JP2005047532A - Gas station system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas station system capable of reducing the number of communication lines connecting a fueling device with a main POS machine and simplifying the constitution of the fueling device. <P>SOLUTION: The gas station system includes a fueling control unit 3 for controlling operation of a fueling device, a plurality of external POS machines 2 each provided per fueling device 1i for controlling a machine for inputting purchase information (a) of fuel oil, and the main POS machine 9 for managing sales and stock of a fueling station with the purchase information (a) from the external POS machines 2 and fueling information from the fueling control unit 3 as inputs. The main POS machine 9 and the plurality of external POS machines 2 are connected via a LAN, and each external POS machine 2 and the control unit 3 are connected via a communication line 7 for each fueling device 1i. The external POS machine 2 displays a unit price of the fuel oil, a real-time quantity to be fed determined by a flow rate signal d, and a sum of money determined by the unit price and the quantity in real time on a non-explosion-proof touch panel 23 based on the flow rate signal d from a flow rate transmitter 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas station system.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been known an oil supply device in which a non-explosion-proof region is provided in an oil supply device due to deregulation, and various non-explosion-proof electrical devices are accommodated in the non-explosion-proof region (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2002-249198 (FIG. 1, page 3) JP 2002-255294 (FIG. 1, page 2-3)

However, in the conventional fueling device, since the display device for displaying the amount of fueling and the device for the customer to input purchase information are provided separately, the configuration of the fueling device has become complicated.
In addition, when a POS external machine that controls equipment for inputting purchase information is provided in an oil supply device, the POS external device and the oil supply control unit of the oil supply device have different communication methods, respectively. Since the LAN is connected to the POS main body, there is a problem that the number of communication lines increases, and wiring work at the site (gas station) becomes large.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an oil supply system that can reduce the number of communication lines connecting the oil supply device and the POS main body and can simplify the configuration of the oil supply device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first invention is a filling station system in which a plurality of fueling devices each having a flow rate transmitter and a nozzle switch are installed, wherein an electromagnetic valve and / or a pump motor of the fueling device is provided. A refueling control unit that controls the operation, a plurality of POS external devices that are provided for each refueling device and that control equipment for inputting fuel oil purchase information, and purchase information from the POS external devices, And a POS main body for managing the sales and inventory of the gas station, using the refueling information from the refueling control unit as an input, and the POS main body and the plurality of POS external devices are connected by a LAN, Each POS external machine and a refueling control unit are connected to each other by a communication line for each refueling device, and a refueling permission signal for permitting the discharge of fuel oil by rotating the motor is sent from the POS main body to the outside of the POS. Output to the refueling control unit through a machine, output a flow rate signal from the flow rate transmitter to the POS external machine from the refueling control unit, a refueling end signal output when refueling is completed, Output from the POS external machine to the POS main body, and display at least the real-time oil supply amount determined by the flow rate signal on the non-explosion-proof display of the POS external machine in real time, thereby preventing the explosion of the fuel supply device. The indicator for the amount of lubrication of the mold has been abolished.

In the first aspect of the invention, the POS external machine and the oil supply control unit are connected by a communication line inside the oil supply apparatus, and the POS external machine and the POS main body are connected by a LAN. Since the signal from the fuel supply control unit is output to the POS main body via the POS external device, a communication line for connecting the fuel supply control unit and the POS main body becomes unnecessary.
Further, a flow rate signal from the flow rate transmitter is output from the fuel supply control unit to the POS external device, and the POS external device calculates an oil supply amount and an oil supply amount based on the flow rate signal. Since the information such as the calculated oil supply amount is displayed in real time on the non-explosion-proof display of the POS external machine, an indicator of the explosion-proof oil supply other than the POS external machine is displayed. Is no longer necessary.

  On the other hand, according to the second aspect of the present invention, there is a gas station system in which a plurality of fueling devices including a flow rate transmitter and a nozzle switch are installed, and the operation of the solenoid valve and / or the pump motor of the fueling device is controlled. In order to manage the sales and inventory of a gas station by using as input the plurality of POS external machines that control equipment for inputting fuel oil purchase information and the purchase information and refueling information from the POS external machines A POS main body, a POS main body and a plurality of POS external machines are connected by a LAN, and a refueling permission signal for permitting discharge of fuel oil by rotating the motor is transmitted from the POS main body to the POS main body. An external refueling signal is output from the POS external machine, a flow rate signal from the flow transmitter is output to the POS external machine, and a refueling end signal is output when refueling is completed. Output to the OS main body, and display at least the real-time oil supply amount determined by the flow rate signal on the non-explosion-proof indicator of the POS external machine in real time, so that the explosion-proof oil supply amount of the fueling device etc. The display is abolished.

  In the second aspect of the invention, the POS external machine controls the device for inputting purchase information and controls the operation of the electromagnetic valve and / or pump motor provided for each fueling device. Therefore, since the POS external machine also serves as the oil supply control unit, the oil supply control unit of the oil supply device can be eliminated, and the configuration of the oil supply device can be further simplified.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the fuel supply control unit is connected to the POS main body via the POS external machine, the number of communication lines provided between the fuel supply device and the POS main body can be reduced. In addition, since the information such as the amount of oil supply is displayed in real time on the non-explosion-proof type indicator of the POS external machine, the indicator such as the explosion-proof type of oil supply can be eliminated. Therefore, the configuration of the fueling device is simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  On the other hand, according to the second invention, the POS external machine not only controls the device for inputting purchase information, but also controls the operation of the solenoid valve and the pump motor. A control part can be made unnecessary and the structure of a fueling apparatus can be further simplified.

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

1 to 7 show a first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the present fueling system includes a plurality of measuring units (fueling devices) 1 ₁ ... 1 _n installed outside a gas station and a POS main body 9 provided in the office. . Each weighing unit 1i and the POS main body 9 are connected by a communication cable 8 to form a LAN (Local Area Network).

Weighing unit First, the weighing unit 1i will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, each measuring unit 1i includes a lower case 11 that is an explosion-proof region and an upper case 12 that is a non-explosion-proof region. As shown in FIG. 3, a pump motor 14, a solenoid valve 16, a flow rate transmitter 18, and the like are accommodated in the lower case 11. On the other hand, a plurality of POS external machines 2 and an oil supply control unit 3 are accommodated in the upper case 12. The lower case 11 and the upper case 12 are separated by a partition wall 15 and shielded so that vapor generated in the lower case 11 does not enter the upper case 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of nozzles 10 are provided on the front surface of the lower case 11. Fuel oils of different oil types such as regular, high-octane, and light oil are supplied to the nozzles 10 from an underground tank (not shown). Each nozzle 10 is hung on a nozzle hanger 13. An operation surface 2a of the POS external machine 2 is disposed in front of the upper case 12 (non-explosion-proof region) provided at a position above the nozzle hanger 13 on which the nozzle 10 is hung.
In FIG. 2, only the front side of the weighing unit 1i is shown, but the nozzle 10 and the operation surface 2a are similarly provided on the back side of the weighing unit 1i.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pump motor 14, an electromagnetic valve 16, and a flow meter F / M are inserted in the lower case 11 in the oil supply path 5 for supplying fuel oil to the nozzle 10. . The lower case 11 is provided with nozzle switches 19 corresponding to the number of the nozzles 10. Each nozzle switch 19 detects whether the nozzle 10 is hung on the nozzle hanger 13 (FIG. 2) of the measuring unit 1i. The nozzle 10 is provided with a manual valve (not shown), and the amount of fuel oil discharged from the nozzle 10 is detected by a flow rate transmitter 18 connected to a flow meter F / M.
For convenience of explanation, FIG. 3 shows only one oil supply path 5 among a plurality of oil supply paths 5 provided for each weighing unit 1i.

Oil Supply Control Unit The oil supply control unit 3 shown in FIG. 4 controls the operation of the oil supply device such as the pump motor 14 and the electromagnetic valve 16 and includes a CPU 31 and a memory 32. The ROM of the memory 32 stores a predetermined program for controlling the fueling device, and the CPU 31 reads the program and controls the fueling device. The CPU 31 stores the ON / OFF information c (fuel supply information) of the nozzle switch 19 and the flow rate signal d (fuel supply information) from the flow rate transmitter 18 in the RAM of the memory 32, and also supplies the fuel supply information c, d is output to the POS external machine 2. In addition to the ON / OFF information c and the flow signal d, the No. of the weighing unit 1i is displayed. Information such as oil type (No. of nozzle 10) may also be output from the oil supply control unit 3 as oil supply information. The refueling control unit 3 outputs a refueling end signal f to the POS external machine 2 when refueling is completed. The oil supply control unit 3 and the POS external device 2 are connected to each other by a communication line 7 for each weighing unit 1 i inside the upper case 12.

POS External Machines A plurality of POS external machines 2 shown in FIG. 3 are for controlling setting input devices for inputting fuel oil purchase information a, respectively. One unit is provided on each side. As shown in FIG. 4, each POS external device 2 includes a microcomputer 20, a touch panel (non-explosion-proof display) 23, a printer 24, a detection sensor 25, a prepaid card reader 26, a credit card reader 27, and a bill discriminator. 28, a speaker 29, and the like. The touch panel 23 is a device that displays various information and guidance on a display screen such as a liquid crystal display device and performs input by directly touching the display with a finger. The detection sensor 25 is for detecting the presence of a refueling customer or a vehicle. When the detection sensor 25 detects a refueling customer or the like, the touch panel 23 is activated.

  The microcomputer 20 includes a CPU 21 and a memory 22. A predetermined program or the like is stored in the ROM of the memory 22, and the CPU 21 reads the program or the like and controls the setting input device. On the other hand, the display contents of the touch panel 23 and the fuel supply information from the fuel supply control unit 3 are stored in the RAM of the memory 22. The CPU 21 calculates an oil supply amount and an oil supply amount based on the flow rate signal d and displays the calculated amount on the touch panel 23. When the refueling is completed, the CPU 21 stores the refueling end signal f output from the refueling control unit 3 in the memory 22 and outputs the refueling end signal f to the POS main body 9.

POS main body The POS main body 9 is a terminal of a general operating system (POS system) of a retail business, and is connected to each of the plurality of POS external devices 2 via a LAN (communication cable 8). The POS main body 9 receives the purchase information a from the POS external machine 2 and the refueling information transmitted from the refueling control unit 3 through the POS external machine 2 as inputs. Manage various information such as inventory. When the purchase information a is input from the POS external device 2, the POS main body 9 outputs a refueling permission signal b that permits the pump motor 14 to rotate and discharge the fuel oil from the nozzle 10. . The refueling permission signal b is transmitted to the refueling control unit 3 via the POS external device 2.
In the case of a company that owns multiple gas stations, a wider area network is constructed so that management information from the POS main unit 9 installed at each gas station can be centralized and managed in the head office computer. May be. As such a POS system, a system disclosed in JP-A-6-255699 can be employed.

Next, the operation of this gas station system will be described.
First, when the detection sensor 25 of the POS external machine 2 detects a fueling customer, the previous fueling data 61 and the fueling guidance 62 of the measuring unit 1i are displayed on the touch panel 23 as shown in FIG. At this time, in addition to the display on the touch panel 23, a voice guidance with a content such as “I welcome you” may be notified from the speaker 29 in FIG. 2. Moreover, you may make it perform predetermined audio | voice guidance with the display of the touch panel 23 at the time of the turning point between the following input operations.

  Next, the refueling customer selects a desired payment method from among the payment methods 63 displayed in the refueling guidance 62. For example, when “cash” is touched, “please insert cash” is displayed in the refueling guidance 62 as shown in FIG. 5B, and the bill is inserted into the bill validator 28 (FIG. 2). Inspired by When payment by credit card or prepaid card is selected, the stored contents of these cards are read by the card readers 26 and 27 (FIG. 2), and then transmitted from the POS external device 2 to the POS main body 9, The stored contents of the card are inquired (confirmed).

  If there is no problem in the payment method (if there is no problem in the inserted bill or card), the oil type selection key 64 and the unit price of the fuel oil for each oil type are as shown in FIG. Is displayed. When the selection of the oil type is completed, a preset key 65 shown in FIG. 6A is displayed, and an oil supply amount or an oil supply amount can be set. When the setting of the payment method, the oil type, and the oil supply amount are all completed by the above procedure, a confirmation screen for confirming the setting content is displayed as shown in FIG.

  Here, when the cancel key 66b is touched, the display on the touch panel 23 returns to the display of FIG. 5A, and the setting can be performed again. On the other hand, when the confirmation key 66 a is touched, the POS external device 2 outputs the set purchase information “a” to the fuel supply control unit 3 and the POS main body 9. The POS body 9 outputs a fueling permission signal b corresponding to the purchase information a to the fueling control unit 3 via the POS external device 2. The fuel supply control unit 3 receives the purchase information a and the fuel supply permission signal b, and is set to a standby state in which fuel oil can be discharged from the corresponding nozzle 10.

  Next, when the fueling customer removes the nozzle 10 of the measuring unit 1i from the nozzle hanger 13 and the nozzle switch 19 is turned on, the fueling control unit 3 activates the pump motor 14 and opens the electromagnetic valve 16 so that the nozzle 10 Control to refuel. Further, the ON / OFF information c of the nozzle switch 19 is output from the fuel supply control unit 3 to the POS external device 2, and the fuel supply data 61 on the touch panel 23 is reset to zero as shown in FIG. 6C.

  Further, when refueling is actually started by operating the manual nozzle lever of the nozzle 10, a flow rate signal d from the flow rate transmitter 18 is output from the refueling control unit 3 to the POS external machine 2. The POS external machine 2 calculates the amount of fuel and the amount of fuel (the amount determined by the unit price and amount of fuel oil) based on the flow signal d, and the real-time refueling is performed on the touch panel 23 as shown in FIG. Display the amount and amount of refueling.

  Thereafter, for example, when the preset value or full tank is reached and the refueling is completed and the nozzle 10 is returned to the nozzle hanger 13, the nozzle switch 19 is turned off, the pump motor 14 is stopped, and the refueling control unit 3 sends a refueling end signal f. Is output. On the basis of the refueling end signal f, the touch panel 23 displays “Refueling completed” as shown in FIG. The POS external machine 2 outputs the refueling end signal f to the POS main body 9, pays out the refueling amount, reimburses the change, updates the stored contents of the card, and issues a slip from the printer 24 of FIG. 2. To do. Thereafter, when the slip or card is taken, “Thank you” is displayed on the touch panel 23 for a certain period of time as shown in FIG. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the screen shown in FIG. 5A is displayed again, or the touch panel 23 is turned off.

  When the POS main body 9 receives the refueling end signal f, the POS main body 9 stores data relating to the sales and stock of the fuel oil based on the purchase information a and the refueling information, and updates the management data of the accumulated gas station.

  Next, Example 2 will be described. In the following description, the configuration of parts different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the POS external machine 2 not only controls the device for inputting the fuel oil purchase information a, but also controls the operations of the pump motor 14 and the electromagnetic valve 16. That is, the fuel supply control unit 3 (FIG. 4) in the first embodiment is abolished, and the POS external machine 2 is configured to control the fuel supply device instead of the fuel supply control unit 3.

The ON / OFF information c (fuel supply information) of the nozzle switch 19 and the flow signal d (fuel supply information) from the flow transmitter 18 are directly output to the POS external machine 2, and the POS external machine 2 receives the purchase information a and Refueling information c and d is output to the POS main body 9. As described above, the POS external machine 2 is configured to control the operation of the pump motor 14 and the electromagnetic valve 16 and also to control the device for inputting the purchase information a of the fuel oil. Not only the display unit can be abolished, but also the oil supply control unit can be abolished, so that the configuration of the measuring unit 1i can be further simplified.
Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same portions or corresponding portions, and detailed description and illustration thereof are omitted.

  By the way, in the present filling station system, the explosion-proof type display unit which has been conventionally provided in the measuring unit 1i is eliminated, so that the space provided with the display unit becomes unnecessary. As shown in FIG. 2, in Example 1, since three nozzles 10 were provided on both surfaces of one weighing unit, the size in the width direction of the weighing unit 1i did not change. However, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, if the number of nozzles 10 per one side of the weighing unit 1i is two or one, unnecessary space can be reduced in accordance with the size of the POS external machine 2, The size in the width direction of the weighing unit 1i can be reduced. Therefore, the area occupied by one weighing unit is reduced, and space saving in the gas station can be realized.

As described above, the preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings. However, those skilled in the art will readily understand various changes and modifications within the obvious scope by looking at the present specification.
For example, it is not always necessary to provide both the solenoid valve and the pump motor in the metering unit. Provide a common underground pump for a plurality of metering units, and install only the solenoid valve in the metering unit to perform oil supply control. Also good.
Further, the display on the touch panel is not limited to the display example described above, and the layout and order of the display contents can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, instead of the touch panel, a display and an input setting device may be provided separately.
Accordingly, such changes and modifications are to be construed as within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

  The present invention can be used in a gas station system equipped with a POS system.

It is a top view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the POS main body and measuring unit which show Example 1 of this invention. It is a front view which shows a measurement unit. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the oil supply path | route etc. in a measurement unit. It is a schematic block diagram which shows this gas station system. It is a schematic front view which shows the example of a display of a touchscreen. It is a schematic front view which shows the example of a display of a touchscreen. It is a schematic front view which shows the example of a display of a touchscreen. It is a schematic block diagram of the gas station system which shows Example 2 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the modification of a measurement unit.

Explanation of symbols

1 ₁ to 1 _n: metering unit (fuel supply device)
10: Nozzle 12: Upper case (non-explosion-proof area)
13: Nozzle hanger 14: Pump motor 16: Solenoid valve 18: Flow rate transmitter 19: Nozzle switch 2: POS external machine 23: Touch panel (non-explosion-proof display)
3: Refueling control unit 7: Communication line 8: Communication cable (LAN)
9: POS body a: Purchase information b: Refueling permission signal d: Flow rate signal (refueling information)
f: Refueling end signal

Claims (4)

A gas station system having a plurality of fueling devices equipped with a flow rate transmitter and a nozzle switch,
An oil supply control unit for controlling the operation of the solenoid valve and / or the pump motor of the oil supply device;
A plurality of POS external machines that are provided for each refueling device and control equipment for inputting fuel oil purchase information;
With the purchase information from the POS external machine and the refueling information from the refueling control unit as inputs, the POS main body for managing the sales and inventory of the filling station,
The POS main unit and a plurality of POS external machines are connected by a LAN,
Each of the POS external machines and the refueling control unit are connected to each other by a communication line for each refueling device,
A refueling permission signal for permitting fuel oil to be discharged by rotation of the motor is output from the POS main body to the refueling control unit via the POS external device;
Output the flow rate signal from the flow rate transmitter to the POS external machine from the oil supply control unit,
A refueling end signal that is output when refueling is completed is output from the POS external machine to the POS body,
The non-explosion-proof indicator of the POS external machine displays at least the real-time amount of oil determined by the flow rate signal in real time, thereby eliminating the indicator of the explosion-proof type of oil supply of the fueling device. System. A gas station system having a plurality of fueling devices equipped with a flow rate transmitter and a nozzle switch,
A plurality of POS external machines for controlling the operation of the solenoid valve and / or the pump motor of the fueling device and for controlling equipment for inputting fuel oil purchase information;
With the purchase information and refueling information from the POS external machine as inputs, a POS main body for managing the sales and inventory of the gas station,
The POS main unit and a plurality of POS external machines are connected by a LAN,
A refueling permission signal for permitting the discharge of fuel oil by rotating the motor is output from the POS body to the POS external machine;
A flow signal from the flow transmitter is output to the POS external machine,
A refueling end signal that is output when refueling is completed is output from the POS external machine to the POS body,
The non-explosion-proof indicator of the POS external machine displays at least the real-time amount of oil determined by the flow rate signal in real time, thereby eliminating the indicator of the explosion-proof type of oil supply of the fueling device. System. In claim 1 or 2,
A gas station system in which the number of nozzles per one side of the fueling device is one or two. In claim 1, 2 or 3,
The POS external machine is a gas station system provided in a non-explosion proof region provided at a position above a position of a nozzle hanger for applying a nozzle in the fueling device.

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