JPS58163091A - Change computation system for vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a change calculation method that can minimize the amount and time of change dispensed in a vending machine that can accept both coins and banknotes.

In the conventional change calculation method, change is calculated by comparing the total amount of coins and banknotes inserted and counted with the purchase price, and the number of coins is calculated from the change amount and the change is released.

However, in recent years, vending machines that can accept 1,000 yen bills have become popular as the prices of items sold by vending machines have increased or for the purpose of vending high-value items. Therefore, when a user purchases a high-value item, the user must insert banknotes and coins into the vending machine, and may accidentally or intentionally insert coins that are considerably higher than the purchase price.

Vending machines only dispense coins as change, so if there is a large difference between the amount inserted and the purchase amount, the purchase time will be longer due to the dispensing of many changes, which will reduce the operating rate of the vending machine. There was this inconvenience. In addition, due to the limited change storage capacity, conventional vending machines do not return all coins inserted for purchases of more than a certain amount of change, in order to prevent more change than necessary from being released. Since the system is controlled so that customers are required to insert smaller amounts of money, the operability for customers is poor.

In view of the problems in the conventional type described above, the purpose of the present invention is to
In the change calculation method of a vending machine that can use both coins and banknotes, the purchase amount of the specified purchased item is calculated by the amount of each denomination of the inserted money (banknotes and coins) (hereinafter referred to as the subtotal amount by denomination). Based on the concept of sequentially comparing the total amount of one or more denominations, even if a customer accidentally or intentionally inserts a large amount of money, the system automatically deposits more money than the inserted purchase amount. To reduce the number of change that can be returned and shorten change discharging time, thereby improving operating efficiency and operability of a vending machine.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention counts inserted coins by denomination and -H pools them, and calculates subtotals by denomination of one or more denominations counted and pooled by denomination. The total amount and the purchase amount are sequentially compared, and when the total amount exceeds the purchase amount, the pooled coins of denominations that are not included in the total amount are returned all at once, and change is calculated for the total amount. Discharging change is a hot feature.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of the automatic ticket vending machine (hereinafter referred to as the ticket vending machine) according to the present invention from the customer operation side, where 1 is the customer service operation section, 2 is the coin insertion slot, and 3 is the bill insertion slot. and a return slot; 4 is a receptacle for change, returnable coins, and banknotes; 5 is an illuminated purchase button for specifying the destination; 7 is a cancellation button for returning inserted coins; coins inserted by operating a heavy chain; are returned to the tray 4 all at once, and banknotes are returned to the insertion slot 3 all at once. Passengers insert fare coins and banknotes for a predetermined destination section into the ticket vending machine through the slot and insertion slot, respectively, and operate the purchase button for the predetermined section to receive the ticket and change for the destination. The purchase cycle ends. Conventionally, when the amount of change exceeds a predetermined amount, the inserted coins and banknotes can be returned by operating the purchase button.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the ticket vending machine shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the operator's side, and 8 is used to determine the authenticity of inserted coins, count them, and dispense change in predetermined coins according to the type of change. 9 is a banknote processing device that determines the authenticity of inserted banknotes and performs counting; 10 is an operation unit for an operator who operates the ticket vending machine; and 11 is a control unit for controlling each device of the ticket vending machine. The control unit 12 is a printing and issuing device that prints a ticket for a designated destination section.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block circuit diagram showing the control function of the ticket vending machine shown in FIG.
2'& microprocessor (on MPU) for control
4 is a memory for storing program codes for the control software of the ticket vending machine; 15 is a temporary calculation memory used by the program; 16 is a price setting memory for storing fares for destination sections of the ticket vending machine; 17 to 21; 1.8゜9.10.12 Each device is microprocessor 1
This is an ink face circuit for controlling with 3.

FIG. 4 shows the information arrangement in the price setting memory 16 and the information arrangement in the calculation memory 15 of FIG.

1 is stored in the price setting memory 16 for the price corresponding to the purchase button 5.
. . . Kn are arranged sequentially. 24 in the calculation memory 15 is a storage area for the subtotal amount by denomination that is counted and pooled in the coin processing device 8 according to the present invention, 241 is the subtotal amount C1 of 10 yen coins, and 242 is the subtotal amount C of 50 yen coins.
5 and 243 are storage areas for the subtotal amount CIO of 100 yen coins. 25 is also the banknote processing device 9
26 is a storage area for the subtotal amount of banknotes (1,000 yen bills) B, 26 is a storage area for the subtotal amount of coins and banknotes by denomination C1, C5, CIO, B'& the total amount of input money T, 27 is a storage area for the total amount of input money T. When the purchase becomes possible by operating the purchase button, the payout amount TU"aj obtained as a result of the change calculation is stored, and 22
is an area for storing the purchase amount K corresponding to the purchase button.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ticket vending machine described above, and the details of the change calculation method according to the present invention will be explained below based on this flowchart. First, the ticket vending machine is put into a vending state by an operator's operation, and coins or banknotes can be inserted into the ticket vending machine. When a customer inserts coins or banknotes, the coin and banknote processing device 8.9 performs authenticity determination, counts the authenticated coins, outputs a count signal for each denomination, and outputs a count signal for each denomination.
The signal is input to the control unit 11 via 20'&. The control unit 11 constantly checks the count signals from each processing device 8, 9,
When there is a count signal, if this count signal is from the first coin inserted in one transaction (28), the coins remaining in the pool device are temporarily stored in the pool device by denomination and the calculation memory 15 is cleared. After carrying out the initialization operation (29), or if the count signal is due to the insertion and insertion of the second or subsequent coins (30), the subtotal amount by denomination C1, C5, CIO is sent as is.

B and the total amount of input money T. For example 10
If yen is counted, (31) add 10 to the subtotal amount C1 of 10 yen (32) L, and similarly add lO to the total input T (
39) Do. 50 yen (33°34), 100 yen (35,
36) and 1,000 yen (37, 38), and the cumulative total is added to the total amount of money invested (39). Through these counting processes (31 to 39), the inserted and inserted coins are sequentially counted to produce subtotal amounts C1 and C5 for each denomination.

CIO, B and the total amount of input money T are obtained. When the customer operates the cancel button 7 of the customer service operation section 1 to cancel the purchase operation (40), the counted input amount (coins of different denominations,
Since the banknotes (banknotes) are pooled in the -H pool in each processing device 8, 9, each device is commanded to return the banknotes and (
41), Subtotal amount area for each denomination C1, C5, CIO'
, B and the total amount of input money area T are cleared to zero (42).

When the customer operates the purchase button (43), the specified price is retrieved from the price memory 16 in accordance with the operation button and stored in the purchase amount area 22 (44).

The relationship between the purchase button and the price memory 16 is such that numbers 1 to n are added to the beginning of the line specified by the purchase button, and the price memory is configured to correspond to the number and the destination charge is retrieved. To determine whether or not the purchase amount K can be purchased, first compare it with the total money amount T, and if the following conditions are met (4
5) Make it possible to purchase, and if the condition is not satisfied, the purchase button operation is invalidated and waits until money is inserted again or another purchase button is operated.

Purchase amount ≦Total currency amount T When purchase is possible, the lamp of the operated purchase button should be lit.4
6) Next, the subtotal amount by denomination or the total amount of the subtotal amounts is compared with the purchase amount in ascending order of the face value of one denomination or the total face value of multiple denominations. By comparing in this order, you can minimize the amount of change. In other words, in the order of comparison shown in the table below, change is calculated by coin denomination and combination of denominations, and if possible, other uncompared coin denominations and banknotes are returned in bulk, and then compared with banknotes and banknotes. Compare the combinations of coins.

In the order of comparison above, when the maximum number of coins for each denomination is 15 and the purchase amount is the lowest amount for that denomination, the change will be the maximum value, but the actual number of coins inserted is close to the purchase amount. Therefore, the actual change amount will be less than the change amount when the maximum count amount is inserted, and even if you accidentally insert a higher denomination, if it is possible to purchase it with a denomination other than that denomination, the change will be the same as above. This is within the scope of the example and can be reduced as much as possible. When the above comparison process is shown in a flowchart, the process of comparison order 1 corresponds to steps 47 to 50;
Can be purchased only with a total of 0 yen (purchase amount range is 10 to 150 yen), please return the entire amount of other denominations (48), clear the subtotal amount of the returned denomination to zero (49) L, 10 yen subtotal amount C1" % Store in the total input money amount T (50).Next, by subtracting the purchase money Ki from the input money T (103)
The change amount TU is obtained, outputted to the coin processing device 8, and at the same time as the change iron laying starts (104), the printing issuing device 12 is instructed to start printing the ticket (
105). The above process is a process when purchase is possible in comparison order 1, but if purchase is not possible, it is determined whether purchase is possible by comparing the purchase amount with the subtotal amount for each denomination or the total amount of these in order of comparison. The fire is held and the minimum amount of change is determined. The judgment in comparison order 15 is for the case where it is impossible to purchase the total amount based on the combination of subtotals by denomination of one part of the inserted money, and the subtotal amount by denomination of all denominations, that is, the total amount of input money T. A comparison operation is performed.

Next, the laying of the hanging iron is completed (106) and the printing is completed (1
07) When the information indicating Y is obtained from each device 8, 12, the purchase operation is completed and the purchase button lamp is turned off.108)
The subtotal amount C1, C5° CIO, B for each denomination and the total amount of input money T are cleared to zero (109).

By minimizing the amount of change through the above processing and control, it is possible to reduce the number of coins put out. Further, if a new 500 yen coin is added to the coins, change calculation may be performed by combining denominations including 500 yen coins. Further, in order to speed up the calculation process 7, if the coin count value (total amount) is zero, the process may jump to the banknote process 75 and subsequent processes.

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the user accidentally or intentionally inserts a large amount of money, the amount of the hanging iron can be reduced to the minimum necessary, and therefore the hanging iron laying time can be reduced to a minimum. It would be possible to shorten the period and reduce the amount of change reserves. Furthermore, the user does not have to perform the operation again, and together with the above-mentioned shortening of the hanging iron installation time, it is possible to improve the purchasing operation rate of the vending machine. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the use of vending machines for money exchange.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic ticket vending machine as an example of a device for carrying out the method of the present invention, viewed from the customer operation side, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1, viewed from the staff operation side. 3 is a schematic block circuit diagram showing the control unit etc. of the device shown in FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is an information layout diagram showing the structure of the price memory and calculation memory in the control unit etc. of FIG. 3, and FIG.
5 is a detailed flowchart illustrating the operation of the automatic ticket vending machine having the configuration shown in FIGS. 1...Customer service operation section, 2...Coin slot, 3...Banknote insertion/return slot, 4...Saucer tray, 5... Purchase button, 7...Cancel button, 8.
... Coin processing device, 9 ... Banknote processing device, 10 ... Attendant operation section, 11 ... Control section, 12 ... Printing Issuing device, 13...
・Micro sensor, 14...Program memory, 15...Calculation memory, 16...Price setting memory, 17,18゜19.20.21...
・Input/output ink face. Patent Applicant Tateishi Electric Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Tatsuo Ito Tetsuya Ito Figure 5 JP-A-58-IG3091 (6) Procedures for Amendment (Method) Patent dated July 1, 1980 Agency Commissioner Kazuo Wakasugi1, Indication of the case 1982 Patent Application No. 456772, Name of the invention Change calculation method for vending machines3, Relationship with the person making the amendment Case Patent applicant address Kyoto City 10 Hanazono Tsuchido-cho, Ukyo-ku Name (2)
94) Tateishi Electric Co., Ltd. Representative Takao Tateishi 4, Agent 105 Address 2-8-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo June 1982
June 11th (57th, 6th, 29th) 6. ``Drawings'' to be amended 7. Contents of the amendment The drawings are corrected as per the attached drawing copy (red letter added). 8. Attached document drawing copy 1 copy No. 41 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a change calculation method in a vending machine that can sell goods with multiple denominations of money, there is a system for discriminating and counting the denominations of the money put into or inserted into the vending machine, and a system that once pools the money. It is equipped with a device and a memory in which the prices of goods are set, and counts the subtotal amount of the inserted money by denomination (7), pools it once by denomination, and calculates the purchase price of the selected goods and one or more denominations. The total amount of the subtotal amount by denomination is sequentially compared with the total amount, and when the total amount is equal to or larger than the purchase amount, the coins of the denominations that were not included in the total amount are collectively collected from the pool device. A change calculation method for a vending machine, characterized in that the change is calculated for the total amount after the vending machine is returned. 2. The change calculation method for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the total amount is compared with the purchase amount in descending order of the total face value of one or more denominations.