Device for selling goods, system comprising such a device and method for operating such a device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for the sale of goods (161), having at least two storage areas (111, 112), in each of which a temperature different from the other storage areas can be set and/or adjusted in a respectively associated temperature range, and which are each arranged for the storage of goods (161), having an automated handling system (120), by means of which goods (161) can be removed from each of the storage areas (111, 112), and having a output device (130) in which goods (161) can be provided for removal, the device (100) being arranged to remove selected goods (161) from the storage areas (111, 112) by means of the handling system (120) and, after a release, to provide them for removal in the output device (130), a system having at least one such device and a method for operating such a device (100).

Claims

1. A sale device (100, 200) for the sale of goods (160, 161), having at least two storage areas (111, 112, 113) in each of which a temperature (T1, T2, T3) different from the other storage areas can be set and/or adjusted in a respectively associated temperature range, and which are each arranged for the storage of goods (160, 161), having an automated handling system (120) by means of which goods (160, 161) can be removed from each of the storage areas (111, 112, 113), and having a output device (130) in which goods (160, 161) can be provided for removal, wherein the sale device (100, 200) is arranged to remove selected goods (160, 161) from the storage areas (111, 112, 113) by means of the handling system (120) and, after a release, to provide them for removal in the output device (130), wherein the handling system (120) comprising at least two handling devices (121, 123, 124) associated with different ones of the storage areas (111, 112, 113), such that several goods from at least two different storage areas (111, 112, 113) can be removed at the same time.

2. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, wherein the output device (130) comprises at least two output areas (131, 132, 133) associated with different ones of the storage areas (111, 112, 113).

3. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, which is further arranged to check whether all selected goods (160, 161) are provided for removal in the output device (130).

4. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, which is placed in a container, in particular an ISO container, or which is arranged for installation in a building (210) or is installed in a building (210).

5. A system having at least one sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1 and having a computing unit (310) connected to the at least one sale device (100, 200) via a respective data link (320) and remote from the at least one sale device (100, 200), and in particular having a further computing unit (300) to which the at least one sale device (100, 200) and the remote computing unit (310) are connected via a respective data link (320).

6. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, wherein the temperature ranges of the storage areas (111, 112, 113) comprise a temperature range of −30° C. to 0° C., and/or a temperature range of 0° C. to +10° C., and/or a temperature range having ambient temperature or from +10° to +25° C.

7. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, having at least three storage areas (111, 112, 113).

8. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, which is arranged to remove the selected goods (160, 161) from the storage areas (111, 112, 113) by means of the handling system (120) only after the release and then to provide them for removal in the output device (130).

9. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, which is further arranged to receive information via a data link (320) about a payment for selected goods that has been made, and in particular to only grant the release after receipt of this information.

10. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, further having a selection device (140), in particular with a display and/or input means, by means of which the goods to be removed from the storage areas (111, 112, 113) can be selected.

11. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, further having a payment device (150) by means of which the selected goods can be paid for, wherein the sale device (100, 200) is in particular arranged to only grant the release after payment has been made.

12. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, which is further arranged to receive information via a data link (320) about selected goods (160, 161) to be removed from the storage areas (111, 112, 113), and which is in particular further arranged to block the goods to be removed according to the information received via the data link (320) for a further selection.

13. The sale device (100, 200) according to claim 12, which is further arranged to grant the release only after an authentication, in particular by means of a code (311).

14. A method for operating at least one sale device (100, 200) according to claim 1, wherein selected goods (160, 161) to be removed from the storage areas (111, 112, 113) are determined, and wherein the selected goods are removed from the corresponding storage areas (111, 112, 113) by means of the handling system (120) and are provided for removal in the output device (130) after receipt of the release.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the sale device (100, 200) further has a selection device (140), in particular with a display and/or input means, by means of which the goods to be removed from the storage areas (111, 112, 113) can be selected, and wherein the selected goods (160, 161) are determined using the selection device (140) on the sale device (100, 200).

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the selected goods are determined using a computing unit (310) connected to the sale device (100, 200) via a data link (320) and remote from the sale device (100, 200).

17. The method according to claim 14, for operating a system having at least two sale devices (100, 200), said system having a computing unit (310) connected to the at least two sale devices (100, 200) via a respective data link (320) and remote from the at least two sale devices (100, 200), wherein goods (160, 161) to be selected using the remote computing unit (310) are determined, wherein, of the at least two sale devices (100, 200), one sale device (100, 200) to which the determined goods (160, 161) are assigned as selected goods is selected on the basis of at least one criterion.

18. A computer program that causes a device or system to perform a method according to claim 14 when executed on the device or system.

19. A machine readable storage medium having a computer program according to claim 18 stored thereon.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIGS. 1 to 4 show a device according to the invention in a preferred embodiment in different views.

(2) FIG. 5 shows a part of a handling system of the device of FIGS. 1 to 5 in a more detailed view.

(3) FIG. 6 shows a device according to the invention in another preferred embodiment.

(4) FIG. 7 shows an arrangement or system having two devices with which a method according to the invention can be carried out according to a preferred embodiment.

(5) FIGS. 1 to 4 show a device 100 in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. The device 100 is used for the sale of goods and is formed as a container. In the following, FIGS. 1 to 4 will be described in a comprehensive manner.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a section in top view, FIG. 2 a section in perspective view, FIG. 3 a sectional view from one of the sides and FIG. 4 a perspective exterior view.

(7) Device 100 has—inside the container—three different storage areas 111, 112 and 112, in which goods can be stored and which can each be set or adjusted to a temperature that is different from the temperature in the other two storage areas. For example, the storage area 111 has a temperature of −21° C., the storage area 112 has a temperature of 6° C., and the storage area has a temperature of +21° C. The temperatures can of course also have other values, and in particular lie within the temperature ranges already mentioned above. In order to be able to set or adjust the above-mentioned temperatures and then maintain them, an appropriate cooling device can be provided, as shown with the reference symbol 105.

(8) The energy supply can be a connection to a power supply network, or a self-sufficient energy supply with photovoltaic cells and an energy storage device on or in the container, for example.

(9) With the temperatures stated, in particular three different climatic zones can be maintained, namely a deep-freeze area, a fresh food area and an area which is not refrigerated or at least not strongly refrigerated, in which correspondingly goods which require cooling or which do not require cooling, in particular food, can be kept.

(10) Storage areas 111, 112 and 113 themselves each have several sub-areas, of which, for example, one sub-area 113′ of storage area 113 is marked with a reference sign as shown in FIG. 1. Storage areas 111 and 112 each have two subareas, storage area 113 has four such subareas. In each subdivision there are several storage compartments 115, as shown in FIG. 1. Such storage compartments, which are provided in particular one above the other and—within a storage area—also next to each other, are used for storing or holding goods. For filling, such trays 115, as also shown in FIG. 2, can be pulled out of the storage area, for example.

(11) The individual storage areas can be of different sizes according to requirements, so that a desired quantity of goods can be kept within them. In the shown example, a further subarea 114 is also provided as part of storage area 113, in which, for example, drinks or bottles can be stored as goods. It is also conceivable that a subarea of one of the other storage areas is selected or that an additional storage area is used.

(12) Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows doors 116, which can be used to close the storage areas. This is particularly relevant for refrigerated storage areas in order to save energy. In particular, such doors can be opened and closed automatically, as will be explained in more detail below.

(13) In FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, it is also apparent that the storage areas are only provided in the middle of the container, i.e. there is a free area between the storage areas and a respective wall of the container, so that a person can enter to fill goods into the storage areas. Two lockable doors 102 are provided for entering the container, for example. In addition, this free area is intended for a handling system 120, which will be explained in more detail below.

(14) The handling system 120 is used to remove the goods from the individual storage areas or the storage compartments provided therein and to transfer them to a output device 130. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the handling system 120 comprises three separate handling devices 121, 123 and 124. Handling device 121 is assigned to storage areas 111 and 112, handling device 123 to storage area 113 and handling device 124 to subarea 114.

(15) The handling devices 121 and 123 each have a receiving area 125 and 126 respectively, which in this case are formed as containers. The handling devices 121 and 123 can be moved along rails, one of which is marked with the reference sign 121′, along the assigned storage areas. With regard to the removal of goods from the storage areas, reference is also made to FIG. 5 and the corresponding description.

(16) The handling device 124, which is assigned to subdivision 114, may, for example, have a gripper by means of which goods formed as bottles 161 can be removed from subdivision 114.

(17) Each of the above-mentioned handling devices is further equipped to transfer the goods removed from the storage areas into or to the output device 130, where the goods can then be removed by a person.

(18) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the output device 130 has three output areas or output compartments 131, 132 and 133. The receiving area 125 of the handling device 121 can be brought into the output compartment 131, and the receiving area 126 of the handling device 123 can be brought into the output compartment 133. For this purpose, suitable openings, which can be closed if necessary, can be provided in the corresponding wall. In this way, goods can then be removed by a person.

(19) The handling device 124 can, for example, be arranged to place the mentioned bottles individually into the output compartment 132. These can then also be removed by a person. It is also conceivable in this context that the openings of the receiving compartments, through which a person can remove the goods, remain closed at first by means of a lid or the like and are only opened when required or when released, as will be explained in more detail later.

(20) Furthermore, a selection device 140, which is particularly equipped with a display and/or input means, is provided. This may in particular be a touch screen or the like. As can be seen in FIG. 3, this selection device 140 is located next to the output device and can be reached by a person or a user—like the output device—through a door 101 in the device 100.

(21) By using the selection device 140, for example, the goods available in the device can be displayed and selected by the person. Furthermore, a payment device 150 is provided below the selection device 140, with which the selected goods can be paid for by the person.

(22) In particular, the device is arranged in such a way that a person selects desired goods using the selection device 140 and then pays using the payment device 150. Then, using the handling system 120, the selected goods are removed from the storage areas, as explained above, and provided for the person for removal in the output device 130. In particular, the device is arranged so that a release for picking the goods and providing them at the output device is only issued after payment has been made.

(23) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view through the device 100 and the storage area 113. This is intended to explain the handling system in more detail in the following, as already mentioned, particularly with regard to the removal of the goods.

(24) As already mentioned, the handling device 123, which is part of the handling system, can be moved in such a way that the receiving area or the container 126 is positioned in front of one of the storage compartments 115. For this purpose, the container 126 can also be moved in the vertical direction in particular.

(25) In addition, an actuating device 116 is assigned to each storage compartment 115, which can be formed as a revolving belt or similar. This allows the goods 160 to be moved out of the storage compartment 115 and to be placed in the container 126 by dropping them. For this purpose, it may be necessary to open the aforementioned door of the corresponding storage area.

(26) Furthermore, the device 100 is arranged to check whether all selected goods are provided for removal in the output device. For this purpose, the exemplary shown scale 126′, which is integrated in the bottom of container 126, can be used. If a new good falls into container 126, the weight recorded by the scale increases. In this way, it can be ensured that the goods in question have also landed in the container and have not fallen off. If necessary, new goods could then be removed.

(27) FIG. 6 shows a device 200 according to the invention according to another preferred embodiment. The device 200 is likewise used for the sale of goods and is installed in a building 210. In such a building 210, for example, a supermarket may be provided.

(28) It is conceivable in this context to provide the necessary components of device 200—as with device 100—in a container, whereby the container is then formed so that it can be installed or integrated in the building. However, it is understood that the necessary components of the device can also be provided in a building without such a container.

(29) Apart from that, the device 200 can be formed similar to the 100 device; therefore, reference is made to the latter for a more detailed description.

(30) FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of an arrangement with two devices 100, by means of which a method and a system according to the invention, each in a preferred embodiment, shall be explained.

(31) The two devices 100, in each of which the different temperatures T1, T2 and T3 are shown, for example, are each connected to a central computing unit 300 via a data link 320. The central computing unit 300 in turn is connected via a further data link 320 to another computing unit 310 which is remote from the devices. The additional computing unit 310 can be a smartphone or the like, on which a corresponding application or app is stored.

(32) By using the smartphone 310 and the corresponding app, a user can select, for example, desired goods that he or she would like to buy. The goods determined in this way are then transmitted to the central computing unit 300. There it is then determined in which of the two devices 100 all the desired goods or at least most of the desired goods are available, and/or the location of which of the devices 100 is closest to the user's or the smartphone's location.

(33) The user is then informed of the relevant device on the 310 smartphone and can decide whether to buy the goods and collect them from the device in question.

(34) After the goods have been paid for, in particular also using the smartphone, the selected goods are blocked or reserved in the relevant device. On the smartphone, the user is then shown a code 311, for example, which he or she can have read on the device using the reader 145. Once authentication has been completed, the release is granted to remove the selected goods and provide them for removal, as explained above.

(35) It goes without saying that in this way other devices can also be included in the method and that other suitable criteria can also be used for selecting a device.