EP2879101A1 - Coin tray of coin payment apparatus - Google Patents
Coin tray of coin payment apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2879101A1 EP2879101A1 EP14194251.6A EP14194251A EP2879101A1 EP 2879101 A1 EP2879101 A1 EP 2879101A1 EP 14194251 A EP14194251 A EP 14194251A EP 2879101 A1 EP2879101 A1 EP 2879101A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- coin
- sensor
- tray
- connecter
- state
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Images
Classifications
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- 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
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G07D3/00—Sorting a mixed bulk of coins into denominations
- G07D3/02—Sorting coins by means of graded apertures
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G07D9/00—Counting coins; Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07D—HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G07D9/00—Counting coins; Handling of coins not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
- G07D9/008—Feeding coins from bulk
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- 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
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a coin tray for receiving coins in a coin payment apparatus that feeds a predetermined number of stored coins to the coin tray based on a dispensing command.
- the present invention relates to a coin tray for receiving coins, the coin tray attachable/detachable to an apparatus body in a coin payment apparatus that feeds a predetermined number of coins of a predetermined denomination(s) among stored coins of a plurality of denominations to the coin tray based on a dispensing command.
- the present invention relates to a coin tray for receiving coins, the coin tray attachable/detachable to an apparatus body, the coin tray provided with a coin sensor in a coin payment apparatus that feeds a predetermined number of coins of a predetermined denomination(s) among stored coins of a plurality of denominations to the coin tray based on a dispensing command.
- a coin processing apparatus configured to house coins, which have been loaded in an inlet, separately by denominations and then dispense the coin(s) from a dispensing opening
- the coin processing apparatus having: a tray that has slopes on four sides and can receive the coins dispensed to the dispensing opening and collect the coins to the center; and an optical sensor means configured to detect remaining coins in the tray by disposing two sets of light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements so that two optical axes intersect with each other when viewed from the top and are oblique to each other when viewed from the side (Patent Literature 1).
- a coin processing apparatus that carries out coin acceptance and payout processing, the coin processing apparatus having: an apparatus body that can house loaded coins in a coin storage separately by denominations and dispense the housed coins; a dispensing tray that is mounted to be adjacent to a coin dispensing opening for dispensing the coins from the coin storage of the apparatus body, receives and stores the coins dispensed from the coin dispensing opening, and is attachable/detachable to/from the apparatus body; and a one-time collection chute that is mounted at a mount position of the dispensing tray, feeds the coins dispensed from the coin dispensing opening to the front of the apparatus, and is attachable/detachable to/from the apparatus body; wherein, mounting of the dispensing tray or the one-time collection chute is detected by a detection switch, and operation of the coin processing apparatus is limited depending on the type of the chute (Patent Literature 2).
- a coin processing apparatus configured to dispense coins, which are stored in a chassis, from a dispensing opening, the coin processing apparatus having: a tray that has a bottom surface and slopes at four sides of the bottom surface and can receive the coins dispensed to the dispensing opening and collect the coins onto the bottom surface; a proximity sensor that has a coil wound around a core provided in a back side of the bottom surface; and a remaining-coin detecting means configured to detect remaining coins in the tray by the proximity sensor (Patent Literature 3).
- an equipment electric-line connecting apparatus that has a body and equipment attachable/detachable to/from the body and is configured to connect/disconnect a power source line and a signal line in conjunction with equipment attachment/detachment of the equipment to/from the body; wherein, if the electric-line connecting apparatus is separated into a power line connecter and a signal line connecter and to be connected, the signal line connecter is connected after the power line connecter is connected first; and, if the apparatus is to be disconnected, the power line connecter is disconnected after the signal line connecter is disconnected (Patent Literature 4).
- an optical sensor for detecting the remaining coins of the tray, which receives and stores the dispensed coins, and informing a user of the presence of the remaining coins is disposed; and, this is effective for preventing reception of the coins from being forgotten.
- the tray in the first conventional apparatus is attached to the chassis in a fixed state. Therefore, while the optical sensor is actuated, the power line thereof is not connected or disconnected.
- the tray which receives and stores the coins, is formed to project from a body of a coin processing machine so as to facilitate the user to take out the coins. Therefore, the packaging style of transportation from a manufacturing factory to an installation location such as a supermarket is preferred to reduce the packaging volume and increase transportation efficiency by detaching the coin tray from the body and packaging the coin tray in a single box. Furthermore, depending on demands of clients, a coin tray having a shape different from that of a standard product is mounted in some cases.
- the first conventional technique has problems that the transportation efficiency is low and that the coin tray to which the demands of the clients are reflected cannot be mounted since the coin tray is integrated with the body.
- a coin dispensing receiving opening or the one-time collection chute of the coin processing apparatus can be selectively mounted on the apparatus body.
- a sensor of the coins is not mounted on the dispensing receiving opening or the one-time collection chute. Therefore, in order to solve the problem of the first conventional technique, it is conceivable to combine the technical idea that enables the coin receiving opening to be attachable/detachable to/from the body disclosed in the second conventional technique with the first conventional technique.
- the coin receiving opening is attachably/detachably provided with the body, the coin tray and the body are separately carried to an installation location, and, then, an installer mounts the coin tray on the body at, for example, a supermarket, which is the installation location.
- the coin receiving opening may be mounted or detached in a state in which the power of the coin processing apparatus is on.
- live-line insertion/removal since the coin receiving opening is mounted in the state in which the power of the body is on, so-called live-line insertion/removal is carried out, an inrush current flows into the optical sensor, light-emitting diodes or optical transistors constituting the optical sensor may be damaged, and the first conventional technique and the second conventional technique cannot be simply combined. Therefore, a coin tray having a remaining-coin detection sensor, which does not cause any failure even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out, is desired.
- the coin processing apparatus of the third conventional technique has an object to detect the remaining coins in the coin tray as well as the first conventional technique and replaces the optical sensor of the first conventional technique with the proximity sensor having the coil wound around the core. Since the proximity sensor can detect the coins without being affected by dust, etc., the proximity sensor is advantageous compared with the optical sensor if it is used in the coin processing apparatus.
- a proximity sensor has the structure having the coil wound around the core, and the proximity sensor integrated with an oscillator circuit and a detector circuit is commercially available. If a proximity sensor not integrated with an oscillator circuit and a detector circuit is used, the circuits have to be provided on a control board in the body side, which increases cost; therefore, this cannot be promptly employed.
- the commercially-available proximity sensor integrated with the oscillator circuit and the detector circuit is replaced with the optical sensor of the first conventional apparatus and if the coin tray mounted with the proximity sensor is attachable/detachable to/from the body in combination with the second conventional technique, as well as the above description, live-line insertion/removal may be carried out, the oscillator circuit or the detector circuit may be damaged if the live-line insertion/removal is carried out, and this cannot be promptly employed. Therefore, a coin receiving opening that does not cause any failure even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out and has a coin remaining-amount detection sensor not affected by dust, etc. is desired.
- the fourth conventional technique is the invention related to an application of the present applicant, wherein the connecter is used in place of a switch in order to prevent occurrence of the problem due to live-line insertion/removal; upon connection, the power line is configured to be connected after the signal line is connected first; and, upon disconnection, the signal line is configured to be disconnected after the power line is disconnected first.
- a first object serving as a basic object of the present invention is to provide a coin tray of a coin payment apparatus, wherein the coin tray mounted with a coin sensor is attachable/detachable to/from a body of the coin payment apparatus, and the coin sensor is not damaged even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out.
- a second object serving as a subordinate object of the present invention is to provide a coin tray of a coin payment apparatus, wherein the coin tray mounted with coin sensors is attachable/detachable to/from a body of the coin payment apparatus, the coin sensors are not damaged even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out, and a remaining coin(s) can be detected even when one of the coin sensors malfunctions.
- a third object serving as a subordinate object of the present invention is to provide a coin tray of a coin payment apparatus, wherein the coin tray mounted with coin sensors is attachable/detachable to/from a body of the coin payment apparatus, the coin sensors are not damaged even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out, and even a wide variety of coin materials can be detected.
- a fourth object serving as a subordinate object of the present invention is to inexpensively provide a coin tray of a coin payment apparatus, wherein the coin tray mounted with coin sensors is attachable/detachable to/from a body of the coin payment apparatus, and the coin sensors are not damaged even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out.
- the four objects of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is only required to achieve at least the first object serving as the basic object.
- a first mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- a coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin sensor and the state sensor are electrically connected in series to a power source via the coin-sensor connecter; when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is configured to be connected after the coin-sensor connecter is connected; and, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the coin-sensor connecter is configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor is disconnected.
- a second mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- a coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor is a proximity sensor; the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin sensor and the state sensor are electrically connected in series to a power source via the coin-sensor connecter; when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is configured to be connected after the coin sensor is connected; and, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the coin sensor is configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor is disconnected.
- a third mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- a coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with the coin tray and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, and the state sensor are electrically connected in series to a power source via the coin-sensor connecter; a positional relation between the actuator and the open/close switch and a positional relation between the body-side connecter and the
- a fourth mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- a coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor includes at least two proximity sensors; the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with the coin tray and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in series via the coin-sensor connecter to the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and a power source connected in series; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in parallel to each other; when
- a fifth mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- a coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor includes a plurality of proximity sensors; the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with the coin tray and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in series via the serially-connected coin-sensor connecter to the tray mounted sensor and a power source, are connected in parallel to each other, and are subjected to application of mutual
- a sixth mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- a coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with a member moved when the coin tray is attached/detached to/from the body and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, and a state sensor are electrically connected in series to a power source via the coin-sensor connecter; the coin payment apparatus comprises the coin tray, wherein, a positional relation between the actuator and the open/close switch and a positional relation between the body-side connecter and the
- a seventh mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- a coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor is a plurality of proximity sensors; furthermore, the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with a member moved when the coin tray is attached/detached to/from the body and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in series via the coin-sensor connecter to the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and
- the coin tray is provided with the coin sensor and is attachable/detachable to/from the body.
- the electrical connection of the coin sensor is connected or disconnected by connection and disconnection of the tray mounted sensor.
- the state sensor which directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in the actuatable state, cancels electrical connection if the coin payment apparatus is not in the actuatable state and establishes electrical connection if it is in the actuatable state.
- the coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, and the state sensor are connected in series to the power source via the coin-sensor connecter.
- the coin sensor is electrically connected to or disconnected from the power source in the body side by connection/disconnection between the body-side connecter attached to the body side and the tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side.
- the tray mounted sensor becomes a connected state when the coin tray is mounted at a predetermined position, where the coin-sensor connecter is connected.
- the state sensor detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in the actuatable state or not. In other words, if the coin payment apparatus is in the actuatable state, it is electrically connected to enable electricity distribution; and, if not in the actuatable state, electricity cannot be distributed.
- the coin payment apparatus becomes the actuatable state only after the state sensor is connected after the coin tray is mounted on the body, the coin-sensor connecter is connected, and the tray mounted sensor is connected.
- the coin tray can be detached from the body only after the tray mounted sensor and the coin-sensor connecter are disconnected after the state sensor is disconnected.
- the state sensor is connected after the coin sensor and the tray mounted sensor are connected; and, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the tray mounted sensor and the coin-sensor connecter are disconnected after the state sensor is disconnected. Therefore, the coin tray is not detached from the body in a live-line state, and sudden supply of current to the coin sensor and sudden disconnection thereof do not occur.
- the tray mounted sensor consists of the actuator integrally provided with the coin tray and the open/close switch attached to the body side and can be therefore formed inexpensively, there is an advantage that the fourth object serving as the subordinate object of the invention of the present application can be achieved.
- the coin sensor consists of the plurality of proximity sensors, there is an advantage that detection of coins are not affected by dust, etc. as well as the second invention.
- the proximity sensors are connected in series to the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and the power source, and the proximity sensors are connected in parallel. Therefore, as long as at least one of the plurality of proximity sensors is normal, the remaining coin(s) in the coin tray can be detected although the detection range is narrowed. Therefore, there is an advantage that the second object of the invention of the present application can be achieved.
- the coin sensor consists of the plurality of proximity sensors, and they are connected in parallel; therefore, there is an advantage that coin detection is not affected by dust, etc. as well as the second invention. Furthermore, there are the plurality of proximity sensors, and they are connected in parallel. Therefore, if at least one of the plurality of proximity sensors is effective, the remaining coin(s) in the coin tray can be detected although the detection range is narrowed. Therefore, there is an advantage that the second object of the invention of the present application can be achieved.
- the metal materials which can be detected are different for each of the frequencies.
- the detectable coin range can be expanded; therefore, there is an advantage that the third object serving as the subordinate object can be achieved.
- the tray mounted sensor consists of the actuator integrally provided with a member moved when the coin tray is attached to or detached from the body and the open/close switch attached to the body side, the open/close switch can use a commercially-available switch and can be formed inexpensively. Therefore, there is an advantage that the fourth object serving as the subordinate object of the present invention can be achieved.
- the tray mounted sensor consists of the actuator integrally provided with the member moved when the coin tray is attached to or detached from the body and the open/close switch attached to the body side, the open/close switch can use a commercially-available switch and can be formed inexpensively. Therefore, there is an advantage that the fourth object of the present invention can be achieved.
- the coin sensor consists of the plurality of proximity sensors, there is an advantage that coin detection is not affected by dust, etc. as well as the second invention.
- the plurality of proximity sensors there are the plurality of proximity sensors, and they are connected in parallel. Therefore, if at least one of the proximity sensors is effective, the remaining coin(s) in the coin tray can be detected although the detection range is narrowed. Therefore, there is an advantage that the second object of the present invention can be achieved.
- the detectable metal materials are different for each of the frequencies. Therefore, as a result, the detectable coin range can be expanded. Therefore, there is an advantage that the fourth object serving as the subordinate object of the present invention can be achieved.
- a best mode of a coin dispenser of the present invention is a coin tray that receives a coin fed from a coin stored in a body based on a payment command; wherein, the coin tray is provided with a coin sensor that detects presence/absence of the coin; in a coin payment apparatus detachably attached to the body, the coin sensor is a plurality of proximity sensors; furthermore, the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; furthermore, the coin payment apparatus includes a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; furthermore, the apparatus includes a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with a member moved when the coin tray is attached to or detached from the body and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in series to the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor
- the present embodiment is an example of a payment apparatus of a coin acceptance and payout apparatus, which receives coins of 8 denominations, i.e., 2 euros, which is the currency of European Union, 1 euro, 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 2 cents, and 1 cent, stores them separately by the denominations, pays a predetermined number of coins of a predetermined denomination(s) based on a dispensing command from a higher-level device.
- coins around the world such as coins of Japanese yen or US dollars can be applied as target coins of the present invention.
- the present embodiment will be explained as an embodiment of a coin tray of a coin payment apparatus by focusing on a coin tray 102 related to a payment device 114 of a coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100.
- the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100 consists of a body 101 and the coin tray 102.
- the body 101 includes a coin receiving device 105 fixed to an inner frame 104 disposed in an outside frame 103, a coin separating and feeding device 106, a denomination discriminating device 107, a carrying device 108, a sorting unit 110, a coin sorting unit 112, and the payment device 114.
- the coin receiving device 105 will be explained mainly with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 .
- the coin receiving device 105 has a function to feed coins C of a plurality of denominations, which have been loaded in bulk into a coin inlet 120, to the coin separating and feeding device 106 of a next step within a range that the coins do not exceed a predetermined amount per unit time.
- the coin receiving device 105 includes the coin inlet 120, a collapsing roller 124, a first electric motor 126 which drives a carrying belt 122, and a control circuit (not shown) of the first electric motor 126.
- the coin inlet 120 has a function to guide a coin (s), which are loaded by a client, directly onto the carrying belt 122 or, after loading by the client, receive the coin guided by a coin guide and guide the coin onto the carrying belt 122.
- the coin inlet 120 is disposed on a front-end left-side upper surface of the outside frame 103 and consists of a loading opening 121 of the coin inlet 120 and a storing unit 123 disposed therebelow.
- the upper surface of the storing unit 123 is the loading opening 121
- the loading opening 121 has a circular shape in a planar view.
- the storing unit 123 is a part concaved downward from the loading opening 121 and is formed into a semispherical shape in the present embodiment.
- a carrying opening 127 having a rectangular long-hole shape is formed to be long in a long-side direction of the outside frame 103.
- the carrying belt 122 has a function to carry the coin (s) C, which have been loaded into the coin inlet 120 and dropped from the storing unit 123 onto the carrying belt 122, to a next step.
- the carrying belt 122 is disposed immediately below the carrying opening 127. Specifically, the carrying belt 122 is stretched between a pair of rollers, is provided to be slightly tilted upward in the carrying direction, and has a width wider than the width of the carrying opening 127, and the long-side-direction length thereof is set to be longer than that of the carrying opening 127.
- the carrying belt 122 can be moved in a forward-rotation direction, in which the coin C is carried forward (next step) by the first electric motor 126, and in a backward-rotation direction, in which the coin C is returned.
- the first electric motor 126 becomes a forward-rotation, backward-rotation, or stopped state depending on a command from a control device (not shown).
- the collapsing roller 124 is disposed above the roller of the carrying belt 122 with a gap, which is about three times the thinnest coin, between the collapsing roller and the carrying belt 122, and part of the circumferential surface thereof is projecting to the storing unit 123.
- the carrying direction represents the carrying direction of moving toward the next step and, in the present embodiment, refers to a direction of carrying to the coin separating and feeding device 106 of the next step.
- the collapsing roller 124 feeds the coins C, which are stacked in the storing unit 123, to the carrying-belt-122 side by frictional force.
- the coin separating and feeding device 106 can stably sort and feed the coins one by one without receiving the coins of more than the full amount from the coin receiving device 105.
- the coin separating and feeding device 106 has a function to separate the coins C of a plurality of denominations, which have been received in bulk from the coin receiving device 105, one by one and feed them to the next step.
- the coin separating and feeding device 106 is disposed below the coin receiving device 105 and includes a rotating disk 140, a coin storing container 132, a coin receiver 134, and the full sensor 136.
- the rotating disk 140 has receiving units 138, which receive the coins C one by one, is disposed to be tilted at a predetermined angle, and is rotated at a predetermined speed.
- the receiving units 138 have Y-shaped plates 146, on which three concave parts 142 are formed at a regular interval, are fixed onto the upper surface of a rotating disk 140 so as to be concentric to the rotating disk 140.
- a pusher 148 which carries out pivotal motion, is disposed on one side of the concave part 142 (for example, see Japanese Patent No. 4784806 ).
- the approximately semicircular receiving unit 138 is formed by the pusher 148 and the concave part 142.
- the receiving unit 138 is set to have a size that cannot receive two juxtaposed minimum-diameter coins but can receive a single maximum-diameter coin.
- the pusher 148 is normally positioned in a still state at a position close to one side of the concave part 142 so as to form the receiving unit 138. If the pusher 148 carries out pivotal motion and is moved to a predetermined position, the pusher 148 feeds the retained coin C to the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 140.
- the receiving unit 138 receives the coins C, which are stored in bulk in a lower part opposed to the coin storing container 132, one by one. At a predetermined position above the rotation center of the rotating disk 140, the pusher 148 pushes the coin C of the receiving unit 138 to the circumferential direction and passes the coin C to the coin receiver 134 having a knife shape.
- the rotating disk 140 is rotated at a predetermined speed by an unshown electric motor via a decelerator.
- the full sensor 136 has a function to output a full signal if the amount of coins in the coin storing container 132 is equal to or more than a predetermined amount and is, for example, a transmission-type photoelectric sensor.
- the full sensor 136 If the full sensor 136 outputs the full signal, the first electric motor 126 is stopped, and supply of the coins C from the coin receiving device 105 is stopped.
- the full sensor 136 stops outputting the full signal, the first electric motor 126 is restarted, and the coins C on the carrying belt 122 are supplied to the coin storing container 132.
- the denomination discriminating device 107 has a function to discriminate the authenticity and denomination of the coins C, which have been fed from the coin separating and feeding device 106 one by one.
- the denomination discriminating device 107 has a function to discriminate the authenticity and denomination of the coin C based on detection data, which is physical information related to the material, thickness, diameter, etc. , of the coin obtained by a magnetic sensor 150.
- the denomination discriminating device 107 includes the magnetic sensor 150, a slide base (not shown) disposed in the same plane as the upper surface of the rotating disk 140, the impeller 152 for feeding the coin C, and a detection guide 154.
- the slide base has a function to guide one surface of the coin C pushed by the impeller 152.
- the impeller 152 has a function to move the coins C, which have been received from the coin separating and feeding device 106, and pass the coins through the coin holding part 158 one by one.
- the impeller 152 has a function to pass the coins C, which have passed the coin holding part 158, to the carrying device 108.
- the impeller 152 is parallel to the slide base, is rotatable in a plane close thereto, forms the coin holding part 158 with three pushers 156 disposed at regular intervals by the same number as that of the receiving units 138, and forms a Y-shape.
- the detection guide 154 has a function to linearly guide the coin C, which is opposed to the coin holding part 158 and passes therethrough, and fix the position of the coin C with respect to the magnetic sensor 150.
- the carrying device 108 has a function to carry the coins C, of which authenticity and denomination have been discriminated, to a sorting unit 110.
- the carrying device 108 includes an endless carrier 160, which is moved in one direction in a single plane; a slide plate 162, on which one surface of the coin C pushed by the endless carrier 160 slides; and a straight guide rail 164, which guides the circumferential surface of the coin C.
- the endless carrier 160 in the present embodiment is a chain 170 stretched between a first sprocket 166 and a second sprocket 168, which are disposed at a predetermined interval.
- the chain 170 is installed in a flattened running-track shape, and the first sprocket 166 is disposed immediately lateral to the impeller 152 of the denomination discriminating device 107.
- Pushing pins 172 are fixed to a lateral surface of the chain 170 at predetermined intervals.
- the plurality of pushing pins 172 are attached to the chain 170 at the intervals corresponding to the intervals of the pushers 156.
- the first sprocket 166 is rotated at a predetermined speed, and the pusher 156 and the pushing pin 172 are set so that the coin C, which is pushed to a carrying path 174 of the pushing pin 172 by the pusher 156, is immediately pushed by the pushing pin 172.
- the carrying path 174 is a path through which the coin C, which is pushed by the pushing pin 172, is moved while being guided by the guide rail 164.
- the guide rail 164 has a function to guide a lower-end peripheral surface of the coin C so that the coin C pushed by the pushing pin 172 is moved in the carrying path 174.
- the guide rail 164 is disposed along and slightly below the chain 170 having a straight shape of the upper side of the running-track shape.
- the guide rail 164 is slightly projecting than the maximum thickness of handled coins C in the orthogonal direction.
- the lower surface of the coin C pushed by the pushing pin 172 is guided by the slide plate 162, and the lower-end peripheral surface thereof is guided by the guide rail 164.
- the guide rail 164 in the present embodiment also serves as a sorting unit.
- the sorting unit 110 has a function to drop the coins C into predetermined coin sorting holes respectively by denominations.
- the sorting unit 110 has an upper sorting unit 180, which is disposed along the guide rail 164 in the upper side of the guide rail 164, and a lower sorting unit 182, which is disposed in the lower side along the guide rail 164.
- a 2-cent coin sorting hole 184 In the upper sorting unit 180, a 2-cent coin sorting hole 184, a 5-cent coin sorting hole 186, a 10-cent coin sorting hole 188, a 20-cent coin sorting hole 190, and an overflow-coin sorting hole 192 are disposed sequentially toward the moving direction of the carrying device 108.
- a reject-coin sorting hole 194, a 1-cent coin sorting hole 196, a 2-euro coin sorting hole 198, a 50-cent coin sorting hole 200, and a 1-euro coin sorting hole 202 are disposed sequentially toward the moving direction of the carrying device 108.
- a gate device (not shown) actuated by an electrical actuator is disposed.
- the gate devices of the coin sorting holes 194, 196, 198, 200, and 202 also serve as the guide rail 164.
- the guide rail 164 is formed by fixed guides, which are fixed between the coin sorting holes 194, 196, 198, 200, and 202, and movable guides, which are electrically moved, and normally forms a single straight shape.
- the movable guides are moved from normal positions so that the carried coins C are not guided to the movable guides and are dropped to the predetermined sorting holes (see Japanese Patent No. 4997374 ).
- the gate devices opposed to the respective coin sorting holes 184, 186, 188, 190, 194, 196, 198, 200, and 202 are selectively opened/closed based on timing signals from timing sensors (not shown) and the authenticity and denominations discriminated by the coin information detected by the coin holding part 158.
- the coins C carried by the carrying device 108 are dropped to the predetermined coin sorting holes 184, 186, 188, 190, 194, 196, 198, 200, or 202 respectively by the denominations.
- the coin storing unit 112 has a function to store the coins C, which have been sorted respectively by the denominations in the sorting unit 110, respectively by the denominations and a function to dispense a predetermined number of the coins C of a predetermined denomination (s) according to a command from the higher-level device such as a POS register.
- the coin storing unit 112 is formed by arranging, in two rows, a first coin dispenser row 212 and a second coin dispenser row 214 , in which coin dispensers 210, each of which dispenses the coins C one by one by a rotating disk (not shown) are parallely juxtaposed below the sorting unit 110 so as to be opposed to the upper sorting unit 180 and the lower sorting unit 182 respectively by the denominations.
- first and second of the first coin dispenser row 212 and the second coin dispenser row 214 are denoted for distinguishing them from each other, and it does not have particular meaning in terms of interpretation of the right.
- Each of the coin dispensers 210 is shown by a reference sign 210 with a denomination.
- the payment device 114 has a function to carry the coins C, which have been delivered from the coin dispensers 210 of the respective denominations, to the coin tray 102 as soon as possible.
- the payment device 114 has a function to promptly converge the behavior of the coin(s) C ejected from the coin dispenser 210, quickly bring the coin C into surface contact with the upper surface 218 of a payment carrying belt 216, and carry the coin C to the coin tray 102 by the payment carrying belt 216 and, in the present embodiment, includes at least the payment carrying belt 216.
- the payment carrying belt 216 has a function to carry the coin(s) C, which have been dropped onto the upper surface 218 thereof, to the coin tray 102.
- the payment carrying belt 216 is a flat belt 220 and is stretched between a pair of rollers 222 and 224, and the upper surface 218 thereof is disposed so that the front side thereof is lowered at a predetermined angle toward the coin-tray-102 side.
- This slope angle is preferred to be an angle at which the standing coin C is rolled to the coin-tray-102 side in a state in which the flat belt 220 is still. This is for quickly carrying the coin C to the coin tray 102 by the moving of the payment carrying belt 216 and the rolling of the coin C.
- One of the rollers, the roller 222 in the present embodiment is selectively driven so that the upper surface 218 is moved toward the coin tray 102 by a second electric motor 226.
- a pair of guide plates 228 and 230, which are vertical with respect to the upper surface of the flat belt 220 are disposed at a predetermined interval so as to guide the coins C, which are carried by the flat belt 220.
- the coins C carried by the flat belt 220 are fed into the bowl-shaped coin tray 102.
- the second electric motor 226 starts rotating at the same time as output of a coin dispensing command to the coin dispenser 210 and stops rotating after the time sufficient for carrying elapses.
- the coins C delivered from the coin dispensers 210 are dropped onto the upper surface 218 of the payment carrying belt 216.
- the coins C dropped onto the payment carrying belt 216 are brought into surface contact with the payment carrying belt 216 as described above, are carried toward the coin tray 102 by the movement of the payment carrying belt 216, are dropped from an end thereof to the coin tray 102, and are stored therein.
- the coin tray 102 has a function to receive the coin(s) C carried by the carrying belt 216 and store the coins until they are taken out by a client or a worker (hereinafter, referred to as a recipient) and has a bowl shape formed to be detachable/attachable to the inner frame 104 in the present embodiment.
- the coin tray 102 of the present embodiment consists of a tray 232 having a bowl shape and a mount member 234 having a rectangular shape in a planar view for mounting on the inner frame 104.
- the tray 232 has a function to receive the coin(s) C fed from the carrying belt 216, store the coins so that the recipient can easily take them out, and have a coin sensor 233 attached thereto.
- the tray 232 has a tongue shape in a plane and consists of a semicircular part 236, a rectangular part 238 extended from a maximum diameter part of the semicircular part 236 by a predetermined length and the interval of the maximum diameter, and a partition wall 239 defining the semicircular-part-236 side of the rectangular part 238.
- a peripheral part 240 of the semicircular part 236 and the rectangular part 238 has a predetermined thickness, for example, a thickness of about 40 millimeters; and a steep slope 242 tilted by a steep slope from the peripheral part 240 toward the inner lower side, a gentle slope 246 tilted downward gently from a lower end of the steep slope 242 toward a center part 244, and a semicircular flat placing part 248 positioned at the center part 244 are formed.
- the steel slope 242 forms a barrier having a predetermined height so that the coins C do not jump out due to the momentum of dispensing.
- the gentle slope 246 has a slope on which the coins C slide down toward the placing part 248.
- the placing part 248 is an elliptical flat surface continued to the lower end of the gentle slope 246, and the diameter thereof is set to be equal to or more than the diameter of the maximum diameter coin and two times or less thereof. Therefore, it is set to have the dimensions so that some of small-diameter coins can be juxtaposed and brought into surface contact with the placing part 248.
- the partition wall 239 is disposed at the rectangular part 238 that is opposite to the semicircular part 236 and is formed so as to have a predetermined height from the placing part 248, in the present embodiment, a height that exceeds about half of the gentle slope 246 and 60% thereof.
- the diameter of the semicircular part 236, therefore, the width of the rectangular part 238 is set to be equal to or more than five times the diameter of the maximum diameter coin and equal to or less than eight times thereof. This is for facilitating take-out of the coins C on the placing part 248 and for downsizing. More specifically, this is for enabling the recipient to take out the coins by a single grabbing motion even in a case in which many coins C are fed and even in a case in which the coins slide down on the gentle slope 246 and accumulated on the placing part 248. Therefore, although the upper side of the placing part 248 and the gentle slope 246 surrounded by the peripheral part 240 serves as a received-coin storing part 249, the fed coins C are normally stored on the placing part 248.
- at least the tray 232 is manufactured of a non-magnetic material such as a resin. As described later, this is for preventing the tray from affecting detection of the coins C since a proximity sensor 282 is used as the coin sensor 233.
- the mount member 234 has a function to integrate the coin tray 102 with the inner frame 104 by insertion into a mount-member receiving part 250 ( FIG. 9 ) of the inner frame 104 of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100 ( FIG. 9 ) and, furthermore, mount a coin-sensor connecter 252, a tray mounted sensor 254, and part of a retainer 256.
- the mount member 234 is formed into a thick plate shape that is a rectangle horizontally extending to the semicircular-part-236 side of the rectangular part 238 in a planar view and has a predetermined thickness. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9 , the mount member 234 is formed into a reversed rectangular flat-pan shape having a closed upper surface side and an opened lower surface side. Further specifically, the mount part 234 is partitioned by a left side face 258, a right side face 260, a rear side face 262, and a top board 264, and a lower surface 266 is opened.
- a back cover 268 extending to the lower surface of the tray 232 is fixed to and integrated with the lower surface 266 in a state in which it is fitted therein and is formed into a thick plate shape as a whole.
- the back cover 268 forms a step part 269 which is bent in a crank shape immediately below the partition wall 239 at an intermediate part thereof and lowers the step toward the rear side face 262. In other words, it is formed so that the distance to the extension line of the top board 264 is small in the rear-side-face-262 side of the mount member 234 and is slightly large in the tray-232 side.
- the mount-member receiving part 250 has a function to receive the mount part 234 and retain the coin tray 102 so that it is not moved almost at all in vertical/horizontal and backward directions with respect to the inner frame 104.
- the mount-member receiving part 250 is a rectangular space, which is formed in the inner frame 104 and is formed so as to be mated with the mount member 234.
- the mount-member receiving part 250 consists of a bottom board 270 of the inner frame 104, an upper guide 272 fixed to be parallel to the bottom board 270 and be slightly distant from the height of the left side face 258 and the right side face 260 in the upper side of the bottom board 270, and a left guide 274 and a right guide 276 disposed outside the left side face 258 and the right side face 260 at an interval slightly wider than the interval between the left side face 258 and the right side face 260 and is a cross-sectionally-rectangular space having an opening 278 in a front lower part of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100 and is extending in a front-back direction.
- a stopper 280 slightly projecting upward from the bottom board 270 in the vicinity of the opening 278 is formed.
- the stopper 280 consists of an end face of a thin plate 281 disposed on the bottom board 270.
- the mount member 234 when the mount member 234 is inserted from the opening 278 to the mount-member receiving part 250, the mount member 234 can be inserted to a deep part of the inner frame 104 while the lower surface thereof is guided by the bottom board 270, the left side face 258 is guided by the left guide 274, the right side face 260 is guided by the right guide 276, and the top board 264 is guided by the upper guide 272.
- the step part 269 reaches the stopper 280, the mount member 234 cannot be pushed into the deep part more than that.
- the coin sensor 233 has a function to detect whether the coin(s) C are present on the coin tray 102, specifically, the received-coin storing part 249 or not and, in the present embodiment, is the proximity sensor 282 disposed in the back side of the placing part 248.
- the coin sensor 233 since the coin sensor 233 is only required to have the above described function, a transmission-type photoelectric sensor having a light axis above the placing part 248, a reflection-type photoelectric sensor which detects reflected light from the coin(s) C, or the like can be also employed.
- the proximity sensor 282 is preferred since it can be disposed in the back side and is not affected by dust, etc.
- the proximity sensor 282 includes at least one proximity sensor and, in the present embodiment, includes two proximity sensors, more specifically, a first proximity sensor 282A and a second proximity sensor 282B. However, three or more proximity sensors 282 can be employed. If a plurality of coin sensors 233 are disposed, the detection range of the coin(s) C can be expanded, and detection accuracy can be increased, which is effective.
- the first proximity sensor 282A and the second proximity sensor 282B are juxtaposed in the back side of the placing part 248. Since the first proximity sensor 282A and the second proximity sensor 282B have the same configuration, the first proximity sensor 282A will be representatively explained with reference to FIG. 11 , and the same parts of the second proximity sensor 282B are denoted with the same numbers with a symbol B replacing A to omit the explanation thereof.
- the first proximity sensor 282A includes a core 284A made of ferrite, a coil 296A, and a detection circuit 288A.
- the core 284A is formed in a rectangular flat pan shape as a whole.
- a side wall 292A standing from four sides of a rectangular bottom wall 290A at a right angle with respect to the bottom wall 290A, a coil core 294A, and the coil 296A are included.
- the coil 296A is formed in a ring shape and externally mounted on the coil core 294A.
- the coil core 294A is eccentric from the center in the long-side direction of the bottom wall 290A, is disposed at the center in the short-side direction thereof, and is formed in a cylindrical shape upright with respect to the bottom wall 290A, and the height thereof is the same as that of the side wall 292A.
- the detection circuit 288A is a rectangular substrate disposed in the left side of the coil 296A surrounded by the side wall 292A ( FIG. 11 (B) ) and is fixed to the bottom wall 290A, for example, by adhesion.
- the first proximity sensor 282A and the second proximity sensor 282B formed in the above described manner are attached to the back side of the tray 232 opposed to the placing part 248 by, for example, adhesion in a state in which the end faces of the coil cores 294A and the side walls 292 are practically in close contact therewith.
- adhesion in a state in which the end faces of the coil cores 294A and the side walls 292 are practically in close contact therewith.
- the center of the coil core 294A is positioned at approximately the center between the center M of the shorter axis line SA and a left end 248L of the placing part 248, and the coil core 294B is also similarly disposed at approximately the center between the center M of the shorter axis line SA and a right end 248R of the placing part 248.
- the magnetic flux formed between the coil core 294A and the side wall 292A or between the coil core 294B and the side wall 292B reaches the received-coin storing part 249 above part of the gentle slope 246 and, as a matter of course, to the placing part 248.
- the coin-sensor connecter 252 has a function to connect the coin sensor 233, which is attached to the coin tray 102, at least to a power source 300 and a body control circuit 302, which are disposed in the inner frame 104.
- the coin-sensor connecter 252 employs a so-called drawer-type connecter consisting of a tray-side connecter 304, which is a so-called male type, and a body-side connecter 306, which is a female type.
- the tray-side connecter 304 is attached in a backward direction to a left end of the rear side face 262 of the mount member 234. In other words, the tray-side connecter 304 is attached horizontally since it forms a right angle with respect to the vertical rear side face 262. At predetermined positions of the outer surface of the tray-side connecter 304, a plurality of contact points of power lines and signal lines are disposed.
- the body-side connecter 306 is movably attached in the long-side direction of the body 101 to an L-shaped bracket 308, which is disposed on the bottom board 270 at a position opposed to the tray-side connecter 304, by a pair of elastic supporters 309A and 309B.
- the body-side connecter 306 is a so-called female-type connecter having a hole 310, which receives the tray-side connecter 304.
- the elastic supporters 309A and 309B have a function to support the body-side connecter 306 so that the connecter is movable forward and backward in the long-side direction of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100 (in the top-bottom direction in FIG. 6 ). Since the elastic supporters 309A and 309B have the same structure, the elastic supporter 309A will be representatively explained, and the same parts are shown with B replacing A to omit explanations.
- First ends of cylindrical guide rods 312A extending in the extending direction of the body 101 are fixed to left/right both ends of the body-side connecter 306.
- the guide rods 312A and 312B are disposed to be parallel to each other.
- the guide rod 312A employs a fall-preventing structure (not shown) by, for example, a snap ring slidably inserted in the extending direction of the axis line to a slide bearing 314A disposed on a vertical part of the bracket 308 and is attached to an end so as to prevent fall-off.
- a spring 316A is externally mounted at the outside of the guide rod 312A, and the body-side connecter 306 is elastically biased so as to be moved toward the front side of the body 101, in other words, toward the opening 278. Furthermore, contact points opposed to the contact points of the outer surface of the tray-side connecter 304 are disposed on the inner surface of the hole 310 of the body-side connecter 306.
- the mount part 234 of the coin tray 102 is inserted in the mount-member receiving part 250 and is pushed toward the rear side of the body 101, the mount part 234 is guided by the bottom board 270, the upper guide 272, the left guide 274, and the right guide 276 and is linearly moved toward the rear side.
- the body-side connecter 306 is pushed in to elastically deform the spring 316A, the pushing force from the body-side connecter 306 with respect to the tray-side connecter 304 becomes stronger; therefore, the tray-side connecter 304 is moved into the hole 310 of the body-side connecter 306, and the contact points disposed thereon become a contacted state.
- the step part 269 reaches the stopper 280, specifically, the end of the thin plate 281 and cannot be further moved to the rear side.
- the coin tray 102 cannot be pushed in after the step part 269 reaches the stopper 280.
- the female type may be disposed on the coin tray 102
- the male type may be disposed in the body 101 side.
- the tray mounted sensor 254 has a function to turn on electrical connection when the coin tray 102 is mounted at a predetermined position of the inner frame 104, which is the body 101.
- the tray mounted sensor 254 includes an actuator 314 and an open/close switch 318.
- the actuator 314 is attached backward to the center part of the rear side face 262 of the mount member 234. In other words, since the actuator 314 forms a right angle with respect to the vertical rear side face 262, the actuator 314 is a rod body horizontally projecting toward the rear side by a predetermined length.
- the open/close switch 318 has a function to be electrically connected when the coin tray 102 is mounted at a normal position with respect to the body 101, therefore, the inner frame 104; and, in the present embodiment, the open/close switch 318 is a microswitch 320, which is fixed to the upper guide 272 at the position.
- a passive piece 322 of the microswitch 320 is determined at a position where the passive piece 322 is pushed by movement of the actuator 314 and, after the coin-sensor connecter 252 becomes a connected state, is pushed by the further pushed actuator 314 to causes the microswitch 320 to be in a connected (on) state.
- the microswitch 320 is the most preferred since it has various types and is inexpensive.
- the normal position is the position at which, immediately after the contact points at the coin-sensor connecter 252 are connected, the passive piece 322 is pushed to cause the microswitch 320 to be in the connected state.
- the retainer 256 has a function to retain the state in which the coin tray 102 is mounted on the body 101 (inner frame 104).
- the retainer 256 employs a so-called ball catch 330, which retains a retained body 328 at a predetermined position with predetermined force by sandwiching the retained body 328 having a bulged tip by a retainer 326 including a pair of balls 324A and 324B ( FIG. 13 ) biased so as to get close to each other.
- the retained body 328 is formed in a T shape by a transverse beam part 332 and a retained rod 334, which is projecting in a right-angle direction from the center of the transverse beam part 332 by a predetermined length, and the transverse beam part 332 is fixed at a right end of the rear side face 262.
- the retained rod 334 is extending toward the rear side by the predetermined length, the tip thereof is formed into a widen part 333, and a narrow part 336 is formed in the transverse beam 332 side of the widen part 333.
- the retainer 326 is attached to the bottom board 270, the balls 324A and 324B are disposed on the opposed surfaces of a gate-shaped retainer body 335 to be opposed to each other, and the balls are disposed to elastically get close to each other, but are formed to have a predetermined gap therebetween.
- the retainer 326 is set to retain the retained body 328 in a state in which the coin-sensor connector 252 and the tray mounted sensor 254 are connected.
- the balls 324A and 324B are caused to be distant from each other by the widen part 333; therefore, retention of the retained body 328 can be cancelled, and it can be detached from the body 101.
- the detection circuit 285A includes an oscillator circuit 338A, a detector circuit 340A, anA/D converter 342A, and a discriminating circuit 344A. These circuits are connected to the power source 300 and the body control circuit 302 in the body 101 side via a power line 345A, a signal line 346A, and the coin-sensor connecter 252.
- the oscillator circuit 338A supplies a high-frequency current of a predetermined frequency to the coil 296A.
- the oscillator circuit 338A is connected to the detector circuit 340A.
- the detector circuit 340A extracts a voltage component from the output of the oscillator circuit 338A and outputs that to the A/D converter 342A.
- the A/D converter 342A converts the (analog) output to a numerical-value signal and outputs that to the discriminating circuit 344A.
- the discriminating circuit 344A discriminates whether the output exceeds a predetermined voltage value or not and, if exceeding, outputs a coin signal CS to the body control circuit 302 via the coin-sensor connecter 252. More specifically, if the coin(s) C are stored in the coin tray 102, the magnetic flux generated from the coin 296A is attenuated by the metal constituting the coin(s) C, specifically, a loss is generated by the eddy current generated in the coin(s) C. Therefore, as a result, the output of the A/D converter 342A is reduced. Therefore, the discriminating circuit 344A discriminates that it is above (below) a predetermined reference level and outputs the coin signal CS. If the coin(s) C is not present on the coin tray 102, the output of the A/D converter 324A is not reduced; therefore, the discriminating circuit 344A does not output the coin signal CS.
- the state sensor 350 has a function to directly or indirectly detect whether the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100 is in an operable state or not.
- the state sensor 350 employs a mechanism that carries out detection indirectly and consists of an outside-frame sensor 352, which detects that the outside frame 103 is mounted on the inner frame 104.
- a second microswitch 354 is attached to the inner frame 104; and a second passive piece 356 thereof is configured so that, when the outside frame 103 is mounted at a normal position, the second passive piece 356 is pushed by the outside frame 103 and causes the second microswitch 354 to be in a connected (on) state. Therefore, when the outside frame 103 is detached from the inner frame 104, the second microswitch 354 becomes a disconnected (off) state.
- the state sensor 350 is not limited to that of the present embodiment.
- a door sensor which detects opening/closing of an open/close door of the chassis can be utilized as the state sensor 350.
- direct detection in a case in which the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100 becomes actuatable by an on-operation of a publicly-known control key switch and becomes non-actuatable by an off-operation thereof, the control key switch can be utilized as the state sensor 350.
- the coin tray 102 has a lock structure 355, which cannot be attached and detached only in a state in which the outside frame 103 is detached from the inner frame 104.
- the lock structure 355 enables attaching and detaching operations only in a state in which the outside frame 103 is detached in order to disable the operation of detaching and attaching the coin tray 102 from/to the inner frame 104.
- the lock structure 355 has a structure in which a through hole 357 penetrating through the mount member 234 in a vertical direction is formed, a hole (not shown) is formed in the upper guide 272, and a fixing pin (not shown) penetrate through these holes.
- the lock structure 355 is not limited to that of the present embodiment as long as it has a similar function.
- the body control circuit 302 has a function to control the entire coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100. However, in the present embodiment, only the control related to the coin sensor 233 will be explained.
- the power lines 345A and 345B and the signal lines 346A and 346B ae connected to the coin sensor 233, to the first proximity sensor 282A and the second proximity sensor 282B in the present embodiment, via the coin-sensor connecter 252.
- the body control circuit 302 includes an OR circuit 358 and a controller 360 connected to at least the signal lines 346A and 346B.
- the first proximity sensor 282A and the second proximity sensor 282B are connected in parallel to the controller 360 via the OR circuit 358.
- the controller 360 discriminates that the coin(s) C is present on the con tray 102; if the coin signal CS is not output, the controller 360 discriminates that the coin(s) C is not present on the coin tray 102; and, the controller 360 controls the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100 based on the discrimination result. For example, if it is discriminated that the coin(s) C is present on the coin tray 102, a notification of the coin C remaining on the coin tray 102 is given by, for example, sound, light, or display.
- connection circuit 362 including the coin sensor 233, the coin-sensor connecter 252, the tray mounted sensor 254, the detection circuits 285A and 285B, the power source 300, the body control circuit 302, and the state sensor 350 will be explained with reference to FIG. 13 .
- the coin sensor 233 is electrically connected in series to the power source 300 via the coin-sensor connecter 252
- the signal lines 346A and 346B are connected to the body control circuit 302 via the coin-sensor connecter 252
- the coin sensor 233, the tray mounted sensor 254, and the state sensor 350 are electrically connected in series to the power source 300 via the coin-sensor connecter 252.
- the first proximity sensor 282A and the second proximity sensor 282B are electrically connected in series to the power source 300, the tray mounted sensor 254, and the state sensor 350 via the power lines 345A and 345B and the coin-sensor connecter 252.
- the body control circuit 302 is connected in series to the first proximity sensor 282A and the second proximity sensor 282B via the coin-sensor connecter 252; however, the first proximity sensor 282A and the second proximity sensor 282B are electrically connected in a parallel state to the body control circuit 302. Therefore, if either one of the first proximity sensor 282A and the second proximity sensor 282B outputs the coin signal CS, the body control circuit 302 carries out control on the assumption that the coin(s) C is remaining in the received-coin storing part 249. For example, if the coin signal CS is received continuously for a predetermined period of time or more, it is assumed that the coin(s) C of the coin tray 102 has been forgotten, and an alarm of reminder is output by, for example, sound, light, or display.
- the flat belt 220 serving as the payment device 114 is disposed to be opposed to the gentle slope 246 in the right side of the placing part 248 of the coin tray 102 ( FIG. 8 ).
- the flat belt 220 is opposed to the gentle slope 246 in the right side of the placing part 248. Since the flat belt 220 is disposed at a position higher than the coin tray 102, a slope 364 is disposed so as to bridge the part between the end of the flat belt 220 and the gentle slope 246 in the right side of the placing part 248.
- the slope 364 is disposed across the entire width of the rectangular part 238, and a guide board 366 for guiding the coins C to the gentle slope 246 is disposed at an end thereof.
- the coins C dropped from the flat belt 220 slide on the slope 364 as shown by an arrow, are dropped onto the gentle slope 246 while being guided by the guide board 366, slide on the gentle slope 246, are stopped still on the placing part 248, and then stored thereon.
- the loaded coins C are positioned directly onto the carrying belt 122 from the loading opening 121; or, after the coins are dropped onto the wall surface 125 of the storing unit 123 of the coin inlet 120, the coins slide on the wall surface 125 and are positioned on the carrying belt 122.
- the coins C dropped to the positions close to the edge of the loading opening 121 slide down on the wall surface 125 and are positioned on the carrying belt 122. If the coin C is placed on the carrying belt 122, the light axis of the photoelectric sensor 128 is interrupted by the loaded coin C; therefore, a coin detection signal is output, and the first electric motor 126 is rotated in a forward-rotation direction based on the coin detection signal. Therefore, since the upper surface of the carrying belt 122 is moved to the coin-separating-and-feeding-device-106 side, the coins C are dropped from the end of the carrying belt 122 and dropped into the coin storing container 132 of the coin separating and feeding device 106.
- the collapsing roller 124 is rotated backward, the lower surface of the roller 124 is moved in the opposite direction of the upper surface of the carrying belt 122, movement of the stacked coins C is prevented by the collapsing roller 124, and the coins C are dropped onto the carrying belt 122.
- the dropped coins C are carried again toward the coin separating and feeding device 106 in a manner similar to that described above by movement of the carrying belt 122.
- the photoelectric sensor 128 no longer detects the coins C, the first electric motor 126 is stopped, and drive of the carrying belt 122 is stopped.
- an unshown motor is rotated according to the coin detection signal of the photoelectric sensor 128, and the rotating disk 140 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 .
- the impeller 152 works together with the rotating disk 140 at a transmission ratio of 1:1 and is rotated in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2 .
- the first sprocket 166 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 , and the chain 170 is circulated counterclockwise.
- the coins C dropped into the coin storing container 132 are stirred by the plate 146 and the pusher 148, and the positions thereof are variously changed. In the process of changing the positions, only one of the coins C is received by each receiving unit 138.
- the coin C in a state in which one surface of the coin C is in surface contact with the rotating disk 140, the coin C is positioned in the receiving unit 138, is pushed by a partial lateral surface of the plate 146, and is moved together with the rotation of the rotating disk 140.
- the pusher 148 carries out pivotal motion in the counterclockwise direction and is moved in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 140.
- the coin C positioned in the receiving unit 138 is pushed to the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 140 by the pusher 148 and, immediately after the coin is guided by the coin receiver 134, the coin C is pushed by the pusher 156 of the impeller 152, which is rotated together with the rotating disk 140.
- the first electric motor 126 is stopped even if a loaded coin(s) is detected by the photoelectric sensor 128 to prevent excessive loading of the coins C to the coin separating and feeding device 106.
- the full signal is no more output from the full sensor 136, and the photoelectric sensor 128 is outputting a coin signal
- the first electric motor 126 is restarted, and the coins C on the carrying belt 122 are fed to the coin separating and feeding device 106.
- the coin C which is pushed by the pusher 156, is moved in a moving passage while one surface thereof is in contact with the slide base.
- the coin C at this point is moved while the coin peripheral surface is pressed against the detection guide 154.
- the coin C is opposed to the magnetic sensor 150, wherein information about the diameter, thickness, and material thereof is obtained. Then, the authenticity and denomination of each coin is discriminated by comparing these outputs with reference values.
- the coin C is pushed out to the moving passage of the pushing pins 172 of the carrying device 108 by the pusher 156.
- the coin C is pushed by the pushing pin 172, which is moved by the chain 170.
- the coin C is carried in the moving passage while the peripheral surface thereof is guided by the guide rail 164 and while one surface thereof is in surface contact with the slide plate 162.
- the gate devices corresponding to the coin sorting holes are actuated, and the coins C of predetermined denominations are dropped to the predetermined coin sorting holes.
- the gate of the corresponding coin sorting hole is not opened.
- the coin since the coin is not dropped to any of the coin sorting holes, the coin is dropped to the overflow-coin sorting hole 192 and is stored in an overflow-coin storing device OF.
- a coin dispensing command is output from the higher-level device such as a POS register is output to the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100.
- the body control circuit 302 causes the rotating disks (not shown) of the coin dispensers 210 to be rotated and, furthermore, causes the second electric motor 226 to be driven to move the upper surface 218 of the payment carrying belt 216 toward the coin tray 102.
- the coins C are ejected by the rotation of the rotating disks, dropped onto the payment carrying belt 216, and sent out to the coin tray 102 by the movement of the upper surface 218 of the payment carrying belt 216.
- the coin dispensers 210 detects dispensing of the coins C by a coin detector (not shown) and outputs detection signals. Therefore, if the detection signals reaches a predetermined number, the rotation of the rotating disks is rapidly stopped to prevent excessive dispensing of the coins C.
- the outside frame 103 is detached from the inner frame 104. This is for causing the fixing pin to penetrate through the through hole 357 after mounting the coin tray 102.
- the mount member 234 When the coin tray 102 is to be mounted on the body 101, the mount member 234 is inserted in the opening 278 of the body 101 and pushed into the mount-member receiving part 250. As a result, the mount member 234 is guided by the left guide 274, the right guide 276, the bottom board 270, and the upper guide 272 and is linearly moved toward the rear side of the body 101.
- the tray-side connecter 304 is moved into the hole 310 of the body-side connecter 306, the contact points thereof are brought into contact with each other, and the coin-sensor connecter 252 is electrically connected (on); however, at this point, the tray mounted sensor 254 has not been in a connected state yet, and the retainer 256 is also not in a retained state.
- the tray-side connecter 304 When the coin tray 102 is further pushed in, the tray-side connecter 304 is further pushed into the hole 310, the contact points at the coin-sensor connecter 252 are brought into a reliably mutually connected state, and, since the tray cannot be moved into the hole 310 more than that after it has been pushed in by a predetermined distance, the tray-side connecter 304 pushes the body-side connecter 306 and moves that to the rear side. As a result, the mount member 234 is further moved to the rear side; therefore, the actuator 314 pushes the passive piece 322 and turns on the microswitch 320, and the tray mounted sensor 254 becomes a connected (on) state.
- the widen part 333 of the retained body 328 moves the balls 324A and 324B against the elastic force in the direction in which they get away from each other, and the coin tray 102 is further pushed in; as a result, immediately after the tray mounted sensor 254 becomes a connected state, the balls 324A and 324B are opposed to the narrow part 336 of the retained body 328 ; therefore, the balls 324A and 324B get close to each other by the elastic force acting on them and sandwich the narrow part 336. Therefore, since the retained body 328 has to be pulled out with the force of a predetermined value or more in order to detach the retained body 328 from the retainer body 335, the coin tray 102 is retained by the retainer 256.
- the open/close switch 318 is connected. Thereafter, the fixing pin (not shown) is caused to penetrate through the through hole 357 so that the coin tray 102 cannot be detached from the inner frame 104, therefore, from the body 101. Then, the outside frame 103 is mounted on the inner frame 104. As a result, the second passive piece 356 of the state sensor 350 is pushed by the outside frame 103 and connects (on) the second microswitch 354, and the state sensor 350 becomes a connected (on) state.
- the coin sensor 233 is connected in series to the power source 300 via the power lines 345A and 345B and the coin-sensor connecter 252 and is connected to the body control circuit 302 via the signal lines 346A and 346B and the coin-sensor connecter 252. Therefore, the coin sensor 233 is connected to the power source 300 and is enabled to detect a remaining coin(s), and, since safety of working of the body 101 side is ensured by mounting the outside frame 103, the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100 becomes operable.
- the outside frame 103 is detached from the inner frame 104.
- the second passive piece 356 is no longer pushed by the outside frame 103; therefore, the second microswitch 354 is turned off, and the state sensor 350 becomes a non-connected state.
- the tray 232 is pulled to the front side.
- the widen part 333 causes the balls 324A and 324B to get away from each other and passes between the balls. Therefore, retention by the retainer 256 is cancelled.
- the actuator 314 no longer pushes the passive piece 322. Therefore, the microswitch 320 is turned off, and the tray mounted sensor 254 becomes a non-connected (off) state. Then, the tray-side connecter 304 is pulled out from the body-side connecter 306. Therefore, the contact points thereof are separated from each other, the coin-sensor connecter 252 becomes a non-connected (off) state, and, then, the coin tray 102 is detached from the body 101.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a coin tray for receiving coins in a coin payment apparatus that feeds a predetermined number of stored coins to the coin tray based on a dispensing command.
- Particularly, the present invention relates to a coin tray for receiving coins, the coin tray attachable/detachable to an apparatus body in a coin payment apparatus that feeds a predetermined number of coins of a predetermined denomination(s) among stored coins of a plurality of denominations to the coin tray based on a dispensing command.
- Further particularly, the present invention relates to a coin tray for receiving coins, the coin tray attachable/detachable to an apparatus body, the coin tray provided with a coin sensor in a coin payment apparatus that feeds a predetermined number of coins of a predetermined denomination(s) among stored coins of a plurality of denominations to the coin tray based on a dispensing command.
- Note that the "coin(s)" used in the present specification includes all coins such as Japanese coins, US coins, Euro coins, etc.
- As a first conventional technique, there is known a coin processing apparatus configured to house coins, which have been loaded in an inlet, separately by denominations and then dispense the coin(s) from a dispensing opening, the coin processing apparatus having: a tray that has slopes on four sides and can receive the coins dispensed to the dispensing opening and collect the coins to the center; and an optical sensor means configured to detect remaining coins in the tray by disposing two sets of light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements so that two optical axes intersect with each other when viewed from the top and are oblique to each other when viewed from the side (Patent Literature 1).
- As a second conventional technique, there is known a coin processing apparatus that carries out coin acceptance and payout processing, the coin processing apparatus having: an apparatus body that can house loaded coins in a coin storage separately by denominations and dispense the housed coins; a dispensing tray that is mounted to be adjacent to a coin dispensing opening for dispensing the coins from the coin storage of the apparatus body, receives and stores the coins dispensed from the coin dispensing opening, and is attachable/detachable to/from the apparatus body; and a one-time collection chute that is mounted at a mount position of the dispensing tray, feeds the coins dispensed from the coin dispensing opening to the front of the apparatus, and is attachable/detachable to/from the apparatus body; wherein, mounting of the dispensing tray or the one-time collection chute is detected by a detection switch, and operation of the coin processing apparatus is limited depending on the type of the chute (Patent Literature 2).
- As a third conventional technique, there is known a coin processing apparatus configured to dispense coins, which are stored in a chassis, from a dispensing opening, the coin processing apparatus having: a tray that has a bottom surface and slopes at four sides of the bottom surface and can receive the coins dispensed to the dispensing opening and collect the coins onto the bottom surface; a proximity sensor that has a coil wound around a core provided in a back side of the bottom surface; and a remaining-coin detecting means configured to detect remaining coins in the tray by the proximity sensor (Patent Literature 3).
- As a fourth conventional technique, there is known an equipment electric-line connecting apparatus that has a body and equipment attachable/detachable to/from the body and is configured to connect/disconnect a power source line and a signal line in conjunction with equipment attachment/detachment of the equipment to/from the body; wherein, if the electric-line connecting apparatus is separated into a power line connecter and a signal line connecter and to be connected, the signal line connecter is connected after the power line connecter is connected first; and, if the apparatus is to be disconnected, the power line connecter is disconnected after the signal line connecter is disconnected (Patent Literature 4).
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- [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Patent No.
4552871 FIG. 1 to FIG. 11 ) - [Patent Literature 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2001-297351 FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 ) - [Patent Literature 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2011-65427 FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 ) - [Patent Literature 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2008-129733 FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 ) - In the first conventional technique, in the coin processing apparatus which dispenses the coins, an optical sensor for detecting the remaining coins of the tray, which receives and stores the dispensed coins, and informing a user of the presence of the remaining coins is disposed; and, this is effective for preventing reception of the coins from being forgotten. The tray in the first conventional apparatus is attached to the chassis in a fixed state. Therefore, while the optical sensor is actuated, the power line thereof is not connected or disconnected.
- However, the tray (coin tray), which receives and stores the coins, is formed to project from a body of a coin processing machine so as to facilitate the user to take out the coins. Therefore, the packaging style of transportation from a manufacturing factory to an installation location such as a supermarket is preferred to reduce the packaging volume and increase transportation efficiency by detaching the coin tray from the body and packaging the coin tray in a single box. Furthermore, depending on demands of clients, a coin tray having a shape different from that of a standard product is mounted in some cases.
- However, the first conventional technique has problems that the transportation efficiency is low and that the coin tray to which the demands of the clients are reflected cannot be mounted since the coin tray is integrated with the body.
- On the other hand, in the second conventional technique, a coin dispensing receiving opening or the one-time collection chute of the coin processing apparatus (coin acceptance and payout processing apparatus, coin changing machine, etc.) can be selectively mounted on the apparatus body. However, a sensor of the coins is not mounted on the dispensing receiving opening or the one-time collection chute. Therefore, in order to solve the problem of the first conventional technique, it is conceivable to combine the technical idea that enables the coin receiving opening to be attachable/detachable to/from the body disclosed in the second conventional technique with the first conventional technique.
- In this case, the coin receiving opening is attachably/detachably provided with the body, the coin tray and the body are separately carried to an installation location, and, then, an installer mounts the coin tray on the body at, for example, a supermarket, which is the installation location.
- Upon this mounting, the coin receiving opening may be mounted or detached in a state in which the power of the coin processing apparatus is on. In this case, since the coin receiving opening is mounted in the state in which the power of the body is on, so-called live-line insertion/removal is carried out, an inrush current flows into the optical sensor, light-emitting diodes or optical transistors constituting the optical sensor may be damaged, and the first conventional technique and the second conventional technique cannot be simply combined. Therefore, a coin tray having a remaining-coin detection sensor, which does not cause any failure even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out, is desired.
- The coin processing apparatus of the third conventional technique has an object to detect the remaining coins in the coin tray as well as the first conventional technique and replaces the optical sensor of the first conventional technique with the proximity sensor having the coil wound around the core. Since the proximity sensor can detect the coins without being affected by dust, etc., the proximity sensor is advantageous compared with the optical sensor if it is used in the coin processing apparatus. Normally, a proximity sensor has the structure having the coil wound around the core, and the proximity sensor integrated with an oscillator circuit and a detector circuit is commercially available. If a proximity sensor not integrated with an oscillator circuit and a detector circuit is used, the circuits have to be provided on a control board in the body side, which increases cost; therefore, this cannot be promptly employed.
- If the commercially-available proximity sensor integrated with the oscillator circuit and the detector circuit is replaced with the optical sensor of the first conventional apparatus and if the coin tray mounted with the proximity sensor is attachable/detachable to/from the body in combination with the second conventional technique, as well as the above description, live-line insertion/removal may be carried out, the oscillator circuit or the detector circuit may be damaged if the live-line insertion/removal is carried out, and this cannot be promptly employed. Therefore, a coin receiving opening that does not cause any failure even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out and has a coin remaining-amount detection sensor not affected by dust, etc. is desired.
- The fourth conventional technique is the invention related to an application of the present applicant, wherein the connecter is used in place of a switch in order to prevent occurrence of the problem due to live-line insertion/removal; upon connection, the power line is configured to be connected after the signal line is connected first; and, upon disconnection, the signal line is configured to be disconnected after the power line is disconnected first.
- Therefore, in a case in which the power of the body is on, if the connecter of the power line is connected or disconnected, an inrush current acts on the equipment connected to the power line. Therefore, even if this invention is applied to combination with the first conventional technique and the second conventional technique or the third conventional technique, there is a problem that damage, etc. of constituent parts by live-line insertion/removal cannot be prevented.
- A first object serving as a basic object of the present invention is to provide a coin tray of a coin payment apparatus, wherein the coin tray mounted with a coin sensor is attachable/detachable to/from a body of the coin payment apparatus, and the coin sensor is not damaged even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out.
- A second object serving as a subordinate object of the present invention is to provide a coin tray of a coin payment apparatus, wherein the coin tray mounted with coin sensors is attachable/detachable to/from a body of the coin payment apparatus, the coin sensors are not damaged even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out, and a remaining coin(s) can be detected even when one of the coin sensors malfunctions.
- A third object serving as a subordinate object of the present invention is to provide a coin tray of a coin payment apparatus, wherein the coin tray mounted with coin sensors is attachable/detachable to/from a body of the coin payment apparatus, the coin sensors are not damaged even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out, and even a wide variety of coin materials can be detected.
- A fourth object serving as a subordinate object of the present invention is to inexpensively provide a coin tray of a coin payment apparatus, wherein the coin tray mounted with coin sensors is attachable/detachable to/from a body of the coin payment apparatus, and the coin sensors are not damaged even when live-line insertion/removal is carried out.
- The four objects of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is only required to achieve at least the first object serving as the basic object.
- In order to achieve the objects, a first mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- A coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin sensor and the state sensor are electrically connected in series to a power source via the coin-sensor connecter; when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is configured to be connected after the coin-sensor connecter is connected; and, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the coin-sensor connecter is configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor is disconnected.
- A second mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- A coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor is a proximity sensor; the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin sensor and the state sensor are electrically connected in series to a power source via the coin-sensor connecter; when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is configured to be connected after the coin sensor is connected; and, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the coin sensor is configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor is disconnected.
- A third mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- A coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with the coin tray and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, and the state sensor are electrically connected in series to a power source via the coin-sensor connecter; a positional relation between the actuator and the open/close switch and a positional relation between the body-side connecter and the tray-side connecter are set so that, when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is configured to be connected after the coin-sensor connecter and the open/close switch are connected and so that, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the coin-sensor connecter and the open/close switch are configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor is disconnected.
- A fourth mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- A coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor includes at least two proximity sensors; the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with the coin tray and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in series via the coin-sensor connecter to the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and a power source connected in series; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in parallel to each other; when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is configured to be connected after the coin sensor and the open/close switch are connected; and, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the coin sensor and the open/close switch are configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor is disconnected.
- A fifth mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- A coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor includes a plurality of proximity sensors; the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with the coin tray and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in series via the serially-connected coin-sensor connecter to the tray mounted sensor and a power source, are connected in parallel to each other, and are subjected to application of mutually different frequencies; when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is configured to be connected after the coin sensor and the open/close switch are connected; and, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the coin sensor and the tray mounted sensor are configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor is disconnected.
- A sixth mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- A coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with a member moved when the coin tray is attached/detached to/from the body and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, and a state sensor are electrically connected in series to a power source via the coin-sensor connecter; the coin payment apparatus comprises the coin tray, wherein, a positional relation between the actuator and the open/close switch and a positional relation between the body-side connecter and the tray-side connecter are set so that, when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is connected after the coin sensor is connected and so that, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the coin sensor and the open/close switch are disconnected after the connection of the state sensor is disconnected; and the coin payment apparatus comprises a retainer consisting of a retained body disposed in the coin tray side and a retainer disposed in the body side; the retainer is set so as to retain the retained body in a state in which the coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, and the power source are connected in series.
- A seventh mode of the present invention is configured in a below manner.
- A coin payment apparatus feeds a coin stored in a body based on a payment command, receives the fed coin by a coin tray detachably attached to the body, and detects presence/absence of the coin in the coin tray by a coin sensor provided at the coin tray; wherein the coin sensor is a plurality of proximity sensors; furthermore, the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with a member moved when the coin tray is attached/detached to/from the body and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in series via the coin-sensor connecter to the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and a power source; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in parallel to each other and are subjected to application of mutually different frequencies; the coin payment apparatus comprises the coin tray, wherein a positional relation between the actuator and the open/close switch and a positional relation between the tray-side connecter and the body-side connecter are set so that, when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is connected after the coin sensor and the tray mounted sensor are connected and so that, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the coin sensor and the tray mounted sensor are disconnected after the connection of the state sensor is disconnected; the coin payment apparatus comprises a retainer consisting of a retained body disposed in the coin tray side and a retainer body disposed in the body side; and the retainer is set so as to retain the retained body in a state in which the coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and the power source are connected in series.
- In the first mode of the present invention, the coin tray is provided with the coin sensor and is attachable/detachable to/from the body. The electrical connection of the coin sensor is connected or disconnected by connection and disconnection of the tray mounted sensor. Furthermore, the state sensor, which directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in the actuatable state, cancels electrical connection if the coin payment apparatus is not in the actuatable state and establishes electrical connection if it is in the actuatable state. The coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, and the state sensor are connected in series to the power source via the coin-sensor connecter.
- Furthermore, the coin sensor is electrically connected to or disconnected from the power source in the body side by connection/disconnection between the body-side connecter attached to the body side and the tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side.
- Therefore, even in a case in which the coin tray is mounted on the tray and is electrically connected to the body side by the coin-sensor connecter, if the tray mounted sensor or the state sensor is not connected, current does not flow to the coin sensor disposed at the coin tray.
- The tray mounted sensor becomes a connected state when the coin tray is mounted at a predetermined position, where the coin-sensor connecter is connected. The state sensor detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in the actuatable state or not. In other words, if the coin payment apparatus is in the actuatable state, it is electrically connected to enable electricity distribution; and, if not in the actuatable state, electricity cannot be distributed.
- Therefore, the coin payment apparatus becomes the actuatable state only after the state sensor is connected after the coin tray is mounted on the body, the coin-sensor connecter is connected, and the tray mounted sensor is connected. Reversely, when the coin tray is to be detached, the coin tray can be detached from the body only after the tray mounted sensor and the coin-sensor connecter are disconnected after the state sensor is disconnected. In other words, when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is connected after the coin sensor and the tray mounted sensor are connected; and, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the tray mounted sensor and the coin-sensor connecter are disconnected after the state sensor is disconnected. Therefore, the coin tray is not detached from the body in a live-line state, and sudden supply of current to the coin sensor and sudden disconnection thereof do not occur.
- Therefore, since live-line insertion/removal is not carried out when the coin tray is attached to or detached from the body, there is an advantage that the first object serving as the basic object of the invention of the present application can be achieved.
- In the second mode of the present invention, since main configurations are practically the same as those of the first mode of the present invention, there is an advantage that the first object serving as the basic object of the invention of the present application can be achieved as well as the first invention.
- Moreover, detection of coins is not affected by dust, etc. since the coin sensor is the proximity sensor; therefore, there is an advantage that the second object of the present invention can be achieved.
- In the third mode of the present invention, since main configurations are practically the same as those of the first mode of the present invention, there is an advantage that the first object serving as the basic object of the invention of the present application can be achieved as well as the first invention.
- Furthermore, since the tray mounted sensor consists of the actuator integrally provided with the coin tray and the open/close switch attached to the body side and can be therefore formed inexpensively, there is an advantage that the fourth object serving as the subordinate object of the invention of the present application can be achieved.
- In the fourth mode of the present invention, since main configurations are practically the same as those of the first mode of the present invention, there is an advantage that the first object serving as the basic object of the invention of the present application can be achieved as well as the first invention.
- Furthermore, since the coin sensor consists of the plurality of proximity sensors, there is an advantage that detection of coins are not affected by dust, etc. as well as the second invention.
- Moreover, there are the plurality of proximity sensors, the proximity sensors are connected in series to the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and the power source, and the proximity sensors are connected in parallel. Therefore, as long as at least one of the plurality of proximity sensors is normal, the remaining coin(s) in the coin tray can be detected although the detection range is narrowed. Therefore, there is an advantage that the second object of the invention of the present application can be achieved.
- In the fifth mode of the present invention, since main configurations are practically the same as those of the first mode of the present invention, there is an advantage that the first object serving as the basic object of the invention of the present application can be achieved.
- Moreover, the coin sensor consists of the plurality of proximity sensors, and they are connected in parallel; therefore, there is an advantage that coin detection is not affected by dust, etc. as well as the second invention. Furthermore, there are the plurality of proximity sensors, and they are connected in parallel. Therefore, if at least one of the plurality of proximity sensors is effective, the remaining coin(s) in the coin tray can be detected although the detection range is narrowed. Therefore, there is an advantage that the second object of the invention of the present application can be achieved.
- Furthermore, since mutually different frequencies are applied to the plurality of proximity sensors, respectively, the metal materials which can be detected are different for each of the frequencies. As a result, the detectable coin range can be expanded; therefore, there is an advantage that the third object serving as the subordinate object can be achieved.
- In the sixth mode of the present invention, since main configurations are practically the same as those of the first mode of the present invention, there is an advantage that the first object serving as the basic object of the invention of the present application can be achieved.
- Furthermore, since the tray mounted sensor consists of the actuator integrally provided with a member moved when the coin tray is attached to or detached from the body and the open/close switch attached to the body side, the open/close switch can use a commercially-available switch and can be formed inexpensively. Therefore, there is an advantage that the fourth object serving as the subordinate object of the present invention can be achieved.
- Moreover, in a state in which the coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and the power source are connected in series by the retainer, they are retained at retention positions. Therefore, there is an advantage that unintentional detachment of the coin retaining tray from the body can be controlled.
- In the seventh mode of the present invention, since the main configurations are practically the same as those of the first mode of the present invention, there is an advantage that the first object serving as the basic object of the present invention can be achieved.
- Furthermore, since the tray mounted sensor consists of the actuator integrally provided with the member moved when the coin tray is attached to or detached from the body and the open/close switch attached to the body side, the open/close switch can use a commercially-available switch and can be formed inexpensively. Therefore, there is an advantage that the fourth object of the present invention can be achieved.
- Moreover, since the coin sensor consists of the plurality of proximity sensors, there is an advantage that coin detection is not affected by dust, etc. as well as the second invention.
- Furthermore, there are the plurality of proximity sensors, and they are connected in parallel. Therefore, if at least one of the proximity sensors is effective, the remaining coin(s) in the coin tray can be detected although the detection range is narrowed. Therefore, there is an advantage that the second object of the present invention can be achieved.
- Moreover, since the mutually different frequencies are applied to the plurality of proximity sensors, respectively, the detectable metal materials are different for each of the frequencies. Therefore, as a result, the detectable coin range can be expanded. Therefore, there is an advantage that the fourth object serving as the subordinate object of the present invention can be achieved.
- Furthermore, in the state in which the coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and the power source are connected in series by the retainer, they are retained at the retention positions. Therefore, there is an advantage that unintentional detachment of the coin retaining tray from the body can be controlled.
-
- [
FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a coin acceptance and payout apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration drawing of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration perspective view of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a T surface ofFIG. 3 . - [
FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a coin tray of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the coin tray of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged back side view of the coin tray of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory drawing of the relation between a payment apparatus and the coin tray of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a line A-A ofFIG. 8 . - [
FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a working explanatory drawing of a proximity sensor of the coin tray of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 11] FIG. 11 shows structure drawings of proximity sensors of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention; wherein, (A) is a plan view, and (B) is a cross-sectional view of a line B-B of (A). - [
FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram of the proximity sensors of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a control circuit diagram of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. - [
FIG. 14] FIG. 14 is a timing chart diagram of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. - A best mode of a coin dispenser of the present invention is
a coin tray that receives a coin fed from a coin stored in a body based on a payment command; wherein, the coin tray is provided with a coin sensor that detects presence/absence of the coin; in a coin payment apparatus detachably attached to the body, the coin sensor is a plurality of proximity sensors; furthermore, the coin sensor is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter attached to the body side and a tray-side connecter attached to the coin tray side; furthermore, the coin payment apparatus includes a state sensor that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state; furthermore, the apparatus includes a tray mounted sensor consisting of an actuator integrally provided with a member moved when the coin tray is attached to or detached from the body and an open/close switch attached to the body side; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in series to the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and the power source via the coin-sensor connecter; the plurality of proximity sensors are connected in parallel to each other; furthermore, mutually-different frequencies are applied to the proximity sensors, respectively; a positional relation between the actuator and the open/close switch and a positional relation between the coin-sensor connecter and the tray-side connecter are set in the coin tray so that, when the coin tray is to be mounted on the body, the state sensor is connected after the coin sensor and the tray mounted sensor are connected and so that, when the coin tray is to be detached from the body, the coin sensor and the tray mounted sensor are disconnected after the connection of the state sensor is disconnected; a retainer consisting of a retained body disposed in the coin tray side and a retainer disposed in the body side is included; a tip of the retained body has a widen shape having a bulged tip; the retainer has a pair of balls disposed to elastically get close to each other; and the retainer is set to retain the retained body in a state in which the coin sensor, the tray mounted sensor, the state sensor, and the power source are connected in series. - The present embodiment is an example of a payment apparatus of a coin acceptance and payout apparatus, which receives coins of 8 denominations, i.e., 2 euros, which is the currency of European Union, 1 euro, 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 2 cents, and 1 cent, stores them separately by the denominations, pays a predetermined number of coins of a predetermined denomination(s) based on a dispensing command from a higher-level device. However, coins around the world such as coins of Japanese yen or US dollars can be applied as target coins of the present invention. The present embodiment will be explained as an embodiment of a coin tray of a coin payment apparatus by focusing on a
coin tray 102 related to apayment device 114 of a coin acceptance andpayout apparatus 100. - An outline of the coin acceptance and
payout apparatus 100 will be explained with reference toFIG. 1 andFIG. 2 . - The coin acceptance and
payout apparatus 100 consists of abody 101 and thecoin tray 102. Thebody 101 includes acoin receiving device 105 fixed to aninner frame 104 disposed in anoutside frame 103, a coin separating andfeeding device 106, adenomination discriminating device 107, a carryingdevice 108, asorting unit 110, acoin sorting unit 112, and thepayment device 114. - First, the
coin receiving device 105 will be explained mainly with reference toFIG. 3 to FIG. 5 . - The
coin receiving device 105 has a function to feed coins C of a plurality of denominations, which have been loaded in bulk into acoin inlet 120, to the coin separating andfeeding device 106 of a next step within a range that the coins do not exceed a predetermined amount per unit time. - Specifically, the
coin receiving device 105 includes thecoin inlet 120, a collapsingroller 124, a firstelectric motor 126 which drives a carryingbelt 122, and a control circuit (not shown) of the firstelectric motor 126. - First, the
coin inlet 120 will be explained. - The
coin inlet 120 has a function to guide a coin (s), which are loaded by a client, directly onto the carryingbelt 122 or, after loading by the client, receive the coin guided by a coin guide and guide the coin onto the carryingbelt 122. - The
coin inlet 120 is disposed on a front-end left-side upper surface of theoutside frame 103 and consists of aloading opening 121 of thecoin inlet 120 and astoring unit 123 disposed therebelow. In other words, the upper surface of thestoring unit 123 is theloading opening 121, and theloading opening 121 has a circular shape in a planar view. - The storing
unit 123 is a part concaved downward from theloading opening 121 and is formed into a semispherical shape in the present embodiment. At a bottom surface of asemispherical wall surface 125 partitioning thestoring unit 123, a carryingopening 127 having a rectangular long-hole shape is formed to be long in a long-side direction of theoutside frame 103. - Next, the carrying
belt 122 will be explained. - The carrying
belt 122 has a function to carry the coin (s) C, which have been loaded into thecoin inlet 120 and dropped from the storingunit 123 onto the carryingbelt 122, to a next step. - The carrying
belt 122 is disposed immediately below the carryingopening 127. Specifically, the carryingbelt 122 is stretched between a pair of rollers, is provided to be slightly tilted upward in the carrying direction, and has a width wider than the width of the carryingopening 127, and the long-side-direction length thereof is set to be longer than that of the carryingopening 127. - The carrying
belt 122 can be moved in a forward-rotation direction, in which the coin C is carried forward (next step) by the firstelectric motor 126, and in a backward-rotation direction, in which the coin C is returned. The firstelectric motor 126 becomes a forward-rotation, backward-rotation, or stopped state depending on a command from a control device (not shown). - Next, the collapsing
roller 124 will be explained. - The collapsing
roller 124 is disposed above the roller of the carryingbelt 122 with a gap, which is about three times the thinnest coin, between the collapsing roller and the carryingbelt 122, and part of the circumferential surface thereof is projecting to thestoring unit 123. - If the carrying
belt 122 is moved in the carrying direction, the lower surface of the collapsingroller 124 is rotated in the opposite direction of the moving direction of the carryingbelt 122; and, if the carryingbelt 122 is moved in the returning direction, the collapsingroller 124 is configured to be in a still state. The carrying direction represents the carrying direction of moving toward the next step and, in the present embodiment, refers to a direction of carrying to the coin separating andfeeding device 106 of the next step. - By virtue of this, if three or more thinnest coins are overlapped with one another on the carrying
belt 122 and reach the collapsingroller 124, the uppermost coin C is moved in the returning direction and shoved and dropped by the collapsingroller 124, wherein it has the function to regulate them so that many coins C are not dropped at once to the coin separating andfeeding device 106 of the next step. Furthermore, if the carryingbelt 122 is moved in the carrying direction, the collapsingroller 124 feeds the coins C, which are stacked in thestoring unit 123, to the carrying-belt-122 side by frictional force. - If a
full sensor 136 of the later-described coin separating andfeeding device 106 detects a full state, the firstelectric motor 126 is stopped. - Therefore, the coin separating and
feeding device 106 can stably sort and feed the coins one by one without receiving the coins of more than the full amount from thecoin receiving device 105. - Next, the coin separating and
feeding device 106 will be explained. - The coin separating and
feeding device 106 has a function to separate the coins C of a plurality of denominations, which have been received in bulk from thecoin receiving device 105, one by one and feed them to the next step. - The coin separating and
feeding device 106 is disposed below thecoin receiving device 105 and includes arotating disk 140, acoin storing container 132, acoin receiver 134, and thefull sensor 136. - The
rotating disk 140 has receivingunits 138, which receive the coins C one by one, is disposed to be tilted at a predetermined angle, and is rotated at a predetermined speed. - The receiving
units 138 have Y-shapedplates 146, on which threeconcave parts 142 are formed at a regular interval, are fixed onto the upper surface of arotating disk 140 so as to be concentric to therotating disk 140. - A
pusher 148, which carries out pivotal motion, is disposed on one side of the concave part 142 (for example, see Japanese Patent No.4784806 - In other words, the approximately
semicircular receiving unit 138 is formed by thepusher 148 and theconcave part 142. - The receiving
unit 138 is set to have a size that cannot receive two juxtaposed minimum-diameter coins but can receive a single maximum-diameter coin. - The
pusher 148 is normally positioned in a still state at a position close to one side of theconcave part 142 so as to form the receivingunit 138. If thepusher 148 carries out pivotal motion and is moved to a predetermined position, thepusher 148 feeds the retained coin C to the circumferential direction of therotating disk 140. - The receiving
unit 138 receives the coins C, which are stored in bulk in a lower part opposed to thecoin storing container 132, one by one. At a predetermined position above the rotation center of therotating disk 140, thepusher 148 pushes the coin C of the receivingunit 138 to the circumferential direction and passes the coin C to thecoin receiver 134 having a knife shape. - The
rotating disk 140 is rotated at a predetermined speed by an unshown electric motor via a decelerator. - The
full sensor 136 has a function to output a full signal if the amount of coins in thecoin storing container 132 is equal to or more than a predetermined amount and is, for example, a transmission-type photoelectric sensor. - If the
full sensor 136 outputs the full signal, the firstelectric motor 126 is stopped, and supply of the coins C from thecoin receiving device 105 is stopped. - If the
full sensor 136 stops outputting the full signal, the firstelectric motor 126 is restarted, and the coins C on the carryingbelt 122 are supplied to thecoin storing container 132. - Next, the
denomination discriminating device 107 will be explained. - The
denomination discriminating device 107 has a function to discriminate the authenticity and denomination of the coins C, which have been fed from the coin separating andfeeding device 106 one by one. - The
denomination discriminating device 107 has a function to discriminate the authenticity and denomination of the coin C based on detection data, which is physical information related to the material, thickness, diameter, etc. , of the coin obtained by amagnetic sensor 150. - The
denomination discriminating device 107 includes themagnetic sensor 150, a slide base (not shown) disposed in the same plane as the upper surface of therotating disk 140, theimpeller 152 for feeding the coin C, and adetection guide 154. - The slide base has a function to guide one surface of the coin C pushed by the
impeller 152. - The
impeller 152 has a function to move the coins C, which have been received from the coin separating andfeeding device 106, and pass the coins through thecoin holding part 158 one by one. - Furthermore, the
impeller 152 has a function to pass the coins C, which have passed thecoin holding part 158, to the carryingdevice 108. - The
impeller 152 is parallel to the slide base, is rotatable in a plane close thereto, forms thecoin holding part 158 with threepushers 156 disposed at regular intervals by the same number as that of the receivingunits 138, and forms a Y-shape. - The
detection guide 154 has a function to linearly guide the coin C, which is opposed to thecoin holding part 158 and passes therethrough, and fix the position of the coin C with respect to themagnetic sensor 150. - Next, the carrying
device 108 will be explained. - The carrying
device 108 has a function to carry the coins C, of which authenticity and denomination have been discriminated, to asorting unit 110. - The carrying
device 108 includes anendless carrier 160, which is moved in one direction in a single plane; aslide plate 162, on which one surface of the coin C pushed by theendless carrier 160 slides; and astraight guide rail 164, which guides the circumferential surface of the coin C. - The
endless carrier 160 in the present embodiment is achain 170 stretched between afirst sprocket 166 and asecond sprocket 168, which are disposed at a predetermined interval. Thechain 170 is installed in a flattened running-track shape, and thefirst sprocket 166 is disposed immediately lateral to theimpeller 152 of thedenomination discriminating device 107. Pushingpins 172 are fixed to a lateral surface of thechain 170 at predetermined intervals. - The plurality of pushing
pins 172 are attached to thechain 170 at the intervals corresponding to the intervals of thepushers 156. - The
first sprocket 166 is rotated at a predetermined speed, and thepusher 156 and the pushingpin 172 are set so that the coin C, which is pushed to a carryingpath 174 of the pushingpin 172 by thepusher 156, is immediately pushed by the pushingpin 172. The carryingpath 174 is a path through which the coin C, which is pushed by the pushingpin 172, is moved while being guided by theguide rail 164. - The
guide rail 164 has a function to guide a lower-end peripheral surface of the coin C so that the coin C pushed by the pushingpin 172 is moved in the carryingpath 174. - The
guide rail 164 is disposed along and slightly below thechain 170 having a straight shape of the upper side of the running-track shape. - With respect to the
slide plate 162, theguide rail 164 is slightly projecting than the maximum thickness of handled coins C in the orthogonal direction. - Therefore, the lower surface of the coin C pushed by the pushing
pin 172 is guided by theslide plate 162, and the lower-end peripheral surface thereof is guided by theguide rail 164. - As described later, the
guide rail 164 in the present embodiment also serves as a sorting unit. - The
sorting unit 110 has a function to drop the coins C into predetermined coin sorting holes respectively by denominations. - The
sorting unit 110 has anupper sorting unit 180, which is disposed along theguide rail 164 in the upper side of theguide rail 164, and alower sorting unit 182, which is disposed in the lower side along theguide rail 164. - In the
upper sorting unit 180, a 2-centcoin sorting hole 184, a 5-centcoin sorting hole 186, a 10-centcoin sorting hole 188, a 20-centcoin sorting hole 190, and an overflow-coin sorting hole 192 are disposed sequentially toward the moving direction of the carryingdevice 108. - In the
lower sorting unit 182, a reject-coin sorting hole 194, a 1-centcoin sorting hole 196, a 2-eurocoin sorting hole 198, a 50-centcoin sorting hole 200, and a 1-eurocoin sorting hole 202 are disposed sequentially toward the moving direction of the carryingdevice 108. - Since the disposition of the denominations with respect to the coin sorting holes is an example, they can be freely disposed in accordance with needs.
- At each of the
coin sorting holes - In the present embodiment, the gate devices of the
coin sorting holes guide rail 164. - Thus, the
guide rail 164 is formed by fixed guides, which are fixed between thecoin sorting holes 4997374 - The gate devices opposed to the respective
coin sorting holes coin holding part 158. - As a result, the coins C carried by the carrying
device 108 are dropped to the predetermined coin sorting holes 184, 186, 188, 190, 194, 196, 198, 200, or 202 respectively by the denominations. - The
coin storing unit 112 has a function to store the coins C, which have been sorted respectively by the denominations in thesorting unit 110, respectively by the denominations and a function to dispense a predetermined number of the coins C of a predetermined denomination (s) according to a command from the higher-level device such as a POS register. - In the present embodiment, the
coin storing unit 112 is formed by arranging, in two rows, a firstcoin dispenser row 212 and a secondcoin dispenser row 214 , in whichcoin dispensers 210, each of which dispenses the coins C one by one by a rotating disk (not shown) are parallely juxtaposed below thesorting unit 110 so as to be opposed to theupper sorting unit 180 and thelower sorting unit 182 respectively by the denominations. - The "first" and "second" of the first
coin dispenser row 212 and the secondcoin dispenser row 214 are denoted for distinguishing them from each other, and it does not have particular meaning in terms of interpretation of the right. - Each of the
coin dispensers 210 is shown by areference sign 210 with a denomination. - Next, the
payment device 114 will be explained. - The
payment device 114 has a function to carry the coins C, which have been delivered from thecoin dispensers 210 of the respective denominations, to thecoin tray 102 as soon as possible. - Specifically, the
payment device 114 has a function to promptly converge the behavior of the coin(s) C ejected from thecoin dispenser 210, quickly bring the coin C into surface contact with theupper surface 218 of apayment carrying belt 216, and carry the coin C to thecoin tray 102 by thepayment carrying belt 216 and, in the present embodiment, includes at least thepayment carrying belt 216. - Next, the
payment carrying belt 216 will be explained with reference toFIG. 2 . - The
payment carrying belt 216 has a function to carry the coin(s) C, which have been dropped onto theupper surface 218 thereof, to thecoin tray 102. In the present embodiment, thepayment carrying belt 216 is aflat belt 220 and is stretched between a pair ofrollers upper surface 218 thereof is disposed so that the front side thereof is lowered at a predetermined angle toward the coin-tray-102 side. This slope angle is preferred to be an angle at which the standing coin C is rolled to the coin-tray-102 side in a state in which theflat belt 220 is still. This is for quickly carrying the coin C to thecoin tray 102 by the moving of thepayment carrying belt 216 and the rolling of the coin C. - One of the rollers, the
roller 222 in the present embodiment is selectively driven so that theupper surface 218 is moved toward thecoin tray 102 by a secondelectric motor 226. - A pair of
guide plates flat belt 220 are disposed at a predetermined interval so as to guide the coins C, which are carried by theflat belt 220. - The coins C carried by the
flat belt 220 are fed into the bowl-shapedcoin tray 102. - The second
electric motor 226 starts rotating at the same time as output of a coin dispensing command to thecoin dispenser 210 and stops rotating after the time sufficient for carrying elapses. - The coins C delivered from the
coin dispensers 210 are dropped onto theupper surface 218 of thepayment carrying belt 216. The coins C dropped onto thepayment carrying belt 216 are brought into surface contact with thepayment carrying belt 216 as described above, are carried toward thecoin tray 102 by the movement of thepayment carrying belt 216, are dropped from an end thereof to thecoin tray 102, and are stored therein. - Next, the
coin tray 102 will be explained with reference toFIG. 5 to FIG. 9 . - As shown in
FIG. 5 , thecoin tray 102 has a function to receive the coin(s) C carried by the carryingbelt 216 and store the coins until they are taken out by a client or a worker (hereinafter, referred to as a recipient) and has a bowl shape formed to be detachable/attachable to theinner frame 104 in the present embodiment. - More specifically, the
coin tray 102 of the present embodiment consists of atray 232 having a bowl shape and amount member 234 having a rectangular shape in a planar view for mounting on theinner frame 104. - First, the
tray 232 will be explained. - The
tray 232 has a function to receive the coin(s) C fed from the carryingbelt 216, store the coins so that the recipient can easily take them out, and have acoin sensor 233 attached thereto. In the present embodiment, thetray 232 has a tongue shape in a plane and consists of asemicircular part 236, arectangular part 238 extended from a maximum diameter part of thesemicircular part 236 by a predetermined length and the interval of the maximum diameter, and apartition wall 239 defining the semicircular-part-236 side of therectangular part 238. Aperipheral part 240 of thesemicircular part 236 and therectangular part 238 has a predetermined thickness, for example, a thickness of about 40 millimeters; and asteep slope 242 tilted by a steep slope from theperipheral part 240 toward the inner lower side, agentle slope 246 tilted downward gently from a lower end of thesteep slope 242 toward acenter part 244, and a semicircularflat placing part 248 positioned at thecenter part 244 are formed. Thesteel slope 242 forms a barrier having a predetermined height so that the coins C do not jump out due to the momentum of dispensing. Thegentle slope 246 has a slope on which the coins C slide down toward the placingpart 248. The placingpart 248 is an elliptical flat surface continued to the lower end of thegentle slope 246, and the diameter thereof is set to be equal to or more than the diameter of the maximum diameter coin and two times or less thereof. Therefore, it is set to have the dimensions so that some of small-diameter coins can be juxtaposed and brought into surface contact with the placingpart 248. Thepartition wall 239 is disposed at therectangular part 238 that is opposite to thesemicircular part 236 and is formed so as to have a predetermined height from the placingpart 248, in the present embodiment, a height that exceeds about half of thegentle slope 246 and 60% thereof. The diameter of thesemicircular part 236, therefore, the width of therectangular part 238 is set to be equal to or more than five times the diameter of the maximum diameter coin and equal to or less than eight times thereof. This is for facilitating take-out of the coins C on the placingpart 248 and for downsizing. More specifically, this is for enabling the recipient to take out the coins by a single grabbing motion even in a case in which many coins C are fed and even in a case in which the coins slide down on thegentle slope 246 and accumulated on the placingpart 248. Therefore, although the upper side of the placingpart 248 and thegentle slope 246 surrounded by theperipheral part 240 serves as a received-coin storing part 249, the fed coins C are normally stored on the placingpart 248. In the present embodiment, at least thetray 232 is manufactured of a non-magnetic material such as a resin. As described later, this is for preventing the tray from affecting detection of the coins C since aproximity sensor 282 is used as thecoin sensor 233. - Next, the
mount member 234 will be explained. - The
mount member 234 has a function to integrate thecoin tray 102 with theinner frame 104 by insertion into a mount-member receiving part 250 (FIG. 9 ) of theinner frame 104 of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100 (FIG. 9 ) and, furthermore, mount a coin-sensor connecter 252, a tray mountedsensor 254, and part of aretainer 256. - In the present embodiment, the
mount member 234 is formed into a thick plate shape that is a rectangle horizontally extending to the semicircular-part-236 side of therectangular part 238 in a planar view and has a predetermined thickness. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 9 , themount member 234 is formed into a reversed rectangular flat-pan shape having a closed upper surface side and an opened lower surface side. Further specifically, themount part 234 is partitioned by aleft side face 258, aright side face 260, arear side face 262, and atop board 264, and alower surface 266 is opened. Aback cover 268 extending to the lower surface of thetray 232 is fixed to and integrated with thelower surface 266 in a state in which it is fitted therein and is formed into a thick plate shape as a whole. Theback cover 268 forms astep part 269 which is bent in a crank shape immediately below thepartition wall 239 at an intermediate part thereof and lowers the step toward therear side face 262. In other words, it is formed so that the distance to the extension line of thetop board 264 is small in the rear-side-face-262 side of themount member 234 and is slightly large in the tray-232 side. - Next, the mount-
member receiving part 250 will be explained. - The mount-
member receiving part 250 has a function to receive themount part 234 and retain thecoin tray 102 so that it is not moved almost at all in vertical/horizontal and backward directions with respect to theinner frame 104. In the present embodiment, the mount-member receiving part 250 is a rectangular space, which is formed in theinner frame 104 and is formed so as to be mated with themount member 234. The mount-member receiving part 250 consists of abottom board 270 of theinner frame 104, anupper guide 272 fixed to be parallel to thebottom board 270 and be slightly distant from the height of theleft side face 258 and theright side face 260 in the upper side of thebottom board 270, and aleft guide 274 and aright guide 276 disposed outside theleft side face 258 and theright side face 260 at an interval slightly wider than the interval between theleft side face 258 and theright side face 260 and is a cross-sectionally-rectangular space having anopening 278 in a front lower part of the coin acceptance andpayout apparatus 100 and is extending in a front-back direction. Astopper 280 slightly projecting upward from thebottom board 270 in the vicinity of theopening 278 is formed. In the present embodiment, thestopper 280 consists of an end face of athin plate 281 disposed on thebottom board 270. - Therefore, when the
mount member 234 is inserted from theopening 278 to the mount-member receiving part 250, themount member 234 can be inserted to a deep part of theinner frame 104 while the lower surface thereof is guided by thebottom board 270, theleft side face 258 is guided by theleft guide 274, theright side face 260 is guided by theright guide 276, and thetop board 264 is guided by theupper guide 272. However, when thestep part 269 reaches thestopper 280, themount member 234 cannot be pushed into the deep part more than that. - Next, the
coin sensor 233 will be explained. - The
coin sensor 233 has a function to detect whether the coin(s) C are present on thecoin tray 102, specifically, the received-coin storing part 249 or not and, in the present embodiment, is theproximity sensor 282 disposed in the back side of the placingpart 248. However, since thecoin sensor 233 is only required to have the above described function, a transmission-type photoelectric sensor having a light axis above the placingpart 248, a reflection-type photoelectric sensor which detects reflected light from the coin(s) C, or the like can be also employed. However, theproximity sensor 282 is preferred since it can be disposed in the back side and is not affected by dust, etc. - The
proximity sensor 282 includes at least one proximity sensor and, in the present embodiment, includes two proximity sensors, more specifically, afirst proximity sensor 282A and asecond proximity sensor 282B. However, three ormore proximity sensors 282 can be employed. If a plurality ofcoin sensors 233 are disposed, the detection range of the coin(s) C can be expanded, and detection accuracy can be increased, which is effective. - As shown in
FIG. 7 , thefirst proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B are juxtaposed in the back side of the placingpart 248. Since thefirst proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B have the same configuration, thefirst proximity sensor 282A will be representatively explained with reference toFIG. 11 , and the same parts of thesecond proximity sensor 282B are denoted with the same numbers with a symbol B replacing A to omit the explanation thereof. - The
first proximity sensor 282A includes acore 284A made of ferrite, acoil 296A, and adetection circuit 288A. Thecore 284A is formed in a rectangular flat pan shape as a whole. - Specifically, a
side wall 292A standing from four sides of a rectangularbottom wall 290A at a right angle with respect to thebottom wall 290A, acoil core 294A, and thecoil 296A are included. Thecoil 296A is formed in a ring shape and externally mounted on thecoil core 294A. Thecoil core 294A is eccentric from the center in the long-side direction of thebottom wall 290A, is disposed at the center in the short-side direction thereof, and is formed in a cylindrical shape upright with respect to thebottom wall 290A, and the height thereof is the same as that of theside wall 292A. Thedetection circuit 288A is a rectangular substrate disposed in the left side of thecoil 296A surrounded by theside wall 292A (FIG. 11 (B) ) and is fixed to thebottom wall 290A, for example, by adhesion. - The
first proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B formed in the above described manner are attached to the back side of thetray 232 opposed to the placingpart 248 by, for example, adhesion in a state in which the end faces of thecoil cores 294A and the side walls 292 are practically in close contact therewith. Regarding the specific attachment positions of thefirst proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B, as shown inFIG. 6 , they are disposed in a state in which theside walls first proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B are adjacent to each other so that the centers of thecoil cores 294A are positioned on a shorter axis line SA, which passes through the center M of the approximately-circular placing part 248 and orthogonal to the longer axis line LA extending in the long-side direction of the coin acceptance andpayout apparatus 100, and are positioned at the positions equally distant from the center M. Specifically, the center of thecoil core 294A is positioned at approximately the center between the center M of the shorter axis line SA and aleft end 248L of the placingpart 248, and thecoil core 294B is also similarly disposed at approximately the center between the center M of the shorter axis line SA and aright end 248R of the placingpart 248. In this state, the magnetic flux formed between thecoil core 294A and theside wall 292A or between thecoil core 294B and theside wall 292B reaches the received-coin storing part 249 above part of thegentle slope 246 and, as a matter of course, to the placingpart 248. - Next, the coin-
sensor connecter 252 will be explained. - The coin-
sensor connecter 252 has a function to connect thecoin sensor 233, which is attached to thecoin tray 102, at least to apower source 300 and abody control circuit 302, which are disposed in theinner frame 104. In the present embodiment, the coin-sensor connecter 252 employs a so-called drawer-type connecter consisting of a tray-side connecter 304, which is a so-called male type, and a body-side connecter 306, which is a female type. - The tray-
side connecter 304 is attached in a backward direction to a left end of therear side face 262 of themount member 234. In other words, the tray-side connecter 304 is attached horizontally since it forms a right angle with respect to the verticalrear side face 262. At predetermined positions of the outer surface of the tray-side connecter 304, a plurality of contact points of power lines and signal lines are disposed. - Next, the body-
side connecter 306 will be explained. - The body-
side connecter 306 is movably attached in the long-side direction of thebody 101 to an L-shapedbracket 308, which is disposed on thebottom board 270 at a position opposed to the tray-side connecter 304, by a pair ofelastic supporters side connecter 306 is a so-called female-type connecter having ahole 310, which receives the tray-side connecter 304. - Next, the
elastic supporters - The
elastic supporters side connecter 306 so that the connecter is movable forward and backward in the long-side direction of the coin acceptance and payout apparatus 100 (in the top-bottom direction inFIG. 6 ). Since theelastic supporters elastic supporter 309A will be representatively explained, and the same parts are shown with B replacing A to omit explanations. - First ends of
cylindrical guide rods 312A extending in the extending direction of thebody 101 are fixed to left/right both ends of the body-side connecter 306. Theguide rods 312A and 312B are disposed to be parallel to each other. Theguide rod 312A employs a fall-preventing structure (not shown) by, for example, a snap ring slidably inserted in the extending direction of the axis line to aslide bearing 314A disposed on a vertical part of thebracket 308 and is attached to an end so as to prevent fall-off. Furthermore, aspring 316A is externally mounted at the outside of theguide rod 312A, and the body-side connecter 306 is elastically biased so as to be moved toward the front side of thebody 101, in other words, toward theopening 278. Furthermore, contact points opposed to the contact points of the outer surface of the tray-side connecter 304 are disposed on the inner surface of thehole 310 of the body-side connecter 306. - Therefore, when the
mount member 234 of thecoin tray 102 is inserted in the mount-member receiving part 250 and is pushed toward the rear side of thebody 101, themount part 234 is guided by thebottom board 270, theupper guide 272, theleft guide 274, and theright guide 276 and is linearly moved toward the rear side. In this moving process, since the body-side connecter 306 is pushed in to elastically deform thespring 316A, the pushing force from the body-side connecter 306 with respect to the tray-side connecter 304 becomes stronger; therefore, the tray-side connecter 304 is moved into thehole 310 of the body-side connecter 306, and the contact points disposed thereon become a contacted state. Then, in this electrically contacted state, thestep part 269 reaches thestopper 280, specifically, the end of thethin plate 281 and cannot be further moved to the rear side. In other words, thecoin tray 102 cannot be pushed in after thestep part 269 reaches thestopper 280. Note that, the female type may be disposed on thecoin tray 102, and the male type may be disposed in thebody 101 side. - Next, the tray mounted
sensor 254 will be explained. - The tray mounted
sensor 254 has a function to turn on electrical connection when thecoin tray 102 is mounted at a predetermined position of theinner frame 104, which is thebody 101. In the present embodiment, the tray mountedsensor 254 includes anactuator 314 and an open/close switch 318. - The
actuator 314 is attached backward to the center part of therear side face 262 of themount member 234. In other words, since the actuator 314 forms a right angle with respect to the verticalrear side face 262, theactuator 314 is a rod body horizontally projecting toward the rear side by a predetermined length. - Next, the open/
close switch 318 will be explained. The open/close switch 318 has a function to be electrically connected when thecoin tray 102 is mounted at a normal position with respect to thebody 101, therefore, theinner frame 104; and, in the present embodiment, the open/close switch 318 is amicroswitch 320, which is fixed to theupper guide 272 at the position. Apassive piece 322 of themicroswitch 320 is determined at a position where thepassive piece 322 is pushed by movement of theactuator 314 and, after the coin-sensor connecter 252 becomes a connected state, is pushed by the further pushed actuator 314 to causes themicroswitch 320 to be in a connected (on) state. Therefore, although various sensors can be used as the open/close switch 318, mechanical switches are effective in terms of detection reliability, influence of dust, etc., and cost. Among them, themicroswitch 320 is the most preferred since it has various types and is inexpensive. The normal position is the position at which, immediately after the contact points at the coin-sensor connecter 252 are connected, thepassive piece 322 is pushed to cause themicroswitch 320 to be in the connected state. - Next, the
retainer 256 will be explained. - The
retainer 256 has a function to retain the state in which thecoin tray 102 is mounted on the body 101 (inner frame 104). In the present embodiment, theretainer 256 employs a so-calledball catch 330, which retains a retainedbody 328 at a predetermined position with predetermined force by sandwiching the retainedbody 328 having a bulged tip by aretainer 326 including a pair ofballs FIG. 13 ) biased so as to get close to each other. - In the present embodiment, the retained
body 328 is formed in a T shape by atransverse beam part 332 and a retainedrod 334, which is projecting in a right-angle direction from the center of thetransverse beam part 332 by a predetermined length, and thetransverse beam part 332 is fixed at a right end of therear side face 262. In other words, the retainedrod 334 is extending toward the rear side by the predetermined length, the tip thereof is formed into a widenpart 333, and anarrow part 336 is formed in thetransverse beam 332 side of the widenpart 333. - The
retainer 326 is attached to thebottom board 270, theballs retainer body 335 to be opposed to each other, and the balls are disposed to elastically get close to each other, but are formed to have a predetermined gap therebetween. When the widenpart 333 of the retainedrod 334 is moved to the part between the pair ofballs balls part 333, then, after the widenpart 333 passes therethrough, the distance therebetween is reduced by the elastic force acting on theballs narrow part 336 is sandwiched by theballs actuator 314 moves thepassive piece 322 and causes themicroswitch 320 to be in an electrically connected state. In other words, theretainer 326 is set to retain the retainedbody 328 in a state in which the coin-sensor connector 252 and the tray mountedsensor 254 are connected. When thecoin tray 102 is pulled to the front side with the force of a predetermined value or more, theballs part 333; therefore, retention of the retainedbody 328 can be cancelled, and it can be detached from thebody 101. - Next, a
detection circuit 285A and adetection circuit 285B will be explained with reference toFIG. 12 . - Since the
detection circuits detection circuit 285A will be representatively explained, and the same parts of thedetection circuit 285B are denoted with the same numerical numbers with B replacing A to omit the explanation thereof. Thedetection circuit 285A includes anoscillator circuit 338A, adetector circuit 340A, anA/D converter 342A, and adiscriminating circuit 344A. These circuits are connected to thepower source 300 and thebody control circuit 302 in thebody 101 side via apower line 345A, asignal line 346A, and the coin-sensor connecter 252. Theoscillator circuit 338A supplies a high-frequency current of a predetermined frequency to thecoil 296A. As a result, thecoil 296A generates magnetic flux therearound, and the magnetic flux exceeds thecoin tray 102 manufactured of a non-magnetic material and reaches the received-coin storing part 249 above the placingpart 248. Theoscillator circuit 338A is connected to thedetector circuit 340A. Thedetector circuit 340A extracts a voltage component from the output of theoscillator circuit 338A and outputs that to the A/D converter 342A. The A/D converter 342A converts the (analog) output to a numerical-value signal and outputs that to thediscriminating circuit 344A. Thediscriminating circuit 344A discriminates whether the output exceeds a predetermined voltage value or not and, if exceeding, outputs a coin signal CS to thebody control circuit 302 via the coin-sensor connecter 252. More specifically, if the coin(s) C are stored in thecoin tray 102, the magnetic flux generated from thecoin 296A is attenuated by the metal constituting the coin(s) C, specifically, a loss is generated by the eddy current generated in the coin(s) C. Therefore, as a result, the output of the A/D converter 342A is reduced. Therefore, the discriminatingcircuit 344A discriminates that it is above (below) a predetermined reference level and outputs the coin signal CS. If the coin(s) C is not present on thecoin tray 102, the output of the A/D converter 324A is not reduced; therefore, the discriminatingcircuit 344A does not output the coin signal CS. - Next, a
state sensor 350 will be explained mainly with reference toFIG. 13 . - The
state sensor 350 has a function to directly or indirectly detect whether the coin acceptance andpayout apparatus 100 is in an operable state or not. Thestate sensor 350 employs a mechanism that carries out detection indirectly and consists of an outside-frame sensor 352, which detects that theoutside frame 103 is mounted on theinner frame 104. Specifically, asecond microswitch 354 is attached to theinner frame 104; and a secondpassive piece 356 thereof is configured so that, when theoutside frame 103 is mounted at a normal position, the secondpassive piece 356 is pushed by theoutside frame 103 and causes thesecond microswitch 354 to be in a connected (on) state. Therefore, when theoutside frame 103 is detached from theinner frame 104, thesecond microswitch 354 becomes a disconnected (off) state. - However, the
state sensor 350 is not limited to that of the present embodiment. As an example of indirect detection, in a case in which the coin acceptance andpayout apparatus 100 is disposed in a chassis of other equipment, a door sensor which detects opening/closing of an open/close door of the chassis can be utilized as thestate sensor 350. As an example of direct detection, in a case in which the coin acceptance andpayout apparatus 100 becomes actuatable by an on-operation of a publicly-known control key switch and becomes non-actuatable by an off-operation thereof, the control key switch can be utilized as thestate sensor 350. - In the present embodiment, the
coin tray 102 has alock structure 355, which cannot be attached and detached only in a state in which theoutside frame 103 is detached from theinner frame 104. Thelock structure 355 enables attaching and detaching operations only in a state in which theoutside frame 103 is detached in order to disable the operation of detaching and attaching thecoin tray 102 from/to theinner frame 104. Specifically, thelock structure 355 has a structure in which a throughhole 357 penetrating through themount member 234 in a vertical direction is formed, a hole (not shown) is formed in theupper guide 272, and a fixing pin (not shown) penetrate through these holes. However, thelock structure 355 is not limited to that of the present embodiment as long as it has a similar function. - Next, the
body control circuit 302 will be explained with reference toFIG. 12 . - The
body control circuit 302 has a function to control the entire coin acceptance andpayout apparatus 100. However, in the present embodiment, only the control related to thecoin sensor 233 will be explained. - At the
body control circuit 302, thepower lines signal lines coin sensor 233, to thefirst proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B in the present embodiment, via the coin-sensor connecter 252. Thebody control circuit 302 includes an ORcircuit 358 and acontroller 360 connected to at least thesignal lines first proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B are connected in parallel to thecontroller 360 via theOR circuit 358. If the coin signal CS is output from thefirst proximity sensor 282A or thesecond proximity sensor 282B, thecontroller 360 discriminates that the coin(s) C is present on thecon tray 102; if the coin signal CS is not output, thecontroller 360 discriminates that the coin(s) C is not present on thecoin tray 102; and, thecontroller 360 controls the coin acceptance andpayout apparatus 100 based on the discrimination result. For example, if it is discriminated that the coin(s) C is present on thecoin tray 102, a notification of the coin C remaining on thecoin tray 102 is given by, for example, sound, light, or display. - Next, a
connection circuit 362 including thecoin sensor 233, the coin-sensor connecter 252, the tray mountedsensor 254, thedetection circuits power source 300, thebody control circuit 302, and thestate sensor 350 will be explained with reference toFIG. 13 . - In the
connection circuit 362, at least, thecoin sensor 233 is electrically connected in series to thepower source 300 via the coin-sensor connecter 252, thesignal lines body control circuit 302 via the coin-sensor connecter 252, and, furthermore, thecoin sensor 233, the tray mountedsensor 254, and thestate sensor 350 are electrically connected in series to thepower source 300 via the coin-sensor connecter 252. In other words, in the present embodiment, thefirst proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B are electrically connected in series to thepower source 300, the tray mountedsensor 254, and thestate sensor 350 via thepower lines sensor connecter 252. Thebody control circuit 302 is connected in series to thefirst proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B via the coin-sensor connecter 252; however, thefirst proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B are electrically connected in a parallel state to thebody control circuit 302. Therefore, if either one of thefirst proximity sensor 282A and thesecond proximity sensor 282B outputs the coin signal CS, thebody control circuit 302 carries out control on the assumption that the coin(s) C is remaining in the received-coin storing part 249. For example, if the coin signal CS is received continuously for a predetermined period of time or more, it is assumed that the coin(s) C of thecoin tray 102 has been forgotten, and an alarm of reminder is output by, for example, sound, light, or display. - In the present embodiment, in a front view (the state viewed from the
coin tray 102 side), theflat belt 220 serving as thepayment device 114 is disposed to be opposed to thegentle slope 246 in the right side of the placingpart 248 of the coin tray 102 (FIG. 8 ). In other words, theflat belt 220 is opposed to thegentle slope 246 in the right side of the placingpart 248. Since theflat belt 220 is disposed at a position higher than thecoin tray 102, aslope 364 is disposed so as to bridge the part between the end of theflat belt 220 and thegentle slope 246 in the right side of the placingpart 248. In the present embodiment, theslope 364 is disposed across the entire width of therectangular part 238, and aguide board 366 for guiding the coins C to thegentle slope 246 is disposed at an end thereof. By virtue of this, the coins C dropped from theflat belt 220 slide on theslope 364 as shown by an arrow, are dropped onto thegentle slope 246 while being guided by theguide board 366, slide on thegentle slope 246, are stopped still on the placingpart 248, and then stored thereon. - Next, working of the present embodiment will be explained.
- First, processing in coin acceptance will be simply explained.
- If the coins C of a plurality of denominations are loaded into the
coin inlet 120, the loaded coins C are positioned directly onto the carryingbelt 122 from theloading opening 121; or, after the coins are dropped onto thewall surface 125 of thestoring unit 123 of thecoin inlet 120, the coins slide on thewall surface 125 and are positioned on the carryingbelt 122. - More specifically, the coins C dropped to the positions close to the edge of the
loading opening 121 slide down on thewall surface 125 and are positioned on the carryingbelt 122. If the coin C is placed on the carryingbelt 122, the light axis of thephotoelectric sensor 128 is interrupted by the loaded coin C; therefore, a coin detection signal is output, and the firstelectric motor 126 is rotated in a forward-rotation direction based on the coin detection signal. Therefore, since the upper surface of the carryingbelt 122 is moved to the coin-separating-and-feeding-device-106 side, the coins C are dropped from the end of the carryingbelt 122 and dropped into thecoin storing container 132 of the coin separating andfeeding device 106. - If the coins C are overlapped with each other and carried on the carrying
belt 122, since the collapsingroller 124 is rotated backward, the lower surface of theroller 124 is moved in the opposite direction of the upper surface of the carryingbelt 122, movement of the stacked coins C is prevented by the collapsingroller 124, and the coins C are dropped onto the carryingbelt 122. The dropped coins C are carried again toward the coin separating andfeeding device 106 in a manner similar to that described above by movement of the carryingbelt 122. - If the
photoelectric sensor 128 no longer detects the coins C, the firstelectric motor 126 is stopped, and drive of the carryingbelt 122 is stopped. - Furthermore, an unshown motor is rotated according to the coin detection signal of the
photoelectric sensor 128, and therotating disk 140 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction inFIG. 2 . Theimpeller 152 works together with therotating disk 140 at a transmission ratio of 1:1 and is rotated in a clockwise direction inFIG. 2 . Furthermore, thefirst sprocket 166 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction inFIG. 1 , and thechain 170 is circulated counterclockwise. - Therefore, the coins C dropped into the
coin storing container 132 are stirred by theplate 146 and thepusher 148, and the positions thereof are variously changed. In the process of changing the positions, only one of the coins C is received by each receivingunit 138. - Thus, in a state in which one surface of the coin C is in surface contact with the
rotating disk 140, the coin C is positioned in the receivingunit 138, is pushed by a partial lateral surface of theplate 146, and is moved together with the rotation of therotating disk 140. - Immediately after the receiving
unit 138 passes an uppermost position, thepusher 148 carries out pivotal motion in the counterclockwise direction and is moved in the circumferential direction of therotating disk 140. - As a result, the coin C positioned in the receiving
unit 138 is pushed to the circumferential direction of therotating disk 140 by thepusher 148 and, immediately after the coin is guided by thecoin receiver 134, the coin C is pushed by thepusher 156 of theimpeller 152, which is rotated together with therotating disk 140. - If the coins C dropped into the
coin storing container 132 are equal to or more than a predetermined amount, a full signal is output from thefull sensor 136, the firstelectric motor 126 is stopped even if a loaded coin(s) is detected by thephotoelectric sensor 128 to prevent excessive loading of the coins C to the coin separating andfeeding device 106. In a case in which: the coins C in thecoin storing container 132 are sent out by the rotation of therotating disk 140, the full signal is no more output from thefull sensor 136, and thephotoelectric sensor 128 is outputting a coin signal, the firstelectric motor 126 is restarted, and the coins C on the carryingbelt 122 are fed to the coin separating andfeeding device 106. - The coin C, which is pushed by the
pusher 156, is moved in a moving passage while one surface thereof is in contact with the slide base. The coin C at this point is moved while the coin peripheral surface is pressed against thedetection guide 154. In this moving process, first, the coin C is opposed to themagnetic sensor 150, wherein information about the diameter, thickness, and material thereof is obtained. Then, the authenticity and denomination of each coin is discriminated by comparing these outputs with reference values. - After the coin C is opposed to the
magnetic sensor 150, the coin C is pushed out to the moving passage of the pushingpins 172 of the carryingdevice 108 by thepusher 156. Immediately after the coin C is pushed out to the moving passage, the coin C is pushed by the pushingpin 172, which is moved by thechain 170. As a result, the coin C is carried in the moving passage while the peripheral surface thereof is guided by theguide rail 164 and while one surface thereof is in surface contact with theslide plate 162. - While the coins C are carried in the moving passage, based on a memorized denomination, etc. and based on a timing signal from the unshown timing sensor, the gate devices corresponding to the coin sorting holes are actuated, and the coins C of predetermined denominations are dropped to the predetermined coin sorting holes.
- If the coin stored amount of any of the
coin dispensers 210 exceeds a predetermined value, in other words, in a case of an overflow state, the gate of the corresponding coin sorting hole is not opened. - In other words, since the coin is not dropped to any of the coin sorting holes, the coin is dropped to the overflow-
coin sorting hole 192 and is stored in an overflow-coin storing device OF. - Then, processing upon coin payment will be explained.
- In the present embodiment, when the coin C is dispensed to the
coin tray 102, a coin dispensing command is output from the higher-level device such as a POS register is output to the coin acceptance andpayout apparatus 100. - According to the dispensing command, the
body control circuit 302 causes the rotating disks (not shown) of thecoin dispensers 210 to be rotated and, furthermore, causes the secondelectric motor 226 to be driven to move theupper surface 218 of thepayment carrying belt 216 toward thecoin tray 102. - The coins C are ejected by the rotation of the rotating disks, dropped onto the
payment carrying belt 216, and sent out to thecoin tray 102 by the movement of theupper surface 218 of thepayment carrying belt 216. - The coin dispensers 210 detects dispensing of the coins C by a coin detector (not shown) and outputs detection signals. Therefore, if the detection signals reaches a predetermined number, the rotation of the rotating disks is rapidly stopped to prevent excessive dispensing of the coins C.
- Next, working in a case of mounting the
coin tray 102 will be explained also with reference toFIG. 14 . - First, the
outside frame 103 is detached from theinner frame 104. This is for causing the fixing pin to penetrate through the throughhole 357 after mounting thecoin tray 102. - When the
coin tray 102 is to be mounted on thebody 101, themount member 234 is inserted in theopening 278 of thebody 101 and pushed into the mount-member receiving part 250. As a result, themount member 234 is guided by theleft guide 274, theright guide 276, thebottom board 270, and theupper guide 272 and is linearly moved toward the rear side of thebody 101. In this moving process, first, the tray-side connecter 304 is moved into thehole 310 of the body-side connecter 306, the contact points thereof are brought into contact with each other, and the coin-sensor connecter 252 is electrically connected (on); however, at this point, the tray mountedsensor 254 has not been in a connected state yet, and theretainer 256 is also not in a retained state. - When the
coin tray 102 is further pushed in, the tray-side connecter 304 is further pushed into thehole 310, the contact points at the coin-sensor connecter 252 are brought into a reliably mutually connected state, and, since the tray cannot be moved into thehole 310 more than that after it has been pushed in by a predetermined distance, the tray-side connecter 304 pushes the body-side connecter 306 and moves that to the rear side. As a result, themount member 234 is further moved to the rear side; therefore, theactuator 314 pushes thepassive piece 322 and turns on themicroswitch 320, and the tray mountedsensor 254 becomes a connected (on) state. In parallel with this, the widenpart 333 of the retainedbody 328 moves theballs coin tray 102 is further pushed in; as a result, immediately after the tray mountedsensor 254 becomes a connected state, theballs narrow part 336 of the retainedbody 328 ; therefore, theballs narrow part 336. Therefore, since the retainedbody 328 has to be pulled out with the force of a predetermined value or more in order to detach the retainedbody 328 from theretainer body 335, thecoin tray 102 is retained by theretainer 256. In other words, after the coin-sensor connecter 252 becomes a connected state, the open/close switch 318 is connected. Thereafter, the fixing pin (not shown) is caused to penetrate through the throughhole 357 so that thecoin tray 102 cannot be detached from theinner frame 104, therefore, from thebody 101. Then, theoutside frame 103 is mounted on theinner frame 104. As a result, the secondpassive piece 356 of thestate sensor 350 is pushed by theoutside frame 103 and connects (on) thesecond microswitch 354, and thestate sensor 350 becomes a connected (on) state. As a result, thecoin sensor 233 is connected in series to thepower source 300 via thepower lines sensor connecter 252 and is connected to thebody control circuit 302 via thesignal lines sensor connecter 252. Therefore, thecoin sensor 233 is connected to thepower source 300 and is enabled to detect a remaining coin(s), and, since safety of working of thebody 101 side is ensured by mounting theoutside frame 103, the coin acceptance andpayout apparatus 100 becomes operable. - Next, working in detachment of the
coin tray 102 will be explained. - First, the
outside frame 103 is detached from theinner frame 104. As a result, the secondpassive piece 356 is no longer pushed by theoutside frame 103; therefore, thesecond microswitch 354 is turned off, and thestate sensor 350 becomes a non-connected state. Then, after the fixing pin is pulled out from the throughhole 357, thetray 232 is pulled to the front side. As a result, the widenpart 333 causes theballs retainer 256 is cancelled. - Then, the
actuator 314 no longer pushes thepassive piece 322. Therefore, themicroswitch 320 is turned off, and the tray mountedsensor 254 becomes a non-connected (off) state. Then, the tray-side connecter 304 is pulled out from the body-side connecter 306. Therefore, the contact points thereof are separated from each other, the coin-sensor connecter 252 becomes a non-connected (off) state, and, then, thecoin tray 102 is detached from thebody 101. -
- C
- COIN
- 101
- BODY
- 102
- COIN TRAY
- 233
- COIN SENSOR
- 252
- COIN-SENSOR CONNECTER
- 254
- TRAY MOUNTED SENSOR
- 256
- RETAINER
- 282A, 282B
- PROXIMITY SENSOR
- 300
- POWER SOURCE
- 306
- BODY-SIDE CONNECTER
- 304
- TRAY-SIDE CONNECTER
- 314
- ACTUATOR
- 318
- OPEN/CLOSE SWITCH
- 328
- RETAINED BODY
- 350
- STATE SENSOR
Claims (7)
- A coin payment apparatus that feeds a coin (C) stored in a body (101) based on a payment command, receives the fed coin (C) by a coin tray (102) detachably attached to the body (101), and detects presence/absence of the coin (C) in the coin tray (102) by a coin sensor (233) provided at the coin tray (102);
whereinthe coin sensor (233) is electrically connected to the body (101) side by a coin-sensor connecter (252) that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter (306) attached to the body (101) side and a tray-side connecter (304) attached to the coin tray (102) side;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor (350) that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state;the coin sensor (233) and the state sensor (350) are electrically connected in series to a power source (300) via the coin-sensor connecter (252);when the coin tray (102) is to be mounted on the body (101), the state sensor (350) is configured to be connected after the coin-sensor connecter (252) is connected; and,when the coin tray (102) is to be detached from the body (101), the coin-sensor connecter (252) is configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor (350) is disconnected. - A coin payment apparatus that feeds a coin (C) stored in a body (101) based on a payment command, receives the fed coin (C) by a coin tray (102) detachably attached to the body (101), and detects presence/absence of the coin (C) in the coin tray (102) by a coin sensor (233) provided at the coin tray (102);
whereinthe coin sensor (233) is a proximity sensor (282);the coin sensor (233) is electrically connected to the body (101) side by a coin-sensor connecter (252) that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter (306) attached to the body (101) side and a tray-side connecter (304) attached to the coin tray (102) side;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor (350) that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state;the coin sensor (233) and the state sensor (350) are electrically connected in series to a power source (300) via the coin-sensor connecter (252);when the coin tray (102) is to be mounted on the body (101), the state sensor (350) is configured to be connected after the coin sensor (233) is connected; and,when the coin tray (102) is to be detached from the body (101), the coin sensor (233) is configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor (350) is disconnected. - A coin payment apparatus that feeds a coin (C) stored in a body (101) based on a payment command, receives the fed coin (C) by a coin tray (102) detachably attached to the body (101), and detects presence/absence of the coin (C) in the coin tray (102) by a coin sensor (233) provided at the coin tray (102);
whereinthe coin sensor (233) is electrically connected to the body (101) side by a coin-sensor connecter (252) that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter (306) attached to the body (101) side and a tray-side connecter (304) attached to the coin tray (102) side;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor (350) that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor (254) consisting of an actuator (314) integrally provided with the coin tray (102) and an open/close switch (318) attached to the body (101) side;the coin sensor (233), the tray mounted sensor (254), and the state sensor (350) are electrically connected in series to a power source (300) via the coin-sensor connecter (252);a positional relation between the actuator (314) and the open/close switch (318) and a positional relation between the body-side connecter (306) and the tray-side connecter (304) are set so that, when the coin tray (102) is to be mounted on the body (101), the state sensor (350) is configured to be connected after the coin-sensor connecter (252) and the open/close switch (318) are connected and so that, when the coin tray (102) is to be detached from the body (101),the coin-sensor connecter (252) and the open/close switch (318) are configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor (350) is disconnected. - A coin payment apparatus that feeds a coin (C) stored in a body (101) based on a payment command, receives the fed coin (C) by a coin tray (102) detachably attached to the body (101), and detects presence/absence of the coin (C) in the coin tray (102) by a coin sensor (233) provided at the coin tray (102);
whereinthe coin sensor (233) includes at least two proximity sensors (282A and 282B);the coin sensor (233) is electrically connected to the body (101) side by a coin-sensor connecter (252) that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter (306) attached to the body (101) side and a tray-side connecter (304) attached to the coin tray (102) side;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor (350) that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor (254) consisting of an actuator (314) integrally provided with the coin tray (102) and an open/close switch (318) attached to the body (101) side;the plurality of proximity sensors (282A and 282B) are connected in series via the coin-sensor connecter (252) to the tray mounted sensor (254), the state sensor (350), and a power source (300) connected in series;the plurality of proximity sensors (282A and 282B) are connected in parallel to each other;when the coin tray (102) is to be mounted on the body (101), the state sensor (350) is configured to be connected after the coin sensor (233) and the open/close switch (318) are connected; and,when the coin tray (102) is to be detached from the body (101), the coin sensor (233) and the open/close switch (318) are configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor (350) is disconnected. - A coin payment apparatus that feeds a coin (C) stored in a body (101) based on a payment command, receives the fed coin (C) by a coin tray (102) detachably attached to the body (101), and detects presence/absence of the coin (C) in the coin tray (102) by a coin sensor (233) provided at the coin tray (102);
whereinthe coin sensor (233) includes a plurality of proximity sensors (282A and 282B);the coin sensor (233) is electrically connected to the body side by a coin-sensor connecter (252) that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter (306) attached to the body (101) side and a tray-side connecter (304) attached to the coin tray (102) side;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor (350) that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor (254) consisting of an actuator (314) integrally provided with the coin tray (102) and an open/close switch (318) attached to the body (101) side;the plurality of proximity sensors (282A and 282B) are connected in series via the serially-connected coin-sensor connecter (252) to the tray mounted sensor (254) and a power source (300), are connected in parallel to each other, and are subjected to application of mutually different frequencies;when the coin tray (102) is to be mounted on the body (101), the state sensor (350) is configured to be connected after the coin sensor (233) and the open/close switch (318) are connected; and,when the coin tray (102) is to be detached from the body (101), the coin sensor (233) and the tray mounted sensor (254) are configured to be disconnected after the connection of the state sensor (350) is disconnected. - A coin payment apparatus that feeds a coin (C) stored in a body (101) based on a payment command, receives the fed coin (C) by a coin tray (102) detachably attached to the body (101), and detects presence/absence of the coin (C) in the coin tray (102) by a coin sensor (233) provided at the coin tray (102);
whereinthe coin sensor (233) is electrically connected to the body (101) side by a coin-sensor connecter (252) that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter (306) attached to the body (101) side and a tray-side connecter (304) attached to the coin tray (102) side;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor (254) consisting of an actuator (314) integrally provided with a member moved when the coin tray (102) is attached/detached to/from the body (101) and an open/close switch (318) attached to the body (101) side;the coin sensor (233), the tray mounted sensor (254), and a state sensor (350) are electrically connected in series to a power source (300) via the coin-sensor connecter (252);the coin payment apparatus comprises the coin tray (102), wherein, a positional relation between the actuator (314) and the open/close switch (318) and a positional relation between the body-side connecter (306) and the tray-side connecter (304) are set so that, when the coin tray (102) is to be mounted on the body (101), the state sensor (350) is connected after the coin sensor (233) is connected and so that, when the coin tray (102) is to be detached from the body (101), the coin sensor (233) and the open/close switch (318) are disconnected after the connection of the state sensor (350) is disconnected; andthe coin payment apparatus comprises a retainer (256) consisting of a retained body (328) disposed in the coin tray (102) side and a retainer (326) disposed in the body (101) side;the retainer (326) is set so as to retain the retained body (328) in a state in which the coin sensor (233), the tray mounted sensor (254), and the power source (300) are connected in series. - A coin payment apparatus that feeds a coin (C) stored in a body (101) based on a payment command, receives the fed coin (C) by a coin tray (102) detachably attached to the body (101), and detects presence/absence of the coin (C) in the coin tray (102) by a coin sensor (233) provided at the coin tray (102);
whereinthe coin sensor (233) includes a plurality of proximity sensors (282A and 282B);furthermore, the coin sensor (233) is electrically connected to the body (101) side by a coin-sensor connecter (252) that connects or disconnects electrical connection by connection/disconnection between a body-side connecter (306) attached to the body (101) side and a tray-side connecter (304) attached to the coin tray (102) side;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a state sensor (350) that directly or indirectly detects whether the coin payment apparatus is in an actuatable state;the coin payment apparatus further comprises a tray mounted sensor (254) consisting of an actuator (314) integrally provided with a member moved when the coin tray (102) is attached/detached to/from the body (101) and an open/close switch (318) attached to the body (101) side;the plurality of proximity sensors (282A and 282B) are connected in series via the coin-sensor connecter (252) to the tray mounted sensor (254), the state sensor (350), and a power source (300);the plurality of proximity sensors (282A and 282B) are connected in parallel to each other and are subjected to application of mutually different frequencies;the coin payment apparatus comprises the coin tray (102), wherein a positional relation between the actuator (314) and the open/close switch (318) and a positional relation between the tray-side connecter (304) and the body-side connecter (306) are set so that, when the coin tray (102) is to be mounted on the body (101), the state sensor (350) is connected after the coin sensor (233) and the tray mounted sensor (254) are connected and so that, when the coin tray (102) is to be detached from the body (101), the coin sensor (133) and the tray mounted sensor (254) are disconnected after the connection of the state sensor (350) is disconnected;the coin payment apparatus comprises a retainer (256) consisting of a retained body (328) disposed in the coin tray (102) side and a retainer body (335) disposed in the body (101) side; andthe retainer (328) is set so as to retain the retained body (328) in a state in which the coin sensor (233), the tray mounted sensor (254), the state sensor (350), and the power source (300) are connected in series.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2013248766A JP5870337B2 (en) | 2013-11-30 | 2013-11-30 | Coin tray in coin dispensing device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2879101A1 true EP2879101A1 (en) | 2015-06-03 |
EP2879101B1 EP2879101B1 (en) | 2016-04-27 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP14194251.6A Active EP2879101B1 (en) | 2013-11-30 | 2014-11-21 | Coin tray of coin payment apparatus |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP2879101B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5870337B2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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EP3379499A1 (en) * | 2017-03-23 | 2018-09-26 | Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha | Coin dispensing apparatus and settlement apparatus with the same |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP1576179S (en) * | 2016-11-28 | 2017-05-15 |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP5870337B2 (en) | 2016-02-24 |
JP2015106321A (en) | 2015-06-08 |
EP2879101B1 (en) | 2016-04-27 |
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