Abstract: An automatic vending machine includes: a belt conveyor constituting a part of a column configured to store a product, the belt conveyor being able to convey the stored product along the column, and a controller configured to control an operation of the belt conveyor. The controller acquires an amount of movement of a belt of the belt conveyor moving to convey the product. The controller calculates the number of products stored in the column, based on the acquired amount of movement of the belt.

Abstract: A product selling system includes: a product selling apparatus configured to sell a product; and a management device configured to manage an exchange rate to exchange legal currency used to sell the product for cryptocurrency as substitute for the legal currency. The product selling apparatus includes: a selling unit configured to sell the product by making settlement in at least one of the legal currency and the cryptocurrency; an identification unit configured to identify a consumer of the product; an acquisition unit configured to acquire the exchange rate from the management device; and a value exchange unit configured to exchange the legal currency for the cryptocurrency based on the exchange rate. When the cryptocurrency is used to sell the product, the selling unit makes settlement by using the cryptocurrency for the consumer identified by the identification unit.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine includes: a belt conveyor constituting a part of a column configured to store a product, the belt conveyor being able to convey the stored product along the column, and a controller configured to control an operation of the belt conveyor. The controller acquires an amount of movement of a belt of the belt conveyor moving to convey the product. The controller calculates the number of products stored in the column, based on the acquired amount of movement of the belt.

Abstract: A product selling apparatus includes: a mining process unit configured to perform a mining process to close a transaction in cryptocurrency as substitute for legal currency between any apparatuses; and a selling unit configured to sell a product by making settlement in at least one of the legal currency and the cryptocurrency. The mining process unit performs the mining process when the selling unit does not sell the product. The mining process unit stores a mining reward obtained by the mining process in a storage unit. The selling unit can sell the product, based on product sales information about selling of the product determined depending on the mining reward stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A store includes: a selling apparatus configured to display product information to a user visiting the store and sell a product; and an automatic warehouse configured to store the product sold by the selling apparatus and convey the product to the selling apparatus. The automatic warehouse includes: a shelf including a plurality of belt conveyors provided in tiers, each of the plurality of belt conveyors constituting a shelf plate on which the product is stored; an elevator configured to move up and down with respect to the plurality of belt conveyors and accommodate the product conveyed from a belt conveyor; and a carrying-out mechanism configured to carry the product out of the elevator and move the product toward a take-out port provided in the selling apparatus to take out the product.

Abstract: A delivery system comprises a delivery vehicle configured to carry a delivery box to be delivered to a delivery destination thereon; and a carrier vehicle configured to carry the delivery vehicle thereon. The carrier vehicle performs exit control to get the delivery car carrying the delivery box to be delivered to the delivery destination out of the carrier vehicle at a relay point on a traveling route to the delivery destination, and the delivery vehicle performs traveling control on the traveling route from the relay point to the delivery destination, and fixes the delivery box to a delivery box fixture located at the delivery destination.

Abstract: A store includes: a selling apparatus configured to display product information to a user visiting a store and sell a product; and an automatic warehouse configured to store the product sold by the selling apparatus and convey the product to a take-out port. The automatic warehouse includes: a shelf including a plurality of belt conveyors, each of the belt conveyors constituting a shelf plate; and an elevator configured to move up and down with respect to the belt conveyors, and accommodate the product conveyed from a belt conveyor. The shelf includes an ejection port provided on the elevator side to eject the product from the shelf, and a supply port provided on a side opposite to the elevator side to supply the product to the shelf. When the product is supplied from the supply port, the belt conveyor moves a belt of the belt conveyor toward the ejection port.

Abstract: An unmanned store system includes: a selling apparatus configured to sell a product to a user visiting an unmanned store; as automatic warehouse configured to store the product sold by the selling apparatus; and a management server configured to manage the product stored in the automatic warehouse. The selling apparatus displays product information of the product stored in the automatic warehouse and a code image including a request for settlement of the product, corresponding the product information to the core image. When the settlement is made in response to the request for settlement included the code image, the management server transmits a conveyance command to the automatic warehouse to convey the product to the selling apparatus. The automatic warehouse conveys the product to the selling apparatus, based on the conveyance command transmitted from the management server.

Abstract: A delivery system includes: a delivery vehicle which can carry a delivery box; and a carrier vehicle which can carry the delivery vehicle thereon, the carrier vehicle including a storage container which can store delivery boxes, the carrier vehicle including a conveyance control mechanism which performs conveyance control to convey the delivery box located at a predetermined storage location in the storage container to a storage location different from the predetermined storage location, the conveyance control mechanism performing the conveyance control to convey the delivery box to a receipt location at which the delivery vehicle can receive the delivery box, the delivery vehicle including a carrying control mechanism which performs carrying control to receive the delivery box from the carrier vehicle at the receipt location and to carry the received delivery box thereon, wherein the delivery vehicle deliveries to the delivery destination the delivery box carried on the delivery vehicle.

Abstract: A delivery system includes: a delivery vehicle which can carry a delivery box; and a carrier vehicle which can carry the delivery vehicle thereon, the carrier vehicle including a storage container which can store delivery boxes, the carrier vehicle including a conveyance control mechanism which performs conveyance control to convey the delivery box located at a predetermined storage location in the storage container to a storage location different from the predetermined storage location, the conveyance control mechanism performing the conveyance control to convey the delivery box to a receipt location at which the delivery vehicle can receive the delivery box, the delivery vehicle including a carrying control mechanism which performs carrying control to receive the delivery box from the carrier vehicle at the receipt location and to carry the received delivery box thereon, wherein the delivery vehicle deliveries to the delivery destination the delivery box carried on the delivery vehicle.

Abstract: A delivery system comprises a delivery vehicle configured to carry a delivery box to be delivered to a delivery destination thereon; and a carrier vehicle configured to carry the delivery vehicle thereon. The carrier vehicle performs exit control to get the delivery car carrying the delivery box to be delivered to the delivery destination out of the carrier vehicle at a relay point on a traveling route to the delivery destination, and the delivery vehicle performs traveling control on the traveling route from the relay point to the delivery destination, and fixes the delivery box to a delivery box fixture located at the delivery destination.

Abstract: A goods or service information is broadcasted on television from a TV broadcast station, and supplied to unnamed or many audiences. The audience(purchaser) receives an image pattern which is formed by optical signals and displayed as a management data of goods on one part of display of a television set by means of an optical signal receiver of his or her own cellular phone, and then designates any goods displayed on the television by operating the cellular phone. The cellular phone collates the designated goods with the received management data, generates a predetermined offer data, and transmits it to a mail-order firm through a communication network in order to offer a purchase of goods. When the mail-order firm receives the offer, the firm causes a distributor to distribute the designated goods.

Abstract: A game machine includes a housing; a grip mechanism including two hands for gripping articles mounted on a rear wall of the housing; a drive mechanism for moving the grip mechanism vertically and/or horizontally, and depthwise in the housing; a control mechanism for controlling starting and stopping of the drive mechanism; and an input mechanism manually controlled by a game user for sending signals to the control mechanism to start and stop vertical and/or horizontal movement of the grip mechanism. Depthwise movement of the grip mechanism is actuated by the control mechanism after horizontal and vertical movement is stopped. A sensor mechanism on the grip mechanism senses the presence of a prize between the two hands and sends a signal to the control mechanism to close the hands to grip the article whereupon the grip mechanism is returned to a home position, the hands are released and the prize is delivered to the user.

Abstract: A keyboard including a plurality of key switches and a plurality of keys mounted slidably on the keyboard over the key switches, each key overlying one of the key switches and the top of each key provided with a marking, upon each key being depressed into engagement with the underlying key switch, the key switch being operated to provide an indication of the marking provided on the top of the depressed key, and the number of plurality of keys being less in number by one than that of the key switches to provide a vacant key space on the keyboard to allow the keys to slide freely two-dimensionally over the key switches and through the vacent key space to permit each key to be slid over and overlie each of the key switches in a pattern as desired.