JPS5812617B2 - Toll road ticket confirmation machine - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a toll road ticket verification machine.

On toll expressways, at the entrance gate of each interchange, a toll ticket with the interchange number and other information recorded is given to the incoming vehicle, and at the exit gate, the toll ticket is received from the vehicle and the traffic section from the interchange recorded on the toll ticket is passed. Calculate the toll amount for each vehicle type corresponding to
The fee for that amount is collected.

Conventionally, the method of collecting tolls on such toll roads is to use punch card type tickets, and toll ticket issuing machines are installed at entrance gate booths (toll ticket issuing offices located in each lane). At the same time, we have installed ticket validation machines at exit gate booths (toll collection locations) to collect the following tolls.

That is, at the entrance gate, an attendant in the booth visually confirms the incoming vehicle, operates the keyboard of the ticket issuing machine, and inputs the vehicle type and the number of extra axles of the vehicle into the ticket issuing machine.

This ticket issuing machine uses the interchange number (hereinafter referred to as entrance interchange number) and lane number (booth number, staff number, etc.) that have been input in advance.
The vehicle model number entered at that time, the date and time, and the serial number in the order of issue are printed and recorded on the pass ticket, and the pass ticket also contains data such as the entrance interchange number, the entered vehicle model number, and the number of extra axles. The issued ticket is then handed to the driver of the vehicle entering the vehicle by a staff member.

Note that the staff number is re-entered each time the staff is replaced.

In addition, a treadle is installed at the input gate for each lane to detect the axle by being stepped on by the wheel, and the number of axles detected by this treadle and the data recorded on the ticket by the ticket issuing machine are data. The ticket is sent to a processing device and recorded on a recording paper, and the total number of passes issued, number of reissues, etc. of the processing slip created by the staff at the time of staff change are checked.

On the other hand, at the exit gate, the staff member in the booth receives the ticket from the driver of the incoming vehicle and inserts the ticket into the ticket slot of the ticket verification machine.

This ticket verification machine reads data such as the entrance interchange number, vehicle type number, and number of extra axles that are punched and recorded on the ticket and sends the data to the fare calculator.
The toll amount calculated by this toll calculator is displayed on the display device, and the attendant collects this amount of toll from the driver of the vehicle.

In addition, the above-mentioned ticket verification machine prints and records data such as the interchange number (hereinafter referred to as exit interchange number), lane number, staff number, date and time on the inserted ticket, and also pierces the used code. Record and store this ticket.

In addition, a treadle board for axle detection is installed at each lane at the exit gate, and the number of extra axles read from the ticket, the number of axles detected by the treadle board, and the calculated toll amount are checked every time the ticket is confirmed. The information is then aggregated and recorded on recording paper in a data processing device.

In addition, at the exit gate, if the above normal processing cannot be carried out, if the ticket cannot be confirmed because it is lost or damaged, or if the toll cannot be collected because you do not bring cash, the vehicle will be delivered without charge. In some cases, the vehicle may be a free-passing vehicle such as a patrol car or military vehicle.
The staff member creates these processing slips after being replaced by another staff member.

After each data is recorded in the processing ticket and ticket confirmation machine, the collected ticket and the recording paper recorded in the data processing device are subjected to a primary audit at each interchange at regular intervals, and then electronically sent to the collection vehicle. The tickets are transported to a computer center, where audit data is created by reading the perforation record data of each ticket, and a final audit is performed to check this and the recorded contents of each tally record sheet.

However, conventional toll ticket verification machines used in such toll collection systems read and confirm only toll tickets for general vehicles, so if there is a toll-paid vehicle or a free toll vehicle, , the record information of the badge plate for free toll vehicles, which is separate from the pass ticket for general vehicles, must be entered into the confirmation machine by operating the buttons on the operation panel, so incorrect information may be entered due to incorrect operation of the operation buttons. There is a problem in that the toll amount must be entered into the confirmation machine, which can cause trouble, and when issuing a receipt for toll collection, the toll collection staff must operate the operation panel of the receipt issuing machine to check the toll amount. This placed a heavy burden on toll collectors because they had to enter the information.

The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is not only to read pass tickets for general vehicles, but also to provide a function to read and distinguish special pass badge plates for free-pass vehicles, etc. A toll road pass that also has a receipt issuing function, eliminates troubles caused by incorrect operation of the control panel, and reduces the burden on toll collection staff, allowing them to perform labor-saving and efficient toll collection operations. The purpose is to provide a confirmation machine.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows the equipment used for toll collection, in which 1 is a ticket issuing machine installed at each booth at the entrance gate, 2 is a vehicle identification device using a treadle or photoelectric detector, etc. Reference numeral 3 denotes a signal device, and these facilities provided for each lane of the entrance gate are connected to an entrance gate control mechanism 4.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a pass ticket confirmation machine according to the present invention installed at each exit gate, 6 a vehicle discrimination device, 7 a traffic light, 8 a fare display, and 9 a receipt issuing unit of the pass ticket confirmation machine 5. These facilities provided for each lane of the exit gate are connected to the exit gate control mechanism 10.

(It should be noted that among the above-mentioned equipment, the detailed explanation of the equipment other than the pass ticket verification machine will be omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.

) These entrance gate control mechanism 4 and exit gate control mechanism 10 are connected to a data processing device 11 connected to a data input machine 11a installed at the tollgate office, and the ticket issuing machine 1 issues tickets. Entrance information recorded on the pass (entrance interchange number, vehicle model number, etc.)
The exit information recorded on the ticket by the ticket verification machine 5 and the entrance information read from the ticket are input to the data processing device 11, where they are aggregated and recorded each time the ticket is issued and collected. The information is recorded on recording paper by the machine 12.

The data compiled by the data processing device 11 is also transmitted to a data recording device 13 of a management office that manages several tollgates and is recorded on recording paper.

Further, the data compiled and recorded by the data processing device 11 at the tollgate office is transmitted online from the data processing device 11 of each tollgate office to the electronic computer 14 of the management station, where it is processed.

The entrance gate control mechanism 4 and the exit gate control mechanism 10 are equipped with a power source, an operation control device, an information transmission device, etc. for the ticket issuing machine 1, the ticket validating machine 5, and other equipment, and are also equipped with a power supply, an operation control device, an information transmission device, etc. It is equipped with a lane control device that is manually operated to change the display of the traffic lights 3 and 7 when increasing or decreasing the number of lanes in use, and these gate control mechanisms 4 and 10 may be installed inside the booth. It may be installed at the tollgate office.

In addition, in the above example of arrangement of each device, the tally recording device 11 is installed at the toll plaza office, but if there is no toll plaza office at the toll plaza, the tally recording device 11 is installed at the management office,
The game control mechanisms 4 and 10 may be connected to this total recording device 11 to collectively process data generated at several tollgates.

Figure 2 shows a general vehicle pass used as a medium for toll collection.This pass A consists of a rectangular card 15 made of high-quality paper with information printed along the longitudinal direction of the card. Recording magnetic section 16, staff number, serial number,
A margin section 17a for printing entrance information and a margin section 17b for printing exit information are provided, which have printing columns for date, time, vehicle model number, interchange number, etc., and furthermore, other parts of the surface of this card are provided with a blank section 17a for printing entrance information, and a margin section 17b for printing exit information. Necessary information such as direction arrows and entrance interchange names are pre-printed, and precautions, toll fees, etc. are also printed on the back of the card 15.

The special pass badge plate for toll-delivered vehicles and free-to-pass vehicles is a magnetic card type similar to the above-mentioned pass A, and information such as the vehicle model number and free pass zone is magnetically recorded in the magnetic recording section. The above information is printed in other blank areas (not shown).Next, the configuration of the pass ticket verification machine 5 of the present invention will be explained in detail.

Figure 3 shows the external appearance, and 18 in the figure is the pass ticket confirmation machine 5.
This housing 18 is provided with an operation panel 19 and a display panel 20 having a charge display section 21 on the front surface thereof.

23 is a pass ticket slot provided at the top of the housing 18;
Reference numeral 24 denotes a special pass badge plate slot provided adjacent to this pass ticket slot 23;
, 24 is provided with a return port 25 that opens at the lower front of the casing 18.

Further, 26 is a receipt issuing port opened on the front surface, that is, the operation surface side of the housing 18, and this receipt issuing port 26 is provided in the front of the receipt issuing section 9 and adjacent to the return port 25. It is being

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a mechanism for reading the information recorded in the magnetic recording section 16 while transporting the ticket A inserted into the ticket slot 23 will be explained.

That is, inside the housing 18, the ticket A inserted through the ticket slot 23 formed from the front surface (operation surface) to the top of the housing 18 is inserted into the return slot 25 formed at the lower front of the housing 18. A conveyance path 45 is formed for conveying toward.

This conveyance path 45 is connected to an inner endless belt 30 that is wrapped around a drum 29 disposed at the center of the housing 118 and a drive pulley 28 connected to a motor 27,
It is formed by a mutually opposing surface portion with the outer endless belt 31 stretched across a plurality of rollers 46 so as to be in contact with each other over the entire area of the drum hanging portion of the drum.

Further, in the middle part of the transport path 45 formed in this way, a reading head 32 and a recording head 33 are sequentially installed in the pass ticket transport direction.
, and a print head 34 are provided.

On the other hand, a pass ticket storage section 35 is formed at the bottom of the housing 18 and near the return port 25, and a sorting gate 36 is provided near the end of the transport path 45.
The ticket A is selectively sorted into the return slot 25 or the ticket storage section 35.

In addition, 37... is a ticket detector that detects the tip of the pass ticket A that is input from the input port 23 or conveyed through the conveyance path 45, and the detection signal is used to detect each head 32, 33, 34 and the sorting device described later. It controls the start of the operation of the gate 36 and the like.

These ticket detectors 37 use known photoelectric detectors that combine an issuing element and a light receiving element.

Thus, the pass ticket A inserted from the input port 23 comes into contact with the inner endless belt 30, which is hung around the drive pulley 28 connected to the motor 27 and the drum 29, over the entire region of the drum hanging part. It is conveyed while being held between the outer endless belt 31 and the recorded information in the magnetic recording section 16 is read by a reading head 32 provided along this conveyance path 45.

The pass ticket A from which the recorded information has been read is then magnetically recorded with a used code in the magnetic recording section 16 by the recording head 33 located behind the reading head 32, and then the used code is magnetically recorded in the print head 34 located behind the recording head 33. The exit information is printed in the exit information printing margin section 17b by a wire dot print head with a ribbon (for example).

On the other hand, a distribution gate 36 provided at the end of the conveyance path 45
is controlled by a control circuit (not shown) that controls each device mechanism of the pass ticket issuing machine, and if the magnetic record read by the reading head 32 is the proper entrance information, it stands up to accommodate the pass ticket A. 35, and if the magnetic recording is found to be unsuitable, the pass ticket A is turned over and sent out to the return slot 25, and the separation claw 36 operates to mark off the ticket as invalid or invalid. The pass ticket is returned from the return gate 25.

Further, in this case, information indicating a defective ticket or an invalid ticket is printed by the print head 34 on the exit information printing margin section 17b of the returned ticket A.

On the other hand, the badge plate inserted through the special pass badge plate input port 24 shown in FIG. sent to.

The conveyance means and reading means for this special pass badge plate have almost the same configuration as shown in FIG. 4 (however, the recording head 33, print head 34, pass ticket storage section 35, and separation claw 36 are not required). Therefore, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

Next, the receipt issuing device 47 built in the receipt issuing section 9 will be explained with reference to FIG.

This receipt issuing device 47 is operated by a known technical means, that is, a receipt paper 38 wound around is fed out and moved by a pinch roll 39, and a first printing section 40 is printed on the surface of the paper in the width direction of the receipt paper. Two sets of second printing units 41 are arranged to print the necessary information and send it out on the receipt issue date 26 shown in FIG.

That is, the first printing section 40 and the second printing section 41 are as follows:
It prints on paper via an ink ribbon 42,
On the paper 38, first, a print column for the toll road name and receipt entry items is printed in the first printing section 40, and then the first printing section of the print column is printed on the paper 38 in the second printing section 40.
It is fed and moved until it reaches position 1.

When toll collection is performed and the toll collection button on the operation panel of the ticket verification machine is operated by the collector, the pinch roll 39 is driven and the paper 38 is fed and moved to the second printing section. 41, the date, fee,
As the paper 38 moves, numbers indicating the vehicle type and letters (katakana) indicating the required article are sequentially printed.

The paper 38 on which the receipt information has been printed is then fed to a predetermined position and once stopped, and in this state, the first printing unit 40 prints the toll road on the paper that follows the portion where printing has been completed. Name and print field are printed.

FIG. 6 shows the printing surface of the paper 38 in this state. After this, the paper 3B is fed again, and the portion a, which has been completely printed, is sent to the receipt issuing port 26 and handed to the clerk. (This cut piece of paper is handed to passing vehicles as a receipt), and the part b that has been printed the first time is placed in the second printing section 41 and used for issuing the next receipt. Be prepared and stand by.

In the above embodiment, an ink ribbon is used as the means for printing on the pass A and the means for printing on the receipt paper 38, or any method such as a thermal printing method may be used. It's okay.

As described above, according to the pass ticket verification machine of the present invention, it is possible not only to read and confirm the pass ticket for general vehicles, but also to read and discriminate the special pass badge plates for free toll vehicles, etc., and also to issue receipts. Therefore, there is no problem caused by erroneous operation of the operation panel, unlike when a special pass badge plate recognition machine and a receipt issuing machine are separately provided and operated individually. It houses the pass ticket reader, special badge plate reading/discriminating device, and receipt issuing slot, and the input slot, return slot, and receipt issuing slot are placed on the operation surface side of the housing, making it easy to operate. It is possible to reduce the burden on toll collection staff and perform toll collection work in a labor-saving and efficient manner.

Furthermore, a conveyance path for conveying passes, cards, etc. is formed by mutually opposing surfaces of the inner endless belt that is stretched around the drum and the outer endless belt that is in contact with the inner endless belt over almost the entire area of the drum hanging part. Because of this, the configuration of the conveyance system is extremely simple, and processing devices such as magnetic heads and print heads can be stably arranged along the drum, making it possible to convey and convey information such as pass tickets and power cards. This has the effect that the processing can be performed at high speed and in a stable state.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a toll road toll collection system equipped with a toll ticket verification machine of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a toll road toll ticket, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are An external view showing an embodiment of the ticket verification machine and a diagram of the principle configuration of the ticket reading device section, FIG. 5 is a diagram of the principle configuration of the receipt issuing device, and FIG. 6 shows the form of printing on receipt paper. FIG. 5...Pass ticket confirmation machine, 23...Pass ticket slot, 24...Badge plate slot, 25
...Return port, 26...Receipt issue port,
32...reading head, 35...passport storage section, 38...receipt paper, 40,41...
...Printing Department.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A casing, a slot for passing tickets for general vehicles provided facing the outside of the casing, and a slot for special badge plates for free-traffic vehicles, etc. provided adjacent to the slot. , a conveyance path formed by mutually opposing surfaces of an inner endless belt provided in the casing and stretched around the drum, and an outer endless belt that is in contact with the inner endless belt over almost the entire area of the drum hanging part; a reading device for reading the recorded information of the pass ticket inserted from the pass ticket slot provided in the middle of the pass; a reading/discriminating device for the special pass badge plate inserted into the badge plate slot; and a reading device for reading by the reading device. A toll ticket storage section for accommodating expired toll tickets, and a toll amount provided facing the outer surface of the casing, records the amount of toll collected as a toll corresponding to the reading result by the reading device on a receipt paper and returns the toll. and a receipt issuing device that sends the receipt to a receipt issuing port provided adjacent to the opening, and the input port, the return port, and the receipt issuing port are arranged on the operation surface side of the casing. Toll road ticket confirmation machine.