JP2000137848A - Coin sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the availability of a true deformed coin and to improve the convenience of a user in an automatic ticket issuing machine, an automatic adjusting machine or an automatic vending machine. SOLUTION: A first sorting mechanism 40 for sorting true deformed coins is provided on the uppermost part of a sorting part having plural coin sorting mechanisms 50, 60 and 70 for sorting the various true coins. By the first distribution mechanism 40, the true coin C which is not deformed is passed in a down stream direction, and the true deformed coin is not passed but dropped to be recovered into a deformed coin recovery box 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin sorting device used for an automatic ticket vending machine, an automatic settlement machine, and a vending machine, and more particularly to a coin sorting device for processing deformed coins.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When using an automatic ticket vending machine, an automatic payment machine, or a vending machine as station equipment, a bent deformed coin which enters a coin slot is accepted by a customer even once accepted from the slot. It was returned as it was and regulated not to accept deformed coins. This is because if the deformed coin is received and then reused as change, the coin with a large deformation amount jams in the feeding mechanism for feeding the change as change.

However, if the structure is such that the deformed coin is not accepted at all as described above, the utilization rate of the genuine real deformed coin is reduced, which is very inconvenient for the customer.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a coin sorting apparatus capable of improving the utilization rate of deformed coins and improving the convenience of customers. The task is to provide.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a check section (14) for checking the authenticity of various coins (C) inserted.
After coins have been checked at, various coins (C)
(0), a coin sorting device provided with a plurality of coin sorting mechanisms (50, 60, 70) for storing the coins in the uppermost stream immediately after the discharge section of the check section (14). A first sorting mechanism (40) for passing coins in the downstream direction and dropping without passing the deformed true coins (C0), and a deformed coin collection for collecting the dropped deformed coins (C0) (2
2) and a coin sorting device including:

The first distribution mechanism (40) has an opening (31).
A holding plate (30) having a guide plate (34) facing the holding plate (30) and forming a passage for coins, and protruding into the passage so as to protrude and retract from the opening (31), and are provided in the downstream direction. A shutter (41) provided with a deformed coin blocking portion (45) having an inclined portion (46) formed so that the width of the passage is narrowed toward the shutter;
1) to rotate the solenoid (S
1).

[0007] The shutter (41) is operated by a photo sensor (PH2, PH3, PH4, PH5) disposed below each of the plurality of other sorting mechanisms (50, 60, 70) to allow an authentic coin to move for a predetermined time. When the solenoid (S1) is not detected, the solenoid (S1) is operated to be turned to the open state.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a coin processing apparatus according to the present invention. The coin processing device 10 includes
It has a coin insertion slot 12 for inserting coins C of 50 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen and 500 yen. The inserted coin C is the checkout unit 1
At 4, a true / false determination is made. The true / false judgment of the coin is made by detecting a difference in an eddy current value flowing in the coin due to a difference in the material of the coin with a sensor.

The checked coins C are introduced to a sorting unit 16 for sorting coins C by type based on a detection signal from the checking unit 14. The coins C sorted by the sorting unit 16 are stored in the change hopper 20 via the temporary holding unit 18. The deformed coin C0 is stored in the collection box 22. The coin C stored in the change hopper 20 is used as change for a later user, and the change hopper 2
It is discharged from the discharge port 24 as change via a feeding mechanism (not shown) provided at the lower part of the “0”. Reference numeral 26 denotes a control unit.

FIG. 2 is a detailed front view of the coin sorting section 16 of the present invention. The distribution unit 16 includes a first distribution mechanism 40, a second distribution mechanism 50, and a third distribution mechanism 6.
0 and a fourth sorting mechanism 70. The first sorting mechanism 40 is for sorting the deformed coin C0 from other coins. The second sorting mechanism 50 selects only 50-yen coins and sorts them from other coins. The third sorting mechanism 60 selects only 500-yen coins and sorts them from other coins. The fourth sorting mechanism 70 selects only 100-yen coins and sorts them from other coins. There is no distribution mechanism for 10-yen coins because it is stored in the change hopper after passing through all the distribution mechanisms described above.

Below the first sorting mechanism 40, there is a deformed coin C
0 for temporarily accepting a temporary 0
Is arranged. The first temporary holding section 18a and the first
A first photosensor P for detecting whether or not the deformed coin C0 has been received is provided between the lower end portions of the sorting mechanism 40 of FIG.
H1 is provided. The first temporary holding unit 18a communicates with the deformed coin collection box 22 via a chute 28a.

Below the second sorting mechanism 50, a second temporary holding unit 18b for temporarily receiving a 50-yen coin C is provided.
Is arranged. The second temporary holding unit 18b and the second
A second photosensor P for detecting whether or not a 50-yen coin C has been accepted is provided between the lower end portions of the sorting mechanism 50 of FIG.
H2 is provided. The second temporary holding unit 18b communicates with the 50-yen change hopper 20a via the chute 28b.

Below the third sorting mechanism 60, a third temporary holding unit 18 for temporarily receiving a 500 yen coin C is provided.
c is arranged. A third photosensor PH3 for detecting whether or not the 500-yen coin C has been accepted is provided between the third temporary holding section 18c and the lower end of the third sorting mechanism 60. The third temporary holding section 18c communicates with the 500-yen change hopper 20b via the chute 28c.

Below the fourth sorting mechanism 70, a fourth temporary holding unit 18 for temporarily receiving a 100-yen coin C is provided.
d is arranged. A fourth photosensor PH4 for detecting whether or not a 100-yen coin C has been accepted is provided between the fourth temporary holding section 18d and the lower end of the fourth sorting mechanism 70. The fourth temporary holding unit 18d communicates with the 100-yen change hopper 20c via the chute 28d.

A fifth temporary holding unit 18 for temporarily receiving a 10-yen coin C is provided below the most downstream portion of the holding plate 30.
e is arranged. The fifth temporary holding section and the holding plate 3
A fifth photosensor PH5 for detecting whether or not a 10-yen coin has been accepted is provided between the lower ends of the zeros. The fifth temporary holding section 18e communicates with the 10-yen change hopper 20d via the chute 28e.

Next, the structure of the distribution mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 show the structure of the first distribution mechanism. FIG. 6 and FIG.
2 shows the structure of the distribution mechanism.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the holding plate 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes a plate body extending horizontally from the upstream to the downstream along the flow of the coin C. First distribution mechanism 4 for holding plate 30
A first opening 31 is formed at the position of “0”. Further, a slit 32 is formed below the presser plate 30 along the longitudinal direction of the presser plate 30 from the first distribution mechanism 40 to the fourth distribution mechanism 70. At the downstream end of the holding plate 30, a 10-yen coin C transported from the upstream is
A guide wall 33 bent in a hook shape for guiding the inside is formed. The holding plate 30 is fixed to a frame of the coin processing device 10.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a guide plate, and the guide plate 34 is arranged at a predetermined interval so as to be parallel to the holding plate 30. Checking unit 14 to first sorting mechanism 4
At a predetermined interval between the presser plate 30 and the guide plate 34 up to 0, a wide first passage D1 is formed so that the deformed coin C0 can be received by the first sorting mechanism 40 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 3). (See FIG. 4). The predetermined distance between the pressing plate 30 and the guide plate 34 from the first distribution mechanism 40 to the most downstream is
A narrow second passage D2 is formed such that only undeformed normal coins C can pass through. The guide plate 34 is fixed to the frame similarly to the holding plate 30. Presser plate 3
The lower side in the longitudinal direction between the reference numeral 0 and the guide plate 34 is open and partially communicates with the holding portion 18. The upstream ends of the holding plate 30 and the guide plate 34 are open, and
4 is connected to the outlet.

A belt B positioned horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the guide plate 34 is provided substantially at the center of the vertical position of the guide plate 34.
Is provided. The belt B has a circular cross section and is made of an elastic material such as synthetic rubber. As shown in FIG. 2, the belt B is stretched between left and right pulleys 35a and 35b at an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The motor M is connected to the pulley 35b at one downstream portion. The motor M
Drives the one pulley 35b to rotate, and the belt B rotates so as to move from the upstream side to the downstream side. The belt B protrudes into a coin passage formed by the holding plate 30 and the guide plate 34, and conveys the coin C from upstream to downstream while pressing the coin C against the holding plate 30 by the belt B.

The first shutter 41, which forms a part of the first distribution mechanism 40, has an opening 3 formed in the holding plate 30.
1 is located outside the holding plate 30 so as to oppose the pressure plate 1. The shutter 41 has a bearing portion 42 at an upper portion thereof, and is configured to be rotatable around a shaft 36. The shaft 36 is provided on the frame.

The shutter 41 is rotated by the operation of the first solenoid S1. The shutter 41 is connected to the shaft 3
The lower end 44 of the shutter 41 is constantly biased in the direction of the holding plate 30 by the coil spring 43 wound around 6.

The first shutter 41 is provided with the holding plate 3
It has a deformed coin blocking portion 45 having a thickness that protrudes and disappears in the opening portion 31 formed at zero. The deformed coin blocking unit 45
Has an inclined portion 46 that is inclined from the upstream to the downstream so as to become thicker. Therefore, the deformed coin C0 is prevented from being transported further downstream from the wide first passage D1 by the deformed coin blocking unit 45, but the normal coin C is
It is guided along the inclined portion 46, passes through the second passage D2 formed by the thickest portion of the deformed coin blocking portion 45, and is transported downstream.

Second to fourth sorting mechanisms 50, 60, 7
0 has the same structure. These structures are the same as those of the "coin sorting apparatus" disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-75875, and are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in this embodiment. Therefore, in this specification, the structure and operation of the second sorting mechanism 50 of the second to fourth sorting mechanisms 50, 60, 70 will be briefly described.

In FIGS. 2 and 6, the holding plate 30 is provided with a first window 51 and a second window 52.
The first window 51 is inclined downward from upstream to downstream. The second window portion 52 is provided in a semicircular shape below the downstream portion of the first window portion 51.

The second shutter 53 has an opening 54 whose center is hollowed out, and is rotatably supported on the shaft 36 via a coil spring 43 above the shutter 53. The shutter 53 is rotated by the operation of the solenoid S2. The shutter 53 protrudes into the second passage D2 at a position corresponding to the first window 55 and the first guide piece 55 bent so as to protrude into the second passage D2 so as to correspond to the first window 51. And a second guide piece 56 bent as described above. The first and second guide pieces 55, 56 move in and out of the first window 51 and the second window 52 by the rotation of the shutter 53.

For example, a normal 10-yen coin C is sent to the checkout unit 14.
, The solenoids S2, S3, and S4 of the second, third, and fourth distribution mechanisms operate, and the shutters 53 pivotally open about the shaft 36 as shown in FIG. The 10-yen coin C is conveyed downstream while being pressed against the holding plate 30 by the belt B. When reaching the most downstream position, the 10-yen coin C is inserted into the guide wall 33 (FIG. 2).
), And is guided downward by the guide wall 33, and stored in the 10-yen change hopper 20d via the fifth temporary holding portion 18e. At this time, the fifth photo sensor PH
When the 10-yen coin C is detected by 5, the second,
The solenoids S2, S3, S4 of the third and fourth distribution mechanisms 50, 60, 70 are turned off, and the shutters 53
Rotates by the repulsive force of the coil spring 43 and returns to the original state.

Next, when a normal 50-yen coin C is checked in the check section 14, the solenoids S2, S3, S4 of the second, third and fourth sorting mechanisms 50, 60, 70 do not operate. . Therefore, when the 50-yen coin C reaches the second sorting mechanism 50 after passing through the first sorting mechanism 40, FIG.
As shown in (1), it collides with the first guide piece 55 of the shutter 53, is guided downward, is further guided downward by the second guide piece 56, and moves through the second temporary holding portion 18b.
It is stored in the yen change hopper 20a. At this time, the 50-yen coin C is detected by the second photo sensor PH2,
The signal is supplied to the control unit 26 shown in FIG.

Next, for example, a case where a genuinely deformed 500-yen coin C0 is inserted into the coin insertion slot 12 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

The inserted 500-yen coin is checked by the check section 14 to confirm that it is a regular 500-yen coin. Then, the solenoid S3 of the third sorting mechanism 60 for the 500 yen coin does not operate, and the solenoid S2 of the second sorting mechanism 50 operates based on a signal from the control unit 26, and
The shutter 53 rotates and opens so that the zero yen coin passes through the second sorting mechanism 50.

However, since the inserted 500-yen coin is the deformed coin C0, the shutter 4 of the first sorting mechanism 40
It collides with the thick deformed coin blocking portion 45 formed in No. 1 and is jammed without being transported further downstream. At this time, if a 500-yen coin is not detected by the third photo sensor PH3 of the third sorting mechanism 60 even after a certain period of time has elapsed after the check unit 14 determines that the coin is a normal coin, the inserted regular coin is It is determined that the first sorting mechanism 40 has been deformed and is stuck in the first sorting mechanism 40, and
A signal for actuating the zero solenoid S1 is provided.

By the operation of the solenoid S1, the shutter 53 rotates as shown in FIG. 5, and the thick deformed coin blocking portion 45 retreats from the coin passage, and the passage is expanded and deformed. The coin C0 falls downward. The fallen deformed coin C0 is detected by the first photo sensor PH1, and the detection signal is supplied to the control unit 26. Then, based on the detection signal, each of the distribution mechanisms 40, 50,
60 and 70 are reset to the original state.

The fallen deformed coin C0 is collected in the deformed coin collection box 22 via the first temporary holding section 18a and the first chute 28a. This collected deformed coin C0
Unlike other normal coins, is collected by station staff without being used as change.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, various types of ordinary undeformed coins are passed through the most upstream portion of the various coin sorting mechanism so that the deformed real coins are not conveyed downstream. The first sorting mechanism was designed to stop the coins, and a collecting box for collecting only the deformed coins was provided so that the coins would not be reused as change. Coins can be used, and convenience is improved. In addition, since the deformed coins are collected so as not to be reused as change, the deformed coins do not jam in the feeding mechanism in the change hopper, and there is no need to repair jams caused by staff.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a structure of a coin processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a distribution unit illustrated in FIG. 1 in detail;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of FIG. 4 in a state where a solenoid is operated and a shutter is opened.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of a second distribution mechanism, and is the same as that shown in FIG.
It is an expanded sectional view by the -6 line.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 in a state where a shutter is opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Coin processing apparatus 14 Check part 16 Distributing part 22 Deformed coin collection box 30 Holding plate 31 Opening 34 Guide plate 36 Shaft 40 First distributing mechanism 41 First shutter 42 Bearing part 45 Deformed coin blocking part 46 Inclined part 50 Second sorting mechanism 53 First guide piece 54 Second guide piece 60 Third sorting mechanism 70 Fourth sorting mechanism B belt

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takeshi Saito 11-2 Hirade Industrial Park, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture F-term in the Utsunomiya Works of Nippon Signal Co., Ltd. AA02 BA01 DD05 FA07

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. Checking section for the authenticity of various coins (C)
After the check in (14), a plurality of coin sorting mechanisms (50, 60, 7) for storing various coins (C) in various change hoppers (20).
(0), provided in the most upstream part immediately after the discharge unit of the check unit (14),
A first sorting mechanism (40) for allowing undeformed intrinsic coins to pass in the downstream direction and dropping without passing the deformed intrinsic coins (C0), and collecting the dropped deformed coins (C0) And a modified coin collection box (22) for performing the operation. The first sorting mechanism (40) has an opening (3).
1) a holding plate (30), a guide plate (34) facing the holding plate (30) and forming a passage for coins, and projecting into the passage so as to protrude and retract from the opening (31), and A shutter (41) including a deformed coin blocking portion (45) having an inclined portion (46) formed so that the width of the passage decreases in the direction,
Solenoid that rotates (41) about shaft (36)
The coin sorting device according to claim 1, comprising (S1). 3. The shutter (41) is provided with a photo sensor (PH2, PH3, PH4, PH5) disposed below each of the plurality of other sorting mechanisms (50, 60, 70) to allow an authentic coin to be generated. The coin sorting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the solenoid (S1) is operated to be turned to an open state when not detected within a predetermined time.