Beverage supply system

Abstract

The present invention is provided with a beverage supply device 10 which supplies a beverage generated by a beverage generation unit 11 to a container C. The present invention is further provided with: a reading unit 20 which reads sales identification information of the purchased beverage; a determination processing unit 31a which determines, from the sales identification information read by the reading unit 20 and sales history information 32a stored in a management storage unit 32, whether or not the sales identification information satisfies a predetermined sales possible condition; and control means (21, 31) which, on condition that the determination processing unit 31a has determined that the sales identification information satisfies the sales possible condition, causes the beverage included in the sales identification information to be generated by the beverage generation unit 11 and supplied to the container C. The control means, when the supply of the beverage included in the sales identification information to the container C has been completed, causes the management storage unit 32 to store the sales identification information as part of the sales history information 32a, and when the supply of the beverage included in the sales identification information to the container C has not been completed, does not cause the management storage unit 32 to store the sales identification information.

Description

Beverage Supply System

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage supply system, and more particularly to a beverage supply system including a beverage supply device that supplies a beverage prepared in a beverage preparation unit to a container.

[0002] Conventionally, beverage dispensers such as coffee machines have been installed in stores such as convenience stores. When a customer selects a beverage, the beverage dispenser prepares the beverage by, for example, grinding coffee beans and performing a dripping extraction process, and then dispenses the beverage from a nozzle constituting the beverage dispenser into a cup placed in the beverage dispenser (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2009-274767 A

[0004] In the beverage dispenser described above, a cup for holding a beverage purchased at a store is placed on the beverage dispenser to dispense the beverage. Therefore, if a cup that has already had a beverage dispensed therein and is not authorized to receive a beverage is placed on the beverage dispenser of a beverage dispenser at the same store or another store, there is a risk that a beverage may be dispensed into the cup fraudulently.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage supply system that can prevent unauthorized supply of beverages.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the beverage supply system of the present invention is a beverage supply system equipped with a beverage supply device that supplies a beverage produced in a beverage production unit to a container, and is equipped with: a reading means that reads the sales identification information of a purchased beverage; a judgment means that judges whether the sales identification information satisfies predetermined sales conditions based on the sales identification information read by the reading means and the sales history information stored in a storage means; and a control means that, on the condition that the judgment means judges that the sales identification information satisfies the sales conditions, causes the beverage included in the sales identification information to be produced in the beverage production unit and supplied to the container, and is characterized in that, when the supply of the beverage included in the sales identification information to the container has been completed, the control means causes the storage means to store the sales identification information together with the sales history information, but when the supply of the beverage included in the sales identification information to the container has not been completed, the control means does not cause the storage means to store the sales identification information.

[0007] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned beverage supply system, when the judgment means judges that the sales identification information satisfies the sales enablement conditions, the control means causes the beverage production unit to produce the beverage included in the sales identification information and supply it to the container, while when the judgment means judges that the sales identification information does not satisfy the sales enablement conditions, the control means restricts the beverage production unit from producing the beverage included in the sales identification information.

[0008] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the beverage supply system, the sales identification information includes information regarding the type of beverage purchased and identification information that distinguishes the purchased beverage from other beverages.

[0009] Furthermore, in the beverage supply system according to the present invention, the reading means reads a graphic code obtained by graphic-coding the sales identification information.

[0010] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned beverage supply system, it includes a management device communicatively connected to the beverage supply device, the reading means constituting the beverage supply device, and the determination means constituting the management device.

[0011] Furthermore, in the beverage supply system according to the present invention, the control means includes a supply control unit constituting the beverage supply device, and a management control unit constituting the management device.

[0012] According to the present invention, the reading means reads the sales identification information of the purchased beverage, the determination means determines whether the sales identification information satisfies predetermined sales conditions based on the sales identification information read by the reading means and the sales history information stored in the storage means, and the control means, on the condition that the determination means determines that the sales identification information satisfies the sales conditions, causes the beverage generation unit to generate the beverage included in the sales identification information and supply it to a container, thereby achieving the effect of preventing the fraudulent supply of beverages.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a beverage supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the beverage supply device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the beverage supply device shown in Fig. 1, with a portion disassembled. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the beverage supply procedure of the beverage supply system, and is a processing content carried out by the supply control unit. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the beverage supply procedure of the beverage supply system, and is a processing content carried out by the management control unit. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the beverage supply control processing shown in Fig. 4.

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a beverage supply system according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] 1 is a block diagram showing a beverage supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The beverage supply system 1 shown here is configured by a plurality of beverage supply devices 10 connected to a management device 30 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0016] Figures 2 and 3 respectively show the external configuration of the beverage dispenser 10 shown in Figure 1, with Figure 2 being a perspective view and Figure 3 being a perspective view showing a partially exploded state. The beverage dispenser 10 will be described using Figures 2 and 3. Note that although there are multiple beverage dispensers 10 that make up the beverage supply system 1, each has approximately the same configuration, and therefore the configuration of one beverage dispenser 10 will be described below.

[0017] The beverage dispenser 10 illustrated here is a coffee machine installed in a store such as a convenience store, and performs processes such as grinding beans and brewing to dispense a beverage such as coffee into a container C such as a cup. The beverage dispenser 10 is configured with a main body cabinet 10A and a front door 10B.

[0018] The main body cabinet 10A has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open front (not shown). Inside the main body cabinet 10A, a beverage preparation unit 11 for preparing a beverage (e.g., coffee) is provided.

[0019] The front door 10B is a door body large enough to close the front opening of the main cabinet 10A. The front door 10B is provided at one side edge on the front side of the main cabinet 10A so as to be able to swing around the central axis of an axis part (not shown) extending in the vertical direction, and is capable of opening and closing the front opening of the main cabinet 10A.

[0020] The front of the front door 10B forms the customer service surface and is provided with a display unit 12, a beverage supply unit 13, and an opening / closing door 14. The display unit 12 is configured, for example, with a liquid crystal touch panel, and displays various information and has an input unit 12a that allows input operations such as touch operations.

[0021] The beverage supply unit 13 is configured by providing a recess below the display unit 12. This beverage supply unit 13 has a nozzle 13a and a stage 13b. The nozzle 13a dispenses the beverage produced in the beverage production unit 11 downward. The stage 13b is a mounting section on which the container C is placed. The stage 13b is also formed with a plurality of passage holes that allow the beverage dispensed from the nozzle 13a but not supplied to the container C to pass through, and a tray 15 for storing the beverage is provided below the nozzle 13a.

[0022] The opening / closing door 14 is made of a translucent material such as a transparent resin, and is large enough to cover the inlet 13c of the beverage supply unit 13. The left end of the opening / closing door 14 is pivotally supported by the front door 10B, and the opening / closing door 14 is capable of swinging in the front-to-rear direction. That is, the opening / closing door 14 can swing in the front-to-rear direction toward and away from the beverage supply unit 13. When the opening / closing door 14 swings rearward toward the beverage supply unit 13, the inlet 13c of the beverage supply unit 13 can be closed, and when the opening / closing door 14 swings forward away from the beverage supply unit 13, the inlet 13c can be opened.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1 , the beverage dispenser 10 includes a container detector 16 , a door open / close detector 17 , a door open / close lock mechanism 18 , a communication unit 19 , a reader 20 , and a dispenser controller 21 .

[0024] The container detection unit 16 is configured with, for example, an optical sensor, and detects whether a container C is placed in the beverage supply unit 13, i.e., whether a container C is placed on the stage 13b. The container detection unit 16 provides the detection result of the presence or absence of a container C to the supply control unit 21.

[0025] The door open / close detector 17 is provided near the entrance 13c of the beverage supply unit 13 and is composed of, for example, an optical sensor. The door open / close detector 17 detects whether the entrance 13c is opened or closed by the opening / closing door 14, and more specifically, detects whether the entrance 13c is closed, i.e., whether the opening / closing door 14 is closed. The door open / close detector 17 provides the supply control unit 21 with the detection result of whether the opening / closing door 14 is closed or not.

[0026] The door lock mechanism 18 is provided near the entrance 13c of the beverage supply unit 13. The door lock mechanism 18 is switchable between a locked state in which the door 14 that closes the entrance 13c is kept closed and the door 14 is prevented from swinging forward, and an unlocked state in which the door 14 is allowed to swing forward. The door lock mechanism 18 is switched in response to a command from the supply control unit 21.

[0027] The communication unit 19 is a communication interface that connects to the management device 30 via a network or the like using a communication method such as LTE (registered trademark).

[0028] The reading unit 20 is a reading means for reading the sales identification information through a graphic code in which the sales identification information is graphicized. Here, the sales identification information includes information about the type of beverage purchased and identification information that distinguishes the purchased beverage from other beverages, and is printed on a receipt or container C in a graphic form, such as a QR code (registered trademark), or displayed on the display screen of a mobile terminal device. In other words, the reading unit 20 reads the sales identification information on a receipt or the like issued when a user purchases a container C for containing a product (beverage).

[0029] The supply control unit 21 is connected to the beverage production unit 11, display unit 12, container detection unit 16, door opening / closing detection unit 17, door opening / closing lock mechanism 18, communication unit 19 and reading unit 20, and controls the operation of each of these units in accordance with the programs and data stored in memory 22.

[0030] The management device 30 is configured, for example, by a server, and is installed in a management center or the like that is different from the store where the beverage supply device 10 is installed. The management device 30 includes a management control unit 31 and a management memory unit (memory means) 32.

[0031] The management control unit 31 comprehensively controls the operation of each unit of the management device 30 in accordance with the programs and data stored in the management memory unit 32. The management control unit 31 includes a determination processing unit 31a. The determination processing unit 31a is a determination means for determining whether or not the sales identification information sent from the beverage dispenser 10 satisfies predetermined sales conditions based on the sales identification information and the sales history information 32a stored in the management memory unit 32. Here, the sales history information 32a is an accumulation of sales identification information of products sold, i.e., beverages supplied.

[0032] The conditions for sale that are determined by the determination processing unit 31a include the following: "the sales identification information has never been used for selling a product in the past," or "the number of sales of the product is less than or equal to the number of times permitted for the sales identification information."

[0033] Figures 4 and 5 each show the beverage supply procedure of the beverage supply system 1, with Figure 4 being a flowchart showing the processing performed by the supply control unit 21, and Figure 5 being a flowchart showing the processing performed by the management control unit 31.

[0034] The supply control unit 21 waits for the reading unit 20 to read a graphic code printed on a receipt, for example, that is, a graphic code that graphically represents the sales identification information (step S101). If the sales identification information that is a graphic code is read (step S101: Yes), the supply control unit 21 sends the sales identification information to the management device 30 via the communication unit 19 (step S102).

[0035] Meanwhile, the management control unit 31 determines whether or not sales identification information has been input from the beverage supply device 10 (supply control unit 21) (step S201), and if sales identification information has not been input (step S201: No), repeats this process.

[0036] If sales identification information is input (step S201: Yes), the management control unit 31 reads the sales history information 32a from the management memory unit 32 (step S202), and determines whether the sales identification information satisfies the sales eligibility conditions based on the sales identification information and the sales history information 32a through the judgment processing unit 31a (step S203).

[0037] Specifically, the judgment processing unit 31a judges whether or not there is any sales history information 32a read in step S202 that matches the sales identification information input in step S201, or whether or not the number of times that the sales history information 32a read in step S202 that matches the sales identification information input in step S201 has been supplied is less than or equal to the allowable number of times.

[0038] If the sales conditions are not met in step S203 (step S203: No), that is, if there is something in the sales history information 32a that matches the sales identification information, or if the number of times an item corresponding to the sales identification information has been supplied exceeds the allowable number of times, the management control unit 31 sends a sales disable instruction to the corresponding beverage supply device 10 (step S204), and terminates this processing.

[0039] If the sales conditions are met in step S203 (step S203: Yes), that is, if there is no sales history information 32a that matches the sales identification information, or if the number of times an item corresponding to the sales identification information has been supplied is less than the allowable number of times, the management control unit 31 sends a sales enable instruction to the corresponding beverage supply device 10 (step S205).

[0040] The supply control unit 21 that sent the sales identification information in step S102 waits for input of a sales enable instruction or a sales disable instruction from the management device 30 (management control unit 31) via the communication unit 19 (steps S103 and S104).

[0041] If a sales enable instruction is input from the management device 30 (step S103: Yes, step S104: No), the supply control unit 21 executes a beverage supply control process (step S105).

[0042] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the beverage supply control processing shown in Fig. 4. In this beverage supply control processing, supply control unit 21 determines whether container detection unit 16 has detected that container C is present in beverage supply unit 13 (step S105a). That is, container detection unit 16 detects whether container C has been placed on stage 13b. If container C is not detected as being present (step S105a: No), supply control unit 21 repeats the determination processing of step S105a.

[0043] If the presence of container C is detected (step S105a: Yes), the supply control unit 21 determines whether the opening / closing door 14 is closed or not based on the detection result of the door opening / closing detection unit 17 (step S105b), and if the opening / closing door 14 is not closed (step S105b: No), the determination process of step S105b is repeated.

[0044] On the other hand, if the opening / closing door 14 is closed (step S105b: Yes), the supply control unit 21 causes the display unit 12 to display the dispensed beverage and a guidance display instructing the user to touch the input unit 12a (step S105c).

[0045] Thereafter, the supply control unit 21 determines whether the input unit 12a has been touched (step S105d). If the input unit 12a has not been touched (step S105d: No), the supply control unit 21 repeats the determination process of step S105d.

[0046] On the other hand, if the input unit 12a is touched (step S105d: Yes), the supply control unit 21 locks the opening / closing door 14 in the closed state using the door opening / closing lock mechanism 18 (step S105e).

[0047] The supply control unit 21 then causes the beverage preparation unit 11 to prepare and supply the beverage to be dispensed (step S105f). Thereafter, the supply control unit 21 determines whether the beverage preparation unit 11 has finished supplying the beverage before the predetermined supply operation time has elapsed (steps S105g and S105h).

[0048] If the beverage supply is completed before the supply operation time has elapsed (step S105g: Yes, step S105h: No), the supply control unit 21 unlocks the door 14 from the closed state by the door lock mechanism 18 (step S105i), and then returns to the procedure to end the current process. As a result, a predetermined amount of beverage is supplied to the container C.

[0049] If the supply operation time has elapsed without the beverage supply being completed (step S105g: No, step S105h: Yes), the supply control unit 21 executes the process of step S105i and then returns to the procedure to end the current process. As a result, no beverage is supplied to the container C or the amount of beverage supplied to the container C is insufficient.

[0050] After carrying out the beverage supply control process, the supply control unit 21 determines whether or not the supply of beverage has been completed in the beverage supply control process (step S106).

[0051] If the supply of the beverage is completed (step S106: Yes), i.e., if the procedure of step S105g above is completed, the supply control unit 21 sends a supply completion response to the management device 30 via the communication unit 19 (step S107), and then ends the procedure.

[0052] On the other hand, if the supply of the beverage has not been completed (step S106: No), i.e., if the procedure of step S105g above has not been completed, the supply control unit 21 sends a supply incomplete response to the management device 30 via the communication unit 19 (step S108), and then terminates the procedure.

[0053] Incidentally, in the above steps S103 and S104, if a sales prohibition instruction is input from the management device 30 (step S103: No, step S104: Yes), the supply control unit 21 does not perform the above-mentioned beverage supply control process, but displays a sales prohibition message on the display unit 12 indicating that the beverage cannot be supplied (step S109), and then terminates the procedure.

[0054] This makes it possible to prevent unauthorized supply of beverages to containers that are not authorized to receive beverages.

[0055] The management control unit 31, which sent the sales ready instruction in step S205, waits for input of a supply completion response or a supply incomplete response from the beverage supply device 10 (supply control unit 21) to which the sales ready instruction was sent (steps S206, S207).

[0056] If a supply completion response is input (step S206: Yes, step S207: No), the management control unit 31 stores the sales identification information input in step S201 in the management memory unit 32 together with the sales history information 32a (step S208), and then terminates this processing.

[0057] On the other hand, if a supply incomplete response is received (step S206: No, step S207: Yes), the management control unit 31 does not store the sales identification information input in step S201 in the management memory unit 32 (step S209), and then terminates this processing.

[0058] In the beverage supply system 1 described above, the supply control unit 21 constituting the beverage supply device 10 and the management control unit 31 constituting the management device 30 constitute a control means that, on the condition that the judgment processing unit 31a, which is a judgment means, judges that the sales identification information satisfies the sales enablement conditions, causes the beverage generation unit 11 to produce the beverage included in the sales identification information and supply it to a container C, and when the supply of the beverage included in the sales identification information to the container C is completed, causes the management memory unit 32, which is a storage means, to store the sales identification information together with the sales history information 32a, but when the supply of the beverage included in the sales identification information to the container C is not completed, does not cause the management memory unit 32 to store the sales identification information.

[0059] As described above, according to the beverage supply system 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention, the supply control unit 21 and management control unit 31 which constitute the control means have the beverage production unit 11 produce the beverage included in the sales identification information and supply it to the container C, provided that the judgment processing unit 31a has determined that the sales identification information satisfies the sales enablement conditions, thereby preventing the unauthorized supply of beverages.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the beverage supply system 1, when the supply control unit 21 and the management control unit 31 have completed the supply of the beverage included in the sales identification information to the container C, they store the sales identification information in the management memory unit 32, which is a storage means, as part of the sales history information 32a, but when the supply of the beverage included in the sales identification information to the container C has not been completed, they do not store the sales identification information in the management memory unit 32.Therefore, if the supply of beverage is insufficient due to, for example, a malfunction of the beverage supply device 10, the user can receive a supply of beverage again from another beverage supply device 10, thereby improving convenience.

[0061] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications can be made.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, the beverage supply system 1 is configured with a plurality of beverage supply devices 10 and a management device 30. However, in the present invention, the beverage supply system may be configured with a single beverage supply device. That is, the beverage supply system may be configured with a single beverage supply device by configuring the beverage supply device with not only the reading means but also the determining means, the storage means, and the control means.

[0063] Although not mentioned in the above embodiment, when the supply of the beverage is completed, the vending identification information may also be stored in the memory of the beverage supply device.

[0064] 1...beverage supply system, 10...beverage supply device, 10A...main cabinet, 10B...front door, 11...beverage production unit, 12...display unit, 12a...input unit, 13...beverage supply unit, 13a...nozzle, 13b...stage, 14...opening / closing door, 16...container detection unit, 17...door open / close detection unit, 18...door open / close lock mechanism, 19...communication unit, 20...reading unit, 21...supply control unit, 22...memory, 30...management device, 31...management control unit, 31a...determination processing unit, 32...management memory unit, 32a...sales history information, C...container.

Claims

1. A beverage supply system equipped with a beverage supply device that supplies a beverage prepared in a beverage preparation unit to a container, comprising: a reading means that reads the sales identification information of a purchased beverage; a determination means that determines whether the sales identification information satisfies predetermined sales conditions based on the sales identification information read by the reading means and sales history information stored in a storage means; and a control means that, on the condition that the determination means determines that the sales identification information satisfies the sales conditions, causes the beverage preparation unit to prepare the beverage included in the sales identification information and supply it to the container, wherein the control means, when the supply of the beverage included in the sales identification information to the container has been completed, causes the storage means to store the sales identification information together with the sales history information, but when the supply of the beverage included in the sales identification information to the container has not been completed, does not cause the storage means to store the sales identification information.

2. The beverage supply system described in claim 1, characterized in that when the judgment means judges that the sales identification information satisfies the sales enablement conditions, the control means causes the beverage generation unit to generate the beverage included in the sales identification information and supply it to the container, while when the judgment means judges that the sales identification information does not satisfy the sales enablement conditions, the control means restricts the beverage generation unit from generating the beverage included in the sales identification information.

3. A beverage supply system as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the sales identification information includes information regarding the type of beverage purchased and identification information that distinguishes the purchased beverage from other beverages.

4. A beverage supply system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reading means reads a graphic code that graphically represents the sales identification information.

5. A beverage supply system as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a management device communicatively connected to the beverage supply device, the reading means constituting the beverage supply device, and the determination means constituting the management device.

6. The beverage supply system according to claim 5, characterized in that the control means comprises a supply control unit constituting the beverage supply device and a management control unit constituting the management device.

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