JPH04328696A - Card and vending machine capable of selling card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a vending machine in which operability and usability are improved and the processing procedure is convenient. CONSTITUTION:A merchandise card 26 in which the merchandise to be sold and the sellable quantity data of this merchandise are recorded is inserted into a vending machine 1, a reading and recording part 19 of the vending machine 1 reads respective data of the merchandise card 26, and a control part 13 selects the column corresponded beforehand to the merchandise name data and performs the selling processing of the merchandise. The control part 13 subtracts the quantity of the actually sold merchandise from the read sellable quantity data, and the subtracted result is written into a sellable quantity data area 25 of the merchandise card 26 by a rewriting head 22 of the reading and recording part 19 as the new sellable quantity data.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly to a vending machine capable of selling products using a card such as a magnetic card.

0002

[Prior Art] Vending machines selling cigarettes, soft drinks, etc. have become rapidly popular in recent years.
There is a type that uses a magnetic card in which the available balance is recorded each time it is used.

[0003] In any type of vending machine, there are at least a few types of products to be sold, and at most several dozen types, and after inserting money or a card, the machine sells products from among the products that can be sold for the amount of money inserted. A customer selects a desired product and presses one of the product buttons on the front of the vending machine to purchase the product.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Such conventional vending machines have the following problems.

(1) For example, when a customer wants to purchase cigarettes, the brand is approximately fixed for each customer, and it is necessary to search for the desired product from among the large number of product samples as described above, which is time-consuming. .

(2) For example, even when a new cigarette product is released, it is only possible to display the new product on the product sample shelf of a vending machine and attach a sticker indicating that it is a new product. It is difficult to differentiate the product from existing products.

(3) Many types of vending machines that sell products in currency do not allow the use of both banknotes and coins, and customers are required to always prepare coins, which is a hassle.

(4) As a conventional vending machine that can sell products using the magnetic card,
No. 75 is mentioned. This conventional example includes a storage means for temporarily storing the monetary balance read from the magnetic card, a determining means for determining whether the monetary balance is zero, and a determining means for determining whether the monetary balance is zero or not, and the magnetic card a first processing means that makes the balance of the card amount zero or invalidates it to enable the sales operation; and when the sales operation is completed, the amount of change is calculated and the amount of change is updated as the balance of the magnetic card. - a second processing means for writing to the code. That is, there is a problem in that the processing procedure at the time of sale is complicated.

[0009]

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vending machine that solves the above-mentioned technical problems, has improved operability and usability, and has simple processing procedures.

0010

[Means for solving the problem] The car according to claim 1 of the present invention
A code is a readable/recordable record of one product name data and sellable quantity data of the product.

[0011] In the vending machine capable of selling cards according to claim 2 of the present invention, the product name data of the product to be sold and the salesable quantity data of the product are recorded in a readable/recordable manner. A storage section for storing the card, a reading/recording means for reading/recording data on the card, and a column to be associated with the read product name data in advance. and control means for performing product sales processing.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a vending machine capable of selling cards, in which, in the automatic vending machine according to the second aspect, the control means enables the sale of the read product after the sales process for the product is completed. The result of calculating the sales quantity from the quantity is recorded on the card using a reading/recording means as a new salesable quantity.

[0013] A vending machine capable of card vending according to claim 4 of the present invention is a vending machine according to claim 2 in which the product name data is
The storage means includes a storage means in which correspondence data is stored in a recordable/readable manner in which each column is associated with one of a plurality of columns in which a product is stored.

[0014]

[Function] According to the present invention, when purchasing a product, a card is used on which the product name data of the product to be sold and the salesable quantity data of the product are recorded in a readable/recordable manner. Insert it into the storage compartment. The reading/recording means of the vending machine reads each data on the card, and the control means selects a column associated with the read product name data in advance to perform product sales processing. conduct.

[0015] With this, the customer can purchase the desired product simply by inserting the card with the desired product name data recorded into the vending machine, and select the desired product from a large number of product samples. The trouble of searching for products is eliminated and usability is improved. Also, if you are trying to promote sales of a specific product,
If a card corresponding to the product is distributed, when a customer tries to use the card, the customer will purchase the specific product, which can differentiate the specific product from existing products. , for example, can contribute to new product sales promotion, etc.
Usability is greatly improved.

[0016] Furthermore, when purchasing products, it is no longer necessary to always prepare heavy and bulky coins, thereby improving usability. Furthermore, the vending machine of the present invention reads the product name data and the salesable quantity data on the card, and after the product is sold, the sales quantity is settled and the settlement result is used as a new salesable quantity data. - recorded on the card as data. Therefore, complicated settlement processing regarding the amount is unnecessary, and the processing procedure at the time of sale is simplified.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the vending machine 1.

The front door 2 of the vending machine 1 is provided with a display shelf 3 for displaying samples of products to be sold, and the lower part of the display shelf 3 displays the types of products to be sold, that is, the types of products installed inside the vending machine 1. A plurality of selection buttons 4 are arranged respectively corresponding to a plurality of columns in which products are stored.

In the vicinity of each selection button 4, there is a sellable lamp 5 that is turned on corresponding to the sellable product when money or a product card (described later) is inserted, and a sellable lamp 5 that lights up corresponding to the product that can be sold. Out-of-stock lamp 6 that is turned on when the item is out of stock.
are arranged respectively.

The front door 2 is provided with a bill slot 7, a coin slot 8, an amount display section 12 for the inserted amount, and a card slot 9. At the bottom, a change slot 10 and a product output slot 11 are provided. is provided.

The vending machine 1 has a control section 13 that includes a sequencer or a microprocessor, and the control section 13 has an input section 14 that includes a keyboard. , and the amount display section 12 are connected.

The control section 13 is provided with a storage section 13a consisting of, for example, a RAM (random access memory). As shown in FIG. 3 as an example, the storage unit 13a has storage contents in which product name data is associated with each variable N (N=1 to N0) corresponding to each column. Also, for example, a printer 15 that prints out the payment results when making a daily payment, and a selection button 4 provided on the front door 2.
, a door section 16 including a sellable lamp 5 and a sold-out lamp 6 is connected, and is a mechanism for transporting inserted cards into or out of the machine, or transporting products to be sold out of the machine. The transport unit 17 is connected.

Furthermore, the control unit 13 includes a coin mech 18 for identifying, counting, and dispensing coins inserted.
and a write/read section 19 that performs data write/read processing for the inserted card. The write/read section 19 includes a read head 21 for reading data recorded magnetically on a card, a write head 22 for writing data on the card, and these heads 21.
, 22 is provided.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of setting product name data for each column in the vending machine 1.

In step a1 of FIG. 4, a variable N corresponding to each column is initialized to 1, and in step a2, desired product name data is input using the input section 14. In step a3, the variable N is incremented by +1, and in step a4, it is determined whether the variable N has exceeded the maximum variable value, that is, the number of columns N0. If the determination at step a4 is negative, the process returns to step a2 and the above-described process is repeated. If the determination in step a4 is affirmative, the product name data input process ends. This completes the association between each column and the product name data in the storage section 13a of the control section 13, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the characteristic operation of the present invention.

In step b1 of FIG.
Wait for the input. When it is detected that money or a card has been inserted, in step b2, if the inserted item is a card, the writing/reading section 19 writes the data recorded on the card. is read to determine whether it is a product card. The product card referred to herein is, for example, a magnetic card or a so-called IC (integrated circuit) card, on which specific product name data and salesable quantity data of the product are written, and furthermore, Preferably, the card includes identification data for distinguishing it from an amount card, such as a so-called telephone card, on which data regarding the available amount of money is written and data on the remaining amount due to use is newly written. It is written. That is, as shown in FIG.
, a product name data area 24 and a sellable quantity data area 25 are set.

If it is determined in step b2 that the inserted item is not the product card 26, the inserted item is the amount card or money, and the control section 13 determines the amount of money based on the amount data. A separately determined amount will be processed. If the determination in step b2 is affirmative, the process moves to step b3, where the writing/reading section 19 writes the product name data and data from the product name data area 24 and sellable quantity data area 25 of the product card 26. The available sales quantity data is read. step b4
Then, the variable N is initialized to +1, and in step b5, the storage section 13a is referred to to determine whether the product name data in the Nth column matches the product name data read from the product card 26. judge whether

If the judgment in step b5 is negative, the variable N is incremented by +1 in step b6, and step b7
Then, it is determined whether the variable N exceeds the variable maximum value, that is, the number of columns N0. If this judgment is negative, the process returns to step b5 and the above-described process is repeated until the judgment in step b7 is positive. If the determination in step b5 is affirmative, the process moves to step b8 and sales processing for the product in the Nth column is performed. At this time, the customer may press a multiple-item vending button (not shown) provided on the vending machine 1, if necessary.

In step b9, the quantity of the product actually sold is subtracted from the read sellable quantity data, and the result of the subtraction is used as new sellable quantity data, and the read/write unit 19 uses the subtraction result as new sellable quantity data. The rewriting head 22 writes data into the sellable quantity data area 25 of the product card 26. When this process is completed, the stored product card 26 is discharged to the outside of the machine using the transport section 17 in step b10. If the determination at step b7 is affirmative, the process also moves to step b10.

As described above, in this embodiment, by inserting the product card 26 on which specific product name data is recorded into the vending machine 1, the desired product can be purchased immediately.
The trouble of searching for a desired product among a large number of product samples is eliminated, and usability is improved. Further, when trying to promote sales of a specific product, if a product card 26 corresponding to the product is distributed, when the product card 26 is used, the purchase of the specific product can be made. This allows the specific product to be differentiated from existing products, contributing to, for example, new product sales promotion, and greatly improving usability.

[0032] Furthermore, when purchasing products, it is no longer necessary to always prepare heavy and bulky coins, thereby improving usability. The vending machine 1 reads the product name data and sellable quantity data on the product card 26, settles the sales quantity after selling the product, and uses the settlement result as new sellable quantity data. , is recorded on the product card 26. Therefore, complicated settlement processing regarding the amount is unnecessary, and the processing procedure at the time of sale is simplified.

[0033] As another embodiment of the present invention, product card 2
6 is a plurality of pairs of product name data areas 24a as shown in FIG.
, 24b, ..., and the salesable quantity data area 25a,
25b, . . . may be set.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, when purchasing a product, the product name data of the product to be sold and the salesable quantity data of the product can be read/recorded. The reading/recording means of the vending machine reads each data on the card, and the control means selects columns that are previously associated with the read product name data. You can now select and process the product sales.

[0035] This allows the customer to purchase the desired product simply by inserting the card with the desired product name data recorded into the vending machine, and select the desired product from a large number of product samples. The trouble of searching for products is eliminated and usability is improved. Also, if you are trying to promote sales of a specific product,
If a card corresponding to the product is distributed, when a customer tries to use the card, the customer will purchase the specific product, which can differentiate the specific product from existing products. , for example, can contribute to new product sales promotion, etc.
Usability is greatly improved.

[0036] Furthermore, when purchasing products, it is no longer necessary to always prepare heavy and bulky coins, thereby improving usability. Furthermore, the vending machine of the present invention reads the product name data and the salesable quantity data on the card, and after the product is sold, the sales quantity is settled and the settlement result is used as a new salesable quantity data. - recorded on the card as data. Therefore, complicated settlement processing regarding the amount is unnecessary, and the processing procedure at the time of sale is simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vending machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the vending machine 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the storage contents of the storage unit 13a.

[Figure 4] Product name data is displayed in each column in the vending machine 1.
5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of setting data.

[Fig. 5] Flowchart explaining the characteristic operation of the present invention
It is.

6 is a diagram showing a data area of the product card 26. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the data area of the product card 26.

[Explanation of symbols]

1... Vending machine 4...Selection button 9...Card slot 13...Control unit 14...Input section 13a...Storage section 19...Writing/reading section 21...Reading head 22...Writing head

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A card characterized in that one product name data and data on the salesable quantity of the product are recorded in a readable/recordable manner. 2. A storage section for storing a card on which product name data of a product to be sold and salesable quantity data of the product are recorded in a readable/recordable manner; It is characterized by comprising a reading/recording means for reading/recording data, and a control means for selecting a column associated in advance with the read product name data and performing product sales processing. A vending machine that can sell cards. 3. After the sale processing of the product is completed, the control means calculates the sales quantity from the read product's sellable quantity and uses the reading/recording means to calculate the sales quantity as a new sellable quantity. Claim 1 characterized in that the information is recorded on a card.
A vending machine that can sell the cards listed above. 4. The product is characterized by including a storage means in which correspondence data in which the product name data and one of the plurality of columns in which the products are stored are stored in a recordable/readable manner. A vending machine capable of selling by card according to claim 1.