JP2022003443A - Coin returning mechanism for coin mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a coin returning mechanism for a coin mechanism having mechanical strength and does not cause magnetic disturbance to the coin mechanism and a problem in installation space occupancy.SOLUTION: A coin returning mechanism for a coin mechanism includes a coin returning unit and an electronic control unit for returning coins. The coin returning unit includes a solenoid driven by discharge from a capacitor of the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit monitors the operation of the coin mechanism to control the driving of the solenoid. The electronic control unit performs control to prohibit the driving of the solenoid during failure of the coin mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a coin mech coin return mechanism used in vending machines and the like. More specifically, the present invention is a coin return mechanism that replaces a conventional rotary lever and push button for coin return, and a coin mech provided with the same. And vending machines.

Coin mechs (including coin circulation type with built-in change function) and bill burrs (banknote identifyors) are used in the coin billing section of vending machines such as automatic ticket vending machines and automatic checkout machines. The coin sorter of the coin mech is equipped with a sensor (particularly a magnetic sensor) and an electronic coin sorter that determines the specie by an electronic circuit.

The coin mech is also equipped with a rotary lever type or push button type coin returning means. This coin return means interrupts payment by using a return lever or the like to prompt the discharge of change after payment by a vending machine or the like. When a coin is jammed in a coin insertion passage or an acceptor, a passage in the acceptor by a return lever or the like. It is for spreading coins and discharging coins to the return port.

The conventional rotary return lever as shown in FIG. 5 is designed to open the gate of the acceptor's coin passage via the coin return lever on the upper part of the coin mech when manually rotated. This encourages the coins stuck in the passage to be discharged to the change / coin return exit.

Akira Jinkai 49-993

The conventional rotary return lever requires a pushing force, and the jammed coins are not ejected unless the pushing force is continued for about 1 second or longer. In addition, the positional relationship between the rotary return lever and the coin mech is limited. Moreover, the rotary return lever is easily handled in a messy manner and has a high degree of damage. Further, since the number of touch panel type operation screens is increasing in vending machines recently, there is a demand for a means for opening the gate of the passage in the acceptor by a method different from the conventional return means.

A powerful motor or solenoid (Patent Document 1) can be considered as a means for opening the gate of the passage in the acceptor. The current coin mech uses a magnetic sensor and an electronic circuit for the coin sorting unit. Solenoids generate a magnetic field that easily destroys Coinmech's magnetic sensor circuits. It is also a problem that the magnetic field generated by a solenoid or the like magnetizes the surrounding metal. Therefore, the coin return mechanism of the vending machine equipped with the coin mech needs a measure to avoid the influence of the magnetic field.

Solenoids have other problems besides magnetic fields. As a method of constructing an actuator with a powerful solenoid having a large suction force, there is an option of a large solenoid or a solenoid with a large current. Solenoids with high resistance tend to be large and occupy space. A solenoid with a large current can be made small, but a mechanism for obtaining a large current is required.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is a coin returning mechanism that can be an alternative to a conventional rotary lever or push button for returning coins, and requires a method that is strong and does not cause problems of magnetism and occupied space. Moreover, the purpose is to newly provide a touch panel-like operation screen.

As a result of diligent studies on the above problems, the present inventor has found that the above problems can be solved by using a solenoid driven by a large current discharged from a capacitor under certain conditions, and has reached the present invention. That is, the present invention is a coin return mechanism for coin mech, the coin return mechanism includes a coin return unit and an electronic control unit for coin return, and the coin return unit is from a capacitor of the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit comprises a solenoid driven by discharge, and the electronic control unit provides the coin return mechanism, characterized in that the operation of the coin mech is monitored and the drive of the solenoid is controlled.

The electronic control unit is characterized in that, in particular, control is performed so as to prohibit the driving of the solenoid during an error of the coin mech.

The capacitor is particularly characterized in that a small current is stored before the solenoid is driven, and a large current is instantaneously passed during discharging to drive the solenoid for a short time.

It is preferable that the solenoid is provided with a magnetic shield against the coin mech.

The capacitor preferably includes an electrolytic capacitor.

It is preferable that the electronic control unit further includes a MOSFET switching circuit for discharging the capacitor.

The electronic control unit is particularly characterized in that the operation of the coin mech is monitored via JVMA communication.

The electronic control unit is controlled by a command from, for example, a coin return switch, a USB terminal, or a JVMA terminal via serial communication.

The present invention also provides a coin mech provided with the coin return mechanism.

The present invention further provides a vending machine equipped with a coin mech equipped with the coin return mechanism.

The vending machine is, for example, any of an automatic ticket vending machine, an automatic checkout machine, an IC card charging machine, a money changer, a copy machine, a printing device, an information kiosk terminal, and an entertainment device.

The coin return mechanism for coin mech of the present invention equipped with a coin return unit and an electronic control unit for coin return, in particular, the coin return switch has a conventional power transmission method to the coin return lever of coin mech provided in a vending machine or the like. Replace with the rotary return lever of. Therefore, in the coin return mechanism of the present invention, the coin return unit controlled by the microcomputer of the electronic control unit instantly discharges the electric charge stored in the capacitor of the electronic control unit to the solenoid of the coin return unit for a short time. A large current sufficient for coin return processing is passed through the solenoid.

The microcomputer of the electronic control unit monitors the JVMA communication of the Coinmech and is set to prohibit the drive of the solenoid during the operation of the Coinmech, especially during an error, so it is possible to avoid the magnetic problem of the Coinmech. can. After the discharge, the magnetic field of the solenoid is extinguished rapidly, so that the magnetic pulse generated by the solenoid does not disturb the magnetic sensor of Coinmec and the metal is not magnetized.

In the coin return mechanism of the present invention, it is advantageous that the electronic control unit includes a JVMA terminal and a USB terminal. For example, since power can be supplied via the JVMA terminal used by CoinMech, there is no need to prepare a new power supply for the coin return mechanism.

Since the coin return mechanism of the present invention can control the electronic control unit from the coin return switch, the USB terminal or the JVMA terminal by a command via serial communication, it can be transferred to an existing coin mech or a vending machine or to a new facility. Is easy to install. In the conventional method using the rotary return lever, the method of attaching the coin mech is limited, but the coin return mechanism of the present invention can be attached regardless of the orientation and position of the coin mech. The coin return mechanism of the present invention is expected to be widely used as a coin mech coin return mechanism for various vending machines such as automatic ticket vending machines and automatic checkout machines.

It is external drawing of the coin return mechanism for coin mech of one Embodiment according to this invention. The coin return mechanism includes a coin return unit 20 and a coin return electronic control unit 30. The electronic control unit 30 is provided with a coin return switch 35, a JVMA terminal 36, and a USB terminal 37, and is controlled by a command from any of them. It is a circuit diagram which shows the electric system of the coin return mechanism of FIG. 3A and 3B are front view and right side view of the vending machine 1 provided with the coin mech coin return mechanism of another embodiment according to the present invention, respectively. The electronic control unit 30 in this embodiment is installed in the vending machine 1, and a coin return switch 35 that replaces the conventional rotary return lever 3 is provided on a USB-controllable touch panel, and is provided from the coin return switch 35. The command is sent to the electronic control unit 30 via the USB terminal 37. The coin return lever 15 in FIG. 3 is shown both before and after being pushed downward by the slider 24 of the coin return unit 20. It is a figure explaining the operation of the coin return mechanism of the vending machine 1 of FIG. FIG. 4A shows a solenoid before discharging from the electrolytic capacitor 32 of the electronic control unit 30 to the solenoid 21 of the coin returning unit 20 (that is, before the coin returning operation), and FIG. 4B shows the solenoid during discharging (hard, that is, the coin returning operation). The operation of the solenoid in (middle) is shown. Specifically, in FIG. 4B, the movable iron core (plunger) 23 magnetized by the solenoid 21 and the slider 24 descend while being guided by the bearing roller 25. The slider 24 pushes down the coin return lever 15 installed on the coin mech 14 to open the gate (not shown) of the coin return passage of the acceptor 13. After the discharge, the demagnetized movable iron core (plunger) 23 and the slider 24 return to the position shown in FIG. 4A by the elastic force of the conical spring 22. It is a front view of the conventional rotary return lever 3.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the mechanism for returning coins from a vending machine equipped with a coin mech will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the vending machine 1 usually has a coin insertion slot 11 into which coins are inserted, a change / return coin outlet 16 for returning coins, and a safe-side coin ejection port for storing inserted coins. 17 etc. are provided. The coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 11 are magnetically inserted into coins such as 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen at the acceptor 13 of the coin mech 14 through the coin insertion passage 12. It is equipped with an electronic coin sorter that quickly determines the authenticity of coins using sensors and electronic circuits. The coins determined to be specie by the acceptor 13 are stored in a change cassette (not shown) in the coin mech for each denomination. Coins that cannot be stored in the change cassette are ejected from the coin ejection port 17 on the safe side. Returned coins and change, unrecognized coins and counterfeit coins are discharged from the change / return coin exit 16.

The coin mech 14 is provided with an escrow (not shown) for paying out coins and a tube for holding change (not shown). In the conventional vending machine, the coin return lever 15 is pushed down by the rotary return lever 3 shown in FIG. 5 in order to change or refund, and the information of the return switch ON is output to the vending machine. As a result, the vending machine performs a refund operation on the coin mech 14 and pays out coins from an escrow (not shown) or a tube for holding change (not shown). In the present invention, the rotary return lever 3 is replaced by a coin mech coin return mechanism provided with a coin return unit 20 and a coin return electronic control unit 30. That is, the electronic control unit 30 shown in FIG. 1 can be driven by the coin return switch 35 to drive the solenoid 21 of the coin return unit 20, and the gate of the coin return passage of the acceptor 13 via the slider 24 and the coin return lever 15. To open. As a result, coins such as coins and change stuck in the passage are returned from the change / return coin exit 16.

Next, the coin mech coin return mechanism of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The coin return mechanism shown in FIG. 1 includes a coin return unit 20 and an electronic control unit 30 for coin return, and the coin return unit 20 includes a solenoid 21 driven by discharge from a capacitor 32 of the electronic control unit 30 and is electronic. The control unit 30 monitors the operation of the coin mech 14 and controls the drive of the solenoid 21.

The solenoid 21 generates a magnetic field by passing a direct current through a spirally wound insulated copper wire, and a movable iron core (plunger) 23 penetrating the inside of the solenoid is a fixed iron core (not shown) below. It is a pull-type solenoid that attracts toward you. The movable iron core (plunger) 23 is attracted to the fixed iron core while pressing the conical spring 22 only when a current flows through the solenoid 21.

In the electrical system diagram of FIG. 2, when the coin return switch 35 of the electronic control unit 30 is pressed, the central control device (microcomputer) 31 recognizes the command. The central control device (microcomputer) 31 controls the coin return unit 20 so as to synchronize the processing operation of the coin mech 14 with the operation of the coin return unit 20 via JVMA communication.

The capacitor 32 of the coin return unit 20 stores a small current before driving the solenoid 21 and momentarily flows a large current at the time of discharging to execute an actuator function for driving the solenoid 21 for a short time. Therefore, the central control device (microcomputer) 31 is programmed to monitor JVMA communication errors and the like while controlling the storage status of the capacitor 32 and the pulse width output to the MOS-FET 33.

The pulse width is set so that the slider 24 of the coin return unit 20 secures a time for maintaining the lowest point for 1 second or more, and further maintains a time until the discharge of the capacitor 32 ends. The discharge time of the capacitor 32 is obtained from the capacity of the capacitor 32 and the resistance value of the solenoid 21.

It is important for the present invention to utilize the capacitor 32 to create a large current to temporarily flow through the solenoid 21. The capacitor 32 is stored in advance, and the coin return switch 35 triggers the charge stored in the capacitor 32 to be instantly discharged to the solenoid 21, that is, a large current flows through the solenoid 21. The capacitor 32 is preferably an electrolytic capacitor such as an aluminum electrolytic capacitor or an electric double layer capacitor in terms of the size of the capacitance.

When the command from the coin return switch 35 turns on / off the power MOSFET 33, a large force is generated with a small current, and a large current necessary and sufficient for the coin return process performed in a short time can be created. Further, by arranging the constant current diode 34 in front of the capacitor 32, it is not necessary to pass a large current through the capacitor when storing electricity in the capacitor 32, and it is not necessary to pass a large current through the solenoid having a low resistance value. ..

When the current value decreases due to the discharge of the capacitor 32, the magnetic field basically disappears. The movable iron core (plunger) 23 and the slider 24 return to their original positions due to the restoring force of the conical spring 22, and the gate of the acceptor 13 also closes.

Since the magnetic field of the solenoid 21 is rapidly extinguished after the discharge, it is possible to avoid disturbance and damage due to the magnetic pulse of the magnetic sensor of the Coimmech 14, and further, magnetization of the surrounding environment (metal). Preferably, the solenoid 21 is provided with a magnetic shield against the coin mech 14. For example, it is advisable to insert an electromagnetic wave absorbing sheet such as a ferrite sheet between the coin mech 14 and the solenoid 21. In order to reliably avoid metal magnetization, it is more preferable that the portion of the coin return unit 20 close to the coin return lever 15, particularly the slider 24, is made of a non-magnetic material such as an austenitic metal (eg, SUS304). ..

The functions of the JVMA terminal 36 are the control of the coin return mechanism 2 and the power supply to the coin return mechanism 2 via the JVMA terminal. That is, the JVMA terminal 36 is used for the central control device (microcomputer) 31 to monitor the JVMA communication of the Coin Mech 14 and control the electronic control unit 30.

The JVMA communication system of Coinmec 14 (24V serial communication system established by the Japan Vending System Manufacturers Association) uses a serial communication circuit consisting of a DC24V power supply and a transistor, so the JVMA terminal 36 to DC24V or DC8V Can also be supplied. By using the JVMA terminal 36, no additional power supply is required for the solenoid 21 of the coin return unit.

The coin mech, which is widely used at present, is provided with a USB terminal so that it can be connected to a PC or the like on the upper side thereof. In addition to the coin return switch 35, the electronic control unit 30 can also control the solenoid 21 by a serial communication command from a higher-level PC via the USB terminal 37.

The coin return switch 35 for operating the coin return mechanism of the present invention may be of any type such as a push button type and a touch panel type. Further, the coin return switch 35 may be disguised as a rotary return type lever that is conventionally used.

As a method of operating the coin return mechanism 2 of the present invention, in addition to the method of providing the coin return switch 35 in the electronic control unit 30 and pressing the coin return switch 35 as shown in FIG. 1, the conventional method on the front surface of the vending machine as shown in FIG. Instead of the rotary return type lever 3, a push button type or touch panel type coin return switch 35 may be attached, and the push button or touch panel may be pressed to send the command to the electronic control unit 30 by USB or JVMA communication. In FIG. 3, the electronic control unit 30 is installed in the vending machine 1 (not shown) and is provided in the operation touch panel of the vending machine (not shown) instead of the coin return switch 35.

The operation of returning coins from the vending machine 1 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the coins inserted from the coin slot 11 are stored in the tube of the coin mech 14 if the coin mech 14 is being settled. When the coin return switch (not shown) on the touch panel type operation screen of the vending machine 1 is pressed when the coins are stored in the tube, the electrolytic capacitor 32 of the electronic control unit 30 is discharged, and the current is generated by the coin return unit 20. It flows through the solenoid 21 (FIG. 4A). When a large current flows through the solenoid 21, the solenoid 21 is magnetized, and the movable iron core (blanger) 23 and the slider 24 are pulled downward. As a result, the slider 24 pushes down the coin return lever 15 of the coin mech 14 (FIG. 4B). When the coin return lever 15 is pushed down, the gate of the acceptor 13 opens and at the same time, the information of the return switch ON is output to the upper control device of the vending machine 1 by JVMA communication, and the upper side processes the settlement cancellation and deposits. The coins that have been made are returned to the change / return coin exit 16.

The coin return mechanism for coin mech of the present invention can be used for various devices equipped with coin mech. Specifically, stand-alone coin vendors; vending machines; amusement parks, amusement parks, bathing facilities, movie theaters, parking lots, bicycle parking lots, etc. Printing equipment for books, seal certificates, resident's cards, digital camera photographs, etc .; automatic vending beer servers, entertainment equipment, etc.

1 Vending machine 11 Coin slot 12 Coin slot 13 Acceptor 14 Coin mech 15 Coin return lever 16 Change / return coin outlet 17 Safe side coin ejection port 2 Coin return mechanism 20 Coin return unit 21 Solana 22 Conical spring 23 Movable iron core (Planger)
24 Slider 25 Bearing roller 30 Electronic control unit for returning coins 31 Central control unit (microcomputer)
32 Electrolytic capacitor 33 MOSFET switching circuit 34 Constant current diode 35 Coin return switch 36 JVMA terminal 37 USB terminal 3 Rotary return lever (conventional technology)

Claims (11)

It is a coin return mechanism for coin mech,
The coin return mechanism includes a coin return unit and an electronic control unit for coin return.
The coin return unit includes a solenoid driven by a discharge from a capacitor of the electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit monitors the operation of the coin mech and controls the drive of the solenoid. The coin return mechanism. The coin return mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is controlled so as to prohibit the driving of the solenoid during an error of the coin mech. The coin return according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the capacitor is stored with a small current before the solenoid is driven, and the solenoid is driven for a short time by momentarily flowing a large current at the time of discharging. mechanism. The coin return mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the solenoid is provided with a magnetic shield for the coin mech. The coin return mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the capacitor includes an electrolytic capacitor. The coin return mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the electronic control unit further includes a MOSFET switching circuit for discharging the capacitor. The coin return mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electronic control unit monitors the operation of the coin mech via JVMA communication. The coin return mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electronic control unit is controlled by a coin return switch or a command from a USB terminal or a JVMA terminal via serial communication. A coin mech provided with the coin return mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A vending machine provided with the coin mech according to claim 9. The vending machine according to claim 10, wherein the vending machine is any one of an automatic ticket vending machine, an automatic payment machine, an IC card charging machine, a money changer, a copy machine, a printing device, an information kiosk terminal, and an entertainment device.

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