JPH0444316B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a plurality of vending machines (also referred to as vending machines)
and a center device that collects sales information from each vending machine via a transmission line.

Note that in the following figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[Conventional technology]

Figure 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire device of this type.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the main functions of the conventional vending machine shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the storage contents in the product information storage means MA and the sales quantity storage means MB in FIG. 1.

In Figure 4, V (V1 to VN) is a vending machine, and Z
is the center device, and L is the transmission line. For example, the center device Z sequentially transmits a sales information transmission request RQ to each vending machine V at predetermined intervals, thereby collecting the sales information SD sent by each vending machine V, and performs data processing such as aggregation.

Next, in Fig. 3 1, KB is a product information setting means such as a keyboard, and it is stored in the product information storage means MA consisting of RAM etc. for each product sales column (not shown) as shown in Fig. 2, thus column number CN. Set and memorize the product information DA for each item.

Note that the product sales column here refers to a storage shelf for sales products that is combined with a product transportation means (not shown), and product information DA refers to the identification code DA of sales products.
(DA1), unit price DA (DA2), etc.

The MB inputs the sales signal VS which is output corresponding to each product sales column for each product sale using the sales number storage means, which is also made of RAM or the like, and stores each product sales column (therefore the column number CN)
Cumulatively stores the number of sales for each item, that is, the sales number DB.

The product information DA and sales number DB are sent as sales information SD to the center device Z via the sales information sending means 1 in response to a transmission request RQ from the center device Z, and the sales number DB is cleared each time.

In this way, sales information from the previous transmission request RQ by the center device Z to the current transmission request is collected by the center device Z.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, such a device has the following problems. In other words, when replacing the type of product,
Product information DA for the relevant product sales column
(product identification code, unit price, etc.), but if you simply change them, the sales number of the product after the replacement will be added to the sales number of the product immediately before the replacement, and this added sales number will be This will be sent to the center device as the sales number of the product after replacement, and the sales contents will be incorrect. Therefore, after sending the sales information SD for the product before replacement to the center device, the sales number storage unit MB stores it. Contents (number of sales
DB) and then change the product information DA.

Due to the above constraints, before changing the product information DA, clear the sales number DB before changing the product information.
To prevent sales from occurring until the DA change,
This must be done at the timing immediately after the sales information is sent to the center device Z, which limits the time for product changes (replacements) and the time for change operations. Therefore, the conventional device has the disadvantage that it is extremely difficult to use.

The present invention aims to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide an easy-to-use sales information collection device that does not cause any discrepancy in sales information even if product information (product identification code, unit price) is changed at any time. purpose.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention includes a plurality of vending machines, a center device that collects sales information generated by each vending machine via a transmission line, and performs data processing such as sales aggregation;
In the sales information collecting device, each of the vending machines includes: a product information storage means (product information memory, etc.) that stores product information such as a product identification code and unit price for each product sales column; Sales number storage means (sales number memory, etc.) that stores cumulative sales numbers; Product information setting means (product information setting keyboard, etc.) that sets and inputs product information in the product information storage means; In the product information storage means. a sales information save storage means (such as a sales information save memory) that saves and stores the product information and the number of sales in the sales number storage means; and when the product information is updated via the product information setting means. , the product information and the sales number of at least the relevant product sales column in the product information storage means and the sales number storage means immediately before the update thereof are saved in the sales information saving storage means, and the sales number in the sales number storage means is saved. means (CPU, ROM, etc.) for clearing the number of sales, and when the center device collects sales information, if there is save information in the sales information save storage means of the vending machine, the information is saved to the center device. and clear the save information in the sales information save storage means, and if there is no save information in the sales information save storage means, the product information in the product information storage means and the sales number storage means This is achieved by transmitting the sales number within the range to the center device and clearing the sales number (CPU, ROM, serial interface, etc.).

[Effect]

According to the above means, when changing product information (product identification code, unit price, etc.), the product information and the number of sales as sales information immediately before the change are temporarily saved in a separate storage area, and then When making a transmission request, if there is saved sales information, it is first sent, then cleared, and if there is no saved sales information, normal sales information is sent, and the product information can be changed at any time. Even if sales information is changed, sales information should not be distorted.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing the main part configuration of a vending machine as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the memory contents of the RAM in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the operation of the main part of the figure.

In FIG. 1, 01 is a CPU that controls the entire vending machine V, M1 is a ROM, M2 is a RAM,
RAMM2 is the product information DA for each product sales column (therefore column number CN) as shown in Figure 2.
Product information memory MA as an area for storing , Sales number memory MB as an area for storing the sales number DB for each column number CN, Product information DA and sales number for each column number CN
It consists of a sales information save memory MC, etc., which serves as an area to save and store the DB.

02 (02A, 02B) is an input/output interface (also abbreviated as I/0) for CPU01.
I/O021A contains a selection signal from a product selection button PB for selecting a product for sale, and the product information DA.
A setting input signal is input from the product information setting keyboard KB for setting the product information memory MA in the product information memory MA, and a setting input signal is input from this I/O02A for carrying out the product selected by the product selection button PB. The sales signal VS is output to the relevant product delivery mechanism. Further, the I/O 02B inputs and outputs communication signals to and from the center device Z via a serial interface (hereinafter, the interface is also abbreviated as I/F) 03 and a transmission line L. PTR is a sales tally printer that prints out the sales tally results from the center device Z.

Next, the operation of the main part shown in FIG. 1 will be explained using FIG. 2. First, in step 100 of initialization, the product information DA for each column number CN is set and stored in the product information memory MA via the product information setting keyboard KB, and each time a product is sold (step
101, branch Y), the sales number DB in the sales number memory MB corresponding to the column number CN is incremented (step 102).

Next, replace the product type in the product sales column and enter new product information DA via the keyboard KB (step 103, branch Y), and the product information memory
Before updating the MA, save the product information DA immediately before this update and the sales number DB in the sales number memory MB to the sales information save memory MC (step 104), and then use the newly input product information DA. While updating the product information memory MA (step
105), the sales number DB for the product before replacement in the sales number memory MB is cleared (step 106).

The center device Z outputs a transmission request RQ to each vending machine V at fixed time intervals, and each vending machine that receives this request (step 107, branch Y) outputs a transmission request RQ to each vending machine V if there is data in the sales information save memory MC (step 108). , branch Y), the contents of the memory MC are sent to the center device Z (step 109), and after this sending, the memory MC is cleared (step 110).

Furthermore, if there is no data in the sales information save memory MC (therefore, when the next transmission request RQ is received) (step 108, branch N), the product information memory
The MA and the contents of the sales number memory MB are sent to the center device Z (step 111), and after this transmission, the contents of the sales number memory MB are cleared (step 112).

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, when changing the product information of a vending machine, a storage area is added to save and store the sales information immediately before the change, and the sales information before the change and the sales after the change are added. Since information can be collected separately, products can be replaced and product information can be changed at any time, resulting in improved operability of the vending machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing the configuration of the main parts of a vending machine as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the main parts of FIG.
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the main functions of a conventional vending machine, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the overall configuration of this type of device. V (V1 to VN)... Vending machine, Z... Center device, L... Transmission line, RQ... Transmission request, SD...
Sales information, 01...CPU, 03...Serial interface, M1...ROM, M2...
RAM, MA...Product information memory, DA...Product information, MB...Sales number memory, DB...Sales number, MC
...Sales information save memory, PB...Product selection button,
VM...Product delivery mechanism, KB...Product information setting keyboard, CN...Column number, VS...Sales signal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Sales information collection comprising a plurality of vending machines and a center device that collects sales information generated by each vending machine via a transmission line and performs data processing such as sales aggregation. In the device, each of the vending machines includes: a product information storage means for storing product information such as a product identification code and unit price for each product sales column; a sales number storage means for storing cumulative sales numbers for each product sales column; Product information setting means for setting and inputting product information in the product information storage means; Sales information save storage means for saving and storing the product information in the product information storage means and the number of sales in the sales number storage means. , When the product information is updated via the product information setting means, the product information and sales number for at least the relevant product sales column in the product information storage means and sales number storage means immediately before the update are updated. means for saving the sales information in the sales information saving storage means and clearing the number of sales in the sales number storage means; saving the sales information in the sales information saving storage means of the vending machine when the sales information is collected by the center device; When there is information, the information is sent to the center device and the saved information in the sales information save storage means is cleared, and if there is no save information in the sales information save storage means, the product information is A sales information collection device for a vending machine, comprising: means for transmitting product information in a storage means and sales numbers in the sales number storage means to the center device, and clearing the sales numbers. .