JP4955519B2 - Coin deposit / withdrawal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus used by being connected to an electronic device such as a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal or an ECR (Electronic Cash Registrar).

  Some coin deposit / withdrawal devices employ a method in which coins inserted into a coin slot are sorted and dropped according to denomination by a coin sorting hole and stored in denomination in a coin storage unit (for example, Patent Documents). 1). When a coin that has been deformed, a scratched coin, or a coin with a foreign object is inserted into such a coin depositing / dispensing device, a so-called coin jam may occur in which the coins stay inside the device. . As a technique for eliminating the coin jam, Patent Document 1 proposes to repeatedly reversely drive the payout belt in both forward and reverse directions (paragraph numbers 0026 to 0029 of Patent Document 1). However, as described in Patent Document 1, if the coin stagnation is not eliminated by the above-described method, an error notification is made to notify that the coin stagnation has occurred, such as sounding an error sound, It is necessary to take measures such as removing the coins accumulated by manual work (paragraph numbers 0030 and 0035 of Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-123247 A

  In the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus as shown in Patent Document 1, when the cashier recognizes that a coin jam has occurred in the apparatus by an error notification, the coin that has been pulled out of the main unit of the apparatus and stays inside the apparatus Will be removed. At this time, the staying coins may be in a state where they are likely to fall into the coin sorting hole in the vicinity of the coin sorting hole. In this case, the staying coins may fall into the coin drop hole due to the vibration of the apparatus when the main unit is pulled out. When you pull out the main unit, it is necessary to put the equipment in a stopped state. If a coin falls into the coin drop hole, the dropped coin is stored as the number of coins stored in the coin storage unit. This is not counted and causes an error (counting error) between the stock information stored in the memory of the device and the actual number of coins in the coin storage unit. Also, if the coins that are staying fall due to vibration when pulling out the main unit, the coin will be stored in the coin storage part where the coin of a denomination different from the denomination of the coin is stored, This may cause a miscalculation.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent coins from falling into a coin storage unit when a coin jam occurs in a coin depositing and dispensing device.

  The coin deposit / withdrawal device of the present invention includes a coin slot, a coin payout outlet, a transport mechanism for guiding and transporting coins inserted into the coin slot, and a denomination of coins on the coin path. A coin type discriminating section that discriminates the coins that have been formed in the terminal area of the coin passage and that have reached the terminal area are selected according to the denomination by the coin selecting hole and dropped from the coin selecting hole. A detection unit for detecting coins by denomination, a coin storage unit for storing the sorted and dropped coins by denomination, and a payout mechanism for paying out the stored coins to the coin payout outlet according to a payout instruction. An interference mechanism for displacing an interfering body between a fall prevention position for restricting the fall of coins from the coin sorting hole and a withdrawal position for allowing the coins to fall from the fall prevention position; and the interference mechanism Drive source to drive the front If the detection unit does not detect the coin of the denomination within a predetermined time after the denomination determination unit determines the denomination of the coin, the driving source is driven to prevent the interference body from dropping from the retracted position. Means for positioning at a position.

  According to the coin deposit / withdrawal device of the present invention, when a coin jam occurs, the interference body is positioned at the fall prevention position, and the interference body regulates the falling of the coin from the coin sorting hole. When this occurs, it is possible to prevent the coin from dropping into the coin storage unit.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 101.

  The coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101 includes a main unit 1 and a housing case 1a that accommodates the main unit 1 so that the main unit 1 can be pulled out toward the front. On the front side of the main unit 1, a coin insertion unit 80, a coin dispensing unit 25, and an operation display unit 24 are arranged. The coin insertion unit 80, the coin dispensing unit 25, and the operation display unit 24 are disposed on the main unit 1 so that the main unit 1 is exposed on the upper surface on the front side of the coin depositing / dispensing device 101 in a state where the main unit 1 is stored in the housing case 1a. It is arranged toward.

  The coin slot 80 includes a coin slot 2, a slot sensor 3, a deposit belt 4, and a slot roller 5 (see FIG. 2). The coin slot 2 is provided on the front right side of the main unit 1 and opens toward the upper surface in such a size that a plurality of coins C (see FIG. 2) can be batch-loaded. On the side surface of the coin slot 2, a plurality of sets of slot sensors 3 for optically detecting the presence or absence of the coin C are provided. A deposit belt 4 is provided on the bottom surface of the coin slot 2. The deposit belt 4 is stretched around a driving roller (not shown) and a driven roller (not shown) that are rotationally driven by the power of the motor M (see FIG. 6). The coin C in a state of being placed on the upper surface of the deposit belt 4 is conveyed into the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101. At one end of the coin insertion slot 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction A, the insertion slot roller 5 (see FIG. 2) has a height slightly above the deposit belt 4 with a gap slightly larger than one coin C. Are arranged opposite to each other. For this reason, between the deposit belt 4 and the slot roller 5, a deposit slot B that allows passage of one coin C placed flat on the upper surface of the deposit belt 4 is formed. The inlet roller 5 rotates in the same direction as the driving roller using the motor M as a driving source. That is, the coins C that are transported in a state where two or more layers are stacked on the upper surface of the deposit belt 4 come into contact with the input roller 5 and leave the lowermost coins C toward the upstream side in the transport direction A. You can Accordingly, the coins C inserted into the coin insertion slot 2 are conveyed by the deposit belt 4 and pass through the deposit slot B one by one, and are fed into the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 101.

  The coin dispensing unit 25 includes a coin tray 22 and a coin dispensing outlet 23. The coin tray 22 is provided on the left side of the front face of the main unit 1 and is opened toward the upper surface. The coin payout outlet 23 becomes a passage path for the coin C to be paid out from the coin storage portion 84 to the coin tray 22 by the payout mechanism 88 (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the coin C that has been dispensed from the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 101 and dropped from the coin dispensing outlet 23 is accumulated in the coin tray 22.

  The operation display unit 24 includes a display and various operation keys. The operation display unit 24 is provided on the left side of the front surface of the main body unit 1 on the back side of the coin tray 22 and is arranged toward the upper surface.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 101. The main unit 1 constituting the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 101 includes a coin passage 81, a transport mechanism 82, a coin sorting unit 83, and a coin storage unit 84.

  The coin passage 81 is formed in the main unit 1 by the deposit belt 4, the first transport belt 6, and the selection hole base 9. A coin sorting portion 83 is formed in the terminal area of the coin passage 81.

  The transport mechanism 82 includes a slot roller 5, a first transport belt 6, a direction changing member 7, and a second transport belt 8. The transport mechanism 82 separates the coins C fed from the coin slot 2 one by one. Guided and conveyed along the coin path 81. The first transport belt 6 is connected to the downstream end of the deposit belt 4 and is driven in the transport direction A by the motor M. The direction changing member 7 is provided at the terminal portion of the first transport belt 6 and bends the transport direction A of the coins C transported by the first transport belt 6 substantially at a right angle. The second conveyor belt 8 is provided substantially parallel to the width direction of the coin depositing and dispensing device 101 continuously to the direction changing member 7 and conveys the coin bent by the direction changing member 7.

  A denomination discriminating unit 85 is provided in the middle of the first transport belt 6. The denomination discriminating unit 85 discriminates whether the coin C conveyed by the first conveying belt 6 is true or false and the denomination. More specifically, the denomination determining unit 85 includes a denomination determining sensor and a processor. The denomination sensor is composed of an excitation coil and a detection coil that are opposed to each other with an interval so that the coin C conveyed on the first conveyance belt 6 can pass therethrough, and the coin C passes between them. In this case, the pattern of change in amplitude and phase change in the induced voltage of the detection coil caused by the change in magnetic field lines is input to the processor. The processor stores in advance in the coin type of the coin that senses the amplitude change and phase change pattern of the induced voltage that is generated when the denomination discrimination sensor senses the coin, and the pattern of the induced voltage is detected from the denomination discrimination sensor. When input, the input pattern is compared with the pattern of the denomination stored beforehand, and the denomination of the coin C sensed by the denomination discrimination sensor is specified. When the denomination of the sensed coin C cannot be specified, the processor determines that the coin C is a fake coin. As described above, the denomination determining unit 85 determines the authenticity and denomination of the coin C conveyed on the first conveying belt 6, and sends an electric signal corresponding to the determination result to the control unit 30 (FIG. 6). Output). When an electric signal is input from the denomination determining unit 85, the control unit 30 determines whether the coin C has passed through the denomination determining unit 85 based on the electric signal, and based on the electric signal. To recognize the denomination and authenticity of the coin C.

  The coin sorting unit 83 includes a second transport belt 8, a selection hole base 9, a coin sorting hole 10, and a reference guide 11. The coin sorting unit 83 sorts coins C transported from the transport mechanism 82 into denominations and drops them. . The selection hole base 9 is a flat plate-like member and is disposed below the second conveyance belt 8. The coin sorting hole 10 is a hole provided in the flat plate portion of the selection hole base 9, and each gold in the order of 1 yen, 50 yen, 5 yen, 100 yen, 10 yen, 500 yen along the transport direction A. When the coin C conveyed by the second conveyor belt 8 is positioned at the position of the width corresponding to the denomination of the coin C, the coin C is moved downward. Let fall. The reference guide 11 is a flat portion of the coin sorting hole 10 so as to protrude toward the left side with respect to the transport direction A as the transport direction A advances in the rear side of the coin depositing and dispensing device 101 with respect to the coin sorting hole 10 in the selection hole base 9. Protruding from. Therefore, the coin C transported on the selection hole base 9 by the second transport belt 8 is transported in the transport direction A with the side surface facing the back side of the coin depositing and dispensing device 101 being aligned by the reference guide 11. When it passes over the coin sorting hole 10 in the middle of being conveyed and comes to a part opened to a width dimension corresponding to the denomination of the coin C, it falls downward from there.

  Further, below the selection hole base 9 constituting the coin sorting unit 83, a fall prevention unit 86 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) and a detection unit 87 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) including the counting sensor 12 are provided. It is connected. Details of the structure of the coin sorting unit 83 including the fall prevention unit 86 and the detection unit 87 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The coin storage unit 84 includes a denomination storage unit 14, a payout belt 15, a separation roller 18, a coin alignment unit 19, and a payout shutter 20, and the coin C that has been sorted and dropped from the coin sorting unit 83 is denominated by denomination. Store in. The money type storage unit 14 is positioned directly below the selection hole base 9 constituting the coin sorting unit 83, and is partitioned in parallel by the partition plate 13 in the width direction of the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 101, Coins falling from the falling position 10b corresponding to the width dimension of the 50 yen coin to the landing position of the coin C falling from the falling position 10a corresponding to the width dimension of the 1 yen coin in the sorting hole 10 Corresponding to the 50 yen coin storage part 14b at the landing position of C, the 5 yen coin storage part 14c at the landing position of the coin C falling from the falling position 10c corresponding to the width dimension of the 5 yen coin, and the width dimension of the 100 yen coin 10 d coin storage part 14d at the landing position of the coin C falling from the drop position 10e corresponding to the width dimension of the 10 yen coin at the landing position of the coin C falling from the falling position 10d. When the 500 yen coin storing section 14f in landing position of the coin C to be dropped is formed from a falling position 10f corresponding to the width of the 500 yen coin. Although not shown, the coin C determined to be a fake coin in the denomination discriminating unit 85 is sorted and stored in a fake coin storage unit other than the denomination storage unit 14 (14a to 14f) by the reject mechanism. The The payout belt 15 is provided on each bottom portion of the denomination storage unit 14 (14a to 14f), is driven by a motor M (see FIG. 6), and moves toward the coin payout outlet 23 of the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 101. Transport. The separation roller 18 is provided in the middle of the payout belt 15, and is provided across all the denomination storage units 14 (14 a to 14 f) with an interval through which one coin can pass with respect to the payout belt 15. ing. The coin aligning section 19 is formed between the separation roller 18 and the coin payout outlet 23 on the payout belt 15 of each denomination storage section 14 (14a to 14f), and aligns a predetermined number of coins C in a line. Make it stand by. The payout shutter 20 is advanced and retracted substantially perpendicularly to the payout belt 15 toward the leading position of the payout belt 15 by a payout shutter solenoid 21 (see FIG. 6). When the payout shutter 20 advances, the payout of the coin C is temporarily stopped by pressing the side surface of the tip of the coin C aligned with the coin aligning portion 19. Further, when the payout shutter 20 is retracted, a path for paying out the coins C to the coin tray 22 is formed, which makes it possible to pay out the coins C by the designated number corresponding to the payout instruction. Immediately after the payout shutter 20, a payout sensor 32a (see FIG. 6) for counting the number of coins and a material sensor 32b (see FIG. 6) having an oscillation coil for detecting the material of the coins. The number and denominations of the coins C arranged and paid out from the coin payout outlet 23 can be grasped. Thus, the payout belt 15, the separation roller 18, the coin alignment unit 19, the payout shutter 20, the payout sensor 32 a, and the material sensor 32 b are instructions for paying out the coins C stored in the coin storage portion 84. Accordingly, a payout mechanism 88 for paying out to the coin payout outlet 23 is configured.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coin sorting unit 83 in a state in which the tray 89 is positioned at the fall prevention position, as viewed from below. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coin sorting unit 83 in a state where the tray 89 is positioned at the retracted position as viewed from below. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the selection hole base 9. Below the selection hole base 9 constituting the terminal area of the coin passage 81, a detection unit 87 is provided for detecting the coin C falling from the coin sorting hole 10 by denomination. The detection unit 87 includes a counting sensor 12 and a processor (not shown). The counting sensor 12 is provided corresponding to the drop positions 10a to 10f (see FIG. 2) having a width corresponding to each denomination in the coin sorting hole 10, and falls from the drop positions 10a to 10f to be denominated by the denomination storage unit 14. The number of coins C stored in (14a-14f) is sensed by denomination. The counting sensor 12 includes a light-emitting unit that emits detection light S horizontally in a direction from the front to the back of the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 101 and a light-receiving unit that receives the detection light S emitted from the light-emitting unit. It is composed of sensors. The counting sensor 12 is housed in a light emitting unit 87a and a light receiving unit 87b connected to the lower surface of the selection hole base 9. More specifically, the light emitting unit constituting the counting sensor 12 is connected to the light emitting unit 87a connected to the lower surface of the selection hole base 9 and closer to the coin depositing / dispensing device 101 than the coin sorting hole 10 is. The light receiving portion to be configured is housed in a light receiving portion unit 87b connected to the back side of the coin depositing / dispensing device 101 rather than the coin sorting hole 10 on the lower surface of the selection hole base 9. In addition, as the counting sensor 12, a reflection type sensor in which a light receiving unit is provided in the vicinity of the position where the light emitting unit is arranged in the light emitting unit 87a, and the detection light S emitted from the light emitting unit in the light receiving unit 87b arrives. A mirror surface may be provided at the position. The processor determines whether or not the counting sensor 12 senses the coin C, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the determination result to the control unit 30 (see FIG. 6).

  A fall prevention unit 86 as an interference mechanism is disposed between the height position of the selection hole base 9 and the height position of the detection light S of the counting sensor 12. The fall prevention unit 86 includes a saucer 89 as an interference body, a saucer guide 90, and a push-pull solenoid 91 as a power source. The tray 89 has a rectangular shape larger than the coin sorting hole 10 in a plan view, and has a shape for closing the entire coin sorting hole 10 from below and receiving the coin C falling from the coin sorting hole 10. The tray 89 falls at a fall prevention position (see also FIG. 3 and FIG. 8B) that prevents the coin C falling from the coin sorting hole 10 from falling, and at the back side of the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101 from the fall prevention position. It is located at the same height as the prevention position and is horizontal between the retreat position (see also FIGS. 4 and 8A) that opens the coin sorting hole 10 so as not to interfere with the coin C falling from the coin sorting hole 10. Is slidably arranged. The tray guide 90 is a rail connected to the bottom of the selection hole base 9 in the vicinity of the left and right ends of the coin sorting hole 10, and supports the left and right ends of the tray 89 to prevent the tray 89 from falling and retracting. Realize horizontal slide movement between positions. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the push-pull solenoid 91 is disposed so as to be embedded in the upper part of the light receiving unit 87 b. The tray 89 is connected to the inner surface of the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101. The tray 89 is slid by the drive control of the control unit 30 (see FIG. 6), and the tray 89 is moved between the fall prevention position and the retracted position. Selectively position.

  As described above, the tray 89 is preferably sized to cover all the coin sorting holes 10, but at least when it is positioned at the fall prevention position (FIGS. 3 and 8B). Even when the coin C on the selection hole base 9 is unexpectedly dropped, it is necessary that the coin C does not reach the coin storage portion 84.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of each part of the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101. The coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 101 includes a control unit 30 that executes information processing and controls each unit. The control unit 30 includes a CPU 30a that performs various arithmetic processes, a ROM 30b that stores fixed data such as a control program in advance, and a RAM 30c that stores variable data such as the number of coins C of denomination in a rewritable manner. Yes. The control unit 30 includes an operation display unit 24, sensors 32 (input port sensor 3, counting sensor 12, dispensing sensor 32a, material sensor 32b, etc.), dispensing shutter solenoid 21, motor M, push-pull solenoid 91, buzzer circuit 34, The time measuring circuit 35 and the interface 33 are connected. The buzzer circuit 34 emits a predetermined buzzer sound under the control of the control unit 30. The interface 33 realizes data communication between the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 101 and an external device such as a POS terminal. The time measurement circuit 35 enables the control unit 30 to measure time. In addition, when an electric signal, a variation in coil voltage, or the like is input from the sensors 32, the control unit 30 performs drive control of the motor M and control of each unit based on the electric signal or the like.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the control unit 30 of the coin deposit / withdrawal apparatus 101. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the manner in which the tray 89 is displaced by the process shown in FIG. The tray 89 in the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101 is retracted so as not to prevent the falling of the coin C falling from the coin sorting hole 10, as shown in FIG. 8A, in a normal state where no coin jam occurs inside the apparatus. Is positioned. And the control part 30 of the coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus 101 is waiting for the detection of the coin C by the denomination discrimination | determination part 85 during starting of an apparatus (step S11). When the denomination determining unit 85 determines the denomination of the coin C on the coin passage 81 (Y in step S11), the control unit 30 starts time measurement from that point (step S12), and then continues to step S11. In step S13, the denomination coin C determined by the denomination determination unit 85 waits for it to fall from the coin sorting hole 10 (step S13). When the detection unit 87 detects the coin C of the denomination determined by the denomination determination unit 85 (Y in step S13), the control unit 30 returns the process to step S11. On the other hand, when the detection unit 87 does not detect the coin C of the denomination determined by the denomination determination unit 85 (N in Step S13), the control unit 30 starts from the time measurement by the process of Step S12. It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (step S14). If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (N in step S14), the process returns to step S13. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of time measurement by the process in step S12 (Y in step S14), the control unit 30 assumes that a coin jam has occurred inside the device. Then, the push-pull solenoid 91 is driven to position the tray 89 from the retracted position to the fall prevention position (step S15). By the processing shown in step S15, the tray 89 in the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101 is positioned at a fall prevention position for receiving and holding the coin C falling from the coin sorting hole 10, as shown in FIG. 8B. Become. As processing subsequent to step S15, the control unit 30 executes error notification processing such as controlling the buzzer circuit 34 and transmitting error information to an external device such as a POS terminal via the interface 33 (step S16). ), A series of processing ends.

  Thus, according to the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus 101 of the present embodiment, when a coin jam occurs, the tray 89 is positioned at the fall prevention position (FIG. 8B), and the coin from the coin sorting hole 10 is received by the tray 89. Since the fall of C is regulated, it is possible to prevent the coin C from dropping into the coin storage portion 84 when a coin jam occurs in the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101, and the main unit 1 is pulled out from the housing case 1a. It becomes possible to remove the coin C staying inside.

  Furthermore, according to the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101 of the present embodiment, when the tray 89 is positioned at the fall prevention position, the entire coin sorting hole 10 is closed, so that the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101 vibrates due to the vibration of the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101 during a coin jam. The coin C staying inside the gold apparatus 101 falls from the coin sorting hole 10 and is stored in a storage location different from the storage location in the coin storage portion 84 determined by the denomination of the coin C. Can be prevented.

  Furthermore, according to the coin depositing / dispensing apparatus 101 of the present embodiment, the tray 89 positioned at the fall prevention position receives and holds the coin C dropped from the coin sorting hole 10, so that the main unit 1 is removed from the housing case 1a. When the drawer is pulled out, it becomes possible to drop the coin C into the coin sorting hole 10 and when the main unit 1 is pulled out from the housing case 1a, the coin C staying inside the apparatus jumps out to an unexpected place. Can be prevented.

It is an external appearance perspective view of a coin deposit and withdrawal device. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of a coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus. It is the perspective view which looked at the coin sorting part in the state where the saucer was positioned in the fall prevention position from the lower part. It is the perspective view which looked at the coin sorting part in the state where the saucer was located in the retreat position from the lower part. It is a perspective view of a selection hole base. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical connection of each part of a coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which the control part of a coin deposit or withdrawal apparatus performs. It is explanatory drawing which showed a mode that a saucer displaced by the process which the control part of a coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus performs.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Coin insertion port, 10 ... Coin selection hole, 23 ... Coin discharge outlet, 81 ... Coin passage, 85 ... Denomination discrimination part, 86 ... Fall prevention unit (interference mechanism), 87 ... Detection part, 88 ... Discharge mechanism, 89 ... Tray (interference body), 91 ... Push-pull solenoid (drive source), 101 ... Coin deposit / withdrawal device, C ... Coin

Claims (3)

A coin slot,
A coin storage section for storing the coins inserted into the coin insertion slot in denominations;
A hole for dropping coins into the coin storage unit;
A denomination discriminating unit for discriminating the denomination of coins conveyed from the coin insertion slot to the hole ;
A detection unit for detecting coins falling from the hole and stored in the coin storage unit ;
A member selectively positioned at a first position for closing the hole and a second position for opening the hole;
Means for positioning the member from the second position to the first position when the detection unit does not detect the coin within a predetermined time after the denomination determining part determines the denomination of the coin;
A coin deposit and withdrawal device. The coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the member has a shape that covers the whole of the hole from below. The coin depositing / withdrawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the member has a shape for receiving a coin falling from the hole and is slidable in a horizontal direction.

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