JPS61239392A - Vending machine system - 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 (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a vending machine system that sells products and the like using cards.

(Prior art) Generally, vending machines sell in cash (coins or banknotes), but recently so-called card-based vending machines have been introduced that allow sales and payments to be made using cards such as magnetic cards. It has been put into practical use.

The cards used in the above-mentioned card-operated vending machines include cards specified by industrial standards such as JIS or ISO (hereinafter referred to as standard cards), or cards with special specifications for vending machines (hereinafter referred to as special cards). ).

In addition, as a payment method for vending machines that use cards, a card is purchased in advance with cash, on which monetary information corresponding to the purchase price is written using magnetic information or other means, and the information is written on the card each time the vending machine is used. The so-called advance payment method reduces the amount, and when you use a vending machine with a card, the amount used is stored in the vending machine, and the amount accumulated for each card is stored in the vending machine every predetermined period. There is a so-called deferred payment method in which the card holder is made to pay the usage amount.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Incidentally, in the case of a vending machine that uses cards, it is important to take preventive measures (hereinafter referred to as security measures) against unauthorized use by counterfeit cards, stolen cards, etc. In the case of the above-mentioned prepayment method, since cash is received in advance, there is no possibility that the usage amount cannot be recovered, but there is a possibility of fraudulent usage by falsifying the amount information written on the card. For this reason, in the prepayment system, the shape of the card is usually broken, such as by punching a hole, depending on the amount spent. Therefore, special cards are generally used in advance payment systems.

However, although the prepayment method is advantageous in terms of security, it has the problem that when the amount information written on the card reaches zero, the card itself is discarded, which increases the card cost.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned deferred payment system, since the issued card is used for a long period of time, a durable plastic standard card is used.

By the way, as a security measure for the deferred payment method, for example, a list of fraudulent cards is stored in the vending machine.
One possible method is to check for card fraud, but the list of fraudulent cards is generally huge, and the storage devices built into vending machines are therefore expensive. Since cards are added and updated, the fraudulent card list must be added and updated for each vending machine each time.

Additionally, if a vending machine is equipped with an online authorization terminal for a so-called online credit check system and cards are checked over a telephone line, fees for the authorization terminal and telephone line are required, making the vending machine itself extremely expensive. There is a problem with this.

As described above, conventional card-using vending machines have not been able to satisfy both cost and security measures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a card-operated vending machine that can satisfy both cost and security aspects.

(Means for solving the problem) A card registration processing device having a function of registering a card,
A portable external storage medium capable of storing registered card information that can be connected to the card registration processing device, and collating the registered card information with the input card information,
In a vending machine system configured with a vending machine that allows card sales to be performed only when the card is valid, the vending machine is connectable to the external storage medium and the card information is input. a registered card storage section for storing card information input from the input means and card information input from the external storage medium; and a card input from the input means and the external storage medium. The vending machine system is characterized by comprising a control circuit having a function of registering information in the registration card storage section.

(Example) The present invention will be explained below based on examples.

FIG. 1 is a combination diagram of block elements of a vending machine system according to the present invention.The configuration of the vending machine system according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. includes a card reader 2 that can read card information of cards with the same magnetic stripe recording method (hereinafter referred to as compatible cards), an operation display panel 3, a registered card storage section 4, a registration mode selection switch 5, and an input card. Output section 12, operation panel 6
and a printer 7 are connected, and the microprocessor 1 is connected to a product storage/unloading section 9 via a product unloading drive section 8. Furthermore, the above-mentioned components 1 to 9.12 are built into the vending machine 21. Furthermore, the input/output unit 12
It can be connected to a portable memory device via a cable. Further, the portable memory device can be connected to the card registration processing device 20 via a cable.

First, a compatible card is registered in the above-mentioned vending machine. The registration mode selection switch 5 is set to the card input registration mode, and the microprocessor 1 is set to the card input registration mode. Next, when the card information (for example, card number, bank name, etc.) written on the compatible card is read from the card reader 2, the microprocessor 2 stores (registers) this card information in the registered card storage section. At this time,
When an instruction to display read card information or confirm registration is given through the operation panel 6, the microprocessor 1 displays the card information or confirms registration on the operation display panel. Also, if necessary, the registered contents are printed out on a printer.

In the above-described card registration operation, any card can be registered as long as it has the same magnetic stripe standard. For example, it may be a card newly issued for this vending machine, or it may be a card previously owned by a credit card company, bank, etc. for another purpose.

Note that the registration mode selection switch 5 is preferably a key switch for card registration management.

In addition to the card input registration mode described above, if the registration mode selection switch 5 is switched to the external input registration mode, registered card information stored in advance as described later can be input from the portable memory device 13, which is an external storage medium. It can be transferred to the registered card storage section 4 through the output section 12. The portable memory device 13 is composed of a C-MOS memory backed up by a battery, and can output stored data by connecting with a cable. A method of registering registered card information stored in a portable memory device will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the card registration processing device 20.

When registering a compatible card, first read the card information written on the compatible card from the card reader 17.
The microprocessor 15 stores (registers) this card information in the registered card storage section 18. At this time, operation panel 1
6 to display the read card information or confirm registration, the microprocessor 15 causes the operation panel 16 to display the card information or confirm the registration. Further, if necessary, the registered contents are printed out on the printer 19. The registered card information stored in the registered card storage section in this way is stored on the operation panel 16.
The data is transferred to the portable memory device 13 through the input/output unit 14 according to the operation instruction. The portable memory device that memorizes and stores the registered card information in this way is portable, and is brought to the vending machine shown in FIG. Registered card information stored in the device can be transferred to the registered card storage section 4.

Similarly, registered card information can be transferred from the portable memory device to other similar vending machines.

As described above, by using the portable memory device 13 as an external storage medium, registered card information created by the card registration processing device 20 can be copied and transferred to a plurality of vending machines.

The card information registered from the card reader 2 of the vending machine 21 is stored in other vending machines so that the card can be used in the following manner. Based on an operation instruction from the operation panel 6, the microprocessor 1 transfers the card-registered data in the registered card storage section 4 to the portable memory device 13 through the human output section 12. In the card registration processing device 20, the portable memory device 13
This registered card information is transferred to the microprocessor 15 through the input/output section 14. The microprocessor 15 updates and adds registered card information stored in the registered card storage section 18 while referring to the registered card information transferred from the portable memory device 3. As mentioned above, the new registered card information created in this way is
Copies can be transferred to multiple vending machines using a portable memory device.

In this way, a card registered at one vending machine can be used at vending machines within a predetermined range, for example within one business establishment or within a certain region.

Further, as will be described later, sales information by card usage is stored in the registered card storage unit 4 for each card, but this card sales information is stored in the botple memory via the input/output unit 12 according to operation instructions from the operation panel 6. It can be transferred to equipment engineer 3. Portable memory device 13 collects card sales information of a plurality of vending machines, and then, in card registration processing device 20 shown in FIG. 22 and stored. A bill can be created by printing out the card sales information collected and accumulated in this manner on the printer 19 for each card number on each payment date for a fixed period of time.

After the card registration operation is completed, if the registration mode selection switch 5 is switched to the sales mode, the microprocessor 1 is placed in the sales mode. A user of the vending machine inserts a compatible card into the card reader 2 and has the card information read.

The microprocessor 1 inquires whether the same card information as the read card information is registered in the registered card storage section 4. If it is confirmed that the user's card is not registered, or if information such as invalidity, which will be described later, is added, a message that the product cannot be sold is displayed on the operation display panel 3. On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the user's card is registered, the operation display panel 3 displays that the card can be sold.

When the product that is available for sale is displayed and the user selects the desired product using a product selection switch (not shown), the product delivery drive section 8 is driven based on a signal from the microprocessor 1, and the product is transferred to the product storage and delivery section 9. The desired product among the stored products is taken out. After the products are taken out, the microprocessor 1 prints out a list of the sold products on the printer, and this list is stored in the vending machine. Further, sales amount information is added to the card information registered in the registered card storage unit 4 corresponding to the user's card, and the sales amount is added every time the vending machine is used thereafter. and,
The above list of sold products (product sales record) and sales amount for each card (separately printed out on a printer based on commands from the operation panel 6) must be used for payment settlement on a predetermined date. You can also do it. Payment can be made by regular credit card payments, or if the vending machine is operated in a limited area, the vending machine operator may request payment from the user. Payment methods vary depending on the form.

As described above, in this vending machine system, the registration operation is performed in the presence of the cardholder. In addition, if a registered card is lost due to theft, etc., the card information registered in the registered card storage section 4 can be deleted by operating the operation panel 16 of the card registration processing device 20 upon notification from the card owner. Alternatively, information such as invalidity is added, and the registered card information is copied and transferred to the registered card storage section 4 of the vending machine 21 by the portable memory device as described above. Note that when purchasing a product, the user may be asked to enter the password of the card and the password may be checked against the password recorded in the vending machine.

By the way, even if the card is stolen, the person who obtained the card cannot misuse it because it is unknown in which vending machine the card can be used. On the other hand, even if a counterfeit card is created, the registered card information (for example, card number) is limited, so it is difficult to guess the number. As described above, the vending machine according to the present invention provides sufficient security measures.

Further, since the users of the above-mentioned vending machine are generally limited to those who have some kind of relationship with the area where the vending machine is installed, the storage capacity of the registered card storage unit 4 can be small. Furthermore, during a predetermined period (e.g., half a year),
If the card information is deleted when the card is not used for a predetermined amount or more, the registered card storage section 4 can be effectively utilized. Note that the above-mentioned condition that the users are limited to a certain area is similar to the condition that a vending machine is operated only within a certain business establishment, so the present invention can be implemented in a vending machine within a business establishment.

In particular, by copying and transferring the same registered card information to a vending machine using a portable memory device, there is an advantage that registered card information within a business office or within a certain area can be efficiently and centrally managed. Furthermore, by collecting card usage sales information using a portable memory device, it is possible to improve the efficiency of payment operations.

In this way, the above-mentioned vending machine not only allows you to use a card you already own for a different purpose, but also eliminates the need to issue a new card (in addition, sufficient security measures are taken and the registered card storage is The storage capacity of 4 can also be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the reference numeral 21 in FIG. 1 was referred to as a vending machine, but in recent vending machines, the control section, money acceptance section, product storage/export section, etc. are sometimes separated. . Therefore, even if the above-mentioned block elements are physically separated, or even if the number of block elements and their combinations change, if the function does not change, it is treated as a vending machine.

Furthermore, although a buffer-backed C-MOS memory is used as the external storage medium in the above embodiment, other storage media may be used as long as it is a portable storage medium such as a floppy disk, a cassette tape, or a bubble memory.

Note that there are card reader models that can read card information for multiple magnetic stripe standards. Therefore,
In this case, the range of compatible cards will be further expanded.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a card reader was used to perform the card registration operation, but card information such as a card number may be input from an operation panel.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, the vending machine system according to the present invention has the advantage that a large number of types of cards can be used, and sufficient security measures can be realized at low cost.

In addition to being able to register and manage card information using a vending machine's card information input means, by copying and transmitting the same registered card information to a vending machine using a portable memory device, registered card information within a business office or within a certain area can be managed. It has the advantage of being able to centrally manage the data efficiently. Furthermore, by collecting card usage sales information using a portable memory device, it is possible to improve the efficiency of payment operations. Furthermore, a card registered in one vending machine can be registered and used in other vending machines.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an embodiment of a vending machine system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a card registration processing device portion in the vending machine system according to the present invention. ■...Microprocessor 2...Card reader 3...Operation display panel 4...Registered card storage section 5...Registration mode selection switch 6...Operation panel 7...Printer 8... Product unloading drive unit 9...
・Product storage/unloading section 13...portable memory device (external storage medium) 20
... Card registration processing device 21 ... Vending machine Figure 2

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A card registration processing device with a function of registering a card, a portable external storage medium that can store registered card information that can be connected to the card registration processing device, and the registered card information and input. A vending machine system comprising a vending machine that verifies the card information provided and sells the card only if the card information is valid, wherein the vending machine is connectable to the external storage medium. Further, the input means includes an input means for inputting card information, a registered card storage section for storing the card information input from the input means and the card information input from the external storage medium, and the input means. A vending machine system comprising: a control circuit having a function of registering card information input from the external storage medium in the registered card storage section. (2) In the description of claim 1, the control circuit controls, when a card with card information registered in the registered card storage unit is not used for more than a predetermined amount during a predetermined period, A vending machine system characterized in that the registered card information is deleted or invalidated. (3) In the automatic device according to claim 1, card sales information for different card information is stored in the registered card storage section and transferred to the external storage medium. vending machine system. (4) The vending machine system as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that registered card information input by the above-mentioned means for inputting card information is transferred to the external storage medium.