Vending machine system

Abstract

To provide an automatic vending machine system capable of efficient replenishment operation in replenishing commodities to a plurality of automatic vending machines using multiple delivery cases for storing the commodities stacked on a platform from a parking position of a delivery vehicle.SOLUTION: A management server is configured to: group, on receipt of a delivery plan preparation request from a mobile terminal of a routeman, delivery cases 51-56 to be stacked on a platform 40 for storing commodities into delivery case groups 61-63 for each stage; prepare picking lists D20 formed by allocating commodities to be replenished to each automatic vending machine, for each automatic vending machine, in the order reverse to visiting order, from the bottom of the delivery case groups 61-63, for each of the delivery case groups 61-63, within the number of commodities which can be stored in each of the delivery case groups 61-63; and transmit a delivery plan including the picking lists D20 to the mobile terminal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vending machine system capable of efficiently performing a product replenishment operation when replenishing products for a plurality of vending machines by stacking delivery cases for storing products on a cart in multiple stages from the parking position of a delivery vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In the beverage manufacturer which is the installer of the vending machine, the route man tours each vending machine to collect the sales amount and replenish the change, and also replenishes and replaces the products. Here, a system has been proposed in which the vending machine is made online and the amount of products to be replenished to the vending machine is grasped based on the sales data of the vending machine (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the latest weighing method in which the delivery vehicle in the process of making rounds for replenishment work etc. for the vending machine acquires the product replenishment information of the vending machine and performs product replenishment, after the delivery vehicle arrives at the parking lot near the vending machine, the products necessary for replenishment are picked from the inside of the delivery vehicle based on the acquired product replenishment information. The picked products are sequentially stored in the delivery case, loaded on the cart, and transported to the vending machine to be replenished.

[0005] In cases where multiple vending machines exist within a shopping mall or building, the delivery vehicle is parked, and the products for replenishing all the vending machines are loaded onto a cart and delivered to each machine. The delivery cases loaded onto the cart are stacked in multiple layers, such as two or three levels high.

[0006] In this case, picking multiple items for each vending machine would result in repeated picking of the same items, leading to inefficient picking. Therefore, picking items individually for all vending machines can improve picking efficiency.

[0007] However, when picking items individually, the items are stored together in specific delivery cases. This creates a problem where, when visiting each vending machine, it becomes necessary to retrieve items from the lower delivery cases, which slows down the restocking process.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a vending machine system that can efficiently perform product replenishment work when replenishing products to multiple vending machines by stacking delivery cases containing products in multiple layers on a trolley from the parking position of the delivery vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the present invention provides a vending machine system comprising a plurality of vending machines and a management server connected to the mobile terminal of a visiting worker who performs tasks such as replenishing products in each vending machine, wherein the management server obtains product sales information from each vending machine, calculates the number of products to be replenished for each product column in each vending machine based on the obtained product sales, and notifies the mobile terminal of a delivery plan including the number of products to be replenished, wherein when the management server receives a delivery plan creation request including a picking list creation request from the mobile terminal, it groups the delivery cases that store products stacked in multiple layers on a cart into delivery case groups for each layer, creates a picking list that assigns the products to be replenished in each vending machine in reverse order of the visit sequence, starting from the bottom layer of each delivery case group, within the number of products that can be stored in each delivery case group, and notifies the mobile terminal of a delivery plan including the picking list.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, if the management server cannot store all the products to be replenished in the vending machines in the entire delivery case group, it creates multiple picking lists divided according to the order of visits.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the management server increases the number of items that can be stored in the uppermost group of delivery cases to create the picking list.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the delivery case is a foldable container that can be stacked in multiple layers. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, when replenishing products for multiple vending machines by stacking delivery cases containing products in multiple layers on a trolley from the parking position of the delivery vehicle, the product replenishment work can be performed efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the outline configuration of an automatic vending machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the process of creating a picking list. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the process of creating a delivery plan, including a picking list, by the management server. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out this invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0016] <Overview of the Vending Machine System> Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the outline configuration of an automatic vending machine system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This vending machine system has communication units 11 to 16 for each of the multiple vending machines 1 to 6 placed in a shopping mall or building, and a management server 31 connected to the mobile terminal 10 of a route man 100, who is a visiting worker who performs tasks such as replenishing products at each of the vending machines 1 to 6. In addition to replenishing products, the route man 100's tasks include troubleshooting, collecting sales revenue, and replenishing change. Vending machines 1 to 6 are shown as an example of multiple vending machines.

[0017] The management server 31 is a server on the cloud 30, and has a sales calculation unit 32, a delivery plan unit 33, and a database unit 36. The database unit 36 has vending machine data D1, sales data D2, vending machine inventory data D3, and a delivery plan D4. The vending machine data D1 is static information of vending machines 1 to 6, and stores the installation locations, product configuration information, etc. of vending machines 1 to 6. The sales data D2 updates and stores sales based on the item details sent from vending machines 1 to 6. The vending machine inventory data D3 is the dynamic inventory information of each vending machine. For example, for each vending machine, the product name, inventory quantity, and replenishment quantity are updated almost in real time at any time. The inventory quantity is updated based on the item details sent from the vending machine, and the replenishment quantity is updated when the product replenishment by the route man 100 is completed, and is notified via the mobile terminal 10 or the communication units 11 to 16 and updated.

[0018] In this embodiment, a recent weighing method is adopted in which the mobile terminal 10 is used to obtain the product replenishment information of the vending machine via the delivery vehicle on patrol for replenishment work etc. for the vending machine, and product replenishment is performed. In this recent weighing method, after the delivery vehicle 20 carrying products arrives at the parking lot PP1 near vending machines 1 to 6, the products required for replenishment are picked from within the delivery vehicle 20 based on the obtained product replenishment information. The picked products are sequentially stored in the cases for sequential delivery, loaded onto the trolley 40, and transported to vending machines 1 to 6 to be replenished.

[0019] Therefore, the delivery plan D4 includes a delivery route R that tours each vending machine 1 to 6 from the parking lot PP1, the replenishment quantity of the products to be replenished to each vending machine 1 to 6, and a picking list described later. The picking list is presented with a list of the products to be stored in each stage of the cases for sequential delivery stacked in multiple layers on the trolley 40.

[0020] The sales calculation unit 32 calculates the sales data D2 sequentially based on the item details sent from the vending machine side. The vending machine inventory data D3 is also updated with this sales data D2.

[0021] When the distribution planning department 33 receives a distribution plan creation request including a picking list creation request from the mobile terminal 10, it groups the distribution cases 40 stacked in multiple levels on the trolley 40 and storing goods into groups of distribution cases for each level, and allocates the goods to be replenished to each of the vending machines 1 to 6 within the allowable number of goods storage in each group of distribution cases in reverse order of the visit order for each vending machine unit, starting from the lower layer of each group of distribution cases, and creates a picking list. Then, it notifies the mobile terminal 10 of the distribution plan D4 including this picking list.

[0022] Note that, as described above, the distribution plan D4 includes the distribution route R and the replenishment quantities for each of the vending machines 1 to 6. The distribution route R may be created as the shortest route by the distribution planning department 33 based on the installation locations LP1 to LP6 of each of the vending machines 1 to 6 and the replenishment quantities, etc., or the distribution route selected and created by the route man 100 via the mobile terminal 10 may be included in the distribution plan creation request and presented from the side of the route man 100.

[0023] <Creation of Picking List> FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the creation process of the picking list. As shown in FIG. 2, when the distribution planning department 33 receives a distribution plan creation request including a picking list creation request, first, it groups the distribution cases 51 to 56 stacked in multiple levels on the trolley 40 into groups of distribution cases 61 to 63 for each level, and calculates the allowable number of goods storage in each group of distribution cases 61 to 63 for each level. This allowable number of goods storage is calculated based on the previously determined multi-level stacking mode for the distribution cases 51 to 56 with respect to the trolley 40 and the types of the distribution cases 51 to 56. If the multi-level stacking mode and the types of the distribution cases 51 to 56 have not been determined in advance, it may be notified from the side of the mobile terminal 10 to the side of the management server 31, or may be notified from the side of the management server 31 to the side of the mobile terminal 10 and included in the distribution plan D4. In FIG. 2(a), the allowable number of goods storage in each group of distribution cases 61 to 63 from the first level to the third level is calculated as 80 each.

[0024] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 2(b), the delivery planning unit 33 creates a delivery plan D10. The delivery planning unit 33 determines the delivery route R and calculates the number of items to be replenished for each type of product at each vending machine A to F (corresponding to each vending machine 1 to 6) in the order of the determined delivery route R. This calculation result is the delivery plan D10. Furthermore, the delivery planning unit 33 assigns items to each delivery case group 61 to 63 in reverse order of visitation, starting from the lower row (1st row: delivery case group 61) of each delivery case group 61 to 63, within the number of items that can be stored in each delivery case group 61 to 63.

[0025] In Figure 2(b), the first-tier delivery case group 61 is allocated 66 bottles for vending machines D, E, and F; the second-tier delivery case group 62 is allocated 75 bottles for vending machines B and C; and the third-tier (topmost) delivery case group 63 is allocated 70 bottles for vending machine A.

[0026] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 2(c), the delivery planning unit 33 creates a picking list D20 for each delivery case group 61 to 63 in each row, consisting of picking lists D21 to D23 for each row indicating the number of items to be replenished for each product type, and notifies the mobile terminal 10 of this picking list D20 within the delivery plan D4.

[0027] Upon receiving notification of picking list D20, route driver 100 refers to picking list D20 and picks items in order from the first row of delivery cases 61, placing them into the delivery cases. By performing picking in this manner, when replenishing products in each vending machine 1-6, products can be taken directly from the upper row of delivery cases, eliminating the need for unnecessary work such as rearranging delivery cases 51-56, and allowing for efficient product replenishment in accordance with the order of visits.

[0028] Furthermore, it is advisable to use foldable containers for shipping cases 51-56, folding them up when they are empty, and then refilling them. Using foldable containers reduces the storage space required for empty shipping cases. Alternatively, instead of using foldable containers, shipping cases with tapered openings that widen towards the top and are stackable can be used, allowing empty shipping cases to be stacked on top of the top shipping case containing goods, starting from the bottom. If there is space on the trolley 40 to place empty shipping cases, they can be placed in that space.

[0029] Furthermore, if the items to be replenished in all vending machines cannot be stored in the entire set of delivery cases, multiple picking lists D20 are created, divided according to the order of visits. In this case, multiple delivery routes R are also created.

[0030] Furthermore, the picking list D20 may be created by increasing the number of items that can be stored in the top row of shipping cases. This is because stacking is possible on top of the top row of shipping cases, as no shipping cases are stacked on top of them. For example, shipping case group 63 had a storage capacity of 80 items, but this may be increased to 100 items.

[0031] <Delivery plan creation process> Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure for creating a delivery plan including a picking list by the management server 31. As shown in Figure 3, first, the management server 31 determines whether or not there is a request to create a delivery plan including a request to create a picking list (step S101). If there is no request to create a delivery plan (step S101: No), this determination process is repeated.

[0032] On the other hand, if a request for delivery plan creation is made (Step S101: Yes), the delivery route and replenishment quantity for each vending machine are calculated (Step S102). Furthermore, a picking list D20 is created consisting of picking lists D21 to D23 for each level on the trolley 40 (Step S104). After that, the delivery plan D4, including the created picking list D20, is notified to the route driver 100 via the mobile terminal 10 (Step S105), and this process ends.

[0033] It should be noted that the configurations illustrated in the above-described embodiments are functional schematics and do not necessarily have to be physically represented as shown. In other words, the forms of distribution and integration of each device and component are not limited to those shown, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit according to various usage situations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1-6 Vending machines 10 Mobile devices 11-16 Communication Unit 20 Delivery vehicle 30 Cloud 31 Management Server 32 Sales Calculation Department 33 Delivery Planning Department 36 Database Department 40 bogies 51-56 Shipping Cases 61-63 Shipping Cases 100 Route Man D1 Vending Machine Data D2 Sales Data D3 Vending Machine Inventory Data D4, D10 Delivery Plan D20 Picking List Picking list for each row: D21~D23 LP1~LP6 Installation Locations PP1 Parking R Delivery Route

Claims

1. A vending machine system comprising multiple vending machines and a management server connected to the mobile terminals of visiting workers who perform tasks such as replenishing products at each vending machine, wherein the management server obtains product sales information from each vending machine, calculates the number of products to be replenished for each product column in each vending machine based on the obtained product sales, and notifies the mobile terminals of a delivery plan including the number of products to be replenished, The vending machine system is characterized in that, when the management server receives a delivery plan creation request including a picking list creation request from the mobile terminal, it groups the delivery cases that store goods stacked in multiple layers on a cart into groups of delivery cases for each layer, creates a picking list that assigns the goods to be replenished in each vending machine in reverse order of visit sequence, starting from the bottom layer of each delivery case group, within the number of goods that can be stored in each delivery case group, and notifies the mobile terminal of the delivery plan including the picking list.

2. The vending machine system according to claim 1, characterized in that the management server creates multiple picking lists, divided according to the order of visits, when the products to be replenished in all vending machines cannot be stored in the entire group of delivery cases.

3. The vending machine system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the management server increases the number of items that can be stored in the uppermost delivery case group to create the picking list.

4. The vending machine system according to claim 1, characterized in that the delivery case is a foldable container that can be stacked in multiple layers.

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