JPH0322313B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voting data input terminal, and more particularly to a voting ticket vending machine in which voting data is continuously input and printed to issue voting tickets.

(b) Background of the technology Conventionally, in the totalizator system, voting tickets with race number, group/number, voting amount, etc. entered are automatically sold based on a ticket issuance signal from a central computer and equipped with the voting data printing means provided at the sales counter. Automatically issued by the machine.

However, if the issued voting tickets are not printed with clear density, for example, it will be difficult to mechanize the refund process after the race. Therefore, it is strongly required that the voting tickets issued by the voting ticket vending machine maintain clear printing density throughout the day. However, there is a technical problem that makes it quite difficult to meet this condition, and for this reason, it is necessary to check the printing status many times during the day's operation, and maintenance staff or counter operators have to check the printing status. The current printing status is constantly monitored.

(c) Prior Art and Problems An outline of the configuration of a conventional voting ticket vending machine will be explained with reference to the external perspective view of Fig. 1. In FIG. 1, 1 is a voting data input unit desired by the customer, 2 and 3 are coin slots and bill slots for the voting amount, respectively, 4 is a ticket issuing slot where the input data is printed, and 5 is the voting data. and an amount display section. Therefore, the vending machine 6 generally has a voting ticket printing mechanism housed inside the machine.

By the way, printing monitoring or printing condition checking at the time of issuing voting tickets is performed by a dedicated maintenance staff who operates a manual switch (not shown) provided in the vending machine 6 to issue tickets for checking the printing condition. However, this is also inconvenient as it causes inconveniences such as omission of inspections and burdens the labor of maintenance personnel and employees. On the other hand, in such automatic vending machines, since the tickets are handed directly to the customer, it is essential to check the printing condition.

(d) Object and Structure of the Invention The purpose of the present invention is to present concrete measures for improving the above-mentioned problems. That is, the voting ticket vending machine is designed to issue test tickets for checking print density at all times for continuously issued voting tickets.

The purpose is to print voting data such as race numbers selected and inputted based on a ticket issuance signal, which is connected to a central computer, in a terminal device that continuously issues voting tickets. This can be achieved by automatically issuing a test ticket for checking the printing condition.

(e) Embodiments of the invention Examples of the invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the voting ticket printing mechanism stored in the voting ticket vending machine, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are block circuit diagrams showing essential means for issuing a test ticket for checking the printed state of the voting ticket.

In FIG. 2, the left side framed by the two-dot chain line shows the input data printing and ticket feeding section of the voting ticket, and the right side shows the voting ticket checking mechanism after printing.

In the figure, 7 is a winding roller that continuously feeds the base paper 8 for issuing tickets, and 9 is a printing drum 1 for the base paper 8.
1 a driving motor; 10 a printing head located facing the printing drum 11; 12 a cutter for cutting the base paper 8 into individual voting tickets; and 13 a plurality of feed rollers for driving the printed voting tickets. , 14
Reference numeral 15 indicates a part corresponding to the voting ticket issuing slot (4 in FIG. 1) for sale by the customer, 15 indicates a light detection sensor unit provided immediately before the ticket issuing slot 14 to obtain a ticket issuance confirmation signal for detecting jams, etc., and 16 indicates the printing state. A winding outlet for the equipment maintenance personnel, through which the test ticket 18 for checking is sent out, and a switching magnet 17, which is equipped with a switching lever mechanism and operates every time a certain number of tickets are issued, send out the test ticket 18 to the winding outlet. As clearly shown in the external perspective view of FIG. 1, the winding outlet 16 is provided as a separate outlet from the regular ticket issuing opening 4.

Next, referring to the block circuit diagram of FIG. 3, a description will be given of the main means by which test tickets are issued periodically, for example, every time a certain number of voting tickets are issued.

In FIG. 3, parts with the same reference numbers as in FIG. 2 are the same functional parts. The vending machine is connected via a communication line to a center computer 21 that performs central aggregation processing of the totalizer system.

In the figure, 22 is a main control unit provided on the vending machine side and includes a register for storing voting data, and 23 is a main control unit that inputs a ticket issuing signal and a voting data input signal from the photodetection sensor 15, so that voting tickets can be issued. a ticket issuance status determination unit that outputs a control signal when determined; 2;
4 is an AND (gate) circuit on the control signal output side of 23, and 25 is a detection signal circuit 28 of the light detection sensor 15.
26 is a sample number setting circuit which issues test voting tickets every fixed number of issued tickets using a preset dial 27.

The numerals 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 are the main circuit parts that this embodiment should have. Count circuit 2
5 temporarily stores the input signal from the circuit 28 for each number of issued tickets. However, when the accumulated count value exceeds the specified value of the sample number setting circuit 26, a signal is output to the AND circuit 24 side. At this time, if there is a control signal from the ticket issuance state determination unit 23 that satisfies the following conditions, the AND circuit 25 becomes valid and operates the lever mechanism of the output side switching magnet 17 for a certain period of time, and at the same time operates the print head 10 and cutter 12. .

The control signal is sent from the judgment (circuit) section 23 only when the judgment section detects a confirmation signal indicating that there is no input on the display section 1 of the customer's operation, there is no deposit remaining, and that a regular voting ticket has been issued. .

Thus, the test ticket is taken out to the winding outlet 16 (see FIG. 2), and the counting circuit 25 returns to zero. After the return to zero, voting tickets are continuously issued to the voting ticket issuing port 14 until the next counting circuit operation.

Note that 29 in the figure is a printing pattern storage unit for printing voting tickets.

Although the above embodiment is an example in which test tickets are issued every fixed number of voting tickets, the present invention can also issue test tickets at fixed intervals.

This will be explained with reference to the circuit section constituting the coupling block along the dotted line path in FIG. In this case, the preset dial 27 is a dial for specifying a certain time instead of the number of sheets, and accordingly, the dial 26 is also used as a sample time setting circuit. Furthermore, the counting circuit 25 is made into a time counting counter.

In the figure, numeral 30 is a timer for sending time pulses to the counting circuit 25. The timer 30 is provided independently of the photodetection sensor unit that acquires the ticket issue confirmation signal, and has a circuit configuration that is independent of the number of tickets issued.

That is, when the time count pulse from the timer 30 exceeds the set time of the sample time setting circuit 26, the count circuit 25 outputs a signal from the AND circuit 24.
A signal is input to At this time, the ticket issuing determination unit 23
If it is determined that the ticket can be issued, the amount inserted in the amount display section is zero, and the customer voting ticket is detected by the light detection sensor 15, the AND circuit 24 operates in the same manner as described above to switch the output side. Operate the lever mechanism of the magnet 17. At the same time, the print head 10 and cutter 12 are actuated by the AND circuit 24 output signal to issue a test ticket.

After issuing the test ticket, the counting circuit 25 returns to the zero state, and then voting tickets are issued to customers for a certain period of time.

Whether the counting circuit 25 counts the number of sheets or counts the time, the count interval of signal accumulation can be freely set to an appropriate value using the dial 27.

When test tickets are issued at regular time intervals, the date and time of issue can be printed on the test ticket if necessary.

FIG. 4 shows that the vending machine that issues voting tickets continuously detects the signal when the vending machine is turned on or off, or the signal from the center computer when the race starts or closes. FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram for automatically issuing a test ticket for checking the print status of a ticket.

In the figure, 32 is a switch for the power supply section 33 of the vending machine, 34 is a flip-flop circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as FF circuit), 35 is an AND circuit, and 36 is an interface section for the center computer 21 of the vending machine.

When the power switch 32 is turned on, the ON signal is
The FF circuit 34 is set (S) and the AND circuit 35 is activated with the set signal. At this time, if there is a control signal from the ticket issuance state determination unit 23 (when the input amount on the display unit 5 operated by the customer is zero and the input voting ticket issuance signal is confirmed by the light detection sensor 15), the AND circuit is activated. 35 is operated, thereby operating the lever mechanism of the switching magnet 17 on the output side for a certain period of time. At the same time, the print head 10 and cutter 12 are operated to issue a test ticket 18 to the winding outlet 16 (see FIG. 2). After the ticket issue is completed, the FF circuit is reset (R) and waits for the next signal. While waiting at the signal, a regular voting ticket is issued to the ticket issuing gate 4 side.

The figure shows an interface section 3 that receives a start signal from the center computer 21 to start selling races.
Since the FF circuit 34 is set even from 6, the AND circuit 35 operates and a test ticket similar to that described above is issued. The above-mentioned test ticket issuance may be performed based on the notification of the end of the sale race.
Tickets can be issued even when the ticket is off.

In this way, the voting ticket vending machine automatically issues test tickets when the power is turned on or at the end of each selling race. The printing quality can be checked at any time.

(f) Effects of the Invention According to the voting ticket vending machine of the present invention as described in detail above, the issuance of voting tickets for inspection of print density is automatically carried out, thereby reducing maintenance work related to inspection when the device is in operation. The practicality of the present invention is great as it simplifies maintenance and improves maintainability and reliability.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of the voting ticket vending machine, Fig. 2 is a side view showing the voting ticket printing mechanism inside the vending machine shown in Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figs. 3 and 4 are both in the printing state. FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing the main means for issuing a check test ticket. In the figure, 1 is a voting data input operation unit, 5 is a display unit for voting data, etc., 6 is a vending machine (terminal device), and 10
12 is a cutter, 4 and 14 are voting ticket issuing ports, 15 is a light detection sensor, 18 is a test ticket for issuing a ticket, 21 is a center computer, 23 is a ticket issuance status determination unit, 24 and 35 are an AND circuit , 26 is a sample number or sample time setting circuit for the counting circuit 25, 27 is a dial, 30 is a timer,
32 is a switch for the power supply section 33, 34 is an FF circuit,
and 36 are interface parts for 21.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a terminal device that is connected to a central computer and prints voting data such as race numbers selected and input based on a ticket issuance enable signal and continuously issues voting tickets, the terminal device is connected to a central computer and prints voting data such as race numbers selected and inputted based on a ticket issuance enable signal, and continuously issues voting tickets. A voting ticket vending machine characterized by automatically issuing a test ticket for checking the printing condition of the voting ticket. 2. The voting ticket according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device for continuously issuing voting tickets automatically issues a test ticket for checking the printing condition at each preset time of ticket issuance. Release machine. 3. The voting ticket according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device for continuously issuing voting tickets automatically issues a test ticket for checking the printing condition every time a preset number of tickets are issued. Release machine. 4. The voting ticket according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device for continuously issuing voting tickets automatically issues a test ticket for checking the printing condition at least at the start or deadline of a voting race. Release machine.