JP2005115447A - Coin discharging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly return change by preventing coins in a cassette tube from being erected without increasing a mechanism scale in a coin discharging device installed in an automatic vending machine to return the change. <P>SOLUTION: The cassette tube 10 stacks and stores coins 80. A coin discharging member 20 is slid on the bottom of the cassette tube 10 and discharges a coin 80 on the lowermost part from an opening 12 one by one. A coin drop prevention member 40 is moved to a coin outlet 71 to prevent the discharged coin 80 from being dropped into the coin outlet 71. When the return of change ends, a CPU moves the coin drop prevention member 40 to the coin outlet 71 and slides the coin discharging member 20 in the horizontal direction. Thereby an erected coin is turned to a horizontal state at the end of change return, so that the change can be quickly returned to a user to receive the change next. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin dispensing device, and more particularly to a coin dispensing device that is mounted on a vending machine and returns change.

  The vending machine is composed of a main control unit that controls the whole and peripheral devices, and the whole is controlled by serial communication. The vending machine is equipped with a coin dispensing device for returning change as one of peripheral devices.

  The coin dispensing device sorts inserted coins into denominations, falls into a detachable cassette tube, and stacks and holds them. Recently, as a method for preventing change of coins using counterfeit coins, there is a real escrow method in which inserted coins are temporarily held and the held physical goods are returned in response to a return instruction. Even in the actual escrow-type coin dispensing device, when a sales end command is received from the main control unit that controls the vending machine, the temporarily suspended coins are dropped into the cassette tube and stacked and held.

  The change is returned by a mechanism for selecting the denomination to be returned and a plate-like member that slides back and forth on the bottom surface of the cassette tube. An opening for sliding and taking out one coin is provided at the bottom of the cassette tube, and the coin is taken out by sliding the plate-like member through the opening. The number of changes paid out is counted based on the number of times the plate-like member is slid. This payout operation is performed at the time of change change after the sale of the product, which is a normal operation of the vending machine, and operates according to a command from the main control unit.

  When coins are horizontal with respect to the stacking direction in the cassette tube, the coins are correctly paid out from the opening at the bottom of the cassette tube. However, if it is standing in the cassette tube, it will not be paid out from the opening at the bottom of the cassette tube, causing a trouble that the change cannot be returned. In order to eliminate such a trouble that change is not paid out, the plate-like member is preliminarily operated once before returning the change. That is, the plate-like member is temporarily operated without taking out the coin from the cassette tube, and the coin in the standing state is brought down and leveled by giving a movement to the coin.

Moreover, there is a coin storage tube mechanism of a coin processor that prevents the standing state of coins by striking and vibrating the outer peripheral surface of the cassette tube (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Utility Model Registration No. 2502392 (page 3, Fig. 1)

  However, there are cases where the coins do not become horizontal when the plate-like member is preliminarily operated once. Even if the number of preliminary operations is increased, it takes time to return the change, which causes a problem for the user.

In addition, when the outer peripheral surface of the cassette tube is struck and vibrated, there is a problem that a device for vibrating is required and the mechanism becomes large.
The present invention has been made in view of these points, and provides a coin dispensing device that can prevent the standing state of coins without increasing the mechanism and can return change without causing discomfort to the user. The purpose is to do.

  In the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in a coin dispensing device for returning change, which is mounted on a vending machine, a cassette tube that stacks and holds coins for each denomination and slides on the bottom surface of the cassette tube. A coin dispensing member that dispenses the lowermost coins one by one, a coin ejection port from which the dispensed coins are removed, and a coin that is moved to the coin ejection port so that the coins are not removed A coin dispensing device comprising: a removal preventing member; and a control means for moving the coin removal preventing member to the coin dispensing port and sliding the coin dispensing member when the change of the change is completed. Is provided.

  According to such a coin dispensing device, when the change has been returned, the coin removal preventing member is moved to the coin dispensing port so that the coin is not removed from the coin dispensing port, and the coin dispensing member is slid. Thereby, the coin in the standing state in the cassette tube is moved and leveled by the sliding operation of the coin dispensing member when the change of the change is finished.

  In the coin dispensing device of the present invention, when the change of the change is finished, the standing coin in the cassette tube is leveled, so that the change change can be quickly returned to the user who receives the change next time, which is uncomfortable. There is nothing.

  Moreover, a device for exciting the outer peripheral surface of the cassette tube for leveling standing coins is unnecessary, and the mechanism can be realized small.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the coin dispensing device in a standby state. As shown in the figure, the coin dispensing device includes a cassette tube 10, a coin dispensing member 20, a drive member 30, a coin drop prevention member 40, a solenoid 50, a change detection sensor 60, and a housing 70. A coin 80 is held in the cassette tube 10. The coin dispensing device is installed inside the vending machine.

  The cassette tube 10 has a cylindrical portion 11 that stacks and holds coins 80. An opening 12 is provided at the bottom of the cylinder portion 11 so that the lowermost coins 80 are horizontally slid and dispensed one by one.

  The coin dispensing member 20 has a plate shape so as to pass through the opening 12 of the cassette tube 10. The coin payout member 20 has a storage hole 21 in which the coin 80 is accommodated and a fitting hole 22 for fitting with the drive member 30. The coin dispensing member 20 slides in the left-right direction in the figure on the bottom surface of the cassette tube 10 and the top surface of the coin drop preventing member 40. The coin payout member 20 stores the coin 80 at the lowermost portion in the storage hole 21 when the storage hole 21 moves below the cylindrical portion 11. The coin payout member 20 drops the coin 80 to the coin removal port 71 when the later-described coin drop prevention member 40 moves to the coin removal port 71 in a state where the coin removal port 71 is not blocked.

  The drive member 30 has a protrusion 31 that fits into the fitting hole 22 of the coin dispensing member 20. The driving member 30 is driven in the left-right direction in the figure by a motor described later, and causes the coin dispensing member 20 to slide.

  The coin fall prevention member 40 is plate-shaped and has a size that closes the coin take-out port 71 so that the coin 80 does not fall from the coin take-out port 71. The coin fall prevention member 40 is moved in the left-right direction in the drawing so as to block the coin take-out port 71 and prevent the coin take-out port 71 from being blocked.

  The solenoid 50 takes out and retracts the plunger 51 under the control of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) described later. The coin fall prevention member 40 is moved to a position for closing the coin take-out port 71 and the plunger 51 of the solenoid 50 is taken out so that the coin fall prevention member 40 is not moved from the position for closing the coin take-out port 71 (FIG. Do not move in the middle right direction). Withdrawing the plunger 51 of the solenoid 50, the coin drop preventing member 40 moves to a position where the coin outlet 71 is not blocked (moves in the right direction in the figure).

The change detection sensor 60 is a sensor that detects whether a predetermined number or more of coins 80 are held in the cassette tube 10.
The housing 70 has a coin outlet 71 for dropping the coin 80 from the storage hole 21 of the coin dispensing member 20 and taking it out. The dropped coin 80 is guided to the change return port of the vending machine.

  In addition, although only one cassette tube 10 is shown in the drawing, it is provided for each denomination. For each cassette tube 10, a coin payout member 20, a drive member 30, a coin fall prevention member 40, a solenoid 50, and a change detection sensor 60 are provided.

  The operation for returning the change will be described. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the coin dispensing device when the change is returned. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in the figure, when the change is returned, the plunger 51 of the solenoid 50 is retracted, the coin drop prevention member 40 is moved rightward in the figure, and the coin outlet 71 is moved to a position where it is not blocked. At this time, the coin dispensing member 20 storing the coin 80 in the storage hole 21 is slid in the right direction in the figure by the drive member 30. As a result, the coin 80 falls to the coin outlet 71 and is led to the change return port of the vending machine and returned as change.

The preliminary operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a first partial cross-sectional view of the coin dispensing apparatus during a preliminary operation. 3, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
As shown in the figure, the plunger 51 of the solenoid 50 is left in the open state, and the coin take-out port 71 is kept closed by the coin drop preventing member 40. In this state, the driving member 30 is driven, and the coin dispensing member 20 is slid. The coin 80 stored in the storage hole 21 of the coin dispensing member 20 moves to the position of the coin outlet 71 but does not fall by the coin drop prevention member 40 and returns to the lowermost part of the cylindrical portion 11 of the cassette tube 10 again. .

  By the way, the coins 80 put into the vending machine are sorted for each denomination and held in the cassette tube 10 to become coins for change. Further, the coin 80 may be manually supplied to the cassette tube 10 by an operator. At this time, the coin 80 may be held in a standing state. In particular, a thick coin such as a 500 yen coin has a high frequency. In the standing state, the coin 80 is not paid out from the opening 12. Therefore, the coin dispensing member 20 is slid by the above-described preliminary operation, so that the standing coin 80 is moved and brought down to be horizontal with respect to the stacking direction.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view 2 of the coin dispensing apparatus during a preliminary operation. 4, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
As shown in the figure, it is assumed that the coin 80 is held in the cassette tube 10 in a standing state. The plunger 51 of the solenoid 50 is left out, and the coin take-out port 71 is kept closed with the coin fall prevention member 40. In this state, the driving member 30 is driven, and the coin dispensing member 20 is slid. The coin 80 is moved by contact with the coin payout member 20, and becomes a stable horizontal state from a standing state. When the storage hole 21 of the coin dispensing member 20 returns to the lower side of the cylindrical portion 11 of the cassette tube 10, the coin 80 that has been standing is stored in the storage hole 21. In addition, when the uppermost coin of the coins 80 stacked horizontally is in the standing state, the vibration of the preliminary operation of the coin dispensing member 20 is transmitted, and the uppermost standing coin becomes horizontal.

  Next, a control circuit for controlling the operation of the coin dispensing device will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the coin dispensing device. As shown in the figure, the control circuit includes a CPU 91, a change detection sensor 60, a solenoid 50, a motor 92, a change discharge control sensor 93, and a main control unit 94. The solenoid 50 and the change detection sensor 60 are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  The motor 92 drives the drive member 30 shown in FIGS. As a result, the coin dispensing member 20 performs a sliding operation. The change payout control sensor 93 is a sensor for controlling a mechanism for paying out coins, detects that the coin payout member 20 is in a predetermined position, and transmits it to the CPU 91. The main control unit 94 includes a serial communication I / F and performs serial communication with the CPU 91. The main control unit 94 transmits / receives data to / from the CPU 91 and controls the coin dispensing device and the vending machine.

  When selling the product and returning the change, the CPU 91 starts a change return process by receiving a refund command from the main control unit 94. When returning one coin of a predetermined denomination, the CPU 91 retracts the plunger 51 of the solenoid 50 corresponding to the denomination to be returned. Then, the motor 92 is operated to drive the drive member 30 to slide the coin dispensing member 20.

  The change payout control sensor 93 detects that the coin payout member 20 that has been slid has moved to the standby position (position shown in FIG. 1), and notifies the CPU 91 of it. The CPU 91 stops the operation of the motor 92 according to the notification from the change payout control sensor 93.

In this way, one coin of a predetermined denomination is returned. In order to return a predetermined amount of change, the above operation is repeated while changing the denomination.
The CPU 91 distributes the actual escrow coins to the cassette tube 10 for each denomination at the time when the sale of the product of the vending machine is completed (when the change is returned, when the change is completed). Thereafter, preliminary operation is performed. The CPU 91 operates the motor 92 while driving the plunger 51 of the solenoid 50 to drive the driving member 30 to slide the coin dispensing member 20. At this time, since the coin drop preventing member 40 remains blocking the coin takeout port 71, the coin 80 does not fall from the coin takeout port 71. The change dispensing control sensor 93 detects that the coin dispensing member 20 that has been slid has moved to the standby position, and notifies the CPU 91 of it. The CPU 91 stops the operation of the motor 92 according to the notification from the change payout control sensor 93. Similarly, the preliminary operation similar to that described above is performed before the change is returned. By the two preliminary operations, coins standing in the cylindrical portion 11 of the cassette tube 10 are prevented and the change can be reliably returned.

  Next, the operation of the coin dispensing device will be described using a flowchart. The CPU 91 executes the process by multitasking, and divides the task into a coin storage process for distributing the actual escrow coins to the cassette tube 10 and a change return process for performing change-out control. Note that the CPU 91 does not execute both the above processes until receiving a sales end command or a change return command from the main control unit 94.

  First, a coin storage process for sorting coins will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the coin storage process. The main control unit 94 has a communication sequence so that a sale end command is always sent when the sale of the product is completed (when change is returned, when change is completed).

  [Step S1] The CPU 91 determines whether or not a sales end command indicating the end of sales of the product has been received from the main control unit 94. If a sales end command is received, the process proceeds to step S2. If the sales end command is not received, the process ends.

  [Step S2] The CPU 91 determines whether or not the inserted coin is in an actual escrow state. If the actual product is escrowed, the process proceeds to step S3. If the actual product is not escrowed, the process is terminated.

[Step S3] The CPU 91 distributes the actual escrow coins to the cassette tube 10 for each denomination.
[Step S4] The CPU 91 determines whether or not ten or more coins are stacked on the cassette tube 10 from the change detection sensor 60, for example. When ten or more coins are stacked, the processing is terminated. If the number of coins is less than 10, proceed to step S5.

[Step S5] The CPU 91 performs a preliminary operation process on a denomination that does not have ten or more coins, and defeats the standing coins to make them horizontal.
By the way, from steps S4 and S5, the preliminary operation is performed only when the cassette tube 10 does not have a predetermined number (10) or more of coins. This is because when the coins are stacked, the lowermost coin is leveled by the weight of the coins stacked on it and can be paid out reliably. Therefore, the preliminary operation may be performed only when the number of coins in the cassette tube 10 is less than the predetermined number. In the above flow chart, the preliminary operation is performed when there is not more than 10 sheets with a margin, but the lower coins may be at least two because they are horizontal due to the weight of the upper coins.

Next, change change processing for returning change will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the change return process.
[Step S11] The CPU 91 determines whether or not a change return command has been received from the main control unit 94. If a change return command is received, the process proceeds to step S12. If no change return instruction has been received, the process ends.

[Step S12] The CPU 91 counts the number of coins held in the cassette tube 10 for each denomination and searches for the denomination and amount of change to be returned.
[Step S13] The CPU 91 determines whether or not ten or more coins are stacked on the cassette tube 10 from the change detection sensor 60, for example. When ten or more coins are stacked, the process proceeds to step S15. When there are less than 10 coins, the process proceeds to step S14.

[Step S14] The CPU 91 executes a preliminary operation process on a denomination that has not had ten or more coins, and defeats the standing coins to make them horizontal.
[Step S15] The CPU 91 drives the motor 92 and the solenoid 50 to pay out coins.

  [Step S16] The CPU 91 determines whether the change has reached the amount that the change should be returned and the change has been returned. If the change has not been returned, the process proceeds to step S15 to pay out coins. If the change has been returned, the process ends.

From steps S13 and S14, the preliminary operation is performed only when there is no predetermined number (10) or more of coins in the cassette tube 10 for the same reason as described in FIG.
In this way, before the change is returned and when the change has been returned, a preliminary operation is performed to level the coins. Accordingly, since the preliminary operation is performed twice with respect to the conventional preliminary operation before changing the conventional change, the coin can be surely leveled. Then, since the preliminary operation is performed when the change has been returned, the user who receives the next change will only perform the preliminary operation once before the change is returned. Will be returned and will not cause any discomfort to the product buyer.

Moreover, a device for exciting the outer peripheral surface of the cassette tube for leveling standing coins is unnecessary, and the mechanism can be realized small.
In the above, the preliminary operation is performed once before the change is returned and once when the change is completed. However, the preliminary operation is performed twice or more only when the change is completed. Also good. This also ensures that the coin can be leveled and the change can be quickly returned.

  Further, when there are a predetermined number of coins or more in the cassette tube 10, it is possible to reduce power consumption by not performing the preliminary operation.

It is a partial sectional view in the waiting state of a coin dispensing device. It is a partial cross section figure at the time of change return of a coin dispensing device. It is the partial sectional view 1 at the time of the preliminary | backup operation | movement of a coin dispensing apparatus. It is a partial sectional view 2 at the time of preliminary operation of a coin dispensing device. It is a block block diagram of the control circuit of a coin dispensing device. It is the flowchart which showed the coin storage process. It is the flowchart which showed change change processing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cassette tube 11 Cylinder part 12 Opening 20 Coin delivery member 21 Storage hole 22 Fitting hole 30 Drive member 31 Protrusion 40 Coin fall prevention member 50 Solenoid 51 Plunger 60 Change detection sensor 70 Case 71 Coin take-out port 80 Coin 91 CPU
92 Motor 93 Change dispensing control sensor 94 Main controller

Claims (4)

In the coin dispensing device that returns the change installed in the vending machine,
A cassette tube that stacks and holds coins by denomination,
A sliding operation on the bottom surface of the cassette tube, and a coin dispensing member that dispenses the lowermost coins one by one;
A coin take-out port from which the paid out coins are taken out;
A coin removal preventing member that is moved to the coin removal port and prevents the coin from being removed;
When the change of the change is completed, the control means for moving the coin take-out prevention member to the coin take-out port and sliding the coin payout member;
A coin dispensing device.   2. The coin payout according to claim 1, wherein when the coins are stacked in the cassette tube at a predetermined number or more, the control means does not move the coin pick-up prevention member and slide the coin payout member. apparatus.   2. The coin dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves the coin removing prevention member to the coin removing port once before returning the change, and slides the coin dispensing member. 3.   2. The coin dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means performs the movement of the coin withdrawal preventing member and the sliding operation of the coin dispensing member twice or more.

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