JP2002190046A - Coin sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a degree of freedom when setting the rotating speed of a rotary disk. SOLUTION: Coins thrown into from a throw-in port 1a of a fixed disk 1 slide in relation to a bottom surface 1b of the fixed disk 1 with the rotation of the rotary disk 2. The fixed disk 1 has a guide means for selectively guiding the coins sliding in relation to the bottom surface 1b of the fixed disk 1 in response to the diameter of the coins. The guide means includes a coil passage 10 having inner peripheral edge parts 10i-a and 10i-b, on which the peripheral edge of the all coins abut, and coin guide parts 15a and 15b. Each of coin guide part 15a and 15b is formed so that the only coins having a diameter larger than the predetermined reference dimension L1 and L2 ride over a ride-over parts 16a and 16b at the peripheral side of the coins in the condition that the peripheral edge of the coin abuts on the inner peripheral edge part of the coin passage 10. The coins riding over each ride-over part 16a and 16b are delivered out of the fixed disk 1 through delivery passages 17a and 17b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stationary member and a rotating disk which rotates while being superposed on the bottom surface thereof. The present invention relates to a coin sorting device configured to sort according to a coin.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 26 schematically shows a bottom surface 401b side of a fixed disk 401 in a conventional coin sorter (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-250793). The coin sorting device includes a rotating disk (not shown) having an elastic surface that rotates while being superimposed on the bottom surface 401 b of the fixed disk 401. The fixed disk 401 has a coin slot 4 at the center.
01a, and the coin C inserted from the coin insertion slot 401a is fixed to the fixed disk 1
Is configured to slide with respect to the bottom surface 401b.

The fixed disk 401 has a bottom surface 401.
The coin C sliding with respect to b is guided selectively according to the diameter. Specifically, fixed disk 1
A coin introduction path 410 facing the coin insertion hole 401a is provided on the side of the bottom surface 401b. This coin introduction path 41
0 has a coin introduction part 411 for introducing the coin C inserted from the coin insertion slot 401a, and a raised part 413 for releasing the overlap between the coins.

[0004] A coin aligning section 402 is provided adjacent to the coin introduction path 410. This coin alignment unit 402
The centrifugal force acting on the coin C is used to bring the outer edge of the coin C into contact with the outer peripheral portion 404 of the coin C so that the coins C are sequentially aligned. The coin C that has passed through the coin arranging section 402 is thereafter elastically held between the fixed disk 401 and the bottom surface 401b by the rotation of the rotating disk, and the coin C is set within the virtual arc guide line 406. It is transported along the circumference.

FIG. 26 shows a configuration in which three types of coins C1, C2 and C3 of large diameter, medium diameter and small diameter are selected as an example. In this case, a small-diameter coin guide groove 415a, a medium-diameter coin guide groove 415b, and a large-diameter coin guide groove 415c are provided in order from the upstream side along the guide line 406. These guide grooves 415a, 415b, 41
5c is for selectively guiding only the large, medium and small coins C1, C2 and C3, respectively, and discharging them to the outside.

Specifically, the small-diameter coin guide groove 415a is
Among the coins moving along the inside of the guideline 406, only the small-diameter coin C3 is accepted, and the coin C3 is guided to the outside of the fixed disk 1 (at its inner peripheral edge 416a). The diameter coins C2 and C1 are allowed to pass through as they are. Medium coin guide groove 4
15b receives only the medium-diameter coin C2 (at its inner peripheral edge 416b), guides it to the outside of the fixed disk 1, and passes the large-diameter coin C1 as it is. The large-diameter coin guide groove 415c receives the remaining large-diameter coin C1 (at its inner peripheral edge 416c) and guides it to the outside of the fixed disk 1.

[0007]

The above-mentioned conventional coin sorting apparatus has the following problems. First, since the coins C are sequentially aligned along the inner circumference of the guide line 406 by utilizing the centrifugal force acting on the coins C in the coin arranging unit 402, it is necessary to rotate the rotating disk at a somewhat high speed. Therefore, the degree of freedom in setting the rotation speed of the rotating disk (that is, the sorting processing speed) is reduced.

Next, in consideration of a case where a coin is jammed, it is advantageous if the rotating disk can be temporarily reversed and then rotated forward again to continue the sorting process. However, in the coin sorting apparatus, the guide line 40 is temporarily set by the inner peripheral edges 416a to 416c of the guide grooves 415a to 415c.
The coin which has deviated to the outer peripheral side of 6 is in a state of being gripped at that position between the rotating disk and the original position (the alignment position along the inner peripheral side of the guide line 406 and the outer peripheral edge portion 404) even if the coin is reversed. Does not return to). For this reason, after the rotating disk is once rotated in the reverse direction, a normal sorting operation cannot be performed even if the rotating disk is rotated forward again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its main object to provide a coin sorting apparatus having a high degree of freedom in setting the rotation speed of a rotating disk. It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin sorting apparatus that can continue a normal sorting operation even if the coins are rotated in the normal direction after being reversed.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing member having a coin insertion slot at a center portion, and a rotating disk which rotates while being superposed on a bottom surface of the fixing member. A coin entered from a coin slot is configured to slide on the bottom surface of the fixed member with the rotation of the rotating disk, and the fixed member slides on the bottom surface of the coin. For selectively guiding the coins in accordance with the diameter, the guide means includes a coin passage having an inner peripheral edge portion for bringing the outer edges of all coins into contact, and at least one sorted coin guide portion. In the state where the outer edge of the coin is in contact with the inner peripheral edge portion of the coin passage, only the sorted coins having a diameter larger than a predetermined reference size are formed so as to ride on the outer peripheral side thereof. The riding section and this A coin sorting apparatus characterized by having a discharge passage for discharging to guide the selection coins riding on raised portion outwardly of said fixing member.

According to the first aspect, the coin inserted into the coin insertion slot of the fixed member slides on the bottom surface of the fixed member with the rotation of the rotating disk and is guided by the guide means in accordance with the diameter. Guided selectively. In this case, the outer edges of all coins will come into contact with the inner peripheral portion of the coin passage,
Among them, only the sorted coins having a diameter larger than a predetermined reference size ride on the raising portion in the sorted coin guide portion on the outer peripheral side. Then, the sorted coins climbed on the climbing section are guided by the ejection passage and ejected to the outside of the fixing member.
On the other hand, coins other than the sorted coins pass through the coin passage without climbing on the outer side of the climbing section.

As described above, coins are sorted according to their diameter in the sorted coin guide section. In the case where coins are sorted into three or more types by two or more sorted coin guides, the coins are sorted in order from a coin having a large diameter to a coin having a small diameter.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the coin passage has an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge with which an outer edge of a coin passing therethrough can abut, and at an upstream side of the riding portion, As it goes downstream, it moves away from the center of the fixing member, and on the downstream side of the riding section, it curves so as to come closer to the center of the fixing member as it goes downstream (here, "upstream" and " The term "downstream" refers to the direction in which coins are transferred during normal rotation of the rotating disk).

According to the second invention, in the first invention, the position of the coin passing through the coin passage is regulated between the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the passage. On the upstream side of the riding portion, the coin is pushed away from the center of the fixed member as the passage goes downstream, so that coins are pushed to the outer peripheral side at the inner peripheral edge of the passage when the rotating disk is normally rotated, so that the inner peripheral edge is Make contact with the part.

[0015] Further, on the downstream side of the riding portion, the passage approaches the center of the fixed disk as going downstream. This allows
When the rotating disk is rotated in the reverse direction, coins are pushed out to the outer peripheral side at the inner peripheral edge of the passage at the front side of the riding section (upstream side at the time of reverse rotation) so that the inner peripheral edge portion is contacted. Can be in contact.

Therefore, even when the rotating disk is once rotated reversely and then rotated forward again, it is guaranteed that the outer edge of the coin is in contact with the inner peripheral edge portion of the passage at the position of the riding portion. Therefore, the normal sorting operation can be continued even if the rotating disk is temporarily reversed and then rotated forward again.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, an urging means for urging the coin toward the inner peripheral side of the coin passage is provided on an upstream side of the raising portion in the coin passage. Is what it is.

According to the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the urging means urges the coin toward the inner peripheral side of the coin passage on the upstream side of the climbing portion, so that all of the coins are urged. It can be ensured that the outer edge of the coin abuts on the inner peripheral portion of the passage.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the fixing member is configured such that the sorted coins climbed on the climbing section have a substantially horizontal posture. It is.

According to the fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, it is possible to prevent the sorted coins from being caught by the tilted coins in the sorted coin guide portion and to ensure the smooth discharge of the coins. Can be.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the fixing member further comprises a climbing plate which constitutes the climbing portion and whose position can be adjusted in the width direction of the coin passage. Have

According to the fifth aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, it is possible to adjust the width of the coin passage in the climbing portion to cope with a change in the diameter of the sorted coins. . Further, by finely adjusting the width of the coin passage, more reliable and smooth coin sorting processing can be achieved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, a foreign substance thinner than the thinnest coin is selectively guided downstream of the coin passage to allow the foreign matter to be removed from the fixed member. A foreign matter sorting means for discharging to the side is provided.

According to the sixth aspect, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the foreign matter thinner than the coin can be sorted out, discharged to the outside of the fixing member, and collected separately from the coin. .

In a seventh aspect based on the sixth aspect, the foreign matter selecting means has a foreign matter passage branching from the coin passage and leading to the outside of the fixing member, and the rotating disk is provided at the branch portion. And a step portion is formed to form a gap having a size that allows the foreign matter to pass through and the thinnest coin to pass through.

According to the seventh aspect, in the sixth aspect, among the coins and foreign matter passing through the coin passage, the coin does not pass through the step portion of the branch portion, and therefore proceeds directly in the coin passage.
On the other hand, foreign matter enters the foreign matter passage through the step of the branch portion, and is sorted out from coins.

[0027]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 are views showing an embodiment of a coin sorting apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 8 to 25 are views showing a modification of the embodiment.

[Outline of Overall Structure] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coin sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment rotates with a fixed disc (fixed member) 1 superposed on the bottom surface of the fixed disc 1. And a rotating disk 2. The fixed disk 1 and the rotating disk 2 are hinged to each other (see FIG. 1).
Are openably and closably connected. Also, a hinge part a
On the opposite side of the lock 1, a lock portion a2 (FIG. 1) for fixing the fixed disk 1 and the rotating disk 2 in a closed state in which they overlap with each other.
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 Structure 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. And a plurality of elastic belts 2a. These elastic belts 2a are made of an elastic material such as urethane rubber and have a hollow circular cross section. A belt holding groove 24 for holding each elastic belt 2a is formed concentrically on the disk main body 22.

The plurality of elastic belts 2a attached to the disk main body 22 hold coins between the fixed disk 1 and move the coins with the rotation of the rotating disk 2 and also move the coin with the fixed disk 1. The difference in the thickness of the coin due to the change and the denomination can be absorbed (see FIGS. 5 to 7).

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, a motor 25 for rotating 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, and 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, the 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 such that the gap between the rotating disk 2 and the elastic belt 2a is wider than the thickness of 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 step portions 12a and 12b reduce the gap between the coins by intermittently narrowing the gap between the rotating disc 2 and the elastic belt 2a in the large-diameter coin passage 10a toward the downstream side. Thus, it is intended to ensure 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)).

As shown in FIG. 3, the large-diameter coin passage 1
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 thinnest coin (see FIG. 6), and only one of two overlapping coins (coin on the rotating disk 2 side) is inserted into the coin 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.

Further, the discharge passage 17a is provided in the riding portion 16a.
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
b.

The climbing portion 16b is located at a boundary between the medium-diameter coin passage 10b and the small-diameter 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 '(FIG. 3) for assisting the coins to climb up is also provided downstream of the climbing section 16b. Further, the discharge passage 17b is provided with the large-diameter coin guide portion 15
a, as in the discharge passage 17a of FIG.
9b.

Here, the downstream portion of the medium-diameter coin passage 10b also moves toward the outer periphery toward the 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-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 (once toward the inner periphery once), and selectively guides only the small-diameter coin C3 and discharges it 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 contact.
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 5 to 7, a belt clearance groove 14 corresponding to the upper portion of the elastic belt 2a of the rotating disk 2 is formed on the bottom surface 1b of the fixed disk 1. . Then, in the belt escape groove 14 of the fixed disk 1,
The entry of the upper part of the elastic belt 2a of the rotating disk 2 effectively prevents the coins from coming out of the coin passages 10a to 10c. In addition, these belt escape 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 portions such as the coin guide portions 15a and 15b.

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

First, when a normal coin sorting process is performed, the rotating disk 2 rotates forward in the clockwise direction in FIG. The coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 1a of the fixed disk 1 is
With the rotation of the rotating disk 2, it enters the coin introduction unit 11,
The coin passage 10 slides on the bottom surface 1b of the fixed disk 1 while sliding.
It is transported inside.

Then, of the coins that have reached the climbing portion 16a of the large-diameter coin guide portion 15a through the large-diameter coin passage 10a, only the large-diameter coin C1 that has climbed on the climbing portion 16a passes through the discharge passage 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 reached the rising portion 16b of the medium-diameter coin guide portion 15b through the medium-diameter coin passage 10b, the medium-sized coin C2 which 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, each coin guide portion 15a-
At 15c, coins are sorted according to the diameter. In this case, the coins are sorted according to the diameter in a state where the outer edges of the coins are brought into contact with the inner peripheral edge portions 10i-a and 10i-b of the passage. You do not need to rely on power. For this reason, it is possible to provide a coin sorting apparatus having a high degree of freedom in setting the rotation speed (sorting processing speed) of the rotating disk 2.

Next, the position of the coin passing through the coin passage 10 is regulated between the inner peripheral edge 10i and the outer peripheral edge 10o of the passage. Then, on the upstream side of the riding sections 16a and 16b,
As the coin passage 10 moves away from the center of the fixed disk 1 as it goes downstream, coins are pushed out on the inner peripheral edge 10i of the passage to the outer peripheral side when the rotating disk 2 rotates forward, so that the inner peripheral edge portions 10ia, 10ia, 10i-b.

Further, on the downstream side of the climbing sections 16a, 16b, the coin path 10 approaches the center of the fixed disk 1 as going downstream. As a result, even when the rotating disk 2 rotates in the reverse direction, the coins are pushed out to the outer peripheral side by the inner peripheral edge 10i of the passage on the front side (upstream side during the reverse rotation) of the riding portions 16a and 16b, similarly to the normal rotation. And its inner peripheral portion 10
ia ′ and 10i−b ′.

Therefore, even if the rotating disk 2 is once rotated in the reverse direction and then rotated in the normal direction, the outer edge of the coin remains at the inner peripheral edge portion 10i- of the passage at the position of the lifting portions 16a and 16b.
a, 10i-b are guaranteed to be in contact. Therefore, the normal sorting operation can be continued even if the rotating disk 2 is temporarily reversed and then rotated forward again. Thus, for example, when coins are clogged in the course of the coin sorting process due to the normal rotation of the rotating disk 2, after the rotating disk 2 is temporarily reversed to eliminate the clogging, the rotation of the rotating disk 2 is performed again. It is also possible to continue the sorting operation.

[Modifications] Next, various modifications to the above embodiment will be described.

(1) The modification shown in FIG.
It has a fixed disk 1 'provided with six sorting coin guides 15a to 15f around 0'. Each of the sorted coin guides 15a to 15e includes a climbing section 16a to 16e corresponding to the diameter of six different coins C1 to C6, respectively.
It has guide edges 18a to 18e and discharge passages 17a to 17e including discharge ports 19a to 19e (in FIG. 8, some of the above-mentioned six types of coins are referred to for convenience.
The coins are indicated by reference numerals C1 to C3, and have different meanings from the reference numerals C1 to C3 indicating the large to small coins in the above embodiment. The same applies to the subscripts a to c for each code.)

Thus, while the above-described embodiment sorts coins into three types according to their diameters, it becomes possible to sort coins into six types. For example, when sorting coins of six denominations having different diameters, in the above embodiment, the coins are roughly classified into three groups, but in this modification, the coins can be sorted for each of six denominations. The types of coins that can be sorted according to the diameter are not limited to three or six, and can be arbitrarily set according to the number of the provided coin guides.

(2) Modifications shown in FIGS. 9 and 10
In the large-diameter coin passage 10a, on the upstream side of the climbing portion 16a, urging members (urging means) 7, 7 'for urging the coin toward the inner peripheral edge portion 10ia of the passage are provided.

Each of the urging members 7, 7 'is provided with a lever 7 which is swingably attached to the surface of the fixed disk 1 via a shaft 70.
Two. A support shaft 74 extending downward is attached to the tip of the lever 72. Each support shaft 74 passes through elongated holes 10h and 10h 'formed in the fixed disk 1,
It extends to the back side of the fixed disk 1. And each spindle 7
A roller 76 made of, for example, a bearing component
Is rotatably mounted.

Further, each lever 72 is connected to the inner peripheral edge portion 1 of the passage.
A coil spring 78 that urges toward the 0ia side is provided. As a result, each roller 76 normally has the coil spring 7
The coin 8 advances into the coin passage 10a by the urging force of 8, and retreats from the coin passage 10a according to the diameter of the coin (against the urging force of the coil spring 78) when the coin passes.

According to this modification, the urging members 7, 7 'urge the coins (via the rollers 76) toward the inner peripheral edge portion 10i-a of the passage on the upstream side of the riding portion 16a. The outer edge of all coins is the inner peripheral portion 10ia of the passage.
Can be more reliably assured of contact. For example, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG.
When a thin small-diameter coin C3 'is sandwiched between the 1' and the small-diameter coin C3 'is insufficiently held by the elastic belt 2a (FIG. 11), the small-diameter coin C3' may move to the outer peripheral side. There is. In such a case, the urging members 7, 7 '
Thus, the small-diameter coin C3 'can be reliably brought into contact with the inner peripheral edge portion 10ia.

Here, assuming the existence of the large-diameter coin C1 ', the case where the urging means 7, 7' is provided on the upstream side of the large-diameter coin climbing portion 16a has been described. Similar biasing members 7, 7 'may be provided on the upstream side of the medium coin rising portion 16b. The urging members 7,
It is not always necessary to provide two 7's. Instead of the lever-type urging members 7, 7 'as described above, another urging means such as a leaf spring may be provided.

(3) The modification shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is a divided type passage bottom plates P1 to P5 forming the bottom surfaces of the coin passages 10a to 10c, and a rising plate S1 forming the rising portions 16a and 16b. , S2 are provided separately from the fixed disk 1. FIG. 13 shows a cross section of the passage bottom plate P3 and the riding plate S1.

The passage bottom plates P1 to P5 are detachably attached to the fixed disk 1 by, for example, screwing. Thus, the passage bottom plates P1 to P5 can be made of a material different from that of the fixed disk 1 itself, and it is easy to perform different processing. For example, passage bottom plates P1 to P5
It is conceivable that only the abrasion resistant material is manufactured or hardened. The passage bottom plate may be divided into an arbitrary number, or may be integrally formed without being divided into a plurality.

On the other hand, the riding plates S1 and S2 are
Is mounted so that the position of the coin passage 10 can be adjusted in the width direction. Thereby, in particular, the riding portions 16a, 1
By adjusting the passage widths L1 and L2 in 6b, it is possible to cope with a change in the diameter of coins to be sorted. Further, by finely adjusting the passage widths L1 and L2, a more reliable and smooth coin sorting process can be achieved. Note that these lift plates S1 and S2 are also fixed disks 1 similarly to the passage bottom plates P1 to P5.
Apart from itself, it can be made of a wear-resistant material or hardened.

(4) The modification shown in FIG.
By inclining the bottom surfaces of 0a 'and 10b' in the width direction,
Inner peripheral portions 10ia and 10ib and riding portion 16
The heights of a 'and 16b' are substantially equal. As a result, the sorted coins C1 and C2 that have climbed on the climbing units 16a and 16b have a substantially horizontal posture (actually, FIG. 14 shows one coin passage 10a ′ and the climbing). Part 16a 'and the large-diameter coin C1).

According to this modification, the coin guides 15a,
It is possible to prevent the sorted coins C1 and C2 from being caught by the inclination in 15b, and to ensure smooth discharge of the coins C1 and C2. Note that the smaller the diameter of the coin, the more likely it is for the coin to be caught by the inclination.
Only the configuration 2 may be configured as described above.

(5) Modifications shown in FIGS.
It comprises a fixed disk 1 "having foreign matter selection means 8 and a rotating disk 2 'having an integrated flat elastic member 200 in place of the plurality of elastic belts 2a. Corresponding to the use, the belt clearance groove 14 in the fixed disk 1 shown in FIG. 3 is omitted in the fixed disk 1 "shown in FIG.

The foreign matter sorting means 8 provided on the fixed disk 1 "(downstream of the coin passage 10) selectively guides the foreign matter F thinner than the thinnest coin to the outside of the fixed disk 1". It is for release (see FIG. 16). Examples of such foreign matter F include a wire-made document clip and a stapler (document binding device) needle. As shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and 21 to 24, the foreign matter selecting means 8 branches off from the small-diameter coin passage 10c and fixes the fixed disk 1 ".
And a step portion 82 is provided at a branch portion thereof.

The foreign matter passage 80 extends in a direction (tangential direction) substantially perpendicular to the radial direction of the fixed disk 1 "at the branch portion thereof, and the small-diameter coin passage 10c is further inclined outwardly of the fixed disk 1". Extending in the direction. In addition, the step portion 82 of the branch portion has a size (height) of a size (height) that does not allow the thinnest coin (in this case, the small-diameter coin C3) to pass through the foreign matter F between the rotating disk 2 ′ (the elastic member 200 thereof) and the rotating disk 2 ′. A gap 84 is formed.

According to this modification, as shown in FIG. 16, among the small-diameter coin C3 and the foreign matter F passing through the small-diameter coin passage 10c, the coin C3 does not pass through the step portion 82 of the branch portion.
The outlet 19c is forcibly forced along the coin passage 10c.
Guided to. On the other hand, the foreign matter F thinner than the coin C3 advances in the tangential direction by the rotational force and the centrifugal force of the rotating disk 2 ', enters the foreign matter passage 80 through the branching step 82, and is sorted out from the coin C3. Then, by discharging the selected foreign matter F from the foreign matter passage 80 to the outside of the fixing member 1 ″, such foreign matter F can be collected separately from the coins C1 to C3.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, with respect to the foreign matter F having a rounded edge such as a wire-made document clip, even if the foreign matter F is slightly thicker than the size of the gap 84, the elastic member 200 is deformed. In some cases, it can pass through the stepped portion 82. Therefore, the size of the gap 84 is set in consideration of such a case. For example, the size of the gap 84 is set to about 0.8 mm for the thinnest coin C3 having a thickness of 1.2 mm.

Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the rotating disk 2 ′ has a flat disk-shaped elastic member 200 with a flat disk body 2.
It has a structure mounted on 2 '. As shown in FIGS. 18 to 21, the elastic member 200 includes a thin urethane rubber layer 201 on the upper surface side and the urethane rubber layer 20.
1 and a porous elastic material layer 206 provided below. The porous elastic material layer 206 is preferably made of sponge rubber (foam rubber) having relatively high resilience. A metal plate 23 is fixed to the bottom surface of the elastic member 200. The elastic member 200 is detachably attached to the disk main body 22 ′ with the screw 29 via the metal plate 23.

(6) The modification shown in FIG. 25 uses a fixed disk 101 having a different shape or the like from the fixed disk 1 "(modification of the above (4)) shown in FIG. 25, the same components as those of the fixed disk 1 "shown in FIG. 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals. The components corresponding to the fixed disk 1 "shown in FIG. 15 are denoted by the reference numerals obtained by adding 100 to the numeral portions of the reference numerals in FIG. Various differences will be described.

First, in FIG. 25, a semicircular convex portion 100 is added to the coin introduction portion 11. This convex part 100
Among the coins that entered the introduction unit 11 while overlapping
This is for pushing coins on the upper side (fixed disk 101 side) back to the insertion slot 1a side.

The steps 112a and 112b of the fixed disk 101 have guide edges 112a 'and 112b' which are inclined toward the inlet 1a. These guide edges 112a 'and 112b' are used for coins which are not shifted toward the outer peripheral edge 100o of the coin passage 110,
It has a function of returning the coins on the upper side to the slot 1a side. The second step portion 112b protrudes higher toward the bottom surface 1b than the large-diameter coin passage 110a on the downstream side, and forms steps on the upstream side and the downstream side, respectively.

Further, in the fixed disk 101, the lifting portion 116b of the medium-diameter coin guide portion 115b is constituted by a separate lifting plate S2 'whose position can be adjusted like a lifting plate S2 shown in FIG. Have been. The slope portion 116b 'of the lifting plate S2' is connected to the small-diameter coin passage 110c.
Projecting more inward than the passage width L2,
The small-diameter coin C3 having a smaller diameter can pass through the protruding portion and proceed to the small-diameter coin passage 110c.

The fixed disk 101 is slightly different from the fixed disk 1 "shown in FIG. 15 in the shape of the overlapping coin return portion 113 and the discharge passages 117a and 117b, but the basic principle is the same. is there.

[0080]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, coins are sorted according to their diameters in a state where the outer edge of the coin is in contact with the inner peripheral edge of the passage. There is no need to rely on the centrifugal force acting on the coin. For this reason,
A coin sorting device having a high degree of freedom in setting the rotation speed of the rotating disk can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the outer edge of the coin is in contact with the inner peripheral edge portion of the passage at the position of the riding portion even when the rotating disk is rotated forward after the reverse rotation. Is guaranteed. Therefore, the normal sorting operation can be continued even if the rotating disk is temporarily reversed and then rotated forward again.

[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 a modification (part 1) of the above embodiment,
FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a modification (No. 2) of the above embodiment,
FIG.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line QQ of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line RR of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a modification (No. 3) of the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the coin sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing a modification (No. 4) of the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a modified example (No. 5) of the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the coin sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 15;

17 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the coin sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 15;

18 is a view (cross-sectional view taken along the line X'-X 'in FIG. 16) of the coin sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 15, similar to FIG.

19 is a view (cross-sectional view taken along the line X'-X 'in FIG. 16) of the coin sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 15, similar to FIG.

20 is a view similar to FIG. 7 of the coin sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 15 (a sectional view taken along the line Y′-Y ′ in FIG. 16).

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken along line ZZ of FIG. 16;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged view showing a part of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22, illustrating a relationship between a specific foreign matter and a step portion.

FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 23, showing a state in which a specific foreign matter passes through a step;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a modification (No. 6) of the embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a back side of a fixed disk in a conventional coin sorting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 C coin C1 Large coin (sorted coin) C2 Medium coin (sorted coin) C3 Small coin (sorted coin) C1 'Thick large coin C3' Thin small coin 1 Fixed disc (fixed member) 1a Coin slot 1b Bottom 10 Coin passage (guide means) 10a Large-diameter coin passage 10b Medium-diameter coin passage 10c Small-diameter coin passage 10i Inner rim 10i-a Inner rim 10i-b Inner rim 10o Outer rim 11 Coin introduction part 12a, 12b Stepped part 13 Overlapping coin Return section 14 Belt escape groove 15a Large-diameter coin guide section (sorted coin guide section) 16a Rising section 17a Release path 15b Medium-diameter coin guide section (sorted coin guide section) 16b Ride section 17b Release path 15c Small-diameter coin guide section ( Sorting coin guide section) 1 'fixed disk (fixed member) 10' coin passage 10a to 10f coin passage 15a to 15f coin guide section 16a-16f Riding section 17a-17f Release passage 2 Rotating disk 22 Disk body 24 Belt holding groove 2a Elastic belt 7,7 'Urging member (urging means) P1-P5 Passage bottom plate S1, S2 Riding plate 1 "fixed Disk (fixing member) 8 Foreign material selecting means 80 Foreign material passage 82 Step portion 84 Gap 2 'Rotating disk 22' Disk body 200 Elastic member 201 Urethane rubber layer 206 Porous elastic material layer 29 Metal plate F Foreign object 110 Fixed disk (fixing member) 110 coin passage (guide means) 110a large-diameter coin passage 110b medium-diameter coin passage 110c small-diameter coin passage 110i inner periphery 110i-a inner periphery 110i-b inner periphery 110o outer periphery 112a, 112b step 113 overlapping coin return portion 115a Large-diameter coin guide section (sorted coin guide section) 116a Riding section 117a Discharge pass Road 115b Medium-diameter coin guide (sorted coin guide) 116b Riding section 117b Release passage 115c Small-diameter coin guide (sorted coin guide) 108 Foreign matter sorting means 180 Foreign matter passage 182 Step

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Daisuke Hoshino 1-3-1 Shimonoteno, Himeji-shi, Hyogo Glory Industry Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E001 AA01 BA01 CA05 DA01 DA02 FA57

Claims (7)

[Claims] A fixed member having a coin slot in the center thereof; and a rotating disk which rotates while being superimposed on a bottom surface of the fixed member, wherein the coin inserted from the coin slot of the fixed member is With the rotation of the rotating disk, the sliding member is configured to slide on the bottom surface of the fixed member, and the fixed member selectively guides the coin sliding on the bottom surface according to the diameter. The guide means includes: a coin passage having an inner peripheral edge portion that abuts the outer edges of all coins; and at least one sorted coin guide section. The sorted coin guide section includes: In a state where the outer edge of the coin is in contact with the inner peripheral edge portion of the coin passage, only a selected coin having a diameter larger than a predetermined reference dimension is formed so as to ride on the outer peripheral side thereof; Sorting on board Coin sorting apparatus characterized by having a discharge passage for guides the coin releasing to the outside of the fixing member. 2. The coin passage has an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge with which an outer edge of a coin passing therethrough can abut, and on the upstream side of the climbing section, the center of the fixed member moves from downstream to downstream. The coin sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the coin sorting device is curved on a downstream side of the climbing portion so as to approach the center of the fixing member as going downstream. 3. A biasing means for biasing a coin toward an inner peripheral side of the coin passage is provided on an upstream side of the rising portion in the coin passage.
A coin sorting device according to the above. 4. The coin according to claim 1, wherein the fixed member is configured such that the sorted coins climbed on the climbing section are in a substantially horizontal posture. Sorting device. 5. The fixing member according to claim 1, further comprising a raising plate that constitutes the raising portion and that can adjust a position in a width direction of the coin passage. Coin sorting equipment. 6. A foreign matter selecting means for selectively guiding foreign matter thinner than the thinnest coin and discharging it to the outside of the fixing member is provided downstream of the coin passage.
The coin sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: 7. The foreign matter sorting means has a foreign matter passage branched from the coin passage and leading to the outside of the fixing member, and the foreign matter is passed through the branch portion between the coin and the rotating disk. 7. The coin sorting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a step portion is formed to form a gap having a size that does not allow the thinnest coin to pass through.