JPH09128598A - Automatic prepaid card vending device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To add a premium corresponding to an added money amount even at the time of renewing a card and to exclude the portion of the premium when settling accounts just after purchase by providing a premium table for storing the premium corresponding to money amount and the remainder of card renewing permission, etc., for every money amount inputted at the time of new sale or card renewing. SOLUTION: In a premium table 32g formed inside a storage part 32, the premium corresponding to the relevant amount, the card remainder for card renewing permission and the card remainder for premium return permission are stored for every amount inputted at the time of new purchase or card renewing. At the time of new purchase, the premium corresponding to the amount for purchase is added. When settling accounts of the card, only when the card remainder is less than the card remainder for premium return permission, the amount of the remainder including the premium is returned and when the card remainder exceeds this card remainder for premium return permission, the premium is subtracted. Besides, at the time of renewing, only when the card remainder is less than the card remainder for card renewing permission corresponding to the amount inputted at the last renewing time, card renewing is permitted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prepaid card vending machine for automatically selling prepaid cards, and more particularly to a card renewal function capable of adding an additional amount to the card balance of a prepaid card that has been issued and is in use. The present invention relates to a prepaid card vending machine having a card settlement function for settlement of unused card balance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A large-scale factory or a large office building is provided with a dining room or a shop used by employees working in this factory or office. In such a dining room or a shop, the customers who use the dining room or the shop are generally a limited number of people such as employees of this company or business entity or employees of related companies.

Further, in such a dining room or a shop,
Customers are concentrated at a specific time such as during lunch. In order to efficiently pay the meal price and the product price in this specific time period, a system that pays with a prepaid card instead of cash payment is often adopted.

In such a prepaid card system, the customer needs to purchase the prepaid card in advance.

However, even a restaurant or a store provided in a factory or a building can be used by anyone other than an employee in many cases. In other words, if there are offices of multiple companies in one building, the cafeteria and shops can of course be used by employees of multiple companies, as well as outsiders such as visitors to each office. Is desirable.

When used by such an outside person,
Even if it is used only once, it is necessary to purchase a prepaid card of a certain amount or more. In this case, since it is rare that the payment amount becomes equal to the card purchase amount with one use, it is necessary to settle the unused card balance by some method and return it to the customer.

In order to meet such a demand, for example, a card vending machine for prepaid cards is provided near the entrance of a cafeteria. Then, a card settlement function is added to the prepaid card vending machine as well as a card selling function.

[0008] Therefore, an outpatient purchases a prepaid card with this prepaid card vending machine, pays a meal price or a product price with this prepaid card, and when the meal or shopping is finished, the prepaid card is used. All you have to do is settle the unused card balance with the card vending machine.

Further, it is generally practiced to add a premium to a customer who has purchased a prepaid card with a high price (face value). For example, 10,000 yen (face value)
, A premium of 1000 yen is added, and the sold prepaid card stores a card balance of 11,000 yen.

Further, the prepaid card vending machine may be provided with a card renewal function capable of adding an additional amount to the card balance of the prepaid card in use. Therefore, when the user's card balance becomes low, if the user inserts the prepaid card in use into the prepaid card vending machine, inserts an additional amount of money and performs an update operation, the additional amount of money will be added to the recorded card balance. Then, the corresponding prepaid card is ejected.

Therefore, the user does not need to carry a large number of prepaid cards in which a small amount of card balance is stored. In addition, the card issuing company can reduce the running cost of the pre-baid card.

[0012]

However, even in the prepaid card vending apparatus having the above-mentioned card selling function, premium addition function, card renewal function and card settlement function, there are still the following problems to be solved. It was

That is, as described above, generally, when a prepaid card is newly sold, a certain premium is added to the sales amount. However, in this case, when adding the reduced card balance using the card renewal function at an appropriate time, the premium is not added to the added amount when always purchasing only a new prepaid card There are disadvantages compared to.

Further, as described above, for example, even if an alien purchases a prepaid card and pays for this prepaid card using only a small amount, a small amount is subtracted from the card balance obtained by adding a premium to the sales amount. The card issuer suffers a great deal of damage because the payment amount is paid.

That is, in principle, the premium means a service to users who have consumed an amount close to the sales amount, and it is unreasonable to give this premium to a small amount of users.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and for customers who continue to use this prepaid card for a long period of time by utilizing card renewal or the like,
A premium corresponding to the additional amount can be added even when renewing the card, and the premium amount can be excluded from the settlement amount for outpatients who pay immediately after purchase, and a correspondingly detailed service is provided to customers and outpatients as well. It is an object of the present invention to provide a prepaid card vending machine which can be used.

[0017]

According to the present invention, a card balance corresponding to an input amount of money is written in a new prepaid card to issue a new card, and a card is issued in response to a card update request. It is applied to a prepaid card vending machine that performs card renewal processing in which a separately input amount is added to the card balance recorded in the prepaid card in use inserted in the insertion slot and the card is discharged.

In order to solve the above problem, a premium table for storing premiums, card renewal permission card balances, and premium return permission card balances for respective amounts of money to be input and a storage unit of a prepaid card are stored. A final amount area that is formed and stores the final input amount, and a card update permission card in which the card balance recorded in the prepaid card corresponds to the amount stored in the final amount area in response to a card update request. Card renewal prohibition means that prohibits card renewal processing when the balance is exceeded,
When the card balance is less than or equal to the card renewal allowance card balance, a premium corresponding to the entered amount is added to the card balance, and the amount of money in the final amount area is updated to the entered amount. When the card balance stored in the prepaid card in use inserted into the card insertion slot is less than or equal to the premium return authorization card balance corresponding to the amount stored in the final amount area, the stored card balance The first settlement processing means for discharging as a settlement amount, and when the stored card balance exceeds the premium return permission card balance, the premium corresponding to the amount stored in the final amount area is subtracted from the stored card balance. Second settlement processing means for discharging the amount of money as a settlement amount is provided.

In the prepaid card automatic vending apparatus configured as described above, the premium, the card renewal permit card balance, and the premium for the corresponding amount are entered in the premium table for each amount entered at the time of new purchase or card renewal. The balance of the return authorization card is stored.

At the time of new purchase, a prepaid card in which the card balance to which the premium corresponding to the purchase amount is added and the purchase amount are written is issued.

At the time of card settlement, the total amount of the card balance including the premium is only when the card balance is less than or equal to the premium return permission card balance corresponding to the previous input amount such as new sale or card update stored in the current prepaid card. Will be returned as the settlement amount. If the premium return permission card balance is exceeded, the amount obtained by subtracting the premium corresponding to the previous input amount from the card balance is returned as the settlement amount.

That is, when there is a large amount of card balance, the amount of money purchased for the corresponding prepaid card has not been fully used, and it is not necessary to provide the premium amount to the corresponding customer.

Further, at the time of updating the card, the card update is permitted only when the card balance is equal to or less than the card update permission card balance corresponding to the input (additional) amount at the time of the previous update stored in the current prepaid card.

That is, since the premium has the meaning of servicing customers who have consumed most of the amount input at the time of new sale or renewal, the card renewal should be performed when the card balance falls below a certain amount. Allowed and adding a premium corresponding to the amount entered at the time of renewal at this point.

Further, since the input amount at the time of new sale and the input amount at the time of card renewal do not necessarily match, if the settlement is carried out after the card renewal is carried out a plurality of times, the total amount of the premium becomes unclear and the premium is subtracted. It becomes difficult to calculate the settlement amount.

Therefore, by allowing the card renewal when the card balance falls below a certain amount, it is determined that the previously given premium may be given to the customer as it is, and the previous premium is set as the current premium. It is possible to exclude from the calculation at the time of card settlement.

[0027]

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

FIG. 1 is an external view of the prepaid card vending machine according to the embodiment.

In this prepaid card vending machine (hereinafter abbreviated as a card vending machine), various operation guides and insertions are made on the operation panel 2a formed on the front surface of the door 2 of the substantially box-shaped case 1. A liquid crystal display 3 for electronically displaying the amount of money, a plurality of operation keys 4, a bill insertion slot for inserting bills 5, a prepaid card used by a customer, and a card for discharging a new prepaid card. Do insertion slot 6, coin discharge slot 7 for discharging the settlement amount when settling and change at the time of purchase
a, a bill outlet 7b, and a card reader 8 for reading an ID card of an employee or the like are provided.

The types of prepaid cards that can be newly issued by this card vending machine are 1000 yen, 3000 yen,
There are four types of money, 5000 yen and 10000 yen, and the bill insertion slot 5
There are three types of banknotes that can be put in, 1,000-yen, 5,000-yen, and 10,000-yen, and coins are not accepted. Further, the types of the amount of money that can be added to the prepaid card being used in this card vending machine are the above-mentioned four types.

Further, the payment amount at the time of card payment can be adjusted up to a unit of 10 yen.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the arrangement of the members housed in the case 1 with the door 2 opened.

At the top of the case 1, there is provided a card stocker 9 for storing a raw card which is a source of a new prepaid card to be sold, and a card supply mechanism 10 is provided below the card stocker 9 and this card supply mechanism is provided. 10
A card R / W (reader / writer) 11 is provided below.

Further, a bill discriminating mechanism 12 is provided at a position facing the bill insertion slot 5 of the door 2, and a bill dispensing machine 13 and a coin hopper 14 are provided at opposing positions of the bill discharge slot 7b and the coin discharge slot 7a. . Further, a card hopper 15 for collecting used prepaid cards is provided. The card hopper 15 is composed of a reuse hopper 15a and a waste hopper 15b.

A control device 17 for controlling the operation of each part is arranged in the center of the case 1, and a storage device 18 such as an FDD for accumulating sales data and various parameters are set. The personal computer 19 is provided.

Further, a power supply device 20 for supplying a drive voltage to each part is housed in the lower part of the case 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a card transportation path in the card vending machine.

In the case of new sale, one raw card 21 at the lowermost layer of the plurality of raw cards 21 stored in the card stocker 9 is switched to the dotted line state in the card transport mechanism 22 via the switch 23. Enter the card R / W 11, the thermal printer 24 prints the card balance and the like, and the magnetic head 25 writes the card balance and the like.
The regular prepaid card 26 is ejected from the card insertion slot 6.

In the case of card renewal, the prepaid card 26 in use inserted from the card insertion slot 6 is read with the card balance by the magnetic head 25, an additional amount and a premium are added to the read card balance, and thermal The printer 24 prints predetermined items, the magnetic head 25 rewrites the added card balance, and the card balance is ejected from the card insertion slot 6.

In the case of card payment, the magnetic head 25 reads the card balance of the prepaid card 26 in use inserted from the card insertion slot 6, and after the payment processing corresponding to the read card balance is carried out, Card balance [0]
The prepaid card 26, which has been written by the magnetic head 25 and is not printed at all, is carried into the reuse hopper 15a through the switching device 23 in the card transport mechanism 22 which is controlled to be switched to the dotted line state. In addition, the prepaid card 26 that has already been printed passes through the switch 23, which is controlled to switch to the solid line state in the card transport mechanism 22, and then to the waste hopper 15.
It is carried into b.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a prepaid card 26 that can be handled by this card vending machine.

As shown in FIG. 4 (a), names such as "shopping card" indicating the prepaid card and names of usable dining rooms or shops are printed in advance on the surface of the card body made of polyester or the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, a heat sensitive material forming a printing surface for thermally printing characters such as a card balance is attached to the back surface of the card body. The magnetic stripe 27 is formed inside.

On the printed surface, as shown in FIG. 4B, the date 28a at the time of new sale or card update, the input amount and message 28b at the time of new sale or card update, the premium and message 28c, the card balance and The message 28d is printed. The date and the deducted card balance 28d are printed on the terminal of the store. Further, the payment amount and the message 28f when the payment is made are printed.

The magnetic stripe 27 is shown in FIG.
Areas 27a to 27k are formed,
Areas 27a, 27b, 27c and 27d contain a series of card numbers. Card type that indicates a prepaid card,
The date of issue and the issuing company code are recorded in the area 27e,
In 27f, an ID (employee code) identifying the holder of the prepaid card 27 and a personal identification number are recorded.
Further, in the areas 27g, 27h, 27i, 27j, and 27k, the card balance X, the final amount A, the number of times of use C _N , the print presence / absence flag C. The printing position D and the like are recorded.

The ID and the personal identification number are used to identify the person when the prepaid card 26 is reissued due to loss or the like. Further, the issuing company code and the ID are used when the attributes such as the company to which the holder of the prepaid card 26 belongs and the status thereof are determined as necessary.

The prepaid card 26 sold by the card vending machine to general customers other than employees includes I
D, PIN code is not recorded.

When an employee purchases a new prepaid card 26 with this card vending machine, an ID card or the like is inserted into the card reader 8 to confirm the identity of the person, and the above-mentioned area on the magnetic stripe 27 is confirmed. 27c ~
All information is written in 27k.

In the raw card 21 stored in the card stocker 9, only the card presence / absence flag C of the card number 27a, the card type 28b, and [0] is written in advance.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a card vending machine.

The above-mentioned control device 17 which is composed of, for example, a microcomputer for executing various information processings is heat-sensitively printed with various information shown in FIG. 4 (b) on the printing surface of the back surface of the card R / W 11 and the prepaid card 26. A print control unit 29 for driving the thermal printer 24, a communication interface 30 for transmitting and receiving various kinds of information to and from the host computer of each company (not shown) and the personal computer 19 described above, an input / output interface 31, a RAM
A storage unit 32 formed of, for example, an operation panel interface 33 for various devices arranged on the operation panel 2a, a clock circuit 34 for measuring the current date, and the like are connected.

The input / output interface 31 includes a money handling storage unit 35 such as the bill discriminating mechanism 12, the bill dispensing machine 13, and the coin hopper 14 installed in the case 1.
The card stocker 9, the card transport mechanism 22, the card reader 8 and the like are connected.

Further, in the operation panel interface 33, the liquid crystal display 3 shown in FIG. 1, four kinds of amount keys 4a of 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 3,000 yen and 1,000 yen, and a new key 4 are provided.
b, update key 4c, cancel key 4d, adjustment key 4e, etc. are connected.

In the storage unit 32, a card R /
Magnetic stripe 27 of prepaid card 26 at W11
The card information memory 32a for temporarily storing each card information from the card number to the printing position D shown in FIG. 4 (c) read from each area 27a to 27k, the total amount Y ₂ of cash Y inserted by one customer A cash input memory 32b for storing is formed.

Further, in the storage unit 32, a sales totaling memory 32c for totaling the total sales amount of the prepaid card 26 newly sold or updated by the card automatic vending apparatus, the sales amount of cash only, etc., and the raw card 21. A new issue number memory 32d for storing the new issue number issued as the new prepaid card 26, and an update issue number memory 32e for storing the update issue number reissued by adding the input amount to the inserted in-use prepaid card 26. A settlement totaling memory 32f for summing the settlement amount B when the unused card balance X of the issued prepaid card 26 is settled is formed.

Further, in the storage unit 32, there is formed a premium table 32g for storing various kinds of information regarding premiums to be added to the card balance at the time of new sale or card update.

In the premium table 32g, as shown in FIG. 6, 10,000 yen which can be designated by the amount key 4a at the time of new sale or renewal of card by this card vending machine,
For each amount A of 5,000 yen, 3,000 yen, and 1,000 yen, a premium P, an update permission card balance X _D , and a premium return permission card balance X _R for the corresponding amount A are stored.

For example, when the amount A input at the time of new sale or card renewal is 10,000 yen, the premium P is 100.
It is 0 yen, and the renewal permit card balance X _D is 2000 yen,
And the premium return authorization card balance X _R is 1500 yen.

Since the premium P is not added to the input amount A of 1,000 yen, the update permit card balance X _D and the premium return permit card balance X _R are not set. That is, the card can be freely updated for the input amount A of 1,000 yen, and at the time of settlement, the entire card balance X becomes the settlement amount B.

Next, the processing operation of the controller 17 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

When the flow chart of FIG. 7 is started, the operation guide of [card insertion, cash insertion] is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3 at S (program step) 1. Then, when some sales operation is performed on the operation panel 2a in S2, the type of the performed operation is checked. Banknote insertion slot 5 at S3
If a banknote of 1,000 yen, 5,000 yen, or 10,000 yen is inserted,
At 4, the input amount Y of the input money read by the money processing storage unit 35 is added to the total amount Y ₂ of the cash input memory 32b of the storage unit 32. Naturally, the total amount Y ₂ is zero at first. Next, the total amount Y ₂ of the cash input memory 32b
Is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3 (S5).

When additional money is added (S
6) The procedure returns to S4, and the amount Y of deposit is added to the total amount Y ₂ of the cash deposit memory 32b of the storage unit 32.

When one amount key 4a is input in S7, the amount designated by the amount key 4a is compared with the total amount Y ₂ to generate a change (S8). The total amount of money Y ₂
Is changed to the designated amount (S9).

Next, when the issued and used prepaid card 26 is inserted into the card insertion slot 6 in S10, S1
Each area 2 shown in FIG. 4C of the magnetic stripe 27 of the prepaid card 26 inserted by the card R / W 11 in FIG.
7a to 27k, card number, card type, issuance date, issuing company code, ID, personal identification number, card balance X, final amount A, number of reuses C _N , printing presence flag C, printing position D, etc. The card information consisting of is read and stored in the card information memory 32a (S11). Then, the card balance X of the read card information is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3 (S12). Then, the process returns to S2 and waits for the next operation.

The operation executed in S2 is S in FIG.
If it is the key operation of the update key 4c of 13, the process proceeds to S14, and it is confirmed that the card information is stored in the card information memory 32a. If not stored, an operation error is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3 (S15).

If the card information is stored in the card information memory 32a, the process proceeds to S16 to read the card balance X, the print presence / absence flag C, and the print position D from the card information memory 32a.

Next, the input amount A corresponding to the total amount Y ₂ in the premium table 32g, the premium P corresponding to the input amount A, and the update permit card balance X _D are read (S17).

If the premium P is not [0] (S18), and the read card balance X is less than or equal to the update permit card balance X _D (S19), the card can be updated, so the read card balance X. Is added to the total amount Y ₂ , that is, the input amount A and the premium P (S20).

X = X + A + P When the premium P is [0] in S18, only the input amount A is added to the read card balance X. (S2
1) The read card balance X is the update permit card balance X _D
If it exceeds (S19), since the card update is not permitted, the liquid crystal display 3 displays the update not possible (S22),
And the money corresponding to the total amount Y ₂ is returned to the bill return port 7b as it is (S23). Further, the inserted prepaid card 26 is ejected to the card insertion slot 6 (S24).

When the updating of the card balance X is completed, the input amount A is set to the total amount Y ₂ (S25), and the state of the read print presence / absence flag C is checked (S26). In the case of [1],
The thermal printer 24 is activated, and at the position indicated by the print position D read on the back surface of the prepaid card 26 being inserted,
As shown in FIG. 4B, today's date 28a read from the clock circuit 34, input amount A28b, and premium P28.
c, the card balance X28d, and a message indicating the meaning of each number are printed out (S27).

When the premium P is [0], it is not necessary to print this premium P. And the print position D
Is updated (S28).

When the print presence / absence flag C is [0], it is not necessary to print anything on the prepaid card 26.

Next, in S29, the card R / W 11 is activated to update the updated card balance X.W. The print position D is written in each area 27g, 27i of the prepaid card 26, and
The input amount A is written in the area 27h as the final amount A. Then, the corresponding prepaid card 26 is ejected to the card insertion slot 6 (S30).

The operation executed in S2 is S in FIG.
If it is the key operation of the settlement key 4e of 31, the process proceeds to S32, and it is confirmed that the card information is stored in the card information memory 32a. If not stored, an operation error is displayed on the liquid crystal display 3 (S33).

If the card information is stored in the card information memory 32a, the process proceeds to S34, in which the card balance X, the final amount A, the print presence / absence flag C, the print position D, and the reuse count C _N are set. Read.

Next, the input amount A corresponding to the final amount A read from the prepaid card 26 in the premium table 32g, the premium P corresponding to the input amount A, and the premium return permission card balance X _R are read ( S
35).

Then, the premium return permission card balance X
_{If R} is set (S36), when said card balance X read from the prepaid card 26 exceeds a premium return authorization card balance X _R is (S37), the amount obtained by subtracting the premium P from the card balance X (X- P) is the settlement amount B (S38).

The balance of the premium return permission card X _R
Is not set (S36) and the card balance X is less than or equal to the premium return permission card balance X _R , the entire card balance X is set as the settlement amount B (S39). And
The card balance X and the final amount A are updated to 0 (S40), and the money corresponding to the settlement amount B is discharged to the bill discharge port 7b and the coin discharge port 7a (S41).

Next, the state of the print presence / absence flag C is checked (S
42) and [1], as shown in FIG. 4B, the date, the settlement amount 28f, and the card balance and message of [0] are printed out (S43). Then, the card balance X of [0] and the final amount A of [0] are written in the corresponding prepaid card 26 (S44).
Is transported to the waste hopper 15b.

If the print presence / absence flag C is [0] (S42), after the number of reuses C _N is updated (S46),
The card balance X of [0] on the corresponding prepaid card 26,
The final amount A of [0] and the number of reuses C _N after updating are written (S47).

If the number of reuses C _N after the update has not reached the predetermined limit number C _Nm (S48), the corresponding prepaid card 26 is conveyed to the reuse hopper 15a (S49). When the number of reuses C _N after the update reaches the limit number C _Nm (S48), after the non-reusable printing is performed on the corresponding prepaid card 26 (S5).
0), it conveys to the waste hopper 15b (S51).

If the operation executed in S2 is the key operation of the new key 4b in S53 in FIG. 10, the process proceeds to S53a, the card transport mechanism 22 is activated, and the one card stored in the card stocker 9 is stored. Raw card 21 with card R /
Transport to W11.

Then, only when the card purchaser designates printing on the operation panel 2a (S54), the printing presence / absence flag C for writing on the prepaid card 26 newly sold is set to [1] (S55). ).

Next, from the premium table 32g,
The input amount A corresponding to the total amount Y ₂ and the premium P of the corresponding amount A are read (S56). And the total amount Y ₂
Get the card balance X by adding premium P to (S5
7).

When the printing presence / absence flag C is set to [1] first (S58), the loaded raw card 21 is set as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), today's date 28a, total amount Y ₂
28b, premium P28c, card balance X28d and each message are printed out (S59). Then, the print position D is updated to the next print start position (S60). If the print presence / absence flag C is not set to [1] (C = 0), nothing is printed.

Next, the card balance X. After newly writing the final amount A corresponding to the total amount Y ₂ , the printing presence / absence flag C, and the printing position D to the magnetic stripe 27 of the raw card 21 (S
61), and a new prepaid card 26 is discharged to the card insertion slot 6 (S62).

In the automatic prepaid card vending apparatus configured as described above, a customer who newly uses a cafeteria or a shop inserts a bill into the bill insertion slot 5 and uses the amount key 4a to select one of four types of amounts. When you specify and press the new key 4b, the amount of money selected from the card insertion slot 6 (total amount of money Y ₂ )
The new prepaid card 26 in which the card balance X to which the premium P is added is written is ejected.

When the prepaid card 26 is used to pay for meals and merchandise and the card balance X decreases, the prepaid card 26 in use is inserted into the card insertion slot 6 to insert an additional amount of bill. Insert into mouth 5,
The amount key 4a is used to specify one of the four amounts, and finally the update key 4c is pressed. Then, the amount of money input this time and the premium P corresponding to this amount are added to the card balance X, and the corresponding prepaid card 26 is ejected.

However, in this case, the card update is permitted only when the card balance X is less than or equal to the card update permission card balance X _D corresponding to the input amount A at the time of the last update stored in the current prepaid card 26. .

That is, since the premium P has the meaning of servicing customers who have consumed most of the amount Y ₂ input at the time of new sales or renewal, when the card balance X drops below a certain amount. Allow card renewal with
Moreover, at this time, a premium P corresponding to the amount of money Y ₂ input at the time of renewal is added to further improve the service to customers who have consumed most of the amount of money Y ₂ .

When paying the prepaid card 26 in use, the prepaid card 26 is inserted into the card insertion slot 6 and the payment key 4e is pressed. Then, the money corresponding to the card balance X becomes the settlement amount B and the bill return slot 7
b and the coin return port 7a.

In this case, a card including premium P only when the card balance X is less than or equal to the premium return permission card balance X _R corresponding to the previous input amount A stored in the current prepaid card 26 such as new sale or card update. The total amount of the balance X or the settlement amount B is returned. Then, when the card balance X exceeds the premium return permission card balance X _R , the amount obtained by subtracting the premium P corresponding to the previous input amount A from the card balance X is returned as the settlement amount B.

As described above, when a large amount of the card balance X remains, the amount A of the corresponding prepaid card 26 purchased is A.
Since the (total amount of money Y ₂ ) is not used sufficiently, the premium P portion will not be served to the corresponding customer. Therefore, even if the premium P is added at the time of card renewal, the payment can be made and the service to the customer can be further improved.

As described above, various conditions are added at the time of card renewal or card settlement to enable card renewal or card settlement, so that the card issuing company does not incur a disadvantage to regular customers. And provide a richer service.

Further, even for an outpatient, even if only a small amount of money is used, the card can be settled naturally, so that the service to the outpatient is not deteriorated.

Further, in this embodiment, the presence or absence of printing on the printing surface of the prepaid card 26 can be selected. Therefore, the same prepaid card 26 is separately collected so that it can be reused when the printing is not executed.

[0096]

As described above, in the prepaid card automatic vending apparatus of the present invention, the premium, the card renewal permission card balance, and the premium return permission for the corresponding amount are input for each amount input at the time of new sale or card renewal. A premium table is provided to store the card balance.

Therefore, for customers who continue to use this prepaid card for a long period of time by using card renewal or the like, a premium corresponding to the additional amount can be added even when renewing the card, and the card can be immediately purchased. For outpatients who make payments, the premium amount can be excluded from the payment amount,
The card issuer will not be penalized, and it will be possible to provide correspondingly detailed services to customers and foreign visitors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a prepaid card vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the card vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a card transportation route in the card vending apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a prepaid card used in the card vending machine.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the card vending machine.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a premium table formed in a storage unit of the card vending machine.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the card vending machine.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the same card vending machine.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of the same card vending machine.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the operation of the same card vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Case, 2 ... Door, 2a ... Operation panel, 3a ... Liquid crystal display, 4 ... Operation key, 4a ... Amount key, 4b ... New key, 4c ... Update key, 4d ... Cancel key, 4e ... Settlement key, 5 ... bill insertion slot, 6 ... card insertion slot, 7a ... coin ejection slot, 7b ... bill ejection slot, 9 ... card stocker, 11
... card R / W, 15 ... card hopper, 17 ... control device, 21 ... raw card, 22 ... card transport mechanism, 24 ... thermal printer, 26 ... prepaid card, 27 ... magnetic stripe, 32 ... storage unit, 32g ... premium Table, 34 ... Clock circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A new issue process (S53 to S62) of writing a card balance corresponding to the entered amount into a new prepaid card and issuing it, and in response to a card update request,
In a prepaid card vending machine that performs a card renewal process (S13 to S30) that adds a separately entered amount to the card balance recorded in the prepaid card in use inserted in the card insertion slot and discharges it , A premium table (32g) for storing the premium, the card renewal permission card balance, and the premium return permission card balance for the corresponding amount of money, and is formed in the storage unit of the prepaid card and finally input. The final amount area (27h) for storing the amount of money, and the card renewal allowance card balance corresponding to the amount of money stored in the final amount area in response to the card renewal request, the card balance recorded in the prepaid card. Crossing,
Card renewal prohibition means (S1
9, S22 to S24), and when the card balance is less than or equal to the card renewal allowance card balance, a premium corresponding to the entered amount is added to the card balance, and the amount in the final amount area is input. Premium processing means (S19, S20, S
25-S29), and the card balance stored in the prepaid card in use inserted into the card insertion slot according to the card settlement request corresponds to the amount stored in the final amount area. The first settlement processing means (S that discharges the stored card balance as a settlement amount when the return permission card balance is less than or equal to S
37.S39, S41), and when the stored card balance exceeds the premium return permission card balance, an amount obtained by subtracting a premium corresponding to the amount stored in the final amount area from the stored card balance is calculated. A prepaid card vending machine equipped with a second settlement processing means (S37, S38, S41) for discharging as a settlement amount.