JP2013045117A - Filling station system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a filling station system for automatically continuing oil supply even when a POS terminal fails, and easily restoring data when the POS terminal is restored.SOLUTION: A filling station system is constituted of: a POS terminal 60 which receives an oil supply request signal from an oil supply device 10 to output an oil supply permission signal, and performs adjustment processing and sales management on the basis of oil supply data received from the oil supply device; and a centralized monitoring device 70 connected to the POS terminal, and low order equipment 40 including the oil supply device and an oil gauge 42. The centralized monitoring device implements operation required for oil supply by the oil supply device, and stores oil supply data of the oil supply device in storage means when the POS terminal cannot receive the oil supply request signal from the oil supply device. After restoration of the POS terminal, the oil supply data stored by the centralized monitoring device is transmitted to the POS terminal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas station system that can automatically continue refueling even when a POS terminal fails.

  The amount of oil supplied from a fueling device installed at a gas station is transmitted to a POS terminal (gas station sales device) via a communication line, and data processing is performed to perform settlement processing and sales management. For this reason, when the POS terminal fails, there is a problem that the settlement processing at the POS terminal becomes impossible, and the settlement work must be relied on manually.

  Therefore, in the case of the patent document 1, the applicant of the present invention can perform control of a fueling device alone, storage of sales data, etc. by an outdoor device even when an indoor sales data input / output device fails. We proposed a sales data management device for gas stations that did not interfere with management operations.

JP 59-52369 A

  The above-mentioned sales data management device for gas stations functions effectively when an indoor sales data input / output device breaks down, but when the failure occurs, the storage unit of the outdoor sales data input / output device is removed and the indoor sales data input / output device is removed. There is a problem that the operation is troublesome.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the problems in the data management device described in Patent Document 1, and can automatically continue refueling even when the POS terminal fails, and the POS terminal An object of the present invention is to provide a gas station system that can easily restore data when a problem occurs.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a gas filling station system that receives a fueling request signal from a fueling device, outputs a fueling permission signal, and performs a settlement process based on the fueling data received from the fueling device. And a POS terminal that performs sales management, and a centralized monitoring device connected to the POS terminal and the lower-level equipment including the oil supply device and the oil level gauge, and the POS terminal receives an oil supply request signal from the oil supply device. When the central monitoring device cannot receive the fuel, the centralized monitoring device performs a work necessary for refueling by the refueling device, and stores the refueling data of the refueling device in the storage means.

  According to the present invention, when the POS terminal cannot receive the refueling request signal from the refueling device, the centralized monitoring device performs the work required for refueling by the refueling device and stores the refueling data of the refueling device. Since the data is stored in the means, even if the POS terminal fails, the gas station system can be continuously operated without hindering the refueling work.

  In the gas station system, after the POS terminal returns, the fuel data stored in the centralized monitoring device can be transmitted to the POS terminal. As a result, the refueling data can be continuously managed without interruption.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when a POS terminal breaks down, refueling can be continued automatically, and data can be easily restored when the POS terminal is restored. Can be provided.

It is a whole lineblock diagram showing one embodiment of a gas station system concerning the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of each apparatus of the gas station system shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which switches a POS function to a centralized monitoring apparatus, when the POS terminal of the gas station system shown in FIG. 1 fails. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which resets the failed POS terminal of the gas station system shown in FIG. It is a whole lineblock diagram showing the 1st modification of a gas station system concerning the present invention. It is a whole block diagram which shows the 2nd modification of the gas station system concerning this invention. It is a whole block diagram which shows the 3rd modification of the gas station system concerning this invention.

  Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a gas station system 1 according to the present invention. The gas station system 1 is roughly divided into a fueling device 10 (10A to 10C) installed in a gas station, and a liquid amount management device. 40 is arranged between each gas station equipment and the POS terminal 60 so that data can be transmitted / received between the gas station equipment and the POS terminal 60 in order to centrally monitor the gas station equipment, the POS terminal 60, and the underground tank 20 (20A to 20C). And a centralized monitoring server (hereinafter abbreviated as “server”) 80 connected to the centralized monitoring device 70 via a network such as the Internet.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fueling device 10 is provided with a nozzle switch 12 that detects the unloading of the fueling nozzle and a pulse generator 13 that is provided in a flow meter for counting the amount of fueling in order to supply fuel oil. Based on the signal from the pit leak sensor 14 or the like that detects oil leakage, the oil supply pump 15 and the display 16 are controlled, and the oil supply device control device 11 that stores oil supply information or controls inspection notification or the like. Etc.

  The oil supply device control device 11 stores information relating to equipment operation such as the amount of oil obtained by counting the flow rate pulses from the pulse oscillator 13 and the number of times of oiling obtained by counting the on / off of the nozzle switch 12. It comprises an oil supply information storage means, an oil supply control program for controlling the oil supply mechanism, and the like.

  The liquid amount management device 40 displays an oil level gauge 42 (42A to 42C) that detects the liquid level of the underground tank 20 that stores the fuel oil, a temperature sensor 43 that detects the temperature of the fuel oil, detection data, and the like. And a liquid amount management control device 41 that controls these, stores the specifications, liquid amount, and change amount of the underground tank 20 and performs control for detecting a leakage state.

  The liquid amount management control device 41 stores tank information storage means for storing the oil type and amount of the underground tank 20, inspection notification means for notifying occurrence of leakage in the underground tank 20, and tank specifications for each underground tank 20. And a liquid level-liquid level converting means for converting a liquid level signal from the oil level gauge 42 into a liquid level based on the tank table, and a liquid level control program for controlling the liquid level.

  The POS terminal 60 includes a card reader 62 for reading a credit card, a keyboard 63 for data input, a printer 64 for printing a slip, a display 65 for displaying input data, and a POS for controlling these. The controller 61 is configured to receive a fueling request signal from the fueling device 10 and output a fueling permission signal, and perform settlement processing and sales management based on the fueling data received from the fueling device 10.

  The POS control device 61 has a POS information storage means for storing information relating to equipment status such as sales data and remaining tank capacity, and a POS control program for controlling each part.

  The centralized monitoring device 70 is connected to a data storage unit for storing data, and lower devices including the oil supply device 10 and the liquid amount management device 40, and is connected to the POS terminal 60 and the server 80 so that data communication is possible. When the POS terminal 60 cannot receive the refueling request signal from the refueling device 10, it performs the work required for refueling by the refueling device 10, and stores the refueling data of the refueling device 10 as a data storage unit. To remember.

  The server 80 includes a communication control unit connected to the centralized monitoring device 70 so as to be able to transmit and receive data, a calendar unit for performing date and date management, a form creation unit for creating a report such as inventory management information, and a fueling device It is composed of a totaling / display unit that totals 10 sales volumes for each oil type and displays each information in a viewable manner.

  Next, an operation of switching the POS function to the centralized monitoring device 70 when the POS terminal 60 fails in the gas station system 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S1, during normal operation, the POS terminal 60 constantly transmits a polling signal POL to lower-level devices according to a predetermined connection list of lower-level devices such as the oil supply device 10 and the liquid amount management device 40. In step S2, the centralized monitoring device 70 automatically creates a connection list of lower devices to be stored in the data storage unit 70a based on the polling signal POL from the POS terminal 60. During normal operation of the POS terminal 60, the centralized monitoring device 70 does not store data relating to refueling, but only relays data.

  In step S3, it is determined whether or not the polling signal POL to all the devices has been stopped for t1 time (for example, 10 minutes). If not stopped for t1 time (step S3; No), the process returns to step S2. The centralized monitoring device 70 automatically creates a connection list of lower devices.

  On the other hand, when the polling signal POL to all the devices is stopped for t1 time (step S3; Yes), it is determined in step S4 that the POS terminal 60 has failed, and the centralized monitoring device 70 is a host device. The reception from the POS terminal 60 is ignored, the lower device connection list created in the data storage unit 70 a is read, and the polling signal POL is transmitted instead of the POS terminal 60.

  Next, in step S5, the centralized monitoring device 70 determines whether or not it has received a transfer end signal EOT indicating that transfer has been completed from all of the fueling devices 10, and transfers end signals from all of the fueling devices 10. If EOT is not received (step S5; No), it waits until it is received, and when a transfer end signal EOT is received from all the fueling devices 10 (step S5; Yes), in step S6, any of the fueling devices 10 It is determined whether or not a “nozzle detachment” signal has been received.

  If no “nozzle detachment” signal is received from any of the fueling devices 10 (step S6; No), the process waits until it is received. In S7, a fueling permission signal is transmitted to the fueling device 10.

  Next, in step S8, the process waits until the “refueling end” signal is transmitted from the fueling device 10, and when the “refueling end” signal is received, the “refueling end” signal is stored in step S9. At the same time, a data request signal is transmitted to the accumulator, the response is stored, and the process returns to step S4.

  Next, an operation for returning the POS terminal 60 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S11, the mechanical switch of the centralized monitoring device 70 is switched to the maintenance mode. In step S12, the mechanical switch of the POS terminal 60 is switched to the maintenance mode and then restarted.

  Next, in step S <b> 13, refueling data of the fueling device 10, integration data, and oil level gauge inventory data are transmitted to the POS terminal 60. As shown in Tables 1 to 3, the refueling data is summation data once a day and inventory data of the oil level gauge in addition to the refueling data for each refueling.

  Further, in step S14, the mechanical switches of the POS terminal 60 and the centralized monitoring device 70 are returned to the normal mode, and in step S15, the centralized monitoring device 70 is turned on again to complete the return operation of the POS terminal 60.

  Next, another configuration example (modified example) of the gas station system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The first modification shown in FIG. 5 is one in which a POS terminal 60 and an SSC (self-service console) 90 used when performing self-fueling are integrated into a centralized monitoring device 70. The SSC 90 can be integrated with the POS terminal 60.

  The second modification shown in FIG. 6 is one in which a DCD unit 100 used by a lorry driver alone for unloading at a gas station is integrated into a centralized monitoring device 70. The DCD unit 100 transmits the data of the underground tank inventory necessary for single unloading and each data such as oil type from the digital oil level gauge to the in-vehicle computer of the lorry vehicle via the communication unit, and unloads safely and reliably. It is a system that performs.

  In the third modification shown in FIG. 7, all of the POS terminal 60, the SSC 90, and the DCD unit 100 are integrated into the centralized monitoring device 70.

  In recent years, the number of cases in which a manufacturer-specific intermediary device is installed under the POS terminal 60 has increased the complexity of wiring work, causing problems such as connection mistakes, and making it difficult to secure installation space for individual devices. Therefore, the installation shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 can be performed easily by consolidating these devices into one unit, and space can be saved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas station system 10 (10A-10C) Oil supply apparatus 11 Oil supply apparatus control apparatus 12 Nozzle switch 13 Pulse oscillator 14 Pit leak sensor 15 Oil supply pump 16 Indicator 20 (20A-20C) Underground tank 40 Liquid quantity management apparatus 41 Liquid quantity management Control device 42 (42A to 42C) Oil level gauge 43 Temperature sensor 44 Display device 60 POS terminal 61 POS control device 62 Card reader 63 Keyboard 64 Printer 65 Display device 70 Central monitoring device 80 Central monitoring server 90 SSC
100 DCD units

Claims (2)

A POS terminal that receives a refueling request signal from a refueling device and outputs a refueling permission signal, and performs settlement processing and sales management based on refueling data received from the refueling device;
Consists of the POS terminal and a centralized monitoring device connected to the refueling device and lower level devices including the oil level gauge,
When the POS terminal cannot receive a refueling request signal from the refueling device, the centralized monitoring device performs a work required for refueling by the refueling device, and stores refueling data of the refueling device in storage means A gas station system characterized by   2. The filling station system according to claim 1, wherein after the POS terminal returns, the fueling data stored in the centralized monitoring device is transmitted to the POS terminal.

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