JP2007119044A - Fuel supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extend the life of a hard disk unit of a POS device. <P>SOLUTION: A POS device 16 comprises a hard disk unit 17 for storing information about fuel supplying and a disk unit driving control means 19 for controlling either the driving or stopping of the hard disk unit 17. In addition, the hard disk unit 17 is stored in the POS device 16 and controlled in such a way that it is driven while a fuel supplying operation is carried out at a metering machine 12 by the disk unit driving control means 19 and when the metering machine 12 is not used to supply fuel, the driving is stopped. When the fuel is not supplied, the driving of the hard disk unit 17 is stopped to reduce the wear of a bearing rotatably supporting the disk, and it the life of the hard disk unit 17 can be extended. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply system, and more particularly to a fuel supply system configured to store operation information of a fuel supply device in a disk device mounted on a management device that manages the operation state of the fuel supply device.

  For example, in a gas station, a plurality of measuring machines (fuel supply machines) and an office management computer and a management device such as a POS (Point of Sale) device are communicably connected, and the management device manages data related to fueling. A fuel supply system has been established. In this fuel supply system, when a customer or a staff member operates an input device of a weighing machine and requests a refueling permission from the weighing machine to the management device, a staff member in the office operates the management device to refuel the meter. By transmitting the signal, the oil pump can be activated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, when the power supply is turned on when the gas station is opened, the management device is activated by reading a control program from the hard disk device and shifts to a controllable state. In the management device, fuel supply information (fuel supply information) such as the type of oil supplied, the amount of fuel supplied, and the amount of fuel supplied, and operation information such as the presence / absence of abnormality of a plurality of metering devices (fuel supply units) are displayed. It is stored in the hard disk device as information that can be obtained more.
JP 2005-263255 A

  Some of the gas stations are open 24 hours a day, and the devices such as weighing machines and management devices remain powered on for 24 hours. The hard disk device incorporated as a storage device in the management device always rotates the disk while the management device is turned on, and can store information obtained from the fuel supply device at any time. We maintain a system that can do this. For this reason, when operating 24 hours a day, there is a problem that the hard disk device has a short life span due to wear of a bearing that rotatably supports the disk, and the replacement time of the hard disk device is advanced. It was.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply system that solves the problem.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following means.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes a fuel supply device for supplying fuel, and a management device that has a disk device that stores information obtained from the fuel supply device and manages the fuel supply device. In the supply system, the management device includes an operation state determination unit that determines whether or not the fuel supply unit is in an operation state based on the fuel supply information output from the fuel supply unit, and the operation state determination unit. And a disk device drive control means for stopping the drive of the disk device when it is determined that the fuel supply machine is not in operation.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the disk device drive control means determines that the fuel supply unit is operating by the operating state determination means after stopping the drive of the disk device, the disk device The apparatus is driven.

  According to the present invention, since the drive of the disk device is stopped when the fuel supply device is not operating, the disk device can be driven when the fuel supply device supplies fuel, and is operated 24 hours a day. Even in this case, the life of the disk device can be extended, the disk device replacement time can be extended, and the number of maintenance operations for disk device replacement can be reduced.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a fuel supply system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel supply system 10 generally includes a plurality of self-service fueling type metering devices (fuel supply devices) 12 and a setting device 14 for setting fueling information (oil type, payment method, etc.) POS device 16 (management device) installed in the office, and a hub 18 for connecting the POS device 16 to each setting device 14. The weighing machine 12 is provided with an oil supply nozzle 13 for each oil type and a nozzle hook 15 for hooking each oil supply nozzle 13 on the front and rear surfaces. Each oil supply nozzle 13 communicates with an oil supply system accommodated in the measuring machine 12 via an oil supply hose. When the oil supply nozzle 13 is removed from the nozzle hook 15, a nozzle hook switch (not shown) is turned off. By switching, it is provided so that it can be detected whether it is waiting or refueling.

  Further, the POS device 16 includes a hard disk device 17 for storing refueling information, and a disk device drive control means (control program) 19 for controlling driving or stopping of the hard disk device 17. The hard disk device 17 is built in the POS device 16 and is controlled by the disk device drive control means 19 so as to be driven while the refueling operation is performed by the weighing machine 12 as will be described later. When refueling is not performed, driving is stopped.

  The POS device 16 is connected to a control unit (not shown) of the plurality of weighing machines 12 via a communication line (SS-LAN) 20 by a polling / selecting method. The hub 18 is connected to a plurality of setting devices 14 via a communication cable 21 using a TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) protocol.

  The setting device 14 is provided integrally with the weighing machine 12 and sets the oil supply condition in the measuring machine 12 by inputting an oil type, an oil supply amount, or an oil supply amount desired by an operator (customer) who supplies oil. Device. In this embodiment, the setting device 14 is provided in the weighing machine 12, but it may be provided separately from the weighing machine 12.

  The driver (customer) of the vehicle arriving at the gas station stops the vehicle in front of the vacant weighing machine 12 and then performs the setting operation of the setting device 14. And if the prepaid card issued at the banknote or the gas station is inserted and an oil type is selected, the setting device 14 will transmit setting data (oil type, amount of money received, or frequency of a prepaid card) to the POS device 16. . On the other hand, the POS device 16 outputs a fueling permission signal to the weighing machine 12. The meter 12 is now ready for refueling, and the customer can start refueling by inserting the refueling nozzle of the meter 12 into a refueling port (not shown) of the vehicle.

  Here, the configuration of the setting device 14 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the setting device 14 is provided on the front and back of the weighing machine 12, and includes a prepaid card insertion unit 22, a bill insertion unit 23, a credit card insertion unit 24, an interphone 26, A card storage 28, an oil type setting unit 30, a receipt issuing unit 32, and a display 34 are provided.

  The oil type setting unit 30 is provided with a human detection sensor 31 including an infrared sensor. The human detection sensor 31 switches from off to on when an operator is detected, outputs a human detection signal to the POS 16, and stops outputting the human detection signal when switched from on to off. The POS device 16 recognizes that the weighing machine 12 is in a refueling operation by inputting a human detection signal from the human detection sensor 31 and drives the hard disk device 17.

  A setting panel 36 having a prepaid card insertion unit 22, a bill insertion unit 23, a credit card insertion unit 24, and an interphone 26 is provided in the left half area of the setting device 14. The setting panel 36 is made of a metal plate or the like and is supported by a hinge 38 so as to be pivotable to the side. The setting panel 36 is normally key-locked in the closed position. For example, when a card jam or banknote jam occurs, the key lock is unlocked and rotated to the open position. .

  Here, the setting device 14 and the POS device 16 perform data communication with each other, and are programmed to execute control processing when a customer arrives at the weighing machine 12. First, the control process of the setting device 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, and then the control process of the POS device 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the setting device 14 checks whether or not the human detection sensor 31 is turned on in S11. When the customer approaches the weighing machine 12, the human detection sensor 31 is turned on, and a human detection signal is transmitted to the POS device 16 in S12.

  In the next S13, it is checked whether a card or a bill has been inserted into any of the prepaid card insertion unit 22, the bill insertion unit 23, and the credit card insertion unit 24. In S13, when a card or banknote is inserted, the process proceeds to S14, and a method for paying the refueling fee (either a prepaid card, a credit card, or cash) is transmitted to the POS device 16.

  Subsequently, in S15, it is checked whether or not the oil type to be refueled is set by the operation of the oil type setting unit 30. If the oil type setting operation is performed in S15, the process proceeds to S16, and the switch of the static electricity removing sheet (not shown) provided in the weighing machine 12 set by the operation of the oil type setting unit 30 is turned on. Check if it has become. When the customer touches the static electricity removing sheet, the switch of the static electricity removing sheet (not shown) is turned on. Therefore, the process proceeds to S18, and it is checked whether the nozzle hooking switch (not shown) of the weighing machine 12 is turned off.

  In S18, when the nozzle hooking switch (not shown) of the weighing machine 12 is off, the fueling nozzle 13 is removed from the nozzle hooking 15, so the process proceeds to S19, and a fueling permission request signal is transmitted to the POS device 16. To do.

  In the next S20, it is checked whether or not a refueling permission signal from the POS device 16 has been received. In S20, when the refueling permission signal is received, the process proceeds to S21, and since refueling is possible, a state signal indicating that refueling is being performed is transmitted to the POS device 16.

  Subsequently, in S22, it is checked whether or not a nozzle hooking switch (not shown) of the weighing machine 12 is turned on. In S22, when refueling is completed and the refueling nozzle 13 is returned to the nozzle hook 15, a nozzle hooking switch (not shown) is turned on. Therefore, in S23, the refueling information such as the refueling measuring machine number, date / time, refueling amount, refueling amount, etc. is transmitted to the POS device 16, and in S24, the current measuring machine number, date / time, refueling amount, oil type are received from the receipt issuing unit 32. A slip (receipt) on which refueling information such as the amount of refueling is printed is issued. Thus, a series of control processing by the setting device 14 is completed.

  As described above, the setting device 14 executes control processing according to the refueling operation while performing data communication with the POS device 16.

  Next, the control process of the POS device 16 executed according to various data transmitted from the setting device 14 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the POS device 16 determines whether a human detection signal is input from the setting device 14 (S 31), whether a payment method is input from the setting device 14 (S 32), Whether or not oil type setting information has been input (S33), whether or not an oil supply permission request signal has been input from the setting device 14 (S34), and a fuel supply permission button (not shown) provided in the POS device 16 has been operated. Whether or not a refueling permission signal output is input (S35), and whether or not refueling information such as a meter number, date and time, a refueling amount, and a refueling amount is input from the setting device 14 (S36), After performing the process described later based on each determination, the process proceeds to S37.

  In S37, if no human detection signal is input from all of the setting devices 14 managed by the POS device 16, it is determined that all the weighing machines 12 are not in operation, and the drive of the hard disk device 17 is stopped. (S38). If a human detection signal is input from any of the setting devices 14, it is determined that the weighing machine 12 is in an operating state. That is, this S37 functions as an operating state determination unit that determines whether or not the weighing machine 12 is in an operating state.

  As described above, when the human detection sensor 31 of the setting device 14 detects a human and a human detection signal is input to the POS device 16, the hard disk device 17 starts to be driven, refueling is completed, and the human is removed from the weighing machine 12. When the output of the human detection signal from the human detection sensor 31 stops due to the separation, the drive of the hard disk device 17 is stopped. Therefore, when refueling is not performed, the drive of the hard disk device 17 is stopped and the disk is rotatably supported. Thus, the wear of the bearings can be suppressed, and the life of the hard disk device 17 can be extended.

  As a result, even when the POS device 16 is installed at a gas station that is open 24 hours, the replacement time of the hard disk device 17 can be extended as compared with the conventional one, and the burden of maintenance on the hard disk device 17 can be reduced. .

  Next, the control configuration of the POS device 16 will be described based on the determination results of S31 to S36.

  In S31, when a human detection signal starts to be input from the setting device 14, it is determined that the weighing machine 12 corresponding to the setting device 14 is in an operating state, the process proceeds to S39, the hard disk device 17 is driven, and processing in S37 described later is performed. Migrate to As a result, the hard disk device 17 is in a state in which the disk can be rotated and written or read by the magnetic head. If there is no setter 14 outputting a human detection signal, the process proceeds to the next step S32.

  In S32, it is checked whether or not a payment method has been input from the setting device 14. In S32, if there is an input of a payment method, the process proceeds to S40, where the payment method (either prepaid card, credit card, or cash) is displayed on the monitor (not shown) of the POS device 16, and the processing of S37 described later is performed. Transition. If no payment method is input from the setting device 14, the process proceeds to the next step S33.

  In S33, it is checked whether or not the oil type setting information is input from the setting device 14. When the oil type setting information is input in S33, the process proceeds to S41, where the input oil type setting information is registered in the storage area corresponding to the measuring machine number of the hard disk device 17, and the process proceeds to the process of S37 described later. To do. When the oil type setting information is not input from the setting device 14, the process proceeds to the next step S34.

  In S34, it is checked whether a refueling permission request signal is input from the setting device 14 of the weighing machine 12. In S34, when the refueling permission request signal is input, the process proceeds to S42, and the fact that the meter number is waiting for refueling is displayed on the monitor (not shown) of the POS device 16, and the processing of S37 described later is performed. Transition. If no refueling request signal is input from the setting device 14, the process proceeds to the next step S35.

  In S35, a staff member at the gas station confirms that there is no abnormality (no problem in refueling) at the measuring machine 12 that has been requested to refuel, and a refueling permission button (not shown) provided on the POS device 16 A refueling permission signal is transmitted to the setting device 14 of the measuring machine 12 based on the refueling permission output by operating (S43). Then, the process proceeds to S44, where the fact that the meter number is being refueled is displayed on a monitor (not shown) of the POS device 16, and the process proceeds to S37 described later. If a refueling permission button (not shown) provided on the POS device 16 is not operated, the process proceeds to the next step S36.

  In S36, it is checked whether refueling information such as a meter number, date / time, refueling amount, refueling amount, and the like has been input from the setting device 14. If the refueling information is not input in S36, the process returns to S31, and the processes after S31 are repeated. If the refueling information is input in S36, the process proceeds to S45, and the refueling information is stored in the storage area corresponding to the measuring machine number of the hard disk device 17. When the current refueling information is stored in the hard disk device 17, the process proceeds to S46, and the fact that the weighing machine number is on standby is displayed on the monitor (not shown) of the POS device 16, and the process of S37 described later is performed. Migrate to

  In S37, when a human detection signal is input from any of the setting devices 14 managed by the POS device 16, it is determined that any of the weighing machines 12 is in an operating state, and the process returns to S32 described above, and after S32 Repeat the process. In S37, if no human detection signal is input from all of the setting devices 14 managed by the POS device 16, it is determined that all the weighing machines 12 are not in operation, and the hard disk device 17 is driven. Stop (S38). As a result, when all the weighing machines 12 are not in an operating state, the hard disk device 17 stops, so that it is possible to suppress the wear of the bearings that rotatably support the disks of the hard disk device 17 and the life of the hard disk device 17. Can be extended.

  In the above embodiment, the person detection sensor 31 provided in the setting device 14 recognizes that the weighing machine 12 is in an operating state by detecting a person. However, it goes without saying that whether or not the weighing machine 12 is in an operating state may be determined based on information other than the presence or absence of human detection by the human detection sensor 31. For example, a vehicle detection sensor that detects whether or not a vehicle exists in front of the weighing machine 12 instead of the human detection sensor 31 is provided, and the weighing machine 12 is in an operating state when the vehicle detection sensor detects the vehicle. If the vehicle detection sensor does not detect the vehicle, it may be determined that the weighing machine 12 is not in operation.

  Alternatively, when the fueling nozzle 13 provided in the metering machine 12 is removed from the nozzle hook (not shown), it is determined that the metering machine 12 is in an operating state, and the fueling nozzle 13 is It may be determined that the weighing machine 12 is not in an operating state when it is returned to (not shown). Furthermore, as a configuration for detecting that the weighing machine 12 has changed from a non-operating state to an operating state, a card or banknote has been inserted into the prepaid card insertion unit 22, the banknote insertion unit 23, or the credit card insertion unit 24. Is detected, when the oil type is set by the oil type setting unit 30, or when it is detected that an electrostatic discharge sheet (not shown) provided on the weighing machine 12 is touched, 12, it may be determined that the metering device 12 is in an operating state when the amount of fueling by a flow meter (not shown) of the metering device 12 is detected as having actually started refueling.

  Moreover, in the said Example, when all the setting devices 14 (human detection sensor 31) stop detecting a person, it determines with the weighing machine 12 not being in operation state, but it detects that it is not in operation state. The configuration for this may be another configuration. For example, when the refueling is completed, the refueling amount, the refueling amount, or the like (refueling information) output from the measuring device 12 to the POS device 16 at the end of refueling is used. Of course, you may do.

  In the above embodiment, the POS device 16 is described as an example of the management device. However, the management device constituting a part of the present invention is not limited to the POS device. The present invention can be applied to a monitoring device for the weighing machine 12 having a hard disk device for storing an abnormality. That is, the present invention can be applied to any management device having a disk device that stores information obtained from the fuel supply machine.

  In the above embodiment, the POS device at the filling station has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a fuel supply machine that supplies fuel other than gasoline or light oil (for example, CNG or hydrogen gas) is managed. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a management apparatus.

  In the above embodiment, the self-service refueling type weighing machine has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can of course be applied to a filling station where a full service type weighing machine is installed. .

  In the above embodiment, the hard disk device is taken as an example of the disk device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a writable disc such as a magnetic recording type DVD-RAM or a flexible magnetic disc. For optical recording (including red laser and blue laser), and for optically reading data magnetically recorded by irradiating the disk with laser light, such as a magneto-optical disk device called MO Of course, the present invention can also be applied.

It is a block diagram which shows one Example of the fuel supply system which becomes this invention. It is a figure which expands and shows the structure of the setting device. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the control processing which the setting device 14 performs. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control process executed by a POS device 16;

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel supply system 12 Weighing machine 13 Refueling nozzle 14 Setting device 15 Nozzle hook 16 POS apparatus 17 Hard disk apparatus 19 Disk apparatus drive control means 22 Prepaid card insertion part 23 Bill insertion part 24 Credit card insertion part 30 Oil type setting part 31 Human detection Sensor 34 Display

Claims (2)

A fuel supply machine for supplying fuel;
A management device having a disk device for storing information obtained from the fuel supply device, and managing the fuel supply device;
A fuel supply system comprising:
The management device
Based on the fuel supply information output from the fuel supply unit, an operating state determination means for determining whether or not the fuel supply unit is in an operating state;
A disk device drive control means for stopping the drive of the disk device when the operating state determining means determines that the fuel supply machine is not operating;
A fuel supply system comprising:   The disk device drive control means drives the disk device when the operation state determination means determines that the fuel supply unit is operating after stopping the drive of the disk device. The fuel supply system according to claim 1.

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