JP2012053768A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine capable of effectively performing a commodity discount by interlocking an alternate selling function with a discount function.SOLUTION: The automatic vending machine provided with an alternate sale group function for carrying a commodity out of a column according to a column carrying-out order set in advance by pressing a commodity selection button corresponding to a plurality of columns storing the same commodities includes: setting means for setting a discount amount and a discount object column; determining means for determining whether discount mounts are equal or not when columns are set in the same alternate sale group and the all of the columns are discount object columns; and control means for setting a predetermined column discount amount set in advance to perform discount sale when the discount amounts are not equal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine capable of selling a product with a predetermined amount discounted from a normal price for a certain period of time or by bulk purchase.

  Conventionally, the following discount method has been known as a function for performing discount sales by changing a product sold in a vending machine from a normal product price to a product price lower than the normal product price.

  First, as a first discount method, a vending machine is known in which a sales price is discounted by a predetermined amount from a total sales price obtained by integrating the sales price of a product and the number of bulk purchases (Patent Document 1).

  Next, as a second discount method, a discount period and a discount amount are set with a numeric keypad, and a product sold during the set period is sold with a discount amount lower than the display amount. A machine is known (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-12552 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-20531

  By the way, when the discount function is also used as an alternate sales function for alternately selling a plurality of columns, if a different discount amount is set for each column, it is determined that the setting is incorrect and the discount is set even if the discount is set. The current situation is that the functions that lead to sales improvement, such as discounts, are banned and are not being utilized effectively.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of effectively discounting merchandise and improving sales by linking an alternate sales function and a discount function.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the vending machine according to the present invention is achieved by the following means.

  The present invention, in a vending machine having an alternate sales group function to carry out the product from the column according to a preset column delivery order by pressing a product selection button corresponding to a plurality of columns storing the same product, Setting means for setting discount amount and discount target column, and determination means for determining whether or not the discount amount is the same when the column is set to the same alternate sales group and all the columns are discount target columns And a control means for performing discount sales by setting a discount amount in a predetermined column set in advance when the discount amount is not the same.

  In addition, the present invention provides a vending machine having an alternate sales group function for unloading products from a column according to a predetermined column unloading sequence by pressing a product selection button corresponding to a plurality of columns storing the same product. , There is a setting means to set the discount amount and discount target columns, and if there are columns that are not subject to discount among the columns set in the same alternating sales group, all columns are not discounted. It is a target.

  In the present invention, the discount amount and the discount target column are set, and the alternate sales group is set. When the discount amount is different within the same alternate sales group, the discount amount of the predetermined column set in advance is set. By applying, even if the discount amount is different, enabling discount sales leads to an increase in sales.

  In addition, when there is a column that does not have a discount amount set in the alternate sales group, it is possible to prevent discount sales as it is due to incorrect settings by making the entire alternate sales group non-discountable. You can avoid misunderstanding users.

  Furthermore, when the alternate sales group setting is canceled, if the column is a discount target column, the discount sales price will be displayed based on the discount amount set in that column, and discount sales will be performed. Since there is no need to re-set, operability is improved.

It is a schematic block diagram showing a control device for a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic front view of the vending machine used as the object of the present invention. It is a principal part front view of the goods sample display room of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting which shows one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of another setting which shows one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows one embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a description will be given based on the drawings illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a schematic front view of a vending machine that is an object of the present invention, and the vending machine 20 includes an outer door 21 on the front surface of the main body cabinet. Comprises a plurality (n) of columns. This column stores a plurality of types of products individually, and by setting the correspondence between the column and the product selection button 28 in advance, when the product selection button 28 is pressed and a sales instruction is given. The product corresponding to the pressed product selection button 28 is carried out.

  A product sample display room 22 having a product sample 22a that can be visually recognized from the outside on the front side of the outer door 21, a coin insertion port 23, a coin return port 23a, a bill insertion port 24, a return lever 25, and a product outlet 26 , A display for sale, a banknote acceptance cancellation display, a fishing cut display, a digital indicator 27 for displaying a deposit amount, a sellable lamp, a product selection button 28 incorporating a sold-out lamp, and information on the product such as a sales price. A digital price indicator 28a composed of an LED or a liquid crystal display and a handle 21a with a cylinder lock are provided.

  The product sample 22a represents a product stored in each column, is provided corresponding to the product selection button 28, and a price indicator 28a for displaying information about the product such as a sales price is displayed above the product selection button 28. Further, as shown in the front view of the main part of the product sample display room 22 in FIG. 3, the cold / hot temperature indicating the refrigeration / warming state of the product sample 22a is provided above the sample 22a. A display board 22b is provided.

  Next, FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a main control unit that controls the entire vending machine. The main control unit 1 includes a memory 1a that stores a control program, a sales price of a product, a correspondence between a column and a product selection button, other setting data, A memory 1b for storing various data such as sales data and a clock 1c are provided.

  The main control unit 1 includes a remote controller 11 for performing various settings / confirmations, a product carry-out device 12 for carrying out a product, a main body control unit 14 for controlling a cooling / heating device 13 for cooling or heating the product in the warehouse, and a coin A coin processing device 15 that sorts out the authenticity and type of coins inserted from the insertion slot 23 and pays out counting and change, and a bill identification device that identifies the authenticity and type of banknotes inserted from the bill insertion slot 24. 16, a digital display 27, a product selection button 28, and a price display 28a that is provided for each product selection button 28 and displays information related to the product such as a sales price.

  The remote control 11 includes a mode key, an up / down key, a write key, a clear key, an end key, and the like. By operating this key operation and the product selection button 28, an alternate sales group setting, a discount period (hour), a discount target Settings relating to discount sales such as quantity and discount column are made and stored in the memory 1b.

  In this memory 1b, “pattern 1: 10 yen, pattern 2: 20 yen, pattern 3: 30 yen” is stored in advance as a discount amount pattern. When setting a discount amount, this pattern is selected and the discount amount is selected. Set.

  In this configuration, an example of setting a discount amount and setting an alternate sales group after setting a sales price will be described.

  It is assumed that the column number and the product selection button correspond beforehand in a one-to-one manner.

  First, the sale price setting of the product will be described. When the product sale price setting mode is set by cash using the mode key of the remote controller 11 and the product sale price is input by operating the up / down key, the sale price input to the digital display 27 is changed. When the product selection button 28 is displayed, the normal sales price in cash of the product stored in the corresponding column is stored in the memory 1b, and the same operation is repeated for all the products to set all product sales prices. When finished, press the end key to end the mode.

  In addition, when the remote control 11 is provided with a liquid crystal display, the same display is performed on the display of the remote control 11, and a price indicator 28a is provided for each product selection button 28 as in the present vending machine. If so, the price indicator 28a may display the price at the time of price setting.

  Next, discount setting will be described. For setting of the discount amount and its target column, the mode key of the remote controller 11 is operated to enter the discount amount and its target column setting mode, and then the up / down key is operated to operate the discount amount. Select a discount amount from patterns 1 to 3. For example, if you select discount pattern 3, "30 yen" is displayed on the digital display 27. If this discount amount is acceptable, press the write key to set the discount amount data. Then, by pressing the product selection button 28 to determine which column the discount amount is set to, the setting of the discount amount and the target column is completed, and finally the end key is pressed to end the mode.

  In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the normal selling price in column 1-3 is “150 yen”, column 1: discount amount “30 yen”, column 2: discount amount “10 yen”, column 3 : A discount amount of “20 yen” is set.

  Next, the alternate sales group setting will be described. By operating the mode key of the remote controller 11 to set the alternate sales column setting mode, the alternate sales group 1 is displayed on the digital display 27, and the sellable lamp is turned off. When the select button 28 is pressed, the sellable lamp is turned on and the corresponding column is set to the currently displayed group. When setting a plurality of groups, the up / down key is operated to select the next group and select the product. The setting is performed by pressing the button 28. Finally, the end key is pressed to end the mode.

  In the case of this embodiment, column numbers 1-3 are designated as alternate sales groups. As is apparent from the setting example of FIG. 4A, when columns 1-3 are set as alternate sales groups, alternate sales are performed. Since the discount amount in the group is different, the discount amount “30 yen” of the youngest column number is set as the predetermined column, and the discount sales amount “120 yen” is set in the price indicator 28a corresponding to the column 1-3. Is displayed.

  On the other hand, when the alternate sales group setting is canceled, as shown in FIG. 4B, each price indicator 28a corresponding to the column 1-3 is displayed on the price indicator 28a based on the discount amount set in each column. Column 1 “120 yen”, column 2 “140 yen”, and column 3 “130 yen”, which are discounted sales prices, are displayed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the discount amount of the youngest column number is applied. However, the discount amount can be changed according to the setting, such as adjusting the discount amount to a higher or lower amount. Good.

  Next, in the case of “0 yen” in which the discount amount in the column 2 of the alternate sales group is not set, as is apparent from the diagram showing another setting example of FIG. In order to exclude this column from being discounted and sold at the normal sales price, the normal sales price “150 yen” is displayed on the price indicator 28a corresponding to the column 1-3.

  On the other hand, when the alternate sales group setting is canceled, as shown in FIG. 5B, each price indicator 28a corresponding to the column 1-3 is displayed on the price indicator 28a based on the discount amount set in each column. Column 1 “140 yen”, column 2 “150 yen”, and column 3 “120 yen”, which are discounted sales prices, are displayed.

  This discount condition is performed based on the period (date and time) or the number of bulk purchases.

  Although the column and the product selection button have been described in a one-to-one manner, a plurality of columns are set in one product selection button 28, and each time the product selection button 28 is pressed, the column for carrying out the product is sequentially switched and carried out. Also in the vending machine, since the discount amount is set for each column as in the above embodiment, if the discount amount is set for all of the plurality of columns, the discount amount of the predetermined column set in advance If no discount amount is set for any one column, all columns are not discounted.

  Next, a method for using a vending machine in the discount operation method will be described.

  As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, it is determined whether it is a discount start time compared with the current time (step S1). If the discount start time is reached (step S1, Yes), the configuration of the price indicator 28a of FIG. As shown in the figure, the normal sales price “150” of the column set in the alternate sales group is changed to the discounted sales price “120 yen” as shown in FIG. 3B (step S2). It becomes a standby state.

  In this state, when a coin of “120 yen” is inserted into the coin slot 23 (Step S3, Yes), it can be sold at “120 yen” including the product whose price has been changed to “120 yen”. The sale enable lamp of the product selection button 28 is turned on (step S4). When the product selection button 28 corresponding to the product whose price has been changed is pressed (step S5), the product is taken out via the main body control unit 14. The device 12 is driven, the desired product is carried out to the product take-out port 26 (step S6), and the discounted sale is performed, thereby entering a sales standby state (step S3).

  Next, when the discount end time is reached (step S7, Yes), in the case of a product with a discount sales price “120 yen”, as shown in the price display 28a in FIG. The price is changed to “150 yen” and the product is changed to the normal selling price (step S8).

  For time service discounts, if payment is received before the discount start time and the discount start time is reached before selecting the product, sales with the payment will be sold at the regular price. When discount sales by service are started and payment is made before the discount end time, if the product is selected by the product selection button 28 without performing the refund operation by the return lever 25, the sale is made at a discount price. After the sale ends, the discount sale by the time service is ended.

  Further, if only the time service discount is provided, the discount sale is stopped when the clock 1c of the main control unit 1 is determined to be abnormal. However, when the bulk purchase discount function is provided, only the bulk purchase discount function is valid. As a result, discount sales can be continued.

  For this bulk purchase discount, if the product other than the discount target column is purchased in the middle, the number of sales will not be counted, and it will be switched to discount sales when a predetermined number of products in the discount target column are sold. Therefore, it is necessary to set the continuous purchase setting to a number larger than the discount target number by bulk purchase.

  Various appeals of the time service discount, bulk purchase discount, and discount column are conceivable, but when displaying the discount amount on the price display 28a during the stand-by sale, it may be displayed prominently by blinking. Moreover, you may change display forms, such as the blinking period, for every alternate sales group. Further, a display with a sticker, a sticker, or the like, or a new indicator may be provided to display that the discount is being performed.

  Although the discount amount is set to three preset patterns, the number of patterns may be increased, or the discount amount may be input by operating the remote controller 11, and the discount amount is larger than the normal selling price. If it is mistakenly set, the product is judged to be abnormal and the discount setting is ignored, and the product is sold at the normal selling price.

  Note that the price indicator 28a for displaying the sales amount is displayed, for example, without displaying the price if the temperature is not appropriate, and the vending machine is driven by an auxiliary power source during energy saving or disaster. If it is to be turned off, it may be turned off.

1 Main Control Unit 1a Memory 1b Memory 11 Remote Control 20 Vending Machine 27 Digital Indicator 28 Product Selection Button 28a Price Indicator

Claims (2)

  By pressing the product selection buttons corresponding to multiple columns that store the same product, the discount amount and discount can be applied to vending machines equipped with an alternate sales group function that exports products from the column according to a preset column delivery order. Setting means for setting the target column, determination means for determining whether or not the discount amount is the same when the column is set to the same alternate sales group and all the columns are discount target columns, and the discount amount A vending machine comprising: a control means for performing discount sales by setting a discount amount in a predetermined column set in advance when the two are not the same.   By pressing the product selection buttons corresponding to multiple columns that store the same product, the discount amount and discount can be applied to vending machines equipped with an alternate sales group function that exports products from the column according to a preset column delivery order. It has a setting means to set the target column, and if there are columns that are not discounted among the columns set in the same alternating sales group, all columns are not discounted And vending machine.

Images