JP6513856B2 - Control system of pay automatic machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control system of a pay automatic machine for controlling an automatic machine operating with pay such as a coin laundry and a vending machine with cash and points.

  In the coin laundry, by inserting coins into a coin insertion machine provided in a laundry machine such as a washing machine or a dryer, the laundry machine can be operated to perform washing, drying, and the like. Further, in recent years, as described in, for example, Patent Document 1, a coin laundry system capable of performing washing and drying using an electronic money card is known.

  In addition, according to Patent Document 2, it is possible to put cash into operation to operate a pay automatic machine, and impart points according to the use thereof to a point card, and use the provided points to perform paid automatic A cash and point combined pay automatic machine system capable of operating the machine is disclosed. This pay automatic machine system controls the operation of the pay automatic machine based on the detection signal output by detecting the insertion of cash, and is recorded in the detection signal sent from the detection unit and the point card By making the detection signal sent out when using the points the same, the laundry and the points of the point card can be used in combination to make the laundry apparatus operable. Moreover, in this pay automatic machine system, it is possible to set the conversion rate between the points and the refund amount arbitrarily.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-312847 Patent No. 4420829 gazette

  According to the present invention, even if a large number of pay automatic machines are distributed and installed in a plurality of places, the pay automatic which can easily check the operation state of the pay automatic machines without traveling around each installation location The purpose is to provide a control system for aircraft.

  The control system for a pay automatic machine according to the present invention comprises a cash input unit for inserting cash, a cash input detection unit for detecting a cash input to the cash input unit and outputting a detection signal, and a pay automatic based on the detection signal. Control system of a pay automatic machine having a pay automatic machine control unit for controlling the operation of the machine, the point card device connected between the cash insertion detection unit and the pay automatic machine control unit, a point card device, and electricity The point card device monitors the operation status of the pay automatic machine based on the detection signal of the sensor, and the result is sent to the management server. The management server has an operation state display unit for displaying the operation state of the pay automatic machine transmitted from the operation state monitoring unit.

  Thereby, the operation state of the pay automatic machine is monitored based on the detection signal of the sensor that detects the operation of the pay automatic machine, the result is transmitted to the management server, and the operation state of the pay automatic machine transmitted by the management server. Is displayed.

  The point card device connected between the cash insertion detection unit and the pay automatic machine control unit, the management server connected with the point card device and the telecommunication line, and a sensor for detecting the operation of the pay automatic machine The point card device has an operation state monitoring unit that monitors the operation state of the pay automatic machine based on the detection signal of the sensor and transmits the result to the management server, and the management server is transmitted from the operation state monitoring unit. By having the operation state display means for displaying the operation state of the pay automatic machine, even if a large number of pay automatic machines are dispersedly installed in a plurality of places, the pay automatic without traveling to each installation place It becomes possible to easily check the operating condition of the machine.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the toll automatic machine in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the management server of FIG. It is a hardware block diagram of the point card apparatus of FIG. It is another hardware block diagram of the point card apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows a point setting screen. It is a figure which shows a remote control screen. It is a figure which shows a charge amount input screen. It is a figure which shows a failure setting screen.

  1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of a pay automatic machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a management server of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is hardware of a point card device of FIG. FIG. 4 is another hardware block diagram of the point card apparatus of FIG.

  In FIG. 1, the control system 1 of the toll automatic machine L according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a toll automatic machine control unit 10 for controlling the operation of the toll automatic machine L, a cash input unit 11 for inserting cash, and cash insertion Detection of insertion of cash into the unit 11 and detection signal (hereinafter referred to as "coin signal" for convenience, but cash inserted into the cash insertion unit 11 may be not only coins (coins) but also banknotes) Cash insertion detection unit 12, point card device 2 connected between pay automatic machine control unit 10 and cash insertion detection unit 12, management server 4 connected by point card device 2 and telecommunication line 3 , And a management computer (hereinafter referred to as “management PC”) 5 connected by a management server 4 and a telecommunication line 3. When a plurality of pay automatic machines L exist, the point card device 2 is installed for each pay automatic machine L.

  The pay automatic machine control unit 10 controls the operation of the pay automatic machine L based on the coin signal output from the cash insertion detection unit 12. In the present embodiment, the pay automatic machine L is a laundry device such as a washing machine or a dryer. When the existing pay automatic machine L includes the pay automatic machine control unit 10, the cash insertion unit 11, and the cash insertion detection unit 12, a point between the pay automatic machine control unit 10 and the cash insertion detection unit 12 Connect the card device 2. Further, to the power cord of the pay automatic machine L, a current sensor 13 as a sensor for detecting the operation of the pay automatic machine L is connected.

  The point card device 2 stores a setting value storage unit 20 that stores an assignment rate of points according to the coin signal output from the cash insertion detection unit 12 and a card reader / writer unit 21 that reads and writes data from and to the point card C. , Point addition processing unit 22 for adding points to point card C, point use instructing unit 23 for instructing use of points recorded on point card C, and use of points recorded on point card C And a point use processing unit 24 for performing processing.

  In addition, the point card device 2 receives an input signal for detecting cash input (coin signal) output from the cash input detection unit 12 and outputs the same detection signal as for cash input to the toll automatic machine control unit 10, that is, a coin signal. Cash input signal input / output unit 30 for performing a cash input signal, a prohibition signal output unit 31 for outputting a cash input prohibition signal to the cash input unit 11, and a cash input signal input / output unit 30 A charge processing unit 25 for sending out cash to a cashier, a prohibition processing unit 26 for setting prohibition of cash insertion into the cash input unit 11 by the prohibition signal output unit 31, and an operation state monitoring unit 27 monitoring the operation state of the pay automatic machine L And a communication unit 29 that communicates with the management server 4 via the telecommunication line 3.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the point card device 2 is configured by configuring the point addition processing unit 22, the point usage processing unit 24, the billing processing unit 25, the prohibition processing unit 26 and the operation state monitoring unit 27 on the main substrate 32. The arithmetic processing unit (CPU) 33, the display 34 as the display unit 28, the use button 35 as the point use instructing unit 23, the noncontact IC card reader / writer 36 as the card reader / writer unit 21, communication The wireless LAN module 37 as the unit 29 and an input / output interface (I / F) 38 constituting the cash input signal input / output unit 30 and the prohibition signal output unit 31 are provided.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the point card device 2 includes a CPU 33, a display 34, a use button 35, a noncontact IC card reader / writer 36, a wireless LAN module 37 and an input / output I / F 38 on the main substrate 32. In addition to the integrated type in which all are mounted, as shown in FIG.

  The point addition processing unit 22 adds points corresponding to the coin signal output from the cash insertion detection unit 12 to the point card C through the card reader / writer unit 21 in accordance with the point assignment rate stored in the set value storage unit 20. To process. At this time, the coin signal output from the cash insertion detection unit 12 is input to the cash insertion signal input / output unit 30, and the result is transmitted to the point addition processing unit 22.

  When using the points recorded on the point card C, the point use processing unit 24 transmits the same detection signal (coin signal) as that of the cash to be reduced according to the points to be used through the cash insertion signal input / output unit 30. It is sent to the pay automatic machine control unit 10. Further, the point use processing unit 24 subtracts the points to be used from the point card C through the card reader / writer unit 21. The use of the points is instructed by pressing the use button 35.

  The cash input detection unit 12 is configured of, for example, a photo sensor and its detection circuit. When cash is inserted into the cash insertion unit 11, the output of the photosensor is not detected for about 20 milliseconds while the cash passes, and the signal is transmitted as a detection signal (coin signal). The detection signal (coin signal) transmitted from the point use processing unit 24 to the toll automatic machine control unit 10 is the same as the signal detected by the photo sensor. Therefore, in the pay automatic machine control system 1, it is possible to operate the pay automatic machine L by using the cash and the points of the point card C in combination.

  The charge processing unit 25 controls the pay automatic machine control unit through the cash insertion signal input / output unit 30 based on an instruction of the charge instructing unit 41 of the management server 4 described later, the same detection signal (coin signal) as insertion of cash of specified amount. Send to 10 The prohibition processing unit 26 sets prohibition of cash input to the cash input unit 11 through the prohibition signal output unit 31 based on an instruction of the prohibition instruction means 42 of the management server 4 described later. The operation state monitoring unit 27 monitors the operation state (during operation or empty) of the toll automatic machine L based on the detection signal of the current sensor 13 and transmits the result to the management server 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the management server 4 designates the point card device 2 and designates the point giving rate setting means 40 for specifying the point giving rate, and the point card device 2 to specify the designated amount of cash. Charge instruction means 41 for instructing transmission of the same detection signal (coin signal) as that for insertion, prohibition instruction means 42 for instructing the prohibition of insertion of cash by designating the point card device 2, operation state monitoring unit 27 And operation state display means 43 for displaying the operation state of the pay automatic machine L transmitted from the above.

  The management server 4 provides the point setting screen 50 shown in FIG. 5 to the management PC 5 connected by the telecommunication line 3. In the point setting screen 50, a store designation column (pull-down menu) 51 for designating a store, and an equipment number display column for displaying the machine number of each pay automatic machine L installed in the store designated by the store designation column 51 52, a device type display field 53 for displaying the device type (washing machine, washer / dryer, dryer, etc.) of each pay automatic machine L, a manufacturer name display field 54 for displaying a maker name of each pay automatic machine L, each pay Model display column 55 for displaying the model of the automatic machine L, Surface number display column 56 for displaying the plane number on which each paid automatic machine L is installed, Column for displaying the column number in which each paid automatic machine L is installed A number display field 57, a stage number display field 58 for displaying the stage number at which each pay automatic machine L is installed, and a basic point designation field 59 for specifying the rate of giving points in the point card device 2 of each pay automatic machine L Etc It has been kicked.

  The basic point specification field 59 is provided by the point application rate setting means 40, and the management PC 5 designates the point card device 2 of each pay automatic machine L in the basic point specification field 59 and applies it for each use of a predetermined amount of money It is possible to designate the point to be made as a basic point. The point assignment rate designated by the basic point designation field 59 is stored by the point assignment rate setting means 40 in the setting value storage unit 20 of the point card device 2 installed in each pay automatic machine L.

  Further, the management server 4 provides the remote control screen 60 shown in FIG. 6 to the management PC 5. The remote operation screen 60 displays a store designation column (pull-down menu) 61 for designating a store and an equipment number display column for displaying the machine numbers of the respective pay automatic machines L installed in the store designated by the store designation column 61 62, an apparatus name display field 63 for displaying the device name of each pay automatic machine L, a position display field 64 for displaying the position of each pay automatic machine L, a first state display field for displaying the state of each pay automatic machine L 65, a charge button 66 for performing a charging operation of each pay automatic machine L, a failure setting button 67 for performing a failure setting of each pay automatic machine L, and a second state display field 68 for displaying an icon of the state of each pay automatic machine L Etc. are provided.

  When the charge button 66 of each pay automatic machine L is pressed (clicked), the charge instruction means 41 provides the charge amount input screen 70 shown in FIG. 7 to the management PC 5. When the charge amount is input in the charge amount specification field 71 of the charge amount input screen 70 by the management PC 5 and the charge button 72 is pressed, the same as the cash input of the charge amount (specified amount) input in the charge amount specification field 71 The charge instructing means 41 instructs the point card device 2 of the designated toll automatic machine L to transmit a detection signal (coin signal). The charge processing unit 25 of the point card device 2 sends a coin signal to the toll automatic machine control unit 10 through the cash insertion signal input / output unit 30 based on the instruction of the charge instruction unit 41.

  Further, when the failure setting button 67 of each pay automatic machine L is pressed (clicked), the failure instructing screen 42 shown in FIG. 8 is provided to the management PC 5 by the prohibition instruction means 42. When the use stop button 81 of the failure setting screen 80 is pressed by the management PC 5, the prohibition instruction means 42 instructs the point card device 2 of the designated pay automatic machine L to prohibit the insertion of cash into the cash slot 11. Ru. The prohibition processing unit 26 of the point card device 2 sets the cash input prohibition to the cash input unit 11 through the prohibition signal output unit 31 based on the instruction of the prohibition instruction means 42.

  On the other hand, when the failure release button 82 of the failure setting screen 80 is pressed by the management PC 5, cancellation of the prohibition of entering cash from the prohibition instructing means 42 to the point card device 2 of the designated pay automatic machine L to the cash slot 11 is cancelled. Will be instructed. The prohibition processing unit 26 of the point card device 2 cancels and sets the cash input prohibition to the cash input unit 11 through the prohibition signal output unit 31 based on the instruction of the prohibition instruction means 42.

  The first status display column 65 and the second status display column 68 shown in FIG. 6 are transmitted from the operation status monitoring unit 27 of the point card device 2 of each pay automatic device L by the operation status display means 43. The operating state is displayed. In the first status display field 65, the operation status is displayed by characters. In the second status display field 68, the operating status is displayed by a color-coded icon.

Next, the operation of the control system 1 of the pay automatic machine L configured as described above will be described.
The point assignment rate is set in advance in the set value storage unit 20 of the point card device 2 of each pay automatic machine L, but the point assignment rate is as described above for the management PC 5 to the management server 4 It is possible to connect and set arbitrarily by the point provision rate setting means 40.

  When operating the pay automatic machine L only with cash, when the user inserts cash such as 100 yen coin or 500 yen coin into the cash insertion unit 11, the cash insertion detection unit 12 detects the insertion of cash and the detection signal indicates It is sent to the pay automatic machine control unit 10. The pay automatic machine control unit 10 receives this detection signal, and operates the pay automatic machine L based on the detection signal.

  Further, the point card device 2 acquires points according to the detection signal output from the cash insertion detection unit 12 according to the point assignment rate stored in the set value storage unit 20 and displays the points on the display unit 28. Here, when the user holds the point card C over the card reader / writer unit 21 of the point card device 2, the point addition processing unit 22 adds the acquired points to the point card C through the card reader / writer unit 21.

  When using cash and points in combination or using only points, the user holds the point card C over the card reader / writer unit 21 of the point card device 2, and the point card device 2 enters the point card C through the card reader / writer unit 21. The recorded point is read and displayed on the display unit 28.

  The user can designate a point to be used by the number of times the use button 35 is pressed. Then, when the user holds the point card C over the card reader / writer unit 21 of the point card device 2, the point use processing unit 24 of the point card device 2 subtracts the points to be used from the point card C through the card reader / writer unit 21. At the same time, the same detection signal as that of the input of cash to be reduced according to the point to be used is sent to the toll automatic machine control section 10 through the cash input signal input / output section 30.

  Here, when the amount of money is insufficient by using only points, it is possible to operate the pay automatic machine L by inserting cash in the same manner as described above. When cash is inserted, the points corresponding to the detection signal output from the cash insertion detection unit 12 are acquired points and displayed on the display unit 28 according to the point assignment rate stored in the set value storage unit 20 as described above. Since the point card C is held over the card reader / writer unit 21 of the point card device 2, the point addition processing unit 22 adds the acquired points to the point card C through the card reader / writer unit 21.

  As described above, according to the control system 1 of the pay automatic machine L in the present embodiment, the point card device 2 is designated by the management server 4 and the point assignment rate is set. The points corresponding to the detection signal output from the cash input detection unit 12 are added to the point card C through the card reader / writer unit 21 in accordance with the set point provision rate. Therefore, even when a large number of pay automatic machines L are dispersedly installed in a plurality of places, it is possible to easily change the setting rate of points without going around each installation place.

  Further, in the control system 1 of the pay automatic machine L in the present embodiment, the management server 4 designates the point card device 2 and instructs the charge instructing means to send out the same detection signal as the insertion of the specified amount of cash. 41 and the point card apparatus 2 has the charge processing unit 25 which sends the same detection signal as the insertion of cash of the designated amount to the pay automatic machine control unit 10 based on the instruction of the charge instruction means 41 of the management server 4 Therefore, even if a large number of pay automatic machines L are dispersedly installed in a plurality of places, it is possible to easily operate the pay automatic machines as if the specified amount of cash is inserted without traveling around each installation site. Is possible.

  Further, in the control system 1 of the toll automatic machine L in the present embodiment, the management server 4 has the prohibition instruction means 42 for instructing the prohibition of the insertion of cash by specifying the point card device 2, and the point card Since the device 2 has the prohibition processing unit 26 which sets the prohibition of cash insertion to the cash input unit 11 based on the instruction of the prohibition instruction means 42 of the management server 4, when the toll automatic machine L breaks down, etc. Even in the case where the pay automatic machines of the present invention are dispersedly installed in a plurality of places, it is possible to easily set the cash input prohibition without going around each installation place and to put the use stop state.

  Further, in the control system 1 of the pay automatic machine L in the present embodiment, the point card device 2 detects the operation of the pay automatic machine L based on the current sensor 13 and the detection signal of the current sensor 13. An operation state monitoring unit 27 that monitors the operation state and transmits the result to the management server 4, and the operation that the management server 4 displays the operation state of the pay automatic machine L transmitted from the operation state monitoring unit 27 By having the status display means 43, it is possible to easily check the operating condition of the pay automatic machine L without traveling around each installation location even if a large number of pay automatic machines L are installed in a dispersed manner at a plurality of locations. It is possible.

  The control system of the pay automatic machine of the present invention is useful as a system for controlling pay automatic machines operated with pay such as coin laundry and vending machines by cash and points.

C point card L pay automatic machine 1 control system 2 point card device 3 telecommunication line 4 management server 5 management PC
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 pay automatic machine control part 11 cash insertion part 12 cash insertion detection part 13 electric current sensor 20 setting value storage part 21 card reader writer part 22 point addition processing part 23 point utilization instruction part 24 point use processing part 25 charge processing part 26 prohibition processing Unit 27 Operation status monitoring unit 28 Display unit 29 Communication unit 30 Cash input signal input / output unit 31 Prohibited signal output unit 32 Main board 33 Central processing unit 34 Display unit 35 Use button 36 Noncontact IC card reader / writer 37 Wireless LAN Module 38 Input / output interface 40 Point assignment rate setting means 41 Charge indication means 42 Prohibition indication means 43 Operation state indication means

Claims (3)

A control system of a laundry device comprising: a device having an IC card reader / writer unit and a communication unit arranged corresponding to each of a plurality of laundry devices, and a management server for collecting information on the operation status of the plurality of laundry devices. There,
Each of the plurality of laundry apparatuses includes a cash input unit for inputting cash, a cash input detection unit for detecting an input of cash into the cash input unit and outputting a detection signal of the cash input, and a detection signal of the cash input Control of the operation of the laundry machine in response to the input of
The device having the IC card reader / writer unit and the communication unit transmits the same signal as the detection signal to the laundry device control unit based on the information read by the IC card reader / writer unit and is connected. Output information indicating whether the laundry equipment is in operation,
The laundry device control unit controls the laundry device in response to the input of the same signal as the detection signal of cash input output from a device having a corresponding IC card reader / writer unit and a communication unit. And
The management server is operating each of the plurality of laundry apparatuses using information indicating whether the laundry apparatus output by the apparatus having the IC card reader / writer section and the communication section is in operation. A control system for a laundry apparatus, comprising: generating operation information indicating whether or not the operation information is provided to a terminal having a display device connected to the management server via a telecommunication line. Each of the plurality of laundry devices has an equipment number for identifying the plurality of laundry devices,
The control system according to claim 1, wherein the management server creates the operation information in association with an equipment number for identifying the plurality of laundry apparatuses.   The control system of the laundry apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the IC card reader / writer unit is non-contact type.