JP3315335B2 - Coin deposit and withdrawal device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has an insertion slot, a storage section and a payout port, and sorts and stores a plurality of coins inserted into the insertion port for each denomination in a storage section so that the coins coincide with the payout amount. And a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus for extracting coins from each denomination and dispensing them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A coin depositing and dispensing apparatus is, for example, a POS (point
of sales) terminal and ECR (electroniccash register) to be used as an automatic change machine, coins of various denominations inserted from the slot are sorted and stored for each denomination, and POS terminals and ECR In accordance with the payout control from, coins matching the payout amount are paid out to the payout outlet in combination with various denominations. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a coin dispensing / transporting unit for transporting coins corresponding to a payout amount of a conventional coin depositing / dispensing apparatus to a payout port. This coin dispensing and conveying unit
A transport belt 101 for transporting the stored coins to a payout port (not shown), a drive pulley 102 around which the transport belt 101 is stretched, and a rotatable driven pulley 103
A coin stopping mechanism (electromagnet 104, plunger 105, fixed to the tip of plunger 105, which is located on the payout side of conveyor belt 101 and selectively stagnates coins conveyed on conveyor belt 1 at predetermined positions. A thin pin-shaped coin shutter 106) and a payout exit side of the coin stop mechanisms 104 to 106 on the conveyor belt 101 (a position where a coin entering the payout opening side from the coin shutter 106 of the coin stop mechanism) can be detected. The optical sensor 107 is configured by an optical sensor 107 for detecting coins conveyed on the conveyor belt 101, and coin guide surfaces 108, 108. The optical sensor 107 is provided at the end of the transport path so that coins in a row can be reliably detected one by one.

The drive pulley 102 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). The plunger 105 is always biased by a compression spring (not shown) so as to be in an extended state. When the electromagnet 104 is excited, the
The suction force of No. 4 is sucked by overcoming the urging force of the compression spring, so that a pulling state is obtained. When the plunger 105 is in the extended state, the interval between the tip of the coin shutter 106 and the belt surface of the transport belt 101 is set to be smaller than the thickness of the coin, and the plunger 105 is in the pulled state. In this case, the interval between the tip of the coin shutter 106 and the belt surface of the conveyor belt 101 is set to be equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the coin. The coin guide surfaces 108 and 10
The coins 8 are arranged opposite to each other with an interval width equal to the diameter of the coin (larger by a very small amount), and both ends of the coin are in contact with the coin guide surface 108, and the coins are within the interval width of the coin guide surfaces 108, 108. Is conveyed and is prevented from coming off the conveyor belt 101.

[0004] The motor starts rotating by the payout control from the POS terminal, ECR, or the like, and the driving pulley 102 and the driven pulley 103 rotate in accordance with the driving of the driving pulley 102, and the transport belt 101 starts driving. By driving the conveyor belt 101, coins are extracted from the storage section that has sorted and stored coins for each denomination, and the coins arranged one by one on the conveyor belt 101 are moved to the payout port (conveyed)
).

Here, when the electromagnet 104 is excited, the plunger 105 is pulled, and the interval between the coin shutter 106 and the conveyor belt 101 is larger than the thickness of one coin, which is enough for the coin to pass through, and the conveyor is conveyed. The coin moves (conveys) freely according to the drive of the belt 101. When the electromagnet 104 is de-energized, the plunger 105
Comes out, the coin shutter 106 and the transport belt 10
The distance between the coin 1 and the coin that has been moved (conveyed) in accordance with the drive of the conveyor belt 101 is smaller than the thickness of one coin that cannot pass through the coin, and the coin abuts on the coin shutter 106 to be moved further. Movement is prevented, and coins following the coin abut on the previous coin, thereby preventing further movement.

[0006] The coins conveyed to the payout port over the coin stopping mechanisms 104 to 106 are detected and counted by the optical sensor 107. That is, the optical sensor 107
A light emitting unit that emits light and a light receiving unit that detects incident light are provided, and each time a coin blocks the optical path between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit once, one coin is counted. Therefore, the electromagnet 104 is excited until the number set as the number corresponding to the payout amount is counted by the optical sensor 107, and the set number is counted.
04 is de-energized and it moves to the set number of sheets (
The tip of the coin shutter comes into contact with the upper surface (the non-contact surface with respect to the conveyor belt 101) of the coin (to be conveyed) from above. In this state, the set number of coins continues to move while being slid with the leading end of the coin shutter 106 by the driving of the conveyor belt 101, and is conveyed to the payout port. The set number of coins is the coin shutter 106 and the transport belt 10.
When the coin shutter 106 has passed through, the coin shutter 106 approaches the conveyor belt 101 at a distance smaller than the thickness of one coin as described above, and the next coin (coins of a set number or more)
Of the conveyor belt 101 due to driving is prevented.

[0007]

The transport force of coins transported by the transport belt 101 is generated by the weight of the coins and the frictional force between the surface of the transport belt 101 and the contact surface (lower surface) of the coins. As described above, in the conventional coin depositing and dispensing device, when the tip of the coin shutter 106 comes into contact with the upper surface of the coin and the coin is conveyed while sliding with the tip of the coin shutter 106, the coin shutter 106 and the upper surface of the coin are moved. The frictional force acts in reverse with respect to the transporting force of the coins by the transport belt 101, and thus there is a problem that loss occurs in transporting the coins. In addition, the surface of the coin has irregularities due to marking, and the irregularity reduces the contact area of the coin with the conveyor belt 101, thereby reducing the force of conveying the coin by the conveyor belt 101, and the coin shutter 106 and the surface of the coin. The unevenness increases the sliding resistance, which causes a problem that the sliding resistance increases the loss given to the conveyance of the coin by the conveyance belt 101. There has been a problem that the decrease and loss of the conveyance of coins as described above may be one factor that causes the jam of the coins.

Further, in order to reduce the frictional force between the coin shutter 106 and the upper surface of the coin and to reduce the loss given to the conveyance of the coin by the conveyance belt 101, the coin shutter 1
06 has a thin pin shape at its tip, but has the problem of low strength and low reliability. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus having a high reliability and a transport mechanism capable of selectively transporting coins while effectively securing a transporting force.

[0009]

The invention corresponding to claim 1 is:
Equipped with a slot, storage section and payout port, multiple coins inserted into the slot are sorted and stored in the storage section for each denomination, and coins are extracted from each denomination and paid out to match the payout amount In a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus, a conveyor belt that conveys coins to be dispensed from a storage unit to a payout port, and a coin stop located on the payout side of the conveyor belt and selectively stopping coins conveyed on the conveyor belt Means, a coin counting means for counting the number of coins conveyed on the conveyor belt, which is located closer to the payout exit of the coin transport than the coin stopping means, and stopping the coin based on the count and the payout amount by the coin counting means. The number-of-payouts control means for controlling the means and the coin stop means are rotatably positioned on the coin discharge payout side, and press the coins conveyed on the conveyance belt and counted by the coin counting means toward the conveyance belt. It is provided with a the auxiliary conveyance roller rotating in accordance with the conveyance of the coins by the feeding belt.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a substantially central portion of the outer peripheral surface of the roller has a concave shape so as not to come into contact with coins conveyed on the conveyor belt. is there. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, at least a surface portion of an outer peripheral surface of the roller is formed of an elastically deformable material.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 (a) is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a coin dispensing / transporting section for transporting coins corresponding to a payout amount of a coin depositing / dispensing apparatus to which the present invention is applied to a payout port. The coin dispensing / transporting section includes a transport belt 1 for transporting stored coins to a payout port (not shown), a driving pulley 2 around which the transport belt 1 is stretched, and a rotatable driven pulley 3; 1. A coin stopping mechanism (electromagnet 4, plunger 5, shaft 6, and pin shape) as coin stopping means that is located on the payout side of the coin 1 and selectively stagnates coins conveyed on the conveyor belt 1 at predetermined positions. There is no coin shutter 7) described later, and the transport belt 1
The coins conveyed on the conveyor belt 1 are located on the payout exit side of the coin stop mechanisms 4 to 7 above (positions at which coins entering the payout opening side from the coin shutter 7 of the coin stop mechanism) can be detected. An optical sensor 8 as coin counting means for detecting and counting the number of coins to be paid out; a transport assist roller 10 rotatably mounted via an arm 9 rotatably supported on the shaft 6; Surfaces 11 and 11 are provided.

The drive pulley 2 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown). The plunger 5 is always urged to be in an extended state by a compression spring (not shown). When the electromagnet 4 is excited, the plunger 5 is attracted by overcoming the urging force of the compression spring. , Pulling state. As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the coin shutter 7 (see FIG. 1 (a))
), A cylindrical body part 7-1, a plunger side arm part 7-2 formed at one end of the body part 7-1 and rotatably connected to the tip of the plunger 5, and the body part 7 -1
At the other end thereof, and a locking portion side arm 7-3 for holding coins in contact with coins conveyed on the conveyor belt 1.

A groove 5-1 and a through hole orthogonal to the groove 5-1 are formed at the tip of the plunger 5, and the tip of the plunger arm 7-2 communicates with the through hole. The plunger 5 is formed by inserting the tip of the plunger arm 7-2 into the groove of the plunger 5 and inserting the pin 12 into the communicating through hole 7-4. And the plunger side arm portion 7-2 are rotatably connected. When the electromagnet 4 is excited, the locking portion side arm 7-3 is retracted upward with respect to the transport belt 1 so that the arm 7-3 has a thickness between the transport belt 1 and the thickness of one coin. By forming a large gap, the transport belt 1
To transport coins (entry coins to payout side). When the electromagnet 4 is de-energized, it moves closer to the conveyor belt 1 and at a distance smaller than the thickness of one coin between the conveyor belt 1 and the coins conveyed on the conveyor belt 1 In contact with the peripheral surface of the coin to prevent the coin from moving (coin entering the payout side).

As shown in FIGS. 2 (b) and 2 (c), the center of the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary transport roller 10 is concave. That is, a side cylindrical portion 10-2 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the central cylindrical portion is provided on both sides of the central cylindrical portion 10-1. Alternatively, protrusions are formed at both ends on the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical portion serving as a base. The difference between the diameter of the central cylindrical portion 10-1 and the diameter of the side cylindrical portion 10-2, or the height (thickness) of the protruding portion is determined by the coin conveyed on the conveyor belt 1 by the side cylindrical portion 10-2. Alternatively, the central cylindrical portion 10-1 or the portion where the projection is not formed is basically in contact with the coin (the elastic deformation of the side cylindrical portion 10-2 or the projection). If the value is large, contact may be made). Side cylindrical part 1
The surface layer portion or the projection portion 0-2 is formed of an elastically deformable rubber material or elastic resin material. In addition, the entire transport auxiliary roller 10 may be formed of a rubber material, a resin material, or the like. In order to apply an appropriate pressing force to the conveyed coins so as not to slip on the conveyer belt 1, the convey auxiliary roller 10 always faces the belt surface of the conveyer belt 1 by urging means such as a spring (not shown). Have been energized. The coin guide surfaces 11 and 11 are arranged to face each other with an interval width equal to the diameter of the coin (which is slightly larger), and both ends of the coin come into contact with the coin guide surface 11 so that the coin is , 11 are prevented from coming off the conveyor belt 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a control system of the coin dispensing / transporting section. A payout transport control unit 21 as a payout number control unit includes an ECR (or POS terminal) 22.
, The motor 23 connected to the drive roller 2 is driven to rotate, and when the number of sheets to be paid out is set, the electromagnet 4 is set to the excited state. As a result, the transport belt 1 is driven, and transport and payout of coins are started. In addition, the payout transport control unit 21 includes:
When the count value of the number of coins paid out by the optical sensor 8 matches the set number of coins to be paid out, the electromagnet 4 in the excited state is set to the non-excited state. The rotation drive of 23 is stopped. As a result, only the set number of coins to be paid out is paid out, and further payout of coins is prevented.

In this embodiment having such a configuration, when a payout command is received from an ECR (POS terminal) 22, the motor 23 is driven to rotate, thereby driving the drive pulley 2 and the drive of the drive pulley 2. Driven pulley 3
Is rotated, and the transport belt 1 starts driving. Since the electromagnet 4 is in a non-excited state, the coin conveyed on the conveyor belt 1 has the plunger 5 in an extended state, and a coin shutter 7 having an interval smaller than the thickness of one coin with the conveyor belt 1. , And its conveyance is prevented.

Next, when the payout number is set by the payout command, the electromagnet 4 is excited and the plunger 5 is pulled, the coin shutter 7 is retracted from the conveyor belt 1, and the coin shutter 7 and the conveyor belt are moved. 1 is larger than the thickness of one coin, and the coin can pass freely without contacting the coin shutter 7. Therefore, the coin is conveyed according to the drive of the conveyor belt 1, and the coin is Payout is started.

At this time, every time a coin to be dispensed blocks the optical path of the optical sensor 8, the number of coins dispensed by the optical sensor 8 is counted (detected) and the tip of the coin (in the transport direction) is counted. The cylindrical part 10 of the transport auxiliary roller 10 is not taken from the peripheral end on the front end side,
The transport assist roller 10 presses the coin against the transport belt 1 without lifting the rear end of the coin (the last peripheral edge in the transport direction) due to the contact of -2 or the protrusion. Therefore, since the lower surface of the coin is securely in close contact with the conveyor belt 1 and the coin does not slide on the conveyor belt 1, the coin is effectively conveyed by effectively receiving the conveying force of the conveyor belt 1. When the coin comes off from the transport assisting roller 10, the side cylindrical portion 10-2 or the protrusion of the transport assisting roller 10 is separated from the trailing edge of the coin, not the trailing edge of the coin. It is conveyed to the payout port in that state without being lifted. The lifting of the trailing end of the coin and the lifting of the leading end of the coin can be prevented only by forming the surface layer of the transport assisting roller 10 that contacts the coin with a material that can be elastically deformed. That is, elastic deformation prevents the pressing force from being concentrated in the normal direction of the surface of the transport auxiliary roller 10 on the upper corner of the top of the coin and the upper corner of the rear of the coin. Because you can.

When the number of coins corresponding to the number of coins to be paid out set by the optical sensor 8 is counted, the electromagnet 4 is turned off. Then, the plunger 5 comes out, and the coin shutter 7 approaches the transport belt 1 and contacts the upper surface of the coins to be paid out. At this time, the coin of the payout number is conveyed while sliding on the coin shutter 7 on the upper surface thereof, and the conveyance of the coin is subject to conveyance resistance by the coin shutter 7. Since the belt is pressed by the belt 1, the sheet is reliably conveyed in accordance with the drive of the conveyor belt 1 without slipping on the conveyor belt 1. When the number of coins to be paid out comes out of the coin shutter 7, the coin shutter 7 further approaches the conveyor belt 1, and coins conveyed next on the conveyor belt 1 come into contact with the coin shutter 7 to prevent the coin from being conveyed. And stagnate in that position.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the center portion of the outer peripheral surface is formed in a concave shape, and the surface layer or the protrusion of the side cylindrical portion is formed of an elastically deformable rubber material or elastic resin material. The auxiliary roller 10 is provided in the vicinity of the payout port of the coin conveyance from the coin shutter 7, and is elastically deformed without contacting the leading end and the trailing end of the coin to press the coin to the transport belt 1 so as not to slip. Thus, the coin shutter 7 can have a structure having rigidity necessary to prevent the coin from being transported, and the transport force of the transport belt 1 can be reliably applied to the coin, so that the coin shutter 7 is placed on the upper surface of the coin. When 7 comes in contact, it is possible to prevent the loss of the conveying force due to the frictional force generated on the coin. Therefore, it is possible to selectively transport coins with high reliability and effectively securing the transport force.

Further, in this embodiment, the transport assist roller 10 is transported by making the center portion concave, or by forming the surface layer of an elastically deformable rubber material or elastic resin material. At the moment when the auxiliary roller 10 comes into contact with the coin and at the moment when the coin passes through the transport auxiliary roller 10, it is possible to prevent a transport failure phenomenon in which the trailing end of the coin is lifted and a transport failure phenomenon in which the coin tip is lifted. The diameter of the roller 10 can be reduced. In this embodiment, the transfer auxiliary roller 10 is rotatably supported on the shaft 9 by an arm 9.
Has been described as being rotatable through
The present invention is not limited to this. If the elastic deformation of the surface layer or the protrusion of the side cylindrical portion 10-2 of the transport auxiliary roller 10 is large, the transport auxiliary roller 10 may be fixed to a fixed shaft different from the shaft 6. It may be rotatably mounted on the device. Further, the configuration may be such that the transport auxiliary roller 10 is rotated according to the drive of the drive pulley 2 or the transport belt 1.

[0022]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus having a high reliability and a transport mechanism capable of selectively transporting coins while effectively securing a transporting force.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a coin dispensing / transporting unit for transporting coins corresponding to a payout amount of a coin depositing / dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention to a payout exit.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a coin shutter of a coin dispensing / transporting section for transporting coins corresponding to a payout amount of the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus of the embodiment to a payout port, and a top view and a side view showing a transport auxiliary roller. .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a control system of a coin dispensing / transporting unit for transporting coins corresponding to a payout amount of the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus of the embodiment to a payout port;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a coin dispensing / transporting section for transporting coins corresponding to a payout amount of a conventional coin depositing / dispensing apparatus to a payout port.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Convey belt, 7 ... Coin shutter, 9 ... Arm, 10 ... Conveyance auxiliary roller, 21 ... Payout conveyance control part.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A coin slot, a storage section, and a payout port, wherein a plurality of coins inserted into the input port are sorted and stored in the storage section for each denomination, and each coin type is set so as to match the payout amount. A coin receiving and dispensing device for extracting and paying out coins from a conveyor belt for conveying coins to be dispensed from the storage section to the payout port; and a conveying belt positioned on the payout port side of the conveying belt and conveyed on the conveying belt. Coin stopping means for selectively stopping the coins to be fed, coin counting means positioned on the payout exit side of the coin conveyance from the coin stopping means, and counting the number of coins conveyed on the conveyance belt; Means for controlling the number of coins to be paid out based on the counting by means and the amount of money to be paid out; and the coins being conveyed on the conveyor belt so as to be rotatable from the coin stopping means to the payout exit side of the coin conveyance. Total A conveyance auxiliary roller that rotates in accordance with the conveyance of the coins by the conveyance belt while pressing the coins counted by the means toward the conveyance belt side, wherein the coin stopping means is configured to move the conveyance belt during coin dispensing. When the coin is counted up by the coin counting means so as to retreat upward and form an interval larger than the thickness of one coin between the conveyor belt and the conveyor belt, the coin is approached to the conveyor belt and the payout is performed. A coin dispensing and dispensing device, wherein after contacting the upper surface of a second coin, the coin comes into contact with a peripheral surface of a coin to be conveyed next to prevent the coin from moving. 2. The coin receiving and dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein a substantially central portion of an outer peripheral surface of the roller has a concave shape so as not to contact coins conveyed on the conveying belt. . 3. The coin depositing and dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein at least a surface portion of an outer peripheral surface of the roller is formed of an elastically deformable material.