Fuel Supply System

Abstract

To provide a fuel feeding system equipped with a management device having a portable operation terminal, which is improved in customer service and safety.SOLUTION: When a person in charge in a gas station carrying a terminal 70 of a management device is engaged in another service in a place out of an oil feeding permissible area P4 for an oil feeder 10-4 at an oil feeding work point [08] which is waiting for permission for oil feeding, the fact that the person in charge in the gas station is in the place out of the oil feeding permissible area P4 for the oil feeder 10-4 at the oil feeding work point [08] which is waiting for permission for oil feeding can be confirmed by a permission waiting-guide notification screen at the oil feeding point which is waiting for the permission for oil feeding.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fuel supply system suitable for use in a self-service fuel supply station where customers themselves operate a fuel supply device to supply fuel. [Background technology]

[0002] In a self-service fuel supply system, a customer himself or herself sets the type and amount of fuel to be supplied to a target such as a vehicle, and supplies fuel to the target by operating a fuel supply nozzle provided in a fuel supply device.

[0003] In a self-service refueling system, which is an example of a self-service fuel supply system, the customer himself operates a refueling operation setting device to set refueling operation information such as the type and amount of oil to be supplied to the target such as a vehicle, removes the refueling nozzle (fuel supply nozzle) from the nozzle hanger of the refueling machine (fuel supply device), and opens the operating lever with the discharge pipe of the refueling nozzle inserted into the fuel filler port of the vehicle or the like, thereby supplying fuel to the target.

[0004] At that time, when the refueling nozzle is removed from the nozzle hanger of the refueling machine, a refueling permission request including the set refueling operation information and a request for permission to send refuel to the refueling nozzle is sent from the refueling machine to a management device (self-service console, SSC).

[0005] When the gas station attendant, acting as the work supervisor, confirms that the customer has performed the above-mentioned preparatory work correctly and without error, the gas station attendant will use the management device to allow the refueling machine that received the refueling permission request to deliver the set fuel type to the fuel nozzle, allowing the customer to start refueling the target (actual fuel supply) by operating the operating lever themselves.

[0006] As an example, in the self-service refueling systems described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the management device is provided with a dedicated operation terminal (management device terminal consisting of a remote controller and a head-mounted display device) that can be carried by a gas station attendant. The operation terminal is wirelessly connected to the management device, and has a display unit that displays the operation status (operation status) of each of the multiple refueling machines installed at the gas station, and an operation unit that permits the operation of the pumps and other liquid delivery devices of each refueling machine to start actual refueling (start of fuel supply).

[0007] In such a self-service refueling system equipped with a management device having a portable operation terminal, if a gas station attendant carries the operation terminal with him or her, even if a refueling permission request is issued from a refueling machine, the attendant can operate the operation terminal while still on-site, without having to return to the office where the management device is installed, and can send a refueling permission to the refueling machine that has requested refueling permission, and can authorize the operation of the liquid delivery equipment corresponding to the refueling nozzle that the customer has removed from the nozzle hanger. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-335696 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2018-52570 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] However, in such a self-service refueling system, for the sake of convenience, if the gas station attendant is performing another task in a location away from the refueling machine that issued the refueling permission request, there is a possibility that the customer will not fully check the status of the refueling operation and will operate the operation terminal to grant permission for refueling. In such a case, refueling will start without the gas station attendant having fully checked the status.

[0010] If a safety issue was overlooked when a customer was filling up the tank, such as the tip of the fuel nozzle not being inserted all the way into the fuel inlet of the target tank, there was a risk that problems would occur in the fuel tanker, such as the fuel nozzle wobbling in the fuel inlet during filling due to the operation of the fuel delivery device based on the fuel filling permission.

[0011] Particularly in the case of self-service gas stations, in situations where the workload of gas station attendants is increasing and diversifying due to staff shortages, etc., it is important in terms of customer service and gas station safety that gas station attendants thoroughly and reliably check the refueling procedures performed by customers.

[0012] The present disclosure is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a fuel supply system equipped with a management device having a portable operation terminal, which aims to improve customer service and safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The fuel supply system according to the present disclosure comprises: A plurality of fuel supply devices; A management device for managing the execution of a fuel supply operation of each of the fuel supply devices; a portable management device terminal that is wirelessly connected to the management device and includes a notification unit and an input unit; A fuel supply system for a fuel supply station, comprising: a terminal location detection unit that detects where the management device terminal is located within the fuel supply station; a permission request notification control unit that, when a permission request for a fuel supply operation is issued in any one of the plurality of fuel supply devices, notifies a user of the permission request by the notification unit of the management device terminal; a terminal location determination unit that, when the occurrence of the permission request is confirmed by a confirmation operation of the input unit of the management device terminal, determines whether or not the location of the management device terminal detected by the terminal location detection unit is within a fuel supply permission area corresponding to the fuel supply device that issued the permission request for the fuel supply work, among the plurality of fuel supply permission areas corresponding to each of the fuel supply devices; an outside-area notification control unit that, when the determination result by the terminal location determination unit is outside the range, notifies the user by the notification unit of the management device terminal that the management device terminal is located outside the range of a fuel supply permission possible area corresponding to the fuel supply device that has issued the permission request for the fuel supply work; It is equipped with: Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to the present disclosure, in a fuel supply system equipped with a management device having a portable management device terminal, when a fuel supply station attendant is, for example, performing another task at a location away from the fuel supply device that has issued a permission request for fuel supply work, when the fuel supply station attendant confirms on the management device terminal that the permission request has been made, a notification unit of the management device terminal automatically notifies the fuel supply station attendant that the fuel supply station attendant is located outside the fuel supply permission area corresponding to the fuel supply device that has issued the permission request for the fuel supply work.

[0015] Therefore, when granting permission for fuel supply work, the fuel supply station attendant is prompted to move within the fuel supply permission area corresponding to the fuel supply device that issued the permission request, and the fuel supply station attendant can thoroughly and reliably check the safety of the customer's fuel supply work, such as the attachment status of the fuel supply nozzle to the supply port of the supply target, thereby improving the safety of the customer's fuel supply work.

[0016] Furthermore, since the fuel supply station attendant will inevitably go to the fuel supply permission permit area including the fuel supply work area of ​​the fuel supply device that has issued the permission request, customer service will also be improved.

[0017] Furthermore, problems, configurations, and effects of the present disclosure other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a self-service fuel supply system as one embodiment of a fuel supply system according to the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 13 is a flowchart of the position detection control process of the SSC terminal for detecting the location within a gas station of the management device terminal of the refueling management device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a refueling permission area P set up within a gas station, taking the self-service refueling system shown in FIG. 1 as an example. [Figure 4] 13 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an allowability determination table stored in a management device terminal or a refueling management device. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing tanker control performed by a tanker control device of the tanker to control each part. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart of refueling management control performed by a gas station management device upon receiving a refueling permission request from a refueling machine. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart of refueling management control performed by a gas station management device upon receiving refueling result information from a refueling machine. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart of emergency stop control of a refueling machine, which is part of the refueling management control performed by a gas station management device. [Figure 9] A flowchart of one embodiment of a refueling permission control process for a refueling work area of ​​a refueling aircraft that has received a refueling permission request, which is performed on the refueling management device side of a refueling management device equipped with a management device terminal. [Figure 10] A flowchart of one embodiment of a refueling permission control process for a refueling work area of ​​a refueling aircraft that has received a refueling permission request, which is performed on the management device terminal side of a refueling management device equipped with a management device terminal. [Figure 11A]This is a notification screen for the occurrence of a refueling permission request that is displayed on the screen operation unit of the management device terminal when a refueling permission request occurs in a refueling machine. [Figure 11B] This is a notification screen for the occurrence of a refueling permission request that is displayed on the screen operation unit of the management device terminal when a refueling permission request occurs in a refueling machine. [Figure 11C] This is a notification screen for the occurrence of a refueling permission request that is displayed on the screen operation unit of the management device terminal when a refueling permission request occurs in a refueling machine. [Figure 12] A flowchart of another embodiment of a refueling permission control process for a refueling operation area of ​​a refueling aircraft that has received a refueling permission request, which is performed on the refueling management device side of a refueling management device equipped with a management device terminal. [Figure 13] A flowchart of another embodiment of a refueling permission control process for a refueling work area of ​​a refueling aircraft that has received a refueling permission request, which is performed on the management device terminal side of a refueling management device equipped with a management device terminal. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the fuel supply system according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description, the fuel supply system according to the present disclosure will be described as an example of a self-service refueling system applied to a self-service gas station where a customer operates a refueling nozzle of a refueling machine to refuel a vehicle or other target. Note that the self-service fuel supply station to which the fuel supply system according to the present disclosure is applied is not limited to self-service gas stations, but can also be applied to self-service fuel supply stations for fuel gases such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), compressed hydrogen gas, etc.

[0020] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a self-service fuel supply system as an embodiment of a fuel supply system according to the present disclosure.

[0021] In the illustrated example, the self-service refueling system 1 has a plurality of refueling machines 10 (10-1 to 10-4) applicable to a self-service refueling method, a change machine (payment adjustment machine) 20, and a refueling station management device 30 that performs overall operational management of a refueling station equipped with these refueling machines 10 and the change machine 20. These refueling machines 10, the change machine 20, and the refueling station management device 30 are connected for communication via a Service Station - Local Area Network (SS-LAN) 6 in the refueling station, enabling communication of various signals and various information data between each of these devices.

[0022] The refueling machine 10 accommodates a liquid delivery device such as a pump, a flow rate measuring device such as a flow meter, and a refueling machine control device that controls the operation of each part of the refueling machine and calculates the amount of fuel dispensed, within a refueling machine housing 11. A hose 12 having a refueling nozzle 13 at its tip extends from the refueling machine housing 11, and the base end side of the hose 12 is connected to the outlet side of the flow meter within the refueling machine housing 11.

[0023] The fuel nozzle 13 is equipped with an automatic valve closing mechanism that opens and closes in response to the operation of an operating lever, and closes when the fuel oil level in the target, such as a vehicle, reaches the discharge pipe at the tip of the nozzle, regardless of the operating position of the operating lever. The fuel nozzle 13 can be freely removed and stored in a nozzle hanger 14 provided in the fuel tanker housing 11, and is stored in the nozzle hanger 14 when refueling work is not being performed.

[0024] The fuel tanker 10 pumps up fuel oil liquid from an underground tank (liquid storage tank) (not shown) by operating a liquid delivery device such as a pump. The pumped up fuel oil liquid is delivered via a flow meter to a fuel nozzle 13 at the tip of a hose.

[0025] The customer, who is a refueling worker, removes the refueling nozzle 13 from the nozzle hanger 14, inserts its discharge pipe into the refueling port (fuel filling port) of the object to be supplied, such as a vehicle, and operates the operating lever to open the valve to refuel the object.

[0026] The amount of fuel supplied at that time (amount of fuel oil liquid supplied) is calculated by the refueling aircraft control device based on the flow pulse signal output from a flow transmitter attached to the flow meter, and is displayed on a display 15 provided in the refueling aircraft casing 11.

[0027] In the illustrated example, the refueling machine 10 is configured such that a plurality of hoses 12, refueling nozzles 13, and nozzle hangers 14 are provided on the front surface of the refueling machine housing 11 in correspondence with different types of fuel to be supplied, such as high octane, regular, and diesel. Similarly, a plurality of hoses 12, refueling nozzles 13, and nozzle hangers 14 are provided on the rear surface of the refueling machine housing 11 (not shown) in correspondence with different types of fuel to be supplied, such as high octane, regular, and diesel. Similarly, displays 15 are provided on the front and rear surfaces of the refueling machine housing 11. As a result, in the case of the illustrated refueling machine 10, it is configured such that refueling operations for different supply targets can be performed independently and in parallel on the front and rear sides of the refueling machine housing 11.

[0028] Accordingly, devices such as pumps and flow meters inside the refueling machine casing 11 are accommodated in multiple units within the refueling machine casing 11 according to the type of liquid to be supplied and the number of refueling nozzles 13 (corresponding to the number of refueling systems) provided on the refueling machine casing 11 to enable refueling operations with the desired type of liquid on each of the front and rear sides of the refueling machine casing 11.

[0029] That is, in the case of the refueling machine 10-n (where n is any one of integers 1 to 4) in the illustrated example, one refueling work area (fuel supply work point) E (En1, En2) is configured on each of the front and rear sides of the refueling machine housing 11, and each refueling work area En1, En2 is configured to be provided with three refueling systems, such as high octane, regular, and diesel. In each refueling work area En1, En2, the refueling machine control device controls the operation of each part of the refueling machine, including the pumps and other liquid delivery devices of each of the three refueling systems, so that a desired type of fuel oil selected from a plurality of oil types, such as high octane, regular, and diesel, can be supplied to a supply target such as a vehicle by operating the refueling nozzle 13 of the corresponding oil type.

[0030] Note that the pumps of the fuel supply systems that have the same supply liquid type can be shared between the fuel supply work areas En1 and En2 of one fuel supply machine 10-n. However, in the explanation of the self-service refueling system 1 shown in the figure, in order to simplify the understanding of the fuel supply machine control by the fuel supply machine control device described below, the following explanation will be given assuming that each fuel supply system has its own pump even if the multiple fuel supply systems have the same supply liquid type.

[0031] In addition, in the illustrated example, the refueling machine 10 is applied to a self-service gas station, and therefore self-service-compatible devices such as a setting device 16, a refueling fee payment device 17, a receipt issuing device 18, etc. are provided integrally with the refueling machine casing 11 on both the front and rear sides of the refueling machine casing 11 in correspondence with each of the refueling work areas En1, En2.

[0032] The setting device 16 is a self-service adaptable device for inputting the type of fuel oil (e.g., high octane, regular, diesel, etc.) and the amount of fuel oil (e.g., a full tank or a desired preset amount or a preset price) to be supplied to the target when the customer, who is a fuel supply worker, removes the fuel supply nozzle 13 from the nozzle holder 14 and starts the fuel supply work. The information set and input by the setting device 16 is supplied to the fuel supply machine control device.

[0033] The fuel tariff payment device 17 is a self-service device for allowing a customer to pay the refueling fee (fuel charge) in advance when refueling by cash or credit card, etc., or by prepaid card, etc. Information on the amount of the prepaid refueling fee entered into the fuel tariff payment device 17 is supplied to the refueling machine control device.

[0034] The refueling machine control device of the refueling machine 10 creates refueling work information for the refueling work that is about to be started by operating the refueling nozzle 13, based on the type of liquid and amount of liquid set and input by the setting device 16, and the advance refueling fee amount information input by the refueling fee payment device 17. The refueling work information is sent from the refueling machine 10 to the gas station management device 30 via the SS-LAN 6, with identification information for the refueling machine 10 and the refueling work area (fuel supply work point) E used in the refueling work added to it.

[0035] The slip issuing device 18 is a self-service device for issuing an adjustment slip for the refueling operation based on refueling result information such as the actual amount of fuel dispensed and the amount of fuel dispensed, which is calculated by the refueling machine control device of the refueling machine 10, when the refueling operation is completed, for example, by storing the refueling nozzle 13 in the nozzle hanger 14. The refueling result information is transmitted from the refueling machine 10 to the gas station management device 30 via the SS-LAN 6.

[0036] In this embodiment, the settlement slip issued by the slip issuing device 18 is used to confirm the contents of the refueling result information, such as the prepaid refueling fee, the type of fuel, the actual amount of refueling, the amount of refueling, the change, etc. In addition, the settlement slip is also used as an identification piece when a customer whose actual refueling amount does not reach the prepaid refueling fee previously deposited in the refueling fee payment device 17 receives change from the change machine 20. Therefore, when printing out the settlement slip, the slip issuing device 18 generates identification information for the settlement slip so that each customer who receives change from the change machine 20 can be identified. This identification information is printed out on the settlement slip by the slip issuing device 18 together with the refueling result information. The identification information is also supplied to the refueling machine control device and included in the refueling result information transmitted from the refueling machine 10 to the refueling station management device 30.

[0037] In the illustrated example, the self-service adaptable device consisting of the setting device 16, fuel tariff payment device 17, and receipt issuing device 18 is configured as an integral part of the fuel tanker housing 11 for each fuel tanker 10, but it is also possible to provide it as a self-service adaptable unit device separate from the fuel tanker housing 11 and corresponding to a plurality of fuel tankers 10, connected to the SS-LAN 6. When the setting device 16 is shared by a plurality of fuel tankers 10 and the fuel supply work area (fuel supply work point) E, the customer will also set and input identification information, such as the number of the fuel tanker 10 to be used for the fuel supply work, as the fuel supply work information.

[0038] The refueling aircraft 10-n is also provided with monitoring cameras 51 of a monitoring device 50, which will be described later, corresponding to the refueling work areas En1, En2 on the front and rear of the refueling aircraft housing 11. A beacon 8 is also provided, which is used to confirm the location of a portable management device terminal (SSC terminal) 70, which will be described later.

[0039] The surveillance camera 51 (51En1, 51En2) captures the scene in the refueling work area E (En1, En2) corresponding to the refueling aircraft 10-n, and transmits the captured image data to the monitoring device 50 of the gas station management device 30 via a signal line 7 dedicated to image data.

[0040] In the illustrated example, a pair of beacons 8 (8-nA, 8-nB) are arranged on each side of the tanker housing 11 for each tanker 10-n. Each beacon 8 transmits a beacon signal (for example, a low-power communication signal using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)) for confirming the location of the management device terminal (SSC terminal) 70. Each beacon signal is identifiable for each beacon (8-nA, 8-nB, n is 1 to 4). In the illustrated example, the beacons 8 are described as being arranged in a plurality of units for each fueling work area (fuel supply work point) E, but the arrangement positions and number of the beacons 8 at the fueling station are not limited to the illustrated example. For example, the fueling work area (fuel supply work point) E may be identified according to the difference in the combination of beacon signals received from each of the plurality of beacons 8 or the difference in the combination of distances measured based on the reception strength from each of the plurality of beacons 8. In addition, specific locations where the beacon 8 can be installed include the pillars of the island, the walls of the office 3 or the pit, a canopy, a signboard, etc.

[0041] The change machine (adjustment machine) 20 is a device for a customer to receive change when the amount of fuel dispensed based on the actual amount of fuel dispensed does not reach the fuel fee paid in advance by the customer who is the fuel dispenser in a self-service fuel dispenser operation, and change is required. The change machine 20 receives fuel dispenser result information transmitted from the fuel dispenser 10 each time a self-service fuel dispenser operation is performed, and stores the identification information of the settlement slip for a customer who needs the change returned, the amount of change, and the like as settlement information. When the change machine 20 reads the identification information of the settlement slip of a customer with its slip identification unit, it checks the accumulated settlement information, and if it is confirmed that the customer is a customer who should receive the change, it pays the change. In the illustrated example, the change machine (adjustment machine) 20 is configured to be shared by a plurality of fuel dispensers 10 in a separate housing from the fuel dispenser 10, but it may be provided for each fuel dispenser 10 as an integral part of the fuel dispenser housing 11.

[0042] The gas station management device 30 is installed in the gas station office 3, and in this embodiment, it is configured to have a POS terminal 40 that manages the point of sale at the gas station, a monitoring device 50 for monitoring the state of the gas station including the gas station operation area E, and a gas station management device 60 that manages the execution of self-service gas station operations using the gas station machines 10 by customers themselves. The POS terminal 40 and the gas station management device 60 are connected to the SS-LAN 6, and together with the gas station machines 10 and the change machine 20, they form a gas station network. The gas station management device 60 corresponds to a so-called self-service station controller (SSC).

[0043] The POS terminal 40 receives the refueling operation information set by the setting device 16 when starting the refueling operation, the permission request to start refueling (start sending fuel to the refueling nozzle), and the refueling result information created at the end of the refueling operation, all of which are transmitted from each refueling machine 10 via the SS-LAN 6, and performs point-of-sale management of fuel oil at the gas station. The permission request to start refueling is made for each refueling system specified by the refueling operation information set by the setting device 16, that is, for each refueling nozzle 13. Note that, hereinafter, the combination of the refueling operation information set by the setting device 16 when starting the refueling operation and the permission request to start refueling, which are transmitted from each refueling machine 10 via the SS-LAN 6, may be collectively referred to as a refueling permission request.

[0044] The monitoring device 50 has monitoring cameras 51 (51En1, 51En2, 51-20) provided corresponding to each of the fuel supply work areas E and the change machine 20, and is connected to each of the monitoring cameras 51 via a dedicated image data signal line 7. The monitoring device 50 generates and displays monitoring images from images taken by each of the monitoring cameras 51, which are moving or still images of the fuel supply work areas E and the change machine 20. This allows a gas station attendant to monitor the conditions of each location in the gas station while staying in his or her office by looking at the monitoring images. The monitoring device 50 can generate monitoring images in which the images taken by each of the multiple monitoring cameras 51 are split and displayed, or generate an enlarged monitoring image by selecting a desired image from among the images, in response to an instruction from the gas station attendant.

[0045] The refueling management device 60 is capable of receiving refueling operation information, requests for permission to start refueling, and refueling result information transmitted from each refueling machine 10 via the SS-LAN 6, in the same manner as the POS terminal 40. The refueling management device 60 is also connected to the monitoring device 50 via data signals, and is also capable of receiving desired monitoring images from the monitoring device 50.

[0046] The refueling management device 60 determines the operating state of each refueling machine 10, for example, a refueling operation acceptance state, a refueling permission waiting state, or a refueling operation end state (standby state) of the refueling machine 10 based on the reception of refueling operation information, a refueling start permission request, and refueling result information transmitted from each refueling machine 10 via the SS-LAN 6. The refueling management device 60 also determines the start / stop state, refueling state (liquid delivery operating state), and refueling prohibited state (emergency stop state) of the refueling machine 10 based on the start / stop instruction, refueling permission, and emergency stop transmitted to each refueling machine 10 via the SS-LAN 6. The refueling management device 60 then sequentially updates and stores these determined operating states of each refueling machine 10 in its storage unit for each refueling machine 10 or for each refueling operation area (fuel supply operation point) E.

[0047] At that time, the display unit of the refueling management device 60 displays the current or latest operating status of each refueling machine 10. The gas station attendant can operate the operation unit of the refueling management device 60 to give permission to start refueling to the refueling machine 10 that is waiting for refueling permission and has received a refueling permission request, or select the target refueling machine 10 and set it to a refueling prohibited state (emergency stop state). In this case, permission to start refueling refers to permission to operate a liquid delivery device such as a pump related to the set oil type for the refueling work area (fuel supply work point) E of the corresponding refueling machine 10 so that fuel can be discharged from the refueling nozzle 13 when the customer operates the operation lever to open the valve. Furthermore, the prohibition of refueling refers to prohibiting the operation of pumps and other liquid delivery devices in the refueling work areas (fuel supply work points) En1 and En2 of the corresponding refueling machine 10-n until a specified return operation is performed, regardless of whether the operating state of the refueling machine 10 is a refueling work in progress state in which the refueling nozzle 13 is removed from the nozzle hanger 14, or a standby state in which the refueling nozzle 13 is stored in the nozzle hanger 14 and no refueling work is being performed. The permission to start refueling and the prohibition of refueling are transmitted from the refueling management device 60 to the target refueling machine 10 via the SS-LAN 6.

[0048] In this embodiment, the operation unit of the refueling management device 60 also serves as the operation unit of the monitoring device 50, and the display unit of the refueling management device 60 also serves as the display device for the monitoring image. Therefore, the refueling management device 60 can indicate the monitoring image generated by the monitoring device 50, display the monitoring image generated by the monitoring device 50, and further display the current or latest operating status (refueling work information, presence or absence of a refueling permission request, refueling result information) of the corresponding refueling aircraft 10 on the monitoring image generated by the monitoring device 50 in an OSD (On-Screen Display).

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the refueling management device 60 is provided with a portable management device terminal (SSC terminal) 70 that is wirelessly connected to the refueling management device 60. In this case, like the operation unit and display unit of the refueling management device 60 described above, the management device terminal 70 can receive a refueling permission request and give permission to start refueling to a refueling machine 10 that is waiting for permission, select a target refueling machine 10 and set it to a refueling prohibited state (emergency stop state), display the current or latest operating state of each refueling machine 10, and instruct the monitoring device 50 on the mode of a monitoring image to display the monitoring image.

[0050] The management device terminal 70 is not limited to a wireless terminal device dedicated to the refueling management device 60, and as long as it is capable of communicating with the refueling management device 60 and has a beacon receiving function (short-range wireless communication function) that can receive beacon signals from each beacon 8, it is also possible to have a portable, general-purpose mobile communication terminal device such as a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a tablet computer with communication function, etc. function as the management device terminal 70.

[0051] For this reason, the refueling management device 60 is provided with a wireless communication unit 68 capable of communicating with the management device terminal 70. The wireless communication unit 68 is configured as a Wi-Fi router of a Service Station-Local Area Network (SS-LAN) 6 in the gas station, and the management device terminal 70 is directly connected to and communicates with the refueling management device 60 via the wireless communication unit 68, and is also capable of communicating with SS-LAN-connected devices other than the refueling management device 60 of the SS-LAN via the wireless communication unit 68 and the refueling management device 60.

[0052] In the self-service refueling system 1 of this embodiment configured as described above, refueling management for the self-service refueling operation performed by the customer himself / herself by operating the refueling nozzle 13 of the refueling machine 10 is carried out by a gas station attendant acting as an operation supervisor who operates the management device terminal 70 of the refueling management device 60 as follows.

[0053] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a position detection control process of the SSC terminal for detecting the location within a gas station of the management device terminal of the fuel supply management device.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, the management device terminal (SSC terminal) 70 activates a short-range wireless communication function (e.g., Bluetooth) as a beacon receiving function that is pre-installed in the terminal itself, receives beacon signals transmitted from each beacon 8 (8-nA, 8-nB, n is 1 to 4), and acquires the received radio wave intensity of each received beacon signal (FIG. 2, S010).

[0055] Then, the refueling management device (SSC main body) 60, which has been provided with the received radio wave strength of each beacon signal from the management device terminal 70 via the management device terminal 70 or the wireless communication unit 68, obtains the distance from the corresponding beacon 8 to the management device terminal 70 based on the received radio wave strength of each received beacon signal (S020).

[0056] Based on this, the management device terminal 70 or the refueling management device 60 identifies the current location of the management device terminal 70 within the gas station, i.e., the refueling permission possible area P located within the gas station where the management device terminal 70 is currently located (SA030). In identifying this refueling permission possible area P, the management device terminal 70 also receives beacon signals from two or more of the beacons 8 (8-nA, 8-nB, n is 1 to 4) located at different positions, so that it can accurately identify its own current location within the gas station.

[0057] Next, a refueling permission possible area P provided in a gas station and an embodiment of a method for specifying the refueling permission possible area P will be described with reference to FIG.

[0058] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a refueling permission area P provided within a gas station, taking the self-service refueling system shown in FIG. 1 as an example.

[0059] In the illustrated example, a pair of beacons 8 (8-nA, 8-nB) are arranged for each refueling aircraft 10-n, one on each side of the refueling aircraft housing 11. The refueling permission possible area P for each refueling aircraft 10-n includes the refueling work area (fuel supply work point) E (En1, En2) for each refueling aircraft 10-n within its area, and is an area within the refueling station where the refueling station attendant can adequately check the status of the refueling work performed by the customer using the refueling aircraft 10-n, and the boundaries of the refueling permission possible area P are defined for each refueling aircraft 10-n by the reception strength of the beacon signal from the corresponding beacon 8 (8-nA, 8-nB).

[0060] Specifically, the refueling permission area P1 for refueling operations using the refueling aircraft 10-1 is area P(8-1A) defined based on the reception strength of the beacon signal from beacon 8-1A (obtained reception strength W > reception strength W(1A)) or area P(8-1B) defined based on the reception strength of the beacon signal from beacon 8-1B (obtained reception strength W > reception strength W(1B)). Similarly, the refueling permission area P2 for refueling operations using the refueling aircraft 10-2 is the area P(8-2A) defined based on the reception strength of the beacon signal from the beacon 8-2A (obtained reception strength W>reception strength W(2A)) or the area P(8-2B) defined based on the reception strength of the beacon signal from the beacon 8-2B (obtained reception strength W>reception strength W(2B)). The refueling permission area P3 for refueling operations using the refueling aircraft 10-3 is the area P(8-3A) defined based on the reception strength of the beacon signal from the beacon 8-3A (obtained reception strength W>reception strength W(3A)). The refueling-permitted area P4 for refueling operations using the refueling aircraft 10-4 is the area P(8-4A) defined based on the reception strength of the beacon signal from beacon 8-4A (obtained reception strength W > reception strength W(4A)) or the area P(8-4B) defined based on the reception strength of the beacon signal from beacon 8-4B (obtained reception strength W > reception strength W(4B)).

[0061] Then, in SA030, the management device terminal 70 or the refueling management device 60, which identifies the refueling permission area P and the refueling machines 10-n that are targets for refueling permission located within the gas station where the management device terminal 70 is currently located, has a permission determination table Y stored in advance for identifying the refueling permission areas P1 to P4 and the refueling machines 10-1 to 10-4 that are targets for refueling permission.

[0062] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an allowability determination table Y stored in the management device terminal or the refueling management device.

[0063] For example, the management device terminal 70 or the refueling management device 60 can determine, based on this permission determination table Y, that the management device terminal 70a shown in Fig. 3 is located in area P (8-3A), i.e., in the refueling permission possible area P3, and that refueling permission is possible only for the refueling work in the refueling work area (fuel supply work point) E31, E32 using the refueling machine 10-3, because the acquired reception intensity W > reception intensity W (3A) and the acquired reception intensity W > reception intensity W (3B) are obtained for the management device terminal 70b shown in Fig. 3, and that refueling permission is possible only for the refueling work in the refueling work area (fuel supply work point) E31, E32 using the refueling machine 10-3. Similarly, the management device terminal 70 or the refueling management device 60 can determine, based on this permission determination table Y, that the management device terminal 70b shown in Fig. 3 is located in area P (8-3A) and area P (8-3B), i.e., in the refueling permission possible area P3, and that refueling permission is possible for the refueling work in the refueling work area (fuel supply work point) E31, E32 using the refueling machine 10-3. Furthermore, for the management device terminal 70b, since the acquired reception strength W>reception strength W(1A) and the acquired reception strength W>reception strength W(1B) are obtained, it can be determined that the management device terminal 70b is located within area P(8-1A) and area P(8-1B), i.e., within the refueling permission possible area P1, and that refueling permission is also possible for the refueling work in the refueling work areas (fuel supply work points) E11 and E12 using the refueling aircraft 10-1. Note that, for this permission possibility determination table Y, instead of the acquired reception strength W of the beacon signal from each individual beacon 8, a distance L or position S calculated from the acquired reception strength W of the beacon signal from each individual beacon 8 can be acquired, and compared with a preset comparison distance L or comparison position S to determine the refueling permission possible area P in which the management device terminal 70b is located.

[0064] Next, with reference to Figure 5, we will explain the fuel tanker control performed by the fuel tanker control device of the fuel tanker 10-n, which controls each part, when a customer operates the fuel tanker nozzle 13 of the fuel tanker 10-n (in this case, n is any one of 1 to 4) to perform the refueling operation himself / herself in the self-service refueling system 1 of this embodiment.

[0065] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing tanker control performed by the tanker control device controlling each unit.

[0066] When performing self-service refueling, the customer, who is the operator, operates the desired setting device 16 on either the front (i.e., the refueling work area En1 side) or the rear (i.e., the refueling work area En2 side) of the refueling machine casing 11 of the refueling machine 10-n corresponding to the refueling work area (fuel supply work point) E where the refueling work will be performed, to set and input the type of fuel oil (e.g., oil type such as high octane, regular, diesel, etc.) and the amount of fuel oil (e.g., full tank or a desired preset amount or preset amount) to be supplied to the supply target, and then inserts the prepaid refueling fee into the refueling fee payment device 17 (S110).

[0067] The refueling machine control device creates refueling work information for the refueling work to be started by operating the refueling nozzle 13 in the refueling work area (fuel supply work point) E corresponding to the setting device 16, based on the type of liquid and amount of liquid set and input by the setting device 16 and the amount information of the prepaid refueling fee entered by the refueling fee payment device 17. The refueling machine control device transmits the created refueling work information from the refueling machine 10-n to the gas station management device 30 via the SS-LAN 6.

[0068] Then, when the refueling machine control device detects, based on the output of the nozzle switch provided on the nozzle hanger 14, that the refueling nozzle 13 in the refueling work area E corresponding to the setting device 16 has been removed from the nozzle hanger 14 by the customer (S120), it transmits a refueling permission request for refueling work by the refueling machine 10-n in this refueling work area E to the refueling management device 60 via SS-LAN 6 (S130).

[0069] Thereafter, when the refueling aircraft control device receives refueling permission for the refueling aircraft 10-n in response to the refueling permission request from the refueling management device 60 (S140), it operates the liquid delivery equipment such as a pump in the refueling system that corresponds to the set liquid type for the refueling work area E (S150) and begins supplying fuel oil liquid to the refueling nozzle 13.

[0070] Therefore, in the refueling machine 10-n, through this series of processes of the refueling machine control device, the tip of the refueling nozzle 13 is inserted into the refueling inlet of the target to be supplied, and then the customer opens the refueling nozzle 13 with the tip inserted into the refueling inlet of the target to be supplied, thereby starting actual supply of refuel to the target to be supplied.

[0071] When actual refueling of the supply target is started in this manner, the refueling machine control device calculates the amount of refueling based on a flow rate pulse signal output from a flow rate transmitter attached to a flow meter of the refueling system corresponding to the set liquid type of the refueling work area E, displays it on the display 15 (S160), and sequentially transmits the current amount of refueling to the management device terminal 70 via the SS-LAN 6. In parallel with the execution of this refueling amount measurement and display process, after receiving refueling permission from the management device terminal 70, the refueling machine control device confirms whether or not to end refueling of the supply target (S170).

[0072] In this case, confirmation of the end of refueling may be made by, for example, returning the nozzle, reaching the limit amount / time limit, completing refueling of the set amount of refueling, inputting an emergency stop signal, operating the emergency stop button, etc.

[0073] Specifically, "returning the nozzle" corresponds to the fuel nozzle 13 once removed from the nozzle hanger 14 by the customer being stored back into the nozzle hanger 14 by the customer. "Reaching the limit amount / time limit" corresponds to the amount of fuel supplied to the supply target reaching a preset limit amount, or the time that has elapsed since the fuel nozzle 13 was removed from the nozzle hanger 14 reaching a preset time limit. "Completion of supplying the set amount of fuel" corresponds to the amount of fuel supplied to the supply target reaching the preset amount of fuel or fuel amount that the customer set in the setting device 16 beforehand when refueling. "Inputting an emergency stop signal" corresponds to receiving an emergency stop signal from the fuel supply management device 60. "Operation of the emergency stop button" corresponds to operation of an emergency stop button provided on the operation unit of the fuel supply management device 60 or the screen operation unit of the management device terminal 70.

[0074] When the refueling machine control device detects the end of refueling in this way (S170, YES), it stops the operation of the pump and other liquid delivery devices of the refueling system corresponding to the set liquid type of the refueling work area E (S180). Then, it monitors the output of the nozzle switch provided on the nozzle hanger 14, and detects whether the refueling nozzle 13 once removed by the customer has been stored back in the nozzle hanger 14 and the refueling work by the customer on the supply target has been completed (S190).

[0075] When the refueling machine control device detects the end of refueling by the refueling machine 10-n in the refueling work area E (in this case, the desired one of the refueling work areas En1 or En2) in this way (S190, YES), it generates refueling result information such as the actual amount of refueling related to this refueling work, the amount of refueling, etc. based on the amount of refueling. Then, it transmits the refueling result information to the refueling management device 60 and the POS terminal 40 via the SS-LAN 6 (S200).

[0076] Next, with reference to Figures 6 to 8, we will explain the refueling management control of the gas station management device 30, which manages the execution of refueling work in the refueling work areas (fuel supply work points) En1 and En2 of each of the refueling machines 10 (10-1 to 10-4) in which the above-mentioned refueling machine control is performed in the self-service refueling system 1 of this embodiment, and performs overall work management of the gas station.

[0077] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the refueling management control performed by the gas station management device upon receiving a refueling permission request from a refueling machine. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the refueling management control performed by the gas station management device upon receiving refueling result information from the refueling machine. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of emergency stop control of a fuel tanker, which is part of the fuel supply management control performed by the fuel station management device.

[0078] When the refueling management device 60 receives refueling work information of a refueling work to be performed in the refueling work area (fuel supply work point) En1 or En2 from the refueling machine 10-n, it updates and stores the operation state of the refueling machine 10-n in the refueling work area (fuel supply work point) En1 or En2 where the refueling work is to be performed from a standby state to a refueling work acceptance state, and registers the received refueling work information as the current refueling work information in the refueling work area En1 or En2 of the refueling machine 10-n. In addition, the operation state and refueling work information of the refueling work acceptance state for the refueling work area En1 or En2 of the refueling machine 10-n are displayed on the display unit, and the refueling work acceptance state and refueling work information for the refueling work area En1 or En2 of the refueling machine 10-n are also transmitted to the management device terminal 70 via the wireless communication unit 68.

[0079] 6, when the refueling management device 60 receives a refueling permission request for the refueling work area En1 or En2 from the refueling machine 10-n (S311), it updates and stores the operation state of the refueling machine 10-n for the refueling work area En1 or En2 from a refueling work acceptance state to a refueling permission waiting state (S313). In addition, the refueling management device 60 displays on the display unit that the refueling machine 10-n is in an operation state waiting for refueling permission for the refueling work area En1 or En2, and also transmits the refueling permission waiting state of the refueling machine 10-n for the refueling work area En1 or En2 to the management device terminal 70 via the wireless communication unit 68.

[0080] 7, when the refueling management device 60 receives refueling result information for the refueling work area En1 or En2 from the refueling machine 10-n (S321), it updates and stores the operation state of the refueling machine 10-n for the refueling work area En1 or En2 from the previous refueling state (liquid delivery operation state) to a refueling work end state (standby state) (S323). In addition, the refueling management device 60 displays the operation state of the refueling work end state of the refueling machine 10-n for the refueling work area En1 or En2 on the display unit, and also transmits the refueling work end state (standby state) and refueling result information of the refueling machine 10-n for the refueling work area En1 or En2 to the management device terminal 70 via the wireless communication unit 68.

[0081] 8, when the emergency stop button provided on the operation unit is operated (S331) or an emergency stop output instruction is received from the management device terminal 70 (S333), the refueling management device 60 outputs an emergency stop signal to the refueling machines 10-n that are the subject of the emergency stop via the SS-LAN 6, and updates and stores the stored contents of the operating state of these refueling machines 10-n to a refueling prohibited state (emergency stop state) (S335).The refueling management device 60 also displays the operating state of the refueling prohibited state of the refueling machine 10-n on the display unit, and transmits the refueling prohibited state of the refueling machine 10-n to the management device terminal 70 via the wireless communication unit 68.

[0082] As a result, in the refueling machine 10-n that is the subject of an emergency stop and whose operating state has been set to a refueling prohibited state, upon receiving an emergency stop signal from the refueling management device 60 (step S170 in Figure 5), the refueling machine control device stops the operation of the pump even if it is running (S180), and also sets the setting device 16 to an inactive state in which it is not possible to input settings for the type of liquid and the amount of liquid for a new refueling operation.

[0083] In this way, the refueling management device 60 maintains the refueling prohibited state for the refueling machine 10-n whose operation state has been set to the refueling prohibited state until a predetermined release operation is performed on the operation unit (S337), and maintains the state in which new refueling work cannot be performed using the refueling machine 10-n. On the other hand, when a predetermined release operation is performed on the operation unit for the refueling prohibited state for the refueling machine 10-n whose operation state has been set to the refueling prohibited state (S337), for example, on the condition that all the refueling nozzles 13 are stored in the corresponding nozzle hangers 14 in a closed state, the operation state of the refueling machine 10-n is updated and stored from the previous refueling prohibited state to a refueling work completion state (standby state) and displayed on the display unit, and the standby state (standby state) of each of the refueling work areas En1 and En2 of the refueling machine 10-n is also transmitted to the management device terminal 70 via the wireless communication unit 68 (S339).

[0084] Next, we will explain the refueling permission control by the refueling management device 60 equipped with the management device terminal 70 for the refueling work area En1 or En2 of the refueling machine 10-n whose operating state is waiting for refueling permission in the self-service refueling system 1 of this embodiment.

[0085] Permission for refueling for the refueling work area En1 or En2 of the refueling machine 10-n whose operating state is waiting for refueling permission can be given by a refueling station attendant performing a predetermined operation on the operation unit of the refueling management device 60 while checking the state of the refueling work using the refueling work area En of the refueling machine 10-n waiting for refueling permission on the monitoring screen of the monitoring device 50 in the refueling station office 3. Also, permission for refueling can be given by a refueling station attendant performing a predetermined operation on the screen operation unit, which also serves as the input unit and notification unit, of the management device terminal 70 within the refueling permission possible area P defined for the refueling work area En1 or En2 of the refueling machine 10-n waiting for refueling permission.

[0086] In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the refueling management device 60 receives a refueling permission request transmitted from the refueling work area En1 or En2 of any one of the refueling machines 10-1 to 10-4, for example, the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4, it updates and stores the operation state of the refueling machine 10-4 from the refueling work acceptance state to the refueling permission waiting state for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4, as described in step S313 of Figure 6. In addition, the refueling management device 60 displays the operation state of the refueling permission waiting state of the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 on the display unit, and also transmits the refueling permission waiting state of the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 to the management device terminal 70 via the wireless communication unit 68. This allows the gas station attendant to recognize that the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 is waiting for refueling permission not only by the guidance notification on the display unit of the refueling management device 60, but also by the guidance notification on the operation screen unit of the management device terminal 70.

[0087] Permission for refueling for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 waiting for refueling permission can be given by a refueling station attendant performing a predetermined operation on the operation unit of the refueling management device 60 while checking the state of the refueling work using the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 waiting for refueling permission on the monitoring screen of the monitoring device 50 in the refueling station office 3. Also, permission for refueling for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 waiting for refueling permission can be given by a refueling station attendant performing a predetermined operation on the screen operation unit of the management device terminal 70 within the refueling permission possible area P4 (P8(4A) or P8(4B)) specified for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 waiting for refueling permission.

[0088] Therefore, in the self-service refueling system 1 of this embodiment, the refueling management device 60 performs refueling permission control processing as shown in Figure 9 for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 that is waiting for refueling permission, and the portable management device terminal connected via wireless communication to the refueling management device 60 is configured to perform refueling permission control processing as shown in Figure 10 for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 that is waiting for refueling permission.

[0089] Figure 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a refueling permission control process for a refueling work area E of a refueling machine that has received a refueling permission request, which is performed on the refueling management device side of a refueling management device equipped with a management device terminal in the self-service refueling system of this embodiment.

[0090] Figure 10 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a refueling permission control process for a refueling work area of ​​a refueling machine that has received a refueling permission request, which is performed on the management device terminal side of a refueling management device equipped with a management device terminal in the self-service refueling system of this embodiment.

[0091] In Figure 9, the refueling management device 60 checks whether or not a refueling permission operation has been performed by a gas station attendant on the operation unit for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 that is waiting for refueling permission (S351), or whether or not confirmation of the occurrence of a refueling permission request for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 has been received and input from the management device terminal 70 via the wireless communication unit 68 (S353).

[0092] Here, as described below, the confirmation of the occurrence of the refueling permission request from the management device terminal 70 is generated on the management device terminal 70 side when the gas station attendant performs a predetermined confirmation operation on the screen operation unit of the management device terminal 70, and is wirelessly transmitted to the refueling management device 60. This confirmation of the occurrence of the refueling permission request also includes the reception strength of the beacon signal from each of the beacons 8 (8-nA, 8-nB) acquired on the management device terminal 70 side when the gas station attendant performs the predetermined confirmation operation on the screen operation unit of the management device terminal 70.

[0093] Then, when the refueling management device 60 detects that the refueling station attendant has performed a refueling permission operation on the operation unit for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 that is waiting for refueling permission (S351, YES), it outputs a refueling permission to the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 that is waiting for refueling permission via the SS-LAN 6 (S359). Furthermore, the refueling management device 60 updates and stores the operation state of the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 from the refueling permission waiting state to the refueling state (liquid delivery operation state) (S361). Furthermore, the refueling management device 60 displays the operation state of the refueling permission waiting state of the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 on the display unit, and also transmits the refueling permission waiting state of the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 to the management device terminal 70 via the wireless communication unit 68. This allows the management device terminal 70 to recognize that the operating state of the refueling work area E42 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 has changed from a state waiting for refueling permission to a state in progress of refueling (liquid delivery operating state).

[0094] In response to this, when the refueling management device 60 detects that a confirmation of the occurrence of a refueling permission request for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 waiting for refueling permission has been received from the management device terminal 70 via the wireless communication unit 68 (S351, YES), the refueling management device 60 confirms whether or not the management device terminal 70 is located within the refueling permission possible area P4 (P8(4A) or P8(4B)) for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 waiting for refueling permission when the confirmation of the occurrence of the refueling permission request is made on the management device terminal 70 side, based on the reception strength of the beacon signal from each beacon 8 (8-nA, 8-nB) acquired on the management device terminal 70 side and included in the confirmation of the occurrence of the refueling permission request (S355).

[0095] This confirmation is performed by the refueling management device 60, for example, by referring to the permission determination table Y shown in Figure 4 which is pre-stored in the refueling management device 60 based on the reception strength of the beacon signal from each beacon 8 (8-nA, 8-nB) and executing the processing of steps S020 and S030 of the position detection control processing of the management device terminal (SSC terminal) 70 shown in Figure 2.

[0096] Then, when the refueling management device 60 detects, as a result of confirming the location of the management device terminal 70, that the management device terminal 70 is located within the refueling permission possible area P4 for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 that is waiting for refueling permission (S355, YES), it further confirms whether or not an instruction for refueling permission has been input within a specified time following the input of the confirmation of the occurrence of the refueling permission request from the management device terminal 70 that sent the confirmation of the occurrence of the refueling permission request (S357).

[0097] Through these confirmations, when the refueling management device 60 detects that the management device terminal 70 is located within the refueling permission possible area P4 for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 waiting for refueling permission, and that a refueling permission instruction has been input from the management device terminal 70 within a specified time following confirmation of the occurrence of the refueling permission request (YES in both S355 and S357), it grants refueling permission for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 waiting for refueling permission, as described in the above-mentioned steps S359 and S361.

[0098] In response to this, if the management device terminal 70 is not located within the refueling permission area P4 for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 waiting for refueling permission (S355, NO), or if the management device terminal 70 is located within the refueling permission area P4 but does not input a refueling permission instruction within a specified time following the refueling permission request (S355 is YES, S357 is NO), the refueling management device 60 will transmit a notification of refueling not being permitted outside the area via the wireless communication unit 68 to the management device terminal 70 that sent the confirmation of the refueling permission request (S363).

[0099] Then, the refueling management device 60 notifies the display unit of the refusal of the refueling permission request from the corresponding management device terminal 70, increments the number of refusals by the corresponding management device terminal 70, and stores the number of refusals as a history of the number of refusals (S365).

[0100] Then, the refueling management device 60 determines whether the number of refusals by the corresponding management device terminal 70 has reached a predetermined number (S367), and if the predetermined number has been reached (S367, YES), it prohibits operations related to refueling management control using the corresponding management device terminal 70.

[0101] In this case, prohibiting operations related to refueling management control using the relevant management device terminal 70 includes deactivating the relevant management device terminal 70 itself so that it cannot perform operations related to refueling management control, and preventing the refueling management device 60 from accepting operations related to refueling management control using the relevant management device terminal 70, etc.

[0102] 10, the management device terminal 70 checks whether it is located within the wireless communication range via the wireless communication unit 68 of the refueling management device 60 every time it wirelessly communicates with the refueling management device 60, for example, based on whether it can receive an acknowledgment Ack from the refueling management device 60 (S411). If the management device terminal 70 is not located within the wireless communication range of the refueling management device 60 (S411, NO), it notifies the screen operation unit that communication is not possible (S415).

[0103] Then, when the management device terminal 70 is located within the wireless communication range via the wireless communication unit 68 of the refueling management device 60 (S411, YES), it stores the operation status of the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 transmitted from the refueling management device 60 for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4, and notifies the operation status of the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 on the screen operation unit (S413). Then, when the operation status of the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 is a refueling permission waiting state, refueling permission control processing from step S417 onwards is performed for the refueling machine that received the refueling permission request.

[0104] In Figure 10, from step S417 onwards, the management device terminal 70 checks whether or not an emergency stop operation has been performed by a gas station attendant on the screen operation unit for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 that is waiting for refueling permission (S417), whether or not a message indicating that refueling is not possible outside the area has been received from the refueling management device 60 (S419), whether or not an operation has been performed by the gas station attendant on the screen operation unit to confirm the occurrence of a refueling permission request (S421), and whether or not an operation to grant refueling permission has been performed by the gas station attendant on the screen operation unit (S421).

[0105] Then, when an emergency stop operation is performed by a gas station attendant on the screen operation section of the management device terminal 70 (S417, YES), the management device terminal 70 transmits and outputs an emergency stop instruction to the refueling management device 60 (S431), in relation to the emergency stop control of the refueling machine 10 among the refueling management control performed by the refueling management device 60 as described in Fig. 8. Also, when the management device terminal 70 receives and inputs a message indicating that refueling outside the area is not permitted from the refueling management device 60 in relation to the transmission output of a message indicating that refueling outside the area is not permitted by the refueling management device 60 in step S363 of Fig. 9 (S419, YES), the management device terminal 70 displays a pop-up display on its screen display section to notify the user that the permitted operation on the management device terminal 70 is invalid outside the area for only a predetermined period of time. Furthermore, when a gas station attendant performs an operation for confirming the occurrence of a refueling permission request on the screen operation unit of the management device terminal 70 (S421, YES), in association with the receipt confirmation of the receipt confirmation of the refueling permission request by the refueling management device 60 in step S353 of Fig. 9, the management device terminal 70 transmits and outputs a confirmation of the occurrence of the permission request to the refueling management device 60 (S435). Furthermore, when a gas station attendant performs an operation for refueling permission on the screen operation unit of the management device terminal 70 (S423, YES), in association with the receipt confirmation of the instruction for refueling permission by the refueling management device 60 in step S357 of Fig. 10, the management device terminal 70 transmits and outputs an instruction for refueling permission to the refueling management device 60 (S437).

[0106] Next, the refueling permission control process performed for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 waiting for refueling permission on the refueling management device 60 side and the management device terminal 70 side shown in Figures 9 and 10 described above will be explained along with the transition of the guidance notification displayed on the screen operation unit of the management device terminal 70 by executing the refueling permission control process.

[0107] 11A to 11C are diagrams showing guidance and notification screens for the occurrence of a refueling permission request that are displayed on the screen operation unit of the management device terminal when a refueling permission request occurs in a refueling machine.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 11A, a screen operation section 71 of a management device terminal 70 has a configuration including a refueling point display area 72 and a navigation area 73 in the illustrated example.

[0109] The refueling point display area 72 lists the operating status of each refueling work area E11, E12, ..., E41, E42 of each of the refueling aircraft 10-1 to 10-4 using operating status icons for each operating status, as the operating status of the refueling aircraft 10-1 at the refueling work point "01", the operating status of the refueling aircraft 10-1 at the refueling work point "02", ..., the operating status of the refueling aircraft 10-4 at the refueling work point "07", and the operating status of the refueling aircraft 10-4 at the refueling work point "08".

[0110] In addition, the refueling point display area 72 can display in more detail the operating status of the refueling machine "10-[(m+1) / 2]" (in this case, [(m+1) / 2] is any one of integers 1 to 4) at a selected refueling work point "m" (in this case, m is any one of integers 1 to 8) from among the refueling work points "01" to "08".

[0111] On the other hand, in the navigation area 73, various operation buttons are displayed according to the operation status of the refueling machine "10-[(m+1) / 2]" at the selected refueling work point "m" among the refueling work points "01" to "08", such as a "all stop" operation button for simultaneously stopping the operation of all refueling machines 10-1 to 10-1 corresponding to all refueling work points "01" to "08", a "stop" operation button for stopping the operation of the refueling machine "10-[(m+1) / 2]" at the selected refueling work point "m" among the refueling work points "01" to "08", and an "allow" operation button for granting permission for refueling to the refueling machine "10-[(m+1) / 2]" at the pre-selected refueling work point "m" that is waiting for permission to refuel.

[0112] Figure 11A shows the state of the screen operation unit 71 of the management device terminal 70 when a refueling permission request occurs to the refueling machine 10-4 at refueling work point "08" among the refueling work points "01" to "08" based on the processing of step S130 in Figure 5, and the operating state of the refueling machine 10-4 at the refueling work point "08" becomes a waiting for refueling permission state.

[0113] In this case, the "nozzle mark" operating status icon, which indicates a state where refueling permission is awaited, flashes at the refueling task point "08" in the refueling point display area 72, to notify the user that a refueling task point is awaiting refueling permission. The occurrence of a refueling task point awaiting refueling permission may also be notified by voice notification from the management device terminal 70 or vibration notification from the management device terminal 70.

[0114] In the refueling point occurrence notification screen shown in Figure 11A, which is in a state of waiting for refueling permission, a gas station attendant can touch the operation status icon of the flashing ``nozzle mark'', which indicates the state of waiting for refueling permission, to confirm that a permission request has occurred for refueling work point ``08'' of the refueling aircraft 10-4, as described in the processing of step S421 in Figure 10.

[0115] Furthermore, on the refueling point occurrence notification screen in the waiting for refueling permission state, the "All stop" operation button in the navigation area 73 is displayed as activated and operable, whereas the "Stop" operation button and the "Permission" operation button are displayed as inactivated and cannot be operated.

[0116] Then, when an operation is performed to confirm the occurrence of a permission request for refueling task point "08" of the refueling aircraft 10-4 on the notification screen of the refueling point occurrence waiting for permission to refuel, the management device terminal 70 performs the process shown in step S435 in Fig. 10, and the refueling management device 60 performs the process shown in step S355 in Fig. 9. At that time, if the management device terminal 70 is located within the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 at the refueling task point "08" waiting for permission to refuel (S355, YES), the screen operation unit 71 of the management device terminal 70 will be as shown in Fig. 11B.

[0117] 11B is a permission waiting notification screen for a fueling point in a state of waiting for refueling permission when the management device terminal 70 is located in the refueling permission possible area P4 corresponding to the refueling work point "08" of the refueling machine 10-4 in a state of waiting for refueling permission (FIG. 9, S355, YES). This permission waiting notification screen for a fueling point in a state of waiting for refueling permission is displayed on the screen operation unit 71 of the management device terminal 70 when the management device terminal 70 is located in the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling work point "08" of the refueling machine 10-4 in a state of waiting for refueling permission (S355, YES) on the refueling point occurrence notification screen in a state of waiting for refueling permission shown in FIG. 11A and the operation of confirming the occurrence of the permission request for the refueling machine 10-4 at the refueling work point "08" shown in step S421 of FIG. 10 is performed by the gas station attendant.

[0118] On the permission-waiting notification screen for this refueling point that is waiting for permission to refuel, the set fuel type in the refueling work information for refueling work point "08" that is waiting for permission to refuel is displayed as "regular," the type of fuel supplied by the refueling nozzle 13 that the customer has removed from the nozzle holder 14 as "regular," and the set amount in the refueling work information as "full," and the "stop" operation button and the "permission" operation button are also displayed as activated and operable.

[0119] On the permission waiting notification screen for this refueling point that is waiting for refueling permission, the gas station attendant can confirm that the set fuel type matches the type of fuel supplied, and then touch the ``Permission'' operation button to perform the refueling permission operation for the refueling machine 10-4 at the refueling work point ``08'', as described in the processing of step S423 in Figure 10.

[0120] In response to this, on the notification screen for the occurrence of a refueling point in a state waiting for refueling permission shown in Figure 11A, an operation is performed to confirm the occurrence of a permission request for refueling work point "08" of the refueling aircraft 10-4, and in the refueling management device 60, when the processing shown in step S355 shown in Figure 9 is performed, if the management device terminal 70 is not located within the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling work point "08" of the refueling aircraft 10-4 in a state waiting for refueling permission (S355, NO), the screen operation section 71 of the management device terminal 70 will appear as shown in Figure 11C.

[0121] 11C is a permission waiting notification screen for a refueling point in a state of waiting for refueling permission when the management device terminal 70 is not located within the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling work point "08" of the refueling machine 10-4 in a state of waiting for refueling permission (FIG. 9, S355, NO). This permission waiting notification screen for a refueling point in a state of waiting for refueling permission is displayed on the screen operation unit 71 of the management device terminal 70 when the management device terminal 70 is not located within the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling work point "08" of the refueling machine 10-4 in a state of waiting for refueling permission (S355, YES) and the gas station attendant performs the permission request occurrence confirmation operation for the refueling work point "08" of the refueling machine 10-4 in step S421 of FIG. 10 on the refueling point occurrence notification screen in a state of waiting for refueling permission shown in FIG. 11A.

[0122] When this management device terminal 70 is not located within the refueling permission area P4 of the refueling work point "08" of the refueling aircraft 10-4 waiting for refueling permission, the permission waiting notification screen for the refueling point waiting for refueling permission differs from the permission waiting notification screen for the refueling point waiting for refueling permission shown in Figure 11B in that it further displays "Outside refueling permission area," indicating that the management device terminal 70 is not located within the refueling permission area P4 of the refueling work point "08" of the refueling aircraft 10-4 waiting for refueling permission, and the "Permission" operation button is also displayed in an inactive state and cannot be operated.

[0123] In the case where the management device terminal 70 is not located within the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling work point "08" of the refueling machine 10-4 in the refueling permission waiting state, the gas station attendant can touch the "return" button on the screen to return to the refueling point occurrence notification screen in the refueling permission waiting state shown in Fig. 11A, where the operation of confirming the occurrence of the permission request for the refueling work point "08" of the refueling machine 10-4 can be performed again. This allows the gas station attendant to understand from the refueling permission waiting notification screen in the refueling permission waiting state shown in Fig. 11C that the management device terminal 70 is located outside the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling work point "08" of the refueling machine 10-4 in the refueling permission waiting state. In this case, the gas station attendant can move into the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling work point "08" of the refueling aircraft 10-4 that is waiting for refueling permission, and retry the operation to confirm whether a permission request has been issued for the refueling aircraft 10-4 at the refueling work point "08".

[0124] In this manner, in this embodiment, even if a gas station attendant acting as an operation supervisor operates the management device terminal 70 outside the refueling permission area P4 to wirelessly transmit a confirmation of the occurrence of a refueling permission request to the refueling management device 60, or even if the management device terminal 70 is operated within the refueling permission area P4 to wirelessly transmit a confirmation of the occurrence of a refueling permission request to the refueling management device 60, if an instruction operation for refueling permission is not performed on the management device terminal 70 within a specified time thereafter, the refueling management device 60 will not grant refueling permission for the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4 that is waiting for refueling permission, because the gas station attendant is not in the refueling permission area P4 where he or she can confirm the status of the refueling work in the refueling work area E42 of the refueling machine 10-4, or because the refueling station attendant is unnecessarily delaying the start of refueling by the customer. This makes it possible to prevent, for example, a gas station attendant from issuing a refueling permission command on the management device terminal 70 while remaining away from the refueling machine 10-4 that has issued the refueling permission request, or from delaying the gas station attendant in checking the progress of the refueling work in the refueling work area E42 even after confirming that a refueling permission request has been issued.

[0125] In addition, if an operator is not in the refueling permission area P4 where the status of the refueling operation in the refueling operation area E42 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 can be confirmed, and attempts to give refueling permission multiple times using the management device terminal 70 in a location away from the refueling aircraft 10-4, the management device terminal 70 carried by the operator will no longer be able to give refueling permission in response to the refueling permission request.

[0126] Therefore, when a gas station attendant carrying the management device terminal 70 is performing another task outside the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling machine 10-4 at the refueling work point "08" waiting for refueling permission, the gas station attendant can understand that the gas station attendant is located outside the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling machine 10-4 at the refueling work point "08" waiting for refueling permission on the permission waiting notification screen of the refueling point waiting for refueling permission waiting state shown in Fig. 11C. In addition, since the "permission" operation button is in an inactive state that cannot be operated on the permission waiting notification screen of the refueling point waiting for refueling permission waiting state shown in Fig. 11C, the gas station attendant is prompted to move into the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling machine 10-4 at the refueling work point "08" waiting for refueling permission, and the customer's safety operation check such as the installation state of the refueling nozzle 13 to the supply target liquid supply port is sufficiently and reliably performed by the gas station attendant, thereby improving the safety of the refueling operation by the customer. In addition, customer service is improved because the fuel station attendant will inevitably go to the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 at the refueling work point "08" that is waiting for refueling permission to grant refueling permission.

[0127] Next, another embodiment of the refueling permission control process for the refueling operation area of ​​the refueling aircraft that has received the refueling permission request, which is performed on the refueling management device side and the management device terminal side shown in Figures 9 and 10, will be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13. In the description, the same processes as those shown in Figures 9 and 10 are denoted by the same step symbols, and the description of those processes will be omitted.

[0128] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a refueling permission control process for a refueling operation area of ​​a refueling aircraft that has received a refueling permission request, the process being performed on the refueling management device side of a refueling management device equipped with a management device terminal.

[0129] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a refueling permission control process for a refueling operation area of ​​a refueling aircraft that has received a refueling permission request, which is performed on the management device terminal side of a refueling management device equipped with a management device terminal.

[0130] In the refueling permission control process shown in Figures 12 and 13, the confirmation of whether or not the management device terminal 70 is located within the refueling permission area P4 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 at the refueling work point "08" that is waiting for refueling permission, which was performed on the side of the refueling management device 60 in the refueling permission control process shown in Figures 9 and 10, is performed on the side of the management device terminal 70, and the management device terminal 70 is configured to be unable to send a refueling permission instruction to the refueling management device 60 unless it is located within the refueling permission area P4 of the refueling aircraft 10-4 at the refueling work point "08".

[0131] For this purpose, in step S421 of FIG. 13, when it is detected that a refueling permission request has been generated by a refueling station attendant on the screen operation unit, the management device terminal 70 checks whether the refueling machine 10-4 at the refueling work point "08" waiting for refueling permission is located within the refueling permission possible area P4 (S425), and the management device terminal 70 checks whether the refueling machine 10-4 at the refueling work point "08" waiting for refueling permission is located within the refueling permission possible area P4. If it is confirmed that the management device terminal 70 is located outside the refueling permission area P4 of the refueling machine 10-4 at the refueling work point "08" that is waiting for refueling permission (S425, YES), the refueling permission operation is deactivated (S427), and a notification that the out-of-area operation is invalid is displayed as a pop-up on the screen operation unit 71 for, for example, five seconds (S429). Therefore, the permission determination table Y is stored in the management device terminal 70.

[0132] The management device terminal 70 does not check whether the refueling permission operation button has been operated while the refueling permission operation is inactive (S422, NO). As a result, this embodiment can also achieve the same effects as the refueling permission control process shown in Figures 9 and 10.

[0133] The refueling system of the present disclosure is configured as described above, but as long as it is a refueling system, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiment described above. In a case where a refueling station attendant carrying the management device terminal 70 is performing another task outside the refueling permission possible area P4 of the refueling machine 10 at the refueling work point (refueling work area, fuel supply work point) E waiting for refueling permission, as long as it can inform the refueling station attendant that the management device terminal 70 is located outside the refueling permission possible area P of the refueling machine 10 at the refueling work point E waiting for refueling permission, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiment described above.

[0134] For example, in the above-described embodiment, when it is detected that a refueling permission request has been issued by a gas station attendant on the management device terminal 70, a confirmation is made as to whether or not the refueling permission request has been issued within the refueling permission area P of the refueling machine 10 at the refueling work point E waiting for refueling permission is issued. However, this operation for confirming the issue of a refueling permission request may also be performed by the refueling permission operation for the refueling work point E of the refueling machine 10 waiting for refueling permission, so that if it is determined that the refueling permission request is issued outside the refueling permission area P of the refueling machine 10 at the refueling work point E waiting for refueling permission, the refueling management device 60 may not send a refueling permission to the refueling machine 10 at the refueling work point E waiting for refueling permission, or the management device terminal 70 may not wirelessly send a refueling permission instruction to the refueling management device 60. Furthermore, the number of refueling machines in a gas station, the number of refueling work points E in each refueling machine, and the number of refueling systems (refueling nozzles) in each refueling work point E are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is also possible to provide multiple types of refueling machines with different numbers of refueling work points E or refueling systems (refueling nozzles). [Explanation of symbols]

[0135] 1 Self-service fueling system, 3 Gas station office, 6 SS-LAN, 7 Image data dedicated signal line, 8 Beacons, 10 tanker, 11 Tanker housing, 12 hose, 13 Refueling nozzle, 14 Nozzle Hanger, 15 Display, 16 Setting device, 17 Fuel payment device, 18 Ticket issuing device, 20. Change machine, 30 Gas station management device, 40 POS terminals, 50 Monitoring equipment; 51 Surveillance cameras, 52 monitor device, 53 monitor display, 60 Fuel supply management device, 68 Radio Communication Division, 70 Management device terminal, 71 Screen operation section, 72 Refueling point display area, 73 Navigation area, P Refueling permitted area, E Refueling work area (fuel supply work point, refueling work point) Y Permittability decision table.

Claims

1. A plurality of fuel supply devices; A management device for managing the execution of a fuel supply operation of each of the fuel supply devices; a portable management device terminal that is wirelessly connected to the management device and includes a notification unit and an input unit; A fuel supply system for a fuel supply station, comprising: a terminal location detection unit that detects where the management device terminal is located within the fuel supply station; a permission request notification control unit that, when a permission request for a fuel supply operation is issued in any one of the plurality of fuel supply devices, notifies a user of the permission request by the notification unit of the management device terminal; a terminal location determination unit that, when the occurrence of the permission request is confirmed by a confirmation operation of the input unit of the management device terminal, determines whether or not the location of the management device terminal detected by the terminal location detection unit is within a fuel supply permission area corresponding to the fuel supply device that issued the permission request for the fuel supply work, among a plurality of fuel supply permission areas corresponding to each of the fuel supply devices; an outside-area notification control unit that, when the determination result by the terminal location determination unit is outside the range, notifies the user by the notification unit of the management device terminal that the management device terminal is located outside the range of a fuel supply permission possible area corresponding to the fuel supply device that has issued the permission request for the fuel supply work; Equipped with a terminal-specific accumulating unit that accumulates and stores a number of determinations each time the terminal location determining unit obtains a result of an out-of-range determination for each of the management device terminals; a number confirmation unit capable of confirming the number of judgments accumulated and stored in the terminal-specific accumulation unit; Equipped with Fuel supply system.

2. A plurality of fuel supply devices; A management device for managing the execution of a fuel supply operation of each of the fuel supply devices; a portable management device terminal that is wirelessly connected to the management device and includes a notification unit and an input unit; A fuel supply system for a fuel supply station, comprising: a terminal location detection unit that detects where the management device terminal is located within the fuel supply station; a permission request notification control unit that, when a permission request for a fuel supply operation is issued in any one of the plurality of fuel supply devices, notifies a user of the permission request by the notification unit of the management device terminal; a terminal location determination unit that, when the occurrence of the permission request is confirmed by a confirmation operation of the input unit of the management device terminal, determines whether or not the location of the management device terminal detected by the terminal location detection unit is within a fuel supply permission area corresponding to the fuel supply device that issued the permission request for the fuel supply work, among a plurality of fuel supply permission areas corresponding to each of the fuel supply devices; an outside-area notification control unit that, when the determination result by the terminal location determination unit is outside the range, notifies the user by the notification unit of the management device terminal that the management device terminal is located outside the range of a fuel supply permission possible area corresponding to the fuel supply device that has issued the permission request for the fuel supply work; Equipped with a terminal-specific accumulating unit that accumulates and stores a number of determinations each time the terminal location determining unit obtains a result of an out-of-range determination for each of the management device terminals; and an operation prohibition unit that judges whether the number of judgments accumulated and stored in the terminal-specific accumulating unit has reached a specified number, and when the specified number of judgments has been reached, prohibits the operation of the corresponding management device terminal. Fuel supply system.

3. A plurality of fuel supply devices; A management device for managing the execution of a fuel supply operation of each of the fuel supply devices; a portable management device terminal that is wirelessly connected to the management device and includes a notification unit and an input unit; A fuel supply system for a fuel supply station, comprising: a terminal location detection unit that detects where the management device terminal is located within the fuel supply station; a permission request notification control unit that, when a permission request for a fuel supply operation is issued in any one of the plurality of fuel supply devices, notifies a user of the permission request by the notification unit of the management device terminal; a terminal location determination unit that, when the occurrence of the permission request is confirmed by a confirmation operation of the input unit of the management device terminal, determines whether or not the location of the management device terminal detected by the terminal location detection unit is within a fuel supply permission area corresponding to the fuel supply device that issued the permission request for the fuel supply work, among a plurality of fuel supply permission areas corresponding to each of the fuel supply devices; an outside-area notification control unit that, when the determination result by the terminal location determination unit is outside the range, notifies the user by the notification unit of the management device terminal that the management device terminal is located outside the range of a fuel supply permission possible area corresponding to the fuel supply device that has issued the permission request for the fuel supply work; Equipped with the terminal location determination unit and the outside area notification control unit are provided in the management device, the notification unit of the management device terminal notifies the user that the management device terminal is located outside the fuel supply permission area based on a signal from the outside-area notification control unit. Fuel supply system.

4. In any one of claims 1 to 2, A fuel supply system, wherein the terminal location determination unit and the out-of-area notification control unit are provided in the management device terminal.

Images