The process is paused for 0.2 seconds (SB10). In this embodiment, 0.2 seconds is set to be a time that is sufficiently short to allow the user to rotate the handle 16 once to purchase the capsule product 8, and to allow the user to reliably detect a large number of changes in the rotation angle of the handle 16 during the rotation operation, for example, 10 or more times. 0.2 seconds is the detection time interval in the product sales mode.

[0151] The sales status flag SF is set to "1" and stored in RAM214 (SB11). After the execution of process SB11, the process returns to process SB1. The series of processes SB1, SB3 to SB11 are repeatedly executed at 0.2-second intervals until the information R is determined to be greater than a predetermined angle for sale (SB8: YES). The series of processes SB1, SB3 to SB11 are processes in product sales mode.

[0152] When information R is greater than a predetermined angle for sales (SB8:YES), information N representing the total number of items sold since vending machine 2 transmitted sales information to the mobile terminal device 180 via processing SA7 is calculated by the following formula (SB12). Specifically, by adding "1" to information N representing the total number of items sold by vending machine 2, new information N representing the total number of items sold is calculated and stored in RAM 214. N = N + 1

[0153] Sales information, including the time of sale, is stored in RAM 214 (SB13). The time of sale is the current time obtained from the real-time clock circuit 224. The sales information includes the time of sale for each capsule product 8, the total number of units sold calculated in processing SB12, and the vending machine number.

[0154] The sales status flag SF is set to "0" and stored in RAM214 (SB14). After the execution of process SB14, the process returns to the detection control process shown in Figure 10.

[0155] (Sales information transmission process SA7) The sales information transmission process SA7 will be explained with reference to Figure 12. Processes SC1 to SC7 of the sales information transmission process SA7 shown in Figure 12 are executed by the CPU 210.

[0156] It is determined whether or not one minute has elapsed (SC1). Specifically, it is determined whether or not one minute has elapsed since the last execution of the sales information transmission process SA7. If one minute has not elapsed (SC1:NO), the sales information transmission process SA7 ends, and the process returns to the detection control process. If one minute has elapsed (SC1:YES), the process moves to process SC2. In this embodiment, one minute is set considering the time that a user would normally need to rotate the handle 16 by one full turn.

[0157] It is determined whether the mobile terminal device 180 is located within communication range of the vending machine 2 (SC2). If it is not located within communication range (SC2: NO), the sales information transmission process SA7 ends, and the process returns to the detection control process. If it is located within communication range (SC2: YES), the process proceeds to process SC3. In this embodiment, the range within which the mobile terminal device 180 can wirelessly communicate with any of the vending machines 2A to 2W arranged in a predetermined sales area SP is set to include, for example, the predetermined sales area SP and an area adjacent to this area SP.

[0158] It is determined whether or not there is any untransmitted information (SC3). Specifically, it is determined whether or not there is any sales information stored in the RAM 214 of the detection unit 200 of each vending machine 2 that has not been sent to the mobile terminal device 180. If there is no untransmitted information (SC3: NO), the sales information transmission process SA7 ends and the process returns to the detection control process. If there is untransmitted information (SC3: YES), the process moves to process SC4.

[0159] The process waits to receive a transmission request from the mobile terminal device 180 (SC4). Normally, after it is determined that there is untransmitted information (SC3:YES), a transmission request is received from the mobile terminal device 180 within a predetermined time of less than 0.2 seconds. However, if it is not received within the predetermined time, the sales information transmission process SA7 terminates, and the process returns to the detection control process.

[0160] When a transmission request from the mobile terminal device 180 is received within a predetermined time, the sales information stored in the RAM 214 as untransmitted information is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 180 (SC5).

[0161] The process waits to receive a transmission completion notification from the mobile terminal device 180 (SC6).

[0162] When a transmission completion notification is received from the mobile terminal device 180, the RAM 214 records that the transmission of sales information to the sales management server 6 has been completed (SC7). Specifically, information indicating transmission completion is set and stored in the sales information stored in RAM 214. After the execution of process SC7, the sales information transmission process SA7 ends, and the process returns to the detection control process.

[0163] (Sales information received processing) The sales information reception process will be explained with reference to Figure 12. Processes SD1 to SD6 of the sales information reception process shown in Figure 12 are executed by the CPU of the mobile terminal device 180. While the application program of the mobile terminal device 180 is running, the sales information reception process is repeatedly executed by interrupts that occur at time intervals sufficiently shorter than one minute.

[0164] It is determined whether or not one minute has elapsed (SD1). Specifically, it is determined whether or not one minute has elapsed since the last time the sales information reception process was executed. If one minute has not elapsed (SD1: NO), the sales information reception process ends. If one minute has elapsed (SD1: YES), the process moves on to process SD2. In this embodiment, one minute is set considering the time that a user would normally need to rotate the handle 16 by one full turn.

[0165] It is determined whether the mobile terminal device 180 is located within communication range of the vending machine 2 (SD2). If it is not located within communication range (SD2: NO), the sales information reception process ends. If it is located within communication range (SD2: YES), the process proceeds to process SD3. In this embodiment, the range within which the mobile terminal device 180 can communicate wirelessly with any of the vending machines 2A to 2W arranged in a predetermined sales area SP is, for example, the range including the predetermined sales area SP and the area adjacent to this area SP, which is the range within which communication with the vending machine 2 is possible.

[0166] A request to send unsent information is sent (SD3). The request is sent sequentially to the vending machine 2 of the vending machines 2A to 2W whose mobile terminal device 180 is in a state where it can communicate.

[0167] Sales information is received from vending machine 2 (SD4). The received sales information is sequentially stored in the RAM of the mobile terminal device 180, corresponding to the vending machine number.

[0168] Sales information is transmitted to the sales management server 6 (SD5). Specifically, the sales information stored in the RAM of the mobile terminal device 180 is transmitted sequentially to the sales management server 6, associated with the vending machine number.

[0169] A transmission completion notification is sent to vending machine 2 (SD6). Specifically, the transmission completion notification is sent to vending machine 2, which is identified by the vending machine number associated with the sales information transmitted by process SD5. After the execution of process SD6, the sales information reception process ends.

[0170] (Sales management processing) The sales management process will be explained with reference to Figure 13. Processes SE1 to SE4 of the sales management process shown in Figure 13 are executed by the CPU 250 of the sales management server 6. The sales management process is executed repeatedly while the sales management server 6 is powered on.

[0171] The system determines whether sales information has been received from the mobile terminal device 180 (SE1). If sales information is not received (SE1:NO), the determination process SE1 is executed repeatedly. If sales information is received (SE1:YES), the process moves to process SE2.

[0172] When sales information is received (SE1: YES), the received vending machine number is stored in RAM254 as information J to identify vending machine 2 (SE2).

[0173] Information S(J) representing the total number of units sold by vending machine 2 to date is calculated using the following formula (SE3). Specifically, by adding "N", which represents the total number of units sold, to the information S(J) representing the total number of units sold by vending machine 2 to date, a new information S(J) representing the total number of units sold is calculated and stored in RAM254. The information S(J) representing the total number of units sold represents the total number of units sold by vending machine 2, which is identified by the vending machine number stored in RAM254 as information J in process SE2. S(J) = S(J) + 1

[0174] Sales management information is stored in RAM254 (SE4). Specifically, sales management information is temporarily stored in RAM254, associated with the vending machine number, and also stored in database264. The sales management information includes information such as the sales time for each capsule product 8, the total number of units sold calculated in processing SE3, and the vending machine number.

[0175] <Effects of the second embodiment> (1) In this embodiment, a standby mode by process SA2 and a product sales mode by process SB10 are set according to the determination results of processes SA5 and SB8. The standby time for the standby mode is set to a longer interval than the standby time for the product sales mode. This configuration reduces the power consumption of the battery 206, and the detection unit 200 can generate sales information for product sales management over a relatively long period of time.

[0176] (2) In this embodiment, the detection unit 200 executes the sales detection process SA6 shown in Figure 11 within the detection control process shown in Figure 10. When the mobile terminal device 180 is located in a predetermined sales area SP, the detection unit 200 transmits sales information to the mobile terminal device 180 by the sales information transmission process SA7 process SC5 shown in Figure 12. With this configuration, the sales information transmission process is not executed frequently, which reduces the power consumption of the battery 206, and the detection unit 200 can generate sales information for product sales management over a relatively long period of time.

[0177] (3) In this embodiment, the detection unit 200 of each vending machine 2 executes the sales detection process SA6 shown in Figure 11 within the detection control process shown in Figure 10. With this configuration, the detection unit 200 of each vending machine 2 can reliably generate sales information without being affected by the communication status with the sales management server 6.

[0178] (4) If this embodiment has the same mechanical configuration as the first embodiment, or performs the same control processing as the first embodiment, the effects that are achieved by the same mechanical configuration or the same control processing will also be achieved in this embodiment. For example, effects (1) to (7) of the first embodiment described above will also be achieved in this embodiment.

[0179] <Correspondence between components> The sales management system 1 and vending machine 2 are examples of the sales management system and product sales device of the present invention. The capsule product 8, handle 16, drum 32, and power transmission mechanism 34 are examples of the product, operating part, discharge member, and power transmission mechanism of the present invention. The connecting plate 52 is an example of the rotating member and connecting member of the present invention. The transmission shaft 44 is an example of the rotating member of the present invention. The rotation axis of the transmission shaft 44 is an example of the operating rotation axis of the present invention. The gripping part 16A and housing recess 16B of the handle 16 are examples of the gripping part and housing recess of the present invention. The space formed by the housing recess 16B of the handle 16 is an example of the housing space of the present invention. The combination of the regulating wall 18, locking pieces 56A, 56B, and a spring (not shown) is an example of the clutch mechanism of the present invention. The front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52 is an example of the vertical mounting surface of the present invention. The predetermined sales area SP is an example of the predetermined sales area of ​​the present invention. Detection units 100, 200, 300, and 400 are examples of detection units of the present invention. Acceleration sensors 130 and 230 are examples of acceleration sensors of the present invention. CPUs 110 and 210 are examples of control units of the present invention. RAMs 114 and 214, and data holding units 118 and 218 are examples of storage units of the present invention. Batteries 106 and 206 are examples of power supply units of the present invention. Detection information calculated by processing units FA7 and SB3 is an example of detection information of the present invention. Relay device 4, sales management server 6, and mobile terminal device 180 are examples of external devices of the present invention. The combination of relay device 4 and sales management server 6, or the combination of mobile terminal device 180 and sales management server 6, is an example of a management device of the present invention. Mobile terminal device 180 and sales management server 6 are examples of a mobile terminal device and a management server of the present invention. The detection operation of detection measurement units 104 and 204 is an example of a detection step of the present invention. Processes FA6, FA7, or SB3, SB10 are examples of acquisition steps of the present invention. Processes FA5, SA5 are examples of change determination processes of the present invention. The combination of processes FA2, SA2 and processes FA6, SB10 is an example of mode setting processes of the present invention. Processes FB7, FB8, or processes SB5, SB6 are examples of calculation processes and calculation steps of the present invention.Processes FB9 and SB7 are examples of the cumulative processing and cumulative steps of the present invention. Processes FB10 and SB8 are examples of the angle determination processing and angle determination steps of the present invention. Process FA8 is an example of the transmission processing of the present invention.

[0180] [Differentiation] The present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from its spirit. An example of such modifications is described below.

[0181] (1) In the first and second embodiments of this invention, the detection units 100 and 200 are attached to the front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52, but the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the detection unit 300 may be attached to the rear mounting surface 16D located in the housing recess 16B of the handle 16, as shown in Figure 14. The detection unit 300 incorporates an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor detects acceleration acting in two orthogonal axial directions. In a modified example, when the detection unit 300 is in the position shown in Figure 14, the X-axis direction of the acceleration sensor is parallel to the left-right direction, with the right direction being the positive X-axis. The Y-axis direction of the acceleration sensor is parallel to the up-down direction, with the up direction being the positive Y-axis. The X-axis and Y-axis directions of the acceleration sensor change with respect to the vertical direction as the detection unit 300 rotates with the handle 16, and the acceleration sensor detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the acceleration sensor in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. In the modified example, if a configuration is adopted in which the cross product of two vectors is calculated and information P is calculated, similar to processes FB7, SB5 and FB8, SB6 in both embodiments, then when the handle 16 is rotated counterclockwise within the range of play, information P is calculated as information indicating a negative angle. Also in the modified example, when the handle 16 is rotated by a large angle such as 180 degrees counterclockwise, the control processing unit of the detection unit 300 performs detection control operations so that the rotation angle of the handle 16 is not detected until the positive X-axis and positive Y-axis of the acceleration sensor return to the directions shown in Figure 14.

[0182] (2) In the first and second embodiments of this invention, the detection units 100 and 200 are attached to the front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52, and in the modified example shown in Figure 14, the detection unit 300 is attached to the rear mounting surface 16D located in the housing recess 16B of the handle 16, but the invention is not limited to these configurations. For example, in the modified example shown in Figure 15, the detection unit 400 is attached to the transmission shaft 44, which is one component of the power transmission mechanism 34. Normally, the interior of each vending machine 2 is configured so that when a salesperson removes the housing 12 from the casing 10 of the vending machine 2 in order to replenish or replace the capsule product 8, they can easily reach their fingers to the transmission shaft 44, thus making it easy to attach the detection unit 400 to the transmission shaft 44 and to perform maintenance and inspection work on the detection unit 400 after attachment.

[0183] A brief explanation will be given for the modified configuration shown in Figure 15. In the modified configuration shown in Figure 15, the same component parts as in the first embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 4 are numbered the same way. In Figure 15, the inside of the vending machine 2 is shown with the housing 12 removed from the casing 10 and the drum 32 of the product dispensing mechanism 30 omitted. The detection unit 400 is attached to a mounting base 402 fixed to the transmission shaft 44. The detection unit 400 incorporates an acceleration sensor. The acceleration sensor detects acceleration acting in three orthogonal axis directions. In the modified configuration, when the detection unit 400 is in the position shown in Figure 15, the X-axis direction of the acceleration sensor is parallel to the front-back direction, with the front direction set to the positive X-axis direction. The Y-axis direction of the acceleration sensor is parallel to the left-right direction, with the right direction set to the positive Y-axis direction. The Z-axis direction of the acceleration sensor is parallel to the up-down direction, with the down direction set to the positive Z-axis direction. The Y-axis and Z-axis directions of the acceleration sensor change relative to the vertical as the detection unit 400 rotates together with the transmission shaft 44, and the acceleration sensor detects the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration acting on the acceleration sensor in the Y-axis and Z-axis directions.

[0184] (3) In the first and second embodiments, the handle 16 is connected to the connecting plate 52 via a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes a locking mechanism 54 of the connecting mechanism 36 and a regulating wall 18 of the handle 16. The handle 16 is configured to rotate counterclockwise by the clutch mechanism, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, the handle 16 may be configured to rotate only clockwise without a clutch mechanism.

[0185] (4) In the first and second embodiments, the detection units 100 and 200 are attached to the front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52 which is parallel to the vertical direction, and the acceleration sensors 130 and 230 are configured to detect the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the directions of two axes, the X axis and the Y axis, but the embodiment is not limited to this configuration. For example, even if the front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52 is positioned at an angle to the vertical direction, the acceleration sensors may be configured to detect the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the directions of three mutually orthogonal axes.

[0186] (5) In the first and second embodiments, the connecting plate 52 is configured to rotate around the axis of the transmission shaft 44, which is the rotation axis of the handle 16, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, any axis that intersects the X-axis and Y-axis directions of the detection units 100 and 200, respectively, and that intersects the vertical direction, can be the axis around which the connecting plate 52 rotates, even if it intersects the rotation axis of the handle 16.

[0187] (6) In the first embodiment, the relay device 4 is configured to have only the function of transmitting detection information sent from each vending machine 2's detection unit 100 to the sales management server 6, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the relay device 4 may be configured to perform the sales detection process shown in Figure 7 on behalf of the sales management server 6 and transmit sales information including the sales time and vending machine number to the sales management server 6.

[0188] (7) In the first and second embodiments, the detection control process shown in Figures 6 and 10 is configured to start when the batteries 106 and 206 are installed in the detection units 100 and 200, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, the detection units 100 and 200 may be equipped with an activation switch, and the detection control process may be started when a salesperson operates the activation switch after the detection units 100 and 200 have been attached to the front mounting surface 52A of the connecting plate 52. In this modified example, it is possible to prevent the detection unit from transmitting unnecessary detection information while the salesperson is attaching the detection unit.

[0189] (8) In the first and second embodiments, the standby mode or product sales mode is set by the processes FA2, FA6, SA2, and SB10 according to the determination results of the processes FA5 and SA5, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, if the detection units 100 and 200 are equipped with a real-time clock circuit that generates the current time or a built-in clock function, the configuration may be such that it is determined whether or not it is nighttime according to the current time, and if it is nighttime, the standby mode is set, and if it is not nighttime, the product sales mode is set.

[0190] (9) In the first and second embodiments, the system is configured such that 1 second is set as the waiting time in standby mode by processes FA2 and SA2, and 0.2 seconds is set as the waiting time in product sales mode by processes FA6 and SB10, but the system is not limited to this configuration. For example, the waiting time in standby mode should be set to a time interval that can reliably detect the start of the user's rotation of the handle 16 for each purchase when the user makes consecutive purchases of capsule products 8, and may be set to a time that is well longer than 1 second. Similarly, the waiting time in product sales mode should be set to a time interval that can detect the user rotating the handle 16 in a clockwise direction, and may be set to a time that is well longer than 0.2 seconds.

[0191] (10) In the first and second embodiments, sales information is transmitted to the sales management server 6 by processing FA8, processing SC5, and processing SD5, but the content of the transmitted sales information is not limited to these two embodiments. For example, immediately after a user carrying a mobile terminal device purchases a capsule product 8 from a specific vending machine 2, the user's mobile terminal device communicates with the detection units 100 and 200 of the specific vending machine 2 in order to obtain special points associated with the purchase, and user identification information that identifies the user is stored in the RAM 114 and 214 of the detection units 100 and 200. In this modified example, the stored user identification information and sales information including the vending machine number are transmitted to the sales management server 6.

[0192] (11) In the first and second embodiments, the cross product of a first vector represented by the detection information received first and a second vector represented by the detection information received next is calculated by the processes FB7, FB8, SB5, and SB6, and information P representing the angle between the two vectors is calculated based on the cross product. However, the system is not limited to this configuration, and various methods can be considered for calculating information P. For example, information P may be calculated based on the dot product of the first vector and the second vector. Alternatively, information P may be calculated based on the difference of the inverse trigonometric functions (arctan) of the tangent values ​​(tan) of the X-axis component and Y-axis component of each vector.

[0193] (12) In the first and second embodiments, X-axis detection information and Y-axis detection information are generated in processes FA3, FA7 and SA3, SB3 by the measurement operation of the detection and measurement units 104, 204 and the calculation operation of the CPUs 110, 210 of the control processing units 102, 202, but the embodiment is not limited to this configuration. For example, the detection and measurement units 104, 204 may include a calculation unit that performs calculation operations equivalent to the calculation operations of the CPUs 110, 210. Furthermore, the detection and measurement unit that generates X-axis detection information and Y-axis detection information may include a frequency conversion means whose frequency changes according to a change in capacitance in an acceleration sensor, a counting means that counts the number of signals output from the frequency conversion means within a certain period of time, and a substitution means that replaces the counting result of the counting means with detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in each axis direction.

[0194] (13) In the first and second embodiments, the detection and measurement units 104 and 204 are configured to include low-pass filters 138 and 238, but they may also be configured without these low-pass filters. Since the acceleration due to gravity is sufficiently larger than the dynamic acceleration generated as the connecting plate 52 rotates, even in a configuration without low-pass filters, the voltages output from the inverting summing circuits 136 and 236 will be values ​​that sufficiently reflect the change in the magnitude of the acceleration due to gravity.

[0195] (14) In the first and second embodiments, in processes FA3, FA7 and SA3, SB3, the X-axis detection information and Y-axis detection information are calculated based on digital information transmitted from the A / D converters 140, 240 of the detection and measurement units 104, 204, and are information that changes between positive and negative values, but are not limited to the format of the detection information in both embodiments. If the X-axis detection information and Y-axis detection information represent the change in the magnitude of gravitational acceleration in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, for example, each piece of detection information may change only by positive or negative values ​​in response to a change in the capacitance of one of the first and second capacitors of the acceleration sensor. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0196] 1. Sales Management System 2. 2A~2W Vending Machine 6. Sales Management Server 8 capsules 16 handle 16A Grip 16B Recessed area 18 Restrictive wall section 32 drums 34 Power transmission mechanism 36 Connection mechanism 44 Transmission shaft 52 Connecting plate 52A Front mounting surface 56A, 56B Locking piece 100, 200, 300, 400 detection units 106,206 batteries 110, 210 CPU 114, 214 RAM 118, 218 Data storage section 130, 230 accelerometer 180 Mobile terminal devices SP Designated Sales Area

Claims

1. A rotation operation detection device for a product sales device, comprising an operating unit that can be rotated by a user, and a discharge member that discharges products in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operating unit, The operating unit, or the rotating member linked to the rotational operation of the operating unit, is rotatable about an operating rotation axis that intersects the vertical direction. It includes an operating unit or a detection unit fixed to a rotating member, The detection unit is, An acceleration sensor that detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating part or rotating member in at least two mutually orthogonal directions, at least two directions that intersect the operating rotation axis, A storage unit that stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, A control unit that stores detection information in a storage unit at predetermined time intervals in order to detect the angle of rotation of the operating unit or the rotating member, A rotation operation detection device for a product sales apparatus, comprising a storage unit and a power supply unit that supplies power to the control unit, respectively.

2. The product sales device comprises a power transmission mechanism that transmits the rotational force generated by the user's rotation of the operating part to a discharge member, and a connecting member that connects the operating part to the power transmission mechanism. The rotation operation detection device for a product sales device according to claim 1, wherein the operating part has a gripping portion on the surface side of the operating part that is exposed from the product sales device, which can be grasped by a user, and on the back side of the operating part that is not exposed from the product sales device, there is a housing space between the operating part and the connecting member for housing a detection unit.

3. The product sales device is equipped with a clutch mechanism that transmits the rotation of an operating part in a predetermined direction to a connecting member, and blocks the transmission of the rotation of an operating part in the opposite direction to the predetermined direction to the connecting member. The operating section is connected to the connecting member via a clutch mechanism. A rotation operation detection device for a product sales device according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit is fixed to a connecting member as a rotating member inside the housing space.

4. The operating part or rotating member has a mounting surface located within the housing space between the operating part and the connecting member, and the mounting surface is perpendicular to the operating rotation axis which is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The rotation operation detection device for a product sales device according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit is fixed to the mounting surface such that the two axes of the acceleration sensor are parallel to the mounting surface.

5. The operating section has a gripping portion on the front surface of the operating section that is exposed from the product dispensing device, which can be grasped by the user, and a housing recess for housing a detection unit on the back surface of the operating section that is not exposed from the product dispensing device. The rotation operation detection device for a product sales device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is housed in a housing recess and fixed to the operating part.

6. The product sales device comprises a power transmission mechanism that transmits the rotational force generated by the user's rotation of the operating part to a discharge member, and a connecting member that connects the operating part to the power transmission mechanism. The power transmission mechanism includes a transmission shaft as a rotating member, which extends along the operating rotation axis and is rotatable about the operating rotation axis. The detection unit is fixed to the transmission shaft, and the rotation operation detection device for the product sales device according to claim 1.

7. The control unit has a standby mode and a product sales mode. The control unit is A change determination process that determines whether the detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor has changed by more than a predetermined value, In the change detection process, when it is determined that the detected information does not change by more than a predetermined value, a standby mode is set, and when it is determined that the detected information has changed by more than a predetermined value, a mode setting process is executed to set the product sales mode. The rotation operation detection device for a product sales device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time interval in standby mode in which detection information is stored in the storage unit is set to be longer than the predetermined time interval in product sales mode in which detection information is stored in the storage unit.

8. The control unit is A rotation operation detection device for a product sales device according to claim 7, further performing a transmission process for transmitting identification information that identifies the product sales device and detection information stored in a memory unit to an external device.

9. The control unit is A rotation operation detection device for a product sales device according to claim 7, further comprising a calculation process that calculates the angle of rotation of the operating unit or the rotating member based on detection information stored in the memory unit.

10. The memory unit stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor, as well as identification information to identify the product sales device. The control unit is A calculation process that calculates the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the previously stored detection information in the memory unit and the currently stored detection information in the memory unit, The cumulative process involves accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation process to calculate the cumulative angle, An angle determination process that determines whether the cumulative angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle by which the operating unit rotates until the product is discharged by the discharge member, A rotation operation detection device for a product sales device according to claim 1, which performs a transmission process that transmits sales information including the judgment result obtained by angle judgment processing and identification information to an external device.

11. A rotation operation detection program is performed by a computer that manages the quantity of goods sold based on detection information for a product sales device, comprising: an operating unit that can be rotated by a user; a discharge member that discharges goods in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operating unit; and a detection unit that generates detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or the rotating member linked to the rotation operation of the operating unit in the directions of at least two mutually orthogonal axes, wherein the operating unit or the rotating member is rotatable about an operating rotation axis that intersects the vertical direction and intersects the directions of at least two mutually orthogonal axes, wherein the rotation operation detection program is performed by a computer that manages the quantity of goods sold based on detection information. The acquisition step involves acquiring detection information generated by the detection unit by storing it in a memory unit at predetermined time intervals. A calculation step that calculates the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the detection information obtained previously and the detection information obtained this time, The cumulative step calculates the cumulative angle by accumulating the angles calculated in the calculation step, A rotation operation detection program for a product sales device that causes a computer to perform an angle determination step, which determines whether or not the cumulative angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle by which the operating part rotates until the product is discharged by the discharge member.

12. A method for detecting rotational operation for a product sales device, comprising an operating unit that can be rotated by a user, and a discharge member that discharges products in conjunction with the rotational operation of the operating unit, wherein the operating unit, or the rotating member that is linked to the rotational operation of the operating unit, is rotatable around an operating rotation axis intersecting the vertical direction, A detection step that generates detection information representing the magnitude of the gravitational acceleration acting on the operating unit or rotating member in directions of at least two mutually orthogonal axes, at least two of which intersect the operating rotation axis, The detection step involves acquiring the detection information generated by the detection step by storing it in a memory unit at predetermined time intervals. A calculation step that calculates the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the detection information obtained previously and the detection information obtained this time, The cumulative step calculates the cumulative angle by accumulating the angles calculated in the calculation step, A rotation operation detection method for a product sales device, comprising: an angle determination step of determining whether or not the cumulative angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle by which the operating part rotates until the product is discharged by the discharge member.

13. A rotation operation detection method for a product sales device according to claim 12, wherein the calculation step involves calculating the cross product of a first vector representing the direction and magnitude of gravitational acceleration represented by previously acquired detection information and a second vector representing the direction and magnitude of gravitational acceleration represented by currently acquired detection information, and based on the result of the calculation of the cross product, the angle formed by the first vector and the second vector is calculated as the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member.

14. In a sales management system comprising multiple product sales devices and a management device capable of communicating with each of the multiple product sales devices, Each product sales device, A control unit that can be rotated by the user, A discharge member that discharges products in conjunction with the rotation operation of the control unit, It comprises an operating unit, or a detection unit fixed to a rotating member that is linked to the rotation operation of the operating unit, The operating part or rotating member is rotatable about an operating rotation axis that intersects the vertical direction. The detection unit is, An acceleration sensor that detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating part or rotating member in at least two mutually orthogonal directions, at least two directions that intersect the operating rotation axis, A storage unit that stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor, and also stores identification information for identifying each product sales device, A control unit that stores detection information from an acceleration sensor in a storage unit at predetermined time intervals in order to detect the angle of rotation of an operating unit or a rotating member, and a control unit that transmits the detection information and identification information to a management device, It includes a storage unit and a power supply unit that supplies power to the control unit, respectively. The control device is A calculation process that calculates the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the previously stored detection information in the memory unit and the currently stored detection information in the memory unit, The cumulative process involves accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation process to calculate the cumulative angle, A sales management system that performs an angle determination process to determine whether the cumulative angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle by which the operating unit rotates before the product is discharged by the discharge component.

15. A sales management system comprising: a plurality of product sales devices arranged in a predetermined sales area; a portable terminal device capable of wirelessly communicating with each of the plurality of product sales devices; and a management server capable of communicating with the portable terminal device via a network, the management server collecting and storing sales information, Each product sales device, A control unit that can be rotated by the user, A discharge member that discharges products in conjunction with the rotation operation of the control unit, It comprises an operating unit, or a detection unit fixed to a rotating member that is linked to the rotation operation of the operating unit, The operating part or rotating member is rotatable about an operating rotation axis that intersects the vertical direction. The detection unit is, An acceleration sensor that detects the magnitude of gravitational acceleration acting on the operating part or rotating member in at least two mutually orthogonal directions, at least two directions that intersect the operating rotation axis, A storage unit that stores detection information representing the magnitude of gravitational acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor, and also stores identification information for identifying each product sales device, A control unit that stores detection information from an acceleration sensor in a storage unit at predetermined time intervals in order to detect the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member, It includes a storage unit and a power supply unit that supplies power to the control unit, respectively. The control unit is A calculation process that calculates the angle of rotation of the operating unit or rotating member based on the previously stored detection information in the memory unit and the currently stored detection information in the memory unit, The cumulative process involves accumulating the angles calculated by the calculation process to calculate the cumulative angle, An angle determination process that determines whether the cumulative angle has reached a predetermined angle corresponding to the angle by which the operating unit rotates until the product is discharged by the discharge member, When a mobile terminal device is located within a predetermined sales area or within an area adjacent to a predetermined sales area, the system performs a transmission process that transmits sales information, including the determination result from the angle determination process and identification information, to the mobile terminal device. The mobile terminal device is a sales management system that transmits sales information, which is transmitted by the transmission processing of the control unit, to a management server.

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