JP2017010472A - Coin handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coin handling device capable of solving a problem in a convenient device such that, when remaining coins get fewer, a coin may be repeatedly kicked back by a separation roller resulting in a failure in separation of coins.SOLUTION: A first detection sensor (303) detects existence/absence of coins, and on the basis of the detection result, the amount of coins which are not separated by a separation roller (207) is determined. When the first detection sensor detects existence of coins and determines the amount of the detected coins is fewer than a first predetermined amount, the conveying speed by a conveyer belt (211) is reduced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a coin processing device configured inside an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) of a financial institution, and more particularly, to a coin processing device or a coin processing method that eliminates a coin retention phenomenon in a coin separation mechanism.

  As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a conventional coin processing device detects the presence or absence of coins using a residual sensor, and improves the reliability by suppressing the remaining of coins such as a bridge residue and the retention of coins. I am trying. However, in such a coin processing device, when the number of remaining coins is small, the coins are repeatedly flipped off by the reverse separation roller, and the phenomenon that the coins cannot be separated properly has not been considered.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-212445

  Therefore, the present invention provides a coin separating and conveying apparatus that can appropriately separate coins even when there is an event that the coins are repelled by a roller.

In order to solve the above problem, the coin processing device determines the amount of coins that are not separated by the separation roller based on the detection state of the presence or absence of coins of the first detection sensor,
When the first detection sensor detects the presence of coins and determines that the number of coins detected by the first detection sensor is equal to or less than the first predetermined amount, the conveyance speed of the conveyance belt is decreased.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent coins from staying in the coin processing apparatus.

It is the figure which showed the external appearance of the cash automatic transaction apparatus provided with a coin processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a coin processing apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a coin processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a money-type stacker. It is sectional drawing of a money-type stacker. (1 yen as an example) It is sectional drawing of a money type stacker (AA sectional drawing of FIG. 5). It is a flowchart when only one coin remains in the money type stacker. It is one Embodiment of a coin residual detection reference value table. It is other embodiment of a coin residual detection reference value table. It is a control flowchart when a plurality of coins remain in the money type stacker.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, in order to clarify the characteristics of the present invention, in each embodiment, there is a part in which the description of the prior art is omitted.
(First embodiment)

  FIG. 1 shows an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine) 1000 installed in a financial institution such as a bank, which automatically executes various transactions requested by customers. As shown in FIG. 1, the ATM 1000 includes a coin processing device 101 having a shutter, a card and statement mechanism unit 102, a passbook mechanism unit 103, a bill deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit 104, and an operation unit 105 having an input / display function.

  The coin processing device 101 counts and stores coins inserted into a coin deposit / withdrawal port by a user, or is stored in a storage according to a deposit amount input from an input unit of the operation unit 105. The coin is paid out to the coin deposit / withdrawal port. Details of the coin processing device 101 will be described later.

  The card specification mechanism unit 102 includes a card mechanism unit and a specification mechanism unit.

  The card mechanism unit accepts insertion of a cash card to be used when a user makes a transaction with the ATM 1000, and reads magnetic stripe information added to the inserted cash card and an image of an embossed portion of the cash card. . Further, the card mechanism unit discharges the inserted cash card when the transaction ends. The specification mechanism unit prints the transaction details on the specification and discharges the printed specification slip.

  The passbook mechanism 103 accepts a passbook insertion operation that is used when a user makes a transaction with the ATM 1000. The bankbook mechanism unit 103 reads the magnetic stripe information added to the inserted bankbook. Further, the passbook mechanism unit 103 prints the contents of the transaction on a predetermined page of the book, and discharges the printed passbook when the transaction ends.

  The banknote deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit 104 includes a banknote deposit / withdrawal port for taking out and receiving banknotes traded by a user and a storage for storing banknotes.

  The bill deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit 104 determines whether the bill inserted into the bill deposit / withdrawal port is authentic and stores it in the storage, or stores it in the storage according to the deposit amount input from the operation unit 105. The banknotes are fed out and discharged to the deposit / withdrawal port.

  The operation unit 105 includes a touch panel including a display unit and an input unit. The operation unit 105 displays an operation guide related to a transaction, an input deposit amount, a discharge amount, and the like, a designation of a type of transaction to be started, and an input such as a deposit amount and a withdrawal amount.

  The ATM configuration is as described above, but is not limited thereto. Some mechanical parts may be missing.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of the coin processing apparatus 101 shown in FIG. The coin processing apparatus 101 handles the coins 20 in a loose state.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the coin processing device 101 includes a shutter 1, a temporary holding unit 2, a deposit / withdrawal port 3, a dispensing / conveying unit 4, a feeding unit 5, a coin identifying unit 6, and a depositing / conveying unit 7. , Money type stacker 8, vertical transport unit 9, batch stacker 10, operation cartridge 11, withdrawal determination unit 12, foreign matter discharge unit 13, acquisition base residual sensor 60, feeding part residual detection sensor 61, a temporary holding part residual detection sensor 62, and a withdrawal conveyance part residual detection sensor 63.

  The flow of coins in the coin processing apparatus will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

  First, the route of coin transportation at the time of deposit will be described. The operation unit 105 accepts the start of a deposit transaction by the customer, and the control unit 51 opens the shutter 1. Thereafter, the coin 20 is inserted into the deposit / withdrawal port 3 by the customer, and the control unit 51 closes the shutter 1 after a predetermined time has elapsed. The inside of the deposit / withdrawal port 3 is a concave-shaped bucket that receives the coins 20 collectively, and the control unit 51 opens the bucket, drops the coins 20, and moves them to the feeding unit 5. Thereafter, the control unit 51 conveys the coin 20 with the coin identification unit 6 and the deposit conveyance unit 7 and reaches the temporary storage unit 2. The coin identifying unit 6 determines the authenticity and denomination of the coin 20.

  The control unit 51 once holds the coin 20 in the temporary holding unit 2, and when the transaction is stopped, the control unit 51 carries the coin with the conveyance path 30 and the withdrawal conveyance path 4, and further conveys the coin 20 by a route not shown in the drawing. Return to deposit / withdrawal port 3 and refund to customer. On the other hand, when a transaction is established, the control unit 51 conveys coins from the temporary holding unit 2 to the conveyance path 30, the feeding unit 5, the coin identification unit 6, the deposit conveyance unit 7, and identifies the coins to the denomination stacker 8. According to the identification result by the part 6, each denomination is sorted and stored.

  The coin transportation route at the time of withdrawal will be described. The control unit 105 accepts the start of a withdrawal transaction by the customer. The control unit 51 outputs a predetermined amount from the money type stacker 8 based on the input information from the operation unit 105 by the customer, and withdraws the money to the deposit / withdrawal port 3 through the horizontal conveyance path 14 and the withdrawal conveyance path 4. Then, the shutter 1 is opened and a coin is withdrawn to the customer.

  The shutter 1 opens or closes the deposit / withdrawal port 3. When the operation unit 105 receives a specified transaction type, a numerical value such as a deposit amount, or a designation to end the transaction, the shutter 1 receives the designation from the control unit 51 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 51. Open and close.

The temporary holding unit 2 temporarily holds the coins 20 collectively.
The temporary holding unit 2 temporarily stores the true coins output from the coin identifying unit 6 and, when a certain time has elapsed, transports them to the temporarily stored coin dispensing and transporting unit 4. The coins stored in the temporary holding unit 2 are finally stored in the denomination stacker 8.

  The deposit / withdrawal port 3 is provided in the upper part of the coin processing apparatus 101, and temporarily holds the coin 20 to be deposited, and then takes it into the coin processing apparatus 101. Moreover, after temporarily holding the coin 20 to be withdrawn conveyed from the inside of the coin processing apparatus 101, the shutter 1 is opened and then released to the outside. Further, the deposit / withdrawal port 3 releases the false coins and the transportable foreign matter after the deposit / withdrawal process is completed to the user by opening the shutter 1. The lower part of the deposit / withdrawal port 3 is opened / closed according to an instruction from the control unit 51, and the temporarily held coin 20 can be discharged to the feeding unit 5.

  The withdrawal conveyance unit 4 conveys coins conveyed from the temporary holding unit 2 or the like to the deposit / withdrawal port 3. When the true coins are discharged from the temporary storage unit 2, the dispensing transport unit 4 transports the coins separated one by one to the deposit / withdrawal port 3. A coin separating unit (not shown) installed on the dispensing transport unit 4 separates coins one by one.

  The feeding unit 5 conveys the coins 20 sent from the deposit / withdrawal port 3. The feeding unit 5 conveys the coins separated one by one to the coin identifying unit 6. A coin separating unit (not shown) installed on the feeding unit 5 separates coins into one coin at a time.

  The coin identifying unit 6 identifies the authenticity or denomination of the coin 20 sent from the feeding unit 5. The coin identifying unit 6 determines the denomination of the coin sent out by the feeding unit 5 and identifies the authenticity of the determined coin. If the coin identifying unit 6 determines that the coin conveyed from the feeding unit 5 is a true coin, the coin identifying unit 6 outputs the coin to the true coin temporary storage unit 2. If the coin identifying unit 6 determines that the coin is a fake coin, A false coin is output to a return conveyance part (not shown).

  Further, the coin identifying unit 6 determines whether the coin is true or false, and outputs the true coin to the temporary storage unit 2. After that, the true coin passes through the dispensing transport unit 4 and the deposit / withdrawal port 3, and is again fed out. When it is sent out by 5, the denomination of the sent out true coin is discriminated, and the coin of the discriminated denomination is transported to the deposit transport unit 7.

  The deposit conveyance unit 7 conveys the coin 20 to be deposited to the denomination stacker 8 by denomination. The deposit conveyance unit 7 conveys the true coins conveyed from the coin identification unit 6 to the denomination stacker 8. The deposit conveyance unit 7 is provided with a conveyance path for each denomination for storing the coins conveyed from the coin identification unit 6 for each denomination in the denomination stacker 8. Therefore, when the coin identifying unit 6 determines the denomination of the coin, the coin is output to the determined denomination conveyance path.

  The denomination stacker 8 stores the coins 20 conveyed by the deposit conveyance unit 7 in denominations. The money type stacker 8 releases the coins stored in the money type stacker 8 to the lateral transport unit 14 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 51. The horizontal conveyance unit 14 conveys the released coins to the dispensing conveyance unit 4.

  The vertical conveyance unit 9 conveys coins of the batch stacker 10 and the operation cartridge 11. The vertical conveyance unit 9 conveys the coins stored in the operation cartridge 11 to the withdrawal conveyance unit 4.

  The batch stacker 10 collectively stores coins 20 discharged from the temporary storage unit 2 or the like. The batch stacker 10 cannot be stored in the denomination stacker 8 or the temporary storage unit 2 because the number of coins stored in the denomination stacker 8 or the number of coins stored in the temporary storage unit 2 exceeds a predetermined number. If there is a surplus, store extra coins.

  The operation cartridge 11 is for setting replenishment coins (not shown). The operation cartridge 11 stores in advance coins to be replenished when coins are not stored in the denomination stacker 8 or the like. The coins 20 inserted into the deposit / withdrawal port 3 are conveyed to the operation cartridge 11 through the above-described units in the coin processing apparatus 101.

  The withdrawal determination unit 12 is installed at the exit of the withdrawal transport unit 4. The withdrawal determination unit 12 can determine the type of coin that has passed. The withdrawal discrimination unit 12 discriminates the denomination of the coin conveyed by the withdrawal transport unit 4 to the deposit / withdrawal port 3 and detects whether or not the coin has passed.

  The foreign matter discharge unit 13 discharges foreign matter in the feeding unit 5 to the outside of the apparatus, and includes, for example, an openable / closable flapper provided on the conveyance path. The foreign matter discharge unit 13 opens and closes the flapper described above in response to an instruction from the control unit 51.

  The deposit / withdrawal port residual detection sensor 60 detects a residue at the deposit / withdrawal port 3, and the feeding portion residual detection sensor 61 detects a residue at the feeding portion 5. The temporary storage unit residual detection sensor 62 detects a residue in the temporary storage unit 2, and the withdrawal conveyance unit residual detection sensor 63 detects a residue in the withdrawal conveyance unit 4. These sensors are composed of, for example, conventionally known optical sensors. However, the type of sensor is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the coin processing apparatus 101 shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 2 shows only main components related to this configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the coin processing device 101 includes the above-described units, a memory 58 including a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 51 controls the operation of each unit of the coin processing apparatus 101 described above. Each of these units is connected to an automatic transaction apparatus 1000 that is a higher-level apparatus 59 and includes a coin processing apparatus 101 via a control unit 51. In addition, a timer may be provided inside or outside of the control unit 51 so that the detection time by the sensor and the processing time in each process can be measured. Moreover, it may be the structure which can count the frequency | count of detection, such as a coin detection by a sensor.

  Further, in the memory 58, a coin discriminating unit number counter 40 for managing the result counted by the coin discriminating unit 6 for each denomination, and a temporary holding unit storing number for managing the coins stored in the temporary holding unit 2 for each denomination. A counter 41 and a coin residual detection reference value table 42 are provided. The memory 58 may store a predetermined time for each process described in the following process. Of course, the predetermined time may be written in the program. The configuration of the memory and CPU need not be limited to the configuration described above.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of the denomination stacker 8 shown in FIG. In this embodiment, a Japanese coin will be described as an example. The money type stacker stores a 1 yen stacker 201 that stores 1 yen, a 5 yen stacker 202 that stores 5 yen, a 10 yen stacker 203 that stores 10 yen, a 50 yen stacker 204 that stores 50 yen, and 100 yen. The stacker includes a 100-yen stacker 205 and a 500-yen stacker 206 that stores 500 yen. The coin denomination unit 6 discriminates the denomination of the coin, and each coin denomination is stored in a stacker of each denomination. The money stacker includes a 1-yen conveyor belt 211 that conveys 1 yen, a 5-yen conveyor belt 212 that conveys 5 yen, a 10-yen conveyor belt 213 that conveys 10 yen, and a 50-yen conveyor belts 214 and 100 that convey 50 yen. A 100-yen conveyor belt 215 that conveys a circle, and a 500-yen conveyor belt 216 that conveys 500 yen, may be driven by belt drive rollers 208 and 209 that are driven by a common drive source. Of course, a separate drive source may be used for each stacker. Further, each denomination stacker 8 of the denomination stacker 8 has the reverse separation roller 207, but the reverse separation roller 207 may be driven by a common drive source. Of course, a separate drive source may be used for each stacker. Further, the driving source of the conveyor belt and the driving source of the reverse separation roller may be common or may be different.

  FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the denomination stacker 8 of FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. A stacker for each denomination provided in the denomination stacker 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, a one-yen stacker that stores one yen will be described as an example, but the same applies to other denomination stackers.

  The one-yen stacker includes a conveyor belt 211 that conveys the coins 302, a reverse separation roller 207 that is disposed on the upper surface of the conveyor belt 211 with a predetermined interval, and a residual sensor that detects the presence or absence of coins on the conveyor belt 211. 303, wall surfaces 301 and 306 of the stacker, a stopper 304 that prevents a plurality of transported coins from being fed out, and a passage sensor 305 that detects a coin that has passed through the stopper. Note that the stopper 304 and the passage sensor 305 may be disposed outside the one-yen stacker.

  The conveying belt 211 conveys the coins accumulated on the upper surface of the conveying belt between the opposing surfaces of the reverse rotation separating roller 207 and the conveying belt 211 facing below the reverse separating roller 207, Repel and feed one by one.

  The reverse separation roller 207 rotates in the opposite direction to the conveying belt 211 so that two or more coins are not conveyed at one time, and repels the overlapping coins (coins accumulated on the upper side).

  The stopper 304 is driven up and down by a solenoid or the like. The stopper 304 adjusts the height of the conveyor belt 211 or the conveyor belt ahead thereof under the control of the control unit 51, and further restricts the feeding of coins that have passed through the reverse rotation separation roller 207. Even when the reverse separation roller 207 cannot separate the coins one by one, the stopper 304 can reliably separate and feed the coins one by one.

  The residual sensor 303 detects the presence or absence of coins accumulated on the conveyor belt 211. When the number of coins decreases, the remaining sensor 303 detects the coins for a shorter time or less times. That is, the amount (number or approximate number) of coins accumulated on the conveyor belt 211 can be determined based on the time or number of times that the coins of the residual sensor 303 are detected. The residual sensor may be an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor.

  The passage sensor 305 detects the coin that has passed through the stopper 304. When the coin sensor is not detected by the passage sensor 305 even though the residual sensor 303 detects that there is a large amount of coins, the coin processing device transports the transport belt 211 in the reverse direction. When coins are jammed between the reverse rotation separation roller 207 and the conveyor belt 211, it becomes possible to eliminate the clogging of coins. The passage sensor may be an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor.

  Next, control of the coin processing device for preventing the coins from staying will be described. In particular, a description will be given of control that is effective when the reverse separation roller 207 repeatedly repels coins due to a small number of coins. In addition, the control part 51 of a coin processing apparatus makes the operation | movement shown below to the money classification stacker 8. FIG.

  A specific control flow is shown. In FIG. 6, the control for changing the coin conveyance speed by the conveyance belt 211 when one coin stays will be described. The coin processing device transports the coins deposited on the transport belt 211 at the first transport speed (normal transport) by the transport belt 211 (S701).

  The reverse rotation separation roller 207 crushes the coins accumulated on the conveyor belt 211 or repels the coins that have overlapped. The conveyor belt 211 conveys the coins broken or flipped by the reverse separation roller between the reverse separation roller and the conveyance belt 211 and conveys the coins one by one. In this way, coins are sequentially conveyed.

  The residual sensor 303 detects the presence or absence of coins, and the processing from S701 to S707 is performed when the residual sensor 303 detects the presence of coins (when the presence of coins is detected within a predetermined time). . When the residual sensor 303 cannot detect the coin within the predetermined time, the control unit determines that the transport belt has transported the coin normally, and ends the process.

  The coin processing device detects the remaining state of the coin by the residual sensor 303 (S702). When the control unit 51 of the coin processing device determines that one coin is staying on the basis of the detected state, the coin is transported to the transport belt 211 by the second transport speed (transport speed 1) (S703). .

  Subsequently, the control unit 51 of the coin processing device detects the residual state of the coin by the residual sensor 303 while transporting the coin to the transport belt 211 at the second transport speed (S704). When the control unit 51 of the coin processing device determines that one coin is staying on the basis of the detected state, the coin is transported to the transport belt 211 by the third transport speed (transport speed 2) (S705). .

  Subsequently, the control unit 51 of the coin processing device detects the residual state of the coin by the residual sensor 303 while transporting the coin at the third transport speed (S706). When the control unit 51 of the coin processing device determines that one coin is staying based on the detection state, the control unit 51 determines that the staying of one coin cannot be resolved, notifies the host device of an error, and uses the transport belt 211. The conveyance is stopped (S707).

  On the other hand, when the control unit 51 of the coin processing apparatus determines in S702 that one coin is not staying based on the detection state, whether or not two or more coins are staying is further determined based on the detection state. Judgment is made (S708). If it is determined that two or more sheets are staying, normal conveyance is continued.

  On the other hand, if no coin remains, it is determined that the separation operation has been completed normally, and the conveyance of the conveyance belt 211 is stopped (708).

  FIG. 10 shows a control flow when the control unit 51 gradually decreases the conveyance speed when the residual sensor 303 detects a plurality of (for example, three or less) coins.

If the control unit 51 determines that four or more coins remain based on the detection state of the residual sensor 303, the control unit 51 continues normal conveyance (S1001). On the other hand, when the control unit 51 determines that four or more coins do not remain and one to three coins remain based on the detection state of the residual sensor 303, the conveyance speed by the conveyance belt Is lowered to the conveyance speed 1 which is slower than the normal conveyance speed (S1002, S1003, S1004).
Based on the detection state of the residual sensor 303, the control unit 51 determines whether there is a change (decrease) in the number of remaining sheets within a predetermined time (S1005).

  The control unit 51 determines that the remaining number has decreased within a predetermined time, and when there is a remaining coin, the control unit 51 continues the next predetermined time and transports it at the same transport speed (transport speed 1) (S1005). , S1006). It is because it is thought that there is an effect in reducing the coins which remain | survive with the conveyance speed by the conveyance belt at that time.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of remaining sheets has not decreased within a predetermined time, the control unit 51 performs a process of reducing the transport speed by the transport belt to the transport speed 2 slower than the transport speed 1 (S1005). This is because at the conveyance speed 1, it is considered ineffective to reduce the remaining coins.

  Based on the detection state of the residual sensor 303, the control unit 51 determines whether there is a change (decrease) in the number of remaining sheets within a predetermined time (S1008).

  The control unit 51 determines that the number of remaining coins has decreased within a predetermined time, and when there is a remaining coin, it is transported at the same transport speed (transport speed 2) for the next predetermined time (S1008). ). It is because it is thought that there is an effect in reducing the coins which remain | survive with the conveyance speed by the conveyance belt at that time.

On the other hand, the control unit 51 determines that the number of remaining sheets has not decreased within a predetermined time, and if it is determined that coins remain, notifies the error (S1008, S1009, S1010).
If it is determined that no coin remains (S1003, S1006, S1009), the process is terminated (S1010).

  Here, a coin detection method will be described. As described above, the residual sensor 303 detects the presence or absence of coins. The control unit 51 of the coin processing device determines the remaining state of the coin based on the time when the residual sensor 303 detects the presence of a coin or the time when the presence of no coin is detected. That is, the control unit 51 of the coin processing device determines that a large amount of coins remain when the coin-holding time is long, and determines that a small amount of coins remains when the coin-holding time is short. To do.

  Here, when the conveyance speed of the conveyance belt 211 is changed, the time for the residual sensor 303 to detect the presence or absence of coins may change. In particular, when the number of coins is small, the time for detecting the presence or absence of coins changes. For example, when the number of coins is one and the conveyance speed by the conveyance belt 211 is slow, the residual sensor 303 detects the presence of one coin for a long time. On the other hand, when the conveyance speed by the conveyance belt 211 is high, the residual sensor 303 detects the presence of one coin for a short time.

  For this reason, when the coin processing device detects the stagnation of coins by the residual sensor 303 and slows the transport speed of the transport belt 211, the predetermined time (first predetermined time) used before the transport speed is slowed down. It is preferable to detect the remaining coins at a predetermined time (second predetermined time) different from the above. For example, if the residual sensor 303 detects the presence of coins, the second predetermined time is preferably a value longer than the first predetermined time.

  FIG. 8 is a coin residual detection reference value table 42 stored in the memory 58. The coin residual detection reference value table 42 stores the above-described predetermined time for detecting that one coin is staying at each conveyance speed (normal conveyance, conveyance speed 1, conveyance speed 2) of the conveyance belt 211. doing. The predetermined time is a value calculated based on the size (diameter, etc.) of the 1-yen coin and the conveyance speed. For example, it is a value obtained by dividing the size of one-yen coin by the conveyance speed. In addition, when it is desired to detect staying of a plurality of sheets (for example, two sheets), the value may be twice that of a single sheet. Moreover, what is necessary is just to calculate with the size (diameter etc.) of the coin when the kind of coin differs.

  The predetermined time may be determined on the program without being stored as a table.

  With the control described above, it is possible to separate coins that are flipped off by the reverse separation roller. In particular, the control unit slows the conveying speed while operating the reverse separation roller, so that even when a plurality of coins remain, the single separation of the coins by the reverse separation roller is continued. It is possible to suppress continuation of stay due to coins being flipped by the reverse rotation separation roller.

The second embodiment will be described below. Note that differences from the first embodiment will be described.
(Second embodiment)

  The coin processing apparatus may have another coin detection method. For example, the control unit 51 of the coin processing apparatus determines whether or not the residual sensor 303 has repeated a change in the presence or absence of coins a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time.

  When the residual sensor 303 repeatedly detects the presence or absence of coins a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, the control unit 51 of the coin processing apparatus determines that a predetermined number of coins remain and determines the transfer speed of the coins by the transfer belt 211. Make it slower than normal transport.

  On the other hand, when the presence / absence of coins is not repeated a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time by the residual sensor 303 (and when coins continue to exist), a large amount of coins still remains. Continue the transfer speed during transfer. If the presence / absence of coins is not repeated a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time by the residual sensor 303 (and if no coins continue), the control unit 51 determines that there are no coins and ends the conveyance.

  The memory 58 has a coin residual detection reference table 42 that stores a predetermined time or a predetermined number of times for each conveyance speed shown in FIG. For example, the predetermined time may be a value obtained by dividing the distance from the end surface 301 of the denomination stacker to the reverse separation roller 207 by the conveyance speed. Alternatively, the predetermined time may be a value obtained by multiplying a value obtained by dividing the distance from the end surface 301 of the denomination stacker to the reverse separation roller 207 by the conveyance speed by three times. The predetermined number of times may be one when the predetermined time is a value obtained by dividing the distance from the end surface 301 of the denomination stacker to the reverse separation roller 207 by the conveyance speed.

  It should be noted that the predetermined time and the predetermined number of times may be determined on the program without being stored as a table.

  With the above-described method, the control unit can determine the amount of remaining coins (including the number of coins).

The third embodiment will be described below. Note that differences from the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be described.
(Third embodiment)

  As described above, the denomination stacker of the coin processing apparatus includes a plurality of stackers 201 to 206, and each stacker includes a residual sensor, a reverse separation roller, and conveyor belts 211 to 216. The coin processing apparatus shares each conveyor belt. The drive sources 209 and 208 are operated. In such a case, when the coin processing device separates heavy coins such as 500 yen and rotates the conveyor belts 211 to 216, light coins such as 1 yen are unexpectedly blown off by the reverse separation roller. Occurs.

  Therefore, the control unit 51 performs the control of the first embodiment or the second embodiment based on the detection state of the remaining sensor 303 of the stacker that stores light coins such as 1 yen and 5 yen. That is, the control unit 51 of the coin processing device is a 1-yen stacker or a 5-yen stacker, and when the residual sensor 303 detects a coin shorter than a predetermined time, or the residual sensor 303 changes the presence or absence of a coin within a predetermined time. When it is repeated a predetermined number of times, the control unit 51 of the coin processing device may perform the control for decreasing the conveyance speed in stages as shown in the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

  On the other hand, when the residual sensor 303 of the 10-yen stacker, 50-yen stacker, 100-yen stacker, and 500-yen stacker detects a coin shorter than a predetermined time, or the residual sensor 303 changes the presence or absence of a coin within a predetermined time. When repeated, the coin processing apparatus may not perform the control for decreasing the conveyance speed in stages as shown in the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

  Alternatively, the coin processing device may set the conditions for carrying out the control shown in the first embodiment or the second embodiment more severely for heavy coins than for lighter coins.

  Specifically, the control unit of the coin processing device performs the first control when the residual sensor 303 detects one sheet for a heavy coin, and the residual sensor 303 detects two sheets for a light coin. The first control may be implemented.

  In addition, the coin processing device performs the second control when it is detected at least once within a predetermined time for a heavy coin, and performs the second control when it is detected twice or more within a predetermined time for a light coin. You may implement.

  As a result, when the amount of heavy coins (for example, 10-yen stacker, 50-yen stacker, 100-yen stacker, 500-yen stacker) is reduced, the conveying speed of coins by the conveying belt will not be reduced. Reduction in processing speed can be suppressed. In the third embodiment, 1 yen, 5 yen as light coins, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, 500 yen as heavy coins, but these are examples, and light coins ranging from 1 yen to 100 yen, 500 The yen may be treated as a heavy coin, and is not limited to the above example.

The fourth embodiment will be described below. Note that differences from the first to third embodiments will be described.
(Fourth embodiment)

  In 4th embodiment, the control part 51 of a coin processing apparatus changes the rotational speed of the reverse rotation separation roller 207 according to the residual state of a coin.

  For example, when the remaining state of coins detected by the same method as in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment becomes a predetermined state (the coin processing device determines that the amount is smaller than the predetermined number). In addition, the rotational speed of the reverse separation roller 207 is slowed or stopped. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the residual coins from being flipped off by the reverse separation roller 207.

  That is, in FIG. 7, it has been explained that the conveyance speed is decreased in steps in S701, S703, and S705, and in FIG. 10 in S1001, S1004, and S1007, but in these steps, the rotation speed of the reverse separation roller 207 is reduced. You can slow it down step by step.

  Further, in addition to the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, the rotational speed of the reverse separation roller 207 may be decreased stepwise.

The fifth embodiment will be described below. Note that differences from the first to fourth embodiments will be described.
(Fifth embodiment)

  Each denomination stacker of the coin processing apparatus has a passage sensor 305. Therefore, when performing the control of the first to fourth embodiments, a coin detection result by the passage sensor 305 may be used.

  Specifically, the control unit 51 performs the control of the first to fourth embodiments when the passing sensor 305 has not detected the coin payout for a predetermined time. When the coin can be detected by the passage sensor 305, at least a part of the remaining coins can be separated. Therefore, even if the first to fourth embodiments are not performed just because the number of coins has decreased. This is because there is no delay in the entire process.

  On the other hand, if no coin can be detected by the passage sensor 305 and a coin can be detected by the residual sensor 303, there may be some problem in the separation operation. In particular, when the number of coins in the residual sensor 303 is less than a predetermined number, it is possible to separate the coins that are flipped off by the reverse separation roller by controlling the first to fourth embodiments, and the entire process Can be implemented efficiently.

  Although the features of the present invention have been described using the first to fifth embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. You may combine each embodiment.

  As described above, in the above-described embodiment, at least the following contents are disclosed.

  When the coin processing device (control unit) detects that there is a coin by the first detection sensor (residual sensor) and determines that the coin detected by the first detection sensor is equal to or less than the first predetermined amount, Reduce the transport speed of the transport belt. This makes it possible to prevent coins from remaining.

  The coin processing device (control unit) slows the transport speed of the transport belt when the second detection sensor (pass sensor) does not detect the presence of coins for a predetermined time. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in processing speed due to a decrease in the conveyance speed.

  The coin processing device (control unit) determines the amount of coins not separated by the separation roller (reverse separation roller) based on the time that the first detection sensor detects the presence of coins, When the detection sensor detects that there is a coin within a predetermined time, the conveyance speed of the conveyance belt is decreased. As a result, the number of remaining coins can be detected with high accuracy, and a reduction in processing speed due to a decrease in the conveyance speed can be suppressed.

  Further, the coin processing device (control unit) controls the transport belt so as to transport the coin at the first transport speed or the second transport speed slower than the first transport speed, and the transport belt is the first transport speed. When controlling to convey coins at a speed, when the first detection sensor detects the presence of coins and determines that the coins detected by the first detection sensor are below the first predetermined amount, When the coin is transported at the second transport speed and the coin is transported at the second transport speed, the coin detected by the first detection sensor corresponds to the second transport speed. It is determined whether the amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount.

  Thereby, even when it becomes 2nd conveyance speed, it becomes possible to detect the quantity of a coin accurately.

  Further, the coin processing device (control unit) controls the transport belt to transport coins at a third transport speed that is slower than the second transport speed, and when transporting coins at the second transport speed, When the coin detected by the first detection sensor is equal to or less than a second predetermined amount corresponding to the second transport speed, control is performed so that the coin is transported at the third transport speed.

This makes it possible to prevent coins from remaining with a higher probability. The coin processing device (control unit) includes a plurality of stackers that store coins by denomination, and a plurality of stackers. Has a first stacker for storing coins of the first denomination and a second stacker for storing coins of the second denomination heavier than the coins of the first denomination. Each of the second stackers includes a conveyance belt, a separation roller, a first detection sensor, and a second detection sensor, and the drive unit commonly uses the conveyance belts provided in each of the first and second stackers. Including one drive to operate,
In the first stacker, when the first detection sensor detects the presence of coins and determines that the number of coins detected by the first detection sensor is equal to or less than the first predetermined amount, the conveyance speed of the conveyance belt is set. In the second stacker, when the first detection sensor detects the presence of coins and determines that the number of coins detected by the first detection sensor is less than or equal to the first predetermined amount, Do not change the speed.

  As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in processing speed due to a decrease in the conveyance speed.

1000 ... ATM, 1 ... Shutter, 2 ... Temporary holding part, 3 ... Deposit / withdrawal port, 4 ... Payment withdrawal part, 5 ... Feeding part, 6 ... Coin identification , 7... Depositing and transporting unit, 8... Money type stacker, 9... Vertical transporting unit, 10. ... Foreign matter discharge unit, 20 ... coins, 21 ... residue, 30 ... transport path, 40 ... coin identification unit number counter, 41 ... temporary storage unit storage number counter, 58 ························································· Residual detection sensor for the deposit / withdrawal port, 61 ························ ..Coin processing device, 201 ... 1 yen stacker, 202 ... 5 yen stacker, 203 ... 0-yen stacker, 204 ... 50-yen stacker, 205 ... 100-yen stacker, 206 ... 500-yen stacker, 207 ... Reverse rotation separation roller, 208 ... Belt drive roller A, 209 ... Belt Drive roller B, 301 ... back, 2302 ... coin, 303 ... residual sensor, 304 ... stopper, 305 ... pass sensor

Claims (7)

A transport belt for transporting coins;
A separation roller that is formed at a position facing the conveyor belt at a predetermined interval from the conveyor belt and rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the conveyor belt;
A first detection sensor installed upstream of the separation roller in the transport direction and detecting the presence or absence of coins transported by the transport belt;
A drive unit for operating the transport belt and the separation roller;
A control unit that controls the operation of the transport belt or the separation roller by controlling the drive source;
The control unit determines the amount of coins not separated by the separation roller based on the detection state of the presence or absence of coins of the first detection sensor,
When the first detection sensor detects the presence of a coin and determines that the coin detected by the first detection sensor is equal to or less than a first predetermined amount, the conveyance speed of the conveyance belt is decreased. A featured coin processing device. It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 1, Comprising:
A second detection sensor that is installed downstream of the separation roller in the transport direction, is separated by the separation roller, and detects the presence or absence of coins transported by the transport belt;
The control unit slows the conveyance speed of the conveyance belt when the second detection sensor does not detect the presence of coins for a predetermined time. The coin processing device according to any one of claims 1 and 2,
The control unit determines the amount of coins that are not separated by the separation roller based on the time that the first detection sensor detects the presence of coins, and the first detection sensor detects the presence of coins. When the running time is within a predetermined time, the conveying speed of the conveying belt is reduced. It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 1 thru | or 3, Comprising:
The control unit controls the transport belt to transport coins at a first transport speed or a second transport speed slower than the first transport speed,
The controller is
When the transport belt is controlled to transport coins at the first transport speed, the first detection sensor detects the presence of coins, and the coins detected by the first detection sensor are the first When it is determined that the amount is equal to or less than the predetermined amount, control is performed so as to convey coins at the second conveyance speed,
When coins are transported at the second transport speed, it is determined whether the coins detected by the first detection sensor are equal to or less than a second predetermined amount corresponding to the second transport speed. It is characterized by. It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 4, Comprising:
The control unit controls the transport belt to transport coins at a third transport speed that is slower than the second transport speed,
When coins are transported at the second transport speed, when the coins detected by the first detection sensor are equal to or smaller than a second predetermined amount corresponding to the second transport speed, the third Control is performed so that coins are conveyed at a conveyance speed. It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 1 thru | or 5, Comprising:
The coin processing device has a plurality of stackers for storing coins divided by denomination,
The plurality of stackers include a first stacker that stores coins of a first denomination and a second stacker that stores coins of a second denomination heavier than the coins of the first denomination. Each of the first and second stackers includes the transport belt, the separation roller, the first detection sensor, and a second detection sensor,
The drive unit includes a first drive unit that operates the transport belt provided in each of the first and second stackers in common,
The controller is
In the first stacker, when the first detection sensor detects the presence of coins and determines that the number of coins detected by the first detection sensor is equal to or less than a first predetermined amount, the conveyance of the conveyance belt Slow down,
In the second stacker, when the first detection sensor detects the presence of coins and determines that the number of coins detected by the first detection sensor is equal to or less than a first predetermined amount, the conveyance of the conveyance belt It is characterized by not changing the speed. It is a coin processing apparatus of Claim 1 thru | or 5, Comprising:
The drive unit includes a second drive unit that drives the transport belt and a third drive unit that drives the separation roller.

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