EP0372103A1 - Method for actuating product and/or service vending machines, and matching vending machine - Google Patents

Method for actuating product and/or service vending machines, and matching vending machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0372103A1
EP0372103A1 EP88120253A EP88120253A EP0372103A1 EP 0372103 A1 EP0372103 A1 EP 0372103A1 EP 88120253 A EP88120253 A EP 88120253A EP 88120253 A EP88120253 A EP 88120253A EP 0372103 A1 EP0372103 A1 EP 0372103A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
data
banknote
machine
data record
memory
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP88120253A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Gert Miller
Heinz-Gerd Jendges
Norbert Dipl.-Ing. Crynen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Scheidt and Bachmann GmbH
Original Assignee
Scheidt and Bachmann GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Scheidt and Bachmann GmbH filed Critical Scheidt and Bachmann GmbH
Priority to EP88120253A priority Critical patent/EP0372103A1/en
Priority to US07/387,018 priority patent/US5055657A/en
Priority to CA000608228A priority patent/CA1319753C/en
Publication of EP0372103A1 publication Critical patent/EP0372103A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F19/00—Complete banking systems; Coded card-freed arrangements adapted for dispensing or receiving monies or the like and posting such transactions to existing accounts, e.g. automatic teller machines
    • G07F19/20—Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/42—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for ticket printing or like apparatus, e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F19/00—Complete banking systems; Coded card-freed arrangements adapted for dispensing or receiving monies or the like and posting such transactions to existing accounts, e.g. automatic teller machines
    • G07F19/20—Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
    • G07F19/201—Accessories of ATMs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
    • G07F7/04—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by paper currency
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07G—REGISTERING THE RECEIPT OF CASH, VALUABLES, OR TOKENS
    • G07G5/00—Receipt-giving machines

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for operating vending machines and / or service machines, each of which is equipped with a computer which is connected via a data transmission line to a central computer set up in a central station, each machine being a banknote checker which is directly equipped with a banknote processing system comprising a banknote cash register is connected downstream, and has a printer which, when the payment process is terminated after the transfer of at least one banknote to the banknote cash register, prints out a token in the equivalent of the received banknote as authorization for a return of money at the central office.
  • the invention also relates to a vending machine and / or service machine for carrying out the method according to the invention.
  • Vending machines and service machines are known in various designs. On the one hand, they are used to sell goods, especially outside normal opening hours, for example in the form of so-called fuel dispensers for dispensing liquid fuels. On the other hand, service machines are used to determine individual times of use, for example in a parking garage or in a swimming pool, and to bill them against the respective user.
  • Payment for the goods or services is made by depositing coins and banknotes. In some versions of such machines, credit cards can also be used for payment. Both the coins and the banknotes are checked for authenticity before being transferred to the machine's respective cash register. Fake means of payment are returned immediately after the checking process, so that a user cannot use such machines to exchange fake means of payment for real change.
  • a value card is issued on which the countervalue for the paid banknotes is printed when a payment process is terminated.
  • the customer Upon presentation of this prepaid card, the customer will be reimbursed the countervalue for the banknotes received by the machine at the central machine belonging to the respective machine.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a method for operating vending machines and / or service machines of the type described above and a machine intended for carrying out this method, which exclude fraud by counterfeit prepaid cards in spite of the lack of intermediate cash for received banknotes.
  • the method according to the invention for solving this problem is characterized in that a data record is printed on the prepaid card both in plain text and in a machine-readable coded form which, in addition to the banknote equivalent, contains the location code of the respective machine, for example its number, and the current date and time to the second that this data record is stored in the data-protected memory of the respective machine and a data-protected memory of the central computer is given via the data transmission line and that when the value card is redeemed in the central office, the coded data record is read in a data reader and the read data with the data stored in the memory of the central computer be compared before the equivalent is paid out.
  • the method according to the invention ensures, without great technical effort, that only those value cards are redeemed in the central office whose data record can be found in the associated memory of the central computer. Since data sets of counterfeit prepaid cards are not stored in the memory of the central computer, the method according to the invention restricts the payment of monetary amounts to those cases in which an canceled one actually occurs Payment process in any of the machines connected to the central banknotes for which the customer has not received any goods or services.
  • the data record can be printed out on a coupled printer after it has been transferred to the data-protected memory of the central computer. Furthermore, according to the invention, the data record can be deleted in the memory of the respective machine after it has been transmitted via the data transmission line to the memory of the central computer.
  • the data record additionally contains the identifier of the respective machine operator, so that central billing is also possible for machines of several machine operators.
  • the programmable maximum value of the value card is limited; a value of the received banknote or banknotes exceeding this limit value is taken into account by issuing at least one further value card. In this way it is avoided that such prepaid cards have an inappropriately high monetary value.
  • the invention proposes to return the money in the central office with the aid of an automatic money return machine.
  • the vending machine and / or service machine of the invention is characterized in that the printer is a magnetic card processing including card printer for coded labeling of the prepaid card and the this controlling computer is provided with a data-protected memory for receiving a data record relating to the respective repayment process.
  • the printer is a magnetic card processing including card printer for coded labeling of the prepaid card and the this controlling computer is provided with a data-protected memory for receiving a data record relating to the respective repayment process.
  • Such components can be accommodated in existing machines without difficulty, so that they can be retrofitted according to the invention.
  • the machine shown in the drawings serves, for example, as a pay machine for paying parking fees.
  • the parking ticket drawn when entering the parking garage to open the entrance barrier is inserted to pay for the parking time before picking up the vehicle in a parking ticket slot 1, which in the exemplary embodiment is located below a board 2 for the necessary operating instructions of the machine.
  • the amount to be paid for the respective parking process is displayed on a display device 3.
  • the amount can be paid by depositing coins and / or banknotes, the machine dispensing change that may become necessary through a return tray 4. Via this return tray 4, which is closed by a flap, a receipt is also issued, which is issued by the machine after pressing an acknowledgment button 5.
  • the coins used to pay the amount displayed on the display device 3 are fed to the machine through a coin slot 6.
  • Banknotes intended for payment are fed via a carriage 7 to a banknote checker 8, which can be seen in FIG.
  • the bank note validator 8 is followed by a bank note processing 12 with a bank note cash register 13.
  • FIG. 2 shows a computer 16 which controls the total of the processes taking place in the machine.
  • This computer 16 is connected via a data transmission line, not shown, to a central computer installed in a control center.
  • the computer 16 also controls a printer 17, which is used, for example, to produce the receipts.
  • Fig. 2 shows a magnetic card processing including plain text printer 18, which reads the data of the parking ticket applied to a magnetic stripe for further processing in the pay machine and, after payment of the parking fee, provides the magnetic stripe with information which causes the exit barrier of the parking garage to be opened within a predetermined period of time.
  • a correction button 19 is arranged, by pressing which the customer can cancel an already initiated payment process.
  • the coins which have already been inserted and which have been kept in an intermediate checkout are returned via the return tray 4.
  • the customer has already paid in a banknote that was found to be genuine by the banknote checker 8 and has been fed to the downstream banknote processing 12 together with the banknote teller 13, this is due to the lack an intermediate checkout for banknotes received in this way is not possible to return. So that the customer receives the countervalue of the received banknote or banknotes when the payment process is terminated, a value card is produced in the printer 17.
  • a data record in plain text is printed out on this prepaid card, which record contains, in addition to the banknote equivalent, the location code of the respective machine and the current date and time to the exact second.
  • This data record is simultaneously stored in a data-protected memory 16a of the computer 16.
  • this data record is magnetically coded by means of the magnetic card processing 18 applied to the value card provided with a magnetic strip.
  • the data record is transferred to a data-protected memory of the central computer via the data transmission line, not shown.
  • the data record additionally includes the identifier of the respective machine operator to which the machine in question belongs. After its transmission via the data transmission line to the memory of the central computer has been completed, the data record in the memory 16a of the respective machine can be deleted. Finally, in order to record the process, it is possible to print out the data record on printer 17, preferably after it has been transferred to the data-protected memory of the central computer.
  • the data record magnetically coded on the value card is read in a magnetic card reader.
  • the read data are stored in the memory data stored in the central computer. If they match the banknote equivalent, the location identifier and the current date with the time of the canceled payment process and, if applicable, the identifier of the machine operator in question, the customer receives the equivalent value of the prepaid card at the head office. If necessary, the money can be returned with the aid of an automatic money return machine, so that no operator is required for this process at the central office.
  • the maximum value of the prepaid card can be limited by programming. A value of the received banknote or banknotes exceeding this limit value is taken into account by issuing at least one further value card. This additional prepaid card is produced and processed in accordance with the method explained above.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for actuating product and/or service vending machines, and to such a vending machine, which is fitted with a computer (16), which is connected via a long-distance data line to a central computer installed in a central office. In order for such a vending machine to be able despite the absence of sufficient change honestly to return the equivalent value of bank notes collected during an interrupted payment process, on the basis of redemption cards issued by the vending machine, a data record is both printed out in plaintext on the redemption card and is also applied in a machine readable fashion thereon, which apart from the equivalent value of the bank notes also contains the location code of the particular vending machine and the current date and time of day accurate to the second. This data record is filed in a data-protected memory (16a) of the particular vending machine and sent via the long- distance data line to a data-protected memory of the central computer. When the redemption card is redeemed in the central office, the coded data record is machine read and the data read are compared with the data filed in the memory of the central computer before the equivalent value is paid out. <IMAGE>

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Betrieb von Warenver­kaufs- und/oder Dienstleistungsautomaten, die jeweils mit einem Rechner ausgestattet sind, der über eine Datenfern­leitung mit einem in einer Zentrale aufgestellten Zentral­rechner verbunden ist, wobei jeder Automat einen Banknoten­prüfer, dem unmittelbar eine eine Banknotenkasse umfassende Banknotenverarbeitung nachgeschaltet ist, und einen Drucker aufweist, der bei einem Abbruch des Zahlvorganges nach der Überführung mindestens einer Banknote in die Banknotenkasse eine Wertmarke im Gegenwert der vereinnahmten Banknote als Be­rechtigungsausweis für eine Geldrückgabe in der Zentrale aus­druckt. Außerdem betrifft die Erfindung einen Warenverkaufs­und/oder Dienstleistungsautomaten zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.The invention relates to a method for operating vending machines and / or service machines, each of which is equipped with a computer which is connected via a data transmission line to a central computer set up in a central station, each machine being a banknote checker which is directly equipped with a banknote processing system comprising a banknote cash register is connected downstream, and has a printer which, when the payment process is terminated after the transfer of at least one banknote to the banknote cash register, prints out a token in the equivalent of the received banknote as authorization for a return of money at the central office. The invention also relates to a vending machine and / or service machine for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Warenverkaufs- und Dienstleistungsautomaten sind in ver­schiedenen Ausführungen bekannt. Sie dienen einerseits zum Verkauf von Waren, insbesondere außerhalb der normalen Öffnungszeiten, beispielsweise in Form von sogenannten Tank­automaten zur Abgabe flüssiger Kraftstoffe. Andererseits werden Dienstleistungsautomaten verwendet, um einzelne Benutzungszeiten, beispielsweise in einem Parkhaus oder in einem Schwimmbad, zu ermitteln und gegenüber dem jeweiligen Benutzer abzurechnen.Vending machines and service machines are known in various designs. On the one hand, they are used to sell goods, especially outside normal opening hours, for example in the form of so-called fuel dispensers for dispensing liquid fuels. On the other hand, service machines are used to determine individual times of use, for example in a parking garage or in a swimming pool, and to bill them against the respective user.

Die Bezahlung der Ware bzw. Dienstleistungen erfolgt durch Einzahlung von Münzen und Banknoten bei manchen Ausführungen derartiger Automaten können auch Kreditkarten zur Bezahlung eingesetzt werden. Sowohl die Münzen als auch die Banknoten werden vor ihrer Überführung in die jeweilige Kasse des Automaten auf ihre Echtheit überprüft. Unechte Zahlungsmittel werden unmittelbar nach dem Prüfvorgang zurückgegeben, so daß ein Benutzer derartige Automaten nicht dazu verwenden kann, unechte Zahlungsmittel in echtes Rückgeld umzutauschen.Payment for the goods or services is made by depositing coins and banknotes. In some versions of such machines, credit cards can also be used for payment. Both the coins and the banknotes are checked for authenticity before being transferred to the machine's respective cash register. Fake means of payment are returned immediately after the checking process, so that a user cannot use such machines to exchange fake means of payment for real change.

Da bei den bekannten Warenverkaufs- und Dienstleistungs­automaten die Möglichkeit gegeben sein muß, einen Zahlvorgang abzubrechen, beispielsweise weil der Kunde von einem Bezug der Ware Abstand nehmen will oder weil die von ihm vorgesehene Art zur Bezahlung einer erbrachten Dienstleistung sich als nicht durchführbar erweist, sind die bekannten Automaten mit Zwischenkassen ausgestattet, aus denen bei einem abgebrochenen Zahlvorgang das bereits eingezahlte Geld an den Kunden zurück­gegeben wird. Derartige Zwischenkassen für mit einer Bank­notenverarbeitung ausgestattete Automaten sind jedoch äußerst aufwendig und teuer.Since in the known vending machines and service machines it must be possible to abort a payment process, for example because the customer wants to refrain from purchasing the goods or because the method of paying for a service rendered proves to be impracticable, these are known machines equipped with cash registers, from which the money already paid in is returned to the customer in an aborted payment process. Such intermediate cash registers for machines equipped with banknote processing are, however, extremely complex and expensive.

Aus diesem Grunde wird bei einer Vielzahl von Automaten, die zwar mit einer Banknotenverarbeitung ausgestattet sind, jedoch keine Zwischenkasse für die vereinnahmten Banknoten haben, eine Wertkarte ausgegeben, auf der bei Abbruch eines Zahlvor­ganges der Gegenwert für die angezahlten Banknoten aufgedruckt ist. Gegen Vorlage dieser Wertkarte erhält der Kunde in der zum jeweiligen Automaten gehörenden Zentrale den Gegenwert für die vom Automaten vereinnahmten Banknoten erstattet.For this reason, in the case of a large number of machines which are equipped with banknote processing but do not have a cash register for the received banknotes, a value card is issued on which the countervalue for the paid banknotes is printed when a payment process is terminated. Upon presentation of this prepaid card, the customer will be reimbursed the countervalue for the banknotes received by the machine at the central machine belonging to the respective machine.

Da derartige Wertkarten je nach Druckverfahren und Kartenbe­schaffenheit mit geringem technischen Aufwand hergestellt werden können, besteht die Möglichkeit, durch Fälschungen sehr hohe Geldbeträge zu ergaunern. Vor dem Hintergrund der neuen gesetzlichen Haftungsregelungen können auf diese Weise nicht absehbare Regreßansprüche gegenüber dem Automatenhersteller entstehen.Since such prepaid cards can be produced with little technical effort, depending on the printing process and the nature of the card, it is possible to steal very large amounts of money through counterfeiting. Before the In this way, unforeseeable recourse claims against the vending machine manufacturer can arise against the background of the new legal liability regulations.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfahren zum Betrieb von Warenverkaufs- und/oder Dienstleistungsautomaten der eingangs beschriebenen Art sowie einen zur Durchführung dieses Verfahrens bestimmten Automaten zu schaffen, die trotz fehlender Zwischenkasse für vereinnahmte Banknoten Betrüge­reien durch gefälschte Wertkarten ausschließen.The invention has for its object to provide a method for operating vending machines and / or service machines of the type described above and a machine intended for carrying out this method, which exclude fraud by counterfeit prepaid cards in spite of the lack of intermediate cash for received banknotes.

Das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren zur Lösung dieser Aufgabenstel­lung ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß auf der Wertkarte ein Datensatz sowohl im Klartext ausgedruckt als auch maschinen­lesbar kodiert aufgebracht wird, der neben dem Banknotengegen­wert das Standortkennzeichen des jeweiligen Automaten, beispielsweise dessen Nummer, und sekundengenau das aktuelle Datum mit Uhrzeit enthält daß dieser Datensatz im datenge­schützten Speicher des jeweiligen Automaten abgelegt und über die Datenfernleitung einem datengeschützten Speicher des Zentralrechners aufgegeben wird und daß bei einer Einlösung der Wertkarte in der Zentrale der kodierte Datensatz in einem Datenlesegerät gelesen und die gelesenen Daten mit den im Speicher des Zentralrechners abgelegten Daten verglichen werden, bevor der Gegenwert ausbezahlt wird.The method according to the invention for solving this problem is characterized in that a data record is printed on the prepaid card both in plain text and in a machine-readable coded form which, in addition to the banknote equivalent, contains the location code of the respective machine, for example its number, and the current date and time to the second that this data record is stored in the data-protected memory of the respective machine and a data-protected memory of the central computer is given via the data transmission line and that when the value card is redeemed in the central office, the coded data record is read in a data reader and the read data with the data stored in the memory of the central computer be compared before the equivalent is paid out.

Durch das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren wird ohne großen technischen Aufwand sichergestellt, daß in der Zentrale nur solche Wertkarten eingelöst werden, deren Datensatz im zuge­hörigen Speicher des Zentralrechners auffindbar ist. Da Daten­sätze gefälschter Wertkarten im Speicher des Zentralrechners nicht abgelegt sind, wird durch das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren die Auszahlung von Geldbeträgen auf diejenigen Fälle be­schränkt, bei denen tatsächlich aufgrund eines abgebrochenen Zahlvorganges in irgendeinem der an die Zentrale angeschlos­senen Automaten Banknoten vereinnahmt worden sind, für deren Gegenwert der Kunde keine Ware bzw. Dienstleistung erhalten hat.The method according to the invention ensures, without great technical effort, that only those value cards are redeemed in the central office whose data record can be found in the associated memory of the central computer. Since data sets of counterfeit prepaid cards are not stored in the memory of the central computer, the method according to the invention restricts the payment of monetary amounts to those cases in which an canceled one actually occurs Payment process in any of the machines connected to the central banknotes for which the customer has not received any goods or services.

Gemäß einem weiteren Merkmal der Erfindung kann der Datensatz nach seiner Übertragung in den datengeschützten Speicher des Zentralrechners auf einem angekoppelten Drucker ausgedruckt werden. Weiterhin kann der Datensatz nach seiner vollendeten Übertragung über die Datenfernleitung an den Speicher des Zentralrechners erfindungsgemäß im Speicher des jeweiligen Automaten gelöscht werden.According to a further feature of the invention, the data record can be printed out on a coupled printer after it has been transferred to the data-protected memory of the central computer. Furthermore, according to the invention, the data record can be deleted in the memory of the respective machine after it has been transmitted via the data transmission line to the memory of the central computer.

Bei einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung der Erfindung beinhaltet der Datensatz zusätzlich das Kennzeichen des jeweiligen Automatenbetreibers, so daß eine zentrale Abrechnung auch für Automaten mehrerer Automatenbetreiber möglich ist.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the data record additionally contains the identifier of the respective machine operator, so that central billing is also possible for machines of several machine operators.

Bei einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung der Erfindung ist der programmierbare Maximalwert der Wertkarte begrenzt; ein diesen Grenzwert überschreitender Wert der vereinnahmten Banknote bzw. Banknoten wird durch Ausgabe mindestens einer weiteren Wertkarte berücksichtigt. Auf diese Weise wird vermieden, daß derartige Wertkarten einen unangemessen hohen Geldwert be­sitzen.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the programmable maximum value of the value card is limited; a value of the received banknote or banknotes exceeding this limit value is taken into account by issuing at least one further value card. In this way it is avoided that such prepaid cards have an inappropriately high monetary value.

Um auch die Rückgabe des Gegenwertes von bei abgebrochenen Zahlungsvorgängen vereinnahmter Banknoten zu automatisieren, wird mit der Erfindung schließlich vorgeschlagen, die Geld­rückgabe in der Zentrale mit Hilfe eines Geldrückgabeautomaten durchzuführen.Finally, in order to automate the return of the countervalue of banknotes received in the event of aborted payment transactions, the invention proposes to return the money in the central office with the aid of an automatic money return machine.

Der Warenverkaufs- und/oder Dienstleistungsautomat der Er­findung ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß dem Drucker eine Magnetkartenverarbeitung einschließlich Kartendrucker zur kodierten Beschriftung der Wertkarte nachgeordnet ist und der diese steuernde Rechner mit einem datengeschützten Speicher zur Aufnahme eines den jeweiligen Rückzahlvorgang betreffenden Datensatzes versehen ist. Derartige Bauteile sind ohne Schwierigkeiten auch in vorhandenen Automaten unterzubringen, so daß diese erfindungsgemäß nachgerüstet werden können.The vending machine and / or service machine of the invention is characterized in that the printer is a magnetic card processing including card printer for coded labeling of the prepaid card and the this controlling computer is provided with a data-protected memory for receiving a data record relating to the respective repayment process. Such components can be accommodated in existing machines without difficulty, so that they can be retrofitted according to the invention.

Auf der Zeichnung ist ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Warenver­kaufs- oder Dienstleistungsautomaten gemäß der Erfindung dar­gestellt, und zwar zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 eine Frontansicht eines derartigen Automaten und
  • Fig. 2 eine entsprechende Ansicht des Automaten bei ge­öffneter Frontseite.
The drawing shows an exemplary embodiment of a vending machine or service machine according to the invention, namely:
  • Fig. 1 is a front view of such a machine and
  • Fig. 2 is a corresponding view of the machine with the front open.

Der auf den Zeichnungen dargestellte Automat dient beispiels­weise als Kassenautomat zur Bezahlung von Parkgebühren. Der bei der Einfahrt in das Parkhaus zum Öffnen der Einfahrt­schranke gezogene Parkschein wird zur Bezahlung der Parkzeit vor Abholung des Fahrzeuges in einen Parkscheinschlitz 1 eingeführt, der sich beim Ausführungsbeispiel unterhalb einer Tafel 2 für die notwendigen Bedienungshinweise des Automaten befindet. Neben dieser Tafel 2 wird der für den jeweiligen Parkvorgang zu zahlende Betrag auf einer Anzeigevorrichtung 3 angezeigt. Der Betrag kann durch Einzahlen von Münzen und/oder Banknoten bezahlt werden, wobei der Automat eventuell not­wendig werdendes Wechselgeld durch eine Rückgabeschale 4 aus­gibt. Über diese, durch eine Klappe verschlossene Rückgabe­schale 4 wird auch eine Quittung ausgegeben, die vom Automaten nach Drücken einer Quittungstaste 5 ausgegeben wird. Die zur Bezahlung des auf der Anzeigevorrichtung 3 angezeigten Be­trages verwendeten Münzen werden dem Automaten durch einen Münzschlitz 6 zugeführt. Zur Bezahlung vorgesehene Banknoten werden über einen Schlitten 7 einem Banknotenprüfer 8 zuge­führt, der in Fig.2 zu erkennen ist.The machine shown in the drawings serves, for example, as a pay machine for paying parking fees. The parking ticket drawn when entering the parking garage to open the entrance barrier is inserted to pay for the parking time before picking up the vehicle in a parking ticket slot 1, which in the exemplary embodiment is located below a board 2 for the necessary operating instructions of the machine. In addition to this table 2, the amount to be paid for the respective parking process is displayed on a display device 3. The amount can be paid by depositing coins and / or banknotes, the machine dispensing change that may become necessary through a return tray 4. Via this return tray 4, which is closed by a flap, a receipt is also issued, which is issued by the machine after pressing an acknowledgment button 5. The coins used to pay the amount displayed on the display device 3 are fed to the machine through a coin slot 6. Banknotes intended for payment are fed via a carriage 7 to a banknote checker 8, which can be seen in FIG.

Die Fig.2 zeigt weiterhin einen dem Münzschlitz 6 nachge­ordneten Münzprüfer 9 mit nachgeschalteter Münzverarbeitung 10 mit einer Zwischenkasse. Aus dieser Münzverarbeitung 10 ge­langen die vereinnahmten Münzen in eine Münzkasse 11. Ent­sprechend ist dem Banknotenprüfer 8 eine Banknotenverarbeitung 12 mit einer Banknotenkasse 13 nachgeschaltet.2 furthermore shows a coin validator 9 arranged downstream of the coin slot 6 with a subsequent coin processing 10 with an intermediate cash register. From this coin processing 10, the collected coins go into a coin cash register 11. Correspondingly, the bank note validator 8 is followed by a bank note processing 12 with a bank note cash register 13.

Außer einem Netzteil 14 und einer Klimatisierung 15 ist der Darstellung in Fig .2 weiterhin ein Rechner 16 zu entnehmen, der die insgesamt im Automaten ablaufenden Vorgänge steuert. Dieser Rechner 16 ist über eine nicht gezeichnete Datenfern­leitung mit einem in einer Zentrale aufgestellten Zentral­rechner verbunden. Der Rechner 16 steuert auch einen Drucker 17, der beispielsweise zur Herstellung der Quittungen ver­wendet wird. Schließlich zeigt Fig .2 eine Magnetkartenver­arbeitung einschließlich Klartextdrucker 18, welche die auf einem Magnetstreifen aufgebrachten Daten des Parkscheines zur Weiterverarbeitung im Kassenautomaten liest und nach Bezahlung der Parkgebühr den Magnetstreifen mit Informationen versieht, die ein Öffnen der Ausfahrtschranke des Parkhauses innerhalb einer vorgegebenen Zeitspanne bewirken.In addition to a power supply unit 14 and an air conditioning unit 15, the illustration in FIG. 2 also shows a computer 16 which controls the total of the processes taking place in the machine. This computer 16 is connected via a data transmission line, not shown, to a central computer installed in a control center. The computer 16 also controls a printer 17, which is used, for example, to produce the receipts. Finally, Fig. 2 shows a magnetic card processing including plain text printer 18, which reads the data of the parking ticket applied to a magnetic stripe for further processing in the pay machine and, after payment of the parking fee, provides the magnetic stripe with information which causes the exit barrier of the parking garage to be opened within a predetermined period of time.

Neben dem Münzschlitz 6 (siehe Fig. 1) ist eine Korrekturtaste 19 angeordnet, durch deren Drücken der Kunde einen bereits eingeleiteten Zahlungsvorgang abbrechen kann. Die bereits eingeworfenen Münzen, die in einer Zwischenkasse aufbewahrt worden sind, werden in diesem Fall über die Rückgabeschale 4 zurückgegeben. Hat der Kunde jedoch bereits eine Banknote eingezahlt, die vom Banknotenprüfer 8 für echt befunden wurde und der nachgeschalteten Banknotenverarbeitung 12 nebst Bank­notenkasse 13 zugeführt worden ist, besteht wegen des Fehlens einer Zwischenkasse für derartig vereinnahmte Banknoten keine Rückgabemöglichkeit. Damit der Kunde bei einem Abbruch des Zahlvorganges den Gegenwert der vereinnahmten Banknote bzw. Banknoten zurückerhält, wird im Drucker 17 eine Wertkarte hergestellt. Auf dieser Wertkarte wird in der Magnetkartenver­arbeitung mit Klartextdrucker 18 ein Datensatz im Klartext ausgedruckt, der neben dem Banknotengegenwert das Standort­kennzeichen des jeweiligen Automaten und sekundengenau das aktuelle Datum mit Uhrzeit enthält. Dieser Datensatz wird gleichzeitig in einem datengeschützten Speicher 16a des Rechners 16 abgelegt. Außerdem wird dieser Datensatz mittels der Magnetkartenverarbeitung 18 magnetisch kodiert auf die mit einem Magnetstreifen versehene Wertkarte aufgebracht. Schließ­lich wird der Datensatz über die nicht dargestellte Datenfern­leitung einem datengeschützten Speicher des Zentralrechners aufgegeben.In addition to the coin slot 6 (see FIG. 1), a correction button 19 is arranged, by pressing which the customer can cancel an already initiated payment process. In this case, the coins which have already been inserted and which have been kept in an intermediate checkout are returned via the return tray 4. However, if the customer has already paid in a banknote that was found to be genuine by the banknote checker 8 and has been fed to the downstream banknote processing 12 together with the banknote teller 13, this is due to the lack an intermediate checkout for banknotes received in this way is not possible to return. So that the customer receives the countervalue of the received banknote or banknotes when the payment process is terminated, a value card is produced in the printer 17. In magnetic card processing with plain text printer 18, a data record in plain text is printed out on this prepaid card, which record contains, in addition to the banknote equivalent, the location code of the respective machine and the current date and time to the exact second. This data record is simultaneously stored in a data-protected memory 16a of the computer 16. In addition, this data record is magnetically coded by means of the magnetic card processing 18 applied to the value card provided with a magnetic strip. Finally, the data record is transferred to a data-protected memory of the central computer via the data transmission line, not shown.

Sofern der Zentralrechner für Automaten mehrerer Automatenbe­treiber vorgesehen ist, umfaßt der Datensatz zusätzlich das Kennzeichen des jeweiligen Automatenbetreibers, zu dem der fragliche Automat gehört. Nach seiner vollendeten Übertragung über die Datenfernleitung an den Speicher des Zentralrechners kann der Datensatz im Speicher 16a des jeweiligen Automaten gelöscht werden. Um den Vorgang dennoch festzuhalten, ist es schließlich möglich, den Datensatz vorzugsweise nach seiner Übertragung in den datengeschützten Speicher des Zentral­rechners auf dem Drucker 17 auszudrucken.If the central computer is provided for machines of several machine operators, the data record additionally includes the identifier of the respective machine operator to which the machine in question belongs. After its transmission via the data transmission line to the memory of the central computer has been completed, the data record in the memory 16a of the respective machine can be deleted. Finally, in order to record the process, it is possible to print out the data record on printer 17, preferably after it has been transferred to the data-protected memory of the central computer.

Wenn der Kunde die ihm für die Vereinnahmung einer Banknote aufgrund eines abgebrochenen Zahlungsvorganges ausgestellte Wertkarte in der Zentrale einlösen will, wird der auf der Wertkarte magnetisch kodierte Datensatz in einem Magnetkarten­leser gelesen. Die gelesenen Daten werden mit den im Speicher des Zentralrechners abgelegten Daten verglichen. Stimmen sie hinsichtlich des Banknotengegenwertes, des Standortkenn­zeichens und des aktuellen Datums mit Uhrzeit des abge­brochenen Zahlungsvorganges sowie ggf. hinsichtlich des Kenn­zeichens des jeweiligen Automatenbetreibers überein, erhält der Kunde in der Zentrale den Gegenwert der Wertkarte ausbe­zahlt. Die Geldrückgabe kann hierbei ggf. mit Hilfe eines Geldrückgabeautomaten erfolgen, so daß für diesen Vorgang in der Zentrale keine Bedienungsperson erforderlich ist.If the customer wants to redeem the value card issued to him for taking a banknote due to a canceled payment process, the data record magnetically coded on the value card is read in a magnetic card reader. The read data are stored in the memory data stored in the central computer. If they match the banknote equivalent, the location identifier and the current date with the time of the canceled payment process and, if applicable, the identifier of the machine operator in question, the customer receives the equivalent value of the prepaid card at the head office. If necessary, the money can be returned with the aid of an automatic money return machine, so that no operator is required for this process at the central office.

Um den Gegenwert der jeweiligen Wertkarte nicht unangemessen hoch werden zu lassen, kann der Maximalwert der Wertkarte durch Programmierung begrenzt werden. Ein diesen Grenzwert überschreitender Wert der vereinnahmten Banknote oder Bank­noten wird durch Ausgabe mindestens einer weiteren Wertkarte berücksichtigt. Die Herstellung und Verarbeitung dieser weiteren Wertkarte erfolgt entsprechend dem voranstehend erläuterten Verfahren.In order not to make the counter value of the respective prepaid card inappropriately high, the maximum value of the prepaid card can be limited by programming. A value of the received banknote or banknotes exceeding this limit value is taken into account by issuing at least one further value card. This additional prepaid card is produced and processed in accordance with the method explained above.

Bezugszeichenliste:Reference symbol list:

  • 1 Parkscheinschlitz1 parking ticket slot
  • 2 Tafel2 board
  • 3 Anzeigevorrichtung3 display device
  • 4 Rückgabeschale4 return tray
  • 5 Quittungstaste5 acknowledgment button
  • 6 Münzschlitz6 coin slot
  • 7 Schlitten7 sledges
  • 8 Banknotenprüfer8 banknote validators
  • 9 Münzprüfer9 coin validators
  • 10 Münzverarbeitung einschließlich Zwischenkasse10 coin processing including cash register
  • 11 Münzkasse11 coin box
  • 12 Banknotenverarbeitung12 banknote processing
  • 13 Banknotenkasse13 bank note box
  • 14 Netzteil14 power supply
  • 15 Klimatisierung15 Air conditioning
  • 16 Rechner16 computers
  • 16a Speicher16a memory
  • 17 Drucker17 printers
  • 18 Magnetkartenverarbeitung einschließlich Klartextdrucker18 Magnetic card processing including plain text printer
  • 19 Korrekturtaste19 correction key

Claims (7)

1. Verfahren zum Betrieb von Warenverkaufs- und/oder Dienst­leistungsautomaten, die jeweils mit einem Rechner ausge­stattet sind, der über eine Datenfernleitung mit einem in einer Zentrale aufgestellten Zentralrechner verbunden ist, wobei jeder Automat einen Banknotenprüfer, dem unmittelbar eine eine Banknotenkasse umfassende Banknotenverarbeitung nachgeschaltet ist, und einen Drucker aufweist, der bei einem Abbruch des Zahlvorganges nach der Überführung minde­stens einer Banknote in die Banknotenkasse eine Wertkarte im Gegenwert der vereinnahmten Banknote als Berechtigungs­ausweis für eine Geldrückgabe in der Zentrale ausdruckt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß auf der Wertkarte ein Datensatz sowohl im Klartext ausgedruckt als auch maschinenlesbar kodiert aufgebracht wird, der neben dem Banknotengegenwert das Standort­kennzeichen des jeweiligen Automaten und sekundengenau das aktuelle Datum mit Uhrzeit enthält, daß dieser Datensatz im datengeschützten Speicher des jeweiligen Automaten abgelegt und über die Datenfernleitung einem datengeschützten Speicher des Zentralrechners aufgegeben wird und daß bei einer Einlösung der Wertkarte in der Zentrale der kodierte Datensatz in einem Datenlesegerät gelesen und die gelesenen Daten mit den im Speicher des Zentralrechners abgelegten Daten verglichen werden, bevor der Gegenwert ausbezahlt wird.1. A method for operating vending machines and / or service machines, each of which is equipped with a computer which is connected via a data transmission line to a central computer set up in a central office, each machine being followed by a banknote checker which is immediately followed by banknote processing comprising a banknote cash register , and has a printer which, when the payment process is terminated after the transfer of at least one banknote to the banknote checkout, prints out a value card in the equivalent of the received banknote as authorization for a return of money at the central office, characterized in that a data record on the value card is both in plain text printed out as well as machine-readable coded, which, in addition to the banknote equivalent, contains the location code of the respective machine and the current date and time, accurate to the second, that this data record is in the data-protected memory of the respective machine stored and abandoned via the data transmission line to a data-protected memory of the central computer and that when the prepaid card is redeemed in the central office, the coded data record is read in a data reader and the data read are compared with the data stored in the memory of the central computer before the equivalent value is paid out. 2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Datensatz nach seiner Übertragung in den datengeschützten Speicher des Zentralrechners auf einem Drucker ausgedruckt wird2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data record is printed out after its transmission in the data-protected memory of the central computer on a printer 3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Datensatz nach seiner vollendeten Übertragung über die Datenfernleitung an den Speicher des Zentral rechners im Speicher des jeweiligen Automaten gelöscht wird.3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data record after its completion of the transmission Long-distance data transmission to the memory of the central computer in the memory of the respective machine is deleted. 4. Verfahren nach mindestens einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Datensatz zusätzlich das Kennzeichen des jeweiligen Automatenbetreibers umfaßt.4. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the data record additionally comprises the identifier of the respective machine operator. 5. Verfahren nach mindestens einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Maximalwert der Wertkarte begrenzt ist und ein diesen Grenzwert überschreitender Wert der vereinnahmten Banknote durch Ausgabe mindestens einer weiteren Wertkarte berücksichtigt wird.5. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the maximum value of the value card is limited and a value exceeding this limit value of the received banknote is taken into account by issuing at least one further value card. 6. Verfahren nach mindestens einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Geldrückgabe in der Zentrale mit Hilfe eines Geldrückgabeautomaten erfolgt.6. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the money is returned in the central office with the aid of an automatic money return machine. 7. Warenverkaufs und/oder Dienstleistungsautomat mit einem Banknotenprüfer (7), dem unmittelbar eine eine Banknoten­kasse (13) umfassende Banknotenverarbeitung (12) nachge­schaltet ist, sowie mit einem Drucker (17), der bei einem Abbruch des Zahlvorganges nach der Überführung einer Bank­note in die Banknotenkasse (13) eine Wertkarte im Gegenwert der vereinnahmten Banknote als Berechtigungsausweis für eine zentrale Geldrückgabe ausdruckt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß dem Drucker (17) eine Magnetkartenverarbeitung ein­schließlich Klartextdrucker (18) zur kodierten Beschriftung der Wertkarte nachgeordnet ist und der diese steuernde Rechner (16) mit einem datengeschützten Speicher (16a) zur Aufnahme eines den jeweiligen Rückzahlvorgang betreffenden Datensatzes versehen ist.7. Sale of goods and / or automatic vending machine with a banknote validator (7), which is immediately followed by a banknote processing (12) comprising a banknote teller (13), and with a printer (17) which, if the payment process is terminated after transferring a banknote into the banknote checkout (13) prints out a value card equivalent to the received banknote as a credential for a central return of money, characterized in that the printer (17) is followed by magnetic card processing including plain text printer (18) for coded labeling of the value card and the computer controlling it (16 ) is provided with a data-protected memory (16a) for receiving a data record relating to the respective repayment process.
EP88120253A 1988-12-05 1988-12-05 Method for actuating product and/or service vending machines, and matching vending machine Withdrawn EP0372103A1 (en)

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EP88120253A EP0372103A1 (en) 1988-12-05 1988-12-05 Method for actuating product and/or service vending machines, and matching vending machine
US07/387,018 US5055657A (en) 1988-12-05 1989-07-28 Vending type machine dispensing a redeemable credit voucher upon payment interrupt
CA000608228A CA1319753C (en) 1988-12-05 1989-08-14 Vending-type machine for goods and/or services and method of operating same

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP88120253A EP0372103A1 (en) 1988-12-05 1988-12-05 Method for actuating product and/or service vending machines, and matching vending machine

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CA1319753C (en) 1993-06-29

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