JP2021064304A - Food selling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a consumer to easily select an ingredient or a cooked food by himself / herself. SOLUTION: A foodstuff sales system 5 has a standard unit of a plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units 2 of different sizes, a display shelf 11 for displaying a plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units 2 of different sizes, and a box-shaped foodstuff unit 2. A sales case 3 having a size suitable for storing a plurality of selected box-shaped food unit 2 is provided, and the box-shaped food unit 2 is sold in units of the sales case 3. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present invention relates to a foodstuff sales system and a foodstuff display method.

Conventionally, a box-shaped container for storing foodstuffs has been widely used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a bento box system capable of arranging and accommodating an inner box in which foodstuffs for bento are stored in an outer outer box. According to this lunch box system, the pattern of foodstuffs stored in the outer box for exterior can be changed, giving a fresh impression to the eater.

Registered Utility Model No. 3071378

By the way, no mechanism has been conventionally proposed to allow consumers who eat meals to easily select ingredients and cooked foods by themselves.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a means for consumers to easily select foodstuffs and the like by themselves.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units of different sizes, a display unit for displaying the plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units of different sizes, and the box-shaped foodstuff. Among the units, a sales case having a size suitable for storing a plurality of selected box-shaped foodstuff units is provided, and the box-shaped foodstuff unit is sold in units of the sales case. It is a food sales system.

In the foodstuff sales system, the display unit may be a display shelf for displaying a plurality of the box-shaped foodstuff units.

In the foodstuff sales system, among the menu generation unit that generates a menu using the foodstuffs of the box-shaped foodstuff unit and the plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units displayed on the display shelf, the box-shaped foodstuff necessary for the menu It may be configured to include a food material selection guiding unit that guides the selection of the unit.

In the foodstuff sales system, the foodstuff selection guidance unit may be a display unit that displays the box-shaped foodstuff unit required for the menu.

In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units of different sizes standardized with respect to the size of the case for sale are displayed for purchase. It is a food display method.

According to the present invention, by selecting the box-shaped foodstuff unit so that it fits in the case for sale, the consumer can easily select and purchase the foodstuff.

The block diagram of the foodstuff sales system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structural example of the box-shaped food material unit. The perspective view which shows the structural example of the case for sale. The block diagram of the display apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the operation of the display apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The block diagram of the foodstuff sales system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The block diagram of the display apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the operation of the display apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. The block diagram of the foodstuff sales system which concerns on a modification.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a foodstuff sales system 5 according to a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The foodstuff sales system 5 includes a display device 1 and a sales case 3.

The display device 1 is installed in a store such as a retail store that sells products. The display device 1 has a display shelf 11 on which the shelf board 13 is arranged, and the box-shaped food unit 2 is arranged on the shelf board 13. The number and size of the shelf boards 13 installed in the display device 1 are not limited. The display shelf 11 corresponds to an example of a display unit.

The box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 is a molded product obtained by molding a foodstuff into a standard united size, and is a cooked food, a processed food, a fresh food, or the like. The box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 may be unwrapped foodstuffs or foodstuffs, or may be packaged. The box-shaped food unit 2 may be one that can be eaten by heating and thawing or heating, or may require cooking. For example, the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 includes cooked rice, boiled or steamed noodles, prepared foods such as fried foods, simmered foods and salads, and processed foods such as ham and bacon. Further, the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 may be a food that requires cooking, such as vegetables that have been washed, peeled, cut, or cut meat, or other foods. Further, the box-shaped food unit 2 may be solid when displayed on the shelf board 13, and may be a food in which a solid and a liquid are mixed or a liquid food is molded into a standard size by freezing or packaging. Good. Further, the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 is not limited to foods and foodstuffs eaten by humans, and may be foods given to livestock and pets.

As will be described later, the sizes of the box-shaped foodstuff units 2 are standardized, and FIG. 1 shows the box-shaped foodstuff units 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D having different sizes. When the box-shaped food unit 2A to 2D are not distinguished, it is referred to as the box-shaped food unit 2.
It is preferable that the box-shaped food unit 2 is arranged on the shelf board 13 side by side according to the size and the type of food. For example, on the uppermost shelf board 13 shown in FIG. 1, box-shaped food unit 2A is arranged in two rows in the horizontal direction. The box-shaped food unit 2A in each row is the same food.

The shelf board 13 has an indicator 41. The indicator 41 has a light source such as an LED, and turns on and off according to the control of the control unit 110 described later. The position of the indicator 41 is preferably a position corresponding to the row of the box-shaped food unit 2, but the number of indicators 41 attached to the shelf board 13 is not limited. For example, a plurality of one shelf board 13 is arranged in the direction in which the row of the box-shaped food unit 2 is formed, and among these indicators 41, the indicator 41 at a position overlapping the row of the box-shaped food unit 2 is controlled by the control unit 110. Should be turned on.

Since the indicator 41 is arranged corresponding to the row of the box-shaped food unit 2, among the various box-shaped food units 2 housed in the display shelf 11, the box-shaped food unit 2 of a specific size and a specific type can be selected. , It can be instructed by the lighting state of the indicator 41.

The display device 1 includes a door 15 that allows the box-shaped food unit 2 arranged on the shelf board 13 to be visually recognized. The display shelf 11 is, for example, a freezer in which the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 can be frozen and stored, or a refrigerator in which the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 can be refrigerated and stored. The display shelf 11 may be configured such that the door 15 is not provided and the front surface is open.

User U is a customer who purchases a product. The user U opens the door 15 and takes out the desired box-shaped food unit 2 from the display shelf 11. The user U accommodates the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 taken out from the display shelf 11 in the sales case 3. As will be described later, the sales case 3 is a container having a size suitable for accommodating the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2, and the size of the sales case 3 is standardized. In the foodstuff sales system 5, sales cases 3 having different sizes can be used, and as shown in FIG. 3, for example, sales cases 3A, 3B, and 3C can be used. When the sales cases 3A, 3B, and 3C are not distinguished, they are referred to as sales cases 3.

At the store where the display device 1 is installed, the sales case 3 containing the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 is sold to the user U in units of the sales case 3. That is, in the store where the display device 1 is installed, a price is set for each size of the sales case 3, and the user U pays a price commensurate with the price of the sales case 3. Therefore, the user U can easily complete the shopping simply by accommodating the desired box-shaped food unit 2 in the sales case 3 without worrying about the unit price of each box-shaped food unit 2. In the store where the display device 1 is installed, the price corresponding to the number of sales cases 3 may be collected from the user U, so that the accounting process can be made more efficient. Only the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 may be sold to the user U who brought the sales case 3 in units of the sales case 3.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2. FIG. 2 illustrates box-shaped food unit 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D having different sizes. The size of the box-shaped food unit 2A is length L1, width W1, and thickness D1. The thickness of the box-shaped foodstuff units 2A to 2D may be any thickness that fits in the case 3 for sale, and is, for example, a common thickness D1.

In the example of FIG. 2, the size of the box-shaped food unit 2B is a length L2 and a width W2, the length L2 is twice the length L1, and the width W2 is 1/2 the width W1. The size of the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2C is the length L1 and the width W2, and the size of the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2D is the length L3 and the width W2. The length L3 is 1/2 of the length L1 and 1/4 of the length L2.

As shown in the example of FIG. 2, a plurality of sizes of the box-shaped food unit 2 are standardized, and the length and width of each size are in an integral multiple relationship. Therefore, even when the box-shaped foodstuff units 2 having different sizes are mixed, the length and width can be made uniform by adjusting the number of the box-shaped foodstuff units 2. For example, the two box-shaped food unit 2D has the same size as the box-shaped food unit 2C. The box-shaped food unit 2B has the same size as the two box-shaped food units 2C and the four box-shaped food units 2D. The box-shaped food unit 2A has the same size as the two box-shaped food units 2C and the four box-shaped food units 2C. Further, when the two box-shaped foodstuff units 2B are arranged in the width direction, the size is the same as that of the two box-shaped foodstuff units 2A arranged in the length direction.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the case 3 for sale. FIG. 3 illustrates sales cases 3A, 3B, and 3C having different sizes. The sales cases 3A to 3C are all containers for accommodating the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2, and have a space inside which can accommodate the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2.

Here, the internal size of the case 3B for sale is set to length CL1, width CW1, and depth CD1. The depths of the sales cases 3A to 3C may be any depth that can accommodate the box-shaped food unit 2, for example, a common depth CD1. The depth CD1 is equal to or greater than the thickness D1 of the box-shaped food unit 2. Hereinafter, the sizes of the cases 3A, 3B, and 3C for sale refer to the size of the internal method unless otherwise specified, in other words, the size of the storage portion which is a space for accommodating the box-shaped food unit 2.

The size of the case 3A for sale is CL1 in length and CW2 in width. The width CW2 is 1/2 of the width CW1. The size of the case 3C for sale is CL2 in length and CW1 in width. The length CL2 is 1/2 of the length CL1. As described above, a plurality of sizes of the case 3 for sale are standardized, and the length and width of each size are in an integral multiple relationship.

Further, the length CL1 corresponds to the length L2 of the box-shaped food unit 2, the length CL2 corresponds to the length L1, and the width CW2 corresponds to the width W1. As described above, the size of the case 3 for sale is standardized according to the size of the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2. The length of the sales cases 3A, 3B, and 3C is an integral multiple of at least one of the lengths of the box-shaped foodstuff units 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, and the width is also the same.

That is, the sales case 3 has a storage portion that can accommodate the box-shaped food unit 2 just right, and various box-shaped food units 2 can be combined and stored exactly in the sales case 3.

For example, the sales case 3A can accommodate two box-shaped food unit 2B just right. The sales case 3A can accommodate a combination of one box-shaped food unit 2B and two box-shaped food units 2C, and similarly, four box-shaped food units 2D and two box-shaped food units 2C. Can accommodate combinations. It can also accommodate a combination of two box-shaped food unit 2A. Similarly, the sales cases 3B and 3C can accommodate a plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units 2 in various combinations. The sales cases 3A, 3B, and 3C shown in FIG. 3 are merely examples, and the size of the sales case 3 as long as it has a length and width standardized according to the size of the box-shaped food unit 2. Is not restricted. For example, a larger size sales case 3 may be used, or a smaller size may be used.

The sizes of the sales case 3 and the box-shaped food unit 2 need not be exactly the same as long as the box-shaped food unit 2 can be properly housed inside the sales case 3. For example, the size of the sales case 3 may be larger than an integral multiple of the size of the box-shaped food unit 2 in consideration of the ease of putting the box-shaped food unit 2 into the sales case 3. Further, the size of the sales case 3 may be smaller than an integral multiple of the size of the box-shaped food unit 2 so that the box-shaped food unit 2 does not move easily inside the sales case 3, and the difference between these sizes. Is acceptable as a range of fine adjustments.

Returning to FIG. 1, the display device 1 may include a touch panel 17. The touch panel 17 includes a display screen such as a liquid crystal display panel and a touch sensor superimposed on the display screen, and functions as a display unit for displaying various information and an input unit for receiving input by the user U.

The display device 1 may include a reading unit 19. The reading unit 19 optically reads an image code such as a two-dimensional code or a bar code, or a character, and generates read data. The reading unit 19 reads the barcode printed on the membership card and the two-dimensional code displayed on the screen of the smartphone. The display device 1 can acquire information that can identify the user U, for example, by reading the personally identifiable membership card of the user U or the smartphone possessed by the user U by the reading unit 19.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the display device 1.
The control unit 110 is, for example, a computer including a processor such as a CPU. A storage unit 120 is connected to the control unit 110. The storage unit 120 stores the computer program executed by the control unit 110 and various data processed by the control unit 110 so as to be readable by the control unit 110. The storage unit 120 stores the control program 121, the inventory information 122, the user DB 123, and the recipe DB 124. DB is an abbreviation for database.

The hardware constituting the control unit 110 and the storage unit 120 is not limited to a specific aspect. For example, the control unit 110 may be composed of a single processor. Further, the control unit 110 may be a device in which a processor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like are integrated. The storage unit 120 may be composed of a non-volatile storage device that non-volatilely stores programs and data, and specifically, may include a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk and a semiconductor storage device such as a flash ROM. Good. Further, the storage unit 120 may include a volatile storage device that temporarily stores programs, data, and the like executed by the control unit 110. Further, the control unit 110 and the storage unit 120 may be one integrated device.

The control program 121 is a program executed by the processor of the control unit 110. The inventory information 122 includes the number of box-shaped food unit 2 arranged on the display shelf 11. For example, the inventory information 122 includes the types of foodstuffs in the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 and the number of each size of the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2. The inventory information 122 is appropriately updated based on the information managed by the POS (Point Of Sales) system of the store where the display device 1 is installed or the information input by the operator who manages the display device 1.

The user DB 123 stores information about the user U in association with the identification information of the user U. The identification information of the user U is information that can identify the individual of the user U, and examples thereof include a name and a membership number given to the user U. The identification information stored in the user DB 123 may be information that can be collated with the read data read by the reading unit 19 from the membership card or the smartphone. The user DB 123 stores, for example, a purchase history indicating the box-shaped food unit 2 purchased by the user U in association with the identification information. Further, for example, the user DB 123 includes physical information such as the gender, age, height, weight, and chronic illness of the user U, food preference information regarding foodstuffs and prepared foods that the user U avoids or prefers, and a sales case 3 that the user U tries. Case information indicating the size and shape may be stored.

Recipe DB 124 contains information about one meal menu for one user U. Specifically, it includes information on the names of the dishes that make up the menu and the types and sizes of the box-shaped foodstuff units 2 that make up the dishes.

By executing the control program 121, the control unit 110 realizes the functions of the display control unit 111, the input detection unit 112, the user identification unit 113, and the menu information generation unit 114. The display control unit 111 controls to display various information on the display screen of the touch panel 17 and controls the lighting state of each indicator 41 included in the display shelf 11. The input detection unit 112 detects the operation on the touch panel 17, and acquires the information input by the user U by the operation of the touch panel 17. Further, the input detection unit 112 acquires the read data read by the reading unit 19. The user identification unit 113 identifies the user U who wants to try the display device 1 based on the information acquired by the input detection unit 112.

The menu information generation unit 114 generates menu information that proposes to the user U a combination of the box-shaped foodstuff units 2 as a purchase candidate. The menu information generation unit 114 is based on, for example, the inventory information 122, the information stored in the user DB 123 corresponding to the user U specified by the user identification unit 113, and the information stored in the recipe DB 124. Generate menu information. The menu information generation unit 114 corresponds to an example of the menu generation unit.

Here, the menu refers to one or a plurality of cooked foods constituting one meal, that is, a combination of so-called dishes. The menu information is information that specifies the type and size of the box-shaped food unit 2 that constitutes the menu and / or the box-shaped food unit 2 that constitutes the menu by being cooked. The menu information may include the names of the dishes that make up the menu. The box-shaped food unit 2 designated by the menu information is a combination of the box-shaped food unit 2 selected on the premise that the box-shaped food unit 2 is stored in one sales case 3 and purchased. There is no limit to the number of dishes that make up the menu, including, for example, cooked rice, which is a staple food, and one or more side dishes. If the user U selects and purchases the box-shaped food unit 2 according to the menu information, the menu for one meal can be established. The menu information may be information on multiple meals or information on meals of a plurality of persons.

The display control unit 111 displays the type and size of the box-shaped food unit 2 on the touch panel 17 based on the menu information. Alternatively, the display control unit 111 lights or blinks the indicator 41 arranged corresponding to the box-shaped food unit 2 designated by the menu information.

In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the display device 1 includes a refrigerating circuit for cooling the display shelf 11, a control device for controlling the refrigerating circuit, a communication circuit for communicating with the POS system of the store in which the display device 1 is installed, and the like. May be good.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the display device 1.
The user identification unit 113 acquires the input contents by the touch panel 17 and / or the data read by the reading unit 19 (step S101), and identifies the user U who uses the display device 1 (step S102).

Subsequently, the menu information generation unit 114 acquires a condition for searching for a recipe (step S103). The conditions for searching for a recipe are, for example, the size of the case 3 for sale, the total calorific value of one meal, the nutritional value other than the calorific value, restrictions on the salt content in the meal, the foodstuffs to be avoided, the foodstuffs to be actively used, and the user U. This is the purchase history, meal history, etc. of the box-shaped food unit 2. For example, the menu information generation unit 114 acquires the physical information, food preference information, case information, etc. of the user U specified in step S102 from the user DB 123, and acquires the conditions. Further, the menu information generation unit 114 may acquire a condition for searching a recipe from the information input by the touch panel 17 or the reading data of the reading unit 19. The condition for searching the recipe may include information indicating whether the user U wants to cook the uncooked food or to be able to eat only by heating or thawing.

The menu information generation unit 114 refers to the inventory information 122 and acquires the type, size, and quantity of the box-shaped food unit 2 that can be purchased by the user U (step S104). The menu information generation unit 114 generates menu information that conforms to the conditions acquired in step S103 and the inventory information 122 (step S105). The control unit 110 outputs the menu information generated by the menu information generation unit 114 (step S106). For example, the control unit 110 causes the display control unit 111 to display the contents of the menu information on the touch panel 17. Further, for example, the display control unit 111 lights or blinks the indicator 41 corresponding to the type and size of the box-shaped food unit 2 constituting the menu information.
In step S106, the touch panel 17 and / or the indicator 41 functions as an example of the food selection guiding unit.

The menu information generation unit 114 updates the purchase history of the user included in the user DB 123 so as to include the contents of the menu information output to the user U (step S107).

As described above, the foodstuff sales system 5 includes a plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units 2 of different sizes, a display shelf 11 for displaying a plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units 2 of different sizes, and a box-shaped foodstuff unit 2. This is a system including a sales case 3 having a size suitable for storing a plurality of selected box-shaped food unit 2, and selling the box-shaped food unit 2 in units of the sales case 3.
The user U can easily select and purchase foodstuffs and cooked foods by selecting the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 so as to fit in the sales case 3. Since the box-shaped food unit 2 is sold in units of the sales case 3, the user U can select and purchase the desired box-shaped food unit 2 without worrying about the price of each box-shaped food unit 2. In the store where the display device 1 is installed, the sales case 3 can be sold as a unit, so that the accounting process at the time of sale can be made more efficient. For example, even if the box-shaped food unit 2 handled by the display device 1 has many sizes and types, there is an advantage that the accounting process is not complicated. Further, since the box-shaped food unit 2 of different sizes is displayed on the display shelf 11, the amount of food can be appropriately selected. Therefore, it is possible to deal with various users U having different physiques and appetite, and it is possible to sell the box-shaped food unit 2 suitable for the user U.

Since the display device 1 displays a plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units 2 of different sizes on the display shelf 11, the box-shaped foodstuff units 2 that can be purchased by the user U are presented side by side to the user U. The box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 displayed on the display shelf 11 can be stored and purchased by the user U in the sales case 3. User U can select and purchase a desired box-shaped food unit 2 from the displayed box-shaped food units 2.

The foodstuff sales system 5 selects the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 required for the meal from the menu information generation unit 114 that generates the menu using the foodstuff and the plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units 2 displayed on the display shelf 11. It is provided with a food selection guidance unit for guiding. The food selection guidance unit is a touch panel 17 as a display unit that displays the box-shaped food unit 2 required for menus. As another configuration, the food selection guidance unit is an indicator 41 indicating the box-shaped food unit 2 required for the menu.
Since the display device 1 presents the box-shaped food unit 2 constituting the menu and guides the user U, the user U appropriately stores the box-shaped food unit 2 in the sales case 3 according to the guidance. It can be purchased in combination with the shaped food unit 2. Therefore, the user U can easily purchase the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 in an appropriate combination without considering the nutritional value and the combination of foodstuffs by himself / herself. The foodstuff sales system 5 can attract many users U by presenting the attractive combination of the box-shaped foodstuff units 2 to the user U.

The foodstuff display method realized by using the display device 1 is a method of displaying a plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units 2 of different sizes standardized for the size of the sales case 3 on the display shelf 11 so that they can be purchased. is there. In the foodstuff sales system 5, the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 is displayed on the display shelf 11 and presented to the user U in a state where it can be purchased. According to this foodstuff display method, the user U can easily select foodstuffs and cooked foods. The user U can easily purchase the box-shaped food unit 2 by selecting the box-shaped food unit 2 so that it fits in the sales case 3. Since the box-shaped food unit 2 of different sizes is displayed on the display shelf 11, the user U can select the box-shaped food unit 2 having different sizes. Therefore, the amount of the food material can be appropriately selected, and for example, it can correspond to various users U having different physiques and appetite.

In this foodstuff display method, the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 may be sold in units of the sales case 3. In this case, the user U can select and purchase a desired box-shaped food unit 2 without worrying about the price of each box-shaped food unit 2. In the store where the display device 1 is installed, the sales case 3 can be sold as a unit, so that the accounting process at the time of sale can be made more efficient. For example, even if the box-shaped food unit 2 handled by the display device 1 has many sizes and types, there is an advantage that the accounting process is not complicated.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the foodstuff sales system 5A of the second embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The foodstuff sales system 5A has a display device 1A instead of the display device 1 of the first embodiment. In the description of the second embodiment, the components common to the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The display device 1A can accommodate the box-shaped foodstuff units 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, and can accommodate a plurality of types of box-shaped foodstuff units 2. The display device 1A has an outlet 47 for taking out the box-shaped food unit 2. The display device 1A transports the box-shaped food unit 2 housed in the display device 1A to the outlet 47 by the function of the transport unit 45 described later.

The display device 1A has a touch panel 17A. The touch panel 17A is arranged in front of the display device 1A. Similar to the touch panel 17, it includes a display screen such as a liquid crystal display panel and a touch sensor superimposed on the display screen, and functions as a display unit for displaying various information and an input unit for receiving input by the user U. A reading unit 19 is arranged side by side with the touch panel 17A on the front surface of the display device 1A, and an outlet 47 opens below the touch panel 17A.

The user U can operate the display device 1A to take out the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 from the outlet 47 and store it in the sales case 3 for purchase. The box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 purchased by the user U in the foodstuff sales system 5A and the sales case 3 in which the user U houses the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the display device 1A.
The display device 1A has a control unit 110 and a storage unit 120 similar to the display device 1.
A touch panel 17A and a reading unit 19 are connected to the control unit 110, and a transport unit 45 is further connected to the control unit 110.
The transport unit 45 is a transport device that transports the box-shaped food unit 2 housed inside the display device 1A to the outlet 47 under the control of the control unit 110. The transport unit 45 may include, for example, an arm (not shown), an actuator for moving the arm, and a link mechanism or a gear.

By executing the control program 121, the control unit 110 realizes the functions of the display control unit 111, the input detection unit 112, the user identification unit 113, and the menu information generation unit 114. The display control unit 111 controls to display various information on the display screen of the touch panel 17A. The input detection unit 112 detects an operation on the touch panel 17A, and acquires the information input by the user U by operating the touch panel 17A. The other functions of the input detection unit 112 and the functions of the user identification unit 113 and the menu information generation unit 114 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Further, in the display device 1A, the menu DB 125 is stored in the storage unit 120. The menu DB 125 is a database configured by using the storage area of the storage unit 120, and stores the menu information generated by the menu information generation unit 114 for each user U. For example, the menu information generation unit 114 generates menu information for one week for one user U, and the generated menu information for one week is used as identification information and date information for user U. It is stored in the menu DB 125 in association with each other. Here, the menu information for one week may include menus for three meals a day, or menus for only a part of the day such as lunch only or dinner only.

Based on the menu information, the display control unit 111 displays an image of the menu showing the state in which the box-shaped food unit 2 is housed in the sales case 3 on the touch panel 17A. Further, the display control unit 111 displays an image on the touch panel 17A that presents the box-shaped food unit 2 that can be selected and purchased by the user U.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the menu image 201 and the food ingredient image 202 are displayed on the touch panel 17A. The menu image 201 is an image in which one or a plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units 2 constituting one meal menu are housed in a sales case 3. The composition of the menu for one meal follows the menu information generated by the menu information generation unit 114. The menu image 201 is an image that presents the user U with a combination of the box-shaped foodstuff units 2 purchased using the display device 1A in accordance with the sales case 3 used by the user U. The touch panel 17A corresponds to an example of a display unit.

The food material image 202 is an image displayed based on the inventory information of the display device 1A, and shows the type and size of the box-shaped food material unit 2 housed in the display device 1A. The display of the food material image 202 corresponds to the display of the box-shaped food material unit 2 that can be purchased by the user U using the display device 1A.

By performing the operation of selecting the menu image 201, the user U can obtain the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 constituting the menu of the menu image 201 from the outlet 47. Further, the user U can individually select the desired box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 based on the foodstuff image 202 without selecting the menu image 201. In this case, the selected box-shaped food unit 2 can be obtained from the outlet 47.

In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 7, the display device 1A includes a refrigerating circuit for cooling the display shelf 11, a control device for controlling the refrigerating circuit, a communication circuit for communicating with the POS system of the store in which the display device 1 is installed, and the like. May be good.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the display device 1.
Similar to step S101, the user identification unit 113 acquires the input contents by the touch panel 17A and / or the data read by the reading unit 19 (step S121), and identifies the user U who uses the display device 1 (step S122).

The display control unit 111 acquires menu information corresponding to the specified user U from the menu DB 125 (step S123). If the corresponding menu information is not stored in the menu DB 125, step S103 of the first embodiment may be executed.
The display control unit 111 refers to the inventory information 122 and confirms that the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 constituting the menu information acquired in step S124 is housed in the display device 1A (step S124). Here, when the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 constituting the menu information is out of stock, the menu information generation unit 114 may newly generate the menu information.

The display control unit 111 generates a menu image 201 in which the box-shaped food unit 2 constituting the menu information is arranged in the sales case 3, and displays the menu image 201 on the touch panel 17A (step S125). Here, when the user U inputs the purchase intention based on the menu image 201 to the display device 1A, the control unit 110 transports the box-shaped food unit 2 to the outlet 47 by the transport unit 45 (step S126). In step S126, all the box-shaped foodstuff units 2 constituting the menu are sequentially conveyed to the outlet 47. The user U can take out the box-shaped food unit 2 from the outlet 47, pack it in the case 3 for sale, and purchase it.
The menu information generation unit 114 updates the purchase history of the user included in the user DB 123 so as to include the contents of the menu image 201 output to the user U (step S127).

As described above, according to the foodstuff sales system 5A, the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 that can be purchased is presented to the user U by using the display device 1A that does not have the door 15, and the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 is sold. It can be sold in units of 3 cases. Further, the user U can select and obtain the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 based on the foodstuff image 202, not based on the menu image 201.
Therefore, according to the foodstuff sales system 5A, the same effect as that of the foodstuff sales system 5 described in the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the door 15 that the user U opens and closes by himself / herself is not required, the display device 1A can be miniaturized and the installation space can be saved. Further, since the display device 1A does not have the door 15, the power consumption for cooling or keeping the box-shaped food unit 2 inside the display device 1A can be suppressed.

In the configuration of the second embodiment, the display device 1A may have a payment function. For example, cashless payment using a smartphone or a credit card may be executed by the display device 1A, or the foodstuff sales system 5A may have a billing function based on the identification information of the user U. In this case, the display device 1A can be installed in a place unrelated to the store where the accounting process is performed, and the accounting process can be executed separately from the store even in the store.

Further, the foodstuff sales system 5A is not limited to a configuration in which the transport unit 45 sequentially transports the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 to the outlet 47, and the user U takes out the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 from the outlet 47, and the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 May be housed in the case 3 for sale and can be taken out from the outlet 47. In this case, the transport unit 45 accommodates the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 in the sales case 3 inside the display device 1A, and transports the sales case 3 to the outlet 47. In this case, the user U can purchase the box-shaped food unit 2 in units of the sales case 3 without bringing the sales case 3 or packing the box-shaped food unit 2 in the sales case 3 by himself / herself.

The processes executed by the display devices 1 and 1A can be appropriately combined and changed. For example, the display device 1A may execute step S103-S106 of FIG. 5 instead of step S123-S124, and the display device 1 may execute step S123-S125 of FIG. 8 instead of step S103-S106. May be good.

[Modification example]
The foodstuff sales system 5 may be connected to an external server device via a communication network 81 such as the Internet. This configuration is shown in FIG. 9 as a modified example.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a modified example of the foodstuff sales system 5 to which the present invention is applied. In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the same reference numerals are given to the parts common to those in FIG. 1, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the modified example of FIG. 9, the display device 1 is communicably connected to a device such as the management server 82 via the communication network 81. The communication network 81 is a communication line including a dedicated line, a public line network, a mobile wireless communication network, a LAN line, and the like, and may be a wide area network or a local network. Further, the communication network 81 may include various devices such as a circuit switching device and a server.

The management server 82 is a server device that executes communication with the display device 1 and provides information. The physical configuration of the management server 82 is arbitrary, and may be realized by, for example, a cloud-type server.
The management server 82 virtually realizes various functions by executing a computer program by a computer including a processor such as a CPU.

For example, the management server 82 stores the user DB 123 and the recipe DB 124 in the non-volatile storage device. The management server 82 executes the functions of the user identification unit 113 and the menu information generation unit 114, and executes the process shown in FIG.

In the configuration of the modified example, for example, the management server 82 identifies the user U and generates the menu information 83. By transmitting the menu information 83 from the management server 82 to the display device 1, the display device 1 can output the menu information 83. According to this configuration, the load on the display device 1 can be reduced by substituting the function executed by the display device 1 by the management server 82.

Further, for example, the management server 82 can collect information from the plurality of display devices 1 installed in the plurality of stores, and the information of the user U of the plurality of stores can be aggregated. Therefore, since the menu information 83 can be generated based on the history of one user U using a plurality of stores, the menu information 83 that more accurately reflects the meal history of the user U can be generated. Further, the menu information 83 can be generated by reflecting the meal history of a large number of users U. For example, by reflecting the support of the user U for the dishes and recipes included in the recipe DB 124, the menu information 83 including the popular dishes can be generated, and more attractive menu information 83 can be presented to the user U.

Further, the management server 82 or the display device 1 may communicate with the smartphone 85 used by the user U. For example, the display device 1 may include a communication interface for executing communication between the smartphone 85 and Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). In this case, for example, menu information and information for guiding the box-shaped food unit 2 to be purchased by the user U by the display device 1 can be displayed by the function of the application of the smartphone 85. In this aspect, the smartphone 85 corresponds to an example of a food selection guiding unit that guides the selection of the box-shaped food unit 2. Further, the display device 1 may be a condition for searching for a recipe by executing communication with the smartphone 85 in step S103 and acquiring physical information, food preference information, case information, etc. of the user U. Further, in step S106, the menu information may be transmitted to the smartphone of the user U.

This modification can be applied not only to the foodstuff sales system 5 but also to the foodstuff sales system 5A. That is, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the display device 1A described in the second embodiment is connected to the management server 82 and operated in the same manner.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and can be implemented in various embodiments without departing from the gist thereof.

Further, for example, one display device 1 or 1A having a control unit 110 and a storage unit 120 may be configured to control a plurality of display shelves 11. In this case, a wide variety of box-shaped foodstuff units 2 can be sold, and more attractive menu information can be generated that is more suitable for the taste of the user U. The store where the display device 1 is installed can attract many users U by providing attractive menu information to the user U.

Further, for example, the display device 1 may have a configuration in which the user U can input the availability of the menu information after outputting the menu information to the user U. According to this configuration, for example, when the user U inputs to deny the menu information, the display device 1 regenerates the menu information including the dishes different from the menu information output to the user U. Can be done. As a result, it is possible to present menu information that is more attractive to the user U, reflecting the preference of the user U.

Further, the display device 1 is not limited to the menu information related to one meal, and may collectively generate the menu information related to a plurality of meals. In this case, the user U can purchase the box-shaped food unit 2 for a plurality of meals in a batch by using one or a plurality of sales cases 3.

Further, when the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 housed in the sales case 3 can be eaten by thawing or heating while being housed in the sales case 3, the display devices 1 and 1A are used to cover the sales case 3. Information that specifies the arrangement of each box-shaped food unit 2 may be output. In this case, the box-shaped food unit 2 can be served as a meal while being housed in the sales case 3, and a good-looking meal can be provided.

As a method of using the foodstuff sales systems 5 and 5A, the user U purchases, for example, the sales case 3 and then stores it in a refrigerator or a freezer. In this case, the user U can easily make a lunch box to be taken at work or school by thawing, heating or cooking the box-shaped food unit 2, packing the food in a lunch box different from the case 3 for sale, and going out. Can be done.
Further, after purchasing the box-shaped food unit 2 by accommodating the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 in the sales case 3, the user U stores the sales case 3 in a refrigerator or a freezer, and heats or heats the sales case 3 together as necessary. Can be taken out. In this case, after purchasing the box-shaped foodstuff unit 2 in units of the sales case 3, the user U can bring the meal boxed in the sales case 3 to the workplace or school and eat it at an arbitrary timing.

Further, the box-shaped food unit 2 may be housed in the display devices 1 and 1A at room temperature or in a heated state. In this case, the display shelf 11 and the display device 1A of the display device 1 have a heating function. May be. In this case, the user U may purchase the sales case 3 and bring the sales case 3 as a lunch box to the outside.

At least a part of each functional block shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 may be realized by hardware, or may be a configuration realized by collaboration between hardware and software, as shown in the figure. It is not limited to the configuration in which independent hardware resources are arranged. Further, the processing units of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 are divided according to the main processing contents in order to make the operation of the foodstuff sales systems 5 and 5A easy to understand, and the processing units shown in each flowchart. The embodiment is not limited by the method of division and the name of. Further, each process in the foodstuff sales systems 5 and 5A can be divided into more processing units according to the processing content, or one processing unit can be divided so as to include more processing. .. Further, the processing order of the above flowchart is not limited to the illustrated example.

1,1A Display device 2,2A, 2B, 2C, 2D Box-shaped food unit 3, 3A, 3B, 3C Sales case 5, 5A Food sales system 11 Display shelf 13 Shelf board 15 Door 17, 17A Touch panel 19 Reading unit 41 Indicator 45 Transport unit 47 Outlet 110 Control unit 120 Storage unit 121 Control program 122 Inventory information 123 User DB
124 Recipe DB
125 Menu DB

The present invention also relates to food sales system.

Claims (5)

Multiple box-shaped food units of different sizes, which are standardized units,
A display unit that displays a plurality of box-shaped food units of different sizes, and
A sales case having a size suitable for storing a plurality of selected box-shaped foodstuff units among the box-shaped foodstuff units is provided.
A foodstuff sales system characterized by selling a box-shaped foodstuff unit in units of the sales case. The display unit is a display shelf for displaying a plurality of the box-shaped food unit.
The foodstuff sales system according to claim 1. A menu generation unit that generates menus using the ingredients of the box-shaped food unit,
Among the plurality of box-shaped foodstuff units displayed on the display shelf, a foodstuff selection guiding unit that guides the selection of the box-shaped foodstuff unit required for the menu, and a foodstuff selection guiding unit.
The foodstuff sales system according to claim 2, wherein the foodstuff sales system is provided. The food selection guidance unit is a display unit that displays the box-shaped food unit required for the menu.
The foodstuff sales system according to claim 3. Displaying multiple box-shaped food units of different sizes, standardized for the size of the case for sale, for purchase.
A food display method characterized by.

Images