JP2006252080A - Conveyer for coin - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyer for coins capable of preventing a small diameter coin from floating up caused by centrifugal force in a direction change path, so as to land stably on a protruded passage constituting a lateral conveying path, in the conveyer for the coins for conveying the coins different in diameters upwards along a wide common path fit to a large diameter coin at a high speed, and for changing direction to a lateral direction. <P>SOLUTION: This conveyer is provided with a coin conveying means 2 for taking out the coin from a coin hopper 1 for storing the plurality of coins C different in the diameters to be conveyed along an upward conveying path 17a, the direction change path 17b and the lateral conveying path 17c, and is arranged with a turn guide spring 50 provided with constitution for guiding the coin along a lateral conveyance guide face 36a' constituting the direction change path, while supporting a coin circumferential face under the condition where the coin is erected, and for pushing the small diameter coin onto an outside diameter side inner walls of the direction change path, when the small diameter coin is passed, to prevent the small diameter coin from floating up, and for allowing the maximum diameter coin to pass, by expanding deformation, when the maximum diameter coin passes. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a coin transport device used in an apparatus for automatically selecting and sorting coins of different denominations, and in particular, in a money handling apparatus such as a vending machine, a money changer, a money dispensing apparatus, The present invention relates to an improvement in a transport device used for a sorting device that automatically sorts and stores various coins that are input and collected in the device after sorting them by denomination.

In the money handling device, there is a process for sorting coins inserted into the device or newly replenished coins for change or payout into different storage locations after sorting them by type of money. Needed. Conventionally, various sorters for performing such sort and sort processes have been proposed.
For example, FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sorting device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-319056) related to the proposal of the present applicant, and this sorting device is in a state where a large number of coins C of different denominations having different diameters are mixed. The coin hopper 1 to be accommodated, the coin transport means 2 for transporting along the predetermined transport paths 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, and 17e while taking out and holding the coins C one by one from the coin hopper 1, and the downstream side of the coin hopper 1 A coin discriminating means 3 that discriminates the denomination, authenticity, etc. of the coins that are located (upper side in the drawing) and are conveyed one by one, and is disposed substantially horizontally downstream of the coin discriminating means 3 and conveyed. The coin guide path 4 that guides the coin while supporting the coin peripheral surface in a standing state, and the front of the coin guide path 4 in order to receive the coin C moving along the coin guide path 4 in denomination A coin shooter 5 of a denomination placed and a coin shooter 5 of a denomination corresponding to the coin by pressing a coin provided in a predetermined arrangement along the rear wall of the coin guide path 4 and passing the coin guide path 4 And an extruding means 6 for dropping it.
The transport path includes an upward transport path 17a extending upward from the coin hopper 1, a direction changing path 17b provided above the upward transport path 17a, a lateral transport path 17c extending laterally from the direction changing path 17b, and the like. Yes. In this example, the direction conversion path 17 b includes a curved curved path that changes the coin conveyance direction at an angle of 90 degrees, and a lateral conveyance guide surface 36 a ′ that continues to the coin guide path 4.
The horizontal conveyance guide surface 36a ′ and the coin guide path 4 are guided while supporting the coin circumferential surface in a state where the coin is raised in the process in which the coin conveyance means 2 conveys the coin laterally along the horizontal conveyance path 17c. For this purpose, an overhanging surface having a predetermined narrow width is provided, and this overhanging surface corresponds to the protruding path 25 shown in FIG. The width of the protruding path 25 is set slightly wider than the coin having the maximum thickness.

The coin hopper 1 is means for accommodating a plurality of coins C inserted and conveyed from a coin insertion slot (not shown) in a state where different denominations having different diameters are mixed so that the coins stored in the hopper do not fall. A cover 10 is provided. An endless chain 15 constituting the coin conveying means 2 passes along the arc-shaped inner bottom portion of the hopper 1, and the coins located at the inner bottom portion of the hopper 1 are captured one by one by the chain 15. Then, it is configured to move upward.
The coin conveying means 2 is an endless chain 15 that is routed by sprockets (pulleys) 16a to 16d in a predetermined path, and is driven by a motor (not shown) as any one of the sprockets as a driving sprocket. The motor is driven under the control of a control unit (not shown). In this example, the chain 15 passes through the path passing through the inner bottom portion (sprocket 16a) of the coin hopper 1, and then temporarily moves upward in the upward conveying path 17a to change the direction in the lateral direction on the outer periphery of the sprocket 16b. Is reversed by the sprocket 16c through the horizontal transport path 17c, and after the reversal, it passes through the substantially horizontal return path 17d and reaches the descending path 17e directed downward at the position of the sprocket 16d and reaches the hopper 1.

Next, FIGS. 6A and 6B are a front view and a bottom view showing the configuration of the chain 15, and the chain 15 is composed of a plurality of oval blocks 20 made of resin or the like, and is a glasses-type thin plate. The connecting plate 21 is pivotally connected by a connecting plate 21 (having pivot shafts at both ends). Umbrella-shaped pins 22 are projected to the front at a predetermined pitch on the connecting plate 21. Yes. In this example, the pin 22 is fixed coaxially with the pivot shaft at the right end portion of the connecting plate 21 at intervals of two connecting plates 21. The interval between two adjacent pins 22 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the maximum diameter coin.
Inside the coin hopper 1, a plurality of coins are accommodated in a state where different denominations are mixed, but between the pins 22 until the chain 15 passes through the bottom of the hopper and starts to move up the upward conveyance path 17 a. When the coins are dropped one by one and the chain 15 moves along the upward conveying path 17a, one coin is held in the space between the pins.
The coin discriminating means 3 discriminates, for example, whether or not there is a hole in the coin, the outer diameter, the outer shape, and the like by an optical sensor and the material (copper, nickel, etc.) by confirming the conductivity by the material sensor or the like.
As shown in FIG. 7, the coin guide path 4 has a narrow projecting path 25 for guiding the coin C placed thereon and a rear wall 26, and a chain 15 is placed at an appropriate position on the rear wall 26. A space 27 to be passed therethrough is formed, and a guide hole 28 for projecting an extrusion pin 30 constituting the extrusion means 6 is provided on the lower side. Reference numeral 35 denotes a guide plate for preventing the occurrence of a situation in which the coin C moving along the coin guide path 4 does not fit in the space between the pins 22 and easily falls on the pins 22 and falls. The coin C that is on the pin 22 is dropped into the space between the pins when passing along the guide plate 35. The guide plate 35 is provided over a part or almost the entire length of the coin guide path 4.
The push-out means 6 includes a push-out pin 30 driven by a solenoid (not shown) controlled by the control unit, and pushes out the lower part of the coin when protruding from the guide hole 28 constituting the coin guide path 4. The coin is configured to fall from the lower part toward the coin shooter 5. The same number of push pins 30 as coin denominations are arranged.
The coin shooter 5 is located on the lower front side of each push pin 30, and the coin shooter 5 is divided into denominations, and each compartment and each push pin 30 correspond one to one. Each section communicates with a denominated coin storage section, and the coins pushed out to each section are stored in each coin storage section.
In addition to the above, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-6020 exists as a coin processing device having a similar configuration.
JP 2002-319056 A JP 2001-6020 A

By the way, the width of each conveyance path 17a, 17b is set to an extent that allows the passage of the coin with the maximum diameter, and the left and right guide members 36a, 36b set at such a width interval have different diameters. Coins are transported. When the small-diameter coin is transported through the upward transport path 17a, it is transported upward while being displaced (contacted) to one of the left and right guide members 36a and 36b while being supported on the pin 22 provided on the chain 15. In the direction changing path 17 b, it rides on the horizontal upper part 36 a ′ of the right guide member 36 a communicating with the protruding path 25 and is conveyed to the protruding path 25. When the coin conveyance speed is relatively low, the small-diameter coin can be stably transferred onto the upper right guide member 36a ′.
In recent coin handling devices, it is required to increase the speed of coin processing, and in order to satisfy such a requirement, it is necessary to increase the moving speed of the chain 15. However, when the speed of movement of the chain is increased, when the small-diameter coin passes through the direction changing path 17b, it is lifted upward (outer diameter direction) by centrifugal force, and the reversal is finished and the upper part of the guide member ( When landing on the lateral conveyance guide surface 36a ', there is a problem that it jumps up excessively and cannot stably land on the guide member upper portion 36a'. That is, when high-speed conveyance is performed, when a small-diameter coin that is conveyed upward between the left and right guide members 36a and 36b having an interval that matches the diameter of the largest-diameter coin reaches the direction change path 17b, high-speed conveyance is performed. Due to the strong centrifugal force generated due to the force, the force in the outer diameter direction is received and the high direction along the inner wall of the outer guide member 36b is moved and the 90 ° direction change is forced. Surface) jumps up when landing on 36a ', and it is easy to cause problems such as falling off the projecting path 25 and falling into the conhopper 1 (see broken line arrows in FIG. 5). The landing stability when a coin lands on the guide member upper part 36a 'depends only on the width of the guide member upper part 36a', but it is impossible to widen the width of the guide member indefinitely. there were.
Further, it is conceivable to cover the curved direction changing path 17b in order to prevent jumping and falling, but a problem arises that a coin is fitted between the pin 22 and the cover and locked.
Such a problem is a problem that occurs when a small-diameter coin is transferred upward at a high speed along a wide common upward-conveying path matched to a large-diameter coin, and then changed in the lateral direction. No means for solving the problem has been found.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and in a coin transport device that performs high-speed upward transfer of coins having different diameters along a wide common path matched to a large-diameter coin, and then changes the direction in the horizontal direction. An object of the present invention is to provide a coin transport device that can prevent a small-diameter coin from being lifted due to a centrifugal force in a path, and can stably land on a protruding path constituting a lateral transport path.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a coin hopper that accommodates a plurality of coins having different diameters, and a coin transport that transports along a predetermined transport path while taking out and holding coins one by one from the coin hopper. Means, and the transport path is an upward transport path extending upward from the coin hopper, a direction changing path provided above the upward transport path, and a horizontal transport path extending laterally from the direction changing path, The direction changing path includes a curved path, and a lateral transport guide surface that extends in a lateral direction from a terminal portion of the curved path and communicates with the lateral transport path, and extends along the lateral transport guide surface. In the coin transport device having a configuration in which the coin transporting means supports and guides the peripheral surface of the coin in a state where the coin is raised in the process of transporting the coin in the lateral direction, A turn guide spring is arranged on the radial inner wall to hold down the small diameter coin when it passes and prevent it from floating in the outer diameter direction, while allowing the maximum diameter coin to pass through by expanding and deforming. It is characterized by that.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, on the front surface of the coin conveying means, coin holding pins are projected at a predetermined pitch along the conveying direction, and one coin is placed between two adjacent pins. It is characterized in that it is configured to hold the sheet one by one and convey it upward.

  According to the present invention, in the coin transport device provided with a configuration for guiding the coin while supporting the coin peripheral surface in a state where the coin is substantially erected on the lateral transport guide surface, which is located at the terminal portion of the direction changing path, A turn guide spring is installed in the conversion path to prevent small diameter coins from floating in the outer diameter direction. When a coin passes, it can be deformed and allowed to pass. For this reason, the small-diameter coin is prevented from dropping off from the horizontal conveyance guide surface due to the jumping when moving on the horizontal conveyance guide surface.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a main part configuration of a coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams of a configuration of a turn guide spring. In addition, referring to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 together, the same parts will be described with the same reference numerals.
That is, this coin discriminating device takes out a coin hopper 1 that accommodates a large number of coins C of different denominations in a mixed state, and takes out the coins C one by one from the coin hopper 1 to give a predetermined transport path 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d. , 17e, a coin transporting means 2, and a coin discriminating means for discriminating the denomination, authenticity, etc. of the coins that are located on the downstream side (upper side in the drawing) of the coin hopper 1 3, a coin guide path 4 that guides a coin that is disposed substantially horizontally on the downstream side of the coin discriminating means 3, and a coin C that moves along the coin guide path 4 in order to receive a denomination Corresponding coins are pressed by pressing coins passing through the coin guide path 4 provided in a predetermined arrangement along the rear wall of the coin guide path 4 and the coin shooter 5 of the denomination disposed opposite to the front of the path 4. It provided with extrusion means 6 for dropping the seed of the coin chute 5, a.
The transport path includes an upward transport path 17a extending upward from the coin hopper 1, a direction changing path 17b provided above the upward transport path 17a, a horizontal transport path 17b extending laterally from the direction changing path 17b, and the like. .
In this example, the direction changing path 17b includes a curved path R curved at 90 degrees, and a guide member upper part 36a extending in the lateral direction (horizontal direction) from the end portion of the curved path R, that is, a lateral conveyance guide surface 36a ′. It is.

The curved path R includes curved guide surfaces 36 b ′ and 36 a ″ and a rear wall 37.
The coin hopper 1 is means for storing a plurality of coins C inserted and transported from a coin insertion slot (not shown) in a state where different denominations are mixed, and a cover 10 is provided so that the coins stored in the hopper do not fall. Provided. An endless chain 15 constituting the coin conveying means 2 passes along the arc-shaped inner bottom portion of the hopper 1, and the coins located at the inner bottom portion of the hopper 1 are captured one by one by the chain 15. Then, it is configured to move upward.
The coin transport means 2 is, for example, an endless chain 15 that is routed by sprockets (pulleys) 16a to 16d in a predetermined path, and is driven by a motor (not shown) as any one of the sprockets as a drive sprocket. The motor is driven under the control of a control unit (not shown). In this example, the chain 15 passes the path passing through the inner bottom portion (sprocket 16a) of the coin hopper 1, and then temporarily moves upward in the upward conveying path 17a to move laterally on the outer periphery (direction changing path 17b) of the sprocket 16b. The direction is changed, and is reversed by the sprocket 16c through the substantially horizontal lateral conveyance path 17c, and after the reversal, reaches the descending path 17e that goes downward at the position of the sprocket 16d through the substantially horizontal return path 17d and reaches the inside of the hopper 1. .
A timing belt or other endless conveying means may be used instead of the chain. Further, the horizontal conveyance guide surface 36a ′ and the horizontal conveyance path may be almost horizontal, and a path having a slight inclination and a slight undulation is included in the concept of the horizontal conveyance path of the present invention.
Guide members 36a and 36b are arranged on both sides of the upward conveyance path 17a. The upper guide surface (lateral transport guide surface) 36a ′ of the right guide member 36a is connected to the coin guide path 4 (projection path 25). Each upper part of both guide members 36a and 36b also constitutes a direction changing path 17b, and both guide members are formed in an R shape with a predetermined curvature. The distance between both guide members 36a and 36b is set to a size suitable for smoothly transporting the coin with the maximum diameter (Japanese 500 yen coin).

Next, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the chain 15 is formed by connecting a plurality of oval blocks 20 to a connecting plate 21 made of a thin plate having an approximately eight shape (with pivots at both ends). The connection plate 21 is provided with umbrella-shaped pins 22 protruding forward at a predetermined pitch. In this example, the pin 22 is fixed coaxially with the pivot shaft at the right end portion of the connecting plate 21 at intervals of two connecting plates 21. The interval between the adjacent pins 22 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the largest diameter coin (for example, a Japanese 500 yen coin).
Inside the coin hopper 1, a plurality of coins are housed in an irregular posture with a mixture of different denominations having different diameters, but the chain 15 passes through the bottom of the hopper and ascends the upward conveyance path 17a. In the process, when the coin C enters the chain between the pins 22 one by one and the chain 15 moves along the upward conveying path 17a, one coin is held in the space between the pins. ing. In addition, you may provide the stirring means, guide means, etc. in a hopper for making it easy to drop a coin one by one in the space between the pins 22 as needed.
Since the configurations and operations of the coin discriminating means 3, the coin guide path 4, the pushing means 6 and the like are the same as those in the above-described conventional example, a duplicate description is omitted.

The characteristic configuration of the present invention is that, in the process in which the coin transport means 2 transports coins in the lateral direction along the direction changing path 17b including the lateral transport guide surface 36a ′, the coins are substantially placed on the lateral transport guide surface 36a ′. In the coin transport device having a configuration in which the guide is supported while supporting the peripheral surface of the coin in a standing state (including a case where the coin is slightly inclined along the rear wall 26), on the outer diameter side of the direction changing path 17b, This is in that a turn guide spring 50 for preventing the small-diameter coin from floating in the outer diameter direction is arranged. The turn guide spring 50 is provided on the inner wall on the outer diameter side of the direction changing path 17b. When the small diameter coin passes, the turn guide spring 50 is pressed down to prevent the coin from rising in the outer diameter direction, while the maximum diameter coin passes. It is configured to allow the passage by being expanded and deformed.
That is, the direction changing path 17b is composed of inner and outer (right and left) guide members 36a and 36b, and the distance between the two guide members is set with a dimension sufficient to allow the largest diameter coin (500 yen coin) to pass through. Has been. Then, one end of the turn guide spring 50 is fixed to an appropriate position (for example, in the vicinity of the bending start portion) of the outer guide member 36b, and the other end of the turn guide spring 50 is in a free state in the direction changing path 17b. It extends. Although the turn guide spring 50 may be configured to extend linearly, the direction in which the turn guide spring extends is configured to be curved with a required curvature in the same direction as the bending direction of the direction changing path as shown in the figure. It is preferable to do this. The distal end portion (free end side) of the turn guide spring 50 is positioned so as to form an interval that allows a small-diameter coin (for example, 1 yen, 50 yen) to pass smoothly between it and the lateral conveyance guide surface 36a '. The
The turn guide spring 50 according to the present invention is configured to transfer the small-diameter coin to the lateral transfer path 17c at a high speed (for example, 380 mm / s) via the direction change path 17b curved from the upward transfer path 17a. This is a means for eliminating the room for the small-diameter coin to float by centrifugal force due to an excessive gap between the small-diameter coin and the inner wall of the outer guide member 36b. In addition, the movement path of the small-diameter coin in the direction changing path is guided so as to be gradually narrowed. For this reason, even if a small-diameter coin attempts to float by centrifugal force, it is elastically pressed by the long guide spring 50 at the initial stage of floating, and is laterally moved while being pressed toward the inner wall of the inner guide member 36a and the lateral conveyance guide surface 36a ′. It is transported stably toward the transport path. For this reason, the resilient force of the long guide spring 50 may be set to a level sufficient to suppress the lifting force in the outer diameter direction generated by the relationship between the weight of 1 yen and 50 yen and the centrifugal force.
Even when medium-sized coins of 10 yen, 100 yen, etc. are conveyed at high speed, the coins may fall due to positional displacement and bounce when landing on the lateral conveyance guide surface 36a ′ due to lifting due to centrifugal force. When expected, the shape and elasticity of the turn guide spring 50 may be set so as to suppress the floating of these medium-sized coins.
On the other hand, when a coin with a maximum diameter such as 500 yen passes through the direction changing path 17b, it can be smoothly passed by pushing the turn guide spring 50 toward the inner wall of the outer guide member 36b. The elastic force of the turn guide spring 50 is set.

  In the above configuration, when a small-diameter coin in the coin hopper 1 is conveyed from the upward conveying path 17a to the lateral conveying path 17c via the direction changing path 17b by the coin conveying apparatus constituting the coin sorting device, first, coin conveying means The small-diameter coin is conveyed upward on a single pin 22 protruding from the chain in a state where it is supported in an unstable state. At this time, the small-diameter coin is conveyed upward while being in contact with the inner wall of one of the left and right guide members 36a, 36b. When it is done, it receives a strong force in the direction of rising by centrifugal force in the direction changing path 17b. However, since the turn guide spring 50 is disposed gradually upward along the inner wall of the guide member 36a located on the outer diameter side (upper side), the small-diameter coin is being absorbed and relaxed by the turn guide spring. The inner guide member 36a can be lifted once along the upward inner wall of the inner guide member 36a, and thereafter can be stably transferred onto the lateral conveyance guide surface 36a '. Therefore, there is no possibility of falling from the lateral conveyance guide surface. Even if the turn guide spring 50 is once pushed up due to the strong force of the small-diameter coin ascending, it is immediately pushed against the inner wall of the inner guide member 36a, so that it can be stably transferred onto the rear lateral conveyance guide surface 36a ′. Can do. Therefore, the problems of the above prior art can be solved.

Next, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a main part configuration of another embodiment of the present invention. In the above embodiment, a thin metal leaf spring is used as the turn guide spring 50. However, the turn guide spring 50 according to the embodiment of FIG. 4 includes a coil spring 60 fixed to the apparatus main body side (outside the conveyance path) and The claw-like turn guide member 61 is arranged in the transport path and elastically biased downward by the spring force of the coil spring 60 by supporting the base end portion of the coil spring 60. If comprised in this way, even if it is a case where the nail | claw-shaped turn guide member 61 itself does not have elasticity, the direction of the small diameter coin conveyed at high speed by the elasticity of the coil spring 60 can be changed stably. .
In the present invention, the coin is a concept including a thin disk body such as a coin and a medal, and the apparatus of the present invention can be applied to selection of a thin disk body other than a coin.

The schematic block diagram of the sorting device to which the coin conveyance device of one form of the present invention is applied. The enlarged view which shows the attachment state of a turn guide spring. (A) (b) (c) is a front view, a left side view, and a plan view of a turn guide spring. The principal part structure explanatory drawing of other embodiment of this invention. The schematic block diagram of the conventional sorting device. (A) (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of a chain. The principal part structure explanatory drawing of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coin hopper, 2 Coin conveyance means, 3 Coin discrimination means, 4 Coin guide path | route, 5 Coin shooter, 6 Extrusion means, 10 Cover, 15 Chain, 16a-16d Sprocket (pulley), 17a Upward conveyance path | route, 17b Direction change path | route, 17c Lateral conveyance path, 20 blocks, 21 connecting plate, 22 pins, 25 protruding path (coin support surface), 26 rear wall, 27 space, 28 guide hole, 30 extrusion pin, 36a, 36b guide member, 36a ′ lateral Conveyance guide surface, 50 turn guide spring.

Claims (2)

A coin hopper for accommodating a plurality of coins having different diameters, and a coin transport means for transporting along a predetermined transport path while taking out and holding coins one by one from the coin hopper,
The transport path includes an upward transport path extending upward from the coin hopper, a direction changing path provided above the upward transport path, and a horizontal transport path extending laterally from the direction changing path,
The direction changing path includes a curved path, and a lateral conveyance guide surface that extends in a lateral direction from a terminal portion of the curved path and communicates with the lateral conveyance path,
In the coin transport device having a structure for guiding the coin while supporting the peripheral surface of the coin in a state where the coin is erected in the process of transporting the coin in the lateral direction along the lateral transport guide surface,
While the small diameter coin passes through the inner wall on the outer diameter side of the direction change path, it is pressed down to prevent the coin from floating in the outer diameter direction, while when the largest diameter coin passes, it is expanded and deformed to allow passage. A coin conveying device, characterized in that a turn guide spring is arranged. On the front surface of the coin conveying means, there are provided coin holding pins protruding at a predetermined pitch along the conveying direction, and holding the coins one by one between two adjacent pins for conveying upward. The coin conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a coin conveying apparatus.

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