JPH1027277A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sell a prescribed discounted selling object corresponding to a specified user by extracting discount application data recorded in a specified card, performing the prescribed discount of a prescribed article based on money amount data recorded in the card and selling it. SOLUTION: When the specified card C is inserted to a card insertion port 7, recorded data are read by a card reader-writer. At the time of reading the data of the specified card C, a CPU judges whether or not the specified card C is used within prescribed time. In the judgement, when the specified card C is not used within the prescribed time, a prescribed discount program is selected from a ROM and a prescribed ticket issuing processing is performed based on the money amount data recorded in the specified card C. That is, when a main body 1 is set to a discount mode, the main body 1 is operated so as to issue a prescribed discount boarding ticket from an ejection port 16 on condition that money suitable for the discount is fed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine, an automatic payment machine, and various other vending machines.
The present invention relates to a user who is physically handicapped and suitable for a user who can receive a predetermined discount sale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, many railway companies make it possible for a physically handicapped user (hereinafter referred to as a "special user") to board at a discount fare lower than a prescribed prescribed fare. Therefore, the specific user can purchase a reduced-price ticket (hereinafter, referred to as a specific ticket) and get on the board.

[0003]

By the way, in recent years, automatic ticket gates have become widespread, and when a specific ticket is inserted into the main body of the automatic ticket gate, there is a disadvantage that privacy of a specific user is impaired. Occurs.

[0004] Because, in order to prevent a healthy person from purchasing a specific ticket and automatically making a ticket gate, when a specific ticket is inserted, the fact that the user is a specific user is indicated by a lamp or the like, and the attendant is instructed. This is because they will be notified.

[0005] This is because in a current automatic ticket gate, a child's ticket is inserted into the main body of the automatic ticket gate in order to prevent an adult user from automatically making a ticket with a child's ticket. Then, it means that the same operation as displaying a lamp and notifying the attendant is performed.

[0006] The above-mentioned indication of the specific user's lamp, etc., can be used only when the specific user (including the attendant of the specific user, if permitted by the railway company) can purchase the specific ticket. Since the correspondence between the passenger and the specific ticket can be taken, there is no need to display a lamp or the like in the automatic ticket gate, and the privacy of the specific user is protected.

[0007] In order to issue such a specific ticket, the clerk may directly sell the specific ticket to the specific user. In this case, the specific user issues the specific use ticket to the clerk. You have to bear the psychological burden of having to declare that you are a person.

In order to reduce the psychological burden, a button for purchasing a specific ticket may be provided on the main body of the automatic ticket vending machine to automatically issue the specific ticket. However, it is conceivable that the user depresses the button to purchase a specific ticket and rides illegally.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine capable of selling a predetermined discounted product in correspondence with a specific user.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a vending machine according to the present invention is a vending machine which sells a predetermined article when a predetermined money is inserted into a main body of the vending machine. An extracting means for extracting discount application data recorded on a specific card inserted in the main body of the vending machine; and when the discount data is extracted, the amount data recorded on the specific card is Sales control means for selling the predetermined article at a predetermined discount based on the sales control means. Also, within a predetermined time,
Prohibition means for prohibiting the sale of a predetermined article at a predetermined discount again is provided.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a case where the vending machine is an automatic ticket vending machine, and a guide signboard 2, a customer service panel 3, and a take-out unit are arranged in order from the top of a main body (hereinafter referred to as a main body) 1 of the vending machine. 4 are provided.

The signboard 2 displays the operating state of the main body 1 and the fact that the main body 1 is compatible with a specific card. The customer service panel 3 displays a guide for notifying the user of the amount of money to be inserted and the operation method. Unit 5, a coin slot 6, a card insertion slot 7 for cards such as a specific card C and a prepaid card (not shown), a bill insertion slot 8, a selection button group 9 for a child or the number of sheets, an account button A group 10, a cancel button 11 pressed to stop ticket purchase halfway, a call button 12 pressed to call a clerk, a microphone 13 and a speaker for responding to the clerk when calling the clerk 14 are provided.

The take-out unit 4 is provided with a bill return port 15 for returning change bills, and a discharge port 16 for discharging a return ticket or a change coin while discharging a ticket. In the drawing, reference numeral 17 denotes a controller which controls the main body 1 composed of a microcomputer in a centralized manner, and serves as each unit of the present invention.

The specific card C, like a well-known stored fair card (SF card), records data indicating that the user is a specific user, in addition to recording predetermined amount data.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the controller 17, and is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a central processing unit) which performs arithmetic processing using a system program stored in the ROM 20 and working data stored in the RAM 21. CPU) 2
Two. The CPU 22 reads data recorded on the specific card C inserted into the card insertion slot 8 or data recorded on a card such as a prepaid card via the I / O unit 23, and further reads the data. Card reader / writer 24 for writing important data
A check unit 25 for checking coins and bills inserted into the main body 1 and releasing change as required, and a ticket issuing unit 26 for issuing a ticket selected by the amount button group 11.
And are connected.

Next, the discount control operation of the automatic ticket vending machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the coin insertion slot 6 or the insertion slot 8 of the main body 1
A predetermined money is not inserted into the card insertion slot 7 or a card such as a prepaid card as a substitute for the money in the card insertion slot 7 (in the present invention, money data includes the money data recorded on this card and the specific card C). 3 is not inserted, or although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, the specific card C is inserted after the money is inserted or after the card is inserted and before the account button group 10 is selected. Mouth 7
(No at Step 100, Step 102
positive. Hereinafter, the switch is referred to as S. ), The data recorded on the specific card C is stored in the card reader / writer 24
(S104).

When the CPU 22 reads the data of the specific card C, the specific card C is read, for example, within a predetermined time.
It is determined whether or not it has been used within one hour (S1
06). That is, every time the specific card C is used, the identification data (ID No.) of the specific card C is stored in the RAM 21.
Is stored for a predetermined time, the determination is made based on the stored ID No. If the specific card C has not been used within the predetermined time (No at S106), the ROM
A predetermined discount program is selected from 20, and a predetermined ticket issuing process is performed based on the amount data recorded on the specific card C (steps 108 and 110).

That is, when the main body 1 is set in the discount mode by inserting the specific card C, the main body 1 outputs a predetermined discount ticket from the outlet 16 on condition that money corresponding to the discount is inserted. Operate to issue tickets.

If the specific card C is re-inserted within the predetermined time (S106 affirmative), it is considered that the discounted ticket may be used improperly. Displayed on the section 5 (S11
2). Therefore, in this case, the ticket issuance processing is performed using the amount data of the specific card C at a normal undiscounted amount.

When the issued specific ticket is inserted into the body of an automatic ticket gate (not shown), the door is opened, and the specific user can pass through the ticket gate. At this time, there is no indication that the ticket is a specific ticket. This is because the specific ticket and the specific user are in correspondence, and there is no risk of unauthorized use.

As described above, a specific user can purchase a specific ticket by simply inserting the specific card C into the card insertion slot 8 without reporting to the attendant. In addition, since the body of the automatic ticket gate does not need to indicate that the ticket is a specific ticket, privacy of the specific user is protected.

In the above example, one specific ticket can be issued for one specific card. However, as in the case where the specific user is a severely disabled person, for example, In such a case, two specific tickets may be issued simultaneously with one specific card.

In the above example, the specific card C is of the prepaid type, but may be of the postpaid type. Then, the specific card C is inserted into the card insertion slot 7. However, the specific card C is an IC card type having a communication function, and data of the specific card C is stored in the main body 1 in a non-contact manner with the specific card. A transmitter for sending and receiving data may be provided so that the data of the specific card can be taken into the main body 1. In this case, it is not necessary to insert the specific card C into the main body 1, so that it is hard to see and the privacy of the specific user can be further protected. Therefore, the term "specific card inserted into the main body" in the present invention includes the case where data is exchanged between the main body and the specific card in a non-contact manner.

Further, in the above-mentioned example, the vending machine is an automatic ticket vending machine, but may be an automatic payment machine or various vending machines.

[0026]

According to the vending machine of the present invention, there is provided an extracting means for extracting discount application data recorded on a specific card inserted into a main body, and recording on the specific card when the discount data is extracted. Since the sales control means for selling the predetermined article at a predetermined discount based on the price data provided is provided, it is possible to associate the specific user with the product for sale.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view when a vending machine according to the present invention is a vending machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a controller.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a discount control operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 The main body (body) of a vending machine 6 Guide part 8 Card insertion slot 17 Controller C which carries out extraction means, sales control means, and prohibition means of the present invention C Specific card

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine for selling a predetermined article when a predetermined amount of money is inserted into a main body of the vending machine, wherein a discount recorded on a specific card inserted into the main body of the vending machine is provided. Extraction means for extracting application data; and sales control means for, when the discount data is extracted, selling the predetermined article at a predetermined discount based on the amount data recorded on the specific card. A vending machine characterized by having. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a prohibition means for prohibiting a predetermined article from being sold again at a predetermined discount within a predetermined time.