JPH04213788A - Automatic vending machine and automatic vending machine system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer the automatic vending machine and the automatic vending machine system which can purchase the other kind of merchandise by one card even without unifying the standard of the prepaid card. CONSTITUTION:A card reader reads the code, account number and identification number of banks B1-Bn or the like from a cash card C or the like and when the identification number inputted by a customer is collated with the identification number stored in the cash card C or the like, the codes and account numbers of the banks B1-Bn and the price of designated merchandise are outputted through a telephone line or the like to an information processing center IC. The information processing center IC informs the account number and the price of the host computer of the relevant banks B1-Bn and when a merchandise discharge instruction signal is received from the banks B1-Bn, automatic vending machines MV1-MVn discharge the designated merchandise.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine and a vending machine system.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, various types of vending machines have become very popular, and all kinds of products such as drinking water, cigarettes, train tickets, admission tickets, batteries, etc. are handled by vending machines. In this case, a desired product can be purchased by inserting cash, but reflecting the cashless era, many people are now purchasing using prepaid cards.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, known prepaid cards currently in circulation include JR's Orange Card, subway's Metro Card, telephone card, golf ball, and pachinko ball rental cards. These prepaid cards are dedicated cards that can be used to purchase only specific products, and in order to purchase multiple types of products, it is necessary to carry the same number of prepaid cards as the number of product types. Therefore, if there is a possibility of purchasing many kinds of products, it is necessary to carry a very large number of cards at all times, which is cumbersome.

[0004]Therefore, various attempts have been made to standardize prepaid cards, but the reality is that the standardization of prepaid cards has not progressed as expected due to the considerations of each company.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vending machine and a vending machine system that allow one card to purchase many types of products without unifying prepaid card standards. be.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention is such that a card reader reads a bank code, account number, and pin number from a bank cash card, and records the pin number entered by the purchaser and the cash card. When the PIN is verified, the bank code, account number, and price data for the specified product are sent via a predetermined line.
The information processing center notifies the bank's host computer of the account number and amount, and when the information processing center receives a signal from the bank that the amount can be withdrawn, the vending machine The designated product is discharged.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a plurality of vending machines V
M1, VM2,...VMn are connected to an information processing center IC, and this information processing center IC is connected to a plurality of banks B1, B2.
, ... are connected to Bn. In this case, vending machine VM
Each of B1 to VMn is connected to an information processing center IC via a telephone line, and the information processing center IC and banks B1 to B1 are connected to each other via a telephone line.
It is connected to Bn by a dedicated line.

When purchasing a predetermined product from the vending machines VM1 to VMn, a bank cash card C is used instead of cash or a prepaid card. The bank code, account number, and PIN number are recorded on the cash card C. Each of the vending machines VM1 to VMn sells different products, such as vending machine VM1 selling admission tickets, vending machine VM2 selling food, and vending machine VM3 selling books. Suppose you are doing so.

FIG. 2 shows the vending machine V in the above embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific example of M1. Note that the other vending machines VM2 to VMn are similar to the vending machine VM1.

[0011] The card reader 20 is a cash card C
This is a reader that reads the bank code, account number, and PIN number recorded on the bank. The input key 30 is the vending machine V
This key is used by the purchaser to input his/her personal identification number when purchasing a product (admission ticket) from M1. The product specification button 40 is a button for specifying the product (admission ticket) that the purchaser wants to purchase from among multiple products (multiple admission tickets), and one of the product specification buttons 40 is pressed. , price data corresponding to the product (admission ticket), and a product designation signal specifying the product (admission ticket) are output.

[0012] The product storage section 50 is a part that temporarily stores products (admission tickets) that the vending machine VM1 attempts to sell. The CPU 10 is an example of a password verification unit that controls the entire vending machine VM1 and verifies the password entered using the input key 30 and the password read from the cash card C.

[0013] Furthermore, when the above-mentioned PIN numbers are verified, the modem 61 and the NCU 62 combine the bank code and account number stored in the cash card C with the data of the price of the product specified by the purchaser. This is an example of a data output means that outputs the data to the information processing center IC via a predetermined line.

The product discharging mechanism 41 is an example of a product discharging means that discharges a product specified by a purchaser based on a product discharge instruction signal from the information center IC.

In addition to the above, there is also a display section 70 such as a liquid crystal display that displays instructions for operating the vending machine VM1, other messages, etc. to the product purchaser, and a display section 70 that displays specified products (admission tickets). At this time, a printer 71 is provided that issues a receipt indicating that the price of the product (admission ticket) to be discharged has been debited from the account.

[0016] Furthermore, when the PIN read from the card C by the card reader 20 and the PIN input by the purchaser are compared, the CPU 10 transmits a code for identifying the vending machine VM1 to the information processing center IC. send.

The information processing center IC sends the bank code and account number, the code for identifying the vending machine VM1, and the price data for the product specified by the purchaser to the vending machine VM1.
~When received from VMn, the account number, the price for the product, and the name of the company receiving the payment (company name determined corresponding to vending machine VM1) are sent to the host computer of the relevant bank. After that, when a signal is received from the bank indicating that the payment can be debited or lent, a product discharge instruction signal is sent to the vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the information processing center IC in the above embodiment.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

[0020] First, the admission ticket purchaser uses the cash card C.
When the cash card C is inserted into the card slot of the vending machine VM1, the card reader 20 reads the bank code, account number, and usually four-digit pin number from the cash card C. and,
When this reading operation is completed, the CPU 10 displays "Please enter your password" via the display unit 70. In response to this, the purchaser uses the input key 30 to input a four-digit password. The CPU 10 compares the PIN read by the card reader 20 with the PIN input from the input key 30, and if it determines that the two are the same, it displays on the display 70 the PIN code for the admission ticket you are purchasing. "Please press the button" is displayed. In response, the purchaser presses the button 40 of the admission ticket he/she wishes to purchase from among the plurality of product designation buttons 40.

When the product designation button 40 is pressed, the product designation button 40 sends the data of the price of the designated admission ticket to the CPU 10.
At the same time, a product designation signal indicating which admission ticket should be ejected is sent to the product ejection mechanism 41.

[0022] Along with this, the CPU 10
, NCU 62 and the bank code via the telephone line.
The account number, price data corresponding to the specified admission ticket, and a code specifying the vending machine VM1 are sent to the information processing center IC.

[0023]The information processing center IC is connected to the vending machine VM1.
The bank corresponding to the bank code received from, for example, Bank B
Knowing that bank B1 is the relevant bank, the bank calls bank B1 via a dedicated line and notifies its host computer of the account number and amount. Also, based on the code that identifies the vending machine VM1, the code of the company that should receive the payment (
The information processing center IC determines the company name (name), account number, etc., and sends the code and account number of the company that should receive the payment to Bank B.
1 host computer. The host computer of bank B1 determines whether there is an amount equal to or greater than the amount remaining in the account with the account number of card C, and if it determines that there is, the amount is debited from the account of card C. , the money is deposited into the account of the company receiving the money, and a signal to that effect is sent to the information processing center IC.

[0024] As a result, the information processing center IC
A product discharge instruction signal is sent to the CPU 10 via the CU 62 and the modem 61, and the CPU 10 sends a product discharge signal to the product discharge mechanism 41. At this time, the product ejection mechanism 41 ejects the specified admission ticket from the product storage section 50, and the specified admission ticket is ejected from the product ejection port. Further, the printer 71 outputs a receipt indicating that the price of the issued admission ticket has been debited from the account.

Furthermore, in the same manner as above, using the same cash card C, you can purchase food from the vending machine VM2, books from the vending machine VM3, and drink water from other vending machines. You can purchase cigarettes, tickets, batteries, prepaid cards, etc.

[0026] Therefore, without carrying different prepaid cards for each product such as a prepaid card for drinking water, a prepaid card for cigarettes, a prepaid card for train tickets, etc., and of course without carrying cash, A wide variety of products can be purchased with just one cash card C, which is very convenient for the product purchaser.

In the above embodiment, the vending machines VM1 to
The products that can be handled by VMn are any products that are on the market, but in addition to the above, medicines such as cold medicines, medical patches such as cotton buds, medical supplies such as cotton swabs, fuses, light bulbs, fluorescent lights, etc. Possible items include electrical and electronic parts such as cassette tapes, office supplies, prepaid cards, tools and agricultural equipment, etc.

The cash card C used in the above embodiment may be a magnetic card, a contact type IC card, a non-contact type IC card, or an optical card.

In the above embodiment, the vending machine VM1
Although the explanation has been given using the cash card C as an example of the card used in ~VMn, a credit card or a loan card may be used instead of the cash card C. In other words, the information processing center IC connects to the bank via a dedicated line, but if it connects to the credit card company's host computer instead of the bank, the credit card can be used instead of the cash card C. If the host computer of the loan company and the information processing center IC are connected, the loan card of the loan company can be used instead of the cash card C. In this case, banks, credit companies, and loan companies are examples of financial institutions, and in this specification, "financial institution account number" refers to bank account number, credit company, loan company registration number, subscriber identification number, etc. It is a broad concept that includes numbers.

[0030]Furthermore, instead of inputting the PIN number using the input key 30, the purchaser may speak his/her own PIN number, and the voice recognition device may recognize this voice to input the PIN number. . That is, the input key 30, the microphone, and the voice recognition device are examples of the password input means.

Furthermore, instead of sending the vending machine VM1 to the information processing center IC a code that specifies the vending machine VM1, the vending machine VM1 sends a code that specifies the company that handles the products sold by the vending machine VM1 (multiple vending machines A code common to VM1, VM2, etc.) may be sent to the information processing center IC. In addition, in cases where the information processing center IC handles products from only one specific company, the company (account number) that receives the payment is obvious, so the code that identifies the vending machine VM1, the code that identifies the vending machine VM1, There is no need for the vending machine VM1 to send a code specifying the company handling the product to be sold to the information processing center IC. However, even in this case, the information processing center IC needs to notify the bank of the account number, etc. of the company receiving the payment. However, each bank B1
~Bn, when receiving the above series of information from the information processing center IC, if you decide in advance which account number to deposit money into, the information processing center IC will send the money to banks B1~Bn.
In each case, please provide the account number, etc. of the company receiving the payment.
There's no need to let me know.

[0032] In the above embodiment, since verification is performed using a personal identification number, it is possible to prevent the loss or theft of the cash card C, etc., and since there is no need to store cash in the vending machine, it is possible to prevent theft for the purpose of cash. It can also be prevented.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

The vending machine VM11 shown in FIG. 4 is basically the same as the vending machine VM1, but has a cash slot 82.
The difference is that a measurement section 83 and a change return section 84 are provided. That is, in the vending machine VM11, the card C can be used, and even if cash 81 is inserted into the cash slot 82, the product can be purchased.In this case, the measuring unit 8
3 measures the amount of cash inserted, and the CPU 10 does not accept the signal from the card reader 20, giving priority to processing using cash. After purchasing the product, the change is returned to the return department 84.
will be returned from. In addition, even if cash is inserted contrary to the above, when the card C is inserted from the insertion slot, processing by the card C may be given priority over the cash.

[0035] If vending machines are installed all over the country, telephone line usage charges may become high, so for example, a relay base may be established in each municipality, and the vending machines and their relay bases may be connected to each other. A telephone line may be used to connect the relay base and the information processing center IC, and a dedicated line may be used to connect the relay base and the information processing center IC. In this way, communication charges between the relay base and the information processing center IC can be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, specific examples of the information processing center IC include a VAN center IC1, a host computer IC2 of a railway company, and a host computer I of a food manufacturer.
An example is shown where C3 is installed, and VAN center I
C1, the railway company's host computer IC2, and the food manufacturer's host computer IC3 basically have the same configuration as the information processing center IC.

[0038] VAN center IC1 is a vending machine VM2.
This is necessary when the number of VMs 1 to VM2n is small and product sales using vending machines are conducted on a relatively small scale, and the VAN center IC 1 is requested to process data and communicate with banks. Railway company host computer IC
2. A food manufacturer's host computer IC3, etc., has a large number of vending machines VM31 to VM3n and VM41 to VM4n, and when vending machine sales of products are conducted on a relatively large scale, the host computer IC3 etc. This is a case where communication with the company is executed by a host computer dedicated to the company. The host computers IC2 and IC3 are the same as those described above for companies in industries other than railway companies and food manufacturers. In addition, vending machines VM21 to VM2n, VM3
1 to VM3n are vending machines VM1 to Vn or VM1
This is similar to 1.

[0039]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, it is possible to purchase many types of products with one card without unifying the standards of prepaid cards.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the vending machine VM1 in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an information processing center IC in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4: Vending machine VM11 showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

C...Cash card, VM1 to VMn, VM11, V
M21~VM2n, VM31~VM3n...Vending machine,
IC...Information processing center, IC1...VAN center, IC2
...Railway company's host computer, IC3...Food manufacturer's host computer, B1-Bn...Bank, 10...CP
U, 20... Card reader, 30... Input key, 40... Product specification button, 50... Product storage section, 61... Modem, 62... NC
U, 71...Printer.

Claims (6)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A product storage unit that stores predetermined products; a card reader that reads the recorded contents from a card in which a financial institution code, account number, and PIN number are recorded; a PIN input means for inputting the PIN; a PIN verification means for comparing the PIN entered by the purchaser with the PIN recorded on the card; The financial institution code and account number read from the card and the price data of the product specified by the purchaser are sent via a designated line.
A vending machine characterized by having: a data output means for outputting to an information processing center; and a product discharge means for discharging a product specified by the purchaser based on a product discharge instruction signal from the information processing center. . 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, further comprising a printer that, when discharging the predetermined product, issues a receipt indicating that the price of the product to be discharged has been debited from the account. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the card is a bank cash card, credit card, or loan card, and the financial institution is a bank, credit card company, or loan company. . 4. In claim 1, the predetermined line is:
A vending machine characterized by a public telephone line or a dedicated line. 5. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein when both said personal identification numbers are verified, a code identifying the vending machine is sent to said information processing center. [Claim 6] A product storage unit that stores predetermined products; a card reader that reads the recorded contents from a card in which a financial institution code, account number, and PIN number are recorded; a PIN input means for inputting the PIN; and a PIN verification means for comparing the PIN input by the purchaser with the PIN recorded on the card;
When the above-mentioned PIN numbers are verified, data output is performed to output the financial institution code and account number read from the above-mentioned card, and the price data of the product specified by the above-mentioned purchaser to the information processing center via a specified line. and a product discharging means for discharging the product specified by the purchaser based on a product discharge instruction signal from the information processing center; the code and account number of the financial institution, and the purchase When the person receives data on the price of the product specified by the person from the vending machine, the host computer of the relevant financial institution is notified of the account number and the price, and the price can be debited or lent. A vending machine system comprising: an information processing center that sends the product ejection instruction signal to the vending machine when receiving a signal from the financial institution to that effect.