GB2394819A

GB2394819A - Cashing device for a prepaid card

Info

Publication number: GB2394819A
Application number: GB0225044A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiroshi Abe; Masaru Miyaji
Original assignee: Asahi Seiko Co Ltd
Current assignee: Asahi Seiko Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-28
Filing date: 2002-10-28
Publication date: 2004-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-28
Also published as: GB0225044D0; GB2394819B

Abstract

A cashing device for a prepaid card comprises a card handling device 20 with a card reading device 21, a card receiving device 23 and a storing device 27 for redeemed cards; a cashing device 30 with a coin dispenser and a further dispensing device 40 for medals or tokens; and a cashing key on a touch sensitive panel 5 on a display 6. A card is inserted into the device 20 and its value is read by reading device 21; this value is then dispensed and the card receiving device pivots to deposit the card in the storing device 27.

Description

CASHING DEVICE AND METHOD

This present invention relates to a cashing device for a prepaid card which can exchange the remainder of the 5 denomination held on the card into cash. More especially, this invention relates to a prepaid card cashing device which has a recovery function for the prepaid card.

"Prepaid card" which is used in this specification

embraces magnetic strips, a microchip card, a smart card or 10 other forms of identification.

In JP-A-2001-60280, coins are thrown into a hopper, are distinguished by a distinguishing machine, and the coins' value is calculated.

The calculated money is written on the prepaid card 15 from the card hopper by a reading and writing device, and the card is dispensed.

However, a prepaid card is limited, because the card can only be used in certain types of equipment. Therefore a small amount (value) often remains on the prepaid card 20 when the card isn't used often enough.

Many people disregard the small amount that is left on the prepaid card.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a cashing device for a prepaid card comprises: 25 a reading device for a prepaid card, a receiving device for the prepaid card, a cashing medium device, a cashing key for operating of the cashing medium device. 30 In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method of dispensing cash comprises determining the remaining amount of monetary value stored on a prepaid card; dispensing a corresponding amount of cash or value tokens to a user; and securely storing the 35 prepaid card.

In this invention, money or value data on a prepaid card is read by the reading device. When the cashing key is pushed, the cashing medium dispensing device operates.

Cash or value tokens corresponding with the money data are 5 then dispensed by the cashing medium dispensing device. As a result, the account in the prepaid card is cashed, and can be usefully used.

When the account on the prepaid card is zero, the prepaid card is stored by the cashing device. Therefore 10 the prepaid card can be automatically recycled.

This present invention is desirable, because a control device outputs a dispensing signal which can read the remaining amount of the card based on a cashing key to a cashing medium dispensing device and outputs a withdrawal 15 signal to the receiving device.

As a result, the cashed prepaid card is not returned to the person, and therefore fraudulent use cannot occur.

The cashed, prepaid cards are typically put together in a storing section. Therefore the recycling of the 20 cashed prepaid cards is easy, because the cards are put together. Using a common opening for the reading device for the prepaid card and the receiving device is useful so as to avoid mistakes on entry of the cards.

25 An example of a cashing device and method according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cashing device; Figure 2 is an outline view of the cashing device; 30 Figure 3 is a plan of the display; Figure 4 is a block diagram of the cashing device components; and, Figures 5 to 7 are flow charts of the operation of the cashing device.

35 The structure of the cashing device for a prepaid card of the embodiment is shown in Figures 1 to 4. In this

example, the prepaid card of the embodiment is a smart card. The body 2 of the cashing device is a box and includes a base box 2A and a door 2F which forms the front side 5 wall. The door 2F can be opened and closed on hinges 3A,3B. The door 2F is locked to base box 2A by a lock 4.

A display 6 has a touch-sensitive panel 5 and is fixed on a slanting upper wall 2C. The touch-sensitive panel 5 forms a keyboard.

10 A banknote accepting device 10 which has a banknote discriminating device, a card handling device 20, a cashing device 30, a medal (coin, token etc.) dispensing device 40 and a control device 50 have been built in the base box 2A.

The cashing device 30 is the cashing medium dispensing 15 device.

The banknote accepting device 10 discriminates banknotes which are received from a banknote entry lOM, and stores genuine banknotes, and returns non-genuine banknotes. 20 Also, when the banknote accepting device 10 receives the banknote, it outputs a receiving signal B. A card handling device 20 (shown in Figure 2) is also supported in the base box 2A. The card handling device 20 includes a card slot 20M, a reading device 21, a writing 25 device 22, a card receiving device 23, a card stacker 24, a card receiving and returning device 25, a new card dispensing device 26 and a redemption cards storing device 27. The card receiving device 23, the reading device 21, 30 the writing device 22, and the new card dispensing device 26 are aligned along a card passageway P from the card slot 20M side.

The card receiving device 23 can hold the card. It can pivot approximately 45 degrees on a shaft 28 and when 35 the card receiving device 23 has pivoted, the card slides down to the redemption cards storing device 27.

The reading device 21 and writing device 22 can be conventional contact or non-contact types. Also, the reading device 21 and writing device 22 can be integrated.

The receiving and returning device 25 includes rollers 5 25A and 25B and they can rotate in both directions.

The roller 25A is located below the card receiving device 23.

The roller 25B is located below the reading device 21 and the writing device 22. The rollers 25A and 25B can be 10 replaced by belts etc. Smart cards C are stacked in the card stacker 24.

The new card dispensing device 26 is located under the card stacker 24. The new card dispensing device 26 is a card transporting device, for example it is a roller 29.

15 The roller 29 can also be replaced by a belt etc. The card handling device 20 has a number of functions.

Firstly, a smart card C, which is inserted into the card slot 20M, is transported to the reading device 21 and the writing device 22 where money information can be read from 20 and/or written to the smart card C. Secondly, a smart card C can simply be received. Thirdly, a smart card can be retrieved to the card slot 2 OM. Fourthly, new cards drawn from the card stacker 24 by the card dispensing device 26 can be dispensed through the card slot 20M. The new smart 25 card dispensing function is optional and can be removed.

When a smart card C is inserted in the card slot 2 OM, it is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the rollers 25A and 25B are rotated in the clockwise direction.

The smart card is transported by the rollers 25A, 25B, 30 and is stopped at the reading device 21 and the writing device 22, therefore the information can be read and can be written on the cards.

To return the smart card C to the card slot 20M, the rollers 25A and 25B are rotated in the counter clockwise 35 direction, therefore the smart card C is transported to the card slot 2 OM.

When the smart card C is received in the card slot 20M, the card handling device outputs a card signal CS.

The banknote entry 10M and the card slot 20M protrude from the opening of the door 2F.

5 A dispensing opening 7 is located at the lower section of the door 2F.

The cashing device 30 is a coin dispenser and includes in this embodiment, a hopper 35 for 500 Yen, a hopper 31 for 100 Yen, a hopper 305 for 50 Yen and a hopper 301 for 10 10 Yen, all located in parallel.

The coins from the hoppers are dispensed to the dispensing opening 7 passing through a common passageway 32. The dispensing device 40 is formed as a hopper and 15 dispenses a predetermined number of medals, tokens etc. to the dispensing opening 7 through a duct 41 based on a dispensing signal PM.

The display 6 and touch-sensitive panel 5 are shown in Figure 3. The touch-sensitive panel 5 defines a received 20 money section 6I, a smart card money section 6C and a guiding section 6G.

A cashing key 5A, a medals purchase key 5B, a smart card purchase key 5C and a closing key 5D are located on the display 6.

25 When the cashing key 5A is pushed, a cashing signal 5AS is output and when the tokens purchase key 5B is pushed, a medals purchase signal 5BS is output. When the smart card purchase key 5C is pushed, a smart card purchase signal 5CS is output and when the closing key ED is pushed, 30 a closing signal 5DS is output from the key board 5.

Next, a control device 50 will be explained, as shown in Figure 4.

The control device 50 includes a microprocessor CPU, a ROM and a RAM. The microprocessor CPU receives the 35 signals from the banknote accepting device 10, the card handling device 20, the reading device 21 and the keyboard 5, processes these based on the program in the ROM, and

operates the cashing device 30, the writing device 22, the card receiving device 23, the receiving and returning device 25, the new card dispensing device 26 and the medal dispensing device 40 accordingly, and displays the 5 predetermined display on the display 6.

Next, the operation is explained with the flow charts of Figures 5 to 7.

In step S1, an initial display is displayed on the display 6.

10 In step S2, the presence of a banknote receiving signal B is determined. If the receiving signal B is not present, the program goes to step S21.

In step S21, the presence of the smart card signal CS is determined.

15 If there is no smart card signal CS, the program returns to step S2.

When the program loops from step S2 to step S21, it is in the standby situation.

In step S2, when the receiving signal B is output, the 20 program goes to step S3.

In step S3, when the coins denomination and amount is recognized from the banknote accepting device 10, the receiving money is summed, and processing moves to step S4.

In step S4, the total received money is displayed at 25 the received money section 6I, and processing moves to step S5. In step S5, the pushing of the smart card purchase key 5C is determined by sensing the purchase signal 5CS. The program then goes to step S6.

30 In step S5, if there is no card purchase signal 5CS, the program goes to step S51.

In step S51, when the banknote receiving signal B is determined, the program goes to step S3.

When there is no banknote receiving signal B. the 35 program goes to step S5.

When the program loops from step S5 to S51, it is in the standby situation for the smart card purchase.

In step S6, the new card dispensing signal D is output to the card handling device 20 a smart card dispensing mark is displayed at guiding section 6G, and processing goes to step S7.

5 In step S7, the card handling device 20 dispenses the lowest smart card C in the stack 24 to the card slot 2 OM side, because rollers 29 and 25B are rotated in the counterclockwise direction.

The new smart card C is stopped by the writing device 10 22, and processing moves to step S8.

In step S8, the writing device 22 initializes the smart card C, and the program goes to step S9.

In step S9, the memory of the smart card C is recorded with the money information corresponding to the deposited 15 money, by the writing device at step S3, and the program goes to step S10.

In step S10, the rollers 25A and 25B are rotated in the counter clockwise direction, therefore the smart card C is transported to the card slot 20M, afterwards the 20 program goes to step S1, and goes into the standby situation. Therefore the smart card C protrudes from the card slot 2 OM.

The protruding length is about half of a longitudinal 25 card.

The cashing process from the smart card will now be explained. In step S21, when the card signal CS is dietermined, the program goes to step S22.

30 In step S22, the reading signal is read from the reading device 21, the money information is displayed at the smart card displaying section 6C, and the program goes to step S23.

In step S23, when the medals purchase key 5B is 35 pushed, the medal purchase signal 5BS is output, and the signal is detected.

When there is no medals purchase signal, the program goes to step S31.

In step S3 1, the presence of the cashing signal 5AS is determined. 5 When there is no cashing signal 5AS, the program goes to step S41.

In step S23, when the medals purchase signal 5BS is detected, the program goes to step S24.

In step S24, the medals dispensing number is 10 calculated, and the medals dispensing signal PM is output, and the program goes to step S25.

In step S25, the dispensing medals number is displayed at the guiding section 6G, and the program goes to step S27. 15 In step S26, the medals dispensing device 40 dispenses the predetermined tokens e.g. medals to the dispensing opening 7, and the program goes to step S27.

In step S27, the smart card dispensing message is displayed at the guiding section 6G, and the program goes 2 O to step S28.

In step S28, rollers 25A and 25B are rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and the smart card C is returned to the card slot 2 OM.

In step S31, when the cashing signal 5AS is 25 determined, the program goes to step S32.

In step S32, the coins dispensing number of the denomination and amount of the coins is carried out by determining the remaining value stored on the smart card, the dispensing signal is output to the cashing device 30, 30 and the program goes to step S33.

In step S33, the cashing mark is displayed at the guiding section 6G, and the program goes to step S34.

In step S34, the cashing device 3 O dispenses the predetermined denomination and amount of coins, and the 35 program goes to step S35. The dispensed coins go to the dispensing opening 7 having passed through the common passageway 32.

In step S35, the card receiving is displayed at the guiding section 6G (the value stored on the card is optionally zeroed) and the program goes to step S36.

In step S36, the smart card C is returned to the card 5receiving device 23 by the rollers 25A and 25B.

Next, the card receiving device 23 pivots in the clockwise direction at 45 degrees.

The smart card C slants and slides down to the storing device 27 by the slanting of the card receiving device 23, 10 the device 23 pivots back to its original position and the program returns to step S1.

In step S31, when the cashing signal 5AS isn't detected, the program goes to step S41.

In step S41, when the closing signal 5DS isn't 15 detected, the program returns to step S23.

In step S41, when the closing signal 5DS is detected, the program goes to step S42.

In step S42, the smart card dispensing mark is displayed at the guiding section 6G, and the program goes 20 to step S43.

In step S43, the rollers 25A and 25B rotate in the counterclockwise direction, the smart card C is transported to the card slot 20M, and the program returns to step S1.

In this present invention, the medals dispensing 25 device 40 can be changed to a medium dispensing device.

In this embodiment, when the remainder of the smart card becomes zero, the smart card C is received by the receiving device 23.

The keyboard 5 can be changed to a function button, 30 for example a exchanging key etc. The card handling device can be separated to a new card dispensing device and a reading and writing device.

In this case, the card entry is displayed, therefore no mistakes can be more.

35 The prepaid card receiving device can be changed to other type.

Claims

1. A cashing device for a prepaid card comprises: a reading device for a prepaid card, 5 a receiving device for the prepaid card, a cashing medium device, a cashing key for operating of the cashing medium device.

2. A cashing device according to claim 1, further 10 comprising a control device coupled to the reading device, receiving device, cashing medium device, and cashing key and which is responsive to information from the reading device indicating the stored value remaining on the prepaid card and which controls the cashing medium device, in 15 response to a request via the cashing key, to dispense cash or tokens corresponding to the amount.

3. A device according to claim 2, further comprising a storage device, the control device being operable to cause a prepaid card whose remaining value has been dispensed to 20 be fed to the storage device.

4. A device according to claim 3, the device further comprising a loading device coupled with the control device, the loading device being movable to pass a prepaid card to the storage device.

25

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the loading device is pivotable.

6. A device according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the cash which is dispensed comprises one or more of coins, banknotes, and value tokens.

30

7. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a common card slot is provided for receiving and dispensing prepaid cards.

8. A cashing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

35

9. A method of dispensing cash, the method comprising determining the remaining amount of monetary value stored on a prepaid card; dispensing a corresponding amount of

cash or value tokens to a user; and securely storing the prepaid card.