JP4036035B2 - Coin processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coin processing device, and more particularly, to a coin processing device that carries out coin change and change payout received in a vending machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The vending machine is composed of a plurality of various functional parts. Each functional component has a mechanism unit and a control unit, and the control unit of each functional component is organically connected to the main control unit (master). The main control unit controls the entire vending machine, and the memory provided therein stores various setting data, failure history data, etc. Data necessary for setting and maintenance was read out.
[0003]
In such a configuration in which the operation of the vending machine is collectively controlled by the main control unit, the setting data of each functional component held in the memory is re-entered when the main control unit is replaced due to a failure, or the functional component For example, in the vending machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-101492, a nonvolatile memory is provided in the control unit for each functional component, and the nonvolatile state is not clear. The setting data and the operation history data of the functional parts are held in the functional memory.
[0004]
One of the functional parts of a vending machine is a coin processing device (coin mechanism). This coin processing device stores a coin check (acceptor part) that performs denomination and authenticity determination of received coins, and a coin that has been checked in a tube prepared for each denomination, and after purchasing a product. When change is required, it is composed of a coin payout section (payout section) that pays out a required number of coins of a predetermined denomination from the coins loaded and stored in the tube.
[0005]
The check section is equipped with a control board, and the coin payout section is equipped with a relay board, which are connected to each other by a cable. The control board of the check section mainly controls the entire coin processing apparatus and has active functions such as communication with the main control section of the main body of the vending machine, coin identification, and coin dispensing. On the other hand, the relay board of the coin payout unit is composed of a coin fullness detection sensor, a change presence / absence detection sensor, a payout motor, a connector connected to the checkout part, etc., and has a passive function compared to the control board of the checkout part. Have
[0006]
In this coin processing device, a non-volatile memory is mounted on the control board of the check unit. This non-volatile memory mainly stores data for identifying coins necessary for quarantine, but it is possible to store history information such as the number of coins inserted and dispensed using the free space. By reading the history information, it is possible to grasp the usage frequency and operating status of the vending machine.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the coin processing apparatus developed in the market, the check part and the coin payout part are connected by a cable, so that the check part alone is frequently replaced. Therefore, since the history information of the coin processing device that has been operating up to a certain point in time, especially information related to the dispensing of the coin dispensing unit, etc. is transferred to another coin processing device by replacing the checker, accurate operation history information There was a problem that it was in a situation where it was not possible to grasp.
[0008]
This invention is made in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the coin processing apparatus which can output the exact operation history information of a coin paying-out part, even if it replaces a check part.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, in the coin handling apparatus including a coin detecting portion provided with a control board, and a coin discharge portion for mounting the connected relay board in the control board and the cable, the coin detecting The unit can be replaced independently, and a non-volatile memory that stores history information related to a coin payout process by the control board of the checker is mounted on the relay board of the coin payout part. A coin processing apparatus is provided.
[0010]
According to such a coin processing apparatus, the information of the operating history of the coin dispensing unit, so that the non-volatile memory of the coin detecting unit replacement is frequently performed is stored in a nonvolatile memory provided in a separate relay board I made it. As a result, even if the inspection part is replaced, the total operation history information from the shipment time of the coin payout part can be accurately stored, so that accurate operation is possible by outputting this information. It becomes possible to grasp information.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a coin processing apparatus according to the present invention.
[0012]
The coin processing device includes a check unit (acceptor unit) 1 and a coin payout unit (payout unit) 2. The inspection unit 1 has a function of determining the denomination and authenticity of coins received by the vending machine, and is equipped with a mechanism unit for checking and a control board 3 for controlling the entire coin processing device. is doing. The coin dispensing unit 2 stores coins that have been inspected and determined to be genuine coins in a tube prepared for each denomination, and when a change is required after purchasing a product, the coins are loaded and stored in the tube. Having a function of paying out a required number of coins of a predetermined denomination from existing coins, a mechanism part for storing and paying out coins, and a relay board for connecting the mechanism part to the control board 3 of the check part 1 by a cable 4 is installed. A non-volatile memory 5 is mounted on the relay substrate 4.
[0013]
The non-volatile memory 5 mounted on the relay substrate 4 stores history information in the coin dispensing unit 2 such as information on the number of coins to be paid out and information on jam jamming under the control of the control board 3.
[0014]
This makes it possible to store accurate operation history information of the coin dispensing unit 2 even if the checking unit 1 is replaced.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a coin processing apparatus according to the present invention.
[0015]
The control board (printed board) 3 of the coin checking unit 1 in the coin processing apparatus includes a microcomputer (CPU) 11, and the microcomputer 11 has a readable / writable memory (RAM) 12. A nonvolatile memory (EEP-ROM) 13 is connected to the microcomputer 11. This non-volatile memory 13 is used for product-specific data such as adjustment data for correcting sensor output values for detecting the characteristics of coins, device serial numbers, and control mode setting data, as well as when a malfunction occurs in the check operation. It is used to store data related to the operation history.
[0016]
The microcomputer 11 is also connected to a connection connector 15 of a relay board (printed board) 4 mounted on the coin dispensing unit 2 via a cable 14. The connection connector 15 is connected to a payout motor 16 for paying change, a fullness detection sensor 17 and a change presence / absence detection sensor 18 installed in a coin storage portion, a non-volatile memory (EEP-ROM) 19 and the like. The microcomputer 11 is further connected via a cable 20 to a vending machine main control unit 21 that performs overall control of the entire vending machine.
[0017]
In the coin processing device configured as described above, a program related to coin processing is stored in the microcomputer 11 that performs overall control of the coin processing device, loaded into the memory 12 during operation, and executed by the microcomputer 11. Further, in the nonvolatile memory 5 mounted on the relay board 4, history information regarding the payout operation in the coin payout unit 2 is stored separately from the operation history of the checker unit 1. This information can be output to a dedicated tester or vending machine main controller 21 through the control board 3 of the checker 1.
[0018]
Next, an operation example of storing history information about the number of coins to be paid out in the operation of the coin processing apparatus will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for storing history information relating to the number of coins to be paid out.
[0019]
First, the accumulated payout number counter of the non-volatile memory 5 on the relay board 4 is set to 0 at the time of factory shipment or completion of repair (step S0).
When the vending machine is operating, the payout number counter n on the memory 12 of the microcomputer 11 is set to 0 (step S1), and the actual payout number m is set to 0 (step S2). Also, 0 is set for the timer for measuring a certain time (step S3).
[0020]
Next, the number m that has been paid out during a predetermined time is counted (step S4), and the value m is stored in the payout number counter n (step S5). The payout number m is set to 0 after being stored in the payout number counter n (step S6). Next, it is determined whether or not a certain time has elapsed (step S7). If the certain time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S4. If the timer has passed for a certain period of time, the accumulated payout number is stored in the non-volatile memory 19 by adding the value of the payout number counter n to the accumulated number count N of the non-volatile memory 19 on the relay board 4. And return to the first step S1.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, the nonvolatile memory is mounted on the relay board of the coin dispensing unit, and the history information related to the coin dispensing process is stored in the nonvolatile memory. Thereby, even if a check part is replaced | exchanged, the operation | movement history of a coin dispensing part can be memorize | stored correctly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a coin processing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a coin processing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for storing history information relating to the number of coins to be paid out.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Checking part 2 Coin dispensing part 3 Control board 4 Relay board 5 Non-volatile memory 11 Microcomputer 12 Memory 13 Non-volatile memory 14 Cable 15 Connection connector 16 Discharge motor 17 Full detection sensor 18 Change detection sensor 19 Non-volatile memory 20 Cable 21 Vending machine main control

Claims (2)

In coin handling apparatus having a coin detecting portion provided with a control board, and a coin discharge portion for mounting the connected relay board in the control board and the cable,
The check section can be replaced independently,
A coin processing apparatus , wherein a non-volatile memory that stores history information related to a coin payout process is mounted on the relay board of the coin payout part by the control board of the check part . The control board holds history information generated by a coin payout process, and stores the history information held every time a predetermined time elapses in the nonvolatile memory. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:

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