JPH076855U - Automatic checkout machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To make it possible to collectively settle multiple tickets to be settled. [Structure] Insert the ticket to be settled into the ticket insertion slot (3),
When tickets are sequentially inserted into the same ticket insertion slot (3) while the insufficient charge indicator (4) is displaying the insufficient charge for that ticket, the insufficient charge indicator (4) will be applied to all tickets. When the total amount of money input into the coin slot (7) is greater than or equal to the total shortage charge above, one ticket will be issued by the ticketing mechanism (12) corresponding to the total shortage charge. Configured to publish.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention is an improvement of an automatic checkout machine installed in a station building of a railway line station, more specifically, a magnetic recording of a boarding station, a boarding amount or a boarding section such as a general-purpose ticket, a coupon ticket or a commuter ticket. The present invention relates to an automatic checkout machine that enables the settlement of a plurality of these tickets in a lump by continuously inserting the tickets to be settled into the ticket insertion slot one by one.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 An automatic checkout machine installed at a railway line station inserts a ticket (regular ticket, coupon ticket or commuter pass ticket) to be settled into the ticket insertion slot, and a magnetic recording is made on the ticket with the reading head. The shortage charge necessary to read the information and settle the above-mentioned ticket based on the read information is displayed on the shortage charge indicator, and the customer sees the shortage charge and inserts more money than the shortage charge into the coin insertion slot. By doing so, it is configured to issue a checkout ticket for the ticket.

However, since the above-mentioned automatic settlement machine performs the settlement processing as described above only for one ticket inserted into the ticket slot, a group of parents, children or friends with the same drop-off station If you try to settle a ticket using the above automatic checkout machine, insert the ticket into the ticket insertion slot, insert the currency displayed on the insufficient charge indicator for that ticket into the coin slot, and issue it to the receiving slot. For example, it is necessary to repeat the process of receiving the settled ticket for each ticket, and it takes time and labor to settle multiple tickets.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the above-mentioned automatic settlement machine, and an object thereof is to provide an automatic settlement machine capable of collectively performing settlement processing on a plurality of tickets to be settled. It is a thing.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention setstles the above-mentioned ticket and a ticket insertion slot into which a plurality of tickets to be settled in which the amount information or the boarding station information is magnetically recorded are inserted one by one. A shortage charge indicator that displays the shortage charge necessary for the payment, a money slot for inserting money when the above-mentioned ticket is settled, and an input amount indicator that displays the amount of money inserted into the money slot. , A ticket processing mechanism for reading and outputting the recording information of the tickets successively inserted into the ticket insertion slot one by one, and a coin for outputting the deposit information by counting the inserted coins inserted in the coin insertion slot. Equipped with a processing mechanism and a ticket issuing mechanism that creates and issues settlement tickets, and calculates the total shortage charge required to settle all of these tickets based on the read information of each ticket input from the ticket processing mechanism. In addition to the above, When the amount of money input is displayed on the indicator and the amount of money input is displayed on the input amount display unit based on the deposit information input from the money handling mechanism, and the amount of deposit information from the money handling mechanism is equal to or greater than the total shortage charge. The ticket-issuing mechanism has been configured to issue one ticket for the above total shortage charges.

[0006]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The automatic clearing machine of this embodiment is installed at a predetermined station on a railway line (hereinafter referred to as an alighting station) and has a configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the automatic payment machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the automatic payment machine of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral (1) is a housing of the automatic payment machine, and reference numeral (2) is a customer service panel attached to the front surface of the housing. This customer service panel (2) displays the ticket insertion slot (3) for inserting multiple tickets, such as ordinary tickets, coupon tickets or commuter tickets, which are subject to settlement, one by one, and the insufficient charges for the above tickets. Insufficient charge indicator (4), coin insertion slot (5) for inserting coins when adjusting the above-mentioned ticket, and coin insertion slot (7) consisting of banknote insertion slot (6) for inserting banknotes, coin insertion slot There are provided an input amount indicator (8) for displaying the amount of input coins in (7), and a receipt (9) for a fixed-fare ticket, change or settlement ticket to be returned.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shortage charge indicator (4) and the input money amount indicator (8) are connected to a control circuit (13) described later, and a display command signal input from the control circuit (13). Based on the above, the shortage charge indicator (4) displays the shortage charge required to settle the ticket, and the input amount display (8) displays the input amount of the input money. The bill insertion slot (6) of the coin insertion slot (7) is used not only for inserting bills, but also as a return slot for returning bills that cannot be counted by the money handling mechanism (11) described later.

In addition, the customer service panel (2) is provided with a cancel button (not shown) and an attendant call button (not shown) in addition to the above. The cancel button and the attendant call button are the present invention. Since it does not constitute a characteristic part of, the description thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, inside the housing (1), as shown in FIG. 2, a ticket processing mechanism (10), a money handling mechanism (11), a ticket issuing mechanism (12) and a control circuit (13) are provided. Stored respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ticket processing mechanism (10) includes a pair of upper and lower conveyor belts (10a) which conveys the ticket inserted in the ticket insertion opening (3) into the casing (1). , 10a) and a read head (10b) arranged in the middle of the ticket transport path composed of these transport belts (10a, 10a) is magnetically recorded in advance on the ticket during transport of the ticket. The magnetic recording information is read and output to the control circuit (13). For example, if the ticket to be settled is a normal ticket or a coupon ticket, the ticket type code, the boarding station code, the valid period, the boarding amount, etc., which read the ticket type, are read and output to the control circuit (13). If the ticket to be settled is a regular ticket, the ticket type code, which indicates the ticket type, the boarding section code, the valid period, etc. are read and output to the control circuit (13). A substantially L-shaped stopper (10c) is provided behind the reading head (10b). This stopper (10c) rotates counterclockwise to block the transportation of the ticket at the tip, and rotates clockwise to enable the transportation of the ticket. ) Temporarily holds the ticket inserted first, and when the next ticket is inserted in the same ticket insertion slot (3), the temporary hold of the previous ticket is released and the next ticket is temporarily held. Repeat. For the operation of the stopper (10c), for example, the first photo sensor (10d) is arranged at the entrance of the ticket insertion slot (3) and the second photo sensor (10e) is arranged in front of the reading head (10b). This can be realized by appropriately turning ON / OFF the drive source (for example, an electromagnetic solenoid) of the stopper (10c) based on the timing at which each of these photosensors (10d, 10d) detects a ticket. Further, the ticket processing mechanism (10) is a normal boarding machine according to the type of ticket inserted in the ticket insertion opening (3) in addition to the conveyor belt (10a), the reading head (10b) and the stopper (10c). A ticket holding mechanism (not shown) that holds tickets, commuter tickets or coupon tickets separately, ordinary tickets or coupon tickets from each holding mechanism, and releases them to the bill collection box, or commuter tickets A transportation mechanism (not shown) that takes in the fixed-fare ticket from the holding mechanism for use and sends it to the receiving port (9) of the customer panel (2), and is arranged on the transfer mechanism and has been settled on the fixed-fare ticket. It has a write head (not shown) for magnetically recording the marks, each of which operates based on a command signal from the control circuit (13).

The money handling mechanism (11) is configured in the same manner as that used in a conventionally known automatic settlement machine, and deposits coins inserted into the coin slot (5) of the coin slot (7). The bills inserted into the bill insertion slot (6) are counted by a coin check machine, and the deposit amount of the inserted coins is output to the control circuit (13) described later. The generated change command signal is input from the control circuit (13), and the change dispenser discharges the change into the receiving port (9) while counting the change.

Like the currency handling mechanism (11), the ticket issuing mechanism (12) is configured in the same manner as that used in a conventionally known automatic settlement machine, and a ticket issuing command signal is issued from the control circuit (13). When input, the roll paper is cut with a cutter, the settlement date, settlement station, etc. are printed by the thermal head to create a settlement ticket, and the transportation mechanism issues the settlement ticket to the receiving port (9). .

The control circuit (13) is composed of a microprocessor, and as shown in FIG. 2, a shortage charge indicator (4), a deposit amount indicator (8), a ticket processing mechanism (10), and a money handling mechanism ( 11) and the ticket-issuing mechanism (12) respectively, and according to the control program written in the ROM (not shown) in advance, the insufficient charge indicator (4), the deposit amount indicator (8), the ticket processing mechanism (1 0) Controls the money handling mechanism (11) and the ticket issuing mechanism (12). That is, when the ticket detection signal is input from the first photo sensor (10d) of the ticket processing mechanism (10), the control circuit (13) rotates the stopper (10c) counterclockwise to temporarily hold the ticket. Rotate in the direction. Then, when the reading information of the ticket is input from the reading head (10b) of the ticket processing mechanism (10), the ticket inserted in the ticket insertion slot (3) based on the ticket type code included in the reading information. The ticket type is judged whether it is a normal ticket, a coupon ticket or a regular ticket, and whether the ticket is a payable ticket is determined based on the read information. If the ticket inserted in the ticket insertion slot (3) is an ordinary ticket or a coupon ticket, the boarding station code and the boarding cost information included in the read information will be used to change from the boarding station to the exit station (settlement station). ) To calculate the shortage charge up to and output the shortage charge display command signal to the shortage charge display (4). In addition, if the ticket inserted into the ticket insertion slot (3) is a commuter pass, it is the closest to the alighting station (settlement station) of the two boarding stations in the boarding section information included in the read information. Calculate the distance from one boarding / alighting station to the alighting station (clearing station), and output the command signal indicating the insufficient charge from the boarding / alighting station to the alighting station (clearing station) corresponding to the distance to the insufficient charge indicator (4) To do. It should be noted that the determination of the type of the ticket, the determination of whether the ticket can be settled, and the calculation of the shortage charge are the same as the known methods conventionally used in automatic checkout machines. Then, when the deposit information of the deposited money is input by the money handling mechanism (11), a display command signal of the deposit information is output to the deposit amount display device (8), and the amount of the deposit information is more than the shortage charge. In this case, a ticket issuing command signal is output to the ticket issuing mechanism (1 2). At this time, if the amount of money in the deposit information exceeds the shortage charge, the difference between the amount of money in the deposit information and the shortage charge is calculated, and a change release command signal for the difference is output to the money handling mechanism (11). At the same time, it outputs a ticket processing command signal corresponding to the ticket type determination of the ticket to the ticket processing mechanism (10).

When the control circuit (13) sequentially inputs a ticket detection signal from the first photo sensor (10d) of the ticket processing mechanism (10) within a predetermined time zone, the control circuit (13) returns the previous one each time. The stopper (10c) is rotated clockwise to release the temporary holding of the ticket, and the stopper (10c) is rotated counterclockwise to immediately hold the next ticket. Then, when the reading information of the ticket is sequentially input from the reading head (10b) of the ticket processing mechanism (10), as described above, the ticket type determination, the determination as to whether or not the ticket can be settled, and the shortage charge are determined. The calculation is performed for each ticket, and the shortage charge for the next ticket is sequentially added to the shortage charge for the previous ticket to finally calculate the total shortage charge for all the tickets inserted into the ticket insertion slot (3). Then, the total shortage charge display command signal is output to the shortage charge indicator (4). In this state, when the deposit information of the deposited money is input from the money handling mechanism (11), a command signal for displaying the deposit information is output to the deposit amount display (8), and the amount of the deposit information exceeds the total shortage charge. If it is, a ticket issuing command signal is output to the ticket issuing mechanism (12). At this time, if the amount of the deposit information exceeds the sum shortage charge, the difference between the amount of the deposit information and the sum shortage charge is calculated, and the change command signal for the difference is sent to the money handling mechanism (11). ) And a ticket processing command signal corresponding to the ticket type determination of the ticket to the ticket processing mechanism (10).

Next, the operation of the automatic settlement apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When a ticket (ordinary ticket, coupon ticket or commuter ticket) is inserted into the ticket insertion slot (3) (step 1), the read head (10b) of the ticket processing mechanism (10) reads the magnetic recording information of the ticket. Is read (step 2), and the stopper (10c) of the ticket processing mechanism (10) temporarily holds the ticket (step 3). The control circuit (13) inputs the reading information of the ticket from the reading head (10b) of the ticket processing mechanism (10) and determines whether the ticket is a normal ticket, a frequent ticket or a regular ticket. (Step 4) Based on the boarding station code, boarding amount information, boarding section information, etc., calculate the shortfall required to settle the ticket (Step 5), and the display command signal for the shortfall is insufficient. Output to the charge display (4). As a result, the insufficient charge indicator (4) displays the insufficient charge of the ticket (step 6).

In this state, if money is inserted into the money insertion slot (7) within a predetermined time zone (YES), the process proceeds to step 18, and no money is inserted into the money insertion slot (7) (NO). ), And if there is a ticket inserted in the ticket insertion slot (3), proceed to step 9 (step 7 and step 8).

When money is input in step 7, the money processing mechanism (11) counts the input money (step 18). The control circuit (13) inputs the deposit information in which the deposited money is counted by the money handling mechanism (11) and outputs a display command signal of the deposit information to the deposit amount display (8). As a result, the inserted money indicator (8) inputs the display command signal from the control circuit (13) to display the amount of inserted money (step 19). Further, the control circuit (13) determines whether or not the amount of money in the deposit information is equal to or more than the shortage charge based on the deposit information from the money handling mechanism (11) (step 20). In step 20, if the amount of money in the deposit information is equal to or more than the shortage charge (YES), a ticket issuing command signal is output to the ticket issuing mechanism (12), and if the amount of money in the deposit information exceeds the shortage charge, the money handling mechanism ( The change discharge instruction signal is output to 11), and the ticket processing instruction signal corresponding to the ticket type determination of the ticket is output to the ticket processing mechanism (10). However, in step 20, if the amount of money in the deposit information is less than the shortage charge (NO), the customer is informed by voice or the like of additional insertion of money, as in the conventional checkout machine.

Then, when the money handling mechanism (11) inputs the change release command signal, the money handling mechanism (11) releases the change amount of the difference between the amount of the deposit information and the shortage charge to the receiving port (9). (Step 21). When the ticket processing mechanism (10) inputs a command signal to process the ordinary ticket or the coupon ticket, the ticket processing mechanism (10) collects the ordinary ticket or the coupon ticket in the collecting box, On the other hand, when the ticket processing mechanism (10) inputs a command signal to process the fixed ticket, the write head magnetically records the settlement mark on the fixed ticket and the fixed ticket is received at the receiving port ( Return to the customer via 9) (step 22). Then, when a ticket issuing command signal is input to the ticket issuing mechanism (12), the ticket issuing mechanism (12) prepares one settlement ticket corresponding to the shortage charge and issues it to the receiving port (9) (step 23).

If no money is inserted in step 7 and the next ticket (normal ticket, coupon ticket or commuter ticket) is continuously inserted in step 8 with the previous ticket within a predetermined time zone, After the stopper (10c) of the processing mechanism (10) rotates clockwise to release the temporary hold of the previous ticket, the read head (10b) of the same ticket processing mechanism (10) magnetically records the next ticket. After reading and reading the information, the stopper (10c) rotates counterclockwise to temporarily hold the ticket (steps 9 to 11). Then, in step 9, the ticket before the temporary hold is released is sent to the pool section of the ticket processing mechanism (11) and temporarily pooled (step 12). The control circuit (13) inputs the reading information of the next ticket from the reading head (10b) of the ticket processing mechanism (10) to determine whether the ticket is a normal ticket, a frequent ticket or a commuter ticket. Along with the determination (step 13), the shortage charge of the previous ticket is added to the shortage charge of the next ticket to obtain the total shortage charge of all tickets (step 14), and the command signal for displaying the total shortage charge is given. Output to insufficient charge indicator (4). Thereby, the shortage charge indicator (4) displays the total shortage charge of all the tickets (step 15). The above-mentioned series of processing from step 8 to step 15 is repeated when the next ticket is sequentially inserted into the ticket insertion slot (3) within a predetermined time zone after the next ticket, and in step 17 If there is money in the money slot (7) (YES), the process proceeds to step 18, but if there is no money in the money slot (7) (NO), the process returns to step 8.

When money is inserted in step 17, the money processing mechanism (11) counts the inserted money (step 18). The control circuit (13) inputs the deposit information in which the deposited money is counted by the money handling mechanism (11) and outputs a display command signal of the deposit information to the deposit amount display (8). As a result, the input coin indicator 8 receives the display command signal from the control circuit 13 and displays the amount of inserted coin (step 19). Further, the control circuit (13) determines whether or not the amount of money of the deposit information is equal to or more than the total shortage charge based on the deposit information from the money handling mechanism (11) (step 20). In step 20, if the amount of deposit information is equal to or more than the shortage charge (YES), a ticket issuing command signal is output to the ticket issuing mechanism (12), and if the amount of deposit information exceeds the total shortage charge, the money handling mechanism. The change release command signal is output to (11), and the ticket processing command signal corresponding to the ticket type determination of the ticket is output to the ticket processing mechanism (10). However, in step 20, if the amount of money in the deposit information is less than the shortage charge (NO), the customer is informed by voice or the like of additional insertion of money.

When the money handling mechanism (11) inputs the change release command signal, the money handling mechanism (11) sends the change amount corresponding to the difference between the amount of the deposit information and the total shortage charge to the receiving port (9). Release (step 21). Further, when the ticket processing mechanism (10) inputs a command signal to process the ordinary ticket or the coupon ticket, the ticket processing mechanism (10) collects the ordinary ticket or the coupon ticket in a collecting box at once. On the other hand, when the ticket processing mechanism (10) inputs a command signal to process the commuter pass, the write head magnetically records the settlement mark on the commuter pass and receives the commuter pass. It is returned to the customer through the mouth (9) (step 22). Then, when the ticket issuing mechanism (12) inputs the ticket issuing command signal, the ticket issuing mechanism (12) creates one settlement ticket corresponding to the above-mentioned insufficient charge and issues it to the receiving port (9) (step 23). .

In the present embodiment, among a plurality of tickets to be settled, the previous ticket and the next ticket are successively inserted into the ticket insertion slot (3) so that the tickets are inserted within a predetermined time period. If there is no such ticket, the last inserted ticket is regarded as the last one, and the control circuit (13) is configured to calculate the total shortage charge of all tickets.For example, the customer service panel (2) A push button is provided on the control circuit, and when the customer pushes this button, the control circuit (13) is configured to calculate the total shortage charge of all tickets, or a well-known technique (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-68686). , JP-B-58-51316 or JP-A-4-281587), a plurality of tickets to be settled are collectively inserted into the ticket insertion slot (3), and one of these tickets is inserted. It is sent to the reading head (10b) one by one to read the magnetic recording information, and the control circuit (13) is configured to calculate the total shortage charge of all the tickets. Benefit such a thing can be. When a plurality of tickets are inserted into the ticket insertion slot (3) at once, it is not necessary to check whether or not the next ticket is inserted in step 8 shown in FIG.

[0024]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, the automatic checkout machine of the present invention inserts the ticket to be settled into the ticket insertion slot, and inserts it into the ticket insertion slot while the insufficient charge indicator displays the insufficient charge of the ticket. When tickets are successively inserted in sequence, the shortage charge indicator displays the total shortage charge of all tickets, and when the input amount of coins inserted into the money slot is more than the above total shortage charge, the total shortage Since the ticket issuing mechanism is configured to issue one settling ticket corresponding to the fare, it is possible to settle multiple tickets to be settled at the same time, and use the same station for getting off, such as a group of parents and children or friends. It is extremely convenient for customers and facilitates settlement processing at stations, which is a major advantage.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of an automatic checkout machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an automatic settlement machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a ticket processing mechanism of the automatic clearing machine of the present embodiment,
It is explanatory drawing showing the mechanism which takes in a ticket and suspends it.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a series of processing operations for collectively performing settlement processing of the tickets inserted into the ticket insertion slot one by one in the automatic settlement machine of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (3) Ticket insertion slot (4) Shortage charge indicator (7) Currency input slot (8) Input amount indicator (10) Ticket processing mechanism (11) Currency processing mechanism (12) Ticket issuing mechanism (13) Control circuit

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A ticket insertion slot (3) into which a plurality of tickets to be settled, in which the amount information or the boarding station information is magnetically recorded, are inserted one by one, and a shortage charge required to settle the tickets. Insufficient charge indicator (4), a coin slot (7) for depositing money when the ticket is settled, and the coin slot (7)
Input amount display that displays the amount of input money
(8) and a ticket processing mechanism (10) for reading and outputting the record information of the tickets successively inserted into the ticket insertion slot (3) one by one.
And a money processing mechanism (11) that counts the money inserted into the money insertion slot (7) and outputs money receipt information, and based on the read information of each ticket input from the ticket processing mechanism (10). Calculate the total shortage charge necessary to settle all of these tickets, and display the total shortage charge on the above-mentioned shortage charge indicator (4).
In addition, the amount of money deposited is displayed on the input amount display (8) based on the deposit information input from the money handling mechanism (11), and the amount of deposit information from the money handling mechanism (11). Is a total shortage charge or more, a control circuit (13) that outputs a ticketing command signal and a ticketing command signal from the control circuit (13) are input to create one settlement ticket corresponding to the total shortage charge. An automatic checkout machine comprising a ticket issuing mechanism (12) for issuing.