JP2000194892A - Charge collecting system and charge collecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To mitigate congestion near the tollgate of a toll road. SOLUTION: This charge collecting system is provided with a charge collecting main controller 6 for a person in charge present inside a tollgate booth 4 to input information relating to a passing charge collected from a driver of a vehicle, a receipt issuing device 12 for automatically issuing a receipt on which the information relating to the inputted passing charge is recorded at a position where the driver of the vehicle can directly takes it away, that is on the outside of the tollgate booth 4 and near the road shoulder of a tollgate lane 10, a vehicle detection sensor 14 for detecting the vehicle passing in front of the receipt issuing device 12 and transmitting prescribed detection signals and an advancing vehicle control signal device 8 for controlling the advance of the vehicle into the toll gate 2 based on the detection signals transmitted by the vehicle detection sensor 14. Thus, the work taking processing time such as handing over the receipt to the driver of the vehicle from the person in charge present inside the booth 4 is omitted and the congestion near the tollgate is mitigated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toll collection system and a toll collection method used at a tollgate on a toll road.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a toll collection system for collecting a toll from a driver of a vehicle using a toll road, there is mainly one check point provided for payment of a toll. The so-called open system and a closed system having at least two or more checkpoints are mainly adopted.

That is, the closed system is applied to a highway provided over a long distance, and issues a toll ticket at an entrance tollgate through which a vehicle passes when entering the highway.
On the other hand, this is a method in which a toll gate according to a traveling distance and a vehicle type of a vehicle on an expressway is collected at an exit tollgate through which the vehicle traveling on the expressway exits on a general road. The open method is applied to the Metropolitan Expressway near the metropolitan area, or toll bridges, etc., and a certain toll is collected at the entrance toll gate where vehicles enter the toll road, and the toll road is exited. Is a system in which vehicles pass through without a toll gate.

[0004] A specific example of the above-described closed-type toll collection system is a magnetic card type toll collection system. In this magnetic card type toll collection system, at the entrance toll gate at the interchange where the vehicle has started traveling on the toll road, the automatic ticket issuing device records the entrance toll gate number for identifying this entrance toll gate. Issued magnetic card as a pass ticket. In addition, this system passes the toll ticket possessed by the driver of the vehicle through the pass ticket processing machine at the exit toll gate where the vehicle passes when exiting the general road, and furthermore, the entrance which is magnetically recorded on the toll ticket The toll gate number and the type of vehicle are read out to calculate the toll, the calculated amount is presented to the driver, and the toll is collected by cash or a prepaid card.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional toll collection system, for example, in the case of a magnetic card type system, a driver of a vehicle at an entrance toll gate receives a toll ticket from an automatic toll issuing device. Because it is a procedure only to receive, the vicinity of the gate is not so crowded,
At the exit tollgate gate, cash, between the staff operating the cash register in the tollgate booth and the driver of the vehicle,
Due to the extremely large amount of manual work such as the passing of toll tickets or receipts, the toll collection process takes a long time, and the problem that the area near the toll gate becomes crowded when the number of vehicles attempting to pass through the toll gate increases. I was having.

[0006] In particular, the receipt of a receipt is different from a toll ticket which needs to be delivered only in a closed system. In a toll collection system of either a closed system or an open system, a receipt in a booth is used. Since it is necessary to hand the issued receipt from the staff in the booth to the driver of the vehicle, it is necessary to improve the method of issuing the receipt to reduce congestion near the tollgate. I was

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toll collection system and a toll collection method capable of reducing congestion near a tollgate such as a toll road. is there.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a toll collection system according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, inputs toll collection information relating to a toll collected from a vehicle. An input device, and a receipt provided with the toll collection information provided by the input device at a later stage than the input device in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and recording the toll collection information input by the input device, and transmitting the receipt to the vehicle. And a receipt issuing device for issuing the receipt.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection system, comprising: an input device for inputting toll collection information relating to a toll collected from a vehicle; A receipt issuing device that is provided at a subsequent stage in the traveling direction and that creates a receipt in which the toll collection information input by the input device is recorded, and issues the receipt to the vehicle; A vehicle detection unit that detects the vehicle that has passed the issuing device and outputs a detection signal, and a vehicle travel restriction unit that restricts the travel of a vehicle following the vehicle based on the detection signal output by the vehicle detection unit. It is characterized by having.

[0010] Further, the toll collection system of the present invention, as set forth in claim 3, comprises an input device for inputting toll collection information on tolls collected from the vehicle side;
A receipt that is provided at a later stage in the traveling direction of the vehicle than the input device, creates a receipt in which the toll receipt information input by the input device is recorded, and issues the receipt to the vehicle. An issuing device, a receipt detecting unit that detects that the receipt issued by the receipt issuing device has been removed, and outputs a detection signal, based on a detection signal output by the receipt detecting unit. And a vehicle travel restricting means for restricting travel of a following vehicle of the vehicle.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection system according to the third aspect, wherein the input device is configured to issue the receipt by the receipt issuing device. And non-issuing means.

Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toll collection system according to the first to third aspects, wherein the receipt is issued by the receipt issuing device. It is characterized by further comprising a notifying means for notifying this effect.

Further, in the toll collection method according to the present invention, as set forth in claim 6, a step of inputting toll collection information relating to a toll collected from the vehicle side; Creating a recorded receipt, issuing the receipt at a position acceptable to the vehicle, detecting the vehicle passing through the issued position of the receipt, and transmitting a predetermined detection signal And a step of restricting travel of a vehicle following the vehicle based on the transmitted detection signal.

[0014] Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a fee collection method.
Entering the toll collection information relating to the toll collected from the vehicle side, and when the toll collection information is input, create a receipt in which the toll collection information is recorded, Issuing a receipt at a position acceptable to the vehicle, detecting that the issued receipt has been removed, and transmitting a predetermined detection signal; and Regulating the travel of a vehicle following the vehicle based on the vehicle.

The toll collection system and the toll collection method of the present invention are useful in a tollgate on a toll road, for example, when a clerk receives a toll on a toll road from a driver of a vehicle,
When the toll collection contents are input from a predetermined input device or the like, a receipt in which the collection contents are recorded can be issued at a position where the driver of the vehicle can directly remove the receipt.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the driver of the vehicle can directly remove the issued receipt and pass through the toll booth, so that the receipt issued from the register or the like in the toll booth as in the prior art can be obtained. , The time-consuming operation of handing over the vehicle to the driver of the vehicle by the staff in the booth can be omitted, and congestion near the tollgate can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the vehicle passes in front of a receipt issuing device for issuing a receipt as described above;
Alternatively, by detecting that the receipt is removed from the receipt issuing device or the like, it is possible to clarify the end of the toll collection process for each vehicle. Further, based on the detection signal transmitted at this time, by controlling a traffic light or the like for permitting the vehicle to enter the toll gate, the vehicle following the vehicle which has completed the toll collection process enters the toll gate. Can be regulated, so that the toll collection process for each vehicle can be performed smoothly.

Further, according to the present invention, when the driver of the vehicle does not request issuance of a receipt, for example, in order to shorten the stop time of the vehicle at the tollgate, the receipt issuing device or the like is used. You can disable automatic receipt issuance. Further, according to the present invention, when a receipt is issued, it is possible to notify the driver of the receipt of the receipt. For example, the receipt can be notified by using a monitor display or voice guidance. It is possible to promptly guide the vehicle to the place where is issued. Therefore, according to these inventions as well, it is possible to reduce congestion near toll booths such as toll roads.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram thereof.

As shown in these figures, the toll collection system according to the present embodiment is provided at an exit tollgate 2 on a toll road that adopts a postpayment closed system. This toll collection system is installed in a toll booth 4 where a clerk is present, and a toll collection controller 6 for the clerk to settle the toll collected by the driver of the vehicle, and an exit tollgate gate 2 (tollgate). An entry vehicle control signal device 8 for controlling the entry of a vehicle into the side of the booth 4), and a tollgate gate lane 10 provided outside the tollgate booth lane 10 near the shoulder of the tollgate. A toll collection sub-controller 16 including a receipt issuing device 12 for issuing a recorded receipt, a vehicle detection sensor 14 for detecting a vehicle that has completed the toll settlement and starts from the exit toll gate 2, and a receipt issuing device 12 1 for receipts issued via
8 and a voice guidance device 20 for guiding the vehicle by voice guidance.

The toll collection controller 6 includes a customer service controller 2
2 is provided, and controls the receipt issuing device 12 included in the toll collection sub-control device 16. In addition, the customer service control unit 22 determines the toll collection process by input from a clerk and automatically issues a receipt, and is pressed when the driver of the vehicle does not request issuance of the receipt. A key input device 24 having a receipt non-issue button and the like, an entrance tollgate number read by a magnetic toll processor (not shown), vehicle type, this entrance tollgate number, a toll calculated based on the vehicle type, etc. Is displayed on the display device 26.

Further, the toll collection controller 6 controls the voice guidance device 20 to operate when a receipt is issued by a staff member pressing down a toll collection confirmation button. That is, the vehicle that stops before the receipt issuing device 14, or the receipt issuing device 1
The vehicle control unit 28 controls the approach vehicle control signal device 8 based on a detection signal transmitted from the vehicle detection sensor 12 when a vehicle starting from before the vehicle 4 is detected by the vehicle detection sensor 12, A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 30 for controlling the entire collection system is provided.

The toll collection sub-control device 16 controls the receipt issuing device 12 so that the driver of the vehicle can reach out and remove the receipt issued from the issuing port 18 of the receipt issuing device 12. In consideration of the direction of the opening of the issuing port 18 and the height, etc., it is provided near the shoulder of the toll gate lane 10 outside the toll booth 4. Furthermore, the vehicle detection sensor 14 of the toll collection sub-control device 16
Toll gate lane 1 for the toll collection sub-control unit 16
An infrared light emitting device 32 that is provided at a position opposed to each other with respect to 0 and emits infrared light, and an infrared light receiving device 34 that is provided in the main body of the toll collection sub-control device 16 and receives the infrared light emitted from the infrared light emitting device 32 It is configured.

When the amount of light received by the infrared light receiving device 34 of the vehicle detection sensor 14 is small, "dark" is output to the vehicle control unit 28 as a detection signal, whereby the toll collection controller 4 can Gate 2 (Toll booth 4
It recognizes that the vehicle has entered the side. On the other hand, when the amount of light received by the infrared light receiving device 34 is large, “bright” is output to the vehicle control unit 28 as a detection signal, and the toll collection controller 4 determines that the vehicle has started from the toll gate 2. recognize.

The receipt issued by the receipt issuing device 12 records toll collection information such as a toll collected from the vehicle, a tollgate number indicating the number of the exit tollgate, and a date of issuance of the receipt. You.

The entry vehicle control signal device 8 is turned on when the driver of the vehicle is permitted to enter the toll gate 2 (beside the toll booth 4) based on the detection signal transmitted from the detection sensor 14. A green lamp 36 is provided, and a red lamp 38 is lit when the driver of the vehicle is instructed to enter the toll gate 2.

The voice guidance device 20 can be operated without pressing the receipt non-issue button of the key input device 24 by the attendant.
When the fee collection confirmation button is pressed, the vehicle is guided to the vicinity of the receipt issuing device 12 by voice guidance such as "Please go ahead and take a receipt."

Next, a case where a toll is received through the toll collection system thus configured and a receipt is issued will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the driver of the vehicle confirms that the green lamp 36 of the approach vehicle control signal device 8 is turned on (S1), and the vehicle enters the toll gate 2 and stops next to the toll booth 4 (S3). The vehicle detection sensor 14 of the toll collection sub-control device 16 sends “dark” as a detection signal to the vehicle control unit 28.
Is output (S5), the green lamp 36 of the approaching vehicle control signal device 8 is turned off, and the red lamp 38 is turned on (S7). Next, the staff in toll booth 4
When a toll ticket held by a driver of a vehicle stopped next to the toll booth 4 is received and processed through a toll processing machine of the toll collection controller 6, the type of vehicle read from the toll ticket and the entrance tollgate Display toll based on number
6 and the displayed toll is collected by the attendant from the driver of the vehicle (S9).

If the amount received from the driver is appropriate, the attendant presses the toll collection confirmation button on the key input device 24 (S11). At this time, if the receipt non-issue button is not pressed (NO in S13) and the toll collection confirmation button is pressed, a fee such as a toll, an issuance date, etc. is issued from the issuance port 18 of the receipt issuing device 12. A receipt on which the receipt information is recorded is automatically issued. Further, in this case, a voice guidance such as "Please go ahead and take a receipt." Is generated from the voice guidance device 20, the vehicle is guided to the vicinity of the receipt issuing device 12 (S17), and the driver of the vehicle is notified. For example, the driver opens the window on the driver's seat side and removes the receipt issued from the issuing port 18 of the receipt issuing device 12 by himself (S19).

On the other hand, after the receipt non-issue button of the key input device 24 is pressed by the attendant (YES in S13),
When the fee collection confirmation button is pressed, the receipt issuance from the receipt issuing device 12 is blocked. Thereafter, when the vehicle for which the toll payment has been completed starts from the side of the toll booth 4 (S21), the vehicle detection sensor 14 of the toll collection sub-control device 16 outputs "bright" as a detection signal to the vehicle control unit 28. It is output (S23), and the red lamp 38 of the approaching vehicle control signal device 8 is turned off and the green lamp 36 is turned on again (S25).

As described above, in the toll collection system of the present embodiment, the clerk receives the toll on the toll road from the driver of the vehicle, and inputs the toll collection contents to the predetermined key input device 2.
4, the receipt with the recorded contents can be issued at a position where the driver of the vehicle can directly remove the receipt.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the driver of the vehicle can directly remove the issued receipt and pass through the toll booth, so that the receipt issued from the register or the like in the toll booth as in the prior art can be used. This eliminates the need for time-consuming operations such as handing over to a driver of a vehicle by a staff member present in the booth, and can reduce congestion near a tollgate on a toll road.

According to the toll collection system of the present embodiment, the receipt issuing device 1 for issuing the above-described receipt is provided.
2 by detecting that the vehicle has passed in front of the vehicle 1
It is possible to clarify the end of the fee collection process for each vehicle. Further, based on the detection signal transmitted at this time, by controlling the entering vehicle control signal device 8 for permitting the vehicle to enter the toll gate 2, the toll rate of the following vehicle of the vehicle that has completed the toll collection processing is controlled. Since entry into the office gate 2 can be regulated, the fee collection process for each vehicle can be smoothly performed.

Further, according to the toll collection system of the present embodiment, in order to shorten the stop time of the vehicle at the tollgate as much as possible, when the driver of the vehicle does not request the issuance of the receipt, the receipt issuing device. It is also possible to disable the automatic issuance of the receipt by 12. In addition, according to the toll collection system of the present embodiment, when a receipt is issued, the driver can be notified of the fact by voice guidance and can promptly guide the vehicle to the place where the receipt is issued. Becomes Therefore, even with such a configuration, congestion near the tollgate on the toll road can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the vehicle detection sensor 1
4 to detect whether or not the vehicle has started in front of the receipt issuing device 12, thereby confirming whether or not the toll collection process is being performed for each vehicle, and controlling the entering vehicle control signal device 8 Although the following vehicle has been restricted from entering the toll gate 2, a sensor for detecting whether or not the receipt has been removed is provided near the issuing port 18 of the receipt issuing device 12, and based on a detection signal of this sensor. Alternatively, the entry vehicle control signal device 8 may be controlled to restrict the entry of the following vehicle into the toll gate 2.

Further, the receipt issuing device 12 of the toll collection system of the present embodiment can cope with all types of vehicles (various vehicles having different driver seat heights).
For example, a plurality of receipt issuing ports having different height positions may be provided, and the receipt may be issued from the issuing port having a height corresponding to the type of the vehicle determined by the vehicle type determining device or the like. Furthermore, the toll collection system according to the present embodiment is provided at the toll gate at the exit of a toll road that adopts a postpaid closed system, but is now implemented at the toll gate at the entrance of a toll road that employs an open system with advance payment. It goes without saying that a similar effect can be obtained even when a toll collection system of the form is provided.

[0039]

As described above, the toll collection system and toll collection method of the present invention are useful in a tollgate on a toll road, for example, when a clerk receives a toll on a toll road from a driver of a vehicle, When the toll collection contents are input from a predetermined input device or the like, a receipt in which the collection contents are recorded can be issued at a position where the driver of the vehicle can directly remove the receipt. Therefore, according to the present invention, the driver of the vehicle can directly remove the issued receipt and pass through the toll booth. This eliminates the need for time-consuming work such as handing over to a driver of a vehicle by a staff member inside the vehicle, and can alleviate congestion near the toll booth.

Further, according to the toll collection system and the toll collection method of the present invention, the vehicle passes in front of the above-mentioned receipt issuing device or the like for issuing a receipt, or the receipt is issued from the receipt issuing device or the like. By detecting the removal, it is possible to clarify the end of the toll collection process for each vehicle. Further, based on the detection signal transmitted at this time, by controlling a traffic light or the like that gives permission for the vehicle to enter the toll gate, the vehicle enters the toll gate of the vehicle following the vehicle that has completed the toll collection processing. Therefore, the toll collection process for each vehicle can be performed smoothly, and congestion near the tollgate can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the toll collection system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing toll collection processing performed by the toll collection system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Exit toll gate 4 Toll booth 6 Toll collection controller 8 Ingress vehicle control signal device 10 Toll gate lane 12 Receipt issuing device 14 Vehicle detection sensor 16 ... Toll collection sub-controller 18... Receipt receipt port 20... Voice guidance device 24... Key input device 32... Infrared light emitting device 34.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An input device for inputting toll collection information relating to tolls received from a vehicle, and the toll collection provided at a later stage in the traveling direction of the vehicle than the input device and input by the input device. A receipt issuing device for creating a receipt on which information is recorded and issuing the receipt to the vehicle. 2. An input device for inputting toll collection information relating to a toll collected from a vehicle, and the toll collection provided at a later stage in the traveling direction of the vehicle than the input device and input by the input device. A receipt issuing device that creates a receipt in which information is recorded, and issues the receipt to the vehicle; and a vehicle detection unit that detects the vehicle that has passed the receipt issuing device and outputs a detection signal. And a vehicle travel regulation means for regulating travel of a vehicle following the vehicle based on a detection signal output by the vehicle detection means. 3. An input device for inputting toll collection information relating to a toll collected from the vehicle, and the toll collection provided at a later stage in the traveling direction of the vehicle than the input device and input by the input device. Create a receipt in which information is recorded, a receipt issuing device that issues the receipt to the vehicle, and detect that the receipt issued by the receipt issuing device has been removed, A receipt detecting means for outputting a detection signal; and a vehicle travel regulating means for regulating the traveling of a following vehicle of the vehicle based on the detection signal outputted by the receipt detecting means. Receiving system. 4. The toll collection system according to claim 3, wherein the input device further comprises a switching unit for switching between the issuance and non-issuance of the receipt by the receipt issuing device. system. 5. The toll collection system according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying the receipt when the receipt is issued by the receipt issuing device. system. 6. A step of inputting toll collection information relating to tolls received from a vehicle, creating a receipt in which the input toll collection information is recorded, and enabling the vehicle to accept the receipt. Issuing at a position, detecting the vehicle passing through the position at which the receipt is issued, and transmitting a predetermined detection signal, based on the transmitted detection signal, And a step of regulating travel. 7. A step of inputting toll collection information relating to a toll collected from the vehicle side, and when the toll collection information is input, creating a receipt in which the toll collection information is recorded, and creating the receipt. Issuing at a position acceptable to the vehicle, detecting that the issued receipt has been removed,
A toll collection method, comprising: transmitting a predetermined detection signal; and restricting, based on the transmitted detection signal, traveling of a vehicle following the vehicle.