JP4056754B2 - Contactless token automatic issuing machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a non-contact-talk automatic issuance equipment that can reuse the contactless token recovered in a non-contact automatic ticket gate or the like to issue a new contactless token.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, in order to improve the convenience of users (passengers), non-contact automatic ticket gates have been proposed that can perform a non-contact automatic ticket gate without inserting a ticket into the automatic ticket gate (for example, (Kaihei 1-246687). The ticket used in such a non-contact type automatic ticket gate is a non-contact ticket composed of an IC card having a wireless communication function, and between this non-contact type ticket and the main body of the non-contact type automatic ticket gate. Thus, it is configured such that data is exchanged without contact and entry / exit processing (in the present invention, “entrance / exit” means “entrance” or “entrance”) is performed. .
[0003]
Further, since the non-contact ticket is composed of an IC card having a wireless communication function, the manufacturing cost is higher than that of a magnetic ticket. Therefore, a non-contact ticket such as a one-time ordinary ticket, a one-day ticket, or a coupon ticket is relatively expensive. When a short-term use ticket used within a short period is a contactless ticket, there is a problem that the operation cost is increased and it is not realistic. Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the present applicant, in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-307547, uses a short-term ticket as a non-contact token, collects the non-contact token, and can use it repeatedly. A processing system is proposed.
[0004]
As mentioned above, when a short-term use ticket is a non-contact token, there is no need to install an automatic ticket gate for processing magnetic tickets, and only the feature that equipment costs can be reduced is obtained. Since non-contact tokens can be used repeatedly, resource saving can be achieved.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, even if the short-term use ticket becomes a non-contact token and is repeatedly used, if the non-contact token is used for a long period of time, the non-contact token will be worn or deformed. to recover the old non-contact type token, Ru must be replaced with a new non-contact type token. For this reason, it has been desired to make it possible to efficiently collect old non-contact tokens.
[0006]
Also, when it becomes so that the non-contact type token is employed in ticket gate processing system, a large amount of since the use of non-contact type token is started at a time expires that a large amount of the non-contact type token life time Is assumed. Therefore, a large amount of non-contact type token at a time is recovered from the ticket gate processing system by lifetime exhaustion, which may interfere with the operation of the ticket gate processing system. For this reason, it is desired to be able to collect old contactless tokens so as not to hinder the operation of the ticket gate processing system. Furthermore, it is also desired to be able to collect old contactless tokens without using a special dedicated machine.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention has been made to meet the above-mentioned demands, and enables an old non-contact token to be efficiently collected without using a special dedicated machine, and a large amount of non-contact type at once. it is an object to ensure that the exchange of token does not occur.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
This onset Ming, in order to achieve the above object, reads data recorded in the contactless tokens paid out from the hopper stockpiling contactless token one by one, write the predetermined data, writing A non-contact token automatic issuing machine that issues the non-contact type token to the issuing port when it is normally performed, and collects the non-contact type token into the collection box by the collecting means when the writing is not normally performed. (A) Extracting data indicating the manufacturing time of the non-contact token from the data read from the non-contact token, and depending on whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed from the extracted manufacturing time to the present Means for determining whether or not a contactless token requires collection, data indicating the number of times the contactless token is used from data read from the contactless token Means for determining whether or not the contactless token requires collection based on whether or not the extracted usage count has reached a predetermined number of times, or data read from the contactless token Any of the means for extracting the data indicating the expiration date of the contactless token from the inside, and determining whether the contactless token requires collection depending on whether the extracted expiration date has arrived And (b) primary control means for controlling the recovery means so as to recover the non-contact token in the recovery box when it is determined that the non-contact token needs to be recovered. And (c) means for counting the number of non-contact tokens collected in a predetermined time in the collection box, and (d) the number of non-contact tokens collected in the predetermined time reaches a predetermined number. Thereafter, for the non-contact token delivered from the hopper based on the issuance command, the collection based on the determination result by the means for determining whether or not the non-contact token requires collection is performed. A secondary control means for controlling the collecting means so as not to be performed is provided .
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Contactless token automatic issuing machine according to the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "issuer".) Before describing, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the ticket gate processing system using the non-contact type token explain.
[0010]
Figure 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a ticket examination processing systems using a contactless token. In FIG. 1, in order to simplify the drawing and to simplify the description, the route map is shown as a simple one having two stations, the A station and the O station. The stations (Party Station and Party B station), a non-contact automatic ticket gate (hereinafter, referred to as "ticket gate".) G, G, according to the present invention issuance machine a, a and the automatic checkout machine (hereinafter, "checkout It is called " machine ".) B and b are installed.
[0011]
Issuing station a is given money (if paid in cash to the prepaid card such as a card including.) It has been introduced into the issuing station a, contactless token entrance possible coin type with a ticket gate G (Hereinafter referred to as “token”) T is configured to be issued. The issuing machine a will be described in detail later.
[0012]
2A is an enlarged front view of the token T, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. The token T is made of a synthetic resin, and an electric circuit T ′ for allowing the token T to perform the same function as a non-contact ticket is provided therein. The token T can be easily manufactured at low cost and in large quantities using a known synthetic resin molding technique.
[0013]
FIG. 3A is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the token T. That is, the token T includes a communication control unit 2 having an antenna 1 for communicating with a reader / writer side, which will be described later, and the communication control unit 2 in the same manner as a non-contact ticket including a known IC card having a wireless communication function. The CPU 4 that performs predetermined arithmetic processing connected via the I / O unit 3, the memory 5, and the power wave from the token processor side such as the ticket gate G and the issuing machine a are received via the antenna 1. And a power generation circuit 6 that generates driving power for the token T. In the memory 5, a system program for arithmetic processing of the CPU 4, ID (identification information) of the token T, and predetermined token data such as fare data and district number data necessary for the token T to be used as a ticket are recorded. In addition to the above, as shown in FIG. 3B, the date of the date when the token T was manufactured is recorded in the storage unit 5 a of the memory 5. These members indicated by reference numerals 1 to 6 are accommodated in the electric circuit T ′ shown in FIG. Note that FIGS. 3C and 3D will be described later. A non-contact ticket (not shown) used in the ticket gate processing system shown in FIG. 1 has a card shape, and its electrical configuration is the same as that of the token T.
[0014]
[Admission processing by ticket gate]
Ticket gate G, upon admission, the antenna touched lightly token T or contactless ticket provided to the ticket gate G, or is held over to the antenna (hereinafter, described touch.), The token T Alternatively, an entrance calculation process is performed based on data recorded in the non-contact ticket. Results of the calculation processing, when it is determined that may allow admission, with a given entry data to the token T or contactless ticket is written, the door is opened (ticket gate G is normally open In the case of, pass through the ticket gate passage. If it is determined that the admission is not permitted as a result of the above arithmetic processing, the door is closed and the passage of the ticket gate is rejected, and the reason for the admission rejection is displayed to the user via the display screen or the speaker. Guided.
[0015]
[Participation processing by ticket gate]
In ticket gate G, when played using a contactless tickets, competed processing is performed on the basis of the data when touched to the antenna similarly to the admission time. When to compete with the token T is competed processed when the token T is turned is performed in the token inlet provided in the ticket gate G. Token inlet break tag equipped with is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-312776 or the like according to the present Applicant's earlier application.
[0016]
When the token T is inserted into the token slot of the ticket gate G at the time of participation, the arithmetic processing for participation is performed based on the data recorded in the token T via the antenna provided near the token slot. Is done. Results of the calculation processing, when it is determined that it permits the contestants, with a given played data to the token T is written, doors are permitted passage of opened and wicket passage. Then, it puts token T is collected in a hopper which is provided in the ticket gate G. If it is determined that entry is not permitted as a result of the above arithmetic processing, the inserted token T is returned to the return port and the door is closed to prevent passage through the ticket gate, Predetermined guidance such as settlement guidance is performed via the speaker.
[0017]
[Adjustment machine]
As shown in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 2839393 related to the present applicant, the settlement machine b is a communication unit that communicates with the token T and the non-contact ticket, and the token T or the non-contact input through the communication unit. A deficiency charge calculation unit that calculates the deficiency fee by performing arithmetic processing based on the data recorded on the ticket, a display unit that displays the deficiency fee calculated by the deficiency charge calculation unit , and a display that is displayed on the display unit When a fee (including a prepaid card or the like) is inserted, it is composed of a writing unit for writing the settled data to the token T or non-contact ticket via the communication unit. Thus, the settlement device b, as the checkout stations for known magnetic ticket, without requiring a mechanism for recovering the settlement original ticket inside, also the inserted token T or contactless tickets ticket gate G It has the feature that it can be generated into a usable check ticket.
[0018]
[Configuration of issuing machine]
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the issuing machine a. On the customer service panel 10 side of the issuing machine a, there are an account button section 11 consisting of an account button group, a number selection button, etc. similar to an automatic ticket vending machine that issues a ticket made of a magnetic ticket, and a boarding fee for coins and bills. There are provided a money processing unit 12 that has an insertion slot and can discharge change as needed, and an issuing slot 13 that issues a token T to a customer. In addition, when the purchase price of the token T is possible with a card such as a prepaid card, the money processing unit 12 is provided with a card processing function.
[0019]
In FIG. 4, H is a funnel-like hopper that can store a large number of tokens T. The hopper H can be also used as the hopper is provided in the ticket gate G. Thus when combined has a feature that can be directly mounted hopper was filled with ticket gate G to issuing machine a.
[0020]
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 14 denotes a feeding portion provided on the lower side of the hopper H, and is configured so that tokens T in the hopper H can be discharged to the shooter 15 one by one. As the feeding unit 14, since the token T has a coin shape, a feeding unit of a coin processing device incorporated in a known automatic ticket vending machine or the like can be used. That is, the feeding portion 14 has a rotating disk into which one token T can be inserted. This rotating disk is controlled by a controller 18 described later, and the token T inserted into the rotating disk is shootered. 15 can be discharged.
[0021]
The shooter 15 is provided so as to be inclined so that the lower end thereof is positioned at the issue port 13. The shooter 15 includes, in order from upstream to downstream, a reading antenna 16a for reading data recorded on the token T falling in the shooter 15, and an issue date, a boarding fee, etc. A writing antenna 16b for writing predetermined data (token data), a verification antenna 16c for checking the written data, and a flapper F driven by a solenoid (not shown) are provided. It has been. When the flapper F is at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 4 , that is, at the position where the hole provided in the bottom surface of the shooter 15 is closed, the token T fed from the feeding portion 14 can be discharged to the issuing port 13. When the flapper F is at the position indicated by the chain line in FIG. 4 , that is, at the position where the hole provided on the bottom surface of the shooter 15 is opened , the token T fed from the feeding section 14 is placed in the issuing machine a. It is comprised so that it can collect | recover in the collection | recovery box 17 provided.
[0022]
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 18 denotes a controller that comprehensively controls the issuing machine “a”. As shown in FIG. 5, the system program stored in the ROM 20 and the working data stored in the RAM 21 are used. A CPU (central processing unit) 22 that performs arithmetic processing is included.
[0023]
The CPU 22 includes a reader / writer 24 connected to the antennas 16a, 16b, and 16c via the I / O unit 23, the account button unit 11, the money processing unit 12, and a solenoid driver 25 that drives the flapper F solenoid. And are connected.
[0024]
[Function of issuing machine]
Hereinafter, the control operation of the issuing machine a configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Now, when a predetermined account button of the account button unit 11 is selected and money satisfying the fee of the selected account button is inserted into the money processing unit 12, one token T is supplied from the payout unit 14 to the shooter 15. It is discharged (Yes at Step 100, Step 102. Hereinafter, the step is referred to as “S”).
[0025]
While the token T discharged to the shooter 15 falls down the shooter 15, the data recorded in the token T is read by the controller 18 via the antenna 16a (S104). Then, the production time data stored in the storage unit 5a of the memory 5 of the token T is extracted from the read data (S106).
[0026]
The extracted manufacturing time, that is, how long the token T has been manufactured (the date on which the token T is issued) to the present time is calculated. When the calculated period is an exchange period of the token T, for example, when five years have elapsed from the date of manufacture of the token T, it is determined that the collection time of the token T has arrived ( S108 affirmation).
[0027]
The token T determined to have reached the collection time is collected in the collection box 17 via the flapper F (the flapper F indicated by the chain line in FIG. 4), and data of the number of collected tokens in the RAM 21 along with the collection. Is incremented by 1 (Yes at S110, S112). That is, the number of tokens collected is counted. When the token T is collected in the collection box 17, a new token T is discharged from the feeding unit 14, and it is similarly determined whether or not the token T needs to be collected.
[0028]
Even if it is determined that the token T needs to be collected, when the number of collections within a predetermined time has already reached the predetermined number, for example, when the number of collections per day is set to 1000 (S110). (Yes), the token T beyond that is discharged to the issuing port 13 through the flapper F (the flapper F indicated by the solid line in FIG. 4) and issued (S114). That is, the token T drawn out from the hopper after reaching the predetermined number is collected by the flapper F so as not to be collected based on the determination result by the means for determining whether or not the token needs to be collected. To control . At the time of issuance, predetermined data such as an issuance date and a boarding fee is written in the token T discharged to the issuance port 13 via the antenna 16b. Then, the written data is read through the antenna 16c, and when the determination based on the read data is determined to be normal, the data is discharged to the issue port 13. Note that the token T in which the data read through the antenna 16b is determined to be abnormal, that is, the poorly written token T is the collection box 17 through the flapper F (the flapper F indicated by the chain line in FIG. 4). To be recovered. At this time, one new token T is discharged from the feeding unit 14.
[0029]
When the collection time of the token T fed from the feeding unit 14 has not yet arrived (No at S108), the same writing process as that for the token T exceeding the number of collections described above is performed and discharged to the issuing port 13. Is done.
[0030]
As described above, when a limit is set on the number of tokens T collected within a predetermined time (in the above example, the number of collected tokens per day is 1000), a large number of tokens T are collected at once from the ticket gate processing system. It is possible to prevent the operation of the processing system from being hindered. That is, since a large number of tokens T are inserted into the ticket gate processing system at a time (once), the collection time of the large number of tokens T comes at a time, but as described above, If a restriction is provided, tokens can be exchanged without affecting the ticket gate processing system.
[0031]
In the above example, the collection time of the token T is based on the manufacturing time of the token T. However, it may be based on the actual number of times the token T is used. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3C, the number of times the token T is issued is stored in the storage unit 5b of the memory 5 of the token T. Each time the token T is issued from the issuing machine a, the number of times of issuance in the storage unit 5b is updated. In this case, since it is performed based on the number of times the token T is used, there is an advantage that only old tokens that really need to be collected can be collected.
[0032]
The token T can be collected in advance based on the expiration date of the token T, for example, the expiration date of 3 years from the date of manufacture. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3D, the storage unit 5 c of the memory 5 of the token T stores the date of use expiration date of the token T. When the token T is issued, it is detected whether the expiration date stored in the storage unit 5c has passed. When the issuance time of the token T has expired, the token T is collected in the collection box 17.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when the data recorded in the non-contact type tokens drawn out one by one from the hopper storing the non-contact type tokens is read, the predetermined data is written, and the writing is normally performed In the non-contact type token automatic issuing machine that issues the non-contact type token to the issuing port and collects the non-contact type token in the collection box by the collecting means when the writing is not normally performed. Data indicating the production time of the non-contact type token is extracted from the data read from the contact type token, and the non-contact type token is collected depending on whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed from the extracted production time to the present time. Means for determining whether or not it is necessary, extracting data indicating the number of times the non-contact token is used from the data read from the non-contact token, and extracting the data Means for determining whether or not the contactless token needs to be collected depending on whether or not the number of times of use has reached a predetermined number of times, or a contactless token from data read from the contactless token And a means for determining whether or not the contactless token needs to be collected depending on whether or not the extracted expiration date has arrived, and ( b) when it is determined that the non-contact token needs to be collected, primary control means for controlling the collecting means to collect the non-contact token in the collection box is provided, and (c) the The collection box is provided with means for counting the number of non-contact tokens collected within a predetermined time. (D) When the number of non-contact tokens collected within the predetermined time reaches a predetermined number, For the non-contact type token that is paid out from the hopper based on the command, the recovery means is configured not to perform recovery based on the determination result by the means for determining whether or not the non-contact type token requires recovery. Since the secondary control means for controlling the number of tokens is collected, old tokens can be collected efficiently, and the number of tokens collected within a predetermined time is limited. Therefore, token exchange can be performed without affecting the ticket gate processing system. In addition, the recovery of token, is performed at issue machine, it can be inexpensively recovered without using a special dedicated machine.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a ticket gate processing system using a token .
2 (a) is an enlarged front view of the token is a sectional view taken along line X-X of (b) is (a).
3 (a) is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a token, (b) ~ (d) are explanatory views showing the storage contents of the memory of the token.
FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an issuing machine .
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a controller of the issuing machine .
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control operation of the issuing machine .
[Explanation of symbols]
T token (non-contact token)
G ticket gate (noncontact automatic ticket gate)
a Issuing machine (automatic issuing machine )
b Settlement machine (automatic settlement machine )
H Hopper 11 Account button part 12 Money processing unit 13 Issuing port 14 Feeding part 15 Shuta
16a Reading antenna
16b antenna for writing
16c verify antenna 17 collection box 18 controller F flapper

Claims (1)

Read the data recorded in the non-contact type tokens drawn out one by one from the hopper storing the non-contact type tokens, write the predetermined data, and when the writing is performed normally, In the non-contact token automatic issuing machine that issues to the issue port and collects the non-contact token in the recovery box by the recovery means when writing is not performed normally,
Data indicating the production time of the non-contact type token is extracted from the data read from the non-contact type token, and the non-contact type token is determined depending on whether or not a predetermined period has passed from the extracted production time to the present. Means for determining whether or not collection is required; data indicating the number of times of use of the non-contact type token is extracted from the data read from the non-contact type token, and the extracted use number reaches a predetermined number of times; Means for determining whether or not the contactless token needs to be collected depending on whether or not it is present, or data indicating the expiration date of the contactless token from the data read from the contactless token It is provided with any one of means for determining whether or not the contactless token needs to be collected depending on whether or not the extracted expiration date has arrived To,
When it is determined that the non-contact token needs to be collected, a primary control means is provided for controlling the collecting means so as to collect the non-contact token in the collection box,
Means for counting the number of non-contact tokens to be collected within a predetermined time in the collection box;
When the number of non-contact tokens collected within a predetermined time reaches a predetermined number, the non-contact token needs to be collected for non-contact tokens that are paid out from the hopper based on the issuing command. Secondary control means for controlling the recovery means so as not to perform recovery based on the determination result by the means for determining whether or not to do,
Non-contact token automatic issuing machine characterized by

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