JP2016170466A - Coin bar storage arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coin bar storage arrangement capable of precisely detecting erroneously stored coin bar.SOLUTION: The coin bar storage arrangement includes a coin bar tray which has a coin bar storage space S for storing a coin bar in a vertical posture. The coin bar storage space S is formed by a side part 21 which faces the side face of the coin bar. At least a part of the side part 21 has a tapered area T in which a cross section of the coin bar storage space S gets narrower downward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a bar metal storage device.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, cash processing apparatuses that deposit sales and withdraw change funds have been installed in distribution facilities and commercial facilities such as retail stores and supermarkets. As an example of a cash processing apparatus, a cash processing apparatus having a function of storing a bar metal obtained by packaging a predetermined number (for example, 50) of coins of the same denomination into a bar shape is also known.

  The bar metal storage function is realized by, for example, a bar metal tray in which a bar metal storage space for storing the bar metal in a standing position is provided for each denomination. In the bar metal tray, it is desired that the bar metal of each denomination is correctly stored in the bar metal storage space corresponding to each denomination. From this point of view, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for detecting erroneous storage of a bar. Specifically, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for providing a mounting table that protrudes from the bottom of a bar storage space. According to the technology, when a bar having a diameter smaller than that of the bar corresponding to the bar metal storage space is stored in the bar metal storage space, according to the mounting state of the bar metal in the mounting table portion. The bar metal is tilted. Therefore, the operator can detect erroneous storage of the bar based on the inclination of the bar.

JP 2013-175031 A

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, even if a bar metal having a diameter smaller than that of the denomination corresponding to the bar metal storage space is stored in the bar metal storage space, the mounting of the bar metal on the mounting table portion is performed. In some situations, the bar does not tilt. For this reason, the detection omission of erroneous storage of the bar may occur.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved bar metal that can detect erroneous storage of a bar metal with higher accuracy. It is to provide a storage device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, a bar metal tray having a bar metal storage space for storing a bar metal in a standing position is provided, and the bar metal storage space is a side surface of the bar metal. There is provided a bar metal storage device that is formed by a side portion that is opposed to each other, and at least a part of the side portion has a taper region in which a cross section of the bar metal storage space is narrowed below the bar metal storage space.

  The bar metal storage device includes a first sensor located above the taper region and a second sensor located below the first sensor, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor The sensor output may vary depending on the presence or absence of a bar in the detection range.

  The taper region includes a first region parallel to the standing direction of the bar and a second region inclined with respect to the standing direction of the bar, and the second sensor includes the first sensor It may be provided on the region side.

  The taper region may be located on a lower end side of the bar storage space.

  The taper region may be spaced apart from the bottom of the bar metal storage space, and the second sensor may be provided at the bottom of the bar metal storage space.

  The bar metal tray has a first bar metal storage space and a second bar metal storage space, and a side portion forming the first bar metal storage space has the tapered region, The side part that forms the bar metal storage space may not have the tapered region.

  The bar tray further has a third bar storage space, and the taper angle of the taper region of the side portion forming the first bar storage space forms the third bar storage space. It may be different from the taper angle of the tapered region of the side portion to be performed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to detect erroneous storage of a bar with higher accuracy.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the cash processing apparatus by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a bar metal storage part. It is a perspective view which shows the state of the bar metal accommodating part in which the bar metal was accommodated. It is a top view of a bar metal storage part. It is sectional drawing of the bar metal storage space by a comparative example. It is AA sectional drawing in FIG. 4 which shows the bar metal storage space by the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the accommodation state of a bar. It is explanatory drawing which shows the bar metal storage space of each denomination. It is sectional drawing which shows the bar metal storage space by the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the accommodation state of different types of metal bars. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the bar metal storage space by a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

  In the present specification and drawings, a plurality of components having substantially the same functional configuration may be distinguished by adding different alphabets after the same reference numeral. However, when it is not necessary to particularly distinguish each of a plurality of constituent elements having substantially the same functional configuration, only the same reference numerals are given.

<0. Introduction>
Embodiments of the present invention are applied to cash processing apparatuses installed in distribution facilities and commercial facilities such as retail stores and supermarkets. The cash processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can execute processing such as change payment for dispensing banknotes and coins as change reserve used at the cash register, and sales deposit for depositing banknotes and coins collected from the cash register. It is. Furthermore, the cash processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a function as a bar metal storage apparatus that stores a bar metal obtained by packaging coins in a bar shape. Hereinafter, the configuration of the cash processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

<1. First Embodiment>
(1-1. Configuration of cash processing apparatus)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a cash processing apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the cash processing apparatus 100 includes an operation display unit 102, a coin depositing port 104, a coin processing unit 106, a coin dispensing port 108, a bill depositing / dispensing port 110, a bill processing unit 112, and a bar storage unit. 114.

  The operation display unit 102 includes a function as an operation unit that detects an operator operation and a function as a display unit that displays various screens. The function as the display unit is realized by, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) device. The function as the operation unit is realized by, for example, a capacitive or resistive touch panel.

  The coin deposit port 104 accepts the insertion of coins. For example, the coin depositing port 104 has a size that allows a plurality of coins to be inserted simultaneously, and is disposed above the coin processing unit 106 and the coin dispensing port 108 as shown in FIG. The coin deposit port 104 may have a shutter that is opened and closed, and the shutter can be opened when a coin is inserted.

  The coin processing unit 106 performs a coin deposit / withdrawal process. Specifically, the coin processing unit 106 stores the coins to be inserted into the coin deposit port 104 and sends out the denomination and the number of coins instructed by the operator operation to the coin dispensing port 108.

  The coin dispensing port 108 discharges coins to the outside of the cash processing apparatus 100. For example, the coin dispensing port 108 has a size capable of simultaneously holding a plurality of coins, and is disposed below the coin processing unit 106 as shown in FIG. The coin dispensing port 108 has a shutter that is opened and closed, and the shutter is opened when the coin is released.

  The banknote deposit / withdrawal port 110 accepts input of banknotes to be deposited and discharges the banknotes to be dispensed to the outside of the cash processing apparatus 100. For example, the banknote deposit / withdrawal port 110 has a size capable of simultaneously holding a plurality of banknotes, and is disposed above the banknote processing unit 112 as shown in FIG. The banknote deposit / withdrawal port 110 has a shutter that is opened and closed, and the shutter is opened when a banknote is inserted or ejected.

  The banknote processing unit 112 performs banknote deposit / withdrawal processing. Specifically, the banknote processing unit 112 stores banknotes inserted into the banknote deposit / withdrawal port 110 and discharges the banknotes of the denomination and the number of sheets instructed by the user operation to the banknote deposit / withdrawal port 110.

  The bar metal storage part 114 is a structure for storing a bar metal, and is configured to be able to be pulled out from the cash processing apparatus 100. The operator can take out the bar metal stored in the bar metal storage unit 114 by pulling out the bar metal storage unit 114 from the cash processing apparatus 100. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the configuration of the bar metal storage unit 114 will be described more specifically.

(1-2. Configuration of the bar storage part)
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the bar metal storage part 114. As shown in FIG. 2, the bar metal storage part 114 has a bar metal tray 120 for storing the bar metal in a standing position. The bar metal tray 120 includes a plurality of bar metal storage columns R, and each bar metal storage column R is formed by a plurality of bar metal storage spaces for storing bar metals.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, each bar metal storage row R has two bar metal storage spaces S1 for storing one-yen coins and one bar for storing five-yen coins. Bar storage space S2, three bar storage spaces S3 for storing ten-yen coins, one bar storage space S4 for storing fifty-yen coins, one hundred yen coins It is formed by three bar metal storage spaces S5 for storing gold and one bar metal storage space S6 for storing 500-yen coins. That is, the bar metal storage row R is formed by bar metal storage spaces S1 to S6 for storing bar metal of different denominations. On the other hand, a bar storage space for storing bars of the same denomination is formed on the drawing direction of the bar storage unit 114.

  The size of the above-described bar metal storage spaces S1 to S6 in plan view varies depending on the denomination corresponding to each of the bar metal storage spaces S1 to S6. Specifically, the diameter in the pull-out direction of the bar metal storage spaces S1 to S6 in plan view is substantially the same size as the diameter of the bar metal of the denomination corresponding to each of the bar metal storage spaces S1 to S6. When gold is stored, the bar is designed to be in contact with both side surfaces in the drawer direction of the bar metal storage space S. In addition, when it is not necessary to particularly distinguish the bar metal storage spaces S1 to S6 of each denomination, the bar metal storage spaces S1 to S6 of each denomination are simply referred to as a bar metal storage space or a bar metal storage space S. To do.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state of the bar metal storage part 114 in which the bar metal is stored. As shown in FIG. 3, a bar of a denomination corresponding to each bar metal storage space S is stored in each bar metal storage space S of the bar metal tray 120 described above. Gold is arranged in a grid.

  The above-described bar metal storage unit 114 includes a bar metal detection board for determining whether or not a bar metal is stored in each bar metal storage space S in order to manage the height of the bar metal storage unit 114. . The bar metal detection board is provided along the column direction of the bar metal storage rows R so as to face the side surfaces of the bar metals stored in the bar metal storage spaces S. Hereinafter, the configuration of the bar metal detection board will be described more specifically with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bar metal storage part 114. As shown in FIG. 4, in the bar metal storage unit 114, a bar metal detection board 130 is provided for each of the bar metal storage rows R. More specifically, the bar metal detection board 130 is provided so as to be parallel to a straight line connecting the tops of the side surfaces of the bar metal storage rows R on the bar metal detection board 130 side. The distances from the side surfaces of the spaces S1 to S6 are the same. In addition, since the bar metal detection board | substrate 130 is provided in the position covered with the bar metal tray 120, in FIG. 4, the bar metal detection board | substrate 130 is shown with the broken line.

  Further, the bar metal detection board 130 is connected to the control board 150 via a connector (not shown).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the bar metal detection board 130 is a sensor whose output changes depending on the presence or absence of a bar metal at a position corresponding to each bar metal storage space S included in the bar metal storage row R. It has a coil L. The coil L is formed with a wiring pattern on, for example, a bar metal detection board 130. The inductance of the coil L varies depending on the presence or absence of a bar in the bar storage space S corresponding to the coil L.

  Here, the bar detection board 130 outputs the inductance of the coil L to the control board 150 as a detection value. The control board 150 has a function as a determination unit that determines the presence / absence of a bar metal. Specifically, the bar board in each bar metal storage space S is based on a detection value input from the bar metal detection board 130. It is possible to determine the presence or absence.

(1-3. Comparative example)
The embodiment of the present invention relates to the configuration of the bar metal tray 120 described above, and more particularly, to the configuration of the bar metal storage space S. Therefore, in order to understand the technical significance of the bar metal storage space S according to the embodiment of the present invention, prior to the description of the bar metal storage space S according to the embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of the bar metal storage space according to the comparative example is as follows. Explained.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a bar storage space 90 according to a comparative example. As shown in FIG. 5, the bar metal storage space 90 according to the comparative example is formed by a side portion 92 facing the side surface of the bar metal and a bottom portion 94 facing the bottom surface of the bar metal. The bar metal storage space 90 is a cylindrical space, and the diameter of the bar metal storage space 90 is designed to be substantially the same as the diameter of the denomination bar corresponding to the bar metal storage space 90. When a bar metal is stored in such a bar metal storage space 90, the output of the sensor L provided for the bar metal storage space 90 changes, whereby the bar metal storage is detected.

  However, even when a bar that is not a predetermined denomination is stored in the bar storage space 90 (when a bar is erroneously stored), a bar of a predetermined denomination is generated based on the output of the sensor L. If it is stored, it will be erroneously detected. Since the bar length is different for each denomination, the operator can recognize that the bar is mis-stored based on the height of the upper end of the bar. It was difficult to recognize with certainty.

  Thus, embodiments of the present invention have been created with the above circumstances as a focus. According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to detect erroneous storage of a bar with higher accuracy. Hereinafter, the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

(1-4. Configuration of bar storage space)
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4, showing a bar metal storage space S6 (first bar metal storage space) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the bar metal storage space S6 for the 500-yen coin is formed by a side portion 21 facing the side surface of the bar metal and a bottom portion 24 facing the bottom surface of the bar metal.

  Furthermore, the side part 21 by this embodiment has the taper area | region T where the cross section of the bar metal storage space S narrows under the bar metal storage space S6. With this configuration, when a bar other than a 500-yen coin is stored in the bar storage space S, the operator can easily recognize the erroneous storage of the bar by visual observation. This point will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the bar is stored. The diameter of the bar storage space S6 is substantially the same as that of the 500 yen coin bar B6. Here, since the diameter of the 500-yen coin is the largest among the diameters of coins in Japan, the diameter of the bar of another coin, for example, the diameter of the 10-yen coin bar B3 and the diameter of the bar storage space S6. The difference is larger than the difference between the diameter of the 500 yen coin bar B6 and the diameter of the bar storage space S6.

  Therefore, FIG. 7 shows a comparison between the state in which the 500-yen coin bar B6 is stored in the bar storage space S6 and the state in which the 10-yen bar B3 is stored in the bar storage space S6. Thus, the amount of descent in the taper region T is larger in the ten-yen coin bar B3. As a result, the upper surface of the bar B6 and the bar in the state in which the bar of the 500 yen coin B6 is stored in the bar metal storage space S6 and the state in which the bar of the ten yen coin B3 is stored in the bar metal storage space S6. A difference d greater than the length of the bar B6 and the bar B3 occurs in the height of the upper surface of the gold B3.

  With this configuration, the operator can easily and accurately detect the erroneous storage of the bar in the bar storage unit 114 by visual inspection.

  The bar metal tray 120 may include a bar metal storage space having a tapered region T and a bar metal storage space having no taper region T. For example, in a bar storage space S1 (second bar storage space) for a one-yen coin having a minimum coin diameter in Japan, it is difficult to store a denomination bar having a diameter larger than that of the one-yen coin. Therefore, erroneous storage of the bar is unlikely to occur in the bar storage space S1. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the taper region T for detecting erroneous storage does not have to be provided in the bar metal storage space S1 for one coin.

  Moreover, the taper angle of the taper area | region T of bar metal storage space may differ for every money type. As this background, the difference in diameter between the 500-yen coin having the maximum coin diameter and the other coins is larger than the difference in diameter between the other coins. For this reason, when the taper angle of the bar metal storage space S6 for 500 yen coins and the bar metal storage space S3 for 10 yen coins which are, for example, intermediate coins are the same, the taper region T of the bar metal storage space S3. The lowering amount of the other denomination bar is smaller than the lowering amount of the other denomination bar in the taper region of the bar storing space S6. That is, it is relatively difficult to detect erroneous storage of the bar in the bar storage space S3. Based on the above background, as shown in FIG. 8, the taper angle p of the taper region T of the ten-yen coin bar storage space S <b> 3 (third bar metal storage space) is a bar metal for 500 yen coins. It may be designed to be smaller than the taper angle q of the storage space S6. According to such a configuration, since the amount of lowering of the bar metal when the bar metal is erroneously stored in the bar metal storage space for the intermediate diameter coin increases, the bar metal erroneous storage in the bar metal storage space for the intermediate diameter coin Can be detected with higher accuracy.

<2. Second Embodiment>
The first embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. According to the second embodiment, as described below, it is possible to automatically detect erroneous storage of a bar.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a bar storage space according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the bar metal storage space according to the second embodiment is formed by a side part 21 that faces the side surface of the bar metal B and a bottom part 24 that faces the bottom surface of the bar metal. The side part 21 has the taper area | region T where the cross section of a bar metal storage space becomes narrow toward the downward direction of a bar metal storage space similarly to 1st Embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, a coil L1 (first sensor) positioned above the taper region and a coil L2 (second sensor) positioned below the coil L1 are provided for the bar metal storage space. It is done.

  In such a configuration, when the correct bar B is stored in the bar storage space as shown in FIG. 9, the bar B is included in the detection range of the coil L1, but is not included in the detection range of the coil L2. I can't. For this reason, the correct bar B is detected only by the coil L1. On the other hand, when the different type of metal bar B is stored in the bar metal storage space, the bar B descends in the tapered region T as shown in FIG. For this reason, the bar B is detected by both the coil L1 and the coil L2.

  Therefore, the control board 150 described with reference to FIG. 4 can determine that the bar B is correctly stored based on the fact that the bar B is detected only by the coil L1. Further, the control board 150 has a bar in the bar storage space based on the output from the coil L2, that is, based on the fact that the bar is detected by the coil L2 functioning as a different denomination bar detection sensor. It is possible to determine that is stored incorrectly.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the taper region T includes a first region parallel to the standing direction of the bar metal B and a second region inclined with respect to the standing direction of the bar metal B. L2 is provided on the first region side. With this configuration, the distance between the side surface of the metal bar and the coil L2 can be kept constant regardless of which type of metal bar is stored incorrectly, so that the coil L2 when the metal bar is stored incorrectly can be maintained. It is possible to stabilize the output.

(Modification)
In the above description, the configuration in which the coil L2 is provided to face the side portion 21 and the configuration in which the tapered region T is provided at the lower end of the bar metal storage space have been described. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this configuration. Hereinafter, a modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a bar metal storage space according to a modification. As shown in FIG. 11, the bar metal storage space according to the modification is formed by a side portion 21 facing the side surface of the bar metal B and a bottom portion 24 facing the bottom surface of the bar metal.

  Furthermore, the side part 21 by a modification has the taper area | region T located apart from the bottom part 24 of a bar metal storage space, as shown in FIG. Here, the minimum diameter x of the taper region T is equal to or larger than the diameter of a bar metal having the next largest diameter after the bar metal of the denomination to be stored in the bar metal storage space, and is stored in the bar metal storage space. Designed to be less than the diameter of the metal rod of the denomination. With this configuration, the denomination bar to be stored in the bar storage space does not pass through the tapered region T, and the denomination bar having a diameter smaller than that of the bar passes through the tapered region T.

  In the modification, a coil L1 positioned above the taper region and a coil L2 positioned on the bottom 24 side are provided for the bar storage space.

  In this configuration, when a correct bar is stored in the bar storage space, the bar is included in the detection range of the coil L1, but is not included in the detection range of the coil L2. For this reason, the correct bar B is detected only by the coil L1. On the other hand, when the different metal bar B is stored in the bar storage space, the bar B passes through the tapered region T. For this reason, the bar B is detected by both the coil L1 and the coil L2.

  Therefore, the control board 150 described with reference to FIG. 4 can determine that the bar B is correctly stored based on the fact that the bar B is detected only by the coil L1. Further, the control board 150 has a bar in the bar storage space based on the output from the coil L2, that is, based on the fact that the bar is detected by the coil L2 functioning as a different denomination bar detection sensor. It is possible to determine that is stored incorrectly.

<3. Conclusion>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a bar of a different denomination is stored in the bar metal storage space, the operator visually checks the erroneous storage of the bar based on the height of the upper surface of the bar. Can be detected. In particular, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to automatically detect erroneous storage of a bar based on the output of the coil L2.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can come up with various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. Of course, it is understood that these also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

21 Side portion 24 Bottom portion 100 Cash processing device 102 Operation display portion 104 Coin deposit port 106 Coin processing portion 108 Coin dispensing port 110 Banknote deposit / withdrawal port 112 Banknote processing unit 114 Bar metal storage unit 120 Bar metal tray 130 Bar metal detection substrate 150 Control board

Claims (7)

A bar tray having a bar storage space for storing the bar in a standing position;
The bar metal storage space is formed by a side portion facing a side surface of the bar metal,
At least a part of the side portion has a taper region in which a cross section of the bar metal storage space narrows toward the lower side of the bar metal storage space. The bar metal storage device is
A first sensor located above the tapered region;
A second sensor located below the first sensor;
Have
The bar metal storage device according to claim 1, wherein outputs of the first sensor and the second sensor change according to presence or absence of a bar metal in a detection range. The tapered region includes a first region parallel to the standing direction of the bar and a second region inclined with respect to the standing direction of the bar,
The bar metal storage device according to claim 2, wherein the second sensor is provided on the first region side.   The said taper area | region is a bar metal storage apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3 located in the lower end side of the said bar metal storage space. The taper region is located apart from the bottom of the bar storage space;
The bar metal storage device according to claim 2, wherein the second sensor is provided at a bottom portion of the bar metal storage space. The bar metal tray has a first bar metal storage space and a second bar metal storage space,
The side part forming the first bar storage space has the tapered region,
The bar metal storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a side portion forming the second bar metal storage space does not have the tapered region. The bar tray further has a third bar storage space;
The taper angle of the tapered region of the side part forming the first bar metal storage space is different from the taper angle of the taper region of the side part forming the third bar metal storage space. A bar storage device according to claim 1.

Images