JP2008033475A - Coin feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coin feeder 11 which automatically takes out coins from the inside of a coin cassette 12 to feed them. <P>SOLUTION: The coin cassette 12 housing coins is supplied to a coin discharge position by a conveyor means 41. An unlock means releases locking of the coin cassette 12 supplied by the conveyor means 41. When a coin cassette tilting means 69 tilts the coin cassette 12 so that its coin discharging door 25 is directed downward, the coin discharging door 25 is automatically opened and the coins inside the coin cassette 12 are discharged automatically. The emptied coin cassette 12 after discharging the coins is returned by the conveyor means 41. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin supply device that automatically takes out and supplies coins from a coin cassette.

  In general, at a cash processing center, a large amount of coins collected from financial institutions, department stores, supermarkets, and other stores are loaded into a coin processing machine for count confirmation processing or packaging a predetermined number of money types Has been done.

  Bags are often used for collecting coins, and there is a coin supply device that automatically supplies coins collected in these bags to a coin processor. In order to supply coins with this coin supply device, an operator carries in a plurality of bags containing coins by means of a carriage, opens each bag, and puts them into a coin receiving unit of the coin supply device. In the coin supply device, the coin received by the coin receiving unit is transferred to the coin supply unit, and the side of the plurality of coin processors arranged in parallel with the coin supply unit is moved to one of these coin processors. Coins are supplied (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

By the way, although coin cassettes may be used for collecting coins in addition to bags, there has been no coin supply device that handles these coin cassettes. In the case of this coin cassette, a coin discharge door for taking out coins from the coin cassette is provided so as to be openable and closable, and the coin discharge door is locked in a closed state. Therefore, in order to take out coins from the coin cassette, unlock the lock, open the coin discharge door, tilt the coin cassette so that the coin discharge opening that opens by opening the coin discharge door faces down, It is necessary to release the coins inside. Furthermore, it is necessary to shake the coin cassette so that no coin remains inside the coin cassette.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-51044 (page 5-6, FIG. 1)

  As described above, conventionally, there is a coin supply device corresponding to the collection of coins using a bag, but there is no coin supply device corresponding to the collection of coins using a coin cassette.

  The coin cassette in which coins are stored is very heavy, and it was hard labor to manually remove coins from the coin cassette.

  This invention is made in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the coin supply apparatus which can take out and supply a coin automatically from the inside of a coin cassette.

  The coin supply device according to claim 1 is provided with a coin discharge door that can be opened and closed when the coin stored in the inside is taken out, and can be opened and closed. A coin supply device for taking out and supplying coins from a locked coin cassette, supplying a coin cassette containing the coins, and collecting a coin cassette that has been emptied by removing the coins Means, unlocking means for unlocking a coin cassette containing coins supplied by the conveyor means, tilting so that the coin discharge door of the coin cassette faces downward, and the lock releasing means locks the coin cassette. A coin cassette tilting means for opening the released coin discharge door and discharging the coins stored in the coin cassette.

  The coin supply device according to claim 2 is the coin supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a door closing means that allows the coin discharge door to be opened and closed in an inclined state of the coin cassette and closes the coin discharge door of the coin cassette. It is what you are doing.

  The coin supply device according to claim 3 is the coin supply device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising vibration means for applying vibration to the inclined coin cassette.

  The coin supply device according to claim 4 is the coin supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coin cassette tilting means is a holding means for holding the coin cassette from both sides, and the coin cassette is inserted via the holding means. Inclination driving means for inclining is provided.

  According to the coin supply device of claim 1, the coin cassette containing the coins is supplied by the conveyor means, the lock of the coin cassette containing the coins supplied by the conveyor means is released by the unlocking means, the coin cassette By tilting with the coin cassette tilting means so that the coin discharge door is facing downward, the unlocked coin discharge door is automatically opened and the coins stored in the coin cassette are automatically Therefore, coins can be automatically taken out from the coin cassette and supplied. Furthermore, the coin cassette which has been emptied by taking out the coins can be collected by the conveyor means.

  According to the coin supply device according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the coin supply device according to claim 1, when the coin cassette is in an inclined state, the coin discharge door is opened and closed by the door closing means. The coins can be easily discharged, and after the coins are taken out, the coin discharge door of the coin cassette can be closed by the door closing means to be locked.

  According to the coin supply device of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the coin supply device of the first or second aspect, since the vibration is applied to the inclined coin cassette by the vibration means, the coin remains in the coin cassette. It can be surely released.

  According to the coin supply device according to claim 4, in addition to the effect of the coin supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the coin cassette tilting means clamps the coin cassette from both sides by the clamping means, and this clamping means The coin cassette can be tilted by being driven by the tilting drive means, and can be applied to different types of coin cassettes of different sizes.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the coin supply device 11 takes out a large amount of coins collected from the coin cassette 12 from, for example, financial institutions, department stores, supermarkets, and the like at the cash processing center. And supplied to a coin sorter 13 as a coin processor.

  The coin cassette 12 has a box-shaped cassette main body 21 for storing coins therein, and a deposit port 22 used at the time of operation is formed on the upper portion of the cassette main body 21. The shutter 23 is closed. A coin discharge port 24 for discharging the coins stored in the cassette main body 21 to the outside is formed on one side surface of the cassette main body 21, and a coin discharge door 25 for closing the coin discharge port 24 is formed outside the cassette main body 21. One side edge is supported by a hinge or the like so as to be opened, and can be opened and closed. The coin discharge door 25 is closed and is locked by a lock mechanism (not shown). The lock release mechanism releases the lock of the coin discharge door 25 by a predetermined release action from the lower surface side of the cassette body 21.

  The coin sorter 13 has a hopper 31 for receiving coins on the upper surface, and the hopper 31 is formed to be larger than the outer shape of one side surface of the coin cassette 12 on which the coin discharge door 25 is provided. The coin sorter 13 identifies the coins received by the hopper 31 one by one, classifies them by type, and stores them in the type-specific storage 32. On the upper surface of the coin sorter 13, an operation display unit 33 configured by a touch panel is disposed.

  Further, the coin supply device 11 includes a conveyor means 41 for conveying the coin cassette 12, and a plurality of coin sorters 13 are arranged along one side of the conveyor means 41.

  In the conveyor means 41, the coin cassette 12 is placed and transported so that the coin discharge door 25 faces the direction of the coin sorter 13 on one side, and each coin sorter 13 is disposed. The coin cassette 12 containing coins is carried in and supplied to the supply position 42, and the coin cassette 12 that has been emptied at each coin supply position 42 is taken out and collected. As the conveyor means 41, for example, a belt conveyor is used, but a roller conveyor or the like can also be used.

  Each coin supply position 42 is provided with a coin supply device main body 44 that takes out the coins in the coin cassette 12 received from the conveyor means 41 and supplies them to the coin sorter 13. The coin supply device main body 44 has a machine body 45, and an opening 46 is formed in the machine body 45 so as to face the hopper 31 of the coin sorter 13.

  In the machine body 45, a conveyor 47 is provided which can transfer the coin cassette 12 to the conveyor means 41 and conveys the coin cassette 12 in a direction crossing the conveying direction of the conveyor means 41. The end of the conveyor 47 is disposed at a coin discharge position 48 close to the opening 46 of the machine body 45. For example, a belt conveyor is used as the conveyor 47, but a roller conveyor or the like can also be used.

  The coin discharge position 48 inside the opening 46 in the machine body 45 appears and disappears from the opening 46 of the machine body 45 with a shaft 50 intersecting the conveying direction of the conveyor 47 below the end of the conveyor 47 as a fulcrum. A swing frame (inclined frame) 51 that can swing in the direction is provided. The swing frame 51 has side portions 52 on both sides that face each other at a wider interval than the width of the coin cassette 12.

  On the inner surface side of the side surface portions 52 on both sides of the swing frame 51, there are plate-shaped clamping members 54 that come into contact with and hold the side surfaces on both sides different from the side surface on which the coin discharge door 25 of the coin cassette 12 is provided. On the other hand, on the outer surface side of the side surface portions 52 on both sides of the swing frame 51, clamping drive means 55 such as an air cylinder that moves the clamping members 54 on both sides in directions toward and away from each other is arranged. ing. These clamping members and clamping drive means 55 constitute clamping means 56.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the swing frame 51 is provided with unlocking means 57 for unlocking the coin cassette 12. The unlocking means 57 has a predetermined unlocking member 58 for releasing the lock of the coin discharge door 25 by the lock mechanism by being inserted from the lower surface of the coin cassette 12, and the unlocking member 58 is disposed below the coin cassette 12. An unlocking drive means 59 such as an air cylinder and a solenoid for advancing and retreating from the swinging frame 51 is attached to the swing frame 51.

  On the inner surface side of the side surface portion 52 on both sides of the swing frame 51, the door closing means 61 for closing the coin discharge door 25 of the coin cassette 12 at the edge of the coin sorter 13 side rather than the position of the clamping member 54. Are arranged respectively.

The door closing means 61 includes a contact member 62 that contacts the outer surface of the coin discharge door 25. The door closing position 61 closes the contact member 62 by contacting the outer surface of the coin discharge door 25 and the coin discharging door. Door closing drive means 63 such as an air cylinder is provided that is retracted laterally from the outer surface area of the door 25 and advances / retreats to / from a retracted position allowing the coin discharge door 25 to be opened. The contact member 62 has a plurality of rollers 64 that are rotatable in the advancing and retreating direction and that roll in contact with the outer surface of the coin discharge door 25.

  The door closing means 61 also functions as a stopper for stopping the coin cassette 12 conveyed by the conveyor 47 at a predetermined coin discharge position 48. As shown in FIG. 2, the coin discharge position 48 where the coin cassette 12 stops is a position where a part of the coin cassette 12 on the coin discharge door 25 side slightly protrudes from the end of the conveyor 47, and the coin discharge door 25. And the lower surface of the coin cassette 12 faces the unlocking means 57 to allow unlocking.

  Vibrating means 66 such as a vibrator for applying vibration to the swing frame 51 is disposed on the outer surface side of the side surface portions 52 on both sides of the swing frame 51.

  The swing frame 51 supported so as to be swingable with the shaft 50 as a fulcrum is positioned in the machine body 45 by a tilting drive means 68 such as an air cylinder so that the coin cassette 12 can be transferred to the conveyor 47. It swings between the position and the coin release position protruding from the opening 46 of the machine body 45 and falling onto the hopper 31 of the coin sorter 13.

  The coin cassette tilting means 69 is configured to tilt the coin releasing door 25 of the coin cassette 12 so as to face downward, including the shaft 50, the swing frame 51, the clamping means 56, and the like.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  For example, a coin cassette 12 containing coins collected in a cash processing center from financial institutions, department stores, supermarkets, or other stores is placed on the conveyor means 41 of the coin supply device 11. The coin cassette 12 placed on the conveyor means 41 is placed with a predetermined direction in which the coin discharge door 25 faces the direction of the coin sorter 13 on one side and with a gap in the conveying direction of the conveyor means 41. .

  The coin cassette 12 is conveyed by the conveyor means 41 and supplied to a coin supply position 42 corresponding to a predetermined coin sorter 13 that processes the coins in the coin cassette 12.

  In the coin supply device main body 44 arranged at the coin supply position 42, the coin cassette 12 to be processed supplied by the conveyor means 41 is received by the conveyor 47 and conveyed toward the coin discharge position 48 at the end of the conveyor 47.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the coin cassette 12 conveyed to the coin discharge position 48 by the conveyor 47 abuts on a roller 64 which has advanced to the door closing position of the door closing means 61 in advance and releases a predetermined coin. Stop positioning at position 48. That is, a part of the coin discharge door 25 side of the coin cassette 12 slightly protrudes from the end of the conveyor 47, allowing the coin discharge door 25 to be opened and closed, and the lower surface of the coin cassette 12 to the unlocking means 57. Allow unlocking.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the coin cassette 12 is clamped from both sides by the clamping members 54 on both sides by driving the clamping drive means 55 of the clamping means 56, and the coin cassette 12 is held on the swing frame 51. In addition, after the coin cassette 12 is clamped, the lock release member 58 is inserted from the lower surface of the coin cassette 12 by driving the lock release drive means 59 of the lock release means 57, and the lock of the coin discharge door 25 by the lock mechanism is released. Even if the lock of the coin release door 25 is released, the coin release door 25 is held by the roller 64 of the door closing means 61 against the coin cassette 12 held by the swing frame 51 and held by the holding means 56. Since they are pressed, the coin discharge door 25 is not opened and the coins in the coin cassette 12 are not discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the swinging frame 51 is projected from the opening 46 of the machine body 45 with the shaft 50 as a fulcrum by the driving of the tilting drive means 68, and falls on the hopper 31 of the coin sorter 13. The coin cassette 12 swings integrally with the swing frame 51 so that the coin discharge door 25 faces downward and faces the hopper 31 of the coin sorter 13.

  While the coin cassette 12 is tilted, the door closing driving means 63 of the door closing means 61 is driven to move the rollers 64 on both sides to a retreat position that allows the coin discharging door 25 to be opened. Thus, depending on the weight of the coin discharge door 25 and the weight of the coin in the coin cassette 12 applied to the coin discharge door 25, the coin discharge door 25 is directed outward or downward with the hinge on one side edge as a fulcrum. It opens and the coins in the coin cassette 12 are discharged into the hopper 31 of the coin sorting machine 13 below.

  In the inclined state of the coin cassette 12, vibration is applied to the coin cassette 12 through the swing frame 51 by the vibration means 66, and the coin is reliably discharged from the inside of the coin cassette 12.

  Further, in the inclined state of the coin cassette 12, the door closing means 61 on the hinge side of the coin discharge door 25 causes the roller 64 to advance and retract a predetermined number of times by driving the door closing drive means 63, thereby opening and closing the coin discharge door 25. The coins remaining on the coin cassette 12 are surely discharged by shaking the coins attached to the coin discharge door 25 or by applying vibration to the coin cassette 12 when the coin discharge door 25 is opened and closed. .

  After the coins in the coin cassette 12 are completely discharged, the swinging frame 51 is returned to the machine body 45 by the driving of the tilting driving means 68, and the roller 64 is driven by the driving of the door closing driving means 63 of the door closing means 61. The coin release door 25 is closed by advancing to the door closed position, the lock release member 58 is pulled out from the lower surface of the coin cassette 12 by driving the lock release drive means 59 of the lock release means 57, and the coin release door 25 is released by the lock mechanism. And the holding of the coin cassette 12 by the holding members 54 on both sides is released by driving the holding drive means 55 of the holding means 56.

  The empty coin cassette 12 is transported toward the conveyor means 41 by the conveyor 47 and delivered to the conveyor means 41. The conveyor means 41 carries the coin cassette 12 out of the coin supply position 42 and collects it.

  Thus, in the coin supply device 11, the coin cassette 12 containing coins is supplied by the conveyor means 41, and the lock of the coin cassette 12 containing coins supplied by the conveyor means 41 is released by the lock releasing means 57. The coin release door 25 is tilted by the coin cassette tilting means 69 so that the coin release door 25 of the coin cassette 12 faces downward, so that the unlocked coin release door 25 is automatically opened and stored in the coin cassette 12. The coins that have been used can be automatically released, so that the coins can be automatically taken out from the coin cassette 12 and supplied. Further, the coin cassette 12 which has been emptied by taking out the coins can be collected by the conveyor means 41.

  When the coin cassette 12 is in an inclined state, the coin release door 25 is opened and closed by the door closing means 61, so that the coins in the coin cassette 12 can be easily released, and after the coins are taken out, The coin discharge door 25 can be locked by being closed by the door closing means 61.

  Since vibration is applied to the inclined coin cassette 12 by the vibration means 66, coins can be reliably discharged without remaining in the coin cassette.

  In the coin cassette tilting means 69, the coin cassette 12 can be clamped from both sides by the clamping means 56, and the clamping cassette 56 can be driven by the tilting driving means 68 to tilt the coin cassette 12. It can correspond to the coin cassette 12 of.

  In addition, as a coin processing machine, not only a coin sorter but a coin packaging machine etc. may be sufficient.

It is a perspective view of a coin supply device showing one embodiment of the present invention. The coin supply operation | movement by a coin supply apparatus same as the above is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view. The coin supply operation | movement by the coin supply apparatus following FIG. 2 is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view. The coin supply operation | movement by the coin supply apparatus following FIG. 3 is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view.

Explanation of symbols

11 Coin feeder
12 coin cassette
25 Coin release door
41 Conveyor means
56 Clamping means
57 Unlocking means
61 Door closing means
66 Vibration means
68 Tilt drive means
69 Coin cassette tilting means

Claims (4)

From the inside of the coin cassette, which is provided with a coin releasing door that can be opened and closed when the coin stored in the inside is taken out, and which is locked in a closed state. A coin supply device for taking out and supplying coins,
Conveying means for supplying the coin cassette containing the coins, and collecting the coin cassette that has been emptied by taking out the coins;
Unlocking means for unlocking a coin cassette containing coins supplied by the conveyor means;
The coin cassette is inclined so that the coin discharge door of the coin cassette is inclined downward, the coin release door unlocked by the lock release means is opened, and the coins stored in the coin cassette are discharged. And a coin supply device. 2. The coin supply device according to claim 1, further comprising: a door closing unit that allows the coin discharge door to be opened and closed in an inclined state of the coin cassette and closes the coin discharge door of the coin cassette. The coin supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a vibration unit that applies vibration to the inclined coin cassette. 4. The coin cassette tilting means comprises a clamping means for clamping the coin cassette from both sides, and a tilting drive means for tilting the coin cassette via the clamping means. Coin supply device.

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