JP4814124B2 - Coin deposit / withdrawal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus including a coin identification sensor that identifies a denomination of an inserted coin.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus that is connected to a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal, an ECR (Electronic Cash Register), or the like, and used when a store clerk performs deposit and withdrawal processing of coins at the time of product transactions. An example of such a coin depositing and dispensing device is shown in FIG.

  The behavior of the coins inserted into the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, in the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 401, first, when coins are inserted in a state where various denominations are mixed into the coin insertion slot 402 provided on the front side of the apparatus, The coin is transported to the coin sorting unit 404 by the coin transport unit 403 and moves horizontally on the sorting hole 405 whose size is determined for each denomination provided in the coin sorting unit 404. When the coin moves to the position of the sorting hole 405 having a size corresponding to the denomination of the coin, the coin falls from the sorting hole 405 and is stored in the coin storage unit 406 by denomination. In addition, coins stored in the coin storage unit 406 are transported by the coin payout transport unit 407 and are paid out from the coin payout outlet 408 according to a change payout command from a POS terminal or ECR (not shown).

  And in the coin depositing and dispensing device having such a mechanism, a coin discriminating means for judging the denomination from the outer diameter of the coin is provided in the middle of the coin transport path for transporting the inserted coin, and the coin storage part is full. In this case, a coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus has been invented in which the coins on the coin transport path are excluded in the reject coin storage unit so that the operation of the device is not stopped even if an abnormality such as a reject full occurs. For example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-008088 A

  The coin deposit / withdrawal device is required to have a small outer shape in order to secure a work space around the installation location and to improve operability.

  Examine the size of the coin deposit and withdrawal device. Coins inserted from the coin slot of the coin deposit / withdrawal device are transported in one direction on the transport path formed in the coin sorting section, dropped from the sorting holes provided along the transport path, and denominated Each coin is stored in the coin storage unit in a state of being sorted. The coin storage units are arranged in a row horizontally so as to receive the coins, which are sorted and dropped by the sorting holes arranged in a row, for each denomination. Therefore, the size of the outer shape of the coin depositing / dispensing device is defined by the coin storage units arranged side by side in this manner.

  Therefore, when trying to increase the number of coin storage units for storing coins by denomination in order to make the coin deposit / withdrawal device compatible with many denominations, the outer shape of the coin deposit / withdrawal device is increased by the number of rows of the increased coin storage unit. There is also a problem that it becomes larger. For example, when the coin deposit / withdrawal device is intended to correspond to 8 denomination coins that circulate in the Euro zone more than 6 denominations circulated in Japan, it is parallel to the coin storage part of the coin deposit / withdrawal device corresponding to 6 denominations. In addition, two rows of coin storage units must be added, and the width of the coin depositing / dispensing device increases accordingly.

  An object of the present invention is to increase denominations that can be handled without increasing the outer shape of the coin depositing and dispensing device.

  A coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus according to the present invention includes a coin slot for inserting coins, a coin payout outlet for dispensing coins, and a coin for conveying coins inserted from the coin slot along a coin transport path. Upper and lower two-layer structure comprising a transport mechanism, a plurality of coin drop holes sequentially arranged along the coin transport path in a terminal region of the coin transport path, and a plurality of rows corresponding to the individual coin drop holes A plurality of coin storage units for selectively receiving and storing coins falling by their own weight from the individual coin drop holes in the upper layer portion and the lower layer portion, and storing in each of the coin storage portions A plurality of coin payout mechanisms for transferring and paying out the coins directed toward the coin payout exit, and denominations of coins that are transported through the coin transport path upstream of the coin drop hole in the coin transport direction. Gold to be detected and output as an electrical signal An identification unit, a plurality of shutters that are driven by the first drive unit to selectively open and close the coin drop hole, and a second drive unit that is driven and displaced to fall by its own weight from the coin drop hole An interfering body that changes an interference state with respect to the coin to be changed, and selectively switches the falling direction of the coin between the upper layer portion and the lower layer portion of the coin storage unit, and the coin based on the electrical signal output by the denomination identifying unit In order to discriminate the denomination of the coins transported by the transport mechanism and to guide the coins to the coin storage part determined as the storage location, the first shutter is opened so as to open the shutter corresponding to the row of the coin storage parts. And a means for driving and controlling the second driving unit such that the interference body is positioned at a position where the falling direction of the coin becomes a layer of the coin storage unit.

  According to the present invention, the coin storage part provided in the coin depositing and dispensing device has an upper and lower two-layer structure including a plurality of rows corresponding to a plurality of coin dropping holes arranged in order on the coin transport path. Therefore, the denominations that can be handled without increasing the outer shape of the coin depositing and dispensing device can be increased.

[Construction]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus used by connecting to a POS terminal (not shown), which is a merchandise sales data processing apparatus for executing merchandise sales processing, is introduced.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 in a state in which the depositing / dispensing mechanism unit 2a is pulled out from the unit holding case 2b. A schematic structure of the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 includes a depositing / dispensing mechanism unit 2a for depositing and dispensing coins C (see FIG. 4), and a unit that holds the depositing / dispensing mechanism unit 2a so that it can be pulled out and stored. The holding case 2b is constituted.

  In front of the right side of the housing 2d constituting the appearance of the deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit 2a, a coin insertion slot 3 for opening a top surface and for inserting a coin C is provided. In front of the left side of the housing 2d, there is provided a coin payout outlet 4 for opening the top surface and for paying out coins C. The coin insertion slot 3 is provided with a plurality of sets of insertion sensors 6 (see FIG. 3) for photoelectrically detecting the presence or absence of the coin C. Formed on the bottom of the coin insertion slot 3 is a coin conveyance path 13 through which the coin C inserted from the coin insertion slot 3 is conveyed into the apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit 2a is held by the slide rail mechanism 2c so that it can be pulled out and stored in the unit holding case 2b, and the pulling direction is the front side of the apparatus.

  In addition, this coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus 1 is mounted and used on the installation base 200 by which the upper surface is comprised by the plane.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit 2a. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side view showing the internal structure of the deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit 2a. The internal structure of the deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit 2a will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit 2 a is configured such that each part described below is unitized by a housing 2 d as a coin deposit / withdrawal mechanism A.

  The coin deposit / withdrawal mechanism A is a mechanism for selecting and storing the coins C inserted from the coin insertion slot 3 and dispensing the coins C to the coin dispensing outlet 4 in accordance with a dispensing command from a POS terminal connected to the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1. It is. The coin deposit / withdrawal mechanism A includes a coin sorting unit 7, a storage unit 8, a coin dispensing mechanism 10, and the like. The coin sorting unit 7 is arranged on the back side of the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 with respect to the coin slot 3, and sorts the coins C inserted into the coin slot 3 and transported along the coin transport path 13 for each denomination. To do. The storage unit 8 is disposed below the coin sorting unit 7, and the inside thereof is partitioned into six storage subunits 8 a, 8 b, 8 c, 8 d, 8 e, and 8 f by the partition plate 32 at equal intervals. Each of the storage subunits 8a to 8f includes coin storage portions 8x and 8y that are arranged in a two-layer structure. The coin storage units 8x and 8y include storage spaces 9x and 9y in which coins C can be stored. Coins C are driven on the bottom surfaces of the storage spaces 9x and 9y in accordance with a payout command from the POS terminal connected to the coin depositing and dispensing device 1, and stored in the storage spaces 9x and 9y and stored on the bottom surfaces thereof. Is provided toward the coin payout exit 4 and is provided with a coin payout mechanism 10.

  The coin conveyance path 13 will be described.

  The coin transport path 13 includes a first coin transport unit 11 that transports the coin C from the bottom of the coin insertion slot 3 to a position higher than the storage unit 8, and a coin C transported by the first coin transport unit 11. It is comprised from the 2nd coin conveyance part 12 conveyed to the selection part 7. FIG. Coins C on the coin transport path 13 are transported along the coin transport path 13 by a coin transport mechanism 14 including transport belts 14a and 14b driven by a transport motor M (see FIG. 6) as a drive source.

  The first coin transport unit 11 is provided substantially parallel to the depth direction of the coin depositing / dispensing device 1, and includes a transport belt 14 a that transports the coins C inserted into the coin slot 3 to the back side of the coin depositing / dispensing device 1. Prepare. The conveying belt 14a is an endless belt that is wound around a driving roller (not shown) connected to the conveying motor M and is driven by the driving roller (not shown). In the middle of the conveyor belt 14a in the vicinity of the coin slot 3, a slot roller 21 is provided for separating and feeding the coins C that are randomly loaded into the coin slot 3 one by one. A coin guide portion 22 that bends the conveyance direction at a substantially right angle is provided at the end portion of the conveyance belt 14a. The conveyor belt 14 a is disposed so that the end portion thereof is connected to the second coin conveyor 12.

  In the middle of the first coin transport unit 11, a denomination identifying unit 15 is provided on the downstream side of the insertion port roller 21. The denomination identifying unit 15 includes a denomination identifying sensor S (see FIG. 6) and a processor (not shown). The denomination identification sensor S is a material sensor composed of an excitation coil and a detection coil, and is configured to be connected to a processor (not shown) so as to be capable of data communication. The excitation coil and the detection coil are positioned at a position where the conveyance belt 14a is sandwiched. Magnetic field lines are output from the excitation coil, and the magnetic field lines are detected by the detection coil. When the coin C passes between the excitation coil and the detection coil, the line of magnetic force from the excitation coil to the detection coil changes depending on the material of the passed coin C, and the change in amplitude and phase of the induced voltage is applied to the detection coil in response to the change. Change occurs. The denomination identification sensor S outputs an amplitude change or phase change pattern of the induced voltage generated in the detection coil to a processor (not shown).

  The pattern of the amplitude change and phase change of the induced voltage output from the denomination identification sensor S is constant according to the material sensed by the denomination identification sensor S. The material of the coin C is specified by denomination. Therefore, when the coin C is sensed by the denomination identification sensor S, the denomination identification sensor S changes the amplitude of a specific induced voltage corresponding to the denomination. And output phase change pattern. In the processor (not shown), the amplitude change and phase change patterns of the induced voltage for each denomination of the coin C are stored in advance. When an induced voltage amplitude change and phase change pattern is input from the denomination identification sensor S to a processor (not shown), the processor (not shown) compares the input pattern with a prestored pattern for each denomination. Then, the denomination of the coin C sensed by the denomination identification sensor S is specified.

  The denomination identifying unit 15 is configured as described above, and after being inserted from the coin insertion slot 3, the coin type identification unit 15 is fed one by one by the insertion slot roller 21 and conveyed to the conveyance belt 14a. The denomination is determined and output to the control unit 64 (see FIG. 6) as an electrical signal.

The second coin transport unit 12 is provided substantially parallel to the width direction of the coin depositing / dispensing device 1, and transports a coin C whose transport direction is bent at a substantially right angle by the coin guide unit 22 to the coin sorting unit 7. 14b. The conveyor belt 14b is biased downward by a biasing member (not shown) in a state where the coin depositing / dispensing device 1 is installed horizontally, and the flat portion of the coin C is placed on the horizontal transport surface 23a of the bottom plate 23. The coins C are transported to the coin sorting unit 7 by pressure contact. The transport belt 14b is an endless belt that is provided around a drive roller 26 and a driven roller 27. The drive roller 26 is controlled by a transport motor M (see FIG. 6) connected to the drive roller 26. By rotating, the conveyor belt 14b is driven. The coins C on the transport surface 23a are transported along the transport direction of the transport belt 14b while being pressed against the transport surface 23a by the transport belt 14b thus provided.
A reference surface 28 is provided on the bottom plate 23. The reference surface 28 supports the side surface of the coin C conveyed on the conveyance surface 23a.

  Next, the coin sorting unit 7 will be described.

  The coin sorting unit 7 is provided on the downstream side of the denomination identifying unit 15 described above in the terminal region of the coin transport path 13. The bottom plate 23 constituting the coin sorting unit 7 is provided with six coin dropping holes 16 in order along the coin transport path 13 through which the coin C is transported by the coin transport mechanism 14. The coin drop holes 16 have the same shape, and are larger than the shape of the denomination having the largest diameter among the coins C that can be sorted out by the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 1, so that the coins C can be dropped by their own weight. It is a rectangular shape. Each coin drop hole 16 is provided with a rectangular flat plate-shaped shutter 29, which are shutters 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e, and 29f in order from the upstream side in the coin C conveyance direction. The shutter 29 (29 a, 29 b, 29 c, 29 d, 29 e, 29 f) is connected to the bottom plate 23 so that the right side with respect to the coin C transport direction is rotatable downward. In addition, the shutter 29 is connected to an opening / closing motor N (see FIG. 6). In the initial state, the shutter 29 closes the coin dropping hole 16 and forms a plane together with the transport surface 23a to prevent the coin C from falling by its own weight. It is positioned at a position, and it rotates and fluctuates downward as the opening / closing motor N is driven. The opening / closing motor N is a stepping motor that can rotate in both directions, and controls the shutter 29 at a predetermined angle below the transport surface 23a with respect to the transport surface 23a by control from the control unit 64 (see FIG. 6). When the coin drop hole 16 is opened in the finished state, the shutter 29 is positioned and stopped at the second position that allows the coin C to fall by its own weight from the coin drop hole 16, or the shutter is displaced downward. It is also possible to return the shutter 29 to the initial position by changing the rotation of 29 upward. More specifically, the shutter 29 interferes with the position W (see FIG. 4) that prevents the coin from falling from the coin drop hole 16 and the coin C that falls by its own weight from the coin drop hole 16 by driving the opening / closing motor N. Thus, it is rotationally displaced between a position X and a position Y (see FIG. 4) for changing the falling direction of the coin C. When the shutter 29 is positioned at a position X that is also a second position that allows the coin C to fall from the coin drop hole 16 by its own weight, the coin C falls by its own weight along the guide route RX (see FIG. 5). Then, it is stored in the upper-layer side coin storage portion 8x. Further, when the shutter 29 is positioned at a position Y that is also a second position that allows the coin C to fall from the coin dropping hole 16 with its own weight, the coin C has its own weight along the guide route RY (see FIG. 5). And is stored in the coin storage unit 8y on the lower layer side. That is, the shutter 29 is positioned at the position X or the position Y by the driving control of the opening / closing motor N, thereby changing the interference state with the coin C falling by its own weight from the coin dropping hole 16, and changing the falling direction of the coin C to the upper layer side. This also serves as an interference body that selectively switches between the coin storage unit 8x and the lower coin storage unit 8y.

  Next, the storage unit 8 and the coin dispensing mechanism 10 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the storage unit 8, storage subunits 8 a to 8 f are formed in parallel in a plurality of rows corresponding to the coin dropping holes 16. In the storage subunits 8a to 8f, coin storage portions 8x and 8y for storing the coins C falling by their own weight from the coin drop holes 16 are provided in an upper and lower two-layer structure. The coin storage units 8x and 8y include storage spaces 9x and 9y that can store the coins C. The coins falling by their own weight from the individual coin drop holes 16 are placed on the upper layer coin storage unit 8x and the lower layer coin storage unit 8y. And accept and store coins C selectively and independently. On the bottom surface of the storage spaces 9x and 9y, a coin payout mechanism 10 that pays out the coins C stored in the storage spaces 9x and 9y to the coin payout outlet 4 is provided. The coin dispensing mechanism 10 includes a dispensing belt 35 provided at the bottom of each of the coin storage units 8x and 8y. As shown in FIG. 4, the payout belt 35 is an endless belt that is stretched between a drive roller 33 and a driven roller 34, and is driven by a drive roller 33 connected to a transport motor M (see FIG. 6). The coin C on the surface 35a is conveyed toward the coin payout exit 4.

  The upper layer side coin storage portion 8x is provided with an inclined guide 30x on the back side thereof for guiding the coin C falling by its own weight from the shutter 29 in a state positioned at the position X shown in FIG. 4 to the back side of the storage space 9x. ing. On the surface of the inclined guide 30x opposite to the storage space 9x, the inclined guide 30y that guides the coin C falling by its own weight from the shutter 29 in the state positioned at the position Y shown in FIG. 4 to the back side of the storage space 30y. Is connected. Both side ends of the inclined guides 30x and 30y are connected to and supported by the partition plate 32 forming the side surfaces of the storage subunits 8a to 8f.

  Count sensors 31x and 31y are provided in the vicinity of the coin inlets 20x and 20y for introducing coins into the storage spaces 9x and 9y of the coin storage portions 8x and 8y. The counting sensors 31x and 31y detect the coins C stored in the coin storage units 8x and 8y. When the counting sensors 31x and 31y detect the coin C, a detection signal is transmitted to the control unit 64 (see FIG. 6). The control unit 64 receives the detection signal transmitted from the counting sensor 31 (31x, 31y), and counts the number of coins C by denomination.

  Separation rollers 36 for separating and passing the coins C one by one are disposed at the outlets of the coin storage portions 8x and 8y with an interval through which one coin C can pass with respect to the payout belt 35. ing. The separation roller 36 is disposed so as to cross every denomination at the exit of all the coin storage portions 8x and 8y. Then, the separation roller 36 is driven to rotate reversely to the payout belt 35 by the transport motor M, and the coin C that has come into contact with the separation roller 36 is paid off in the rotation direction. On the downstream side of the separation roller 36, a coin standby unit 37 is provided for each denomination for waiting a predetermined number of coins C that have passed through the separation roller 36 aligned in a row. Each coin standby unit 37 is provided with a shutter solenoid 38. The shutter solenoid 38 is opened and closed vertically to the conveyance path surface of the coin C, and the opening / closing operation control for temporarily stopping the coin C conveyed on the payout belt 35 for each denomination and sending out the necessary number of coins C. A coin shutter 39 is provided. Immediately after the coin shutter 39, a payout sensor 40, which is an optical sensor for counting the number of coins C paid out for each denomination, and a material sensor 41, which is an oscillation coil for detecting the material of the coin C, are provided. Is provided.

  FIG. 5 is a vertical side view of the deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit 2a, showing that the shutter 29 switches the falling direction of the coin C by driving the opening / closing motor N. FIG. An operation in which the shutter 29 switches the falling direction of the coin C by driving the opening / closing motor N will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the initial state, the shutter 29 is positioned at the position W that is the initial position shown in FIG. 4 to close the coin dropping hole 16 and prevent the coin C from falling by its own weight from the coin dropping hole 16 (FIG. 5 ( a)).

  When the shutter 29 is positioned at the second position X (see FIG. 4) by the driving control of the opening / closing motor N by the control unit 64, the shutter 29 introduces the coin C into the upper coin storage unit 8x. It connects with the inlet 20x and makes a series of slopes together with the inclined guide 30x. When the coin C transported on the transport surface 23a with the shutter 29 positioned at the position X passes over the shutter 29, the coin C falls from the coin dropping hole 16 with its own weight, and is inclined to the position X. It slides down along the positioned shutter 29 and the inclined guide 30x, and is finally stored in the storage space 9x of the upper coin storage portion 8x (FIG. 5B).

  In addition, the coin C being transported on the transport surface 23a in the state where the shutter 29 is positioned at the second position Y (see FIG. 4) is controlled by the control of the opening / closing motor N by the control unit 64. When passing over 29, the coin C falls by its own weight from the coin drop hole 16, slides down along the shutter 29 positioned at the position Y in an inclined state, and then comes into contact with the inclined guide 30y and then the inclined guide 30y is inclined. It slides down further along the surface, and is finally stored in the storage space 9y of the coin storage part 8y on the lower layer side (FIG. 5C).

That is, in the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the shutter 29 is driven by the opening / closing motor N to open / close the shutter 29 for opening / closing the coin dropping hole 16 and the coin C falling by its own weight. The driving unit that drives the displacement operation of the interfering body that interferes with the drop motion is common.
[Electrical connection of each part]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 1. The electrical connection of each part built in the coin depositing and dispensing device 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 1 includes a control unit 64 that executes information processing and controls each unit. The control unit 64 includes a CPU 64a that centrally controls each unit, a ROM 64b that stores fixed data such as a control program in advance, a RAM 64c that stores rewritable data such as the number of coins C of denomination, and the like. It is configured.

  A display unit 62 and operation keys 63 are also connected to the control unit 64. Further, the control unit 64 is connected to the input sensor 6, the counting sensor 31, the payout sensor 40, the material sensor 41, the sensors 66 such as the denomination identification sensor S, the shutter solenoid 38, the transport motor M, the opening / closing motor N, and the like. ing. Further, the control unit 64 is connected to the POS terminal via the connection interface 65. The sensors 66 are for inputting, for example, a signal obtained by optically detecting the coin C, fluctuations in coil voltage, and the like to the control unit 64.

  The control unit 64 controls driving of the transport motor M based on detection signals input from the insertion sensor 6, the counting sensor 31, the payout sensor 40, and the material sensor 41, and the number of coins C based on the input detection signal. Information processing is counted. When the transport motor M is driven, each drive roller provided in the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 1 is rotated, and the coin C on the transport belt 14a, the transport belt 14b, and the payout belt 35 is transported.

  The denomination identification sensor S constitutes a part of the denomination identification unit 15 and senses the material of the coin C. The denomination identifying unit 15 including the denomination identifying sensor S detects the denomination of the coin C conveyed by the conveying belt 14a, discriminates the denomination of the coin C, and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the denomination. Output. When the electrical signal output from the denomination identifying unit 15 is input to the control unit 64, the control unit 64 controls the opening / closing motor N based on the denomination information indicated by the electrical signal. When the opening / closing motor N is driven and controlled, the plurality of shutters 29 (29a to 29f) connected to the opening / closing motor N are independently displaced. The opening / closing motor N is a stepping motor that can be rotated in both directions. After the shutter 29 is rotated under the control of the control unit 64, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the shutter 29 and the coin storage unit 8x are continuous. The coin C is stopped at a position X that forms a slope, and the coin C falling by its own weight is guided to the coin storage portion 8x. Although only one open / close motor N is shown here, actually, it is provided for each shutter 29 (29a to 29f) and is individually controlled by the control unit 64.

  The shutter solenoid 38 is driven and controlled based on a payout command output from the control unit 64, and is energized (ON) to displace the coin shutter 39 in a direction away from the payout belt 35, and the number of sheets designated by the payout command Just pay out the coin C. Although only one shutter solenoid 38 is shown here, actually, it is provided for each denomination and is individually controlled by the control unit 64.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of a definition file that defines the correspondence between the denomination identified by the denomination identifying unit 15 and the stop position of the shutter 29. The definition file 101 defines, for each shutter 29, a position 101b for stopping the shutter 29 by displacing the shutter 29 by driving the opening / closing motor N for each denomination 101a of the coin C identified by the denomination identifying unit 15. To do. In FIG. 7, “−” indicates that the shutter 29 is positioned at the initial position W (see FIG. 4), and “X” indicates that the shutter 29 is moved to the position X (FIG. 4 according to the driving control of the opening / closing motor N). "Y" indicates that the shutter 29 is positioned at the position Y (see FIG. 4) by the drive control of the opening / closing motor N.

  As an example, when the denomination of the coin C identified by the denomination identifying unit 15 is “A”, the control unit 64 refers to the definition file 101 for each shutter 29 when the denomination 101 a is “A”. Referring to the position 101b, the opening / closing motor N is driven and controlled so that the shutter 29a is positioned at the position X and the shutters 29b to 29f are positioned at the position W. As a result of the drive control of the opening / closing motor N in this way, the control unit 64 causes the coin C whose denomination is “A” to fall from the coin drop hole 16 opened by the displacement of the shutter 29a, and the upper layer of the storage subunit 8a. It reaches the storage space 9x of the coin storage unit 8x on the side.

  As another example, when the denomination of the coin C identified by the denomination identifying unit 15 is “D”, the control unit 64 refers to the definition file 101 and the denomination 101 a is “D”. Referring to the position 101b for each shutter 29, the opening / closing motor N is driven and controlled so that the shutter 29b is positioned at the position Y and the shutters 29a, 29c to 29f are positioned at the position W. As a result of the drive control of the opening / closing motor N, the control unit 64 causes the coin C having the denomination “D” to pass over the shutter 29a closing the coin dropping hole 16, and the shutter 29b is displaced. The coin falling hole 16 falls and opens to the storage space 9y of the coin storage portion 8y on the lower layer side of the storage subunit 8b.

  In this way, the definition file 101 opens the shutter 29 corresponding to the row of coin storage units 8x and 8y in which the coin C is to be stored according to the denomination of the coin C identified by the denomination identifying unit 15. The coin C is stored in the coin storage section 8x, 8y layer in which the falling direction of the coin C dropped from the coin drop hole 16 opened by the opened shutter 29 is stored. The position where the shutter 29 is stopped is defined so as to be guided by being dropped by its own weight into the coin storage units 8x and 8y.

The definition file 101 having the above data structure is stored and held in a ROM 64b provided in the control unit 64 as a part of the control program.
[Action]
In the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 having such a configuration, when a coin C is inserted into the coin insertion slot 3, the insertion sensor 6 detects the coin C, and this detection signal detects the conveyance belt 14a, the insertion slot roller 21, the conveyance. The belt 14b is driven. The coins C inserted into the coin insertion slot 3 are separated one by one between the conveyance belt 14 a and the insertion slot roller 21, then conveyed by the coin conveyance mechanism 14, and passed through the denomination identifying unit 15. The denomination identifying unit 15 identifies the denominations of the coins C conveyed one by one on the coin conveyance path 13 and inputs denomination information to the control unit 64. The control unit 64 receives the denomination information input from the denomination identification unit 15, refers to the definition file 101, and positions the shutters 29a to 29f at positions corresponding to the denomination information at positions corresponding to the denomination information. Positioning and switching the falling direction, the open / close motor N is driven and controlled so that the coin C falls by its own weight and reaches the coin storage portions 8x and 8y corresponding to the denomination of the coin C.

  Coins C that pass through the denomination identification unit 15 and are conveyed along the coin conveyance path 13 to the inside of the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 are bent at a substantially right angle by the coin guide unit 22, and are transferred from the conveyance belt 14a to the conveyance belt 14b. Delivered. The coin C is pressed against the transport surface 23a by the transport belt 14b, and is transported along the transport direction of the transport belt 14b with the side surface being along the reference surface 28.

  When the coin C being transported on the transport surface 23 a passes above the coin drop hole 16 where the shutter 29 is positioned at the initial position W, the coin C does not fall from the coin drop hole 16. The coin transport mechanism 14 passes through the transport surface 23 a as it is, and is transported to the position of the next coin drop hole 16.

  On the other hand, when the coin C being transported on the transport surface 23a passes above the coin dropping hole 16 opened with the coin dropping hole 16 positioned at the second position X, the coin C is a coin. It falls by its own weight from the drop hole 16 and slides down along the route RX (see FIG. 5) set by the shutter 29 being positioned at the position X, and is stored in the upper coin storage unit 8x.

  Further, when the coin C being transported on the transport surface 23a passes above the coin dropping hole 16 which is opened at the position Y where the coin dropping hole 16 is the second position, the coin C is dropped into the coin dropping hole. 16 falls by its own weight, slides down along the path RY (see FIG. 5) set by the shutter 29 being positioned at the position Y, and is stored in the coin storage unit 8y on the lower layer side.

  The six shutters 29 provided on the transport surface 23 a are displaced downward by only one of the six shutters 29 by the opening / closing motor N controlled by the control unit 64 based on the definition in the definition file 101. A guide path for guiding the coin C falling by its own weight from the coin dropping hole 16 to either the upper layer side or the lower layer side is formed. The remaining five shutters 29 are positioned at a position W that forms a plane with the conveyance surface 23 a by the opening / closing motor N controlled by the control unit 64 based on the definition of the definition file 101. As a result of the shutter 29 being displaced based on the definition of the definition file 101, the coin dropping hole 16 is opened at one place on the carrying surface 23a, and the coin C carried by the coin carrying mechanism 14 is opened at one place. It falls by its own weight from the coin drop hole 16. The coin C dropped by its own weight from the coin dropping hole 16 is interfered in the dropping direction by the shutter 29 positioned at either the position X or the position Y, and is stored in the coin storing portion of the denomination corresponding to the coin C. Is done.

  Thus, according to the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the coin storage portions 8x, 8y provided in the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 have a plurality of coin drop holes arranged in order on the coin transport path 13. Since the upper and lower two-layer structure having a plurality of rows corresponding to 16 is formed, the number of denominations that can be handled without increasing the outer shape of the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 1 can be increased.

  Furthermore, in the coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the driving unit that opens and closes the shutter 29 that opens and closes the coin dropping hole 16 and the displacement operation of the interfering body that interferes with the falling motion of the coin C falling by its own weight are driven. Since the drive unit is common and both are transmitted from the opening / closing motor N, the outer shape of the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 1 can be made more compact.

  Furthermore, in the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the shutter 29 is positioned at the position X or the position Y by the drive control of the opening / closing motor N, and varies the interference state with the coin C falling by its own weight from the coin dropping hole 16. The coin C is newly distributed to each layer of the coin storage units 8x and 8y by also serving as an interference body that selectively switches the falling direction of the coins C to the upper layer coin storage unit 8x and the lower layer coin storage unit 8y. Therefore, the outer shape of the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 1 can be further reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the coin storage portions 8x and 8y are provided in an upper and lower two-layer structure in all of the six rows of storage subunits 8a to 8f, and all the shutters 29 are displaced by the drive control of the opening / closing motor N. The coin C is sorted by denomination by switching the path to the coin storage unit 8x, 8y by performing the operation and dropping the coin C by its own weight, but as another embodiment, In some cases, the shutter 29 is not provided, and a width corresponding to the denomination of the coin C is set. When a coin C smaller than the width is conveyed on the conveyance surface 23a by the conveyance belt 14b, the shutter 29 is You may make it select naturally by dropping from the drop hole which is not provided, and selecting a denomination. As described above, there is only one denomination of the coin C that can be selected by the coin drop hole 16 without the shutter 29. Compared with the case where the denomination of the coin C is selected using the shutter 29, the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus is provided. Although the number of types of denominations that can be handled by 1 is reduced by one, the number of types of denominations that can be handled without increasing the outer shape is increased as in the case of the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 1 of the embodiment described above. be able to. Furthermore, in the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, since the types of coins C identified by the denomination identifying unit 15 are reduced, the probability of erroneous recognition of the denomination of the coins C is reduced, and further, the displacement Since the number of shutters 29 that perform the operation to switch the falling direction of the coin C is reduced, the structure of the coin deposit / withdrawal mechanism A is not complicated.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the whole coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus of this Embodiment. It is a right side view which shows the coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus of the state installed on the installation stand and withdrawing / dispensing mechanism unit being pulled out from the unit holding case. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of a deposit or withdrawal mechanism unit. It is a vertical side view which shows the internal structure of a deposit or withdrawal mechanism unit. It is a vertical side view of a deposit / withdrawal mechanism unit showing a state in which the shutter switches the coin dropping direction by driving an opening / closing motor. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of a coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the content of the definition file which prescribes | regulates the correspondence of the money type identified by the money type identification part, and the stop position of a shutter. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of the conventional coin deposit or withdrawal apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus, 3 ... Coin insertion port, 4 ... Coin delivery outlet, 7 ... Coin selection part, 8x, 8y ... Coin storage part, 9x, 9y ... Storage space, 10 ... Coin delivery mechanism, 13 ... Coin conveyance 14: coin transport mechanism, 15: denomination identifying unit, 16: coin drop hole, 29 ... shutter (interference body), C: coin, N ... opening / closing motor (first power unit, second power unit) , W: initial position, X, Y: second position

Claims (3)

A coin slot for inserting coins,
A coin dispensing exit for dispensing coins;
A coin transport mechanism for transporting coins inserted from the coin slot along a coin transport path;
A plurality of coin dropping holes arranged in order along the coin conveyance path in the terminal region of the coin conveyance path;
The upper and lower two-layer structure having a plurality of rows corresponding to the individual coin drop holes is selectively and independently received by the upper layer portion and the lower layer portion of the coins falling by their own weight from the individual coin drop holes. A plurality of coin storage parts to be stored,
A plurality of coin payout mechanisms that convey and pay out the coins stored in the individual coin storage portions respectively toward the coin payout exit;
A denomination identifying unit that discriminates denominations of coins conveyed through the coin conveyance path on the upstream side of the coin conveyance direction from the coin drop hole, and outputs the denominations as electrical signals;
A plurality of shutters that are driven by a first drive unit to selectively open and close the coin drop hole;
By being driven and displaced by the second drive unit, the state of interference with the coin falling by its own weight from the coin dropping hole is changed, and the falling direction of the coin is selectively applied to the upper layer portion and the lower layer portion of the coin storage unit. An interferer to switch to,
In order to determine the denomination of the coin conveyed by the coin conveyance mechanism based on the electrical signal output by the denomination identifying unit, and to guide the coin to the coin storage unit determined as the storage location, the coin The first drive unit is driven and controlled so as to open the shutter corresponding to the row of storage units, and the interference body is positioned at a position where the falling direction of the coins becomes a layer of the coin storage unit. Means for driving and controlling the second drive unit;
A coin deposit and withdrawal device. The first drive unit and the second drive unit are shared,
The coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus according to claim 1. The shutter is provided movably with respect to the coin transport path between an initial position for closing the coin dropping hole and a second position positioned below the initial position to open the coin dropping hole. ,
The shutter located at the position where the coin dropping hole is opened is positioned at two different positions with different interference states with respect to the coin, and the shutter is also used as the interference body.
The coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus according to claim 2.

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