JPS584396B2 - Card-based sales labor-saving device for gas stations - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sales labor-saving device for a gas service station that uses a customer's ID card to save labor in sales operations or streamline office processing.

In order to save labor in refueling operations at gas stations, or to streamline and save labor when issuing invoices,
Recently, customers are required to have an ID card, and when refueling, it is possible to refuel only by identifying the ID card with a card reader.At the same time, when refueling is finished, a refueling slip is automatically issued, and it is necessary for computer processing. Sales and labor-saving devices for gas service stations that output data on paper tapes or magnetic cassette tapes are becoming widespread.

FIG. 1 shows such a conventional system.

The operation of the conventional example will be explained with reference to FIG.

When a filling station operator receives a card from a customer, asks the customer for the type of oil they wish to refuel, and as a result needs to refuel from the computer 1, the operator presses the switch 3 on the terminal device 17, and then inserts the customer's card into the terminal. Device 17
Insert it into Card League 5.

If it is necessary to refuel from the weighing machine 8, press the switch 10 of the terminal device 18, and then insert the card into the card reader 11 of the terminal device 18.

In this way, when there are multiple weighing machines 1, 2 or 7, 8 for one card reader 5 or 11, the selection of which machine is to be used for refueling is done by switches 3, 4 or 9, 10, and The mechanism is such that one weighing machine corresponds to one switch.

The respective terminal devices 17 and 18 are connected to the weighing machines 1, 2, 7, 8 and TB via the respective cables 6 and 12.
It is connected to the A vending device 13 (described later).

When refueling is completed, the signal is sent to a control device (usually included in the solid interior of the TBA sales device 13 installed in an office).
(not shown) and automatically issues a refueling slip 15.

Printed on this slip 15 are the customer code number read from the ID card, the date of refueling, the type of oil refilled, the amount of oil, the amount, etc.

Next, if the customer who received the refueling purchases car accessories, for example, the operator issues a slip 15 using the TBA sales device 13.

That is, the customer inserts the customer's ID card into the card reader 14 of the TBA sales device 13, and inputs necessary data such as the code and quantity of the sold accessory from the keyboard 16.

The above-mentioned device has the following three problems in terms of operability and the function of the device when the card reader and its surroundings fail.

O Since the relationship between the switch and the weighing machine is always determined to be 1:1, even if the operator happens to be in front of another card reader, he or she cannot move to the original card reader to operate the switch or insert the card. Must.

Therefore, during rush hours, the operator has to run around the filling station to insert the card.

O When a customer purchases accessories, etc., input can only be made from the TBA vending machine installed in the office, so if a customer who has completed refueling purchases an accessory immediately after refueling or while refueling, the operator must enter the information. It is necessary to return to the office and perform the operation.

O Using the example of the equipment in Figure 1, if the card reader of a certain terminal device malfunctions, it will be impossible to refuel from the computer related to that terminal device, which will seriously impede service station operations. The present invention solves these problems and provides a sales labor-saving device that is easier for gas station operators to handle and is more time-efficient.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a sales labor-saving device that can function even if a certain part of the device breaks down.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional example in comparison with FIG. 1, and the basic operation of FIG. 2 is the same as that of FIG. 1.

In other words, it is a device based on a customer's ID card and automatically issues refueling slips and the like.

Reference numerals 51 and 52 in FIG. 2 are respective terminal devices, and their configurations are similar.

In the terminal device 51, 33 to 37 are switches with lamps, and switches 33 and 34 correspond to the weighing machines 31 and 32,
Switches 35 and 36 correspond to weighing machines 41 and 42, and switch 37 corresponds to TBA vending device 53.

Similarly, in the terminal device 52, the switches 43 to 47 are the weighing machines 31, 32, 41, 42 and the TBA vending device 5, respectively.
It corresponds to 3.

The terminal devices 51 and 52 each have a card reader 38.
48 and simple keyboards 39, 49, which include at least a numeric keypad and a start key.

Further, the TBA vending machine 53 also has a switch group 54 corresponding to each weighing machine and terminal device, similar to the terminal device 5L52.

Note that 55 is a refueling slip, 56 is a card reader, and 57 is a keyboard.

Next, its operation will be explained.

If a customer wants to refuel from the meter 31 and parks his car in front of it, the gas station operator receives the ID card, presses the switch 33 on the terminal device 51, and confirms that the lamp on the switch 33 lights up. After that, insert the card into the card reader 38 and start refueling.

When refueling is completed, a refueling slip 55 is automatically issued from the printer of the TBA sales device 53.

The refueling start signal and end signal of the weighing machine 31 and the amount of refueling during refueling are detected by a sensor (not shown) inside the weighing machine 31, and are sent to the terminal device 51 and the TB through the cable 40.
It is sent to the A vending machine 53.

In the case of the terminal device 52, the data is sent via the cable 50.

Detection of the switches 33 to 37 and 43 to 47 of the terminal device 5L52 is performed by a control device inside the TBA sales device 53.

A schematic configuration of this control device is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, a microcomputer 61 (hereinafter referred to as CP)
(referred to as U) executes the next command according to the program stored in the memory 62.

In FIG. 3, 51' and 52' are the terminal devices 51 and 52 in FIG.
This corresponds to a group of switches.

In the program, if the device number of the switch group 51' is A and the device number of the switch group 52' is B, then the program causes the CPU 61 to execute the "input A" or "input B" command and connect the bus 63. The command is sent to the decoder 64
Then, the instruction "manpower A" or "input B" is decoded, and the output of the decoder 64 opens the tristate gate 65 or 66 of the switch group 51' or 52'.

When the tri-state gate 65 opens, the switch group 51'
The on-off status for each switch is carried on a bidirectional data bus 67.

The CPU 61 takes in this value and determines which switch is currently on.

Similarly, when "manpower B" is executed, the state of the switch group 52' can be identified by the CPU 61.

That is, the tri-state gates 65 and 66 are open during the execution of respective input instructions from the CPU 61, and when the CPU 5l moves to the next instruction after the input instruction, the tri-state gates 65 and 66 are closed.

The CPU 61 can only execute one instruction at a certain time, so while executing "input A" it can only issue an open signal to the tristate 65 of "input A"; ” tri-state gate 66 never opens.

In this way, the CPU 61 is always operating, and the "input A"
Since the CPU 61 always executes ``One-Man Power B'' at certain time intervals, the CPU 61 can identify whether the switch groups 51' and 52' are on or off.

After the CPU 61 recognizes which switch has been pressed next, what the CPU 61 should do depends on the timing.

FIG. 4 illustrates the timing for one switch.

In FIG. 4, during the T1 period, a switch is detected and the lamp corresponding to the switch is lit by the CPU 61.

Furthermore, the lamps of other terminal devices corresponding to the same weighing machine or TBA vending machine are also turned on. 1 If the same switch is pressed again during this T1 period, the lamp is turned off by the CPU 61 to notify the operator that the cancellation has been made.

This corresponds to a case where, for example, the meter is switched on for operational reasons, but refueling with that meter is stopped due to some reason.

Note that switches corresponding to the same weighing machine in other terminal devices and other switches in the same terminal device are made not to react.

Next, period T2 is a case where card data is read while the lamp is on.

In this case as well, it is almost the same as the T1 period, but if there is a cancellation mentioned in the T1 period, the card deck must also be cleared.

Next, the T3 period is a case where refueling is started after the T2 period.

In this case, the T3 period may start when the weighing machine motor is turned on, or when a car is detected that has actually refueled with 0.1 liter to 0.5 liter, etc.

In any case, they are basically the same, and once the T3 period begins, the lamp will no longer go out even if the same switch is turned on.

It can also react to other switches on the same terminal device and perform the same operations as the above-mentioned switches.

Next, in the T4 period, when the end of refueling is recognized, all the lamps, including those corresponding to the same weighing machine, go out.
Return to initial state.

It is a good idea to store in the memory 62 a program created by incorporating the timing described above.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart representing the above operation.

In addition, FIG. 6 shows an example of "input A", and the flow is exactly the same in the case of "one-man power B".

In addition, in FIG. 6, a weighing machine 31 in which a terminal device 51 is installed
Weighing machine 32 of the group consisting of and 32 [hereinafter, N
o. 2) is used, and the setting and resetting of timings T1 to T4 refer to the timings shown in FIG.
61 detects and stores in the memory 62 the setting and resetting of a flag indicating the current timing.

With this configuration, when there is a rush of cars during rush hours, the operator can receive cards from each customer and operate all four weighing machines using only the terminal device convenient for him, such as the terminal device 51 in Fig. 2. Bye.

If a customer purchases an accessory while refueling, for example, he or she presses the switch 37 corresponding to the TBA sales device 53 from the terminal device 51, inserts the card, and then inputs the product name code, quantity, etc. using the numeric keys included in the keyboard 39. Then, by pressing the start key, a slip 55 can be issued using the TBA vending machine 53 in the office.

In this case, turning on the start key corresponds to the refueling end signal at the above-mentioned timing as shown in FIG.

Next, if the terminal device 51 fails, the terminal device 5
2 or the TBA vending device 53 can be used to refuel without any problem.

In this case, the operator uses a switch corresponding to each weighing machine of the terminal device 52 or the TBA vending device 53.

With this configuration, the operator's movements will be made more efficient, which will be explained with reference to FIG.

Weighing machine 3L32 at the gas station is the fifth
As shown in figure a, a concrete platform 71 called an island
is installed on top.

Here, as shown in the plan view in FIG.
, 52 and weighing machines 74a, 74b, 74c, 75 are arranged, an operator is waiting at the weighing machine 75, and a car 76 is in front of the weighing machine 74C. In the conventional case, the operator's movements would be to refuel the car 76 using the first terminal device 72 and the weighing machine 74c, as shown by broken lines 77a, 77b, and 77c. However, according to the device of the present invention, the operator can refuel using the second terminal device 73 and the weighing machine 74C as shown by solid lines 78a, 78b, and 78c, and the operator's movements are small. This means that there is no waste.

As described above, according to the present invention, a customer's card can be read and refueled from the card league of any terminal device, and there is no waste in the operator's movements.

In addition, the TBA vending machine can be operated by inputting information from an outdoor terminal device, thereby increasing the efficiency of the operator.

Furthermore, even if the card reader of one terminal device fails, the card reader of the remaining terminal devices can be operated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional device, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a control device in a TBA vending machine, and Fig. 4 is a terminal device and a TBA vending machine. 5 is a diagram illustrating the usage state of the apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart diagram of the CPU. 31, 32, 41, 42...Weighing machine, 33-3
7.43~47...Switch with lamp, 38,
48...Card reader, 39,49...
・Keyboard, 51, 52...Terminal device, 53
... TBA sales device, 54 ... Switch group, 56 ... Card league, 57 ...
·keyboard.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1.In a gas service station with N weighing machines, a plurality of terminal devices are installed near each group so that each terminal device corresponds to a plurality of groups each consisting of a plurality of weighing machines, and each terminal device is is connected to the plurality of weighing machines in each group corresponding to the above, and connected to the TBA sales device, and to each of the terminal devices, a switch corresponding to the intermediary weighing machine of each group and a switch to each weighing machine of other groups is connected to the plurality of weighing machines in each group corresponding to a first switch group consisting of a corresponding switch and a switch corresponding to the TBA vending device; a display section provided corresponding to each switch of the first switch group;
One card reader and one keyboard including a numeric keypad etc. are provided, and the TBA vending apparatus is provided with a second switch group having switches corresponding to the N weighing machines, a card reader and a keyboard, 1. Using the signals of the second switch group and the signals of each card reader and each numeric keypad as input signals, process so that one of the N weighing machines can be specified from the TBA vending machine and each terminal device respectively. 1. A card-based sales labor-saving device for a gas service station, characterized in that it is provided with a microcomputer having a memory in which a program is written.