KR100495786B1 - Token issuing device having hopper - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an RF token issuer. It comprises two or more hoppers equipped with a token ejection device; A discharge passage having a first shutter connected to the token discharge ports of the respective hoppers and controlling a movement of the RF token therein; An intermediate passage installed at a lower end of each discharge passage and provided with a second shutter; An issuing passage extending to the issuing side to be connected to the lower portion of the intermediate passage; A recovery passage leading to the lower end of the intermediate passage together with the issue passage; A switching unit for selectively opening the issuing passage and the collecting passage to guide the RF token to the issuing passage or the collecting passage; An information input unit for inputting corresponding information into the RF token inside the intermediate passage; An information detection unit which checks whether there is an abnormality of previously inputted information in the RF token; A detector for detecting that the RF token is once stopped by the shutter and the switching unit; And a controller that opens the corresponding passage by operating the shutter and the switching unit.

The RF token issuer according to the present invention having the above configuration has two or more hoppers, so that the load of the token discharging device in the hopper is low, and in particular, the RF token in the other hopper is issued while the RF token discharged from one hopper is issued. Since it is located just before the information recording part, the operation time of the token dispensing device is not included in the issuance time of the RF token.

Description

Hopper type token issuer {Token issuing device having hopper}

The present invention relates to a hopper type RF token issuer.

There are many ways to pay the fare for public transport such as buses and trains. For example, a cash payment method for paying a corresponding fee in cash, a ticket payment method for purchasing a token or a ticket for a predetermined amount in advance, and a card payment method using a contactless IC card.

Among the various payment methods, the card payment method pays a fare using a non-contact type IC card, and is particularly convenient for those who regularly use public transportation.

On the other hand, the use of a coin-type contactless IC card (hereinafter referred to as RF token) in place of the contactless IC card is expected to be a future payment method, and various peripheral technologies related thereto have been developed. The RF token has a disk shape having a predetermined diameter and thickness like a normal coin and has a semiconductor chip and an antenna coil connected to the semiconductor chip therein.

The RF token is developed to compensate for the shortcomings of the IC card which is currently used a lot. That is, ordinary IC cards are usually combined with credit cards, which can provide a risk of losing credit cards due to the frequent use of IC cards. Since it is not possible to obtain a new credit card, it is difficult to use the IC card itself.

The RF token is almost always disposable and may be manufactured to be used twice or three times or more in some cases. Here, one-time use or two- or three-time use means the number of times the public transportation is used and means that the RF token can be used as a so-called fixed price. In order to use RF tokens for single use or for 2 or 3 times, the amount of money that can be used the number of times is encoded in the embedded semiconductor chip. When the amount is deducted, RF tokens are collected, re-encoded by the desired amount, and resold.

The method of using the RF token will be implemented with almost the same mechanism as that of the currently used method of train securities. In other words, when passing through the ticket gate to get on the vehicle, the RF token is inserted into the slot of the ticket gate and the RF token passes through the predetermined path inside the gate, and the contents encoded in the semiconductor chip are read out and discharged through the outlet. do.

After collecting the RF tokens discharged as described above, the passer re-injects the RF tokens into the entrances provided at the ticket gates to pass through the ticket gates of the destination station. At this time, the RF token is discharged through the outlet after deducting the amount just used from the amount input to the internal semiconductor chip. If there is no remaining amount after the deduction, RF tokens are not discharged and are collected in the internal collection box.

On the other hand, RF token issuing machines for selling the RF tokens have also been developed as well as known ticket vending machines. There are many kinds of such RF token issuers, and a hopper, an information input unit for inputting a desired amount of money inside the RF token while the RF token is discharged from the hopper and moved along a predetermined path as the buyer pushes a button from the outside. In addition, the information detection unit commonly checks the input information.

The hopper accepts an RF token to be issued and has a token dispensing device therein. The token dispensing apparatus is for discharging tokens more quickly. The token discharging device has a rotary plate intermixing RF tokens and a plate having a hole positioned at a lower portion of the rotary and passing through the selected RF tokens while the rotary rotates.

Since the selection mechanism of the RF token by the rotary is already well known, the description thereof is omitted.

In any case, the hopper exiting from the bottom of the hopper moves along a predetermined path and passes to the purchaser after passing through the information input unit and the information detection unit.

 However, the conventional RF token issuer configured as described above has a problem that the time required for issuing the token is slow because the hopper is used only one, and in particular, the issuing time is not constant. This is because the RF token that is selectively discharged through the token discharging device may pass through the hole at the bottom of the rotary at once, but also passes after the rotary rotates several times instead of once.

Since the time required for input and detection of information on the RF token is very short, the issuing time of the RF token is ultimately dependent on the time when the RF token comes down from the hopper. However, as described above, since the RF token may be discharged from the hopper for a long time, another device for assisting the operation of the token dispensing device, such as a token sorter or a token cassette, may be required for faster issuance of the issuing machine. These separate devices create another problem that greatly complicates the internal environment of the hopper, makes maintenance difficult and causes frequent failures.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the installation of two or more hoppers, the load of the token dispensing device in the hopper is less load, in particular the RF token in the other hopper while the RF token is discharged from one hopper is issued Since it is located in front of the recorder in advance, the operation time of the token dispensing device is not included in the issuance time of the RF token, and the purpose is to provide a highly reliable RF token issuer with quick issuance and constant issuance time.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises: two or more hoppers that accommodate a plurality of RF tokens input from the outside and each of which is provided with a token discharge device for selecting the RF tokens and sending them down through the token outlets; A discharge passage having a first shutter connected to the token discharge ports of the respective hoppers and sliding downwardly extending and selectively discharging the RF token along a predetermined path to control the movement of the RF token therein; It is connected to the lower end of each discharge passage is extended to the lower and passes through the RF token that has been moved as the first shutter of any discharge passage is opened, therein the intermediate passage is provided with a second shutter for controlling the movement of the RF token Wow; An issuing passage extending to the issuing side so as to be connected to the lower end of the intermediate passage to move the RF token passing through the intermediate passage to the issuing port; A recovery passage extending along the lower end portion of the intermediate passage along with the issuing passage and extended to the collecting vessel to move the RF token through the intermediate passage to the collecting vessel; A switching unit configured to selectively open the issuing passage and the collecting passage while stopping the RF token passing through the intermediate passage to guide the RF token to the issuing passage or the collecting passage; An information input unit for inputting corresponding information into the RF token once stopped by the second shutter in the intermediate passage; An information detection unit that checks for abnormality of previously inputted information in the RF token once stopped by the switching unit; A detector for detecting that the RF token is once stopped by the shutter and the switching unit; It characterized in that it comprises a controller for opening the corresponding passage by operating the shutter and the switching unit.

In addition, the conversion unit; And a third shutter positioned between the intermediate passage and the issuing passage and blocking the intermediate passage and the issuing passage, and a fourth shutter positioned between the intermediate passage and the collecting passage and blocking the intermediate passage and the collecting passage. do.

In addition, the detection unit is characterized in that the sensor to sense the fact that the RF token is caught by the first or second shutter or the third or fourth shutter and transmits to the controller.

In addition, each of the shutters is characterized in that the shutter to block the sliding movement of the RF token by projecting in the thickness direction of the RF token from the bottom surface of the RF token sliding sliding in each passage.

Hereinafter, one embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Basically, the present invention distributes the load of the token issuer focused on the hopper by installing two or more hoppers, and prepares to issue an RF token of the other hopper while the RF token of one hopper is issued, thus adding a separate device. It is based on the view that it can steam the overall speed even if not.

1 is a view illustrating the overall configuration and operation mechanism of the hopper token issuer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the RF token issuer according to the present embodiment includes two hoppers 11 and 13 accommodating a plurality of RF tokens therein, and are connected to a lower portion of each of the hoppers 11 and 13 and have a hopper ( 11 and 13 are configured to include a slide (55) for guiding the RF token (R) discharged from the lower portion to a predetermined path to guide the buyer or to the recovery container (not shown).

The slide 55 is an inclined plate that slides the RF token and is connected to the token outlets 14 of the respective hoppers 11 and 13, and the discharge passages 15 and 17 of which the lower ends are gathered together, and the discharge passage ( An intermediate passage 49 leading to the lower end of the 15 and 17, an issuing passage 19 which is connected to the lower end of the intermediate passage 49 and supplies the RF token to the buyer, and an intermediate passage together with the issuing passage 19 The recovery passage 21 is connected to the lower end of the 49.

In addition, a plurality of shutters (23, 25, 27, 29) and sensors (33, 35, 37, 39) are installed in each passage, and the corresponding information is inputted to the RF token moving in the slide ELD on the side of the slide (55). And an information input unit 41, an information detector 43, a controller 45 for controlling the information input unit 41, the information detector 43, and the shutters 23, 25, 27, and 29. do.

Each of the hoppers 11 and 13 is known and has a token discharging device 12 therein, and a token discharging port 14 is provided below the token discharging device 12. The token discharging device 12 is a known discharging device that selects the RF tokens put into the hoppers 11 and 13 and discharges them through the token discharging port 14.

In the present embodiment, two hoppers 11 and 13 are installed, but the number of hoppers may be two or more, and three or four may be applied, including a spare hopper, when space is allowed.

The slide 55 is inclined downward with a width corresponding to the diameter of the RF token so that the RF token R can slide along each passage. However, if the passage corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the RF token can be secured, the slide 55 can be erected vertically.

In any case, the first shutters 23 and 25 are provided in the discharge passages 15 and 17, respectively, and the first sensors 33 and 35 are provided on the sides of the shutters 23 and 25, respectively. The first shutters 23 and 25 are normally closed shutters, and are always closed when there is no signal from the controller 45 to be described later to temporarily stop the movement of the RF token that is brought down from above.

The operating mechanism of the first shutters 23 and 25 may be implemented differently according to the embodiment, and for example, the first shutter may protrude from the bottom surface 51 of the discharge passages 15 and 17 to control the movement of the RF token. Can be. In this case, when the open signal is transmitted from the controller 45, the first shutters 23 and 25 are inserted into the bottom surface 51 so that the RF token can slide down. The operation characteristics of the first shutters 23 and 25 are the same in the second, third and fourth shutters 27, 29 and 31 which will be described later.

In addition, the first sensors 33 and 35 are sensors for detecting whether the RF token is located in the first shutters 23 and 25 and transmitting the facts to the controller 45. That is, if RF tokens are waiting in the first shutters 23 and 25, the facts are transmitted to the controller 45 so that the controller can open the shutter later if necessary, or if there is no RF token, the token ejector 12 It is operated to discharge one RF token in advance.

The second sensor 37 and the third sensor 39 to be described later also inform the controller 45 whether the RF token is hanging on the corresponding shutters 27, 29, and 31 so that the controller 45 can perform an appropriate control operation. To be able.

Lower ends of the discharge passage (15, 17) are gathered in one place and connected to the intermediate passage (49). Of course, the discharge passage (15, 17) and the bottom surface 51 of the intermediate passage 49 has the same plane.

The intermediate passage 49 passes the RF token R which has been moved through the discharge passages 15 and 17 and inputs the corresponding information into the RF token R during that time. The corresponding information means a fee corresponding to the destination button pressed by the buyer. To this end, the intermediate passage 49 is provided with a second shutter 27 and a second sensor 37. The second shutter 27 temporarily pauses the RF token R in order to input the corresponding information into the RF token R sliding downward.

The issuing passage 19 and the recovery passage 21 are connected to the lower portion of the intermediate passage 49. The issuing passage 19 is a passage for sending out the RF token R to the outside of the issuing apparatus, and the collecting passage 21 is a passage for sending the RF token with recovery.

In addition, the issuing passage 19 extends in the same direction as the intermediate passage 49 and the recovery passage 21 takes the form of branching from the intermediate passage 49.

A third shutter 29 is disposed between the intermediate passage 49 and the issuing passage 19, and a fourth shutter 31 is disposed between the intermediate passage 49 and the recovery passage 21. The third shutter 29 and the fourth shutter 31 stop the RF token slidingly moved from the top while protruding from the bottom surface 51, so that the information detector 43 is provided with the information inputted to the RF token. Check for abnormalities.

When the information input unit 41 operates correctly as a result of reading the information and the correct information is input, the information detection unit 43 sends the fact to the controller 45 so that the third shutter 29 is opened and an error is input in the information input unit 41. If so, the controller 45 causes the fourth shutter 31 to be opened.

As a result, the third and fourth shutters 29 and 31 wait with their respective passages blocked, and are selectively opened by signals of the controller 45 so that RF tokens are issued or recovered.

Reference numeral 47 denotes a shutter operation part. The shutter operation unit 47 is responsible for opening and closing the first, second, third and fourth shutters, and may be modified in various ways according to the driving mechanism of the shutter. For example, if the solenoid is applied as a shutter operating mechanism, the electric supply device will be used, and in the case of a lifting or rotating door, a motor or a pneumatic cylinder may be applied. The type of the shutter and the operation mechanism therefor may be modified in any way according to the embodiment.

The information input unit 41 and the information detection unit 43 are known and wirelessly input and detect the corresponding information on a semiconductor chip installed inside the RF token R.

Operation of the RF token issuer according to the present embodiment made as described above is performed as follows.

First, the controller 45 operates the token discharging device 12 in each hopper 11 and 13 to discharge the RF token R into the corresponding discharge passages 15 and 17. The RF token R discharged to the discharge passages 15 and 17 moves downward by sliding the discharge passages 15 and 17 and reaches the first shutters 23 and 25 to stand by in a stopped state. The RF token R is waiting is reported to the controller 45 through the first sensors 33 and 35. If the RF token R is not waiting, the controller 45 operates the token discharging device of the hopper to discharge the RF token.

In any case, when the RF token purchaser presses the token purchase button in the standby state, the controller 35 opens one first shutter so that one RF token flows into the intermediate passage 49. The RF token R moved to the intermediate passage 49 is blocked by the second shutter 27 and stopped again. At the same time, the second sensor 37 informs the controller 45 of the arrival of the RF token R. .

As described above, the first shutter that was opened while the RF token was moved to the second shutter 27 side immediately returns to its original position, and the controller 45 sends a signal to the hopper of the passage where the RF token has exited, so that a new RF token is discharged again to the bottom. Be sure to

On the other hand, the controller 45 causes the information input unit 41 to wirelessly input the corresponding charge to the RF token R immediately after receiving the fact that the RF token R reaches the second shutter 27. The wireless input method also follows a conventional method.

When the operation of the information input unit 41 is completed, the controller 45 opens the second shutter 27. When the second shutter 27 is opened, the RF token R moves downward to reach the third and fourth shutters 29 and 31 to stop. When the third sensor 39 notifies the controller 45 that the RF token R reaches the third and fourth shutters 29 and 31, the controller 45 inputs the information detector 43 to the RF token. Wireless charge information is detected.

The controller 45 determines whether or not the RF token is abnormal through the information detector 43, and if the information input is wrong or there is other abnormality in the RF token, the third shutter 29 is left and the fourth shutter 31 is left. Open to retrieve the corresponding RF token. Of course, if there is no abnormality, the third shutter 29 is opened so that the RF token in which the fee is input is delivered to the buyer through the issuing passage.

After one RF token is issued, even if the person behind it presses the issue button subsequently, the RF token R arrives in the first shutter and waits in advance, so that the RF token is generated without waiting for the operation of the token ejector 12. Departure from the shutters 23 and 25 is immediately delivered to the buyer.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail through the specific Example, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various deformation | transformation is possible for a person with ordinary knowledge within the scope of the technical idea of this invention.

The RF token issuer according to the present invention having the above configuration has two or more hoppers, so that the load of the token discharging device in the hopper is low, and in particular, the RF token in the other hopper is issued while the RF token discharged from one hopper is issued. Since it is located just before the information recording part, the operation time of the token dispensing device is not included in the issuance time of the RF token.

1 is a view illustrating the overall configuration and operation mechanism of the hopper token issuer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

11, 13: Hopper 12: Token ejection device

15, 17: discharge passage 14: token discharge

19: Issuance passage 21: Collection passage

23,25: first shutter 27: second shutter

29: third shutter 31: fourth shutter

33,35: First sensor 37: Second sensor

39: third sensor 41: information input unit

43: information detector 45: controller

47: shutter operation part 49: intermediate passage

51: bottom

R: RF Token

Claims (4)

Two or more hoppers for accommodating a plurality of RF tokens input from the outside and having a token discharging device which selects the RF tokens therein and sends them down through the token discharge port; It is connected to the token outlet of each hopper and the discharge passage provided with a first shutter for controlling the movement of the RF token on the movement path of the RF token by allowing the RF token discharged through the token outlet to slide along a predetermined path. Wow; A second shutter which is connected to the lower end of each discharge passage and receives and passes the RF token moved by opening the first shutter of the arbitrary discharge passage and controls the sliding movement of the RF token on the movement path of the RF token. With an intermediate passage of; An issuing passage extending to the issuing side so as to be connected to the lower end of the intermediate passage so as to receive the RF token passing through the intermediate passage and move to the issuing port; A recovery passage extending along the lower end of the intermediate passage along with the issuing passage and extended to the collecting vessel so that the RF token passing through the intermediate passage can be received and moved to the collecting vessel; A switching unit configured to selectively open the issuing passage and the collecting passage while stopping the RF token passing through the intermediate passage to guide the RF token to the issuing passage or the collecting passage; An information input unit for inputting corresponding fee information into the RF token passing through the intermediate passage; An information detection unit which checks whether there is an abnormality in the fee information previously entered in the RF token once stopped by the switching unit; A detector for detecting that the RF token is once stopped by the shutter and the switching unit; And a controller for operating each of the shutters and the switching unit to open a movement path of the RF token. The method of claim 1, The switch unit; And a third shutter positioned between the intermediate passage and the issuing passage and blocking the intermediate passage and the issuing passage, and a fourth shutter positioned between the intermediate passage and the collecting passage and blocking the intermediate passage and the collecting passage. RF Token Machine. The method of claim 2, And the sensing unit is a sensor that senses the fact that the RF token is once stopped by the first or second shutter, or the third or fourth shutter, and transmits it to the controller. The method of claim 2, And each shutter is a shutter that blocks the sliding movement of the RF token by protruding upward from the bottom surface on which the RF token of the passage slides.