JPH10203739A - Card issuance recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card issuance recovery device furnished with an issuance function and a recovery function of a card. SOLUTION: This device has a card storage part 20 to store a plural number of cards 13 in an accumulated state and a card carrier part 22 set below the card storage part 20 and to carry in and out the cards 13 to and from the card storage part 20. The carrier part 22 is furnished with a carrier belt 25 and a carrier roller 26 to make contact with the accumulated bottom card 13 and to give it carrier force, and the cards 13 are carried out and issued one by one sequentially with the bottom card 13 by positively rotating these belt 25 and roller 26. The accumulated cards 13 are lifted up by large radius semi-circular parts 31b of plate cams 31 set on its both sides, the cards are supplied to the inside of a space by reversely rotating the carrier roller 26 and the belt 25 in a state of forming the space free to carry in the cards below, rising force by the plate cam 31 is released thereafter, the lifted up cards 13 are dropped on the currently supplied card 13 and recovery treatment is finished.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card issuing and collecting apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a general pachinko parlor, ball counters used by customers are installed at key points in the parlor. On the other hand, recently, it has been proposed to attach a ball counter to each pachinko machine. That is, a counter for each pachinko machine is installed in the counter portion below the lower plate. The per-table counter receives the pachinko balls dropped and supplied from the ball discharge port of the lower plate at the time of the jackpot, and transfers the received pachinko balls to the piping path (pachinko balls) around the island through the inter-table mechanism in the base sand. Back to the passage where the air flows. Upon returning, the number of passing pachinko balls is counted.

[0003] As a result, the pachinko balls are returned to the island, so that they can be used as hit balls (prize balls) or the like to be directly supplied to each of the pachinko machines constituting the island. The counted number of balls is managed as electronic information. For example, a ball deposit certificate (such as an IC card) for prize exchange is issued. The electronic information to be recorded on the IC card may be the number of balls itself, or the number of balls may be recorded in a pachinko parlor host computer.
The card may record something similar to a code number for accessing the number of balls recorded in the host computer. Then, the player brings the IC card to the checkout counter to start the checkout.

[0004] Therefore, in a pachinko parlor, it is necessary to install an apparatus for issuing such an IC card at an appropriate position such as for each pachinko machine or at a central settlement counter. Further, when the settlement is finally completed, it is necessary to collect the issued IC card. Therefore, such a device for collection is also installed at a predetermined position (payment counter) in the store. Then, the recovered card is transferred to the issuing device again and reused.

On the other hand, recently, an IC card has been used as a member's card issued by a pachinko parlor. Then, it is conceivable that such an IC card is also used as a card for recording information on the number of balls at the time of the above-mentioned big hit. However, even in such a case, not all visitors will have a member's card, so it is necessary to install the card issuing device and the card collection device described above.

[0006] Such a system for issuing and collecting cards is necessary for managing the automatic opening and closing of ski lifts and opening and closing gates of various parking lots or independent parking lots. Automatic parking system that automatically issues and collects parking tickets.

[0007] As an apparatus for realizing such a system, there is, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-212148 for pachinko parlors, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-106561 for an automatic ticket gate for ski lifts. There is a gazette.

[0008]

However, in each of the above-mentioned conventional devices, an issuance-only device and a collection-only device are provided independently of each other. It is necessary to manually remove the card collected in the collecting device and set it in the issuing device.

As a result, when issuing and collecting cards are performed at the same place, for example, the installation space of the apparatus is doubled and the size of the apparatus is increased, and the manual transfer of the cards becomes complicated. There is a problem.

[0010] For example, it is conceivable that a device installed on a pachinko machine is used exclusively for issuance, and a device installed on a checkout counter is used only for collection. However, in such a case, each device is designed and separately designed. Since the manufacturing is performed using members, from design / development to manufacturing, it is necessary to always perform two types, one for issuing and one for collecting. In addition, manufacturing a product with a different structure is not only a factor in increasing costs by itself, but also when improving or developing a new product, it always takes into account the structure of the other party, It becomes very complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and has as its object to provide a card issuance / recovery apparatus which solves the above-mentioned problems and has a card issuance function and a collection function. It is in.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a card issuance and collection apparatus according to the present invention is provided in a card management apparatus which collects cards and reuses the collected cards. A card storage means for temporarily storing a predetermined number of cards in a stacked state, and a card transport means installed below the card storage means for loading and unloading cards from and to the storage means, The carrying out of the card by the carrying means is performed in order from the lowest card among the cards stored in the card storing means, and the carrying in of the card is supplied to the lowermost of the cards stored in a stacked state. And
When loading the card, the card stored in the card storage means is moved up to form a space under which the card can be loaded (claim 1). Here, in the embodiment, the card transport means is configured by the transport belt 25 or the like, but a roller or the like may be used instead of the transport belt. Although various pushing means such as pushers may be used, a function of sending out the card in the card storage means and a function of supplying the card into the card storage means are required. This is preferable because it can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0013] The elevation of the card in the card storage means can be realized by, for example, a cam mechanism. In the embodiment, an example in which the cam is lifted and lowered in response to claim 2 (actually, the cam exerts an upward force, and the downward movement utilizes a natural fall) has been described. However, not limited to the cam, various driving means such as a cylinder and a screw can be used.

With the above configuration, when a card is issued, one of the cards stacked and stored from the bottom is
It can be taken out and issued one by one in order. When the card is collected, the card can be conveyed in a direction opposite to that at the time of issuance of the card, so that the card can be positioned at the lowest position of the cards stacked and stored in the card storage unit. At this time,
Since the stacked cards already stored are moved upward to form a space below, the cards conveyed for the above-mentioned collection are smoothly carried into the space. Thereafter, the series of raised cards is lowered and loaded on the currently loaded card.

As described above, the cards stored in the stacked state are moved up and down in synchronization with the collection of the cards, so that the cards can be supplied to a lower position in the card storage means. Moreover, the lower position of the card storage section is a fixed position regardless of the number of stacked cards. As a result, the card transport path for issuing and collecting the card may be moved in the same path in the opposite direction, and the entrance and exit of the card can be shared. Therefore, the device configuration can be simplified.

Further, since the card issuance and collection can be performed by the same device, the labor required for the production is greatly simplified as compared with a conventional design and manufacture of an issuance machine and a collection machine separately. Thus, costs can be reduced. Moreover,
Design changes can be made easily. Further, in the case of issuing and collecting a card at one place, conventionally two devices have to be installed, but in the present invention, only one device needs to be installed. As a result, not only the installation area can be reduced, but also the collected card can be used as it is for the next card issuance, so that there is no need to transfer the card, which is extremely convenient.

As described above, in the present invention, the card issuance function and the collection function are provided in the same apparatus, but it is not precluded that the issuance-only machine or the collection-only machine is used and used in actual use. . Even in such a case, since the device configuration is the same, it is easy to design and manufacture, and mass production can be achieved by common use, and the effect that cost can be reduced based on them. Even if it is used as a dedicated machine, it is rare that only one of them is used, and usually both are used. Therefore, even if maintenance for a failure is taken into consideration, only one type of spare device needs to be prepared, which is also preferable.

[0018]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a card issuance / recovery machine according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, in this example, the card is mounted on a card management device that issues (issues) or collects a recycled card such as an IC card, and reads and writes data on the card.

First, the card management device will be described. The front of the upper surface of the housing 10 is an inclined surface 10a.
A display operation panel 11 including a display unit such as an LCD and an operation unit is provided on the inclined surface 10a. Housing 1
A card entrance 10b that is opened is formed at a predetermined position below the front surface of the card 0.

A card reader 12 is provided inside the housing 10 near the card entrance 10b. The card reader unit 12 reads and writes information from and to the passing card 13. Further, a card issuing / collecting device 14 according to the present invention is provided continuously behind the card reader unit 12. Further, a card reader unit 12 is provided in the housing 10.
And a control unit 16 for controlling the operation of the card issuance and collection device 14, and a power supply unit 18 for driving each of the devices.
Is built-in.

The card 13 used here is a card such as an IC card, a magnetic card or the like, which can rewrite predetermined information. Further, once the card 13 is collected, the information of the collected card is rewritten so that it can be used for issuing the next card. In the present invention, it is not always necessary that the card used is capable of rewriting data.

The card issuance and collection device 14 includes a card storage unit 20 capable of storing a predetermined number of cards 13 in a stacked state,
A card transport unit 22 is provided below the card storage unit 20 and carries the card 13 into and out of the card storage unit 20.

After the information stored in the card reader section 12 is read out, the card 13 inserted through the card entrance 10b is taken in by the card transport section 22 and taken out of the lowermost portion of the card storage section 20. Is set to When issuing a card, the card transporter 22 takes out the lowermost card from the group of cards stored in the card storage unit 20, supplies the card to the card reader unit 12, and writes necessary information there. After that, the ejection is performed by discharging the card to the outside of the housing 10 through the card entrance 10b.

Instead of writing as described above, an ID number is given to the card in advance, and the card reader unit 12
Then, only the ID number of the card passing therethrough may be read, and the information may not be written. In other words, when issuing a card, the ID of the issued card
In addition to reading the number, the host computer is notified of the ID number of the issued card, and the host computer stores the card in association with specific information. Then, when the card is collected, the ID number is read, and the actual information can be read by accessing the host computer. An example of a specific use mode of the present apparatus will be described later.

The specific configuration of the card issuance / recovery device 14 for performing the above processing is as shown in FIGS. That is, the card storage unit 20 includes a frame 23 which is vertically opened as shown in each figure (A), and the inner shape of the frame 23 substantially matches the outer shape of the card 13 to be stored or is slightly larger. Has formed. A card separating plate 24 indicated by hatching in the figure is provided on the inner surface on the front side of the frame 23. A predetermined gap t is formed between the lower end of the card separation plate 24 and the bottom surface 23a of the frame 23. The length of the gap t is set to be larger than the thickness of one card 13 and smaller than the thickness of two cards 13 (see FIG. 2C). Only 13 can pass.

The bottom surface 23a of the frame 23 is provided on a part of the periphery and is locked on a part of the side edge of the card 13 to be stored, so that the card 13 falls from the card storage part 23. Restrained. Most of the bottom surface of the frame 23 is open, so that the card 13 comes into contact with a card transport unit 22 described later, and a transport force can be applied to the card 13.

Further, in order to smoothly discharge only the lowermost card of the stacked cards 13 to the outside, the lower surface of the card separating plate 24 becomes a tapered surface 24a, which is gradually guided by the tapered surface 24a. The lowermost card 13 and the card stacked thereon are carried out while being separated from each other.

On the other hand, the card transport section 22 is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3A, a transport belt 25 disposed to face the opening of the bottom surface 23 a of the frame 23, and a pair of transport rollers 26 disposed below the front outside of the frame 23.
And For example, a vacuum conveyor may be used as the transport belt 25 so that only the card 13 that contacts the belt surface is transported while being suction-held. That is, the endless belt 25c is provided between the driving pulley 25a and the driven pulley 25b, and a vacuum mechanism (not shown) is attached to the endless belt 25c.
A suction force is generated through countless holes formed in the endless belt 25c.

The transport belt 25 and the transport roller 26 rotate forward and reverse together, and
As shown in (A), the card is transported in the left direction in the drawing (issue / unload direction), and as shown in FIG. 3 (A), the card is transported in the right direction (collection, carry-in / out direction). Can be. The rotation control is performed by a control signal from the control unit 16. A drive system for such a rotational drive is as shown in FIG.

That is, in this embodiment, the first gear 28a is fixed to the output shaft 27a of one card transport motor 27,
The first gear 28a meshes with a second gear 28b fixed to the rotating shaft of the lower roller 26a constituting the transport roller 26. Further, the upper roller 2 constituting the transport roller 26
6b is rotatably supported in a free state without receiving a driving force. Thus, when the card transport motor 27 rotates forward and reverse, the lower roller 26a rotates forward and reverse via the two gears 28a and 28b. Then, the upper roller 26b in contact with the lower roller 26a rotates following the rotation of the lower roller 26a. That is, the rotational force is transmitted via the roller surface. Of course, a gear may be fixed to the rotation shaft of the upper roller 26b, and power may be transmitted through the gear.

The rotational force of the second gear 28b is transmitted to the drive pulley 25a of the transport belt 25 through the third gear 28c.
Is transmitted to the fourth gear 28d connected to the second gear 28d. As a result, the rotation directions of the second gear 28b and the fourth gear 28d become the same, and the transport belt 25 and the transport roller 2
6 lower rollers 26a rotate synchronously in the same direction.

Further, in this embodiment, the third gear 28c is attached to the rotary plate 29. The rotating plate 29 is provided with the fourth gear 2
The rotating shaft 8d rotates forward and backward in a predetermined angle range around a rotating shaft. More specifically, the illustrated second and third gears 28b and 28c mesh with each other, and the counterclockwise direction from that state. The two gears 28b and 28c rotate to separate from each other, and the state can be switched between two states in which the rotational force from the second gear 28b is not transmitted to the third gear 28c.

The switching is performed by the solenoid 30
This is performed by controlling the energization of. That is, in a steady state in which no power is supplied, the state shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. When power is supplied to the solenoid 30 in this state, the rotating plate 29 is rotated by pulling the connecting portion of the rotating plate 29 with the solenoid toward the front side,
The connection between the third gear 28c and the second gear 28b is cut off.

The timing of this switching control is performed when a card is issued. That is, when the lowermost card (first card) is carried out from the card storage unit 22, the card transport motor 27 is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction with all the gears 28a to 28d shown in FIG. I do. Then, the transport belt 25 and the transport roller 26 rotate in the direction in which the card 13 is unloaded, so that a transport force is first applied to the lowermost card contacted with the transport belt 25, and the card 13 (one sheet)
Is taken out of the card storage unit 20 and carried out. As a result, the front of the card 13 collides with the transport roller 26 and receives the transport force from the transport roller 26.

Then, as the transport roller 26 rotates, the card 13 further advances, and is finally carried out through the card entrance 20b provided in the housing 10, but at this time, the rotational force is still exerted on the transport belt 25. If transmitted, the next card (the second card) is also sent out from the card storage unit 20.

Therefore, when the transfer force from the transfer roller 26 can be transmitted to the card 13, the solenoid 30 is energized to stop the rotation of the transfer belt 25. As a result, only one card can be carried out. At the time of carrying the card in with the collection of the card, since there is no inconvenience described above, the four gears 28a to 28d are always connected and the switching control is not performed.

When the card 13 is collected,
A plurality of cards are already stored in a stacked state in the card storage unit 20, and cannot be inserted into the card storage unit 20 through a gap between the lower end of the card separation plate 24 and the bottom surface 23 a of the frame 23 as it is. Therefore, in the present invention, by raising the card group already stored at the time of recovery, a space continuous with the gap is secured, and after inserting the card into the space, the raised card group is lowered. The card group is stacked on the inserted card. In other words, cards are collected in order from the bottom of the card storage unit 20, and cards are also issued in order from the bottom of the card storage unit 20.

In this embodiment, the card group is moved up and down at the above-mentioned timing of collection by a cam mechanism. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 3B, disk-shaped plate cams 31 are provided below both sides of the frame body 23, and the side surfaces of the plate cams 31 can be brought into contact with the card 13. . The specific shape is basically a shape in which a semi-circular portion 31a having a small radius and a semi-circular portion 31b having a large radius are joined together with their centers aligned, and further, a switching portion between both semicircles on the leading side in the rotational direction. Has an arc-shaped projection 31
c is provided. Further, the pair of plate cams 31 and 31 rotate in one direction in synchronization with each other.

In the state shown in FIG. 2 where the semi-circular portion 31a having a small radius is located inside, a pair of plate cams 31, 31 are provided.
The distance between them is set to be longer than the width of the card 13. As a result, as shown in the drawing, the cards 13 do not contact the plate cam 31 and are stored in a stacked state without opening a space below the card storage unit 20. This state is a card issue / standby state.

In the state shown in FIG. 3 in which the semicircular portion 31b having the large radius is located inside, the distance between the pair of plate cams 31 is set to be shorter than the width of the card 13. . As a result, as shown in the figure, the lower surface of the lowermost card 13 comes into contact with the plate cam 31 and is lifted, so that a space K is formed below the card storage unit 20.
Such a state is a card collection state.

By rotating the plate cam 31 synchronously, the above-described two positions can be alternately taken, and the drive system for such rotational drive is as shown in FIG. 4B. ing. That is, the gear 34 is fixed to the output shaft 33a of one card lift motor 33, and this gear 34 is meshed with one intermediate gear 35a. The one intermediate gear 35a meshes with a gear 35b connected to the rotation shaft of one plate cam and also meshes with the other intermediate gear 35a '. The other intermediate gear 35a 'meshes with a gear 35b' connected to the rotating shaft of the other plate cam. Thus, when the lift motor 33 rotates, each gear 31, 35a, 35
The two cams 31, 31 rotate synchronously via b, 35a ', 35b'.

Although the specific configuration is not shown, in this embodiment, the card storage unit 20 is detachable from the card transport unit 22 and the card storage unit 20
Even if the card is removed while the card is stored inside, the card does not drop from below the card storage unit 20. As a result, the card storage unit 20 collected by another device
By removing the card and attaching it to another device (mainly a device for issuing), the card in the storage section can be used as a card for issuing.

Next, the operation of the present apparatus will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the basic position / posture of the present embodiment is in a state in which a semicircular portion 31a having a small radius is located inside. Thereby, the card 1 in the card storage unit 20 is
3 receives no upward force from the plate cam 31 and
Are stacked and stored on the bottom surface 23a. This state is a card issuance state. When a card is to be issued, the card cam 22 is operated without rotating the plate cam 31 to carry out one lowermost card 13. become.

On the other hand, when collecting cards, the plate cam 31 is rotated in a predetermined direction. As a result, first, as shown in FIG. 4B, the projection 31c of the plate cam 31 hits the lower surface of the card 13 and further rotates as it is.
As shown in FIG. 3C, the protrusion 31c lifts the card 13 upward. Then, as shown in FIG. 3D, the card 13 comes into contact with the semicircular portion 31b having a large radius, and is held in a state where it is lifted in a stable state. Then, the rotation of the plate cam is stopped once in the illustrated state. As a result, a predetermined space K is formed below the stacked cards 13, and this is a card collection position.

In this state, the card transport section 22 is operated, one card 13 ′ is carried in, and supplied into the space K of the card storage section 20. Thereby, the collection process is completed. Then, the plate cam 31 is again rotated in the same direction. Then, when rotated to a certain angle, the semicircular portion 31a having a large radius is located outside the frame body 23, and the supporting force for the card 13 is lost, so that as shown in FIG.
The card 13 descends and falls, and is in a state of being stacked in the card storage unit 20. And the plate cam 31 further rotates,
It returns to the reference position shown in FIG.

Next, a mode of using the above-described apparatus will be described. First, at a pachinko parlor, it can be used as a payment card (deposit certificate) when a big hit occurs.

That is, as described in the section of the prior art, in a system in which a counting machine (counter for each machine) is installed for each pachinko machine, a pachinko ball is returned directly to the island when a big hit occurs, The number of pachinko balls can be counted. Then, after the jackpot right has been exhausted (a predetermined number of hit balls have been discharged), the per-unit counter obtains the total number of balls.

Next, the card management device described above is driven to take out one card stored in the card storage unit 20 and issue it. At this time, if the card reader unit 12 can read and write, for example, the card can be issued with the total number of balls counted written on the card. Then, the player who has obtained the card goes to the checkout counter and performs the checkout processing with only the card or another pachinko ball.
At the time of this settlement, a card management device provided with the above-mentioned card collection and issuance device is used. That is, the clerk inserts the card into the card management device. Then, a collection process is performed, and the inserted card is stored in the card storage unit 20. At this time, since the ball passes through the card reader unit 12, the payment processing can be performed by reading the ball number data recorded on the card during the passage. Then, in the case of this method, when the collected card is reused, data is written again.

Also, as described above, the card reader 12
Has no write function and is read-only,
The following system configuration can be used for a payment system. That is, the ID number is recorded on the card in advance. Then, if a big hit occurs, the total number of balls is counted by the per-counter in the same manner as described above, and then a card is issued. At the time of this issuance, the card reader unit 12 reads the ID number of the card and transfers it to the host computer. At the same time, the total number of balls determined by the per-unit counter is transferred to the host computer. And
The host computer records the ID number and the total number of balls in pairs. Note that the above-mentioned association is performed, for example, by using the I
This can be easily realized by notifying the D number and transferring the acquired ID number to the host computer by associating the acquired ID number with the obtained total number of balls. In this case, since only the ID number is recorded on the issued card, there is no danger of data being remodeled and the card is safe.

On the other hand, at the time of settlement, the issued card is brought to a settlement counter, and the card is inserted into a card management device installed at the counter. Then
As described above, the card passes through the card reader unit 12 and is collected in the card storage unit 12. Then, the card reader section 12 reads the ID number of the passed card and outputs it to the checkout machine. And in the checkout machine, ID
The number is used as a key to access the host computer, and the ball number data related to the card with the ID number is transferred to the checkout machine, thereby performing the checkout process.

In any of the above-described systems, the card management device incorporating the card issuing and collecting device installed on the pachinko machine side functions as a card issuing dedicated machine in any case, and the card installing device installed on the settlement counter side collects the card. Functions as a dedicated machine. Therefore, it is necessary to transfer the cards collected at a predetermined timing, and this is the same as in the case of the conventional dedicated machine having another configuration. In the present embodiment, even if the function is used exclusively for the occasion, since the device configuration is the same, only one type of processing is required from the design to the assembly. Further, if the device used as the collecting machine breaks down, the device used as the issuing machine can be replaced and used.

On the other hand, for issuing and collecting cards with the same device, this device is installed at, for example, a checkout counter. Then, at the time of a big hit, the clerk takes out the issued card from the device, takes it to the pachinko machine that hits the jackpot, and inserts the card into the counter for each machine adjacent to the pachinko machine. , The ID number of the card is notified, and the ID number and the number of balls are transferred to the host computer. The payment is made in the same manner as described above. In other words, the person who has won the jackpot carries out the payment process by bringing the card received from the clerk to the payment counter. At this time, the card is collected. That is, cards can be issued and collected using the same device.

In addition, instead of issuing a card only at the time of a jackpot, for example, a card is acquired when entering a pachinko parlor, and the user / player inserts the card into a predetermined position of the pachinko machine. To start the game. Then, the data relating to the number of balls is directly managed on the card, or the host computer collectively manages the data such as the number of balls using the ID number of the card. The same card is used to change the pachinko machine to be used. In this way, the information in the pachinko parlor can be collectively managed by the host computer together with the ID number of the card, and the card can be brought to the checkout counter when finally returning to the system to perform the checkout process. Applicable. In this case, the card is collected at the time of the payment processing as described above.

In any of the above cases, the card issuing / collecting device 14 according to the present invention, as well as the card management device equipped with the same can be realized with the same device configuration.

Although the above-described various systems have been described as applied to pachinko parlors, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, game centers other than pachinko, various game centers, amusement parks, ski resorts, etc. It can be applied to other recreation facilities.

Further, as another usage mode, the present invention can be applied to a pachinko parlor or other store, or a management / automatic ticket gate system for entrance / exit of an independent parking lot. That is, FIG. 6 shows the vicinity of an entrance / exit gate in a parking lot. In this example, the entrance-side passage 40 and the exit-side passage 41 are arranged in parallel in a separated state. A gate 42 is provided so as to block the entrance-side passage 40, and a gate 43 is similarly provided so as to block the outlet-side passage 41. And each gate 42, 4
3 is normally closed, and is opened for a certain period when certain conditions are satisfied.

Further, a parking ticket issuing machine 44 is installed in front of the gate 42 installed in the entrance side passage 40, and in front of the gate 42 installed in the exit side passage 41, A checkout machine 45 is provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the card issuance / collection device 14 (the card management device (the device further including the card reader unit and the like) 38 provided with the same) 38 according to the present invention includes Each is installed in the checkout machine 45. of course,
Card issuance / recovery device 14 installed in each machine 44, 45
The (card management device 38) has the same configuration.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, for example, the parking ticket issuing machine 44 has an outlet 38a for issuing a parking ticket (card) on its front surface (connected to the card issuing and collecting device 14). In addition, a clock 44a for displaying the current time, a speaker 44b for making a predetermined announcement, and the like are arranged at appropriate positions.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, for example, the settlement machine 45 has an insertion port 38a (continuous with the card issuing / collecting device 14) for inserting a parking ticket (card) at the front surface thereof. Display section 45 for displaying parking fees
a, a coin slot 44b, a bill slot 44c, a change outlet 45d, and the like are arranged at appropriate positions.

Each of the above-mentioned devices operates automatically and automatically. That is, first, when entering, the driver comes in front of the parking ticket issuing machine 44, temporarily stops, and the driver receives the parking ticket issued from the parking ticket issuing machine 44. As a result, the gate 42 opens, so that the driver passes through the gate 42 and parks at a predetermined position in the parking lot. In the context of the present invention, when the parking ticket is issued, one card is taken out from the card storage unit in the card issuance and collection device 14 and carried out, and the card reader unit in the card management device is taken out. After necessary information such as time is written on the parking ticket (card) at 12, it is discharged from the exit 48a. When the card reader unit 12 is read-only, the ID number recorded on the card is read, and the ID number is associated with the issued date and time information and transferred to a storage device installed at a predetermined position. This storage device is installed on the parking ticket issuing machine 44 side, installed on the settlement machine 45 side, or further installed in a host computer arranged at a different position.

When leaving, the vehicle 46 is caused to enter the exit-side passage 41 and temporarily stopped in front of the settlement machine 45. Then, the parking ticket received earlier is thrown into the slot 38a of the checkout machine 45. Then, the parking ticket (card) inserted by operating the card issuance / recovery device 14 of the present invention.
Collect. At the time of collection, the card reader unit 12
And reads the information stored in the parking ticket, and sends the read information to the CPU on the settlement machine 45 side. Checkout machine 45
CPU calculates the parking fee based on the provided information and displays it on the display unit 45a. Then, when the payment of the predetermined amount is confirmed, the settlement process ends, and the gate 43 is opened. Therefore, you pass through it and exit from the parking lot.

When the information such as the entrance time is written in the parking ticket itself at the time of issuing the parking ticket, the read information is the time data and the like.
PU calculates parking time from entrance time and current time,
From there, the parking fee is calculated. In the parking ticket issuing machine, data is not written, and the ID of the card is used.
In the case where the number is read and stored in the storage device in association with the entrance time, the information read by the checkout machine 45 also becomes the ID number of the inserted card. And CP
U accesses the above-mentioned storage device based on the ID number of the card, and after obtaining the entry time, performs a predetermined settlement process. Thus, regardless of whether or not data is written to a card when a card is issued, the same device configuration can be used as in a pachinko parlor or the like.

In the illustrated example, the parking ticket issuing machine 44 and the settlement machine 45 are separately installed, and as is apparent from FIG. 7, the configuration of the entire apparatus differs, but at least the card according to the present invention is used. The same configuration can be applied to the part of the issuing and collecting apparatus and the card management apparatus including the same.

Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the entrance-side passage 40 and the exit-side passage 41 are formed separately from each other. However, it is of course possible to enter and exit the same passage. In that case, for example, a gate may be provided at an intermediate point of the passage, and the parking ticket issuing machine 44 and the payment machine 45 described above may be provided on both sides of the gate, or a parking ticket formed integrally therewith. One issue settlement machine may be installed. When the parking ticket is formed by one device, the collected parking ticket (card) can be used for issuing the next parking ticket. Therefore, the parking ticket collected by the settlement machine 45 is manually sent to the parking ticket issuing machine 44 side. There is no need to relocate.

When the above-mentioned parking lot system is provided, for example, in a pachinko parlor or other store, a service for free parking for a certain period of time is usually provided to the customers of the store. Have been done. In such a case, the issued parking ticket (card) is presented to a clerk or the like at the time of using the store, and is directly stored in the parking ticket or based on the ID number of the parking ticket. ,
Stores information about usage. Thereby, the payment machine 4
When a parking ticket is inserted into 5, the presence or absence of the use can be known based on the information stored in the parking ticket. If the parking fee is free, the gate can be opened as it is.

On the other hand, in the case of a parking lot, a commuter pass may be issued in some cases, and in the case of a store, a member's card is issued, and a person holding the member's card is issued. In some cases, they provide services that make parking free.

Even in such a case, in the card issuance and collection device according to the present invention, at the time of issuance, the card is carried out from the bottom card and the collected card is also inserted at the bottom. With such a configuration, it is possible to perform processing using the same entrance and exit of the card as in issuing and collecting a parking ticket for a general user.

That is, the parking ticket issuing machine 44 does not issue a parking ticket immediately when a car comes before it,
For example, a parking ticket is issued when certain conditions such as "after a certain period of time" or "pressing a ticketing button" are satisfied. In this way, for example, if the person holding the above-mentioned commuter pass / members card comes in front of the parking ticket issuing machine 44 when entering the parking lot, the above-mentioned ordinary parking ticket is discharged. The card is inserted into the coming exit 38a. Then, the card issuance / recovery apparatus of the present invention performs processing on the carry-in side, reads the inserted card by the card reader section 12, and transfers the read information to the main body CPU of the parking ticket issuing machine 44. Then, the card is once taken into the card storage unit, and subsequently, a parking ticket issuance process is performed. That is, the lowermost card stored in the card storage section is taken out, and the card is ejected from the outlet 38a. Then, the ejected card is a card for oneself inserted just before. Of course, a general user who does not have such a card performs the same processing as described above,
A parking ticket will be issued from the exit 38a.

[0069]

As described above, in the card issuance / recovery apparatus according to the present invention, the cards stored in a stacked state in the card storage means can be moved up and down. When the card at the bottom is taken out, carried out and issued, and when the card is collected, the stored card is raised to secure a space for accommodating a new card below the card storage means. Therefore, the card can be collected by reversing the transport path at the time of issuance, and both the issuing function and the collecting function can be provided with a simple device configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a card management device provided with a card issuance and collection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a preferred embodiment of a card issuance / recovery device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a preferred embodiment of a card issuance / recovery device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a preferred embodiment of a card issuance / recovery device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where the present apparatus is used in an automatic ticket gate system for a parking lot.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where the present apparatus is used in an automatic ticket gate system for a parking lot.

[Explanation of symbols]

 13 Card 14 Card Issuance / Recovery Device 20 Card Storage Unit 22 Card Transport Unit 31 Plate Cam

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G07B 11/02 G07B 11/02

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A card storage unit mounted on a card management device for collecting cards and reusing the collected cards, and temporarily storing a predetermined number of cards in a stacked state, and the card storage unit And a card transport unit for loading / unloading the card into / from the storage unit, and the card is transported out of the card storage unit by the lowermost card among the cards stored in the card storage unit. In order to carry out the card sequentially, the card is loaded at the bottom of the cards stored in a stacked state, and when the card is loaded, the card stored in the card storage means is loaded. The card issuance and recovery device is characterized in that the card is moved upward to form a space under which the card can be carried. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the card in the card storage means is moved up and down by a cam mechanism.
2. The card issuance and recovery device according to 1.