JP2010198553A - Vending machine with function of prohibiting unauthorized reload of electronic money - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prohibit unauthorized reload of electronic money in a vending machine with an electronic money terminal mounted thereon. <P>SOLUTION: The vending machine includes a means for counting the number of repetitions from the time when detecting that both or either a coin housing part and/or a paper money housing part are/is not arranged at a predetermined position to the time when they return to the predetermined position again and the next reload function is executed, and stops only the reload function of the electronic money terminal when the counted number of times is larger than the preset number of times. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a vending machine equipped with a money handling apparatus and an electronic money terminal, and more particularly, to a technique for preventing unauthorized charging of electronic money.

  The coin processing device and the banknote processing device mounted on the vending machine are provided with a coin storage unit and a banknote storage unit, respectively, which can be detached from the apparatus main body in order to facilitate the collection of coins and banknotes. It has become. These are usually set at a predetermined position of the apparatus main body, and the setting is monitored by a sensor. Therefore, when one or both of the coin storage unit and the banknote storage unit are not in the predetermined position, such as when collecting coins, the monitoring sensor determines that the coin storage unit and the banknote storage unit are not in the predetermined position, and stops selling the product. .

  Some of such vending machines are equipped with an electronic money terminal having an electronic money charging function. In this case, it is well known to prevent unauthorized charging of electronic money, in which money is extracted and charged from the installed coin processing device and banknote processing device. For example, as described in Patent Document 1, when the door sensor detects that the door of the vending machine is released, the electronic money controller temporarily stops the charge function of the writing means and is opened. When the door sensor detects that the door has been closed, the electronic money controller is a vending machine that restores the charging function of the writing means. The electronic money controller stops the charging function of the writing means when the number of repetitions reaches a predetermined number.

JP 2007-304949 A

Of the conventional configurations described above, the door sensor is often provided at a position where it can be found immediately after opening the door in order to facilitate maintenance due to the structure of the vending machine. However, it is easy to make only the door sensor closed. Therefore, in the above conventional technique, if the door of the vending machine is opened and only the door sensor is in the same state as when closed, the coin or banknote is taken out from the coin processing apparatus or the banknote processing apparatus in the vending machine, It is possible to charge the electronic money terminal illegally using the taken out coins or banknotes, and it is possible to charge an infinite amount of money.

  An object of the present invention is to suppress the above-described unauthorized use of an electronic money terminal of a vending machine.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electronic money terminal and a vending machine including a coin processing device and a banknote processing device for performing processing of identification, sorting and storing of inserted money, Means for detecting a state where the coin storage part of the coin processing device and the banknote storage part of the banknote processing device are not in a predetermined position in the apparatus main body, and / or either or both of the coin storage part and the banknote storage part; Means for counting the number of repetitions from when it is detected that the battery is not disposed at the predetermined position until it returns to the predetermined position and the next charging function is executed. When the result is greater than the preset number of times, only the charge function of the electronic money terminal is stopped.

  According to the present invention, it can be expected that the money collection of the money handling apparatus is performed other than the determined work, and even if an illegal charging action is performed, it cannot be performed indefinitely and can be suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a coin processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a banknote handling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the holding part of the electronic money terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart until the charging function is stopped in the vending machine shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a vending machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 1, a vending machine 100 stores a coin processing device 200 that identifies, sorts, and stores inserted coins, a bill processing device 300 that conveys, identifies, and stores inserted bills, and electronic money. In addition, an electronic money terminal 400 that communicates with a portable terminal such as a non-contact type IC card, and a main control unit 500 that controls these devices are provided.

  Among these, about the coin processing apparatus 200, the outline is shown in FIG. The coin processing device 200 is provided with a coin storage portion 210 for storing the coins that have been inserted and subjected to the identification processing and the sorting processing in an aligned stack. The coin storage portion 210 is a cassette type that can be detached from the apparatus main body. It has become. In order to detect this attachment / detachment, a switch 220 is provided on the coin processing device 200 main body side, and the protrusion 230 on the coin storage portion side pushes the switch 220, thereby causing the coin storage portion 210 from the device main body. Desorption can be detected.

  Moreover, about the banknote processing apparatus 300, the outline is shown in FIG. The banknote processing apparatus 300 is provided with a banknote storage unit 310 that stores the banknotes that have been subjected to identification processing and are determined to be genuine bills in an aligned stack. This banknote storage part 310 rotates with respect to an apparatus main body, and can extract a banknote from an opening part at the time of banknote collection | recovery. And the banknote accommodating part 310 whole is detachable from the banknote processing apparatus 300 main body. A switch 320 is provided on the banknote processing apparatus 300 main body side to detect when the apparatus main body is rotated, or to detect detachment from the apparatus main body. By pressing the switch 320, the attachment / detachment of the bill storage unit 310 from the apparatus main body can be detected.

  In the child money terminal 400, as shown in FIG. 4, it is stored in a holding unit 410 for holding a portable terminal such as a non-contact type IC card provided in front of the vending machine 100, a charge start button 440, and the portable terminal. A display unit 450 for displaying the amount of electronic money being stored, and a controller 420 and a card reader / writer 430 provided inside the vending machine 100 for processing information obtained from the portable terminal as shown in FIG. Etc. This processing refers to collation of money amount information and ID information obtained from the mobile terminal, charge processing for recording money amount information from the money handling apparatus on the mobile terminal, and the like.

  A customer who wants to charge electronic money to his / her portable terminal such as a non-contact IC card inserts or inserts coins into the vending machine 100 from a coin insertion slot or a bill insertion slot into the electronic money terminal 400. The charge execution button 440 provided in the button is pressed. The coins inserted into the vending machine 100 are sent to the coin processing device 200, and the coin processing device 200 determines the amount of the accepted coin and transmits the amount information to the controller 420 via the main control unit 500. . Moreover, the banknote inserted in the vending machine 100 is identified by the banknote processing apparatus 300, and the banknote processing apparatus 300 determines the amount of the inserted banknote and sends the amount information to the controller 420 via the main control unit 500. Send. The controller 420 that has received the money amount information transmits a command for instructing writing together with the money amount information to the card reader / writer 430, and the card reader / writer 430 causes the customer's portable terminal to perform predetermined processing and writes the money amount information. Make it. The portable terminal transmits the end of writing to the controller 420, the controller 420 transmits the end of writing to the main control unit 500, and the main control unit 500 stores the signal.

  Since there is no particular distinction between the coins or bills used when charging the electronic money, the coins or bills are taken out from the coin processing device 200 or the bill processing device 300 installed in the vending machine 100 and used. You can still charge. Therefore, operation | movement required when taking out the coin storage part 210 which is operation | movement required when taking out a coin from the coin storage part 210 of the coin processing apparatus 200 from an apparatus main body, or taking out a banknote from the banknote storage part 310 of the banknote processing apparatus 300 is required. It is possible to suppress fraud by detecting that the bill storage unit 310 is rotated or disconnected from the apparatus main body and expressing the relationship with the execution of charge after detection.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart until the charging function is stopped in the vending machine shown in FIG. The function of each part until the charge function is stopped will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step 1, when the coin storage unit 210 is separated from the apparatus main body, a signal indicating that the switch 220 provided on the coin processing apparatus 200 main body side is released from the pressing of the protrusion 230 on the coin storage unit 210 side is received. The data is transmitted to a CM control board assembly 200 (not shown). The CM control board Assy. Transmits a signal from the switch 220 to the main control unit 500, and the main control unit 500 stores the signal. Thereafter, when the coin storage unit 210 is returned to a predetermined position of the main body of the coin processing device 200, the switch 220 is pushed again by the protrusion 230, and a signal indicating that the switch is pushed is sent to the main control unit 500 via the CM control board Assembly. The main control 500 stores the signal. Accordingly, the main control unit 500 detects that the coin storage unit 210 has been removed.

  Similarly, in Step 1, when the banknote storage unit 310 is rotated with respect to the apparatus main body or separated from the apparatus main body, the switch 320 provided on the banknote processing apparatus 300 main body side presses the protrusion 330 on the banknote storage unit 310 side. Is transmitted to a BV control board assembly (not shown) inside the banknote processing apparatus 300, and the BV control board assembly transmits a signal from the switch 320 to the main control unit 500. Control unit 500 stores the signal. Thereafter, when the banknote storage unit 310 is returned to a predetermined position of the main body of the banknote processing apparatus 300, the switch 320 is again pressed by the protrusion 330, and a signal indicating that it has been pressed is sent to the main control unit 500 via the BV control board assembly. The main control 500 stores the signal. As a result, the main control unit 500 detects that the banknote storage unit 310 has been removed.

  In step 2, when the charge execution button 440 is pressed after the coin storage unit 210 or the banknote storage unit 310 returns to a predetermined position of each apparatus main body, a charge start signal is transmitted to the main control unit 500 and stored. The At this point, the main control unit 500 has stored signals indicating that the coin storage unit 210 and the banknote storage unit 310 are attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus, and the subsequent charging is started.

  In step 3, the counting unit 510 inside the main control unit 500 starts a timer from the attachment / detachment of the coin storage unit 210 or the bill storage unit 310 to the main body of the apparatus, and receives a charge start signal within a predetermined time. 1 is added to and the counter value after addition is stored.

  In step 4, the counter value after addition is compared with a predetermined numerical value. In step 5, when the predetermined numerical value is exceeded, a function stop command is transmitted from the main control unit 500 to the controller 420 of the electronic money terminal. The controller 420 stops the charge function of the electronic money terminal by this command.

  Note that the fact that the charging function is stopped may be displayed on the display unit 450 of the electronic money terminal to clarify it. In order to return the charge function, if a method based on a specific work such as limiting the number of times the charge start button 440 is pressed is taken, the deterrent against unauthorized charges is further increased. (Step 6)

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Vending machine 200 Coin processing apparatus 210 Coin storage part 220 Coin processing apparatus side switch 230 Coin storage part side protrusion 300 Banknote processing apparatus 310 Banknote storage part 320 Banknote processing apparatus side switch 330 Banknote storage part side protrusion 400 Electronic money terminal 410 Electron Money terminal holding unit 420 Electronic money terminal controller 430 Electronic money terminal card reader / writer 440 Electronic money terminal charge start button 450 Electronic money terminal display unit 500 Vending machine side main control unit 510 Main control unit counting unit

Claims (1)

  An electronic money terminal and a vending machine including a coin processing device and a banknote processing device for performing processing of identification, sorting and storing of inserted coins, the coin storage unit of the coin processing device and the banknote processing device Means for detecting a state in which the bill storage part is not in a predetermined position in the apparatus main body and / or either or both of the coin storage part and the bill storage part are not arranged in the predetermined position. And a means for counting the number of repetitions until the charging function is executed next, and when the counting result of the number is greater than a preset number. The vending machine is characterized in that only the charging function of the electronic money terminal is stopped.

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