EP0041457B1 - Dispensing apparatus, with removable money box and operating device for this money box - Google Patents

Dispensing apparatus, with removable money box and operating device for this money box Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0041457B1
EP0041457B1 EP19810400869 EP81400869A EP0041457B1 EP 0041457 B1 EP0041457 B1 EP 0041457B1 EP 19810400869 EP19810400869 EP 19810400869 EP 81400869 A EP81400869 A EP 81400869A EP 0041457 B1 EP0041457 B1 EP 0041457B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
box
memory
coin box
coin
numbers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19810400869
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0041457A2 (en
EP0041457A3 (en
Inventor
Bernard Serres
Jean Decrae
Joel Doucet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Decrae Jean
DOUCET, JOEL
SERRES, BERNARD
Original Assignee
Decrae Jean
Doucet Joel
Serres Bernard
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Publication date
Application filed by Decrae Jean, Doucet Joel, Serres Bernard filed Critical Decrae Jean
Publication of EP0041457A2 publication Critical patent/EP0041457A2/en
Publication of EP0041457A3 publication Critical patent/EP0041457A3/en
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Publication of EP0041457B1 publication Critical patent/EP0041457B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/06—Coin boxes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an automatic dispensing device for a fee of products or services, as defined in the preamble of claim 1.
  • the invention also relates to an installation for collecting and verifying the content of the boxes of conforming dispensing apparatus to the invention.
  • the user obtains the selected product or service by inserting coins and / or fiduciary media (notes or tokens). After recognition and recognition of the various types of coins or banknotes, they undergo a referral then a temporary storage, ending either by the collection when the product or the service is obtained, or by the restitution in the contrary case.
  • the device gives change or not, by possible recycling of coins or notes, a certain amount of money is present at a given time in the removable box.
  • one or more agents carry out the periodic lifting of the full cases to replace them with empty cases.
  • the box In known dispensing devices, the box is inaccessible to users and is housed in a compartment with a locked door. Although the box is sealed, diversion of part of the recipe can nevertheless be carried out between the moment of withdrawal of the full box from the device and the arrival of the latter at the box management center.
  • the risks are all the less great for an ill-intentioned person since, for certain vending machines (in particular for services), the amount actually collected in the box is always greater than the theoretical revenue corresponding to the services actually rendered and only currently verifiable.
  • the theoretical revenue is indicated by the account of the tax meter inserted in the device and / or the tax meter at the home office.
  • the user uses the device for a communication which generally lasts less than that actually corresponding to the numbers of coins received.
  • the difference between the theoretical recipe and the cashed recipe can come from a malfunction of the device which, for example, collects money without delivering the selected product.
  • Certain known dispensing devices are provided with devices for memorizing and displaying the receipts collected during each dispensing operation. But the indications given by these devices are only intended to allow the user to check whether or not he has introduced the amount necessary for the execution of the operation.
  • a known dispensing device such as a public telephone device, has a box closed by sealing containing one or more counters.
  • the meter accounts can be read from outside the box.
  • This dispensing device is described in DE-A-2 112 414.
  • the meters are electromagnetic or electronic meters which are electrically connected to the dispensing device by plugging the box into the device.
  • the counters only count the different coins collected in the box and are reset to zero by the box lifter, either manually or electrically during or after the withdrawal of the pieces from the box.
  • the meter reads the different numbers of pieces displayed by the counters, such a reading being a source of error.
  • Patent application DE-A-2 112 414 does not provide any means for automatically comparing the accounts indicated by the counters with the numbers of coins actually collected. In addition, no means are provided for automatically collecting information useful later for the management of the dispensing apparatus and of the boxes.
  • GB-A-1 559 161 proposes a dispensing device which partially remedies the above drawbacks.
  • This vending machine is a slot machine type entertainment device. It includes a removable box receiving the various coins collected, and electronic means including a microprocessor, an interface and an instruction memory. The electronic means control the operation of various electromechanical members of the device as well as the writing of information in a non-volatile memory in the solid state.
  • the information stored can be numbers of different coins received, numbers of different coins reimbursed as well as a number of games played.
  • the memory is completely separated from the box and can be plugged inside the device by an authorized lifter.
  • the plug-in memory can be extracted to be read by means of a special reading device which is in the possession of the reader or which is available in a remote management center.
  • the fact that the memory is completely separated from the box contributes to increasing the handling of memory and box and therefore the risk of error when the recipes in the boxes are checked in a management center.
  • non-volatile memory is introduced into a box according to DE-A-2 112 414, instead of electronic counters, this one, like electronic counters, does not make it possible to quickly and automatically manage such boxes.
  • the memory is a non-volatile memory, of the EROM read only memory type, programmable and erasable by ultraviolet radiation.
  • such a non-volatile memory has the disadvantage that the read operation is expensive and immediately leads to the destruction of the stored information. In this case, certain information cannot be used several times, such as for example security information usable both in the management center and in the dispensing devices.
  • the present invention therefore aims to provide a box dispenser device including a memory not having the above drawbacks. Furthermore, the invention aims to provide an installation for collecting and verifying the contents of the boxes, in which, thanks to the characteristics of the box memories, the verification of the receipts collected can be carried out automatically at the same time as the opening of the boxes and reading additional information written in the memories of the boxes.
  • this object is achieved by an automatic vending machine for a fee of products or services as defined in claim 1.
  • the memory contained in the box is a RAM memory, that is to say saying a volatile memory with direct access, both for writing and for reading, in particular allows information to be read from the memory by the microprocessor of the dispensing device, which information being written to the remote box management installation and serving especially for security purposes.
  • the information stored when the box full of coins is returned to the installation is read quickly, without resorting to very expensive means. Some of this information can be read without being erased and therefore be reused several times, for example, when the memory contains an identification number of a given dispensing device.
  • the electronic control means constituted by a microprocessor can be connected by its bus to connection means of the box.
  • the box then also houses the necessary interface circuits between the RAM memory and the bus.
  • an installation for collecting and verifying the content of the boxes of dispensing apparatus according to the invention is as determined in claim 8.
  • a box according to the invention preferably has its access to the rooms kept closed during transport and its insertion in the dispensing device, by strapping a link with ends connected by seal, welding, stapling, pressure or the like.
  • the installation at the management center includes a machine for strapping and decoupling the boxes.
  • the preferred embodiment described below relates to a dispensing device of the public telephone collection or prepayment type.
  • Block A of FIG. 1 dedicates this dispensing device and there is shown schematically the main functional blocks that any modern public telephone set contains.
  • the dispensing device A comprises a telephone set 1 served by a telephone line 2, a tax pulse detector 3, a tax meter 4 and a mechanical and electronic collection unit 5.
  • the detector 3 detects and formats the tax pulses transmitted by the home telephone exchange of line 2 as soon as the exchange has established communication between telephone 1 and the telephone of the called subscriber.
  • the base period of the charge pulses depends on the geographical area of assignment of the subscriber requested.
  • the tax counter 4 counts the tax pulses.
  • its ntc account is compared to the number of charges ntcm corresponding to the requested call, that is to say corresponding to the charging area of the requested number and the amount collected.
  • the ntcm tax account prepared by unit 5 depends on the duration of the call calculated according to the ratio of the amount collected and the cost of the base charge, for the charging area of the number requested.
  • the unit 5 includes all the electromechanical means making it possible to collect the currency and, optionally to make change in the event that communication could not be established, and all the electronic means making it possible to calculate the number ntcm and to count for each communication the number of coins (and / or fiduciary) np, to np K of each type 1 to K cashed. K denotes the number of types of coins that the device can collect.
  • a microprocessor 6 constantly comparing these two accounts causes the interruption of the communication, for example by triggering, through the wire 10, the sending a hang-up pulse transmitted by station 1 on telephone line 2. It resets (reset) the tax counter 4 and the room counters of unit 5.
  • the microprocessor can also control a timer (not shown) ) which will show the user of device A that communication will soon be interrupted.
  • unit 5 also includes an additional counter and an associated display which is not visible to the user and which can be read inside the device by the attendant assigned to the recovery of are collected after opening the access door.
  • Such counter and display are generally assigned to the number of pulses of accumulated basic charges NTC, relative to all the communications established.
  • the unit 5 transmits, via the bus 50, the cumulative tax account ntcm for each communication established and also the numbers of parts n P1 to np K actually collected. Other parameters can also be supplied on the bus 50, as will be seen below.
  • microprocessor 6 which is capable of retransmitting, after processing, these data, and others possibly, to a random access memory RAM 7 included in the cash box C of the dispensing apparatus A.
  • the microprocessor is for example of the RCA 1802 type.
  • a microprocessor structure comprises a read-only memory of ROM instructions 60, that is to say addressing only in read mode, and a RAM data memory 61.
  • the memories 60 and 61 are connected to the microprocessor 6 through a unidirectional address bus 62, a bidirectional command bus 63 and a bidirectional data bus 64. Buses 62, 63 and 64 also connect the microprocessor 6 to the memory 7 of box C, through an input interface / output 70. In the case where the data memory 61 is intended to record only a small number of words, this can be constituted by the internal registers of the microprocessor 6.
  • the integrated circuit essentially comprising the interface 70 and the memory 7 is housed inside the box C and behaves vis-à-vis the microprocessor as a peripheral unit.
  • the terminals of the interface 70 are connected to the terminals 62, 63, 64 through a connector 71 constituted by two terminal blocks with cooperating female and male sockets.
  • One of the terminal blocks is fixed to the framework of the dispensing device A and the other terminal block is fixed to the body of the box C.
  • the male sockets are inserted into the female sockets when the box C is inserted into the housing of the device A provided for this purpose.
  • the integrated circuit supported by the box is provided with an autonomous power supply.
  • the latter may consist of a voltage limiter 72 and a capacitor 73 connected in parallel between the supply terminals 74 of the memory 7 and, through the connector 71, to the supply terminals 65 of the microprocessor 6.
  • the capacitor 73 is charged as soon as the connector terminal blocks 71 are plugged in and keeps the memory 7 under tension in the standby state (called "stand by" in American) when the box is out of the dispensing device A.
  • the capacity of the capacitor 73 is preferably chosen to maintain the supply of memory 7 for approximately 24 hours.
  • the capacitor 73 is used in particular when the memory 7 is produced in CMOS technology, which makes it possible to reduce the consumption by reducing the supply voltage.
  • the voltage limiter 72 helps protect the capacitor 73 against accidental or malicious intervention. It is composed of an inverted T circuit relative to the supply terminals 65, comprising a series diode 75 and a parallel Zener diode 76.
  • this supply can consist of a completely autonomous source of energy, such as a micropile having an autonomy of approximately one year.
  • the electronic components contained in the box are fixed to a printed circuit card which can be optionally coated and which is housed against an internal wall of the box.
  • the data memory 61 makes it possible to store all the intermediate data relating to a telephone call, the number of cumulative tax pulses NTC, the numbers of pieces of each accumulated type NP, at NP K actually collected, and possibly statistical data.
  • the read-only memory 60 contains, in addition to the words relating to the instructions of the microprocessor according to the pre-established software, a word NAP identifying the dispensing apparatus and possibly predetermined words corresponding to those stored in the memory 7 of a blank box 6 intended to be introduced into device A.
  • a contact closes to signal to the microprocessor 6 that it must transfer certain data from memory 61 to memory 7.
  • This data are at least the number of cumulative taxes NTC and the numbers of cumulative pieces NP, to NP K.
  • the words M are all equal to zero and the previous initialization program boils down to checking whether all the cells of the memory 7 are empty.
  • the NTC number for the full box becomes the NTV number for the empty box.
  • the access compartment door 66 is then closed and the device is ready for normal operation.
  • the transfers of data NTC, NP 1 to NP, and DS from memory 61 to memory 7 are carried out quickly by closing the contact of the access compartment, according to subroutines similar to those described. previously.
  • the memory 7 does not record any data during the normal operation of the device A.
  • this has the advantage of allowing the power supply of the memory 7 to be stopped by the interface input / output 70, during normal operation, and consequently, to reduce current consumption, but also of all malicious acts with regard to memory 7, it appears that memory 7 duplicates certain memory cells 61. Indeed, the numbers NTC and NP 1 to NP K can be directly stored in memory 7, and no longer in memory 61 during the normal operation of the device A.
  • This second variant has the notable advantage of do not allow the microprocessor and therefore device A to operate without a box.
  • the tax counter 4 is deleted, and the detector 3 directly transmits the properly formatted tax pulses to the microprocessor 6.
  • the preceding subroutine is then carried out for each tax pulse, with an incrementation of 'an accumulator unit.
  • the room counters 1 to K of the unit 5 can be eliminated, and the room detectors 1 to K of the unit 5 transmit directly to the microprocessor 6 a suitable pulse each time a room is detected, said pulse or the transmission wire of this pulse identifying the type of coin received.
  • the previous subroutine is then carried out for each coin collected, with an increment of one unit of the accumulator.
  • a box C is in the form of a parallelepipedic body the bottom 80 of which is a wall pivotally mounted allowing the emptying of coins (and / or fiduciary).
  • another wall of the box has a sliding member slot. This slot is automatically unlocked when the box is embedded in the corresponding housing of the dispensing device, in order to receive by gravity the pieces coming from the mechanical casing organs of the unit 5. As soon as it is removed from the device , this slot is locked automatically.
  • a box is preferably sealed during its transfer and its introduction into the device A.
  • the opening of the box is sealed by a wire with ends connected by a lead seal , similar to that used for water or electricity meters.
  • a lead seal similar to that used for water or electricity meters.
  • the box is encircled by an adequate link 81 preventing the opening of the bottom 80.
  • This link 81 may be of inextensible plastic, such as a braid of hot-welded nylon. It may also be of suitable light metallic material in the form of a strip which after cutting to the suitable length at its ends connected by welding, stapling, thermocompression, bending and pressing, or the like.
  • the box illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 has an upper wall 82 of which two parallel projecting edges 83 forming tongues allow the guidance and the suspension of the box both in the corresponding housing of the dispensing device and in a receptacle 84 of the management center.
  • the receptacle 84 comprises a vertical bar 86 (FIG. 3) against which the box C abuts.
  • This bar 86 comprises a terminal block which cooperates with the terminal block of the box to form a connector 71 ', analogous to connector 71, which makes it possible to connect the internal integrated circuit to the box to a control unit 90.
  • This unit 90 is also organized around a microprocessor.
  • NTV and NTC data will relate to the cumulative durations for a parking meter.
  • the installation of the management center can be designed more simply, by manual control of the various mechanical organs such as the knife 95, the pusher 97, or by manual procedure of the unlocking and opening and of the strapping and closing of the box.
  • the data stored in the memory 7 of a full box can be indicated on a display screen and can be visually compared with the sorting result displayed on the sorting machine. This comparison may or may not be carried over to a printer.
  • a belt conveyor can be envisaged for transporting the boxes and stopping them in front of different stations to carry out the decoupling, the opening of the box respectively, sorting of parts, processing of data in memory 7, closing and strapping of the box.
  • This conveyor may also include several routes for routing and collecting the boxes of dispensing apparatuses from the same geographical area.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un appareil de distribution automatique à titre onéreux de produits ou de services, tel que défini dans le préambule de la revendication 1. L'invention concerne aussi une installation de collecte et de vérification du contenu des caissettes d'appareils distributeurs conformes à l'invention.The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing device for a fee of products or services, as defined in the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to an installation for collecting and verifying the content of the boxes of conforming dispensing apparatus to the invention.

D'une manière générale, les appareils distributeurs automatiques auxquels se réfère l'invention sont par exemple:

  • - des appareils distributeurs de produits tels que copies, tickets de transport, confiseries, petits objets, journaux, livres, monnaies (changeurs de billets et machines à sous) etc...
  • - des appareils distributeurs de services tels que communications téléphoniques automatiques (postes publics), durées d'autorisation de stationnement (parcomètres), jeux (flippers), etc...
In general, the automatic vending machines to which the invention refers are for example:
  • - devices distributing products such as copies, transport tickets, confectionery, small objects, newspapers, books, coins (money changers and slot machines) etc ...
  • - service vending machines such as automatic telephone communications (public payphones), parking authorization periods (parking meters), games (pinball machines), etc.

Pour tous ces appareils distributeurs, l'usager obtient le produit ou le service sélectionné par insertion de pièces de monnaie et/ou fiduciaires (billets ou jetons). Après reconnaissance et comptabilisation des divers types de pièces ou de billets, ceux-ci subissent un aiguillage puis un stockage momentané, se terminant soit par l'encaissement lorsque le produit ou le service est obtenu, soit par la restitution dans le cas contraire.For all these dispensing machines, the user obtains the selected product or service by inserting coins and / or fiduciary media (notes or tokens). After recognition and recognition of the various types of coins or banknotes, they undergo a referral then a temporary storage, ending either by the collection when the product or the service is obtained, or by the restitution in the contrary case.

Que l'appareil rende la monnaie ou non, par recyclage éventuel des pièces ou billets, une certaine somme d'argent est présente à un instant donné dans la caissette amovible. Pour un parc d'appareils distributeurs d'une même catégorie, un ou des préposés effectuent le relevage périodique des caissettes pleines pour les remplacer par des caissettes vides de monnaie.Whether the device gives change or not, by possible recycling of coins or notes, a certain amount of money is present at a given time in the removable box. For a fleet of dispensing machines of the same category, one or more agents carry out the periodic lifting of the full cases to replace them with empty cases.

Dans les appareils distributeurs connus, la caissette est inaccessible aux utilisateurs et est logée dans un compartiment à porte fermée à clé. Bien que la caissette soit scellée, des détournements d'une partie de la recette peuvent être néanmoins réalisés entre l'instant du retrait de la caissette pleine de l'appareil et l'arrivée de celle-ci au centre de gestion des caissettes. Les risques sont d'autant moins grands pour une personne mal intentionnée que, pour certains appareils distributeurs (notamment de services) la somme réellement encaissée dans la caissette est toujours supérieure à la recette théorique correspondant aux services réellement rendus et seule actuellement vérifiable. Ainsi, pour un poste téléphonique public, la recette théorique est indiquée par le compte du compteur de taxes inséré dans l'appareil et/ou du compteur de taxes au central de rattachement. Dans la plupart des cas, l'usager emploie l'appareil pour une communication qui a une durée généralement inférieure à celle correspondant réellement aux nombres de pièces encaissées. Dans les appareils distributeurs de produits, la différence entre la recette théorique et la recette encaissée peut provenir d'un mauvais fonctionnement de l'appareil qui, par exemple, encaisse la monnaie sans délivrer le produit sélectionné.In known dispensing devices, the box is inaccessible to users and is housed in a compartment with a locked door. Although the box is sealed, diversion of part of the recipe can nevertheless be carried out between the moment of withdrawal of the full box from the device and the arrival of the latter at the box management center. The risks are all the less great for an ill-intentioned person since, for certain vending machines (in particular for services), the amount actually collected in the box is always greater than the theoretical revenue corresponding to the services actually rendered and only currently verifiable. Thus, for a public telephone set, the theoretical revenue is indicated by the account of the tax meter inserted in the device and / or the tax meter at the home office. In most cases, the user uses the device for a communication which generally lasts less than that actually corresponding to the numbers of coins received. In product dispensing machines, the difference between the theoretical recipe and the cashed recipe can come from a malfunction of the device which, for example, collects money without delivering the selected product.

Certains appareils distributeurs connus sont munis de dispositifs de mémorisation et d'affichage des recettes encaissées à l'occasion de chaque opération de distribution. Mais les indications données par ces dispositifs sont seulement destinées à permettre à l'usager de vérifier s'il a ou non introduit la somme nécessaire pour l'exécution de l'opération.Certain known dispensing devices are provided with devices for memorizing and displaying the receipts collected during each dispensing operation. But the indications given by these devices are only intended to allow the user to check whether or not he has introduced the amount necessary for the execution of the operation.

Un appareil distributeur connu, tel qu'un appareil téléphonique public, possède une caissette fermée par plombage contenant un ou plusieurs compteurs. Les comptes des compteurs sont lisibles de l'extérieur de la caissette. Cet appareil distributeur est décrit dans la DE-A-2 112 414. Les compteurs sont des compteurs électromagnétiques ou électroniques qui sont reliés électriquement à l'appareil distributeur par enfichage de la caissette dans l'appareil. Les compteurs ne comptent que les pièces différentes encaissées dans la caissette et sont remis à zéro par le releveur de caissette, soit manuellement, soit électriquement pendant ou après le retrait des pièces de la caissette. Le releveur lit les différents nombres de pièces affichés par les compteurs, une telle lecture étant source d'erreur. La demande de brevet DE-A-2 112 414 ne prévoit aucun moyen pour comparer automatiquement les comptes indiqués par les compteurs avec les nombres de pièces réellement encaissées. En outre, aucun moyen n'est prévu pur relever automatiquement des informations utiles ultérieurement à la gestion des appareils distributeurs et des caissettes.A known dispensing device, such as a public telephone device, has a box closed by sealing containing one or more counters. The meter accounts can be read from outside the box. This dispensing device is described in DE-A-2 112 414. The meters are electromagnetic or electronic meters which are electrically connected to the dispensing device by plugging the box into the device. The counters only count the different coins collected in the box and are reset to zero by the box lifter, either manually or electrically during or after the withdrawal of the pieces from the box. The meter reads the different numbers of pieces displayed by the counters, such a reading being a source of error. Patent application DE-A-2 112 414 does not provide any means for automatically comparing the accounts indicated by the counters with the numbers of coins actually collected. In addition, no means are provided for automatically collecting information useful later for the management of the dispensing apparatus and of the boxes.

Le GB-A-1 559 161 propose un appareil distributeur remédiant en partie aux inconvénients précédents. Cet appareil distributeur est un appareil de divertissement du genre machine à sous. Il comprend une caissette amovible recevant les différentes pièces encaissées, et des moyens électroniques incluant un microprocesseur, une interface et une mémoire d'instructions. Les moyens électroniques commandent le fonctionnement de différents organes électromécaniques de l'appareil ainsi que l'écriture d'informations dans une mémoire non-volatile à l'état solide.GB-A-1 559 161 proposes a dispensing device which partially remedies the above drawbacks. This vending machine is a slot machine type entertainment device. It includes a removable box receiving the various coins collected, and electronic means including a microprocessor, an interface and an instruction memory. The electronic means control the operation of various electromechanical members of the device as well as the writing of information in a non-volatile memory in the solid state.

Les informations mémorisées peuvent être des nombres de pièces différentes encaissées, des nombres de pièces différentes remboursées ainsi qu'un nombre de jeux joués. La mémoire est complètement séparée de la caissette et est enfichable à l'intérieur de l'appareil par un releveur autorisé. La mémoire enfichable peut être extraite pour être lue au moyen d'un dispositif de lecture spécial qui est en possession du releveur ou qui est disponible dans un centre de gestion éloigné. Cependant, le fait que la mémoire soit complètement séparée de la caissette, contribue à augmenter les manipulations de mémoire et de caissette et donc les risques d'erreur lorsque les recettes dans les caissettes sont vérifiées dans un centre de gestion.The information stored can be numbers of different coins received, numbers of different coins reimbursed as well as a number of games played. The memory is completely separated from the box and can be plugged inside the device by an authorized lifter. The plug-in memory can be extracted to be read by means of a special reading device which is in the possession of the reader or which is available in a remote management center. However, the fact that the memory is completely separated from the box, contributes to increasing the handling of memory and box and therefore the risk of error when the recipes in the boxes are checked in a management center.

Si une telle mémoire non-volatile est introduite dans une caissette selon la DE-A-2 112 414, à la place des compteurs électroniques, celle-ci, tout comme les compteurs électroniques, ne permet pas de gérer rapidement et automatiquement de telles caissettes. En effet, la mémoire est une mémoire non-volatile, du type mémoire morte EROM programmable et effaçable par rayonnement ultra-violet. Par définition, une telle mémoire non-volatile présente l'inconvénient que l'opération de lecture est d'un prix élevé et conduit immédiatement à la destruction des informations mémorisées. Dans ce cas, certaines informations ne peuvent être utilisées plusieurs fois, telles que par exemple des informations de sécurité utilisables aussi bien dans le centre de gestion que dans les appareils distributeurs.If such a non-volatile memory is introduced into a box according to DE-A-2 112 414, instead of electronic counters, this one, like electronic counters, does not make it possible to quickly and automatically manage such boxes. In fact, the memory is a non-volatile memory, of the EROM read only memory type, programmable and erasable by ultraviolet radiation. By definition, such a non-volatile memory has the disadvantage that the read operation is expensive and immediately leads to the destruction of the stored information. In this case, certain information cannot be used several times, such as for example security information usable both in the management center and in the dispensing devices.

La présente invention a donc pour but de fournir un appareil distributeur à caissette incluant une mémoire ne présentant pas les inconvénients précédents. En outre, l'invention vise à fournir une installation de collecte et de vérification du contenu des caissettes, dans laquelle, grâce aux caractéristiques des mémoires caissettes, la vérification des recettes encaissées peut être effectuée automatiquement en même temps que l'ouverture des caissettes et la lecture informations supplémentaires écrites dans les mémoires des caissettes.The present invention therefore aims to provide a box dispenser device including a memory not having the above drawbacks. Furthermore, the invention aims to provide an installation for collecting and verifying the contents of the boxes, in which, thanks to the characteristics of the box memories, the verification of the receipts collected can be carried out automatically at the same time as the opening of the boxes and reading additional information written in the memories of the boxes.

Selon l'invention, ce but est atteint par un appareil distributeur automatique à titre onéreux de produits ou de services tel que défini dans la revendication 1. Le fait que la mémoire contenue dans la caissette soit une mémoire RAM, c'est-à-dire une mémoire volatile à accès direct aussi bien en écriture qu'en lecture, permet notamment une lecture d'informations dans la mémoire par le microprocesseur de l'appareil distributeur, lesquelles informations étant écrites dans l'installation distante de gestion des caissettes et servant notamment à des fins de sécurité. En outre, la lecture des informations mémorisées au retour de la caissette pleine de pièces dans l'installation est effectuée rapidement, sans faire appel à des moyens très coûteux. Certaines de ces informations peuvent être lues sans être effacées et donc être réutilisées plusieurs fois, par exemple, lorsque la mémoire contient un numéro d'identification d'un appareil distributeur déterminé.According to the invention, this object is achieved by an automatic vending machine for a fee of products or services as defined in claim 1. The fact that the memory contained in the box is a RAM memory, that is to say saying a volatile memory with direct access, both for writing and for reading, in particular allows information to be read from the memory by the microprocessor of the dispensing device, which information being written to the remote box management installation and serving especially for security purposes. In addition, the information stored when the box full of coins is returned to the installation is read quickly, without resorting to very expensive means. Some of this information can be read without being erased and therefore be reused several times, for example, when the memory contains an identification number of a given dispensing device.

Les moyens électroniques de commande constitués par un microprocesseur sont connectables par son bus à des moyens de connexion de la caissette. La caissette loge alors en outre des circuits d'interface nécessaires entre la mémoire RAM et le bus.The electronic control means constituted by a microprocessor can be connected by its bus to connection means of the box. The box then also houses the necessary interface circuits between the RAM memory and the bus.

Outre les avantages déjà évoqués, les caissettes munies de mémoires que permet de réaliser l'invention se prêtent particulièrement bien à la collecte et à la vérification automatiques et rapides de leur contenu dans une installation conforme à l'invention et disposée au centre de gestion des caissettes.In addition to the advantages already mentioned, the boxes provided with memories which the invention makes it possible to lend themselves particularly well to the automatic and rapid collection and verification of their content in an installation in accordance with the invention and located at the management center for boxes.

A cette fin, une installation de collecte et de vérification du contenu des caissettes d'appareils distributeurs selon l'invention est telle que déterminée dans la revendication 8.To this end, an installation for collecting and verifying the content of the boxes of dispensing apparatus according to the invention is as determined in claim 8.

Afin de s'affranchir, dans une certaine mesure, de toute ouverture de la caissette pleine par un releveur malintentionné, une caissette selon l'invention a de préférence son ouverture d'accès aux pièces maintenue fermée pendant son transport et son insertion das l'appareil distributeur, par cerclage d'un lien à extrémités reliées par sceau, soudure, agrafage, pression ou analogue. Dans ce cas l'installation au centre de gestion comporte une machine à cercler et décercler les caissettes.In order to overcome, to a certain extent, any opening of the full box by an ill-intentioned lifter, a box according to the invention preferably has its access to the rooms kept closed during transport and its insertion in the dispensing device, by strapping a link with ends connected by seal, welding, stapling, pressure or the like. In this case, the installation at the management center includes a machine for strapping and decoupling the boxes.

D'autres avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront plus clairement à la lecture de la description qui suit de plusieurs exemples de réalisation et des dessins annexés correspondants, dans lesquels:

  • - la Fig. 1 est un bloc-diagramme schématique d'un appareil distributeur du genre poste télépho- nique public incluant une caissette à mémoire RAM selon l'invention;
  • - les Figs. 2 et 3 sont des vues de face et de côté d'une caissette, respectivement à l'état fermé et à l'état ouvert, logée dans le réceptacle de l'installation du centre de gestion des caissettes; et
  • - la Fig. 4 est un bloc-diagramme schématique de l'organisation de ladite installation.
Other advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of several exemplary embodiments and the corresponding appended drawings, in which:
  • - Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a dispensing device of the position kind phon - nic groups including a RAM tray according to the invention;
  • - Figs. 2 and 3 are front and side views of a box, respectively in the closed state and in the open state, housed in the receptacle of the installation of the box management center; and
  • - Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the organization of said installation.

La réalisation préférée décrite ci-après concerne un appareil distributeur du genre poste téléphonique public à encaissement ou à prépaie- ment.The preferred embodiment described below relates to a dispensing device of the public telephone collection or prepayment type.

Le bloc A de la Fig. 1 dédigne cet appareil distributeur et on y a représenté schématiquement les principaux blocs fonctionnels que tout poste téléphonique public moderne contient.Block A of FIG. 1 dedicates this dispensing device and there is shown schematically the main functional blocks that any modern public telephone set contains.

L'appareil distributeur A comporte un poste téléphonique 1 desservi par une ligne téléphonique 2, un détecteur d'impulsions de taxe 3, un compteur de taxe 4 et une unité mécanique et électronique d'encaissement 5. D'une manière classique, le détecteur 3 détecte et met en forme les impulsions de taxe transmises par le central téléphonique de rattachement de la ligne 2 dès que le central a établi la communication entre le poste 1 et le poste téléphonique de l'abonné demandé. Pour une communication taxée à la durée, la période de base des impulsions de taxe dépend de la zone géographique d'affectation de l'abonné demandé. Le compteur de taxe 4 compte les impulsions de taxe. Après chaque impulsion détectée, son compte ntc est comparé au nombre de taxe ntcm correspondant à la communication demandée, c'est-à-dire correspondant à la zone de taxation du numéro demandé et à la somme encaissée. Comme il est connu, le compte de taxe ntcm élaboré par l'unité 5 dépend de la durée de la communication calculée en fonction du rapport de la somme encaissée et du coût de la taxé de base, pour la zone de taxation du numéro demandé.The dispensing device A comprises a telephone set 1 served by a telephone line 2, a tax pulse detector 3, a tax meter 4 and a mechanical and electronic collection unit 5. In a conventional manner, the detector 3 detects and formats the tax pulses transmitted by the home telephone exchange of line 2 as soon as the exchange has established communication between telephone 1 and the telephone of the called subscriber. For a call charged by duration, the base period of the charge pulses depends on the geographical area of assignment of the subscriber requested. The tax counter 4 counts the tax pulses. After each pulse detected, its ntc account is compared to the number of charges ntcm corresponding to the requested call, that is to say corresponding to the charging area of the requested number and the amount collected. As is known, the ntcm tax account prepared by unit 5 depends on the duration of the call calculated according to the ratio of the amount collected and the cost of the base charge, for the charging area of the number requested.

L'unité 5 comporte tous les moyens électromécaniques permettant d'encaisser la monnaie et, éventuellement de rendre la monnaie au cas où la communication n'a pu être établie, et tous lës moyens électroniques permettant de calculer le nombre ntcm et de compter pour chaque communication le nombre de pièces de monnaie (et/ou fiduciaires) np, à npK de chaque type 1 à K encàis- sées. K désigne le nombre de types de pièces que peut encaisser l'appareil. Comme on le verra plus loin, dès que le compte de taxe ntc du compteur 4 est égal au compte maximal ntcm, un microprocesseur 6 comparant en permanence ces deux comptes provoque l'interruption de la communication, par exemple en déclenchant, à travers le fil 10, l'envoi d'une impulsion de raccrochage transmise par le poste 1 sur la ligne téléphonique 2. Il remet à zéro (RAZ) le compteur de taxe 4 et les compteurs de pièces de l'unité 5. Le microprocesseur peut également commander une minuterie (non représentée) qui affichera à l'utilisateur de l'appareil A que la communication sera bientôt interrompue.The unit 5 includes all the electromechanical means making it possible to collect the currency and, optionally to make change in the event that communication could not be established, and all the electronic means making it possible to calculate the number ntcm and to count for each communication the number of coins (and / or fiduciary) np, to np K of each type 1 to K cashed. K denotes the number of types of coins that the device can collect. As we will see more far, as soon as the tax account ntc of the counter 4 is equal to the maximum account ntcm, a microprocessor 6 constantly comparing these two accounts causes the interruption of the communication, for example by triggering, through the wire 10, the sending a hang-up pulse transmitted by station 1 on telephone line 2. It resets (reset) the tax counter 4 and the room counters of unit 5. The microprocessor can also control a timer (not shown) ) which will show the user of device A that communication will soon be interrupted.

Dans les postes téléphoniques publics actuels, l'unité 5 comporte également un compteur annexe et un afficheur associé qui n'est pas visible par l'utilisateur et qui peut être lu à l'intérieur de l'appareil par le préposé affecté au relèvement des sommes encaissées après ouverture de la porte d'accès. De tels compteur et afficheur sont généralement affectés au nombre d'impulsions de taxes de base cumulées NTC, relativement à toutes les communications établies.In current public telephone sets, unit 5 also includes an additional counter and an associated display which is not visible to the user and which can be read inside the device by the attendant assigned to the recovery of are collected after opening the access door. Such counter and display are generally assigned to the number of pulses of accumulated basic charges NTC, relative to all the communications established.

L'unité 5 transmet à travers le bus 50, le compte de taxe cumulée ntcm pour chaque communication établie et également les nombres de pièces nP1 à npK réellement encaissées. D'autres paramètres peuvent être également délivrés sur le bus 50, comme on le verra plus loin.The unit 5 transmits, via the bus 50, the cumulative tax account ntcm for each communication established and also the numbers of parts n P1 to np K actually collected. Other parameters can also be supplied on the bus 50, as will be seen below.

Ces données sont gérées au moyen du microprocesseur 6 qui est propre à retransmettre, après traitement, ces données, et d'autres éventuellement, à une mémoire à accès aléatoire RAM 7 incluse dans la caissette d'encaissement C de l'appareil distributeur A. Le microprocesseur est par exemple du type RCA 1802.These data are managed by means of the microprocessor 6 which is capable of retransmitting, after processing, these data, and others possibly, to a random access memory RAM 7 included in the cash box C of the dispensing apparatus A. The microprocessor is for example of the RCA 1802 type.

Comme il est connu, une structure à microprocesseur comprend une mémoire morte d'instructions ROM 60, c'est-à-dire à adressage uniquement en lecture, et une mémoire de données RAM 61. Les mémoires 60 et 61 sont reliées au microprocesseur 6 à travers un bus unidirectionnel d'adresses 62, un bus bidirectionnel de commandes 63 et un bus bidirectionnel de données 64. Les bus 62, 63 et 64 relient également le microprocesseur 6 à la mémoire 7 de la caissette C, à travers une interface entrée/sortie 70. Dans le cas où la mémoire de données 61 est destinée à n'enregis- ter qu'un faible nombre de mots, celle-ci peut être constituée par les registres internes du microprocesseur 6.As is known, a microprocessor structure comprises a read-only memory of ROM instructions 60, that is to say addressing only in read mode, and a RAM data memory 61. The memories 60 and 61 are connected to the microprocessor 6 through a unidirectional address bus 62, a bidirectional command bus 63 and a bidirectional data bus 64. Buses 62, 63 and 64 also connect the microprocessor 6 to the memory 7 of box C, through an input interface / output 70. In the case where the data memory 61 is intended to record only a small number of words, this can be constituted by the internal registers of the microprocessor 6.

Le circuit intégré comprenant essentiellement l'interface 70 et la mémoire 7 est logé à l'intérieur de la caissette C et se comporte vis-à-vis du microprocesseur comme une unité périphérique. Les bornes de l'interface 70 sont reliées aux bornes 62, 63, 64 à travers un connecteur 71 constitué par deux borniers à prises femelles et mâles coopérantes. L'un des borniers est fixé à l'ossature de l'appareil distributeur A et l'autre bornier est fixé au corps de la caissette C. Les prises mâles sont enfichées dans les prises femelles lors de l'introduction de la caissette C dans le logement de l'appareil A prévu à cet effet.The integrated circuit essentially comprising the interface 70 and the memory 7 is housed inside the box C and behaves vis-à-vis the microprocessor as a peripheral unit. The terminals of the interface 70 are connected to the terminals 62, 63, 64 through a connector 71 constituted by two terminal blocks with cooperating female and male sockets. One of the terminal blocks is fixed to the framework of the dispensing device A and the other terminal block is fixed to the body of the box C. The male sockets are inserted into the female sockets when the box C is inserted into the housing of the device A provided for this purpose.

Afin de sauvegarder les données mémorisées dans la mémoire 7 pendant le transport de la caissette, le circuit intégré supporté par la caissette est muni d'une alimentation autonome. Cette dernière peut être constituée d'un limiteur de tension 72 et d'un condensateur 73 connectés en parallèle entre les bornes d'alimentation 74 de la mémoire 7 et, à travers le connecteur 71, aux bornes d'alimentation 65 du microprocesseur 6. Le condensateur 73 se charge dès l'enfichage des borniers du connecteur 71 et maintient sous tension la mémoire 7 en état d'attente (dit «stand by» en américain) lorsque la caissette est hors de l'appareil distributeur A. La capacité du condensateur 73 est choisie de préférence pour maintenir l'alimentation de la mémoire 7 pendant 24 heures environ. Le condensateur 73 est notamment utilisé lorsque la mémoire 7 est réalisée en technologie CMOS, ce qui permet de réduire la consommation en diminuant la tension d'alimentation. Le limiteur de tension 72 contribue à protéger le condensateur 73 contre des interventions accidentelles ou malveillantes. Il est composé d'un circuit en T inversé relativement aux bornes d'alimentation 65, comprenant une diode série 75 et une diode de Zener parallèle 76.In order to save the data stored in the memory 7 during the transport of the box, the integrated circuit supported by the box is provided with an autonomous power supply. The latter may consist of a voltage limiter 72 and a capacitor 73 connected in parallel between the supply terminals 74 of the memory 7 and, through the connector 71, to the supply terminals 65 of the microprocessor 6. The capacitor 73 is charged as soon as the connector terminal blocks 71 are plugged in and keeps the memory 7 under tension in the standby state (called "stand by" in American) when the box is out of the dispensing device A. The capacity of the capacitor 73 is preferably chosen to maintain the supply of memory 7 for approximately 24 hours. The capacitor 73 is used in particular when the memory 7 is produced in CMOS technology, which makes it possible to reduce the consumption by reducing the supply voltage. The voltage limiter 72 helps protect the capacitor 73 against accidental or malicious intervention. It is composed of an inverted T circuit relative to the supply terminals 65, comprising a series diode 75 and a parallel Zener diode 76.

Bien entendu, d'autres variantes peuvent être conçues pour l'alimentation de la mémoire 7. Par exemple, cette alimentation peut être constituée par une source d'énergie complètement autonome, telle qu'une micropile ayant une autonomie d'un an environ. Dans tous les cas, les composants électroniques contenus dans la caissette sont fixés sur une carte à circuit imprimé qui peut être éventuellement enrobée et qui est logée contre une paroi interne de la caissette.Of course, other variants can be designed for supplying memory 7. For example, this supply can consist of a completely autonomous source of energy, such as a micropile having an autonomy of approximately one year. In all cases, the electronic components contained in the box are fixed to a printed circuit card which can be optionally coated and which is housed against an internal wall of the box.

On décrit maintenant le fonctionnement du microprocesseur 6 relativement aux transferts des données dans la mémoire 7 de la caissette C. Le logiciel propre au fonctionnement normal de l'appareil distributeur A et à son contrôle sous la commande de l'ensemble 5 + 6 ne sera pas décrit en détail, celui-ci n'appartenant pas au domaine de l'invention, et étant analogue à celui destiné aux appareils distributeurs connus incluant un microprocesseur. La mémoire de données 61 permet de mémoriser toutes les données intermédiaires relatives à une communication téléphonique, le nombre d'impulsions de taxe cumulées NTC, les nombres de pièces de chaque type cumulées NP, à NPK réellement encaissées, et éventuellement des données statistiques. La mémoire morte 60 contient, outre les mots relatifs aux instructions du microprocesseur suivant le logiciel préétabli, un mot NAP d'identification de l'appareil distributeur et éventuellement des mots prédéterminés correspondant à ceux mémorisés dans la mémoire 7 d'une caissette vierge 6 destinée à être introduite dans l'appareil A.A description will now be given of the operation of the microprocessor 6 relative to the transfer of the data in the memory 7 of the box C. The software specific to the normal operation of the dispensing device A and to its control under the control of the assembly 5 + 6 will not be not described in detail, the latter not belonging to the field of the invention, and being similar to that intended for known dispensing devices including a microprocessor. The data memory 61 makes it possible to store all the intermediate data relating to a telephone call, the number of cumulative tax pulses NTC, the numbers of pieces of each accumulated type NP, at NP K actually collected, and possibly statistical data. The read-only memory 60 contains, in addition to the words relating to the instructions of the microprocessor according to the pre-established software, a word NAP identifying the dispensing apparatus and possibly predetermined words corresponding to those stored in the memory 7 of a blank box 6 intended to be introduced into device A.

Dès l'ouverture du compartiment d'accès 66 à la caissette 6 dans l'appareil distributeur A, un contact se ferme pour signaler au microprocesseur 6 qu'il doit transférer certaines données de la mémoire 61 dans la mémoire 7. Ces données sont au moins le nombre de taxes cumulées NTC et les nombres de pièces cumulées NP, à NPK.As soon as the access compartment 66 to the box 6 in the dispensing device A is opened, a contact closes to signal to the microprocessor 6 that it must transfer certain data from memory 61 to memory 7. This data are at least the number of cumulative taxes NTC and the numbers of cumulative pieces NP, to NP K.

Le releveur de caisse enlève la caissette pleine et la remplace par une caissette vide. Un programme de contrôle de la mémoire 7 de la nouvelle caissette est automatiquement ordonné par détection de la mise sous tension de l'interface entrée/sortie 70. Le programme est composé d'un sous - programme récurrent relatif aux adresses de la mémoire 7. Toutes les opérations de sous-programme transitent à travers l'accumulateur du microprocesseur 6. Elles sont les suivantes pour le mot initial M de chaque cellule de la mémoire 7, également mémorisé dans la mémoire 60:

  • -chargement de l'accumulateur avec un mot M' contenu dans la mémoire 60, celui-ci étant en fait contenu avec l'adresse correspondante de la mémoire 7 dans le champ d'adressage du mot d'instruction;
  • - lecture de l'adresse correspondante de la mémoire 7;
  • - chargement de l'accumulateur avec le mot M contenu dans la cellule adressée dans la mémoire 7;
  • - comparaison des mots M et M'; et
  • - si les mots M et M' sont identiques, le sous-programme est réinitialisé pour le contrôle du contenu de l'adresse suivante de la mémoire 7; ou
  • -si les mots M et M'sont différents, le microprocesseur 5 avertit au releveur que la nouvelle caissette est défectueuse par affichage sur un afficheur 67 d'un code de défaut, mémorisé dans la mémoire morte 60, et/ou par un signal puissant dans l'écouteur du combiné du poste 1 à travers une liaison spéciale d'alarme 10 entre le microprocesseur 6 et le poste téléphonique 1; dans ce dernier cas, le releveur remplace la caissette défectueuse par une nouvelle caissette et le cycle des sous-programmes précédents se déroulent à nouveau.
The box lifter removes the full box and replaces it with an empty box. A program for controlling the memory 7 of the new box is automatically ordered by detection of the powering up of the input / output interface 70. The program is composed of a recurring subroutine relating to the addresses of the memory 7. All the subroutine operations pass through the accumulator of the microprocessor 6. They are the following for the initial word M of each cell of the memory 7, also memorized in the memory 60:
  • -charging the accumulator with a word M 'contained in the memory 60, the latter being in fact contained with the corresponding address of the memory 7 in the address field of the instruction word;
  • - reading of the corresponding address from memory 7;
  • - charging the accumulator with the word M contained in the cell addressed in the memory 7;
  • - comparison of the words M and M '; and
  • - If the words M and M 'are identical, the subroutine is reset to check the content of the next address in memory 7; or
  • -if the words M and M 'are different, the microprocessor 5 warns the meter that the new box is defective by display on a display 67 of a fault code, stored in the read-only memory 60, and / or by a strong signal in the receiver of the handset of the station 1 through a special alarm link 10 between the microprocessor 6 and the telephone station 1; in the latter case, the lifter replaces the defective box with a new box and the cycle of the previous subprograms takes place again.

Si la caissette introduite est conforme, des sous-programmes analogues au précédent ont indiqué l'égalité de mots M et M' pour les mots contenus aux adresses de la mémoire 7 relatives aux données initiales suivantes:

  • - NAP: numéro d'identification de l'appareil A;
  • - NTV: nombre de taxes téléphoniques cumulées par l'appareil A au moment de l'introduction de la caissette vide de monnaie;
  • - NTC: nombre de taxes téléphoniques cumulées par l'appareil A juste avant le retrait de la caissette pleine;
  • - NP, à NPK: nombre de pièces de chaque type réellement encaissées pendant le fonctionnement de l'appareil avec la caissette; et
  • - éventuellement, des données statistiques D S relatives aux nombres de communications urbaines et interurbaines, nationales, internationales, efficaces, inefficaces, aux nombres de prises de ligne, de décrochages, etc.... qui sont décelés par le microprocesseur 6 en liasion avec les organes 1,4 et 5 et mémorisés dans la mémoire 61 pendant le fonctionnement de l'appareil A.
If the box inserted complies, subroutines similar to the previous one indicated the equality of words M and M 'for the words contained at the addresses of the memory 7 relating to the following initial data:
  • - NAP: device identification number A;
  • - NTV: number of telephone charges accumulated by device A at the time of the introduction of the empty cash box;
  • - NTC: number of telephone charges accumulated by device A just before removing the full case;
  • - NP, at NP K : number of pieces of each type actually cashed during the operation of the device with the box; and
  • - possibly, DS statistical data relating to the numbers of urban and interurban, national, international, efficient, ineffective communications, the numbers of line seizures, dropouts, etc. which are detected by the microprocessor 6 in conjunction with the organs 1,4 and 5 and stored in memory 61 during the operation of the device A.

Selon une autre variante, plus simple, les mots M sont tous égaux à zéro et le programme d'initialisation précédent se résume à vérifier si toutes les cellules de la mémoire 7 sont vides.According to another, simpler variant, the words M are all equal to zero and the previous initialization program boils down to checking whether all the cells of the memory 7 are empty.

Après ce programme de contrôle, le microprocesseur déclenche le programme d'enregistrement suivant:

  • - lecture du numéro d'identification NAP dans la mémoire 60 et de l'adresse de cellule correspondante de la mémoire 7;
  • - chargement de NAP dans cette dernière cellule;
  • - lecture de NTV dans la mémoire 61 et de l'adresse de la cellule correspondante de la mémoire 7; et
  • - chargement de NTV dans cette dernière cellule.
After this control program, the microprocessor triggers the following recording program:
  • - Reading of the identification number NAP in memory 60 and of the corresponding cell address of memory 7;
  • - loading of NAP in this last cell;
  • - Reading of NTV in memory 61 and of the address of the corresponding cell of memory 7; and
  • - loading of NTV in this last cell.

On notera que, après chaque changement de caissette, le nombre NTC pour la caissette pleine devient le nombre NTV pour la caissette vide.Note that, after each change of box, the NTC number for the full box becomes the NTV number for the empty box.

La porte du compartiment d'accès 66 est alors refermée et l'appareil est prêt à fonctionner normalement. Lors du retrait de la caissette, les transferts des données NTC, NP1 à NP, et DS de la mémoire 61 vers la mémoire 7 sont effectuées rapidement par fermeture du contact du compartiment d'accès, selon des sous-programmes analogues à ceux décrits précédemment.The access compartment door 66 is then closed and the device is ready for normal operation. When removing the box, the transfers of data NTC, NP 1 to NP, and DS from memory 61 to memory 7 are carried out quickly by closing the contact of the access compartment, according to subroutines similar to those described. previously.

D'autres variantes peuvent être envisagées. En effet, selon la variante précédente, la mémoire 7 n'enregistre aucune donnée pendant le fonctionnement normal de l'appareil A. Bien que ceci a l'avantage de permettre l'arrêt de l'alimentation de la mémoire 7 par l'interface entrée/sortie 70, pendant le fonctionnement normal, et par suite, de réduire la consommation en courant, mais également de toutes malveillances à l'égard de la mémoire 7, il apparaît que la mémoire 7 fait double emploi avec certaines cellules de la mémoire 61. En effet, les nombres NTC et NP1 à NPK peuvent être directement mémorisés dans la mémoire 7, et, non plus dans la mémoire 61 pendant le fonctionnement normal de l'appareil A. Cette seconde variante a l'avantage notable de ne pas permettre le fonctionnement du microprocesseur et donc de l'appareil A sans caissette.Other variants can be envisaged. In fact, according to the previous variant, the memory 7 does not record any data during the normal operation of the device A. Although this has the advantage of allowing the power supply of the memory 7 to be stopped by the interface input / output 70, during normal operation, and consequently, to reduce current consumption, but also of all malicious acts with regard to memory 7, it appears that memory 7 duplicates certain memory cells 61. Indeed, the numbers NTC and NP 1 to NP K can be directly stored in memory 7, and no longer in memory 61 during the normal operation of the device A. This second variant has the notable advantage of do not allow the microprocessor and therefore device A to operate without a box.

Dans tous les cas, relativement à la mémoire 7 (ou 61) la fin de chaque communication provoque le sous-programme suivant:

  • - chargement de l'accumulateur avec le compte ntc du compteur de taxes 4, à travers le bus 40;
  • - lecture du compte de taxes cumulées NTC dans la mémoire 7 (ou 61);
  • - incrémentation de l'accumulateur avec NTC;
  • - écriture du nouveau compte de taxes cumulées NTC dans la mémoire 7 (ou 61); et
  • - remise à zéro (RAZ) du compteur 4 à travers le bus 40.
In all cases, relative to memory 7 (or 61) the end of each communication causes the following subroutine:
  • - charging the accumulator with the ntc account of the tax counter 4, through the bus 40;
  • - reading of the NTC cumulative tax account in memory 7 (or 61);
  • - incrementation of the accumulator with NTC;
  • - writing of the new NTC cumulative tax account in memory 7 (or 61); and
  • - reset to zero (RESET) of counter 4 through bus 40.

Selon d'autres variantes, le compteur de taxes 4 est supprimé, et le détecteur 3 transmet directement les impulsions de taxe convenablement mises en forme au microprocesseur 6. Le sous-programme précédent est alors effectué pour chaque impulsion de taxe, avec une incrémentation d'une unité de l'accumulateur.According to other variants, the tax counter 4 is deleted, and the detector 3 directly transmits the properly formatted tax pulses to the microprocessor 6. The preceding subroutine is then carried out for each tax pulse, with an incrementation of 'an accumulator unit.

Chaque encaissement de pièces d'un type k, K variant entre 1 et K, déclenche le sous-programme suivant à la fin de chaque communication:

  • - chargement de l'accumulateur avec le compte npk du compteur de pièces k de l'unité 5, à travers le bus 50;
  • - lecture du nombre de pièces cumulées NPk dans la mémoire 7 (ou 61);
  • - incrémentation de l'accumulateur avec NPk;
  • - écriture du nouveau nombre NPk dans la mémoire 7 (ou 61); et
  • - remise à zéro (RAZ) du compteur de pièces k, à travers le bus 50.
Each collection of coins of type k, K varying between 1 and K, triggers the sub- following program at the end of each communication:
  • - charging the accumulator with the account np k of the parts counter k of the unit 5, through the bus 50;
  • - reading of the number of cumulative pieces NP k in memory 7 (or 61);
  • - incrementation of the accumulator with NP k ;
  • - writing of the new number NP k in memory 7 (or 61); and
  • - reset to zero (reset) of the parts counter k, via bus 50.

Selon d'autres variantes, les compteurs de pièces 1 à K de l'unité 5 peuvent être supprimés, et les détecteurs des pièces 1 à K de l'unité 5 transmettent directement au microprocesseur 6 une impulsion convenable chaque fois qu'une pièce est détectée, ladite impulsion ou le fil de transmission de cette impulsion identifiant le type de la pièce encaissée. Le sous-programme précédent est alors effectué pour chaque pièce encaissée, avec une incrémentation d'une unité de l'accumulateur.According to other variants, the room counters 1 to K of the unit 5 can be eliminated, and the room detectors 1 to K of the unit 5 transmit directly to the microprocessor 6 a suitable pulse each time a room is detected, said pulse or the transmission wire of this pulse identifying the type of coin received. The previous subroutine is then carried out for each coin collected, with an increment of one unit of the accumulator.

Ces diverses variantes sont facilement concevables par l'homme du métier, en choisissant les logiciels adéquats du microprocesseur 6.These various variants are easily conceivable by those skilled in the art, by choosing the appropriate software for the microprocessor 6.

On décrit maintenant le centre de gestion des caissettes pleines de monnaie. Celui-ci a trois fonctions essentielles, à savoir le déscellement des caissettes pleines et le scellement des caissettes vides, le traitement des données mémorisées dans la mémoire 7 de chaque caissette pleine et le chargement des données d'initialisation M' dans la mémoire 7 des caissettes vides, et vidage de la monnaie des caissettes pleines et comptabilisation de ces dernières.We will now describe the management center for cash boxes. This has three essential functions, namely unsealing of full boxes and sealing of empty boxes, processing of data stored in memory 7 of each full box and loading of initialization data M 'into memory 7 of empty boxes, and emptying the currency of the full boxes and accounting for the latter.

En ce qui concerne la première fonction, on se réfère aux Figs. 2 et 3. Une caissette C se présente sous la forme d'un corps parallélépipédique dont le fond 80 est une paroi montée à pivotement permettant le vidage des pièces de monnaie (et/ ou fiduciaires). Comme il est connu, une autre paroi de la caissette comporte une fente à organe coulissant. Cette fente est déverrouillée automatiquement lors de l'encastrement de la caissette dans le logement correspondant de l'appareil distributeur, afin de recevoir par gravité les pièces provenant des organes mécaniques d'encaissement de l'unité 5. Dès son retrait de l'appareil, cette fente est verrouillée automatiquement.With regard to the first function, reference is made to Figs. 2 and 3. A box C is in the form of a parallelepipedic body the bottom 80 of which is a wall pivotally mounted allowing the emptying of coins (and / or fiduciary). As is known, another wall of the box has a sliding member slot. This slot is automatically unlocked when the box is embedded in the corresponding housing of the dispensing device, in order to receive by gravity the pieces coming from the mechanical casing organs of the unit 5. As soon as it is removed from the device , this slot is locked automatically.

Les caissettes des distributeurs connus sont verrouillées; néanmoins le volet supérieur peut être ouvert par malveillance lors du transport de la caissette et une partie de la recette peut être subtilisée. Pour se prémunir contre de tels agissements, une caissette est de préférence scellée lors de son transfert et de son introduction dans l'appareil A. Par exemple, l'ouverture de la caissette est scellée par un fil à extrémités reliées par un sceau en plomb, analogue à celui utilisé pour les compteurs d'eau ou d'électricité. Cependant, on sait qu'un tel plombage peut être facilement falsifié. C'est pourquoi, de préférence, la caissette est cerclée par un lien adéquat 81 empêchant l'ouverture du fond 80. Ce lien 81 peut être en matière plastique inextensible, telle qu'une tresse de nylon soudée à chaud. Il peut être également en matière métallique légère appropriée se présentant sous la forme d'une bande qui après coupure à la longueur convenable a ses extrémités reliées par soudure, agrafage, thermocom- pression, pliure et pression, ou analogue.The boxes of known distributors are locked; however, the upper flap may be opened maliciously during transport of the box and part of the recipe may be stolen. To protect against such actions, a box is preferably sealed during its transfer and its introduction into the device A. For example, the opening of the box is sealed by a wire with ends connected by a lead seal , similar to that used for water or electricity meters. However, it is known that such a seal can be easily falsified. This is why, preferably, the box is encircled by an adequate link 81 preventing the opening of the bottom 80. This link 81 may be of inextensible plastic, such as a braid of hot-welded nylon. It may also be of suitable light metallic material in the form of a strip which after cutting to the suitable length at its ends connected by welding, stapling, thermocompression, bending and pressing, or the like.

Bien entendu, le verrouillage de l'ouverture de la caissette par son fond 80 peut être obtenu au moyen d'une serrure et d'une clé que possédera le responsable recevant les caissettes pleines. Cependant cette solution se prête mal à un traitement automatique des caissettes ce qui n'est pas le cas pour les solutions précédentes.Of course, the locking of the opening of the box by its bottom 80 can be obtained by means of a lock and a key which will be held by the manager receiving the full boxes. However, this solution does not lend itself to automatic processing of boxes, which is not the case for the previous solutions.

La caissette illustrée aux Figs. 2 et 3 possède une paroi supérieure 82 dont deux arêtes parallèles en saillies 83 formant languettes permettent le guidage et la suspension de la caissette aussi bien dans le logement correspondant de l'appareil distributeur que dans un réceptable 84 du centre de gestion. Outre les deux rails horizontaux 85 coopérant avec les languettes 83, le réceptacle 84 comprend une barre verticale 86 (Fig. 3) contre laquelle vient buter la caissette C. Cette barre 86 comporte un bornier qui coopère avec le bornier de la caissette pour former un connecteur 71', analogue au connecteur 71, qui permet de relier le circuit intégré interne à la caissette à une unité de commande 90. Cette unité 90 est également organisée autour d'un microprocesseur.The box illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 has an upper wall 82 of which two parallel projecting edges 83 forming tongues allow the guidance and the suspension of the box both in the corresponding housing of the dispensing device and in a receptacle 84 of the management center. In addition to the two horizontal rails 85 cooperating with the tongues 83, the receptacle 84 comprises a vertical bar 86 (FIG. 3) against which the box C abuts. This bar 86 comprises a terminal block which cooperates with the terminal block of the box to form a connector 71 ', analogous to connector 71, which makes it possible to connect the internal integrated circuit to the box to a control unit 90. This unit 90 is also organized around a microprocessor.

L'unité de commande est reliée par des bus bidirectionnels à un organe de gestion des caissettes 91, à une machine à décercler et cercler automatique 92, à travers une interface entrée/ sortie 93, et à une machine à trier les pièces de monnaie (et/ou fiduciaires) 94, comme montré à la Fig.4. La machine à cercler et décercler 92 commande, en outre, le mouvement de va-et-vient d'un couteau 95 et d'un poussoir 97, par l'intermédiaire d'électro-aimants par exemple. Dès que les borniers du connecteur 71' sont reliés, la détection de la mise sous tension de l'interface entrée/ sortie 70 du circuit intégré interne à la caissette déclenche le programme suivant. En premier lieu, la mémoire 7 est mise sous tension et le condensateur 73 est rechargé si la caissette comporte un tel condensateur. Puis l'unité de commande 90 lit les différentes informations contenues dans la mémoire 7 selon le sous-programme suivant:

  • - lecture du numéro d'identification NAP de l'appareil distributeur A auquel a été affectée la caissette, afin de permettre l'adressage des cellules de la mémoire vive de l'unité 90 qui contiennent notamment l'information NTC relative au relevé de la recette précédente assignée à l'appareil, l'information NTC devant être égale à NTV de la caissette à traiter;
  • -comparaisons de ces informations respectivement avec celles contenues et lues dans la mémoire RAM 7 afin de vérifier s'il y a cohérence entre ces informations;
  • - vérification de la disponibilité de la machine à trier 94, celle-ci pouvant être affectée à d'autres ensembles 84 - 90 - 92;
  • -envoi d'un signal de commande de décerclage à la machine 92 qui, au moyen du couteau 95, rompt le lien 81, ce qui provoque, par gravité, l'ouverture du fond 80 et le déversement des pièces de la caissette dans la machine à trier 94 à travers un entonnoir 96;
  • - après triage des pièces par la machine à trier 94, celle-ci transmet à l'unité de commande 90 les nombres NO,' à NPK' des différentes pièces contenues dans la caissette à son arrivée au centre de gestion;
  • - l'unité de commande 90 compare ces nombres NP1' à NPK' à ceux NP, à NP, enregistrés dans la mémoire 7 et correspondant aux pièces réellement encaissées;
  • - quel que soit le résultat de la comparaison, l'unité de commande 90 transmet les nombres NP, à NPK, NP,' à NPK' et NTC ainsi que les données statistiques DS et le numéro d'identification NAP à l'organe de gestion 91 qui analysera ces nombres en vue d'établir des fiches de contrôle périodique relatif au poste téléphonique public; cette analyse est bien connue de la technique de gestion d'un parc d'appareils et ne sera pas décrit plus amplement;
  • - puis l'unité de commande envoie un signal de commande de cerclage à la machine 92 qui au moyen du poussoir monté à pivotement 97 referme le fond 80 et cercle la caissette vide par un lien 81;
  • - enfin l'unité de commande 90 écrit dans la mémoire 7 des données d'initialisation M; la caissette vide est à nouveau prête pour un nouvel encaissement.
The control unit is connected by bidirectional buses to a box management unit 91, to an automatic decirculation and strapping machine 92, through an input / output interface 93, and to a coin sorting machine ( and / or trustees) 94, as shown in Fig. 4. The strapping and detaching machine 92 also controls the reciprocating movement of a knife 95 and a pusher 97, for example by means of electromagnets. As soon as the connector terminal blocks 71 'are connected, the detection of the energization of the input / output interface 70 of the internal integrated circuit to the box triggers the following program. Firstly, the memory 7 is switched on and the capacitor 73 is recharged if the box includes such a capacitor. Then the control unit 90 reads the different information contained in the memory 7 according to the following subroutine:
  • - Reading of the NAP identification number of the dispensing device A to which the box has been assigned, in order to address the cells of the random access memory of the unit 90 which contain in particular the NTC information relating to the reading of the previous recipe assigned to the device, the NTC information must be equal to NTV of the box to be processed;
  • -comparisons of this information respectively with that contained and read in the RAM memory 7 in order to check whether there is consistency between this information;
  • - Checking the availability of the sorting machine 94, which can be assigned to other assemblies 84 - 90 - 92;
  • -sending of a decoupling control signal to the machine 92 which, by means of the knife 95, breaks the link 81, which causes, by gravity, the opening of the bottom 80 and the pouring of the parts of the box into the sorting machine 94 through a funnel 96;
  • - After sorting of the parts by the sorting machine 94, the latter transmits to the control unit 90 the numbers NO, 'to NP K ' of the different parts contained in the box when it arrives at the management center;
  • the control unit 90 compares these numbers NP 1 ′ to NP K ′ with those NP, to NP, recorded in the memory 7 and corresponding to the pieces actually collected;
  • - whatever the result of the comparison, the control unit 90 transmits the numbers NP, to NP K , NP, 'to NP K ' and NTC as well as the statistical data DS and the identification number NAP to the management body 91 which will analyze these numbers with a view to establishing periodic control sheets relating to the public telephone set; this analysis is well known in the technique of managing a fleet of devices and will not be described more fully;
  • - Then the control unit sends a strapping control signal to the machine 92 which by means of the pivotally mounted pusher 97 closes the bottom 80 and circles the empty box by a link 81;
  • - Finally, the control unit 90 writes in the memory 7 initialization data M; the empty box is again ready for a new collection.

Si au moins l'une des comparaisons des nombres NP, à NPK avec les nombres NP,' à NPK' n'indique pas l'égalité, une alarme est déclenchée en 98 sous la commande de l'unité 90. L'effacement des données contenues dans la mémoire 7 par les données d'initilisation M n'est ordonnée, dans ce cas, que par commande manuelle, au moyen d'un bouton-poussoir par exemple.If at least one of the comparisons of the numbers NP, at NP K with the numbers NP, 'at NP K ' does not indicate equality, an alarm is triggered in 98 under the control of the unit 90. L ' erasure of the data contained in the memory 7 by the initialization data M is only ordered, in this case, by manual control, by means of a push button for example.

Bien que l'invention ait été décrite en référence à une réalisation préférée, d'autres variantes peuvent être envisagées dans le cadre des revendications annexées, pour chaque type d'appareil distributeur. Par exemple, les données NTV et NTC seront relatives aux durées cumulées pour un parcmètre.Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, other variants can be envisaged in the context of the appended claims, for each type of dispensing device. For example, NTV and NTC data will relate to the cumulative durations for a parking meter.

Par ailleurs, l'installation du centre de gestion peut être conçue plus simplement, par commande manuelle des différents organes mécaniques tels que le couteau 95, le poussoir 97, ou par procédure manuelle du décerclage et ouverture et du cerclage et fermeture de la caissette. Les données mémorisées dans la mémoire 7 d'une caissette pleine peuvent être indiquées sur un écran d'affichage et peuvent être comparées visuellement avec le résultat du tri affiché sur la machine à trier. Cette comparaison peut ou non être reportée sur une imprimante.Furthermore, the installation of the management center can be designed more simply, by manual control of the various mechanical organs such as the knife 95, the pusher 97, or by manual procedure of the unlocking and opening and of the strapping and closing of the box. The data stored in the memory 7 of a full box can be indicated on a display screen and can be visually compared with the sorting result displayed on the sorting machine. This comparison may or may not be carried over to a printer.

Dans la variante d'installation automatique, au lieu que les différentes opérations soient effectuées au même endroit, un convoyeur à bande peut être envisagé pour transporter les caissettes et les arrêter devant différents postes pour effectuer respectivement le décerclage, l'ouverture de la caissette, le tri des pièces, le traitement des données dans la mémoire 7, la fermeture et le cerclage de la caissette. Ce convoyeur peut également comprendre plusieurs voies pour aiguiller et rassembler les caissettes d'appareils distributeurs d'une même zone géographique.In the variant of automatic installation, instead of the different operations being carried out in the same place, a belt conveyor can be envisaged for transporting the boxes and stopping them in front of different stations to carry out the decoupling, the opening of the box respectively, sorting of parts, processing of data in memory 7, closing and strapping of the box. This conveyor may also include several routes for routing and collecting the boxes of dispensing apparatuses from the same geographical area.

Claims (14)

1. Automatic dispensing apparatus for objects or services subject to payment, comprising electromechanical means (5) for counting different collected coins or the like (NP, to NPK), electronic means (6, 60, 61) including a microprocessor (6) for controlling the operation of the apparatus (A), a removable coin box (C) held closed by hooping with a band (81) to collect said coins, and means (7, 70, 72, 73) included in the coin box (C) and connectable to the electronic means (6) simultaneously to the insertion of the box (C) in the apparatus (A) for storing collected coin numbers (NP, to NPK) under the control of the electronics means (6, 60, 61) during the operation of the apparatus with the coin box, characterized in that the storing means comprises a random access memory (7) of RAM type, and means (70, 72, 73) for permanently holding the power supply of the RAM memory when the coin box (C) is removed from the apparatus (A) and the storing means (7, 70, 72, 73) are disconnected from the electronic means (6, 60, 61), said RAM memory (7) further storing other informations (NAP, NTV, NTC, DS) than the coins numbers (NP, to NPK) during the operation of the apparatus (A) with the coin box (C).
2. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the memory power supply holding means (70, 72, 73) comprise an independent power source.
3. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the memory power supply holding means (70, 72, 73) are recharged through connection to supply terminals (65) of the electronic means (6) while the coin box (C) is lodged in the apparatus (A).
4. Dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the rechargeable means for holding the memory power supply comprise a capacitor (73) and a voltage limiter (72) for protecting the charged capacitor (73).
5. Dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the RAM memory (7) stores, in addition to the numbers of different collected coins (NP, to NPK), an apparatus identifying number (NAP) and/or features (NTV, NTC) and/or statistical data (DS) of objects or services dispensed by the dispensing apparatus, by automatic reading under the control of said microprocessor (6) before the removal of the coin box (C), as soon as a coin box compartment (66) housed in the apparatus (A) is opened, or when the apparatus (A) with the coin box operates.
6. Dispensing apparatus according to the claim 5, characterized in that the RAM memory (7) contains, before inserting the coin box (C) in the compartment (66), predetermined data (M) that, as soon as the coin box is inserted, are compared with corresponding ones (M') stored in a read only memory (60) of the microprocessor (6) to verify the RAM memory (7) addresses corresponding to the data to be stored (NP, to NPK, NTV, NTC; DS) and to indicate (67), in case of need, any addressing or predetermined data (M) error.
7. Dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, relative to a telephone communication dispensing apparatus such as public telephone set, characterized in that the RAM memory (7) stores the number of telephone charges (NTV) cumulated in the apparatus (A) at the time of the coin box insertion into the apparatus, and the number of telephone charges (NTC) cumulated in the apparatus (A) just before the coin box removal.
8. Arrangement for collecting and verifying the contents of the coin box of dispensing apparatuses according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises means (92, 95) for opening the coin box (C), means (90, 94, 96) for receiving, sorting and counting the different coins contained in the box, and means (90) for respectively comparing the different coin numbers (NP, to NPK) stored in the RAM memory (6) and sorted different coin numbers (NP1' to NPK') derived by the sorting means (94) whereby verifying the coherence between the numbers of coins really collected by the dispensing apparatus (A) and the numbers of coins contained in the coin box (C).
9. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises means (98) to indicate that one of the comparisons of said numbers (NP, to NPK, NP/ to NPK') has not an equality as result.
10. Arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises means (90) for recharging the RAM memory (7) power supply holding means (70, 72, 73) in the coin box (C).
11. Arrangement according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that it comprises means (90, 91) for reading and analysing other data (NAP, NTV, NTC, DS) thant the different coin numbers stored in the RAM memory (7) of the coin box (C).
12. Arrangement according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that it comprises means (92, 97) for closing the coin box (C).
13. Arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that the opening and closing means comprise a machine (92) for unhooping and hooping the band (89) surrounding the coin box (C).
14. Arrangement according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that it is arranged in conjunction with a coin box conveyor along which various stations (90, 92, 94, 95, 97) are provided particularly to open and close the coin boxes, to process data stored in the RAM memories (7) of the coin boxes (C), and to receive, sort and count the different coins contained in the coin boxes.
EP19810400869 1980-05-30 1981-05-29 Dispensing apparatus, with removable money box and operating device for this money box Expired EP0041457B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8012100A FR2483654A1 (en) 1980-05-30 1980-05-30 HOUSING FOR DISPENSING DEVICE AND RECEIVING VERIFICATION PLANT CONTAINED IN THE HOUSING
FR8012100 1980-05-30

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EP0041457A2 EP0041457A2 (en) 1981-12-09
EP0041457A3 EP0041457A3 (en) 1981-12-16
EP0041457B1 true EP0041457B1 (en) 1986-08-27

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EP19810400869 Expired EP0041457B1 (en) 1980-05-30 1981-05-29 Dispensing apparatus, with removable money box and operating device for this money box

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EP (1) EP0041457B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3175206D1 (en)
DK (1) DK157635C (en)
FR (1) FR2483654A1 (en)

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DE2651105A1 (en) * 1976-11-09 1978-05-18 Boesinger Gerhard Coin magazine with digital read=out - has open magazine tray with sensor segments to provide input to display logic
GB1559161A (en) * 1977-01-25 1980-01-16 Bell Fruit Mfg Co Ltd Amusement with prizes machines
GB2023320A (en) * 1978-06-16 1979-12-28 Burton G Cash monitoring device
DE2840749A1 (en) * 1978-09-15 1980-03-27 Geb Sternad Andrea Ir Roeckner Automatic vending machine with microprocessor - displays paid-in amount and compares it with cost of purchased goods

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1791096A1 (en) * 1997-05-09 2007-05-30 Global Payment Technologies, Inc. Collection system for multiple money-actuated machines

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2483654B1 (en) 1984-08-03
DE3175206D1 (en) 1986-10-02
FR2483654A1 (en) 1981-12-04
DK236381A (en) 1981-12-01
DK157635C (en) 1990-07-02
DK157635B (en) 1990-01-29
EP0041457A2 (en) 1981-12-09
EP0041457A3 (en) 1981-12-16

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