Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F1/00—Coin inlet arrangements; Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
  • G07F1/04—Coin chutes
  • G07F1/047—Coin chutes with means for temporarily storing coins
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
  • G07D1/00—Coin dispensers
  • G07D1/02—Coin dispensers giving change
  • G07D1/06—Coin dispensers giving change dispensing the difference between a sum paid and a sum charged
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F5/00—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks
  • G07F5/24—Coin-actuated mechanisms; Interlocks with change-giving

Definitions

• the invention provides a method for managing the storage of coins of different values.
• the invention more particularly provides a method of processing coins introduced into a coin mechanism of an automatic device delivering goods or services, said coin box containing a selector, a pre-cash box, at least a reserve for recycling certain coins. , a bowl for rendering coins, and a chest, of the type comprising, for each coin introduced:
• a coin storage management system redistributes the coins received either in the recycling reserves, chest in order to be reused for subsequent change of money, and thus to space the recharges of the dispenser, or in a chest (again called cash box).
• Each reserve is in the form of a rotating drum with a vertical axis and the reserves are coaxial and superimposed.
• a first reserve is used as pre-cash and the coins introduced by the user are temporarily stored in the pre-cash until the end of the sale of the object and.
• the upper pre-box communicates with the other reserves to distribute certain parts in the reserves for the final storage of the parts once the sold object has been delivered.
• the object of the invention is to propose a method for managing the storage of coins of different values in a store serving as a recycling reserve which is capable of varying its storage capacities into coins of a given value, in particular for '' Space out manual store loads.
• the invention provides a method of the type described above, characterized in that the step of cashing the coin includes a step of determining whether the coin should be stored in the trunk or in the reserve, depending on conditions relating to the value of the part and the number of parts which have the same value as the new part which are present in the reserve.
• the step of storing the part in the store consists in housing the part in any empty location in the store; the step of storing the part in the store consists of housing the part in an empty location in the store determined according to the value of the part; the step of storing the part in the store includes a step of memorizing the location and the value of the part; the method includes a change of money step which consists in transferring at least one coin from the store to a separate bowl from the safe and the store, the transfer step comprising a step of determining the value of the coin to be transferred, depending the maximum number of pieces of each value determined during the calculation step, and according to the number of pieces of each value present in the store; the method comprises a periodic step, with a period longer than said first period, of
• the invention also relates to a device for storing coins of different values, implementing a method according to any one of the preceding claims, of the type comprising a selector, a magazine for receiving and recycling the coins introduced, a parts storage chest, and a bowl for the return of parts, characterized in that the store has several locations, each location being able to receive a single piece of any value.
• the device comprises an electronic programmable control device
• the electronic control device includes means for identifying each location and memorizing the content of the location; - The locations are movable inside the store, and in that the electronic control device includes means for detecting the position of each location;
• the device includes means for identifying each room and determining the location associated with the room.
• FIG. 2 is an axial view on a larger scale, of the pre-box of the coin mechanism shown in Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 is a radial view of the pre-body shown in Figure 2;
• FIG. 5 is a diagram which diagrammatically illustrates the general operation of the method according to the invention
• FIG. 6 is a diagram which diagrammatically represents the operation of the storage step, according to the invention.
• FIG. 7 is a diagram which schematically shows the operation of the change of money step, according to the invention.
• identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.
• the selector 24 is of known type and it makes it possible to distinguish the different values of parts.
• the selector 24 is connected to an electronic device (not shown) for controlling and managing the entire dispenser.
• the electronic control device is programmable and is connected to the components of the coin mechanism 20, in order to apply the storage method which is programmed.
• a coin is not identified by the selector 24, it is sent directly to a bowl 26 located at the bottom of the coin mechanism 20 which allows the user to recover the non-zero coin.
• the parts identified by the selector 24 are then sent to a store 28 for storing the parts.
• the magazine 28 includes an upper reserve 32s forming a pre-box which receives the parts identified by the selector 24, and reserves 32 arranged below the pre-box 32s which are six in number here.
• the pre-box 32s and the lower reserves 32 are of identical structure, and are of circular annular shape, superimposed and coaxial with vertical axis A.
• a guide member 36 makes it possible to direct the parts towards the bowl 26 or towards the trunk 34, as a function of their point of exit 38 or 40 from the last reserve 32i.
• FIGS. 2 and 3 show the pre-body 32s, however, the latter being of structure identical to the reserves 32 and it will be understood that the description which follows can also apply to any one of the reserves 32.
• the charger 42 is constituted by a circular annular crown of vertical axis A comprising vertical partitions 46 radial or radiating, interconnected at their inner radial ends by a connecting ring 48.
• the radiating partitions 46 thus delimit locations 50 whose upper and lower faces are open.
• These means comprise a motor 58 of the stepping type which carries on its output shaft a first pinion 60 which meshes with a second pinion 62 which cooperates with a toothed ring 64 integral with the loader 42 for the rotational drive of the latter.
• the bottom 52 of the cassette 44 has an opening 68 ( Figure 4) located under the locations 50, and the cover 56 also has an opening 70 located vertically from the opening 68 of the bottom 52 of the cassette 44.
• These two openings 68, 70 have a circumferential width making it possible to release the open upper and lower faces from two consecutive locations 50.
• the openings 68, 70 of the pre-box 32s and of all the reserves 32 are all aligned vertically, and the motors 58 of each loader are controlled by the distributor control device so that two consecutive locations 50 are located opposite the openings 68, 70, thus forming two vertical channels 72, 74 passing through the reserves 32 and the pre-body 32s.
• the openings 68, 70 are arranged so that the channels 72, 74 each open out via an exit point 38, 40 from the last reserve 32i, a first channel 72 opening to the trunk 34 and the second channel 74 opening to the bowl 26.
• the latch 76 is a horizontal plane element which extends radially outwards and whose outer radial end 78 extends angularly so as to close off the part of the opening 68 corresponding to the second channel 74 when the latch 76 is in its first position.
• the coin mechanism 20 is in an initial state in which all of the locations 50 of the precash 32s are empty, certain locations of the reserves 32 are empty and the others each contain one piece.
• the test step 102 is followed by a reception step 100 of each piece entered by the user.
• This reception step 100 is carried out by the selector 24 and it consists in recognizing the coin received to determine its value. If the part is not identified, it is directed directly to the bowl 26 by the second channel 74.
• the inserted part When the inserted part is identified, it is directed towards the pre-box 32s by the first channel 72. Since the latch 76 of the pre-box 32s is in its third position, it closes the first channel 72. As a result, the part is stopped by the lock and stored in a location 50 of the 32 s pre-box.
• the reception step 100 is followed by a step of calculating the sum received 106 which consists in adding the values of all the coins present in the precash 32 s. If the amount received is less than the amount to be received, the method loops so that the step of calculating the amount received 106 is followed by the test step 102. If the amount is sufficient for the payment of the service, that is to say that it is greater than or equal to the amount to be received, the step of calculating the amount received 106 is followed by a step of returning money 108 which consists in giving the user a amount of money corresponding to the difference between the amount received and the amount receivable for the payment of the object. This rendering step 108 will be described later.
• the method comprises a periodic step 1 12 of calculating the maximum number of pieces of each value capable of being stored in the store 28.
• This calculation step 1 12 makes it possible to vary the number of slots 50 dedicated to a coin value so that there is only a small number of coins which remain unused, and in particular in order to space out the loads. from the store in new parts.
• the method no longer comprises a calculation step 1 12, the maximum numbers of coins of each value are then predetermined by programming the coin mechanism 20 during its installation on site.
• the electronic control device memorizes the quantities of coins of each value which are received and which are returned during the various transactions which take place during of a period. The calculation is carried out on the basis of this history and also on the basis of the numbers determined during the preceding calculation step 1 12.
• the length of the period is determined so that a sufficient number of transactions can take place between two calculation steps 1 12. It can therefore be a period of time, or a number of transactions.
• the method includes for this a test step 1 14 which takes place after the collection step 1 10, and which checks whether the period of the calculation step 1 12 is over or not. If the period has not ended, the test step 114 is followed by a new transaction, that is to say by the step of defining 98 of the amount to be received. On the other hand, if the period is over, the test step 1 14 is followed by a new calculation step 1 12.
• the electronic control device knows the location 50 and the value of each piece, it can know the number of pieces of each value that are present in the store 28. For each new piece to be stored in the store
• each location 50 is able to receive a coin of any value.
• the empty location 50 which receives the new part is any location 50 of the store, such as for example location 50 of the reserve 32 located closest to the pre-box 32s and which is not fully filled .
• the empty location 50 which receives the coin is determined according to the value of the coin, for example in order to group the coins of the same value to facilitate the maintenance of the coin mechanism 20.
• the latches 76 of the pre-box 32s and those of the reserves 32 other than that comprising the slot 50 which will receive the part are first moved to their first position, while the lock of the reserve 32 comprising the location 50 which will receive the part, is moved to its second position. Then, the charger 42 which has this location 50 is rotated until the location 50 is located in the first channel 72.
• step 122 for storing the location 50 which has just received the coin and the value of this coin, so that it is possible to know either, for each location 50, the value of the coin it contains, or alternatively, for each coin value, which locations contain a coin of that value.
• This collection step 110 is repeated as many times as there are coins in the pre-box 32 s, so as to empty it entirely.
• the maximum numbers of coins of each value calculated during the calculation step 1 12 are used during the change of money step 108.
• the step of returning money 108 is illustrated in FIG. 7, and it includes a first step 124 of calculating the amount to be returned, which consists in subtracting the amount to be received from the amount entered by the user. If the amount to be returned is zero, there will be no money to be returned to the user, the rendering step 108 is then completed. Otherwise, the step of calculating 124 of the sum to be returned is followed by a step of determining 126 of the distribution in coins to be returned, that is to say coins to be transferred from the magazine 28 to the bowl 26.
• the electronic control device uses the maximum numbers of pieces of each value determined during the step of calculation 1 12, and the number of coins of each value in store 28.
• the parts to be returned are preferably determined so as to give priority to those whose number inside the magazine 28 is close to the maximum number of parts determined during the calculation step 1 12.
• the coins to be returned are determined so as to give priority to the coins of lower value. If there are not enough coins of this value, these are coins of the higher value which will then be given priority.
• the rendering step consists of transferring the part or parts determined during the determination step 126 from the magazine 28 to the bowl 26, and this transfer takes place piece by piece.
• the lock 76 of the cassette 44 which contains the part is moved to its second position so as to close the two channels 72, 74.
• the loader 42 which contains the part to be transferred is rotated until the part is in the second channel 74, the associated latch 76 then being moved to its third position so as to release the part which falls into the bowl 26, then it is again moved to its second position so that the magazine 42 can return to its initial position.
• the lock 76 of the pre-crate 32s is then moved to its first position.
• This loading step is periodic and its period is longer than the period of the calculation step 1 12. Since the method aims to space the reloads of the magazine 28, in this case the reloading step can be determined by the electronic control device so that reloading takes place when the number of pieces of a value reaches a predetermined minimum value. Reloading the store then consists of introducing new parts, the number of these new parts being determined from the maximum numbers of pieces of each value determined during the calculation step 1 12.
• the coin mechanism 20 can receive coins of 20, 10, 5, 2, 1, and 0.50 fiduciary units (UF), and its capacity is 100 coins.
• the object of the transaction has a value of 8 UF.
• the 20 UF coins are the coins of maximum value, so a rendering cannot include a coin of this value. This is why, it proves useless to store pieces of this value in the magazine 28, the maximum number of pieces of 20 UF is then zero.
• the coins of 10 and 5 UF are the most important coins, and which are received most often thus, there is little probability that a rendering includes a coin of these values. This is why the maximum number of pieces of these values is low, it is for example four for each value. This maximum number for pieces of 10 and 5 UF will preferably be constant
• the 1 and 0.50 UF coins are the coins that are received less often and more often returned. Therefore, the maximum number of pieces of these values is not limited.
• the user inserts a 10 UF coin into the slot 22.
• the sum to be returned is then 2 UF, which can be obtained from coins of 2, 1, and 0.50 UF.
• the coin mechanism will give priority to coins of the lowest value, that is to say coins of 0.50 UF, here four in number. If it does not contain enough 0.50 UF coins, it will return one 1 UF coin and two 0.50 UF coins. Thus, it will return only a few 2 UF coins.
• the received part will be stored in one of the reserves 32 if less than two 10 UF parts are already present in the different reserves 32, otherwise, the part will be stored in the trunk.
• step 98 of defining the amount to be received may be preceded by the reception step 100.
• the definition of the amount to be received is then the validation of the transaction.
• Such a method uses the fact that no location 50 of the reserves 32 is dedicated to a determined coin value. It is thus possible to have different maximum numbers of coins for certain coin values.
• Such a method allows the management of the storage of the coins received and coins reduced to the different users in order to space out the replenishment of coins, or even, if conditions allow, to suppress replenishments or recharges and therefore to make the coin mechanism autonomous.
• This can be particularly advantageous for payment devices, for example for parking spaces, which moreover do not need to be restocked with goods and which require little human intervention.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8871006

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (5)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2001
  • 2001-12-24 FR FR0116893A patent/FR2834105B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2002
  • 2002-12-05 AU AU2002351123A patent/AU2002351123A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-12-05 US US10/500,407 patent/US20050109578A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-12-05 WO PCT/IB2002/005145 patent/WO2003056523A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-12-05 EP EP02785836A patent/EP1459269A1/de not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events