JP2000222617A - Automatic change paying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect a coin insertion slot except in a coin reception processing mode. SOLUTION: A freely openable and closable cover 10 covering a coin insertion opening is provided at the coin insertion opening 8, the cover 10 is opened and coins are thrown in a coin reception processing mode, and the cover 10 is closed so as to cover the opening 8 except in the coin reception processing mode so that dust, etc., can not be accumulated in the opening 8 other than in the coin reception processing mode. Thus, the opening 8 can be protected other than in the coin reception processing mode. Also, since dust, etc., is not accumulated in the opening 8 except in the coin reception processing mode, dust, etc., is prevented from being brought into the device in accordance with the execution of coin reception processing and the device can be normally operated all the time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, POS (Poi)
nt Of Sales) terminals and ECR (Electronic Cash Register)
The present invention relates to an automatic change dispensing device used by being connected to a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, coins dispensed into a coin slot are detected, sorted according to denomination, stored in a coin storage unit, and the stored coins are dispensed as needed. There is a device. Such an automatic change dispensing apparatus is, for example, a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal or an ECR (Electronic
Used by connecting to Cash Register).

[0003] Some automatic change dispensing apparatuses have a coin insertion opening that opens upward, for example. The coin slot is provided with a photoelectric sensor configured as a pair of a light emitter that emits light and a light receiver that receives the emitted light. The output of the photoelectric sensor changes in response to a decrease in the amount of light received by the photoreceptor due to a coin crossing the optical axis between the light emitter and the photoreceptor. Thus, the presence or absence of a coin inserted into the coin insertion slot is detected.

[0004] When the photoelectric sensor detects that a coin has been inserted into the coin insertion slot, the insertion belt constituting the bottom portion of the coin insertion slot is started, and the coin is carried into the apparatus. The carried-in coins are sorted by denomination and stored in a coin storage unit.

[0005] The coins are paid out to a coin payout section for a required amount as needed.

[0006]

However, in such a change automatic dispensing apparatus, since the coin opening opening upward communicates with the inside of the apparatus as it is, dust or the like does not enter the coin insertion port except during coin deposit processing. Accumulates, and this dust or the like is drawn into the apparatus along with the execution of the coin deposit processing. As described above, when dust is drawn into the apparatus, the apparatus does not operate normally. Another problem is that dust accumulates at the coin slot, which lowers the detection accuracy of the photoelectric sensor that requires high sensitivity.

Further, when a photoelectric sensor is used for detecting coins, there is a problem that even when foreign matter other than coins passes through the photoelectric portion, the output is changed to start the apparatus. Such unnecessary operation of the device may surprise the operator.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to protect a coin slot other than coin deposit processing.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a change automatic dispensing device that detects coins inserted into a coin slot, sorts them by denomination, stores them in a coin storage unit, and pays out the coins stored in the coin storage unit as needed. An openable / closable cover for covering the coin slot is provided at the coin slot.

Therefore, by opening the cover and inserting coins only during coin deposit processing, dust and the like do not accumulate in the coin insertion slot except during coin deposit processing. This prevents dust and the like from being drawn into the apparatus with the execution of the coin deposit processing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the cover has a coin receiving portion for temporarily storing coins on a back surface thereof.

[0012] Thus, the cover functions as a cover for covering the coin insertion slot at times other than coin deposit processing, and functions as a coin holder during coin deposit processing.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic change dispensing apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cover of a coin slot of the apparatus, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the entire apparatus, and FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical connection of the photoelectric sensor provided in the coin insertion slot of an apparatus.

The automatic change dispensing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment
Coin insertion unit 2 for receiving coins inserted, coin transport unit 3 for loading the inserted coins into the apparatus, coin storage unit 4 for sorting and storing the loaded coins for each denomination, and coin storage unit 4
A coin standby unit 5 for aligning and waiting a predetermined number of the coins stored in the unit in a line, and a coin dispensing unit 6 for paying out the coins waiting in the coin standby unit 5 as necessary.

First, the coin slot 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. On the right side of the body case 7,
There is provided a coin slot 8 which is open upward and into which coins are collectively inserted.

A cover 10 for covering the coin slot 8 is provided above the coin slot 8. This cover 10
Is rotatably attached to the main body case 7 via a hinge 9. The cover 10 turns to the side of the main body case 7 by turning about the hinge 9 as a turning center. The hinge 9 has a structure in which a shaft 9c passes through a bearing 9a provided at one end of the cover 10 and a bearing 9b provided at an upper end of the coin slot 8. A coin receiving portion 1 for temporarily storing coins is provided on the back surface of the cover 10.
0a is provided. Further, the coin receiving portion 10a is formed with a slope 10b that becomes shallower toward the hinge 9.

On the inner wall surface of the coin insertion slot 8, there are provided a plurality of photoelectric sensors 11 which are paired by a light emitting body 11a and a light receiving body 11b and photoelectrically detect the presence or absence of a coin. At the bottom of the coin insertion slot 8, a loading belt 12 for transporting the inserted coins into the apparatus is provided. At the downstream end of the coin insertion slot 8 in the coin transport direction, coins to be loaded are placed one by one. Is provided with a feeding roller 13 for separation. The input roller 13 is disposed above the input belt 12 so as to face a gap of one coin. The coin insertion slot 2, the cover 10, the photoelectric sensor 11, the insertion belt 12, and the insertion roller 13 form the coin insertion slot 8.

Next, the coin transport section 3 will be described with reference to FIG. A coin guide path 14 that conveys coins inserted into the coin insertion unit 2 to a coin storage unit 4 described below is provided continuously with the insertion belt 12. The coin guide path 14 is provided with two conveyor belts 15a and 15b. Among them, the conveyor belt 15a is set at a higher conveyance speed than the insertion belt 12 to convey the inserted coins at intervals. I have. An outer diameter check section 16 and a reject overflow section 17 are provided below the transport belt 15a. The outer diameter check unit 16 determines whether the coin is a true coin or a false coin based on the outer diameter of the conveyed coin. The reject overflow unit 17 removes unnecessary coins by driving a drive unit, not shown, a reject solenoid when the conveyed coins are not genuine coins or when the coin storage unit 4 is full. Further, the transport belt 15
A transport belt 15c for changing the transport direction and transporting the coin to the coin sorting port 18 is provided at the downstream end of the coin transport direction b. The transport belts 15a, 15b, 1
5c, the coin transport unit 3 is constituted.

Below the transport belt 15c, coin sorting ports 18 are provided to open in order from the upstream side in the coin transport direction so as to correspond to each denomination. Each of the coin sorting ports 18 has a counting sensor 19 and a partition plate 2.
Coin storage units 4 partitioned by 0 are provided in series. The counting sensor 19 counts coins conveyed to the coin storage unit 4.

On the bottom surface of the coin storage section 4 for storing coins selected for each denomination, there is provided a conveyor belt 21 which is a set of two long and short endless belts.
Of these, the long conveyor belt 2 which is the longer conveyor belt
1a extends to a coin payout section 6 described later. A separation roller 22 is provided at the downstream end of the coin storage unit 4 in the coin conveyance direction, above the end of the short conveyance belt 21b, which is the shorter conveyance belt, so as to cross all outlets. ing.

Next, the coin dispensing section 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. Downstream of the separation roller 22 in the coin transport direction, a coin standby unit 5 that arranges a predetermined number of coins in a line and waits is provided for each denomination. On the bottom surface of the coin standby unit 5, a long transport belt 21a extending from the coin storage unit 4 is provided. And the coin waiting unit 5
A presser plate 23 for holding coins one by one in a line
And a coin stopper 24 for temporarily stopping the coins and controlling the operation so as to send out the required number of coins.
Are provided. Further, a payout sensor 25 for checking the number of paid out coins is provided downstream of the coin stopper 24 in the coin transport direction. The terminal end of the long transport belt 21a reaches a coin payout opening 26 which opens upward in the center of the main body case 7 at the front side. Here, a coin payout unit 6 is configured.

A display key section 27 for displaying an error message when an error occurs in the apparatus is provided on the front left side of the main body case 7.

Next, with reference to the electric block diagram shown in FIG. 4, the electrical connection of the photoelectric sensor 11 among the components provided in the automatic change dispensing apparatus 1 will be described. The photoelectric sensor mainly includes a CPU 28 and a ROM 29 and a RAM 30 connected to its data bus and address bus.
As a control unit. The light emitter 11a is connected to the output port of the CPU 28, and the light receiver 11b is connected to the input port of the CPU 28. The output from the CPU 28 emitted by the light emitter 11a is received by the light receiver 11b. The change in the amount of received light due to the coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 8 crossing the optical axis between the light emitting body 11a and the light receiving body 11b is measured by the ROM 29 and the RAM 3.
The presence or absence of a coin in the coin insertion slot 8 is detected by making a determination in the CPU 28 based on the program written in “0”. The CPU 28 is connected to a POS terminal, ECR, or the like.

Here, the operation of the photoelectric sensor 11 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, when a coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 8 crosses the optical axis, the light
The amount of received light at the point decreases. The reduced amount of received light is amplified by the amplifier circuit 33, and the detection circuit 34 detects the presence or absence of a coin in the coin insertion slot 8. Then, the detection by the output circuit 35 is CP
Output to U28.

Next, a description will be given of a function executed by the microcomputer by the control program stored in the ROM 29. First, when the photoelectric sensor 11 detects that a coin has been inserted into the coin insertion slot 8, the insertion belt 12 operates in a direction for transporting the coin into the apparatus. At the same time, the input roller 13 operates in a direction to push back coins that are conveyed in an overlapping manner. Thereby, a plurality of coins put together are carried into the apparatus one by one.

The coins carried into the apparatus are transported by the conveyor belt 1.
At 5a, the distance between the coins is widened and conveyed. here,
When the conveyed coin passes through the outer diameter check unit 16, it is determined whether the coin is genuine or fake. When it is determined that the coin is a counterfeit, the reject solenoid drives the reject overflow unit 17 to sort and collect the counterfeit.

On the other hand, the coin determined to be genuine by the outer diameter check unit 16 is conveyed to the coin conveying unit 3 as it is. The coins conveyed through the coin conveying section 3 are sorted by coin sorter 18 for each denomination. In other words, coins are sorted by denomination by dropping in order from a coin having a smaller outer diameter to a coin sorting port 18 opened according to the outer diameter of the coin. Coins separated for each denomination are stored in the coin storage unit 4. A part of the coins stored in the coin storage unit 4 is conveyed to the coin standby unit 5, and a predetermined number of coins are always arranged in a line and are on standby.

When there is a payout command from the CPU 28, the required amount is counted out by the payout sensor 25 and paid out to the coin payout exit 26.

Next, the operation of the cover 10 will be described. As an actual operation, the cover 10 covers the coin insertion slot 8 as shown in FIG. 1 except for coin deposit processing. As a result, dust and the like do not accumulate in the coin insertion slot 8 except during the coin deposit processing. Thus, it is possible to prevent the detection accuracy of the photoelectric sensor 11 from deteriorating due to accumulation of dust in the coin slot 8. Then, by preventing dust and the like from accumulating in the coin insertion slot 8 at times other than the coin deposit processing, dust and the like are prevented from being drawn into the apparatus with the execution of the coin deposit processing. This allows the device to always operate normally. Further, it is possible to prevent the foreign material other than the coin to be deposited, which has entered the coin insertion slot 8, from crossing the optical axis, thereby preventing the device from unnecessarily operating.

When performing the coin depositing process, the cover 10 is rotated to the side of the main body case 7 about the hinge 9 as a rotation center to open the coin insertion slot 8. At this time, cover 1
Since the back surface of 0 has a function as the coin receiving portion 10a, for example, when the coin is received from a customer, the coin can be counted once after being put in the coin receiving portion 10a.

Then, the counted coins are inserted into the coin slot 8.
The cover 10 is rotated in the direction of the main body case 7 about the hinge 9 as a rotation center. In the present embodiment, since the slope 10 b is formed on the hinge 9 side of the cover 10, when the cover 10 is inclined, coins slide along the slope 10 b, and coins can be smoothly inserted into the coin slot 8. it can.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a coin opening is provided at the coin slot so as to be openable and closable, and the cover is opened and coins are inserted only at the time of coin deposit processing. At times other than processing, dust and the like are prevented from being accumulated in the coin insertion slot, so that dust and the like are not drawn into the apparatus with the execution of the coin deposit processing. For this reason,
For example, dust accumulates on the photoelectric sensor provided in the coin insertion slot, and the detection accuracy is reduced.Dust and the like are not carried into the apparatus with the execution of the coin deposit processing. The coin slot at the time is protected, and the device can always operate normally.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a coin receiving portion for temporarily storing coins is provided on the back surface of the cover, and functions as a cover for covering the coin insertion slot at times other than coin deposit processing, and as a coin holder at the time of coin deposit processing. Since it is made to function, it is possible to protect the coin slot other than coin deposit processing. By using both sides of the cover, the protection of the coin slot and the function as a coin receiving portion can be made compatible with one member.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic change dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cover of a coin slot.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the entire automatic change dispensing device of this device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of a photoelectric sensor provided in a coin slot.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic change dispensing device 4 Coin storage part 8 Coin slot 10 Cover 10a Coin receiving part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A coin inserted into a coin slot is detected, sorted according to denomination, stored in a coin storage unit, and the coin stored in the coin storage unit is paid out as needed. An automatic change dispensing device, wherein the coin slot is provided with an openable / closable cover for covering the coin slot. 2. The automatic change dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a coin receiving portion for temporarily storing coins on a back surface thereof.