JP2000187753A - Coin processor and vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To normally drive the management of changes by preventing a cassette pipe unnecessary for a change management function from being attached/ detached. SOLUTION: An engaging piece 12 on which an engaging hole is pierced is attached to a cassette pipe 11. When a plunger 8 of a solenoid 7 enters into the engaging hole, the pipe 11 is locked and becomes undetachable. The solenoid 7 is activated when a change management function is driven and a cassette pipe attachment/detachment detection part 10 detects the loading of the pipe 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of coin processing apparatuses, and more particularly to the field of coin processing apparatuses used for vending machines having a change management function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vending machine is composed of a main controller, a coin processing device, a bill processing device, a vending device for delivering a product to a customer by dropping a selected product, and a plurality of other functional elements. Each of the functional elements is connected to a communication line provided in the vending machine, and operates in response to a command sent from the main control device via the communication line.

A vending machine returns change by subtracting the price of a sold product from the amount of coins or bills inserted by a customer. As change, coins prepared in the vending machine in advance and coins paid (inserted) by the customer are used.

[0004] Since the amount and type of change required cannot be accurately predicted, it is sufficient to prepare various amounts of change (number of sheets) with as much margin as possible in a coin processing device of a vending machine, but an excessively large amount of change is required. The accumulation of cash in the vending machine is suppressed to an appropriate amount in consideration of the risk of inducing theft due to vandalism of the vending machine, the space in the vending machine, and the like.

[0005] On the other hand, if the change occurs, the merchandise cannot be sold even if the customer comes to the store, so such a situation must be avoided as much as possible.

[0006] Therefore, the change control function allows the main control device to recognize the type and amount of coins currently stored in the coin processing device, and when a change is likely to occur, or If the change has actually occurred, the manager is warned of this situation by displaying it on a vending machine or reporting it to a management center or the like through a telephone line.

The change adjusting function functions as follows.

That is, each time the main control device issues a change dispensing command to the coin processing device, or each time a report indicating that the coin has been dispensed from the coin processing device is received, the number of coins stored in the change management table is changed. Is subtracted from the value indicating the number of payouts, and stored in the change management table again.

Therefore, the main control unit can know the number of changeable payouts by referring to the change management table, so that the number of changeable money satisfies a predetermined number every time or every time a selling operation is performed. By checking whether a predetermined number is not satisfied, a warning is issued by an appropriate means.

Thus, the change adjustment function is based on the premise that the number of coins that can be actually paid out as change is equal to the value of the change management table.

The change is stored in a tubular state called a cassette pipe, and the cassette pipe is detachable. When the cassette pipe is removed and replenishment or withdrawal of coins is performed, or when the value in the change management table does not match the number of coins in the cassette pipe for some reason, some sort of coin is required to make them match. Processing must take place.

For this reason, (1) the vending machine side resets the number of sheets held, or the manager adjusts the number of sheets in the cassette pipe according to the currently held number of sheets. (2) On the coin processing device side, the number of held coins is corrected by attaching and detaching cassette pipes and controlling coin detection sensors in each cassette pipe. And other measures are taken.

However, in the former case (1), the number of coins in the cassette pipe must be recounted. In the latter case (2), although the number of held cards is automatically set, there is a possibility that the number of held cards is far from the actual number. There are problems such as.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the problem of normal operation of change management in a coin processing machine or a vending machine by preventing unnecessary attachment and detachment of a cassette pipe for a change management function. Should be a task to be done.

[0015]

This problem is solved by the following means.

(1) A coin processing device in which a cassette pipe for storing change is loaded, wherein the coin processing device includes cassette pipe attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting that a cassette pipe is loaded. Cassette pipe locking means for locking the loaded cassette pipe in a non-removable manner, and control means for locking the cassette pipe locking means when the cassette pipe attachment / detachment detection means detects that the cassette pipe is loaded. A coin processing device comprising:

(2) In the coin processing device of the above (1), the coin processing device further has a lock release switch, and the control means controls the cassette when the lock release switch is ON. A coin processing device for controlling the lock operation of the cassette pipe when the lock of the pipe is released and the lock release switch is OFF.

(3) A main control device, a communication line connected to the main control device, and a cassette pipe connected to the communication line and controlled by the main control device for storing change. In the vending machine provided with a coin processing device, the main control device has a change management function of managing the change in the cassette pipe by rewriting the value of the change management table in response to the dispensing of the change. The coin processing device includes a cassette pipe attachment / detachment detection unit that detects that a cassette pipe is loaded, a cassette pipe lock unit that locks the loaded cassette pipe so that it cannot be removed, and a cassette pipe attachment / detachment unit. When the detecting means detects that the cassette pipe is loaded, the cassette pipe locking means is locked. A vending machine comprising control means.

(4) In the vending machine of (3), the coin processing device has a lock release switch, and the control means controls that the lock release switch is ON.
The vending machine controls the cassette pipe to be locked when the lock of the cassette pipe is released when the lock state is in the OFF state and the lock release switch is OFF.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A cassette pipe is loaded in this coin processing apparatus. The change is stored in the cassette pipe from which the change is paid out.

The coin processing device has a cassette pipe attachment / detachment detecting means, and detects whether or not the cassette pipe is loaded. When the cassette pipe attachment / detachment detecting means detects the state where the cassette pipe is loaded,
The control device issues a command for operating the cassette pipe locking means to lock the cassette pipe.

The lock release switch is turned ON / OFF according to whether or not the lock operation is required. When the lock release switch is ON, the lock operation is not performed, and when the lock release switch is OFF, the lock operation is enabled. Become.

This vending machine has a communication line for coupling the coin processing device and other functional elements constituting the vending machine with the main control device, and under the control of the main control device, The elements perform operations that perform their assigned functions.

The amount of change that the vending machine can pay out at that time is controlled by the main controller.

This management is performed based on the change management table of the main control unit, and each time the main control unit issues a change dispensing command to the coin processing unit or receives a report that the change has been dispensed from the coin processing unit. Then, the value of the number of coins in the change management table is subtracted.

That is, the value of the change management table is rewritten in accordance with the change payout. When operating in such a mode, the cassette pipe storing the change is removed, the number of stored coins is changed, and when reloaded, the value of the change management table and the actual coin And the change management cannot be performed normally.

This coin processing apparatus has a cassette pipe attachment / detachment detecting means, and detects whether or not the cassette pipe is loaded. When the cassette pipe attachment / detachment detecting means detects that the cassette pipe is loaded, the control device issues a command for operating the cassette pipe locking means to lock the cassette pipe.

The lock release switch is turned on / off according to whether or not the lock operation is required. When change management is not performed, the lock operation is not performed when the lock release switch is ON. When it is OFF, the lock operation becomes possible.

In this way, when the change management function is operating, the state where the value of the change management table matches the actual amount of prepared change is maintained.

[0030]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a coin processing apparatus having a cassette pipe lock function and its connection in an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main controller for controlling the entire vending machine. This main controller 1
It is connected to a communication line 2 that runs around the vending machine.
The communication line 2 is connected to each of the elements constituting the vending machine. Each of the elements operates based on a command issued from the main control device 1 to each of the elements. The change is reported to main controller 1. Numeral 3 is a coin processing device which forms one of the elements.

The coin processing device 3 has its own control unit 4, and the control unit 4 controls the operation of ordinary coin processing not described here. Reference numeral 2 denotes a communication processing unit. The communication processing unit 5 is interposed between the communication line 2 and the control unit 4 and serves as an interface for communication between the main control device 1 and the control unit 4.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a drive unit for driving the solenoid 7, and the plunger 8 (FIG. 3) of the solenoid 7 moves in and out of the drive unit 6 according to a signal from the control unit 4. In this embodiment, a cassette pipe locking means is formed by the solenoid 7 and the plunger 8.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a lock release switch. The control unit 4 detects the ON / OFF state of the lock release switch 9 and turns the cassette pipe lock function on / off.

The lock release switch 9 may be a switch-type switch or a switch using a jumper wire, and may be of any type as long as it can be turned on or off.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a cassette pipe attachment / detachment detection unit.
The cassette pipe attachment / detachment detection unit 10 is configured by a microswitch or the like, and detects a state in which the cassette pipe is loaded as shown in FIG. The cassette pipe attachment / detachment detecting section 10 may take any means as long as the state in which the cassette pipe 11 is loaded can be detected.

FIG. 2 shows a control unit 4 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cassette pipe lock function of FIG. This flowchart shows only the part of the control unit 4 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a mechanism diagram of the cassette pipe lock function in the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cassette pipe 11 is provided with an engagement piece 12, and this engagement piece 12 is provided with an engagement hole (not shown). When the cassette pipe 11 is loaded, the plunger 8 of the solenoid 7 can enter this engagement hole, so that the cassette pipe is locked and cannot be removed in the inserted state.

When the coin processing device 3 receives the mode selection command transmitted from the main control device 1 and recognizes that the change adjustment function has been selected (S01, YES), the state of the lock release switch 9 is determined. If the switch 9 is not ON, that is, if the switch 9 is not in the unlocked state, and if the cassette pipe attachment / detachment detecting section 10 detects that the cassette pipe 11 is loaded (S02) ), The control unit 4 sends a command to the drive unit 6 to drive the solenoid 7 to cause the plunger 8 to enter the engagement hole of the engagement piece 12 (S03). After all, in this state, the cassette pipe 11 cannot be removed.

That is, when the change management (change change) function is operating, the cassette pipe cannot be removed. For this reason, it does not occur that the cassette pipe is inadvertently removed and the number of change in the cassette pipe is changed. Therefore, there is no possibility that the contents of the change management table and the actual number of change will not match.

[0042]

According to the present invention, since the cassette pipe 11 cannot be removed when the change management function is operating, the cassette pipe is inadvertently removed to reduce the number of coins. As a result of the change, the coin itself in which the number of coins in the cassette pipe 11 and the value of the change management table do not conflict with each other does not occur, and the coin can be operated normally in the change management.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a coin processing apparatus having a cassette pipe lock function and a connection thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of a cassette pipe lock function of a control unit 4 in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a mechanism diagram of a cassette pipe lock function in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main control device 2 Communication line 3 Coin processing device 4 Control part 5 Communication processing part 6 Drive part 7 Solenoid 8 Plunger 9 Lock release switch 10 Cassette pipe attachment / detachment detection part 11 Cassette pipe 12 Engagement piece

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A coin processing device into which a cassette pipe for storing change is loaded, the coin processing device comprising: a cassette pipe attachment / detachment detecting means for detecting that a cassette pipe is loaded; Cassette pipe locking means for irremovably locking the loaded cassette pipe; control means for locking the cassette pipe locking means when the cassette pipe attachment / detachment detection means detects that the cassette pipe is loaded; A coin processing device comprising: 2. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the coin processing device further has a lock release switch, wherein the control means is configured to control the lock release switch to be in an ON state. A coin processing device for controlling the cassette pipe to be locked when the lock of the cassette pipe is released and the lock release switch is OFF. 3. A main control device, a communication line connected to the main control device, and a cassette pipe connected to the communication line and controlled by the main control device for storing change. A vending machine provided with a coin processing device, wherein the main control device has a change management function of managing change in the cassette pipe by rewriting a value of a change management table in response to change payment. The coin processing device includes: cassette pipe attachment / detachment detection means for detecting that a cassette pipe is loaded; cassette pipe lock means for locking the loaded cassette pipe so that it cannot be removed; When the means detects that a cassette pipe is loaded, the cassette pipe locking means is locked. Vending machine, characterized in that those comprising a control means. 4. The vending machine according to claim 3, wherein said coin processing device has an unlock switch, and said control means controls said cassette pipe when said unlock switch is ON. Wherein the lock is released and the lock operation of the cassette pipe is performed when the lock release switch is OFF.