JPS63155458A - Medium controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent beforehand the possibility of generation of system-down at the time of unmanned operation caused by an expiration of the validity of consumable/service life parts, by constituting the titled device so that the information of an effective use period of the consumable/service life parts in the medium controller can be displayed, and can be informed to a host device. CONSTITUTION:The titled device is provided with a consumable/service life information collecting means 70 for collecting the consumable/service life information of consumable/service life parts by a prescribed method, a counting means (counter) 81 for counting the number of times of use of the consumable/ service life parts, a control part 80 having a comparing means 82 for comparing the information of a storage means (memory) 90 and information of the counter 81 and sending out its comparison result information as a service life advance notice, and the memory 90 for storing a reference effective period of consumable parts and service life parts which are used in the device. In such a way, information of the effective use period is displayed and informed to the host device, and the generation of system-down at the time of unmanned operation caused by the expiration of the validity of the consumable/service life parts can be prevented beforehand.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] A media control device for devices that perform predetermined tasks using media such as passbooks, and for smoothly operating unmanned machines such as automatic deposit machines and automatic payment machines at night and on holidays. By displaying information on the effective usage period of consumable/consumable parts within the media control device and configuring it to notify the higher-level device, system downtime during unattended operation due to expiry of consumable/consumable parts can be prevented. detect the possibility of occurrence in advance,
By preventing this, it is possible to improve the reliability and maintainability of the system.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a medium control device for a device that executes predetermined business processing using a medium.

In recent years, various devices have been developed and put into practical use as terminal devices for computer banking systems.

On the other hand, automation of transactions at financial institutions is increasingly being promoted, and there is a strong demand for extension of operating hours for automated teller machines (ATMs) in particular.

Therefore, there is a demand for a medium control device that has sufficient reliability and maintainability even when the unmanned operation period is extended (extended) and the so-called unmanned operation capability is maintained without maintenance at night or on holidays.

[Conventional technology]

Fig. 4 is a block diagram explaining the conventional example, and Fig. 5 is a consumption /
Diagrams illustrating the status of consumable parts are shown.

Figure 4 shows an overview of the configuration of an automatic teller machine (ATM).
Its configuration includes: a media inlet/outlet 1 for inlet/output of media such as magnetic stripes and bankbooks; a writing/reading section 2 for writing information to and reading information from the magnetic stripe media; and a passbook. An optical reading section 3 that optically reads information on a medium (for example, page marks, etc.); A medium operating section 4 for magnetic stripes, bankbooks, etc.; and a printing section 5 that prints predetermined information on media such as magnetic stripes, bankbooks, etc. , a stock section 6 for stocking media such as magnetic stripes and passbooks, and a control section 8 for controlling various processing operations within the device.

Note that symbols (1) to (5) indicate medium conveyance paths used for moving the medium between the sections 2 to 6.

Conventionally, media (magnetic stripes, bankbooks, etc.) used in automatic teller machines (ATMs) are stocked in a stock section 6, and when a predetermined transaction occurs, they are transferred to a media transport path (5).
The information related to the transaction is printed through the media, and the media is discharged through the media suction/discharge port 1.

On the other hand, insert the media (magnetic stripe, passbook, etc.) into the media inlet/outlet port 1.
By inserting the media into The medium is discharged through the suction and discharge port 1.

Each time these processing operations are performed, the expiration date of internal consumable parts (as shown in Figure 5 (al), such as ink ribbons, etc.) decreases, and the quality cannot be guaranteed if the number of uses exceeds a predetermined number. The same applies to parts with a limited lifespan (as shown in FIG. 5 (as shown in bl, for example, a print head, etc.).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Conventionally, the status of consumable/consumable parts as described above has been monitored based on the density and printing results of the ink ribbon (used in the printing unit 5) among the consumable parts shown in FIG. 5(a). Only near-end and end situations are judged.

Therefore, at present, lifespan determination is not carried out for lifespan parts classified as (middle) shown in FIG. 5, such as print heads, magnetic stripe reader/writer heads, and incandescent lamps for optical reading sensors.

Therefore, if a part reaches the end of its lifespan during a long period of unmanned operation, there is a high possibility that the system will immediately go down.

Therefore, there is a problem in that the device cannot be adapted to the actual situation in a device that is required to operate smoothly and unattended for a long period of time as described above.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram illustrating the invention in detail.

The principle block diagram of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes: a wear/life information collection means 70 that collects wear/life information of consumable/life-limiting parts used in the device in a predetermined manner; a counting means (counter) 81 for counting the number of times of use; and a comparison means (for comparing information in a storage means (memory) 90 with information in the counting means (counter) 81 and sending out the comparison result information as a service life notice). Comparison part) 82
The apparatus is configured to include a control unit 80 having a controller 80, and a storage means (memory) 90 for storing standard effective periods of consumable parts and consumable parts used in the apparatus.

[Effect]

In order to ensure smooth unmanned operation at night and on holidays for automatic deposit and automatic payment devices, etc., the effectiveness of consumable/consumable parts used in media control devices that control the processing operations of media used in these devices is determined. By configuring the system to display usage period information and notify the host device (not shown), system failures during unattended operation due to expiry of consumable/consumable parts can be prevented in advance, and system downtime can be prevented. The reliability and maintainability of the system can be improved.

〔Example〕

The gist of the present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, and FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining the processing procedure in an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures.

The wear/life collecting means 70 in this embodiment includes a head life information collecting section 71 that collects life information for a magnetic stripe reader/writer, and an optical reading section life information collecting section 71 that collects life information of internal parts of the optical reading section 3. unit 72, and a printing unit wear information collection unit 7 that collects life information of parts inside the printing unit 5.
3.

It is also assumed that a battery E is connected to the memory 90 to retain the stored information even when the power is cut off.

In addition to the counter 81° comparison section 82 explained in FIG. 1, the control section 80 includes each of the functional blocks 1 to 6 explained in FIG.
and an interface section 83 for interfacing with a host device (not shown).

Fig. 3 shows an algorithm related to consumable parts, and since a similar algorithm is used for consumable parts, in this embodiment, the processing procedure is based on the algorithm related to consumable parts shown in Fig. 3. explain.

The control unit 8 reads the life information of the ink ribbon used in the printing unit 5 via the printing unit consumption information collection unit 73, sets the information in the area corresponding to the ink ribbon life of the counter 81, and stores the set value in the memory in advance. The comparison section 82 compares the life information with the reference life information stored in the storage section 90 . (Step 10
(0, 101) (This step indicates a processing step in the control unit 8) Next, the control unit 8 determines whether the ink ribbon has reached the end of its life based on the comparison result. This determination is made as shown in FIG. 1. For example, if the predetermined value of the counter 81 is ``B'' and the reference value in the memory 90 is ``A'', the life advance notice (alarm information ) to another device (for example, a host device or display device not shown). (If it is determined that the ink ribbon has not reached the end of its life in steps 102 and 111, the control unit 8 controls the counter 81 to correspond to the ink ribbon life. is updated, and then the remaining life information of the paper journal (not shown) is read via the print section consumption information collection section 73 and compared with the standard life information in the same manner as above (steps 103 to 105). ) The control unit 8 compares the remaining life amount information with the standard remaining amount information, and if the remaining amount is below the standard amount, the process goes to step 111, and if the remaining amount is more than the standard amount, the remaining amount of life information of the paper journal (not shown) is sent. (Steps 106 and 107) Next, the control unit 8 calculates the effective usage period based on the remaining life information, and determines whether it is still usable from the calculation result. If it is usable, the process goes to step 111, and if it is usable, the effective usage period is notified to the higher-level device (not shown), and it is displayed on the display device (not shown), and the series of processing ends. (Steps J08 to J110) Note that the head information collection section 71 sends a consumption information update request to the control section 8 every time the head (not shown) moves once.

Furthermore, in the case where the light source on the light emitting side is an element with a clear lifespan, such as an incandescent lamp, the optical reading section life information collection section 72 sends out the time and number of times the light source is turned on as life information.

The above-mentioned printing section wear information collecting section 73 sends the life/remaining amount information of the ink ribbon and paper journal, which are consumable parts, to the control section 8 as described above.

As mentioned above, it is possible to display the effective usage period of parts that require relatively short replacement time, such as ink ribbons and paper journals, and to notify higher-level devices (not shown) such as the main controller (host side). As a result, long-term unmanned operation can be operated smoothly by knowing the effective usage period immediately beforehand.

In addition, it is possible to prevent system downtime due to the end of the lifespan of consumable parts during unmanned operation, making it possible to improve the reliability of the equipment, and depending on the support of higher-level equipment (not shown). It is used as a predictive function and can further improve maintainability.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to prevent system failure during unmanned operation due to expiry of consumable/consumable parts, thereby improving system reliability.

It is possible to improve maintainability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, FIG. 2 is a block diagram explaining the present invention in detail, FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining the processing procedure in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a conventional block diagram. FIG. 5 shows a diagram explaining an example, and FIG. 5 shows a diagram explaining the situation of consumable/consumable parts. In the figure, 1 is a media inlet/outlet, 2 is a writing/reading part, and 3 is a media inlet/outlet.
is an optical reading section, 4 is a medium operation section, 5 is a printing section,
6 is a stock section, 8.80 is a control section, 70 is a wear/life information collection means, 71 is a head life information collection section, 72 is an optical reading section life information collection section, 73 is a print section wear information collection section, 81 is a 82 is a comparison section (comparison means); 83 is an interface section; and 90 is a memory (storage means). Implementation of the present invention A clear picture on the hand
Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A medium handling means, a medium printing means, a medium suction/ejection means, a writing/reading means for writing/reading on/from a predetermined medium, and a medium conveyance path connecting these are provided, and a predetermined medium used in each of these means is provided. A media control device using consumable/consumable parts having an expiration date, the media control device comprising a consumable/consumable part that collects consumable/consumable life information of the consumable/consumable part.
lifespan information collecting means (70); storage means (90) for storing the reference validity periods of the consumable parts and life-limited parts; counting means (81) for counting the number of times the consumable parts and life-limited parts are used; and the memory. Comparing means (82) is provided for comparing the information of the means (90) and the information of the counting means (81) and transmitting the comparison result information as a lifespan notice, and the validity period of the consumable parts and consumable parts. A predetermined standard period is set in the storage means (90), and the wear/life information collection means (
Media control characterized by counting the number of uses of the consumable parts and consumable parts collected in step 70), and sending out a lifespan advance notice when the counted value matches the set value of the storage means (90). Device.