JPH0540881A - Prepaid card, card terminal equipment and automatic card vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the reuse of a prepaid card even though the card balance is equal to 0 and to obtain a card terminal equipment and an automatic card vending machine in regard of the prepaid card which is punched at an amount position corresponding to the card balance for each use of the card. CONSTITUTION:Plural punching areas 11c are prepared on the surface of a prepaid card for storage of the card balance 12c and the card issuing frequency 12d or the punch position information. At a card terminal equipment, a punch hole 15 corresponding to the card balance is provided in a punching area 14 for each amount of the area 11c which is designated by the card issuing frequency or the punch hole position information. Then an automatic card vending machine writes again the prescribed balance into a used prepaid card and issues a card again. The maximum card issuing frequency is managed by the card issuing frequency or the punch hole position information stored in the card.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prepaid card, a card terminal for executing a transaction using the prepaid card, and a card vending machine for selling the prepaid card. In particular, the card balance once becomes zero. The present invention relates to a prepaid card that can reuse a used prepaid card, a card terminal, and a card vending machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, prepaid cards have been introduced not only in transportation facilities and public telephones, but also in ordinary shops, department stores, and shops in companies.

Such a prepaid card is generally shown in FIG.
It is configured as shown in FIG. That is, the prepaid card 1 is composed of, for example, a card body 2 made of a plastic material and a magnetic stripe 3 formed in the card body 2. Then, on the surface of the card body 2, characters 4 such as "shopping card" indicating that the card is a prepaid card and "A shopping district" indicating the stores where the card can be used are written. Further, a plurality of amounts of money 5 including a card balance of 0 are written in the lower position.
Then, a rough indication of the current card balance is shown by punch holes 6.

The magnetic stripe 3 has a plurality of regions 3a,
3b, 3c are formed, and the regions 3a, 3b, 3c are formed.
The card issuer code that identifies the card issuer, the card numbers that are continuous across all cards, the current card balance, and the like are recorded in.

Further, in the card terminal, the total amount of the sold product is deducted from the card balance magnetically recorded on the prepaid card brought by the customer. Then, the prepaid card in which the reduced card balance is recorded is returned to the customer. In this case, when the card balance after the subtraction falls below one of the respective amounts of money 5 listed on the surface of the card body 2 for the first time, the above-mentioned punch hole 6 is formed at the adjacent position of the corresponding amount of money 5. To be done. Therefore, the customer can grasp the approximate card balance from the position of the punch hole 6.

Further, in the prepaid card vending machine, a large number of prepaid cards in which the card balance equivalent to the face value is already written are stored in the card stocker. Then, when the customer inputs money of 1000 yen, 2000 yen, etc. from the money insertion slot and presses the sales key of the relevant face value, a prepaid card in which the relevant face value is written and the relevant face value is magnetically recorded as a card balance is displayed. It is carried out from the card stocker and discharged to the card discharge port.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned prepaid card still has the following problems.

Generally, in the prepaid card 1, as shown in FIG. 17, when the card balance becomes 0, a punch hole 6a is punched at the left side position of the "0" amount 5a described on the surface. When the customer confirms the punch hole 6a, the customer discards the prepaid card 1.

However, in the case of small prepaid cards whose face value is 500 yen, 1000 yen, 2000 yen, etc., the manufacturing cost of the prepaid card itself with respect to the sales amount is not negligible. In particular, unlike ordinary shops and department stores, it is necessary to reduce the cost of issuing cards as much as possible in employee cafeterias, co-ops, etc. in companies that are not for profit. It is also necessary to avoid promoting resource waste.

It should be noted that if the denomination is high, such as 10,000 yen or 20000 yen, the total number of cards issued can be reduced, but the amount of one-time card purchase will be large and the burden on the customer will increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a pre-paid card that has been used once is provided by previously providing a plurality of punch hole regions for punching holes in one card body. An object of the present invention is to provide a prepaid card, a card terminal, and a card vending machine that can be reused and can reduce the cost of issuing a card.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a prepaid card of the present invention, a card body and punch holes for a predetermined number of issuances of the card body preset on the surface of the card body are used. Areas, a plurality of types of amount information including a card balance of zero preprinted in each punch hole area, and adjacent to each amount information, when the card balance is below the corresponding amount information It is provided with a punch hole punching area in which punch holes are punched, and a plurality of recording areas which are provided in the card body and record at least the card balance and the number of issuances.

Further, a prepaid card of another invention stores punch hole position information in place of the number of issuances in the storage area of the prepaid card of the invention described above.

In the card terminal of the present invention,
Card information reading means for reading the card balance and the number of issuances recorded in the prepaid card inserted from the card insertion slot, and the prepaid card by subtracting the transaction amount from the read card balance. A card balance updating means for writing into the card, a punch hole area searching means for searching a punch hole area corresponding to the number of issuances read from a plurality of punch hole areas provided in the prepaid card, and A punch hole punching means for punching a punch hole at a position adjacent to the money amount information corresponding to the card balance of the plurality of money amount information written in the searched punch hole area, and the card balance after subtraction is zero. And an issue count updating means for updating the read issue count and writing it in the prepaid card.

Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned means, the card terminal of another invention is provided with a card collecting means for collecting the prepaid card after the issuance number is updated in the internal card stocker.

Further, in the card vending machine according to the present invention, a plurality of amounts of money information are printed on the surface of the card body, a punch hole area for the prescribed number of issuances of the card body is provided, and the card balance is stored. A card stocker that stores unused raw cards that have not been used and multiple used prepaid cards that have a card balance of zero written, and one card that was voluntarily supplied by the card stocker in response to the specified amount of money. Card information reading means for reading card information including the number of issuances stored in the card, and a card balance sheet for writing the specified amount of money as a card balance to the corresponding card when the number of issued reads does not reach the specified number of issuances An input means, an issue count updating means for updating the read issue count and writing it on the card, and a car for which the card balance and the issue count are written. A card issuing means for issuing as a new prepaid card, and an unusable card excluding means for discarding the corresponding card and supplying the next one card from the card stocker when the read number of times of issuance reaches the prescribed number of times. Equipped with.

[0017]

When performing a transaction with a card terminal using the prepaid card having the structure described in claim 1,
Insert the prepaid card into the card slot. Then,
The card balance and the number of issuances recorded on this prepaid card are read. The transaction amount is subtracted from the read card balance and written again on the same prepaid card.

Further, according to the present invention, a punch hole is punched at a position adjacent to the amount information corresponding to the card balance in the punch hole area designated by the number of issuances. Then, when the first card balance becomes 0, the number of issuances is updated in this card terminal.

Therefore, when a prepaid card in which the card balance is written again and reissued is used, a punch hole is punched at a position adjacent to the amount information corresponding to the card balance in the next punch hole area. It That is, the same prepaid card can be reused.

Also, each time the card balance becomes 0, the prepaid card can be surely reused by collecting the prepaid card in the card stocker in the card terminal.

Further, in the card vending machine, a plurality of used prepaid cards in which the card balance 0 having the structure described in claim 1 is written, and the card having the same appearance as the prepaid card. A card stocker in which a plurality of unused prepaid cards whose balances are not yet stored, that is, a plurality of raw cards are stored in a fixed order is incorporated.

When the customer puts in the specified amount of money, one card is supplied from the card stocker. If the number of issuances stored in this card has not reached the specified number of issuances, this card is still usable, so the specified amount of money inserted is written as a card balance and issued as a new prepaid card. It If the number of issuances has reached the specified number, a punch hole has been punched at a position adjacent to the amount information of all punch hole regions, so this card is discarded as an unusable card.

Therefore, even a used prepaid card is reused a prescribed number of times indicated by the number of punched hole areas.

In the prepaid card having the structure described in claim 2, punch hole position information is stored in place of the number of issuances. That is, this punch hole position information is indicated by, for example, a serial number over the punch hole punching area of all the amount information of all the plurality of punch hole areas.

Therefore, even in the card terminal and the card vending machine, by reading the punch hole position information, it is possible to identify which punch hole punching area has been punched on one card. it can. Therefore, the current card issuance frequency can also be calculated.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are views showing a prepaid card of the embodiment. On the surface of the card body 11 of the prepaid card 10, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), a "shopping card" indicating that it is a prepaid card.
Etc. and the names of usable department stores or shopping streets are printed in advance.

Further, on the surface, the punch hole frames 11a, 1 as three punch hole regions numbered 1 to 3 are provided.
1b and 11c are printed in advance, and each punch hole frame 1
"0" indicating zero card balance in 1a, 11b, 11c
Including the amount of "0""1000""2000""3000""4000"
4 kinds of amount 13 are printed. That is, the sales amount (prescribed amount) of the prepaid card 10 of this embodiment
Is 4000 yen. A punch hole punching region 14 for punching a punch hole 15 indicating that the card balance X1 has become equal to or less than the corresponding amount 13 is provided below each amount 13.

The inside of the card body 11 is shown in FIG.
The magnetic stripe 12 is provided as shown in FIG. Regions 12a to 12d are formed in the magnetic stripe 12 as shown in FIG.
2a, area 12b, the card issuing company code,
A series of card numbers is pre-written. Region 12c,
12d stores the current card balance X1 and the number of issuances N indicating the number of times the prepaid card 10 has been reused.

Such a prepaid card 10 is sold at the card vending machine 16 shown in FIG. 7 and can be used at the card terminal 17 shown in FIG.

First, the card terminal 17 of FIG. 2 will be described. A keyboard 18 for the cashier to perform the sales registration operation on the front of the housing, a display 19 for displaying the sales amount Ya, the total amount Sm, the card balance X1, etc., and also a display 20 for the customer. A card insertion slot 21, a receipt issuing slot 23 for issuing a receipt 22 and the like are provided, and a drawer 24 for accommodating cash etc. is incorporated in the lower part.

The key board 18 is a numeral key 25 for inputting numerical data such as the sales amount of each sale item, and a section key for inputting the section code of each sale item. 26, a cash total key 27 used when paying in cash, and a card total key 28 used when paying in prepaid card are provided. Further, the keyboard 18 is provided with a work changeover switch 29 for changing over work modes such as [register], [check], [settlement] and the like.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the card terminal 17. For example, a control device 30 including a microcomputer, a card processing unit 31 for reading, writing, and punching card information for the prepaid card 10 inserted into the card insertion slot 21, a receipt 2
A printer 32 for printing out various sales data, the display devices 19 and 20, the keyboard 18, and a storage unit 33 for temporarily storing various data are connected to 2.

The card processing section 31 reads the card information consisting of the data stored in the areas 12a to 12d of the magnetic stripe 12 of the prepaid card 10 shown in FIG. Region 12a-
A card writer 31b for writing each data in 12d, a punch hole punching machine 3 for punching a punch hole 15 in a punch hole punching area 14 corresponding to the card balance X1 of the prepaid card 10.
1c, prepaid card inserted from the card insertion slot 21
The card 10 is connected to the card reader 31a and the card writer 31b.
A card transport mechanism 31d for transporting the processed prepaid card 10 to the card insertion slot 21 and discharging the processed prepaid card 10 to the card stocker 31e. There is.

In the storage unit 33 of FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 4, a totalizer 33a for calculating the total price Sm of the products sold to one customer and a card read by the card reader 31a. Card information memory 33b for temporarily storing information, card sales totalizer 33c, cash sales totalizer 33d, card balance memory 33e for storing card balance Xa before subtraction, total sales totalizer 33f, departmental sales memory 33g etc. are formed. Further, in the storage unit 33, the prepaid card
A10 (= each amount of money for each punch hole frame 11a to 11c of the slot 10)
A punch position information memory 33h for storing 0), A2 (= 1000), ..., Ai, ..., An (= 4000) is formed.

Then, the control device 3 of the card terminal 17
0 is a state in which the business mode is set to “registration”, and FIG.
And is programmed to perform sales registration teaching in accordance with the flow chart shown in FIG.

When the flow chart is started and the cashier performs some input operation at S (step) 1, the type of input operation is checked. In S2, if the input operation is the operation of inputting the sales data for one product by the combination key operation of the numeric key 25 and the department key 26, in S3, the input sales amount Ya is added to the totalizer 33a. Add to the amount Sm. Further, the department designated by the department key 26 and the sales amount Ya are printed out on the printer 22 by the printer 32. Also, it is registered in the department sales memory 33g of the storage unit 33.

If the input operation is the insertion operation of the prepaid card 10 into the card insertion slot 21 in S4, S5
At this time, a command is issued to the card processing unit 31, and each area 12a to 1 of the magnetic stripe 12 is given by the card reader 31a.
The card information composed of each data recorded in 2d is read and temporarily stored in the card information memory 33b. Furthermore, the card balance X1 before subtraction of the read card balance X1
Is stored in the card balance memory 33e.

Further, if the input operation is the cash total key 27 operation in S6, the total amount Sm of the totalizer 33a is displayed on the display units 19 and 20 in S7, and the total amount Sm is displayed in S8. Printing is performed on the receipt 22, the receipt 22 is cut, and the receipt 22 is discharged from the receipt issuing port 23 (receipt issuance). After that, the total amount Sm of the cash sales totalizer 33de
And the total sales totalizer 33f. Next, totalizer 3
3a, card information memory 33b, card balance memory 33
Clear e.

Further, in S9 of FIG. 6, if the input operation is the card total key 28 operation, the total amount Sm is displayed on the display unit 1.
It is displayed on 9, 20. At S10, the card information memory 33
Confirm that the card information is stored in b. Further, in S11, the total amount Sm is subtracted from the card balance X1 read from the card information memory 33b. Also, S
When it is confirmed at 12 that the card balance X1 after subtraction is not a negative value, it is further confirmed at S13 that the card balance X1 after subtraction is not 0.

Thereafter, in S14, the card processing unit 3
1 is sent to the card writer 31b, and the updated card balance X1 is written in each area 12c of the prepaid card 10 being inserted. At S15, the card balance memory 3
Card balance Xa before subtraction of 3e and card balance X after subtraction
Between 1 and 1, it is checked whether at least one of the n amounts of money Ai stored in the punch hole position information memory 33h is included.

If it is included in S15, it is determined that the subtracted card balance X1 has been reduced to the new amount Ai or less. Then, in S16, the punch hole punching machine 31c is started to operate the three punch hole frames 11a to 11c.
Ai amount 13 in the punch hole frames 11a to 11c designated by the number of issuance N of the card information memory 33b
A punch hole 15 is punched in the punch hole punching region 14.

If there are a plurality of amounts A between the card balance Xa before deduction and the card balance X1 after deduction,
When it is judged that a large amount of transaction has been made at one time, punch holes 15 are punched in the punch hole punching area 14 of the smaller amount 13.

Further, in S15, the card balances Xa, X
If the amount Ai does not exist in one, the punch hole 15 is not drilled in this transaction.

Next, in S17, the prepaid card 10 that has been processed is ejected from the card insertion slot 21. After that, FIG.
Returning to S8, normal sales registration processing such as receipt issuance and memory processing is executed.

At S13, the card balance X1 after subtraction is 0.
If (X1 = 0), the process proceeds to S18, and the number of times N of issue of the card information memory 33b is updated (N = N + 1). S1
At 9, the card balance O and the updated issue count N are written in the areas 12c and 12d of the prepaid card 10 being inserted into the card insertion slot 21. Then, in S20, punching is performed in the punch hole punching area 14 of the amount 13 of 0 (A1) of the (N-1) th punch hole frames 11a to 11c designated by the number of issuance (N-1) before updating. A hole 15 is drilled.

Then, in S21, a message of "card balance 0, card collection" is displayed on the display devices 19 and 20. In S22, the card transport mechanism 31d is activated to store the relevant prepaid card 10 in the card stocker 31e. After that, the process returns to S8 of FIG. 5, and normal sales registration processing such as receipt issuance and memory processing is executed.

Further, if an insufficient amount of money is generated in S12, the process proceeds to S23, and the insufficient amount of money B (= X1) is displayed on the display device 19, 2.
When the cash shortage amount received from the customer is keyed in with the numeric keypad 25, the shortage amount storage memory process is executed in S24. That is, the shortfall amount is added to the cash sales total device 33d, and the card payment amount is added to the card sales total device 33c.

When the above shortage process is completed, the process proceeds to S18, and the process corresponding to the card balance O is executed.

Next, the card vending machine 16 for automatically selling the prepaid card 10 will be described.

FIG. 7 is an external view of the card vending machine 16. The operation panel 35 formed on the front of the door of the substantially box-shaped case is provided with a money slot 36 including a banknote slot for inserting banknotes and a coin slot for inserting coins, various operation guides, and an amount to be inserted. An indicator 37 that displays an electric light, a sales key 38 that is pressed after the amount of money (sales amount (regular amount) or more) has been pushed,
A cancel button 39 for canceling the selling operation on the way, a call button 40 for calling a clerk, a card outlet 41 for discharging the sold prepaid card 10, and a cash outlet 42 for discharging change or cash when the sale is stopped. Etc. are arranged.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the card vending machine 16.

A monetary process for checking and storing the amount of money inserted from the card processing unit 44 and the money insertion port 36 into a control device 43 composed of, for example, a microcomputer for executing various information processing and discharging change. Storage part 45,
An operation panel interface 46 provided on the operation panel 35 and a storage unit 47 formed of a RAM or the like are connected.

The card processing section 44 comprises a card reader / writer 44a, a card carrying mechanism 44b, a card stocker 44c, and a waste card holder 44d. Also,
The operation panel interface 46 is connected to the display 37, the sales key 38, the cancel button 39, the call button 40 and the like shown in FIG.

In the card stocker 44c, as shown in FIG.
The used prepaid card 10 in which the raw card 48 shown in 0 and the card balance X1 as shown in FIG. 11 which has been collected from the card stocker 31c of the card terminal 17 has once become "0" (X1 = 0). Are stored in order.

The raw card 48 is a new card that has never been used. Then, as shown in FIG.
It has the same appearance as the issued prepaid card 10 shown in FIG. 1 above. Therefore, naturally, each punch hole frame 11
Punch hole drilling area 1 for each amount 13 of a, 11b and 11c
No punch holes 15 are formed in the No. 4 plate. Also, the card balance X1 is still in the area 12c of the magnetic stripe 12.
Is not written. Furthermore, the issuance count N of 1 is written in the area 12d (N = 1). The area 12
The card issuing company code and the card number are already written in a and 12b.

The prepaid card 10 sold by the card vending machine 16 has one type of sales amount An, which is 4000 yen in the embodiment vending machine.

Then, the card transport mechanism 44d transports one raw card 48 or the used prepaid card 10 from the card stocker 44c to the card reader / writer 44a, and at the same time, stores the prepaid card 10 in which the card balance An is newly written. The card is conveyed to the card ejection port 41.

Card information for temporarily storing the card information stored in the storage unit 47 in the areas 12a to 12d of the raw card 48 and the used prepaid card 10 read by the card reader / writer 44a. Amount of money Y1 inserted from the memory 47a and the money insertion port 36
A totalizer 47b for calculating the total amount of money S, a sales totaling memory 47c for totaling the sales amount of the prepaid card 10 sold by the card vending machine 16, an issuance number memory 47d for storing the number of issued cards, etc. are formed. ing.

When the card vending machine 16 is turned on, the control device 43 is programmed to execute the automatic vending processing operation of the prepaid card 10 according to the flow chart of FIG. There is.

The flow chart is started, and the operation panel 3 is started at P1.
When some sort of sales operation is executed on 5, the type of the executed operation is checked. When money such as banknotes or coins is inserted from the money insertion port 36 in P2, the inserted amount Y1 of the inserted money read in the money processing storage unit 45 in P3 is the total amount of the totalizer 47b of the storage unit 47. Add to S (S
= S + Y1). Then, the total amount S is displayed on the display 37. Naturally, the total amount S is 0 at first.

Then, when the next sales operation is executed on the operation panel 35 and additional money is inserted at P4, the process returns to P3 and the current amount of money Y1 is added to the totalizer 47b.

Next, when the sales operation is not a money insertion operation at P2 or P4 but the sales key 38 is operated at P5, the total amount S of the totalizer 47b is the sales amount A at P6.
Confirm that it is n (= 4000) or more. Next, check if there is change and if there is change. A predetermined change process is executed at P7.

At P8, an activation command is sent to the card transport mechanism 44b, and one raw card 48 or the used prepaid card 1 stored in the card stocker 44c is sent.
0 is conveyed to the card reader / writer 44a. The card information memory 47 reads the card information stored in the magnetic stripe 12 of the cards 48 and 10 carried in at P9.
Store in a. At P10, it is checked whether or not the number of issuances N of the read area 12d exceeds the prescribed number of issuances Nm (= 3), which is the number of punch hole frames 11a to 11c installed.

If not exceeded, this card 48, 10
Since it can be determined that the card can be reissued, the process proceeds to P11 and the sales amount An (= 4000) is written in the area 12c of the corresponding cards 48 and 10 as the new card balance X1. And P12
Then, the corresponding cards 48 and 10 are discharged as new prepaid cards 10 from the card discharge port 41 (card issuance). Then, in P13, each memory 47 of the storage unit 47
The sales registration processing for c and 47d is executed, and the automatic sales processing for one prepaid card 10 is completed.

If the read number of issued N exceeds the specified number of issued Nm (= 3) in P10, the prepaid card 10 has already been used by the customer three times, and a new punch hole frame 11a has been created. It is determined that ~ 11c does not exist. Then, at P14, the card transport mechanism 44b is activated to store the used prepaid card 10 in the waste card slot 44d. Then, returning to P8, the next one card 48, 10 is conveyed from the card stocker 44c to the card reader / writer 44a.

Prepaid card 1 configured in this way
With 0, the card terminal 17 and the card vending machine 16, it is possible to newly write the card balance X1 to one raw card 48 three times and use it as a new prepaid card 10.

Moreover, for the customer, the punch hole punching area 14 provided adjacent to the amount 13 shown in each of the punch hole frames 11a to 11c numbered from 1 to 3.
The approximate card balance X1 at the present time can be grasped from the punched state of the punch holes 15 at.

That is, since the customer can obtain the information on the card balance of an amount almost equal to the information on the card balance obtained by the conventional prepaid card 1 shown in FIG. 17, it is particularly inconvenient as compared with the conventional card. It never happens.

Further, since the same prepaid card 10 can be used a plurality of times by the card issuer, the manufacturing cost of the entire prepaid card 10 can be greatly reduced. In particular,
The number of new prepaid cards 10 issued from the raw card 48 can be reduced in the case where a large amount of small prepaid cards 10 such as an employee cafeteria or an in-house co-op needs to be issued.

Since the used prepaid card 10 with the card balance of 0 is forcibly taken into the card stocker 31e in the card terminal machine 17, the used prepaid card 10 has a recovery rate of almost 100%. Becomes Therefore, this collected used prepaid card 1
By storing 0 as it is in the card stocker 44c of the card vending machine 16, the used prepaid card 10 can be reused more efficiently.

When the number of customers who use the store is limited to some extent, such as in a cafeteria of a company or a co-op as described above, even if the used prepaid card 10 is reissued, the reason is You can easily understand.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operation of the card terminal used in this embodiment. The card terminal used in this embodiment differs from the card terminal 17 in the previous embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 only in the following point. The prepaid card 10 used in this embodiment is shown in FIG.
It is the same as the prepaid card shown in.

That is, in the above embodiment, as shown by the processing contents of S18 and S19 in the flow chart of FIG.
The number N of issuances stored in the prepaid card 10 is updated in the card terminal 17. On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13, the card terminal does not update the number of issuances N.
The number of issuances N stored in the prepaid card 10 is updated by the card vending machine shown below.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the operation of the card vending machine used in this embodiment. Note that the external view of the vending machine, the block diagram showing the schematic configuration, and the memory configuration of the storage unit are the external view, the block diagram, and the memory of the vending machine in the previous embodiment shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. It is the same as the configuration diagram. Therefore, detailed description of the overlapping portions will be omitted.

Card stocker 4 in the card vending machine
A plurality of raw cards 48 shown in FIG. 10 and a plurality of used prepaid cards 10 collected from the card terminal are stored in 4c in no particular order. Then, the number N of times of issuance of the area 12d of the magnetic stripe 12 in the raw card 48 of this embodiment is initially set to 0 (N = 0).

When the card vending machine is turned on, the card vending machine executes the automatic vending processing of the prepaid card 10 according to the flow chart of FIG.

Each process from the input operation detection process in Q1 in FIG. 14 to the card information reading process in Q9 is the same as each process from P1 to P9 in FIG. 12 in the above-described embodiment. Is omitted.

That is, the raw card 4 loaded in Q9
8 or a magnetic stripe 1 of a used prepaid card 10
The card information stored in No. 2 is read and stored in the card information memory 47a.

At Q10, it is checked whether or not the number N of issuances of the read area 12d has reached the prescribed number of issuances Nm (= 3) which is the number of punch hole frames 11a to 11c installed.

If not, this card 48,10
Since it can be determined that the card can be reissued, 1 is added to the number of issuances N read in Q11 (update of the number of issuances), and at P12, the card reader / writer 44a causes the magnetic stripe 12 to be read.
The updated number N of times of issuance is written in the area 12d. After that, proceed to Q13, sales amount (specified amount) An (= 4000)
Is the new card balance X1 and the corresponding cards 48, 10
Area 12c. Then, in Q14, the corresponding cards 48 and 10 are discharged as new prepaid cards 10 from the card discharge port 41 (card issuance). And Q
At 15, the sales registration processing is executed for each of the memories 47c and 47d of the storage unit 47, and one prepaid card 1
The automatic selling process for 0 is terminated.

Further, if the read number of issuances N reaches the specified number of issuances Nm (= 3) in Q10, the prepaid card 10 has already been used three times by the customer, and the new punch hole frame 11a has already been used. It is determined that ~ 11c does not exist. Then, in Q16, the card transport mechanism 44b is activated to store the corresponding unusable prepaid card 10 in the waste card holder 44d. Then, returning to Q8, the next one card 48, 10 is conveyed from the card stocker 44c to the card reader / writer 44a.

As described above, by initially setting the number of issuances N stored in the raw card 48 to 0, the number of issuances N in the prepaid card 10 can be updated by the card vending machine.

Since the prepaid card can be reused even in the card vending machine and the card terminal thus configured, it is possible to obtain substantially the same effect as that of the previous embodiment.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIGS. 15A, 15B and 15C are views showing a prepaid card used in this embodiment. Figure 1
The same parts as those of the prepaid card of the previous embodiment shown in (a), (b) and (c) are designated by the same reference numerals. Therefore, detailed description of the overlapping portions will be omitted.

In the prepaid card of this embodiment,
The appearance of the card is exactly the same as the previous example card,
The punch hole position D is stored in the area 12e in place of the number N of times of issuance of the area 12d of the magnetic stripe 12. This punch hole position D shows a state in which 15 punch hole punching regions 14 corresponding to respective amounts of 0 yen to 4000 yen of the three punch hole frames 11a to 11c and no punch holes are drilled 1
A total of 16 types of punch hole positions are shown.

Specifically, it is indicated by a number from 0 to 16 which indicates the position of the punch hole that was finally drilled. For example, when D = 0, no punch hole 15 is formed at all, and when D = 1, the final punch is made in the punching area 14 of the first 4000 yen amount 13 of the first punch hole frame 11a. It shows that the hole 15 is bored. Further, in the case of D = 16, it indicates that the final punch hole 15 is punched in the punch hole punching region 14 of the final 0 circle of the third punch hole frame 11a.
That is, in this state, it is no longer possible to reuse the prepaid card 10.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the latter half of the operation of the card terminal machine for selling processing using the prepaid card 10 in which the punch hole position D is stored instead of the number N of times of issuance.

Since the flow chart showing the first half of the operation of this card terminal is the same as the flow chart of the card terminal of the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 5, its explanation is omitted.

In R9 of FIG. 16, if the input operation is the card total key 28 operation, the total amount Sm is displayed on the display unit 1.
It is displayed on 9, 20. Card information memory 33 at R10
Confirm that card information such as card balance X1 and punch hole position D is stored in b. Furthermore, at R11,
The total amount Sm is subtracted from the card balance X1 read from the card information memory 33b. Also, at R12, it is confirmed that the card balance X1 after subtraction is not a negative value.

At R13, a command is sent to the card processing section 31, and the card writer 31b writes the updated card balance X1 to each area 12c of the prepaid card 10 being inserted. At R14, between the card balance Xa before subtraction and the card balance X1 after subtraction in the card balance memory 33e,
It is checked whether or not one or more amounts of money Ai among the n amounts of money stored in the punch hole position information memory 33h are included.

At S14, if included, it is judged that the card balance X1 after subtraction has been reduced to the new amount Ai or less shown. Then, in R15, the punch hole frames 11a to 11c in which the punch hole 15 of this time is to be formed are calculated from the previously read punch hole position D. Then, punch holes 15 are punched in the punch hole punching region 14 of the amount 13 of Ai in the punch hole frames 11a to 11c. R16
Then, the punched hole position D is updated to the value indicated by the punched hole 15 that has been drilled this time. Then, the updated punch hole position D is written in the area 12e of the prepaid card 10 currently being inserted.

At R14, the card balances Xa and X1
If the amount of money Ai does not exist in between, the punch hole 15 is not drilled in this transaction.

After that, when it is confirmed in R17 that the card balance X1 after the subtraction is not 0, the process proceeds to R18,
The processed prepaid card 10 is ejected from the card insertion slot 21. After that, the process returns to S8 of FIG. 5, and normal sales registration processing such as receipt issuance and memory processing is executed.

At R17, the card balance X1 after subtraction is 0
If it becomes (X1 = 0), proceed to R19 and display devices 19 and 2
A message of "card balance 0, card collection" is displayed at 0. Then, the card transport mechanism 31d is activated to store the corresponding prepaid card 10 in the card stocker 31e. After that, the process returns to S8 of FIG. 5, and normal sales registration processing such as receipt issuance and memory processing is executed.

Further, when an insufficient amount of money is generated in R12, the process proceeds to R20, and the insufficient amount of money B (= X1) is displayed on the display devices 19 and 2.
When it is displayed at 0 and the shortage amount is keyed in, the shortage amount storage memory process is executed in R21. After that, the card balance 0 is written in the prepaid card 10 being inserted. Further, the punch hole frame 11a calculated from the punch hole position D
Punch hole 1 in punch hole drilling area 14 of amount 0 to 11c
5 is drilled. Then, the punch hole position D is updated. After that, proceed to R17 and R19, "Card balance 0,
A message of "collection of card" is displayed and the corresponding prepaid card 10 is collected. Then, the process returns to S8 of FIG.

Further, in the card vending machine for selling the prepaid card having such a structure, instead of the card reusability judgment using the number of issuances N of P10 in the flowchart of FIG. 12, the punch read in P9 is used. The hole position D is the final punch hole position (D = 1) of the final punch hole frame 11c.
Judgment is made based on whether or not 6) has been reached.

Even with the prepaid card, the card terminal, and the card vending machine having the above-described structure, the prepaid card can be reused, and therefore, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained. Is possible.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. In each embodiment, three punch hole areas 11a to 11c are provided on the surface of the prepaid card 10. However, the number of punch hole areas 11a to 11c is not limited to three.
There may be one or two.

[0102]

As described above, according to the prepaid card, the card terminal and the card vending machine of the present invention,
Multiple punch hole areas (frame) on the surface of the prepaid card
Is provided, and the number of issued cards or punch position information is stored together with the card balance in each storage area. Further, in the card transaction terminal, punch holes corresponding to the card balance are punched in the punch hole punching area of each amount in the punch hole area (frame) designated by the number of issuances or punch hole position information. .. Therefore, the recorded number of issues or punch hole position information is
If you update it with a card terminal or a card vending machine, you can write the same card balance again.
As a result, the used prepaid card can be reused while maintaining the same service content as the conventional prepaid card, and the cost for issuing the card can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a prepaid card according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a card terminal in the embodiment,

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the terminal,

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing each memory formed in a storage unit of the terminal,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the terminal,

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the operation of the terminal,

FIG. 7 is an external view showing a card vending machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vending machine,

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing each memory formed in a storage unit of the same vending machine,

FIG. 10 is a view showing a raw card stored in the vending machine,

FIG. 11 is a view showing a used prepedo card stored in the vending machine,

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the operation of the vending machine,

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the card terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the card vending machine in the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a prepaid card according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the operation of the card terminal in the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a general prepaid card.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Prepaid card, 11 ... Card body, 11a ...
11c ... Punch hole frame (area), 12 ... Magnetic stripe, 12a-12d ... Area, 13 ... Amount, 14 ... Punch hole punching area, 15 ... Punch hole, 16 ... Card vending machine, 17 ... Card terminal , 18 ... Keyboard, 21 ... Card insertion slot, 28 ... Card total key, 30, 43 ... Control device, 31, 44 ... Card processing section, 33, 47 ... Storage section, 33b, 47a ... Card information memory, 38 ... Sales Key, 48 ... Raw card.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A card body (11), punch hole areas (11a to 11c) for a specified number of issuances of the card body, which are preset on the surface of the card body, and the punch hole areas are previously provided in the punch hole areas. Multiple types of monetary information, including printed card zero balance (1
3), and the card balance provided adjacent to each amount information.
Punch hole (15) when (X1) becomes less than applicable amount information
A punch hole punching area (14) for punching, and at least the card balance and the number of issuances provided in the card body.
A prepaid card having a plurality of recording areas (12a to 12d) for recording (N). 2. A card main body (11), punch hole areas (11a to 11c) preset on the surface of the card main body for a specified number of times of issuing of the card main body, and within each of the punch hole areas in advance. Multiple types of monetary information, including printed card zero balance (1
3), and a punch hole punching area (14) provided adjacent to each amount information, and punch holes (15) are punched when the card balance becomes equal to or less than the corresponding amount information, and the card body. And a plurality of recording areas (12a to 12d) for recording the card balance (X1) and punch hole position information (D). 3. Card information reading means (S5) for reading the card balance and the number of issuances recorded in the prepaid card (10) inserted from the card insertion port, and the read card balance. The card balance updating means (S11, S14) for subtracting the transaction amount from the prepaid card and writing it in the prepaid card, and the number of issuances read out from the plurality of punch hole areas provided in the prepaid card The punch hole area search means (S16) for searching the punch hole area corresponding to, and the amount information corresponding to the card balance of the plurality of amount information described in the searched punch hole area. Punch hole punching means (S15, S16) for punching a punch hole at an adjacent position, and the number of issuances to be written in the prepaid card by updating the number of issuances read when the card balance after subtraction is zero. Update means
A card terminal equipped with (S18, S19). 4. A card information reading means (S5) for reading the card balance and the number of issuances recorded in the prepaid card (10) inserted through the card insertion slot, and the read card balance. The card balance updating means (S11, S14) for subtracting the transaction amount from the prepaid card and writing it in the prepaid card, and the number of issuances read out from the plurality of punch hole areas provided in the prepaid card The punch hole area search means (S16) for searching the punch hole area corresponding to, and the amount information corresponding to the card balance of the plurality of amount information described in the searched punch hole area. Punch hole punching means (S15, S16) for punching punched holes at adjacent positions, and the number of issuances to be written to the prepaid card by updating the read number of issuances when the card balance after subtraction is zero Update means
(S18, S19) and a card collection means (S
22) A card terminal equipped with. 5. A plurality of unused raw cards in which a plurality of amount information is printed on the surface of the card body, a punch hole area is provided for the specified number of issuances of the card body, and the card balance is not stored. (48) and a card stocker (44c) that stores a plurality of used prepaid cards (10) in which zero card balance is written, and one card arbitrarily supplied from the card stocker in response to the specified amount of money. Card information reading means (Q9) for reading card information including the number of times of issuance stored in the card, and when the number of times of issuance read does not reach the specified number of times of issuance, the specified amount of money as a card balance Card balance writing means to write (Q
13), an issue count updating means (Q11, Q12) for updating the read issue count and writing it to the card, and a card for issuing the card with the card balance and the issue count written as a new prepaid card Issuing means (Q14), and when the read issuance count reaches the specified issuance count, the corresponding card is discarded and the next 1
Unusable card elimination means to supply one card (Q16, Q8)
Card vending machine with and.