JPH10302121A - Customer operated automatic settlement terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute not only a settlement processing or the like by customer operation but also settlement processing with cash, a settlement processing with a card, and various processings such as cashing transactions and information retrieval. SOLUTION: This terminal consists of a display and operation part 3 which displays information to a customer and accepts the input operation of the customer, a card processing part 4 which accepts a card to perform processing, cash processing parts 6 and 7 which perform reception and payment of cash, and a main control part 1 which performs communication and information recording and controls each part. The main control part 1 executes liquidation processing with cash, settlement processing with a card, cashing transactions, and information retrieval based on customer's operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a customer-operated automatic payment terminal, and more particularly, to a customer-operated automatic payment terminal that performs a payment operation using cash and a credit card at a retail store, a hotel or a golf course. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, in a store, a hotel, a golf course, or the like, when making a payment using cash or a credit card, a clerk intervenes, and after the customer and the clerk interact with each other, the clerk works at the front desk or at the reception. 2. Description of the Related Art POS (electronic cash register) and CAT terminal (credit card payment processing terminal) which are devices in a counter are operated to execute payment.

[0003] In a very limited field, a customer-operated payment terminal has been used in the past, but it was operated offline or had only a limited single function.

[0004]

However, according to the prior art, there are the following problems. Due to the presence of humans; ・ High employment costs for staff (employees).・ Incorrect operation of the staff may cause an excess or deficiency of cash.

[0005] Payment processing with a credit card takes time. Even if a terminal is used, since the terminal processes only a single function; ・ In order to implement a plurality of cash settlement functions / credit card settlement functions / information search functions / caching functions, a plurality of devices are introduced. You must use each function separately.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a display / operation unit for displaying information to a customer and receiving an input operation of the customer, a card processing unit for receiving and processing a card,
A cash processing unit for receiving and discharging cash, and a main control unit for controlling communication and information while controlling the above-described units, the main control unit is based on a customer's operation, the settlement processing by cash, The present invention is characterized in that a card settlement process, a cashing transaction, and an information search are executed.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main control unit, which includes, for example, a CPU, a memory, software for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, and disks (FDD) for storing the software.
/ HDD / CD-ROM, etc.), various communication control units (ISD
N, LAN, modem, RS-232C, etc.) and an encryption unit for encrypting communication data, and controls the operation of the entire apparatus.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an IO control unit, for example, a CPU,
It is composed of a memory, software for controlling the operation of each processing unit, and a communication unit for communicating with each processing unit. Reference numeral 3 denotes a display / operation unit, for example, a color LCD or a CR.
It is composed of a screen such as T and a touch panel arranged thereon, and displays information to the customer and accepts the input operation of the customer.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a card processing unit.
U, memory, card transporter, magnetic reader, magnetic writer,
It is composed of a card loading section, an embossed image reading section, and a thermal head printing section for rewritable cards, and processes various cards. Reference numeral 5 denotes a receipt processing unit, for example, a thermal head printing unit, a receipt cutting cutter unit,
It consists of a receipt roll paper storage unit and a receipt transport unit.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a coin processing unit, for example, a CPU,
It consists of a memory, a coin transporter, a coin identifier, a denomination storage, a replenishment cassette and a collection cassette, and processes coins. Reference numeral 7 denotes a bill processing unit, which includes, for example, a CPU, a memory, a bill transport unit, a bill identification unit, a denomination storage unit, and a replenishment / collection cassette.

The coin processing unit 6 and the bill processing unit 7
Works as a cash processing unit. Reference numeral 8 denotes a journal processing unit which includes, for example, a thermal head printing unit, a journal roll paper storage unit, and a printed journal paper winding unit. Reference numeral 9 denotes a proximity sensor unit, which includes, for example, a transmission sensor and a reception sensor, and detects that a customer has approached the apparatus.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a speaker unit, which comprises, for example, a speaker sound amplification amplifier unit and a speaker, and transmits information to a customer by voice. 11 is a housing part,
Each part is housed in one case. A power supply unit 12 supplies power to each unit. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the embodiment, and is a conceptual diagram viewed from the customer operation surface side.

The speaker units 10 are arranged on the left and right, and can generate operation guidance, screen touch sound, music, and the like. The display / operation unit 3 is provided at a position where the customer can easily view and operate the screen. At the time of customer operation, a customer operation screen corresponding to each operation is displayed, and the customer inputs necessary items in a selection format on the displayed screen. Input is performed by touching the screen. The customer selection items can be specified by the touch panel on the screen, and the screen can be switched to the next screen.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a card insertion / ejection port and a receipt ejection port. More specifically, various types of cards are received and conveyed to the card processing section 4, and the card processing section 4 receives the cards.
The card insertion / ejection port for returning the processed card to the customer is provided, and the receipt ejection port for issuing the receipt processed by the receipt processing unit 5 to the customer is provided below the card insertion / ejection port. 14
Is a coin insertion slot for receiving coins inserted by the customer and transporting them to the coin processing unit 6. Instead of inserting coins one by one as in a normal vending machine, it is easier to use if, for example, up to six coins can be inserted in a bundle.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a coin discharge port, which returns the coin to the customer by discharging the coin here. Reference numeral 16 denotes a bill input / discharge port, which receives a customer's bill, conveys it to the bill processing unit 7, and returns the bill to the customer by discharging the bill there.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an operation guide lamp, for example, a card insertion / discharge port and a receipt discharge port 13, a coin insertion port 14, a coin discharge port 15, and a bill input / discharge port 16.
Are provided in the vicinity of each of them, and blink at the time of the customer operation to guide the operation to the customer. For example, it guides card insertion, bill insertion, coin insertion, and the like. Also, when returning a card, discharging a receipt, discharging a bill, discharging a coin, or the like, the corresponding part is blinked to perform guidance, thereby preventing forgetting to remove various media.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a keyhole, which is used for opening and closing the front door. By inserting a key into this keyhole 18 and turning it, the front door is unlocked and the door can be opened. When the door is turned in the opposite direction to the case where the door is opened, the main control unit 1 can detect this. By turning the key in the opposite direction, the device is switched to the staff operation mode. That is, by using the dedicated key, it is possible to shift to the attendant operation mode only by operating the key without opening the front door.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the embodiment, and the operation of the embodiment will be described for each step in the figure. Here, as an example, a case where the article purchase settlement processing is performed will be described. S1: <Product Selection> The customer operates according to the screen display of the display / operation unit 3. That is, by touching the touch panel on the screen, the user selects a product to be purchased. (Multiple selections are possible).

The merchandise data may be stored in the main control unit 1, or may be stored in another device so that the device and the present device are connected online. S2: <Amount presentation> The main control unit 1 calculates the total purchase price of the customer, displays the total price on the display / operation unit 3, and finally confirms the purchase intention to the customer. The customer makes a final confirmation by touching the confirmation button displayed on the display / operation unit 3.

S3: <Selection of settlement method> Whether to pay by cash or by credit card is selected for the amount of money for purchasing the product. The customer selects a desired one from the settlement method buttons displayed on the display / operation unit 3,
The payment method is selected by touching the button. If cash payment is selected, the process proceeds to S4, and if credit card payment is selected, the process proceeds to S6.

S4: <Insert Cash> By customer operation, the main controller 1 instructs the IO controller 2 to accept a deposit, and causes the operation guide lamp 17 of each slot to blink. The coin processing unit 6 receives an instruction from the IO control unit 2
The shutter of the coin slot 14 is opened, and the bill processing unit 7
In response to an instruction from the O control unit 2, the shutter of the bill insertion / discharge port 16 is opened, and coins and bills can be inserted.

The customer inserts coins and bills of a required amount into each slot. The coin processing unit 6 detects that a coin has been inserted, and starts counting coins. At this time, the normally identified coins are transported to the primary holding unit, and the unidentified coins are treated as rejected coins and transported to the coin outlet 15. Thereafter, the coin processing unit notifies the IO control unit 2 of the number of coin types that have been normally identified.

The bill processor 7 detects that a bill has been inserted, closes the shutter, and starts counting bills. At this time, the banknotes normally identified are transported to the primary holding unit, and the banknotes that cannot be identified are treated as rejected banknotes, returned to the banknote insertion / ejection port 16, and the shutter is opened. Further, a screen is displayed on the display / operation unit 3 to urge the customer to re-enter. Thereafter, the bill processing unit 7 notifies the IO control unit 2 of the number of denominations of the bills that have been normally identified.

The IO control unit 2 controls the main control unit 1 to enter the number of coins of each denomination notified by the coin processing unit 6 and the bill processing unit 7.
Notify to The main control unit 1 calculates the inserted amount based on the input amount data of the denomination notified from the IO control unit 2 and displays the charged amount, the inserted amount, and the change amount on the screen of the display / operation unit 3. Further, a confirmation button is displayed on the screen, and after the customer recognizes that there is no error in the amount of money to be inserted, the customer touches the portion of the confirmation button to complete the insertion. At this time, it is also possible to select the cancellation processing by touching the cancellation button.

When detecting that the customer touches the confirmation button, the main control unit 1 instructs the IO control unit 2 to store coins and bills. The IO control unit 2 issues a storage instruction to the coin processing unit 6 and the bill processing unit 7. Coin processing unit 6
The banknote processing unit 7 stores coins and banknotes from the primary holding unit into cassettes of denominations according to the storage instruction.

S5: <Change / Return of Receipt> When the operation up to S4 is completed, the main control unit 1 instructs the IO control unit 2 to prepare a change calculated from the charged amount and the inserted amount. The IO control unit 2 receives an instruction from the main control unit 1
It instructs the coin processing unit 6 and the bill processing unit 7 to withdraw money. The coin processing unit 6 and the bill processing unit 7 feed coins and bills by a required number from each denomination cassette in accordance with an instruction from the IO control unit 2, and the coin processing unit 6 places the bill processing unit on a delivery belt. 7 conveys to the bill / input / discharge port 16 respectively. After the transfer is completed, the I / O controller 2 is notified that the preparation is completed.

The main control unit 1 notifies the IO control unit 2 of the receipt print data at the same time as the dispensing instruction, and issues a receipt print discharge preparation instruction. In response to the instruction, the IO control section 2 expands the receipt print data in the memory, transfers the print data to the thermal head printing section of the receipt processing section 5 after the expansion, and performs a printing operation. When the receipt of the specified length has been printed, the receipt is cut by the receipt cutting cutter unit, and the receipt is conveyed to a position just before the card insertion / discharge port and the receipt discharge port 13 to complete the preparation.

There is a difference in the time to be conveyed to each unit depending on the number of coins dispensed by the coin processing unit 6 and the bill processing unit 7, so that the preparation of the coin processing unit 6 and the bill processing unit 7 and the receipt printing preparation processing are all performed. The IO control unit 2 confirms completion,
Thereafter, the IO control unit 2 issues a discharge instruction to each processing unit. In accordance with the instruction from the IO control unit 2, the coin processing unit 6 discharges the coins on the dispensing / transporting belt to the coin outlet 15. The bill processing unit 7 opens the shutter of the bill insertion / ejection port 16. The IO control unit 2 blinks the operation guide lamp 17 corresponding to each discharge port for discharging a receipt or the like, and guides the customer to take a coin, a bill, and a receipt. It detects that the bill in the bill insertion / discharge port 16 has been taken by the customer, closes the shutter of the bill insertion / discharge port 16, and notifies the IO control unit 2 after completion. Further, the IO control unit 2 detects that the receipt of the receipt processing unit has been taken by the customer. When this operation is completed, the IO control unit 2 notifies the main control unit 1 that the dispensing process is completed, and the main control unit 1 switches the screen of the display / operation unit 3 to the operation initial screen of the next customer. , Complete the cash settlement process.

S6: <Insert credit card> When the customer selects credit card settlement processing,
The main control unit 1 issues a card read preparation instruction to the IO control unit 2. The IO control unit 2 provides the card processing unit 4 with:
The card insertion preparation instruction is performed. Further, the IO control unit 2
The operation guide lamps 17 corresponding to the card insertion / ejection slot and the card insertion / ejection slot of the receipt ejection slot 13 are blinked.

The card processing unit 4 detects that the customer has inserted the card into the card processing unit slot, and conveys the card. While transporting, the magnetic data written on the credit card is read. The card processing unit 4 notifies the read magnetic data to the IO control unit 2 and notifies that the card has been read normally. The IO control unit 2 notifies the main control unit 1 of the magnetic data from the card processing unit 4. The software in the main control unit 1 checks the contents of the magnetic data, confirms that the card is a valid card,
To the credit company's host computer via the line,
Notify that the settlement processing of this transaction will be performed. When the processing on the host computer side is completed and notified to the main control unit 1, the credit card insertion processing is completed.

S7: <Return of Card / Receipt> The main controller 1 instructs the IO controller 2 to read the embossed image of the card. The IO control unit 2 issues a reading instruction to the embossed image reading unit according to this instruction. The embossed image reading unit causes the card to be conveyed to the reading sensor by this instruction, reads the embossed portion by the image sensor, and
Notify the control unit 2. The IO control unit 2 notifies the main control unit 1 of the emboss data notified from the emboss image reading unit.

The software in the main control unit 1 uses the emboss data from the IO control unit 2 to edit the print data of the receipt. Thereafter, it notifies the IO control unit 2 of the receipt print data, and issues a receipt print discharge preparation instruction. Subsequent receipt print preparation processing of the IO control unit 2 is the same as that at the time of settlement with cash. After the receipt printing preparation is completed, the IO control unit 2 issues a card ejection instruction to the card processing unit and a receipt ejection instruction to the receipt processing unit, and then guides the operation corresponding to the card insertion / ejection port and the receipt ejection port 13. The lamp 17 flashes, and the system enters a state of waiting for the receipt of the customer's credit card and receipt. Main control unit 1 is IO
It instructs the control unit 2 to print the receipt print data as it is on the journal. The IO control unit 2 transfers print data to the thermal head printing unit of the journal processing unit 8 according to the journal printing instruction, and performs journal printing.

When the card processing unit 4 and the receipt processing unit 5 detect that the customer has received the card and the receipt, the card processing unit 4 and the receipt processing unit 5 notify the IO control unit 2. The IO control unit 2 notifies the main control unit 1 that the receipt of the card and the receipt is completed. In response to this notification, the main control unit 1 switches the screen of the display / operation unit 3 to the next customer operation initial screen, thereby ending the transaction.

Although the above description has been directed to the article purchase and settlement processing as an example of the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this, and the software installed in the main control unit 1 is not limited to this. Accordingly, it is also possible to execute a settlement process at the time of check-out at a hotel or a golf course, a cashing process with a credit card, an information search process, or a process at a hospital such as settlement, reservation, reception, and the like.

According to the present embodiment described above: Since each process can be automatically performed by a customer operation, the number of staff (employees) can be reduced, and employment costs can be reduced.・ The use of a coin processing unit and a banknote processing unit that enable the management of cash is ensured, and cash management is assured, and there is no excess or shortage of cash due to erroneous operation of staff, such as when a staff is involved in settlement. Does not occur.

I for the credit card host communication processing
Since the SDN network is used, high-speed credit card payment processing can be performed.・ Because it can be provided with multiple functions, it is less expensive than purchasing each single function device, and it does not require installation space.

[0037]

As described in detail above, since the transaction can be automatically executed by the customer's operation, there is an effect that the labor cost and the like can be reduced and a reliable processing can be performed. Since a single device can execute various processes such as a payment process using cash, a payment process using a card, a cashing transaction, and information retrieval, there is an effect of realizing cost reduction and space saving.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view of an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main control part 3 Display / operation part 4 Card processing part 6 Coin processing part 7 Banknote processing part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A display / operation unit for displaying information to a customer and receiving an input operation of the customer, a card processing unit for receiving and processing a card, a cash processing unit for receiving and discharging cash, and a communication and information unit. And a main control unit for controlling the above-mentioned units. The main control unit executes a cash settlement process, a card settlement process, a cashing transaction, and an information search based on a customer operation. Characteristic customer operation type automatic payment terminal.