JPH0644308B2 - vending machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to an automatic vending machine that sells products and the like using cards.

(Prior Art) Generally, vending machines are sold by cash (coins or banknotes), but recently, so-called card-based vending machines that sell and pay by cards such as magnetic cards are available. It has been put to practical use.

In addition, as a payment method for a vending machine using a card, a card in which the amount information corresponding to the purchase price is written by means such as magnetic information is purchased in advance in cash, and is written on the card every time the vending machine is used. There is a so-called prepaid system in which the amount of money is reduced, and a so-called postpaid system in which the cardholder is made to pay the accumulated usage amount for each predetermined period when the vending machine is used by a card.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) The prepayment method is a method in which a card in which the amount information is written is purchased in advance by cash payment, and the vending machine is used with the card. It is a method to think of a card as a kind of cash voucher by writing it on the card. The prepayment method is safe from the point of view of cash collection because you can get cash in advance. On the other hand, the post-payment method is a method of using the vending machine with a card in which only the card identification information is written, without writing the amount information, and the sales amount of a certain card is collected later and held in the card. This is a method of charging the person for the price. The post-payment method has a drawback that it takes time and effort to collect cash. There is also a risk that cash cannot be collected.

From the above, the prepayment method is preferred and realized because of the certainty of payment collection, but the card reader in the prepayment method must be able to write as well as read.
This writable card reader has the drawback that it is considerably more expensive than a read-only card reader.

As described above, the conventional prepaid card vending machine has a drawback that it becomes expensive because it requires a writable card reader.

In view of the above conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to use an inexpensive read-only card reader that reads identification information of an identification card when purchasing a product, and a portable storage unit facilitates sales management and the like. Further, it is to provide a prepaid vending machine in which information can be backed up from the portable storage unit to the storage unit, the storage safety of the stored information is improved, and furthermore, the purchase of products is very easy.

(Means for Solving Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vending machine according to the present invention includes a read-only card reader that reads identification information from an identification card in which identification information is recorded, A money discriminator that reads the type of money that has been thrown in, a detachable portable storage unit that can store transaction information, an identification information read by the card reader and an amount information read by the money discriminator And a storage unit for storing the identification information read by the card reader when the identification card is read again by the card reader, and the identification information stored in the storage unit. Collating means for collating, a drive signal output means for outputting a drive signal to a commodity unloading drive section for unloading a commodity when the identification information is matched by the collating means, and the collation When the identification information is matched by the means, the amount calculation means for storing the amount obtained by subtracting the amount corresponding to the product amount from the amount stored in the storage part as the balance in the storage part, and the storage part in the storage part. The transaction information input / output unit is capable of inputting transaction information including amount information into the portable storage unit and reversely inputting the input transaction information into the storage unit.

(Operation) According to the present invention, when a product is purchased, the money balance associated with the purchase of the product is stored in the storage unit, and it is not necessary to input this balance into the identification card through the card reader. The reader may be read-only.

Further, since the transaction information including the money amount information stored in the storage unit is stored in the detachable portable storage unit, sales management and the like can be easily performed by the portable storage unit.

Furthermore, since the stored information in the portable storage unit can be backed up in the storage unit, even if the stored information disappears due to a failure of the storage unit, this information can be input from the portable storage unit to the storage unit.

Furthermore, since the balance corresponding to the identification card can be constantly stored in the storage unit, and the product purchaser can stock the money in the vending machine, the money is input every time the product is purchased. There is no hassle of doing.

(Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the vending machine, and FIG. It is a control flowchart of a vending machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control circuit configuration of the vending machine includes a microprocessor 1 as an arithmetic processing unit, a card reader 2 for reading information of a magnetic card (identification information of a vending machine user), and an operation display panel. Selection button 3a installed on the display, balance display section 3 installed on the operation display panel
b, a storage unit 4 for storing magnetic card information and the like, a product unloading drive unit 5 to which a product drive signal is input, a product unloading drive unit 5
The product storage / delivery unit 6 that carries out the product by the above-mentioned operation, the money discriminator 7 for identifying the input money, and the IC card reader unit 8
It is composed of an IC card 9 which is connected via.

The microprocessor 1 collates the identification information read by the card reader 2 with the identification information stored in the storage unit 4, and drives the product unloading drive unit 5 when the identification information is matched by the collation unit 1a. A drive signal output unit 1b that outputs a signal, and an amount stored in the storage unit 4 as a balance, which is an amount obtained by subtracting an amount corresponding to the product amount from the amount stored in the storage unit 4 when the product is carried out by the drive signal output unit 1b. Each has a computing means 1c.

Further, the microprocessor 1 inputs transaction information including amount information stored in the storage unit 4 into the IC card 9 through the IC card reader unit 8 and reversely inputs the input transaction information into the storage unit 4. It has possible transaction information input / output means 1d. The IC card reader unit 8 and the IC card 9 are detachable via the connectors 81 and 91, respectively, whereby the IC card 9 is configured as a portable storage unit.

The control circuit thus configured is controlled as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, when using a vending machine with a magnetic card, the user obtains a magnetic card in which card identification information is written in advance. Next, the user causes the card reader 2 to read the card identification information of the card (S
1).

If the card is not used and the identification information of the card is not input to the storage unit 4, the identification information is stored in the internal storage unit 4 (S2, S3). Next, when money, for example, 1000 yen is inserted, the inserted amount is stored in the internal storage unit 4, and the amount information is input to the IC card 9 (S4 to S6). As a result, the card can be used and 1,000 yen is prepaid.

When such a product purchase is ready, the card is read again by the card reader 2. At this time, the balance, that is, the insertion amount of 1000 yen (X yen) of the tip is displayed on the balance display portion 3b (S7). If the price of the product to be purchased is X yen or less, for example, 100 yen (Y yen), the product selection button 3a is pressed (S8). At this time,
When the matching unit 1a determines whether the Y circle is equal to or less than the X circle, and this condition is satisfied, a drive signal is output to the product unloading drive unit 5 and the product is sold through the product storage / unload unit 6 (S9,
S10).

After this product selling operation, the amount of money obtained by subtracting Y yen from X yen, that is, the balance (900 yen in this example) is input to the storage unit 4 and further input to the IC card 9 (S11, S12).

This ends the sale of products and storage of balances,
The next time when the user purchases a product using this card, he / she only needs to read the card into the card reader 2 and press the product selection button 3a because the balance remains.

By repeating such a product selling operation, the balance may decrease and Y yen may become higher than X yen (S
9). In such a case, once again, for example, 1
Add 000 yen (S13). As a result, 1000 yen is added to the balance, for example, 30 yen (S1
4). The added amount returns to step 7 and the balance 1
It is displayed as 030 yen on the balance display portion 3b, and the product can be purchased.

By doing so, only 1000-yen bills need to be prepared as cash, and there is an advantage that no change is required and no change is required by using the card, and the balance is always stored in the storage unit 4. Every time money is thrown into the money discriminator 7, this amount of money information is added to the balance and can be stocked, so that a product can be purchased with a card, and the purchase of the product becomes very easy.

By the way, in this embodiment, the amount information prepaid by the customer is stored in the storage unit 4 such as card information. However, if the storage information is lost due to a failure of the storage unit 4 such as card information, the information will be lost. It's about money, so it's a big problem. Therefore, backup of stored information is essential for operation as a vending machine.

Further, in the recent operation of vending machines, it is required to electronically collect money management information or sales information.

In order to economically satisfy both of the above two requests, that is, the backup of storage information and the collection of money management information or sales information, the IC card 9 is used as the portable storage unit in this embodiment. I remember. In addition to the card information stored in the storage unit 4 such as card information in the IC card 9, the balance amount, the prepayment amount, the sales commodity number (hereinafter referred to as transaction information), etc. Under the control of the above, the data is transmitted through the IC card reader unit 8 and stored in the storage unit inside the IC card 9. Since the IC card reader unit 8 and the IC card 9 are well known in the art, description thereof will be omitted. In operation, the old IC card 9 installed every time the route man who operates the vending machine goes around is removed and a new IC card (not shown) is installed. In this way, the transaction information from the previous patrol can be read from the old IC card 9 after the fact, and the information management of the vending machine can be easily realized. Even if the card information stored in the storage unit 4 disappears for some reason, the same information is copied to the IC card 9.
The C card 9 can be used as a backup means for stored information.

In a conventional prepaid card vending machine, it is necessary to have both reading and writing functions as a card reader in order to write information about the prepaid amount and the balance on the card. However, a card reader having both of these functions has the drawback of being expensive. On the other hand, in the prepaid card vending machine according to the above-described embodiment, since the information about the prepaid amount or the balance is stored in the vending machine, the card reader is a read-only machine, and the price is low.

In addition, an inexpensive IC card is provided, which can be used as a backup memory for the storage unit 4 to improve the storage safety of stored information, and further, by storing transaction information in the IC card, information management in a vending machine can be economically performed. realizable.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the control means of FIG. 1 is shown as an example incorporated in the main body of the vending machine, but the controller part, the money receiving part, the product storing / unloading part and the like may be separated. In this way, even if the control means are physically separated from each other, or the number and combination of the control means are changed, the function as a prepaid card vending machine does not change, and therefore the same effect is exhibited. .

Further, although a magnetic card is used as the card in the above embodiment, the card may have another principle and shape. Furthermore, although an IC card has been taken as an example of the portable storage unit, a portable storage device having a battery-backed CMOS RAM that does not have a card shape may be used, or a floppy disk or the like may be used.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, when a product is purchased, the money balance associated with the purchase of the product is stored in the internal storage unit, and this balance is stored in the identification card through the card reader. Since there is no need for input, an inexpensive read-only card reader can be used.

Further, since the transaction information including the money amount information stored in the storage unit is stored in the detachable portable storage unit, sales management and the like can be easily performed by the portable storage unit.

Furthermore, since the stored information in the portable storage unit can be backed up in the storage unit, even if the stored information disappears due to a failure of the storage unit, etc., this information can be input from the portable storage unit to the storage unit and stored. Information security is improved.

Furthermore, since the balance corresponding to the identification card can be constantly stored in the storage unit, and the product purchaser can stock the money in the vending machine, the money is input every time the product is purchased. It eliminates the hassle of having to do it and makes purchasing products very easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of the vending machine, and FIG. 2 is a control flowchart of the vending machine. 1 ... Microprocessor, 1a ... Collating means, 1b ...
... Drive signal output means, 1c ... Amount calculation means, 1d ...
Transaction information input / output means, 2 ... card reader, 4 ... storage unit, 5 ... merchandise unloading drive unit, 7 ... money identifier, 8 ...
IC card reader, 9 ... IC card.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A read-only card reader for reading the identification information from an identification card on which the identification information is recorded, a money discriminator for reading the type of money inserted, and a removable portable storage capable of storing transaction information. And a storage unit that stores the identification information read by the card reader and the money amount information read by the money discriminator via an arithmetic processing unit, and the arithmetic processing unit is configured such that the identification card is the card. A collating unit that collates the identification information read by the card reader with the identification information stored in the storage unit when read again by the reader, and a product that carries out the product when the respective identification information matches by the collating unit. A drive signal output unit that outputs a drive signal to the carry-out drive unit, and a product amount based on the amount stored in the storage unit when the identification information matches in the collating unit. An amount calculation means for storing the amount obtained by subtracting the corresponding amount as a balance in the storage unit, and transaction information including the amount information stored in the storage unit, input to the portable storage unit, and the input transaction information And a transaction information input / output unit capable of reversely inputting into the storage unit. 2. The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the portable storage unit is an IC card.