A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC PLANTS, ESPECIALLY LAUNDRY PLANTS

Abstract: A control system (4) for automatic plants, especially laundry plants in residential houses where several users can use against payment the individual machines of the plant, such as e.g. washing machines (11), centrifugal drying machines, tumble driers (2), and calenders (3), in a predetermined way and for a predetermined period after an access-giving circuit (9) has been activated by the user in question. The system comprises a card reader (5) which is adapted for mechanical reading of ID-cards (6) which have been handed out to users and which contain in a mechanically legible form data concerning the identity of the individual user. The system also comprises a circuit (7) which compares the data read by the card reader with stored data concerning lawful users, and which in case of accordance activates the access-giving circuit (9). For debiting purposes the system comprises a circuit (12, 13) which, when a machine (1, 2, 3) is activated, stores the read identity data together with data referring to the machine in question. The card reader (5), the comparing and activating circuit and the storing circuit (7) can be common for several machines as a selector circuit (8) has been placed between these common circuits and the access-giving circuit of the individual machine. The user can manually input data referring to the machine (1, 2, 3) he wants to use by means of this selector circuit.

Description: A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC PLANTS , ESPECIALLY LAUNDRY PLANTS The present invention concerns a control system for automatic plants, especially laundry plants in residential houses (blocks of flats) and of such a kind that several users can use the individual automatons or machines against payment. The machines, such as e.g. washing machines, cen¬ trifugal drying machines, tumble driers, and calenders can be used in a predetermined way and for a predetermined period after an access-giving circuit has been activated by the user in question, and the invention comprises a card reader which is adapted for mechanical reading of identity cards which have been handed out to the users and which con¬ tain in a mechanically legible form data concerning the identity of the individual user. Further, the invention comprises a circuit which compares the identity data read by the card reader with stored data concerning lawful users and which, if the data are in accordance, activates the circuit that gives access to the machines. In automatic plants of the above-mentioned kind it is usual for the user to pay for the use of the machines and at the same time to activate the access-giving circuit by inserting money or tokens in coin boxes placed in or on the machines in question. Owing to the coin boxes such plants are often exposed to attempted embezzlement and theft as well as malicious damage in connection with such attempts. In coin boxes where cash is applied attempts are often made at forcing the automaton to accept other coins, which destroys the sorting function. Where tokens are applied, interruptions of operation often occur in connection with the use of bent or defective tokens or token imitations. Malicious damage occurs in connection with theft of money from the coin box. The costs in connection with re¬ pair of a destroyed coin box will often exceed the value of the stolen coins. To this must be added that the machine in question will be out of action or at best operate with¬ out charge until the destroyed coin box is repaired. OMPI Furthermore, practical experience shows that dishonest employees who are to empty the coin boxes sometimes fail to deliver the total amount in the coin box. This may happen even in cases where the machines in question are provided with mechanical or electrical counters, as the employee in question adjusts the reading of the counter so that it tallies with the delivered amount. The purpose of the invention is to indicate a control system for-automatic plants of the above-mentioned kind by which the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages are eliminated. According to the invention this is obtained in the - following way: For the purpose of debiting the system com¬ prises a circuit which, when a machine is activated, stores the read identity data together with data referring to the machine in question. As it is a question of a limited circle of users there is no need for access to an "on-line" data concerning "lawful" users, and the system can therefore be disposed for off-line operation. By means of this design in the case of a laundry plant a moneyless system is obtained which works all the way from user via laundry, housing society employee to the admini¬ stration, where the individual user's use of the laundry machines is transferred to e.g. the rent charge form. Thus the system is theft-proof, both with regard to cash - which does not exist in the system - and with regard to use, as. only valid cards with the user's data can give access * Further, embezzlement on the part of employees - and actually also on the part of users - has been made im¬ possible. Finally, the risk of malicious damage in connection with attempted theft is eliminated, because in the money ¬ less system there is nothing to steal. To the user this means that he do.es not run the risk of finding, after using a washing machine, that e.g. centrifuging or drying is im¬ possible, because the coin box in question is defective. OMP A number of systems based on card readers are known from the descriptions in British patent application No. 2,091,461, from US patents No.s 4,225,779, 4,247,759 and 4,395,627, and from European patent No. 68,648. They have " storing systems which are used for control functions ex¬ clusively, not for the storing of data for debiting pur¬ poses. In the following the invention will be •explained in more detail in connection with the drawings, where fig. 1 shows a block diagram for a laundry plant with a control system according to the invention, and fig. 2 a flow diagram illustrating the mode of operation of the control system. In fig. 1 a number of machines areshown, e.g. a wash¬ ing machine 1, a centrifugal drying machine 2, and a calender 3 as well as a joint control system for the ma¬ chines 4. Each of the individual machines 1, 2 and 3 com¬ prises an access-giving circuit in the form of a remote control main switch. The control system 4, which has been appropriately built into a lockable case, comprises a card reader 5, adapted for mechanical reading of ID-cards (identity cards) 6 which have been handed out to the users of the laundry and which contain data concerning the identity of the user in a mechanically legible form. Further, the control system comprises _circuit which compares the read identity data with stored data concerning lawful users, and which gives off an activating signal in case of accordance. In the design presented here the above-mentioned circuit forms part of a microprocessor 7 with connected stores. Besides, the control system comprises a keyboard 8 which is accessible to the user and by means of which the de¬ sired machine can be selected. The keyboard 8 which may simply consist of a number of pushbuttons corresponding to the number of machines and with built-in pilot lamps is arranged in such a way that when a pushbutton is activated by the user the keyboard will give off data referring to the machine in question to a selector circuit. The selec¬ tor circuit, which may also be a part of the microproces¬ sor 7, receives the activating signal and leads it to the access-giving circuit of the selected machine 1, 2 or 3. The access-giving circuit is arranged in such a way that it will give off an operation signal to the microproces¬ sor 7 when the machine in question is started by the user. The microprocessor 7 is arranged in such a way that it will lead" the system back to its initial position if the operating signal does not occur in the course of e.g. 5 minutes after the activating signal was given to the ma¬ chine in question. The control system also comprises a display 10 where directions for the user can be read out. It may be either an alphanumeric display or pilot lamps, including those that may have been built into the keyboard. Finally, the control system 4 comprises a keyboard 11 which is not ac¬ cessible to users. This keyboard 11 is applied for chang¬ ing the stored data concerning lawful users, e.g. if a user loses his ID-card or if a user is to be debarred from using the plant for a period because he is in arrears with payments. Besides the keyboard 11 for changing stocked user data the system has an alternative version with a separate, exchangeable memory 12 such as a discette, a magnetic cartridge or a magnetic bubble memory for the transmission of user data and/or output of stored information, or the system may be designed for the same purpose with an inter¬ face 13 for exchange of data without physical interference with the system, mainly via portable external data ex- change equipment. The mode of action of the control system will now be explained in connection with fig. 2. In the initial posi¬ tion the display 10 shows that an ID-card can be inserted in the card reader. When a card is inserted its contents of identity data concerning the user are read, and these data are compared with data concerning lawful users. If the data are in accordance with eachother, i.e. if the IJUREA card is accepted as belonging to a lawful user, directions for selecting an unoccupied machine are read out to the user. If the card is not accepted, or if an unoccupied ma- chine is not selected in the course of e.g. 30 seconds, the system will return to its initial position. If the machine in question is not started within the 5 minutes mentioned, the identity data read on the user's ID-card will be transmitted to a built-in store together with data referring to the machine in question and the date and hour. The accumulated data can be made accessible in various ways: . A. Data can be transmitted to an exchangeable data store, chiefly a discette, a magnetic cartridge, or a bubble memory. B. Data can be transmitted via an interface to a tele- line or an acoustic telephone coupler. C. Data can be transmitted via an interface to a port- able discette station, a cassette tape recorder, or a bubble memory. While data are being made accessible to the outside world the indicated means can also as a matter of course be applied for entering new data into the system, e.g. for up-dating of user data and/or prices. The stored, connected data can be used e.g. for the writing out of a chronologic list of the use of the laundry plant, a list of the use of the individual ma¬ chines, and a list of the user's application of the plant during e.g. a calendar month. The ' keyboard 11 that is not accessible to users can be applied for entering data con¬ cerning the users' payment for the use of each individual machine. Then the microprocessor can at suitable inter¬ vals make a list for each individual user with information about dates and hours for the user's application of the machines and the price for it during the period. When the use of a machine in operation ceases, the system returns to the initial position. In the above the control system has been described in connection with a laundry plant, but it can - of course - also be applied in connection with other automatic plants. As an example of such use large company canteens or lunch- rooms can be mentioned, where a limited circle of users, the employees of the company, can buy food and drinks from automatons.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. Control system for automaton plants, especially laundries in residential buildings, and of the kind where several users can use against payment the individual auto¬ matons or machines, such as e.g. washing machines, centri- fugal drying machines, tubmle driers, and calenders, in a predetermined way and for a predetermined period after an access-givin circuit has been activated by the user in question, and comprising a card reader which is adapted for mechanical reading of ID-cards that have been handed out to users and contain data about the identity of the individual user in a mechanically legible form, and a circuit which compares the identity data read by the card reader with stored data concerning lawful users, and which in case of accordance activates the access-giving circuit, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the fact that the system com¬ prises a circuit for debiting purposes which, when a ma¬ chine is activated, stores the read identity data to¬ gether with data referring to the machine in question. 2. Control system according to claim 1, c h a r a c- t e r i z e d by the fact that the storing is carried out on easily exchangeable registration media, mainly dis- cettes, magnetic cartridges, or magnetic bubble memories. 3. Control system according to claim ^c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d by the fact that for the purpose of perio- dical data output the system comprises an interface for connection to a teleline or to a ' telephone-based acoustic coupler. 4. Control system according to claim 1, c h a r a c- t e r i z e d by the fact that the system comprises an interface for connection to a portable data collector, chiefly a discette station or a cassette tape recorder. 5. Control system according to claims 2-4, c h a¬ r a c t e r i z e d by the fact that the same data trans¬ mission unit is designed for giving off stored information as well as for updating of information in the data store of the system. - 8 - 6. Control system according to claim 1, c h a r a c- t e r i z e d by the fact that the card reader, the com¬ paring and activating circuit, and the storing circuit are common for several machines, and that between these common circuits and the access-giving circuit of the in¬ dividual machine a selector circuit is placed, by means of which the user can manually input data referring to the machine he wants to use. HREA

Inventors: MEIER KARSTEN, MEIER STEEN, MEIER, KARSTEN, MEIER, STEEN
Applicants: APM VASKERITEKNIK SERVICE APS, APM VASKERITEKNIK-SERVICE APS
Application year: 1984
Main classification: G07F17
IPC codes: G07F7, G07F17