JP4539501B2 - Coin processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin processing apparatus that identifies a coin received by a vending machine, delivers a product, and pays out a change, and in particular, a coin that can be used in a normal vending machine for a medal used in a game hall or the like. The present invention relates to a processing apparatus.

  A device that handles coins, such as a vending machine (hereinafter referred to as a vending machine), has a built-in coin processing device (hereinafter also referred to as a coin mech) that identifies the type of coins that have been inserted and distributes destinations. . Such a coin processing device can be used by identifying coins of a specific denomination that are in circulation, and includes a change storage unit that stores coins inserted therein in denominations. A recycle type is known in which coins equivalent to a change are paid out from the change when the change is paid.

  In the conventional coin processing device, the inserted coins are stored in the change tube of the change storage unit in order from the bottom, and when the change is necessary, the input coins are stored in the change tube in advance for the change or change. The coins are paid out from the bottom of the change tube.

  In this case, when a return action is performed without selling after inserting the coin, the coin corresponding to the amount of money to be inserted is returned as it is, but a coin different from the inserted coin is returned. Therefore, when the coin processing device inserts a false coin that is erroneously determined to be a genuine coin and performs a return operation, the genuine coin is paid out and a replacement from the false coin to the true coin occurs. Therefore, when a coin is inserted, the coin is temporarily held without being led to the change tube, and when there is a return act, the temporary holding section for returning the temporarily held coin as it is. This is an escrow method. In the temporary storage unit, when a coin is inserted, the coin in which a stopper provided on the path is input is temporarily stored. When a return command or a product purchase command is sent from the control unit on the vending machine side, the stopper retracts from the route, and a gate provided on the downstream side operates according to the return command or the product purchase command. . That is, if there is a return instruction without purchasing the product, the gate is switched to a passage that leads the coin to the return port, and in the case of the purchase instruction for the product, the gate is switched to a passage that leads the coin to the change tube.

  As a part of a new product campaign or a specific product service, a beverage manufacturer or the like distributes medals serving as substitute coins (hereinafter also referred to as coin substitute medals) and sells new products or the like with a vending machine. For example, when a large number of products are purchased as part of a service for customers using vending machines, or beverages such as juice are provided from vending machines by coin substitute medals distributed as a service to customers who visit the exhibition . In addition, by making it possible to use medals used in game halls and the like with vending machines that insert ordinary coins, the space in the game hall can be used effectively. In such a case, a coin processing device that performs processing corresponding to the combined use of coins and medals in order to accept coin substitute medals at vending machines as well as various coins in circulation and to instruct specified product sales ( Coin mech with coins and medals is required.

  However, a coin processing device used in a conventional vending machine has no concept of purchasing a product by means other than coins such as a coin substitute medal. Moreover, the coin processing device is not provided with a dedicated medal slot. Therefore, coins and medals are accepted using a normal coin slot. Therefore, in such a coin processing apparatus, the inserted coin substitute medal is handled in the same manner as a coin, and predetermined amount data is transmitted to the vending machine side control unit. For example, when a value equivalent to “120 yen” is given to one medal, when accepting data for one medal is sent from the coin mech to the vending machine side control unit, the data is worth a value of “120 yen”. That is, it is interpreted as the amount data of one hundred-yen coin and two ten-yen coins.

  In general, medals distributed as substitute coins that cannot be exchanged are not paid out in accordance with the purchase of goods in the vending machine. Therefore, it is necessary to make it impossible for the coin processing device to select a product having a value equal to or less than the value given to the inserted coin substitute medal. Similarly, even if a refund operation is performed after a medal is inserted using a refund lever or the like of a vending machine, it is necessary not to refund the coin instead of the inserted medal. When a non-cashable medal is inserted in a normal vending machine, the vending machine is configured so that when the medal is inserted, the change is made when the medal is inserted. It is easy to avoid troubles with customers through operations such as thorough guidance.

  In Patent Document 1, a vending machine administrator also accepts coin substitute medals (tokens) issued for service purposes, and obtains the same effect as inserting a predetermined amount, and a specific customer with a token There is a description of a device for substantially discounting the price. This device is provided with a changeover switch so that the administrator can arbitrarily select whether or not to accept a token.

  In addition, the invention of Patent Document 2, as in Patent Document 1, allows coins and coin substitute medals (tokens) to be used together. Along with this, a token is issued to probabilistically serve customers.

Patent Document 3 discloses a vending machine, a game machine, a game machine, a payment telephone, a coin change machine, which gives a valuable item (product) instead of money received from a user, or performs a service or a specific function, and Invention of substitute money (tokens) used in the field of machines similar to these, which can be used here to authorize processing of different values, or returned by a device so that tokens can be used repeatedly Data storage substitutes can be handled by the device in place of or outside of real coins.
JP-A-56-88590 JP 56-88591 A JP 60-153589 A

  By the way, in the conventional vending machine, various data such as payment information, merchandise information, change information, and coin storage information are exchanged between the vending machine side control unit and the coin mech when the merchandise is sold. Therefore, when coin substitute medals are inserted into the vending machine, if the change of cash is prohibited regardless of the number of change stored, unlike the normal coin insertion, these data are not exchanged with the vending machine side control unit. There was a risk of inconsistencies in the exchanges and the subsequent vending machine operation stopped.

  In addition, when there is a request to return the coin substitute medal inserted into the vending machine, it is necessary not to perform the refund by the coin. However, unlike the case of the normal coin return, the vending machine side Inconsistency occurs in data exchange with the control unit.

  In the inventions of Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above, both coins and coin substitute medals can be inserted into the coin slot of the vending machine, and medals are handled in the same way as coins. Is not prohibited from selling with change. Further, none of Patent Documents 1 to 3 describes that coins that are substituted for inserted medals are not refunded even if a refund operation is performed after inserting coin substitute medals into the vending machine.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and when a coin substitute medal is inserted, a coin processing apparatus that prevents the sale of products below the price set for the coin substitute medal as much as possible is performed. The purpose is to provide.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing device that does not return a coin substitute medal even if a return request operation is executed after the coin substitute medal is inserted.

  In the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, in the coin processing device that identifies the coins received by the vending machine, delivers the predetermined product, and pays the change, the coin and the predetermined value amount are set. An insertion slot that can accept substitute money, a change storage means that stores coins received from the insertion slot for each denomination and can be paid out as change, and either the coin or the substitute money is inserted A change dispensing means for paying out a predetermined amount of change from the change storage means based on the difference between the value entered and the price of the product delivered from the vending machine, and the coin money in the change storage means Change control that counts the number of stored sheets for each species and determines whether or not the delivery of the product is prohibited according to the count value and the number of payouts from the change payout means And the change control means clears the count value to 0 when the substitute money is inserted, so that the change from the change payout means is independent of the actual number of coins stored in the change storage means. There is provided a coin processing apparatus characterized in that change dispensing is prohibited.

  Further, the coin processing device of the present invention is further temporarily stored in the temporary storage unit based on a temporary storage unit that temporarily stores the coin received from the insertion port and a return request for the coin or the substitute money. A return control means for controlling not to return the substitute money while returning the coin, wherein the return control means outputs dummy data according to the value of the substitute money according to the return request. Features.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the vending machine which can use a coin substitute medal and a coin together, when a medal is received, the sales opportunity accompanying a change can be reduced as much as possible. Further, even when the inserted coin substitute medal is not returned, it is possible to continue to sell the product with the vending machine.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
1 is an external view showing a front shape of a coin processing device according to Embodiment 1. FIG.

The present invention relates to a coin processing apparatus that can use coins and coin substitute medals (hereinafter referred to as tokens) in combination, but there is no mechanical difference from a coin mech that uses only coins.
In the figure, the main body of the coin mech 100 identifies a coin / token insertion slot 101 and the coin denomination and authenticity, the token value amount, etc. while entering the coin / token insertion slot 101 and falling through the coin passage. An identification unit 102 that transmits payment data from the identification unit 102 to a vending machine side control unit (not shown), and product selection data and the like are transferred from the vending machine side control unit, and an electronic detection unit. A change unit 104 mainly having a change means, a change storage unit 105 for storing and holding previously stored or changed coins for change, and a coin / token return control and change payout control described later are executed. And a payout unit 106.

FIG. 2 is an internal structure diagram showing a functional configuration of the coin mech.
The lower half of the coin mech 100 is a change tube portion 10, which is a change-type tube 10a of a denomination that can store ten yen coins, fifty yen coins, one hundred yen coins and five hundred yen coins, respectively. -10d and an auxiliary change tube ("SUB") 10e. The auxiliary change tube 10e can be set to any denomination that is predicted to have a change shortage according to the price setting of the product sold by the vending machine. Generally, it is set to either a 10 yen coin or a 100 yen coin.

  In addition, the upper half of FIG. 2 includes a holding unit 20 that distributes the coins inserted from the coin / token insertion slot 101 and guides them to the change tube unit 10 and temporarily holds the input coins, which is called an escrow unit. Yes.

FIG. 2 shows a state where two 500-yen coins and three hundred-yen coins are temporarily held. If a return is necessary, it will be paid out from here.
In the present invention, it is assumed that the inserted token is returned after being temporarily held by the holding unit 20 or directly led to a cash box (safe) of a vending machine (not shown) without being temporarily held by the holding unit 20. Here, the token temporarily held by the holding unit 20 is returned when the product is not sold. However, after the merchandise is sold, the token is guided to the cash box of the vending machine from the conveyance path formed on the back side of the auxiliary change tube 10e and is not introduced into the change tube unit 10.

  In the coin number control executed by the control unit in the coin mech 100, immediately after the coin is inserted into the vending machine, the amount of the inserted coin is identified to determine the amount to be inserted. Next, subtract the amount of the product to be sold from the input amount, determine whether the change corresponding to the amount can be returned, and control the vending machine side control unit to identify the product that can be sold. I have to.

  Note that the control unit in the coin mech 100 is set so that only one of tokens and coins can be accepted in the coin mech 100 with respect to one-time product sales by the vending machine, and mixed use is prohibited. . That is, when a token is first inserted, even if coins are subsequently inserted until the sale of the product is completed or the token is returned, it is automatically discharged to the return port. Similarly, when a coin is inserted first, the token inserted thereafter is automatically discharged to the return slot.

  Next, a specific procedure for the above-described change of the number of coins in the coin mech 100 will be described. Here, the change number control in the conventional apparatus will be described first, and then the change number control of the embodiment will be described.

  In the coin mech 100, detection means such as a proximity sensor is arranged on the back surface of the change tubes 10a to 10d for each denomination, and a signal from the detection means ("change present" signal) is sent to the control unit of the coin mech 100. When input, a prescribed value is set as each change number in the corresponding area of the change number memory. If there is no input of a “change” signal, the coin number 100 is controlled to clear the change number data recorded in the change number memory to zero. Here, corresponding signals are received from the change tubes 10b to 10d of the 100 yen coin, the 10 yen coin, and the 50 yen coin, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the case of performing the change control of the number of coins in the conventional coin mech.
In FIG. 5, it is determined in step S1 whether or not there is a “change” signal for the ten-yen coin. If there is a change, the process proceeds to step S2, and the ten-yen coin change number data is set to a specified value. If the ten-yen coin change tube 10c is empty, the process proceeds to step S3, and the ten-yen coin change number data is cleared to zero. Next, in step S4, the determination about the 50 yen coin is similarly performed, and step S5 or step S6 is executed. Although not shown here, the same steps are executed for the one hundred yen coin. In addition, if all the detection means output the “change” signal, it is assumed that 10 or more coins, 50 yen coins, and 100 yen coins are stored in each tube.

  In such a state, assume that a token set to a value equivalent to 500 yen is inserted. In step S0, it is determined whether or not a token has been inserted. In step S7, it is determined whether or not a coin has been inserted. If a coin has been inserted, the process proceeds to step S8, and the number of changes corresponding to the inserted coin is added.

  For example, in the control of the number of change when only one 500-yen coin is inserted and a product of 120 yen is purchased, the change storage unit 105 needs to store change of 380 yen or more. That is, if the change tube portion 10 has three or more hundred yen coins and eight or more ten yen coins, or three ten yen coins and one fifty yen coin, the merchandise can be sold.

  Now, for example, a product of 120 yen is selected, and in order to return change 380 yen at the end of the sale, a change return instruction is issued from the vending machine side control unit to the control unit of the coin mech. If it is determined in step S0 that a token has been inserted instead of a coin, it is not necessary to return the change uniformly so that the token is not converted into a coin.

  However, if the token is temporarily held by the holding unit 20, the process proceeds from step S9 to step S10, and the change amount for the token equivalent to 500 yen inserted corresponds to the price of the product to be sold. The above-described change process such as addition is performed. However, the vending machine side control unit cannot distinguish whether a token is inserted or a 500-yen coin is inserted. Therefore, according to the conventional change control of the number of change, it has been determined that all items that are 500 yen or less and that can be returned can be sold.

  Therefore, in order to make it possible to sell only commodities that are equal to the value of the token that has been inserted, in the coin mech change control described below, even if the change to be returned is in the change tube unit 10, there is no change. Judgment is limited to selectable products.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for controlling the number of change in the improved coin mech.
Here, it is determined whether or not a token has been inserted into the coin mech 100 in the first step S0. If the determination is “no insert”, the process proceeds to step S1, and the normal change control for the number of changes shown in steps S2 to S8 below is executed. If it is determined in step S0 that a token has been inserted, the process proceeds to step S00, and the change number data in the change number memory is cleared regardless of the presence or absence of the “change” signal.

  Consider a case where a token having a value equivalent to 500 yen is inserted and temporarily held in the holding unit 20. In step S00 described above, the stored number of ten yen coins, fifty yen coins, and one hundred yen coins is cleared to zero. Therefore, the clear change amount data is transmitted to the vending machine side control unit, which makes it possible to sell only the 500 yen product set in the token, and impossible to sell the product less than 500 yen. In this way, the vending machine side control unit uniformly prohibits the sale of merchandise with change to the vending machine, and only merchandise equal to the token value can be sold.

  After the sale of the product, the change number processing is executed from step S0 for detecting again whether or not the token is inserted. Therefore, when coins are inserted instead of tokens, the change amount data for the coins is output again, and there is no hindrance to sales involving change with coins.

  In this way, at the time when coins or tokens are inserted, the control unit of the coin mech 100 determines whether or not a token has been inserted, and the stored value of the number of changes is cleared to 0 only when the token is a token. As a result, there is an advantage that not only change is not made when selling the product with the token, but also the subsequent sale of the product with the coin is not hindered.

(Embodiment 2)
Here, the procedure of the token / coin return control will be described, but the coin processing device capable of using both coins and tokens is configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2) already described. It is assumed that

  The coin mech 100 has a function of directly guiding the inserted token to a cash box (safe) on the vending machine side. In this case, the token inserted into the vending machine cannot be physically returned. In the operation of the vending machine itself, it is sufficient if there is a guide saying “I will not return it”. However, the vending machine side control unit cannot determine whether the coin inserted into the coin mech 100 is a coin or a token. Therefore, the vending machine side control unit that receives the return signal by operating the refund lever or the like of the vending machine instructs the coin mech 100 to perform the coin return process.

  In the token return control, if the inserted token is escrowed, the return control of the escrowed token is performed in the same manner as the normal coin escrow. However, if the token is led to the cash box on the vending machine without escrowing, the return process cannot be performed. Here, in the conventional return control, only the signal data “payout end state” is transmitted without transmitting the data “returned” because it is not actually returned.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing when token / coin return control is performed by a conventional coin mech.
Specifically, for example, it is assumed that a token set equivalent to 500 yen per sheet is inserted, stored in a cash box, and a return operation is performed without selecting a product. In this case, a return instruction “500 yen return” is transmitted from the vending machine side control unit to the coin mech control unit. In the coin mech control unit, when the process proceeds from step S11 to step S12, the token cannot be returned because escrow is not set.

  Steps S14 to S16 are return processing when coins are inserted. When a coin is inserted, the denomination data paid out from the coin mech control unit to the vending machine side control unit in step S16 is transmitted. However, since no token is returned in the coin mech control unit that is not set to escrow, the process proceeds from step S12 to step S17, and the status data of “payout end” is transmitted to the vending machine side control unit.

  However, depending on the type of the vending machine side control unit, there is a case where “return end” is not made unless the refund data for the coin instructed to be returned is received. That is, unless refund data such as “500 yen 1 sheet” or “100 yen 5 sheets” is returned from the coin mech 100, the return processing at the vending machine side control unit cannot be completed, and the vending machine operation is stagnant. Will remain. For this reason, the function of the vending machine is stopped, and the product cannot be sold thereafter.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a token / coin return control procedure in the improved coin mech.
This token / coin return control has a function of transmitting dummy data from the coin mech 100 in step S20 before transmitting the “payout completed” status data in step S17. Therefore, the vending machine side control unit can receive refund data for the sent return command.

  In this way, the coin mech 100 receives a refund instruction of “500 yen return” and sends the dummy data of the “500 yen one” payout denomination to the vending machine side control unit even though the payout operation is not performed. By doing so, the vending machine side control unit that has received this can receive the status data of “payout end” in step S17. Therefore, the vending machine side control unit is surely “return completed”, and the vending machine can be shifted to the next sales waiting state.

It is an external view which shows the front shape of the coin processing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is an internal structure figure which shows the function structure of a coin mech. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the number control of change in the improved coin mech. It is a flowchart which shows the return control procedure of the token and coin in the improved coin mech. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the case of performing change control of the number of coins by the conventional coin mech. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the case of performing return control of a token and a coin by the conventional coin mech.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Coin mech 101 Coin / token insertion slot 102 Identification part 103 Data transmission / reception cable 104 Checking part 105 Change change part 106 Delivery part

Claims (3)

In a coin processing device that identifies coins received by a vending machine, delivers a predetermined product and pays out change,
An insertion slot capable of receiving the coin and a substitute money set with a predetermined value;
A change storage means capable of storing coins received from the insertion slot for each denomination and paying out the change;
Change that pays out a predetermined amount of change from the change storage means based on the difference between the amount of value inserted and the price of the product delivered from the vending machine when either the coin or the substitute money is inserted Withdrawing means;
A change control means for counting the number of coins stored for each denomination in the change storage means, and determining whether or not the delivery of the product is prohibited according to the count value and the number of payouts from the change payout means; ,
With
The change control means clears the count value to 0 when the substitute money is inserted, thereby prohibiting change payout from the change payout means regardless of the actual number of coins stored in the change storage means. A coin processing device characterized by that. Furthermore, temporary storage means for temporarily storing coins received from the insertion port,
Based on a request to return the coin or the substitute money, the return control means for returning the coin temporarily stored in the temporary storage means and controlling not to return the substitute money,
The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the return control means outputs dummy data corresponding to the value of the substitute money according to the return request. In the return control means, when the coin is first accepted from the insertion slot, only the coin is accepted until the delivery of the commodity is completed, and the coin to be inserted after the first substitute money is accepted. 3. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein control is performed so as to return immediately and accept only substitute money.

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