JP2016071793A - Coin processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coin processor capable of suppressing occurrence of running out of the change.SOLUTION: The coin processor comprises: coin identification means; coin distribution means; plural coin tubes; coin payout means; and a coin temporary holding mechanism. The coin processor can operate in a normal mode and a special sub tube use mode. When operating in the special sub tube use mode, the coin temporary holding mechanism can be used as coin storage means for, using coins of a specific kind as change directly, without distributing the coins of specific kind to the coin tubes, and the coin tube to which the coins of specific kind are distributed, in which the coins of the specific kind are held in the temporary holding mechanism in the normal mode, is changed into a specific sub tube for storing coins of kinds other than the specific kind.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin processing device mounted on a vending machine, a change machine, a payment machine, a ticket vending machine, a service device, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “vending machine etc.”).

  Conventionally, inside a vending machine, etc., the correctness of the inserted coin is discriminated, the inserted coin regarded as a genuine coin is sorted and stored for each denomination, and the sorted coin is further stored in the amount of change, etc. The coin processing device which pays out according to is mounted. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of such a coin processing apparatus.

  This coin processing device 1 is roughly classified into a coin sorting unit 2 for determining whether the inserted coin is true or false, and sorting the inserted coins into denominations, and the coins sorted by the coin sorting unit 2 for each denomination. It is composed of a coin dispensing unit 3 for storing and selecting and dispensing coins corresponding to the amount of change or the like. Then, the coin sorting unit 2 includes a coin identifying means 4 for discriminating the authenticity and denomination of the inserted coin, and a coin sorting means 5 for sorting the coins that the coin identifying means regards as a genuine coin according to the denomination. Have. In addition, the coin dispensing unit 3 has a plurality of coin tubes 6 that store the coins sorted by denomination by the coin sorting unit 2 for each denomination, and according to the amount of change etc. from the plurality of coin tubes 6. And a coin dispensing means 7 for selecting and dispensing coins. As the coin payout means, the coins stored in the coin tube 6 are pulled out one by one by a slide member called a payout slide from the slit-like hole opened at the bottom of the coin tube 6. Coins that pay out coins are widely used.

  Currently, many coin processing devices 1 are provided with a coin temporary holding mechanism for temporarily holding the inserted coins before distributing them to the coin tubes 6 in the coin sorting means 5 of the coin sorting unit 2. ing. This coin temporary holding mechanism temporarily holds the coins inserted into the coin processing device 1 before distributing them to the coin tube 6, and when a refund is performed by a coin return lever or the like without purchasing the product. , Provided to return the temporarily held coins. This prevents theft damage caused by the so-called coin replacement phenomenon.

  Further, in the coin dispensing unit 3, in order to facilitate the collection of coins from the coin tube 6 and the replenishment of change to the coin tube 6, the plurality of coin tubes 6 can be detached from the main body of the coin processing device 1. It is usually provided in the coin storage cassette 9.

JP 2002-63628 A

  Depending on the situation of sales, such as the price setting of products sold by vending machines, etc., and the tendency of sales at the place where vending machines are installed, in the coin processing equipment installed in vending machines, etc., certain denominations It is conceivable that a change in the number of coins will easily occur. However, in order to suppress the occurrence of this change, if the coin change that is likely to occur is replenished to the maximum, more coins will flow to the safe without being distributed to the coin tube. It becomes inefficient in change management. For this reason, depending on the state of sale in a vending machine or the like, a change of a specific denomination is likely to occur. However, in the conventional coin processing apparatus, there is a problem that it is not possible to deal with the change efficiently. .

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing device in which change of change is less likely to occur.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the coin processing device according to claim 1 includes a coin identifying means for identifying a denomination of inserted coins, and a coin allocating means for allocating the coins identified by the coin identifying means into denominations. A plurality of coin tubes for storing the coins sorted by the coin sorting means for each denomination, a coin paying means for paying out the coins stored in the coin tube, and a coin of a specific denomination inserted , A coin processing device having a coin temporary storage mechanism for holding before distributing to the coin tube, which can take a normal mode for performing normal processing and a special sub tube use mode, In the tube usage mode, the coin temporary holding mechanism is used to directly change the coin of the specific denomination to the coin tube without using it as a change. For use as a coin storage means, a coin tube of the denomination other than the specific denomination is used as a coin tube in which the coin of the specific denomination held in the temporary holding mechanism in the normal mode is distributed. It is characterized in that it is replaced with a special sub-tube that houses

  A coin processing apparatus according to a second aspect is the coin processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of coin tubes are included in a coin storage cassette that is detachable from the apparatus main body.

  A coin processing device according to claim 3 is the coin processing device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising mode switching input means for switching between the normal mode and the special sub-tube use mode. It is characterized by that.

  The coin processing device according to claim 4 is the coin processing device according to claim 2, wherein the switching between the normal mode and the special sub-tube use mode depends on the type of the coin storage cassette mounted on the device main body. It is made automatically.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of change.

It is the schematic of the coin processing apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic front view of the coin classification | selection part of the coin processing apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic front view of the coin selection part of the coin processing apparatus of embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the state by which 500-yen coin is hold | maintained in the 500-yen coin selection channel | path, (b) is 100-yen coin selection. A state in which 100 yen coins are held in the passage is shown. It is principal part sectional drawing of the coin temporary holding mechanism of the coin processing apparatus of embodiment of this invention, and its peripheral part, (a) shows the state in which the coin holding lever is holding the coin, (b) is coin holding The lever is releasing the coin. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows operation | movement of the coin distribution lever provided in the downstream of the coin temporary storage mechanism of the coin processing apparatus of embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the state by which a coin is distributed to a return port, (b ) Shows a state where coins are distributed to coin tubes, and (c) shows a state where coins are distributed to a safe. It is the schematic of the conventional coin processing apparatus.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a coin processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and schematically shows a cross section of the coin processing apparatus 1. The structure of the coin processing apparatus 1 of this embodiment is the same as the structure of the conventional coin processing apparatus described above, except for the parts described below. Therefore, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the member equivalent to the component member in the above-mentioned conventional coin processing apparatus among the component members in this embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The coin processing device 1 handles 500 yen coins, 100 yen coins, 10 yen coins and 50 yen coins, and includes a coin sorting unit 2 and a coin dispensing unit 3. The coin sorting unit 2 has a coin temporary holding mechanism 8 for 500 yen coins and 100 yen coins. In this coin processing apparatus 1, three 500 yen coins and four 100 yen coins can be temporarily held (see FIG. 3). As will be described later, the coin temporary holding mechanism 8 is capable of intermittently releasing the held coins one by one.

  In addition, a coin storage cassette 9a having five coin tubes 6 is detachably attached to the coin dispensing unit 3. And the normal coin storage cassette 9a has a 500 yen tube, a 100 yen tube, a 10 yen tube, a 50 yen tube, and a subtube. Here, the sub-tube is an auxiliary coin tube in which coins are not distributed and only the payout is performed. The sub-tube stores coins that are frequently paid out. On the other hand, a special coin storage cassette 9b is used in a special subtube use mode to be described later. This special coin storage cassette 9b is provided with a special sub tube, which is a special sub tube, instead of the 500 yen tube. The special sub tube, the 100 yen tube, the 10 yen tube, the 50 yen tube and the sub tube are provided. Have.

  The coin processing apparatus 1 can take a special subtube use mode in which a special subtube is used instead of the 500 yen tube, and a normal mode in which normal processing is performed without using the special subtube.

  In this special subtube use mode, the coin processing apparatus 1 is equipped with a special coin storage cassette 9b provided with a special subtube instead of the 500 yen tube, and the special subtube used instead of the 500 yen tube , Storing coins of other denominations. And about 500 yen coin, without assigning to the coin tube 6, the coin currently hold | maintained at the coin temporary storage mechanism 8 is used as a storage coin. In other words, in this special sub tube use mode, the 500 yen coins deposited at the time of sale or the like are not temporarily held, but the 500 yen coins are always held in the coin temporary holding mechanism 8, The 500 yen coins held in the coin temporary holding mechanism 8 are used for paying out change. Thus, in the special sub tube use mode, the coin temporary holding mechanism 8 is used as the coin storage means.

  On the other hand, in the normal mode, the coin processing apparatus 1 is mounted with a normal coin storage cassette 9a and performs normal processing. In other words, the coin temporary holding mechanism 8 only temporarily holds the 500 yen coin put into the coin processing device 1 at the time of sale in a vending machine or the like, and the coin temporary holding mechanism 8 holds 500. The yen coins are distributed to the 500 yen tube, the return port or the safe before the sale ends, and the 500 yen coins are not held in the coin temporary holding mechanism 8 after the sale ends.

  Switching between the normal mode and the special subtube use mode is performed by a special subtube use mode switching means 10 provided in the main body of the coin processing apparatus 1. The special sub tube use mode switching means 10 can be configured as a special sub tube use mode switching input means which is an appropriate input means such as a switch type or a button type. The special sub tube use mode switching means 10 is provided with a cassette type display means for displaying the type of the cassette in the coin storage cassette 9 and for identifying the type of the cassette in the main body of the coin processing apparatus. It is also possible to provide such a cassette type identifying means so that the mode is automatically switched according to the type of the coin storage cassette 9 attached. As this cassette type display means, it is possible to provide the coin storage cassette 9 with a convex portion or a concave portion having a shape corresponding to the type.

  Coin replenishment to the coin temporary holding mechanism 8 in the special subtube use mode is performed by inserting coins from the coin slot of the coin processing device 1 after switching the coin processing device 1 to the coin replenishment mode. Switching to the coin replenishment mode is performed by a coin replenishment mode switching means 12 provided in the main body of the coin processing device 1. The coin replenishment mode switching means 12 can be configured by an appropriate method such as a switch method or a button method. Further, the coin replenishment mode switching means 12 may be configured to automatically enter the coin replenishment mode when the coin storage cassette 9 is removed from the main body of the coin processing device 1.

  Further, the coin processing device 1 has a coin hold number detecting means 11 for detecting the number of coins held in the coin temporary hold mechanism 8. This coin reserve number detection means 11 may be one that directly detects coins by physical means such as a contact sensor, magnetic sensor, optical sensor or sound wave sensor provided in the vicinity of the coin temporary hold mechanism 8. The held coins may be counted by a soft counter.

  The basic configuration of the coin processing apparatus 1 is as described above. In the special sub tube use mode, since the 500 yen tube cannot be used, the number of 500 yen coins that can be stored for change is limited to the number that can be retained in the coin temporary storage mechanism 8. Become. However, instead of this, it is possible to increase the number of subtubes for other denominations, and this coin processor 1 is operated in the special subtube use mode in the place where change of specific denominations are likely to occur. Then, by storing the coin of the specific denomination in the special sub tube, it becomes possible to suppress the change of the specific denomination.

  Below, the structure of the coin temporary storage mechanism 8 of the coin processing apparatus 1 of the embodiment of the present invention and the processing there will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the coin sorting unit 2 of the coin processing apparatus 1 of the present invention. The coin sorting unit 2 sorts four kinds of true and fake coins, 500 yen coins, 100 yen coins, 10 yen coins, and 50 yen coins. The coin sorting unit 2 includes a coin insertion slot 21, a coin identifying unit 4, and a coin sorting unit 5. The coin identifying unit 4 includes a coin discriminating path 22 and a coin discriminating unit 23. The sorting means 5 includes a genuine / false coin sorting lever 24, a denomination sorting lever 25, a false coin discharging passage (not shown), a 500 yen coin sorting passage 261, a 100 yen coin sorting passage 262, and other coin sorting passages (see FIG. (Not shown), a safe introduction passage (not shown), coin sorting levers 281 and 282, and a coin temporary holding mechanism 8.

  The type of coins inserted from the insertion slot 21 of the coin sorting unit 2 is determined by the coin determination means 23 provided along the coin determination path 22, and depending on the type, the coin is determined downstream of the coin determination path 22. By the provided genuine / fake coin distributing lever 24 and the plurality of denomination distributing levers 25, the coins are distributed to the false coin discharging passage, the safe introduction passage, and the coin sorting passage for guiding only the coins of the respective denominations. In the coin sorting unit 2, a coin temporary holding mechanism 8 is provided at each of a downstream end of a 500 yen coin sorting passage 261 that guides a 500 yen coin and a downstream end of a 100 yen coin sorting passage 262 that guides a 100 yen coin. Is provided.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the coin sorting unit 2 in the coin processing apparatus of the present invention, and (a) shows a state in which 500 yen coins are held in the 500 yen coin sorting passage 261 by the coin temporary holding mechanism, (B) has shown the state by which the 100-yen coin is hold | maintained in the 100-yen coin selection channel | path 262 by the coin temporary storage mechanism. In this example, three 500 yen coins can be held in the 500 yen coin sorting passage 261, and four 100 yen coins can be put in the 100 yen coin sorting passage 262.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the coin temporary holding mechanism and its peripheral part provided at the downstream end of the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261, and (a) shows a state where the coin holding lever 81 holds the coin. (B) shows a state where the coin holding lever 81 releases the coin. The coin temporary holding mechanism 8 includes a driving means (not shown) made of a solenoid or the like, and a coin holding lever 81 having a lower protrusion 81a and an upper protrusion 81b. Then, the coin holding lever 81 rotates about the lateral shaft 81c as a fulcrum, so that the lower protrusion 81a and the upper protrusion 81b pass through a hole 261a provided on the side surface of the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261. , Projecting into the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261, or retreating from the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261.

  In the initial state, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the coin holding lever 81 is urged counterclockwise with its shaft 81c as a fulcrum and stopped, so that the lower protrusion 81a becomes 500 yen coin sorting passage 261. The upper projection 81b is retracted from the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261. In this initial state, the coins guided to the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261 are blocked by the lower protrusion 81a of the coin holding lever 81 protruding into the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261, and are temporarily held there. Thereafter, the coin guided to the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261 is also blocked by the previously held coin and held there. In this way, a plurality of coins are successively held in the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261. The number of 500 yen coins that can be held here depends on the size of the 500 yen coin and the length of the 500 yen coin sorting passage 261.

  When a plurality of 500-yen coins are held in the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261, when the coin holding lever 81 is rotated clockwise about its shaft 81c by a driving means such as a solenoid, FIG. As shown in b), the lower projection 81a is retracted from the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261, and the upper projection 81b is projected into the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261. Then, since the coin that has been blocked by the lower protrusion 81a of the coin holding lever 81 loses its block, it is released downstream. Then, the coin immediately after the coin blocked by the lower protrusion 81a of the coin holding lever 81 is blocked by the upper protrusion 81b protruding into the 500 yen coin sorting passage 261, so that it is held in the 500 yen coin sorting passage. Will remain. Thereafter, when the coin holding lever 81 is returned to the initial state shown in FIG. 4A, the upper projection 81b is retracted from the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261, and the lower projection 81a is projected into the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261. To do. Therefore, the coin that has been blocked by the upper protrusion 81b loses the block and falls, is blocked by the lower protrusion 81a that protrudes into the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261, and is retained there. By repeating such an operation, coins can be intermittently released one by one.

  The coin temporary holding mechanism 8 provided at the downstream end of the 100-yen coin sorting passage 262 is also basically different from the lower end of the 500-yen coin sorting passage 261, although the shape of the lower protrusion of the coin holding lever is different. This is the same configuration as the coin temporary holding mechanism 8 provided in

  FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the operation of the coin sorting levers 281 and 282 provided downstream of the coin temporary holding mechanism 8, wherein (a) shows a state in which coins are sorted to the coin return slot, and (b) shows coins. Shows a state in which the coins are distributed to the coin tube 6, and (c) shows a state in which the coins are distributed to the safe. As shown in this figure, coins released from the coin temporary holding mechanism 8 are transferred to the coin return slot, coin tube 6 or vending machine by two coin distributing levers 281 and 282 provided on the downstream side of the coin temporary holding mechanism 8. It can be distributed to any safe such as a machine. In the normal mode, the reserved 500 yen coin is distributed to either the return slot, the coin tube 6 or the safe. In the special sub-tube use mode, the reserved 500 yen coin is It is distributed only to the safe and not to the coin tube 6.

  In addition, in the special sub tube use mode, when the coin holding number detecting means 11 detects that the maximum number of coins are held in the coin temporary holding mechanism 8, the coin of the denomination is received The coin will be introduced into a safe such as a vending machine. The number of coins introduced into the vending machine or other safe is limited to the number of coins held by the coin temporary holding mechanism 8 in order to support the return of input coins, and the return slot for input coins exceeding that number. Will be distributed.

  According to the coin dispensing device 1 of the above-described embodiment, when a change of a specific denomination is likely to occur due to the sales situation in a vending machine or the like, the specific denomination is easily stored. Therefore, it is possible to increase the number of sub-tubes, so that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of change of change. Moreover, in a coin processing apparatus mounted on a vending machine or the like, usually, a small amount of high-priced coins such as 500 yen coins are stored in a coin tube from the viewpoint of preventing theft and reducing operating capital. Therefore, the empty space in the coin tube that stores the high-priced coins becomes large, and the space becomes a dead space. However, in the coin processing apparatus 1, this dead space can be effectively utilized by operating in the special subtube use mode in a situation where handling of 500 yen coins is small.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the coin processing device of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The coin processing apparatus 1 according to the above-described embodiment replaces the 500 yen tube with the special sub tube, but may replace the 100 yen tube with the special sub tube, and the 500 yen tube and the 100 yen tube. Both may be replaced with a special sub-tube. Moreover, although the coin processing apparatus 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment handles 500 yen coins, 100 yen coins, 10 yen coins, and 50 yen coins, the coins handled by the coin processing apparatus of the present invention are limited to these coins. Not.

1 Coin handling equipment
2 Coin sorting section
3 Coin dispensing department
4 Coin identification means
5 Coin distribution means
6 Coin tube
7 Coin dispensing means
8 Coin temporary holding mechanism
9 Coin storage cassette
10 Special sub tube use mode switching means
11 Coin hold number detection means
12 Coin replenishment mode switching means
C coin

Claims (4)

A coin identifying means for identifying the denomination of the inserted coin, a coin distributing means for distributing the coins identified by the coin identifying means into denominations, and a coin distributed by the coin distributing means for each denomination A plurality of coin tubes to be stored, a coin dispensing means for paying out coins stored in the coin tubes, and a coin temporary holding mechanism for holding coins of a specific denomination that have been put in before being distributed to the coin tubes A coin processing apparatus comprising:
The normal mode for normal processing and the special sub tube use mode can be taken.
In the special subtube use mode,
The coin temporary holding mechanism is used as a coin storage means for holding the coin of the specific denomination for use as a direct change without being distributed to the coin tube,
The coin tube in which the coin of the specific denomination held in the temporary holding mechanism in the normal mode is distributed is replaced with a special sub-tube that stores coins of denominations other than the specific denomination. Coin processing device. It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising:
The coin processing apparatus, wherein the plurality of coin tubes are included in a coin storage cassette that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 1 or 2, Comprising:
A coin processing apparatus, comprising mode switching means for switching between the normal mode and the special sub-tube use mode. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 2,
Switching between the normal mode and the special sub-tube use mode is automatically performed according to the type of the coin storage cassette attached to the apparatus main body.

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