JPH0748226B2 - Charge processing equipment for packages - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a fee for a package, particularly for calculating a fee for a mail based on a handling type, a weight, and the like, and
The present invention relates to a charge processing device for a package that displays the charge.

"Prior Art" The transportation fee for a package is generally the weight of the package and one ROM (read-only memory) provided in the rate processor.
It is determined based on the charge information stored in. For example, the postage is calculated based on the type of mail handling, contents, mailing area, weight, and the like.

If the charge is revised in the above-mentioned package processing apparatus for transported goods, at the time when the charge is revised, for example, between the work end date of the previous day and the work start date of the day, the RO
Replace M with a ROM that stores new rate information. Therefore, when the charge is changed, the work of the service person is concentrated, and there is a problem in that the terminal of the ROM is damaged or the ROM is erroneously attached because the above-mentioned replacement process is hurried.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, conventionally, as a device of this type, two ROMs, a ROM storing current charge information and a ROM storing new charge information, are installed, and a charge revision date is set. It is known to switch to a ROM storing new charge information by a switch on the day (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-6141).
(See publication 7).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-described conventional charge processing device, the user switches to the ROM storing new charge information on the day of the charge revision date. For this reason, the user may forget to perform the switching operation or may mistakenly perform the switching operation of the switch, which causes a problem that an incorrect transportation charge is calculated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a transportation charge processing apparatus for smoothly performing a switching operation to a ROM storing new charging information and calculating an accurate transportation charge from a predetermined date. The purpose is to do.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a weighing means for weighing the weight of a package, a timing means for timing a date, charge information and use of the charge information. A plurality of storage devices in which start dates are stored, a mounting device for mounting the plurality of storage devices, a plurality of display means provided corresponding to the plurality of storage devices, and a plurality of predetermined storage devices from the plurality of storage devices. The storage device further includes a selection unit for selecting a storage device, and a calculation unit for calculating a transportation charge based on the charge information of the selected storage device and the weight. The use start date stored in the storage device is compared, and the storage device having the use start date closest to the date of the timekeeping means and not exceeding the date of the timekeeping means is selected. Together with the election With respect to the storage device in which the use start date earlier than the use start date stored in the selected storage device is stored, that effect is displayed on the display means corresponding to the storage device.

The "action" selecting means compares the date of the time measuring means with the use start date stored in the plurality of storage devices, and the date is closest to the date of the time measuring means and does not exceed the date of the time measuring means. A display corresponding to the storage device for the storage device in which the use start date is stored and the storage device in which the use start date before the use start date stored in the selected storage device is stored is selected. The means is displayed. Then, based on the selected charge information of the storage device and the weight value from the weighing means, the transportation charge of the transported article is calculated by the calculation means.

[Examples] Next, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the postage converter of this embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1 is a weighing unit for measuring the weight of mail. In addition, information such as the handling type of mail is input from the operation unit 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes a display unit, and this display unit 3 is composed of a plasma dot display device having a double-sided display configuration so that both the customer and the operator can see it. Also,
The display unit 3 displays, for example, the type and basic charge of mail, the content of special handling and its charge, weight range and total charge, and various selection screens and message screens. There is. The ROM 7a stores control programs and character patterns. Also, ROM7b
The ROM 7c and the ROM 7c are assigned to different addresses, and the charge information A and B are stored respectively. One of the charge information A and B is charge information before the charge is revised, and the other is charge information after the charge is revised. Also, ROM7b,
In the first 4 bytes of the ROM 7c, as shown in FIG. 2, the start date when the charge information A, B is used is stored as use start date data. This start date data is composed of data indicating the year (for example, 1985,1989), data indicating the month (for example, 2,3), and data indicating the day (for example, 1,10,31). 2 bytes, 1 byte, and 1 byte are sequentially used from the beginning. When the control program is executed by CPU5, RAM8
A charge ROM selection flag (hereinafter referred to as a flag) indicating the selection state of M7b and 7c is stored. If the above flag is reset to "0", ROM7
When b is selected and the flag is set to "1", the ROM 7c is selected. Reference numeral 9 denotes a clock unit, which measures the current date and outputs it as date data. The date data has the same structure as the use start date data stored in the first 4 bytes of the ROM 7b, 7c described above. Reference numeral 5 denotes a CPU (central processing unit) that controls the above-mentioned units, and is connected to each unit by a data bus.

The clock unit 9 is backed up by a battery so that the clock unit 9 is always clocking even when the power source of the device is 0FF.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the postage conversion machine according to the above-described embodiment. As shown in this figure, the postage converter of this example comprises a weighing unit 1, an operation display unit 4 including an operation unit 2 and a display unit 3, and the weighing unit 1 and the operation display unit 4 are It is electrically connected. Also,
The operation unit 2 is provided below the display unit 3, and the function key unit 2
It is composed of a, a preset key section 2b, a ten-key section 2c and various selection key sections 2d.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a state in which the back cover of the operation display unit 4 is removed. In this figure, 10 is socket 11,12
Is the board on which the ROM7b is installed in sockets 11 and 12.
And ROM7c is designed to be installed. Normally, when the charge has not been revised since the start of use, only one of the sockets 11 and 12 has a ROM.
(Remember current charge information) is installed and the other socket is empty. When amending the postage,
Before revision, empty socket 11 or socket 12
Install a ROM that stores new charge information.

If the charge has been revised once or more since the start of use, the sockets 11 and 12 are equipped with R0M that stores the current charge information and ROM that stores the old charge information. ing. Therefore, in this case, when the postage is revised, the old fee information is stored in advance before the revision.
Replace the ROM with a ROM that stores new charge information.

When performing this replacement work, the two
It is advisable to display the start date of use on the top of the ROM so that it is easy to determine which of the ROMs has the current charge and which has the old charge.

Next, regarding the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration,
This will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

When the power is turned on, the CPU5 performs normal initial processing such as memory check, flag, and register initialization, and then
Perform charge ROM selection processing (step SA1). This charge ROM
In the selection process, it is determined whether or not two charge ROMs are installed, and if two charge ROMs are installed, the subroutine shown in FIG. 6 is executed.

In the subroutine shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 5 causes the step SB
Date data of the clock unit 9 at 10 (for example, February 28, 1989)
Is read, transferred to the register D _C , and the process proceeds to step SB11. At step SB11, the use start date data written in the first 4 bytes of the ROM 7b (for example, April 1, 1986).
Date) and transfer to register D _A. Next steps
The SB12 reads the use start date data (for example, April 1, 1989) written in the first 4 bytes of the ROM 7c and transfers it to the register D _B. Then, it proceeds to step SB13. In step SB13, it is determined whether or not register D _A <register D _B. Here, if the determination result is “YES”, that is, if the use start date data of the ROM 7b is smaller than the use start date data of the ROM 7c, the process proceeds to step SB14. In step SB14, it is determined whether or not register D _B ≦ register D _C. Here, if the judgment result is “NO”,
That is, when the date data of the clock unit 9 is smaller than the use start date data of the ROM 7c and the charge change date has not arrived yet, the process proceeds to step SB16. Then, in step SB16,
The flag is reset to "0". Also, step SB14
In the case where the determination result is "YES", that is, when the date data of the clock unit 9 is larger than the use start date data of the ROM 7c, the process proceeds to step SB17, and the flag is set to "1" in this step SB17. .

On the other hand, in step SB13, when the determination result is “NO”, that is, when the use start date data of the ROM 7c is larger than the use start date data of the ROM 7c, the process proceeds to step SB15.
In step SB15, it is determined whether or not register D _A ≦ register D _C. Here, if the determination result is "YES", that is, if the use start date data of the ROM 7b is smaller than the date data of the clock unit 9, the process proceeds to step SB18 and "0".
Is reset to. If the result of determination in step SB15 is "NO", that is, if the use start date data of the ROM 7b is larger than the date data of the clock section 9, the process proceeds to step SB19 and the flag is set to "1". .

In the above case, the determination in step SB13 is "YES", and the determination in step SB14 is "NO". As a result, "0" is written in the flag and the ROM 7b is selected. If the date data of the clock unit 9 is after April 1, 1989, the determination in step SB13 is "YES", and the determination in step SB14 is "YE."
As a result, "1" is written in the flag and R
OM7c is selected.

As described above, after the processing of step SB16, SB17, SB18 or step SB19 is completed, the processing routine is ended and the process returns.

Subsequent to the above processing, the operator inputs the handling type of mail from the customer from the operation unit 2 (step
SA2). Next, the mail items placed on the weighing pan of the weighing unit 1 are weighed (step SA3). When the weighing becomes stable, in step SA4, the basic charge is calculated by the CPU 5 based on the weight value of the mail and the handling type. Here, when the flag is reset to "0", the basic charge is calculated based on the charge information A stored in the ROM 7b, and when the flag is set to "1", the basic charge is stored in the ROM 7c. The basic fee is calculated based on the obtained fee information B. The calculated postage is displayed on the display unit 3 (see FIG. 7). Next, the operator determines whether the customer wants special handling (step SA5). If the customer desires special handling, the operator selects the special handling type (for example, express delivery, registered mail, etc.) desired by the customer by pressing the corresponding key on the operation unit 2 to display the key signal. Input to CPU5 (step SA6). When the CPU 5 receives the key signal of the special handling type from the operation unit 2, the special handling charge is calculated in step SA7, and the special handling type and the total charge (basic charge + special handling charge) are displayed on the display unit 3 in FIG. Display as shown in, and proceed to step SA8.

Also in this case, if the flag is reset to "0", the special handling charge is calculated based on the charge information A stored in the ROM 7b, and if the flag is set to "1", the ROM 7c The special handling charge is calculated based on the charge information B stored in.

On the other hand, if the customer does not want special handling, step SA
In 5, the determination result is “NO” and the process proceeds to step SA8. In step SA8, the operator transfers the mail from the weighing pan to the storage box and receives the total charge from the customer. After that, the process returns to step SA2, waits for the arrival of the next mail to be handled, and repeats the processing from step SA2 to step SA8 described above.

The charge ROM selection process of step SA1 is executed not only when the power is turned on, but also when the date data of the clock unit 9 is updated and when the date data of the clock unit 9 is changed.

In the apparatus of the above embodiment, when the charge is revised, the service person installs the ROM storing the new charge information at an appropriate time before the revision date, and thereafter, based on the date data of the clock unit 9. Until the day before the revision date, the fee is calculated based on the fee information in the ROM that stores the current fee, and the new fee is stored after the revision date.
The charge is calculated based on the charge information of M.

In the device of the present invention, since the processing is automatically performed based on the date data of the built-in clock unit 9, there is a possibility that normal processing may not be performed if the date data is not accurate. For this reason, when the power is turned on, the present time and date data of the clock unit 9 is kept on display on the display unit 3, waiting for the operator's confirmation input and proceeding to the subsequent processing. It is also possible. Further, by constantly displaying the date and time data of the clock unit 9 at an appropriate place on the upper portion or the lower portion of the display unit 3, it can be used as a clock and an error in the date and time data of the clock unit 9 can be found early. It becomes possible to do.

In addition, since the ROM storing the old fee is not selected anymore after the date of fee revision, it may be removed and collected without waiting for the next fee revision. Old charge ROM
When removing the ROM or replacing the old fee ROM with the new fee ROM, which of ROM7b and ROM7c is the old fee ROM?
As the data for determining whether or not it is possible to display the start time of use on the upper surface of the ROM as described above, the ROM7b and ROM7
A light emitting display element may be arranged corresponding to 7c, and the old fee ROM may be displayed by the light emitting display element. That is, in the flow chart of FIG. 6, when the determination in step SB14 is "YES", the ROM in which the old charge is stored in the ROM 7b
Since it is M, the light emitting display element corresponding to ROM7b is turned on, and when the determination in step SB15 is "YES", since the ROM 7c is the ROM storing the old fee, the light emitting display element corresponding to ROM7c is turned on.

It is also possible to display the date data stored in the ROM 7b and the ROM 7c on the display unit 3 by operating the operation unit 2.

Although the charge information is stored in the ROM in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a RAM or a memory card backed up by a built-in battery may be used. It is also preferable to display the use start date on the outer surface of these storage devices so that it can be recognized which is the new storage device. Further, the ROM7b and the ROM7c are connected to different addresses and selected based on the content of the flag, but the present invention is not limited to this.For example, they are assigned to the same address and selected by bank switching. Good.

[Advantages of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, since the storage device in which the charge information is stored is automatically selected by the selection means, the operator forgets to perform the switching operation or the erroneous operation causes the old charge information to be displayed. It is possible to prevent the calculation, and it is possible to obtain an advantage that an accurate transportation fee can be calculated from a predetermined date.

Further, when the price is revised again, the storage device storing the old price information must be removed from the mounting device and replaced with the storage device storing the new price information before the price revision date. With respect to the storage device in which the use start date earlier than the use start date stored in the storage device is stored, that effect is displayed on the display means corresponding to the storage device, that is, the old charge information is displayed. Since the stored unnecessary storage device is displayed, the service person or operator only has to remove the storage device instructed by the display means from the mounting device and replace it with a new storage device. Therefore, the problem of mistakenly replacing the currently used storage device with a new storage device does not occur.

Further, in the present invention, when the replacement of the storage device is completed but the charge revision date has not yet arrived, the use start date earlier than the use start date stored in the selected storage device is stored. Since there is no storage device, the above-mentioned display of the storage device to be replaced is not displayed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a mistake that the service person or the operator mistakenly replaces the storage device of the device whose replacement of the storage device has been completed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a postage conversion machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic construction for explaining data stored in a storage device used in the postage conversion machine. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the external configuration of the postal charge converter, FIG. 4 is a rear view of the postal charge converter, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the postal charge converter. 7 and 8 are front views showing a display example of the same embodiment. 1 ... weighing unit (weighing unit), 2 ... operation unit, 3 ... display unit, 5 ... CPU (selection unit, calculation unit), 7a ... ROM, 7
b, 7c ... ROM (storage device), 8 ... RAM, 9 ... clock section (time measuring means), 10 ... board (mounting device), 11,12 ... socket (mounting device).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A weighing means for weighing the weight of a package, a timing means for timing a date, a plurality of storage devices storing charge information and a start date of use of the charge information, and the plurality of storage devices. A mounting device to be mounted, a plurality of display means provided corresponding to the plurality of storage devices, a selection means for selecting a predetermined storage device from the plurality of storage devices, and charge information of the selected storage devices. And a calculating means for calculating a transportation charge based on the weight, wherein the selecting means compares the date of the time measuring means with the use start date stored in the plurality of storage devices, and the selecting means of the time measuring means. Select the storage device that stores the use start date that is closest to the date and that does not exceed the date of the timekeeping means, and that is earlier than the use start date stored in the selected storage device. Start using A charge processing device for a package, wherein a storage device storing the date is displayed on a display means corresponding to the storage device.