JP3699556B2 - Coin processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coin processing apparatus which is built into an automatic ticket vending machine at a station or an online system depositing / withdrawing terminal apparatus installed in a financial institution, an automatic depositing / withdrawing apparatus installed in a racetrack, etc. It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The coin processing device calculates and displays the total amount of coins deposited from the coin deposit slot, and pays out the change in which the amount of the purchased ticket, etc. is deducted from the amount received, or pays out the coin with the amount settled Device. The coins to be used for the change etc. are stored in advance in the coin storage part as a reserve for each denomination, and the user's input coins are also separated for each denomination and used for change. . In other words, the structure is a so-called circulation system, and the stop of the coin processing device due to the lack of change is avoided.
[0003]
The above reserves are prepared because, for denominations that are frequently used as change, the amount of payment is greater than the amount of user input, leading to a lack of absolute amount of denominations, etc. This is to prevent unexpected occurrences. Also, the reason why the coins used by the user are allocated to the change is that if all the change is covered only with the reserve, the reserve must be replenished frequently and it becomes complicated.
[0004]
As a coin processing apparatus adopting such a circulation system, there is one disclosed in JP-A-8-16879. This coin processing device separates the coins sent out from the hopper feed mechanism by storing and arranging the input coins while aligning them, and sorts out the coins sent out from the hopper feed mechanism, and sends them out to a passage provided for each denomination. In addition to a sorting mechanism, a change storage mechanism provided for each passage, and a coin to be stored in the change storage mechanism, a coin cassette or the like for storing a lot of necessary coins as a reserve in advance is provided. .
[0005]
Coins that are thrown into the deposit port of the coin processing device (usually there are many cases at the same time, and the denominations are often different) are aligned by the hopper feed mechanism and sent to the sorting mechanism for sorting by denomination. And stored in the change storage mechanism. When change is required, a coin of the required amount is paid out from the change storage mechanism and is paid out as change to the withdrawal port.
[0006]
When coins of a specific denomination in the change storage mechanism are insufficient, coins are replenished from a coin cassette containing the corresponding denomination. In this case, there is no problem if a coin cassette for all denominations is used and has a large capacity, but it is difficult because the dimensions of the apparatus are limited.
[0007]
Therefore, in this device, when there is not enough change, a plurality of coins are put into the hopper portion of the hopper feed mechanism of the coin processing device and sent to the sorting mechanism by the hopper feed mechanism, and the change storage mechanism receives the change as a change. I try to store it.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since this coin processing device uses the same hopper feed mechanism, sorting mechanism, etc. as the case where the user inserts coins for change, as described above, once the coins are replenished, There is an inconvenience that the user's use must be stopped.
[0009]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional technique, and can replenish the insufficient coins without stopping the use of coin processing, and is larger than the conventional coin processing apparatus. The purpose is to provide a coin processing device that does not become a problem.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a coin processing apparatus according to the present invention is a coin processing apparatus configured to perform a coin deposit / withdrawal process and to replenish a deficient coin as shown in FIG. A deposit processing system for processing coins inserted from the coin deposit port 16; and a replenishment coin processing system for processing replenished coins.
[0011]
If comprised in this way, since the replenishment coin processing system | strain is provided, a coin can be replenished, continuing a money_receiving | payment process.
[0012]
The coin processing device according to the present invention may further include a coin replenishing warehouse for storing deficient coins; the coins stored in the coin replenishing warehouse may be configured to be supplied to the replenishing coin processing system. If comprised in this way, since a coin replenishment store | warehouse | chamber is provided, it can replenish the coin which is insufficient from a coin replenishment store | warehouse | chamber, without using a deposit port.
[0013]
The coin processing device according to the present invention is a coin processing device configured to perform deposit / withdrawal processing of coins and to replenish deficient coins; a coin replenishing warehouse for storing deficient coins; A first coin discriminating unit for identifying the authenticity of the coins inserted from the deposit slot; a second coin discriminating unit for identifying the authenticity of the coins fed from the coin replenishing warehouse; and the first coin discriminating unit. A first coin sorting unit that sorts coins that have passed through each denomination; a second coin sorting unit that sorts coins that have passed through the second coin identifying unit into each denomination; And a coin storage unit that stores the coins sorted by the coin sorting unit of each type of money.
[0014]
If comprised in this way, the coin inserted from the coin slot by the user will be identified by the first coin identifying unit as to whether the coin is true or false. The coins are sent to the coin sorting section, sorted by denomination, and stored in the coin storage section for each denomination. In addition, for withdrawals such as change, a necessary number of coins stored in the coin storage unit are taken out and paid out to a withdrawal port.
[0015]
On the other hand, the coins inserted into the coin replenishment warehouse are identified by the second coin identifying unit as to whether the coins are correct or not. If they are correct coins, they are sent to the second coin sorting unit and sorted by denomination. Each denomination is stored in the storage section. Even if the shortage of coins for change is a plurality of denominations, it can be stored in a coin storage section corresponding to each denomination and used as change by simply putting them into a coin replenishment box. At that time, the correct / false identification of coins and the classification of denominations are performed separately for the coins entered by the user and the coins entered in the coin replenishment warehouse, and the denomination of the denomination is performed separately. There is no need to stop using the service.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the mutually same or equivalent member, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a front view (cross-sectional view) of the coin processing device 10, and FIG. 2 is a customer service surface in a side view of the coin processing device 10 as viewed from the right side. Note that a cross section is shown for explanation of the internal structure. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the coin processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB. The coin processing apparatus of this embodiment is unitized, and it is possible to improve the functions of these automatic machine systems by assembling them in various automatic vending machines, automatic ticket vending machines and other automatic machine systems. Is.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the coin processing apparatus 10 includes a main body 12 and a coin replenishing box 14 attached to the upper portion of the main body 12 so as to be drawable. A method for pulling out the coin replenishing box 14 will be described later. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 12 has a depositing port 16 and a dispensing port 18 at an upper end, and a hopper that feeds out coins deposited below the depositing port 16. A feed mechanism 20 is provided.
[0019]
The hopper feed mechanism 20 has a container-like hopper that temporarily stores an arbitrary number (one or two or more) of coins inserted from the deposit port 16, and the coins stored in the hopper are Aligned by a belt-type hopper feed mechanism, the sheets are sent downstream one by one.
[0020]
Further, on the downstream side of the hopper feed mechanism 20, a driving pulley 22 and a driven pulley 24 are arranged so as to face each other, and a conveying belt 26 is provided between them to constitute a coin conveying unit. Has been. A sorting plate 30 is disposed below the conveyor belt 26, and four holes for sorting coins for each denomination are arranged in the sorting plate 30 from upstream to downstream. In the order of decreasing diameter from the upstream side, the size corresponds to 50 yen coin, 100 yen coin, 10 yen coin, and 500 yen coin. The coins sandwiched between the conveyor belt 26 and the sorting plate 30 are sent downward from this hole. The transport belt 26 and the sorting plate 30 constitute a first coin sorting unit 32.
[0021]
As described above, in this embodiment, the deposit processing system is configured from the hopper feed mechanism 20 to the coin sorting unit 32.
[0022]
In addition, a first coin identifying unit 34 is arranged on the upstream side of the conveyor belt 26, and identifies the authenticity of the coins sent from the hopper feed mechanism 20 and sandwiched between the sorting plate 30 and the conveyor belt 26. It works to do. The false coins are rejected, and only correct coins are sent to the first coin sorting unit 32. The fake coin mentioned here is a concept that includes not only a fake coin but also an extremely worn coin, a deformed coin, a foreign coin, and the like.
[0023]
Four frames 36 (for 50, 100, 10, 500 yen coins from the upstream side) are provided below each hole of the sorting plate 30 of the first coin sorting unit 32, and transmission is not shown in each of them. After the 50,100,10,500 yen coin is identified and the type sensor is placed, it is counted whether or not it has actually fallen into the corresponding frame according to the identification result, and the number of the dropped coins is counted. Yes.
[0024]
Under these frames 36, a temporary deposit holding portion 38 corresponding to the denomination is formed, and the bottom thereof is closed from both sides by swingable flappers 38a and 38b as shown in FIG. ing. In FIG. 1, the deposit rejection passage 40 is located on the right side of the temporary deposit holding portion. Of the coins that have been deposited, those that have not been converted to the true coins by the first coin identifying unit 34 are rejected. It is comprised so that it may return to the withdrawal port 18 via 40 (refer FIG. 4).
[0025]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, four hopper-shaped coin storage portions 44 corresponding to the respective denominations are formed below the temporary deposit storage portion 38, and a coin storage for 100 yen coins. A deposit return passage 46 is provided between the portion 44b and the coin storage portion 44c for 10 yen coins. Then, for example, when the flapper 38 a on the right side of the deposit temporary holding unit 38 shown in FIG. 3 is opened, the coins temporarily held in the deposit temporary holding unit 38 return to the withdrawal port 18 through the deposit return passage 46. . On the other hand, when the left flapper 38 b is opened, the coin temporarily held in the deposit temporary holding unit 38 falls into the coin storage unit 44. The flapper 38a can be opened when the user stops the processing in the middle of what has been deposited, or when the deposited coin is not properly separated.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 3, the coin storage unit 44 is provided with a disk-like feed mechanism 50 that is rotated by a motor 48 at the bottom, and one coin stored inside by the rotation of the motor 48. Each is sent downstream. A transmissive sensor 52 is disposed at the outlet of the coin storage unit 44 to count the number of coins to be sent out. Further, a swingable flapper 54 is attached to the downstream side of the outlet of the coin storage unit 44, and the coins sent out from the coin storage unit 44 depending on the position of the flapper 54 are disposed below the belt. It falls on the conveyor 56 and is paid out as a change to the withdrawal port 18 or falls into a collection box 58 provided at the lowermost part of the main body 12 and collected.
[0027]
If there is a withdrawal mistake in which the amount of change required and the amount of coins sent out from the coin storage unit 44 are different, the belt conveyor 56 rotates in reverse and the coins placed on the main body 12 is sent into the withdrawal reject box 60 installed at the lowermost end of the lowermost part. In addition, the code | symbol 62 in FIG. 1 is a control board for performing operation control of this coin processing apparatus 10. FIG.
[0028]
Next, a replenishment mechanism for coping with a shortage of coins for change will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the coin replenishing box 14 for replenishing change is disposed at the upper part of the main body 12, and a belt conveyor 14 a is disposed therein. Coins thrown into the coin replenishing compartment 14 are carried by the belt conveyor 14 a and fall into the main body 12 from the opening 14 b formed on the lower surface of the end of the coin replenishing compartment 14. In addition, the coin replenishment method will be described later.
[0029]
In the main body 12 corresponding to the lower side of the opening 14b of the coin replenishing box 14, a hopper feed mechanism 70 for storing the replenishing coins dropped from the opening 14b and feeding it to the downstream side is provided. The hopper feed mechanism 70 has a container-like hopper that temporarily stores an arbitrary number (one or two or more) of coins that have been inserted into the coin replenishing chamber 14 and dropped from the opening 14b. The coins stored in the are aligned by a disk-shaped feed mechanism provided at the bottom thereof, and sent one by one downstream.
[0030]
On the downstream side of the hopper feed mechanism 70, a drive pulley (not shown) and a driven pulley (not shown) are arranged facing each other, as in the case of the deposit coin processing described above. As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, a conveyor belt 72 similar to the conveyor belt 26 is fitted and configured as a coin conveyor. A sorting plate 74 is disposed below the conveyor belt 72. The sorting plate 74 is formed with four holes for sorting coins for each denomination in a line from upstream to downstream. From the upstream side, the size corresponds to 50 yen coin, 100 yen coin, 10 yen coin, 500 yen coin. The coins sandwiched between the conveying belt 72 and the sorting plate 74 and sent are dropped downward from this hole. The transport belt 72 and the sorting plate 74 constitute a second coin sorting unit 76.
[0031]
As described above, in this embodiment, the replenishment coin processing system is configured from the hopper feed mechanism 70 to the coin sorting unit 76. This configuration is basically the same as the deposit processing system including the hopper feed mechanism 20, the drive pulley 22, the driven pulley 24, the transport belt 26, and the first coin sorting unit 32.
[0032]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a second coin identifying unit 78 is disposed on the upstream side of the transport belt 72 and is sent from the hopper feed mechanism 70 and sandwiched between the sorting plate 74 and the transport belt 72. It works to identify the authenticity of coins. The false coins are rejected, and only correct coins are sent to the second coin sorting unit 76.
[0033]
Four frames 80 (for 50, 100, 10, 500 yen coins from the upstream side) are provided under each hole of the sorting plate 74 of the second coin sorting unit 76, and transmission is not shown in each of them. A type sensor is arranged to count the number of 50, 100, 10,500 yen coins that fall.
[0034]
Under these frames 80, as shown in FIG. 3, a replenishment coin temporary holding portion 82 is formed corresponding to the denomination, and the bottom is closed from both sides by swingable flappers 82a and 82b. It has been. When the flapper 82a located on the left side is opened, the coins temporarily stored in the replenishment coin temporary storage unit 82 are dropped and collected in the replenishment coin reject box 84 provided below the coins. When the right flapper 82b is opened, the coins in the replenishment coin temporary holding section 82 are stored in the four coin storage sections 44 (corresponding to coins deposited from the deposit slot 16 corresponding to the respective denominations). ) And is stored for change. This configuration is basically the same as the deposit temporary storage unit 38 and the flappers 38a and 38b below the frame 36.
[0035]
The structure of the coin processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is as described above, and the operation thereof has also been briefly described. The coin processing apparatus 10 is further described below with reference to FIGS. The operation will be described. 11A is a front view, FIG. 11B is a side view, FIG. 11C is a cross-sectional view, and FIGS. .
[0036]
First, when a user inserts coins into the deposit port 16 of the coin processing device 10, the coins are temporarily stored in a hopper portion in the hopper feed mechanism 20, and the coins stored in the hopper portion are belt-type. They are aligned by the hopper feed mechanism and sent downstream one by one. At that time, for example, if there is a foreign object such as a clip, the flapper 20a provided on the side surface of the hopper feed mechanism 20 opens as shown by the arrow in FIG. Is done.
[0037]
The coins sent from the hopper feed mechanism 20 are sent downstream by the coin transport unit for processing. At that time, the correctness of the coin is identified by the first coin identifying unit 34. When it is determined that the coin is a fake coin including deformation, as shown in FIG. 6, the flapper 30a at the sorting plate 30 is opened, the corresponding fake coin falls, and a deposit reject passage 40 as shown by a broken line arrow. The belt conveyor 56 moves in the right direction in the figure and in the direction of the customer service surface, and the coins are returned to the withdrawal port 18. In the case of regular coins, the first coin sorting unit 32 sorts them into respective denominations and holds them in the deposit temporary holding unit 38 as indicated by solid line arrows.
[0038]
Next, when the user purchases a ticket or the like and operates the money amount button to the destination, the coins held in the deposit temporary holding unit 38 are left flapper 38b ( 7 (c) is opened, and is dropped and stored in the coin storage part 44 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. On the other hand, when the user inserts a coin into the deposit port 16 but operates the button for canceling the purchase, the right flapper 38a (FIG. 8C) of the deposit temporary holding unit 38 opens, and FIG. As shown by the arrows, the coins held in the deposit temporary holding section 38 fall on the belt conveyor 56 through the deposit return passage 46. At this time, the belt conveyor 56 is in the right direction in the figure, the customer service The coin moves in the surface direction and is returned to the withdrawal port 18.
[0039]
Next, the withdrawal operation will be described. The difference between the input amount and the required amount is paid out as change. However, as the motor 48 of the coin storage unit 44 rotates, the feed mechanism 50 rotates, as shown by the arrow in FIG. The coins stored in are delivered one by one from the outlet. The number is counted by a transmission type sensor 52 provided at the outlet of the coin storage unit 44. At that time, the swingable flapper 54 provided on the downstream side of the outlet of the coin storage section 44 is tilted downward, and the coins sent out from the coin storage section 44 are indicated by broken lines in FIG. Then, it falls onto the belt conveyor 56 disposed below it and is paid out to the withdrawal port 18 as change.
[0040]
When a withdrawal mistake occurs in which the amount of change is wrong, the belt conveyor 56 rotates in the reverse direction, that is, moves to the side opposite to the customer service surface, and the coins placed on the upper side as shown in FIG. Is discharged into a withdrawal / rejection storage 60 installed at the lowermost end on the opposite side to the customer service surface of the main body 12.
[0041]
Next, a coin replenishing method will be described. The coin processing device 10 is adapted to use coins inserted by the user as change, but it replenishes coins when a shortage occurs. In addition, coins must be supplied to the coin processing device before the coin processing device is operated, and this is also performed by a replenishment method via a replenisher.
[0042]
First, as shown in FIG. 11, the coin replenishing cabinet 14 is pulled out from the main body 12 along a rail (not shown), and coins are inserted from above. In this case, the input coins may include different denominations. When the coins have been inserted, the coin replenishing container 14 is returned to the original position of the main body 12 and operated, and the internal belt conveyor 14a is activated. As shown in FIG. 12, the coins are carried by the belt conveyor 14a. Then, it falls into the hopper feed mechanism 70 provided in the main body 12 from the opening 14b.
[0043]
The coins stored in the hopper feed mechanism 70 are aligned and sent to the downstream one by one. Then, the second coin discriminating unit 78 recognizes the authenticity of the authenticity, and further denomination is made by the second coin sorting unit 76 constituted by the transport belt 72 and the sorting plate 74 disposed below the transport belt 72. It is sorted every time and is stored in the replenishment coin temporary storage unit 82. Then, the right flapper 82b (FIG. 12C) is opened, and the coins in the replenishment coin temporary storage section 82 are dropped and stored in the four coin storage sections 44 provided corresponding to the respective denominations. , Used for change.
[0044]
In order to reject the coins inserted into the coin replenishment store 14, as shown in FIG. 13, when the flapper 82a (FIG. 13 (c)) located on the left side of the replenishment coin temporary storage unit 82 is opened, the replenishment coin temporary storage unit The coins temporarily held in 82 are dropped and collected in the replenishment coin reject box 84 provided on the lower side as indicated by an arrow.
[0045]
In order to collect the coins after the processing of the coin processing device 10 is finished, as shown in FIG. 14C, when the flapper 54 provided in the vicinity of the outlet of the coin storage unit 44 is started, Can be recovered by dropping into the collection box 58 as indicated by the arrow.
[0046]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention is configured so that the coins inserted from the deposit port and the coins inserted into the coin replenishment warehouse are separately identified for authenticity and denomination, so that the coins are separated. Insufficient coins can be replenished without stopping the use of processing. Further, since coins of different denominations can be mixed and put into the coin replenishing warehouse, various coins can be replenished without increasing the size of the coin processing device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a coin processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view on the customer service side of one embodiment of a coin processing apparatus according to the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view of the coin processing device shown in FIG. 1 taken along line AA. FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view of the coin processing device shown in FIG. 1 taken along line BB. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a foreign matter return operation.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the flow of a deposit process.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a storing operation of deposit coins.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a return operation of deposited coins.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a dispensing operation.
FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a withdrawal reject operation.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a coin replenishment method.
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the flow of supplementary coins.
FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a supplementary reject operation.
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the flow of collecting coins;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Coin processing apparatus 12 Main body 14 Coin replenishment warehouse 32 1st coin classification part 34 1st coin identification part 44 Coin storage part 76 2nd coin classification part 78 2nd coin identification part

Claims (5)

A coin processing device configured to perform deposit / withdrawal processing of coins and to replenish shortage coins;
And coin replenishment box for reserving the coins to be insufficient;
A first coin identifying unit for identifying whether a coin inserted from a coin deposit port is authentic;
A second coin discriminating unit for identifying whether the coin fed out from the coin replenishing box is correct or not;
A first coin sorting section for sorting coins that have passed through the first coin identifying section for each denomination;
A second coin sorting section for sorting coins that have passed through the second coin identifying section for each denomination;
A coin temporary storage unit that is disposed below the first coin sorting unit and temporarily holds the coins sorted by the first coin sorting unit for each denomination;
A replenishment coin temporary storage section that is disposed below the second coin classification section and temporarily holds the coins sorted by the second coin classification section for each denomination;
Coins that are arranged below the coin temporary storage unit and the replenishment coin temporary storage unit and store the coins temporarily stored in the coin temporary storage unit and the coins temporarily stored in the replenishment coin temporary storage unit for each denomination. Characterized by comprising a reservoir;
Coin processing device. A deposit return passage used to return the coins disposed and returned below the coin temporary storage unit to the withdrawal port;
A replenishment coin reject box disposed below the replenishment coin temporary storage unit and used to collect rejected coins;
The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1. Movement of coins from the first coin sorting unit to the coin temporary holding unit, movement of coins from the second coin sorting unit to the replenishing coin temporary holding unit, from the coin temporary holding unit to the coin storage unit or the The movement of the coin to the deposit return path and the movement of the coin from the replenishment coin temporary storage section to the coin storage section or the replenishment coin reject box are performed by dropping the coin;
The coin processing apparatus according to claim 2. An automatic machine system comprising the coin processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A deposit / withdrawal apparatus comprising the coin processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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