JP5394180B2 - Coin processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin processing apparatus that is applied to an automatic teller machine (ATM) or the like installed in a store of a financial institution and processes coins used in deposit / withdrawal transactions.

  Conventionally, a coin processing device is applied to an automatic teller machine (so-called ATM) installed in a store of a financial institution. The coin processing device processes coins used in deposit transactions and withdrawal transactions. In the deposit transaction, the denomination and authenticity are identified one by one for the deposited coins inserted by the user, and the number and total amount of each denomination are obtained.

  In the deposit transaction, the user himself / herself may not recognize the total amount of coins inserted this time. For example, coins that have been appropriately stored at home or the like may be put together. In such a case, if the deposited coins are jammed in the coin transport path, a difference is generated between the total amount obtained and the actual inserted amount, and the deposit process for the user cannot be performed properly. In particular, coins that cannot be recognized for denomination or authenticity due to deformation or the like are likely to be jammed in the coin transport path.

  Therefore, when there is a denomination or a coin whose so-called true / false could not be identified (so-called return coin), the denomination of the denomination of these return coins is performed to detect clogging of coins in the coin transport path. This has also been proposed (see Patent Document 1). Specifically, the number of coins for which the denomination could not be identified first is compared with the number of coins for which the denomination has been actually re-identified, and the clogging of coins on the transport path is also detected.

JP 2001-67516 A

  However, the above-described Patent Document 1 detects whether or not a coin is jammed in the coin transport path only when there is a coin whose denomination or authenticity cannot be identified in the deposited coin. I was just there. In other words, when there are no coins in which the denomination and true / false (being true coins) could not be identified in the received coins, it is detected whether or not a coin is jammed in the coin transport path. Absent.

Incidentally, denomination or authenticity clogged coins that can not be identified, resulting in and the return coin does not occur, denomination, and coin authenticity can be identified sometimes clog in the coin conveyance path.

  Therefore, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1, a coin jam that occurs in the coin conveyance path cannot be detected or the detection thereof may be delayed. If it is not possible to detect whether or not coin clogging has occurred in the transaction at the time of transaction processing, coins jammed in the coin conveyance path will be processed as coins thrown by the subsequent user. That is, there is a risk that a coin inserted by one user may be processed as a coin input by another user, which may cause a problem of significantly reducing the credit of the financial institution.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing device capable of properly detecting clogging of coins on a coin transport path without delay and improving reliability.

  The coin processing device of the present invention is configured as follows in order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object.

Coin conveying means, along a coin conveying path connecting two coin storing units, feeding one of the coin storing units or et coin, it transports the coins to the other coin storing units. For example, in a deposit transaction, one coin storage unit becomes a deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit in which a user inserts a deposit coin, and the other coin storage unit becomes a temporary holding unit that temporarily holds a deposit coin. In addition, in the coin replenishment process, one coin storage unit is an operation cartridge that stores the replenishment coins, and the other coin storage unit is a denomination type coin storage unit that holds the withdrawal coins by denomination. become. Thus, one coin storage part and the other coin storage part change with the operation | movement which an apparatus main body performs.

The first identifying means identifies the denomination and true / false of the coins that the coin conveying means pays out from one coin storage portion on the coin payout side and is transported to the other coin storage portion. The first counting means, hard貨搬feed means one coin storing units or al, a coin being conveyed on the other coin storing units, the first identification means denomination, and a true coin Count the number of coins identified .

Further, the coin feeding means, for one of the coin storing units, that to supply coins for clogging detection. Further, the second identification means identifies the denomination and authenticity of the clogging detection coin supplied from the coin supply means to the one coin storage unit. Furthermore, the second counting means is a clogging detection coin supplied by the coin supply means to one of the coin storage units, and the clogging has identified that the second identification means is a denomination and a true coin. Count the number of coins for detection.

The determination means, by hard貨搬feeding means, the coins supply means clogging detecting coins fed to one of the coin storing unit, when transported to another coin storage portion, and first counting means counts determining the number of coins, and the number of coins which the second counting means has counted, based on the occurrence or non-occurrence of a coin jam in the coins transport passage.

  For example, if the number of clogging detection coins counted by both the first counting means and the second counting means is the same, the determining means determines that no coin clogging has occurred.

  If the number of coins counted by the first counting means is smaller than the number of coins counted by the second counting means, it is determined that coin clogging has occurred.

  Furthermore, if the number of coins counted by the first counting means is larger than the number of coins counted by the second counting means, the generated coin clogging is eliminated (no coin clogging has occurred). It may be determined that there is a possibility that a coin jam has occurred.

  The clogging detection coins may be used by extracting a part of the coins that the coin conveying means has fed out from one of the coin storage units and conveyed to the other of the coin storage units, or may be provided separately. Good.

  According to this invention, clogging of coins on the coin transport path can be detected properly without delay, and reliability can be improved.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part of a coin processing apparatus. It is the schematic which shows the internal structure of a coin processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the payment transaction process in a coin processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the payment transaction process in a coin processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the coin replenishment process in a coin processing apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the coin replenishment process in a coin processing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a coin processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of a coin processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the coin processing apparatus. This coin processing apparatus 1 is applied to an automatic teller machine (so-called ATM) installed in a store of a financial institution. This coin processing apparatus 1 processes coins used in deposit / withdrawal transactions.

  The coin processing device 1 includes a control unit 2, a shutter opening / closing unit 3, an identification unit 4, a feeding unit 5, a transport unit 6, and a communication unit 7. The control part 2 controls operation | movement of this coin processing apparatus 1 main body.

  The shutter opening / closing unit 3 controls the opening / closing of the shutter 31 located above the deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit 32 provided on the front surface of the main body. When the shutter 31 is open, the user can insert coins into and out of the deposit / withdrawal coin storage unit 32 and take out coins from the deposit / withdrawal coin storage unit 32.

  The identification unit 4 includes a first identification unit 41 and a second identification unit 42. The 1st identification part 41 and the 2nd identification part 42 identify the denomination and authenticity for every coin. The first identifying unit 41 identifies the denomination and true / false of the coins paid out from the deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit 32. The second identification unit 42 identifies the denomination and true / false of the coins sent to the deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit 32.

  The transport unit 6 transports coins along the coin transport path 60. The coin transport path 60 is stored in the operation cartridge 54, a transport path for transporting coins inserted into the deposit / withdrawal coin storage unit 32 to the temporary storage unit 52 or the denomination coin storage unit 53 via the first identification unit 41. It has the conveyance path which conveys the coin currently carried out to the deposit / withdrawal coin reservation part 32 via the 2nd identification part 42. FIG. Moreover, in the coin conveyance path 60, the return coin storage part 56 which stores the coin (henceforth a return coin) which could not be identified as a denomination or a true coin by the 1st identification part 41, and It has a conveyance path provided with a clogging detection coin storage unit 55 that stores coins (clogging detection coins referred to in the present invention) that have passed through the temporary storage unit 52. The clogging detection coin storage unit 55 and the return coin storage unit 56 are separated by a flapper. For this reason, the coins stored in the clogging detection coin storage unit 55 and the return coin storage unit 56 are not mixed. In addition, the coin conveyance path 60 allows the coins fed out from the denominated coin storage unit 53 to pass through the clogging detection coin storage unit 55, the return coin storage unit 56, and the second identification unit 42, and a deposit / withdrawal coin storage unit. A transport path for transporting to 32 is also provided.

  Thus, the coin conveyance path 60 is formed so that coins can be circulated inside the main body.

  Coins held in the temporary holding unit 52 can be selectively discharged to the clogging detection coin storage unit 55 or the operation cartridge 54. The denomination coin storage unit 53 has a denomination coin cartridge for storing denomination coins for each denomination. Coins stored in the denomination type coin cartridge are used as a coin for withdrawal.

  The feeding unit 5 separates the coins stored in the deposit / withdrawal coin storage unit 32, the temporary storage unit 52, the denomination type coin storage unit 53, the operation cartridge 54, etc., and feeds them one by one to the coin transport path 60. (Not shown). The communication unit 7 performs communication with a host device (for example, ATM) to which the main body of the coin processing device 1 is applied.

  The coin processing apparatus 1 detects whether or not a coin is clogged on the coin transport path 60 after transporting the coin along the coin transport path 60 in the deposit process or the coin replenishment process.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the coin processing apparatus 1 will be described.

  3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the deposit transaction process in this coin processing apparatus. In the coin processing device 1, in accordance with an instruction from the host device, the shutter or the shutter opening / closing unit 3 opens the shutter 31 located above the deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit 32 (s1). The host device notifies the coin processing device 1 of this instruction when the user performs an input operation for instructing depositing with coins.

  When the shutter 31 is opened, the user inserts the coin to be deposited this time into the deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit 32 and performs an input operation for completing the insertion. At this time, the user may insert the coins he / she has appropriately (without recognizing the number of denominations). In other words, there are users who do not recognize the total amount of coins inserted. The host device notifies the coin processing device 1 to that effect in response to the input operation of the completion of insertion by the user.

  The coin processing device 1 closes the shutter 31 when the completion of coin insertion is notified from the host device (s2, s3). The coin processing device 1 starts a feeding process in which the feeding unit 5 feeds the coins inserted this time to the coin transport path 60 (s4). The coins fed out in s4 are conveyed to the first identification unit 41, and are identified for denomination and authenticity. The coin processing device 1 conveys the denomination and the coin that can be identified as a true coin to the temporary storage unit 52 (s5, s6). On the other hand, coins (hereinafter referred to as return coins) for which at least one of denominations or true coins could not be identified are transported to the return coin storage unit 56 and stored (s5, s7). At this time, the conveyance path provided with the return coin storage unit 56 is stopped. Further, the coin processing device 1 counts the number of coins that are identified as denominations and true coins by the first identification unit 41 for each denomination.

  The coin processing device 1 repeats the above-described processing relating to s5 to s7 until there is no coin inserted into the deposit / withdrawal coin storage unit 32 this time (s8).

  If it determines with the coin processing apparatus 1 having completed the process concerning s5-s7 about all the deposit coins inserted | thrown-in this time by s8, it will determine the presence or absence of the return coin currently stored in the return coin storage part 56 (s9). ).

  When determining that there is a return coin in s9, the coin processing device 1 conveys the return coin stored in the return coin storage unit 56 to the deposit / withdrawal coin storage unit 32 (s10). When the transfer of the return coin to the deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit 32 is completed, the coin processing device 1 opens the shutter 31 (s11) and returns the return coin to the user. At this time, the total amount of the coins that have been reserved in the temporary storage unit 52 (this time, the coins identified as denominations and true coins) are notified to the host device, and the display unit of the host device Is displayed.

  The user performs an input operation as to whether or not to re-insert coins. When the host apparatus receives an input operation related to coin re-insertion, it notifies the coin processing apparatus 1 of coin re-insertion. When there is a notification regarding the re-insertion from the host device (s12), the coin processing device 1 returns to s3 and repeats the above processing.

  When the coin processing device 1 determines that there is no return coin in s9, or receives a notification regarding no coin re-insertion from the host device in s12, a part of the coins held in the temporary storage unit 52, Alternatively, all of them are sent out as clogging detection coins to the clogging detection coin storage unit 55 (s13). In s13, for example, about 10 to 30 coins are sent to the clogging detection coin storage unit 55 as clogging detection coins.

  Here, a part or all of the coins held in the temporary holding unit 52 in s13 are sent to the clogging detection coin storage unit 55 as clogging detection coins, but the number of coins determined in advance in s6 Processing may be performed in which the coin is transported to the clogging detection coin storage unit 55, and then the transport destination of the coin in s6 is changed to the temporary storage unit 52.

  The coin processing device 1 conveys the clogging detection coins sent from the temporary storage unit 52 to the clogging detection coin storage unit 55 to the deposit / withdrawal coin storage unit 32 via the second identification unit 42 (s14). At this time, the coin processing device 1 counts the number of coins (the number of coins for detection) that has passed through the second identification unit.

  The coin processing device 1 starts a feeding process for feeding the clogging detection coins conveyed to the deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit 32 to the coin conveyance path 60 (s15). At this time, the clogging detection coins are conveyed to the temporary storage unit via the first identification unit 41. At this time, the coin processing device 1 counts the number of coins that have passed through the first identification unit 41 (the number of coins passed through for detection).

  At this time, the coin processing apparatus 1 transports the coins that can be identified as denominations and true coins by the first identification unit 41 to the temporary storage unit 52 (s16, s17). On the other hand, coins for which at least one of denominations or true coins cannot be identified are transported to the return coin storage unit 56 and stored (s16, s18). The coin processing device 1 repeats the processes according to s16 to s18 described above until there is no clogging detection coin conveyed to the deposit / withdrawal coin storage unit 32 (s19).

  The coin processing device 1 compares the number of coins for detection counted in s14 with the number of coins for detection counted in s15, and if they match, it is determined that no coin jam has occurred ( s20, s22).

  Further, if the number of coins for detection counted in s14 is larger than the number of coins for detection counted in s15, the coin processing device 1 determines that coin clogging has occurred and notifies the higher-level device to that effect. (S21, s23).

  Furthermore, if the number of coins for detection counted in s14 is smaller than the number of coins for detection counted in s15, the coin processing device 1 determines that there is a possibility that coins are clogged, and indicates that. The device is notified (s21, s24).

  In s24, it may be determined that the clogging of coins in the coin transport path 60 has been eliminated by transporting the clogging detection coins in the above-described process.

  Here, by transporting the clogging detection coin, only a part of the coin clogged in the coin transport path 60 at that time is transported, and the coin clogging on the coin transport path 60 is not completely eliminated. Since there is a possibility, it is determined that there is a possibility that coin clogging has occurred in s24.

  Thereafter, when the coin processing device 1 receives a transaction completion notification from the host device, the coin processing device 1 transports the coins held in the temporary holding unit 52 to the first identification unit 41, and again denominations and authenticity. The money is identified and stored in the denomination type cartridge of the corresponding denomination in the denomination coin storage unit 53.

  Moreover, the coin processing apparatus 1 will convey the coin currently hold | maintained at the temporary storage part 52 to the deposit / withdrawal coin storage part 32, and will return to a user, when the notification concerning transaction cancellation is received from the high-order apparatus.

  As described above, the coin processing device 1 of this embodiment re-carryes the clogging detection coins extracted from the inserted deposited coins along the coin conveyance path 60, so that clogging of coins on the coin conveyance path 60 occurs. It is possible to detect properly without delay and improve reliability.

  In the above description, the deposit coin that has been inserted this time is used as the jam detection coin. However, the jam detection coin may be prepared in advance on the main body side. In this way, the number of clogging detection coins can always be the same without being affected by the number of deposited coins.

  Next, the replenishment process for storing the coins stored in the operation cartridge 54 in the denomination type cartridge of the corresponding denomination coin storage unit 53 will be described.

  5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the replenishment process.

  The coin processing device 1 starts feeding out the coins stored in the operation cartridge 54 and conveys the coins along the coin conveyance path 60 to the deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit 32 (s31). The coin processing device 1 feeds the coins conveyed to the deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit 32 one by one, conveys them to the first identification unit 41, and identifies the denomination and authenticity (s32). The coin processing apparatus 1 transports and stores the coins that have been identified as denominations and true coins by the first identification unit 41 to the temporary storage unit 52 by a predetermined number (s33, s34). When the coin processing apparatus 1 stores a predetermined number of coins in the temporary storage unit 52, the coins identified as denominations and true coins by the first identification unit 41 correspond to the coin type coin storage unit 53. It is transported to and stored in a denomination type cartridge (s33, s35).

  Note that the coin processing apparatus 1 transports and stores coins, for which at least one of denominations or true coins cannot be identified by the first identification unit 41, into a collection cartridge (not shown) (s32, s36).

  When the coin processing apparatus 1 completes the above-described processing for all the coins stored in the operation cartridge 54, the coin held in the temporary storage unit 52 is returned to the operation cartridge 54 as a clogging detection coin. (S37, s38).

  The coin processing device 1 again feeds the coins returned to the operation cartridge 54 and conveys them to the deposit / withdrawal coin storage unit 32 (s39). At this time, the coin processing apparatus 1 counts the number of coins that have passed through the second identification unit 42 as the number of coins for detection.

  The coin processing device 1 feeds the clogging detection coins conveyed to the deposit / withdrawal coin holding unit 32 one by one, conveys them to the first identification unit 41, and identifies the denomination and authenticity (s39, s40). . The coin processing apparatus 1 conveys and stores the coins identified by the first identification unit 41 as a denomination and a true coin into the denomination type cartridge of the corresponding denomination in the denomination coin storage unit 53 ( s41). In addition, the coins for which at least one of the denomination or the true coin cannot be identified by the first identification unit 41 are transported and stored in a collection cartridge (not shown) (s42). The coin processing device 1 counts the number of coins that have passed through the first identification unit 41 (the number of coins for detection).

  When the processing described above for the clogging detection coin is completed (s43), the coin processing device 1 compares the number of coins for detection counted in s39 with the number of coins for detection counted in s40, and the two match. If so, it is determined that no coin jam has occurred (s44, s46).

  If the number of coins for detection counted in s39 is larger than the number of coins for detection counted in s40, the coin processing device 1 determines that coin clogging has occurred and notifies the higher-level device to that effect. (S45, s47).

  Furthermore, if the number of coins for detection counted in s39 is smaller than the number of coins for detection counted in s40, the coin processing device 1 determines that there is a possibility of coin clogging, and indicates that. The device is notified (s48).

  In s48, it may be determined that the clogging of coins in the coin transport path 60 has been eliminated by transporting the clogging detection coins in the above-described processing.

  Here, by transporting the clogging detection coin, only a part of the coin clogged in the coin transport path 60 at that time is transported, and the coin clogging on the coin transport path 60 is not completely eliminated. Since there is a possibility, it is determined that there is a possibility that coins are clogged in s48.

  As described above, in the coin processing device 1 of this embodiment, even in the replenishment process of replenishing the coins stored in the operation cartridge 54 to the denominated coin storage unit 53, the clogging of coins on the coin transport path 60 is delayed. Can be detected properly and reliability can be improved.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the coin currently hold | maintained at the temporary storage part 52 by s38 was returned to the operation cartridge 54, it is good also as a structure sent out to the coin storage part 55 for a detection instead of the operation cartridge 54. In this way, the conveyance path of the clogging detection coins can be shortened, and as a result, the time required for the replenishment process can be shortened.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Coin processing apparatus 2 ... Control part 4 ... Identification part 5 ... Feeding part 6 ... Conveyance part 32 ... Deposit / withdrawal coin storage part 41 ... 1st identification part 42 ... 2nd identification part 52 ... Temporary reservation part 53 ... Gold Type coin storage unit 54 ... operation cartridge 55 ... detection coin storage unit 56 ... return coin storage unit 60 ... coin transport path

Claims (5)

Along the coin conveying path connecting two coin storing units, feeding one of the coin storing units or et coins, a coin transporting means for transporting the coin to the other of the coin storing unit,
A first identifying means for identifying the denomination and authenticity of the coins that are fed from the one coin storage unit on the coin delivery side and transported to the other coin storage unit; ,
Coin the coin conveying means, from the one of the coin storing unit, a coin being conveyed on the other coin storing unit, wherein the first identification means has identified that denomination, and a true coin First counting means for counting the number of sheets ,
Coin supply means for supplying clogging detection coins to the one coin storage unit ;
A second identification means for identifying the denomination and authenticity of the clogging detection coin supplied by the coin supply means to the one coin storage unit;
The number of coins for clogging detection that the coin supplying means is a coin for clogging detection supplied to the one coin storage unit, and the second identification means is identified as a denomination and a true coin. Second counting means for counting
The number of coins counted by the first counting means when the coin feeding means transports the clogging detection coin supplied by the coin supply means to the one coin storage section to the other coin storage section. And a determining means for determining whether or not a coin jam has occurred in the coin transport path based on the number of coins counted by the second counting means. Said coin feeding means, said feeding one coin storing units or al, a part of the coin which is transported to the other coin storing unit, a means for utilizing as a coin for the clogging detection, coins of claim 1 Processing equipment. Said determination means, by the coin conveying means, the clogging detection coins the coin feeding means has fed to the coin storing unit of the one, when conveyed to the other coin storing portion, said first count means 3. The means according to claim 1, wherein if the number of coins counted is equal to the number of coins counted by the second counting means, the coin is determined not to be jammed. Coin processing device. The determination means includes the first counting means when the coin conveying means conveys the clogging detection coin supplied by the coin supply means to the one coin storage section to the other coin storage section. The coin processing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is means for determining that coin clogging has occurred if the number of counted coins is smaller than the number of coins counted by the second counting means. apparatus. The determination means includes the first counting means when the coin conveying means conveys the clogging detection coin supplied by the coin supply means to the one coin storage section to the other coin storage section. The coin processing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the coin processing is a means for determining that no coin clogging has occurred if the counted number of coins is larger than the number of coins counted by the second counting means. apparatus.

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