JPS6226061B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic ticket vending machine, such as an automatic ticket vending machine for railway tickets.

Automatic railway ticket vending machines sell tickets with fares depending on the section of the train the passenger travels, and usually have a customer service panel on the front with a number of account options for selecting the desired fare. Push buttons and switches are arranged. Then, instead of writing the fare on the surface of these selection pushbuttons/switches or pasting a display board on which the fare is written corresponding to the pushbutton/switch, a numerical display tube is arranged, and this numerical display tube Automatic ticket vending machines that display fares using . In this automatic ticket vending machine, the fare corresponding to the selection push button/switch is stored in the memory in advance, and fare revisions can be achieved by replacing the memory that stores the old fare with the memory that stores the new fare. be done. However, after replacing the memory, it is unavoidable to confirm whether the automatic ticket vending machine will operate with the revised fare. On the other hand, fare revision work for automatic ticket vending machines must be completed within a short period of time from the last train departure time on the day before the fare revision date to the first train departure time on the day of the revision date. Furthermore, railway companies have many stations on their routes, and each station is equipped with many automatic ticket vending machines. For this reason, in the past, a large number of workers were mobilized to carry out fare revision work, which required a large amount of expense. In addition, the fare revision work included tasks such as memory replacement that had to be handled by experts, and there were times when it was not possible to complete the fare revision for all automatic ticket vending machines. If this happens, some ticket vending machines will have to stop selling tickets during their operating hours to carry out fare revision work, which will reduce the operating rate around the fare revision date.

In order to eliminate such drawbacks, there is a memory that stores in advance the old fare before revision, the new fare after revision, and the fare revision date, or a memory that stores the old fare, new fare, and fare revision date separately in advance. A date setter consisting of two replaceable and independent memories, a date setter or clock that can change the set date, and a changeover switch provided as necessary or a flag provided in a predetermined area of the memory. The old fare is changed depending on the comparison result between the date on the date setter and the fare change date, or according to the result of this comparison and the result of reading the status of the fare revision switching means as necessary. An automatic ticket vending machine has been proposed that reads either the new fare or the new fare and executes the sales process. According to such an automatic ticket vending machine, it is possible to replace the memory storing the fare at any time before the fare revision date and to check the operation of the automatic ticket vending machine after the replacement.
There is no need to mobilize a large number of workers in a short period of time, and there is no need to stop the automatic ticket vending machine during its operating hours. However, the operation confirmation work after memory replacement using such an automatic ticket vending machine is performed by inserting coins in the same way as normal ticket issuance, which has the disadvantage that this operation confirmation work requires manpower and effort. be.

Summary of the Invention This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and is capable of rewriting or replacing the memory that stores the changed new rate at any time before the rate change date, and To provide an automatic ticket vending machine that can efficiently perform operation confirmation work by using extremely simple operations.

The automatic ticket vending machine according to the present invention includes a plurality of account selection push buttons/switches provided corresponding to the charges of the account, a coin verification device for checking cash inserted into the charge slot,
A ticket issuing device records and issues predetermined data including charges on the ticket, and a first device stores the charge of the account before the change.
and a second area for storing account charges after the change, a charge change preparation switch, an operation confirmation switch, a charge rewrite switch, and a charge change preparation switch on one side. , in response to an input signal from the pushbutton switch, reads the fare selected by the switch input from the first area;
A first controller that controls the ticket issuing device to record and issue data including the selected fee on a ticket, provided that the fee is less than or equal to the input cash amount determined by the coin verification device. control means, when the changeover switch is on the other side, the second control means responds to the input from the operation confirmation switch.
The ticket issuing device is controlled to read the charges for the second area, record the data including the read charges on a ticket, and release it, and this ticket issuing operation is performed in advance for all charges in the account of the second area. A second control means for controlling the repetition to be repeated sequentially in a predetermined order, and in response to an input from the charge rewriting switch, transferring the charges in the account in the second area to the first area. The present invention is characterized by comprising a charge rewriting means for rewriting the charge in the account of the first area to the changed charge.

Normal ticket issuing operations are carried out under the control of the first control means using the charges in the account in the first area of the memory by leaving the changeover switch on one side.

The new charge, ie the changed charge, is stored in the second area of the memory. Therefore, at any time before the rate change date, the new rate after the change may be changed to the second rate above.
By writing in the second area or exchanging the second area, it is possible to set a new fee after the change.

When the changeover switch is set to the other side, the second control means reads out the charges in the second area that stores the changed account charges in response to the input from the operation confirmation switch. The ticket issuing device is controlled to record and release data including the read charges on a ticket, and the ticket issuing device is controlled to perform the ticket issuing operation in a predetermined order for all charges in the second area account. By controlling the process to be repeated in sequence, the ticket issuance operation based on the new fee after the change is automatically confirmed.

Therefore, there is no need to perform operations such as inserting money or pressing an account selection button/switch as in the past, or repeating these operations many times. By simply operating the system, driving confirmation based on the changed charges can be performed for all account charges at any time before the date of the change.

Further, on the day of the fee change or the night before the change, simply operating the fee rewriting switch causes the fee rewriting means to write the second data in the memory.
The new fare for the area will be transferred to the first area and the fare for the first area will be rewritten to the new fare, so from the date of the fare change, the above normal ticketing operation using the new fare for the first area will continue. will be carried out.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments in which the present invention is applied to an automatic ticket vending machine of automatic ticket vending equipment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In Figure 1, the automatic ticket vending equipment is number 1 to 3.
The machine consists of three automatic ticket vending machines 10, a central control unit 11 to which these ticket vending machines 10 are connected, and a removable data input device 12 connected to the central control unit 11. Although not shown,
The central control unit 11 and each ticket vending machine 10 are each provided with a separate central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU). A microprocessor is preferably used as the CPU.

The customer service panel provided on the front of each automatic ticket vending machine 10 has a plurality of account selection push buttons/switches 13 for selecting a desired fare, a fare input slot (not shown), and a numerical display 14 for displaying the input amount. Arranged. Inside the automatic ticket vending machine 10, although not shown, there is a counter that determines the authenticity and type of coins inserted into the fare slot provided on the customer service panel, and indicates the type of coins if they are genuine coins. A coin verification device that outputs a coin signal, a date setter that sets the year, month, and day of the day by a station staff member or a digital clock, and a coin checker that displays the amount, date of issue, and date on the front of the ticket to be issued.
A printing device that prints the issuing station name and issuing number, and a magnetic recording device that magnetically records each of the above items on the back side of the ticket to be issued are provided. This printing device and magnetic recording device constitute a ticket issuing device.

Amount display, amount calculation, ticket issuance, and fare revision at each automatic ticket vending machine 10 are performed by each automatic ticket vending machine 10.
Controlled by CPU. This CPU has a read-only memory (not shown) that stores an execution program for normal ticket issuance and an execution program for fare revision (described later), and a random access memory (described below) that stores the fare in the account.
It is equipped with 15 RAM (RAM). The RAM 15 stores the old fares before the revision, and includes the old fare table (first area) 16 that is referred to when issuing regular tickets, and the old fare table (first area) 16 that is used for fare revisions. New fare table (second area) 1 that temporarily stores new fares after the upcoming revision
7 is included. These fare tables 16,1
7 will be described in detail later.

Each automatic ticket vending machine 10 is provided with a station staff operation panel 18 on its back, for example, and in addition to normally used switches, lamps, etc., this panel 18 receives data regarding old fares from the central control unit 11. Push button/switch 19 for reading old fares into the buffer (not shown), push button/switch 20 for reading new fares from the central controller 11 into the buffer (not shown), confirmation of ticket issuing operation using old fares push button switch 21,
Ticketing operation confirmation push button/switch (operation confirmation switch) 22 based on the new fare, new fare table 17
A fare rewrite key switch 23 for transferring the contents of 1 to the old fare table 16, a lamp 24 indicating completion of reading into the buffer, and a lamp 25 indicating preparation for fare revision are provided. These are used for fare revision or for recovery when the automatic ticket vending machine 10 breaks down.

The central control unit 11 performs fare revision work and normal ticket issuance aggregation work, and is controlled by a CPU provided therein. This CPU stores a read-only memory (not shown) that stores execution programs such as aggregation work and fare revision work to be described later, and also stores fares in the accounts of all ticket vending machines 10.
It has 26 RAM. The RAM 26 includes an old fare storage area 27 for storing the old fare before the revision for backup of each ticket vending machine 10, and a temporary storage area 27 for storing the new fare after the revision sent from the data input device 12 when the fare is revised. New fare memory area 2 to remember
8 is included. These storage areas 27, 28
The details will be described later.

The central control device 11 is provided with a printer 29 and an operation panel 30. This operation panel 30 includes switches, lamps, etc. for normal tabulation work, as well as data input pushbuttons and switches 3.
2. Print push button switch 33, fare revision preparation work key switch (fare change preparation work switch) 34, all fare rewrite key switch 3
5, and a fare revision preparation completion indicator lamp 36.

The data input device 12 is used for all automatic ticket vending machines 10.
It is used to store all fares after the revision and input them to the central control unit 11. It is composed of, for example, a paper tape reader, an IC memory, etc., and is connected to the central control unit 11 by a connector 31.
connected to.

The account selection pushbutton switch 13 provided on the customer service panel of the automatic ticket vending machine 10 is a so-called illuminated pushbutton switch in which the pushbutton itself lights up, and a number corresponding to the fare is written on its surface. A board is attached. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the numbers 40, 50, and 80 are displayed on the pushbutton switches 13 of the first and third machines, and the numbers 70, 80 are displayed on the pushbutton switch 13 of the second machine.
Numbers 80 and 100 are displayed. As shown in FIG. 3, the old fare tables 16 of the first and third planes store fares of 40, 50, and 80 (yen), and the old fare table 16 of the second plane stores the following: Fares of 70, 80, and 100 (yen) are memorized. In this way, two or more types of ticket vending machines, for example, ticket vending machines of multiple companies, can be connected together to the central control device 11, or only a plurality of ticket vending machines of one type can be connected. Additionally, the number of ticket vending machines can be changed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the old fare storage area 27 of the central control device 11 includes a total fare table 37 that stores all fares used in the ticket vending machines 10 in order of decreasing value, for example, and a predetermined bit position. A flag table group 38 includes a plurality of flag tables that store predetermined combinations of fares in all fare tables 37 by setting flags in the flag table 38, and in which flag table the combination of fares in each ticket vending machine 10 is stored. A flag comparison table 39 is included to store whether the flag is set or not.
As is clear from FIG. 2, there are five types of fares in the three ticket vending machines 10, and the total fare table 37 shows five types of fares: 40, 50, 70, 80, and 100 (yen). are stored in order. The flag table 1 in the flag table group 38 includes the beginning,
“1” is set in the second and fourth bit positions, and the fares for the first, second and fourth days of the total fare table 37, that is, 40, 50, 80
(yen) combinations are stored. In flag table 2, "1" is set in the third, fourth, and fifth bit positions, thereby storing the combinations of 70, 80, and 100 (yen). "1" is stored in the positions of the first and third machines in the flag comparison table 39, and the fare combinations for the first and third machines are 40, 50, and 80 (yen) stored in the flag table 1. It shows that there is. Similarly, flag comparison table 39
"2" representing flag table 2 is stored in the position of No. 2 car, indicating that the combination of fares in No. 2 car is 70, 80, and 100 (yen). The new fare storage area 28 of the central control unit 11 also includes a new total fare table 40, a flag table group 41, and a flag comparison table 42 similar to those described above regarding the revised new fares (see FIG. 7). .

Each automatic ticket vending machine 10 is usually provided with a
It is operated individually by the CPU and issues tickets by referring to the old fare table 16. In addition, each ticket vending machine 10 stores the number of issued tickets for each fare, and the central control unit 11 aggregates these.
Print results on request.

Next, taking as an example the case where the fare of each ticket vending machine 10 is changed from the one shown in FIG. 2 to the one shown in FIG. 5, an outline of the operation at the time of fare revision will be explained with reference to FIG. 8. explain.

First, fare revision preparation work is performed in the central control unit 11 (step 1). As a result, the revised new fare is stored in the new fare storage area 28 of the central controller 11 (see FIG. 7).

When the central control unit 11 completes the fare revision preparation work, each ticket vending machine 10 performs the fare revision preparation work (step 2). As a result, each ticket vending machine 10
The revised new fare is written in the new fare table 17 (see FIG. 6), and the ticket issuing operation is confirmed based on the data in the new fare table 17. This preparation work is performed for all ticket vending machines 10.

The operations in step 1 and step 2 above are as follows:
It will be held on an appropriate day before the fare revision date. In particular, the work in step 2 can be performed on different days for each ticket vending machine 10. Even if the revision preparation work at each ticket vending machine 10 is completed, the old fare table 16 of each ticket vending machine 10 remains the same, so normal ticket issuing operations based on the old fares are performed as before the revision preparation work. It can be done.

Immediately before the fare revision date, all fare rewriting work (step 3) in the central control unit 11 and each ticket vending machine 1
Perform the fare rewriting work (step 4) in step 0. As a result, the revised new fares are written into the old fare storage area 27 of the central control device 11 and the old fare table 16 of each ticket vending machine 10, respectively. This rewriting operation is performed for all ticket vending machines 10, and subsequent ticket issuing operations at each ticket vending machine 10 are performed based on the new fares written in the old fare table 16.

Next, the operations in each of the above steps will be explained in more detail.

Details of the revision preparation work (step 1) in the central control unit 11 are shown in FIG.

First, the data input device 12 is connected to the central control device 11.
(step 101) and press the data input pushbutton
Press switch 32 (step 102). switch 3
When 2 is pressed, the revised new fare set in the data input device 12 is stored in the new fare storage area 28 (step 103), and the fare revision preparation completion display lamp 36 lights up (step 104). In the new fare storage area 28, data as shown in FIG. Edited data may be set in advance as shown in FIG. 7, and the central control unit 11 may read this data and write it as it is in the storage area 28. Alternatively, the data input device 12 may be used to store data from each ticket vending machine 10.
After the central control unit 11 reads and edits the fare data, it is stored in the storage area 2.
8 may be written.

When data input is completed, remove the data input device 12 from the central controller 11 (step
105), press the print pushbutton switch 33 (step 106). When switch 33 is pressed, RAM2
6, the old fare and new fare at each ticket vending machine 10 are stored in the 11th
It is printed by the printer 29 in the format shown in the figure (step 107), and the preparation work is completed. The numbers "1", "2" and "3" at the left end of FIG. 11 indicate the numbers of the ticket vending machines 10, respectively.

The revision preparation work (step 2) in each ticket vending machine 10 is shown in detail in FIG. 10, and consists of the reading work into the buffer in steps 202-204 and the ticket issuing operation confirmation work in steps 205-223.

Prior to the preparation work, the fare revision preparation work key switch 34 of the central control unit 11 is turned on (step 201). This makes it possible to carry out the above-mentioned reading and checking operations.

Next, in order to perform the reading operation, the ticket vending machine 10
Press the new fare read button/switch 20 (step 202). By pressing the switch 20, a request is issued to the central controller 11, and the central controller 11 sends the data necessary for the requested ticket vending machine 10 among the data in the new fare storage area 28, and the ticket vending machine 10 The data is read and temporarily stored in the buffer (step 203). Central control device 11
The data sent from the new total fare table 40
and a flag table corresponding to the requested fare combination of the ticket vending machine 10. For example, when a request is made from the first aircraft, the new total fare table 40 and the contents of the flag table 3 are sent (see FIG. 7).

When the reading in the ticket vending machine 10 is completed, the reading completion indicator lamp 24 lights up (step
204).

Once the reading process is complete, the next step is to check the ticket issuing operation based on the revised new fare.

First, the pushbutton/switch 22 is pressed to confirm ticket issuance operation using the new fare (step 205). As a result, the following series of ticket issuing operations are automatically performed.

The CPU of the ticket vending machine 10 edits the data related to the new fare in the read buffer (step
206). This converts data regarding new fares into a format that can be stored in the new fare table 17, and selects the flags in the flag table from among the fares in the new total fare table 40 sent from the central controller 11. This involves selecting items that correspond to the positions and arranging them in order.

The edited data is transferred to the new fare table 17 (step 207). As a result, the new fares stored in the central control unit 11 as shown in FIG. 7 are stored in each ticket vending machine 10 as shown in FIG.

When data has been written to the new fare table 17, the ticket serial number counter (not shown), which is used only during confirmation work to count the number of issued tickets and print a serial number on the ticket, is cleared (step 208). ,
Furthermore, all account-specific counters (not shown), which are used only during confirmation work to count the number of issued tickets for each account, are cleared (step 209).

Next, one of the account selection pushbutton switches 13, the first one, lights up (step
210), ticket issuing operation begins.

At the same time as the switch 13 lights up, the corresponding fare is displayed on the numeric display 14 (step
211), one ticket is issued (step 212).
On this ticket, the same items as a normally issued ticket are printed and recorded, except for the serial number for confirmation by the serial number counter.

That is, the first new fare is read from the new fare table 17, this new fare is displayed on the display 14, and this new fare is sent to the above-mentioned printing device and magnetic recording device. These devices print and magnetically record the fare amount, date of issue, issuing station name, etc. on the ticket, and the ticket is issued.

In the process of confirming ticket issuance operations based on the revised new fares, it is not necessary to press the account selection pushbutton/switch 13 or insert cash into the fare slot. As is well known, in a normal ticket sales process, a user inserts cash into the slot in an amount equal to or greater than the fare of the ticket to be purchased. The inserted cash is discriminated by the above-mentioned coin verification device, and the total amount of the inserted amount is calculated based on the genuine coin signal outputted by the coin verification device. When the pushbutton/switch you wish to purchase from among the account selection pushbuttons/switches 13 is pressed, the fare corresponding to that switch is read out from the old fare table 16, and if the input amount is greater than or equal to this fare, this fare is The data is sent to the above-mentioned printing device and magnetic recording device, and predetermined information including the fare is recorded on the ticket, thereby issuing a ticket.

Returning to FIG. 10, when one ticket has been issued, 1 is added to the corresponding account-specific counter (step 213), and the account selection pushbutton switch 13 that was lit turns off (step 214). With,
The display on the number display 14 disappears (step 215), and 1 is added to the serial number counter (step 215).
216).

Each time a ticket is issued, it is checked whether the planned number of tickets have been issued for the corresponding account (step 217), and if the planned number has not been reached, the operations of steps 210 to 216 are performed. Repeat.

Once the planned number of tickets have been issued for one account, it is checked whether tickets have been issued for all accounts (step 218). If all accounts have not been issued, the process returns to step 210 and all unissued tickets are checked. The above ticket issuing operation is repeated a predetermined number of times for the next account.

In this way, by pressing the pushbutton switch 22 once, a preset number of tickets for all accounts are continuously issued, and there is no need to press the account pushbutton switch 13 at all.

When tickets have been issued for all accounts, the data of the account-specific counters is sent from the ticket vending machine 10 to the central control unit 11 (step 219), and the fare revision ready indicator lamp 25 of the ticket vending machine 10 lights up (step 220). ).

When the central control unit 11 receives the account-specific counter data, it edits the data (step 22).
1) The number of tickets issued for each account is printed for each ticket vending machine as shown in FIG. 12 (step 222). The numbers "1", "2" and "3" at the left end of FIG. 12 indicate the numbers of the ticket vending machines 10, respectively.

Next, the staff confirms that the ticket issuing operation was performed normally by looking at the issued ticket or reading the print result from the central controller 11 (step 223), and then The fare revision preparation work key switch 34 is turned off (step 224). This completes the ticket issuing operation confirmation work.

All fare rewriting work (step 3) in the central controller 11 immediately before the fare revision date is performed by the central controller 1.
This is done by turning on the all fare rewrite key switch 35 of No. 1. Then, once the data in the new fare storage area 28 has been transferred to the old fare storage area 27, the fare revision preparation completion display lamp 36 goes out, so the key switch 35 is turned off.

Similarly, the fare rewriting work (step 4) at each ticket vending machine 10 is performed using the fare rewriting key of the ticket vending machine 10.
This is done by turning on the switch 23, and the data in the new fare table 17 is changed to the old fare table 16.
As a result, the new fare is written in the table 16. When this process is completed, the fare revision preparation completion display lamp 25 goes out, so the key switch 23 is turned off.

The old fare reading pushbutton/switch 19 and the pushbutton/switch 21 for confirming ticket issuance operation based on the old fare on each ticket vending machine 10 are normally not used for fare revision work, and if the ticket vending machine 10 breaks down and becomes obsolete. It is used for restoration work when the contents of the fare table 16 are destroyed. This restoration work only needs to be performed for the necessary ticket vending machines 10, but the procedure is the same as the revision preparation work for the ticket vending machines 10 described above.

That is, first, the revision preparation work key switch 34 of the central control unit 11 is turned on. And the old fare reading push button/switch 19 of the ticket vending machine 10
By pressing , the contents of the entire fare table 37 in the old fare storage area 27 and the corresponding flag table are sent from the central control unit 11 and written into the read buffer. Next, by pressing the pushbutton/switch 21 to confirm ticket issuance operation using the old fare, the data on the fare is edited and written in the old fare table 16, and based on the data in the old fare table 16, the ticket is issued in the same manner as above. will be issued automatically. When the ticket issuance confirmation operation is completed, the revision preparation work key switch 34 of the central control unit 11 is turned off.

When making a normal fare revision, when the revised new fare is written in the current fare table 16 by the fare rewriting operation in the ticket vending machine 10, if necessary, press the confirmation pushbutton switch 21. It is possible to check the ticket issuing operation based on the fare written in the table 16.

In this embodiment, a display board on which the fare is written is attached to the account selection push button/switch 13 of the ticket vending machine 10, but instead of attaching such a display board, a display board corresponding to each push button/switch is attached. When a number display tube is placed and money is inserted, the fares stored in the old fare table 16 may be read out within the range of the inserted money and displayed on the number display tube.

The ticket vending machine 10 does not necessarily need to be connected to the central control device 11 and centrally controlled. When not connected to the central control device 11, the central control device 1
A switch similar to the fare revision preparation work key switch 34 in 1 is provided on the ticket vending machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing automatic ticket vending equipment, Fig. 2 is a front view showing the account selection push button/switch of the ticket vending machine before the fare change, and Fig. 3 is the ticket vending machine. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the old fare storage area of the central control unit, Figure 5 is a front view showing the account selection pushbutton switch of the ticket vending machine after the fare change, and Figure 6 is a diagram showing the old fare table of . Figure 7 is a diagram showing the new fare table of the ticket vending machine, Figure 7 is a diagram showing the new fare storage area of the central control unit, Figure 8 is a flow chart schematically showing the procedure for changing fares, Figures 9 and 10 are The figure is a flow chart showing in detail a part of the procedure for changing charges, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are diagrams showing print results. 13... Account selection push button/switch, 15...
...RAM (memory), 16... Old fare table (first area), 17... New fare table (second area), 22... Ticketing operation confirmation push button switch (operation confirmation switch), 23... ...Fare rewriting key switch (fare rewriting switch), 34...Fare revision preparation work key switch (fare change preparation work changeover switch).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A plurality of account selection pushbuttons/switches provided corresponding to the charges in the account, a coin verification device for cash inserted into the charge slot, and a device for recording predetermined data including charges on the ticket. a ticket issuing device that issues tickets, a memory having a first area for storing account charges before change and a second area for storing account charges after change, a charge change preparation switch, an operation confirmation switch, and a charge change preparation switch; When the rewriting switch and the rate change preparation switch are on one side, the rate selected by the switch input is read out from the first area in response to an input signal from the push button switch. , controlling the ticket issuing device to record and issue data including the selected fee on a ticket, provided that the fee is less than or equal to the input cash amount determined by the coin verification device; The control means of No. 1, when the changeover switch is on the other side,
In response to the input from the operation confirmation switch, the ticket issuing device is controlled to read the fare of the second area, record data including the read fare on a ticket, and release it, and the ticket issuing operation is performed. in response to an input from the rate rewriting switch;
An automatic ticket vending machine comprising: charge rewriting means for transferring the charge in the account of the second area to the first area and rewriting the charge in the account of the first area to the changed charge.