JPH09128592A - Bill reader/printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simultaneously process plural bills. SOLUTION: This device has an image reading part 15 for reading respective charged amounts and classes from the continuously carried-in plural bills, a summing-up part 11c for summing up and outputting the total amount of the respective read charged amounts, a temporary stack part 23 for storing the respective bills carried out of the image reading part 15 in the order of reading until a user completes payment processing to the total charged amount and for carrying out the stored bills in the order of reading after the end of payment processing, and a printing part 16 for discriminating the classes of respective bills carried out of the temporary stack part 23 based on the order of reading, selecting and printing the payment end certificate information corresponding to the respective bills, at least. In this case, the payment and certificate print of plural bills are simultaneously performed based on the reading order of the image reading part 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bill reading / printing device mounted in an automatic fee accepting machine for reading a bill amount entered in a bill and automatically paying by cash or card withdrawal. In particular, the present invention relates to a bill reading / printing device that collectively reads and prints a plurality of bills.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, devices such as automatic teller machines and automatic vending machines that automatically handle cash by machines (fee automatic accepting machines) have become widespread. 2. Description of the Related Art There is a technology disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-292592 as a charge automatic accepting machine (charge collecting machine) that rationalizes the storage of public utility charges. In this technology, a charged invoice is sent to an optical character reader (optical character reader).
(ader: OCR), etc. are read and displayed, the inserted cash is counted and recognized, and if the inserted cash meets the charge stated on the invoice, that fact is displayed and the settlement switch is pressed. The fee is settled according to. This eliminates the need for the user to manually enter the charge amount while looking at the invoice, inserts the invoice into the reading unit, deposits cash, and confirms that the cash deposited on the display is sufficient. All you have to do is confirm and press the settlement switch, and it will be possible to greatly streamline the cash storage window.

However, this technique relates to cash storage processing for one invoice, and does not consider processing for a plurality of invoices at all. Therefore, when this conventional technique is applied to a plurality of bills, it is necessary to perform a series of processes (inserting bills, inserting cash, pressing the settlement key) for each bill. That is,
It is necessary to return to the initial screen once after the transaction processing for one invoice is completed by the series of processing described above, and then start the transaction processing for the next invoice. Therefore, when dealing with a plurality of bills, it takes a long transaction time.

[0004]

The problem to be solved is that the prior art cannot process a plurality of bills at once. An object of the present invention is to solve these problems of the prior art and eliminate the need for redundant operation of a fee automatic accepting machine for a plurality of bills by the same user,
An object of the present invention is to provide an invoice reading / printing device capable of shortening transaction time.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the bill reading / printing apparatus of the present invention comprises: (1) a reading for reading each billing amount and type from a plurality of bills carried in continuously. Means (image reading unit 15, summing unit 11c for calculating and outputting the total amount of bills of each invoice read by the image reading unit 15, and payment of the user to the total amount of bills output by the summing unit 11c Temporary storage means for storing the respective invoices carried out from the image reading unit 15 in the reading order of the image reading unit 15 until the processing is completed, and carrying out the stored invoices in the reading order of the image reading unit 15 after the completion of the deposit processing. (Temporary stack part 23, temporary stack shelf 59, temporary stack impeller 60, temporary stack roller 61) and the type of each invoice carried out from the temporary storage means. It has at least an authentication printing unit (printing unit 16) that makes a determination based on the reading order of the reading unit 15 and selects and prints payment end authentication information corresponding to each invoice, and performs payment and authentication printing for a plurality of invoices. It is characterized in that they are collectively performed based on the reading order of the image reading unit 15. (2) In the bill reading / printing apparatus according to (1) above, a return instruction input for a bill stored in the temporary storage means. After-storing return instruction detecting means (first return instruction detecting section 11d) for detecting the following, and invoices corresponding to the detected return instruction are sorted based on the reading order of the image reading section 15 and returned from the temporary storing means. Returning means (switching gate 27, transport belts 26, 29, return bill temporary holding section 18, transport belts 20, 21) for discharging to the mouth (insertion port 14) without passing through the printing unit 16 (3) In the bill reading / printing device according to (2), the bill read by the image reading unit 15 is complete and before being stored in the temporary storage means. A pre-storage return instruction detection unit (second return instruction detection unit 11e) for detecting a return instruction input to the device is provided, and the return unit selects the bill corresponding to the detected return instruction based on the reading order of the image reading unit 15. Then, it is discharged to the return port (insertion port 14) without being stored in the temporary storage means.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the present invention, a plurality of bills are collectively accepted, and each bill is temporarily stored while maintaining the order at the time of receipt (temporary stack unit 2).
3, stacking on the temporary stack shelf 59, the temporary stack impeller 60, the temporary stack roller 61). The order of receiving each invoice and the type of each invoice are stored in association with each other (storage unit 11b). Then, after the transaction is completed, each invoice is sent out one by one from the temporary storage unit in accordance with the order, and the authentication printing according to each invoice (type) is performed. In this way, the reading and printing processes for a plurality of bills can be performed at once, and the higher-order charge acceptance machine can perform the depositing process for a plurality of bills at once.

[0007] Also, when the user of the automatic fee accepting machine who has seen the combined result instructs the suspension of transactions for some invoices, the corresponding invoices are selected and returned based on the above sequence. be able to. Since the remaining invoices are managed while maintaining the above-mentioned order, after the transaction is completed, each invoice can be carried out from the temporary storage unit and the authentication print can be performed. Further, when the transaction cancellation for the invoice is instructed at the time of the reading operation of the invoice image recognition unit 15, the invoice is returned without being stored in the temporary storage unit. The reading order of the invoice returned in this way can be managed by canceling it or storing it in the storage unit 11b as a return target.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration according to the present invention of a bill reading / printing device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an automatic charge acceptance machine using the bill reading / printing device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective entity diagram showing an external configuration of FIG. 3, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the automatic fee accepting machine in FIG.

2 and 3, the automatic charge acceptance device 1 is
A display unit 2 for displaying guidance related to operation, an input unit 3 including a touch panel for inputting confirmation from the user, a bill reading / printing device 4 of the present invention, and a receipt to be returned to the user. The receipt printing unit 5 for outputting, the coin depositing / dispensing unit 6 for depositing / withdrawing coins, the bill depositing / dispensing unit 7 for depositing / withdrawing banknotes, the journal unit 8 for acquiring transaction history, and the automatic charge acceptance machine 1 are controlled in their entirety. It is composed of an overall control unit 9 and an overall power supply unit 10 that supplies power required for the operation of each unit.

In FIG. 1, a bill reading / printing device 4 of the present invention includes an insertion port 14 into which a bill is inserted, and an image reading section 15 as a reading means of the present invention for reading the contents described in the bill. , The image reading unit 1 from the insertion opening 14
A transport path 28 composed of transport belts 19 and 20 for transporting bills up to 5, and a transport belt 22 that is inserted until the transaction is completed and temporarily stacks each bill while maintaining the order of the reading operation of the image reading unit 15. , 29, the temporary stack unit 23 as a temporary storage unit of the present invention.
From the print belt 16, which conveys the bill from the temporary stacking portion 23 to the printing portion 16, as the certification printing means of the present invention, the certification printing corresponding to each bill is entered in the bill. Conveyance path 13, storage unit 17 for storing the invoice printed by printing unit 16, switching gate 27 for returning the invoice that has been accepted once there is a cancellation instruction for the invoice that has been accepted, return target Return temporary holding section 18 for storing all the invoices in a batch, the transfer path 30 including the transfer belts 23 and 26 for transferring the invoices to be returned from the temporary stack section 23 to the return temporary holding section 18, the return temporary A transport path 3 including transport belts 21 and 20 for continuously transporting return bills collected in the holding section 18.
1. Control of overall operation of bill reading / printing device 4 and FIG.
3, the control unit 11 for controlling communication of print data and the like from the higher-order charge automatic reception device 1, each conveyor belt 19
22 to 24, and 26 to 26, and a power supply unit 12 that supplies power necessary for driving the control unit 11.

The control unit 11 also controls the overall operation of the bill reading / printing device 4 and communication control.
1a, a storage unit 11b that stores the invoices read by the image reading unit 15 and their types in association with each other in the reading order, and a total billing amount of each invoice read by the image reading unit 15 is calculated. Outputting unit 11c
And the first return instruction detecting unit 11d as the return instruction detecting means after storage for detecting the return instruction input for the bill stored in the temporary stack unit 23, and the reading by the image reading unit 15 is completed, and Temporary stack unit 23
The second return instruction detection unit 11e as the pre-storage return instruction detection means of the present invention for detecting the return instruction input for the invoice prior to storage in the.

The operation of the bill reading / printing apparatus having such a structure will be described below with reference to FIG. Figures 4 and 5
2 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the bill reading / printing apparatus in FIG. 1 according to the present invention. First, as shown in FIG. 4, when a user inserts an arbitrary invoice into the insertion slot 14 of FIG. 1 (step 401), the invoice is image-read via the conveyance path 28 of FIG. Data of the bill, which is conveyed to the unit 15 and inserted by the image reading unit 15, such as the billing amount and the type of bill is read (step 402). This read data is stored in the control unit 11 of FIG.
The read result is sent to the control unit 11 as shown in FIGS.
Is sent to the overall control unit 9 and displayed on the display unit 2, and the storage unit 11b associates the bill type with the reading order.
To memorize.

Based on the reading result displayed on the display section 2 of FIGS. 2 and 3, the user can "confirm", "cancel", and "correct" the transaction content through the input section 3 of FIGS. Operation is selected (step 403). When the user selects “Cancel”, the control unit 11 of FIG. 1 detects this selection by the second return instruction detection unit 11e, switches the sending direction of the switching gate of FIG. 1, and transfers the bill. Insertion port 14 via path 30, return bill temporary holding section 18, and transport path 28
To return (step 404). When the user selects "confirm" or "correct", the bill is conveyed to the temporary stack unit 23 via the conveyance path 29 of FIG. 1 and stored (step 405), and the next bill is continuously inserted. A guide for prompting the user to select whether or not to perform is displayed on the display unit 2 of FIGS. 2 and 3 (step 406).

When the user inserts the second bill according to this guide (step 407), the image reading unit 15 in FIG. 1 reads the bill data as in the case of the first bill, and the image reading unit 15 shown in FIG. (Step 408).
The control unit 11 in FIG. 1 sends the result of reading the second bill to the overall control unit 9 in FIGS. 2 and 3 to display it on the display unit 2 (step 409). The user selects any one of "confirmation", "cancel", "correction", and "return" instructions via the input unit 3 of FIGS. 2 and 3 based on the displayed reading result (step 410). ).

If the user selects "Cancel", the screen shown in FIG.
The second return instruction detection unit 11e detects the selection, returns all the invoices in the apparatus to the insertion slot 14 in FIG. 1 (step 411), and when “return” is selected, The first return instruction detection unit 11d in FIG. 1 determines this selection and returns only the second bill (step 41).
2). If the user selects "confirm" or "correct", the processes of steps 405 and 406 are performed.
That is, the bill is conveyed to the temporary stack unit 23 via the conveyance path 29 of FIG. 1 and stored (step 405), and a guide for prompting the user to select whether to insert or finish the next bill is displayed in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 2 (step 40)
6). The third and subsequent sheets are processed in the same manner as the second sheet.

All invoices have been inserted, step 406.
When the user selects the end via the input unit 3 of FIGS. 2 and 3 after confirming the display contents, the process shown in FIG. 5 is performed. That is, the control unit 11 of FIG.
The total of the invoiced amounts of each invoice read is calculated by c, and the total amount is displayed on the display unit 2 via the overall control unit 9 of FIGS. 2 and 3 (step 413). Based on the display result of the display unit 2, the user selects "confirm", "cancel", or "partially cancel" from the input unit 3 of FIGS. 2 and 3 (step 414).

If "Cancel" is selected, step 41 in FIG.
Proceed to 1 to return all invoices in the device. Also,
When selecting “partially cancel”, the control unit 11 in FIG.
With reference to the stored contents of the storage unit 11b of FIG. 1, the invoice to be canceled and the insertion (reading) order thereof are extracted,
The temporary stack portion 23 of FIG. 1 of the invoice to be canceled
1 is switched to another destination of the switching gate 27 in FIG. 1 and the invoice to be canceled is stored in the return temporary holding unit 18 in FIG. 1 via the transport path 30 in FIG. 1 (step 4).
15). And for other invoices, follow the "confirmation"
Same as the selection of.

That is, when "confirm" is selected, the user deposits cash, counts it, and confirms the counting result (step 41).
6) And receipt and change issuance (step 417)
However, the automatic charge acceptance machine 1 shown in FIGS. The operation result is received by the control unit 11 in FIG. 1, the bills are sequentially conveyed from the temporary stacking unit 23 in FIG. 1 to the printing unit 16 in FIG. 1, and the authentication corresponding to each bill is printed. It is stored in the storage unit 17 of FIG. 1 (step 418). And Figure 2,
The receipt of the transaction is output from the receipt printing unit 5 of No. 3 and the change is ejected from the coin depositing / dispensing unit 6 and the bill depositing / dispensing unit 7 of FIGS.
9).

Based on the above flow, the bill reading / reading of FIG.
A specific operation of the printing device will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 shows the operation of the bill reading / printing device 4 when the first bill is inserted, and the bill inserted into the insertion port 14 moves from the position 49 in the drawing to the conveyance path 28. The sheet is conveyed via the carriage and moved to the reading position 50 of the image reading unit 15. When the user's “confirmation” for the reading result of the image reading unit 15 is input, the bill is transferred from the reading position 50 of the image reading unit 15 to the temporary stacking unit 23.
Move to position 51. If the user inputs “cancel” for the read result, the bill is sent via the temporary stack 23, the switching gate 27, the transport path 30, the return bill temporary holding section 18, and the transport paths 31 and 28. , Return to the position of 49 in the figure, and discharge the bill from the insertion port 14.

FIG. 7 shows the acceptance processing of the second bill, and the second bill is conveyed to the position 51 in the figure with the conveyor belts 22 and 29 stopped. Invoice 1
Similar to the first sheet, it moves to the reading position 50 of the image reading unit 15. 8 to 10 show the operation when the cancellation process is performed in the state shown in FIG. 7, and the first bill is from the position 51 of the temporary stack unit 23 to the position of the switching gate 27 (FIG. It is conveyed to the return temporary holding section 18 shown at the position of 52 in the figure through 53) in the inside and the conveyance path 30. 2
The first sheet also performs the same operation as the first sheet, and is stored in the return temporary holding section 18 as shown in FIG. After all the invoices are stored in the return temporary holding unit 18, position 5 in FIG.
It is fed out collectively from 5, passes through the transport paths 31, 28,
It is collectively returned to the insertion slot 14.

11 and 12 show the operation when the confirmation instruction is issued in the state shown in FIG. That is, when the confirmation processing is performed, as shown in FIG. 11, the second bill moves to the position 51 of the temporary stack unit 23, and at the same time,
The first bill moves to the position 57 of the temporary stack unit 23. The same operation is performed for the third and subsequent bills. FIG. 12 shows the authentication printing and storing process after receipt of cash, and after the confirmation process, the invoice is sent to each temporary stack unit 2
3 to the position 58 of the transport path 32, where the printing unit 16 prints the authentication data unique to each invoice,
After the printing, it is carried out and stored in the storage unit 17.

13 and 14 show the operation when a partial return instruction is issued in the state shown in FIG. That is, if the user specifies to return only the second invoice,
After printing and storing the first bill, switch gate 27
The delivery destination of is changed, and the second bill is 53
It is stored in the return temporary holding unit 18 via the transport path 30 from the position. Further, the third bill is printed and stored in the same manner as the first bill. In this way, only the second bill is returned to the user.

In the bill reading / printing apparatus described above,
Although the example in which the temporary stack unit 23 is configured by the transport belt 29 is shown, the temporary stack impeller 60 may be configured by a plurality of temporary stack shelves 59 as shown in FIG. 15 or the temporary stack impeller 60 as shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 17, a temporary stack roller 6 around which a bill is wound.
It may be configured by using 1. In addition, the storage unit 11
b, the processing of each of the summing unit 11c may be performed by the overall control unit 9.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 17, the bill reading / printing apparatus of this embodiment can collectively perform the automatic charge receiving process for a plurality of bills. A series of operations for each invoice (inserting invoices, inserting cash, pressing the settlement key), which was necessary when performing multiple invoice processing with, are not required, and transaction time is shortened. can do.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 17, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, FIG.
In the case where the user's “cancel” for the read result is input in, the bill is sent through the temporary stack 23, the switching gate 27, the transport path 30, the return bill temporary holding section 18, and the transport paths 31 and 28. Although it is returned to the insertion slot 14,
By driving the conveyor belts 19 and 21 in opposite directions,
The bill to be canceled may be returned from the reading position 50 to the position 49 of the image reading unit 15 and discharged from the insertion port 14.

[0026]

According to the present invention, a plurality of invoices can be processed at one time, and redundant operation of the automatic fee accepting machine for a plurality of invoices by the same user is not required, and the transaction time can be reduced. Can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a configuration according to the present invention of a bill reading / printing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective entity view showing an external configuration of a charge automatic acceptance machine using the bill reading / printing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the automatic charge acceptance device in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a half part of a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the bill reading / printing apparatus in FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

5 is a part 2/2 of the flowchart showing an example of the operation of the bill reading / printing device in FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conveyance operation of a first bill in the bill reading / printing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conveyance operation of each bill when the second bill is inserted in the bill reading / printing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conveyance operation of the first bill when the cancellation process is performed in the state shown in FIG. 7.

9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conveyance operation for a second bill when the cancellation process is performed in the state shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a collective return operation for the first and second bills when the cancellation process is performed in the state shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conveyance operation of each invoice when a confirmation instruction is issued in the state shown in FIG.

12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conveyance operation of each invoice during authentication printing and storage processing after receipt of cash when a confirmation instruction is issued in the state shown in FIG.

13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a transport operation for a second bill when a partial return instruction is issued in the state shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a transport operation for a third bill when a partial return instruction is issued in the state shown in FIG.

15 is a block diagram showing an example in which the temporary stack unit in the bill reading / printing apparatus of FIG. 1 is composed of several temporary stack shelves.

16 is a block diagram showing an example in which the temporary stack unit of the bill reading / printing apparatus of FIG. 1 is configured by a temporary stack impeller.

17 is a block diagram showing an example in which the temporary stack unit in the bill reading / printing apparatus of FIG. 1 is composed of a temporary stack roller.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Automatic charge acceptance machine, 2: Display section, 3: Input section, 4-4
c: bill reading / printing device, 5: receipt printing unit, 6: coin deposit / withdrawal unit, 7: banknote deposit / withdrawal unit, 8: journal unit,
9: Overall control unit, 10: Overall power supply unit, 11: Control unit, 1
2: Power supply section, 13: Conveyance path, 14: Insertion port, 15: Image reading section, 16: Printing section, 17: Storage section, 18: Return bill temporary holding section, 19-22, 24-26: Conveyor belt , 23: temporary stack section, 27: switching gate, 28-
31: transport path, 49 to 58: bill position, 59: temporary stack shelf, 60: temporary stack impeller, 61: temporary stack roller.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading each billing amount and type from a plurality of invoices carried in continuously, and a sum total for calculating and outputting a total of billing amounts of the respective bills read by the reading unit. Means, a depositing means for performing deposit processing for the total of the billed amounts output by the summing means, and the invoices carried out from the reading means are stored in the reading order of the reading means until the deposit processing by the depositing means is completed. Then, after the depositing process by the depositing means is completed, the storing means carries out the stored bills in the reading order of the reading means, and the type of each bill carried out from the temporary storing means is read by the reading means. The reader has at least an authentication printing unit that makes a determination based on the order and selects and prints the payment end authentication information corresponding to each invoice. An invoice reading / printing device, which performs batch processing based on the reading order of columns. 2. The invoice reading / printing device according to claim 1, wherein after-store return instruction detecting means for detecting return instruction input for the invoice stored in the temporary storing means, and after-store return instruction detecting means. The invoice corresponding to the return instruction detected in step 1) is selected based on the reading order of the reading means, and a return means for discharging from the temporary storage means to the return port without passing through the authentication printing means is provided. Invoice reading / printing device. 3. The invoice reading / printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the return before storage detects a return instruction input for an invoice that has been read by the reading means and is yet to be stored in the temporary storage means. An instruction detection means is provided, and the return means selects a bill corresponding to the return instruction detected by the pre-storage return instruction detection means based on the reading order of the reading means and stores it in the temporary storage means. A bill reading / printing device characterized in that the bill is discharged to the above return port without being discharged.