JP2011034141A - Coin recycling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coin recycling device capable of determining a coin accurately. <P>SOLUTION: The coin recycling device includes a conveying guide 34 having a sloped face to narrow gradually a width of a conveying route of the coin C fed from a coin feed port fed with the coin C, and for guiding the coin C to be conveyed sidedly to one side, a diameter sensor 43 provided in the conveying route and for detecting a diameter of the coin C, identification sensors 42, 44 provided in the conveying route and for detecting an attribute other than the diameter of the coin C, and a rejection hole 33a for discharging the coin C from the conveying route, when the coin is not a genuine coin, and the diameter sensor 43 is provided in a conveying-directional downstream of the identification sensors 42, 44 in the conveying route up to the rejection hole 33a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus, and more particularly to a coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus suitable for use by being connected to an electronic device such as a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal or an ECR (Electronic Cash Register).

  In recent years, coins of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, 500 yen, etc. are stored for each denomination, and the amount of coins in the coin storage unit is changed according to the change-out instruction from the POS terminal or ECR. Coin depositing / withdrawing apparatuses that only pay out to a coin payout outlet are widespread (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus, coin discrimination is performed to discriminate whether or not the inserted coin is a genuine coin. More specifically, the coins inserted into the coin deposit / withdrawal device are transported along the transport guide member to the coin storage unit, and are being transported by providing a material detection sensor, a diameter detection sensor, etc. during the transport. The material and diameter of coins are detected. The coin deposit / withdrawal device determines whether the coin being transported is a genuine coin from the detected material, diameter, etc., and if it is a fake coin, the reject box provided in the transport path receives the coin. It is the structure which is discharged out of a conveyance path | route and is not conveyed to a coin storage part.

  However, in such a conventional coin deposit / withdrawal device, the coin may be transported without contacting the transport guide member. In such a case, the diameter of the coin cannot be accurately detected. There is a problem that coins cannot be accurately identified.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above, Comprising: It aims at providing the coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus which can perform a coin discrimination | determination correctly.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus according to the present invention is a slope that gradually narrows the width of the transport path of the coins fed out from the coin slot into which coins are inserted. A conveyance guide unit that guides the coins to be moved to one side, a diameter sensor that is provided in the conveyance path and detects the diameter of the coins, and is provided in the conveyance path, An identification sensor that detects an attribute other than a diameter, and a discharge unit that discharges the coin from the transport path when the coin is not a true coin, and the diameter sensor is included in the transport path to the discharge unit. It is provided downstream in the transport direction from the identification sensor.

  According to the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect the diameter of the coin being conveyed, and as a result, it is possible to accurately perform the coin discrimination.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the deposit / withdrawal unit. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the coin transport unit. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a coin sorting unit and a coin storage unit. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the deposit / withdrawal unit with the transport mechanism unit open. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the deposit / withdrawal unit with the transport mechanism unit open. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a support portion of the transport mechanism unit. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus.

  An embodiment of a coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, coins that are fed from a coin slot are transported, sorted into denominations by a coin sorting unit and stored in a coin storage unit, and coins are paid out according to a coin payout instruction. This is an application example to a deposit / withdrawal device.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 includes a depositing / dispensing unit 2 that deposits / withdraws coins, and a storage case 3 that accommodates and holds the depositing / dispensing unit 2 so that it can be pulled out.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the deposit / withdrawal unit 2. The deposit / withdrawal unit 2 is located at the front portion of the coin deposit / withdrawal device 1 and receives a coin C (see FIG. 3), and the coin C received by the coin accepting unit 11 to the rear of the coin deposit / withdrawal device 1. A coin transport unit 12 that transports the coins, a coin sorting unit 13 that sorts the coins C transported by the coin transport unit 12 into denominations, and a coin storage that stores the coins C sorted by the coin sorting unit 13 into denominations. And a coin dispensing unit 15 that dispenses coins stored in the coin storage unit 14.

  The coin receiving part 11 has a coin insertion slot 21 opened upward. The coin slot 21 allows a plurality of coins C to be put together. The coin insertion slot 21 is provided with a plurality of sets of insertion sensors 22 for photoelectrically detecting the inserted coins C. In addition, at the bottom of the coin insertion slot 21, there is provided an insertion belt 24 that is rotated by driving of an insertion motor 23 (see FIG. 8) and conveys the inserted coin C into the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1. . In the middle of the charging belt 24, there is provided a charging pulley 25 for separating and feeding coins C conveyed by the charging belt 24 one by one.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the coin transport unit 12. The coin transport unit 12 includes a coin transport surface 31 and a transport belt 32 that transports the coin while pressing the coin against the coin transport surface 31.

  The coin conveyance surface 31 is disposed at a position for receiving the coins conveyed by the insertion belt 24 on the downstream side of the insertion belt 24 in the coin conveyance direction. The coin transfer surface 31 is formed by the upper surface of the transfer base 33. A conveyance guide member 34 is fixed to the conveyance base 33 on the right side of the coin conveyance surface 31 in the coin conveyance direction. The conveyance base 33 and the conveyance guide member 34 are made of metal harder than the coin C.

  The conveyor belt 32 is a rubber endless belt, and its cross section is formed in a circular shape. The transport belt 32 extends from the input belt 24 to a sorting belt 63 (to be described later) used for coin sorting. The conveyance belt 32 is disposed above the coin conveyance surface 31 and at a position where the coin C is pressed against the coin conveyance surface 31. The conveyor belt 32 is stretched around pulleys 35 and 36. The end portion of the conveyor belt 32 is bent at a substantially right angle by a pair of upper and lower pulleys 37 (the lower pulley is not shown), whereby the conveyor belt 32 is substantially L-shaped when viewed from above. ing. The pair of upper and lower pulleys 37 are connected to each other so as to be able to rotate in the reverse direction. Further, the inner surface of the portion of the transport belt 32 that faces the coin transport surface 31 is supported by a plurality of idler pulleys 38. The pulley 36 rotates at a constant speed by driving a conveying motor 70 (see FIG. 8) connected via a sorting belt 63, and the conveying belt 32 also rotates at a constant speed by rotating the pulley 36 at a constant speed. The coin C transported from the insertion belt 24 is sandwiched between the transport belt 32 and the coin transport surface 31 on the downstream side of the pulley 35 and transported while being pressed onto the coin transport surface 31 as the transport belt 32 rotates. The coin sorting unit 13 is reached.

  The conveyance guide member 34 is provided so as to interfere with the conveyance path of the coin C conveyed on the input belt 24. The conveyance guide member 34 includes a first inclined surface X having an angle α with respect to the conveyance belt 32 and a second inclined surface Y having an angle β with respect to the conveyance belt 32. The relationship between the angle α of the first slope X and the angle β of the second slope Y is angle α> angle β. The second slope Y is located downstream of the first slope X in the coin transport direction. The conveyance guide member 34 gradually narrows the width of the conveyance path of the coins C conveyed on the input belt 24.

  A coin identifying unit 41 for identifying the coin C is provided at a position where the coin C passes on the coin transport surface 31. The coin identification unit 41 includes a material sensor 42 that is a first identification sensor, a diameter sensor 43 that is a second identification sensor, and a third identification sensor 44. Of these three identification sensors 42, 43, 44, the material sensor 42 is arranged on the most upstream side in the coin transport direction, and the diameter sensor 43 is arranged on the most downstream side. The third identification sensor 44 is disposed between the material sensor 42 and the diameter sensor 43 in the coin conveyance direction.

  Further, the material sensor 42, the third identification sensor 44, and the diameter sensor 43 are all in the direction of coin transfer than the corner of the transport guide member 34, that is, the corner formed by the first slope X and the second slope Y. It is provided upstream. As a result, even if the material is conveyed without being brought into contact with the first slope X, the material sensor 42 and the third identification sensor are brought into contact with the second slope by contacting the corner portion. 44, the coin can be detected more accurately by the diameter sensor 43.

  The material sensor 42 detects the material as an attribute other than the diameter of the coin C, and the diameter sensor 43 detects the diameter of the coin C. The third identification sensor 44 is for detecting information on the coin C other than the material and the diameter. For example, as an attribute of the coin C, the presence or absence of the hole of the coin C, the thickness of the coin C, the reflection of the coin C, and the like. Any one of the rate and the uneven shape of the coin C may be detected.

  The material sensor 42, the diameter sensor 43, and the third identification sensor 44 are magnetic sensors having a coil, an oscillation circuit connected to the coil, and a rectification circuit connected to the oscillation circuit. In the material sensor 42, the diameter sensor 43, and the third identification sensor 44, when the coin C approaches the coil, the impedance of the coil changes, and the oscillation level of the oscillation circuit changes accordingly. The rectifying circuit rectifies the output waveform of the oscillation circuit into a waveform corresponding to the digital signal and outputs the waveform to the CPU 121 (see FIG. 8). The CPU 121 compares the output value with a preset value of a true coin and determines whether the coin C is true or false. When the output value is different from the preset value of the true coin, the CPU 121 determines that the coin C is a fake coin. The amount of change in the oscillation level is set differently depending on the material of the coin C in the material sensor 42 and the diameter of the coin C in the diameter sensor 43. Further, the amount of change in the oscillation level in the third identification sensor 44 is set to be different depending on the presence / absence of the hole of the coin C, the thickness of the coin C, the reflectance of the coin C, and the uneven shape of the coin C.

  In addition, a reject hole 33a through which the largest diameter coin C can fall is formed at the downstream end of the coin transport surface 31 in the coin transport direction. A portion of the reject hole 33a is closed by a reject shutter 51 that allows the coin C to pass therethrough. The reject shutter 51 is driven to open and close by a reject solenoid 52 (see FIG. 8). A reject box 53 is disposed below the reject hole 33a.

  The reject box 53 receives coins C and the like falling from the reject hole 33a. The reject box 53 is supported so as to be able to be pulled out by a support portion provided in the housing 16 of the deposit / withdrawal unit 2. A box sensor 130 (see FIG. 8) for detecting the attachment state of the reject box 53 is provided in the support portion.

  As described above, the diameter sensor 43 is disposed downstream of the material sensor 42 and the third identification sensor 44 in the coin conveyance direction, that is, most downstream, for the following reason. In the case of detection by the material sensor 42 and the third identification sensor 44, even when the coin C is transported without contacting the transport guide member 34, the material of the coin C, the presence or absence of holes, the thickness of the coin C, and the like. , The reflectivity of the coin C, the concave-convex shape of the coin C, and the like can be detected. However, since the coin C includes a plurality of types such as a coin with the maximum diameter and a coin with the minimum diameter, the coin C being transported is transported by the transport guide member 34 In the state of being transported out of the range, the diameter sensor 43 may not be able to accurately detect the diameter of the coin C depending on the type of the coin C being transported. On the other hand, as described above, since the conveyance guide member 34 forms the first inclined surface X and the second inclined surface Y, the width of the conveyance path of the coins C gradually decreases. For this reason, the possibility that the coin C abuts on the conveyance guide member 34 increases as it goes downstream in the coin conveyance direction. For example, even if the coin C is initially transported away from the second slope Y of the transport guide member 34, the coin C is transported in a reliable contact as it goes downstream of the second slope Y. Can be detected accurately. For this reason, in this Embodiment, the diameter sensor 43 is arrange | positioned in the conveyance direction downstream rather than another sensor, and the detection of the diameter of the coin C is implement | achieved more correctly irrespective of the kind of coin.

  Further, the diameter sensor 43 is downstream from the material sensor 42 and the third identification sensor 44, and the distance from the diameter sensor 43 to the rejector hole 33a is determined by the CPU 121 from the detection of the diameter of the coin C by the diameter sensor 43. In the period until the opening / closing operation of the rejector hole 33a by the rejector shutter 51 associated with the coin discrimination, the coin is disposed at a position that is longer than the distance to which the coin is conveyed. Thereby, it is determined that the coin is determined to be a fake coin by the diameter determination, and the coin C determined to be a fake coin has already passed through the rejector hole 33a when the rejector hole 33a is opened by the rejector shutter 51. It is possible to prevent the sheet from being conveyed to 13.

  For example, in this embodiment, since the conveyance speed of the coin C in the conveyance path is about 500 mm / s, the conveyance speed and the time from the diameter detection to the opening / closing operation of the rejector hole 33a are obtained in advance, and the above-mentioned conveyance The distance between the diameter sensor 43 and the rejector hole 33a may be obtained from the speed and the previously obtained time, and the diameter sensor 43 may be arranged at the position of the distance.

  FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the coin sorting unit 13 and the coin storage unit 14. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the coin sorting unit 13 includes a sorting base 62 having a coin carrying surface 61 formed on the upper surface, and a sorting belt 63 that carries the coin C while pressing the coin C against the coin carrying surface 61. is doing. The coin transport surface 61 extends in the left-right direction at a substantially right angle with respect to the coin transport surface 31. The coin transport surface 61 and the coin transport surface 31 have a substantially L-shaped coin transport surface as viewed from above. Is formed.

  In the sorting base 62, sorting holes 64 a, 64 b, 64 c, 64 d, 64 e, and 64 f for each denomination whose hole width dimension sequentially increases as going downstream in the coin transport direction are formed through the coin transport surface 61. . Six sorting holes 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d, 64e, 64f are provided so as to correspond to respective denominations of 1 yen, 50 yen, 5 yen, 100 yen, 10 yen, and 500 yen from the right in FIG. It has been. That is, the 500 yen sorting hole 64f, which is the highest denomination, is located at the end of the sorting holes 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d, 64e, and 64f. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, when the sorting holes 64a, 64b, 64c, 64d, 64e, and 64f are not particularly distinguished, 64 is used as a symbol for the sorting holes. In the present embodiment, the sorting holes 64 adjacent in the coin sorting / conveying direction are continuously formed with each other and form one hole in appearance. In the coin sorting unit 13, when the coin C is conveyed and reaches the sorting hole 64 having a predetermined width, the coin C falls into the coin storage unit 14. A reference member 65 is fixed to the sorting base 62, and a reference surface 66 is formed on the reference member 65. The reference surface 66 supports the side surface of the coin C, and the coins C are conveyed while the side surface of the coin C is brought into contact with the reference surface 66, so that accurate coin selection by the selection hole 64 is performed. . Each sorting hole 64 is provided with a counting sensor 67 that detects the falling coins C.

  The sorting belt 63 is a rubber endless belt, and is a toothed belt having teeth 63a on the inner periphery. The sorting belt 63 is disposed above the coin transport surface 61 and at a position where the coin C is pressed against the coin transport surface 61. The sorting belt 63 is stretched around pulleys 68 and 69. The pulleys 68 and 69 are toothed pulleys that mesh with the sorting belt 63. The pulley 68 is a drive pulley, and is disposed on the sorting hole 64f for the coin C having the maximum amount (500 yen). The pulley 69 is a driven pulley and is disposed upstream of all the sorting holes 64 in the coin conveyance direction. The pulley 68 of the coin transport unit 12 is fixed to the pulley 68. The pulley 68 rotates at a constant speed by driving the conveyance motor 70, and the sorting belt 63 rotates at a constant speed by the constant speed rotation of the pulley 68. Further, the inner surface of the portion of the sorting belt 63 facing the coin transport surface 61 is supported by a plurality of idler pulleys 71. The sorting belt 63 and the reference surface 66 are arranged so as to approach each other as they go downstream in the coin conveyance direction, whereby the sorting belt 63 conveys the coin C while pressing it against the reference surface 66.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the deposit / withdrawal unit 2 with the transport mechanism unit 73 open, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the deposit / withdrawal unit 2 with the transport mechanism unit 73 open.

  The pulleys 68 and 69 of the coin sorting unit 13, the idler pulley 71, the pulleys 35, 36, and 37 of the coin transport unit 12, and the idler pulley 38 are rotatably supported by the frame 72. The frame 72 constitutes a transport mechanism unit 73 by the pulleys 35, 36, 37, 68 and 69, the idler pulleys 38 and 71, the transport belt 32 and the sorting belt 63.

  The base end portion of the frame 72 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 74, so that the transport mechanism unit 73 can be opened and closed by turning around the support shaft 74. The transport mechanism unit 73 is locked at the closed position (FIG. 2) by the lock mechanism 75. In this state, the reference hole 72 g of the frame 72 is fitted into the pin 80 fixed to the housing 16. Further, the transport mechanism unit 73 is biased in the opening direction by a torsion coil spring 76 that is externally attached to the support shaft 74. When the lock of the lock mechanism 75 is released, the transport mechanism unit 73 is opened by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 76 (FIGS. 6 and 7). When the transport mechanism unit 73 is opened, the coin transport surfaces 31 and 61 are exposed.

  The frame 72 has a first frame 72 a along the coin conveyance surface 61 of the coin sorting unit 13 and a second frame 72 b along the coin conveyance surface 31 of the coin conveyance unit 12, and has a substantially L shape. Yes.

The first frame 72a has a pair of side plate portions 72c through which the support shafts 74 are inserted, and a connecting plate portion 72d that connects these side plate portions 72c. The pulleys 68 and 69 of the coin sorting unit 13, the idler pulley 71, and the pulley 36 of the coin transport unit 12 are rotatably supported by the first frame 72a. The pulleys 36 and 69 and the idler pulley 71 are provided so as to be movable up and down within a specified range, and are biased downward by a biasing member.
On the other hand, pulleys 35 and 37 and an idler pulley 38 of the coin transport unit 12 are rotatably attached to the second frame 72b. The pulley 37 and the idler pulley 38 are provided so as to be movable up and down within a specified range, and are biased downward by a biasing member.

  The support shaft 74 is disposed on the sorting hole 64f for the coin C having the maximum amount (500 yen). The support shaft 74 is supported by a pair of support portions 77 fixed to the reference member 65. One support portion 77 is formed with a positioning reference surface 77a. A contact surface 72e formed on the outer surface of one side plate portion 72c of the first frame 72a contacts the positioning reference surface 77a. The position of the selection belt 63 in a state where the contact surface 72e is in contact with the positioning reference surface 77a is the reference position of the selection belt 63.

  The lock mechanism 75 includes a locking member 75a having a claw portion (not shown) and attached to the second frame 72b, and a locking hole (not shown) provided in the housing 16. Yes. The locking member 78a75a is urged by a lock spring (not shown) in a direction in which the claw portion engages with the locking hole, and the claw portion is released from the lock hole against the urging force of the lock spring. The lock by the mechanism 7875 is released.

  One leg 76 a of the torsion coil spring 76 is supported on the upper surface of the plate member 79. On the other hand, the other leg portion 76b of the torsion coil spring 76 is supported on the inner surface of the connecting plate portion 72d of the first frame 72a. Thereby, the torsion coil spring 76 biases the transport mechanism unit 73 in the opening direction. Further, one leg portion 76 a of the torsion coil spring 76 is in contact with a protrusion 79 a provided on the plate member 79 in the axial direction of the support shaft 74. On the other hand, the other leg portion 76b of the torsion coil spring 76 is in contact with the side plate portion 72c of the first frame 72a in the axial direction of the support shaft 74. The torsion coil spring 76 is compressed in the axial direction of the support shaft 74, and urges the contact surface 72e toward the positioning reference surface 77a. Thereby, the contact surface 72e contacts the positioning reference surface 77a.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the coin storage unit 14 is disposed at a position for receiving the coin C falling from the sorting hole 64, and stores the falling coin in denomination. The coin storage unit 14 is provided with a denominated storage chamber 92 partitioned by a partition plate 91. Each storage chamber 92 communicates with a corresponding sorting hole 64. The storage chamber 92 has an upper surface opened, and the upper surface opening of the storage chamber 92 is covered with a lid 93 or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the coin payout unit 15 includes a payout belt 101 provided at the bottom of each storage chamber 92. The payout belt 101 is stretched around pulleys 102 and 103. The pulley 102 is a drive pulley, and the pulley 103 is a driven pulley. The payout belt 101 is supported by an idler pulley 104. The pulley 102 is driven and rotated by the payout motor 110, whereby the payout belt 101 is rotated. The payout belt 101 conveys coins from the rear part to the front part of the coin storage part 14.

  The coin payout unit 15 includes a reverse roller 105, a payout shutter 106, and a payout counting sensor 107 disposed at the exit of the coin storage unit 14. The reverse roller 105 rotates in the same direction as the payout belt 101 so that the payout belt 101 pays out coins C one by one. The payout shutter 106 is driven to open and close by a payout solenoid 108. The payout shutter 106 waits for the coin C in the closed state, while allowing the payout of the coins by the payout belt 101 in the open state. The payout counting sensor 107 detects coins paid out by the payout belt 101.

  Below the end position (front end) of the conveyor belt 32, a coin payout opening 109 opened upward is provided as shown in FIG. The coin payout exit 109 receives coins paid out by the payout belt 101. The coin payout exit 109 is arranged on the left side of the coin insertion slot 21.

  In addition, the deposit / withdrawal unit 2 has an operation panel 111 obliquely above and behind the coin payout exit 109. The operation panel 111 is provided with operation keys 112 and a display 113.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 1. The coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 1 is equipped with a CPU 121 as an information processing unit. The CPU 121 is connected to a ROM 122 in which fixed data such as programs are stored in advance and a RAM 123 in which various data are stored in a rewritable manner via a system bus 124. The CPU 121, the ROM 122, and the RAM 123 constitute a microcomputer.

  Further, the CPU 121 receives from the sensors S such as the input sensor 22, the count sensor 67, the payout count sensor 107, the box sensor 130, the material sensor 42, the diameter sensor 43, and the third identification sensor 44 via the system bus 124. An input port 125 for inputting a signal, an output port 126 for outputting a drive signal to the reject solenoid 52, the payout solenoid 108, etc., a communication interface 127 electrically connected to the POS terminal, an input motor 23, a transport motor 70, a payout A motor drive control unit 128 that individually controls the motors M such as the motor 110, and an operation control that is connected to the operation panel 111 and receives a key signal input from the operation key 112 and causes the display 113 to display data. Part 129 is connected. These units are driven and controlled by the CPU 121 according to a program.

  In such a configuration, if the coin C is inserted into the coin insertion slot 21, the coin C is detected by the insertion sensor 22. Upon receiving the detection signal from the making sensor 22, the CPU 121 drives the making motor 23 and the conveying motor 70 to rotate the making belt 24, the conveying belt 32, and the sorting belt 63. The coin C is transported to the coin transport surface 31 by the rotation of the insertion belt 24. Then, the coin C conveyed to the coin conveyance surface 31 is conveyed downstream in the coin conveyance direction by the rotation of the conveyance belt 32.

  Here, the conveyance belt 32 conveys the side surface of the coin C on the conveyance path whose width is gradually narrowed so as to press the conveyance guide member 34. Accordingly, the coin C is transported on the coin transport surface 31 by forming the same passage trajectory for each denomination.

  Further, as described above, the relationship between the angle α of the first inclined surface X and the angle β of the second inclined surface Y is set such that the angle α> the angle β, so that the coins can be detected at a short distance in the transport guide member 34 upstream in the coin transport direction. The coins C exiting the insertion slot 21 can be widened.

  When the coin C is pressed against the transport guide member 34 and transported on the coin transport surface 31 in this manner, the coin C is referred to as one-sided transport. The reason why the coins C are transported in a single manner is as follows. When the diameter of the coin C is discriminated at the time of coin discrimination by the diameter sensor 43, it is necessary to position the coin by moving it to the guide guide and to discriminate the coin by the diameter sensor 43. For this reason, the coin C that has exited the coin insertion slot 21 needs to be positioned by being shifted to the transport guide member 34 at the time of coin discrimination.

  The coin C that is transferred to the conveyance guide member 34 by being moved on the coin conveyance surface 31 passes through the material sensor 42, the third identification sensor 44, and the diameter sensor 43.

  The CPU 121 executes coin discrimination based on outputs from the material sensor 42, the third identification sensor 44, and the diameter sensor 43. When determining that the conveyed coin C is a genuine coin, the CPU 121 does not drive and control the reject solenoid 52, and the reject shutter 51 is kept closed. Therefore, the coin C is conveyed to the coin sorting unit 13 without falling from the reject hole 33a. On the other hand, when determining that the coin C to be conveyed is a fake coin, the CPU 121 controls the drive of the reject solenoid 52 to open the reject shutter 51. Thereby, the coin C determined to be a fake coin falls from the reject hole 33 a and is stored in the reject box 53.

  In the coin sorting unit 13, the coins C are conveyed by the sorting belt 63, dropped from the corresponding sorting holes 64, and stored in the coin storage unit 14. At this time, since the sorting belt 63 and the reference surface 66 are arranged so as to approach each other toward the downstream side in the coin transport direction, the sorting belt 63 can press the side surface of the coin C against the reference surface 66 while The coin C is conveyed.

  Then, when there is a coin payout instruction from the POS terminal, the CPU 121 drives the payout belt 101 and drives the payout solenoid 108 for each denomination to pay the required number of coins to the coin payout exit 109. put out.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the diameter sensor 43 is disposed downstream of the material sensor 42 and the third identification sensor 44 in the coin transport direction, that is, most downstream, the coin transport direction. The coin C reliably abuts on the conveyance guide member 34 on the downstream side, and the diameter of the coin C can be detected more accurately regardless of the type of the coin. As a result, the coin discrimination can be performed more accurately. Can do.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various other embodiments can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus C Coin 14 Coin storage part 21 Coin insertion slot 32 Conveyance belt 33a Rejector hole 34 Conveyance guide member 42 Material sensor 43 Diameter sensor 44 3rd identification sensor 51 Reject shutter 52 Reject solenoid 53 Reject box 61 Coin conveyance surface 62 Sorting base (sorting member)
63 Sorting belt 64 (64a, 64b, 64c, 64d, 64e, 64f) Sorting hole 68 Pulley (drive pulley)
69 Pulley (driven pulley)
73 Transfer mechanism unit 74 Support shaft (drive shaft)

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-110961

Claims (4)

A conveyance guide unit that has a slope that gradually narrows the width of the conveyance path of the coins fed out from a coin insertion slot into which coins are inserted, and guides the coins to be moved to one side,
A diameter sensor that is provided in the transport path and detects a diameter of the coin;
An identification sensor that is provided in the transport path and detects an attribute other than the diameter of the coin;
A discharge unit that discharges the coin from the transport path when the coin is not a genuine coin,
The said diameter sensor is provided in the conveyance direction downstream from the said identification sensor in the said conveyance path | route to the said discharge part, The coin deposit or withdrawal apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.   The diameter sensor is provided at a position where a distance to the discharge unit becomes longer than a distance in which the coin is conveyed in a time from detection of the diameter to opening / closing driving of the discharge port by coin determination. The coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein   3. The coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification sensor includes a material sensor that detects a material of the coin.   The coin receiving / dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification sensor includes a sensor that detects a position of a hole of the coin or a thickness of the coin.

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