JP2899748B2 - Ticket-vending machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ticket vending machine for selling service tickets such as meal tickets, admission tickets, and boarding tickets or commodity exchange tickets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The prior art will be described by taking a ticket vending machine as an example.

[0003] A method in which a customer purchases a meal ticket in advance at a ticket vending machine and receives food and drink in exchange for the meal ticket is widely used in cafeterias, cafes, and the like, which is useful for saving labor and ensuring ordering and accounting. ing.

[0004] The name of the dining room, the name of the food and drink, the price, the date, etc. are printed on the meal ticket. When a design or lettering character is printed, the distinguishability from the meal ticket relating to other foods is improved. At the same time, forgery is prevented. Such an image such as a symbol is stored in a storage unit of a control device that controls ticketing printing by a ticket vending machine, and this image is called and printed when a meal ticket is issued.

[0005] In a ticket vending machine for printing images, it is necessary to store these images for each food to be provided / sold at the start of use. Further, when changing the type of food or drink in accordance with a change in customer preference or a change in season, it is necessary to update an image. Particularly, in view of the recent spread of high-performance copiers and printers for personal computers, it is desirable to print a relatively complicated image and update it frequently in order to prevent forgery.

[0006] In order to newly input, update and add (hereinafter simply referred to as updating for simplicity) an image to be printed on a ticket, for example, purchase of commercially available image data,
Alternatively, it is necessary to obtain new image data by drawing using a drawing program and a personal computer, and to input the new image data using a floppy disk or the like. If you think that the obtained image is inappropriate or want to make further changes, connect an appropriate display device and operation input device such as a keyboard to the control device of the ticket vending machine, or use a separate personal computer device. In addition, operations such as trimming of unnecessary portions and color matching are performed.

As described above, in order to update an image, unless an existing image data is used as it is, an appropriate personal computer is required, and the operator must be proficient in these operations. . There is a similar problem in updating the print data such as the price.

[0008]

Therefore, in the above-described conventional ticket vending machine, it is difficult for the administrator of the ticket vending machine to obtain image data for printing on a ticket and to change the image and the print content. However, it is difficult unless one owns a personal computer and is proficient in it, and also takes time when it is not difficult. Requesting these operations from a ticket vending machine sales agent or distributor every time the ticket print surface is updated also requires a considerable amount of time and time and costs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a ticket vending machine capable of easily acquiring an image to be printed on a ticket and easily updating the image and the printed contents.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ticket vending machine for storing image data in association with a product number specifying a product or service, and a desired product or service. In a ticket vending machine including a product number selecting unit for a customer to select a product number and an image printing unit for printing image data related to the selected product number on a printing surface of a ticket, a hand scanner and a hand scanner control And an image data overwriting means for storing the image data newly acquired by the image acquiring means in the image data storage means by an overwriting method.

[0011] According to the above configuration, in a ticket vending machine such as a meal ticket, an image printed on a ticket can be easily obtained and updated, and in particular, a complicated personal computer operation and a special external device are not required.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ticket vending machine according to the first aspect, the commodity number associated with the newly acquired image data is changed by the commodity number selecting means every time the image data is acquired. It is specified.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ticket vending machine according to the first aspect, wherein price data storage means for storing price data in association with the product number, and wherein the product number associated with the price data is stored by a customer. When selected, a printing means for printing the price data on the printing surface of the ticket, a numerical value input means for inputting new price data, and a price for overwriting the input price data in the price data storage means Data overwriting means.

According to the above configuration, the image printed on the ticket can be easily updated, and the price printed on the ticket can be easily updated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ticket vending machine of the third aspect, the numerical value input means comprises the product number selecting means.

A ticket vending machine according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the ticket vending machine according to the second or fourth aspect, wherein an image data updating program for updating image data or a price data updating program for executing price data updating. Are stored in a storage medium separate from the operation program storage means for executing the ticket selling operation of the ticket vending machine, and by connecting these storage media to a writing / reading device connected to the ticket vending machine,
It is characterized in that the operation program is switched to the image data update program or the price data update program.

According to the above configuration, no special switching means is required for switching between the ticket vending machine operation program and the image and price update program, and the switching operation is simple.

A ticket vending machine according to a sixth aspect is the ticket vending machine according to the fifth aspect, wherein the storage medium is a floppy disk.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of a ticket vending machine 1 according to this embodiment. The hand scanner 2, the floppy disk drive 21, the price indicator 25, the selection button 26, the ticket issuing unit 3, and the money control unit 4 are directly connected to and controlled by the built-in personal computer 20.

The built-in personal computer body 20 has a memory 22 and a clock 23.

Power supply to the money amount display 25, the ticket issuing unit 3, the money control unit 4, and the built-in personal computer body 20 is performed by the power supply device 10 having the power switch 11.

The selection button 26 is used to select a product or service desired by the customer (hereinafter, referred to as a product). Price data of each product and print data of images and prints to be printed on tickets are stored in the memory 22 in association with each of the selection button numbers (hereinafter, referred to as product selection numbers), and the selection button is depressed. Called by These data in the memory 22 are called from the floppy 6 together with the operation program when the built-in personal computer body 20 is started, and are expanded in the memory 22.

The ticket issuing section 3 includes a roll paper, a roll paper cutter, and a printer, and prints an image and a print retrieved from the memory 22 on a ticket piece cut from the roll paper into an appropriate length.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the ticket vending machine of the embodiment.
On the front of the ticket vending machine 1, a money indicator 25, a bill insertion slot 41, a coin insertion slot 42, a refund lever 43, a plurality of selection buttons 26 in a middle row, and a ticket / change take-out slot 12 in a lower row are provided in an upper row. ing. On each selection button 26,
The names of foods such as “udon” and “Chinese soba” are displayed, and a selection button 2 is displayed at the upper left of each selection button 26.
The number indicating the number 6 is printed. Select button 26
The number indicating the number (product selection number) is numbered 1 at the top left and number 2 at the right.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the printing surface 50 of the ticket 5 printed and issued by the ticket vending machine 1.

The center of the printing surface 50 is an image printing area 51 for printing an image acquired by the hand scanner 2, and the upper, lower, and left sides of the printing area 51 are printing areas. In the example shown in the figure, a ticket issuing serial number printing section 52 is provided on the left peripheral portion, a selection button number printing section 53 and a date printing section 54 are provided on the upper peripheral portion, and the lower portion is provided on the lower side. A restaurant name printing area 55 and a price printing area 56 on which a price is printed are provided at the periphery. The number printed on the price printing area 56 is the value of the price data associated with each product selection number, and is therefore automatically updated by updating the price data. The date number printed on the date printing unit 54 is determined by the clock 23 provided in the built-in personal computer body 20.

The image acquired by the hand scanner 2 includes handwritten characters, pictures, word processing characters, lettering,
Either drawing with a personal computer or cutting from a magazine or the like may be used. The hand scanner 2 is a general-purpose product for a personal computer, has a reading width of about 4 to 10 cm, and reads, for example, an area of 5 cm × 12 cm as an image for the image printing area 51. The image printing area 51 of the ticket 5 is, for example, 1.7 cm × 4.0 cm, and is obtained by reducing the read image to about one third.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining updating of an image printed on the image printing area 51 of the ticket 5.

In step a1, an image update program is started.

First, the front door of the ticket vending machine 1 is opened using a key, and then the floppy disk 61 containing the image update program is inserted into the floppy disk drive 21 with the power switch 11 turned off. Thereafter, the power switch 11 is turned on to start the built-in personal computer body 20.

In step a2, a display urging the user to press down the selection button 26 for designating the product number is displayed on the amount indicator 25. For example, "00" is displayed on the money amount display 25.
“0” flashes or is displayed as “image-selection number?”.

At step a 3, the depression of the selection button 26 is detected, and the commodity selection number is displayed on the price display 25. For example, "3" or "selection button 3" is displayed.

In step a4, an image is acquired by the hand scanner 2.

The hand scanner 2 housed behind the door of the ticket vending machine 1 is pulled out, and an 8 cm × 20 containing characters and patterns is drawn.
The image is read by manually sweeping the area of cm. The read image is stored in the memory 22 in combination with the product selection number.

At step a5, a display prompting the user to select whether to save the updated content and to end the process or to continue updating the image data is displayed on the amount indicator 25. For example, "99
"9" flashes. Or, "End? Continue?" Is displayed.

At step a6, it is detected whether the end or the continuation is selected.

For example, the floppy disk drive 21
The floppy inside is a floppy disk 61 for updating images
If any of the selection buttons 26 is pressed after the disk is replaced with the floppy disk 6 for the operation program, it is determined that saving and ending of the updated contents have been selected.

If the floppy disk is not replaced, that is, if any of the selection buttons is pressed while the image updating floppy disk 61 is inserted, the process returns to step a2 and the image updating is continued.

In step a7, the updated contents are stored in the floppy disk 6 for the operation program, and the image update program is terminated. The update contents are stored in an overwriting method. That is, when image data associated with the same product selection number has already been stored, the already stored image data is deleted and new image data is stored.

In step a8, after confirming the end of the image update program, the power is turned off. For example, the power switch 11 is turned off after confirming that “EEE” or “end” is displayed on the money amount display 25.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating updating of the set price of each product in the ticket vending machine 1 of the embodiment.

In step b1, a print update program is started.

With the power switch 11 turned off, the floppy disk 62 containing the price update program is inserted into the floppy disk drive 21. Thereafter, the power switch 11 is turned on to start the built-in personal computer body 20.

In step b2, a display urging the user to press down the selection button 26 for designating the product number is displayed on the amount indicator 25. For example, "----
"-" Flashes or is displayed as "price-selection number?"

At step b 3, the depression of the selection button 26 is detected, and the selection number is displayed on the price display 25. For example, "3" or "selection button 3" is displayed.

At step b4, a display prompting the operation of updating the price is displayed on the amount indicator 25. For example, "25
The price before update such as "0" is displayed in a blinking state. Or, "Update price input" is displayed.

At step b5, a new price is input. 3
Enter the digit by pressing down the select button. 1
The numbers "1" to "9" are input with the # 9 selection buttons, and "0" is input with the # 10 selection button.

Steps b6 to b9 correspond to steps a6 to a9.
Exactly the same as 9.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the ticket selling operation of the ticket vending machine 1 of the embodiment.

At step c1, the operation program of the ticket vending machine 1 is started.

After inserting the floppy disk 6 containing the ticket selling operation program into the floppy disk drive 21, the power switch 11 is turned on. When the activation of the operation program is completed, a standby state is set. When the operation program is started, the above image data and price data are stored in the memory 2.
2

In step c2, the charge input is detected,
The input amount is displayed on the fee display 25. For example, "3
00 ”is displayed.

At step c3, the depression of the selection button 26 is detected, and the pressed selection button 26 is turned on.

At step c 4, the ticket of the selected commodity selection number is printed and paid out to the ticket / change change outlet 12. At this time, the price display 25 deducts the price of the selected product from the input price and displays the value.

For example, when the first selection button (the one with “1”) is selected, a meal ticket 5 as shown in FIG.
Is issued and the displayed amount "300"
Is subtracted from the price of the first product "250" from "50"
Is displayed.

After issuing the meal ticket, the process returns to the standby state. If there is change, the money is returned to the ticket / change take-out opening 12 by pulling down the refund lever 43.

According to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, when updating the images and prints printed on the ticket and the commodity price, no other device such as a display device or a keyboard is required, and no skill or background knowledge is required. And not. Therefore, anyone can very easily update the printed content of the ticket and the product price.

In the above embodiment, a test print may be performed each time image data is acquired in order to confirm the content printed on the ticket.

In the above embodiment, the product selection number is designated before each of the image update and the price update.
The image and the price can be updated by a series of operations after one designation of the product selection number.

Although only the floppy disk is used in the above embodiment, a storage medium such as a hard disk, a nonvolatile RAM, an overwritable CD, and an MO can be used as appropriate. For example, the operation program of the ticket vending machine is stored on the hard disk, the image update program and the price update program are stored on two floppy disks, respectively, and the settings are made so that the programs are started with priority given to the floppy disk. Can be.

The operation program, image update program, and price update program for the ticket vending machine may be stored on the same floppy disk or hard disk, and these programs may be switched simply by operating a selection button at the time of startup. .

In the above-described embodiment, only the updating of the price has been described with respect to the update of the print contents. However, other contents such as a date, a serial number, and a dining room name can be similarly changed. The kanji canteen name can also be entered using decimal JIS code.

[0064]

According to the present invention, in a vending machine such as a food voucher, an image printed on a voucher and a print can be easily updated for each product selection number,
In particular, there is no need for complicated personal computer operations or special external devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a ticket vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the ticket vending machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a printed surface of a ticket.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining image updating in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining price updating in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ticket vending machine of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ticket vending machine 10 Power supply device 11 Power switch 2 Hand scanner 20 Built-in personal computer body 21 Floppy disk drive 22 Memory 26 Product selection button 3 Ticketing section 4 Money processing section 6 Floppy disk of ticket selling operation program 61 Floppy disk of image updating program 62 Price update Program floppy disk

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image data storage means for storing image data in association with a product number specifying a product or service; a product number selecting means for allowing a customer to select a product number relating to a desired product or service; In a ticket vending machine having image printing means for printing image data relating to a selected product number on a printing surface of a ticket piece, an image obtaining means comprising a hand scanner and a hand scanner control means, and a new image obtaining means by the image obtaining means A ticket vending machine comprising: image data overwriting means for storing acquired image data in said image data storage means in an overwriting manner. 2. The ticket vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the commodity number associated with the newly acquired image data is designated by the commodity number selecting means each time the image data is acquired. And vending machine. 3. A ticket vending machine according to claim 1, wherein price data storage means for storing price data in association with said product number, said price data when said product number according to said price data is selected by a customer. Printing means for printing data on the printing surface of the ticket, numerical value input means for inputting new price data, and price data overwriting means for overwriting the input price data in the price data storage means. A ticket vending machine characterized by the following. 4. A ticket vending machine according to claim 3, wherein said numerical value input means comprises said commodity number selecting means. 5. The ticket vending machine according to claim 2, wherein the image data updating program for updating the image data or the price data updating program for executing the price data updating comprises a ticket vending operation of the ticket vending machine. The operation program to be executed is stored in a storage medium separate from the storage means, and by connecting these storage media to a writing / reading device connected to a ticket vending machine, the operation program is updated to the image data update program or the price. A ticket vending machine characterized by switching to a data update program. 6. The ticket vending machine according to claim 5, wherein said storage medium is a floppy disk.