JP2962971B2 - Equipment card control system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided in conjunction with a coin-operated device (hereinafter referred to as a coin device) such as a washing machine and a dryer of a coin laundry, and uses the coin device with either a coin or a prepaid card. The present invention also relates to a card control system for a device for enabling the device to operate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a card control system for a coin device of this kind, there has been disclosed a system capable of operating a coin device using a prepaid card (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-343160). In this technique, a card controller has one start key, and a predetermined operation mode is executed by inserting a prepaid card and pressing a start key.

Generally, coin machines such as washing machines and dryers having only a single operation mode have a structure in which a predetermined operation starts immediately upon detection of insertion of a coin by a checker. , Usually without a start key. Therefore, when such a coin device is operated using a prepaid card, a coin pseudo signal, that is, a start output signal is output from the card controller side to the coin device side with one start key prepared in the card controller. Then, the operation of the coin device is started.

[0004]

However, for example,
In a clothes dryer having two drying chambers which can be used independently below, in order to operate this with coins, after inserting a coin, each of the upper and lower drying chambers provided on the clothes dryer side. The dedicated start key may be selected, but it is also desirable that the upper or lower drying chamber can be selectively used even when this is operated with a prepaid card by one card controller. Also, in a washing machine, if different operation modes such as a water washing course, a hot water washing course, and a detergent automatic feeding course are provided, the washing machine is provided with a start key dedicated to each course. It works by selecting one, but this
It is also desirable that the card controller can be selectively used when operated with a prepaid card by the base card controller.

However, in order to enable the use of such a prepaid card, a plurality of start keys for selecting the upper and lower drying rooms or each of the courses are prepared on the card controller side. Although the number of start keys required varies depending on the type of coin device, it is necessary to prepare the maximum number of start keys required for coin devices to increase the versatility of the card controller However, there is a problem that the increase in manufacturing cost and the increase in size are inevitable. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances,
The purpose is to store start key information from each of one or a plurality of start keys prepared in the device, that is, an instruction input in a memory, thereby eliminating the need for a start key on the card controller side. It is an object of the present invention to provide a card control system for a device which enables simplification and reduction of manufacturing cost.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card control system for a device which selects from a plurality of operation modes.
Device that operates based on the selected desired operation mode
A main body and the selected operation provided on the main body of the device;
A memory for storing a mode as instruction content, and a control unit for controlling the apparatus in accordance with instruction contents, and a card controller for operating the device in turned cards, the card controller is stored in the memory The amount of coins inserted and the card money based on the instructions
The total amount corresponds to the amount required to operate the device
Means for determining whether or not, and means for emitting a start output signal to the control unit so if the amount is sufficient to operate the device based on the instruction content, before when the amount is insufficient
Means for invalidating the contents of the instruction .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a card control system for a device, comprising: a device operating with a coin inserted; a memory for storing instruction content; a control unit for controlling the device in accordance with the instruction content; A card controller for operating with the inserted card, wherein the card controller is configured to execute a coin and / or a card of an amount corresponding to an amount required to operate the device based on the instruction content stored in the memory. Means for determining whether or not there is, a means for issuing a start output signal to the control unit to operate the device based on the contents of the instruction if the amount is sufficient, and a means for resetting the memory when the amount is insufficient. Means for outputting an instruction invalidation signal, and coins if there are inserted coins and / or cards corresponding to the amount required to operate the device. Means for outputting a unique start output signal corresponding to each type of card, and the control means resets the memory when the instruction invalidation signal or the start output signal is not obtained within a predetermined time. And characterized in that:

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the contents of the instruction input to the device are stored and stored in the memory, so that the card controller can easily determine whether the amount of money for operating the device is sufficient or not. The operation can be performed, and the start key for inputting an instruction to the card controller is not required.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, if there is a failure in the equipment card controller or the like, and the start invalidation signal and the start output signal are not input for a predetermined time, the contents of the memory can be automatically released. Can be prevented from being performed.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of a card control system for a device according to the present invention. In FIG. Card controllers 11, 21 represent respective microcomputers.

The microcomputer 11 of the control unit 1 has start keys 12, 13, and 14 for selecting a plurality of operation modes having different usage fees, a specification changeover switch 15 for switching according to each of coins and prepaid cards, and setting a usage fee. A setting switch 16 to be turned on, a checker 17 for detecting inserted coins, a display 18 for displaying driving information such as remaining driving time, and the like are connected. The specification switch 15 switches to the coin mode when using only coins, and switches to the card mode when using coins and / or cards.

Although not shown in the drawing, the microcomputer 11 is provided with a memory for storing information on the pressed start key when one of the start keys 12, 13, 14 is selected and pressed. I have. For example, when operating using coins, the coin detector is detected by the checker 17 and the start keys 12, 13, 14 corresponding to the amount of the inserted coins.
Is selected, a start output signal is generated and the operation of the coin device is started, and the display 18 displays driving information such as the remaining operation time.

On the other hand, the microcomputer 21 of the card controller 2 takes in a prepaid card inside,
Also, a card driving unit 22 for sending out to the outside, a card reader 23 for reading the remaining amount information of the prepaid card, a card writer 24 for writing the same, a setting switch 25 for setting a usage fee corresponding to each of the start keys 12, 13, and 14, an amount information The display 26 for displaying the data and the like is connected. Then, a start output signal (coin pseudo signal) for starting the coin device and a start output invalid signal for resetting the memory in the microcomputer 11 are given from the microcomputer 21 to the microcomputer 11 on the coin device side. Conversely, the microcomputer 11 gives the microcomputer 21 start key information which is the content of an instruction given to the coin device through the start key.

The above-mentioned start output signal has a form as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram showing a start output signal per unit amount, that is, a coin pseudo signal when a coin is used, when a standard card (prepaid card) is used, when a member card is used, and when a monitor card is used. When using coins, the pulse width is as shown in Fig. 2 (a).
30 msec, the pulse width is 60 msec when using the standard card, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the pulse width is 90 msec as shown in FIG. 2 (c) when using the member card, and the pulse width is as shown in FIG. 2 (d) when using the monitor card It outputs a pulse signal of 120 msec. Note that the pulse interval is
It is fixed at 50 msec. Such start output signals are individually integrated by an event counter (not shown) in the microcomputer 11 in the control unit 1. Therefore, the administrator can easily obtain usage information such as coins and card types by monitoring the contents of the integration by the event counter.

[0015] In such a card control system for a device, after inserting a coin and / or setting a prepaid card, one of the start keys 12, 13, 14 prepared in the coin device is operated. When selected, information on the selected start key is stored in the memory of the microcomputer 11 and is also given to the microcomputer 21. Upon receiving the information of the start key, the microcomputer 21 of the card controller 2 performs basic processing such as a reduction processing on the prepaid card, and then outputs a coin dummy signal to the coin device side. Microcomputer 11
When a coin pseudo signal is obtained from the card controller 2, the start key memory is checked and the coin device starts the operation mode corresponding to the stored start key information.

On the other hand, if the card controller 2 does not have enough money to execute the operation mode corresponding to the selected start key, the card controller 2 outputs a start key invalid signal to the coin device, and outputs the start key invalid signal to the coin device. Receives this, resets the above-mentioned start key memory, and waits for the next start key to be pressed.

If the card controller 2 has a failure or connection error and neither the coin pseudo signal nor the start key invalid signal is received by the coin device for a predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds), the start key memory of the coin device is Automatically reset.

The coin pseudo signal from the card controller 2 is a signal having a different pulse width depending on the type of the coin, the use of the card, and the type of card such as a prepaid card, a monitor card, a member card, etc. The manager can easily monitor the usage information for each coin, card, and card type by integrating the event counters provided in the event counter.

Next, the processing steps of the microcomputer of the coin machine will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, an initialization process is performed (step S1), and it is determined whether or not the mode is a card mode using a prepaid card or the like (step S2). If the mode is not the card mode, the coin mode is executed (step S3). If the mode is the card mode, it is determined whether any of the start keys 12, 13, and 14 has been pressed (step S4). Either when the start key 12, 13, 14 is pressed to set the set time that is set to the timer T ₁ in advance, determines the type of the start key, and stores the start key information into the memory, the start The key information is output to the microcomputer 21 (Step S5).

It is determined whether or not there is a coin pseudo signal.
(Step S6) If there is a coin false signal, operate the device.
(Step S7), start key memory, timer
ー T ₁Are reset (step S8), and the pulse width
The number of pulses is added to the event counter (step S9),
It is determined whether the operation has been completed (step S10). Also step
If there is no coin false signal in step S6,
It is determined whether or not there is a signal invalid signal (step S11).
Timer T₁, Start key memory
Set (step S12), if not, timer T
₁Is determined whether or not 15 seconds have elapsed (step S13), and 15 seconds
If not, return to step S6 and wait 15 seconds.
Timer T if over₁, Start key memory
Reset (step S12), and return to step S2 to
Repeat the process.

Next, the processing procedure of the microcomputer 21 in the card controller will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, initialization processing is performed (step S2
1), determine whether or not a coin has been inserted (step S2)
2). If a coin has been inserted, the amount of the inserted coin is stored in the memory, and the inserted amount is displayed on the display 26 (step S23) .If no coin has been inserted, the remaining amount is directly stored on the prepaid card. It is determined whether or not there is (step S24). If there is, the total amount of the card balance and the inserted coins is displayed on the display 26 (step S25), and it is determined whether or not start key information has been input (step S26).

If there is no input of the start key information, the process returns to step S22. If there is, it is determined whether or not the total amount is less than the amount corresponding to the start key information (step S27). Use up all of the inserted coins and reset the coin inserted memory (Step
S28), determine whether or not only the inserted coin amount is sufficient
(Step S29). If not, the shortage is taken from the prepaid card, the prepaid card is deducted (step S30), and a coin pseudo signal for each card and coin is output (step S31), and the prepaid card is returned (step S31). S32).

If it is determined in step S27 that there is no valid balance, a start key invalid pulse is output (step S33), and it is determined whether or not there is a coin amount (step S33).
(S34), hold the coin insertion amount memory (step S35),
In step S32, the prepaid card is returned.

[0024]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the selected operation mode is stored in the memory of the control unit, and the operation mode in which the inserted coin and / or the amount of the card is selected is executed. If the required amount is insufficient, the operation mode is executed, and if the amount is insufficient, the instruction is invalidated. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a start key on the card controller side, and the cost of parts can be reduced. Therefore, the present invention can provide excellent effects such as downsizing as a whole, and unification of card use methods for users, and good usability.

In the second invention, the type of card,
Since there is provided a means for outputting a unique start output signal for each coin, the use information of each of the coin and the card can be obtained based on the means, thereby facilitating business management, and identifying the necessary signal for each type. Thus, effects such as reduction of the interface can be obtained. Further, when the start invalidation signal and the start output signal are not obtained within a predetermined time, the present invention has excellent effects such as resetting the memory to cancel the instruction content and enabling resetting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device card control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram showing output signals for coins and cards and card types;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a coin device to be controlled by the control system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a card controller used in the control system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Coin device control unit 2 Card controller 11 Microcomputer 12,13,14 Start key 15 Specification switch 16 Setting switch 17 Checker 21 Microcomputer 22 Card drive 23 Card reader 24 Card writer 25 Setting switch

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A location selected from a plurality of operation modes.
A coin device body that operates based on a desired operation mode,
The selected operation mode is provided on the main body of the device.
A memory for storing as the instruction contents, and a control unit for controlling the apparatus in accordance with instruction contents, and a card controller for operating the device in turned cards, the card controller is stored in the memory Sum of the amount of coins inserted and the amount of the card based on a certain instruction
Means for determining whether the amount is equivalent to the amount required to operate the device, means for issuing a start output signal to the control unit to operate the device based on the instruction content if the amount is sufficient, and but the instruction in the case of shortage
Means for invalidating the contents of the device. 2. The card controller according to claim 1, wherein said card controller has means for outputting a unique start output signal corresponding to the type of coin or card when there are inserted coins and / or cards corresponding to the amount required for operating the device. The card control system for a device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. A device which operates with a coin inserted, a control unit which has a memory for storing instruction contents and controls the device in accordance with the instruction contents, and a card controller for operating the device with the inserted card. Means for determining whether or not there is an inserted coin and / or a card corresponding to the amount required to operate the device, based on the instruction content stored in the memory; Means for issuing a start output signal to the control unit to operate the device based on the content of the instruction if the amount is sufficient; means for outputting an instruction invalidation signal for resetting the memory when the amount is insufficient; and If there are coins and / or cards of an amount corresponding to the amount required to operate, a unique start out according to the type of coin or card Means for outputting a force signal, and wherein said control means comprises means for resetting said memory when said instruction invalidation signal or start output signal is not obtained within a predetermined time. Control system.