JP2015054751A - Point awarding system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a point awarding system in which a privilege or the like is provided when a PET bottle is recovered, and a user can check a point without having to perform complicated operations, and prevent loss of digital information recorded in a point card.SOLUTION: A point awarding system includes a measuring instrument for counting the number of PET bottles put in; a processing device for calculating a point based on the number of PET bottles; and an output device for outputting the point. The output device is a reader/writer equipped with an optical reading device for reading a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code, and character information and the one-dimensional or two-dimensional code are printed on a rewritable card using a thermal head.

Description

  The present invention relates to a point grant system that gives a privilege or the like when collecting a plastic bottle, and in particular, a point grant that gives points when collecting a plastic bottle and displays updated point information on a point card. It is about the system.

  In recent years, collection of PET bottles used for food containers and the like has been widely performed from the viewpoint of environmental protection and resource recycling. However, the collection of PET bottles is done with the good intentions of consumers, and it is necessary to increase the collection rate.

  In order to solve such a problem, a system has been proposed in which points that can be exchanged for benefits etc. are given according to the collected amount of PET bottles, and information such as the given points is recorded on an IC card (for example, Patent Document 1). However, the IC card has a problem that the user cannot confirm the point unless the IC card is inserted into the IC card reader. Further, the IC card has a problem that recorded digital information is lost due to deformation of the card or static electricity. In addition, a method using a rewrite card having a magnetic layer on the back surface has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Since the number of points, etc. is displayed in text on the surface of the rewrite card, the number of points earned by the user can be easily grasped, which is a useful method, but digital information recorded on the magnetic layer However, there is a problem that recorded digital information is lost due to external magnetic field or card deformation. As described above, in the point collection system for collecting PET bottles, a method for preventing the loss of digital information recorded on the point card has not yet been studied.

  On the other hand, as a method for preventing the loss of digital information recorded on the card, there is a method in which digital information previously recorded on the magnetic layer or IC tag is printed on the rewritable area of the rewrite card and optically read. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3). The method of printing digital information in the rewritable area of the rewritable card eliminates the need for a magnetic layer and an IC tag, so that the initial introduction cost can be suppressed and there is an advantage that even a small-scale user can easily introduce it.

JP 2001-233402 A JP 2003-182805 A Japanese Patent No. 4405563

  The problem of the present invention is that, in the point granting system in which a privilege is given when collecting PET bottles, the user can confirm the points without requiring a complicated operation, and the loss of digital information recorded on the point card It is providing the point grant system which can prevent.

  Specific means for solving this problem is as follows.

  (1) A point granting system including a measuring instrument that counts the number of plastic bottles that are input, a processing device that calculates points based on the number of the plastic bottles, and an output device that outputs the points, The output device is a reader / writer equipped with an optical reader for reading a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code, and character information and a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code are printed on a rewrite card using a thermal head. Point grant system.

  (2) A rewritable card having a reversible thermosensitive recording layer, wherein the rewritable card contains a normally colorless or light-colored dye precursor and a reversible developer that causes a reversible color change in the dye precursor upon heating. The point granting system according to (1).

  (3) The point granting system according to (1) or (2), wherein a server having a calculation function is included as a component, and the information read by the reader / writer is inquired via a network.

  According to the present invention, in a point granting system in which a privilege is given at the time of collecting a plastic bottle, a user can confirm points without requiring a complicated operation and prevent loss of digital information recorded on a point card. The point grant system which can be provided can be provided.

The external view of the plastic bottle collection | recovery apparatus concerning the point provision system of this invention. The figure which shows the internal principal part of the PET bottle collection apparatus concerning this invention. The block diagram which shows the electrical constitution via the network of the point grant system of this invention. The flowchart figure which shows a series of flows at the time of utilizing the point provision system of this invention. The figure which shows the suitable usage example of the rewrite card concerning this invention.

  The point granting system of the present invention includes a measuring instrument that counts the number of PET bottles used in the food and drink containers that are input, a processing device that calculates points based on the number of PET bottles, and outputs the points. A point assigning system including an output device, wherein the output device is a reader / writer including an optical reader for reading a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code, and character information and a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code are recorded on a rewrite card. This is a point giving system for printing using a thermal head.

The configuration of the point granting system of the present invention will be described below.
A point grant system according to the present invention includes a measuring instrument that counts the number of introduced PET bottles, a processing device that calculates points based on the number of PET bottles, and an output device that outputs the points. System.

  In general, a collection device for a PET bottle used in a food container or the like is provided with a stacking unit that accommodates the PET bottle that is introduced from an insertion port. In the present invention, the number of PET bottles that are input is preferably counted with a measuring instrument before the PET bottles are stored in the stacking unit because the number of input PET bottles can be accurately counted. In order to compress the volume of the collected plastic bottle, it is preferable that a device for crushing the plastic bottle, a device for cutting, a device for crushing, and the like are provided in front of the stacking unit. In addition, in order to prevent erroneous insertion of a non-plastic bottle, a camera or a sensor for identifying the plastic bottle and the other input with an image may be installed. Moreover, the washing machine for removing foreign materials, such as food and drink adhering to a PET bottle, may be installed. In addition, an accessory device such as a voice guidance for an operation procedure or a device for informing the use status by blinking of a pilot lamp may be installed as necessary.

  The point to which a privilege is given is calculated based on a predetermined conversion formula by a processing apparatus having a calculation function based on the measured number of PET bottles.

  In the present invention, the output device for recording the points on the rewrite card is a reader / writer provided with an optical reader for reading a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code, and the reader / writer according to the present invention is a so-called rewrite printer. A rewrite printer is a printer that performs printing and erasing by applying heat to a rewrite card, which will be described later. A thermal head or a YAG laser is used for printing. Since the size can be reduced, a thermal head is used in the reader / writer according to the present invention. The method of applying heat at the time of erasing is not particularly limited as long as sufficient erasability can be obtained, such as a thermal head, a heat roll, and a heat stamp.

  Examples of the one-dimensional or two-dimensional code in the present invention include a one-dimensional code such as a barcode, a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), an Aztec code, a Sema code, a CP code, and a PDF417. The present invention is not limited to these as long as it is an optically readable code.

  The rewrite card in the present invention is a recording material in which visible information can be repeatedly written and erased by heat, and a heat-rewritable recording layer (reversible thermosensitive recording layer) is provided on a substrate such as a PET film. ing. In addition, a backcoat layer may be provided on the surface of the rewrite card on the opposite side of the surface on which the protective layer or the reversible thermosensitive recording layer is provided on the reversible thermosensitive recording layer. . The rewrite card may be printed in a single color or multiple colors, and may be subjected to surface coating with OP varnish after printing. In the case where printing or surface coating with OP varnish is applied to the rewritable card, it is preferable to use UV curable ink or OP varnish because of good heat resistance.

  Two types of recording materials are known for the rewritable card, which are different in the color developing / erasing mechanism of the leuco rewritable card and the cloudy rewritable card, and both of them can be used in the present invention. The leuco-type rewrite card is usually a colorless or light-colored dye precursor (leuco dye) and a reversible color developer (reversible developer) that develops color by heating the dye precursor and recolors it by heating. This rewrite card has a reversible thermosensitive recording layer containing a colorant, and the cloudy rewrite card is a low-molecular organic substance dispersed in a resin matrix, reversibly changing between a transparent state and a cloudy state by heat. However, in the present invention, a leuco-type rewrite card is preferable because it is easy to read a one-dimensional or two-dimensional code by an optical reader.

  In addition, it has a server with an arithmetic function as a component, collects data for checking the authenticity and history of the rewrite card in the server, and inquires the information read by the reader / writer via the network. This is preferable because it can be linked to the point system and customer management system and can prevent unauthorized use. In particular, when a plurality of PET bottle collection devices are installed, it is preferable because information read by each reader / writer can be referred to by a common server.

<Configuration of point grant system>
Hereinafter, the point grant system of this invention is demonstrated with reference to drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a plastic bottle collecting apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a plastic bottle collection device, 2 is a slot for inserting a plastic bottle, 3 is a card slot for inserting a rewrite card, 4 is a touch panel for operation, and 5 is carrying out the collected plastic bottle from the stacking unit. It shows the exit for opening.

  FIG. 2 shows an internal main part for executing the point granting system of the present invention provided in the plastic bottle collecting apparatus 1 according to the present invention. 6 is a measuring instrument for counting the number of plastic bottles inserted, 7 is a rewrite card, 8 is a reader / writer with an optical reading device built in, and 9 is a processing device. The rewrite card 7 is printed with card information such as card registration number, points added, accumulated points, date of most recent use, etc. that can be understood by the user, and one-dimensional or two-dimensional code that can be read optically. Has been. Reference numeral 10 denotes a camera for identifying what has been thrown in. It is used to eliminate a thrown-in thrown-in item or issue a warning when a non-PET bottle is mistakenly inserted. can do.

  The number of the PET bottles introduced from the introduction port 2 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is counted by the measuring instrument 6. The reader / writer 8 reads the one-dimensional or two-dimensional code printed on the rewrite card 7, and the data is sent to the processing device 9. On the other hand, data on the number of PET bottles counted by the measuring instrument 6 is also sent to the processing device 9. The processing device 9 calculates points based on a predetermined conversion formula based on the data sent from the reader / writer 8 and the data sent from the measuring instrument 6, and together with the data such as the card registration number. In addition, the point update data and the latest use date data are sent to the reader / writer 8. The reader / writer 8 erases the character information and the one-dimensional or two-dimensional code printed on the rewrite card 7 based on the data sent from the processing device 9, and the card registration number, addition point, cumulative point, latest Both the character information that can be grasped by the person such as the date of use and the optically readable one-dimensional or two-dimensional code are newly printed on the surface of the rewrite card by the thermal head.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration via a network of the point assignment system of the present invention. Reference numeral 11 denotes a communication unit for network communication, and reference numeral 12 denotes a server having an arithmetic function for inquiring data. Data sent to the processing device 9 is sent to the server 12 via the communication unit 11. By collecting the authenticity and history data of the rewrite card in the server 12, it is possible to link with other point systems and customer management systems.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a series of flows when the point granting system of the present invention is used. A series of flows in the point granting system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The user who inserts the plastic bottle inserts the rewrite card 7 into the card slot 3 (step 1).

  The reader / writer 8 reads information recorded on the rewrite card 7 with a one-dimensional code or a two-dimensional code, and sends the data to the processing device 9 (step 2).

  The processing device 9 inquires with the stored data and determines whether the rewrite card is true or false (step 3).

  Next, the lock of the inlet 2 of the PET bottle collection device is released so that the user can input the PET bottle from the inlet 2 (step 4).

  When the user starts to put in a plastic bottle, the measuring instrument 6 counts the number of the plastic bottles that have been put in (step 5).

  When the user finishes inserting the plastic bottle from the insertion port 2, the insertion port 2 is locked (step 6).

  The processing device 9 calculates points based on a predetermined conversion formula based on the data on the number of PET bottles sent from the measuring instrument 6 (step 7). After calculating the points, the new data is stored in the processing device (step 8), and the processing device 9 controls the reader / writer 8, erases the information printed on the rewrite card 7, and subsequently updates the updated information. Printing is performed by the thermal head (step 9).

  When printing on the rewrite card 7 is completed, the rewrite card 7 is ejected from the card slot 3 (step 10).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a preferred usage example of the rewrite card 7 according to the present invention. 13 indicates character information, 14 indicates a two-dimensional code, and 15 indicates a one-dimensional code.

<Evaluation of reading digital information>
In the point granting system of the present invention, as described above, as a point card, the rewrite card 7 capable of rewriting visible information, the character information that allows the user to grasp the contents, and the optically readable one-dimensional or two-dimensional code Both are printed using a thermal head, and the visible information is rewritten by the reader / writer 8.

  A diagram shown in FIG. 5 was printed using a reader / writer 8 using a commercially available leuco rewrite card (TRCGB3BH manufactured by Mitsubishi Paper Industries) having a magnetic layer on the back surface. At that time, the same information as the character information 13 was recorded in the two-dimensional code 14 and the one-dimensional code 15. The same information was recorded on the magnetic layer on the back surface using a magnetic recording device. Next, using a reader / writer 8 and a magnetic recording device, it was confirmed that information was recorded normally and could be read normally.

  Thereafter, a magnetic eraser was used to apply a magnetic field of 600 millitesla to the reversible thermosensitive recording layer side and the magnetic layer side of the rewrite card on which the above information was recorded. As a result of reading the information recorded on the rewrite card using the reader / writer 8 and the magnetic recording device, the two-dimensional code 14 and the one-dimensional code 15 were successfully read, but were recorded on the magnetic layer. The information could not be read. The character information 13 on the reversible thermosensitive recording layer side was not changed and could be read.

  Separately from this, a commercially available JIS2 type non-contact IC card (standard: Mifare1K) was used as the IC card, and the same information recorded on the rewrite card by the reader / writer 8 was recorded using the IC card reader / writer. . Next, using an IC card reader / writer, it was confirmed that information was recorded normally and could be read normally.

  Then, using an electrostatic discharge tester according to JIS C 61000-4-2, an applied voltage of 6 kV, an application time of 10 seconds, an application location of 20 locations, and an application count of 40 are applied to a rewrite card and an IC card in which the same information is recorded. The static electricity test was conducted by the contact discharge method under the conditions of the test. As a result of reading the information recorded on the rewrite card using the reader / writer 8, the two-dimensional code 14 and the one-dimensional code 15 could be read normally. No change was observed in the character information 15 on the reversible thermosensitive recording layer side, and it could be read. On the other hand, information recorded on an IC card could not be read by an IC card reader / writer.

  As is apparent from the above-described evaluation of reading digital information, in the point grant system of the present invention, the user can confirm the contents with the text information simply by looking at the card. Further, by recording digital information that has been conventionally recorded on a magnetic layer or an IC tag with a two-dimensional code and a one-dimensional code, it is possible to prevent loss of information such as points given when collecting plastic bottles.

  The point grant system of the present invention can be suitably used for a point grant system in which a privilege or the like is given when collecting a plastic bottle.

1 PET bottle collection device 2 slot 3 card slot 4 touch panel 5 carry-out port 6 measuring instrument 7 rewrite card 8 reader / writer 9 processing unit 10 camera 11 communication unit 12 for network communication 13 character information 14 two-dimensional code 15 One-dimensional code

Claims (3)

  A point granting system comprising a measuring instrument that counts the number of introduced PET bottles, a processing device that calculates points based on the number of PET bottles, and an output device that outputs the points, the output device Is a reader / writer equipped with an optical reader for reading one-dimensional or two-dimensional codes, and character information and one-dimensional or two-dimensional codes are printed on a rewrite card using a thermal head. system.   The rewritable card is a rewritable card having a reversible thermosensitive recording layer containing a normally colorless or light-colored dye precursor and a reversible developer that causes a reversible color change in the dye precursor upon heating. The point granting system according to claim 1, wherein:   The point granting system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a server having a calculation function is included as a component, and the information read by the reader / writer is inquired via a network.

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