JP2009070039A - Token handling apparatus and token receiving and dispensing apparatus having token sorting means - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a token handling apparatus having a token sorting means that can handle tokens even when the token sorting means fails. <P>SOLUTION: In the token handling apparatus having a token holding means, a token dispensing means for dispensing tokens and a feed means for feeding tokens from the token holding means to the token dispensing means, the token handling apparatus has a token sorting means, which is characterized by making it selectable whether or not to reject false tokens before supply to the token dispensing means by a distribution means by arranging the token dispensing means and the token sorting means for sorting true and false tokens downstream of a token outlet of the feed means, and further arranging a distribution means to the token dispensing means or token sorting means between the token outlet and the token sorting means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a medal processing device having medal selection means for use in a game field.
In particular, the present invention relates to a medal processing device in which a medal selection means capable of selecting different types of medals (other store medals etc., hereinafter referred to as “fake medals”) is incorporated in a medal processing device having other functions.
Specifically, the present invention relates to a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having a medal sorting unit or a medal lending machine having a medal sorting unit.
More specifically, even if the medal sorting means is out of order, the medal processing device, the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus, and the medal lending machine that can be used by the medal processing apparatus, medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus, and medal lending. Related to the machine.
The “medal” used in the present specification is a general term for medals for pachislot machines and medal game machines, substitute coins, and similar game media.

As a first conventional technique, a turntable on which an inserted medal is placed and rotated, a medal conveyance path in which the medals are fed one by one by centrifugal force due to the rotation of the turntable, and a medal conveyance path The medal passing detection means for detecting the medal during transport and counting the number of passing medals and the pattern applied to the medal being transported in the medal transport path are read to determine whether or not it is a regular pattern. A medal comprising: medal pattern determining means; and medal excluding means for excluding the medal from the medal transport path when the medal pattern determining means gives a different pattern to the medal. A counter is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Also, as a second conventional technique, a medal depositing / dispensing device including a medal depositing unit, a deposited medal counting machine, a medal storage unit, and a stored medal dispensing counter is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-4166 (Page 3-5, Fig. 1-4) Patent 3782082 (paragraph numbers 0029 to 0032, FIG. 4)

In the first prior art, since a large number of medals received from the player must be counted quickly, medals must be selected at a high speed.
For example, the medal counting capability is required to be 2000 per minute, and one medal must be imaged and determined in 30 milliseconds.
The authenticity determination of medals in the first prior art is a so-called image selection performed by reading the pattern on the medal surface, and therefore it is necessary to perform image processing by the microprocessor at an extremely high speed after acquiring a high-resolution image. However, there is a problem that the image acquisition and processing apparatus becomes expensive, and cannot be adopted.
Further, in the first prior art, an image of a medal is acquired in the middle of being conveyed by the frictional force with the belt. Therefore, a deviation is easily generated between the light emission timing and the medal position, and an image sufficient for identification cannot be acquired. There's a problem.

In the second prior art, the medal earned by the player is simply deposited and only paid out within the range deposited at the next game, and the received medal is paid out. There is a problem that requires a lot of man-hours.

In order to solve the problem of the second prior art, it is conceivable to combine the first prior art with the second prior art.
That is, it is conceivable to pay out medals deposited by the player via a medal counter with a true / false discrimination device of the first prior art.
In this case, the fake medal has the advantage that it can be eliminated by the medal counter, but if the medal counter or the combined image acquisition and processing device fails, the medal cannot be deposited or withdrawn. It cannot be adopted.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a medal processing device provided with a medal sorting unit that can perform a medal process even when a medal sorting unit fails.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having medal sorting means capable of depositing and paying out medals even when the medal sorting means fails.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a medal lending machine provided with a medal sorting means that can pay out medals even when the medal sorting means fails.

In order to achieve this object, a medal processing apparatus according to the present invention is configured as follows.
In a medal processing device having a medal holding means, a medal paying means for paying out medals, and a conveying means for conveying medals from the medal holding means to the medal paying means, downstream of the medal delivery port of the conveying means The medal paying means and the medal selecting means for selecting the genuine medal are arranged, and further, the medal paying means or the distributing means to the medal selecting means is arranged between the medal delivery port and the medal selecting means. A medal processing device having a medal selection means, wherein it is possible to select whether or not to eliminate the false medals before supplying them to the medal payout means by the distribution means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the medal processing device having the medal sorting means according to the first aspect, the distribution means includes a second conveying means positioned below the medal delivery outlet and a reverse feeding means of the second conveying means. And the medal sorting means is disposed below the medal delivery port during forward rotation of the second transport means, and the correct medal sorted by the medal sorting means is supplied to the medal payout means. To do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medal depositing / dispensing device having a medal depositing unit and a medal dispensing unit that holds and pays out a medal received from the depositing unit, between the counting unit and the medal dispensing unit. A medal selecting means for selecting a genuine medal on the medal path, and further, a medal from the medal depositing means is placed between the medal depositing means and the medal selecting means to the medal selecting means or the medal payout means. A medal depositing / dispensing means having a medal sorting means, wherein a sorting means for sorting is arranged, and it is possible to select whether or not to eliminate the false medals before supplying the medal paying means to the medal paying means. Device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medal depositing port, a counting unit for counting medals deposited from the depositing port, a lifting unit for lifting the medals counted by the counting unit, and the lifting unit. A distribution unit that selectively distributes the conveyed medals to a later-described medal selection unit or a holding device, and a medal selection unit that determines authenticity of the medals received from the distribution unit and supplies the genuine medals to the holding device. A medal depositing / dispensing device having medal sorting means, comprising: a holding device that holds a medal paid out by a paying device described later; and a payout device that pays out a medal held on the holding device. .

  The invention according to claim 5 is a medal holding means arranged at a lower position, a medal payout means arranged at an upper position of the medal holding means, and a medal of the medal holding means is conveyed to the medal paying means. In the medal lending machine having a transport means, a medal selection means for selecting a genuine medal is provided, and a medal selection means or a medal payout means described later is selected in a medal path between the transport means and the medal payout means. The medal lending machine is characterized in that a distribution means for distributing medals routes is arranged so that a fake medal can be eliminated by the medal selection means before the medal payout means is paid out.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the medal processing device having the medal selection means according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the medal selection means identifies a pattern on the medal surface.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal sorting means according to the fourth aspect, the medal sorting means images a pusher moving at a predetermined speed and a medal pushed by the pusher. An imaging apparatus, an alignment supply device that supplies medals to the pusher one by one, and a guide body that guides the medals pushed by the pusher are included.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal selection means according to claims 3 to 4, wherein the lifting means is an intermittent lifting means.

  The invention of claim 9 is the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal sorting means of claim 9, wherein the intermittent lifting means is a bucket attached to an endless circulation body.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal sorting means according to the fourth aspect, the medal sorting mode or non-sorting mode automatic setting means is provided.

In the first aspect of the present invention, medals held by the holding means are conveyed by the conveying means and supplied to the distribution means from the medal delivery outlet.
The distribution means can selectively distribute the medals supplied from the medal delivery outlet to the medal sorting means or the medal payout means.
Usually, the distribution means is set to distribute medals to the medal selection means.
Thereby, the medal supplied from the holding means is determined to be true or false by the medal selection means, the false medal is excluded, and only the genuine medal is supplied to the medal payout means.
Therefore, since the fake medal is not supplied to the payout means, there is an advantage that the fake medal is not paid out to the customer.
Further, the supply of medals by the transport means does not require identification and selection of medals at a high speed in synchronization with the deposit of medals, so that identification and selection can be performed at a relatively low speed.
Therefore, since an apparatus having a relatively low identification processing speed can be used, there is an advantage that the apparatus is inexpensive.
When the medal sorting means fails, the sorting means is switched to supply the medal supplied from the medal delivery outlet to the medal payout means.
Thereby, all the medals supplied from the medal holding means are paid out from the medal paying means.
Therefore, since the medal payout process can be performed even when the medal sorting means does not function, there is an advantage that the medal processing device can be operated even in an unexpected situation.

In the invention according to claim 2, the distribution means includes a second conveyance means located below the medal delivery port of the conveyance means, and the distribution direction is selectively switched by forward rotation or reverse rotation of the second conveyance means. .
Specifically, when the medal sorting means is selected, the second transport means is rotated forward, and the medals on the second transport means are transported in the forward rotation direction and supplied to the medal sorting means.
As a result, the medal supplied from the holding means by the transport means is determined by the medal sorting means, the false medal is excluded, and only the genuine medal is supplied to the medal payout means.
Therefore, since the fake medal is not supplied to the medal payout means, there is an advantage that the fake medal is not paid out to the customer.
In addition, since it is not necessary to identify and sort medals at a high speed in synchronization with the medal deposit, this medal supply can be identified and sorted at a relatively low speed.
Therefore, since an apparatus having a relatively low identification processing speed can be used, there is an advantage that the apparatus is inexpensive.
When the medal payout means is selected, the second transport means is reversed, and the medals on the second transport means are transported in the reverse direction and supplied to the medal payout means.
Thereby, all the medals supplied from the medal holding means are paid out from the medal paying means.
Therefore, even if the medal sorting means does not function, the medal payout process can be performed, so that there is an advantage that the medal processing device can be operated even in an unexpected situation.

In the invention of claim 3, medals deposited in the medal depositing means are selectively distributed to the medal sorting means or the medal payout means by the sorting means.
The medals supplied to the medal sorting means are checked for authenticity by the medal sorting means, the authentic medals are supplied to the medal payout means, and the false medals are excluded.
As a result, only genuine medals are paid out from the medal payout means.
For example, when the medal selection means fails, the distribution means is switched to distribute to the medal payout means.
When the deposited medal is supplied to the medal paying means by the sorting means, the authentic medals are mixed and supplied to the medal paying means.
When the medals are supplied to the medal sorting means by the sorting means, the false medals are sorted by the medal sorting means and are excluded, so that the false medals are not paid to the customer.
Further, even if the medal sorting means is out of order, the distribution means can supply medals to the medal payout means, so that there is an advantage that the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus can be operated.

In the invention according to claim 4, the medals deposited at the medal depositing port are counted by the counting means and then supplied to the sorting means by the lifting means.
The distribution means selectively distributes medals to the medal selection means or the holding device.
The medals supplied to the medal sorting means are sorted into genuine medals and fake medals, and the genuine medals are supplied to the holding means and then paid out by the paying means.
Since the medals are transported upward by the lifting means, the deposit entrance can be arranged at a height that is easy for a customer from schoolchild to adult.
Further, since the medal inserted into the depository is immediately counted at high speed by the counting means, the waiting time of the customer can be shortened.
Further, the fake medals can be eliminated by the medal sorting means before being held by the medal holding means and are not held by the medal holding means.
The medal held in the medal holding means is paid out to the customer.
Therefore, when the medals are distributed to the medal selection means by the distribution means, there is an advantage that the fake medals are not paid out to the customer.
Furthermore, since the medals lifted by the lifting means are sorted by the medal sorting means, it is not necessary to sort in conjunction with the counting means, and can be sorted at a relatively low speed.
Therefore, since a relatively inexpensive medal sorting means can be employed, the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus can be manufactured at a low cost.
Furthermore, when the medal sorting means breaks down, etc., the medal lifted by the lifting means can be supplied to the paying device without going through the medal selecting means, so that there is an advantage that the operation of the medal depositing / dispensing device can be continued. .

In the invention of claim 5, the medal holding means arranged at the lower level is lifted by the lifting means to the higher-order sorting means.
The distribution means selectively distributes medals to medal selection means or payout means.
The medals sorted by the sorting means to the medal sorting means are sorted into a genuine medal and a fake medal by the medal sorting means, the genuine medal is supplied to the payout means, and the false medal is excluded.
This has the advantage that no fake medal is paid out to the customer.
Furthermore, since the medals lifted by the lifting means are sorted by the medal sorting means, it is not necessary to sort in conjunction with the counting means, and can be sorted at a relatively low speed.
Therefore, since a relatively inexpensive medal sorting means can be employed, a medal lending machine can be manufactured at a low cost.
Further, when the medal sorting means is out of order, it can be supplied to the payout device by the sorting device, so that there is an advantage that the operation of the medal deposit / payout device can be continued.

In the invention of claim 6, the medal sorting means identifies the pattern of the medal surface.
In other words, the medal surface is imaged and digitally converted, and the authenticity is determined by comparing with the reference data.
Therefore, since the medals can be selected according to the medal pattern of each game hall, there is an advantage that even medals of the same shape and the same material can be selected if the patterns are different.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the medals supplied from the lifting means are sorted one by one by the alignment supply device in the medal sorting means through the sorting means and supplied to the pusher that moves at a predetermined speed. .
The medals pushed by the pusher are picked up by the image pickup device while being moved one by one while being guided by the guide.
Thereby, since the medal is actively pushed by the pusher, there is an advantage that the position of the medal and the imaging timing are not shifted.

In the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the medal lifting means is the intermittent lifting means, the medal is intermittently supplied to the medal selection means.
The medal selection means may select medals before the next medal is sent.
Therefore, since the medal sorting means can sort medals at a relatively low speed, a low-priced sorting device can be used.

In the invention of claim 9, medals are intermittently conveyed by a bucket attached to an endless circulation body.
Since the intermittent lifting means is constituted by a bucket attached to an endless circulator, the construction is simple and can be manufactured at low cost.

In the invention of claim 10, the medal sorting mode or the non-sorting mode is automatically set by the automatic setting means.
Therefore, since the setting of the distribution means is automatically performed, there is an advantage that the setting work is not required.

In a medal processing device having a medal holding means, a medal paying means for paying out medals, and a conveying means for conveying medals from the medal holding means to the medal paying means, downstream of the medal delivery port of the conveying means The medal paying means and the medal selecting means for selecting the genuine medal are arranged, and further, the medal paying means or the distributing means to the medal selecting means is arranged between the medal delivery port and the medal selecting means. The distribution means includes a second conveying means located below the medal delivery outlet and a reverse feeding means of the second conveyance means, and the medal is located below the delivery outlet of the second conveying means during normal rotation. Sorting means is arranged, and positive medals sorted by the medal sorting means are supplied to the medal paying means, and false medals are supplied to the medal paying means by the sorting means. A medal processor having a token selecting means, characterized in that the enabling choose not to previously possible or eliminated eliminated.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a medal lending machine having medal sorting means according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the medal sorting unit according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the medal sorting unit according to the first embodiment with a storage bowl removed.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the medal sorting unit of the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the distribution unit according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a medal lending machine 102 as a medal processing device 100.
The medal lending machine 102 includes a medal holding means 104, a medal conveying means 106, a sorting means 107, a medal sorting means 108, a fake medal holding means 110, a medal paying means 112, a value medium receiving means 114, and a controller 116 for these constituting means. Contains.
The medal lending machine 102 has a function of paying out a predetermined number of medals from the medal paying means 112 according to the value medium received by the value medium receiving means 114.

First, the medal holding means 104 will be described.
The medal holding means 104 has a function of holding a large number of medals M in a stacked state.
In this embodiment, the medal holding means 104 is a vertically-oriented cylindrical container, and one or more medal sending means 118 is disposed at the bottom.
The medal sending means 118 sends a predetermined number of medals to the medal transport means 106 in response to a command from the controller 116.
The medal holding means 104 is provided with a full sensor 119 for detecting the full amount of the medal holding means 104 and an empty sensor 120 for detecting empty, and a full signal and an empty signal from these sensors are transmitted to the controller 116.
The full sensor 119 outputs a full signal when the medal hold amount in the medal hold means 104 is piled up near the full amount.
The empty sensor 120 outputs an empty signal when the accumulated amount of medals in the medal holding means 104 reaches an accumulated amount close to empty.

Next, the medal transport means 106 will be described.
The medal transport means 106 has a function of transporting the medals sent out by the medal sending means 118 to the sorting means 107.
In the present embodiment, the medal transport means 106 includes a lateral transport device 122 and a lifter 124.
The horizontal transport device 122 places the medals sent out by the medal sending means 118 and transports them to the lifter 124.
The lifter 124 conveys the received medal M upward and supplies it to the distribution means 107.
In other words, the lifter 124 is a lifting means 125 that transports medals upward.
The lifter 124 is formed, for example, by connecting a bucket to an endless circulation body at a predetermined interval, and when receiving a medal M from the lateral transport device 122, the bucket upper opening is stationary at a position slightly below the lateral transport device 122. After the medal M is received, the next bucket is stepped so that it stops at the same position.
In other words, the lifting means 125 is an intermittent lifting means that intermittently moves.
The lifter 124 supplies the medals lifted from the outlet 127 to the sorting means 107.
In addition to the bucket type, the lifter 124 may be a device that continuously conveys medals while holding them between a pair of belts.

Next, the medal selection means 108 will be described.
The medal sorting means 108 has a function of discriminating the authenticity of the medal M and selecting it as a genuine medal and a fake medal.
The medal selection means 108 acquires the medal diameter, material, thickness, front and back patterns, etc. by a sensor and compares them with a reference value to select a true / false medal.
In the first embodiment, the front or back pattern of the medal M is imaged with a camera and compared with a reference value to determine true / false.

A specific structure of the medal sorting means 108 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The medal sorting means 108 sorts the medals stacked one by one and supplies them to the next process, and the medal image for acquiring the images of the faces of the medals M sorted one by one by the alignment feeding device 132. An acquisition device 120 and a sorting and sorting device 138 are included.

First, the alignment supply device 132 will be described.
The alignment supply device 132 has a function of sorting the medals M in a loose state one by one and sending them to the next imaging step.
Therefore, the alignment supply device 132 can be changed to another device having the same function.
The alignment supply device 132 in the present embodiment has a function of sorting the medals M in a loose state one by one and feeding them to the pushing device 134 in the next stroke. And a delivery device 144 located at the bottom.
The storage bowl 142 as a whole has a vertically-oriented cylindrical shape, the upper part is substantially rectangular, has a receiving opening 146 at the upper end, and a circular hole 148 is formed at the lower end.
The holding bowl 142 has a function of holding a large number of medals M in a stacked state, and is detachably attached to the upper surface of a base 158 described later.

Next, the delivery device 144 will be described.
The feeding device 144 has a function of sorting and feeding the medals M held in the holding bowl 142 one by one.
Therefore, the alignment supply device 132 can be changed to another device having the same function.
The delivery device 144 in this embodiment is a rotating disk 156 having a plurality of through holes 154 having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the medal M.
The rotating disk 156 is disposed in a first circular recess 162 formed on the upper surface of the base 158 below the storage bowl 142, and is driven by an electric motor 164 fixed to the base 158 via the speed reducer 166 and the first rotating shaft 168. In FIG. 2, it is rotated counterclockwise.
The through-hole 154 has a mountain-shaped stirring portion 172 at the center, and is disposed concentrically with the circular hole 148 of the storage bowl 142 in the first circular recess 162 of the storage bowl 142.
The rotating disk 156 has an extrusion protrusion 174 on the back surface of the rib between the through holes 154.
The medal M that has fallen into the through hole 154 is supported by the base surface 176 of the first circular recess 162, and is guided by the peripheral surface 178 of the first circular recess 162, by the extrusion protrusion 174 by the rotation of the through hole 154. It is pushed and moves with the through hole 154.
The moved medal M protrudes from the base surface 176 and is guided in the circumferential direction of the first circular recess 162 by the restriction pins 179 and 180 positioned on the moving path of the medal M.
The medals M guided in the circumferential direction pass through the anti-return device 182 and are sent one by one to the pushing device 134 through the communication path 184.

The return prevention device 182 is disposed adjacent to the first circular recess 162 and has a function of preventing the sent-out medal M from being returned to the sending device 144 side.
Therefore, the return prevention device 182 can be replaced with another device having a similar function, and can be omitted if not necessary.
In the first embodiment, the return prevention device 182 includes a fixed roller 185 and a moving roller 186.
The moving roller 186 is elastically biased so as to approach the fixed roller 185 by a spring (not shown).
In a standby state in which the medal M does not pass, the interval between the fixed roller 185 and the moving roller 186 is held at an interval smaller than the diameter of the medal M.
When the medal M passes, the moving roller 186 is moved by the medal M, and after the diameter portion of the medal M passes, it is elastically returned to the standby state by the spring.
Therefore, when the medal M is returned to the feeding device 144 side, the moving roller 186 must be moved against the elastic force, and thus the return movement is restricted.

Next, the medal image acquisition device 120 will be described.
The medal image acquisition device 120 has a function of acquiring an image of the face of the medal M, and includes a pushing device 134 that pushes the medal, and an imaging device 136 that takes an image of the medal pushed by the pushing device 134. It is out.

Next, the pushing device 134 will be described.
The pushing device 134 has a function of actively pushing the medals M sent one by one from the sending device 144 one by one in a predetermined direction.
Therefore, the pushing device 134 can be changed to another device having a similar function.
In this embodiment, the pushing device 134 includes a pushing body 192 and a guide body 194.
First, the pusher 192 will be described.
The pusher 192 has a function of moving in a predetermined direction at a predetermined speed and forcibly pushing the medals M sent out one by one from the alignment supply device 132 one by one.
In the first embodiment, the pusher 192 is a rotation direction front end of three propeller-like pusher blades 198A, 198B, and 198C formed on the rotor 196.
The rotating body 196 is fixed to the tip of the rotating shaft 202.
The rotary shaft 202 is rotationally driven from the reduction gear 166 of the rotary disk 156 via the transmission device 204 so as to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIGS.
These pushing blades 198A, 198B, and 198C are arranged so as not to be positioned above the upper surface of the medal M.
In the present embodiment, the pushing blades 198A, 198B, and 198C achieve this condition by making the thickness of the medal M thinner.
The reason for this is to prevent light from the light emitting device 224, which will be described later, from being blocked by the pushing blades 198A, 198B, and 198C so that the surface of the medal M is not shaded.
Further, the push blades 198A, 198B, and 198C are effectively colored in matte black or manufactured with a matte black material in order to prevent reflection of light.

Next, the guide body 194 will be described.
The guide body 194 has a function of guiding the medal M pushed by the push body 192 in a predetermined direction.
Therefore, it can be changed to another device having the same function.
In the first embodiment, the guide body 194 is a partial peripheral surface 208 of the pusher circular concave portion 206 having a substantially circular concave shape.
The pusher bottom surface 212 of the pusher circular recess 206 is formed flush with the base surface 176 of the first circular recess 162 and is connected via the communication path 184.
The rotating body 196 is disposed concentrically with the pusher circular recess 206 and is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIGS.
As a result, the medal M that has passed through the return prevention device 182 is immediately pushed by the pusher 192 and is turned about 90 degrees while being guided by the arc-shaped peripheral surface 208 of the guide 194 while sliding on the pusher bottom surface 212. After that, it is sent out from the outlet 214.
A path along which the medal M is moved by being pushed by the pusher 192 is an imaging path 216, and the imaging device 136 is arranged facing the imaging path 216.
The peripheral surface 208 and the pusher bottom surface 212 are preferably colored with matte black or made of matte black material.
This is to reduce the influence of the light emitting device 224 on the imaging.

Next, the imaging device 136 will be described.
The imaging device 136 has a function of capturing an image of the medal M moving on the imaging path 216 and acquiring image information.
Therefore, the imaging device 136 can be changed to another device having the same function.
In the present embodiment, the imaging device 136 is fixed to a bracket 218 fixed to the base 158 so that the position can be adjusted, and is arranged so as to image the upper surface of the medal M that slides on the bottom surface 212 of the pusher.
However, the imaging device 136 can also be arranged to image the lower surface of the medal M.
The imaging device 136 includes at least a camera 222 and a light emitting device 224.

Next, the camera 222 will be described.
The camera 222 has a function of capturing an image of the face of the medal M facing and acquiring image information of a pattern on the face.
In this embodiment, the camera 222 is, for example, a CCD camera, and there are a method using a shutter and a method not using a shutter, but any method can be used as long as a medal M moving at high speed can be imaged.

Next, the light emitting device 224 will be described.
The light emitting device 224 has a function of projecting light intensively on the medal M.
Since the light-emitting device 224 images a large number of medals M that move at high speed, it is required to have high luminance and high durability. For example, it is preferable that the light-emitting device 224 is configured such that a large number of white LEDs face the medals M.

Next, the timing sensor 230 of the imaging device 136 will be described.
The timing sensor 230 has a function of outputting a timing signal for setting at least the imaging timing of the camera 222 and the light emission timing of the light emitting device 224 in conjunction with the moving medal M.
Therefore, the timing sensor 230 can be changed to another device having a similar function.
In this embodiment, the timing sensor 230 outputs a timing signal by indirectly detecting the position of the pusher 192, but directly detects the position of the pusher 192, for example, the pusher blades 198A, 198B, 198C. The timing signal may be output by directly detecting the position of.
The timing sensor 230 of the present embodiment includes three action pieces 232, 234, 236 fixed to the rotary shaft 202 in the base 158 corresponding to the pushing blades 198A, 198B, 198C, and a sensor 238 for detecting these action pieces. Contains.
The sensor 238 is disposed relative to the rotation path of the action pieces 232, 234, and 236 and is fixed to the base 158.
The sensor 238 is, for example, a transmissive photoelectric sensor including a projector and a light receiver, and outputs a timing signal TS when light from the projector is blocked by the tips of the action pieces 232, 234, and 236.
The position where the sensor 238 is disposed is a position immediately before a position suitable for imaging the surface of the medal M by the imaging device 136.
The light from the projector of the sensor 238 is blocked by one of the action pieces 232, 234, 236 at the position, and the sensor 238 outputs a timing signal TS by this blocking.
The light emitting device 224 emits light after the timing signal TS is delayed by a predetermined time by an adjusting unit 240 described later.
This light emission timing is a timing suitable for imaging the entire surface of the medal M pushed by the pusher 192.
Note that the timing sensor 230 preferably has a high resolution so that the light emission of the light emitting device 224 can be finely adjusted.
The camera 222 performs an imaging process in synchronization with the light emission of the light emitting device 224.

Next, the image information discriminating device 242 will be described with reference to FIG.
The determination device 242 has a function of converting an image captured by the image capturing device 136 into digital image information and comparing the image information with reference image information to determine whether the image is a genuine medal or a fake medal.
Therefore, the discriminating device 242 can be changed to other means having the same function.
In the first embodiment, the determination device 242 includes an image information unit 244 that converts an image acquired from the imaging device 136 into image information, image information from the image information unit 244, and reference image information stored in the reference image information unit 246. A comparator 248 to be compared and a discriminator 250 for determining whether the medal M is true or false based on the signal from the comparator 248 and outputting a genuine medal signal or a fake medal signal are included.

Next, the sorting and sorting apparatus 138 will be described.
The sorting and sorting device 138 has a function of sorting the medal M sent from the outlet 214 of the medal image acquisition device 120 into a genuine medal and a fake medal based on the discrimination result of the discriminator 250.
The sorting / sorting device 138 is disposed adjacent to the outlet 214, is fixed to the base 158, and includes a rectangular box-shaped frame 254, a deflecting body 256, and an actuator 258.

Next, the frame 254 will be described.
The frame 254 defines a passage for the medal M and has components attached thereto.
The frame 254 forms a right angle to the distribution passage 260 formed on the extension of the outlet 214, the genuine medal outlet 262 formed at the end of the distribution passage 260, and the distribution passage 260, and downward. A false medal passage 264 that extends and a false medal exit 266 at the lower end of the false medal passage 264 are provided.

Next, the deflecting body 256 will be described.
The deflecting body 256 has a function of distributing the medal M sent out from the outlet 214 to the genuine medal outlet 262 or the fake medal passage 264.
Therefore, the deflecting body 256 can be changed to another device having a similar function.
In this embodiment, the deflecting body 256 is plate-shaped and is disposed in the distribution passage 260, and is fixed to a swing shaft 268 whose end on the genuine medal outlet 262 side is pivotally supported by the frame 254. Has been.
The output shaft of the actuator 258 is fixed to the end of the swing shaft 268 that protrudes outward from the frame 254.

The swing shaft 268 is disposed below the tip of the deflecting body 256 so that the upper surface of the deflecting body 256 has substantially the same inclination as the inclined surface 270 connected to the moving body bottom surface 212 immediately before the outlet 214.
That is, the inclined surface 270 immediately before the outlet 214 is formed to be inclined downward toward the outlet 214 with respect to the horizontal plane including the pusher bottom surface 212 of the imaging path 216.
The upper surface of the deflecting body 256 is disposed so as to be located on the extension of the downward inclined surface 270.
Normally, the tip of the deflecting body 256 is disposed on the extended line of the inclined surface 270 or slightly downward from the extended line, and in this specification, including both of these states, expressing.
This flush position is the standby position SP of the deflecting body 256.

The medal M sent out at a high speed toward the exit 214 by the pusher 192 is guided to the pusher bottom surface 212 by the inertial force and travels substantially horizontally.
Therefore, the medal M advances to the sorting passage 260 without being guided by the inclined surface 270.
Since the tip of the deflecting body 256 is disposed on the extended line of the inclined surface 270 or slightly below, it does not collide with the medal M that moves at high speed.
Therefore, damage to the tip of the deflecting body 256 due to the collision of the genuine medal M can be prevented.
The deflecting body 256 can move to the deflecting position DP indicated by a broken line by the counterclockwise rotation of the swing shaft 268 in FIG.
When the deflecting body 256 is positioned at the deflecting position DP, the medal M protrudes obliquely into the distribution passage 260 where the medal M moves, and the medal M collides with the deflecting body 256 and is turned downward, so that the fake medal passage 264 Guided.
Note that the distribution of genuine medals and fake medals can be reversed from the above description.
In other words, the genuine medal exit 262 can be a false medal exit, and the false medal exit 266 can be a genuine medal exit.

Next, the actuator 258 will be described.
The actuator 258 is a rotary solenoid 272, for example, and is fixed to the frame 254.
When the rotary solenoid 272 is not excited, the rotary solenoid 272 is rotated by a built-in spring and holds the deflecting body 256 at the standby position SP via the swing shaft 268.
When the rotary solenoid 272 is excited, the deflecting body 256 is moved to the deflecting position DP.
The rotary solenoid 272 is excited by the distribution controller 244 based on the false medal signal from the discriminator 250 and the timing signal TS from the timing sensor 230, and moves the deflecting body 256 to the deflecting position DP. The magnet is demagnetized after a predetermined time, and the deflector 256 is returned to the standby position SP.
When the false medal signal continues, it is preferable that the rotary solenoid 272 is not demagnetized and the deflected position 256 is continued to the deflected body 256.
This is in order to prevent a problem due to a shift in the movement timing of the deflector 256 due to repeated deenergization.

Next, the fake medal holding means 110 will be described.
The fake medal holding means 110 has a function of holding the fake medals selected by the medal sorting means 108.
Therefore, a container, a bag, or the like built in the medal lending machine 102 can be used.
Note that the false medals selected by the medal sorting unit 108 can be returned to the medal holding unit 104, the medal transport unit 106, the distribution unit 107, or the lateral transport device 122 without arranging the false medal holding unit 110.
In this case, it is possible to re-select medals selected as fake medals in spite of genuine medals and pay them out as genuine medals.

Next, the medal payout means 112 will be described.
The medal payout means 112 has a function of paying out a predetermined number of medals M based on an instruction from the controller 116.
In the first embodiment, the medal payout means 112 includes a medal sub-hold device 282 and a medal payout device 284.

First, the medal sub-holding device 282 will be described.
The medal sub-holding device 282 has a function of holding the genuine medals M from the medal sorting means 108 in a stacked state, and is, for example, a cylindrical body disposed above the medal payout device 284.
The medal sub-holding device 282 is provided with a full sensor 286 and an empty sensor 288.
The full sensor 286 outputs a full signal when the medal holding amount of the medal sub-holding device 282 is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount close to full.
The empty sensor 288 outputs an empty signal when the holding amount of the medal sub-holding device 282 becomes a predetermined amount close to empty.

Next, the medal payout device 284 will be described.
The medal payout device 284 has a function of paying out genuine medals M held in the medal sub-holding device 282 one by one.
As the medal payout device 284, for example, a so-called coin hopper that is detected by the sensor 290 each time the medal M is paid out one by one can be used.
The medal lending machine 102 includes display means 165 such as a liquid crystal device as a human interface.

Next, the distribution means 107 will be described with reference to FIG.
The distribution means 107 has a function of selectively distributing the medals M received from the medal transport means 106 to the medal selection means 108 or the medal payout means 112.
The distribution means 107 includes a movable guide plate 292 and its driving means 294 as shown in FIG.
The movable guide plate 292 is swingable about the support shaft 296 as a fulcrum. When the movable guide plate 292 is rotated counterclockwise as shown by the solid line, the movable guide plate 292 closes the first passage 298 to the medal sub-holding device 282 side and The medal M is guided to the second passage 299 to the 108 holding bowl 142.
When the movable guide plate 292 is rotated clockwise, the second passage 299 to the medal sorting means 108 side is closed, and the medal M is guided to the medal sub-holding device 282 side.

Next, the driving means 294 will be described.
The driving means 294 has a function of selectively rotating the movable guide plate 292 clockwise or counterclockwise in FIG.
The driving means 294 is, for example, a rotary solenoid, and is selectively driven by the controller 116.

Next, the movable plate position detecting device 297 of the movable guide plate 292 will be described.
The movable plate detection device 297 has a function of detecting whether the movable guide plate 292 is in a position where the medal M is guided to the first passage 298 or in a position where the medal is guided to the second passage 299.
When the movable guide plate 292 is in the first position for guiding the medal to the first passage 298 (the position indicated by the chain line in FIG. 7), the movable plate detection device 297 detects the movable guide plate 292 and outputs a detection signal. When the movable guide plate 292 is in the second position for guiding the medal to the first sensor 297A and the second passage 299 (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 7), the second is detected and the detection signal is output. Includes sensor 297B.
The first sensor 297A and the second sensor 297B are, for example, reflective photoelectric sensors.

Next, the value medium receiving means 114 will be described.
The value medium receiving means 114 has a function of discriminating the authenticity and denomination of the accepted money and outputting it to the controller 116, storing the genuine money inside, and returning the false money.
The value medium receiving means 114 is, for example, a bill identifying device and / or a coin sorting device.

Next, the controller 116 will be described.
The controller 116 receives signals from the sensors 119, 120, 286, 290 and the movable plate detector 297, and based on the program stored in the built-in ROM, the lifter 124, the driving means 294 of the sorting means 107, the medal sorting means 108, It has a function of controlling the medal payout device 284, the medal sending means 118, the lateral transport device 122, the value medium receiving means 114, and the display means 165.
The controller 116 is, for example, a microcomputer.

Next, the operation of the medal lending machine 102 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, a case where the medal sorting means 108 is in an operating state will be described.
That is, after the movable guide plate 292 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 7 by the driving means 294 and held at the position indicated by the solid line, and the medal M dropped from the outlet 127 is guided to the second guide passage 299, It is supplied to the holding bowl 142 of the medal sorting means 108.

First, in step ST1, it is determined whether or not the holding amount of the medal holding means 104 is empty.
That is, when the empty signal is output from the empty sensor 120, the medal holding amount of the medal holding means 104 is empty, and the process proceeds to step ST2.

In step ST2, a display for prompting replenishment of medals is displayed on the display means 165, and the process returns to step ST1.
The operator sees the display on the display means 165 and replenishes the medal holding means 104 until at least the empty sensor 120 does not output an empty signal.
If there is no empty signal from the empty sensor 120 in step ST1, the process proceeds to step ST3.

In step ST3, when the full signal is received from the full sensor 286 of the medal sub-holding means 282, the process returns to step ST1.
This is to prevent the medal sub-holding device 282 from overflowing by supplying the medal sub-holding means 282 with the medal M further.
If a full signal has not been received from the full sensor 286 in step ST3, the process proceeds to step ST4.
In other words, when the medal M in the medal sub-holding device 282 is not full, the medal M is supplied from the medal holding means 104 to the medal sub-holding device 282.

  In step ST4, the medal sending means 118 is operated, and after a predetermined number of medals M are sent to the lateral transport device 122, the process proceeds to step ST5.

In step ST5, the lateral transport device 122 is operated for a predetermined time, and the sent-out medal M is sent to the lifter 124. Then, the process proceeds to step ST6.
In the lifter 124, for example, buckets (not shown) are continuously arranged at a predetermined interval, so that all the medals M on the lateral transport device 122 are sent into the bucket.

In step ST6, the lifter 124 is actuated for a predetermined time, the next bucket is moved to a position for receiving medals from the lateral transport device 122, stops, and then proceeds to step ST7.
As a result, one of the buckets arranged in a row is rolled, and the medal M in the bucket is dropped from the delivery port 127 and is guided to the second passage 299 by the movable guide plate 292 to be stored in the holding bowl 142 of the medal sorting means 108. To be supplied.

In step ST7, the first sensor 297A does not output the detection signal, and the second sensor 297B outputs the detection signal of the movable guide plate 292, so the process proceeds to step ST8.

In step ST8, the medal selection means 108 is activated for a predetermined time, and the process proceeds to step ST9.
This predetermined time is sufficient for processing the number of medals supplied from the bucket of the lifter 124.
When the medal sorting means 108 is activated, the electric motor 164 is actuated and the imaging device 136 is also set in a standby state.
The first rotating shaft 168 is rotated by the rotation of the electric motor 164 via the speed reducer 166, whereby the rotating disk 156 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG.
At the same time, the second rotating shaft 202 and thus the rotating body 196 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG.

Due to the rotation of the rotating disk 156, the medal M in the storage bowl 142 is agitated by the agitating unit 172 and the like, and the medal M falls into the through hole 154.
The dropped medal M is pushed by the pushing protrusion 174 while rotating the counter disk 156 in the counterclockwise direction while the lower surface is guided by the base surface 176 and the circumferential surface is guided by the inner circumferential surface 178 of the first circular recess 162.

In this rotation process, the medal M is guided in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk 156 by the restriction pins 179 and 180.
The medal M guided in the circumferential direction moves the moving roller 186 and passes through the return prevention device 182.
The medal M that has passed through the return prevention device 182 passes through the communication path 184 and reaches the rotation path 212 of the pushing blades 198A, 198B, and 198C.
The medal M that has reached the rotation path 212 is immediately pushed by the pusher 192 that is the front end of any of the pusher blades 198A, 198B, and 198C, and is guided by the peripheral surface 208 of the pusher circular recess 206. The arcuate imaging path 216 is moved.

In this movement process, one of the action pieces 232, 234, and 236 that rotate together with the pusher 192 immediately before the medal M reaches the imaging position of the imaging device 136 blocks the light of the sensor 238. Outputs timing signal TS.
This timing signal TS outputs a light emission signal to the light emitting device 224 of the imaging device 136 with a slight delay of a predetermined time adjusted by the adjusting means 240, and outputs an imaging signal to the camera 222.

Thereby, when the medal M reaches the imaging position of the camera 222, the light emitting device 224 emits light, and the medal M is instantaneously irradiated with intense light, and the camera 222 performs an imaging process.
The image acquired by the camera 222 is converted into predetermined image information by the image information unit 244 and output to the comparator 248.
This image information is compared in a comparator 248 with reference image information representing a genuine medal from the reference image information device 246.
The output of the comparator 248 is discriminated in the discriminator 250, and the discriminator 250 outputs a genuine medal signal or a fake medal signal.

As described above, the medal M is detected by the timing sensor 230 that indirectly or directly detects the position of the pusher 192 while the medal M is actively pushed by the pusher 192. The light emitting device 224 is caused to emit light based on the timing signal TS, and the camera 222 performs imaging processing.
Therefore, since there is no deviation between the position of the medal M, the light emission timing of the light emitting device 224, and the imaging processing of the camera 222, it is possible to reliably capture an image for each medal M.
The medal M that has passed through the imaging device 136 is turned about 90 degrees in the arcuate path of the imaging path 216, and then sent out from the outlet 214.

Note that the pusher 192 can be formed in a linear motion body without being formed in the rotary body 196.
However, by forming the rotating body 196, other devices can be arranged around the imaging path 216, so that there is an advantage that the entire device can be reduced in size.

When the discrimination signal of the discriminator 250 is a genuine medal signal, the rotary solenoid 272 is not excited and is held at the standby position SP indicated by the solid line in FIG.
Since the medal M pushed by the pusher 192 is high-speed, the medal M is guided to the pusher bottom face 212 and proceeds to the distribution path 260 from the outlet 214 in a substantially horizontal state, jumps out from the genuine medal outlet 262, Guided by the holding device 282 and put on hold.

When the false medal signal is output from the discriminator 250, the rotary solenoid 272 is excited based on the timing signal TS from the timing sensor 230, and the deviation shown by the broken line in FIG. 5 before the false medal reaches the distribution path 260. The deflecting body 256 is moved to the set position DP.
As a result, the false medal collides with the lower surface of the deflecting body 256 and is bent downward, and is held in the false medal holding means 110 through the false medal passage 264 and the false medal exit 266.
When the next medal M is a genuine medal, the rotary solenoid 272 is demagnetized after a predetermined time and is returned by the built-in spring and returned to the standby position SP indicated by a solid line in FIG.
Accordingly, the genuine medal jumps out from the genuine medal exit 262 without colliding with the deflecting body 256 and is then held by the medal sub-holding device 282.

If the second sensor 297B does not output the detection signal and the first sensor 297A outputs the detection signal in step ST7, the process proceeds to step ST9.
In other words, since the movable guide plate 292 is in a position for guiding the medal M to the first passage 298, the medal M is not supplied to the medal sorting means 108, and it is not necessary to operate the medal sorting means 108.

  In step ST9, it is determined whether the empty sensor 288 outputs an empty signal. If not, the process proceeds to step ST10.

  In step ST10, the speeds of the lateral transport device 122 and the lifter 124 are set to the standard speed, and then the process returns to step ST1.

If the empty sensor 288 is outputting an empty signal in step ST9, the process proceeds to step ST11.
In step ST11, the speeds of the lateral transport device 122 and the lifter 124 are set to increase, and then the process returns to step ST1.
As a result, the transport speed of the medal transport means 106 can be increased, the medal supply amount per unit time to the medal payout means 112 can be increased, and the replenishment of medals can be performed quickly.

Next, the case where the distribution means 107 is switched to supply the medal M to the medal sub-holding device 282 side will be described.
In other words, the movable guide plate 292 is rotated clockwise by the driving means 294 and held at a position for guiding the medal M toward the first passage 298 (a position indicated by a chain line in FIG. 7).
In this case, the medal M supplied from the outlet 127 of the lifter 124 is guided by the movable guide plate 292, guided to the first passage 298, and supplied to the medal sub-holding device 282.
In other words, when the movable guide plate 292 is at the position indicated by the chain line, the medal M supplied from the lifter 124 is supplied to the medal sub-holding device 282 without passing through the medal sorting means 108.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the medal selection is performed independently of the medal counting or the like, the medal selection can be performed at a relatively low speed.
Further, even if a fake medal is mixed in the medal M held in the medal holding means 104, the medal sorting means 108 supplies the medal M to the medal sorting means 108, so Since medals are selected and only genuine medals are supplied to the medal payout means 112, there is an advantage that only genuine medals can be paid out to customers.
Furthermore, since the distribution means 107 can be switched to directly supply the medal payout means 112, the medal M can be paid out even if the medal selection means 108 fails.

Next, the operation at the time of lending medal M will be described.
When a customer inserts a value medium into the value medium receiving means 114, the value amount of the received medium is displayed on the display means 165, and the number of lent medals is displayed.
The customer inputs the number within the number of medals that can be lent from the keyboard or the like.
For example, if the lentable number is 1000, 500 is entered.
When the controller 116 receives 500 loaned numbers, it outputs a payout instruction signal for 500 medals M to the medal payout means 112, and thus to the medal payout device 284.
As a result, the medal payout device 284 is activated, pays out the medals M in the medal sub-holding means 282 one by one to a predetermined position, and stops when the signal from the sensor 290 reaches 500.
Therefore, when the medal M is distributed to the medal sorting unit 108 by the distribution unit 107, only the genuine medal M is held in the medal sub-holding device 282, so only the genuine medal M is paid out to the customer. .
In the case where the medal M is not supplied to the medal sorting unit 108 by the distribution unit 107, there is a possibility that genuine and false medals may be mixed in the medal sub-holding device 282. This is the same as the conventional case.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having medal sorting means according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a front view of the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal sorting means according to the second embodiment in a state where the upper and lower doors are opened.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the lifter portion of the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal sorting means of the second embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the second transport unit, medal holding device, and medal sorting unit of the second embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the second transport unit, medal holding device, and medal sorting unit of the second embodiment.
14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG.
FIG. 15 is a side view of the second conveying means.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of gate means according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a display guide for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

The second embodiment is an example in which the medal sorting means 108 is used in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 300 as the medal processing apparatus 100.
The medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 300 according to the second embodiment includes an outline, a housing 302, a medal depositing means 304, a human interface means 306, an authentication means 308, a medal holding means 312, a conveying means 314, a medal sorting means 316, and a medal payout means 318. , Medal receiving means 320, sorting means 321, and control device 324.
The medal deposit / withdrawal device 300 may include at least the medal depositing means 304, the human interface means 306, the medal holding means 312, the transport means 314, the medal sorting means 316, and the medal payout means 318.

First, the housing 302 will be described.
The housing 302 has a box shape and can be opened and closed by a front upper door 322 and a front lower door 324.
The front upper door 322 is attached to the housing 302 so as to be pivotable by a hinge disposed at the upper end of the housing 302.
The front lower door 324 is attached to the housing 302 so as to be pivotable by a hinge arranged at the left end of the housing 302.

Next, the human interface means 306 will be described.
The human interface means 306 is a display 326 with a touch panel attached to the front upper door 322.

The display 326 with a touch panel will be described.
The display 326 with a touch panel also serves as a guide display device for the customer of the medal deposit / withdrawal device 300 and an input device by the customer.
Accordingly, the guide display device and the input device can be provided separately.
Of course, not only the customer but also the setting and management function for managing the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 300 and the setting and confirmation function for maintenance, etc. can be shared.

Next, the medal depositing means 304 will be described.
The medal depositing unit 304 has a function of receiving a medal deposited by the customer and performing a predetermined process.
The predetermined process is a process of accepting at least a medal deposited by the customer.
In this embodiment, the medal depositing means 304 includes a medal deposit entrance 328 and a medal counter 332.
Therefore, the medal depositing means 304 has a function of receiving a medal inserted by the customer into the medal depositing entrance 328 and counting the received medal at a high speed by the medal counter 332.

Next, the medal deposit door 328 will be described.
The medal depositing entrance 328 has a function of accepting a medal to be deposited by a customer and guiding it to the medal counting machine 332.
The medal depositing entrance 328 is at the center of the front surface of the medal depositing / dispensing device 300 and opens substantially horizontally on the front-declining slope 334 near the average waist height position of the customer.

Next, the medal counting machine 332 will be described.
The medal counter 332 is disposed in the housing 302 and has a function of receiving medals inserted into the medal deposit entrance 328, counting the number thereof at high speed, and outputting the count value to the control device 324 as a digital signal.
The medal counter 332 preferably has a processing capacity of about 2000 or more per minute.
Further, the medal counter 332 preferably has a function for excluding medals that are out of specification in diameter, thickness, and material, but it is only necessary to have a function for excluding medals out of specification in diameter and thickness. .

Next, the authentication unit 308 will be described.
The authentication means 308 has a function for confirming that the customer who deposits or pays out medals in the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 300 is the person himself / herself.
The authentication means 308 uses palm vein authentication means in this embodiment.
However, the authentication means 308 can employ various systems for identity verification such as fingerprints, palm prints, eyes, and face authentication.

Next, the container supply means 342 will be described.
The container supply means 342 has a function of automatically supplying a container CUP into which the medal M paid out from the medal payout device 374 is inserted.
The container supply means 342 includes a container insertion port 344, a container automatic supply device 346, a container holding device 348, and a container holding device 350.

First, the container inlet 344 will be described.
The container insertion port 344 is an upper end of a cylindrical guide 352 that is juxtaposed adjacent to the medal depositing entrance 328 and fixed to the front-falling slope 334.
The container insertion port 344 is slightly larger than the maximum diameter over the entire length of the container CUP to be used, and is the upper end of a tapered guide hole that narrows downward from above.
Below the cylindrical guide 352, a container storage device 348 and an automatic container supply device 346 are vertically stacked.

Next, the automatic container supply device 346 will be described.
The automatic container supply device 346 has a function of automatically supplying one bucket-type medal storage container CUP for storing medals one by one to the container holding device 350 based on the supply signal.
The automatic container feeder 346 sorts the lowest container CUP out of the containers CUP loaded from the container loading port 344 and stacked on the container holding device 348 and drops it to the container holding device 350.
The container CUP dropped by the automatic container supply device 346 falls freely and is held by a holding device (not shown) attached to the container holding device 350.

Next, the container holding device 350 will be described.
The container holding device 350 has a function of holding the container CUP supplied by the automatic container supply device 346 in a predetermined position.
In the container holding device 350, the container CUP dropped from the automatic container supply device 346 is held at a predetermined position by the holding device, and the medal paid out from the medal payout device 374 as the medal payout means 318 is changed by the medal chute 356. To be supplied to the container CUP.
In the second embodiment, the medal chute 356 has the first medal chute 356A and the second medal chute 356B arranged on the left and right of the container holding device 350 corresponding to the outlets 380A and 380B of the two medal payout devices 374. .
The container CUP from which a predetermined number of medals have been paid out is taken out from the container outlet 354 of the lower front door 324.

Next, the medal holding means 312 will be described.
The medal holding means 312 has a function of holding a medal dropped from the exit of the medal counter 332 and paying out a predetermined number of held medals according to an instruction from the control device 324.
The medal holding means 312 includes a cylindrical holding device 362 and a holding portion payout device 364.
When the full signal from the full sensor 375 of the medal payout means 318 is not output, the holding portion payout device 364 receives a payout command from the control device 324, and a predetermined number of, for example, 20 medals are placed on the lateral transport device 366 at a predetermined timing. Pay out.
The holding device 362 includes a full sensor 358 and an empty sensor 367.
The full sensor 358 detects a holding amount in which the holding medal amount in the holding device 362 is slightly smaller than the full amount, and outputs a full signal to the control device 324.
The empty sensor 367 detects a holding amount in which the holding medal amount in the holding device 362 is slightly larger than empty, and outputs an empty signal to the control device 324.

Next, the conveying means 314 will be described.
The transport unit 314 has a function of transporting the medals sent from the medal holding unit 312 to the distribution unit 321.
In this embodiment, the transport means 314 includes a lateral transport device 366 and a lifter 368.

First, the lateral transfer device 366 will be described.
The lateral transport device 366 has a function of delivering medals paid out from the holding portion payout device 364 to the lifter 368.
The lateral transport device 366 is, for example, a belt that is disposed substantially horizontally, and is activated together with the medal payout of the holding unit payout device 364, and is stopped after a sufficient amount of time to pass the medal paid out to the lifter 368. The
The lifter 368 is then stepped so that the next bucket 370 moves to the receiving position.
Next, a predetermined number of medals are again paid out from the payout device 364, the lateral transport device 366 is operated for a predetermined time, and the medals paid out to the lifter 368 are delivered.
The lateral transfer device 366 is attached to and integrated with the side wall of the medal holding means 312.

Next, the lifter 368 will be described.
The lifter 368 has a function of transporting medals received from the lateral transport device 366 to the upper sorting means 321.
In the second embodiment, buckets 370 are arranged at predetermined intervals, and medals dropped from the lateral transport device 366 are received by the bucket 370, and then the next bucket 370 reaches a receiving position from the lateral transport device 366. Move up and stop.
When the bucket 370 reaches a predetermined position directly above the distribution means 321, the bucket 370 is tilted downward, and the medal M in the bucket 370 is slid down from the delivery port 371 to the distribution means 321.
Since the lifter 368 conveys the medal M upward, it is a lifting means.

Next, the medal selection means 316 will be described.
The medal sorting means 316 has a function of discriminating the authenticity of the medals and selecting them as genuine medals and fake medals.
In the second embodiment, the medal sorting means similar to that in the first embodiment is adopted, so that the detailed description is omitted.
The fake medal sent from the fake medal exit 266 is put on hold in the fake medal hold box 373 arranged just below the fake medal exit 266.
The genuine medal outlet 262 is assigned to a genuine medal receiving opening 379 on the side wall of the upper end portion of a payout medal holding device 372, which will be described later.
As a result, the genuine medals selected by the medal sorting means 316 are supplied to the payout medal holding device 372 through the genuine medal receiving opening 379.

Next, the fake medal holding box 373 will be described.
The fake medal holding box 373 has a function of holding the fake medal supplied from the fake medal exit 266.
In the second embodiment, the fake medal holding box 373 is a rectangular box whose upper surface is open, and is arranged directly below the medal sorting means 316 so that it can be drawn from below.
When the fake medal holding box 373 is positioned directly below the medal sorting means 316, the fake medal exit 266 is opposed to the upper surface of the fake medal holding box 373, so that the fake medal is directly held in the fake medal holding box 373. The

Next, the medal payout means 318 will be described.
The medal payout means 318 holds the genuine medal received from the medal sorting means 316 and the medal M received from the distribution means 321 and pays out the predetermined number of medals based on a command from the control device 324. It has a function.
The medal payout means 318 includes a payout medal holding device 372 and a medal payout device 374.

First, the payout medal holding device 372 will be described.
The payout medal holding device 372 holds the genuine medals received from the medal sorting means 316 or the sorting means 321 in a stacked state.
Specifically, the horizontal cross section has a rectangular cylindrical shape, and the lower part thereof is connected to the upper end of the medal payout device 374.
A light transmission type full sensor 375 is attached to a predetermined position on the side wall of the payout medal holding device 372.
In the second embodiment, two full sensors 375 are mounted and function as full sensors in the selected medal sorting mode or non-sorting mode, respectively.
In the medal sorting mode in which the medal M supplied from the lifter 368 passes through the medal sorting means 316, the sorting full sensor 375U functions as a full sensor.
The sorting full sensor 375U is attached to the side wall of the upper end portion of the payout medal holding device 372, detects medals piled up to the same extent as the genuine medal receiving opening 379, and transmits a full signal to the control device 324.
In the non-sorting mode that does not go through the medal sorting means 316, the non-sorting full sensor 376B functions as a full sensor.
The unsorted full sensor 375B is located immediately below a bypass port 438 of the distribution means 321 described later, and prevents the medal M in the payout medal holding device 372 from reaching the bypass port 438 in the non-sort mode.
Until the full signal is output from the sorting full sensor 375U or the non-sorting full sensor 376B, the stepping movements of the holding unit payout device 364, the lateral transfer device 366, and the lifter 368 are repeated at a predetermined timing, and the payout medal holding device 372 is placed. A fixed amount of medals are put on hold.

  The full sensor 375 can use only the non-selection full sensor 375B. However, when the medal holding amount in the medal selection mode decreases and the medal payout concentrates, the shortage of medals is likely to occur. It is preferable to provide it.

Next, the empty sensor 377 will be described.
The empty sensor 377 has a function of detecting that the held medal in the payout medal holding device 372 is empty.
The empty sensor 377 is, for example, a transmissive photoelectric sensor attached to the lower side wall of the payout medal holding device 372. When the light receiver does not receive transmitted light, it is non-empty, and the light receiver receives the transmitted light. If so, an empty signal is output to the controller 324.
In the second embodiment, the empty sensor 377 includes two sensors, a first empty sensor 377A and a second empty sensor 377B, and when one of them outputs an empty signal, the lateral conveyance device 366 and the lifter 368 The transport speed is increased to a predetermined speed, and the transport amount of medals M per predetermined time is increased.
The first empty sensor 377A is disposed above a first coin hopper described later, and the second empty sensor 377B is disposed above the second coin hopper.
Although there may be only one empty sensor, the medal M generates a dome-shaped bulkhead by supporting each other and the bridge phenomenon in which the lower part of the bulkhead is hollowed out rarely. Also, it is preferable to use an empty sensor above each coin hopper.

Next, the medal payout device 374 will be described.
The medal payout device 374 classifies medals held in the payout medal holding device 372 one by one, and pays them out to the medal chute 356 while counting.
The medal guided by the medal chute 376 is supplied to the container CUP located in the container holding device 350.
The medal payout device 374 is stopped when a predetermined number of medals are paid out.
As the medal payout device 374, for example, a so-called coin hopper disclosed in Utility Model Registration No. 2538531 is used.
In the second embodiment, the medal payout device 374 has two first coin hoppers 374A and second coin hoppers 374B having the same configuration arranged in parallel under the payout medal holding device 372.
These coin hoppers pay out medals one by one to the outlets 380A and 380B by holding tanks 378A and 378B and a rotating body (not shown) arranged in the circular bottom holes of the holding tanks.
The medal M thrown out from the outlet 380A is paid out to the container CUP located in the container holding device 350 through the first medal chute 356A.
The medal M thrown out from the outlet 380B is paid out to the container CUP located in the container holding device 350 through the second medal chute 356B.
The first coin hopper 374A and the second coin hopper 374B have payout sensors 382A and 382B that output a detection signal each time the medal M is paid out.

Next, the distribution means 321 will be described.
The distribution unit 321 has a function of selectively distributing medals supplied from the lifter 368 to the medal selection unit 316 or the payout medal holding device 372.
The distribution unit 321 according to the second embodiment includes a second transport unit 392, a reverse feed unit 394, and a gate unit 396.

First, the second transport unit 392 will be described.
The second transport unit 392 has a function of transporting the medal M supplied from the delivery port 371 of the lifter 368 to the medal sorting unit 316 or the payout medal holding device 372.
The second transport means 392 includes an endless transport body 402 stretched between the first roller 398 and the second roller 400 and a motor 404 with a speed reducer that drives the transport body 402 to rotate forward and reverse.
The transport body 402 is a rubber endless belt 406 having a width about three times the medal diameter, and the second roller 400 disposed in the payout medal holding device 372 and the medal M holding bowl 142 of the medal sorting means 316. It is stretched between the first roller 398 disposed inside.
More specifically, since the first roller 398 is positioned higher than the second roller 400, the endless belt 406 is below the delivery port 371 of the lifter 368 in a direction orthogonal to the advancing direction of the lifter 368 in plan view. It tilts upward from the payout medal holding device 372 side toward the medal sorting means 316 side.

Further, the left guide wall 408 and the right guide wall 412 are closely arranged on both sides of the endless belt 406 at least on the upper surface side, and the medal M on the endless belt 406 moves toward the medal sorting means 316 side of the endless belt 406. Is conveyed toward the medal sorting means 316.
The second roller 400 is located directly below the left end of the outlet 371 of the lifter 368.
The upper surface of the right endless belt 406 in FIG. 14 outside the delivery port 371 is covered with a cover 414.
Thereby, when the endless belt 406 conveys the medal M toward the medal sorting means 316, the medal M on the endless belt 406 falls from the end on the first roller 398 side into the holding bowl 142 of the medal sorting means 316. To do.

The medal M dropped from the delivery port 371 falls on the endless belt 406, and the endless belt 406 is inclined, so that it bounces back toward the lower side of the inclination and is prevented from moving by a shutter plate 414 and the like which will be described later. It is piled up and held on the lowermost part of the belt 406.
Then, the medals M that can be conveyed according to the width of the endless belt 406 are sequentially conveyed.
As described above, since the medals M corresponding to the width of the endless belt 406 are sequentially conveyed upward, there is an advantage that the medals M are not conveyed to the medal sorting means 316 at a stretch.

In the second embodiment, the medal sorting means 316 is fixedly disposed above the payout medal holding device 372.
The upper end portion of the second conveying means 392 is placed in the notched recess 416 of the side wall of the storage bowl 142 so that the end of the endless belt 406 is positioned above the inclined bottom wall 418 of the storage bowl 142. Has been.
Thereby, a part of the medals M falling from the end of the endless belt 406 falls on the inclined bottom wall 418 of the holding bowl 142, and a part falls on the rotating disk 148.
As a result, a temporary decrease in the rotational speed of the rotating disk 148 due to a large amount of medals M falling on the rotating disk 148 at a stretch is avoided, so that imaging by the imaging device 136 is stably performed.

More specifically, as described above, the imaging device 136 takes an image by causing the light emitting device 224 to emit light at the position and timing of the pusher 192.
Since the pusher 192 and the rotating disk 148 are linked, when a large number of medals M fall on the rotating disk 148 at once, the rotational resistance of the rotating disk 148 increases at a stretch, and the rotation speed temporarily decreases. The rotational speed of the interlocking pusher 192 also decreases, the light emission timing of the light emitting device 224 and the positional relationship between the medal M are shifted, the entire medal M cannot be imaged, and it is selected as a fake medal regardless of the genuine medal. There is.

However, if only a part of the medal M transported by the second transport means 392 falls on the rotating disk 148 as in the second embodiment, the medal M rotates even if it falls on the rotating disk 148 at once. Since the increase in resistance is slight, there is an advantage that the positional relationship between the light emission of the light emitting device 224 and the medal M is not shifted.
From the above, it is most preferable that all the medals M falling from the second conveying means 392 are dropped on the inclined bottom wall 418 of the storage bowl 142.
However, in this case, since the length of the inclined bottom wall 418 becomes long, there is a possibility that the entire apparatus becomes large, so that the medal M falls on the inclined bottom wall 418 and the rotating disk 148 as in the second embodiment. It is preferable to configure.

When the endless belt 406 made of the flat belt of the second embodiment is used, the endless belt 406 preferably has a predetermined inclination.
This is because, when the inclination angle of the endless belt 406 is large, the medal M placed on the medal M in contact with the endless belt 406 falls downward due to its own weight, so that the transport efficiency of the medal M is lowered.
Further, when the endless belt 406 is substantially horizontal, the lifter 124, the second transport unit 392, and the medal sorting unit 316 are arranged in series in the vertical direction, so that the overall height of the apparatus becomes high.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the lower end portion of the endless belt 406 is disposed on the wall opposite to the medal sorting means 316 of the payout medal holding device 372.
This is to make the inclination angle of the endless belt 406 as small as possible in a limited installation range.
As the transport body 402, for example, a belt having a similar transport function such as a belt provided with a bucket can be adopted.

Next, the gate means 396 will be described.
The gate means 396 has a function of keeping the medal M on the endless belt 406 from dropping from the endless belt 406 due to the inclination of the endless belt 406 at the lower end portion of the endless belt 406.
The gate means 396 includes a shutter plate 414 and an opening / closing means 422.

First, the shutter plate 414 will be described.
The shutter plate 414 is rotatably supported at its upper end by a shaft 424 that is horizontally supported at both ends by the right guide wall 412 and the left guide wall 408 outside the delivery port 371, and these left guide walls. 408 and the right guide wall 412 are closely arranged and swingable, and the lower end thereof is a closed position CP close to the upper surface of the endless belt 406, and is rotated clockwise to greatly increase from the upper surface of the endless belt 406. It can be located at a remote open position OP (FIG. 16B).

Next, the opening / closing means 422 will be described.
The opening / closing means 422 can swing the shutter plate 414 to be selectively positioned at the closing position CP and the opening position OP.
In the opening / closing means 422, an iron core of a solenoid 428 is linked to one end of a link lever 426 that is rotatably supported by a fixed shaft 423 fixed to the right side wall 412.
The tip of a pin 434 penetrating from the shutter plate 414 through the arc-shaped long hole 432 of the right guide wall 412 is inserted into the long hole 430 at the other end of the link lever 426.
Normally, the solenoid 428 is demagnetized and pulled by the force of the spring 436 acting on the link lever 426, so that the link lever 426 is stopped by a stopper 433 constituted by the right end of the elongated hole 432 and held at the closed position CP.
When the solenoid 428 is energized, the shutter plate 414 is rotated clockwise through the link lever 426 and the pin 434, and the pin 434 is locked to the stopper 437 at the left end of the arc-shaped elongated hole 432, so that the open position OP is reached. Retained.
When the shutter plate 414 is positioned at the open position OP, a bypass port 438 is formed between the lower end of the shutter plate 414 and the upper surface of the endless belt 406, and the medal M on the endless belt 406 falls into the payout medal holding device 372. Is possible.

Next, the reverse feeding means 394 will be described.
The reverse feeding means 394 has a function of feeding the medal M supplied from the lifter 368 to the payout medal holding device 372 by reversely feeding the transport body 402.
More specifically, in the non-selection mode, the endless belt 406 is reversely fed, and the medal M dropped from the outlet 371 is placed on the endless belt 406 and sent to the payout medal holding device 372 through the bypass port 438.
Specifically, the control device 324 outputs a reverse rotation command to the reverse feed means 394 to reverse the motor 404 with a speed reducer and advance the upper surface of the endless belt 406 away from the medal sorting means 316.
As a result, the medal M on the endless belt 406 falls into the payout medal holding device 372 through the bypass port 438 as described above.

Next, the medal detection device 452 of the distribution means 321 will be described.
The medal detection device 452 has a function of detecting the medal M on the endless belt 406.
In the second embodiment, the medal detection device 452 is a transmissive photoelectric sensor, and the optical axis is disposed below the outlet 371 adjacent to the endless belt 406 and the shutter plate 414.
In the medal selection mode, the medal detection device 452 outputs a detection signal when the medal M is detected, and the control device 324 drives the motor 404 to rotate forward.
As a result, the medal M on the endless belt 406 is supplied to the medal sorting means 316.

When the control device 324 does not receive the detection signal from the medal detection device 452 for a predetermined time, the control device 324 stops the normal rotation of the motor 404 assuming that all the medals M are supplied to the medal sorting unit 316.
When the medal detection device 452 detects the medal M in the non-selection mode, the control device 324 outputs a reverse feed command to the reverse feed means 394.
The reverse feed means 394 outputs a reverse rotation command to the motor 404, and the motor 404 reverses.
As a result, the endless belt 406 is reversely fed, and the medal M on the endless belt 406 is supplied to the payout medal holding device 372.
The medal detection device 452 only needs to be able to detect the medal M in the second transport means 392, and therefore a sensor other than a photoelectric sensor can be used.

Next, the control device 324 will be described.
The control device 324 inputs signals from the display 326 with a touch panel, the authentication means 308, the payout sensor 378 of the medal payout device 374, the full sensor 375, the empty sensor 377, the payout sensors 382A and 382B, and the medal detection device 452. Calculation is performed, a predetermined display is performed on the display 326 with a touch panel, the automatic container feeder 346 is operated to drop the containers CUP one by one, and the medal payout device 374, the lateral transport device 366 and the lifter 368 are set at a predetermined timing. And a predetermined number of medals are paid out from the medal payout device 374, the motor 404 is rotated forward or backward, and the solenoid 428 is excited or demagnetized to perform a predetermined process.
The control device 324 is, for example, a microprocessor.

Next, automatic setting means for the medal sorting mode or the non-sorting mode will be described.
When the switch is turned on, the control device 324 instructs each device to perform an initial operation.
Specifically, when the imaging device 136 of the medal sorting means 316 performs a self-check and an abnormality is output, the non-sorting mode is automatically set.
Further, when the electric motor 164 is activated and the sensor 238 does not detect the action piece 234 or the like, the non-sorting mode is automatically set.
Further, when the motor 404 of the sorting unit 321 is rotated forward and the encoder 444 including the rotating plate 440 and the sensor 442 rotating integrally with the first roller 398 does not output a rotation detection signal, the non-selection mode is automatically set. Is set.
Furthermore, when the solenoid 428 is turned on / off and the sensor 446 does not output a detected signal, the non-selection mode is automatically set.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 16 and the screen display of FIG.
First, the medal selection mode will be described. In other words, the case where the medal M is supplied to the medal selection means 316 by the distribution means 321 will be described.
As described above, when the non-sorting mode is not set by any of the self-checks of the medal sorting unit 316 and the sorting unit 321, the sorting mode is selected.
In addition, the medal sorting mode can be manually set by operating the display 326 with a touch panel.
In the medal sorting mode, the solenoid 428 is demagnetized and the shutter plate 414 is held at the closed position CP by the spring 436.
As a result, even if the movement of the endless belt 406 toward the medal sorting means 316 is stopped, the medal M supplied from the delivery port 371 is transferred to the endless belt 406, the left guide wall 408, the right guide wall 412 and the shutter plate 414. It is held in the enclosed space and is not supplied to the payout medal holding device 372.

The display 326 with a touch panel of the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 300 usually displays predetermined information such as introduction of a game field or an event.
First, when a customer approaches the front of the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 300, it is detected by a human body sensor (not shown), and an initial screen (Fig. 18 (A) including a medal deposit button 480 and a medal payout button 482 on the touch panel display 326 is displayed. )) Is displayed.

In conjunction with this, the control program starts processing in the control device 324.
That is, it is determined whether or not the deposit button 480 is pressed in step S1.
If not, the process proceeds to step S2 to determine whether the payout button 482 has been pressed.
If not, the process returns to step S1 and loops through steps S1 and S2.

When the customer deposits a medal, the customer presses the deposit button 480.
Accordingly, since a signal indicating that the deposit button 480 has been pressed is output from the display 326 with a touch panel, the process proceeds to step SK1, and the card insertion guide screen shown in FIG.

In step SK2, when the customer inserts the ID card into the insertion slot (not shown), the card read / write device (not shown) takes in the ID card, and in step SK3 reads the ID information stored in the ID card. The corresponding biometric information is searched, and the process proceeds to step SK4.

In step SK4, the biometric authentication guide shown in FIG. 18C is displayed on the display 326 with the touch panel, and then the process proceeds to step SK5.

If the customer holds the palm of his right hand over the biometric authentication means 308 in step SK5, the biometric authentication means 308 automatically acquires data relating to the palm vein in step SK6, and proceeds to step SK7.

If the authentication data is not acquired in step SK6, the process returns to step SK4, and the biometric authentication guide screen is displayed again on the touch panel display 326 to prompt the user to hold the palm over the biometric authentication means 308.
In step SK7, the registered data searched in advance and the authentication data acquired this time are compared, and if they match, the process proceeds to step SK9.
If the comparison data does not match in step SK7, the process proceeds to step SK8, displays that it does not match the display with touch panel 326, and then returns to step SK4.

In step SK9, as shown in FIG. 18 (D), a medal depositing guide 328 guide, the current number of deposits and a count start button 484 are displayed on the display 326 with a touch panel, and the process proceeds to step SK10.

If the count start button 484 is pressed in step SK10, the process proceeds to step SK11.

In step SK11, the medal counter 332 is activated and the deposited medals are counted.
The medal counter 332 of the present embodiment counts medals having a normal diameter and thickness and outputs them to the control device 324, and non-standard medals are excluded in a reject box (not shown).

Next, the process proceeds to step SK12, and after the guide for prompting the container to be loaded into the container loading port 344 of the container CUP is displayed as shown in FIG. 18 (E), the process proceeds to step SK13.

In step SK13, as shown in FIG. 18 (F), if there is a past number of deposits on the display 326 with the touch panel, the total number of the past deposits and the number of deposits this time is displayed and the re-insert button 486 and deposit Button 488 is displayed, and the flow proceeds to step SK14.

If the re-load button 486 is pressed in step SK14, the process returns to step SK9, and if not, the process proceeds to step SK15.

If deposit button 488 is pressed in step SK15, the process proceeds to step SK16, the number of deposits for the corresponding ID is rewritten, and the process proceeds to step SK17.
If deposit button 488 is not pressed, the process returns to step SK14.

In step SK17, an end button 490 is displayed on the display 326 with a touch panel as shown in FIG. 18 (G).

If the end button 490 is pressed in step SK17, the process proceeds to step SK19, the ID card is returned to the customer from the insertion slot of the card read / write device, and the process ends.
When the processing is completed, a guide for introducing the game field and the like is displayed on the display 326 with the touch panel.

Next, a case where the payout button 482 is pressed in step S2, that is, a case where the medal M is paid out will be described.
If the payout button 482 is pressed, the process proceeds to step SD1, and after the ID card insertion guide shown in FIG. 18 (B) is displayed on the display 326 with the touch panel, the process proceeds to step SD2.

If the ID card is inserted into the card slot in step SD2, proceed to step SD3, read the ID information from the ID card, then proceed to step SD4, and the palm authentication screen shown in FIG. This is displayed on the display 326.

In step SD5, when the customer holds his palm over authentication means 308, the authentication information is automatically acquired, and the process proceeds to step SD6.
If the customer does not hold his palm over the authentication means 308, authentication data cannot be acquired, so the process returns to step SD4 and returns to the biometric authentication screen.

If it is determined in step SD6 that biometric data exists, the process proceeds to step SD7.

In step SD7, the data is compared with the data based on the registered ID. If they do not match, the process proceeds to step SD8 to display an error on the display with touch panel 326 and then returns to SD4.
If the biometric authentication information matches in step SD7, the process proceeds to step SD9.

In step SD9, as shown in FIG. 18 (H), the number of deposits at the present time is displayed, and the payout instruction number display unit 492, the tenkey 494 for inputting the payout number, and the payout start button 496 are displayed. Proceed to SD10.

If the payout number is input from the numeric keypad 494 in step SD10, the process proceeds to step SD11.

If the payout start button 496 is not pressed in step SD11, the process returns to step SD9, and if it is pressed, the process proceeds to step SD12.

In step SD12, it is determined whether there is a near empty signal from a cup near empty sensor (not shown). If there is no near empty signal, the process proceeds to step SD13.

In step SD13, it is determined whether the number of payout instructions is within the number of deposits. If the number is out of the range, the process proceeds to step SD14.

In step SD14, the out-of-deposit range display is performed on the touch panel display 326, and then the process returns to step SD9.
If it is within the range, the process proceeds to step SD15 where the automatic container supply device 346 is operated to supply the lowest container CUP of the container storage device 348 to the container holding device 350.
That is, since only the lowermost container is dropped by the automatic container feeder 346, the dropped container CUP falls to a predetermined position of the container outlet 354.

Next, proceeding to step SD16, the presence signal of the container CUP from the container detection device (not shown) is determined.
If there is no container presence signal, the process proceeds to step SD17 to display an error and stop all processing.

In step SD12, when near empty of the container CUP is detected, the process proceeds to step SD18, and as shown in FIG. 18 (E), the container charging port 344 is urged to proceed to step SD16.
As a result, the customer inputs an empty container placed near the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus 300 from the container insertion port 344.
Therefore, when the near empty signal is output from the near empty sensor, the container automatic supply device 346 is not activated.

If there is a container CUP in step SD16, the process proceeds to step SD19 to operate the medal payout device 374.
As a result, the first coin hopper 374A and the second coin hopper 374B constituting the medal payout device 374 classify medals one by one and pay them out to the corresponding medal shooters 356A and 356B, respectively.

The paid-out medal M is guided by the medal chutes 356A and 356B and falls into the container CUP located in the container holding device 350.
In parallel with the payout of the medals, the detection signals output each time the medals are paid out from the payout sensors 382A and 382B attached to the first coin hopper 374A and the second coin hopper 374B are counted indirectly. Detect medal storage amount.

Next, in step SD20, the count value is compared with the number of payout instructions. If the count value is less than the number of instructions, the payout is continued.
In step SD20, if the count matches the number of payout instructions, the process proceeds to step SD21, where the first coin hopper 374A and the second coin hopper 374B are stopped, and the payout process ends.

Next, the selection of fake medals will be described with reference to FIG.
First, when the full sensor 358 of the medal holding means 312 outputs a full signal in step ST1, the process proceeds to step ST2, the full display is performed on the display 326 with the touch panel, and the process returns to step ST1.
If the full sensor does not output a full signal in step ST1, the process proceeds to step ST3.

In step ST3, it is determined whether or not the full sensor 375U of the payout medal holding device 372 outputs a full signal.If the full signal is output and entered, the process returns to step ST1, and if the full sensor 375U does not output a full signal, the step Proceed to ST4.
This is because if the payout medal holding device 372 is further replenished with medals, it overflows from the payout medal hold device 372 and causes a problem.

In step ST4, the holding unit payout device 364 of the medal holding means 312 is operated to pay out a predetermined number of medals M to the lateral transport device 366, and then the process proceeds to step ST6.
The paid-out medals M are fed into the bucket 370 of the lifter 368 by the lateral conveying device 366 activated in conjunction with the activation of the dispensing device 364.

In step ST6, after the operations of the payout device 364 and the lateral transport device 366 are stopped, the lifter 368 is stepped, and the next bucket 370 is moved to a position for receiving the medal M from the lateral transport device 366. Proceed to step ST7.
By this advancement, the bucket 370 performs a replenishment exercise, and the medal M in the bucket 370 located at the top falls from the delivery port 371 onto the endless belt 406.
The dropped medal M is piled up on the endless belt 406 on the shutter plate 414 side by the inclination of the endless belt 406, and is detected by the medal detecting device 452.

In step ST7, it is determined whether or not the selection mode is set.
Since this case is the sorting mode, the process proceeds to step ST8, and when it is not the sorting mode, the process proceeds to step ST15.

In step ST8, when the detection signal from the medal detection device 452 is determined and the detection signal is output, the process proceeds to step ST9.
If the detection signal is not output, proceed to step ST10 to determine whether the predetermined time has elapsed.If the predetermined time has not elapsed, return to step ST8.If the predetermined time has elapsed, proceed to step ST11 and cause an error on the display 326. Display and finish the process.

In step ST9, the motor 404 is rotated forward, and the upper surface of the endless belt 406 moves toward the medal sorting means 316.
As a result, the endless belt 406 conveys the medal M supplied from the outlet 371 to the medal sorting means 316.
At the same time, the medal sorting means 316 is activated, and after the authenticity of the medal M is determined as in the first embodiment, the process proceeds to step ST12.
The fake medal is sent from the fake medal exit 266 to the fake medal holding device 381 and held, and the genuine medal M is sent from the genuine medal receiving opening 379 to the payout medal holding device 372 and held.
Therefore, only the genuine medal M is held in the payout medal holding device 372.

In step ST12, it is determined whether either the first empty sensor 377A or the second empty sensor 377B is outputting an empty signal.
If the empty signal is not output, the process returns to step ST1 via step ST13.
As a result, the lifter 368 and the like are moved at the standard speed until the full sensor 375U outputs a full signal of the medal M, and the above operation is repeated to replenish the payout medal holding device 372 with the image selected medal M.

When the empty signal is determined in step ST12, the process proceeds to step ST14, the speed increase command is output, and the process returns to step ST1.
As a result, the operating speeds of the holding unit payout device 364, the lateral conveyance device 366, the lifter 368, and the medal sorting means 316 are increased, and the supply capability of the genuine medal M per unit time is improved.

  With this structure, the medal depositing / dispensing apparatus 300 allows the medal M deposited in the medal depositing unit 304 to be supplied to the medal sorting unit 316 from the transport unit 314 to the medal sorting unit 321 for authenticity determination, and only the genuine medal is paid out. Since it is supplied to 318, only the genuine medal can be paid out to the customer.

Next, the operation of the non-selection mode will be described.
In the medal non-selection mode, the solenoid 428 is excited and the link lever 426 is rotated clockwise against the spring 436, so that the shutter plate 414 is rotated in the same direction via the shaft 424, and FIG. As shown in B), it is held at the open position OP.
In other words, the bypass port 438 is opened.
As a result, the medal M dropped on the endless belt 406 can fall into the payout medal holding device 372 from the bypass port 438.

In the case of the non-sorting mode, the process proceeds from step ST7 to step ST15. When the medal detection device 452 detects the medal M, the process proceeds to step ST16, the reverse feed means 394 is operated, and the motor 404 is rotated in reverse.
As a result, the upper surface of the endless belt 406 moves toward the bypass port 438, and the medal M on the endless belt 406 is supplied to the payout medal holding device 372.
Next, the process proceeds to step ST12 and processed as described above.
When the non-sorting mode is caused by the second transport device 392, the motor 404 is not reversed in step ST16.
In other words, the endless belt 406 is not fed back.
However, since the bypass port 438 is opened on the side just below the delivery port 371, the medal M falls from the bypass port 438 to the payout medal holding unit 372.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a medal lending machine having medal sorting means according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the medal sorting unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the medal sorting unit according to the first embodiment with a storage bowl removed. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the medal sorting unit of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the distribution unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having medal sorting means according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view of the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal sorting means according to the second embodiment in a state where the upper and lower doors are opened. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the lifter portion of the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal sorting means of the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the second transport unit, medal holding device, and medal sorting unit of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the second transport unit, medal holding device, and medal sorting unit of the second embodiment. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. FIG. 15 is a side view of the second conveying means. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of the gate means of the second embodiment, (A) is a diagram showing a closed state, and (B) is a diagram showing an open state. FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a display guide for explaining the operation of the second embodiment. FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

104, 312 medal holding means
112, 318 Medal payout means
106, 314
Transport means
127, 137
Medals exit
108, 316 Medal selection means
107, 321 Sorting means
125 Transport means
132 Alignment feeder
136 Imaging device
192 Pusher
194 Guide
304 medal deposit method
328 Medals entrance
332 Counting means
368 Lifting means
370 bucket
372 Hold device
374 Dispensing device
392 Second conveying means
394 Reverse feed means

Claims (10)

Medal holding means (104, 312),
Medal payout means (112, 318) for paying out medals,
In a medal processing device having a transport means (106, 314) for transporting medals from the medal holding means to the medal payout means,
A medal sorting means (108, 316) for sorting the medal payout means and a true / false medal is arranged downstream of the medal delivery outlet (127, 371) of the transport means,
Further, the medal payout means or the distribution means (107, 321) to the medal selection means is arranged between the medal delivery outlet and the medal selection means,
A medal processing device having medal sorting means, wherein it is possible to select whether or not to eliminate false medals before supplying them to the medal paying means by the allocating means. In the medal processing device having the medal sorting means according to claim 1,
The allocating means includes a second conveying means (392) positioned below the medal feeding outlet and a reverse feeding means (394) of the second conveying means, and the medal feeding at the time of forward rotation of the second conveying means. The medal sorting means is disposed below the exit, and the genuine medals selected by the medal sorting means are supplied to the medal payout means. Medal deposit means (304),
Medal payout means for holding and paying out medals received from the deposit means;
In the medal deposit and withdrawal device having
A medal selection means for selecting a genuine medal on the medal path between the counting means and the medal payout means;
Furthermore, a distribution means for distributing medals from the medal depositing means to the medal selection means or the medal payout means is arranged between the medal depositing means and the medal sorting means,
A medal depositing / dispensing apparatus having a medal sorting means, wherein it is possible to select whether or not to eliminate the false medals before the distribution means supplies the medal paying means. Medal depository (328),
Counting means (332) for counting medals deposited from the depositing gate;
A lifting means (368) for lifting the medals counted by the counting means;
A distribution means for selectively distributing medals conveyed by the lifting means to a medal selection means or a holding device described later;
A medal selection unit that determines the authenticity of the medal received from the distribution unit and supplies the genuine medal to the holding device;
A holding device (372) for holding a medal to be paid out by a paying device described later;
A payout device (374) for paying out medals held in the hold device;
A medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having medal sorting means. Medal holding means arranged at the lower level,
A medal payout means that is arranged above the medal hold means and pays out medals;
In a medal lending machine having transport means (125) for transporting the medal of the medal holding means to the medal payout means,
There is a medal sorting means to sort out true and false medals,
A medal path between the transporting means and the medal payout means is arranged with a medal sorting means (to be described later) or a distribution means for selectively distributing the medal path to the medal payout means,
A medal lending machine characterized in that a fake medal can be eliminated by the medal selecting means before the medal paying means pays out.   5. A medal processing device having a medal sorting unit according to claim 1, wherein the medal sorting unit identifies a pattern on a medal surface. In the medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal sorting means according to claim 5,
The medal sorting means includes a pusher (192) that moves at a predetermined speed,
An imaging device (136) for imaging a medal pushed by the pusher;
An alignment supply device (132) for supplying medals to the pusher one by one;
A guide body (194) for guiding the medal pushed by the pusher;
It is characterized by including. 5. A medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having medal sorting means according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the lifting means is an intermittent lifting means.   The medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal sorting means according to claim 8 is characterized in that the intermittent lifting means is a bucket (370) attached to an endless circulation body.   The medal deposit / withdrawal apparatus having the medal sorting means according to claim 4 further comprises automatic setting means for the medal sorting mode or the non-sorting mode.

Images