JPS6042993B2 - currency trading device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a currency transaction device that uses a storage unit of a computer system as a ledger and automatically performs transactions including cash payments using input means such as key input operations.

In recent years, as currency transaction devices having this type of automatic cash dispensing function have become widespread and frequently used, measures to cope with their intensive use have been raised as a major problem.

In other words, measures have been needed to alleviate the intensive congestion of transaction counters caused by devices, increase the efficiency of device usage, and eliminate the so-called waiting time of users. Conventionally, as a means to solve this problem, the processing speed of each unit module such as the card reading mechanism, printing mechanism, and withdrawal mechanism that makes up the device is increased by adding more devices or by increasing the processing speed of each unit module that makes up the device, such as the card reading mechanism, printing mechanism, withdrawal mechanism, etc. Measures have been considered to shorten the operating time and thereby increase the throughput per unit of each device. However, the method of alleviating equipment usage congestion by adding more equipment is difficult for users to solve for a variety of reasons, including securing installation space, increasing costs associated with expansion, and decreasing average operating efficiency of the entire equipment due to expansion. There are problems that are difficult for banks (banks, etc.) to accept.

In addition, improving the processing capacity of the device by shortening the processing time of each unit module that makes up the device, and thereby alleviating congestion, has a synergistic effect in that it can also shorten the time required for each user's transaction. On the other hand, the manufacturing cost per unit module due to the high-speed processing mechanism becomes extremely high (for example, in order to double the printing processing speed of the current printing mechanism, the manufacturing cost will be 3 to 5 yen). Therefore, the cost of the device is also much higher than that of existing devices, making it impractical in terms of product cost. This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to significantly improve the transaction processing capacity per unit of equipment using inexpensive existing unit modules without increasing the number of equipment or increasing costs. The objective is to provide a currency transaction device that allows for Another purpose is to create a functional configuration that can selectively switch between the existing operation processing mode and the new high-speed operation processing mode depending on the usage status of the device, making it possible to effectively use currency stored in the aircraft. It is an object of the present invention to provide a currency transaction device that can be used for payment purposes and can ensure continuous operation over a long period of time. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, when explaining the specific configuration of the present invention, a detailed explanation of the present invention will be given with reference to FIG. When carrying out automatic cash payment operations, as shown in Figure 1a, first the loaded card is read, and then the PIN number and payment amount are set using key input operations. Do this in sequence. Thereafter, a period of communication with the computer begins via an online line, etc., and only after the computer sends a signal confirming the validity of the payment amount, printing, taking out currency, and ejecting (discharging) the currency are performed sequentially. As described above, in the existing device, all unit transaction operation steps are performed serially (hereinafter, this existing operation mode will be referred to as the serial operation mode).
On the other hand, with the device of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1b, the setting of the payment amount is the same as the existing serial mode, but when the communication period with the computer begins, the The device then takes out the payment currency and temporarily stores it on board. Then, when a signal is sent from the computer confirming the validity of the payment amount, the payment currency that has already been temporarily stored will be immediately discharged, and
The printing operation is started and a printed receipt etc. is issued (at this time, the temporarily stored payment currency may be discharged at the same time as the receipt etc. is issued). In this way, during the period of communication with the computer, the payment currency is withdrawn and temporarily stored in parallel (hereinafter, such an operation mode is referred to as the parallel operation mode), so that each transaction The operating time for each operation is shortened, and therefore the throughput of the device can be significantly improved in the existing unit module configuration. Furthermore, when executing a transaction step in such a parallel operation mode, the payment currency is withdrawn before the validity of the payment is confirmed.
Here, if a signal is sent from the computer denying the validity of the payment, it has a functional configuration that collects the currency taken out for payment onboard the aircraft. Furthermore, in connection with this, if there are many failed payments, the amount recovered on board the aircraft may become large in a short period of time, so the serial operation mode and parallel operation mode described above may be arbitrarily selected The functional configuration is such that it is possible to do so. In other words, since equipment usage tends to be concentrated on certain days, weeks, time periods, etc., it is recommended to use parallel operation mode to alleviate congestion during periods when equipment is used frequently. The functional configuration allows the serial operation mode to be selected during periods when the device is not used frequently, so as to avoid the amount of currency collected on board the aircraft as much as possible. Here, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking an automatic teller machine (cash dispenser) as an example of a currency transaction device.

In Figure 2, 11 is the main body of the automatic teller machine.
The front side of the main body 11 is provided with a transaction card insertion/return slot (hereinafter referred to as the card insertion slot) 12, a paper payment slot 13, a keyboard unit 14, an operation guide display section (not shown), etc. Also, inside the main body 11, there is a card reader 15 communicating with the card insertion slot 12, and a paper storage section 16 for storing a large number of paper sheets P1 in an upright position, from which paper sheets corresponding to the amount to be paid are taken out. A dispensing mechanism section 17, a temporary storage section 18 that temporarily stores the discarded papers taken out from the dispensing mechanism section 17, and collects the discarded papers placed in the temporary storage section 18 when the payment fails. A collection pocket 19 and the like are provided, as well as various drive sources such as a motor 20 and a vacuum pump 21, a circuit unit 22, and the like. To explain these configurations in more detail, the above-mentioned paper storage section 1
A take-in rotor 23 that rotates in the direction of arrow b, which is a part of the paper waste dispensing mechanism 17, is provided in front of 6, that is, at a portion corresponding to the take-in position. An adsorbent 2 connected to a vacuum pump 21 is attached to the outer peripheral surface.
4 is provided, and when the intake rotor 23 rotates, the paper sheets P1 stored in the paper storage section 16 are vacuum-suctioned one by one from the frontmost end and taken out one by one. . Further, in the intake direction of the intake rotor 23, an endless belt 2 is stretched across a plurality of rollers 25, 25.
A take-in and conveyance path 28 is provided between the mutually opposing surfaces of the paper sheets 6 and 27, and takes in and conveys paper sheets one by one toward the front of the main body 11 in a substantially horizontal state. In addition, the above intake rotor 2
3 and rollers 25, 25, . . . are driven by a motor 20 via an endless belt 29 that runs endlessly. A paper failure detector 30 consisting of a light source and a plurality of light receiving elements is provided in the middle of the take-in conveyance path 28, and this detector 30 is designed to detect paper failure during conveyance. It's summery. In addition, the above-mentioned intake conveyance path 28
From the middle part located behind the detector 30, there is a view between the mutually opposing surfaces of the endless belt 31 and the endless belt 27, and between the endless belt 27 and the guide body 32 disposed opposite thereto.
, 33, and a first return path 34 for returning waste paper to the collection pocket 19 is branched. The first return path 34 and the intake conveyance path 28
A dividing gate 35 driven by, for example, a rotary solenoid (not shown) is provided at the branching point between the two.
This sorting gate 35 operates in response to a command from a control unit, which will be described later, and allows normal bills to pass through the take-in conveyance path 28, while stacked bills to be guided to the first return path 34. works. On the other hand, the temporary storage section 18 is provided at the end of the take-in conveyance path 28 for temporarily storing 4 paper waste P2 corresponding to the requested payment amount in a horizontal state.

This temporary storage section 18 is composed of a bottom plate 36 and a backup body 37 that are movable separately in the directions of arrows C and d, and a side plate 38 that is rotatable between two positions, the solid line position and the two-dot chain line position shown in the figure. and will be discussed later. When a signal confirming the validity of the payment amount is obtained from the computer, the bottom plate 36 is pulled in the direction of arrow c by a drive mechanism (not shown) in response to a command from the control section described later, and the temporarily stored paper to be paid P2 is pulled. is delivered in a bundle to the endless payment belt 39 and conveyed to the above-mentioned paper payment port 13. Further, when a signal denying the validity of the payment amount is obtained from the computer, the backup body 37 is pushed out in the direction of arrow d and the side plate 38 is rotated to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in response to a command from the control section, which will be described later. (At this time, the bottom plate 36 is not driven and remains stationary at the solid line position shown in the figure.)
2 are delivered in a bundle to a second return path 41 formed between the mutually opposing surfaces of the endless belt 40 and the endless belt 31. This second return path 41 is connected to the first return path 34.
Therefore, the temporary storage paper P2 in the event of a failed transaction delivered to the second return path 41 is guided to the collection pocket L 19 via the second return path 41 and the first return path 34. It is something. FIG. 3 shows main circuit blocks, in which 101 is a register for storing input information from the keyboard unit 14, and 102 is a register for storing input information from the card reader 15.
103 is a register that stores information including the account number read by the card reader 15; 104 is a register that stores the personal identification information stored in the register 101 and the personal identification information stored in the register 102; A comparison circuit 105 that obtains a signal to determine whether the user is an authorized user by comparing the identification information with the identification information prints the transaction details on a transaction memo given to the user when the transaction is completed, a journal tape stored in the aircraft, etc. This is the printing mechanism section.

In addition, 106 receives output information from the registers 101, 102, 103, the comparison circuit 10, the detector 30, etc., and is connected online to the central computer 108 via the transmission control circuit 107. , the printing mechanism section 105, the paper waste dispensing mechanism section 17, the drive mechanism of the temporary storage section 18, and other functional blocks. Furthermore, the control unit 106 includes an operation mode changeover switch mechanism 1 for selecting between the serial operation mode shown in FIG. 1a and the parallel operation mode shown in FIG. 1b.
09 output is supplied. This operation mode changeover switch mechanism 109 is controlled to change over a predetermined period by a timer or program control. Therefore, the control section 10
6, when the output of the operation mode selector switch mechanism 109 specifies the parallel operation mode, the computer 108
Upon starting communication with the paper dispenser mechanism section 17, the paper dispensing mechanism section 17 is immediately controlled to take out the paper dispensing section P1 based on the dispensing amount information stored in the register 101, and the temporary storage section 18
Store it in Furthermore, when a signal confirming the validity of the payment amount is returned from the computer 108, control is performed to discharge the paper P2 to be paid from the temporary storage section 18 to the paper payment slot 13, and further printing is performed. Mechanism part 1
This is to drive and control the 05. Further, when the output of the operation mode changeover switch mechanism 109 specifies the serial operation mode, the control section 106 controls the drive of the paper dispensing mechanism section 17 only after a signal confirming the validity of the payment amount is returned from the computer 108. Control is performed so that the paper charge P1 is taken out based on the payout amount information, and the paper charge P2 to be paid is discharged to the paper charge payment port 13 via the temporary storage section 18. Next, the operation of the currency transaction device with the above configuration will be explained. First, the user inserts the transaction card into the card insertion slot 12 according to the operation guide display.

When the card is thereby loaded into the card reader, the displayed content is advanced by one step, and the user then operates the keyboard unit 14 to sequentially set the PIN number, payout amount, etc. according to the displayed content. Then, the personal identification information read by the card reader 15 and stored in the register 102 and the PIN number information stored in the register 101 by the key input operation are sent to the comparison circuit 104, indicating that the transaction is by a legitimate user. A determination is made as to whether or not the
Sent to 06. When a determination signal indicating that the user is an authorized user is sent to the control unit 106, the control unit 106 transmits the information to the central computer 10 via the transmission control circuit 107.
8 and sends information including the payout amount stored in the register 101, account number information stored in the register 103, etc. to the computer 108. computer 108
Then, the memory that serves as the ledger is accessed from this information to determine whether a transaction is possible or not, and to control the updating of the ledger. At this time, if the output of the operation mode changeover switch mechanism 109 specifies the parallel operation mode, the control unit 106
Now, as the transmission with the computer 108 begins, the paper waste dispensing mechanism section 17 is driven and controlled. As a result, the paper sheets P1 stored in the paper sheet storage section 16 are sequentially taken out by the suction element 24 of the take-in rotor 23 from the frontmost portion thereof. When the amount detected by the waste paper detector 30 matches the payout amount stored in the register 101, the control unit 106 controls the operation of the paper waste payout mechanism 17 to stop at a predetermined timing. As a result, the paper stock P2 corresponding to the requested payout amount is stored in the temporary storage section 18. Thereafter, a signal confirming the validity of the payment amount is returned from the computer 108, and upon receiving this signal, the control section 106 immediately issues a drive control command to pull the bottom plate 36 of the temporary storage section 18 in the direction of arrow C. As a result, the paper P2 to be paid, which has already been taken out from the paper storage section 16 and stored in the temporary storage section 18, is transferred to the payment endless belt 3 in a bundle.
9 and guided to the paper payment port 13. Further, upon receiving the signal confirming the validity of the payment amount, the control section 106 immediately controls the operation of the printing mechanism section 105 to print according to the details of the transaction and issue a transaction memo. By receiving the discharged paper and transaction memo, the user can:
The transaction ends. Further, when a signal denying the validity of the payment amount is returned from the computer 108, the control section 106 immediately sends the temporary storage section 18 to the temporary storage section 18 upon receiving this signal.
A command is issued to control the movement of the backup body 37 in the direction of the arrow d, and the side plate 38 is rotated to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure, so that the temporarily stored paper material P2 to be paid is transferred to the second
It is delivered to the return path 41 in the form of a bundle. As a result, the temporarily stored paper waste P2 when the transaction is unsuccessful is conveyed to the collection pocket 19 via the second return path 41 and the first return path 34 and stored therein. In this way, parallel operation mode. - During the communication with the computer 108, the paper to be paid is already prepared in the temporary storage section 18 and is immediately discharged (or collected) after waiting for a return signal from the computer.
As a result, the time spent on one transaction is significantly reduced and the transaction turnover rate (transaction efficiency) of the device is therefore significantly improved. Further, during periods when the device is not used frequently, the output of the operation mode changeover switch mechanism 109 specifies the serial operation mode. As a result, only when a signal confirming the validity of the payment amount is returned from the computer 108 is the drive control of the paper dispensing mechanism section 17, and the paper dispensing mechanism 17 is taken out from the paper dispensing section 16 in accordance with the requested dispensing amount. . When all the papers matching the payout request amount are placed in the temporary storage section 18, the bottom plate 36 of the temporary storage section 18 is immediately pulled and the paper waste to be paid is transferred to the endless payment belt 40, and the paper is transferred to the payment endless belt 40. While being discharged to our payment port 13, the printing mechanism section 105
is driven and controlled. In such a serial operation mode, the time required for one transaction is longer than in the above-mentioned parallel operation mode, but the paper waste collected in the collection pocket 19 is only stacked tickets, which can be collected on board the aircraft. The paper waste stored in the paper waste storage section 16 is extremely small.
1 is effectively used. Although the above-mentioned embodiment has been explained using an automatic teller machine as an example, it is not limited to this, and can be easily adopted in other currency transaction devices having an automatic cash dispensing function. In the above embodiment, when a signal confirming the validity of the payment amount is sent from the computer 108, the paper waste in the temporary storage section 18 is controlled to be ejected, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the printing operation is controlled. It may also be a mode in which the temporarily stored papers are discharged at the same time as the transaction memo etc. after waiting for the transaction to end.

Further, in the above embodiment, the printing mechanism unit 1 is operated after the computer 108 sends a signal confirming the validity of the payment amount.
05, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the communication period with the computer 108 begins in the parallel operation mode, the printing operation may be performed in parallel with the removal of paper waste for payment and the temporary storage operation. At this time, when a signal denying the validity of the payment amount is sent from the computer 108, for example, a specific mark (such as REJ) indicating that the transaction has not been completed is placed on a part of the printed paper (journal tape, etc.). The operation mode may be set such that the transaction memo is entered and transaction memo output is prohibited. As detailed above, according to the present invention, in a currency transaction device having a currency payment function, the transaction processing capacity per unit of the device can be inexpensively and reliably improved, thereby significantly reducing the difficulty in intensive use of the device. Therefore, it is possible to provide a currency transaction device that can reduce the burden placed on the user and is economically very advantageous.

Furthermore, by switching the transaction operation mode according to the frequency of use of the device, it is possible to provide a currency transaction device that can effectively use the currency stored in the device and ensure continuous operation of the device over a long period of time. The simple explanatory diagrams in the drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a transaction operation mode, FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram, and FIG.
The figure is a main circuit block diagram.

11...Main body, 12...Card insertion slot, 13...
Paper payment port, 14...Keyboard unit, 15...
- Card reader, 16...Paper storage section, 17...Paper dispensing mechanism section, 18...Temporary storage section, 19...Collection pocket, 105...Printing mechanism section, 106... Control unit, 108... Computer, 109... Operation mode changeover switch mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a currency transaction device having a function of confirming the validity of the payment amount based on input information and a function of taking out and discharging payment currency based on the input information, It is provided with a mechanism that takes out and temporarily stores the payment currency in parallel with the confirmation operation step, and a mechanism that discharges the temporarily stored payment currency upon input of a signal confirming the validity of the payment amount. Featured currency trading device. 2 In a currency transaction device equipped with a function of confirming the validity of the payment amount based on input information and a function of extracting and discharging the payment currency based on the input information, the operation step parallel to the above operation step of confirming the validity of the payment amount A currency characterized by being equipped with a mechanism for selectively switching between a parallel operation mode in which the payment currency is taken out and temporarily stored, and a serial operation mode in which the payment currency is taken out after confirming the validity of the payment amount. Trading device. 3. The currency transaction device according to claim 2, which has a functional configuration for selectively switching between parallel operation mode and serial operation mode by timer or program control.