JP2011108179A - Maintenance management system for money processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a maintenance management system of a money processor for enabling an operator to acquire information necessary for maintenance management under a normal operation without performing any special operation, and for achieving appropriate maintenance management based on the acquired information necessary for maintenance management for the acquisition of an operation history. <P>SOLUTION: The maintenance management system of the money processor is provided with: an automatic vending machine; a portable information device; and a management device which manages the maintenance of the money processor. The money processor includes a detection means for detecting the start state and end state of an operation to the money processor by detecting the attachment/detachment or opening/closing of a storage part, and the automatic vending machine includes a main control means for making the communication means transmit information necessary for maintenance management among operation history information to the portable information device during an operation time from the start state till the end state of the operation to the money processor on the basis of the detection result of the detection means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a maintenance management system for a money handling device including a coin handling device, a bill handling device and the like mounted on a vending machine.

  The money handling device installed in the vending machine analyzes the operation history information of the money handling device to clarify the necessity and timing of maintenance and maintenance of the money handling device, and perform appropriate maintenance management. It can be carried out. This operation history information is conventionally stored in a non-volatile memory element or the like on a substrate inside the money handling apparatus, and is acquired by an operator connecting a dedicated tool to the money handling apparatus, or the entire vending machine The main control unit that controls the operation information receives and accumulates the operation history information from the money handling apparatus, and is acquired by an operator connecting a dedicated tool to the main control unit.

  In Patent Document 1, each time a failure occurs in a coin processing device, the number of failures, environmental conditions and operating hours are acquired as history information, and the inspection time is reached when the acquired result value exceeds the failure judgment value. What is displayed is disclosed.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a device that detects opening / closing of a vending machine door and stores opening / closing history information as operation history information based on the detected information. In this prior art, an IC chip built-in holder part storing individual ID information is mounted on a lock / unlock key for opening and closing the door of the vending machine, and an ID acquisition part is disposed near the handle lock part. By performing wireless communication between the ID acquisition unit and the ID acquisition unit, the vending machine side uses the opening / closing information to obtain the locking / unlocking history information based on the individual ID information acquired by the ID acquisition unit 10 when the handle lock unit is locked / unlocked. The operation history information is sequentially stored in the storage unit together with the opening / closing history information.

JP 2001-175936 A JP 2009-37524 A

  However, in the first conventional technique for obtaining operation history information using a dedicated tool, it is necessary for the operator to execute it with will, and this places a burden on the operator. Also, in the second conventional technique for displaying that the inspection time has been reached, it is necessary for the vending machine operator to take a memo after viewing the display and contact a specialist who maintains the money handling apparatus. In addition, it is difficult to maintain and inspect the money handling apparatus at an appropriate timing while maintaining the vending machine in a state where it can be sold without burdening the operator. In the third conventional technique for storing individual ID information for each locking / unlocking key, it is necessary to provide an IC chip or the like for each key, and the key bundle becomes heavy or bulky, which is not realistic. Further, it is necessary to separately collect the operation history information from the storage unit by the information terminal device, which increases the burden on the operator and makes it difficult to maintain and inspect the money handling apparatus at an appropriate timing.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible for an operator to acquire operation history information without extra work for acquiring operation history information. An object of the present invention is to provide a maintenance management system for a money handling apparatus that can perform appropriate processing at appropriate timing using history information.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a money handling system including a vending machine, a portable information device carried by an operator, and a management device that manages maintenance of the money handling device mounted on the vending machine. A maintenance management system for an apparatus, wherein the money handling apparatus identifies and selects an accepted coin or banknote, and obtains a storage unit for storing the identified coin or banknote, and operation history information of the money handling apparatus. And a vending machine that wirelessly communicates with the portable information device. The vending machine includes a detecting unit that detects a start state and an end state of the work on the money handling apparatus by detecting attachment / detachment or opening / closing of the storage unit. Based on the detection result of the communication means and the detection means, maintenance is included in the operation history information during the work time from the start state to the end state of the work for the money handling apparatus. Main control means for transmitting maintenance management information necessary for management from the communication means to the portable information device, wherein the portable information device stores maintenance management information received from the communication means, and When entering the communicable area, the stored maintenance management information is transmitted to the management device.

  According to the present invention, an operator of a vending machine can handle money by a normal operation without performing a special operation for acquiring information necessary for maintenance management of the money processing apparatus mounted on the vending machine. Information necessary for maintenance and management of the device is sent to the portable information device and the management device, and the money handling device can be maintained and managed at an appropriate timing.

It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the maintenance management system of the money handling apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a coin processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a banknote processing apparatus. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are structural views showing the main parts of the mechanical configuration of the coin processing device and the banknote processing device, respectively. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the transmission process of the operation history information in a communication part. It is a sequence chart which shows the sequence of the process between each apparatus in the maintenance management system of a money processing apparatus.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same number is assigned to the same element throughout the description of the embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a maintenance management system for a money handling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a maintenance management system 100 includes a vending machine 1, a portable information terminal device (portable information device) 2 carried by an operator, and a management device 3 provided in a management center (sales office). The vending machine 1 is connected to a main control unit 4 that controls the entire apparatus and a money processing device 5. As the money processing device 5, a coin processing device (common name, coin changer) 6 and a banknote processing device 7 (common name, bill validator). At least one of them is provided.

  The vending machine 1 is configured such that a communication unit 4 a that performs wireless communication with the mobile information terminal device 2 in a communicable area is connected to the main control unit 4. The main control unit 4 controls the entire vending machine, and at the time of starting work on the money handling device 5, the operation history information transferred from the coin handling device 6 and the banknote handling device 7 as the money handling device 5 is transmitted to the communication unit 4a. Control to send to.

  The coin processing device 6 includes an acquisition unit 62 that acquires operation history information every predetermined time, a sorting control unit 63 that drives and controls elements in a sorting unit (to be described later) that sorts coins, and the sorted coins. A storage / dispensing control unit 64 for driving / controlling elements in a storage / dispensing unit (to be described later) for storing / dispensing; a detection unit 65 for detecting a start state and an end state of work by the worker with respect to the coin processing device 6; And the control part 66 which controls the whole apparatus containing these components is comprised.

  The banknote processing device 7 includes an acquisition unit 72 that acquires operation history information, a sorting control unit 73 that drives and controls elements in an identification unit (to be described later) for identifying and sorting banknotes, and a storage that stores sorted banknotes. Storage control unit 74 that drives and manages the elements in the unit (to be described later), detection unit 75 that detects the start state and end state of the work performed by the worker on the banknote processing device 7, and the entire apparatus including these components The control part 76 which controls is comprised.

  The control units 66 and 76 of the coin processing device 6 and the banknote processing device 7 as the money processing device 5 notify the main control unit 4 to that effect when the detection units 65 and 75 detect the start state of the work, respectively. The operation history information acquired by the acquisition units 62 and 72 is set to be transferable to the control unit 4.

  The portable information terminal device 2 performs wireless communication of information with a communication unit 4a in the vending machine 1 and a communication unit (described later) of the management device 3 via a communication unit (not shown) including an antenna. A control unit 21 that controls the entire apparatus and a storage unit 22 that stores operation history information including maintenance management information necessary for maintenance management of the money handling apparatus are included. The portable information terminal device 2 is realized, for example, as a key boulder type RF tag attached to a key bundle for opening and closing the door of the vending machine 1.

  The management device 3 includes a communication unit 31 that communicates information with the portable information terminal device 2, a storage unit 32 that stores maintenance management information necessary for maintenance management of the money handling device 5, and a control unit 33 that controls the entire device. Consists of including.

  Next, regarding the details of the coin processing device (coin changer) 6 and the banknote processing device (bill validator) 7, see the block diagram showing the detailed configuration of FIGS. 2 and 3, and the external view of FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). To explain.

  The coin processing device 6 includes a sorting unit (acceptor) 631 disposed on the upper side of the main body 60 and a coin storage unit (cassette tube) 632 disposed on the lower side. In addition, a payout portion 641 for paying out coins is provided at the lower bottom portion of the coin storage portion 632.

  The sorting unit 631 and the coin storage unit 632 are detachably provided to the main body 60 to facilitate operations such as maintenance, inspection, maintenance, and collection of money by an operator. In the example of FIG. 4A, the sorting unit 632 side that is the upper side of the coin storage unit 632 with respect to the main body 60 can be detached. That is, the lower side of the coin storage portion 632 is pivotally supported with respect to the main body 60, and the release position where the upper side is separated from the main body 60 from the operation position where the coin storage portion 632 is received in the main body 60 and performs normal operation ( In the working position).

  In addition to the configuration of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the sorting control unit 63 determines the authenticity of the coins (true and false coins) received from the coin slot (not shown) of the vending machine 1, Components such as a sorting sensor 63 for sorting by denomination, a genuine coin passage solenoid 63c provided in a genuine passage through which a genuine coin after authenticity determination passes, and a passage sensor 63d for detecting the presence or absence of coins in the passage, etc. Consists of including. In the process in which the coins received from the coin slot of the vending machine 1 go down the passages provided in the left-right direction and the up-down direction, the sorting control unit 63 uses these components to control the coins. According to the control instruction of the unit 66, the denomination including the determination of the authenticity of the coin (true coin / false coin) is performed, and the selected coin is sorted into denominations and stored in the coin storage unit 632 in the operating position. As shown in FIG. 4A, in the coin storage unit 632, storage cylinders extending in the vertical direction (vertical direction) are arranged in denominations in the left-right direction, and the sorting unit 631 controls the sorting unit 631 under the control of the sorting control unit 6. The sorted coins are stored in the corresponding storage cylinders of the coin storage unit 632.

  In addition to the configuration of FIG. 1, the storage / dispensing control unit 64 includes a storage unit detachment detection switch (SW) 64a for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the coin storage unit 632 with respect to the main body 60, as shown in FIG. A coin empty switch (EMPSW) 64b for detecting the state, a coin payout motor drive means 64c driven to pay out coins, and a motor drive means for detecting the drive position of the motor drive means for storing and paying out coins It is configured to include components such as the position sensor 64d. The accommodation / dispensing control unit 64 drives and controls the above-described components according to the control instruction of the control unit 66 to store the money type and pays out coins corresponding to the amount to be paid out.

  The banknote handling apparatus 7 includes a sorting unit 731 disposed on the upper side of the main body 70 and a banknote storage unit (commonly referred to as a stacker) 732 disposed on the lower side. In the present embodiment, the bill storage unit 7 does not have a payout function, unlike the coin processing device.

  Of the sorting unit 731 and the banknote storage unit 732, the banknote storage unit (stacker) 732 is detachably provided with respect to the main body 70, or at least a part of the banknote storage unit 732 is openable and closable. It makes it easy to collect. As shown in FIG. 4B, the banknote storage part 732 is detachable on the side of the sorting part 732 that is the upper side of the main body 70. That is, the lower side of the bill storage part 632 is pivotally supported with respect to the main body 70, and the upper part is detached from the main body 70 from the operation position where the bill storage part 732 is accommodated in the main body 70 to perform normal operation ( In the working position).

  In addition to the configuration of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the sorting control unit 73 determines the authenticity of the banknotes received from the banknote insertion slot (not shown) of the vending machine 1 (true coins and false coins). Identification sensor 73a, banknote transport driving means 73b for transporting the banknote after authenticity determination, and a path sensor 73d for detecting the presence or absence of banknotes in the path as a transport path. In the process in which the banknote received from the banknote insertion slot of the vending machine 1 travels on the conveyance path, the identification control unit 73 uses these components to control the banknote according to the control instruction of the control unit 76. The banknote determined to be genuine is conveyed to the banknote storage unit 732 at the operating position. The banknote storage part 732 stores the conveyed banknote.

  In addition to the configuration of FIG. 1, the storage control unit 74 includes a storage unit detachment detection switch (SW) 74 a for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the coin storage unit 731 with respect to the main body 70, as shown in FIG. The bill full sensor 74b for detecting the bill and the bill storage means 74c for storing the bill conveyed from the identification unit 731 are included. The accommodation control unit 74 drives and controls the above components according to a control instruction from the control unit 76 to store bills.

  The detection units 65 and 75 that detect the start state and the end state of the work performed by the worker on the coin processing device 6 and the banknote processing device 7 as the money processing device 5 described in FIG. These are realized by a storage / dispensing control unit 64 and a storage unit detachment detection switch 64a, and a storage control unit 74 and a storage unit detachment detection switch 74a, respectively.

  Next, operation history information acquired by the acquisition units 67 and 77 in the coin processing device 6 and the banknote processing device 7 as the money processing device 5 will be described. The purpose of obtaining the operation history information of the money handling apparatus 5 is to prevent the operation time of the vending machine 1 from being shortened due to a failure of the money handling apparatus 5. Information for failure prevention is acquired as operation history information. First, the operation history information of the coin processing device will be described as an example of the operation history information of the money processing device 5.

  The operation history information of the coin processing device 6 is obtained by digitizing an event occurring in the coin processing device 6 at a predetermined time, and acquired by the acquisition unit 62 and recorded in a storage unit (not shown) of a nonvolatile storage element. Information and will be updated at the next time.

  An operation history of the sorting unit 631, the coin storage unit 632, and the payout unit 641 of the coin processing device 6 will be described. The operation history information related to the selection unit 631 includes an acceptance rate, a cumulative number of inserted sheets, an acceptor abnormality, and a return SW abnormality. The acceptance rate is the proportion of the input coins that can be accepted as a denomination by denomination. As unacceptable, there are false coins, dirty coins, and deformed coins. Therefore, it cannot be said that the acceptance rate declines, that is, “failure”. However, it is one piece of information that prompts maintenance and inspection of the coin processing device 6. The cumulative number of inserted coins indicates the number of coins inserted into the coin processing apparatus regardless of the coin type. The acceptor (sorting unit) abnormality is information indicating an abnormal operation of each sensor provided in the sorting unit 631. The return switch (SW) abnormality indicates that there is an abnormality in the identification sensor 63a in a state in which a coin can be received without coin insertion.

  The operation history information related to the storage unit 632 includes an EMPSW abnormality and a safety SW abnormality. The EMPSW abnormality indicates that there is an abnormality in the coin detection cylinder (EMPSW) 64b in the coin storage cylinder related to each coin storage cylinder provided for each denomination of the storage unit 632 and the coins stored in the storage cylinder. Show. The safety SW abnormality is information indicating that the switch SW that electrically indicates that the storage unit 632 is in a proper position (that is, the storage unit separation detection switch (SW) 64a) is abnormal.

  The operation history information related to the payout unit 641 includes a cumulative payout number and a payout abnormality. The cumulative payout number indicates the number of coins stored for each denomination that have been paid out by the payout unit 641. The payout abnormality is information indicating that the coin payout motor 64c, which is a driving unit of the payout unit 641, has stopped abnormally.

  Among the operation information described above, the maintenance management information necessary for maintenance management includes the acceptance rate and the cumulative number of coins supplied for the sorting unit 631, and the cumulative number of coins to be paid for the payout unit 641. These maintenance management information is necessary information for failure prevention. It is not information that shows abnormal phenomena that cover the details of the equipment, but information that shows phenomena that can roughly grasp the maintenance and inspection points. There is not much information. Therefore, the main control unit 4 detects at least information necessary for maintenance management among the operation history information within the normal work time such as money recovery from the detection of the start state to the detection of the end state by the detection switches 64a and 74a. The control units 66 and 76 of each component, for example, the communication unit 4a and the money handling device 5 (the coin handling device 6 and the banknote handling device 7) are controlled so that transmission can be performed reliably. For example, operation history information is divided into information necessary for maintenance management and information not necessary in advance, and only the information necessary for maintenance management is transmitted when the detection of the start state by the detection switches 64a and 74a is performed. Or according to the objective of maintenance management, such as the vending machine 1 which contains the money processing apparatus 5 in each information of operation history information required for maintenance management, a priority is given to operation history information beforehand, and the money processing apparatus 5 is used. The control units 66 and 76 of the coin processing device 6 and the banknote processing device 7 may send the operation history information acquired by the acquisition units 62 and 72 to the communication unit 4a via the main control unit 4 in order of priority. . Further, the user may set the transmission of the operation history information to a higher priority in advance according to the purpose of maintenance management. The control units 66 and 76 may send the set operation history information with high priority to the communication unit 4a via the main control unit 4.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the sequence chart of FIG. 6, the processing operation of the maintenance management system of the money handling apparatus will be described in line with actual goods replenishment inspection including money collection work. Here, when the worker works, a sales office such as a management center uses a key holder type portable information terminal device 2 to which a bundle of keys for opening and closing a plurality of vending machines 1 in the assigned area is attached. Receive and carry. The main control 4 is assumed to store a serial number.

  The worker goes to the place where the vending machine 1 (the vending machine A in FIG. 6) to be worked is installed, opens the door of the vending machine 1 with the corresponding key of the key-holder type portable information terminal device 2, and receives money. An operation of collecting money from the processing device 5 is performed (money collection operation in FIG. 6). At this time, the money processing device 5 collects money by removing or opening the storage units (632, 732) for storing money from the main body (60, 70). For example, in the case of the coin processing device 6, the coin storage unit (coin tube) 632 is detached from the main body 60 and the internal coins are collected. Moreover, if it is the banknote processing apparatus 7, the banknote accommodating part (stacker) 732 will be removed from a main body, and banknotes will be collect | recovered. At this time, the banknote storage unit (stacker) 732 may be rotated to extract and collect banknotes from the opening.

  The coin processing device 6 and the banknote processing device 7 detect the detachment from the main body 60 of the coin storage unit (coin tube) 632 and the detachment or opening of the banknote storage unit (stacker) 732 from the main body 70, respectively. As switches, storage section detachment detection switches (SW) 64a and 74a are provided. When the control units 66 and 76 detect separation or opening (work start state) via the storage control units 64 and 74 by the switches 64a and 74a, the main control unit 4 is notified of the detection. The main control unit 4 determines that the transmission condition of the maintenance management information is satisfied, and sets the main communication unit 4a in a state where communication with the outside is possible (step S1, synchronization process in FIG. 6). Therefore, the main control unit 4 issues an operation history information transfer instruction to the control units 66 and 76. The control units 66 and 76 transfer the operation history information acquired by the acquisition units 62 and 72 to the communication unit 4a via the main control unit 4. At this time, as described above, the control units 66 and 76 give priority to the maintenance management information among the operation history information acquired by the acquisition units 62 and 72 and transfer the maintenance management information to the communication unit 4a via the main control unit 4. The communication unit 4a transmits the transferred maintenance management information to the portable information terminal device 2 (step S2). The control unit 21 of the portable information terminal device 2 stores the received maintenance management information in the storage unit 22.

  Of the operation history information transmitted from the communication unit 4a to the portable information terminal device 2, the transmission of information that can be used for maintenance management information is performed by classifying the operation history information or assigning priorities as described above. The process is completed within a short period of time until the worker mounts the coin storage unit (coin tube) 632 or the banknote storage unit (stacker) 732 on the main body again.

  When the coin storage unit (coin tube) 632 or the banknote storage unit (stacker) 732 is mounted on the main body again and is detected by the storage unit separation detection switches (SW) 64a and 74a, the main control unit 4 is activated. It is determined that the maintenance management information transmission end condition of the history information is satisfied (step S3). Therefore, the main control unit 4 causes the communication unit 4a to end transmission of maintenance management information (disconnection processing in FIG. 6). At the time of transmission, a serial number which is individual data for identifying the vending machine 1 and stored in the main control is also transmitted. The control unit 21 of the portable information terminal device 2 stores a serial number for identifying the vending machine 1 in the storage unit 22 in addition to the received maintenance management information.

  Up to this point, the worker only performs the money collection operation and finishes it. The worker performs the same with another vending machine 1 (the vending machine B in FIG. 6), and after the money collection operation, brings the collected money and the key holder type portable information terminal device 2 back to the management center.

  In the management center, the management device 3 is always capable of receiving the radio transmitted by the portable information terminal 2, and the key holder type portable information terminal device 2 brought back into the communication area of the management device 3 is in this communication area. It becomes possible to communicate with the management apparatus 3 (synchronization process in FIG. 6). Therefore, the control unit 21 of the portable information terminal device 2 automatically transmits the stored maintenance management information to the management device 3. The management device 3 that has received the maintenance management information from the portable information terminal device 2 performs the following processing.

  The control unit 33 of the management device 3 analyzes the information including the maintenance management information received by the communication unit 31, determines the state of the money handling device 5 that has transmitted the maintenance management information, and the time when maintenance inspection is required Is determined. The operator is not involved at all in the series of operations in the management center.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the worker can grasp the time for maintenance and inspection in the money handling apparatus 5 installed in the vending machine 1 and obtain and count maintenance management information useful for the execution. It can be done automatically without being conscious of it, and can be executed in combination with other normal work, reducing work time and increasing efficiency.

  In the embodiment described above, the detection units 65 and 75 for detecting the start state of the work by the worker with respect to the coin processing device 6 and the banknote processing device 7 as the money processing device 5 as the transmission start condition of the maintenance management information are as follows. The storage unit detachment detection switches 64a and 74a and the like have been realized. However, any detection unit may be used as long as it detects a start state of work by the worker with respect to the money handling apparatus 5. For example, you may make it detect operation performed with respect to the money processing apparatus 5 at the start time of work. For example, the money handling device 5 as a switch operated prior to attachment / detachment or the like may be detected by a switch that can be switched from a normal operation mode to a work mode. Further, the maintenance management information transmission end condition is determined based on the return of the storage unit to the operating position. For example, when the maintenance management information can be transmitted within a certain time, the storage unit returns to the operating position. The transmission may be terminated when a certain time has elapsed without waiting. Furthermore, although both the coin processing device 6 and the banknote processing device 7 as the money processing device 5 are provided, only one of them may be provided. Moreover, although these were provided separately, you may incorporate in one apparatus.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, it cannot be overemphasized that the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiments. Further, it is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vending machine 2 ... Portable information terminal device 3 ... Management apparatus 4 ... Main control part 4a ... Communication part 5 ... Money processing apparatus 6 ... Coin processing apparatus 7. ..Bill processing device 60, 70 ... main body 62, 72 ... acquisition unit 63 ... sorting control unit 64 ... storage / dispensing control unit 64a, 74a ... storage unit detachment detection SW
65, 75 ... detection unit 66, 67 ... control unit 73 ... identification unit 631, 731 ... sorting unit 632 ... coin storage unit (cassette tube)
732 ... Bill storage part (stacker)
641 ... Dispensing part

Claims (1)

A money handling device maintenance management system comprising a vending machine, a portable information device carried by an operator, and a management device for managing maintenance of the money handling device mounted on the vending machine,
The money handling apparatus includes:
A storage unit for identifying the received coin or banknote, and storing the identified coin or banknote;
Obtaining means for obtaining operation history information of the money handling apparatus;
Detecting means for detecting a start state and an end state of work on the money handling apparatus by detecting attachment / detachment or opening / closing of the storage unit;
The vending machine is
Communication means for wirelessly communicating with the portable information device;
Based on the detection result of the detection means, during the work time from the start state to the end state of the work on the money handling apparatus, maintenance management information necessary for maintenance management out of the operation history information is sent from the communication means. Main control means for transmitting to the portable information device,
The portable information device stores the maintenance management information transmitted from the communication means, and transmits the stored maintenance management information to the management device when entering the communicable area with the management device. A maintenance management system for a money handling device.

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