JPH04352091A - Card type automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely take out a baggage by returning a prepaid card having the using information of a locker when the money value of the prepaid card becomes zero during use of the locker, using the prepaid card as a key for the locker in using, or transferring the using information of the card to a new at the time of issuing the new card. CONSTITUTION:An automatic vending machine 7 for utilizing a prepaid card having a storage area for recording using information such as the locker number of a locker 1 in using and an amount information area recording amount information having meney value is provided with a card processor 18 for reading out the amount information of the card 2 having money value and a control device for controlling the machine so as to issue a new card 2 and transfer the using information to the new card 2 when the amount information of the current prepaid card 2 becomes zero in the stored state of a baggage in the locker 1 and the using information exists in the card 2, or when a new card 2 is not issued, to return the old card 2 having the using information.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card-type vending machine using a prepaid card, which can also be used as a locker.

0002

[Prior Art] As a prior art prior to the present invention, a locker system in which luggage can be temporarily stored is managed using a card, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-267894 (G0
7F17/12). Additionally, a system that allows the purchase of products at multiple vending machines with a common card is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-87288 (G07F 7/
08).

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the locker management system of the above-mentioned prior art, a magnetic card on which monetary information having a value equivalent to money is recorded is used, and the monetary information is subtracted each time the locker is used. It's something to do.

[0004] In recent years, in addition to magnetic storage methods, methods for storing information using punch holes or bars have also been developed.
Prepaid cards that use various storage methods, such as those using codes, have come into use. Since prepaid cards are usually disposable cards, only amount information is stored on them. and,
Some prepaid cards are now available that allow users to purchase products from vending machines and use locker systems with the same prepaid card. This is because customers are looking for systems such as vending machines that can be used with as little as one card.

[0005] In such a system, if a prepaid card is used to purchase products or use the locker system, and the balance becomes 0 yen after being used at a vending machine, the card will be deducted from the card. - The board had been pulled in and disposed of. However, if you leave your belongings in a locker and use another vending machine, the card balance becomes 0 yen and the card is discarded, then this card will contain the unique information of the locker you used. Because it is recorded
There was a problem that it became impossible to take out the luggage that was deposited in the locker.

In view of such problems, the present invention provides that even if the balance of the card becomes 0 yen while using the locker, when purchasing a new card with a new monetary value, the locker used for the new card is This is a prepaid card system with the purpose of transferring the unique information of the card, returning the old card that has no monetary value if a new card is not purchased, and reliably retrieving the checked baggage. .

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] As a means for achieving the above object, there is provided a storage area in which a locker can be used for temporary storage of luggage, and in which monetary information having a monetary value is stored; You can use a prepaid card that has a storage area that can store usage information by using a locker, and read the amount information or usage information stored in the storage area of the prepaid card, or Receive the card processing device that performs rewriting, the amount information and usage information output from the card processing device,
When the monetary value of the amount information disappears and usage information exists, the usage information is transferred to a new card on which the amount information with monetary value is recorded, or the old card whose monetary value has disappeared. Provided is a card-type vending machine comprising a control device that controls the card processing device so as to return the card.

[0008]

[Operation] In the card-type vending machine of the present invention, the card processing device reads amount information and usage information, and outputs this information to the control device. If the monetary value of the prepaid card disappears due to processing by this control device, that is, if the remaining amount of the amount information becomes 0 yen, and if the prepaid card is If usage information exists, transfer the usage information to a newly issued card with monetary value, or return the old card whose monetary value has disappeared, and ensure that the checked baggage is It can be taken out.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The prepaid card system of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

Reference numeral 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a locker that can be used with a prepaid card 2, and is provided with a plurality of luggage compartments 4 on the top, bottom, left and right sides each having a door 3 that can be opened and closed for storing luggage.
Each luggage compartment 4 is equipped with a door switch 5 for detecting the open/closed state of the door 3, and a lamp 6 for distinguishing whether the compartment is vacant or in use.

Reference numeral 7 shown in FIG. 2 is a vending machine that can be used with a prepaid card 2, and has a door 8 that can be opened and closed at the front. A sell-out lamp or a sell-ready lamp 10 is provided at the bottom, and a coin slot 27 and a bill slot 28 are provided so that products or the prepaid card 2 itself can be sold using coins or banknotes. The coin slot 27 is provided with a coin processing device (not shown), and the bill slot 28 is provided with a bill processing device (not shown). In addition, a product selection button 11 for selecting a product,
A card insertion slot 12 into which the prepaid card 2 is inserted, a return button 13 for the prepaid card 2 or coins or banknotes, and a product sales port 14 for taking out sales products.
It is equipped with. Further, this vending machine 7 is provided with a product sample 25 of the prepaid card 2 below the card insertion slot 12 so that the prepaid card 2 can be sold. is provided with a prepaid card selection button 26 for selecting the product. In addition, this prepaid card 2
The products are taken out from the product sales port 14.

[0012] Also, in the locker 1, the amount information held in the prepaid card 2 is read, or after use, the amount information after deducting the usage fee is written, and the locker number used is stored as information. A card processing device 18 is provided for writing into the area 2a, and the vending machine 7 is provided with a card processing device 1 for reading the amount information of the prepaid card 2 or writing the amount information after the product is sold.
8 is provided.

Furthermore, the prepaid card 2 has a magnetic layer formed on one side, and at the time the prepaid card 2 is sold, monetary information having a monetary value is recorded thereon. In addition to this amount information, it has a storage area 2a in which usage information such as usage locker numbers can be written or read. As described above, the prepaid card 2 allows the user to use the vending machine 7 or locker 1 corresponding to the card 2 by paying a fee and purchasing the card 2 in advance.

Further, the locker 1 and the vending machine 2 both have a control device 16, and this control device 16 is connected to the R
A central processing unit 16a (hereinafter referred to as CPU) executes control operations according to a program stored in OM4.
It is equipped with Further, the control device 16 is connected to a card processing device 18 that reads and outputs amount information and usage information of the prepaid card 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 16a provided in the control device 16 of the locker 1 is connected to the card processing device 18 and the ROM 4, as well as a RAM 21 for storing who used which locker. , an indicator drive circuit 22 that turns on and drives a lamp 6 indicating the locker in use, and a selection circuit 23 that unlocks or locks the selected locker 1 in use.

In the vending machine 7, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 16a provided in the control device 16 has the card processing device 18 and the ROM 4
In addition, it is connected to a RAM 21 that stores the price setting amount of the sales item, a selection circuit 23 for selecting the item, a sales control circuit 24 that carries out the item, and the sold-out lamp or the ready-to-sell lamp. An indicator drive circuit 22 for driving the light source 10 is connected thereto.

The control of the present invention using the above configuration will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. However, this flowchart is for the case where the vending machine 7 is used.

First, it is detected whether or not the prepaid card 2 is inserted into the card processing device 18 (step S1). If card 2 is not inserted (NO), wait until card 2 is inserted. When the card 2 is inserted (YES), the card processing device 18 reads out the amount information held by the inserted card 2, and transmits the read amount information to the control device 16. Then, the CPU 3a of this control device 16 determines whether the amount on the card 2 is greater than or equal to the price of the sold product (step S3), and if the remaining amount has amount information that is greater than or equal to the price of the sold product ( YES), the sellable lamp 10 corresponding to the sellable product is turned on. Then, the process waits until the customer presses the product selection button 11 (step S4). When any product selection button 11 is pressed (YES), the sales control circuit 24 sells the selected product (S5
step). The price information of the sold product is transferred to the card 2.
(step S6), determines whether the subtracted amount is 0 yen (step S7), and if the remaining amount is 0 yen (YES), the locker 1 is used. Read whether there is usage information (S8 step)
. If there is usage information, the prepaid card 2 with a balance of 0 yen is returned (step S9), and the process ends. Alternatively, if the customer intends to purchase a new prepaid card 2 at this point, by inserting the amount of the prepaid card 2 to be sold into this vending machine 7, the usage information can be changed to 0 yen. It is also possible to transfer the old prepaid card 2 to a new prepaid card 2 and sell it. Then, the prepaid card 2 whose amount has become 0 yen is taken in, and the new card 2 is transferred to the product sales outlet 14.
It ends with the sale.

[0019] Also, in step S8, there is no usage information (N
O), the card 2 is taken into the vending machine 7 (step S10) and the process ends.

[0020] In addition, if the remaining amount is lower than the selling product price (NO) in step S3, the return button 13
It is determined whether or not has been operated (step S11), and the process is repeated until it is determined that it has been operated (YES). Here, Y
When it becomes ES, the inserted card 2 is returned and the process ends.

If the remaining amount is not 0 yen at step S7 (NO), the process returns to step S3 and is controlled according to the flowchart described above.

[0022]

[Effect of the invention] The prepaid card system of the present invention has
It has the following effects.

[0023] If the balance on the prepaid card becomes 0 yen after purchasing a product, and the locker is being used at that time, the locker usage information is recorded on the card whose balance has become 0 yen. Because of this, you can return the card and use it as a key to your locker.

If a new card is purchased at this point, the locker usage information is transferred to the new card and sold.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a vending machine and a locker.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the locker system.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram of a locker.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a vending machine.

FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram of a vending machine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the card-type vending machine of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Locker 2 Prepaid card 2a Storage area 7 Vending machine 16 Control device 18 Card processing device

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A storage area in which a locker can be used for temporary storage of luggage and in which monetary information having a monetary value is stored, and a storage area in which usage information can be stored by using the locker. A card processing device that reads or rewrites the amount information or usage information stored in the storage area of the prepaid card, and an output from the card processing device. After receiving the amount information and usage information,
When the monetary value of the amount information disappears and usage information exists, the usage information is transferred to a new card on which the amount information with monetary value is recorded, or the old card whose monetary value has disappeared. 1. A card-type vending machine, comprising: a control device that controls the card processing device so as to return the card.