JP2002288721A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic vending machine allowing use by a visually handicapped person. SOLUTION: A bar code reader 13 reads a bar code printed on a commodity. A control part 14 stores commodity information specified by the bar code read by the bar code reader 13 in a commodity information table 16b of a storage part 16 so as to correspond to a selecting button 3. The control part 14 calls out the commodity information corresponding to the pushed selecting button 3 from the commodity information table 16b when receiving operation of the selecting button 3 before inputting hard money, and outputs the information in voice from a loudspeaker 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine for storing a plurality of at least one kind of merchandise and releasing the merchandise upon purchase by a user. Specifically, the present invention relates to a vending machine that can be used by visually impaired persons by outputting product information specifying what the product selected by the user is by voice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vending machine receives cash such as coins and discharges a product according to a user's selection.
The vending machine is provided with a selection button for selecting a product, and a user selects a product by pressing a selection button corresponding to a product to be purchased. Conventionally, such vending machines have been adapted to use by visually impaired persons by attaching numbers such as prices in braille to selection buttons.

[0003]

However, in the conventional vending machine, only the number such as the price is shown in braille, so that the visually impaired can purchase what kind of product by pressing the selection button. There was a problem that we could not recognize whether we could do it. For this reason, there is a problem that a visually impaired person cannot use a vending machine unless a sighted person is actually present. The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine that allows a visually impaired person to recognize in advance what products can be purchased.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A vending machine according to the present invention stores a plurality of at least one kind of merchandise and allows the user to select the merchandise in a vending machine which releases the merchandise upon purchase by the user. The apparatus includes a selection unit and a control unit that outputs product information corresponding to the product selected by the selection unit by voice.

[0005] In the vending machine of the present invention, when the user operates the selecting means to select a product to receive an explanation by voice, product information corresponding to the product is output by voice. Therefore, when the user is a visually impaired person, it is possible to recognize by speech the product that is being purchased. As a result, the visually impaired person can use the vending machine by himself, and the use of the vending machine by the visually impaired person can be promoted.

[0006]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention. Vending machine 1
Is to store a plurality of types of commodities therein, and to release commodities purchased by a user from among them.

[0007] The display unit 2 allows the commodities that can be sold by the vending machine 1 to be viewed. The display unit 2 displays available products for sale to a user using a product sample 2a such as a product photograph or a model. Also, different numbers are assigned to the respective products.

[0008] The selection button 3 constitutes selection means for allowing a user to select a product. In the vending machine 1 according to the present embodiment, by operating the selection button 3, it is possible to select a product to be actually purchased and to select a product to be explained by voice. The vending machine 1 is provided with a plurality of selection buttons 3 according to the type of product to be sold. Each selection button 3 is assigned a number corresponding to the number assigned to each product on the display unit 2. Each selection button 3 is provided with Braille not shown so that the visually impaired person can recognize the number.

The coin slot 4 receives coins from a user. Then, the change and the unsuitable coin are returned to the user from the coin return slot 5. The take-out port 6 is used to allow a product purchased by the user to be sent from the inside of the vending machine 1 and to be ready to be taken out.
The speaker 7 outputs voice guidance to the user. Further, the proximity sensor 8 detects that the user is in front of the vending machine 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main part showing the internal structure of the vending machine according to the present embodiment. The product release mechanism 9 has a mechanism for holding a plurality of products 10 and releasing the held products 10 one by one according to the purchase of the user.

The guide rail 11 is a member for holding the product 10, and has a length that allows a plurality of products 10 to be set in a line. The guide rail 11 holds a plurality of products 10 in a state in which the products 10 can move in a direction along the rows.

The guide rail 11 is provided with a transport mechanism 12 for transporting the product 10. The transport mechanism 12 is driven by a motor or the like (not shown) and pushes the goods 10 set on the guide rail 11 along one side toward one end of the guide rail 11.

One end of the guide rail 11 is open, and the goods 10 arranged on the guide rail 11 are pushed in the direction of the arrangement by the transport mechanism 12 so that the leading goods 1 are moved.
0 is emitted from the guide rail 11. The guide rail 11 and the transport mechanism 12 include the guide rail 1
A mechanism (not shown) is provided for releasing only the first one of the products 10 arranged in a row.

The take-out port 6 described with reference to FIG. 1 is provided below the product release mechanism 9. The product 10 released from the guide rail 11 falls into the take-out port 6 and is sent into the take-out port 6, so that the user The product 10 can be taken out from the outlet 6. Product 1 to be sold
When there are a plurality of types of 0, a plurality of product release mechanisms 9 are provided as shown in FIG.

The product release mechanism 9 includes a bar code reader 1 as means for reading product information recorded on the product 10.
3 are provided. The bar code reader 13 is provided at a position where information can be read from the leading product 10 on the guide rail 11, that is, the product 10 waiting at a predetermined position at one end of the guide rail 11 to be released next. .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the product of the present embodiment. In this embodiment, FIGS. 1 and 2
As an example of the product 10 sold by the vending machine 1 described in the above section, a beverage whose container is made of a paper pack will be described as an example. Product 1
Numeral 0 is a rectangular parallelepiped, and a bar code 10a is printed on one side as an information recording section for recording product information. The barcode 10a represents product information indicating what the product 10 is. The barcode 10a may be printed on the product 10 at the same time as printing the expiration date, for example.

The bar code reader 13 described with reference to FIG.
Barcode 10a printed on the side of this product 10
Is to read. And the barcode reader 13
Is the bar code 10 of the product 10 waiting at a predetermined position at one end of the guide rail 11 to be discharged next.
a.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system of the vending machine according to the present embodiment. The vending machine 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 is controlled by the control unit 14. That is, the control unit 14 includes the selection button 3, the speaker 7,
Proximity sensor 8, transport mechanism 12, bar code reader 13,
The coin processing unit 15 and the storage unit 16 are connected.

The control unit 14 receives the outputs of the plurality of selection buttons 3, detects which of the selection buttons 3 has been pressed, and determines the product 10 that the user is trying to purchase.

The coin processing section 15 has a mechanism for discriminating and storing coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 4 described with reference to FIG. The control unit 14 receives the output of the coin processing unit 15, discriminates the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 4, and controls the coin processing unit 15 if the discrimination result shows that the coin is suitable for use. store. In addition, coins that are not suitable for use are returned from the coin return slot 5 by controlling the coin processing unit 15.

Further, the control unit 14 receives the output of the coin processing unit 15 and counts the amount of coins identified as suitable for use.

Then, the control unit 14 selects the selection button 3 when the amount of the inserted coins becomes equal to or more than the price of the product 10.
Is detected, the transport mechanism 12 of the product release mechanism 9 storing the corresponding product 10 is controlled to release the product 10. If there is a change, the coin processing unit 15 is controlled and returned from the coin return slot 5.

The storage section 16 stores a voice information table 1 storing information necessary for outputting various voice guidances.
6a is provided. Further, the storage unit 16 is provided with a product information table 16b that stores product information specified by the barcode 10a printed on the product 10 described in FIG.

The control unit 14 receives the output of the bar code reader 13 and stores the bar code 10a read from the product 10 in the product information table 16b of the storage unit 16. Then, the control unit 14 calls up the voice guidance corresponding to the product information from the voice information table 16a, and
Output from

The control section 14 receives the output of the proximity sensor 8 and detects whether or not the user is in front of the vending machine 1. If it is determined that the user is in front of the vending machine 1,
The control unit 14 calls up predetermined information from the audio information table 16a of the storage unit 16, and outputs audio guidance for guiding the operation of a visually impaired person from the speaker 7 in particular.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the vending machine according to the present embodiment. The operation of the vending machine 1 described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 will be described. First,
When the product 10 is loaded into the product release mechanism 9, the control unit 14
Reads the barcode 10a from the top product 10 by the barcode reader 13 and stores it in the product information table 16b of the storage unit 16 (S1). Here, since each selection button 3 and the product release mechanism 9 correspond one to one,
Number and barcode 10a assigned to selection button 3
Are stored in association with each other.

The control unit 14 receives the output of the proximity sensor 8 and detects whether the user is in front of the vending machine 1 (S2). If the control unit 14 determines that the user is in front of the vending machine 1, the control unit 14 stores the voice information table 16a in the storage unit 16.
, And outputs voice guidance from the speaker 7 for guiding the operation of a visually impaired person. That is, a guidance for guiding an operation necessary for giving a description of a product that can be sold by the vending machine 1 by voice is output by voice (S3).

The voice guidance in the process of S3 is as follows. First, the position of the selection button 3, the coin slot 4, the coin return slot 5 and the take-out slot 6 necessary for the visually impaired to operate the vending machine 1 is determined. It will be explained by voice whether it is on the side. For example, "The coin slot is at the top right. The selection button for selecting products is below it. The product exits from the lower center outlet. The change is returned from the lower right return slot. Is output from the speaker 7.

Next, the operation guidance for listening to the description of the product will be described by voice. For example, a voice guidance such as "Press the selection button before inserting coins. Explanations of products that can be purchased will be given by voice" is output from the speaker 7.

The control unit 14 receives the output of the coin processing unit 15 and detects whether or not a coin has been inserted (S4). If it is determined in step S4 that no coin has been inserted from the output of the coin processing unit 15, the control unit 14 monitors the output of the selection button 3 and detects whether the selection button 3 has been pressed (S4).
5). If no coin is inserted and the selection button 3 is not pressed, the process waits until a coin is inserted or the selection button 3 is pressed.

When the control unit 14 detects that the selection button 3 has been pressed at a stage where no coin is inserted, it determines which of the plurality of selection buttons 3 has been pressed. Then, the control unit 14 displays the selection button 3
By pressing, the product information corresponding to the product selected to receive the explanation by voice is called from the product information table 16b of the storage unit 16 (S6).

The control section 14 calls up the voice guidance corresponding to the product information from the voice information table 16a and outputs it from the speaker 7 (S7). For example, a voice guidance such as "The first product is milk."
Output from In addition, since each selection button 3 is provided with braille indicating a number, the visually impaired person can recognize what number each selection button 3 corresponds to. Accordingly, if the number and the product information are output in a voice in association with each other, the visually impaired person can recognize which product can be purchased by pressing which selection button 3. Further, a price may be added to the product information and output with voice guidance. For example, the voice guidance such as “The first product is milk. The price is 120 yen” is output from the speaker 7. Thereby, even when the prices of the plurality of types of products 10 stored in the vending machine 1 are different, the visually impaired person can recognize the price of each product 10.

Then, the visually impaired person can recognize the commodities that can be purchased by the vending machine 1 by pressing some select buttons 3 without inserting coins. You can put it in and buy it.

When a user (a visually impaired person) inserts a coin through the coin slot 4, it is determined in step S4 that a coin has been inserted. Thereby, the control unit 14 receives the output of the coin processing unit 15, performs discrimination of the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 4, and controls the coin processing unit 15 if the discrimination result shows that the coin is suitable for use. Keep this. In addition, coins that are not suitable for use are returned from the coin return slot 5 by controlling the coin processing unit 15.

The control unit 14 receives the output of the coin processing unit 15 and counts the amount of the coins identified as suitable for use. If the amount of the coins exceeds the price of the product 10, for example, the lamp of the corresponding selection button 3 Is turned on to notify the user. Further, as guidance for the visually impaired, a voice guidance such as "the input amount has become 120 yen" is output from the speaker 7.

The control unit 14 monitors the output of the selection button 3 at the stage when coins are inserted, and detects whether the selection button 3 has been pressed (S8). When the control unit 14 detects that the selection button 3 has been pressed in the determination in S8, the control unit 14 determines which of the plurality of selection buttons 3 has been pressed, so that the user (the visually impaired) purchases the product. The product 10 selected to be selected is specified.

If the amount of money input by the user is equal to or higher than the price of the product 10 selected by the user, the control unit 14
Controls the transport mechanism 12 of the product release mechanism 9 storing the corresponding product 10 to release the product 10 (S
9). If there is a change, the coin processing unit 15 is controlled and returned from the coin return slot 5.

The first product 10 is released, and the next product 1 is released.
When the barcode reader 13 is conveyed to a position opposite to the barcode reader 13 with the leading 0, the control unit 14 reads the barcode 10a from the product 10 that is the first to be released next by the barcode reader 13 and stores the barcode 10a. The information is stored in the product information table 16b of the unit 16 and the product information table 16b is updated (S1).

As described above, in the vending machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the selection button 3 is pressed before the coin is inserted, the bar code 10a of the product 10 corresponding to the pressed selection button 3 is used. The specified product information is output by voice together with information specifying the pressed selection button. Thereby, when the visually impaired uses the vending machine 1, it becomes possible to recognize in advance what kind of merchandise can be purchased with the vending machine 1, and to promote the use of the vending machine 1 for the visually impaired. it can.

Since the merchandise information is recorded on the merchandise 10 as a bar code 10a, even if the merchandise is replaced, the information on the vending machine 1 side is not updated.
Can be easily handled.

In this embodiment, each time the product 10 is sold, the barcode 10a is read and the product information table 1 is read.
6b was updated. Since the product 10 from which the barcode 10a is read is waiting to be sold next, it is possible to notify correct product information even in the event that products are mixed. Things. The barcode 10a may be read every time the selection button 3 is pressed. In this case, the product information table 16b can be omitted.

On the other hand, a bar code reader 13 is separately provided, and when the product 10 is loaded, the operator reads the bar code 10a for each type of product and associates each of the selection buttons 3 with the product information. The created product information table 16b may be created. Thereby, the product release mechanism 9
There is no need to provide a barcode reader 13 for each of the devices, and it is possible to easily cope with existing devices. Further, by reading the barcode manually, the present invention can be applied to canned beverages and the like in which the position of the barcode cannot be set to a constant value in the product release mechanism 9.

Further, each selection button 3 may be provided with a sensor for detecting that the finger of the user touches or approaches. As a result, the user (visually impaired)
Moves the finger close to the selection button 3 or the selection button 3
Assuming that the visually impaired person has selected to receive an explanation by voice at the stage of touching the Braille attached to, the product information corresponding to the selected product is called from the product information table 16b of the storage unit 16, Voice guidance can be output. Thereby, it is possible to output the product information by voice without the operation guidance.

In this embodiment, the barcode 10a is used as a means for recording product information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a magnetic stripe can be used.

By providing a bill processing unit in the vending machine 1, it is possible to purchase goods using bills. Further, by providing a card processing unit such as a prepaid card, it is possible to purchase a product using the card.

[0046]

As described above, the present invention provides an automatic system including a selection unit for allowing a user to select a product, and a control unit for outputting, by voice, product information corresponding to the product selected by the selection unit. It is a vending machine. Therefore, the user can recognize the product to be purchased by voice. As a result, the visually impaired person can use the vending machine by himself, and the use of the vending machine by the visually impaired person can be promoted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of a vending machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing an internal configuration of the vending machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a product of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a control system of the vending machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow in the vending machine of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Display part 3 Selection button 4 Coin slot 5 Coin return port 6 Eject port 7 Speaker 8 Proximity sensor 9 Commodity release mechanism 10 Commodity 10a Barcode 11 Guide rail 12 Transport mechanism 13 Barcode reader 14 Control part 15 Coin Processing unit 16 Storage unit 16a Voice information table 16b Product information table

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine that stores a plurality of at least one type of product and releases the product upon purchase by a user, wherein: a selection unit for allowing the user to select a product; and a product selected by the selection unit. A vending machine comprising control means for outputting corresponding product information by voice. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising reading means for reading the product information from an information recording section provided on the product. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reading unit is provided at a position where the product information is read from an information recording unit of a product waiting to be sold next among a plurality of products. The vending machine described. 4. A storage unit for storing product information read by the reading unit, wherein the control unit, when a product is selected by the selection unit,
4. The vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the corresponding merchandise information is called from the storage unit and output by voice. 5. The control means according to claim 1, wherein
5. A vending machine according to claim 4, wherein said reading means is controlled to read product information from an information recording section of a product which is waiting to be sold next, and update said storage means. 6. The control unit according to claim 3, wherein, when a product is selected by the selection unit, the control unit controls the reading unit to read product information from the corresponding product and output it by voice. Vending machine.