Distributor for piece goods

Abstract: The invention is relating to a distributor for piece goods having an order device (1) and compartments (3), wherein said piece goods can be arranged in such a way that the same goods are contained in the same compartment (3), and transporting means (4) cooperating with said order device being provided for enabling to move a specific piece good from the corresponding compartment (3) to a delivery window (6), a display unit (1b), an input unit (1a) and a processing unit which enables (a) to display, in the form of a list or an image on the screen (1b') of the display unit (1b), at least a part of the available goods in said compartments (3), (b) to make a selection among these displayed available goods, (c) to display separately these selected goods on the above mentioned screen (1b') or on a separate screen of said display unit and (d) to conduct said selected goods to the delivery window (6) when acting on the order device (1).

Description: The invention is relating to a distributor for piece goods having an order device and compartments, wherein said piece goods can be arranged in such a way that the same goods are contained in the same compartment and transporting means cooperating with said order device being provided for enabling to move a specific piece good from the corresponding compartment to a delivery window of said distributor. The problem with the existing distributors is that they are generally not convenient for simultaneously purchasing of a relatively important number of different kind of piece goods. The prior art document US-A-4 954 697 discloses a distributor where from the customer can buy piece goods one by one. One of the essential objects of the present invention is to provide a distributor which enables to overcome the above problem and, moreover, has the advantages of a self-service shop without having the drawbacks thereof, which are that the client has generally no clear view of the bought goods and also that shopping is very time consuming. According to the invention, said order device of the distributor comprises a display unit, an input unit and a processing unit which enables (a) to display, in the form of a list or an image on the screen of the display unit, at least a part of the available goods in said compartments, (b) to make a selection among these displayed available goods, (c) to display separately these selected goods on the above mentioned screen or on a separate screen of said display unit in a form of a list and (d) to conduct said selected goods to the delivery window when acting on the order device. According to a particular embodiment of the invention said compartments are arranged in series of rows, each row being identified by a row reference, while each compartment of a specific row being identified by a compartment reference accompanied by the row reference, means being provided for taking over these references on the screen of the display unit when acting on the order device. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compartments are included in a showcase for visualizing the available goods, with a reference and the price thereof, means being provided to enable displaying on said screen the price to be paid with the list of the selected goods when introducing in said input the references corresponding to the selected goods. The invention is also relating to a method for operating the distributor as defined hereinabove. Said method comprises the steps of: entering through the input unit a specific selected group of goods ; automatically displaying a list of this selected group of goods with the corresponding price ; entering through the input unit the goods selected among the displayed list of goods; automatically displaying the selected goods on the same screen or another screen close to the latter of the display unit in a form of a list, with the corresponding price of each of the goods and the total amount to pay ; after having executed the payment of this amount, automatically delivering said selected goods. Other details and features of the invention will become apparent from the description given hereinbelow, by way of non-limiting example, of a particular embodiment of the distributor according to the invention. Figure 1 is a schematic front view, with partial sections, of a distributor according to this particular embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is also a schematic front view of an important part of said particular embodiment. Figure 3 is a general block diagram of the different shopping steps when using the distributor according to this particular embodiment. Figures 4 to 8b are representing separately different interconnected block diagrams defining instructions for controlling the distributor according to this specific embodiment of the invention. In the different figures the same reference numerals relate to identical parts. The invention concerns an automatic distributor of piece goods i.e. all kinds of products which are packed as one piece, such as bottles, boxes, bags, etc... of which the dimensions are not too important, with a side length or height of maximum 30 cm, so that they can be arranged very easily in the distributor. As shown schematically in figure 1, the above mentioned particular embodiment of this distributor comprises an order device 1 and a showcase 2 wherein the available goods are exhibited and arranged at specific locations which are, in the present case, formed by compartments 3 which can be separated from each other by partitions 8, or not, and transporting means formed by a robot 4 for moving a specific piece of good from the corresponding compartment 3 to a delivery window 6. As can further be seen in figure 1, these compartments extend in superimposed rows or shelves 7. Each shelf is identified by a reference number, while the different compartments of the same row can be identified by the corresponding row number followed by a reference number of compartment of this specific row. For example, the reference "01.03" is relating to the third compartment of the first row. Of course, instead of a number it is possible to use another reference sign, such as a letter of the alphabet or a schematical design of the kind of good of the specific row. According to the invention, the order device 1 comprises as shown in figure 2 a display unit 1b cooperating with an input unit 1a and a processing unit, not represented in this figure, which enables successively (a) to display in the form of a list or an image on the screen 1b' of the display unit at least a part of the available good in the compartments 3, (b) to make a selection among these displayed available goods, (c) to display separately these selected goods on the screen 1b' or on a separate screen of the display unit 1b in a form of a list and (d) to conduct the selected goods to the delivery window 6. The order device further comprises a not represented calculating unit for additioning the prices of the different selected goods, a paying apparatus 5 and, also not represented means cooperating with the robot 4 for transporting the selected goods to the delivery window after payment has been done at the paying apparatus 5. The paying apparatus 5 can be a conventional apparatus accepting different modes of payment, such as bankcards, coins and banknotes. Figure 2 shows in the upper right corner a conventional keybord 15 with above the latter a slot 16 for inserting a bank card or credit card. Under this keybord 15 has been provided a slot 17 for coins and besides of it a return button 18 which enables to finish the purchase and to ask for reimbursement of the remaining amount which has been introduced in the paying apparatus 5 and which will be delivered at a return window 19. A slot 20 has been provided between the return window 19 and the slot 17 for introducing banknotes and a further slot 21 for delivering a bill with the details of the bought goods. The input unit 1a comprises, on the one hand, a keybord 22 by means of which piece goods can be selected and displayed on the screen 1b' and, on the other hand, multifunction keys 23 which enable to control the order device 1 for moving the selected goods to the delivery window 6, for printing and delivering the above mentioned bill at the slot 21, for amending the list of the selected goods on the screen 1b' before payment has been done, for selecting the language on the screen, as will be explained more in detail hereinafter with respect to the particular embodiment of the distributor according to the invention. Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the different steps to undertake by the user of the distributor according to the invention. I. First of all, the user or client who intends to buy one or more of the goods which are available in the distributor looks in the showcase 2 to the available goods with the indicated prices. II. The next step consists in selecting goods on the screen 1b' by acting on the different keys of the input unit 1a. After having acted on the start function key 23 indicated on the screen and possibly selected with another function key 23 the language, the reference numbers of a specific shelf 7, where the goods to select are exposed, are introduced in the keybord 22. III. A list of all the goods available on this shelf 7 appears together with their compartment reference numbers and prices on the left side of the screen 1b'. By introducing now successively by means of the same keybord 22 the reference numbers of the compartment 3 of the goods to select on this shelf a list of these selected goods with their prices appears on the right side of the same screen 1b'. This operation can be repeated several times for other shelves. The total number of the goods that can be ordered depends generally from the dimensions of the screen 1b' and the capacity of the showcase 2. Suppose that one product has been ordered by error, the possibility exists to cancel it by acting on the function key designated on the screen 6 by the mention "cancel last order". When the last but one order was not correct, it will be sufficient to cancel the two last orders and to reintroduce the last one on the same way as explained hereinabove. If more than one piece of the same product is needed, it will also be possible to repeat the reference numbers of the compartment where this product has been stored. The possibility exists to indicate on the screen with the total amount to pay also the remaining credit. IV. Once having finished the command of goods, it will be sufficient to push on the function key "stop" or "OK" and to introduce the money corresponding to the total amount indicated at the end of the list on the right side of the screen 1b'. Another possibility is that payment has to be made before ordering the selected goods. V. The last step consists in acting on the function key designated on the screen 6 by the mention "collect selected goods" together with a ticket or bill which is delivered at the slot 21 of the order device and possibly on the return function key to recuperate the change at the return window 19. Several additional functions can be included in the input unit 1a or some functions can be inversed or grouped. It is possible to provide a function for identifying the user of the distributor by requiring the introduction of a pin-code before being able to start the selection of a product. Means can further be provided for selecting the language in which the information and instructions should be given on the screen when pushing on the start button or key, for indicating on the screen when a product is not available or cannot be sold during a certain period of the day, such as alcohol in some cases, for indicating when the paying apparatus 5 does not contain enough change money, etc... Figures 4 to 8b give a lay-out of a very specific example of the interconnected programmed instructions of the processing unit, referred to hereinabove, which can be included in a conventional computer or a similar electronic device, not shown in the accompanying figures, for controlling the distributor, according to the invention, as described hereinabove. Figure 4 is the so called "welcome" scheme or outline A from which all the transactions start. In this part, the user can select the language on the screen before passing to the optional identification procedure B, illustrated by figure 5, and/or the product selection procedure C illustrated by figure 6. As already mentioned hereinabove, in the identification procedure B, the user has to disclose his identity by introducing a "ID" and a "pincode" on a keybord of the order device which can be the same as the keybord 22 of the input unit 1a, shown in figure 2. This part also comprises the possibility of changing the pincode. If the identification procedure B has been correctly executed it will be possible to start the product selection procedure C. If the identification procedure B was not correct, it will be possible to reintroduce the pincode. Moreover, it is also possible to stop the whole procedure, possibly after changing the pincode, so as to come again through the subordinates or peripheral functions E, illustrated in figure 8, into the above mentioned welcome scheme A. In the product selection procedure C, as illustrated in figure 6, the user can, by means of the input unit, introduce the references of the selected goods. This procedure can be repeated several times. However, this is generally only possible as long as the available credit is sufficient. Therefore, before it is possible to repeat the procedure, an automatic check will take place so as to determine whether the credit is sufficient. This will be done according to the scheme given in figure 7, which is more particularly relating to the paying procedure and to the collecting procedure of the selected products. Depending from the program, payment has to be made immediately before starting the selection procedure or just after this procedure. As long as the credit is sufficient, the user can select products on the way explained hereinabove. If the credit is below the amount corresponding with the selected goods, a signal is given to the user for adding some credit, before a further selection can be made according to the scheme C of figure 6. Figures 8 and 8b are relating to the subordinates or peripheral functions as already referred to hereinabove. This scheme comprises some essential frame functions, such as time-out message. It has to be noted that the invention has not to be restricted to the embodiment of the distributor as described hereinabove or shown in the accompanying drawings, but that different amendments can be considered. The transporting means should not necessarily comprise a robot but can be composed of one or more conveyor belts.

Claims: A distributor for piece goods having (1) an order device and compartments (3), wherein said piece goods can be arranged in such a way that the same goods are contained in the same compartment (3), and transporting means (4) cooperating with said order device being provided for enabling to move a specific piece good from the corresponding compartment (3) to a delivery window (6), wherein said order device (1) comprises a display unit (1b) with a screen (1b'), an input unit (1a) and a processing unit which enables (a) to display, in the form of a list or an image on the screen (1b') of the display unit (1b), at least a part of the available goods in said compartments (3), (b) to make a selection among these displayed available goods, wherein said distributor is characterised in that said processing unit further enables (c) to display separately these selected goods on the above mentioned screen (1b') or on a separate screen of said display unit in a form of a list, and (d) to conduct said selected goods to the delivery window (6) when acting on the order device (1). A distributor according to claim 1, characterised in that the order device comprises a paying apparatus (5) and means cooperating with said transporting means (4) for moving the selected goods to the delivery window after payment has been done at the paying apparatus (5). A distributor according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the order device (1) comprises a printing device which enables to deliver a bill with the selected goods. A distributor according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the order device (1) comprises means for amending the list of the selected goods on the screen of the display unit before payment has been done. A distributor according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the order device (1) comprises means for selecting the language on the screen (1b') of the display unit. A distributor according to anyone of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the order device (1) comprises a calculating unit. A distributor according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said compartments (3) are arranged in series of rows (7), each row (7) being identified by a row reference, while each compartment (3) of a specific row (7) being identified by a compartment reference accompanied by the row reference, means being provided for taking over these references on the screen (1b') of the display unit (1b) when acting on the order device (1). A distributor according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the compartments (3) are included in a showcase (2) for visualizing the available goods, with a reference and the price thereof, means being provided for enabling to display on said screen (1b') the price to be paid with the list of the selected goods when introducing in said input unit (1a) the references corresponding to the selected goods. A distributor according to anyone of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said order device (1) comprises at least one key board (22) having numeric keys for indicating the selected goods and function keys (23) for giving information about the available goods and the use of the order device (1). A distributor according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one of the following function keys : a language selection key, an identification key of the user of the equipment requiring the introduction of the pincode of the user, a correcting key for amending the list of the selected goods, a delivery key for receiving the selected goods at said delivery window (6). A distributor according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least some of said keys are multifunctional and means have been provided to display the possible and selected functions on the screen (1b') of the display unit (1b). A method for operating the distributor as defined in anyone of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: entering through the input unit (1b) a specific selected group of goods, arranged in the same row (7); automatically displaying a list of this selected group of goods; entering through the input unit (1b) the goods selected among the displayed list of goods; automatically displaying the selected goods on the same screen (1b) or another screen close to the latter of the display unit in a form of a list, with the corresponding price of each of the goods and the total amount to pay ; after having executed the payment of this amount, automatically delivering said selected goods.

Inventors: ROBRECHTS JOZEF, ROBRECHTS, JOZEF
Applicants: NEW DISTRIB SYSTEMS IN HET KOR, DE NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP: "NEW DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS" IN HET KORT "N.D.S."
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65G1
IPC codes: G07F11, G07F7