JPH09134471A - Automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an automatic card vending machine to simply encode again the utilization amount of a prepaid card. SOLUTION: When a card to be encoded is inserted into a card reader/writer 6, the card is entered by a card mechanism 7. When an amount for use is inputted from a keyboard 8, the amount is displayed on a digital display device 9 and written in the card by a main control part 1 through the card reader/ writer 6. Thus the prepaid card can simply be encoded by the automatic card vending machine. It is also possible to prevent the issue of a card having an amount exceeding the initial issue amount by comparing an inputted amount with the initial issue amount.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vending machine that issues a prepaid card (hereinafter referred to as a vending machine).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional vending machines that sell prepaid cards sell cards such as 500-yen cards and 1000-yen cards whose usage amounts are stored (encoded) in advance by a card issuing company. There is also a vending machine that encodes a predetermined amount of money for sale when a user of the card vending machine throws in money.

[0003]

The conventional card vending machine has the following problems. First, as mentioned above, a card with a usage amount other than the card usage amount cannot be issued. So, for example, only for a specific period, or for a specific user,
In order to issue a card with an arbitrary usage amount, the card manager of the vending machine had to request the card issuing company to perform encoding. However, this procedure was troublesome when the number of cards was small.

Next, when using a prepaid card to purchase a beverage, for example, at a beverage vending machine, when the card is clogged due to a mechanical failure or the magnetic part storing the amount data is damaged, the card still has a remaining amount. But the card is no longer usable. This is because the vending machine cannot immediately re-encode the damaged card. In addition, if the card administrator can encode the usage amount to any amount,
This was a problem because cards that exceed the initial issue amount may be issued.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily re-encode the usage amount on the card vending machine side.

[0006]

A vending machine according to the present invention is a vending machine for issuing a prepaid card, which reads / writes card data.
The writing unit, the input unit for inputting the usage amount of the card, and the control unit for instructing the card reading / writing unit to write the usage amount input by the input unit into the card.

As a result, the usage amount of the issued prepaid card is re-encoded into the amount of money by the input means. If the amount of money input by the input means is less than or equal to the card initial issue amount of money read by the card read / write means, the control unit writes the usage amount of money input by the input means into the card. reading/
The writing means may be instructed.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the issuance of a card with an excessively large amount of money that exceeds the initial amount of money to be issued. Further, the card reading / writing means, the input means, and the control section may be incorporated in a vending machine for selling goods. This allows
Even for ordinary vending machine users, the card can be easily re-encoded when the card is damaged.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a main control unit of the vending machine, which includes a CPU 2, a ROM 3, a RAM 4, and a clock 5. The following devices are connected to the main control unit 1. Card reader / writer 6 for reading / writing data of prepaid cards, card mech 7 for inserting / carrying / returning cards, keyboard 8 for inputting the amount of use of the card, digital display 9 for displaying the input of the keyboard, insertion of currency And a coin mech 10 for change processing, and a vending machine mechanism 11 for controlling a selling operation as a normal vending machine.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a message when the card reader / writer 6 reads the data stored in the magnetic part of the prepaid card. The initial issuance amount, usage balance, etc. that were stored when the card was first issued are read. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the main operation of the present invention. Figures 1 and 2
The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

First, a card manager of a vending machine prepares a prepaid card to be re-encoded. Card reader / writer 6 of a vending machine waiting to insert this card
(Step S1, branch Y), data is read in the magnetic data format shown in FIG. 2 (step S2). It is determined whether the card can be used (step S3), and when the card cannot be used (branch N), the card is ejected (step S10) and the process ends. When the card can be used (branch Y), the initial issuance amount of the card is read and stored in the RAM 4 of the main control unit 1 (step S
4).

Next, the code number of the card is collated (step S5), and if collated (branch Y), the keyboard 8
Enter the amount to be re-encoded from (step S
6). Input amount from this keyboard 8 and step S
In step 4, the initial issuance amount stored in the RAM 4 is compared (step S7). If the input amount is less than or equal to the initial issuance amount (branch Y), the amount is written to the card via the card reader / writer 6 (step S8). . After confirming whether the writing has been normally performed (step S9), the card is ejected (step S10) and the process ends.

With the above operation, the card vending machine side can easily re-encode the usage amount.

[0014]

According to the present invention, the used amount of money input by the input means such as the keyboard is written in the card by the card reading / writing means such as the card reader / writer, so that the issued prepaid card can be used. The amount is re-encoded into the amount by the input means. Therefore, a small number of cards can be quickly issued for a specific purpose, etc., and even if the card is damaged, the card can be immediately repaired.

Further, if the encoding is possible only when the amount of money to be re-encoded is less than or equal to the initial issuance amount, it is possible to prevent issuance of a card having an excessively large amount of use exceeding the initial issuance amount. Furthermore, if the device according to the present invention is incorporated into an ordinary vending machine that sells products, the card can be immediately restored even when the user's card is damaged. In addition, since the parts can be diverted from a normal vending machine, it can be manufactured at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of card data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation based on the invention of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Main control unit, 2 ... CPU, 3 ... ROM, 4 ... RAM,
5 ... Clock, 6 ... Card reader / writer, 7 ... Card mech, 8 ... Keyboard, 9 ... Digital display, 10 ... Coin mech, 11 ... Vending machine mechanism.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vending machine that issues prepaid cards, a card reading / writing means for reading / writing card data, an input means for inputting a card usage amount, and a usage amount input by the input means for a card. An automatic vending machine, comprising: a controller for instructing the card reading / writing means to write. 2. The automatic vending machine according to claim 1, wherein when the amount of money input by the input means is less than or equal to the card initial issue amount read by the card read / write means, the control unit causes the input means to operate. An automatic vending machine characterized by instructing a card reading / writing means to write the input usage amount into a card. 3. The vending machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the card reading / writing means, the input means, and the control section are incorporated in the vending machine for selling goods. .