JPS6046478B2 - 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 become popular in order to save labor and operate in two-storey spaces. In such a case, if the vending machine uses coins, each machine must have a coin identification 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 an arbitrary amount of banknotes, the card is issued by magnetically recording the value corresponding to the inserted amount. 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 remaining value is magnetically recorded. Finally, by inserting the card into the payment machine, the payment machine discharges cash in an amount corresponding to the residual value of the card. If such a card is used, there is a risk that the card will not be used to purchase goods but instead will be used for exchanging money. In other words, if you insert a large amount of banknotes, such as a 10,000 yen bill, into a card issuing machine and receive a card with a value equivalent to that amount, you do not use this card to purchase goods, but instead use it directly at the payment machine. When used to obtain an amount of cash equal to the full value of the card, the machine is primarily used for change, and the relatively small amount of banknotes and coins is used to collect the remaining value of the card. Since we have come to pay a value for money, it is possible that we will run out of change unless we have an extremely large amount of change on hand at the payment machine. The payment machine has a maximum of 1,000 yen bills and smaller bills and coins for change, so for example, 1,000 yen bills are paid for a card set with a value of 10,000 yen. If this is to be used for the purpose of exchanging money, the payment machine must have a large amount of small bills and coins, and if there is a lot of exchange, change may be left over when paying for the card used to actually purchase the item. Problems such as not doing so may occur.

Furthermore, if you insert a 10,000 yen bill into a card issuing machine, get a card issued, use this card to purchase a very small item, say 100 days, and then insert it into the payment machine, the machine will charge 9,900 yen. The user will have to pay the change for the day, and in such a case, the above-mentioned problem will occur at the payment machine.

This invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a transaction settlement device that suppresses or prevents currency exchange using cards used in vending machines as much as possible. That's true.

In order to achieve the above object, in this invention, if the card is not used to purchase goods or is inserted into the payment machine after purchasing goods below a predetermined amount, the entire residual value of the card will be refunded in cash. Rather than paying, you pay a portion of the residual value in cash, but the rest is returned to the card with an equivalent value added back to it.

In this way, you can simply receive a card for exchanging money,
When this card is inserted into a payment machine, part of the payment will be made in cash, but the rest will be returned with its value added to the card, which can be expected to reduce its use for currency exchange purposes. . To this end, the present invention provides means for setting a value originally assigned to a card, means for reading data from the card or a file accessed by the card that substantially represents the purchase amount, and the set value. A means of comparing the purchase amount and when the purchase amount by card does not meet the predetermined amount (this also applies if there is no purchase at all).

), a means for giving a part of the original value to the card and returning it, and a means for discharging the remaining value in cash are provided.
With the above configuration, if the purchase amount is more than a predetermined amount, the card will not be returned and the remaining amount will be released in cash.

However, if the purchase amount is zero or less than a predetermined amount, a portion of the card's residual value will be paid in cash, and the remainder will be given to the card. This card is returned to the purchaser. If you use it for the purpose of exchange in this way, you will not be able to obtain the entire amount in cash, but a part will be received as a card again, and although the purpose of exchange will be partially achieved, it will not be possible to achieve all of it. It becomes something that cannot be done. Illustrative implementations of the invention will now be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a card issuing machine used in the present invention, in which 1 is a banknote discriminator, 2 is an OR circuit, 3 is an adder, 4 is a register,
The output of the discriminator 1 is input to the adder 3 via the OR circuit 2, the output of the adder 3 is input to the register 4, and the contents of the register 4 are input to the adder 3. 6 is a comparison circuit, and 7 is an upper limit value setter.The contents of the register 4 and the set value of the setter 7 are input to the comparison circuit 6 and compared.

When the contents of the register 4 become equal to the set value of the setter 7, the output signal of the comparator circuit 6 is used as an inhibit input to the discriminator 1, and other outputs of the comparator circuit 6 (described later) are input to an AND circuit. 8 inputs. Reference numeral 9 denotes a termination signal generator, the output of which is input to the AND circuit 8.

10 is a timer which receives the output of the discriminator 1 and produces an output after a certain period of time.

The outputs of the AND circuit 8 and the timer 10 are input to an OR circuit 11, and the output of the OR circuit 11 is used as a signal to open the AND gate 12 and is input to the card reader 13. The card reader 13 has the functions of reading a card, writing to the card, and transporting the card. The contents of register 4 are added to ANDKATE 12. The output of the card reader 13 is input to the OR circuit 2. Next, the operation will be explained.

When a banknote is inserted into a card issuing machine, its amount is determined by a discriminator 1, and a signal indicating this amount is applied to an adder 3 via an OR circuit 2.

In the adder 3, the contents of the register 4 and the input amount are added and stored in the register 4. When inserting a plurality of bills, the contents of the register 4 are zero when the first bill is inserted, the inserted amount is put into the register 4 from the adding machine 3, and when the second and subsequent bills are inserted, the contents of the register 4 are zero. Since the amount of money put in up to the previous time has been entered in the register 4, the amount put in now and the amount put in up to the previous time are added by the adder 3 and are put into the register 4 again. In this way, the register 4 contains a signal indicating the total amount of the inserted banknotes. The contents of the register 4 and the set value of the setter 7 (for example, this is set as an upper limit of 20,000 yen) are compared in the comparator circuit 6, and when the total amount of input is equal to the set value, the comparator circuit 6 A signal is output and applied to the discriminator 1 as a prohibition input, and subsequent insertion of banknotes is prohibited by actions such as closing the banknote slot. Furthermore, when the contents of the register 4 are no longer zero due to the insertion of at least one banknote, the comparator circuit 6
generates a signal which is applied to AND gate 8 to open it. When the depositor has finished inserting the amount of money, the depositor uses, for example, an end signal generator 9 (for example, a pushbutton).

), a termination signal is generated from the generator 9, and this signal is applied to the OR circuit 11 via the AND gate 8.Therefore, a signal indicated by 1A in the figure is output from the OR circuit 11, and the signal is output to the card reader 13. is input. and gate 12
is opened by the signal A obtained from the OR circuit 11, and inputs a signal indicating the total input amount stored in the register 4 to the card reader 13. If you forget to operate generator 9, timer 1 will be activated after a certain period of time after bill insertion has started.
A zero produces a signal, and thus a signal from OR circuit 11 is produced. FIG. 2 is a block diagram (including a cross-sectional front view) showing the configuration of the mechanical parts of the card issuing machine.

), 21 is a card entrance/exit part having an entrance/exit 22;
23 is a card conveyor, 24 is a card reading head, 25 is a card writing head, 26 and 27 are photoelectric detectors,
28 is a card conveying machine that operates the conveyor 23, 29 is a flip-flop, 30 is a prohibition gate, 31 is a feeding machine, 3
2 is a card feeding roller, 33 is a card box, and 34 is card paper. As will be described later, a card with the initial assigned value and residual value magnetically recorded is inserted from the entry/exit section 21, but the card is not inserted, and a banknote is inserted into the device shown in Figure 1, and a 1-ayo signal is issued. When this signal appears. 1 ayo is the second
It is added to the conveyor 28 in the figure and also to the feeder 31 via the prohibition gate 30.

As will be described later, the prohibition gate 30 is not prohibited at this time. Therefore, when signal 1 is applied to the feeding machine 31, the feeding machine 31 drives the roller 32. Only one card paper 34 in the box 33 is let out. When this paper is detected by the photoelectric detector 27, the detection signal is applied to the conveyor 28, and the conveyor 28 drives the conveyor 23 to move the card paper to the left in the figure. During this time, a signal indicating the total amount of money inserted into the card reader 13 of FIG. 1 is magnetically recorded on the card paper by the write head 25. The magnetically recorded card paper is discharged to the outside from the entrance/exit 22 and is issued as a card. Furthermore, conveyor 2
When the card is detected by the photoelectric detector 27, 8 generates an output signal in response to the detection signal, and adds this signal to the set input of the flip-flop 29 to set it.
Therefore, at this time, the flip-flop 29 generates a set output to inhibit the gate 30 and stop the operation of the feeder 31. Also, when a card is ejected and detected by the photoelectric detector 26, the carrier 28 is activated. Upon stopping, an output signal is generated which is added to the reset input of flip-flop 29 to reset flip-flop 29. As a result, the flip-flop 29 resets the card issuing machine, and the gate 30 becomes unblocked. The cards issued as described above are used in a well-known product dispensing device (not shown).

) used for That is, when a card is inserted into a product dispensing device, its value is read by the reader inside the device, and then when the product selection button is pressed, the value of the card is compared with the amount of the selected product, and the card is dispensed. If the value is greater, the item is released, the amount of the item is subtracted from the value of the card, the residual value is recorded, and the card is returned. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the payment device of the present invention, and 41 is a card reader having functions of reading, writing, collecting, and returning cards. 42 is a register into which the value initially assigned to the card read by the card reader 41 is input; 43 is an OR circuit; 44 is a register into which the residual value of the card read by the card reader 41 is input; 45
is a comparison circuit to which the contents of registers 42 and 44 are input.

Comparison circuit 45 generates two types of output signals A and B, which will be described later, based on the results of comparing the contents of registers 42 and 44. Reference numeral 46 is a setting device, and all "0" are set.

Reference numeral 47 denotes an AND gate that is opened by one output signal A of the comparator circuit 45, which inputs the output of the setter 46, and whose output is input to the OR circuit 48.

The output of the OR circuit 48 is input to the card reader 41.
The output signal A of the comparison circuit 45 is inputted to the card reader 41 as an all "0" write and collection command signal. 49 is an AND gate opened by another output signal B of the comparison circuit 45; The content of is input.

Reference numeral 50 denotes an arithmetic circuit which receives the output of the AND gate 49 and inputs the arithmetic result to the register 44 via the OR circuit 43 and to the register 51. Reference numeral 52 denotes an AND gate which is opened by a signal generated when the arithmetic circuit 50 finishes its operation, and receives the contents of the register 51 as input.

53 is an AND gate that is opened by the output signal A of the comparison circuit 45, and receives the contents of the register 44 as input.

Reference numeral 54 denotes an OR circuit, which inputs the outputs of the AND gates 52 and 53, and its output is input to the change dispenser 55.

Reference numeral 56 denotes an AND gate which is opened by the operation end signal of the arithmetic circuit 50, and receives the contents of the registers 42 and 44 as input.

The output of the AND gate 56 is input to the OR circuit 48. Further, the completion signal of the arithmetic circuit 50 is applied to the card reader 41 as a write return command signal.

Next, the operation will be explained.

When a card is inserted into the payment device for payment, a card reader 41 reads the value recorded on the card at the time of issue and inputs it into the register 42. Then, the card reader 41 reads the residual value and inputs it into the register 44. Comparison circuit 45 compares the contents of registers 42 and 44. When the residual value in use is zero, that is, when the product is purchased for an amount corresponding to the original value of the card, or when the residual value in use is less than, for example, 90% of the original value of the card. When, in other words, the purchasing amount is small.
If the value is greater than 10% of the original value of the card, comparator circuit 45 generates signal A, opens AND gates 47 and 53, and provides card reader 41 with an all "O" write retrieval command. When the gate 47 opens, all "0" data set in the setting device 46 is applied to the card reader 41 via the OR circuit 48, and the card reader 41 writes all "0" data to the card by the all "0" write command signal. All "0" is written and the value is set to zero and collected. On the other hand, when the gate 53 opens, the contents of the register 44 (used residual value) are put into the change dispenser 55 via the OR circuit 54, and the value is returned to the used residual value. The corresponding amount of cash is discharged as change.For example, 1,000 yen bills, 100 yen coins, and 10 yen coins are placed in the change dispenser 55, and these are discharged as change.Also, the comparison circuit 45 compares the coins. As a result, the residual value used is equal to the original value of the card (i.e. the card was not used for a purchase), or the residual value used is, for example, more than 90% of the original value of the card. (i.e., when the purchase amount was less than 10% of the original value of the card), the comparison circuit 4
5 produces signal B and opens AND gate 49. By opening the AND gate 49, the contents of the register 44, ie, the residual value, are input into the arithmetic circuit 50. Arithmetic circuit 5
0 calculates 90% and 10% of the input residual value, and inputs data indicating 90% into the register 51 and data indicating 10% into the register 44. The arithmetic circuit 50 then generates a termination signal, opens the AND gates 52 and 56, and applies it to the card reader 41 as a write return command. When the gate 52 opens, the contents of the register 51,
In other words, the data representing 90% of the residual value is the OR circuit 5.
4 to the change dispenser 55, and the corresponding amount is dispensed from the change dispenser 55. Furthermore, when the gate 56 opens, data indicating 10% of the residual value in use is input from the register 44, and data indicating the value originally assigned to the card is input from the register 42 to the card reader 41 via the OR circuit 48. Based on the write return command, the card reader 41 records a value equivalent to 10% of the residual value and the originally assigned value on the card and returns the card. In this case, 90% of the remaining value will be released as change, and the card with 10% of the value recorded will be returned. To use the returned card, insert it into the issuing machine shown in FIG.

When the photoelectric detector 26 in FIG. 2 detects that a card has been inserted from the entrance/exit 22, the carrier 28 is operated in response to the detection signal to send the card to the right in the figure. At this time, the record on the card is read by the reading head 24, and the card first
The signal is inputted to the card reader 13 shown in the figure, further inputted from the card reader 13 via the OR circuit 2 to the adder 3, and further inputted to the register 4. - When the end signal generator 9 is operated, the signal 1 is generated, the AND gate 12 is opened, and the contents of the register 4 are input to the reader 13, while in FIG. One sheet of card paper 34 is fed out by the same operation as ), and
The contents of the card reader 13 are written by a write head 25 and issued as a card. As can be seen from the above explanation, the register 42, card reader 41, comparison circuit 4
5. The device consisting of the arithmetic circuit 50 and the card reader 41 and the change dispenser 55 are examples of means for setting value, means for reading, means for comparing, means for returning, and means for dispensing, respectively. Although the above embodiment is shown as offline, the invention can also be implemented in an online system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the center (solid device) in the online system. Cards issued by the card issuing machine are numbered, and when the card is issued, the interface 61 from the card issuing machine to the center The data of the card number and the amount inserted (the value initially given to the card) are sent to the electronic computer via the center electronic computer 6.
2 records the input amount in the column corresponding to the card number of the file 63.

Every time a card is used to make a purchase, data on the purchaser's item and price is entered into the computer 62 as shown in 64 from the vending machine, and the balance used is calculated by the computer 62 and recorded in a file 63. Ru. The calculation at the time of final payment is performed by the electronic computer 62, which compares the remaining value of the card with the original value of the card and sends a command signal similar to that explained with reference to FIG. 3 to the payment machine based on the result. electronic computer 6
Reference numeral 2 serves as a reading means, a comparing means, and a means for returning the card together with the card reader 41. In addition, in the above embodiment, the residual value was recorded on the card, but
The purchase amount may also be recorded.

In this case, purchase amount = input amount - balance (residual value used) There is a relationship between

Therefore, in this case, if the purchase amount is zero or less than 10% of the initial assigned value as determined by the comparator of the payment device, the card will be returned with 10% of the initial assigned value and the remaining balance will be refunded. Release in cash. Alternatively, the initial value given to the card may be a fixed amount, for example 10,000 yen, and the card may be issued by inserting 10,000 yen into the issuing machine.

In this case, it is sufficient to record the total input amount as 10,000 yen on the card or file 63 in Figure 4 in advance. All you have to do is set an amount of 10,000 yen.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a card issuing machine used in the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a part of the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the invention. 41...Card reader, 42...Register in which the value originally assigned to the card is set, 44.
...Used residual value register, 45...Comparison circuit, 50...Arithmetic circuit, 55...Change dispenser, 63...Accessed by card file.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 means for setting a value initially assigned to a card; means for reading data substantially representing a purchase amount from the card or a file accessed by the card; and means for determining the set value and the purchase amount. a means for comparison, and if the purchase amount by the card is less than a certain percentage of the value originally assigned, a portion of the residual value, which is the difference between the original value and the purchase amount, is assigned to the card; A transaction settlement device comprising a means for returning the card and a means for discharging in cash the value of the difference between the residual value of the card and a part of the value attached to the card.