JP2004352299A - Fuel supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save power consumption at a time of heating a printer. <P>SOLUTION: The power unit 68 provided on the rear face of a touch panel 34 and the power unit 72 on a circuit board 70 are heating sections energized all the time, and are held in a state that the connecting parts 74a, 76a provided at one end of heat pipes 74, 76 are in contact. The connecting parts 74b, 76b provided at the other end of the heat pipes 74, 76 are attached to different locations such as a side face or the upper face of a printer 66. The printer 66 is heated all the time by the heat generated at the power units 68, 72 via the heat pipes 74, 76, allowing a printer head to print liquid supply information (kind of liquid, liquid quantity, charge for liquid supply or the like), even in low temperature environments such as a cold district or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fuel supply system, and more particularly, to a fuel supply system configured to issue a slip when fuel supply from a fuel supply device to a vehicle is completed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a fuel supply system that supplies an oil liquid such as gasoline or light oil to a fuel tank of a vehicle will be described below as an example.
[0003]
In a filling station equipped with a full-service metering machine (fuel supply machine) where the filling station workers perform the filling operation, the worker sets the filling mode, sets the filling operation, and sets the charging rate. The payment is made. For this reason, the customer (driver) specifies the liquidation fee settlement method (cash payment or credit card payment), receives the slip issued from the slip issuing machine provided in the weighing machine after the liquid supply is completed, and Will be paid.
[0004]
Also, in the case of a so-called island settlement method in which a setting device for setting a liquid supply amount or a liquid supply amount to a self-service weighing machine and an automatic payment machine in which bills are deposited are provided, the liquid is supplied at a liquid supply place. Liquid fee can be settled. This automatic payment machine is provided with a bill insertion part and a bill storage part, and has a bill discriminating part for discriminating the type of inserted bill and a display part for displaying the inserted bill amount (payment amount).
Then, in the fuel supply system of the island settlement method, when presetting a liquid supply amount or a liquid supply amount before liquid supply, a customer (driver) first inserts a bill into a bill insertion portion of the automatic teller machine, and deposits the bill. After the billed amount is read by the bill reader and the deposit amount is displayed on the display unit, the desired oil type and the amount of liquid supply or the amount of liquid supply are input, so that the weighing machine is ready for liquid supply.
[0005]
After the liquid supply is completed, when the receipt is issued from the automatic teller machine, the customer (driver) receives the receipt issued from the automatic teller machine and the change slip on which the barcode indicating the slip number is printed, Move to the change machine installation location. Then, the customer (driver) inserts the change slip into the slip reader of the change machine. The change machine reads the bar code indicating the slip number printed on the change slip, recognizes the weighing machine number, and pays out the change amount corresponding to the weighing machine (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2003-54699
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional fuel supply system, a printer built in a slip issuing machine prints on a recording sheet and issues a slip.For example, in a cold region where the temperature is low, the printer prints. Since the temperature of the head is lowered, a slip is issued after the liquid supply is completed, but there is a problem that characters are blurred.
[0008]
In addition, it is conceivable to solve the above problem by heating the printer.However, if heating is performed constantly, power consumption increases, and the printer is continuously heated even when the vehicle does not come to the liquid supply station. Therefore, there is a problem that there is much waste.
[0009]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply system that solves the above-mentioned problems.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has the following features to solve the above problems.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel supply device comprising: a fuel supply device for supplying fuel to a supply target; and a slip issuing device for issuing a slip after the fuel supply to the supply target is completed. In the system, by providing a heat conducting means for conducting heat from the heat generating portion mounted on the fuel supply device to the slip issuing machine, it is not necessary to consume electric power for heating the slip issuing machine.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel supply device comprising: a fuel supply device for supplying fuel to a supply target; and a slip issuing device for issuing a slip after the fuel supply to the supply target is completed. The system comprises a heating means for heating the slip issuing machine, and a switching means for switching the heating means to a heating state between the start and the end of the fuel supply operation, for heating the slip issuing machine. Power consumption can be saved.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a fuel supply apparatus to which a first embodiment of a fuel supply system according to the present invention is applied.
As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel supply device 10 is, for example, a weighing device of a self-service type, and includes an operation unit 12 operated by a customer himself, a support 14 standing on both sides of the operation unit 12, and a horizontal And a bridged hose support 16.
[0013]
Inside the housing 18 of the fuel supply device 10, various devices such as a solenoid valve 20 of each liquid supply system, a pump motor 21, a liquid supply pump 22, and a flow meter 24 are provided.
[0014]
The operation unit 12 includes a setting device 26 for setting and inputting the type of liquid to be supplied and the amount of supplied liquid, an automatic payment machine 28, an intercom 29, a speaker 30, a static elimination sheet 31, a flow display 32 Are provided. The setting device 26 has a touch panel 34 composed of a liquid crystal monitor or the like, and selects a liquid type (light oil, regular gasoline, high-octane gasoline) by touching a setting input screen displayed on the touch panel 34, and a liquid supply amount or a liquid supply amount. Input operation and the like.
[0015]
A human detection sensor 40 is provided above the setting device 26. When the human detection sensor 40 is turned on, it is determined that the customer is in front of the setting device 26, and the setting is performed on the setting device 26. The input screen is displayed.
[0016]
The human detection sensor 40 uses, for example, an optical sensor or an image sensor, and detects that an operator performing a liquid supply operation is standing in front of the setting device 26 and outputs a detection signal. I do.
[0017]
The automatic payment machine 28 includes a bill insertion unit 42, a card insertion unit 44, and a receipt issuing unit 46. The bill insertion unit 42 has a discriminating function for discriminating the type (1,000 yen bill, 2,000 yen bill, 5,000 yen bill, 10,000 yen bill) of the inserted bill, and the amount of the bill inserted by the customer. Is displayed on the touch panel 34.
[0018]
When a prepaid card or a credit card issued by the liquid supply station is inserted, the card insertion section 44 reads information stored in the card and causes the touch panel 34 to display whether liquid supply is possible.
[0019]
The receipt issuing unit 46 has a printer that issues a receipt describing liquid supply information such as a liquid type, a liquid supply amount, a liquid supply amount, a consumption tax, and a total amount when the liquid supply is completed. In the present embodiment, the receipt issuing unit 46 is provided in the fuel supply device 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the case where the setting device 26 is provided separately from the fuel supply device 10, The receipt issuing unit 46 is attached to the housing of the setting device 26.
[0020]
The front panel 48 of the fuel supply device 10 is provided with a nozzle hook 52 for hooking the liquid supply nozzle 50. The liquid supply nozzle 50 is connected to a liquid supply hose 54 suspended from the hose support 16.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of each device of the fuel supply device 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 56 of the fuel supply device 10 is provided in the solenoid valve 20, the pump motor 21, the flow meter 24, the human detection sensor 40, and the nozzle hook 52 provided in each liquid supply path. Connected to the nozzle switch 58, the memory 60, the bill discriminating unit 62 provided in the automatic payment machine 28, the setting device 26, the card R / W 64 provided in the card inserting unit 44, and the printer 66 provided in the receipt issuing unit 46. Have been. In this embodiment, a thermal printer of a thermal transfer system is used for the receipt issuing unit 46, and the thermal pattern from the print head discolors the thermal layer of the thermal transfer paper to print arbitrary characters, numbers, symbols, and the like. be able to.
[0022]
The control circuit 56 includes a microcomputer or the like, and receives signals (data) from the flow meter 24, the human detection sensor 40, the nozzle switch 58, the bill discriminating unit 62, the setting device 26, and the card R / W 64, and And various control signals to the pump motor 21 and the printer 66.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view showing the setting device 26 in an enlarged manner. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the setting device 26 as viewed from above.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the power supply unit 68 provided on the back surface of the touch panel 34 and the power supply unit 72 of the circuit board 70 are heat-generating parts that are always energized, and are heat pipes (“ (Corresponding to "heat conducting means") 74, 76 are held in a state where the joints 74a, 76a provided at one end thereof are in contact with each other. The coupling portions 74b and 76b provided at the other ends of the heat pipes 74 and 76 are attached to different places such as the side surface and the upper surface of the printer 66.
[0024]
The heat pipes 74 and 76 are bent and inserted so as to avoid devices such as the bill validator 62 and the card R / W 64, and transmit heat generated by the power supply units 68 and 72 to the printer 66. Since the printer 66 is constantly heated by the heat generated in the power supply units 68 and 72 via the heat pipes 74 and 76, even in a low temperature environment such as a cold region, the print head (not shown) supplies the liquid supply information. (Liquid type, liquid supply amount, liquid supply amount, etc.) can be printed.
[0025]
Further, since the heat pipes 74 and 76 do not require a power source and conduct heat from the high temperature side to the low temperature side, the power consumption for heating the printer 66 is zero. For this reason, it is possible to efficiently heat the printer 66 by using the heat from the heat generating unit provided in the operation unit 12, and it is possible to cope with power saving since there is no unnecessary power consumption.
[0026]
In the above description, a configuration for transmitting the heat of the power supply units 68 and 72 to the printer 66 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, heat generated from a device such as the pump motor 21 is transmitted to the printer 66. Of course, a configuration for transmitting the information may be adopted.
[0027]
Further, in the above description, the configuration using the heat pipes 74 and 76 as the heat conducting means has been exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a metallic pipe having a high thermal conductivity or a metal filled with a fluid other than the heat pipe is used. A configuration using such a method may be used.
[0028]
Here, a second embodiment will be described. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view showing the operation unit 12 of the second embodiment.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 5, a fan heater (heating means) 80 is attached to a lower portion of the printer 66. The fan heater 80 is a combination of an electric heater 80a and an electric fan 80b, and switches to a heating state or a heating stop state under the control of the control circuit 56. In the present embodiment, the control circuit 56 functions as a switching unit (described in claim 2) for controlling the on / off of the fan heater 80.
[0030]
Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration using the fan heater 80 as the heating means is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that a heating means other than the fan heater may be used.
[0031]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the control processing executed by the control circuit 56 of the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a control process executed by the control circuit 56 following the process of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the control circuit 56 checks whether or not a human detection signal has been output from the human detection sensor 40 in step S11 (hereinafter, “step” is omitted). The human detection signal from the human detection sensor 40 corresponds to the start of the fuel supply operation according to claim 2. When a human detection signal is output from the human detection sensor 40 in S11, the process proceeds to S12, in which a static elimination lamp (not shown) is turned on and off. Then, the process proceeds to S13, and an announcement such as "Welcome. Please touch the static electricity removal sheet" is made from the speaker 30.
[0032]
In the next S14, it is checked whether or not a detection switch (not shown) provided on the back surface of the static electricity removing sheet 62 is on. When the customer contacts the static elimination sheet 62 in S14, a detection switch (not shown) provided on the back surface of the static elimination sheet 62 is turned on, and a static elimination detection signal is output.
[0033]
In the next step S15, an all oil type lamp (not shown) blinks. Then, the process proceeds to S16, and an announcement such as “Please select an oil type” is made from the speaker 60.
[0034]
In the next S17, it is checked whether or not the oil type information has been input. Then, the process proceeds to S18, where the designated oil type lamp (not shown) is flickered.
[0035]
In the next step S19, a total liquid supply amount lamp (not shown) is blinked. Subsequently, the process proceeds to S20, and an announcement such as “Please select the liquid supply amount” is made from the speaker 60.
[0036]
In the next S21, it is checked whether or not the liquid supply amount information has been input. Then, the process proceeds to S22, and the setting information such as the set oil type and the supplied liquid amount is stored in the memory 60.
[0037]
In the next step S23, a designated lamp (not shown) for the designated oil type and liquid supply amount is turned on. Then, the process proceeds to S24, and an announcement such as "Oil type and liquid supply amount is set. Open the liquid supply cap. Please insert the nozzle into the liquid supply port" is output from the speaker 60.
[0038]
Then, in S25, it is checked whether or not the nozzle disconnection signal is input (nozzle switch 58 is turned off). In S25, when the nozzle disconnection signal is input (nozzle switch 58 is turned off), it is determined that the liquid supply nozzle 30 has been removed from the nozzle hook 32, and the process proceeds to S26.
[0039]
In S26, a liquid supply request signal is output to a management computer (not shown) of the liquid supply station. In the next step S27, it is checked whether a permission signal has been input from the management computer. When the permission signal is input in S27, the process proceeds to S28 shown in FIG. 7, and the pump motor 21 is started. Subsequently, the process proceeds to S29, and an announcement such as “Please pull the lever of the nozzle and put fuel into the liquid supply port” is made from the speaker 60.
[0040]
In the next S30, it is checked whether or not a flow pulse from the flow meter 42 has been input. When the flow rate pulse is input in S30, the process proceeds to S31, in which the fan heater 80 is energized and the printer 66 is heated by blowing warm air. Thus, the printer 66 is maintained at a temperature at which printing is possible. In the present embodiment, the input of the flow rate pulse is performed during the period from the start to the end of the fuel supply operation of the second aspect.
[0041]
Subsequently, in S32, the calculation of the flow rate is performed to calculate and display the integrated liquid supply amount. If there is no input of the flow rate pulse in S30, the process proceeds to S33, and it is checked whether or not the nozzle disconnection signal is input (nozzle switch 58 is turned off). In S33, if there is an input of a nozzle detachment signal (nozzle switch 58 is OFF), it is determined that the liquid supply is continuing, and the process proceeds to S34, where the integrated liquid supply amount is reduced to the specified liquid supply amount. Check if it has been reached. The flow rate pulse is counted and the flow rate is measured.
[0042]
Further, in S33, when the nozzle disconnection signal is not input (nozzle switch 58 is turned on), the process proceeds to S37 described later, and the pump is stopped.
[0043]
In S34, if the integrated liquid supply amount has not reached the specified liquid supply amount, the process returns to S30, and the processing after S30 is performed again. In S34, when the integrated liquid supply amount has reached the specified liquid supply amount, or when the liquid supply amount is set to the full tank liquid supply, the process proceeds to S35.
[0044]
In the next step S35, for example, an announcement such as "The liquid supply has been completed. Please return the nozzle." Subsequently, in S36, it is checked whether or not the nozzle disconnection signal is input (nozzle switch 58 is turned off).
[0045]
In S36, when the nozzle disconnection signal is input (nozzle switch 58 is turned off), the process returns to S35, and an announcement such as "The liquid supply has been completed. Please return the nozzle." .
[0046]
Further, in S36, when the nozzle detachment signal is not input (nozzle switch 58 is turned on), since the liquid supply nozzle 30 has been returned to the nozzle hook 32, the process proceeds to S37, and the pump motor 21 is stopped. Subsequently, in S38, all lamps (not shown) are turned off. It should be noted that the fact that the liquid supply nozzle 30 is returned to the nozzle hook 32 in S36 and the nozzle disconnection signal is no longer input (nozzle switch 58 is turned on) corresponds to the end of the fuel supply operation of claim 2.
[0047]
In the next S39, the slip issue lamp (not shown) is turned on and off, and in S40, the printer 66 is instructed to print the liquid supply information (the kind of the supplied oil, the amount of the supplied liquid, the amount of the supplied liquid, etc.). I do. The slip (receipt) printed by the printer 66 is issued from the receipt issuing unit 46. At this time, since the printer 66 is heated in advance by the fan heater 80, the print head (not shown) can supply liquid information (liquid type, liquid supply amount, liquid supply) even in a low temperature environment such as a cold region. Amount, etc.) can be printed.
[0048]
In the next step S41, the power supply to the fan heater 80 is stopped after issuing the slip, and the heating of the printer 66 is terminated. Then, in S42, an announcement such as "Close the liquid supply cap. Please come to the checkout station with a receipt (slip)" is made from the speaker 60.
[0049]
As described above, since the printer 66 is heated by the fan heater 80 immediately after the start of liquid supply, the temperature of the printer 66 has risen to the printable temperature while performing the processing of S35 to S40. At the time of issuance, blurring of characters and the like is prevented even in a low-temperature environment. Further, the fan heater 80 is not always energized, but is energized immediately after the start of liquid supply, and is stopped when printing is completed. Therefore, power consumption is reduced and power is saved.
[0050]
Further, in the above description, the case where the energization to the fan heater 80 is started immediately after the start of the liquid supply has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In step (A1), the fan heater energization start process of S34 is performed after S11, as shown in (A2), or the fan heater energization start process of S34 is performed after S14 as shown in (A2), or as shown in (A3). First, the fan heater energization start process of S34 is performed after S17, or the fan heater energization start process of S34 is performed after S28 as shown in (A4), or the fan heater energization start process of S34 is performed after S32 as shown in (A5). An energization start process may be performed.
[0051]
The timings (A1) to (A5) for starting energization of the fan heater 80 are set so as to be performed from the start to the end of the fuel supply operation according to the second aspect.
[0052]
The timing at which the fan heater energization start process is performed is set based on the relationship between the amount of heating by the fan heater 80, the temperature of the printer 66 in a low-temperature environment, and the time required for issuing a slip in S40. For example, by selecting any of (A1) to (A5) according to the difference between the temperature of the printer 66 and the printable temperature, wasteful power consumption by the fan heater 80 can be suppressed, and power saving can be promoted. Thus, the heating efficiency can be increased.
[0053]
Note that, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration attached to the ground-mounted weighing machine is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a suspension type liquid supply device.
[0054]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the oil liquid such as gasoline or light oil is supplied to the fuel tank of the vehicle is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the fuel other than the oil liquid (for example, consumed by a fuel cell vehicle). Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a system for supplying hydrogen that is generated or gas consumed as fuel in an LPG vehicle or a CNG vehicle.
[0055]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the setting device is provided with the touch panel also serving as the flow rate display device and the case where the touch panel is incorporated in the weighing machine is given as an example. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied even to a push button type having no push button.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a fuel supply device for supplying fuel to a supply target, and a slip issuing device for issuing a slip after the fuel supply to the supply target is completed. In the fuel supply system having the above, the heat transfer means for transferring the heat from the heat generating portion mounted on the fuel feeder to the slip issuing machine is provided, so that the power for heating the slip issuing machine is not consumed. Therefore, it is possible to cope with power saving.
[0057]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel supply device comprising: a fuel supply device for supplying fuel to a supply target; and a slip issuing device for issuing a slip after the fuel supply to the supply target is completed. Since the system includes a heating means for heating the slip issuing machine and a switching means for switching the heating means to a heating state during the period from the start to the end of the fuel supply operation, power consumption for heating the slip issuing machine is provided. The amount can be saved, and power can be saved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a fuel supply device to which a first embodiment of a fuel supply system according to the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each device of the fuel supply device 10.
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view showing the setting device 26 in an enlarged manner.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the setting device 26 viewed from above.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view showing an operation unit 12 of a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control process executed by a control circuit according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control process performed by a control circuit subsequent to the process of FIG. 6;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel supply device 12 Operation part 20 Solenoid valve 21 Pump motor 22 Liquid supply pump 24 Flow meter 26 Setting device 28 Automatic dispenser 34 Touch panel 40 Human detection sensor 42 Banknote insertion part 44 Card insertion part 46 Receipt issuing part 50 Liquid supply nozzle 52 Nozzle hook 56 Control circuit 58 Nozzle switch 66 Printer 68, 72 Power supply unit 70 Circuit boards 74, 76 Heat pipe 80 Fan heater

Claims (2)

A fuel supply device for supplying fuel to the supply target,
A voucher issuing a voucher after the supply of fuel to the supplied object by the fuel supply device is completed, and a fuel supply system comprising:
A fuel supply system, further comprising a heat conducting means for conducting heat from a heat generating portion mounted on the fuel supply device to the slip issuing device. A fuel supply device for supplying fuel to the supply target,
A voucher issuing a voucher after the supply of fuel to the supplied object by the fuel supply device is completed, and a fuel supply system comprising:
Heating means for heating the slip issuing machine,
Switching means for switching the heating means to a heating state between the start and the end of the fuel supply operation,
A fuel supply system comprising:

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