Application Article

Smart-PAK PLUS Replaces Coin Operated Laundry Machines

Controller used - Smart-PAK PLUS

Total Digital Inputs - 8 (2 @ 5 VDC; 6 @ 12-24 VDC)

Total Digital Outputs - 6

Communication Protocol - Entertron ASCII

Operator Interface - Eclipse Message Master Plus

Through one of Entertron's Systems Integrators, our customer came to us with the opportunity of providing a solution for a cash / coin free laundry system that would address the following problems:

1. High theft rate of coin operated systems
2. Unsafe areas to carry large amounts of cash.
3. Counterfeit of coins / token

The premise our customer provided was operating the laundry machines with a prepaid card, whereby no cash was on the premises, thus eliminating the threat of theft. This approach would also eliminate the possibility of using other company's tokens.

The first problem Entertron would have to face would be regarding the card reader. The card reader that the customer sourced ran on 5 VDC power and generated pulses that would need to be read by the controller. The solution was to develop a special operating system. The 5 VDC power source was provided through the expansion power port of the ePLC. Two inputs on the ePLC were modified to accept 5 VDC from the card reader.

The second problem dealt with the issue of preventing manipulation of the cards or allowing the cards to be used on multiple systems. It was decided that the number of uses for each card would be stored in the Eclipse Message Master Plus and not on the card. The card would contain the following information:

• Site Code - Specific to the location the cards are to be used.
• Refresh Code - Prevent same card from being used more than once.
• Card Number

Once the card is used, the information is set up and stored in the operator interface. The cards are set up by a serial number string of consecutive cards numbers. The site code on the card is read by the ePLC and compared. If the site code on the card matches the site code stored in the ePLC, then the user proceeds to the next step of the operation.

Selection of washer and / or dryer are done through the push buttons on the Message Master Plus. The I/O of the Smart-PAK PLUS is used to indicate which machines are currently in use. A machine cannot be selected if currently in use.

Entertron was able to provide a solution through:

• A standard off the shelf controller modified to meet a specific requirement
• A custom operating system developed to interface to the card reader
• Program development of the ePLC and Operator Interface to address all the customer's concerns.
• Fabrication of system done by Entertron's Systems Integrator.

Our customer is now considering other applications besides the laundry application, such as car washes and secured buildings requiring a card to enter.

For more information regarding our customer's application, please email them at karlkeefer@msn.com

For information regarding our Integrator - Electrical Controls Distributor, you can email them at fred@electricalcontroldistributors.com

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