JP3574177B2 - Ticket processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a ticket processing device used for an automatic payment machine or the like in transportation.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There are various types of automatic payment machines used in transportation, and typical ones are ticket processing devices for processing tickets and commuter passes, and cash for coins and bills. It is mainly composed of a cash processing device, a ticket issuing device for issuing a ticket for passing through an automatic ticket gate (payment settlement certificate), and a control device for calculating shortage or controlling the ticket processing device and the like.
[0003]
When a user inserts a ticket or commuter pass from the ticket insertion slot of the ticket processing device, various magnetic information recorded on the magnetic surface of the ticket or commuter pass is read by the encoding unit in the ticket processing device, and the information is read. Is sent to the control device to calculate the shortage. This shortfall is displayed on the display unit on the front of the automatic checkout machine, and the user is requested to pay the shortfall. At present, as a method of paying the shortage, there is a method using a prepaid card (a prepaid card) in addition to a method using cash. That is, this is a payment method in which the whole or a part of the adjustment difference calculated for the ticket or commuter pass to be settled can be applied by putting an unused coupon into the adjustment machine.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a ticket processing apparatus capable of handling coupons in addition to tickets, commuter passes, and prepaid cards.
[0005]
However, there is a problem to be solved as follows in order to enable handling of coupons in a ticket processing device of an automatic payment machine.
[0006]
In other words, in the automatic payment machine, from the viewpoint of checking for malfunctions by the user, the used coupons and tickets to be collected are processed until the next customer inserts the ticket or commuter pass into the ticket slot. It is necessary to be temporarily held at a predetermined holding unit in the storage.
[0007]
In addition, in the case of coupons, it is preferable to collect them after performing a reuse prevention process such as punching to prevent reuse, while the cancellation button is pressed during the settlement process. Must return the coupons unused. For this reason, it is necessary to hold the coupon in a predetermined holding unit without performing the re-use prevention process until the clearing operation (introduction / insertion of cash, prepaid card or coupon) by the customer is completed.
[0008]
Further, there is a demand for speeding up disposal of waste tickets, downsizing of a ticket processing device, facilitation of handling of waste tickets, and the like.
[0009]
In order to satisfy all of these problems, it is not enough to simply increase the number of processing paths for coupons, and this can be achieved for the first time by the present invention. Note that the ticket processing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to an automatic payment machine, but can be applied to other uses as described later.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Therefore, the ticket processing device according to the present invention is a ticket processing device used for an automatic payment machine that can use a coupon ticket for payment of a shortfall. The first branch transport path and the second branch transport path that branch off from one end of the first transport path and the ticket from the main transport path are sent to the first branch transport path, and the coupon ticket from the main transport path is transmitted to the second branch transport path. A branch claw rotatably provided at a branch portion between the first branch transport path and the second branch transport path so as to be fed into the branch transport path, and a ticket provided in the first branch transport path, A ticket holding unit for holding a coupon, a first coupon holding unit provided in the second branch conveyance path for holding the coupon, and a second coupon holding in the main conveyance path for holding the coupon. A coupon ticket is provided between the coupon ticket holding unit and the first and second coupon ticket holding units. A control device that controls a reuse prevention unit that prevents reuse, a main transport path, a first branch transport path, a second branch transport path, a branch claw, and a reuse prevention unit; It is characterized in that after the coupon is held in the first coupon holding unit, the coupon is held in the second coupon holding unit .
[0012]
[Action]
In the above configuration, tickets such as a boarding ticket and a coupon ticket can be reserved in three places in three places.
[0013]
In addition, since the transport path and the first branch transport path, and the transport path and the second transport path are respectively continuous, the two tickets held there are transported collectively. Can be sent to a waste ticket box.
[0014]
【Example】
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a ticket processing apparatus for an automatic payment machine according to the present invention. The ticket processing apparatus according to this embodiment can handle a ticket, a commuter pass, a prepaid card, and a coupon (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as “tickets” unless it is particularly necessary to distinguish them). Inside the ticket processing apparatus, first to sixth transport paths A1 to A6 each including a plurality of transport rollers and a transport belt wound around these transport rollers are provided. Each of these transport paths A1 to A6 is driven by an appropriate motor (not shown), and can transport a ticket in both forward and reverse directions.
[0016]
A ticket insertion slot (also functioning as a ticket return port) 10 for inserting a ticket is provided at the front of the apparatus, and a first transport path A1 extends from the ticket insertion port 10 to the rear of the ticket processing apparatus. Is extending. In the first transport path A1, an alignment unit 12, an encoding unit 14, a printing unit 16, a card punch unit 18, and card holding units 20 and 22 are provided in this order from the ticket insertion slot 10 side.
[0017]
The arranging unit 12 is for aligning the direction of the ticket inserted from the ticket insertion slot 10 in the transport direction, and also has a function for overlapping a plurality of tickets when returning the ticket.
[0018]
Further, the encoding unit 14 has a magnetic head 24, and the magnetic head 24 reads various magnetic information such as a station name and a use date written on the magnetic surface of the inserted ticket. Various kinds of information read by the magnetic head 24 are sent to a control device (not shown), and are used for calculating a shortage. The magnetic head 24 can also write various types of information, and can update the information written on the magnetic surface when returning a prepaid card or a commuter pass.
[0019]
The printing unit 16 is for printing information such as balance when returning the prepaid card held in the card holding units 20 and 22, and the card punching unit 18 is adapted to use the number of usages when returning the prepaid card. It is for making a hole in the card.
[0020]
In this embodiment, there are two card holding units, and two prepaid cards can be held by the card holding units 20 and 22 until the settlement process is completed. In other words, in the ticket processing apparatus of this embodiment, a maximum of two prepaid cards can be used for the settlement of the ticket.
[0021]
Between the encoding unit 14 and the printing unit 16, a second transport path A2 branches off from the first transport path A1 and extends to a lower part of the ticket processing device. A commuter ticket holding unit 26 for holding commuter tickets until the settlement process is completed is provided in the second transport path A2.
[0022]
The second transport path A2 further branches the third transport path A3 from the first transport path A1 to the commuter pass holding section 26, and the third transport path A3 is It extends to the rear of the processing device. Further, the third transport path A3 is branched at its end into a fourth transport path (first branch transport path) A4 and a fifth transport path (second branch transport path) A5. A ticket holding section 28 is formed in the fourth transport path A4 for holding the ticket until the next customer starts the clearing process. The terminal end of the fourth transport path A4 faces the upper opening of the waste ticket box 30 arranged at the rear of the ticket processing device, and the ticket held in the ticket holding unit 28 is cleared for the next customer. At the same time as the processing is started, it is collected in the waste ticket box 30.
[0023]
The fifth transport path A5 and the third transport path A3 are provided with coupon reservation units 32 and 34, respectively. Further, the fifth transport path A5 is provided with a coupon punching section 36 as a re-use prevention means at an appropriate position between the coupon ticket holding section 32 and the third transport path A3. Holes can be made in coupons.
[0024]
The coupon reservation unit (hereinafter, referred to as “first coupon reservation unit”) 32 provided in the fifth transport path A5 is a portion where the coupon inserted from the ticket insertion slot 10 reaches first. The coupon is suspended (primary reservation) until the clearing operation by the user is completed. Further, the coupon reservation unit (hereinafter, referred to as a “second coupon reservation unit”) 34 provided in the third transport path A3 is a coupon ticket that has been temporarily reserved in the first coupon reservation unit 32. Is a part sent after the coupon is punched by the coupon punching unit 36, and the coupon is held (secondary holding) until the next customer starts the clearing process.
[0025]
Further, in this embodiment, when the customer forgets to take the ticket returned to the ticket slot 10, the lost ticket is automatically sent to a predetermined lost ticket collection unit 38 in the ticket processing apparatus. A sixth transport path A6 is provided between the aligning section 12 and the encoding section 14, which branches from the first transport path A1 and extends to the lost ticket collection section 38.
[0026]
A branch claw 40, 42, 44, 46 is rotatably provided at each branch portion of the transport paths A1 to A6, and is rotated at an appropriate timing by a solenoid (not shown) or the like, so that The transport paths A1 to A6 to which the ticket from the ticket insertion slot 10 should travel can be appropriately switched.
[0027]
In the above-described configuration, it is possible to perform the settlement process in various modes by the control device, and an example thereof will be described below.
[0028]
First, when a ticket or commuter pass is inserted into the ticket insertion slot 10, the ticket or commuter pass proceeds on the first transport path A1, is aligned by the aligning unit 12, is sent to the encoding unit 14, and is transmitted to the encoding unit 14. 24 reads magnetic information on the magnetic surface. Based on this information, the control device determines whether the inserted ticket is a ticket, a commuter pass, or a ticket that is not suitable for processing. As a result, if the ticket is not suitable for processing such as the magnetic information has been deleted, the ticket goes back through the first transport path A1 and is returned from the ticket insertion slot 10. If it is determined that the commuter pass is a commuter pass, the branching claw 40 between the first conveyance path A1 and the second conveyance path A2 is operated, and the commuter pass passes from the first conveyance path A1 to the second conveyance path A1. It is sent to the transport path A2 and is held in the commuter pass holding unit 26. If it is determined that the ticket is a ticket, the branch claws 40 and 42 are operated, and the ticket is transferred from the first transport path A1, the second transport path A2, and the third transport path A3 to the fourth transport path. Proceeding to the road A4, the ticket is reserved by the ticket reservation unit 28.
[0029]
During this time, the control device calculates the shortage from the magnetic information of the ticket, and displays the amount on a display unit (not shown) on the front of the automatic payment machine.
[0030]
Next, the customer pays by cash, a prepaid card, and a coupon or any combination thereof according to the amount displayed on the display unit. In the case of using cash and a prepaid card, as in the conventional case, cash is inserted into a cash processing device (not shown), and the prepaid card is inserted into the ticket slot 10 of the ticket processing device.
[0031]
When the prepaid card is inserted into the ticket slot 10, the card advances along the first transport path A1, and the encoder 14 reads the magnetic information on the magnetic surface. When the control device determines from the result of reading the magnetic information that the prepaid card is not suitable for processing, the prepaid card is returned to the ticket slot 10 as it is. In the case of a normal prepaid card, the prepaid card goes straight through the first transport path A1 and is sent to the card holding section 20, where it is held. Further, the control device recognizes the frequency of use, that is, the balance, from the magnetic information of the prepaid card, and performs processing such as subtraction processing from the shortage. In the illustrated embodiment, since there are two card holding units 20 and 22, if the remaining amount of the first prepaid card is not enough for settlement, another prepaid card can be inserted. The second prepaid card is held in the second card holding unit 22. In addition, when the stored fair card normally processed by the automatic ticket gate is insufficient in balance and needs to be settled, the stored fair card is stored in the card holding unit 20, and in order to compensate for the shortage. The inserted prepaid card can be held in the card holding unit 22.
[0032]
Also when a coupon is inserted from the ticket insertion slot 10 of the ticket processing apparatus, like the other tickets, the tickets are first aligned by the alignment unit 12, and then the magnetic information on the magnetic surface is read by the encoding unit 14. If it is determined from the result of reading the magnetic information that the ticket is not suitable for processing, the ticket is returned to the ticket slot 10 and returned to the customer. In the case of a normal coupon, the control device recognizes the amount of the coupon from the magnetic information and performs a process of applying the amount to all or a part of the settlement amount. Then, the branch claws 40, 42, and 44 are actuated, and the coupon is sent from the first transport path A1 to the fifth transport path A5 via the second transport path A2 and the third transport path A3, The first coupon reservation unit 32 temporarily holds the ticket. The primary reservation in the first coupon reservation unit 32 is released when the clearing operation of the customer is completed (for example, when cash or the like worth the shortage or more is inserted). Thereafter, the coupon passes from the fifth transport path A5 to the third transport path A3, stops at the second coupon reservation unit 34, and is secondarily reserved. The coupon is pierced by the coupon punching unit 36 while the coupon passes from the first coupon holding unit 32 to the second coupon holding unit 34, and is subjected to a reuse prevention process. This reuse prevention processing is not limited to the perforation, and may be a means for printing on the thermal paper surface or erasing magnetic information on the magnetic surface.
[0033]
Thereafter, if the control device determines that the payment of the shortfall by cash, prepaid card or coupon is completed, a ticket for automatic ticket gate passage is issued by a ticket issuing device (not shown), and the ticket is issued to the user. The ticket to be returned is sent to the ticket slot 10, and if there is change, the change is returned from the return port of the cash processing device.
[0034]
The tickets to be returned are a commuter pass and a prepaid card. When these tickets pass through the encoding unit 14, the magnetic information on the magnetic surface needs to be updated by a magnetic head. In the case of a prepaid card, a hole corresponding to the number of times of use is made in the card punching section 18 while proceeding from the card holding sections 20 and 22 to the ticket insertion slot, and the remaining section information and the like are printed in the printing section.
[0035]
When there are a plurality of tickets to be returned, they are stacked in the alignment unit 12 and then protruded from the ticket insertion slot 10 in a superposed state. If the customer forgets to take back the returned ticket, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the user again proceeds along the first transport path A1 to the rear of the apparatus, and the sixth transport path A6 , And is collected by the lost ticket collection unit 38.
[0036]
Even after the prepaid card, the commuter pass, and the change are returned to the user, the ticket or the coupon is secondarily reserved in the ticket reservation unit 28 and the second coupon reservation unit 34. This is because, in the event that any trouble occurs, for example, when a ticket (payment settlement certificate) for passing through an automatic ticket gate is not issued, a ticket or coupon is used to check or confirm the cause. This is because it is preferable to leave it in the transport path.
[0037]
The secondary reservation of the ticket or coupon is released when the next customer starts the clearing operation, that is, when the second customer inserts the ticket or commuter pass into the ticket slot 10. When the secondary reservation is released, the third transport path A3 and the fourth transport path A4 are driven, and the reserved ticket or coupon is released from the end of the fourth transport path A4, and is discarded. Collected in the ticket box 30. In the configuration of the present invention, since the third transport path A3 and the fourth transport path A4 are continuous, this waste ticket operation can be performed in a very short time.
[0038]
The processing steps in the above embodiment are merely examples, and other processing steps can be performed by changing the software of the control device. For example, in the above embodiment, the prepaid card is to be returned to the ticket slot 10 after settlement, regardless of the frequency of use, but when the frequency of use becomes zero, the card at the rear of the ticket processing device is used. It may be collected in the collection unit 48.
[0039]
Further, in the above embodiment, the coupon is also sent to the same waste ticket box 30 as the boarding ticket from the viewpoint of shortening the processing time or collectively discarding the waste tickets in the waste ticket box 30. As shown in FIG. 2, a waste ticket box 30 adjacent to the end of the fourth transport path A4 is dedicated to a ticket, and a waste ticket box 50 for coupons is installed adjacent to the end of the fifth transport path A5. You may. In this case, the ticket and the coupon can be separately collected at the time of the scrap ticket processing. In the configuration of FIG. 2, the same or corresponding parts as those of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0040]
In addition, if the coupon punching device is provided at the position of the first coupon holding unit 32, it is possible to perform drilling without moving the coupon immediately after the primary holding is released, and to perform the secondary holding at that position. Can be. Therefore, in the configuration of FIG. 2, if a coupon punching device is also provided at the position of the second coupon holding unit 34, it is possible to handle up to two coupons.
[0041]
Further, the ticket processing apparatus according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with the magnetic head 24 capable of reading and writing magnetic information. It can be applied to other uses. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 2, a configuration having two discarded ticket boxes 30 and 50 makes it possible to collect a ticket and an erroneously purchased ticket separately, which is convenient for later processing. Further, when changing the erroneous purchase ticket to a ticket of another destination, the insufficient amount can be paid by a coupon ticket.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, when the ticket processing device of the present invention is applied to an automatic payment machine, payment by a coupon is possible.
[0043]
In addition, since a ticket holding unit for secondary holding of a coupon can be provided in a transport path continuous with the ticket holding unit, the coupon and the ticket can be quickly and collectively discarded at the time of scrap ticket processing. Becomes possible. Such batch ticket processing is possible even when the processing path for the coupon is provided separately from the processing path for the ticket, but the end of the processing path for the coupon is processed for the processing for the ticket. Since it is necessary to connect to the path, problems such as an increase in the length of the transport path and an increase in the size of the apparatus occur.
[0044]
Further, since the ticket processing apparatus of the present invention has three ticket holding units, and can selectively send and hold a ticket to any of them, it can be applied to uses other than the automatic payment machine. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing one embodiment of a ticket processing apparatus according to the present invention applied to an automatic payment machine.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the ticket processing apparatus according to the present invention applied to an automatic payment machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... ticket insertion slot, 12 ... alignment part, 14 ... encoding part, 16 ... printing part, 18 ... card punch part, 20, 22 ... card holding part, 24 ... magnetic head, 26 ... commuter ticket holding part, 28 ... boarding Ticket holding unit, 30: waste ticket box, 32: first coupon holding unit, 34: second coupon holding unit, 36: coupon punching unit (reuse prevention means), 38: lost ticket collection unit , 40, 42, 44, 46: branch claws, 48: card collection unit, 50: waste ticket box, A1: first transport path, A2: second transport path, A3: third transport path (main transport) A4: Fourth transport path (first branch transport path), A5: Fifth transport path (second branch transport path), A6: Sixth transport path.

Claims (1)

In a ticket processing device used in an automatic payment machine that can use coupons for payment of shortfalls,
A main transport path for transporting tickets or coupons,
A first branch transport path and a second branch transport path that branch off from one end of the main transport path,
The first branch transport path and the second branch transport path are sent so that a ticket from the main transport path is sent to the first branch transport path, and a coupon ticket from the main transport path is sent to the second branch transport path. A branch claw rotatably provided at a branch portion between the branch conveying paths of
Provided in the first branch conveying path, a ticket holding portion for holding the ticket,
Provided in the second branch conveying path, a first tickets holding unit for holding the coupon ticket,
Provided in the main transport path, and a second tickets holding unit for holding the coupon ticket,
A reuse prevention unit provided between the first coupon reservation unit and the second coupon reservation unit to prevent reuse of the coupon ;
A control device that controls the main transport path, the first branch transport path, the second branch transport path, the branch claw, and the reuse prevention unit,
The ticket processing is characterized in that, after the control device holds the coupon in the first coupon holding section, the coupon is held in the second coupon holding section. apparatus.

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