JP2002133486A - Coin selector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly control balance between radial movement and circumferential-direction retention to a coin with certainly retaining the coin by an elastic member. SOLUTION: This coin selector has a fixed disk 1 and a rotary disk 2 rotating with the rotary disk 2 lapped over the bottom face 1b of the fixed disk 1. The coin put-in from a coin input port 1a of the fixed disk 1 slides relatively to the bottom face 1b of the fixed disk 1 in association with rotation of the rotary disk 2. The fixed disk 1 has a guide means including a coin passage 10 or the like, for selectively guiding the sliding coin relatively to the bottom face 1b according to its diameter. The rotary disk 2 has a disk body 22 and plural elastic belts 2a concentrically installed on the upper face side of the disk body 22. Upper parts of the respective elastic belts 2a constitute a circumferential-direction projecting stripe part in the elastic member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a fixed member and a rotating disk which rotates while being superposed on the bottom surface thereof, and sorts coins sliding on the bottom surface of the fixed member by rotation of the rotating disk. The present invention relates to a coin sorting device configured as described above, and more particularly to an improvement of an elastic member for transferring coins, which is attached to an upper surface of a rotating disk.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various coin sorting apparatuses configured to sort coins sliding on the bottom surface of a fixed member by rotation of a rotating disk are known. The fixing member of such a coin sorting device is provided with guide means such as guide grooves for selectively guiding coins sliding on the bottom surface according to the diameter. Also, rotating discs are generally
A flat elastic member made of one rubber plate is mounted on the upper surface side. And by such an elastic member,
The coin is held between the fixed member and the coin is moved with the rotation of the rotating disk.

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional coin sorting apparatus has the following problems. First, since the elastic member of the conventional rotating disk is a flat one made of a single rubber plate, the elastic member basically comes into full contact with the bottom surface of the coin. For this reason, the contact pressure between the coin and the coin is reduced, and depending on the situation, the holding force of the coin by the elastic member may be insufficient.

Next, the elastic member must not only transport the coin while holding it in the circumferential direction, but also allow the coin to move (displace) in the radial direction according to the guide of the guide means. However, with the conventional elastic member, the holding force of the coin is basically uniform in the circumferential direction and the radial direction, and it is difficult to appropriately control the balance between the circumferential holding and the radial movement of the coin. .

Furthermore, during the sorting process, there is a possibility that the coins may escape from the gap between the fixed disk and the rotating disk due to the centrifugal force acting on the coins. It cannot be effectively prevented.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a first object of the present invention is to hold a coin in a circumferential direction and move the coin in a radial direction while securely holding the coin by an elastic member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin sorting apparatus capable of appropriately controlling the balance of the coins and performing a more reliable and smooth sorting process.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a coin sorting apparatus capable of effectively preventing coins from escaping in a radial direction from a gap between a fixed member and a rotating disk.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing member having a coin slot in the center thereof, a rotating member being superimposed on a bottom surface of the fixing member, and a disk main body and an upper surface of the disk main body. A rotating disk having an elastic member attached to the side thereof, and coins inserted from a coin insertion slot of the fixed member slide with respect to the bottom surface of the fixed member with the rotation of the rotating disk. The fixed member has guide means for selectively guiding coins sliding on the bottom surface according to the diameter, and the elastic members of the rotating disk are arranged concentrically. It is a coin sorting device characterized by having a plurality of circumferential ridges formed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the ridge of the elastic member comes into contact with the bottom surface of the coin on a narrow linear surface,
The contact pressure can be increased as compared with the conventional case where the coin is entirely in contact with the bottom surface of the coin, and the coin can be more reliably held by the elastic member. In addition, by adjusting the widths and intervals of the plurality of ridges, it is possible to control the balance of the coin holding force in the circumferential direction and the radial direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a relief groove for receiving the convex portion of the elastic member is formed on a bottom surface of the fixing member.

According to the second invention, in the first invention, in the portion where the escape groove is formed in the fixing member,
The movement of coins in the radial direction is prevented.

In a third aspect based on the first or second aspect, the elastic member of the rotating disk is divided into a plurality of concentrically arranged elastic parts.

According to the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, only a part of the elastic members can be replaced according to the degree of wear or damage of each elastic member, which is economical.

According to a fourth aspect, in the third aspect, each elastic component has a circular cross section.

According to the fourth invention, in the third invention, since each elastic component has a circular cross section and does not matter in the orientation when it is attached to the disk body, assembly of the rotating disk and replacement of the elastic component are performed. Work becomes easy. In this case, the upper part of each elastic component constitutes a circumferential ridge.

In a fifth aspect based on the first to fourth aspects, the elastic member has a hollow portion between the ridge portion and the disk main body.

According to the fifth invention, in the first to fourth inventions, by improving the flexibility of the ridge, the durability of the elastic member can be improved, and the change in the gap with the fixing member can be improved. It is possible to effectively absorb the difference in coin thickness depending on the denomination.

[0018]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 are views showing one embodiment of a coin sorting apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are views showing another embodiment.

[Outline of Overall Configuration] The coin sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a state in which a fixed disk (fixed member) 1 and a bottom surface 1b of the fixed disk 1 are overlaid. And a rotating disk 2 that rotates. The fixed disk 1 and the rotating disk 2 are connected to each other by a hinge part a1 (FIG. 1) so as to be freely opened and closed. Further, on the opposite side of the hinge part a1, a lock part a2 (FIG. 1) for fixing the fixed disk 1 and the rotating disk 2 to each other so as to be overlapped and fixed in a closed state is provided.

The fixed disk 1 has a coin slot 1a at the center. And this coin sorting device has a fixed disk 1
The coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 1a is configured to slide with respect to the bottom surface 1b (FIG. 2) of the fixed disk 1 as the rotating disk 2 rotates. In addition, the fixed disk 1
It has guide means (described later) for selectively guiding coins sliding on the bottom surface 1b according to the diameter.

[Specific Configuration of Rotating Disk] As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating disk 2 is attached to a disk body 22 rotatably supported by a shaft 20 and an outer peripheral portion of the disk body 22 on the upper surface side. Further, it has a plurality of elastic belts (elastic parts) 2a constituting an elastic member. In this case, the upper part of each elastic belt 2a constitutes a circumferential ridge in the elastic member.

These elastic belts 2a are made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber. Further, each elastic belt 2a has a hollow circular cross section, and thereby has a structure in which a hollow portion 2h is formed between the upper part (projecting ridge) of each elastic belt 2a and the disk main body 22. The disk body 22
Is formed with a belt holding groove 24 for detachably holding each elastic belt 2a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, a motor 25 for rotating and driving the rotating disk 2 is provided. Specifically, a pulley 26 attached to the rotation shaft of the motor 25
And between the outer periphery of the disk body 22 of the rotating disk 2 (FIG. 2)
A drive belt 28 is stretched. In addition, rotating disk 2
A conical member 27 is provided on a central portion of the coin so as to prevent coins from stagnating in this portion.

[Specific Structure of Fixed Disk] Next, the fixed disk 1, particularly the guide means provided on the bottom surface 1b thereof will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

The guide means has a coin passage 10 formed in a concave shape on the bottom surface 1b of the fixed disk 1. The coin passage 10 extends in a substantially spiral shape while meandering from the coin insertion slot 1a side to the outer peripheral side (counterclockwise in FIG. 3).
The coin passage 10 is divided into a large-diameter coin passage 10a, a medium-diameter coin passage 10b, and a small-diameter coin passage 10c in order from the coin insertion slot 1a. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the large-diameter coin passage 10a has a passage width through which the large-diameter coin C1 can pass, and the middle-diameter coin passage 10b has a passage through which only the middle-diameter coin C2 and the small-diameter coin C3 can pass. It has a width L1 (FIG. 3), and the small-diameter coin passage 10c has a passage width L2 (FIG. 3) through which only the small-diameter coin C3 can pass.

As shown in FIG. 3, a large-diameter coin passage 10a
Is a coin introduction part 11 facing the coin insertion slot 1a, and two stepped parts 12a, 1 formed at an interval downstream thereof.
2b. Among these, the coin introduction part 11 is formed so that the gap between the rotating disc 2 and the elastic holder 2a is wider than the thickest coin. Thus, all coins entered from the coin insertion slot 1a can enter the coin introduction unit 11 by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating disk 2.

The steps 12a and 12b intermittently narrow the gap between the large-diameter coin passage 10a and the elastic holding member 2a of the rotating disk 2 toward the downstream side so that the coins overlap each other. The purpose of this is to secure the transfer of coins in a single line in the coin passage 10.
Such a state of the coin C is shown in FIG. 5 (cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 4 (when the coin passes)).

Incidentally, as shown in FIG.
An overlapping coin return portion 13 facing the coin insertion slot 1a is provided corresponding to a boundary portion between 0a and the medium-diameter coin passage 10b. The overlapping coin return section 13 includes a step 12a,
This is for dealing with coins that have passed while overlapping with 12b, and the upstream side and the downstream side thereof are surrounded by a step 13a and a step 13b, respectively.

The step 13a on the upstream side is formed to be thinner than the thickest coin (see FIG. 6), and only one of the two overlapping coins (the coin on the rotating disk 2 side) is inserted into the coin insertion slot 1a. It is made to pass to the side. The downstream step 13b guides coins passing through the upstream step 13a and returns the coins to the coin insertion slot 1a.

Here, the large-diameter coin passage 10a moves toward the outer periphery as it goes downstream (away from the center of the fixed disk 1), so that the outer edges of all coins passing therethrough become the inner peripheral portion 10i-a. The contact is made (see FIG. 4).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a large-diameter coin for selectively guiding only the large-diameter coin C1 and discharging it in a substantially tangential direction is provided on the outer peripheral side of the medium-diameter coin passage 10b. A guide 15a is provided. This large-diameter coin guide 15a
Has a climbing portion 16a and a discharge passage 17a.
The rising portion 16a is located at the boundary between the large-diameter coin passage 10a and the medium-diameter coin passage 10b, and only the large-diameter coin C1 having a diameter larger than the passage width L1 of the medium-diameter coin passage 10b. Are mounted on the outer peripheral side (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 7 (a sectional view taken along the line Y-Y in FIG. 4)). It should be noted that a slope 16a 'is provided downstream of the climbing section 16a to assist the climbing of coins.

The discharge passage 17a is provided in the
Edge 18 for guiding coins riding on the vehicle in a substantially tangential direction
a, and a discharge port 19a for discharging the guided coin to the outside of the fixed disk 1. In this case, since the outer edges of all the coins are configured to abut on the inner peripheral edge portion 10ia, a medium-diameter coin C2 having a diameter smaller than the passage width L1.
The small-diameter coin C3 passes through the medium-diameter coin passage 10b without climbing on the climbing section 16a.

Next, on the outer peripheral side of the upstream portion of the small-diameter coin passage 10b, there is provided a medium-diameter coin guide portion 15b for selectively guiding only the medium-diameter coin C2 and discharging it in a substantially tangential direction. . The medium-diameter coin guide portion 15b also has a climbing portion 16b and a discharge passage 17 similarly to the large-diameter coin guide portion 15a.
b.

The climbing portion 16b is located at a boundary between the medium coin passage 10b and the small coin passage 10c.
Only the medium-diameter coin C2 having a diameter larger than the passage width L2 of the small-diameter coin passage 10c runs on the outer peripheral side thereof. A slope 16b 'is provided downstream of the climbing section 16b for assisting the climbing of coins.
The discharge passage 17b has a guide edge 18b and a discharge port 19b, similarly to the discharge passage 17a of the large-diameter coin guide 15a.

Here, the downstream portion of the medium-diameter coin passage 10b also moves toward the outer periphery (away from the center of the fixed disk 1) as going downstream, so that the outer edges of all coins passing therethrough become the inner peripheral portion. 10i-b (see FIG. 4). As a result, the small-diameter coin C3 having a diameter smaller than the passage width L2 passes through the small-diameter coin passage 10c without riding on the climbing portion 16b.

The small-diameter coin passage 10c is directed toward the outer periphery as it goes downstream (after once toward the inner periphery), and selectively guides only the small-diameter coin C3 to discharge in a substantially tangential direction. As the guide portion 15c (the discharge port 19 thereof)
c).

The coin passage 10 has an inner peripheral edge 10i and an outer peripheral edge 10o with which an outer edge of a coin passing therethrough can abut.
And, as described above, each of the riding portions 6a, 6
On the upstream side of b, as it goes downstream, it moves away from the center of the fixed disk 1 so that the outer edges of all coins become inner peripheral portions 10i-
a, 10i-b. And
The coin passage 10 is located downstream of each of the climbing sections 6a and 6b.
As it goes downstream, it curves so as to approach the center of the fixed disk 1 and has a meandering shape as a whole.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and FIGS. 5 to 7, a relief groove 14 is formed on the bottom surface 1b of the fixed disk 1 for receiving the upper portion (projected ridge) of the elastic belt 2a of the rotating disk 2. Is formed. These relief grooves 14 are formed only in a portion where the distance between the fixed disk 1 and the rotating disk 2 is narrow, and are not formed in the portions such as the coin guide portions 15a and 15b.

[Operation] Next, the operation of the coin sorting apparatus having the above-described configuration for performing the coin sorting process will be described mainly with reference to FIG. The operation that is clear from the above configuration will be partially omitted or simplified.

The rotating disk 2 (clockwise in FIG. 4)
During rotation, coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 1a of the fixed disk 1 enter the coin introduction portion 11 with the rotation of the rotating disk 2, and slide along the bottom surface 1b of the fixed disk 1 while passing through the coin passage. It is transported inside 10.

Of the coins that have reached the climbing section 16a of the large-diameter coin guide section 15a through the large-diameter coin path 10a, only the large-diameter coin C1 that has climbed up the climbing section 16a passes through the discharge path 17a. The light is discharged from the discharge port 19a. Other medium and small coins C2 and C3 pass through the medium coin passage 10b as they are.

Next, among the small and medium-sized coins C2 and C3, which have passed through the medium-diameter coin passage 10b and reached the rising portion 16b of the medium-diameter coin guide portion 15b, the medium-diameter coin C2 that has climbed onto the rising portion 16b Only discharge port 1 through discharge passage 17b.
Emitted from 9b. The other small-diameter coin C3 passes through the small-diameter coin passage 10c as it is and is discharged from the discharge port 19c of the small-diameter coin guide 15c. As described above, coins are sorted according to their diameters in the coin guides 15a to 15c.

[Operation and Effect] Next, the operation and effect of the coin sorting apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described.

According to the coin sorting apparatus of the present embodiment, the ridge of the elastic member comes into contact with the bottom surface of the coin on a narrow linear surface, so that the entire surface contacts the bottom surface of the coin as in the related art. As compared with the case, the contact pressure can be increased, and the coin can be more reliably held by the elastic member. In addition, by adjusting the widths and intervals of the plurality of ridges, it is possible to control the balance of the coin holding force in the circumferential direction and the radial direction. Thus, while the coin is securely held by the elastic member, the balance between the circumferential holding of the coin and the movement in the radial direction is appropriately controlled, and a more reliable and smooth sorting process can be performed.

In the portion where the escape groove 14 is formed in the fixed disk 1, the upper portion of the elastic belt 2 a of the rotating disk 2 is received in the escape groove 14, thereby preventing the coin from moving in the radial direction. . This makes it possible to effectively prevent the coins from escaping in the radial direction from the gap between the fixed disk 1 and the rotating disk 2 during the coin sorting process.

Further, by forming an elastic member by a plurality of concentrically attached elastic belts 2a, it is possible to replace each elastic belt 2a according to the degree of wear or damage of each elastic belt 2a. It is economical.

Furthermore, since each elastic belt 2a has a circular cross section and does not matter in the direction in which the elastic belt 2a is attached to the disk main body 22, it is easy to assemble the rotating disk 2 and replace the elastic belt 2a. In addition, by forming each elastic belt 2a in a hollow shape to enhance flexibility, the durability is improved, and a change in a gap with the fixed disk 1 and a difference in coin thickness due to denomination are effectively absorbed. (See FIGS. 5 to 7).

[Other Embodiments] Next, another embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 will be described. The description of the same configuration, operation, and operation and effect as those of the above embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is partially or entirely omitted.

In this embodiment, the plurality of elastic belts 2
Instead of a, an elastic sheet (elastic member) 2 b as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is attached to the upper surface side of the disk main body 22. The elastic sheet 2b is made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber, and a plurality of circumferentially extending ridges 200 and concave grooves 202 are alternately and concentrically formed.

Each of the ridges 200 and the grooves 2
02 is connected by a plane portion 201 inclined at approximately 45 degrees. Thereby, the elastic belt 2 having a circular cross section
In (a), the contact angle of the coin outer edge with the side surface is not constant depending on the location, whereas in the elastic sheet 2b, the contact angle of the coin outer edge with the flat portion 201 is substantially constant. For this reason, the design of the elastic sheet 2b that optimizes the movement of the coin in the radial direction becomes easier than in the case of the elastic belt 2a having a circular cross section.

As shown in FIG. 8, a V-shaped groove 207 for receiving the bottom of the elastic sheet 2b is formed in the disk body 22 corresponding to each groove 202 of the elastic sheet 2b. These V-shaped grooves 207 are formed sufficiently shallower than the height of the elastic sheet 2b.
A hollow portion 2h 'is formed between the disk body 22 and the disk body 22. This increases the flexibility of the ridges 200, thereby improving the durability of the elastic sheet 2b and effectively absorbing changes in the gap between the fixed disk 1 and differences in coin thickness due to denominations. Can be.

The inner peripheral edge portion 204 of the elastic sheet 2b
Is fitted in a groove formed in the disk main body 22, and the outer peripheral edge portion 206 is fixed to the outer circumference of the disk main body 22 by a ring-shaped mounting member 208. On the bottom surface of the fixed disk 1, a clearance groove 14 'for receiving the upper part of the ridge 202 of the elastic sheet 2b is formed, thereby effectively preventing the coin from escaping in the radial direction.

The elastic sheet 2b has a circumferentially extending ridge 2 formed thereon.
00 and the groove 202 are formed, but a plurality of grooves are also formed in the radial direction to form the ridges 2.
00 may be divided into a plurality in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, a plurality of convex portions having various shapes such as a hemispherical shape and a conical shape may be arranged on the same circumference, and a plurality of concentric convex portions may be provided.

[Others] The guide means for selectively guiding coins in the fixed disk (fixed member) 1 in accordance with the diameter is not limited to the above-mentioned structure, but may have another passage shape. Or a device having an electromagnetic identification means or a mechanically movable portion.

[0055]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, while the coin is securely held by the elastic member, the balance between the circumferential holding and the radial movement of the coin is appropriately controlled,
More reliable and smooth sorting processing can be performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent the coins from escaping in the radial direction from the gap between the fixed member and the rotating disk during the coin sorting process.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of a coin sorting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a disk portion in the coin sorting apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a back surface side of a fixed disk in the coin sorting device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the movement of coins in the coin sorting device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 4 (when passing a normal coin).

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX (when passing coins) of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the coin sorting apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 (with coins omitted).

FIG. 9 is a perspective view partially showing an elastic sheet of the coin sorting device shown in FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 C coin C1 Large coin (sorted coin) C2 Medium coin (sorted coin) C3 Small coin (sorted coin) 1 Fixed disk (fixed member) 1a Coin slot 1b Bottom surface 10 Coin passage (guide means) 10a Large coin passage 10b Medium-diameter coin passage 10c Small-diameter coin passage 10i Inner peripheral edge 10i-a Inner peripheral edge portion 10i-b Inner peripheral edge portion 10o Outer peripheral edge 11 Coin introduction portions 12a, 12b Stepped portion 13 Overlap coin return portion 14 Belt relief groove 15a Large coin guide Portion (sorted coin guide portion) 16a Riding portion 17a Release passage 15b Medium-diameter coin guide portion (sorted coin guide portion) 16b Ride portion 17b release passage 15c Small-diameter coin guide portion (sorted coin guide portion) 10a to 10f Coin passage 14 , 14 'relief groove 2 rotating disk 22 disk body 24 belt holding groove 2a elastic belt (elastic part) 2b elastic sheet Elastic members) 2h, 2h 'hollow portion 200 convex portion 201 in the plane portion 202 recessed groove 204 periphery 206 the outer peripheral edge portion

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Daisuke Hoshino 1-3-1 Shimoteno, Himeji-shi, Hyogo Glory Industries Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E001 AA01 AB03 BA01 CA05 CA10 FA21 FA57

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fixed member having a coin slot in the center thereof, a disc main body which rotates while being superposed on the bottom surface of the fixed member, and an elastic member attached to an upper surface side of the disc main body. A rotating disk, and coins inserted from a coin slot of the fixed member are configured to slide on the bottom surface of the fixed member with rotation of the rotating disk, and the fixed member is And a guide means for selectively guiding coins sliding on the bottom surface according to the diameter, wherein the elastic member of the rotating disk includes a plurality of circumferentially extending ridges arranged concentrically. A coin sorting device comprising: 2. The coin sorting device according to claim 1, wherein a relief groove for receiving a convex portion of the elastic member is formed on a bottom surface of the fixing member. 3. The coin sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member of the rotating disk is divided into a plurality of elastic parts arranged concentrically. 4. The coin sorting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each elastic part has a circular cross section. 5. The elastic member has a hollow portion between the ridge portion and the disk main body.
A coin sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.