JPH03216796A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a vending machine equipped with a product vending means for selling a plurality of stored products.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional vending machines only sell the products stored inside the machine.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

For vending machines, it is desirable to increase sales by increasing the usage rate of purchasers. For this purpose, one vending machine should be able to sell as many different types of products as possible, but if there are restrictions on the size of the vending machine, However, since it is not possible to store many types of products, it has not been possible to sufficiently increase the usage rate by purchasers.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a vending machine that can increase the utilization rate of purchasers and increase sales even when there are restrictions on size. It is in the point of providing.

[Means to solve the problem]

The vending machine according to the present invention is equipped with a product sales means for selling a plurality of types of products stored therein, and its characteristic structure includes an output means for selling information, and a means for outputting information to be sold by activating the output means. The point is that it is equipped with an information sales means to sell information.

[For production]

To allow the same vending machine to sell both products and information. Furthermore, since information does not require a large storage space like products, it is possible to sell both products and information even if there are size restrictions.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As a result, even for vending machines whose size is limited, it is now possible to increase the usage rate of buyers and increase sales.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

As shown in Figure 3, the front panel (1) of the vending machine has a sample shelf (1) where samples of stored products are displayed.
2), multiple product selection buttons (3) for selecting products displayed on the sample shelf (2), a coin slot for purchasing products (4), and the type and content of information to be sold. a display device (5) as an output means for displaying;
An information sales button (6) for selecting whether to purchase a product or information, and a product outlet (7) for dispensing the selected product are provided. However, the front panel (1) is equipped with a card reading device (9) in order to enable the sale of products or information using a prepaid card (8) using a magnetic card, IC card, etc. instead of coins. ) is attached.

Although not detailed, the information includes, for example, map information, various reservations, and paid information for sale such as stock information.
There is free information such as various guides and product introductions, and the user selects which information to output to the display device (5) using the plurality of product selection buttons (3). There is.

To explain the control configuration for selling products and information, as shown in FIG.
), information on coins inserted into the coin slot (4), or information read by the card reader (9) on the card (8), a microprocessor that performs processing for selling products or information. A computer-based control unit (lO) is provided. However, the control device (lO) is connected via a communication line (l2) to an external host computer (l1) that stores and manages information to be sold.

In other words, by using the control device (10), a product sales means (100) that sells the products and an information sales means (101) that sells the information are configured.

Next, the operation of the control device (10) will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

When a coin is inserted into the coin slot (4) or a card (8) is inserted into the card reader (9) and becomes ready for sale, the information sales button (
Based on whether or not 6) is pressed, it is determined whether information sales or product sales are performed.

In the case of information sales, the host computer (1
l) to display a menu of salable information on said display device (5). As mentioned above, the switching and selection of the menu displayed on the display device (5) is as follows:
This is done using the product selection button (3).

If one of the product selection buttons (3) corresponding to menu switching is pressed, the displayed menu will be switched, and if one corresponding to information selection is pressed, selection will be performed. The contents of the information will be displayed on the display device (5). If the selected information is paid information, the necessary fees are settled and the process ends.

Although details will not be given, if a coin is inserted into the coin slot (4), the charge will be settled with a coin, and if a card (8) is inserted into the card reader (9), the card will be charged. The remaining amount is updated by subtracting the fee from the monetary information stored in (8).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the product is for sale, after paying for the product selected by the product selection button (3), the process is completed by paying out the product to the product takeout port (7). become.

[Another example]

In the above embodiment, a case has been exemplified in which both paid and free information can be output, but only paid information 4 may be output.

Further, in the above embodiment, a display device (
5) is provided, but a printer or the like may be provided to enable printing.

Further, in the above embodiment, the information is stored in the host computer (l1
), but the vending machine may be provided with an information storage means to store information to be sold in advance, and the specific configuration of each part can be changed in various ways.

Incidentally, although reference numerals are written in the claims section for convenient comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control configuration, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of control operation, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the vending machine. (5)... Information output means, (100)...
... Product sales means, (101) ... Information sales means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Product sales method for selling multiple types of stored products (1
00), which is equipped with an output means (5) of information to be sold, and an information sales means (101) that sells information by activating the output means (5). Machine.