JP3418291B2 - Coin storage and ejection device - 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 storage / dispensing device, and more particularly to a POS / ECR (Point Of Sal
The present invention relates to a coin storing / dispensing device suitable for use in a change dispenser connected to an es / Electronic Cash Register).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a change dispenser, coins in which various denominations are mixed are put in at once from an insertion slot, and it is checked whether or not the coins are genuine coins. The coins are sorted into categories and stored in a storage unit, and designated coins and the number of coins are paid out. That is,
Equipped with a coin storage and ejection mechanism. One example thereof will be described based on FIG. First, in the main body case 1, storage units 2 for storing the inserted coins C for each denomination are respectively provided. At the entrance of the storage unit 2, the coins C are classified according to denominations, and the coins C conveyed by the conveyor belt 4 fall into the respective storage units 2 from the selection holes 5. To do. The storage part 2
On the bottom surface, a feeding belt 8 which is driven by being hung between the driving roller 6 and the driven roller 7 is arranged in a rising and inclined state toward the coin dispensing direction. A separating roller 10 is provided at the outlet of the storage unit 2 to form a coin separating unit 9 that faces the feeding belt 8 at a constant interval and rotates in a direction opposite to the coin dispensing direction. ing. At the downstream position of the separating roller 10, even when the feeding belt 8 is in a driving state, the coin C on the feeding belt 8 is stopped and the stop of the coin C is released based on a payout command. A coin shutter 12 is provided by means of a solenoid forming the means 11. Immediately after the coin shutter 12, coin counting means 13 is provided which is a photoelectric sensor for counting the coins C dispensed. The end of the feeding belt 8 is connected to a payout opening 14 that opens upward so that the coins C of all denominations that are paid out collectively can be taken out collectively.

In such a structure, the coins C inserted from the not-shown insertion port are sorted and stored in the storing unit 2 by the coin selecting unit 3 for each denomination at each insertion timing. In addition to such a coin storing operation, when a coin payout command is issued, the feeding belt 8, the separating roller 10, the coin shutter 12 and the like operate according to the type and number of the coins C to be paid out. That is, the feeding belt 8 and the separation roller 10
Thus, the coins C in the storage unit 2 are fed out one by one, and the operation of the coin shutter 12 controls the feeding and stopping thereof. When the coin shutter 12 is opened, the coins C are sent out by the movement of the feeding belt 8, and the number thereof is counted by the coin counting means 13. Then, when the number of coins reaches a predetermined number, the coin shutter 12 returns and stops the delivery of the coins C. Since such an operation is performed for each denomination, the required number of coins C of the required denomination have been paid out to the payout opening 14.

[0004]

The coins C dispensed from the storage section 2 are separated by the separating roller 10 and sent out one by one. However, the arrangement state and delivery of the coins C in the storage section 2 are carried out. The discharge state of the coins C is unstable due to the operation timing of the belt 8 and the like, and when paying out a plurality of coins C, the coins C are not always conveyed continuously. Therefore, when it is used for a change dispenser, the payout of the coin C is delayed or becomes discontinuous, which gives anxiety to the customer. Further, the change-out time may vary and may take a long time, which may hinder the merchandise sales operation and reduce the service to the customer.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is
Sequentially arranged a coin separating section and the coin standby section to each of the outlet of the storage portion of the coin which is formed by sectioning for each denomination, even the coins separated by the coin separating unit to the coin waiting section A predetermined number of the coins are arranged in a line, the coins that have been kept on standby are dispensed , and the coins are transferred from the storage unit to the coin standby unit.
I was sent to the . With this, coins need only be sent out in advance to dispense coins, so that the coin dispensing operation is continuous, and the coins are reliably delivered in a short time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a coin sorting unit that sorts the inserted coins into denominations, and coins sorted by the coin sorting unit are stored for each denomination, and a feeding belt is provided on the bottom surface. A storage unit, a coin separating unit that separates the coins fed out by the feeding belt into one by one, and a coin separating unit that is provided with an ejection belt and holds the coins that are separated by the coin separating unit in one line and holds these coins. A coin standby unit for paying out the coin, a coin counting unit for counting the coins paid out from the coin standby unit, and a coin for selectively stopping the coin located in the coin standby unit upstream of the coin counting unit. It has a stopping means and should be paid out when there is a payout order.
Operate the feeding belt according to the type and number of coins
It was done like this. Therefore, it is possible to easily dispense the coins arranged in a line in the coin standby portion, and the number of coins can be easily managed.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the number of coins lined up in the coin standby portion is at least four. Therefore, the required number of coins for change can be arranged in the coin waiting section.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, an insertion port 16 that opens upward is provided at the front right side of the main body case 15 to insert the coins C collectively. The insertion slot 16 is provided with a plurality of sets of insertion sensors 17 that photoelectrically detect the presence or absence of the coin C. Then, at one end of the input port 16, the input roller 1 for sending out the coins C randomly input one by one.
8 is provided, and the charging roller 18 and the charging port 16 form a charging portion 19.

A loading belt 20 for transporting coins C in a line is continuously provided on the loading roller 18, and the feeding speed of the coins C is accelerated on the loading belt 20 to open a predetermined gap. Conveyor belt 2 for forming a conveyer unit having an increased convey speed so that the coin C can be sent.
1 is continuously provided, and further another conveyor belt 22 is continuously provided. An outer diameter check unit 23 for checking the outer diameter of the coin C is provided at the portion of the conveyor belt 21. At the tip of the outer diameter check unit 23, a reject overflow unit 24 is provided which interrupts the coin transport and stores the coins when the coins C to be transported are not genuine coins or when the storage unit described later is full. Has been.

A conveyor belt 25 for converting the conveying direction into a right angle is provided at the end portion of the conveyor belt 22, and a sorting hole for each denomination in which the hole width dimension is gradually increased along the conveyor belt 25. 26 is provided and the coin sorting part 27 is formed. The selection hole 26 is 1 yen / 5 yen / 10
Six pieces are provided so as to correspond to denominations of yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen, respectively. And each sorting hole 2
A counting sensor 28 is provided for each 6.

Next, there is provided an accommodating section 30 having an upper opening which is communicated with each of the sorting holes 26 and is partitioned by the partition plate 29 into coins C. A delivery belt 31 connected to and driven by a storage unit motor (not shown) is provided on a bottom portion of the storage unit 30 for each denomination so as to be suspended between a drive roller 32 and a driven roller 33. In the upper portion of the storage portion 30 formed in this way, the storage portion 3
A cover 34 that covers the upper opening 0 is supported by a hinge portion 35 and is openable and closable. The size of the cover 34 is such that the coin C cannot be directly inserted into the storage section 30 from the outside and the coin C cannot be taken out by hand. A lock mechanism 36 is provided on such a cover 34. The lock mechanism 36 includes an engagement hole 37 formed in the cover 34, a latch 38 provided in the main body case 15 so as to be engaged with and disengaged from the engagement hole 37, and the latch 38.
It is composed of a solenoid 39 for advancing and retreating. Further, a protrusion 40 is formed on one side of the cover 34, and the main body case 15 is provided with a storage unit open / close switch 41 for issuing an opening / closing signal of the cover 34 by the protrusion 40. ing.

Next, the outlet of the storage section 30 acts as coin separating means for separating the coins C one by one.
The book separating roller 42 is arranged so as to cross all the outlets, and a coin waiting portion 43 for arranging a predetermined number of coins C in a line and waiting is provided for each denomination. These coin waiting portions 43 are provided with ejection belts 46 wound around a driving roller 44 and a driven roller 45, and two or more coins C are provided above the ejection belts 46.
A pressing plate 47 whose size is determined so that the coins do not overlap with each other, and the operation is controlled so that the coins C are temporarily stopped and the required number of coins C are sent out. A coin shutter 49, which constitutes a coin stopping means for controlling the payout of coins, is provided by an electromagnet. Since the coin shutter 49 is provided at a position off the center of the circular coin C, the coin C
Coins C adjacent to each other even if they line up in contact with each other
The coins C are located in a gap-like space formed between the coins and allow the coins C to be stopped. Further, at least four coins C are arranged in a line in the coin standby section 43. Further, a payout standby sensor 50 functioning as a coin detecting means is provided immediately after the separation roller 42 in the coin waiting section 43, and a payout sensor 51 functioning as a coin counting means immediately after the coin shutter 49. Is provided. Next, on the exit side of the coin payout section 48, an upper opening payout exit 52 for collectively receiving the coins C paid out from all the coin payout sections 48 is provided. Further, a display 53 and various operation keys 54 are provided on the front left side of the main body case 15.

In such a structure, the operation of each section will be described with reference to the structures shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 according to the flowchart of FIG. First, open / close the storage unit 30 to see if the cover 34 of the storage unit 30 is locked.
Detected by the switch 41, on condition that the cover 34 is locked, the routine after the next "A" waiting state is executed. When the coin C is inserted into the slot 16 in this state, the coin C is detected by the coin sensor 17, and whether or not the coin C is detected by the coin sensor 17 when a predetermined set time has elapsed. A coin jam at the insertion port 16 is detected by this. That is,
If the coin C is detected by the insertion sensor 17 even after a lapse of a predetermined time, it means that the coin is jammed, and if the coin C is not detected by the insertion sensor 17, it is judged as a normal state. To be done. Here, when the coin jam determination unit determines that the coin is jammed, an error display is displayed on the display device 53. As a result, the operator removes the jammed coin C and presses the correction key in the operation keys 54 to cancel the error display and return to the standby state "A". During this process, if the coin C which is to be removed for some reason is dropped from the sorting hole 26 and put into the storage unit 30, the counting sensor 2
8 detects the state, and the total amount of money is wrongly calculated. Therefore, in addition to the display of the coin jam displayed on the display 53, the wrongly generated occurrence display is made.

If there is no coin jam in the slot 16,
Counting sensor 28, payout waiting sensor 50, and payout sensor 51
By the following, it is sequentially detected whether there is a coin jam in the transport section of the coin C and the coin sorting section 27, whether the coin payout section 48 has a coin jam, or the storage section 30 has a coin jam. At this time, if there is a jam of coins other than the storage section 30, the operator performs a process of removing the jammed coin C, as in the case where the coin is jammed at the insertion slot 16 described above, and the correction in the operation key 54 is performed. Pressing the key cancels the error display and returns to the standby state "A". During this process, if the coin C which is to be removed for some reason is dropped from the sorting hole 26 and put into the storage unit 30, the counting sensor 28
Will detect that condition and the total amount will be incorrect, so
In addition to the coin jam display displayed on the display unit 53, a calculation error display is displayed.

On the other hand, when a coin jam occurs in the storage unit 30, a display to that effect is displayed on the display 53, the solenoid 39 is energized, and the lock mechanism 36 is released. As a result, the cover 34 of the storage section 30 can be opened, so that the operator opens the cover 34 to process the jammed coin C, and eliminates the jam of coins in the storage section 30. At this time, if the coin C is erroneously dropped in the sorting hole 26 and the coin C is detected by the counting sensor 28, the total amount of money is wrongly calculated. Therefore, the coin jam displayed on the display 53 is not displayed. Separately, an error occurrence indication is displayed.
If there is no mistake in dropping the coin C into the sorting hole 26, the correction key indicating that the processing is completed is pressed, and the cover 34 is closed and locked to display the coin jam on the display 53. Is released and the standby state “A” is restored. At this time, even if the coin jam is cleared, the coin jam is still displayed unless the cover 34 is closed.

The coins C thus inserted are sorted and stored in the storage section 30 according to denomination. And when there is a payout command, the coin C to be paid out
Delivery belt 31, separation roller 4 according to the type and number of
2, the ejection belt 46, the coin shutter 49 and the like operate as necessary. At this time, since four coins C are arranged in a line in a line in the coin standby portion 43 and are on standby, even if the transfer of the coins C delivered by the feeding belt 31 and the separation roller 42 is delayed, it is necessary. The number of coins C is immediately paid out. That is, even if there is only one coin for a 500-yen coin, if four coins C can be paid out with each other denomination, change of up to 999 yen can be paid out in one operation. Therefore, the coins C paid out by the rotation of the dispensing belt 46 are counted by the payout sensor 51, and when the required number of coins of the denomination is counted, the coin shutter 49 returns and the movement of the coins C is stopped. Let When the coins C held in the coin standby portion 43 are exhausted in this way, they are sequentially fed from the payout belt 31, but the number is counted by the payout standby sensor 50, and the four coins C are placed in the coin standby portion 43. When is fed, the rotation of the feeding belt 31 is stopped.

[0017]

According to the present invention, the coin separating section and the coin waiting section are sequentially arranged at the respective outlets of the coin storing sections formed by dividing by the denomination, and the coin separating section is provided. Separated by
It has been allowed to stand for a predetermined number of side by side the coins even a line in the coin waiting portion and pays out coins obtained by this stand together
Sequentially send coins from the storage section to the coin standby section
I did it . Thereby, since the coins need to be dispensed only by sending out the coins that are arranged in advance, the coin dispensing operation is continuous, and the coins are reliably delivered in a short time.
As a result, it is possible to smoothly carry out the product sales business without giving concern to the customer.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a coin sorting section for sorting the inserted coins into denominations, and coins sorted by the coin sorting section for each denomination are provided with a feeding belt on the bottom surface. A storage unit, a coin separating unit that separates the coins fed out by the feeding belt into one by one, and a coin separating unit that is provided with an ejection belt and holds the coins that are separated by the coin separating unit in one line and holds these coins. A coin standby unit for paying out the coin, a coin counting unit for counting the coins paid out from the coin standby unit, and a coin for selectively stopping the coin located in the coin standby unit upstream of the coin counting unit. It has a stopping means and should be paid out when there is a payout order.
Operate the feeding belt according to the type and number of coins
It was done like this. Therefore, it is possible to easily dispense the coins arranged in a line in the coin standby portion, and the number of coins can be easily managed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the number of coins lined up in the coin waiting portion is at least four. Therefore, the required number of coins for change can be lined up in the coin standby unit, and the coins required for change can be obtained only by coins arranged in the coin standby unit in one operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of a part thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cover of a storage unit is opened.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of coins when a coin is inserted and a processing state thereof.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional side view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

27 coin sorter 30 storage 31 Feeding belt 42 coin separator 43 coin waiting section 48 coin stopping means 50 coin detection means 51 coin counting means C coin

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tomokazu Arakawa 570, Ohito, Ohito-cho, Takata-gun, Shizuoka Tech Inside the Ohito Plant (72) Inventor Masakazu Tanaka, 570, Ohito, Ohito-machi, Takata-gun, Shizuoka On-site (72) Inventor Toshihiro Kaneko 570 Ohito, Ohito-cho, Ohta-cho, Takata-gun, Shizuoka On-site of Tech Ohito Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-7-182552 (JP, A) JP-A-7-121750 (JP, A) ) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07G 1/00-1/14 G07D 1/06 G07D 9/00-9/02

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sequentially disposed a coin separating section and the coin standby section to each of the outlet of the storage portion of the coin which is formed by sectioning for each denomination, the said coin which has been separated by the coin separating part Hard
The貨待machine part more in a row to wait a predetermined number, this waiting
Dispense coins that have been machined and remove coins from the storage section.
A coin storing and dispensing device, which is configured to sequentially feed the coins to the coin standby portion . 2. A coin sorting unit that sorts the inserted coins into denominations, a storing unit in which coins sorted by the coin sorting unit are stored for each denomination, and a feeding belt is provided on the bottom surface, and the feeding unit. A coin separating unit for separating coins fed out by a belt one by one, and a coin standby unit provided with a discharging belt for holding the coins separated by the coin separating unit in one line and discharging the coins. And a coin counting means for counting the coins dispensed from the coin standby portion, and a coin stopping means located in the coin standby portion upstream of the coin counting means for selectively stopping the coins. , Payout order
When there is a coin, it depends on the type and number of coins to be paid out.
A coin storing and dispensing device, characterized in that the feeding belt is operated . 3. The coin storage and ejection device according to claim 2, wherein the number of coins lined up in the coin standby section is at least four.