JP2012198761A - Control panel for money handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively prevent an erroneous detection of a person who is standing still in a detection range at a position other than the front position of a human sensor or a passer-by who moves slowly in front of the human sensor as a user while using a commercially available human sensor with a wide detection range in the lateral direction.SOLUTION: A control panel 10 is provided on its front surface with a display 11, operation parts 12, 13, 14, 15, and a human sensor 20 and includes a determination part which determines that an object which is standing still in front of the control panel for more than a prescribed time as a user based on a detection signal from the human sensor. On the front surface of the operation panel, protrusions for limiting the detection range of the human sensor in the lateral direction are disposed around the human sensor, and each of the protrusions constitutes a display or an operation part.

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a cash handling apparatus such as a vending machine, a money changer, a cash dispenser, a payment machine, and the like, and in particular, increases detection accuracy by a human sensor arranged on an operation panel having a display unit, an operation switch, and the like. It relates to an operation panel.

Vending machines such as vending machines, money changers, money dispensing devices, and cash handling devices such as payment machines have a front panel on the front of the housing as the operation panel. An operation switch, a money input unit, and an article providing unit are provided. The display unit is a means for displaying information such as menus and prices of goods (tickets, products, services) to be provided, the operation switch is a means for selecting an article that the user desires to purchase, and the money input part is Composed of a coin insertion unit and a bill insertion unit, the article providing unit is a means for discharging an article commensurate with the contents of a transaction established with a user.
By the way, in the automatic ticket vending machine, the user may forget to take out the ticket issued from the ticket issuing unit and leave, but in order to cope with this, a human sensor (detecting human location and movement on the operation panel surface) A human detection sensor) is arranged, and when it is detected that the user has left, a ticket that has been put on hold is collected inside the ticket vending machine (Patent Document 1).
In addition, when the presence sensor is detected on the front of the device for a predetermined time or longer, the device is switched to the energy saving mode or the display unit is changed from the article selection screen to the advertisement screen. Some have a standby mode to switch. When the human sensor newly detects a user, the former is turned on, and the latter is controlled to return the display unit to the article selection screen.
As human sensors, those using infrared rays, ultrasonic waves, and visible light are known, and an infrared type is generally used for money handling apparatuses. An infrared human sensor includes an element that senses infrared rays emitted from a human body and outputs a detection signal.

By the way, when a money handling device such as an automatic ticket vending machine equipped with such a human sensor is installed in a busy place, the human sensor detects all persons entering the detection range. In some cases, it is impossible to accurately determine whether the user is a person or a user, and the apparatus in the standby mode is operated. On the other hand, the human body detection time by the human sensor is set to a predetermined value, and it is also determined that the user is a user only when the human body detection time continuously exceeds the set time. However, there is a possibility that a person who passes through the detection range of the human sensor at a slow speed or a person who stops at a position shifted laterally from the front position of the human sensor is erroneously determined as a user. In these cases, useless control such as starting up the power supply of the apparatus that has been in an energy-saving state or switching the display unit to the article selection screen is performed.
In addition, the detection range of the human sensor, especially the detection range in the horizontal direction, is determined according to the type of human sensor and the purpose of use, but a commercially available human sensor was applied to the vending machine. In such a case, the above problems could not be solved. Although it is possible for the manufacturer of the human sensor to adjust the lateral detection range of the human sensor according to the purpose of use and the particularity of the target device, it is possible to increase the cost because it is a custom-made product. It is clear that it is ideal for a manufacturer of a vending machine or the like to adjust the lateral detection range arbitrarily according to the particularity of the installation target device while using an inexpensive human sensor having versatility.

JP 09-270030 A

As described above, in a conventional money handling apparatus, a commercially available human sensor is arranged on an operation panel surface provided with a display unit, an operation switch, etc., and is used for measures against forgetting to remove articles by the user and power saving measures. However, a commercially available human sensor has a wide lateral detection range, and humans other than users who have stopped at the front position for a predetermined time or more are detected as users. It has been difficult to accurately distinguish mere passersby from users based on information.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is a user who is stopped within a detection range other than the front position of the human sensor or a passerby who moves at the lower speed in front of the human sensor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an operation panel of a money handling apparatus that can effectively prevent a malfunction that is erroneously detected while using a commercially available human sensor having a wide lateral detection range.

In order to achieve the above object, a money handling apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 includes at least a display unit, an operation unit, and a human sensor on the front surface of the operation panel, and the front of the operation panel is detected by a detection signal from the human sensor. A money handling apparatus having a determination unit that determines that an object that has stopped for a predetermined time or more is a user, wherein a lateral detection range of the human sensor is provided on a front surface portion of the operation panel around the human sensor. Protruding objects for limiting are arranged, and the protruding objects constitute a display unit or an operation unit.
The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the protrusions are a money input part and an article providing part.

As described above, according to the present invention, a person who is stopped within a detection range other than the front position of the human sensor or a passerby moving at a low speed in front of the human sensor is erroneously detected as a user. It is possible to effectively prevent such a problem while using a commercially available human sensor having a wide lateral detection range.
In other words, by limiting the detection time of an object by a commercially available human sensor having a wide lateral detection range, it is determined that the user is not a user when the time for continuously detecting the object is less than a predetermined time. When controlling, the lateral detection range of the human sensor is limited by using parts that are inevitably installed on the operation panel of the money handling device, so the operation panel is not necessary for the unnaturalness. By providing a projection for limiting the detection range, it is possible to avoid problems such as a sense of incongruity in design, a decrease in operation function, a complicated configuration, and an increase in cost.

(A) And (b) is the front side perspective view and side view which show the structure of the automatic ticket vending machine as an example of the money handling apparatus provided with the operation panel which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. (A) (b) and (c) is a side view showing the front door of this automatic ticket vending machine in a longitudinal section, a side longitudinal sectional view of the front door (A-A sectional view in FIG. 1 (a)), and a diagram. It is BB sectional drawing of 1 (a).

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
1A and 1B are a front side perspective view and a side view showing a configuration of an automatic ticket vending machine as an example of a money handling apparatus provided with an operation panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) (b) and (c)) is a side view showing the front door of this automatic ticket vending machine in a longitudinal section, a side sectional view of the front door (A-A sectional view of FIG. 1 (a)), FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
A characteristic configuration of the money handling apparatus 1 including the operation panel according to the present invention is as follows.
That is, the automatic ticket vending machine 1 as an example of the money handling apparatus includes at least a display unit, an operation switch, a money input unit (operation unit), a human sensor 20 and the like on the front surface of the operation panel 10, and detects from the human sensor. A determination unit (control means) (not shown) that determines that an object that stops for a predetermined time or more in front of the operation panel by a signal is a user of the apparatus. And the structure which has arrange | positioned the protrusion for limiting the detection area (lateral direction detection range) of a human sensor along the outer periphery of the detection area of a human sensor on the front surface of the operation panel around a human sensor is provided. Yes.

The automatic ticket vending machine 1 includes a housing main body 2 having openings 3 and 4 on the front and back, a front door 5 and a rear door 6 for opening and closing the front opening and the rear opening, respectively, and a housing main body. And an internal device (not shown) arranged.
The front panel of the front door 5 is an operation panel 10, and a touch panel LCD (display unit and operation switch) 11, a coin insertion unit (money insertion unit = operation unit) 12, and bill insertion on the front surface 10 a of the operation panel 10. A part (money insertion part = operation part) 13 and a bill outlet (operation part) 14, a ticket, and an article take-out part (operation part) 15 for change (coins) are arranged.
The coin insertion unit (operation unit) 12 and the article take-out unit (operation unit) 15 are configured to protrude forward more largely than the front surface 10a of the operation panel 10, thereby taking out operability at the time of coin insertion, a ticket, and the like. The operability is improved.
A human sensor 20 for detecting the presence or absence of a human in front of the apparatus is disposed on the relatively concave front surface 10b located in the valley between the coin insertion part 12 and the take-out part 15 as the protrusions. For this reason, the lateral detection range of the human sensor 20 is limited by the coin insertion unit 12 and the article take-out unit 15 which are protrusions arranged on the left and right.

As the human sensor 20, one using infrared light, ultrasonic waves, or visible light can be used. In this example, an infrared human sensor is assumed, and the detection signal is detected by detecting the infrared light emitted from the human body. Is provided.
The human sensor 20 is not a custom-made product whose lateral detection range is narrow for an automatic ticket vending machine, but has a wide lateral detection range beyond the coin input unit 12 and the article take-out unit 15 located on the left and right. .
For this reason, when there are no protrusions on the left and right sides of the human sensor 20, the lateral detection range of the human sensor is maximized, so that the determination unit (not shown) slows down the detection range of the human sensor. There is a possibility that a passerby who crosses at a point of time or a non-user who continues to stand at the lateral end of the detection range is erroneously determined to be a user when it continues to be detected for a predetermined determination time.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the detection range is limited by the coin insertion unit 12 and the article take-out unit 15 as protrusions arranged on the left and right sides of the human sensor 20, and in the range shielded by these protrusions. The object located is no longer detected.

Since the lateral detection range of the human sensor is thus narrowed, even if a passerby moves in front of the human sensor at a slow speed, the time required to pass the detection range can be shortened. The possibility of erroneous detection is reduced. At this time, rather than providing a projecting object only for the purpose of narrowing the lateral detection range of the human sensor, parts required for the operation panel surface of the automatic ticket vending machine are used as the projecting object. Therefore, problems such as a sense of incongruity in design, a decrease in operation function, a complicated configuration, and an increase in cost are not caused.
In addition, touch panel LCD (display unit and operation switch) 11, coin insertion unit (operation unit) 12, bill insertion unit (operation unit) 13, bill outlet (operation unit) 14, ticket, and change (coin) items Since the layout of the take-out unit (operation unit) 15 is arranged so that it is always performed in front of the human sensor 20 if it is a user, it stops at a lateral position beyond the detection range of the human sensor. Non-users are not erroneously detected as users.
Specifically, the human sensor 20 is positioned substantially below the center of the touch panel LCD 11 that also serves as a display unit and an operation switch, and further, a coin insertion unit 12 is provided on the right side of the human sensor, and a bill insertion unit is provided therebelow. 13 and the banknote outlet 14 are arranged, and a ticket and a change (coin) article takeout part 15 are arranged on the left side of the human sensor, so that the standing position where the user can most easily operate these operation objects is It becomes the central part of the panel 10. And since the human sensitive sensor is arrange | positioned in the position corresponded to this center part, the above erroneous determination prevention effects can be acquired.

As described above, in the present invention, there is a limit on the detection time of an object by a commercially available human sensor having a wide lateral detection range, which is used when the time for continuously detecting an object does not reach a predetermined time. When the control is performed so that it is determined that the person is not a person, the lateral detection range of the human sensor is limited by using parts that are inevitably installed on the operation panel of the automatic ticket vending machine (money handling device). Therefore, there are no problems such as an uncomfortable feeling in design, a decrease in operation function, a complicated configuration, and an increase in cost due to the provision of an unnatural detection range limiting projection that is originally unnecessary on the operation panel.
It is possible to narrow the lateral detection range by the human sensor according to the behavior unique to the legitimate user, and it is possible to mistakenly judge a passerby or a person standing without intention to operate the device as a user Can be lowered.
Therefore, there are no problems such as unnecessarily starting up the power supply of the money handling apparatus in the energy saving mode or shifting the device in the standby mode to the operation mode.
In addition, the structure which restrict | limits the horizontal direction detection range of the human sensitive sensor of this invention is applicable also to money handling apparatuses other than a ticket vending machine, for example, a vending machine, a change machine, a cash dispenser, and a payment machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic ticket vending machine, 2 ... Case main body, 3, 4 ... Opening part, 5 ... Front door, 6 ... Rear door, 10 ... Operation panel, 10a ... Front surface, 10b ... Front surface, 11 ... Touch panel LCD, 12 ... Coin Inserting unit (operating unit), 13 ... bill insertion unit (operating unit), 14 ... banknote outlet (operating unit), 15 ... article taking unit (operating unit), 20 ... human sensor

Claims (2)

At least a display unit, an operation unit, and a human sensor are provided on the front of the operation panel. A money handling device,
A protrusion for limiting the lateral detection range of the human sensor is disposed on the front portion of the operation panel around the human sensor,
An operation panel of a money handling apparatus, wherein the protrusion constitutes a display unit or an operation unit.   The operation panel of the money handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are a money input unit and an article providing unit.

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