JPS6139178A - Ticket vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an automatic ticket vending machine that automatically sells a commuter pass (hereinafter referred to as a commuter pass) by, for example, a user's operation.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems] Recently, the development of station automation equipment has been remarkable, and even when issuing commuter passes, the fare is calculated by inserting the old commuter pass (old commuter pass) in use. Automatic commuter pass vending machines that issue new commuter passes (new commuter passes) by inserting the currency corresponding to the fare have been developed and are being put into practical use. Such an automatic commuter pass vending machine accepts an inserted commuter pass purchase application form and transfers the purchaser's name written on the application form to a new commuter pass. However, even though the insertion direction of the application form is indicated on the insertion slot, some purchasers insert the application form in a direction other than the specified direction, or forget to write their name.
Furthermore, other paper such as blank paper may be inserted by mischief. For this reason, a problem occurred in that the name was not transcribed onto the new commuter pass.

[Purpose of the invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to make it possible to accept only application forms inserted in a specified direction, and to ensure that the name on the application form is updated. To provide an automatic ticket vending machine that can transfer images onto tickets.

[Summary of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention determines the orientation of the received application form, and when a determination result in a direction other than the predetermined direction is obtained, the received application form is sent to the receiving section. It was designed to be returned.

In addition, when reading the name from an accepted application form, the amount of reading output is checked, and if it is less than a predetermined value, it is returned as blank or another form, and the accepted application form is returned to the receiving department. .

[Embodiment of the Invention] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a commuter pass purchase application form 1 according to the present invention, which includes a column 2 for entering the purchaser's name, a column 3 for printing the ticket number and amount,
There are also fields for entering other necessary information. Furthermore, a transfer start mark 4 for optical reading is printed at the tip of the name entry column 2. Such an application form 1 is inserted into an application form insertion slot, which will be described later, in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure with the entry field facing upward.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show an automatic commuter pass vending machine as an example of the automatic ticket vending machine according to the present invention. That is,
11 is the main body of the vending machine, and on the front of this main body 11 there is an operation section (
Customer service side) 12 is formed. As shown in FIG. 3, the vertical surface 12a of the operation section 12 includes an application form insertion slot (receiving section) 13 into which the commuter pass purchase application form 1 is inserted;
A commuter pass insertion slot (receiving section) 14 for inserting an old commuter pass, an ejection port 15 for receiving the issued new commuter pass and change coins, etc. are provided. Further, the horizontal surface 12 of the operation section 12
As shown in FIG. 5, in b, there is a CRT display device 16 as a guide display device that displays instructions for operations etc. to the user according to the procedure, and a display provided around the display screen of this CRT display device 16. A group of operation buttons 17 to be operated according to the given guidance, a numeric keypad 18 for inputting data, and a deposit slot 19 for inserting banknotes representing purchase fees or receiving change banknotes are provided.

On the other hand, in the main body 11, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, there is an application form processing device 2 corresponding to the application form insertion slot 13.
1. A commuter pass reader 22 corresponding to the commuter pass insertion slot 14;
A ticketing mechanism 23 that corresponds to the takeout port 15 and issues a new commuter pass.
, a change mechanism 24 for discharging change coins, a receipt printer (not shown), and a deposit/withdrawal mechanism 25 for depositing and withdrawing banknotes in correspondence with the deposit port 19 are provided. Also, inside the main body 11, there is a safe 26, a floppy disk device 27 for data storage, an attendant operation panel 28, a power supply/control unit 2
9 etc. are provided.

The application form insertion slot 13 is provided with a display panel 131 as shown in FIG.
1, a guide message 132 is displayed that reads, ``Enter in the direction of the arrow with the entry field facing up.''

7 and 8 show details of the application form insertion slot @21. That is, 31 is a housing, and in this housing 31, a conveyance path 32 for conveying the application form 1 inserted from the application form insertion slot 13 is provided in a substantially horizontal state. It is designed to be driven.

A storage box 34 is provided at the output end of the transport path 32 to store the application forms 1 taken in in the order of processing. Further, at a predetermined part in the middle of the conveyance path q2, there is a name reading device 35 for reading the name from the name entry column 2 of the application form 1 taken in.
is provided. This name reading device 35 uses, for example, a light source 36 that illuminates the name entry field 2 of the application form 1 and a rotating mirror 37 that receives reflected light from the application form 1 due to the illumination of the light source 36 to optically read the name entry field 2. The imager 38 uses a CCD type image sensor to scan the light output from the
Name entry column 2 is converted into an electrical signal by
It reads the purchaser's name written on the page.

Then, the carry-in end of the conveyance path 32 and the application form insertion slot 13
An insertion detector 39 for optically detecting the inserted application form 1 is provided between the conveyance path 32 and an insertion detector 39 for optically detecting the inserted application form 1. Also, near the discharge end of the conveyance path 32, there is provided an insertion detector 39 for detecting the inserted application form 1 at a predetermined position. A fixed position detector 40 is provided for optically detecting.

FIG. 9 shows the control section. That is, 51 is a main control section mainly composed of a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits, which includes the CRT display device 16, operation button group 17, numeric keypad 18, application form processing device 21, and commuter pass reading device 22. , a floppy disk device 27, and an attendant operation panel 28 are connected, respectively. The main control unit 51 also includes timers 52 and 53 for time monitoring.
54, a ticketing control unit 55 that controls the ticketing mechanism 23;
A change control section 56 that controls the change mechanism 24 and a deposit/withdrawal control section 57 that controls the deposit/withdrawal mechanism 25 are connected, respectively. The main control section 51 controls the entire automatic commuter pass vending machine and also performs control according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the CRT display device 16 displays a guide for the purchaser to insert the old commuter pass first (step 81). Here, when the purchaser inserts the old commuter pass into the insertion slot 14 according to the guidance on the CRT display device 16 (step 8
2>, the commuter pass reading device 22 reads the inserted old commuter pass and reads the necessary information (valid section, valid period, ticket number, amount, etc.) on the old commuter pass (step 85). When reading this, please check whether the information on the old commuter pass was read correctly (step S6). If it was not read correctly,
The old commuter pass is returned to the commuter pass insertion slot 14 to return to the initial state (step S7), and if it is read correctly, the main control unit 51 accepts the read information and calculates the fare based on the information. Then, the main control unit 51 displays a guide to the purchaser to insert the application form 1 using the CRT display device 16 (step 88). Here, the purchaser
When the application form 1 is inserted into the insertion slot 313 according to the guidance of the display device 16, the insertion detector 39 detects it (step S9). As a result, the main control unit 5
1 rotates the motor 33 forward to take the inserted application form 1 into the interior (step 510), and when the fixed position detector 40 detects the leading edge of the application form 1 (step 511).
), the motor 33 is stopped (step 512).

Next, the reading operation by the name reading device 35 is started (Step 513), and the timers 52 and 53 are set to each predetermined time T.
1.72 (TI < 72) and set timer 5.
2.53 is started (step 514). next,
Based on the output of the name reading device 35, the transcription start mark 4
Step 515) to check whether or not is detected.
If not detected, it is checked whether the timer 53 has timed out (step 816). If the timer 53 times out during this check, the transfer start mark 4 will not be detected even after the predetermined time T2 has elapsed since the start of the reading operation. The application form 1 is returned to the insertion slot 13 by reversing the motor 33 (step 517).
. At this time, since the insertion detector 39 detects the rear end of the returned application form 1 (step S'18), the timer 54 is started based on the detection signal (step S'18).
19), the motor 33 is stopped after the predetermined time T3 has elapsed (step 520). That is, by the timer 54,
The motor 33 is stopped at a position where the returned application form 1 does not fall from the insertion slot 13 onto the floor. When the motor 33 is stopped in this way, the process returns to the insertion guide display for the application form 1 (step 88).

On the other hand, if the transfer start mark 4 is detected in step 815, it is checked whether the timer 52 has timed out (step 521), and if the time has not exceeded, the reading operation is started before the predetermined time T1 elapses. This means that the transfer start mark 4 is detected (the transfer start mark 4 is detected too early), and in this case, for example, the application form 1 is inserted in the opposite direction and the cloth frame edge 5 of the entry field (see Figure 1) is inserted. ) is detected, and the loaded application form 1 is returned by the same operation as described above. If the timer 52 has timed out in the above check, it is determined that a regular transfer start mark 4 has been detected, and the number of output data (i.e., the number of black level signals) is counted by the output of the name reading device 35 ( Step 522
). Next, check whether the reading of the name entry field 2 has been completed (step 523). When the reading is completed, the count value of the number of output data is set to a preset value (step 523).
(step 524). As a result of this comparison, if the relationship [number of output data ≧ set value] does not hold, it is determined that there are no entries, the use of a writing utensil other than the specified one, or the density of the written characters is weak, and the imported application form 1 is Return it using the same action.

On the other hand, as a result of the above comparison, if the relationship [number of output data≧setting value] is established, the process moves to printing and issuing a new commuter pass (step 525). That is, the CRT' display device 16 displays the calculated fee and provides a guide to input the fee. Here, when the purchaser inserts a bill of an amount equal to or greater than the displayed fee into the deposit slot 19, the deposit/withdrawal mechanism 25 operates to accept the inserted bill, and the CRT display device 1
A deposit lock is displayed at 6, and a guide to press the issue button is displayed. Here, when the purchaser presses an issue button in the operation button group 17, the ticket issuing mechanism 23 operates, and a new commuter pass is printed and issued based on the information read by the commuter pass reader 22. At this time, when the printing of the new commuter pass starts, the name information read by the name reading device 35 is transferred to the printing unit of the ticket issuing mechanism 23 as described above, so that the printed ticket is printed as shown in FIG. 11. , the name of the card is printed (transferred) on the name transfer unit 6 (step 826). After issuing the new commuter pass in this way, the issued new commuter pass is discharged to the exit 15 (step 527). At this time, if there is change, the change mechanism 24 and/or the deposit/disburse machine 125 operate, and the change is discharged in the form of coins and/or banknotes to the takeout port 15 and/or the deposit port 19.

After the new commuter pass is issued, the application form 1 that is stopped at a fixed position on the conveyance path 32 is held at that position until the next purchaser inserts the old commuter pass. By causing the motor 33 to rotate forward through insertion, the storage box 34
(Steps 83 and 84). As a result, in the event of a problem with a purchaser after the issuance, the staff member can
You can look at the application form 1 that is on hold above and respond to it as soon as possible.

In this way, the transfer start mark 4 is provided at the tip of the name entry column 2 of the application form 1, and the signal output position and signal output of the transfer start mark 4 during the reading operation after the application form 1 is loaded are determined. The insertion direction of the inserted application form 1 is determined based on its presence or absence, and if it is determined that the application form 1 has been inserted in a direction other than the designated direction, the loaded application form 1 is returned to its insertion slot 13. In addition, when reading the name entry column 2 of application form 1, count the total number of output data, check the counted value at the end of reading, and if it is less than a predetermined value, leave it blank or leave it as another form. The application form 1 is configured to be returned to the insertion slot 13.

Therefore, it is possible to accept only the application form 1 inserted in the specified direction, the name can always be correctly transferred to the face of the ticket, and troubles with the purchaser can be prevented at the same time. Furthermore, it is possible to eliminate mischief such as insertion of other paper such as blank paper.

In the above embodiment, the transfer start mark 4 is provided at the tip of the name entry column 2, and the insertion direction of the application form 1 is determined based on the signal output position of the transfer start mark 4 and the presence or absence of the signal output. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a punch hole mark 7 for direction detection is provided at the right end of the leading edge of the application form 1, or as shown in FIG. An optical insertion direction mark 8 is provided at the right end of the distal end of the holder 1, and a mark detector 41 for optically detecting these marks is provided as shown by the broken line in FIG. After the conveyance is completed, the direction in which the application form 1 is inserted may be determined by detecting whether the mark 7 or 8 is in a fixed position using the mark detector 41.

The operation flowchart in this case is shown in FIG.

When returning the application form 1, the CRT display device 16 displays instructions such as ``Incorrect direction'', ``Name not entered,'' or ``Please re-enter name.'' It can also be made easier for purchasers to use. Furthermore, the format of the application form 1 and the method of transferring names are not limited to the above embodiments. Furthermore, it is also possible to incorporate a printing means for printing the ticket number and amount in the ticket number and amount printing column 3 of the application form 1.

Further, in the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the invention is applied to an automatic commuter pass vending machine, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be used for automatic vending of other securities such as movie theaters and theater admission tickets. It can also be applied to machines.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to accept only application forms inserted in a specified direction, and the name on the application form can be reliably transferred to a new ticket. We can provide automatic vending machines.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 11 are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a plan view showing an example of a commuter pass purchase application form, and Figure 2 is an external view of an automatic commuter pass vending machine. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the external appearance, FIG. 4 is a rear view schematically showing the internal mechanism, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a part of the operating section, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the configuration of the application form processing device; FIG. 8 is a top view; FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing the control unit; FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation, FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of printing of an issued ticket, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are for explaining commuter pass purchase, respectively, for explaining other embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 14, which is a plan view of the application form, is a flowchart for explaining the operation of another embodiment of the present invention. 1... Commuter pass purchase application form, 2... Name entry field, 4... Transcription start mark, 7...
... Punch hole mark, 8 ... Insertion direction mark, 13 ... Application form insertion slot (receiving section), 1
, 4... Commuter pass insertion slot (acceptance section), 17...
...Operation button group, 19...Deposit port, 21...
... Application form processing device, 22 ... Commuter pass reading device, 23 ... Ticket issuing mechanism, 25 ... Deposit/withdrawal mechanism, 32 ... Conveyance path , 35...
Name reading device, 41...Mark detector, 51.
...Main control section. Applicant's Representative Patent Attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) Accept the old ticket and the ticket purchase application form containing the name of the ticket purchaser, calculate the ticket fee by reading the necessary information from the accepted old ticket, and accept the calculated fee. is configured to issue a new ticket corresponding to the old ticket, read the name written on the accepted application form, and transfer the read name to the new ticket when the new ticket is issued. The automatic ticket vending machine includes a direction determining means for determining the direction of the accepted application form, and when the direction determining means obtains a determination result in a direction other than a predetermined direction, the accepted application form is sent to the receiving section. An automatic ticket vending machine characterized by comprising a return control means for returning the ticket. (2) The automatic ticket sales according to claim 1, wherein the direction determining means determines the direction based on the signal output position and the presence or absence of the signal output when reading the name after accepting the application form. Machine. (3) The direction determining means is characterized in that a mark indicating the direction is attached to a specific position on the application form, the mark is detected when the application form is received, and the direction is determined based on the presence or absence of the detection signal. An automatic ticket vending machine according to claim 1. (4) Accept the old ticket and the ticket purchase application form containing the name of the ticket purchaser, calculate the ticket fee by reading the necessary information from the accepted old ticket, and accept the calculated fee. is configured to issue a new ticket corresponding to the old ticket, read the name written on the accepted application form, and transfer the read name to the new ticket when the new ticket is issued. In the automatic ticket vending machine, a counting means counts the total number of output data when a name is read from the application form, and a comparing means compares the counted value of the counting means with a preset value when the name reading is finished. and return control means for returning the accepted application form to its receiving section when the counted value as a result of comparison by the comparison means is less than a set value. (5) The automatic ticket vending machine according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the ticket is a commuter pass used in transportation facilities.