JPS5829087A - Operation control system for customer service automation equipment - 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 system for controlling the operation of customer service automation equipment such as automatic ticket vending machines, automatic ticket gates, etc., which are installed in relatively close proximity to each other.

Automatic ticket vending machines installed at stations and the like are often installed in groups relatively close to each other. Usually, the number of machines installed is an appropriate number, taking into account some queues during rush hours. However, it is very wasteful to install a large number of machines in consideration of busy times, and to operate a small number of machines when the usage is low during leisurely periods such as leisure. In particular, even when automatic ticket vending machines are on standby, they operate a display indicating that power is being generated, which consumes a considerable amount of power.

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience, conventionally, a ticket vending machine operator manually turns off the power to an appropriate number of automatic ticket vending machines during off-peak hours. However, doing it manually goes against the trend of labor-saving, and in some cases, it may create unnecessary queues and cause customer dissatisfaction.

Another method is to predict the number of units required for each hour.

In order to control the number of devices in operation according to a program set at the beginning and further equalize the life of the devices, a method of sequentially selecting the mode of operation each time the power is turned on and off may be considered. However, this method also causes irregularities due to differences in operating conditions due to holidays and other holidays, so it is necessary to set the number of operating units with a large margin.

Mispredictions can still lead to queuing.

The present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional methods.

To provide an operation control method for automated customer service equipment that eliminates wasteful consumption of power, equalizes the service life of the machine, and improves customer service.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention totals and counts the number of times each automated device operates, calculates the frequency of use of the entire installed automated device based on this total count, and corresponds to the calculated frequency of use. The number of automated devices is now in operation.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, 10 automatic ticket vending machines v1, v2,
・・Vl, 0 are installed and each automatic ticket vending machine V1/v2
...Vlo has human detection switches S1, S2...8
10 are provided respectively. The automatic ticket vending machine v1 sends the sale end signal to line 3. The detection signal of the human detection switch S1 is applied to the input/output signal processing section 2 via the OR circuit 1, and the detection signal of the human detection switch S1 is applied to the input/output signal processing section 2 via the line 5, respectively. In addition, the automatic ticket vending machine V1 sends power on/off commands to the power supply control unit of the input/output signal processing unit 2 via the line 4.
The connection is configured to receive via. The other automatic ticket vending machines V2, V3, . . . Vlo are also connected and configured in exactly the same way as the automatic ticket vending machine ■1. 6 is a CP as a control unit
It consists of a microprocessor. The CPU 6 includes an input/output signal processing section 2. Timing circuit 8. It exchanges data and commands with the memory 9, etc., and executes operation control operations of the automatic ticket vending machines v1, v2, . Reference numeral 7 denotes an operation section, which includes a setting section for setting a predetermined number of operations that can be changed and a power switch, and is connected to the nine-person appearance signal processing section 2.

The memory 9 has a storage area m for storing the total number of times the automatic ticket vending machine v1 has operated.1. Storage area m2 for storing the total number of times the automatic ticket vending machine V2 has operated. Automatic ticket vending machine ■3・V4・
・Storage area for storing the total number of vio operations m3・m
4...m10. Furthermore, automatic ticket vending machines v1, v2...v
10100 Storage area m11 for storing the total number of operations. It includes a necessary number selection tape/L/m12 for setting and storing the required number of machines to be used for the total number of definite movements in a certain period of time.

Automatic ticket vending machine V1, V2... Each time a ticket is issued in Vlo, an issuance completion signal is added to the input/output signal processing circuit 2 of the automatic ticket vending machine, and each time a ticket is issued, a storage area in units of V corresponding to each time. +1 count is stored in any of m1, m2...m10, and ■total number of operation storage area m11
+1 is also counted.

Specifically, the values shown in FIG. 2 are set and stored in the necessary number selection table m12. This table shows: ■ Time required for the total number of operations to reach 30.

It shows the required number of operating machines M1 for the required time.

For example, the time T required for the total number of operations V to reach 60
If it is 66 seconds or less, it indicates that the frequency of use is very high and that the required operating number M1 is 10, which means that full operation is required. On the other hand, if the required time T exceeds 600 seconds, the frequency of use is low, so the required number of operating units M1 may be one.

However, in cases where customers are not used to purchasing tickets due to new translations, etc., and the average time between sales is long, the average time between tickets being sold may be long.

At a station where the average release interval is stable, the required number of operating vehicles M1 for a predetermined time T cannot be determined uniquely, so the settings for the predetermined time T, etc. can be changed arbitrarily using the operation section 7. Basically, the operator of the automatic ticket vending machine will set the appropriate price based on how customers are using the ticket.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to the control flow shown in FIG.

When the automatic ticket vending machine starts operating first thing in the morning.

First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as ST) 30, all machines are powered on, and change is replenished and abnormal conditions are checked. Next, at 5T31, the operation count total storage area m11 of the V total is cleared, and at 5T32, the timer of the clock circuit 8 is started.

Furthermore, in 5T33, the total number of operations for each automatic ticket vending machine is stored in the storage area m1...mio, and
At T34, +1 is counted and stored in the operation count total storage area m11 of the V total each time one of the automatic ticket vending machines operates. Then, at 5T35, it is determined whether m11=50, that is, whether the total number of operations has reached 60. For poems that have not yet reached 30, the judgment number is m11 = 30. ? 5
T35.5T33→5T34-. Return 5T35.

When the content of the storage area m11 reaches '50 in Sr15, the judgment is YES and the process moves to Sr1/, and the timer time T is measured in the clock circuit 8. Next, the required number M1 of operating machines for the measurement time T is determined by referring to the required number selection table of the transfer storage area m12□ in Sr17. Then, at 5T38, the number M2 of operating machines at that time is searched, and at 5T39, the timer is reset.

s'r4 Use Q to determine whether Ml<M2. If the actual number of operating units M2 is larger than the number of required operating units M1, the judgment is Y.
Move to s'r41 with ES, and press M in the automatic ticket vending machine that is in operation.
2-Let's prepare to power off one M unit. In this case, the automatic ticket vending machine whose power is turned off is in the storage area m1...
With reference to m10, the power is selected to be turned off in descending order of the number of operations. Next, at 5T42, it is determined whether the human detection switch S of the automatic ticket vending machine, which has been prepared to turn off the power, is turned off. If someone is using the automatic ticket vending machine, switch S is turned on. In this case, if the power is turned off, the customer will feel uncomfortable and it is not desirable, so the process moves to Sr14 without turning off the power. At 5T42, if there is no person in front of the automatic ticket vending machine, the determination is NO, and the process moves to s'r43, where the power of the target automatic ticket vending machine is turned off. And the action is S
Move to r14.

At 5T44, it is determined whether all automatic ticket vending machines to be powered off have been checked at 5T42. If there is an automatic ticket vending machine that still has a processing check remaining, Sr12. S
r13. s'r44 (or Sr12-8T44
) returns the processing behavior. Regarding all automatic ticket vending machines that should be turned off 8 After checking T42, s'r4
At step 7, it is determined whether the transfer operation has ended, and if YES, the operation has ended.

In addition, if you want to continue operation, if the judgment of 5T47 is NO, Sr1
The process returns to 1 and moves to the 9th order control operation.

In determining whether Ml<M2 at s'r40, if the actual number of operating units M2 is not larger than the number of required operating units M1, the determination is NO and the process moves to Sr15 to determine whether M1-M2. If both Ml and M2 are equal, there is no need to turn off the stain source that has been newly powered on to the automatic ticket vending machine, so move to s'r47 and end the operation in the same manner as above, or return to Sr11. 5T4
If Ml-M2 does not hold in 5i, Ml>M2.

Transfer the automatic ticket vending machine that is powered off to Mi-5T46.
Turn on the power for 2 M units. In this case, the automatic ticket vending machines to be powered on are selected by referring to the storage areas m1 to mio and powered on in descending order of the number of operations. Ml-M2
When the power is turned on for the units, the number of units in faithful operation becomes the appropriate number of units in operation, so move to s'r47.
Return to 31.

In the above, when turning off the power for one M2-M unit with 5T41, it is turned off in order from the one with the largest total number of operations, and conversely, when turning on the power for two Ml-M units with 5T46, it is turned off in order from the one with the smallest total number of operations. The purpose of turning it on is to equalize the total number of times the installed automatic ticket vending machines are operated, and to reduce the number of automatic ticket vending machines that tend to reach the end of their lifespan particularly quickly.

This is to stabilize the maintenance cycle and provide efficient and effective maintenance services.

In the above embodiment, the frequency of use of the automatic ticket vending machine is determined by calculating the time required to count the predetermined number of operations (=30), but instead of counting the number of times the automatic ticket vending machine operates for a given period of 9 You can do it like this.

In addition, in the case of 91 group management where the control function section, memory section, etc. are implemented in the master machine of multiple automatic ticket vending machines, the function is provided in the group control device, or the function is provided in the central control device. Further, a dedicated control device may be provided.

Furthermore, although the above embodiment has been described using an automatic ticket vending machine as an example, the present invention can also be applied to automatic ticket gates, and can also be applied to multiple customer service automation devices such as vending machines that do not use heaters or refrigerators. It can also be applied when installing.

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of times the customer service automation equipment has been operated is totaled and counted, and from this total count, the usage frequency of the entire installed customer service automation equipment is calculated, and the usage frequency is calculated based on the calculated usage frequency. Since it operates the corresponding number of automated devices, it is possible to efficiently operate the number of automated devices for customer service operations according to the usage status.9 Reduce power consumption and save labor without reducing customer service. It can be measured.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the specific contents of the required number of memories selection table of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the control flow of the embodiment shown in FIG. vl・v2...■10; Automatic ticket vending machine. SL・S2...S10; Human detection switch. 1; OR circuit; 2; input/output signal processing section. 6; CPU, 7; Operation unit, 8; Timing groove. 9; Memory. Patent Applicant Tateishi Electric Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Shigeru Nakamura Shindai Figure 1 Room 2 Figure

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A system for controlling the operation of a plurality of customer service automation devices installed in relatively close locations, in which the number of times each automation device is operated is counted. A system for controlling the operation of customer service automation equipment, which is characterized in that the usage frequency of all the installed automation equipment is determined from this total count value, and the number of automation equipment corresponding to the determined usage frequency is operated. (2) The frequency of use is the total number of times the automated equipment operates within a certain period of time, and the number of machines that should be operated for the total number of times of operation is memorized in advance, and the number of machines that are in operation and the number of machines that are actually in operation correspond to the calculated total number of times that they are operated. The method for controlling the operation of customer service automation equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of machines in operation is increased or decreased according to the difference in the number of machines. (3) The frequency of use is the time required to count the total number of times the automated equipment operates a certain number of times. Compare the corresponding number of operating units and the actual number of operating units. An operation control system for customer service automation equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of operating machines is increased or decreased in accordance with the difference in the number of machines. (4) Regarding the increase or decrease in the number of operating units, in the case of an increase, the non-operating automated equipment will be operated in the order of the least number of operations, and in the case of a decrease, the operating number of automated equipments that have been operated more often will be operated by 1.
7. The operation control system for customer service automation equipment according to claim 2 or 6, characterized in that the operation is stopped when the customer service automation equipment stops operating.