JPS61243592A - 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] <Technical Field of the Invention> The present invention is a technology applied to, for example, an automatic ticket vending device, which has a function of notifying an attendant of the specific content or location of an abnormality that has occurred in the device. Regarding vending machines.

<Existing Summary of the Invention> In order to enable the staff member to easily identify the location where an abnormality has occurred within the device, the staff operation unit is provided with a display unit that allows input commands by touching the screen. An abnormality display screen for indicating the location of the abnormality and a confirmation section for inputting commands to correct the abnormality are displayed on the screen.

<Background of the Invention> For example, in a conventional automatic ticket vending device, an attendant operation section is provided on the back of the device, and the attendant operation section is equipped with a group of lamps consisting of light emitting diodes for notifying abnormalities in the device, and for canceling abnormal conditions. A group of switches are installed for dealing with customers in the event of trouble. The specific contents of each lamp and switch are memorized, but it is not easy for inexperienced staff to use these switch groups, and in order to do so, it is necessary to fully understand the functions of each part of the equipment. was there. Furthermore, the lamps and switches mentioned above are arranged at a fairly high density, which causes problems such as staff members operating the switches incorrectly when an abnormality occurs.

<Object of the invention> The invention is intended to solve the above problem,
To provide a new vending machine in which even an inexperienced staff member can easily and properly operate an staff operation part.

<Structure and Effects of the Invention> In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a vending machine that is equipped with an attendant operation section at an appropriate location and has a control device built into the device. In addition, the control device is provided with a display section that allows input commands to be input by touching the control device, and also includes an error display screen for indicating the location of the abnormality on the display section when an abnormality occurs, and an input command for resolving the abnormality on the screen. The present invention is configured to include a means for displaying a confirmation section for checking.

According to this invention, when an abnormality occurs, the location of the abnormality is displayed on the screen of the display section, so even an employee who is not familiar with the machine can easily and reliably grasp the location of the abnormality from the screen, and the lamp Operability has been significantly improved compared to conventional staff operation units consisting of clusters and switch clusters. Additionally, a confirmation section is displayed on the screen where you can input commands to resolve the error, so when the error is resolved, you can return to the original normal state of the screen by touching this confirmation section. , there is no fear of erroneous operation, and other remarkable effects are achieved that achieve the purpose of the invention.

<Description of Embodiments> Fig. 1 shows an automatic ticket vending device according to the present invention, in which a customer service section (not shown) is provided on the front of the device, an attendant operation section is provided on the back of the device, and inside the device, Coin mechanism part 2,
A building mechanism section 3, a thermal printing mechanism section 4, a digital printer section 5, a control device 6, etc. are incorporated.

The staff operation unit 1 is a part that notifies the staff when there is an abnormality in the machine, and also allows the staff to perform the necessary operations. A switch 8 is provided. The display unit 7 is, for example, a CRT screen with a touch panel superimposed on it, and it is possible to give a predetermined input command by touching the characters or figures displayed on the screen with a finger. There is.

FIG. 2 shows a circuit block diagram of the automatic ticket vending machine, which includes a customer service section 9, an attendant operation section 1, a coin mechanism section 2, a building mechanism section 3, a thermal printing mechanism section 4, and a digital printer section 5.
Each has a sub-CPU to control each of these parts.
(hereinafter referred to as rS-CPUJ) 10 to 15 are connected, and each 5-CPU is further connected to a main CPU (hereinafter referred to as rM-CPUJ) 17 via a transmission line 16.

Although not shown, the customer service department 9 is equipped with a money slot, an input amount display, an account selection switch, a ticket/change counter exit, etc.
Tickets and change are released in response to the customer's coin insertion or switch operation. The coin mechanism section 2 performs authenticity determination and counting of inserted coins within the 5-CPU 12, transmits the results to the M-CPU 17, and performs operations such as calculating a change algebra based on instructions from the M-CPU 17. The building mechanism section 3 performs authenticity determination, counting, etc. of the inserted banknotes within the 5-CPU 1a, transmits the results to the t-CPU 17, and
In response to commands from the M-CPU 17, input banknotes are taken in and returned. Further, the thermal printing mechanism section 4 prints tickets, and the digital printer section 5 prints out sales data and the like.

The M-CPU 17 constitutes a control device 6 together with each of the 5-CPUIO to 15, and a display section 7 to be described next.
In addition to the display operation, the operation of each part of the device is controlled in a series.

3 to 6 show examples of screens displayed on the display section 7 of the attendant operation section 1. FIG. Figure 3 is a normal display screen A that is displayed when the automatic ticket vending machine is operating normally, and it shows each data such as the input amount and change amount related to the current ticket issuing operation, as well as the cumulative number of tickets issued and the cumulative amount sold. Each data is displayed. FIG. 4 is the first abnormality display screen B that appears when an abnormality occurs in the device, and shows each part in the device graphically. : The parts where the abnormality has occurred (in the illustrated example, the coin mechanism part and the thermal printing mechanism part) are displayed in a color (for example, red) that allows them to be distinguished from other parts. FIG. 5 C11 is a second abnormality display screen B1 showing details of the abnormality occurrence site in the coin mechanism section, and FIG. 6 is a second abnormality display screen B2 showing details of the abnormality occurrence site in the thermal printing mechanism section. It is. Both screens illustrate the details of each part, as well as the parts where the abnormality has occurred (I (10 yen coin verification part,
In FIG. 6, the roll paper) is displayed in a different color (for example, red) from other parts.

, 1-, a confirmation section 18 is displayed at the lower right position in the figure. This confirmation unit 18 controls the
This is a part for inputting a command to the device 6 to indicate that the abnormality has been resolved.

FIG. 7 GJ shows the operation of the automatic ticket vending device described above and the flow of the corresponding operation by the attendant. At the start of the figure, the automatic ticket vending device is operating normally and the display of the attendant operation section 1 7, a normal display screen A shown in FIG. 3 appears.

Now, assuming that an abnormality occurs in the two coin mechanisms and the thermal printing mechanism 4 at the same time while the device is operating, the process moves from step 21 to step 22 in FIG. The screen changes to the first abnormality occurrence screen B shown in FIG. 4, and the staff is informed of the location where the abnormality has occurred. The staff member understands from screen B that the abnormality has occurred in the coin mechanism section 2 and the thermal printing mechanism section 4, and in order to confirm the details of the abnormality, he first looks at the display area of the coin mechanism section on the screen (No. 4). In the figure,
(shaded area) with your finger. As a result, the screen of the display section 7 is switched to a second abnormality occurrence screen Bl (see FIG. 5) showing details of the coin mechanism section, and the staff is informed of the location where the abnormality has occurred in the coin mechanism section. The staff learns from the screen B1 that the abnormality has occurred in the 100 yen inspection section, and then performs this inspection to eliminate the cause of the abnormality, such as coin jamming (step 25). Once this task is complete,
The staff member touches the confirmation section 18 on the screen Bl with his or her finger in order to input an instruction to the control device 6 to resolve the abnormality (step 26).
. As a result, the screen of the display unit 7 becomes the first abnormality occurrence screen B.
1 (step 27), the error display in the coin mechanism disappears due to the removal of the cause of the error, and only the error display in the thermal printing mechanism remains.

In this way, in order to know the details of the location where the abnormality has occurred, the staff member touches the display part of the thermal printing mechanism (the shaded part in FIG. A second abnormality occurrence screen B2 showing details of the printing mechanism section appears (step 28.29). The staff member will use this screen B2
It is determined that the abnormality is occurring in the roll paper, and then the roll paper is inspected to remove the cause of the abnormality, such as paper breakage (step 30). After completing work such as replenishing the roll paper, touch the confirmation section 18 on the screen B2 with your finger to input an input command to the control device 6 to correct the abnormality (step 31).
Since all the abnormalities have already been resolved, the screen of the display section 7 returns to the normal display screen A shown in FIG. 3, and the device resumes the ticket issuing operation (steps 32 and 33).

Note that in the above embodiment, only the abnormality occurrence area is displayed on the screen, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a method for removing the cause of the abnormality (for example, a method for replenishing roll paper, etc.) according to the abnormality occurrence area may be displayed on the screen. It is also possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the automatic ticket vending device, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the device, Figs. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations. 1-----------Attendant operation section 6---------Control device 7-----Display section 18--------
--Confirmation part B, Bl, B 2-----------When an abnormal display screen Applicant: Cubic Electric Machinery Co., Ltd. Kuoen Co., Ltd.? Sho CXJ Tame (C1+

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A vending machine that is equipped with an attendant operating section at a suitable location and a control device built into the device, wherein the attendant operating section is provided with a display section that allows input commands by touching the screen, and The control device includes means for displaying an abnormality display screen for indicating the location of the abnormality on the display section when an abnormality occurs, and a confirmation section for inputting and commanding to resolve the abnormality on the screen. vending machine. (2) The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the control device is constituted by a computer circuit. (3) The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality display screen is a screen illustrating the location where the abnormality has occurred.