WO2013061924A1

WO2013061924A1 - Product storage device

Info

Publication number: WO2013061924A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/077239
Authority: WO
Inventors: 中村　禎; 正亮佐藤; 裕樹船津
Original assignee: サンデン株式会社
Priority date: 2011-10-25
Filing date: 2012-10-22
Publication date: 2013-05-02
Also published as: JP2013092902A

Abstract

Provided is a product storage device such as an automatic vending machine capable of such choreographed display as can increase a sales promotion effect. The product storage device as laid out in the present proposal is configured so as to include a housing (1) for displaying and storing products so as to be viewable from the front, a lighting unit for generating illumination for the displayed products, and a transparent liquid crystal panel (6) disposed upon the front surface of the housing (1), wherein the same is a structure by which the products are viewed from the front through the transparent liquid crystal panel (6), and the transparent liquid crystal panel (6) is capable of video image display using the lighting unit as a backlight.

Description

Product storage device

Technology related to a product storage device that stores products in a selectable manner is disclosed below.

GFV (glass front bender) type vending machines are known as an example of a product storage device that stores products so that purchasers can select them. In this kind of merchandise storage device that displays actual merchandise in a visible manner, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3, lighting fixtures are placed on the merchandise transport section (bucket mechanism) for the purpose of producing sales promotions. At the same time, it has been proposed to produce a movement during product transportation, or to operate a product transportation unit during standby to attract people's eyes.

JP 2008-262249 A JP 2010-123049 A JP 2011-018186 A

From the viewpoint of the sales promotion effect, the methods of Patent Documents 1 and 3 are effects accompanying the operation of the product transport unit after purchasing the product, and the method of Patent Document 2 simply moves the product transport unit up, down, left and right. However, the effect is weak in terms of keeping sales people's eyes on and leading to sales. That is, a production method that can further enhance the sales promotion effect is desired.

The product storage device proposed for this issue is
A case where the product is displayed and stored so that it can be viewed from the front or a sample of the stored product is installed so that it can be viewed from the front;
An illumination unit for generating illumination light for the displayed commodity or the sample;
A transmissive liquid crystal panel disposed on the front surface of the housing;
Comprising
The commodity storage device has a structure in which the commodity or the sample is visually recognized from the front through the transmissive liquid crystal panel, and the transmissive liquid crystal panel can display an image using the illumination unit as a backlight.

According to the product storage device according to the above proposal, it is possible to display an image superimposed on a product or sample viewed through the transparent liquid crystal panel, so that an image that motivates the purchase of the product is superimposed on the product. It is possible to produce a highly effective sales promotion effect such as projecting. Also, during standby, for example, popular games related to products and images of celebrities, such as images that attract the attention of people passing by, are displayed on a transmissive LCD panel, and it is possible to keep the eyes of those who are on the road and sell them. Directing is also possible.

The front view which shows embodiment of a goods storage apparatus. The functional block diagram of the goods storage apparatus which concerns on embodiment. Schematic which shows the structural example of an illumination unit. The figure explaining an example of the state transition of the goods storage apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The figure explaining the other example of the state transition of the goods storage apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The flowchart of the process which the control part of a transmissive liquid crystal panel performs. 7 is a flowchart of purchaser processing in FIG. 6. 7 is a flowchart of processing during deposit in FIG. The flowchart of the process at the time of a disaster in FIG. The flowchart of the cooperation processing which the control part of a camera unit performs. The flowchart of the cooperation process which a sales control part performs. The flowchart of the cooperation process which the control part of a communication unit performs. The flowchart of the cooperation process which the control part of an illumination unit performs.

An embodiment of a product storage device is shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front.
As an example, the product storage device of the present embodiment is a GFV (glass front bender) type vending machine. The GFV type will be described as an example, but the present invention can also be applied to a conventional vending machine in which a product sample is installed on the front door and the inside is not visible. In the case of this conventional type, it is possible to apply a transmissive liquid crystal panel to the window portion of the front door where a sample of stored goods is installed. Further, in a refrigerator (showcase) type product storage device in which a plastic bottle beverage or the like is displayed at a store such as a convenience store, the same can be done by applying a transmissive liquid crystal panel to the front door.

The illustrated product storage device includes a housing 1 that displays and stores products so that the product can be viewed from the front. The housing 1 is partitioned into a product storage 1 a and a sales equipment storage 1 b that are arranged in the horizontal direction. An air conditioner hangar 1c that stores the air conditioners of the merchandise hangar 1a is provided below the merchandise hangar 1a and the sales equipment hangar 1b.
A plurality of product racks (shelves) 1d for displaying and storing products are provided in the product storage 1a in the vertical direction (vertical direction), and a product storage column 1e is provided in each product rack 1d in the horizontal direction. A plurality of rows are arranged in the (left-right direction). Each product storage column 1e extends in the depth direction (front-rear direction), and stores a plurality of products in a line in the depth direction so that they can be taken out one by one. The front surface of the product hangar 1a is an open part as a whole, and the products in the front row in the product rack 1d are visible. Such a casing 1 is also described in detail in the aforementioned patent document.

The sales equipment hangar 1b stores a product selection unit 2 for the purchaser to select a product displayed and stored by the product rack 1d, and a money receiving unit 3 for receiving coins and banknotes. The product selection unit 2 has a mechanism for selecting a product by pressing a number button and inputting a product number. The money receiving unit 3 includes a money insertion slot and a banknote insertion slot, and also includes a cancel lever for refunding the inserted money and canceling the purchase. An outlet 1f for taking out the purchased product is provided below the sales equipment hangar 1b in which the product selection unit 2 and the money receiving unit 3 are stored. The product transport unit 4 that transports the product to the outlet 1f operates in the vertical and horizontal directions (X axis-Y axis) in front of the product rack 1d in the product storage 1a, and is selected by the purchaser by operating the product selection unit 2. The received merchandise is received from the merchandise rack 1d and conveyed to the outlet 1f.

A lighting unit 5 (see FIG. 3), which will be described later, is installed in the product storage 1a to generate illumination light for the products displayed on the product rack 1d. A transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 that can display an image using the illumination unit 5 as a backlight is disposed on the front surface of the housing 1 as a single door that covers the opening of the commodity storage 1a. . That is, the product storage device has a structure in which the displayed product is viewed from the front through the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. The transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 includes a frame 6a that surrounds the periphery, the frame 6a is hinged to the casing 1, opens and closes, and a drive circuit is housed in the frame 6a. Since the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 does not have a dedicated backlight and does not have a backlight component on the back surface, the inside of the housing 1 can be visually recognized through the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. The transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 of the present embodiment includes a touch panel over the entire front surface.
As described above, in addition to a mode in which the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 is assembled as a front door in advance, the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 can be retrofitted to an existing GFV type vending machine or the like. For example, a transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 is attached to the front face of the front door of an existing machine, or a liquid crystal panel unit is prepared by providing a hinge mechanism on the frame and surrounding the periphery of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. It can be retrofitted in various ways, such as fixing to the side of the body 1 and opening and closing separately from the existing front door.

A functional block diagram relating to such a commodity storage device is shown in FIG.
The housing 1 is provided with the above-described product selection unit 2, money receiving unit 3, product transport unit 4, and sales control unit 7 such as a microcomputer that performs overall control thereof. In addition, the housing 1 includes an illumination unit 5, a camera unit 8, a communication unit 9, an air conditioning unit 10, and a storage unit 11. The illumination unit 5 illuminates the inside of the product storage 1 a and serves as a backlight for the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. The camera unit 8 has a well-known face authentication function, and generates personal information of a purchaser standing in front of the product storage device. The communication unit 9 communicates with external equipment via wired / wireless communication, such as receiving distribution of disaster / emergency information, downloading content information such as news and commercials from the server, and uploading the sales status. The air conditioning unit 10 is for air conditioning in the product hangar 1a. The storage unit 11 is a semiconductor memory, HDD, or the like that stores programs and various data.

The control unit 6b of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 is composed of a microcomputer or the like, and according to a built-in program, the sales control unit 7, the control unit 5a of the lighting unit 5, the control unit 8a of the camera unit 8, and the control unit 9a of the communication unit 9 The communication unit 10a communicates with the control unit 10a of the air conditioning unit 10 and the storage unit 11, and executes various processes in cooperation. Hereinafter, the process will be described with a specific example.

First, processing in which the illumination unit 5 adjusts illumination light for image display when the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 displays an image will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the installation state of the illumination unit 5 is schematically shown, and the housing 1 and the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 are indicated by dotted lines.

The illumination unit 5 in the example shown in FIG. 3A includes a front illumination 5b provided on the left and right side wall surfaces on the front side in the product storage 1a, and a rear illumination 5c provided on the innermost wall surface in the product storage 1a. And comprising. The front illumination 5b is configured using a vertically long bar-shaped light source in which fluorescent lamps or LED lights are installed in the vertical direction, and illuminates the products displayed on the product rack 1d from the front. The rear illumination 5c is a surface light-emitting panel, whereby the rear wide area of the product hangar 1a emits light, and illumination light is generated from the back of the product hangar 1a to the front, as a backlight of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 Function is demonstrated. The front side lighting 5b and the rear side lighting 5c can adjust the luminance in a plurality of stages (four stages of off, low, medium, and high).

In the example of FIG. 3A, the lighting control unit 5a that has received the notification of product priority lighting (described later) from the panel control unit 6b turns the front lighting 5b to high brightness and turns off the rear lighting 5c in response to the notification. Low brightness. By this control, illumination is applied from the front illumination 5b toward the frontmost product group, and the lighting state is adjusted to be suitable for visual recognition of the displayed product, so that the product can be easily viewed through the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. .
Moreover, the illumination control part 5a which received notification (after-mentioned) of compatible illumination from the panel control part 6b makes both the front side illumination 5b and the rear side illumination 5c medium brightness according to this notification. Then, the illumination for the front row product group by the front illumination 5b and the illumination as the backlight by the rear illumination 5c are compatible, and the image displayed on the transmission type liquid crystal panel 6 can be seen while the displayed product is transparent. And an image that is half-ply (liquid crystal panel transmittance of 50%, etc.) can be displayed, and the lighting state is adjusted to be suitable for viewing both the product and the image.
And the illumination control part 5a which received the notification (after-mentioned) of image | video priority illumination from the panel control part 6b turns off the front side illumination 5b or low brightness according to this notification, and makes the back side illumination 5c high brightness. . By this control, the light that illuminates the product from the front illumination 5b is reduced, and the light as the backlight that goes from the rear illumination 5c to the back of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 is increased, so that the image displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 can be viewed. Adjusted to suitable lighting conditions.

The illumination unit 5 in the example shown in FIG. 3B supports the front illumination 5b provided on the left and right side wall surfaces on the front side in the product storage 1a by pivot support members 5d so that the light distribution can be changed. is there. That is, instead of providing the rear illumination 5c of the surface emitting panel, the front illumination 5b can be rotated so that the light distribution can be changed from the product priority illumination to the image priority illumination. The front illumination 5b is rotated by a motor and a gear incorporated in the rotation support member 5d. Note that the example of FIG. 3B can be implemented in combination with the example of FIG. 3A. Further, instead of rotating the front illumination 5b, a light source (fluorescent lamp, LED, etc.) that illuminates the back of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 and a light source (fluorescence) that illuminates the product in the product storage 1a. It is also possible to provide the same function by controlling the lighting / reducing / extinguishing of these two light sources.

In the example of FIG. 3B, the illumination control unit 5a that has received the notification of the product priority illumination from the panel control unit 6b controls the rotation support member 5d so that the front illumination 5b faces rearward, and the product in the product storage 1a Let the light distribution go to. Thereby, the product group in the front row is illuminated and adjusted to an illumination state suitable for visual recognition of the displayed product.
In addition, the illumination control unit 5a that has received the notification of the video priority illumination from the panel control unit 6b controls the rotation support member 5d so that the front illumination 5b is directed forward, and the light distribution toward the rear surface of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 And Thereby, the light as the backlight is increased, and the lighting state is adjusted to be suitable for visual recognition of the image displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6.
Then, the lighting control unit 5a that has received the notification of the compatible lighting from the panel control unit 6b sets the rotation support member 5d so that the product-priority lighting and the video-priority lighting are in the middle, that is, both the front lightings 5b face each other. The light distribution is controlled to be directed to both the product and the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. Thereby, both the product and the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 are illuminated in the same manner, and the lighting state is adjusted to be suitable for viewing both the product and the image.

FIG. 4 shows an example of state transition of the product storage device having the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 on the front surface as described above.
When the merchandise storage device is in a standby state, the illumination unit 5 is in a video priority illumination and is in a state suitable for visual recognition of an image displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. In the illustrated example, the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 in the standby state projects the time with a large digital clock so as to attract the passersby as an effect of promoting the sales promotion effect. When a person stands in front of the product storage device in the standby state, the camera unit 8 recognizes this and shifts to the purchaser detection state. In the purchaser detection state, the lighting unit 5 becomes the video priority illumination, and CM videos introducing different recommended products according to the sex, age, height, and standing place of the purchaser identified by the face authentication function of the camera unit 8 are provided. The image is displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 at a position that is easy for the purchaser to see. Thereafter, when the purchaser inserts money into the money receiving unit 3, the merchandise storage device transitions to the sales state. In the merchandise storage device in the sales state, the lighting unit 5 becomes the merchandise priority illumination and is in a state suitable for visual recognition of merchandise. When the purchaser selects a product using the product selection unit 2, the lighting unit 5 becomes compatible lighting, and is in a state suitable for viewing both the product and the video. The merchandise transporting section 4 operates to transport the selected merchandise from the merchandise rack 1d to the outlet 1f, and simultaneously with the transporting operation of the merchandise transporting section 4 (following the movement of the bucket), the illustrated example Then, an image as if a human hand is taking out the selected product is displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6.

As another example of this sales state, means such as a push button for inputting a product number, means such as a push button for confirming the input product number, and a push button for resetting the input product number If such means are provided, the following can be performed.
The information on the product corresponding to the input product number is displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 after the purchaser inputs the product number in the product selection unit 2 until the input product number is confirmed. If the purchaser is at a loss in selecting a product, viewing the product information will help with the selection. As a result, if another product is good, the purchaser can reset the entered product number, enter a new product number, and view information on the product. For example, when a bottled T-shirt is sold as a product, the purchaser inputs the product number and confirms the pattern of the corresponding T-shirt displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 before pressing the confirmation button. be able to. If you do not like it, reset the selection of the product, select another product, and display it on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 for confirmation. When you are satisfied, you can purchase by pressing the confirm button.

When the purchaser touches the touch panel in the purchaser detection state, the product storage device shifts to the information display state, the lighting unit 5 becomes the video priority lighting, and the detailed information of the recommended product displayed earlier and the recommended spot nearby. Such area information is displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. Next, when the purchaser touches the touch panel, the information display state returns to the purchaser detection state. On the other hand, when disaster information or emergency information is received by the communication unit 9 in the standby state, the display unit is in a disaster / emergency display state, the lighting unit 5 is switched to video priority lighting, and a map of evacuation areas, breaking news, etc. are transmitted. Is projected on the liquid crystal panel 6.

FIG. 5 shows another example of state transition.
When the product storage device of this example is in a standby state, the illumination unit 5 is in product priority illumination, and is in a state suitable for visual recognition of the product. When a person stands in front of the product storage device in the standby state, the camera unit 8 recognizes this and shifts to the purchaser detection state. In the purchaser detection state, the lighting unit 5 becomes image priority lighting, and category selection images that can select different categories according to the sex, age, height, and standing place of the purchaser identified by the face authentication function of the camera unit 8 are provided. The image is displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 at a position where the purchaser can easily see. For example, the product storage device sells canned beverages, bottled T-shirts, cosmetic tools, and new products, and buttons representing the categories-beverage A / apparel B / cosme C / novelty D- are transmissive. It is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 6. When a predetermined position on the touch panel is touched and a category button in the image is selected, the illumination unit 5 becomes compatible illumination, and an image that hides products other than the selected category is displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. In this state, when the purchaser touches the touch panel at the position of the product to be viewed, an image that advertises the product in close-up is displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. Thereafter, when the purchaser inserts money into the money receiving unit 3, the product storage device transitions to the sales state, and the lighting unit 5 becomes the product priority lighting. When the purchaser selects a product using the product selection unit 2, the lighting unit 5 becomes compatible illumination, and the product transport unit 4 operates to transport the selected product from the product rack 1d to the outlet 1f. In conjunction with the transport operation of the product transport unit 4, an image as if a human hand is taking out the selected product is displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6.

In the product storage device that performs the illumination adjustment and the state transition as described above, each control unit shown in FIG. 2 executes the following process.

The processing executed by the control unit 6b of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 in the standby state is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the panel control unit 6b that has executed the standby process in step S1 checks in step S2 whether or not the purchaser is detected, that is, whether or not personal information is received from the camera control unit 8a. . If it is not purchaser detection, it will progress to step S3 and the panel control part 6b will confirm whether there exists any payment, ie, whether the information with a payment is received from the sales control part 7. FIG. If payment is not confirmed, it progresses to step S4, and the panel control part 6b confirms whether it is disaster / emergency information reception, ie, whether disaster information and emergency information are received from the communication control part 9a. If the disaster / emergency information is not received, the process returns, and the panel control unit 6b that executes the standby process repeats the flow of FIG. 6A at a predetermined cycle.

FIG. 6B shows a flowchart of standby processing executed by the panel control unit 6b. In step S11, the panel control unit 6b that has started the standby process in step S10 notifies the illumination control unit 5a of the video priority illumination. In accordance with the notification, the illumination control unit 5a executes the video priority illumination process as described in FIG. The panel control unit 8a that has notified the image priority illumination reads out the standby image stored in the storage unit 11 and displays it on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 in step S12. The panel control unit 6b executes step S2 and subsequent steps in FIG. 6A while executing the standby video display.

If the purchaser has detected in step S2, the merchandise storage device transitions to the purchaser detection state, and the panel control unit 6b executes the purchaser process in step S5 using the received personal information. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the purchaser process.
The panel control unit 6b, which starts the purchaser process in step S20, notifies the illumination control unit 5a of the video priority lighting in step S21, and stands in step S22 the gender, age, height included in the person information. Based on the position information, the corresponding video stored in the storage unit 11 is accessed, and the transmission type liquid crystal panel 6 displays the image at a position easy for the purchaser to see. Subsequently, the panel control unit 6b, which proceeds to step S23, monitors whether or not there is a panel touch. If there is a touch, in step S24, information corresponding to the touch position on the touch panel is read from the storage unit 11 to transmit the transmissive liquid crystal. The process displayed on the panel 6 is executed. The panel control unit 6b thereafter monitors whether or not there is another panel touch in step S25, and if not, continues the information display in step S24, and if there is a touch, proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the panel control unit 6b displays the image of step S22 and waits for receipt of information indicating whether there is a deposit or not from the sales control unit 7. If the deposit is confirmed, the deposit is confirmed. Step S6 of the middle process is executed. The panel controller 6b that monitors the deposit in step S26 counts the elapse of a predetermined time such as 3 minutes or 5 minutes in step S27 while it is not determined that there is a deposit. As a result, when a predetermined time has passed without the presence of payment being determined, the panel control unit 6b returns to step S1 of the standby process for displaying the standby video.

If there is a deposit in step S3, the merchandise storage device transitions to the sales state, and the panel control unit 6b executes the depositing process in step S6. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the depositing process.
The panel control unit 6b that starts the depositing process in step S30 notifies the product control lighting to the illumination control unit 5a in step S31, and whether or not the purchased product position information is received from the sales control unit 7 in step S32. To monitor. The purchased merchandise position information includes the XY position coordinates of the merchandise selected by the merchandise selection section 2, and the bucket of the merchandise transport section 4 moves to the position coordinates at the shortest distance and takes out at the shortest distance from the position. Programmed to move to 1f. Therefore, if there is a position coordinate of the selected product, the route (movement trajectory and speed) of the corresponding product transport unit 4 is grasped. The panel control unit 6b holds a table in which the position coordinates are associated with the route by using the storage unit 11 or the like. When the purchased product position information is received from the sales control unit 7, the product transport unit 4 An image synchronized with the movement of the bucket can be displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. If the number that can be selected by the product selection unit 2 and the position coordinates correspond to each other, the panel control unit 6b receives the number of the selected product from the sales control unit 7 so that the panel control unit 6b The interlocking image can be displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6.
When the purchase product position information is not received in step S32, the panel control unit 6b confirms whether or not the cancellation information is received from the sales control unit 7 in step S33, and determines to cancel the purchase. If it is not cancelled, the panel control unit 6b continues monitoring in step S32. If it is cancelled, the panel control unit 6b returns to step S1 of the waiting process.
When the purchased product position information is received in step S32, the panel control unit 6b notifies the illumination control unit 5a of compatible lighting in step S34, and in step S35, the product transport unit 4 is based on the purchased product position information. An image linked to the image is displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. Then, the panel control unit 6b proceeds to step S37 when the product has been transported, reads out a comment such as “Thank you” stored in the storage unit 11, displays it on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6, and is on standby. The process returns to step S1.

When disaster / emergency information is received in step S4, the product storage device transitions to the disaster / emergency display state, and the panel control unit 6b performs the disaster / emergency in step S7 according to the received disaster / emergency information. Execute time processing. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of the disaster / emergency processing.
The panel control unit 6b that starts the disaster / emergency process in step S40 notifies the lighting control unit 5a of the video priority illumination in step S41, and in step S42, the disaster / emergency information received from the communication control unit 9a. Based on this, a map or the like of the evacuation site stored in the storage unit 11 is accessed and displayed on the transmission type liquid crystal panel 6. At this time, if display information such as breaking news is included in the disaster / emergency information, the information is also displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. If a follow-up report is received from the communication control unit 9a, this is also displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. The panel control unit 6b displaying the disaster / emergency information monitors the end of the disaster / emergency information display based on whether or not the release information is received from the communication control unit 9a in step S43, and does not end. The display is continued, and if the end is confirmed, the process returns to step S1 of the waiting process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of the camera control unit 8a cooperating with the panel control unit 6b in the purchaser detection state.
In step S50, the camera control unit 8a starts imaging in the standby state of the product storage device, and in step S51, the camera control unit 8a processes the captured image as needed, and whether or not a person stops in front of the product storage device. Detection is performed in S52. When a purchaser is detected in step S52, the panel control unit 6b performs face authentication in step S53 to generate personal information such as gender, age, height, and standing position. The generated person information is transmitted to the panel control unit 6b in step S54, and the camera control unit 8a returns and continues imaging.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing of the sales control unit 7 cooperating with the panel control unit 6b in the sales state.
In step S60, the sales control unit 7 that starts the flow monitors the money receiving unit 3 and continuously checks whether there is payment from the purchaser. If there is a deposit, the sales control unit 7 transmits information indicating that there is a deposit to the panel control unit 6b in step S61, and proceeds to step S62 to monitor the product selection unit 2 and select the purchaser's product, i.e., by a numeric button. Wait for number input. While there is no product selection, the sales control unit 7 monitors the operation of the cancel lever in the money receiving unit 3 in step S63. If there is a product selection in step S62, the sales control unit 7 transmits the purchased product position information to the panel control unit 6b in step S64, and operates the product transport unit 4 in step S65 to send the purchased product from the product rack 1d. It is received and conveyed to the outlet 1f.
If the purchase is canceled due to the operation of the cancel lever in step S63, the sales control unit 7 transmits the cancel information to the panel control unit 6b in step S66. In step S67, the sales control unit 7 refunds the money accepted in step S60 and returns.

As another example of this processing, as described above, the product selection unit 2 is provided with a means such as a push button for inputting the product number, a means such as a push button for confirming the input product number, and the input product number. If a means such as a push button for resetting is provided, the following processing corresponding to this can be executed.
That is, after the purchaser inputs the product number in the product selection unit 2 and before the input product number is confirmed, the sales control unit 7 sends the input product number information to the panel control unit 6b. The panel control unit 6b that transmits the information displays the corresponding product information on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. When the purchaser wants to see another product, operates the product selection unit 2, resets the entered product number, and enters a new product number, the sales control unit 7 enters the newly entered product number. Is transmitted to the panel control unit 6b, and the corresponding panel control unit 6b displays the corresponding product information on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6. For example, if there is a bottled T-shirt in the product, the purchaser may confirm the pattern of the corresponding T-shirt displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 before pressing the confirm button after entering the product number. it can. If you do not like it, reset the selection of the product, select another product, and display it on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 for confirmation. If the purchaser agrees and presses the confirmation button of the product selection unit 2, the sales control unit 7 transmits the purchased product position information to the panel control unit 6b, operates the product transport unit 4, and places the purchased product in the product rack. While being received from 1d and transported to the outlet 1f, the panel control unit 6b displays an image on the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 accordingly.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing of the communication control unit 9a cooperating with the panel control unit 6b in the disaster / emergency display state.
In step S70, the communication control unit 9a that starts the flow continuously monitors whether or not disaster / emergency information is distributed from the external server. When the disaster / emergency information is received, the communication control unit 9a transmits the disaster / emergency information to the panel control unit 6b in step S71, and continues to receive the further information in step S72. Is also transmitted to the panel control unit 6b. Then, in step S73, the communication control unit 9a checks whether release information is distributed from the server, and continues step S72 while the release information is not distributed. When the release information is received in step S73, the communication control unit 9a proceeds to step S74, transmits the release information to the panel control unit 6b, and returns.
The release of the display state at the time of disaster / emergency is a flow in which the release information is transmitted from the communication control unit 9a to the panel control unit 6b when no follow-up information or release information is received from the server within a predetermined time. You can also.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing of the illumination control unit 5a corresponding to the illumination notification by the panel control unit 6b.
The lighting control unit 5a that starts lighting in step S80 analyzes the notification from the panel control unit 6b in step S81, and determines in step S82 whether the notification is notification of product priority lighting. If it is the notification of the product priority illumination, in step S83, the illumination state is adjusted to a lighting state suitable for viewing the product according to the notification (described above), and the process returns. If it is not the notification of the product priority lighting, the lighting control unit 5a determines whether or not the notification of the compatible lighting is made in step S84. If the notification is the notification of the compatible lighting, in step S85, according to the notification, the product and the video are displayed. Adjust lighting conditions suitable for both viewing (as above) and return. If the notification is not compatible lighting, the lighting control unit 5a proceeds to step S86, adjusts the lighting state suitable for visual recognition of the video according to the notification (described above), and returns.

In addition to the processing described in the above example, the panel control unit 6b communicates with the control unit 10a of the air conditioning unit 10, receives the current internal temperature and external temperature, and performs display processing according to the temperature difference. It can also be executed. For example, when the outside temperature is high, the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 is displayed as the entire area white display to suppress the temperature rise in the interior, and conversely, when the outside temperature is low, the transmissive liquid crystal panel 6 is displayed as the entire area black display. It is possible to execute processing such as suppressing power consumption.

According to the merchandise storage device according to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to improve the sales promotion effect by producing various images as described above. In particular, since it becomes possible to display images superimposed on products or samples that can be viewed through a transparent liquid crystal panel, it is possible to produce a highly effective sales promotion effect, such as displaying images that inspire purchases on products. It can be carried out. During standby, in addition to the above-mentioned images, for example, popular games related to products and images of celebrities, such as images that attract the attention of people passing by, are displayed on the transmissive LCD panel, so It will be possible to produce a product that can be sold and connected to sales.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 1a Goods storage 1b Sales equipment storage 2 Goods selection part 3 Money acceptance part 4 Goods conveyance part 5 Illumination unit 6 Transmission type liquid crystal panel 7 Sales control part 8 Camera unit 9 Communication unit 10 Air conditioning unit 11 Storage part

Claims

A case where the product is displayed and stored so that it can be viewed from the front or a sample of the stored product is installed so that it can be viewed from the front;
An illumination unit for generating illumination light for the displayed commodity or the sample;
A transmissive liquid crystal panel disposed on the front surface of the housing;
Comprising
The product storage device has a structure in which the product or the sample is viewed from the front through the transmissive liquid crystal panel, and the transmissive liquid crystal panel can display an image with the illumination unit as a backlight.
The product storage device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit adjusts the illumination light for image display when the transmissive liquid crystal panel displays an image.
The case has a plurality of product racks for displaying and storing the products, a product selection unit for selecting the products, and the selected products that operate in the vertical and horizontal directions in front of the product racks. A product transport unit that receives the product from the product rack and transports the product to the outlet,
The product storage device according to claim 1, wherein the transmissive liquid crystal panel displays an image interlocked with an operation of the product transport unit.