JP2008046673A - Paper money discrimination device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a paper money discrimination device capable of simplifying an operation such as the installation and wiring of a light emitting element and a light receiving element including a means for detecting paper money insertion, thereby reducing cost. <P>SOLUTION: A light transmission element 34 for emitting the rays of light made incident to a central port 34a from right and left ports 34a is arranged at the front side (front side shoot 30) of the opposite front and rear faces of a paper money passage BP so that a light emitting element 45 and a light receiving element 46 can be arranged in a batch at the rear side (unit main body 41 of a paper money conveyance unit 40) of the opposite front and rear faces of the paper money passage BP. Thus, it is possible to achieve cost reduction by more simplifying an action such as the installation and wiring of the light emitting element 45 and the light receiving element 46 than the conventional manner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a banknote identification device used in a vending machine or the like.

  This kind of banknote identification device has means for detecting the insertion of a banknote into the banknote passage, and when the insertion of the banknote is detected by the means, the banknote transport unit is operated to pull the banknote into the banknote identification area and Identify.

Generally, one or a plurality of optical switches are used as the means for detecting the insertion of the bill, and one of the light emitting element and the light receiving element constituting the optical switch is disposed on one of the opposing surfaces of the bill passage, and The other of the light emitting element and the light receiving element is disposed on the other side of the bill passage facing each other.
JP-A-8-44927

  However, when one of the light emitting element and the light receiving element forming a pair is disposed on one of the opposing surfaces of the bill passage, and the other of the light emitting element and the light receiving element is disposed on the other of the opposing surfaces of the bill passage, Installing one of the light emitting element and the light receiving element on one of the opposite faces of the banknote passage and performing wiring, etc., and installing the other of the light emitting element and the light receiving element on the other opposite face of the banknote passage and applying wiring etc. Therefore, there is a problem that the cost for these operations increases and is reflected in the device price.

  The present invention was created in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to simplify the work of installing and wiring the light emitting element and the light receiving element included in the means for detecting the insertion of banknotes, thereby reducing costs. The object is to provide a bill recognition device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a banknote recognition apparatus including means for detecting insertion of a banknote into a banknote path, wherein the means is disposed on one of opposing surfaces of the banknote path, and includes a plurality of ports. At least one light transmission element capable of emitting light incident on at least one port from the remaining ports, and a light incident port of the light transmission element disposed on the other of the opposite surfaces of the banknote path At least one light-emitting element capable of entering light and at least one light-emitting element disposed on the other opposite surface of the bill passage and capable of receiving light emitted from the light emission port of the light transmission element via the bill passage It is characterized by comprising a light receiving element.

  According to this bill identifying device, the light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged by disposing at least one light transmission element capable of emitting light incident on at least one port from the remaining port on one of the opposing surfaces of the bill path. Can be arranged together on the other side of the bill passage, so that the operation of installing the light emitting element and the light receiving element and performing wiring or the like can be simplified as compared with the prior art, and the cost can be reduced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the banknote identification apparatus which can simplify work, such as installation of a light emitting element and a light receiving element contained in the means to detect banknote insertion, and wiring, and can aim at cost reduction can be provided.

  The above object and other objects, structural features, and operational effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

  FIGS. 1-9 shows one Embodiment of this invention (banknote identification device). 1 is a perspective view of the banknote identification device as viewed from the front side, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the banknote recognition device as shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear side, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the banknote identification device shown in FIGS. 4 is a top view of the banknote recognition apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the optical transmission element shown in FIGS. 7 is a perspective view of the unlocking lever shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the operation portion and the locking piece of the unlocking lever shown in FIGS. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram relating to detection of bill insertion. In the following description, the front side in FIG. 1 is represented as the front, the back side as the rear, the left side as the left, and the right side as the right.

  First, the mechanism of a banknote identification device is demonstrated with reference to FIGS.

  1 to 9 includes a main frame 10, a base box 20, a front chute 30, a bill transport unit 40, a rear chute 50, a mask 60, a bill storage cassette 70, An unlocking lever 80 is provided.

  The base box 20 has a box shape with an upper surface and a rear surface opened, and the front surface thereof is fixed to the lower portion of the rear surface of the main frame 10. The base box 20 includes a vertically-long rectangular banknote storage plate 21 for pushing banknotes into the banknote storage cassette 70, a link mechanism 22 that moves the banknote storage plate 21 back and forth, a motor, a reduction gear, and a drive lever. And a bill support plate drive mechanism (not shown) and a rear chute shaft support hole 23 provided on the left and right sides of the upper rear side so that the center line thereof faces in the left-right direction.

  The link mechanism 22 has a pair of left and right upper links 22a whose upper ends are rotatably connected to the bill storage plate 21 and whose lower ends are rotatably connected to the base box 20, and each upper end is a base box. 20, a pair of left and right lower links 22b that are rotatably connected to the bill storage plate 21, and an operation shaft 22c that is common to the upper link 22a and the lower link 22b. Have. A drive lever (not shown) of a bill storage plate drive mechanism is engaged with the operation shaft 22c. As the drive lever moves back and forth, the link mechanism 22 changes its form to move the bill storage plate 21 back and forth. Move to.

  The front chute 30 has a substantially rectangular shape as a whole, and its front surface is fixed to the upper rear surface of the main frame 10. The front chute 30 has an upper curved part 31 projecting to the rear side, a lower curved part 32 projecting to the front side, and is rotatable at intervals in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a part thereof is exposed to the rear side. 4 or more guide rollers 33 provided in total, a bill transport unit mounting portion (not shown), and an optical transmission element 34.

  Of the four or more guide rollers 33 in total, two guide rollers 33 correspond to the upper and lower positions on the front side of the left and right endless belts 43 of the banknote transport unit 40, and the exposed portions thereof contact the endless belt 43. The remaining two guide rollers 33 correspond to the vertical positions on the front side of the other left and right endless belts 43 of the banknote transport unit 40, and the exposed portions thereof are in contact with the endless belt 43.

  The optical transmission element 34 is made of transparent plastic or transparent glass, three ports 34a, two optical transmission units 34b connecting the central port 34a and the left and right ports 34a, and the central port 34a and two optical transmission units 34b. And a second light reflecting portion 34d provided between each of the left and right ports 34a and the two light transmitting portions 34b. The optical transmission element 34 is attached to the front chute 30 by inserting each port 34a into a corresponding hole in the front chute 30, and the end face of each port 34a is exposed rearward. The ports 34a are linearly arranged at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the bill insertion direction. That is, the optical transmission element 34 is disposed on the front side of the front and rear surfaces of the bill passage BP, which will be described later.

  Further, the front chute 30 has horizontally long rectangular locking pieces 35 provided on both sides of the upper portion and projecting rearward. Each locking piece 35 is elastically deformable in the left-right direction. An inclined surface 35a is provided inside each rear end, and a locking hole 35b whose center line is directed in the left-right direction at an approximately middle position in the front-rear direction. Is provided. The distance between the left and right outer surfaces of the locking pieces 35 substantially coincides with the left and right dimensions of the rear chute 50.

  The entire bill transport unit 40 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is detachably attached to a bill transport unit mounting portion (not shown) of the front chute 30. The banknote transport unit 40 includes a unit main body 41, a pulley 42 rotatably provided on the upper left and right of the unit main body 41, a pulley 42 rotatably provided on the lower left and right of the unit main body 41 through a common rotation shaft, An endless belt 43 wound around the two pulleys 42 on the left side, an endless belt 43 wound around the two pulleys 42 on the right side, and a driven gear (not shown) coaxially connected to the lower pulley 42 on the left side ), A substrate 44 mounted in the unit main body 41, one light emitting element 45 and two light receiving elements 46 mounted on the substrate 44, and a banknote identification provided so that a part thereof is exposed to the rear side. Sensor 47.

  One light-emitting element 45 and two light-receiving elements 46 mounted on the substrate 44 are inserted into holes provided on the front surface of the unit main body 40 corresponding to each, and are exposed toward the front side. 45 faces the center port 34a of the light transmission element 34 with a gap, and the two light receiving elements 46 face the left and right ports 34a of the light transmission element 34 with a gap. That is, the light emitting element 45 and the light receiving element 46 are disposed on the rear side of the front and rear faces of the bill passage BP, which will be described later. Incidentally, a light emitting diode or the like is used for the light emitting element 45, and a photodiode, a phototransistor or the like is used for the light receiving element 46.

  The rear chute 50 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The rear chute 50 has a total of four or more guide rollers 52 provided so as to be able to rotate with a curved portion 51 protruding to the front side and to be vertically and horizontally spaced, and a part of which is exposed to the front side. A bill recognition sensor 53 provided so that a part of the bill recognition sensor 53 is exposed to the front side, a bill transport unit drive mechanism (not shown) having a motor, a reduction gear, and a drive gear; Each support piece 54 and a shaft portion 55 provided so that the center line thereof faces in the left-right direction. The rear chute 50 is attached to the base box 20 so that the left and right shaft portions 55 are rotatably inserted into the left and right shaft support holes 23 of the base box 20 and can be opened and closed by a rotating operation with the shaft support portion as a fulcrum. ing.

  Of the four or more guide rollers 52 in total, two guide rollers 52 correspond to the upper and lower positions on the rear side of the endless belt 43 on the left and right sides of the banknote transport unit 40, and the exposed portions contact the endless belt 43. The remaining two guide rollers 52 correspond to the upper and lower positions on the rear side of the other endless belt 43 on the left and right sides of the banknote transport unit 40, and the exposed portions are in contact with the endless belt 43.

  The drive gear of the bill transport unit drive mechanism meshes with the driven gear of the bill transport unit 40 with the rear chute 50 closed. That is, each endless belt 43 of the banknote transport unit 40 rotates in a predetermined direction based on the rotational force transmitted from the drive gear of the banknote transport unit drive mechanism to the driven gear, thereby transporting banknotes.

  Further, the rear chute 50 has a recess 56 provided on both sides of the upper portion and a pin 57 provided on the inner side surface of each recess 56. The center line of each pin 57 faces in the left-right direction, the diameter of each pin 57 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the locking hole 35 b of the locking piece 35, and the length of each is preferably shorter than the left-right distance of the recess 56. .

  Further, the rear chute 50 has a pair of left and right support walls 58 for the locking release lever on its upper surface. Each support wall 58 is formed with a shaft support hole 58a for an unlocking lever provided so that its center line is directed in the left-right direction.

  The mask 60 has a box shape with an open rear surface, and the rear surface is fixed to the front surface of the main frame 10. The mask 60 includes a horizontally long bill insertion slot 61 extending from the front surface to the rear surface, and a curved portion 62 projecting rearward from the rear end lower portion of the bill insertion slot 61.

  The banknote storage cassette 70 has a box shape with an upper surface and a front surface opened, and is detachably attached to the base box 20. The banknote storage cassette 70 includes a vertically long rail 71 provided on the left and right of the front opening, and a vertically long rectangular cassette that is slightly larger in the left-right width than the left-right distance between the rails 71 and is disposed on the rear side of the rails 71. A plate 72, a truncated conical coil spring 73 that urges the cassette plate 72 forward, a hook lever (not shown) for mounting and releasing the bill storage cassette 70 in the base box 20, and a hook lever on the rear surface. And a notch 74 for operating from the side.

  The unlocking lever 80 includes a rectangular pressing portion 81, a posture control portion 82 having an L-shaped longitudinal section extending forward from the rear end of the pressing portion 81, and elastic pieces 83 provided on both left and right sides of the posture control portion 82. A shaft portion 84 provided on each elastic piece 83 so that its center line is directed in the left-right direction, a rod-like portion 85 provided on both the left and right sides of the pressing portion 81 and extending in the left-right direction, and a tip of each rod-like portion 85 And an operating portion 86 provided. The latch release lever 80 is bent on the upper surface of the rear chute 50 by bending both elastic pieces 83 inward and inserting the shaft portions 84 into the shaft support holes 58 a of the left and right support walls 58 of the rear chute 50. It is attached and can be tilted around the pivot point. Further, in this attached state, the posture control unit 82 is close to the upper overhanging portion 11 of the main frame 10, and the angle limitation when the pressing portion 81 is tilted so as to be lifted is limited to the upper tension of the posture control unit 82. It can be performed by touching the protruding portion 11.

  Each operation portion 86 has a substantially triangular vertical cross section, and each outer surface is an inclined surface 86a inclined inward. The left-right distance between the lower ends of both operation portions 86 is slightly smaller than the left-right distance between the inner surfaces of both locking pieces 35.

  Next, the operation of the above-described banknote identification device will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 3, 5 and 9.

  When the rear chute 50 is in the closed position, the banknote transport unit 40 is in a state where the front and rear are sandwiched between the front chute 30 and the rear chute 50, and the upper curved portion 31 and the curved portion 51 of the rear chute 50 are Due to the presence, an inverted U-shaped bill passage BP (see FIGS. 3, 5 and 9) is formed around the bill transport unit 40. The front lower end of the banknote passage BP communicates with the rear end of the banknote insertion slot 61 via the curved portion 62 of the mask 60.

  As indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5, in the state where the bill is not inserted, the light from the light emitting element 45 is incident on the central port 34 a of the light transmission element 34 via the bill passage BP, and the incident light is the two first light beams. The light is separated by the light reflecting portion 34c and transmitted by the respective light transmitting portions 34b. The transmitted light is guided to the left and right ports 34a by the left and right second light reflecting portions 34d, and the transmitted light is transmitted from the left and right ports 34a. The light is emitted and enters the left and right light receiving elements 46 via the banknote passage BP.

  When a bill PM such as a 1000 yen bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 61 of the mask 60 reaches the line of the ports 34a of the light transmission element 34 as shown in FIG. Light incident on each light receiving element 46 from the port 34a is blocked, and it is detected that a bill has been inserted by blocking light incident on each light receiving element 46.

  After the bill insertion is detected, both endless belts 43 of the bill transport unit 40 rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3, and the bill PM is drawn into the inverted U-shaped bill passage BP by the rotation. It is sent along the BP to the detection area of the banknote identification sensors 47 and 53.

  The banknotes sent to the detection areas of the banknote identification sensors 44 and 53 are genuinely identified in the detection areas. If the banknotes are false, or both endless belts 43 of the banknote transport unit 40 cannot be identified in FIG. The bill is rotated clockwise, and the bill is returned to the bill insertion slot 61 from the inverted U-shaped bill passage BP.

  On the other hand, as a result of authenticity identification, in the case of a true banknote, a signal relating to insertion of a true banknote is output through a control circuit (not shown), and both endless belts 43 of the banknote transport unit 40 are rotated counterclockwise in FIG. The bill is fed to the rear side of the bill storage plate 21 of the base box 20 by the rotation. And the banknote storage plate 21 presses the cassette plate 72 of the banknote storage cassette 70 backward against the spring biasing force via the banknote, and the both edges in the width direction of the banknote ride over both rails 71 of the banknote storage cassette 70. After moving backwards, it returns to the front. By the operation of the banknote storage plate 21, the true banknote is stored so as to be sandwiched between the cassette plate 72 and the rails 71 of the banknote storage cassette 70.

  Next, the opening / closing operation | movement of the rear side chute | shoot 50 in the above-mentioned banknote identification device is demonstrated mainly with reference to FIG.4 and FIG.8.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the rear chute 50 in the closed position is locked by inserting the pins 57 on both left and right sides into the locking holes 35 b of the locking pieces 35 on the left and right sides of the front chute 30. Held in the proper position.

  When the rear chute 50 in the closed position is opened when checking or repairing the banknote transport unit 40, the pressing portion 81 of the locking release lever 80 is pressed downward with a fingertip or the like, and both the rod-shaped portion 85 and both operations are performed. The part 86 is moved downward. Since the left and right intervals between the lower ends of both operation portions 86 of the unlocking lever 80 are slightly smaller than the left and right intervals between the inner surfaces of both engagement pieces 35, each of the operation portions 86 is brought into contact with each other by the downward movement caused by the pressing. A force that pushes them outward from the inclined surface 86a acts on the locking pieces 35, and the locking pieces 35 are elastically deformed outward so that the locking holes 35b come out of the pins 57 at the same time. Is released. Therefore, if the rear chute 50 is rotated rearward with the pivot point as a fulcrum in the unlocked state, the rear chute 50 can be opened to expose the banknote transport unit 40, as necessary. By removing the banknote transport unit 40 from the front chute 30, desired inspections and repairs can be performed accurately.

  When the rear chute 50 after opening is returned to the closed position, the rear chute 50 may be rotated forward with the pivot point as a fulcrum. Each locking piece 35 can be deformed to the left and right by elasticity, and an inclined surface 35a is provided on the inner side of each rear end. Therefore, when the rear chute 50 is rotated forward with the pivot point as a fulcrum. The tip of each pin 57 comes into contact with the inclined surface 35a of each locking piece 35, and a force that pushes each locking piece 35 outward by the mutual contact acts to elastically deform each locking piece 35 outward. When the rear chute 50 reaches the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the pins 57 are inserted again into the locking holes 35 b of the locking pieces 35 and locked, so that the rear chute 50 is moved. It is held in the proper closed position.

  Thus, according to the banknote identification device described above, the light transmission element 34 that can emit the light incident on the center port 34a from the left and right ports 34a is disposed on the front side of the front and rear surfaces of the banknote passage BP (front chute 30). ), The light emitting element 45 and the light receiving element 46 can be collectively arranged on the rear side of the front and rear surfaces of the banknote passage BP (unit body 41 of the banknote transport unit 40). The operation of installing the light receiving element 46 and performing wiring or the like can be simplified as compared with the prior art to reduce the cost. In addition, since the number of light emitting elements 45 can be reduced as compared with the number of light receiving elements 46, it is possible to contribute to cost reduction from this point.

  Moreover, since each port 34a of the optical transmission element 34 is linearly arranged at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the bill insertion direction, the inserted banknote PM has reached the alignment line of the ports 34a of the optical transmission element 34. Sometimes the insertion of the banknote PM can be accurately detected.

  Further, since the light emitting element 45, the light receiving element 46 and the substrate 44 are provided in the unit main body 41 of the banknote transport unit 40, the rear chute 50 is opened and the banknote transport unit 40 is detached from the front chute 30 to emit light. Inspection, repair, and the like of the element 45, the light receiving element 46, and the substrate 44 can be easily performed.

  In the bill identifying apparatus described above, the one using one optical transmission element 34 is shown. However, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an optical transmission element 36 having a smaller width than the optical transmission element 34 is provided. The light is made to enter from the single light emitting element 45 to the central ports 34a and 36a of the two light transmission elements 34 and 36, and the left and right ports 34a and 36a of the respective light transmission elements 34 and 36 are used. If a total of four light receiving elements 46 are arranged corresponding to the number of bills, the number of bill insertion detection points can be increased. Of course, the same number of detection points can be increased by using an optical transmission element in which two optical transmission elements 34 and 36 are functionally integrated.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned banknote identification apparatus, the center port 34a of the light transmission element 34 is used for light incidence and the left and right ports 34a are used for light emission, but the center port 34a is used for light emission. Also, the left and right ports 34a can be used for light incidence. If the light emitting element 45 is replaced with a light receiving element and the left and right light receiving elements 46 are replaced with light emitting elements, the same bill insertion detection as described above can be performed. It can be carried out.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] It is the perspective view which looked at the banknote identification apparatus from the front side which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the banknote identification device shown in FIG. 1 from the rear side. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the banknote identification device shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. It is a top view of the banknote identification device shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. It is the sectional view on the aa line of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the optical transmission element shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. It is a perspective view of the latch release lever shown in FIGS. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of the operation part and locking piece of the latch release lever shown in FIGS. It is explanatory drawing which concerns on the detection of banknote insertion. It is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 5 which shows the partial modification of the banknote identification apparatus shown in FIGS. It is a perspective view of the optical transmission element shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Main frame, 20 ... Base box, 30 ... Front side chute, 34 ... Optical transmission element, 34a ... Port, 34b ... Optical transmission part, 34c ... First light reflection part, 34d ... Second light reflection part, 36 ... Light Transmission element 36a ... Port 36b ... Light transmission part 36c ... First light reflection part 36d ... Second light reflection part 40 ... Banknote transport unit 44 ... Substrate 45 ... Light emitting element 46 ... Light receiving element 50 ... rear chute, 60 ... mask, 70 ... banknote storage cassette, 80 ... locking release lever, BP ... banknote passage, PM ... banknote.

Claims (3)

In the banknote identification device provided with means for detecting the insertion of banknotes into the banknote passage,
The means is
At least one optical transmission element that is disposed on one of the opposing surfaces of the bill passage and that can emit light incident on at least one of the plurality of ports from the remaining ports;
At least one light emitting element that is disposed on the other side of the opposite face of the banknote path and can enter light into the light incident port of the light transmission element via the banknote path;
At least one light receiving element that is disposed on the other side of the bill passage and that can receive light emitted from the light emitting port of the light transmission element via the bill passage;
The banknote identification apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The plurality of ports of the optical transmission element are linearly arranged at intervals in a direction orthogonal to the bill insertion direction.
The banknote identification device according to claim 1. The light transmission element includes one light incident port, a plurality of light emission ports, a plurality of light transmission portions connecting the light incidence ports and the light emission ports, and light incident on the light incidence ports. A plurality of first light reflecting portions for guiding the light transmitted to each light transmitting portion, and a plurality of second light reflecting portions for guiding the light transmitted by each light transmitting portion to each light emitting port,
The light emitting element is disposed so as to face one light incident port via the banknote passage, and the light receiving element is disposed so as to face a plurality of light emitting ports via the banknote path.
The banknote identification device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

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