JPS6013223B2 - Transaction settlement device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to a transaction settlement device.

In recent years, unmanned supermarkets, which are equipped with a large number of vending machines, have appeared in order to save labor and operate during two-hour business hours. In such a case, if the vending machine uses coins,
Since each machine must have a coin recognition function, the structure of the vending machine becomes complicated and expensive. Therefore, it is conceivable to use a card that can be used in common with many vending machines.

For example, a card is provided with a card issuing machine, and when a purchaser inserts a desired amount of banknotes into the card, the value corresponding to the inserted amount is magnetically recorded and issued. This card can be used in common with many vending machines, and each time an item is purchased, the amount of the purchased item is subtracted from the value given to the card, and the monetary value is recorded. Finally, by inserting the card into the payment machine, cash in an amount corresponding to the value of the card used is discharged from the payment machine and paid as change. When a power card such as the one described above is used in a vending machine, there is a risk that the card may be used for exchanging money rather than for purchasing goods.

Settlement machines are originally intended for dispensing change, so they store relatively small amounts of banknotes, coins, Tatepa 1,000 yen bills, 100 yen coins, 10 yen coins, etc. For example, if you insert a yen bill into a card issuing machine and receive a card with the corresponding value, and then insert this card into the payment machine without using it to purchase goods, the payment machine will eject 1,000 yen bills. Must be. On the other hand, if you use a card that has been given a value of yen and purchase goods for 200 yen, which is less than 10% of that amount,
After that, when you insert this card into the totalizing machine, the machine must eject nine thousand yen bills and eight hundred yen coins. When the card is used as described above, change notes and
Even if a considerable amount of coins are prepared, there is a risk that they will be released quickly.

This invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a transaction settlement device that suppresses as much as possible the exchange of money using a card for use in a vending machine. be.

In other words, when a card is inserted into a transaction settlement device, if the card has not been used to purchase any goods or the purchase amount is less than a predetermined amount, the card will not be paid in full in cash. To provide a transaction settlement device in which part of the amount is paid in a machine-discernible token, so that even if it is used for the purpose of exchange, the entire amount cannot be exchanged and a part is paid in the token. By doing so, it can be expected that the use of the card for the purpose of exchanging money will be suppressed. In order to achieve the above object, this invention provides a payment machine with a card's initial (at the time of issuance)
means for setting the value assigned to the card; means for reading data substantially representing the purchase amount from a file accessed from time to time on the card or the car; means for comparing the set value with the purchase amount; Means for discharging machine-discernible tokens representing a portion of the original value when the purchases do not reach a predetermined amount, and means for discharging the remaining value in cash are provided.

With the above configuration, the value initially assigned to the card at the payment machine is set in the setting means, and the purchase amount is deducted from the amount of the item purchased by the card, or from the value initially assigned. The residual value in use is read by the negotiation means and compared by the comparison means.

As a result of the comparison, if the purchase amount is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount (for example, 10% of the initial assigned value), the amount corresponding to the remaining value of the card (remaining value) is released in cash. However, if the purchase amount is zero or does not meet the predetermined amount, a portion of the initial assigned value, for example 10%, will be released as a token, and the amount paid in tokens will be deducted from the residual value. The balance after deducting the amount is released from the cash release means. Embodiments illustrating the present invention will be described in detail below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one example of a device for issuing cards used in the present invention, in which 1 is a banknote discriminator, 2 is a token discriminator, 3 is an OR circuit, and 4 is an adder. , the discrimination information of the discriminators 1 and 2 is input to the adder 4 via the OR circuit 3.

5 and 6 are total registers, and the addition information of the adder 4 is input into the total registers 5 and 6, and the contents of the register 5 are input to the adder 4, and the discrimination is input to the adder 4 via the OR circuit 3. It is added to the information.

7 is a comparator, 8 is an upper and lower limit setter, and the contents of the register 6 and the information set in the setter 8 are input to the comparator 7 and compared.

One output signal A of the comparator 7 is applied to the discriminators 1 and 2 as a bill insertion prohibition signal, and the other signal B is applied to the AND gate 1.
The gate input is 0. Reference numeral 9 denotes a supply end signal pushbutton, and a signal generated by pushing the pushbutton 9 is input to an AND gate 10.

11' is an AND gate, the output of AND gate 10 is input to the gate, and the contents of registers 5 and 6 are input.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a card reader, into which the output of the AND gate 11 is input. Card read 12 writes, card issues (transport)
It has the following functions. Next, the operation will be explained.

The upper and lower limit setter 8 is set with information indicating the upper limit value of the value given to the card, for example, 20,000 yen, and information indicating the lower limit value of zero, and the comparator 7 compares the contents of the register 6 with the information indicating the lower limit value of zero. The set value of the setter 8 is compared, and when the contents of the register 6 is zero, no signal is generated, and when it is greater than zero and less than the upper limit value, a signal B is output, and this signal B is applied to the AND gate. 101
Open this with great luck. Further, when the contents of the register 6 reach the upper limit value, a signal A is outputted and added to the discriminators 1 and 2, and prohibits further insertion of banknotes and tokens.
Until then, no input prohibition signal has been applied to the discriminators 1 and 2. When a banknote is inserted into the discriminator 1 or a token is inserted into the discriminator 2, the discriminator 1 or 2 determines the value of the inserted banknote or token and outputs that information.
It is added to the adder 4 via the OR circuit 3. However, discriminator 1
and 2 do not output information at the same time. The information from the discriminator 1 or 2 and the contents of the register 5 are added to the adder 4, but the contents of the register 5 are empty when a banknote or token is inserted for the first time. The information output from the adder 4 thus indicates the value of the banknote or token inserted the first time, and this information is entered into the register 5.6. When a banknote or token is inserted after the second time, the discriminator 1 or 2 receives information indicating the value of the banknote or token that has been inserted, and the register 5
The content that had been entered into the adder 4, that is, the information representing the total value of the banknotes or tokens that had been inserted up to that point, is added to the adding machine 4, and these two pieces of information are added together.
It is placed in registers 5 and 6. The total value of the banknotes and tokens thus inserted is stored in the registers 5 and 6. As mentioned above, the contents of the register 6 are compared with the upper limit value set in the setter 8 by the comparator 7, and when the contents of the register 6 reach the upper limit value, the comparator 7 outputs the signal A and the discriminator 1, 2 prohibits the insertion of more banknotes and tokens. When the inserter finishes inserting the banknote or token, the inserter presses the pushbutton 9.

On the other hand, the comparator 7 outputs a signal B when a banknote or token is first inserted and the contents of the register 6 are no longer zero, and the AND gate 10 is open from this point on.
Therefore, by pressing the pushbutton 9, the signal passes through the AND gate 10 and is added to the AND gate 1, thereby opening the AND gate 11. Therefore, the contents of registers 5 and 6 (which are always equal) are input to card reader 12 via gate 11. Card reader 12 and register 5, 6
Contents: ``In other words, the card magnetically records the total value of the inserted banknotes and tokens and issues it.When the card thus issued is used in a vending machine, as is well known, its The value is read by the vending device and compared with the price of the item by pressing the item selection button, and if the residual value of the card is higher, the item will be released, and the card will display the value of the item released. The deducted residual value will be recorded and returned.

When the purchase is completed using the card in this manner, the card is inserted into the totalizing machine.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the payment machine of the present invention, in which 21 is a card reader;
3 is a register into which information read by the card reader 21 is input; 24 is a comparator that receives and compares the contents of registers 22 and 23; and 25 and 26 are AND gates that are opened by the output signal A' of the comparator 24. , 27 are arithmetic circuits into which the contents of the registers 22 and 23 are input via AND gates 25 and 26, 28 and 29 are registers into which the arithmetic results of the arithmetic circuit 27 are input, and 30 and 31 are arithmetic circuits in which the arithmetic circuit 27 finishes the calculation. The contents of the register 28 are input to the AND gate 301 and the contents of the register 29 are input to the AND gate 301, which is opened by the end signal C generated by the operation.

32 is an OR circuit that receives the output of the AND gate 30 as one input; 33 is a change machine that receives the output of the OR circuit 32; 34 is a token dispenser that receives the output of the AND gate 31; and 35 is an all-zero The setter 36 is an AND gate that is opened by the signal B' output from the comparator 24, and the set value of the setter 35 is input to the card reader 21 via the AND gate 36.

The signal B' is applied to the card reader 21 as a "0" writing and collection command signal, and is also used as an input to open the AND gate 37. The contents of the register 23 are input to an AND gate 37, and the output of the AND gate 37 is input to an OR circuit 32. Next, the operation will be explained.

When the card to be redeemed is inserted into the payment machine, the card league 21 reads the value initially given to the card and inputs it into the register 22, and also reads the residual value and inputs it into the register 23.

The contents entered in registers 22 and 23 are compared by a comparator 24. The spent coin value entered in the register 23 is greater than the initial assigned value entered in the register 22 by a predetermined value 4
・If the card is canceled, for example, if the residual value is less than 90% of the original value, 1 of the original value of the card will be deducted.
Since a purchase of more than 0% has been made, comparator 24 then produces a signal B'. When the signal B' is generated, the AND gate 36 is opened, and all "0" information is input from the setting device 35 to the card reader 21, and the card reader 21 writes the signal B' as "0" as a collection command. The card is added to the card, and all "0"s are written to it, reducing its value to zero, before it is recovered. Further, the AND gate 37 is opened by the signal B', and the information representing the residual value entered in the register 23 is transferred to the AND gate 37 and the OR circuit 3.
The money is put into the change machine 33 via 2. Therefore, change machine 33
releases cash in an amount corresponding to the input residual value, and the operation of the payment machine ends. As a result of the comparison by the comparator 24, the residual value entered in the register 23 is shown in the register 22.
(This means that no purchases were made from this card.)

), or the residual value is the initial assigned value, e.g. 6
If it is greater than 0%, comparator 24 produces signal A'. When signal A' is output, AND gates 25 and 26 are opened, and the contents of registers 22 and 23 are input into arithmetic circuit 27. The arithmetic circuit 27 calculates a value equivalent to 10% of the initial assigned value and inputs it into the register 29, and also calculates the value equivalent to 10% of the initial assigned value and inputs it into the register 29.
% or more. ), the value obtained by subtracting the above 10% is calculated and input into the register 28, after which a computation end signal C is generated. Signal C opens AND gates 30 and 31. The information entered into the register 28 by opening the AND gate 30 is
, is input to the change machine 33 via the OR circuit 32, and the change machine 33 dispenses in cash an amount corresponding to the input information. On the other hand, the information entered into the register 29 by opening the AND gate 31 is put into the token dispenser 34, which dispenses a token representing the amount of money corresponding to the information inputted into the dispenser 34. In this way, 10% of the initial assigned value is released as a token, and an amount corresponding to the residual value obtained by subtracting the value (amount) assigned to the token from the used residual value is released in cash. Figure 4 shows token 1
An example is shown in which A is a cross-sectional view and the mouth is a front view.

The outer shape is the same as a normal coin, with the outer part 51 made of plastic and the inner part 52 made of metal such as ferrite or aluminum.The metal disc 52 is covered with plastic 51 in a disc shape. It is made by The value of such a token can be determined mechanically by measuring its outer diameter, thickness, weight, inertia, etc. using a conventional coin validation mechanism. Such tokens are sent to the ejector 34 in advance.
Store it in. In the above explanation, the value initially given to the card is determined by the inserted banknotes or the inserted banknotes and the inserted tokens, but if this is a fixed amount, for example 10,000 yen, the value given to the card is By inserting banknotes or banknotes and tokens, a card to which a value of 10,000 yen is previously assigned may be issued.

In this case, it is sufficient to always set a value of 10,000 yen in the register 22 shown in FIG. In addition, the card's system records the usage residual value by subtracting the amount from the initial assigned value each time a product is purchased, but the amount may be added and recorded each time a product is purchased.

In this case, purchase amount = initial assigned value - residual value in use It is.

In this case, the comparator 24 may determine whether the purchase amount is zero or less than 10% of the initial assigned value. Further, although the embodiment uses a card in an offline system, the present invention can also be implemented in an online system.

In this case, a card number is attached in advance to the card issued by the issuing machine shown in Figure 1, and information representing the issued card number and assigned value is transmitted from the issuing machine to a central computer. . As shown in FIG.
2, and record the amount invested, that is, the value originally assigned to the card, in the column of the card number in file 43. When this card is used in a vending machine, information indicating the purchased item and price is sent to the computer 42 as shown at 44, and the computer 42 updates and records the residual value (balance). In the case of precision, the electronic computer 42 sends a command similar to that explained with reference to FIG. 3 to the precision machine based on the information in the file 43. As explained above, according to the present invention, if a predetermined amount, for example, 10% or more of the value originally assigned to the card is purchased, the residual value of the card is released in cash at the time of accuracy; If the amount is zero or less than a predetermined amount, for example 10% or less, 10% of the initial value of the card will be issued as a machine-readable token, and the value given to the token will be calculated from the residual value. Since cash corresponding to the deducted residual value is released, it is possible to suppress or prevent the card from being used simply for the purpose of exchanging money.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 shows one of the configurations of the card issuing machine used in this invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a central unit with files accessed by cards. The block diagram and FIG. 4A are a sectional view and a front view showing an example of the structure of the token. 21...Card reader, 22...Register (device for setting the initially assigned value), 23...Residual value register, 24...Comparator, 27...
...Arithmetic circuit, 33...Change machine, 34...
...Token ejector, 43...File accessed by card. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. means for setting the value originally assigned to the card; means for reading data substantially representing the purchase amount from the card or a file accessed by the card; and comparing the set value and the purchase amount. means for issuing a mechanically distinguishable token representing a portion of said original value when card purchases do not satisfy a predetermined amount; and means for releasing the remaining value in cash. Payment device.