JPH11310300A - Metering machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To assure a safety in the case of performing a self-service type oil feeding operation for an occurrence of abnormal state in a communication system. SOLUTION: A control device for each of metering machines 171 to 17n can prohibit an oil feeding operation under a state in which a POS terminal machine 15 can not monitor an oil feeding state by setting an oil feeding pump at its stopped condition in the case tint a communication between it and an oil feeding station control device 13. In addition, in the case that a self-service oil feeding operation is carried out, there sometimes occurs that an operator not familiar with an oil feeding operation performs an erroneous operation, so that in the case that the state of each of the metering machines 171 to 17n can not be monitored at either the oil feeding location control device 13 or the POS terminal machine 15, the oil feeding pump is stopped to prohibit the oil feeding operation and then the safety characteristic of the metering machine 17 of which communication can not be carried out can be assured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a weighing machine configured to cope with self-service refueling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At a gas station, for example, when a customer's car arrives for refueling, the driver himself inserts a fueling nozzle of an oil type according to the engine specifications into a fueling port of a fuel tank, and places the fuel tank underground. It is possible to perform so-called self-service refueling in which the oil liquid stored in the tank is supplied to the fuel tank.

[0003] In a service station where self-service refueling is performed, a driver who enters the service station moves to a refueling area of the weighing machine without the guidance of an operator, stops the vehicle in front of the weighing machine, and makes the driver himself. Perform refueling work. Each weighing machine is managed by a POS system. When refueling data such as an oil type to be refueled, a refueling amount, and a payment method is input by a setting device, a refueling permission signal is output from the POS terminal and the refueling is performed. Refueling at points becomes possible. After this,
If you remove the refueling nozzle of the oil type to be refueled from the nozzle hook,
When the pump of the oil type is started and the refueling is completed and the refueling nozzle is returned to the nozzle hook, the pump stops.

In the POS system, when refueling data is transmitted from the weighing machine to the POS terminal after refueling is completed,
A slip containing refueling data such as refueling amount, refueling oil type, refueling fee, etc. is issued from a POS terminal installed at a refueling office or the like for refueling fee settlement. Then, the customer who has completed the self-service refueling pays the refueling fee described on the slip at the checkout office of the office and leaves the refueling station.

[0005]

As described above, in the refueling station management system, when refueling data is input by the setting device of each weighing machine, refueling permission data is transmitted from the POS terminal to the weighing machine, and refueling is performed. When a transmission request for refueling data is transmitted from the middle POS terminal, the metering machine returns the refueling data such as the refueling amount at that time.

However, if the cable connecting the POS terminal and each weighing machine breaks, or if the POS terminal or the communication device built in each weighing machine breaks down, the transmission from the POS terminal will be performed. Requests and refueling data from the weighing machine cannot be transmitted or received. In such a case, PO
On the S terminal side, there is a problem that communication with the weighing machine becomes impossible and a refueling permission signal to the weighing machine cannot be transmitted, and a slip cannot be issued to a customer who has finished refueling.

[0007] Therefore, in a refueling station where self-service refueling is not performed, if communication between the POS terminal and the weighing machine becomes unavailable, a worker at the refueling station manually issues a slip to refuel. Operation was possible. However, in a self-service refueling station, if a refueling operation is performed with a weighing machine that has lost communication, it is necessary to go to the weighing machine and check the refueling amount. However, there is a problem that it cannot be dealt with.

When self-service refueling is carried out, the refueling station control device may permit refueling of the measuring machine after refueling staff confirms safety and stop refueling of the measuring machine in response to dangerous acts by a customer during refueling. The cable is connected between the weighing machine and the gas station control device as in the POS terminal, and the command from the gas station control device to the gas meter is performed by communication. In the event of a communication failure, there is an inconvenience that the refueling station control device cannot stop refueling.

In a self-service refueling weighing machine, a driver who is not accustomed to refueling operation sometimes operates the weighing machine. If this operation is performed, even if there is any operation error on the weighing machine side, the situation cannot be confirmed on the POS terminal side, and it is not possible to suggest a countermeasure.

[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a weighing machine that enhances safety in a refueling station where self-service refueling is introduced.

[0011]

The present invention has the following features to solve the above-mentioned problems. The present invention is a refueling work start detecting means for detecting refueling work start based on the operation of the refueling nozzle, a communication means for communicating with external equipment,
A weighing machine having a refueling permission signal coming in through the communication means and a liquid supply means for starting liquid supply to the refueling nozzle when detecting a refueling work start by the refueling work start detecting means, A determination unit that determines whether communication with an external device by the communication unit has been disabled; and, after the refueling work start detection unit has detected refueling work start, when the determination unit determines that communication is disabled. And a liquid feed stopping means for stopping the liquid feeding means.

Therefore, according to the present invention, after the start of refueling work is detected by the refueling work start detecting means, the liquid feeding means is stopped when the determination means determines that communication is impossible, so that the communication system should be abnormal. Is generated and the refueling operation in a state where communication with a control device provided outside cannot be performed can be prohibited. Therefore, at a refueling station where a self-service refueling system is introduced, even if a driver unfamiliar with refueling operation has an abnormality in the communication system during refueling, refueling is prohibited and the safety of self-service refueling is ensured. be able to.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an entire configuration of a gas station management system to which an embodiment of a weighing machine according to the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the gas station management system generally includes an indoor device 11 installed indoors such as an office of a gas station, and an outdoor device 12 for refueling.
As the indoor equipment 11, a gas station control device 13, a monitoring monitor 14, a POS terminal 15, an interphone 16, and the like are provided.

Further, as the outdoor device 2, a plurality of weighing devices 17 ₁ to 17 _n for self-service refueling, each weighing machine 17
₁ Self-service unit for setting a refueling process to 17 _n (setter) 18 ₁ ~ 18 _n, each weighing machine 17 ₁ to 17 _n
It is provided with a surveillance camera 19 ₁ ~ 19 _n for monitoring. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a connection between the indoor equipment 11 and the outdoor equipment 12.

[0015] As shown in FIG.
3, POS terminals machine 15 and the weighing machine 17 ₁ to 17 _n, the self-service unit 18 ₁ ~ 18 _n and SS-LAN
(Local Area Network) 20 and 21 are connected. Therefore, the gas station control device 13
Weighing machines 17 _{1 to} 17 _n , self-service unit 18 ₁
１８18 _n are monitored, data is transmitted and received regarding refueling, and a settlement process is performed.

The gas station control unit 13 is provided with a monitoring monitor.
14 and serial communication via the RS232C interface.
The monitoring monitor 14 is divided by the communication line 22
And switching control of the display position. In addition, each weighing machine 17₁
~ 17_nSent to the gas station control device 13 from the
Data), for example, when the refueling nozzle is
The status, the refueling nozzle number, and the refueling amount during refueling are displayed.
You. Conversely, each weighing machine 17 ₁~ 1
7_nThe message (signal) sent to
and so on.

The self-service units 18 ₁ to 18 ₁
8 The telegram (transmission data) sent to the filling station control device 13 from _n, the type of oil and oil absorption customer set, there is information such as payment method. The telegram (transmission data) transmitted from the gas station control device 13 to the POS terminal 15 includes, for example, a signal indicating that fueling has been completed. POS terminal 1
5 receives the refueling end signal from the refueling station control device 13, the payment processing becomes possible.

The monitoring monitor 14 displays only four images of the refueling points of the weighing machines 17 _{1 to} 17 _n captured by the monitoring camera 19 installed outdoors. The surveillance cameras 19 _{1 to} 19 _n perform setting operations of the self-service units 18 ₁ to 18 _n and the weighing machines 17 ₁ to 17 _n.
A video camera for copy the customer how the refueling operation or the like of 17 _n. The gas station control device 13 includes a monitoring camera 19 ₁
The refueling point at which the refueling operation is being performed is selected from the images captured by 〜19 _{n, and} only the location where the refueling operation is being performed is displayed on the monitoring monitor 14.

The interphone 16 is provided by a customer who is performing a self-service refueling operation.
Setting method of ₁ to 18 _n or weighing machine 17 _{1 to} 17 _n
Used to communicate questions, answers, etc. regarding the operation method of the device. Each weighing machine 17 _1-17
n is a device that pumps up an oil liquid stored in an underground tank (not shown) with a built-in pump (not shown) to supply oil, and measures and outputs the amount of oil supply. In addition, each weighing machine 1
Refueling points are provided on both sides of 7 _{1 to} 17 _n , and four refueling nozzles 27 a to 27 d and refueling hoses 28 a to 28 d are provided for each oil type corresponding to each refueling point.

Each of the refueling nozzles 27a to 27d is
Nozzle hooks 29a to 2 provided on side surfaces of 7 _{1 to} 17 _n
9d, the nozzle hooks 29a-2
It is removed from 9d and inserted into the filler port of the vehicle. Each of the nozzle hooks 29a to 29d has a respective lubrication nozzle 27a.
Nozzle attachment / detachment detection switches (refueling work start detection means) 30a to 30d for detecting the detachment of the nozzles 27 to 27d are provided. The nozzle attachment / detachment detection switches 30a to 30
d is provided inside the nozzle hooks 29a to 29d so as to be pressed by the refueling nozzles 27a to 27d and turned on, and when the fueling nozzles 27a to 27d are hooked on the nozzle hooks 29a to 29d, Hidden and invisible.

The built-in pump of each of the weighing machines 17 _{1 to} 17 _n includes:
When a refueling permission signal transmitted from the gas station control device 13 is received, a built-in pump of the permitted oil type is operated to pump up the oil liquid in the underground tank, so that the vehicle can be refueled. Also, the self-service units 18 ₁ to 18 _n
An intercom slave unit 23, an audio output speaker 24, a setting unit 25, and a printer 26 are incorporated. The intercom slave unit 23 is mutually connected to the interphone 16 via a communication cable, and can exchange conversation with a staff member at a gas station located indoors.

Each of the self-service units 18 ₁ to 18 ₁
The 8 _n, intercom slave unit 23, an audio output speaker 24, setter 25, and the printer 26 is provided on each pair s husband, corresponding to the lubrication points provided on both sides of the weighing machine 17 ₁ to 17 _n The configuration is as follows. The audio output speaker 24 is provided with an oil supply nozzle 27 of an oil type different from the oil type set by the setting unit 25, for example.
If it is removed from the device, a voice saying "nozzle is wrong" is output to inform the customer that refueling is not possible.

The setter section 25 is a device for setting the refueling conditions including data such as the type of oil to be refueled and the amount of refueling by inputting the operation by the customer himself at each refueling point. Then, the refueling conditions set by the setting unit 25 are transmitted to the gas station control device 13. FIG. 3 shows a gas station control device 13.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, gas station control device 13 includes an arithmetic unit 35 for managing fueling data from the weighing machine 17 ₁ to 17 _n and self-service unit 18 ₁ ~ 18 _n, consisting of a CRT or LCD display A display device 36 and an input device 37 including a touch panel provided on a screen of the display device 36
, A storage device 38 such as a magnetic disk device, and a serial communication interface 39.
Further, the storage device 38 stores various control programs.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of an image displayed on the display device 36. As shown in FIG. 4, the image 45 displayed on the screen of the display device 36 has the configuration of the entire gas station, that is, the icon A1 resembling the shape of the weighing machine 17 viewed from above. This is a display example arranged according to the layout. In the image 45 is displayed on the display device 36, the actual weighing machines 17 ₁ to
It is displayed in a layout matching the arrangement pattern of 17 _n. In addition, each of the weighing machines 17 ₁ to 17 ₁ displayed on the display device 36 is displayed.
17 _n icon A1 is displayed in a shape as viewed from above the substantially actual weighing machine. Then, each of the weighing machines 17 _{1 to} 17
_On both sides of _n , two display areas A5 for refueling points at which the vehicle can stop and refuel are provided. Thus, on both sides of the weighing machine 17 ₁ to 17 _n of the icons A1, refueling point No.1~No.6 is set, even numbers 1-6 corresponding to the fueling point No.1~No.6 display Is done.

The display device 36 also displays each refueling point.
Status (refueling, waiting, stop secondary) of each weighing machine 17 ₁ to 17 _n each No.1~No.6 refueling inform and status display A2 informing, fueling oil species to the vehicle, the oil amount, etc.) The situation A3 is displayed. Thus, the state of each refueling point No. 1 to No. 6 can be grasped at a glance by the display on the display device 36.

In the display example of the display device 36, the refueling
Kerosene-specific measurement so that point No. 7 can be supplied with kerosene
The machine icon A4 is displayed. In addition, each weighing machine
17 ₁~ 17_nTo change the display color according to the state of
Display contents that are easier to understand and hard to make mistakes
can do. In the present embodiment, the gas station control device
13 for up to 3 data for the same refueling point
Is set so that it can be managed to be displayed
ing. For example, move to the touch-up area after refueling
If the payment is delayed due to any work
The next customer can refuel at the oil point. With this system
Is also able to refuel up to the next third person.

A menu button 4 is provided below the image 45.
6, icons of a camera button 47, a pump button 48, a permission button 49, and a settlement button 50 are displayed. The menu button 46 switches the function of a button described later. Display device 36
Is provided with a touch panel, so that once the menu button 46 is pressed once, a store closing button (not shown) is displayed at the right end of the screen. When the menu button 46 is pressed again, the image of FIG. 4 is displayed.

When the camera button 47 is pressed, the display on the monitoring monitor 14 is switched. For example, when the camera button 47 is pressed after touching any of the refueling points 1 to 7 to be monitored on the screen, an image of the refueling point to be monitored is displayed on the monitoring monitor 14. Also, the pump button 48
This is an operation button for stopping or restarting refueling at each refueling point. The function of the permission button 49 is an operation button for instructing refueling permission as described later.

The settlement button 50 is an operation button for transmitting refueling data to the POS terminal 15 after refueling is completed. Here, an operation procedure of self-service refueling in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a refueling procedure between the devices when performing self-service refueling.

As shown in FIG. 5, the customer arriving at the gas station moves to an empty fueling point among fueling points No. 1 to No. 6 in (operation 10). Then, the vehicle is stopped at an empty refueling point. Next (Action 1)
In 1), the refueling conditions such as the type of oil to be refueled, the amount of refueling, and the payment method are set using the setting unit 25 of the self-service unit 18 installed at the refueling point, and the refueling nozzle 27 is removed from the weighing machine 17.

In the next (operation 12), the customer himself / herself inserts the discharge pipe of the refueling nozzle 27 into the refueling port of the vehicle and operates the refueling nozzle 27 to start refueling. Then, in (operation 13), refueling is terminated, and the refueling nozzle 2 is
Return 7. Further, in (operation 14), the customer checks the printer 26
With the temporary slip issued by the company, go to the checkout station and settle the refueling fee. Then, in (operation 15), the customer leaves the gas station.

The self-service unit 18 executes the following processing in conjunction with the customer (operations 10 to 15). That is, when the customer enters the refueling point, the self-service unit 18 enters a standby mode of waiting for a setting start in step S11 (hereinafter, “step” is omitted). In this case, the weighing machine 17 may be provided with some vehicle detection device, and the signal may be received by the self-service unit 18. However, the setting may be awaited when the previously refueled vehicle leaves the refueling point.

When the customer finishes the setting and the operation of removing the refueling nozzle 27, the set value is transmitted to the control device in S12. The printer 26 receives the print command of the control device in S13, and issues a temporary slip on which the slip number and the like are printed in accordance with the set format. In addition, the gas station control device 13 executes the following processing in conjunction with the customer (operations 10 to 15). That is, the gas station control device 13
Is the setting unit 2 of the self-service unit 18 in S14.
When the various settings are transmitted from 5, the display of waiting for refueling permission for the weighing machine for which the settings have been made is performed and the monitor is notified. When the permission button 49 is operated by the observer, the fueling permission is given to the weighing machine 17.

In the next step S15, when the refueling end and the refueling amount are transmitted from the weighing machine 17, the total amount is calculated. Then, in S16, the amount, the slip number, and the like are transmitted to the printer, and printing is instructed. On the other hand, in the weighing machine, when the refueling permission is obtained from the refueling station control device 13 in S17, the waiting time starts from the refueling start. In S18, when the customer starts refueling, the pump is operated, and fuel is supplied from the refueling nozzle 27 to the fuel tank of the vehicle. In the next S19, when the customer finishes refueling, the pump is stopped, and the refueling end and the refueling amount are transmitted to the gas station control device 13.

When refueling is completed, the customer sends refueling data such as a refueling point number or a weighing machine number, an additional number (a slip number), a date and time, an oil type, a refueling amount, and a refueling amount from the printer 26 of the self-service unit 18. Take the temporary slip with displayed and move to the checkout office in the office. The operation procedure for performing self-service refueling is now completed. The setting contents input by the setting unit 26 of the self-service unit 18 are simultaneously displayed on the display device 3 of the gas station control device 13.
6 is displayed. For this reason, the staff of the gas station reads the display device 36 of the gas station control device 13 installed in the office of the gas station.
Thereby, the presence or absence of the setting of each of the weighing machines 17 _{1 to} 17 _n and the setting contents can be confirmed.

Further, the staff of the gas station receives the temporary slip from the fueling customer, selects data corresponding to the contents from the screen displayed on the display device 36 of the gas station control device 13,
The payment operation is performed by the input device 37. Thus, the refueling data is transmitted from the gas station control device 13 to the POS terminal 15. As a result, a slip is issued from the printer (not shown) of the POS terminal 15, and the slip is handed to the customer in exchange for the refueling fee.

When the refueling operation and the payment of the refueling fee are performed in this manner, the display device 36 of the refueling station control device 13 includes:
4 as shown in a practically each weighing machine 17 _{1-17 4} arrangement pattern and each weighing device 17 ₁ to 17 in substantially the same layout
The icon A1 of ₄ is displayed, and the status display A2 and the refueling status A3 of the vehicle are displayed for each refueling point, so that the refueling data (oil type, refueling amount, etc.) of the refueling point described in the simple slip is displayed. ) Can be easily checked.
Further, the state of each weighing machine 17 at the gas station is determined by the gas station control device 1.
The status of each refueling point can be monitored by the layout image 25 displayed on the third display device 36.

Here, control processing executed by the gas station control device 13 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process of controlling the display of the screen of the display device 36 executed by the gas station control device 13. As shown in FIG. 6, in S21, the image of the refueling point (display area A5) displayed on the screen of the display device 36 is set to “standby display”.

In the next S22, the process waits until a message is sent from the self-service unit 18. When a message is transmitted from the self-service unit 18 in S22, S
Then, the process proceeds to step S23, at which a message regarding the setting content sent from the self-service unit 18 is read, and the image of the refueling point (display area A5) displayed on the screen of the display device 36 based on the information is set as “setting display”. Express.

In the next S24, the process waits until a message is sent from the weighing machine 17. When the electronic message is transmitted from the weighing machine 17 in S24, the process proceeds to S25, and the “nozzle number information” transmitted from the weighing machine 17 is read. And S2
In 6, the “set oil type information” transmitted from the self-service unit 18 is compared with the “nozzle number information” transmitted from the weighing machine 17. According to the comparison result in S26, if the refueling nozzle 27 picked up by the customer is the refueling nozzle 27 of the same oil type as the oil type set by the setting unit 26 of the self-service unit 18, the process proceeds to S27, and the display device 36 The image of the refueling point (display area A5) displayed on the screen is set to the “refueling permission waiting display”, and the buzzer sounds shortly. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S29.

However, if the result of the comparison in S26 is that the refueling nozzle 27 picked up by the customer is a refueling nozzle 27 of an oil type different from the oil type set by the setting unit 26 of the self-service unit 18, the flow proceeds to S28. Then, the image of the refueling point (display area A5) displayed on the screen of the display device 36 is set to “nozzle error display”, and the buzzer sounds intermittently. Then, the process returns to S24, and S2
4 and subsequent processes are executed.

In S29, the process waits until the permission button 46 displayed on the screen of the display device 36 is pressed. In the next S30, the refueling permission message is output to the weighing machine 17, and the image of the refueling point (display area A5) displayed on the screen of the display device 36 is set to “refueling start display”. In S31, the process waits until a message is sent from the weighing machine 17.
Then, in S31, when the message of the refueling data transmitted from the weighing machine 17 is received, the process proceeds to S32, and the weighing machine 1
7 is read, and a message related to the amount of refueling or nozzle return is read. Then, the image of the refueling point (display area A5) displayed on the screen of the display device 36 based on the refueling amount transmitted from the weighing machine 17 is represented as a “refueling display screen”.

In the next S33, it is determined whether or not the message transmitted from the weighing machine 17 is "nozzle return". This S
In 33, if the message transmitted from the weighing machine 17 is “nozzle return”, the process proceeds to S34, and the image of the refueling point (display area A5) displayed on the screen of the display device 36 is displayed as “refueling end display”. To In addition, the weighing machine 1
If the message transmitted from No. 7 is not "nozzle return", the process returns to S31, and the processes after S31 are repeated.

Then, after S34, the gas station control device 13
Waits for the payment button 47 to be pressed, and
5 is sent a refueling end message. Then, the process returns to S21.
As described above, the gas station control device 13 manages the fueling process while communicating with each of the weighing machines 17. FIG. 7 shows a weighing machine 1
7 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the weighing machine 17 has an oil supply line 51 having one end inserted into an underground tank (not shown) and the other end extending into the apparatus. An oil supply pump 52 that pumps up the oil liquid stored in the underground tank and a pump motor 53 that drives the oil supply pump 52 are provided in the road 51.
And a refueling flow meter 54 for measuring the flow rate of the oil liquid fed by the refueling pump 52. The refueling flow meter 54 has a flow pulse oscillator 55 that outputs a flow pulse proportional to the flow rate of the oil liquid flowing through the refueling pipeline 51.

An oil supply hose 28 connected to the other end of the oil supply line 51 is drawn out from a side surface of the apparatus main body 56.
A refueling nozzle 27 is attached to a tip of the refueling hose 28. The refueling nozzle 27 is provided with a nozzle body 58a.
Has a built-in valve mechanism that is opened by the rotation operation of the nozzle lever 58b, and has a discharge pipe 59 that is inserted into a fuel supply port (both not shown) of the fuel tank at the tip end side.

When refueling the vehicle, the refueling nozzle 27
The oil type determination, which will be described later, is performed in a state where the discharge pipe 59 is inserted into an oil supply port (not shown) of the fuel tank, and when the oil type of the fuel tank matches the oil type of the underground tank, the oil supply pump 52 is turned on. When driven, refueling by the refueling nozzle 27 becomes possible. Further, on the side surface of the apparatus main body 56, there are provided a nozzle hook 29 for detachably supporting the oil supply nozzle 27, and a nozzle switch 30 for detecting whether or not the oil supply operation is being performed by attaching / detaching the oil supply nozzle 27 to / from the nozzle hook 29. Have been. In addition, a display 62 for displaying the amount of refueling or the like is provided on the front of the apparatus main body 56.

Reference numeral 70 denotes a control device which controls the driving of the fuel pump 52 and the display 62 based on various signals output from the fuel flow meter 54 and the nozzle switch 30. In addition, various control programs executed by the control device 70 are stored in the memory 71 of the control device 70. For example, it is determined whether communication with the gas station control device 13 or the POS terminal 15 is disabled. When it is determined that communication between the determination control program (determination means) and the gas station control device 13 or the POS terminal 15 is not possible, the refueling pump 52
A liquid feeding stop control program (liquid feeding stopping means) for stopping the liquid feeding means is stored.

The weighing machine 17 is provided with a communication control unit 72, which communicates with the gas station control device 13 and the POS terminal 15 via the SS-LAN 21. That is, when receiving the communication request from the gas station control device 13, the communication control unit 72 of each weighing machine 17 transmits a message such as fueling data at that time to the gas station control device 13.

FIG. 8 shows a gas station control device 13 and each weighing machine 17.
It is a diagram illustrating a method for communicating with a ₁ to 17 _n. As shown in FIG. 8, the gas station control device 13 controls each of the weighing machines 17 ₁ to 17 _1.
The communication requests are sequentially transmitted to the predetermined time intervals 7 _{n at} predetermined time intervals. That is, when a communication request is transmitted from the gas station control device 13 to the first weighing machine 17 ₁ , the weighing machine 17 ₁
The communication control section 72 transmits a refueling permission request or refueling data (current refueling amount or the like) to the gas station control device 13 as response data.

The gas station control device 13 is connected to the weighing machine 1
7 When the response data from ₁ is received, the second weighing machine 1
To 7 ₂ transmits a communication request. Weigher 17 ₂ receives the communication request from the service station control device 13, and transmits oil supply permission request or fueling data to service station control device 13 (such as current lubrication amount) as the response data. The filling station control device 13 receives the response data from the weighing machine 17 ₂ transmits a communication request to the third of the weighing machine 17 _3.
When receiving response data from the last weighing machine 17 _n , it transmits a communication request to the _first weighing machine 171.

[0052] Thus, gas stations controller 13 sequentially transmits a communication request to each of the weighing machine 17 ₁ to 17 _n, receives a response message from each of the weighing machine 17 ₁ to 17 _n. Therefore, between the gas station control device 13 and each of the weighing machines 17 _{1 to} 17 _n , it is determined that the communication system is in a normal state by repeating the above-described transmission and reception. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the processing executed by control device 70 of weighing machine 17.

When receiving various setting (oil type, refueling amount, etc.) data from the setting unit 25 of the self-service unit 18 as described above, the refueling station control device 13 will
7, a refueling permission signal is transmitted. In S41 shown in FIG. 9, the control device 70 of the weighing machine 17 checks whether the nozzle switch 30 has been turned off. That is, when the refueling nozzle 27 is removed from the nozzle hook 29,
The nozzle switch 30 switches off.

Therefore, when the nozzle switch 30 is turned off in S41, the process proceeds to S42 and the gas station control device 1
It is checked whether a refueling permission signal has been output from 3. Then, when receiving the refueling permission signal from the refueling station control device 13, the process proceeds to S43, where the pump motor 53 is driven to start the refueling pump 52. This makes it possible to refuel. Subsequently, in S44, the timer starts counting.

In the next step S45, it is checked whether there is a transmission request from the POS terminal 15 via the gas station control device 13. In S45, if there is a transmission request, the flow shifts to S46 to transmit response data to the POS terminal 15. Then, the timer is reset in S47.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to S49 described later. However, the above S45
, When there is no transmission request, the gas station control device 13
It is determined that communication is not possible due to some kind of failure (for example, a failure of a communication device or a disconnection of a communication cable). Then, the process proceeds to S48, and it is determined whether or not the timer count value is within a predetermined time.

Here, if the timer count value is within the predetermined time, the flow advances to S49 to check whether or not the nozzle switch 30 has been turned off. If the nozzle switch 30 remains off in S49, the refueling nozzle 27 has not been returned to the nozzle hook 29,
Returning to S45, the processing from S45 is repeated. However, when the nozzle switch 30 is on in S49, the refueling nozzle 27 has been returned to the nozzle hook 29, so the process proceeds to S50, where it is determined that refueling has been completed, and the refueling pump 5
2 is stopped, and the current process is terminated.

If it is determined in step S48 that the timer count value is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, the flow advances to step S51 to stop the refueling pump 52. As a result, the weighing machine 1
If for some reason an abnormality occurs in the communication system between the gas station 7 and the gas station control device 13 and communication becomes impossible, the oil supply pump 52 as a liquid feeding means is stopped and oil supply is prohibited.

Then, in the next step S52, a voice message, for example, "Now refueling is stopped. Wait for a while until a staff member arrives" is issued from the speaker 24 to inform the driver who is refueling. In S53,
It is checked whether communication with the gas station control device 13 has been restored. That is, in S53, when a transmission request from the gas station control device 13 is received, it is determined that communication has been restored, and the process returns to S43 to resume fueling.

However, if the transmission request from the gas station control device 13 is not received in S53, it is determined that the communication has not been restored, and the process proceeds to S54. This S5
At 4, it is checked whether the nozzle switch 30 has been turned off. If the nozzle switch 30 remains off in S54, the refueling nozzle 27 has not been returned to the nozzle hook 29, so the flow returns to S53 and returns to S53.
The subsequent processing is repeated.

However, if the nozzle switch 30 is ON in S54, the refueling nozzle 27 has been returned to the nozzle hook 29, so the routine proceeds to S55, in which the refueling prohibition mode is set and the current processing is terminated. . When the refueling prohibition mode is set, the gas station control device 13
Since the refueling permission is not obtained from the system, the refueling impossible state is continued until the refueling prohibition mode is released.

As described above, in the unlikely event that an abnormality occurs in the communication system between the weighing machine 17 and the refueling station control device 13 for some reason and communication becomes impossible, the refueling pump 52 is stopped. In addition, the refueling operation in a state where the POS terminal 15 cannot manage the refueling state can be prohibited. In addition, when performing self-service refueling, a driver who is not used to refueling operation may make an operation error. Therefore, when the state of the weighing machine 17 cannot be monitored by the gas station control device 13 or the POS terminal 15, the above-described operation is performed. Refueling pump 5
2, the refueling is prohibited and the safety of the weighing machine 17 that cannot communicate can be secured.

In the above embodiment, one weighing machine 1
7 is provided with a plurality of refueling nozzles 27, when communication becomes impossible with the weighing machine 17,
It is also possible to stop all refueling pumps 52 corresponding to 7. Further, in the above embodiment, when communication between the weighing machine 17 and the gas station control device 13 becomes impossible,
The configuration in which the liquid supply is stopped by stopping the refueling pump 52 has been described as an example. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, when an electromagnetic valve is provided in a refueling pipeline, the electromagnetic valve is closed. Of course, it is good.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the above-described oil supply device of the ground installation type has been described as an example.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, after the start of refueling work is detected by the refueling work start detecting means, the liquid feeding means is stopped when the judging means judges that communication is impossible. It is possible to prohibit a refueling operation in a state where an abnormality occurs in the communication system for some reason and communication with a control device provided outside cannot be performed. for that reason,
At a service station where a self-service refueling system is introduced,
Even if a driver unfamiliar with refueling operation has an abnormality in the communication system during refueling, refueling is prohibited, and safety of self-service refueling can be ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of a gas station management system to which an embodiment of a weighing machine according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a connection between an indoor device 11 and an outdoor device 12.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a gas station control device 13.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of an image displayed on the display device 36.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a refueling procedure between devices when performing self-service refueling.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process executed by the gas station control device 13 for controlling display on a screen of the display device 36;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a weighing machine 17;

[8] the filling station control device 13 and each weighing device 17 ₁ to 17 _n
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a communication method with the server.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a process executed by the control device 70 of the weighing machine 17;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 11 indoor equipment 12 outdoor equipment 13 gas station control device 14 monitoring monitor 15 POS terminal 17 _{1 to} 17 _n weighing machine 18 ₁ to 18 _n self-service unit 19 _{1 to} 19 _n monitoring camera 23 interphone handset 24 audio output speaker 25 setting unit 26 printer 27a to 27d refueling nozzle 28a to 28d refueling hose 29a to 29d nozzle hook 30a to 30d nozzle detachment detection switch 36 display device 37 input device 38 storage device 39 serial communication interface 52 refueling pump 53 pump motor 54 refueling Flow meter 56 Main unit 70 Control unit 72 Communication control unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A refueling work start detecting means for detecting a refueling work start based on an operation of a refueling nozzle, a communication means for communicating with an external device, a refueling permission signal coming through the communication means, and the refueling A liquid supply means for starting liquid supply to the refueling nozzle when the start of refueling work is detected by the work start detection means.In the weighing machine, whether communication with an external device by the communication means is disabled or not. Determination means for determining whether or not, after the refueling work start detection means detects the refueling work start means, and when the determination means determines that communication is impossible, the liquid supply stopping means for stopping the liquid supply means. A weighing machine characterized by comprising: