Vending machines

Abstract

To provide an automatic vending machine that reduces the occurrence of a trouble as much as possible that a commodity is jammed in an automatic vending machine after payment of the commodity, thereby eliminating the need for refunding process of the paid amount to the user.SOLUTION: Provided is an automatic vending machine 100 comprising: a commodity accommodation unit 30; a commodity selection button 13; a commodity outlet 12; a selected commodity forwarding mechanism 40 for sending a selected commodity 20 to the commodity outlet 12; an automatic opening / closing shutter 14 for shuttering the commodity outlet 12 for locking as a base state; a payment unit 50; an operation control unit 70; and an unpaid commodity storage 90 for storing a commodity 20 sent out to the commodity outlet 12 when payment at the payment unit 50 is not completed. The operation control unit 70 executes a process for sending out a selected commodity 20 to the commodity outlet 12, a process for unlocking the automatic opening / closing shutter 14 when payment is completed and opening the commodity outlet 12, and a process for storing a commodity 20 from the commodity outlet 12 in the unpaid commodity storage 90 in the event of payment failure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] While the trend toward cashless payment methods for vending machines is growing, the need for cash payment systems in Japan remains high, and the abolition of cash payment systems has not yet been reached. For this reason, it is expected that cash payment systems and cashless payment systems will coexist in vending machines in Japan for the time being. A configuration of a vending machine that allows you to select between such a cash payment system and a cashless payment system is known, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication No. 2021-92961). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-92961 A (Claim 8, Claim 11, etc.) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The vending machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to allow a user who is a product purchaser to select either cash payment or multiple graphic code payments as cashless payment, which is useful as it increases the freedom of payment options for users. Conventional vending machines, including the vending machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, have a problem that if a malfunction occurs inside the vending machine, such as a product getting stuck, after the product price has been paid by cashless payment, the process of returning the product price to the user who made the cashless payment is complicated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention is therefore intended to solve the above problems, and has the following objective: to provide a vending machine that can significantly reduce the number of times payment is returned to users by minimizing the occurrence of problems such as products becoming stuck inside the vending machine after payment for the product has been made.

[0006] As a result of intensive research by the inventors to solve the above problems, the inventors have come up with the following configuration: That is, the present invention comprises a plurality of product storage sections in which products are stored, a product selection button, a product outlet, a selected product delivery mechanism that delivers the product selected by the product selection button from one of the product storage sections to the product outlet, an automatic opening and closing shutter that is attached to the product outlet and has a locked state that closes the product outlet as a basic state, a payment section, an operation control section that controls the overall operation of the vending machine, and an unpaid product storage cabinet that stores the product delivered to the product outlet when payment is not completed in the payment section, and the operation control section drives the selected product delivery mechanism to deliver the selected product to the product outlet after the product selection button is operated to select the product. a process of unlocking the automatic opening and closing shutter and opening the product outlet so that the product can be removed from the product outlet if payment has been completed in the payment unit after the selected product has been sent to the product outlet; a process of returning the automatic opening and closing shutter to the basic state after the product has been removed from the product outlet or after a preset unlocking time has elapsed; and a process of storing the product sent to the product outlet in the unpaid product storage vault without unlocking the automatic opening and closing shutter if payment has not been completed in the payment unit after the selected product has been sent to the product outlet.

[0007] This prevents the product from getting stuck in the vending machine after the payment for the product has been made by transporting the product selected by the user to a position immediately before the product outlet before the payment for the product has been made. This ensures that the product can be provided to the user after the payment for the product, and it is possible to significantly reduce the occurrence of the process of refunding the payment amount to the user. In addition, if the payment for the product cannot be made, the product that has been taken out from the product storage section to the product outlet can be stored in an unpaid product storage, thereby keeping the product outlet free.

[0008] It is also preferable that a plurality of the unpaid product storage facilities are provided, each with an identifier set thereto, and that the operation control unit further executes a storage facility product data storage process for storing in the storage facility product data in the memory unit, with at least the product name of the product stored in the unpaid product storage facility after execution of the process of storing the product in the unpaid product storage facility, linked to the identifier of the unpaid product storage facility.

[0009] This allows the products stored in each unsettled product storage to be ascertained, and product management can be carried out reliably.

[0010] In addition, it is preferable that the operation control unit further executes a process of sending the product stored in the unsettled product storage to the product removal outlet when the product selected by the product selection button matches the product corresponding to the storage warehouse product data.

[0011] This allows the products stored in the unsettled product storage to be sold, and prevents the products from being wasted.

[0012] It is also preferable that a product removal detection sensor capable of detecting that the product has been removed is disposed at the product removal outlet, and when the product is removed from the product removal outlet, the product removal detection sensor transmits a product removal detection signal to the operation control unit, and when the operation control unit receives the product removal detection signal, it further executes a process of setting the automatic opening / closing shutter to the basic state even if the product is within the lock release time range.

[0013] This makes it possible to minimize the open time of the automatic opening / closing shutter covering the product outlet, thereby minimizing temperature changes inside the vending machine and contributing to energy savings.

[0014] In addition, it is preferable that the selected product discharge mechanism comprises a product discharge body which discharges the product from the product storage section, a bucket which receives the product at a forward position in the discharge direction of the product discharge body, and a bucket drive unit which reciprocates the bucket between the forward position in the discharge direction of the product discharge body in each of the product storage sections and the product removal outlet, and that the unsettled product storage facility is arranged adjacent to the bucket on the rear side of the bucket.

[0015] This allows the products to be handled carefully while being transported from the product storage section to the product outlet, prevents damage to the products, and increases the variety of products available. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the configuration of the vending machine of the present invention, when a user selects a product to purchase, the selected product is transported to a position immediately before the product outlet before the payment of the product price, thereby preventing the product from becoming jammed in the vending machine after the product price is paid cashlessly. Therefore, the product can be reliably provided to the user after the product price is paid, and the occurrence of the process of refunding the payment amount to the user can be significantly reduced. In addition, if the product price cannot be paid, the product that has been taken out from the product storage section to the product outlet can be stored in an unpaid product storage, thereby keeping the product outlet free. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vending system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a right side view showing a schematic internal structure of the vending machine according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 4 is a schematic process flow diagram when a product is sold by the vending machine in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a vending machine according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a schematic internal front view of a vending machine according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a schematic internal plan view of a vending machine according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Below, a vending system 400 using a vending machine 100, the Internet 200, and a cashless payment server 300 in this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] (First embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 100 in this embodiment includes a box-shaped housing 10, a plurality of product storage sections 30 capable of storing a plurality of products 20, a selected product delivery mechanism 40, a payment section 50, a communication section 60, an operation control section 70, a display section 80, and an unsettled product storage 90. The product storage section 30, the selected product delivery mechanism 40, the payment section 50, the communication section 60, the operation control section 70, the display section 80, and the unsettled product storage 90 are housed inside the housing 10. The other components are the same as those in a general vending machine 100, so detailed description here is omitted. As shown in FIG. 1, the vending machine 100 in this embodiment is connected to a cashless payment server 300 via the Internet 200 and constitutes a part of a vending system 400.

[0020] The housing 10 of the vending machine 100 is formed by assembling insulating panels into a box shape. The internal space of the housing 10 is maintained at a predetermined set temperature by a temperature control device (not shown). As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the internal space of the housing 10 contains a plurality of product storage sections 30 capable of storing a plurality of products 20. On the front side of the housing 10, a product display 11 that displays a product sample S, a product selection button 13, and a display section 80 are arranged, and a contact section 53 of a payment section 50 is arranged in a state exposed to the outside of the housing 10.

[0021] The product outlet 12 is disposed in a lower portion of the internal space of the housing 10, and opens to the front side of the housing 10 at the position of the opening 12A. The product outlet 12 is provided with an automatic opening / closing shutter 14 having thermal insulation properties that can close and open the opening 12A on the front side of the housing 10. The automatic opening / closing shutter 14 is in a locked state in which the shutter driving unit 16 closes the opening 12A of the product outlet 12 in the basic state. In addition, the product outlet 12 may be provided with a product removal detection sensor 18 that detects that a product 20 has been removed from the product outlet 12. The product removal detection sensor 18 transmits a product removal detection signal to the operation control unit 70. An unsettled product storage 90 is provided below the product outlet 12 to store the products 20 that have been carried from the product storage unit 30 to the product outlet 12 and have not been settled. A bottom plate 12B of the product outlet 12 is formed as a V-shaped plate that is rotatably supported in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 by a motor 92, which serves as an unsettled product storage section.

[0022] A plurality of unsettled product storage units 90 for storing products 20 for which payment has not been completed are disposed below the bottom plate 12B of the product outlet 12. The unsettled product storage units 90 are preferably disposed directly below the bottom plate 12B, but the unsettled product storage units 90 do not have to be disposed directly below the bottom plate 12B by disposing a guide body G below the bottom plate 12B. The unsettled product storage units 90 are attached to a belt 94 as a circulating conveyor at required intervals. The belt 94 can be circulated within the space directly below the product outlet 12 by a belt drive unit 96. The on / off operation of the belt drive unit 96 is controlled by the operation control unit 70. An identifier is assigned to each unsettled product storage unit 90.

[0023] The product storage section 30 in this embodiment is a serpentine-type product storage section 30 (serpentine column) that stores the products 20 by stacking them vertically. It should be noted that the product storage section 30 in the present invention is not limited to a serpentine column. A product stopper 42 is disposed at the lower end of the product storage section 30 as part of the selected product delivery mechanism 40. The product stopper 42 extends and retracts in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 to dispense the products 20 one by one. The extension and retraction operation of the product stopper 42 is controlled by the operation control section 70.

[0024] The settlement unit 50 in this embodiment has a cash settlement unit 51 and a cashless settlement unit 52, and the process flow for these payments is publicly known, so a detailed description will be omitted here. The cashless settlement unit 52 is capable of communicating transaction data with a cashless settlement server 300 operated by a cashless settlement company via a contact unit 53, a communication unit 60, and the Internet 200. The operation of the settlement unit 50 is controlled by an operation control unit 70 that controls the overall operation of the vending machine 100. The operation control unit 70 has a memory unit 72 in which an operation control program is stored, and a calculation unit 74 that controls the operation of each component in the vending machine 100 based on the operation control program.

[0025] An example of the display unit 80 in this embodiment is a display monitor. The display unit 80 displays various information about the products 20 sold in the vending machine 100, a process flow for purchasing the products 20, and the like. The display monitor is preferably a touch panel type. The operation (display contents) of the display unit 80 is controlled by the operation control unit 70. Also, in this embodiment, a physical product display 11 using a product sample S is employed, but if the display unit 80 displays images of the products 20 available, the arrangement of the physical product display 11 can be omitted.

[0026] Next, the process flow performed when purchasing a product 20 through the vending system 400 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. When a user refers to the product display 11 of the vending machine 100 and selects a product 20 that the user wishes to purchase using the product selection button 13, the operation control unit 70 performs a process (purchase-request product confirmation process) to display an image and product name of the selected product 20 on the display unit 80. The operation control unit 70 also performs a process (purchase process flow display process) to display a menu of future processes.

[0027] The user operates the processing menu on the display unit 80, selects to proceed with cashless payment as the payment method for the price of the product 20, and taps or otherwise selects the corresponding processing menu (product payment determination processing). Then, the operation control unit 70 performs processing to turn off the product stopper 42 of the product storage unit 30 in which the selected product 20 is stored. As a result, the product 20 selected by the user is sent out to the product removal opening 12 before payment for the product 20 is made (selected product sending processing). However, the product removal opening 12 is blocked by the automatic opening / closing shutter 14, and the user is unable to remove the product 20 before payment is made.

[0028] Following the message displayed on the display unit 80, the user makes payment for the product 20 by bringing their smartphone, on which a payment app is installed as a cashless payment means, close to or into contact with the contact unit 53 of the payment unit 50 (product payment process). When the operation control unit 70 confirms receipt of a notification of payment completion from the cashless payment server 300 via the communication unit 60 and the Internet 200 (YES in the payment result confirmation process), it operates the shutter drive unit 16 to perform a process of opening the automatic opening / closing shutter 14 for a preset unlock time (shutter unlock process). After the product outlet 12 is released, the user can take out the product 20 from the product outlet 12.

[0029] After the operation control unit 70 has opened the automatic opening / closing shutter 14 for the unlocking time, or if it has received a product removal detection signal from the product removal detection sensor 18, before the unlocking time has elapsed, it operates the shutter drive unit 16 to close and relock the automatic opening / closing shutter 14, thereby performing a process (shutter re-lock process) to return the automatic opening / closing shutter 14 to its basic state.

[0030] In this way, by sending the product 20 selected by the user to the product removal outlet 12 before payment, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of the product 20 becoming unable to be removed due to the product 20 becoming clogged inside the vending machine 100 after payment for the product 20. This prevents the occurrence of a situation in which the product 20 cannot be handed over to the user after cashless payment, and significantly reduces the risk of refunding the product price already paid to the user.

[0031] After the shutter lock release process, the operation control unit 70 checks the product inventory status in the product storage unit 30 (product storage unit product inventory check process). At this time, if the product 20 is in stock in the product storage unit 30 (YES in the product storage unit product inventory check process), the operation control unit 70 temporarily ends (ENDs) the subsequent processing flow and waits until the next sales opportunity. On the other hand, if the product storage unit 30 does not have the product 20 in stock in the product storage unit product inventory check process (NO in the product storage unit product inventory check process), the operation control unit 70 checks whether the product 20 that is out of stock in the product storage unit 30 is stored in the unsettled product storage vault 90 (product storage unit out-of-stock product storage vault inventory check process).

[0032] If the unsettled product storage 90 contains a product 20 that is out of stock in the product storage section 30 (YES in the product storage section out-of-stock product storage inventory confirmation process), the operation control unit 70 ends (ENDs) the subsequent processing flow and waits until the next sales opportunity. On the other hand, if the unsettled product storage 90 does not contain a product 20 that is out of stock in the product storage section 30 (NO in the product storage section out-of-stock product storage inventory confirmation process), the operation control unit 70 displays that the product 20 is sold out on the product selection button 13 or the display unit 80 (product sold out display process), and then ends (ENDs) the subsequent processing flow and waits until the next sales opportunity.

[0033] Furthermore, if the user's cashless payment cannot be completed for some reason (NO in the payment result confirmation process), the operation control unit 70 performs a process of storing the product 20 carried out to the product outlet 12 in the unpaid product storage 90 (unpaid product storage process) without releasing the lock state of the automatic opening / closing shutter 14. Specifically, when the operation control unit 70 receives a notice of payment failure from the cashless payment server 300 via the communication unit 60, the operation control unit 70 performs a process of maintaining the basic state of the automatic opening / closing shutter 14 and activating the motor 92, which is the unpaid product storage unit, to rotate the bottom plate 12B on which the product 20 is placed, by 360 degrees. This allows the product 20 in the product outlet 12 that was placed on the bottom plate 12B to be stored in the unpaid product storage 90, and the bottom plate 12B to be returned to its original position.

[0034] After the execution of the unpaid product storage process, the operation control unit 70 performs a process (storage product data storage process) of storing the identifier of the unpaid product storage 90 and data on the stored product 20 (product name, storage date and time, transaction number for which the payment was not completed, etc.) in a linked state in the memory unit 72. Next, the operation control unit 70 operates the belt drive unit 96 to advance the belt 94 by a required length, and performs a process of making the empty unpaid product storage 90 wait in a position directly below the product removal opening 12 (storage circulation process).

[0035] The operation control unit 70 can also perform a process of linking the unsettled products 20 stored in the unsettled product storage 90 stored in the storage unit 72 in the storage product data storage process with the selected product signal transmitted to the operation control unit 70 by the operation of the product selection button 13 (storage product sales registration process). This allows the product 20 stored in the unsettled product storage 90 to be sold even if the product 20 is not stored in the product storage unit 30. When selling the product 20 stored in the unsettled product storage 90, the operation control unit 70 controls the product return unit (not shown) appropriately arranged in the internal space of the housing 10 to return the product 20 stored in the unsettled product storage 90 to the product take-out port 12 (resale product return process). Since the unsettled product storage 90 is stored in the internal space of the housing 10, it is possible to provide the product at the same temperature as the product 20 stored in the product storage unit 30.

[0036] After the resale product return process, the operation control unit 70 performs a process of deleting information about the product 20 that was linked to the unpaid product storage 90 from which the product 20 was removed (storage product data deletion process), and then repeats the process from the product payment process onwards. The above storage product sales registration process, resale product return process and storage product data deletion process correspond to the storage product sales process in the claims.

[0037] Furthermore, when even one product 20 is stored in the unsettled product storage 90, the operation control unit 70 checks the product inventory status of the product storage unit 30 (product storage unit product inventory check process). The product storage unit product inventory check process is preferably performed after the shutter lock release process. At this time, if the product storage unit 30 has product 20 in stock (YES in the product storage unit product inventory check process), the operation control unit 70 temporarily ends (ENDs) the subsequent processing flow and waits until the next sales opportunity. On the other hand, when the product storage unit 30 does not have product 20 in stock (NO in the product storage unit product inventory check process) in the product storage unit product inventory check process, the operation control unit 70 checks whether or not a product 20 that is out of stock in the product storage unit 30 is stored in the unsettled product storage 90 (product storage unit out-of-stock product storage inventory check process).

[0038] If the unsettled product storage 90 contains a product 20 that is out of stock in the product storage section 30 (YES in the product storage section out-of-stock product storage inventory confirmation process), the operation control unit 70 ends (ENDs) the subsequent processing flow and waits until the next sales opportunity. On the other hand, if the unsettled product storage 90 does not contain a product 20 that is out of stock in the product storage section 30 (NO in the product storage section out-of-stock product storage inventory confirmation process), the operation control unit 70 displays that the product 20 is sold out on the product selection button 13 or the display unit 80 (product sold out display process), and then ends (ENDs) the subsequent processing flow and waits until the next sales opportunity.

[0039] Second embodiment Vending Machine In the vending machine 100 in this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment are used for the same components as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description here may be omitted. In this embodiment, the multiple product storage sections 30 are formed by multiple partition plates that are erected in the horizontal direction (depth direction) while facing from the back side to the front side of the housing 10. The length of the product storage section 30 is formed sufficiently shorter than the depth direction length of the housing 10, and a bucket movement space SP is formed between the front end of the product storage section 30 and the front plate of the housing 10. In the lower part of the bucket movement space SP, a plurality of unsettled product storage units 90 are arranged. In this embodiment, the product take-out port 12 is arranged in the lower part of the front plate of the housing 10. An automatic opening and closing shutter 14 is arranged at the opening 12A on the front side of the product take-out port 12. As in the first embodiment, the internal space of the housing 10 can be maintained at the same set temperature.

[0040] The products 20 stored in each product storage section 30 are sent out to the front end of the product storage section 30 by the operation control section 70 controlling the operation of the selected product sending mechanism 40. In this embodiment, the selected product sending mechanism 40 is composed of a push plate 44 as a product sending body, a belt conveyor 45, a bucket 46, and a bucket drive section 47. The push plate 44 is attached to the belt conveyor 45 laid along the extension direction of the product storage section 30. When the operation control section 70 advances the belt conveyor 45 to the front side by the size of one product 20, the product 20 placed on the upper surface of the belt conveyor 45 is sent out by the push plate 44 toward the front end of the product storage section 30 (the side of the bucket movement space SP). In this way, the products 20 displayed in the product storage section 30 are sent out to the bucket 46.

[0041] The configuration of the selected product delivery mechanism 40 is not limited to the above. The push plate 44 may also be attached to an output shaft (not shown) of a fluid cylinder that expands and contracts along the length of the product storage section 30. In this case, by connecting the output shaft of the fluid cylinder to the rear surface of the push plate 44, the products 20 placed in the product storage section 30 can be delivered toward the front end of the product storage section 30.

[0042] In the bucket movement space SP, which is a forward position of the front end of the product storage section 30, a bucket 46 that receives the products 20 sent out from the product storage section 30 waits adjacent to the product storage section 30. The bucket 46 is attached to a bucket drive section 47, the operation of which is controlled by an operation control section 70, so as to be able to slide in the direction of arrow C in Figs. 5 and 6 and to be able to rotate in the direction of arrow D in Figs. 5 and 6. The bucket drive section 47 slides in the direction of arrow E in Figs. 5 and 6. The bucket drive section 47 allows the bucket 46 to move between a forward position of the front end of each product storage section 30 (a forward position in the sending direction of the product sender) and the product take-out opening 12. By adopting such a configuration of the bucket 46 and bucket drive section 47, the products 20 can be sent out from the product storage section 30 to the product take-out opening 12 without giving any impact to the products 20.

[0043] In this embodiment, the unsettled product storage 90 is disposed in a plurality of locations below the product outlet 12, as in the first embodiment. These unsettled product storage 90 are disposed in the internal space of the housing 10 at a location on the rear side of the bucket movement space SP (directly below the location where the product storage section 30 is disposed). In this embodiment, the vending machine 100 moves the products 20 from the product storage section 30 to the product outlet 12 by the bucket 46 and the bucket drive section 47, so the location of the unsettled product storage 90 may be anywhere in the internal space of the housing 10. In addition, the unsettled product storage 90 may be fixed to the location. In this embodiment, the unsettled product storage 90 is disposed adjacent to the bucket 46 on the rear side of the bucket 46.

[0044] After the bucket driving unit 47 moves the bucket 46 to the front side of the unsettled product storage 90, the bucket driving unit 47 rotates the bucket 46 in the direction of arrow D so that the front side of the bucket 46 is higher than the back side. As a result, the unsettled products 20 are stored in the unsettled product storage 90 from the bucket 46. At this time, it is preferable to set the position of the bucket 46 with respect to the unsettled product storage 90 at a position higher than the unsettled product storage 90. Furthermore, if a return pusher (not shown) is provided in the unsettled product storage 90, the products 20 stored in the unsettled product storage 90 can be returned to the bucket 46 and carried to the product outlet 12 for sale. The process flow for reselling the products 20 stored in the unsettled product storage 90 can be performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0045] Although the vending machine 100 according to the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the first embodiment, a form in which cashless payment is selected as the payment method is described, but the present invention is not limited to this form. The payment method for the price of the product 20 can also be cash payment by the cash payment unit 51.

[0046] In the first embodiment, the bottom plate 12B of the product outlet 12 is formed as a V-shaped plate, but the bottom plate 12B may be a flat plate. When a flat plate is used for the bottom plate 12B, it is advantageous in that the unsettled products 20 can be stored in the unsettled product storage 90 and the product outlet 12 can be emptied by rotating the bottom plate 12B 180 degrees with the motor 92.

[0047] In addition, in the first embodiment, the product removal detection sensor 18 is provided at the product removal opening 12, but the product removal detection sensor 18 may be omitted. In this case, the operation control unit 70 opens the automatic opening / closing shutter 14 for a preset predetermined release time, and then operates the shutter drive unit 16 to close and relock the automatic opening / closing shutter 14, and then temporarily ends the sales process flow.

[0048] Also, in the second embodiment, when storing the products 20 from the bucket 46 into the unsettled product storage 90, a storage pusher attached to the bucket 46 can be used as an unsettled product storage section. Also, in the second embodiment, a return pusher is used when returning the products 20 stored in the unsettled product storage 90 to the bucket 46, but the present invention is not limited to this form. It is also possible to adopt a form in which the position of the bucket 46 with respect to the unsettled product storage 90 is set lower than the unsettled product storage 90, and a storage bottom plate lifting fluid cylinder is provided to lift a part of the bottom plate of the unsettled product storage 90 so that the bucket side of the bottom plate of the unsettled product storage 90 is lower.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the operation control unit 70 proceeds to the next processing flow based on whether the payment process for the product 20 has been completed or not by receiving a notification of payment completion from the cashless payment server 300 via the communication unit 60, but this is not limiting. If the user selects to proceed with the payment process for the product 20 and taps the processing menu (product payment decision process) after a preset payment time has elapsed, the operation control unit 70 may execute the shutter re-lock process and subsequent processes.

[0050] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the operation control unit 70 performs a storage unit product sales process to sell the product 20 stored in the unsettled product storage unit 90 when the product storage unit 30 in which the product 20 stored in the unsettled product storage unit 90 is stored does not have the product 20 in stock, but this is not limited to the embodiment. Even if the product 20 stored in the unsettled product storage unit 90 is stored in the product storage unit 30, the operation control unit 70 can also perform a storage unit product sales process without performing a product storage unit out-of-stock product inventory confirmation process so that the product 20 stored in the unsettled product storage unit 90 is sold preferentially over the product 20 stored in the product storage unit 30.

[0051] Also, a priority sales order rule that sets a priority sales order for the products 20 in the unsettled product storage 90 and the products 20 in the product storage section 30 can be stored in advance in the storage section 72. In this case, the operation control section 70 performs storage product sales processing based on the priority sales order rule. If the priority sales order rule is set to give priority to the sale of the products 20 in the unsettled product storage 90, the products 20 with the closest expiration date will be sold first, preventing waste of the products 20. Conversely, if the priority sales order rule is set to give priority to the sale of the products 20 in the product storage section 30, the products 20 in the product storage section 30 will be gone by the time the products 20 in the unsettled product storage 90 are sold. As a result, particularly when the inside of the vending machine 100 is visible, the user considers the product 20 in the unsettled product storage 90 to be spare stock, and is able to acquire the product 20 without realizing that it has been removed from the product storage section 30, and thus does not develop a negative impression of the acquired product 20.

[0052] In the first embodiment, after the products 20 stored in the unsettled product storage 90 are sold, the operation control unit 70 performs a process of erasing the storage product data, but this is not limited to the embodiment. The operation control unit 70 can also erase the storage product data stored in the memory unit 72 after storing the storage product data in the memory unit 72 as stored cosmetic product resale data. This makes it possible to preserve the data of the products 20 once stored in each unsettled product storage 90.

[0053] Furthermore, after performing storage item data storage processing, the operation control unit 70 refers to the storage item data stored in the memory unit 72. At this time, if the same item 20 is stored in multiple unpaid item storage units 90, it is also possible to perform inter-storage item transfer processing to store multiple specified items 20 together in one of the unpaid item storage units 90. In this case, the operation control unit 70 performs storage item quantity data correction processing to change the item quantity data in the storage item data for the unpaid item storage unit 90 that has collected the items 20. Furthermore, the operation control unit 70 performs storage item data deletion processing for the storage item quantity data for the unpaid item storage unit 90 from which the item 20 was removed.

[0054] In addition to the modified examples described above, it is also possible to adopt a form in which the modified examples described in each embodiment are appropriately combined. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10: Housing 11: Product display, 12: Product outlet, 12A: Opening, 12B: Bottom plate, 13: Product selection button, 14: Automatic opening and closing shutter, 16: Shutter drive unit, 18: Product removal detection sensor 20:Product 30: Product storage section 40: Selected product delivery mechanism 42: Product stopper, 44: Push-out plate (product delivery body), 45: Belt conveyor, 46: Bucket, 47: Bucket drive unit 50: Payment department 51: Cash payment section, 52: Cashless payment section, 53: Contact section 60: Communications Department 70: Motion control unit 72: Storage section 80: Display section 90: Unsettled items storage 92: Motor (unsettled product storage section), 94: Belt (circulating conveyor), 96: Belt drive unit 100: Vending machine 200: Internet 300: Cashless payment server 400: Vending system G: Guide body S: Product sample SP: Space for bucket movement

Claims

1. A plurality of product storage sections in which products are stored; Product selection button, A product outlet; a selected product delivery mechanism that delivers the product selected by the product selection button from any one of the product storage units to the product outlet; an automatic opening / closing shutter attached to the product outlet, the automatic opening / closing shutter having a locked state in which the product outlet is closed as a basic state; The payment department, An operation control unit that controls the overall operation of the vending machine; a payment incomplete product storage unit for storing the product sent to the product outlet when the payment is not completed in the payment unit, The operation control unit is a process of driving the selected product delivery mechanism to deliver the selected product to the product outlet after the product selection button is operated to select the product; a process of unlocking the automatic opening / closing shutter and opening the product outlet so that the product can be taken out from the product outlet when payment is completed at the payment unit after the selected product has been sent to the product outlet; a process of returning the automatic opening / closing shutter to the basic state after the product is removed from the product removal opening or after a preset unlocking time has elapsed; and if payment is not completed in the payment section after the selected product is sent to the product outlet, the vending machine executes a process of storing the product sent to the product outlet in the unpaid product storage without unlocking the automatic opening / closing shutter.

2. The unsettled product storage facility is provided in plurality with an identifier set for each of the unsettled product storage facilities, The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a storage unit product data storage process for storing in the memory unit as storage unit product data at least the product name of the product stored in the unpaid product storage unit after the process of storing the product in the unpaid product storage unit is executed, in a state where the product name is linked to the identifier of the unpaid product storage unit.

3. The vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the operation control unit further executes a process of sending the product stored in the unpaid product storage to the product removal outlet when the product selected by the product selection button matches the product corresponding to the storage storage product data.

4. a product removal detection sensor capable of detecting that the product has been removed is disposed at the product removal opening; the product removal detection sensor transmits a product removal detection signal to the operation control unit when the product is removed from the product removal opening; The vending machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, when the operation control unit receives the product removal detection signal, even if the product removal detection signal is within the range of the unlocking time, the operation control unit further executes a process of setting the automatic opening / closing shutter to the basic state.

5. The selected product delivery mechanism includes: a product delivery body that delivers the product from the product storage section; a bucket for receiving the products at a forward position in the delivery direction of the product delivery body; a bucket driving unit that reciprocates the bucket between a forward position in the delivery direction of the product delivery body in each of the product storage units and the product take-out port, 4. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the unsettled product storage is disposed adjacent to the bucket on a rear side of the bucket.

6. The selected product delivery mechanism includes: a product delivery body that delivers the product from the product storage section; a bucket for receiving the products at a forward position in the delivery direction of the product delivery body; a bucket driving unit that reciprocates the bucket between a forward position in the delivery direction of the product delivery body in each of the product storage units and the product take-out port, 5. The vending machine according to claim 4, wherein the unsettled product storage is disposed adjacent to the bucket on the rear side of the bucket.

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