JP3247185B2 - Coin processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin processing apparatus for selecting coins of a plurality of denominations and sending the coins to a coin storage unit by denomination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various coin processing apparatuses for selecting coins of a plurality of denominations and sending the coins to a coin storage unit by denomination are known in vending machines, deposit change machines, and the like.

[0003] For example, an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-15755 discloses a hopper portion provided with a rotating disk (rectifying plate) for stirring and aligning coins, and a hopper portion from the upper side of the hopper portion. And a transport chain (endless feed belt) is provided around the rotary disk of the hopper portion and the transport route, and a pin (protrusion) for coin feeding is provided on the chain. In addition to the arrangement at intervals, a coin take-out means comprising a plurality of sorting windows corresponding to coins of a plurality of denominations is provided at a position facing the transport path. When the chain is driven, coins on the rotating disk of the hopper are pushed up by the pins of the chain and moved on the transport path, and the coins are pushed by the pins to move downstream on the transport path. The coins are taken out from the sorting window corresponding to the size of the coins during the movement and sent to the coin storage unit of the denomination.

In the above embodiment, coins of a denomination are taken out by a plurality of sorting windows having different opening heights. For example, an identification means for identifying the denomination is provided upstream of the transport path. At the same time, at a plurality of locations along the transport path, there are provided take-out means for taking out coins operated by the electric actuating means, and a control unit which receives a signal from the identification means takes out a coin selected according to a denomination. A device in which the means is operated has also been considered (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-500380).

[0005] Further, there is also a device of this type in which a conveying means is provided with a counting means.

[0006]

According to the conventional apparatus as described above, in order to smoothly perform operations such as coin feeding, discrimination, and taking out, the interval between pins provided on the chain is set to a plurality of objects to be processed. It is somewhat larger than the diameter of the largest coin among denomination coins. In a normal state, coins are fed one by one with each pin of the chain.

However, when the difference between the largest coin and the smallest coin among a plurality of denomination coins to be processed is large (for example, the coin with the largest coin is almost twice as large as the coin with the smallest coin among the circulation coins). In a case where the device is used in a certain country), in the conventional device, there is a possibility that two coins having the minimum diameter are inserted between the pins. If two coins are successively taken in between the pins as described above, there is a possibility that processing such as picking up coins, identifying coins by the identification means, and counting coins by the counting means may not be performed correctly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when coins are moved from a hopper to a transport path by a transport chain having pins for feeding coins at predetermined intervals, one coin is inserted between each pin. To increase the certainty of
It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin processing apparatus capable of appropriately performing processing such as transport and removal of coins.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hopper for storing coins, and a transport chain extending from an upper portion of the hopper to a transport path extending outward. A pin for feeding coins is arranged at regular intervals on the transport chain, coins in the hopper are picked up by the transport chain and moved along the transport path. In a coin processing device provided with a take-out means for taking out coins,
In the hopper, a coin guide plate that covers the transport chain at a portion other than the upper portion of the hopper is disposed in an inclined manner, and a rotary plate that rotates in synchronization with the transport chain is provided on the coin guide plate. At a plurality of locations on the same circumference of the rotating plate are provided coin receiving holes of a fixed diameter, on the back side of the hopper,
The drive sprocket and motor of the above-mentioned transport chain are arranged.
With the drive sprocket on the output shaft of this motor.
Both the rolling plate and the rotary plate are directly connected, and the transport chain and the coin receiving hole of the rotary plate are made to correspond at the upper part of the hopper.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the transport path includes an identification means for identifying a denomination based on the detection of a coin diameter, and the coin ejection means operates according to the identification by the identification means. It is something to do.

In a third aspect based on the first or second aspect, the diameter of the coin receiving hole of the rotating plate is larger than the diameter of the largest coin among a plurality of denomination coins to be processed. And it is set smaller than twice the diameter of the smallest coin.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a transport chain is disposed over a hopper for storing coins and a transport path extending outward from an upper portion of the hopper, and coins are fed to the transport chain at regular intervals. Coin handling device provided with a pin for picking up coins in the hopper by means of the transport chain and moving them along the transport path, and provided with a take-out means for taking out coins by denomination with respect to the transport path. , One coin between the hopper and each of the above pins
The normal capture state where each sheet is captured and 2 between each of the above pins
Discriminating means for discriminating an improper take-in state in which one coin is taken, and coin returning means operating in response to discrimination of the improper take-in state by the discriminating means and returning the coin in the improperly taken state into the hopper; And return the above coins
The means is arranged inside the hopper .

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the coins in the hopper are fitted one by one into the coin receiving holes of the rotary plate, and then transferred between the pins of the transport chain at the upper part of the hopper, and transported. Sent to the route. Also, rotating plate and transport
Drive with simple and compact structure
Can be achieved.

According to the second aspect in which the identification means is provided in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the denomination of the denomination based on the detection of the coin diameter by the identification means is correctly performed.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the action of inserting coins one by one into the coin receiving hole of the rotating plate is assured.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even if an illegal loading state occurs in which two coins are loaded between the pins of the transport chain, this state is immediately resolved. Moreover, two sheets
Return the coins as they are returned directly to the hopper
There is no need to provide a separate passage for
Reducing the time before coins are reintroduced to the rotating plate
Can be.

[0017]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show the entire structure of a coin processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a hopper for storing unprocessed coins C of a plurality of denominations, and coins C are inserted into the hopper 1 from a feeder (not shown). Reference numeral 2 denotes a transport path, which extends outward from the upper portion of the hopper 1. This transport path 2
Has a wall plate forming a relatively narrow coin support surface 3 and a back plate 4 supporting the coin from behind, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, and supports the coin C in an upright state. The rear plate 4 is slightly inclined backward so that the coin C does not fall forward.

A transport chain 6 is provided over the hopper 1 and the transport path 2. The transport chain 6 is provided on the transport path 2 at a predetermined height (equal to or smaller than the diameter of the smallest coin to be sorted) from the coin support surface 3 by a notch provided in the rear plate 4. 5 and extends in the transport direction (see FIGS. 3 and 6), and is wound around the drive sprocket 7 and the driven sprocket 8 in a state where the hopper 1 is disposed over the transport path 2 from the portion where the hopper 1 is disposed. . In the transport chain 6, pins 9 for feeding coins are arranged at regular intervals. When the transport chain 6 is operated in a fixed direction by the motor 20 described later, the pins 9 push and move the coins C on the transport path 2 one by one.

On the upstream side of the transport path 2, an identification means including a coin diameter detecting unit 11 is provided. The coin diameter detecting unit 11 is formed by an optical sensor or the like, and is turned ON when the coin C passes through the detecting unit 11,
The coin diameter is determined from the N time and the coin moving speed, and the denomination is identified based on the coin diameter.

At a plurality of locations along the transport path 2, take-out means 12 for taking out coins C by denomination is provided.
A plurality of coin storage units 13 corresponding to the respective take-out means 12 are provided below the transport path 2.

Each of the take-out means 12 includes a solenoid 12
A coin extruding member 12b in the form of a plate connected to a. The coin push-out member 12b is capable of protruding and retracting from the coin passing position of the transport path 2 from the rear side through a cutout hole 12c provided in the back plate 4, and is provided when the solenoid 12a is turned on. Protrude into.
When the coin pushing member 12b projects when the coin C is at the position corresponding to the take-out means 12, the coin C
Is pushed out of the transport path 2 and falls off (see FIG. 6), and is sent to the coin storage unit 13.

The take-out means 12 and the coin storage unit 13
Are provided at least according to the number of denominations to be sorted. A reject passage 14 for rejecting coins other than the denomination to be processed (forged coins and the like) is provided below the downstream side end of the transport path 2. A coin dispensing section 15 is connected to each of the coin storing sections 13. Further, the reject passage 14 communicates with a return port (not shown).

[0023] Immediately before each of the take-out means 12 and the transport path 2
An optical sensor 16 for detecting the passage of the coin C is provided at each location in the vicinity of the downstream end. As shown in FIG. 6, the sensor 16 includes a light emitting element 16a and a light receiving element 16b. The two elements 16a and 16b are opposed to each other with the coin passing portion of the transport path 2 and the back plate 4 interposed therebetween. 4 is provided with a hole 16c for light transmission.

The coin diameter detector 11 and the optical sensor 1
6 and an encoder (not shown) provided in the drive mechanism of the transport chain 10
The control unit 17 controls the coin diameter detection unit 11
The denomination is identified on the basis of the signal of (1), the take-out means 12 to be operated is selected in accordance with the denomination, and when the coin reaches the position corresponding to the take-out means 12, the denomination is performed in accordance with the signal from the sensor 16. Thus, the take-out means 12 is operated.

3 to 5 show details of the hopper. In these figures, a driving sprocket 7 and a motor 20 are provided on the back side of the hopper 1, the driving sprocket 7 is connected to an output shaft 21 of the motor 20, and the transport chain 6 is wound around the sprocket 7. . In the hopper 1, a coin guide plate 22 that covers the chain 6 at a portion other than the upper portion of the hopper, and a rotary plate 23 located in front of the coin guide plate 22 are provided. A plurality of coin receiving holes 24 having a constant diameter are provided at a plurality of upper positions. Coin intake hole 2
The sprocket 7, the coin guide plate 22 and the rotating plate 23 are arranged in an inclined manner so that the coin C in 4 can move along the coin guide plate 22.

The rotating plate 23 is connected to the output shaft 21 of the motor 20 to rotate in synchronization with the operation of the transport chain 6. This rotating plate 2
The diameter D of the third coin receiving hole 24 is set to be larger than the diameter of the largest coin and smaller than twice the diameter of the smallest coin among a plurality of coins to be processed. The coin receiving holes 24 are provided at predetermined intervals near the outer periphery of the rotating plate 23, and move in the hopper 1 as the rotating plate 23 rotates. These arrangements are set such that the coin receiving hole 24 moved to the upper part of the hopper corresponds to the chain 6 above the coin guide plate 22.

The upper portion of the hopper 1 has a shape that is somewhat widened toward the side from which the transport path 2 extends, so that the upstream portion of the transport path 2 is located within the hopper 1 by a certain amount. The coin diameter detecting unit 11 and coin returning means 25 located downstream of the coin diameter detecting unit 11 are provided. In the present embodiment, the coin returning means 25 returns the coins C that do not need to be transported into the hopper 1, and includes, for example, a full sensor (not shown) provided in each of the coin storage units 13 and the coin diameter detection unit. Control unit 17 based on a signal from
When some of the coin storage units 13 are full, the denomination coin C corresponding to the coin storage unit 13 is controlled.
Is activated when the coin C is conveyed through the coin diameter detecting section 11 and returns the coin C to the hopper 1. The coin returning means 25 is composed of a solenoid 25a and a coin pushing member 25b connected to the solenoid 25a, similarly to the take-out means 12.

According to the apparatus of the present embodiment as described above, a large number of coins C are stored in the hopper 1 and the motor 2
0, the transport chain 6 is operated and the rotating plate 23 is rotating in the hopper 1,
The coins C are fitted one by one into the coin receiving holes 24 of the rotating plate 23 below the hopper 1. Then, as the rotating plate 23 rotates, the coin C in the coin receiving hole 24 moves to the upper part of the hopper 1 along the guide plate 22, and when the coin C reaches above the guide plate 22, the coin C moves from the coin receiving hole 24 to the back side. Then, the coin moves onto the coin supporting surface 3 connected to the upper end of the guide plate 22 and enters between the pins 9 of the chain 6. In this case, the rotating plate 23 having the coin receiving hole 24 and the chain 6 operate in synchronization, so that the coin receiving hole 24
, Coins C are transferred one by one between the pins 9.

That is, the interval between the pins 9 arranged on the chain 6 is larger than the maximum coin diameter by a predetermined amount so that the coins on the transport path 2 move at a certain interval. In the case where the difference between the coin having the largest diameter and the coin having the smallest diameter is large, in the structure as in the above-described conventional apparatus, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. In such a state, for example, there is a problem that two coins connected by the coin diameter detecting unit 11 are erroneously detected as one coin diameter. On the other hand, according to the apparatus of the present embodiment, the above situation is prevented by restricting the coins fed to the upper part of the hopper by the coin receiving hole 24.

In particular, if the coin receiving hole 24 is formed to have a diameter larger than the largest coin but smaller than twice the diameter of the smallest coin, two coins can be inserted into one coin receiving hole 24. Since it is impossible for C to enter, coins C are reliably fed one by one between the pins 9. Then, the coin C sent between the pins 9 moves on the transport path 2, during which the denomination is identified based on the detection in the coin diameter detection state, and is selected according to the denomination. By the operation of the coin removing means 12, the coins are sent to the coin storage unit 13 in denominations.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the hopper is not provided with the coin take-in hole 24 as in the first embodiment, but merely for stirring the coin. 1
The transport chain 6 is arranged around a rotary plate 30 provided therein. Further, a coin diameter detecting unit 11 and a coin returning unit 31 are provided in a portion of the transport path 2 located inside the hopper 1, and each pin of the chain 6 is controlled by the coin diameter detecting unit 11 and the control unit 17 which receives a signal therefrom. 9
A discriminating means for discriminating between a normal taking-in state in which coins C are taken in one by one and a fraudulent taking-in state in which two coins C are taken in between the pins 9 is provided. That is,
When the detected value of the coin diameter detecting unit 11 corresponds to any of coins of a plurality of denominations to be processed, the coin is regarded as normally taken and the denomination is identified. When the value is larger than the value corresponding to the coin and corresponds to two coins of the minimum diameter, it is determined that the illegally-acquired state is present, and the coin return means 31 is operated according to the determination. I have. The coin return means 31 includes a solenoid 31a and a coin pushing member 31b connected thereto.
And so on.

According to this embodiment, the point that the coin C in the hopper 1 is pushed up by the pins 9 of the transport chain 6 and transferred to the transport path 2 is the same as that of the above-described conventional apparatus. When two coins are taken in, the coin C is returned into the hopper 1 by the operation of the coin return means 31 according to the determination of the illegally taken state, and the illegally taken state is resolved.

[0033]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, coins in a hopper are picked up by a transport chain having pins for feeding coins at regular intervals, the coins are moved along the transport path, and the transport path is moved. A coin is taken out by denomination by coin taking-out means provided at a plurality of places.A coin guide plate in a hopper is provided with a rotating plate that rotates in synchronization with the transport chain. Since coin receiving holes of a certain diameter are provided at a plurality of locations on the same circumference, coins are inserted one by one into the coin receiving holes, and then transferred between the pins of the chain, so that between the pins. It is possible to prevent two coins from being taken in. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily perform operations such as transporting coins and removing coins by the chain. Moreover,
On the back side of the hopper, a drive switch for the transport chain
Arrange the propet and the motor, and attach it to the output shaft of this motor.
Both drive sprocket and rotating plate are directly connected
Therefore, the synchronous drive of the rotating plate and the transport chain is simple and co-
It can be achieved with a compact structure.

In particular, the transport path is provided with identification means for identifying a denomination based on the detection of a coin diameter, and the coin ejection means is operated in accordance with the identification by the identification means. Thus, by preventing two coins from being taken in as described above, it is possible to increase the certainty of the denomination of the denomination and the operation of taking out coins of the denomination based on the denomination.

In the present invention, in particular, the diameter of the coin intake hole is set to be larger than the diameter of the largest coin and smaller than twice the diameter of the smallest coin among a plurality of coins to be processed. By doing so (claim 3), it is possible to reliably prevent two coins from being taken in.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a normal taking-in state in which coins are taken in one by one between the pins of the transport chain from the hopper and an illegal taking-in state in which two coins are taken in between the pins. And a coin return means that operates in accordance with the determination of the illegally loaded state by the determination means and returns the coin in the illegally loaded state into the hopper. The state can be reliably eliminated. And above
The coin return means is located inside the hopper, so two
Coins are returned directly to the hopper
There is no need to provide a separate passage for
To reduce the time it takes for coins to be
It has a remarkable effect that it can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic perspective view of a coin processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic front view of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a hopper portion of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of a rotating plate and a transport chain in the same device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a coin take-out portion of the apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a main part according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a main part according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hopper 2 Transport path 6 Transport chain 9 Coin feed pin 11 Coin diameter detection part 12 Coin removal means 22 Coin guide plate 23 Rotary plate 24 Coin receiving hole 31 Coin return means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-292291 (JP, A) JP-A-4-24168 (JP, U) JP-A-63-16359 (JP, U) 500380 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07D 1/00-9/06

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transport chain is disposed over a hopper for storing coins and a transport path extending outward from an upper portion of the hopper, and pins for feeding coins are disposed on the transport chain at regular intervals. Then, coins in the hopper are picked up by the transfer chain and moved along the transfer path, and in the coin processing apparatus provided with a take-out means for taking out coins by denomination with respect to this transfer path, A coin guide plate that covers the transport chain in a portion excluding the upper part of the hopper is disposed in an inclined manner, and a rotary plate that rotates in synchronization with the transport chain is provided on the coin guide plate, and the same rotary plate is used. A coin receiving hole of a certain diameter is provided at a plurality of locations on the circumference, and the back side of the hopper is
Arranges drive sprocket and motor for transport chain
The output shaft of this motor and the drive sprocket
A coin processing device , wherein both the plate and the plate are directly connected, and the transport chain and the coin receiving hole of the rotary plate correspond to each other at an upper portion of the hopper. 2. The coin according to claim 1, wherein said transport path includes identification means for identifying a denomination based on detection of a coin diameter, and coin removal means is operated in accordance with the identification by said identification means. Processing equipment. 3. The diameter of the coin receiving hole of the rotating plate is set to be larger than the diameter of the largest coin among the coins of a plurality of denominations to be processed and smaller than twice the diameter of the smallest coin. 3. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein 4. A transport chain is disposed over a hopper for storing coins and a transport path extending outward from an upper portion of the hopper, and pins for transporting coins are disposed on the transport chain at regular intervals. Then, the coin in the hopper is picked up by the transfer chain and moved along the transfer path, and in the coin processing apparatus provided with a pickup means for taking out coins by denomination with respect to this transfer path, Discriminating means for discriminating between a normal taking-in state in which coins are taken in between the pins one by one and an improper taking-in state in which two coins are taken in between the pins, and operating in accordance with the discrimination of the improper taking-in state by the discriminating means And a coin return means for returning the coin in the illegally taken state into the hopper, and the coin return means is provided inside the hopper.
A coin processing device, wherein the coin processing device is arranged in a coin processing device.