JP5331726B2 - Coin depositing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin deposit device such as an automatic change machine.

  There is a coin depositing device in which coins that are put together in a coin slot are sorted into denominations by a coin sorting means and stored in a coin storage unit. This type of coin depositing device forms a coin conveyance path for separating coins inserted into a coin insertion slot one by one and conveying them to a coin storage unit. Further, in the middle of the coin conveyance path, an identification unit for identifying whether the conveyed item is a coin or a non-coin such as a fake coin, and a rejection unit for rejecting the conveyed item from the conveyance path are provided. The transported object identified as a coin by the identifying means is sorted by the coin sorting means. On the other hand, the conveyed product identified as the non-coin is rejected by the rejecting means (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the conventional coin depositing device of this type, when the power is shut off (turned off) during the transfer of coins, the coins are stopped while remaining in the middle of the coin transfer path. In this state, when the power supply is restored (turned on) and the coin transport operation is resumed, the coins remaining on the transport path are sorted into denominations by the coin sorting means and stored in the coin storage unit.

  Here, the problem is the coin that has remained in the middle of the conveyance path, particularly immediately before being sorted by the coin sorting means. Normally, the coin sorting means correctly sorts coins that are transported at a constant speed, but may missort if the transport speed is not constant as when the power is turned on. For this reason, if a coin that has been staying in front of the coin sorting means due to an unexpected power failure or the like is transported again due to power restoration, the sorting operation will be performed before the transport speed becomes constant, causing erroneous sorting. There is a risk that it will be stored in the coin storage part of the denomination.

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is that even if the coin is stopped in the middle of the coin conveyance path due to an unexpected power failure or the like, it remains at the time of restart. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin depositing apparatus that can prevent a coin from being erroneously selected.

In the present invention, on the way of the transport path that can be switched between forward and reverse rotation , whether the transported articles that are inserted into the coin slot and transported one by one toward the transport direction during forward rotation are coins or non-coins. In a coin depositing apparatus provided with an identifying means for identifying , and a reject means for removing a transported object identified as a non-coin, when the power is turned on, the transport path is operated in reverse so that the end of the transport path is between the reject means. The rejected means on the transport path is removed by the rejecting means, and the transported object on the transport path by the reverse operation is removed, and then the transport path is rotated in the forward direction so that the reject means from the start end of the transport path. and conveyance control means for removing by said reject means conveying of the conveying path existing between the coins conveyed by said conveying means without being removed by the reject means A coin sorting means for sorting the type, in which and a coin storing unit for storing the denomination of the sorted coins by denomination by the coin sorting means.

  According to the present invention in which such measures are taken, even if the coins are stopped in the middle of the coin transport path due to an unexpected power failure or the like, the coins remaining at the time of restarting are erroneously selected. A coin deposit device that can be prevented can be provided.

The external appearance perspective view of the automatic change machine in one Embodiment of this invention. The top view of the deposit or withdrawal unit in the automatic change machine. The block diagram which shows the structure of the control part which operates the automatic change machine. The schematic diagram of the memory area formed in the non-volatile RAM of the automatic change machine. The flowchart which shows the main process procedures which CPU of the automatic change machine performs at the time of power-on.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the coin deposit device of the present invention is applied to an automatic change machine.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an automatic change machine 1 according to this embodiment. The automatic change machine 1 includes a deposit / withdrawal unit 2 for depositing / withdrawing coins and a storage case 3 for storing / holding the deposit / withdrawal unit 2 so that it can be pulled out. The front part of the deposit / withdrawal unit 2 is not stored in the storage case 3. The deposit / withdrawal unit 2 forms a coin insertion port 4 opened upward so that a plurality of coins can be loaded all at once on the right side of the front portion, and a coin dispensing port 5 is formed in the center. The operation panel 6 is provided on the left side.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the deposit / withdrawal unit 2. The deposit / withdrawal unit 2 has a loading block 10 that separates coins that have been randomly inserted into the loading slot 4 one by one, and a coin transport that conveys the coins separated by the loading block 10 one by one toward the rear. A transport block 20 as means, a sorting block 30 as coin sorting means for sorting coins transported by the transport block 20 into denominations, and a storage block 40 for storing coins sorted by this sorting block into denominations And a payout block 50 for paying out coins stored in denominations by the storage block 40 to the payout port 5.

  The input block 10 includes an input sensor 11 that detects coins input to the input port 4, an input roller 12 that separates and supplies the input coins one by one, and a coin that is sent from the input roller 12. And a feeding belt 13 that conveys from the right front side to the right back side.

  The transport block 20 is transported to the back right side while pressing the coin against the transport path guide plate 21 to form a transport path for the coins that are separated and sent from the input block 10 one by one. An identification sensor 23 as an identification means for identifying coins and non-coins by checking the outer shape of the conveyance belt 22 to be conveyed, and identifying coins and non-coins in the case of coins, and non-coins and overflows such as fake coins A reject unit 24 serving as a reject unit that removes the coins and the like removed from the transport path, and a reject sensor 25 serving as a reject detection unit that detects a transported object removed from the transport path. The reject unit 24 includes a reject hole 24a for dropping a conveyed product from the transport path, and a reject shutter 24b for opening and closing the reject hole 24a. The conveyor belt 22 is bent at a substantially right angle by a pulley 27 at the end portion thereof.

  The sorting block 30 is transported to the back right side by the sorting block 31 formed with the sorting holes 31a to 31f perforated by denomination so that coins fall in order of decreasing outer diameter, and the transport block 20. A sorting belt 32 that conveys the coins to the left side while pressing the coins against the sorting plate 31, and count sensors 33a to 33f that detect coins dropped from the sorting holes 31a to 31f, respectively.

  The storage block 40 includes a coin storage portion 41 that stores coins dropped from the respective sorting holes 31a to 31f in denominations, a storage belt 42 that transports the stored coins to the front side, and the above-mentioned for each denomination. Each denomination storage full sensor 43 which detects the state in which the storage part 41 has accommodated the coin to the maximum is provided.

  The payout block 50 includes a payout roller 51 for sending coins one by one from the storage unit 41, a payout standby belt 52 for waiting for the coins sent out by the payout roller 51, and a leading coin waiting for payout. A payout shutter 53 for paying out the payout port 5 and a payout sensor 54 for detecting the payout coin are provided.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the control unit 60 for operating the automatic change machine 1. The control unit 60 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 62, a non-volatile RAM (Random Access Memory) 63 such as a flash memory, a volatile RAM 64 such as a dynamic RAM, a timer 65, and a communication interface. 66, an operation panel controller 67, an input port 68, an output port 69, and a motor driver 610. These are connected by a bus line 611 such as an address bus and a data bus.

  The timer 65 measures a reverse rotation time and a normal rotation time described later. The communication interface 66 manages data communication with a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal (not shown). The operation panel controller 67 controls the operation panel 6 to acquire an operation signal and display data.

  The input port 68 receives detection signals from sensors such as the insertion sensor 11, the identification sensor 23, the reject sensor 25, the denomination type counting sensors 33 a to 33 f, the storage full sensor 43, and the denomination type payout sensor 54.

  The output port 69 outputs drive signals to a payout solenoid 71 that opens and closes the payout shutter 53 and a reject solenoid 72 that opens and closes the reject shutter 24b.

  The motor driver 610 turns on / off a charging motor 81 that drives the charging belt 131, a conveying motor 82 that drives the conveying belt 22 and the sorting belt 32, a dispensing standby belt 52, and a dispensing motor 83 that drives the dispensing standby belt 52. To control. The conveyor belt 22 and the sorting belt 32 driven by the conveyance motor 82 are separated from the input block 10 one by one, and the coins are conveyed to the right back and further conveyed to the left back along the sorting plate 31. Forward rotation that rotates as described above and reverse rotation that rotates so that coins are conveyed in the opposite direction are possible.

  The volatile RAM 64 is used as a temporary storage area for data when the CPU 61 performs arithmetic processing. The nonvolatile RAM 63 is a memory area for storing data that is not lost even when the power is turned off. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the number of coins stored in the coin storage unit 41 by denomination and the storage coin table 91 for storing the storage amount, and the number R of conveyed items rejected by the reject unit 24 are shown. The non-volatile RAM 63 has a reject counter 92 for counting, a flag area 93 for the power failure flag F, a reverse rotation time area 94 for setting and storing the reverse rotation time T1, a forward rotation time area 95 for setting and storing the normal rotation time T2, and the like. .

  The reversing time T1 is determined by the reversing operation of the sorting belt 32 and the conveying belt 22 by the reversing operation of the sorting belt 32 and the conveying belt 22 when the conveyed item at the position of the sorting hole 31f where the coin with the maximum diameter formed at the leftmost end of the sorting plate 31 falls. This time is equal to the time required for the sheet to be conveyed from the side toward the coin slot 4 and to pass through the position of the reject hole 24a of the reject unit 24. The normal rotation time T <b> 2 coincides with the time required for the coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 4 to pass through the position of the reject hole 24 a of the reject unit 24 by the normal rotation operation of the transport belt 22.

  The ROM 62 stores fixed data such as programs. CPU61 controls each part according to a program, and makes the said apparatus function as the automatic change machine 1. FIG.

  In the automatic change machine 1 having such a configuration, when the power is turned on, the CPU 61 starts to operate according to the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. This procedure is implemented by a program stored in the ROM 62.

  The CPU 61 checks the power failure flag F in the flag area 93 as ST (step) 1. The power failure flag F is set to “1” when the power is turned off while the coin transportation operation is stopped, or remains reset to “0” or when the power is turned off during the transportation operation due to an unexpected power failure or the like. The When the power failure flag F has been reset to “0” (NO in ST1), the CPU 61 enters a normal processing routine.

  In a normal processing routine, when change data is input from the POS terminal to the communication interface 66, the CPU 61 calculates the number of coins to be paid out based on the change data. Then, the dispensing motor 83 and the dispensing solenoid 71 are energized to cause the coins stored in the coin storage unit 41 to be paid out to the coin payout outlet 5 by the number of coins to be paid out. At this time, the number of coins paid out by the payout sensor 54 is counted for each denomination, and the amount of coins paid out is subtracted from the stored number data and stored amount data in the stored coin table 91.

  When the insertion sensor 11 detects that a coin has been inserted into the coin insertion slot 4, the CPU 61 energizes the insertion motor 81 and the conveyance motor 82. When the charging motor 81 and the conveyance motor 82 are energized, the charging motor 81 and the conveyance motor 82 are activated. The coins thrown into the insertion slot 4 are conveyed by the insertion belt 13, separated one by one by the insertion roller 12, and sent out to the conveyance block 20. At this time, the conveyor belt 22 and the sorting belt 32 are rotating forward. Accordingly, the fed coins are conveyed toward the right back of the deposit / withdrawal unit 2 while being pressed against the conveyance path guide plate 21 by the conveyance belt 22. In the middle of this conveyance, the identification sensor 23 identifies whether the conveyed item is a coin or a non-coin, and in the case of a coin, the denomination is identified.

  When the conveyed product is a coin, the reject shutter 24b closes the reject hole 24a. Accordingly, the coins are conveyed to the right rear side of the deposit / withdrawal unit 2 by the conveyance belt 22, and further the conveyance direction is bent at right angles to the left rear direction and taken over by the sorting belt 32. Then, the sheet is conveyed while being pressed against the sorting plate 31 by the sorting belt 32, and falls into the coin storage unit 41 from the sorting holes 31 a to 31 f of the denomination that matches the size of the outer shape. At this time, every time the counting sensors 33a to 33f detect the coins falling, the CPU 61 adds the stored number data and stored amount data of the corresponding denomination in the stored coin table 91.

  On the other hand, when the conveyed product is a non-coin, the CPU 61 energizes the reject solenoid 72. When the reject solenoid 72 is energized, the reject shutter 24b is opened. Thereby, the conveyed product identified as the non-coin falls from the reject hole 24a. At this time, when the reject sensor 25 detects the fall of the conveyed product, the CPU 61 releases the energization of the reject solenoid 72. When the energization is released, the reject shutter 24b is closed. When the reject sensor 25 detects the fall of the conveyed product, the CPU 61 increments the count value R of the reject number counter 92 by “1”.

  When all coins thrown into the slot 4 are identified by the identification sensor 23 and all the conveyed items identified as coins fall from the sorting holes 31a to 31f, the CPU 61 releases the energization of the making motor 81 and the carrying motor 82. To do. Then, the normal processing routine returns to the idle state.

  When the power is turned off in this idle state, the CPU 61 enters the power failure processing routine while resetting the power failure flag F to “0”. On the other hand, when the power is turned off during the coin transfer operation in which the input motor 81 and the transfer motor 82 are energized, the CPU 61 sets the power failure flag F to “1” and then performs a power failure processing routine. to go into. Accordingly, when the power supply is restored and turned on thereafter, the CPU 61 sets the power failure flag F to “1” in ST1, so after executing the processing of ST2 to ST19, it enters the normal processing routine. .

  That is, the CPU 61 temporarily stores the count value R of the reject number counter 92 as a variable R in the volatile RAM 64 as ST2. Next, in ST3, the reject solenoid 72 is energized to open the reject shutter 24b.

  Next, the CPU 61 starts a timing operation by the timer 65 as ST4. In ST5, the conveying motor 82 is energized, and the conveying belt 22 and the sorting belt 32 are operated in reverse.

  Thereafter, the CPU 61 waits for the time t measured by the timer 65 to reach the reverse rotation time T1 preset in the reverse rotation time area 94 as ST6. During this waiting period, every time the conveyed object falling through the reject hole 24a is detected by the reject sensor 25 as ST7, the CPU 61 increments the count R of the reject number counter 92 by “1” as ST8.

  When the time count t reaches the reverse rotation time T1, the CPU 61 releases the energization of the conveyance motor 82 in ST9 and stops the reverse rotation operation of the conveyance belt 22 and the sorting belt 32. In ST10, a value obtained by subtracting the variable R0 from the count R of the reject number counter 92 is stored in the volatile RAM 64 as the reverse rejection number Rr.

  Next, the CPU 61 restarts the timer 65 as ST11. In ST12, the conveyance motor 82 is energized to cause the conveyance belt 22 and the sorting belt 32 to perform normal rotation.

  Thereafter, the CPU 61 waits for the time t measured by the timer 65 to reach the normal rotation time T2 preset in the normal rotation time area 95 in ST13. During this standby period, every time the conveyed object falling through the reject hole 24a is detected by the reject sensor 25 as ST14, the CPU 61 counts up the count R of the reject number counter 92 by “1” as ST15.

  When the time t reaches the normal rotation time T2, the CPU 61 releases the energization of the conveyance motor 82 in ST16 and stops the normal rotation operation of the conveyance belt 22 and the sorting belt 32. In ST17, a value obtained by subtracting the reverse rejection number Rr from the count R of the rejection number counter 92 is stored in the volatile RAM 64 as the normal rotation rejection number Rf.

  Next, the CPU 61 releases the energization of the reject solenoid 72 in ST18 and closes the reject shutter 24b. In ST19, the reverse rotation reject number Rr and the normal rotation reject number Rf are transmitted to the POS terminal and displayed on the operator display of the POS terminal. Thereafter, the CPU 61 enters the normal processing routine described above.

  As described above, the automatic change machine 1 of the present embodiment determines whether or not the power failure flag F is set to “1” in the process of ST1 when the power is turned on. That is, it is detected whether or not the previous power-off occurred during the coin transport operation (power failure detection means). When the power failure flag F is set to “1”, that is, when the previous power-off occurred during the coin transport operation, the transport motor 82 causes the transport belt 22 and the sorting belt 32 to be switched. The reversing operation is performed so that the coin conveying direction is directed from the coin storage portion 41 side to the coin insertion slot 4 side (reverse conveying control means), and the reject shutter 24b is opened while the reversing direction is being conveyed. The transported material that is transported in the reverse direction is removed from the transport path guide plate 21 (reject control means).

  Here, the duration of the transporting operation in the reverse direction is the time T1 required for the transported object at the position of the sorting hole 31f formed at the leftmost end of the sorting plate 31 to pass the position of the reject hole 24a. . As a result, since the previous power-off occurred during the coin transfer operation, all the coins staying between the reject hole 24a and the sorting hole 31f are dropped from the reject hole 24a and are transferred from the transfer path guide plate 21. Removed. Therefore, even if the forward rotation operation is started after that, no coins remain in the sorting block 30. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous sorting because the coin transport speed is not constant.

  Moreover, after the reverse rotation time T1 has elapsed, the automatic change machine 1 temporarily stops the conveyance motor 82, and then causes the conveyance belt 22 and the sorting belt 32 to perform normal rotation, thereby changing the coin conveyance direction to the coin insertion slot 4. From the side toward the coin storage part 41 side (forward transfer control means).

  At this time, the reject shutter 24b remains open. Further, the duration of the transport operation in the forward rotation direction is a time T2 required for the coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 4 to pass through the position of the reject hole 24a. As a result, all the conveyed objects such as coins that have accumulated on the conveyance path guide plate 21 from the reject hole 24a to the insertion roller 12 by the above-described reversing operation fall from the reject hole 24a and from the conveyance path guide plate 21. Removed. Therefore, the transported object that has been identified as a non-coin by the identification sensor 23 but remains on the transport path guide plate 21 because the power is turned off before being removed by the reject unit 24 is removed from the transport path guide plate 21 when the power is turned on. Since it is removed, there is no possibility that it will be transported without being removed and stored in the coin storage part 41.

  Moreover, the automatic change machine 1 stops the conveyance motor 82, if normal rotation time T2 passes. The data of the reverse rotation rejection number Rr and the normal rotation rejection number Rf is transmitted and output to the POS terminal and displayed on the operator display of the POS terminal (notification means). The reverse rejection number Rr is the number of conveyed objects removed from the reject unit 24 by the reverse operation when the power is turned on. The forward rejection number Rf is the number of conveyed items removed from the reject unit 24 by the subsequent forward rotation operation. Therefore, the user of the automatic change machine 1 determines how much coins have been removed from the reject unit 24 by the reverse rotation and forward rotation operation when the power is turned on, that is, how much coins are rejected due to an unexpected power failure or the like. It is possible to easily know whether it has remained on the downstream side (coin storage portion 41 side) and the upstream side (coin insertion port 4 side) with reference to 24.

  By the way, the automatic change machine 1 has a reversing time T1, and the conveyed item at the position of the sorting hole 31f formed at the leftmost end of the sorting plate 31 is rotated by the reversing operation of the sorting belt 32 and the conveying belt 22 to store the coin storage portion. It is conveyed from the 41 side toward the coin insertion slot 4 side and coincides with the time required to pass through the position of the reject hole 24a of the reject unit 24. Further, the normal rotation time T <b> 2 is made to coincide with the time required for the coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 4 to pass through the position of the reject hole 24 a of the reject unit 24 by the normal rotation operation of the transport belt 22. As described above, since the reverse rotation time T1 and the normal rotation time T2 are set to the minimum necessary, there is no waste in efficiency, and a normal processing routine can be entered quickly.

  In addition, the reverse operation and the forward operation as described above are performed when the power failure flag F is set to “1”, that is, when the previous power-off occurred during the coin transport operation. It is limited to. Therefore, when the previous power-off is normal, the normal processing routine can be entered immediately, and there is no waste in efficiency in this respect as well.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the automatic change machine 1 is provided with a power failure detection means for detecting whether or not the previous power-off occurred during the transport operation by the coin transport means, and the reverse transport control means and the reject control means are This is executed only when the previous power-off occurs during the transport operation. However, regardless of whether or not the previous power-off occurred during the transport operation, even if programmed to execute the reverse transport control means and the reject control means at the next power-on, the effect of the present invention can be obtained. it can.

  Further, in the above embodiment, after the reverse conveyance control means performs the reverse conveyance operation, the conveyance direction by the coin conveyance means is changed from the coin insertion port side to the coin storage portion side while the removal operation by the rejection means is enabled. It is designed to carry forward and rotate. However, the effect of preventing erroneous selection at the time of power-on can be achieved without necessarily performing the transport operation in the forward rotation direction.

  Further, the reverse rotation time T1 and the normal rotation time T2 are not limited to the time limited in the embodiment. For example, the reverse rotation time T1 may be equal to or longer than the time required for the coins before being sorted by the coin sorting means to return to the conveyed product removal position by the reject means. Similarly, the forward rotation time T2 may be equal to or longer than the time required for the coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 4 to reach the conveyed product removal position by the rejecting means.

  In the above-described embodiment, the notification means transmits and outputs the data of the reverse rejection number Rr and the normal rotation reject number Rf to the POS terminal. However, the notification means is not limited to this. For example, data on the reverse reject number Rr and the normal reject number Rf may be displayed on the display of the operation panel 6. Further, instead of notifying the reverse rotation rejection number Rr and the normal rotation rejection number Rf, it may be notified only by blinking of an LED or the like, for example, that it has been removed from the rejection unit 24.

  In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, the constituent elements over different embodiments may be combined.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic change machine, 2 ... Deposit / withdrawal unit, 4 ... Coin insertion slot, 10 ... Insertion block, 20 ... Conveyance block, 22 ... Conveyance belt, 23 ... Identification sensor, 24 ... Reject part, 25 ... Reject sensor, 30 ... Sorting block, 31 ... sorting plate, 32 ... sorting belt, 40 ... storage unit, 41 ... coin storage unit, 61 ... CPU, 72 ... reject solenoid, 82 ... conveyance motor.

JP-A-11-134532

Claims (6)

Identification means for identifying whether the transported article inserted into the coin slot and transported one by one in the middle of the transport path in which forward / reverse rotation can be switched is coin or non-coin. , and the coin deposit apparatus having a rejecting means for removing non-coin and identified carrier material,
When the power is turned on, the conveyance path is reversely operated, and the conveyance object on the conveyance path existing between the end of the conveyance path and the rejection means is removed by the rejection means, and the conveyance object on the conveyance path by the reverse rotation operation is removed. A transport control means for causing the transport path on the transport path existing between the reject means to be removed by the reject means by causing the transport path to perform normal rotation after removing the transport path ;
Coin sorting means for sorting the coins transported by the transport means without being removed by the reject means into denominations ;
A coin storage unit for storing the coins sorted by money by the coin sorting means ,
A coin deposit device characterized by comprising: A power failure detection means for detecting whether or not the previous power-off occurred during the transport operation by the transport means when the power is turned on;
Before when Kijika previous power-off arose during the transport operation, the coin deposit apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the performing the reject control by the reverse operation. The apparatus further comprises a means for counting and outputting the number of conveyed objects removed by the rejecting means in the reverse operation of the conveying path and the number of conveyed objects removed by the rejecting means in the normal rotation operation of the conveying path . The coin depositing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that 4. The conveyance time during the forward rotation operation when the power is turned on is a time required for coins inserted into the coin insertion slot to reach a conveyed product removal position by the reject means. Coin deposit device. 2. The transport time during the reverse operation when the power is turned on is a time required for the coins before being sorted by the coin sorting means to return to the transported material removal position by the reject means. 5. The coin deposit device according to any one of 4 to 4. Reject detection means for detecting that the conveyed product is removed from the conveyance path by the reject means;
In the reverse conveyance operation when the power is turned on, a notification unit that notifies when the reject detection unit detects that the conveyed product is removed from the conveyance path;
The coin depositing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:

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