JP5510089B2 - Coin guidance device for vending machines - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin guide device for a vending machine that guides coins inserted into a coin slot of a main door to a coin receiving port of a coin processing device provided on the back side of the main door.

  Conventionally, what was indicated by patent documents 1 is known as a coin guide device of a vending machine. This coin guide device is provided with a coin chute extending between a coin slot and a coin receiving port of a coin processing device. Specifically, the coin chute is provided on the back side of the main door so as to extend forward and downward from the coin insertion port toward the coin receiving port, and the downstream end portion is connected to the coin receiving port that opens upward. It is arranged to face from above. In addition, a coin processing device generally includes a coin sorting unit that sorts coins by denomination, a coin counting unit that counts the number of coins and the amount of money, and a change dispensing unit that stores change coins and dispenses change. Have. In this coin processing device, the coin receiving port is formed in a funnel shape so that coins from the coin chute can be reliably received at the coin receiving port.

  In order to avoid running out of change in the vending machine, it is preferable that a predetermined number or more of coins for change are stored in the change dispensing unit for each denomination. For this reason, when an operator who performs operations such as replenishment of goods into the vending machine and collection of sales proceeds to perform the above operation with the main door open, if there are fewer coins for change than the predetermined number, The change coins are replenished to the processing device. In this case, the coin to be replenished is inserted into the coin insertion slot on the front side of the main door, or directly on the coin reception slot from the gap between the downstream end of the coin chute and the coin reception slot on the back side of the main door. Or throw it in.

  Further, a control device is generally provided on the back side of the main door for an operator to set various data (for example, sales price of goods) of the vending machine and various controls in the vending machine. In addition to a numeric keypad and various switches, this control device is provided with a display panel that displays various types of information. Some of such control devices have a function of supporting replenishment work of change coins. Specifically, for example, on the display panel of the control device, the number of change coins to be replenished is displayed for each denomination, and each time a change coin is replenished one by one, the value of the number displayed is changed. It changes so as to approach “0”. Therefore, the operator can replenish change coins to the coin processing device while checking the denomination and number of change coins to be replenished displayed on the display panel. When the value of the number of seeds becomes “0”, the replenishment operation is completed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-121863

  As described above, in the coin processing device, the coin receiving port is formed in a funnel shape, so that coins inserted into the coin loading port by the user of the vending machine at the time of sale are transferred from the coin receiving port to the coin processing device. May not be properly guided into the interior of That is, coins that are inserted into the coin slot and guided through the coin chute may bounce off the inclined inner surface of the coin receiving port and jump out to the outside from the gap between the downstream end of the coin chute and the coin receiving port. . Of course, in order to prevent such coins from jumping out, for example, it is conceivable to close a gap between the downstream end of the coin chute and the coin receiving port. In this case, in the above-described replenishment work of change coins, the change coins to be replenished cannot be directly inserted into the coin receiving port. Therefore, the change coins are inserted into the coin insertion slot from the front side of the main door. Will do.

  However, in this case, work efficiency when replenishing coins for change may be reduced. That is, when the operator tries to check the denomination and number of sheets until the completion of replenishment on the display panel of the control device during the replenishment operation, it is necessary to go around to the back side of the main door. If not, you must go back to the front side of the main door and continue the replenishment. In particular, when there are many denominations and the number of change coins to be replenished, the operator performs a replenishment operation while going back and forth between the front side and the back side of the main door, resulting in a reduction in work efficiency.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can efficiently replenish change coins while ensuring prevention of coins from popping out at a coin receiving port of a coin processing device. An object is to provide a coin guide device for a vending machine.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to automatically guiding a coin inserted into a coin insertion port of a main door to a coin receiving port of a coin processing device provided on the back side of the main door. A coin guide device of a vending machine, wherein the coin receiving port is formed in a funnel shape that opens upward, extends forwardly downward from the coin insertion port toward the coin receiving port, and the cross-section of the downstream end is a coin A coin chute that is formed smaller than the size of the upper end surface of the receiving port and guides the coin that has been inserted into the coin slot into the coin receiving port, and a cover that is provided at the downstream end of the coin chute and covers the coin receiving port And a coin replenishing port for inserting coins for change into a coin receiving port when replenishing coins for change to the coin processing device. And

  According to this configuration, the coins inserted into the coin insertion slot of the main door are received through the coin chute extending downwardly from the coin insertion slot, and the coin receiving port of the coin processing device provided on the back side of the main door. Be guided to. The coin receiving port is formed in a funnel shape that opens upward, whereas the coin chute is formed such that the cross section of the downstream end thereof is smaller than the upper end surface of the coin receiving port. For this reason, even if the coin receiving port of the coin processing device is slightly deviated from the coin outlet, which is the downstream end of the coin chute, due to an attachment error of the coin processing device to the main door, the coin is received by the coin receiving port. Can be secured. In addition, since the coin receiving port is covered by the cover provided at the downstream end of the coin chute, even if the coin that has come out of the coin outlet of the coin chute hits the inner surface of the coin receiving port and bounces back, It can be surely prevented from popping out.

  In addition, since the cover that covers the coin receiving port is provided with a coin replenishing port that penetrates, when the operator replenishes the coin processing device with coins for change, the coin replenishment port can be used via the coin replenishment port. Coins can be inserted directly into the coin receiving port. As described above, when the control device provided on the back side of the main door has a support function for the change coin replenishment operation, the denomination of the change coin to be replenished displayed on the display panel of the control device. In addition, it is possible to replenish change coins to the coin processing device while checking the number of sheets. Thereby, the replenishment work can be performed efficiently.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the coin guide device of the vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover is provided with a coin guide for guiding the coin for change to the coin replenishing port. And

  According to this configuration, when the coin for change is inserted into the coin receiving port of the coin processing device, the coin for change can be easily guided to the coin replenishment port using the coin guide. Work can be performed more efficiently.

(A) is a front view which shows the vending machine to which the coin guide apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention is applied, (b) is a sectional side view which shows a coin guide apparatus and its periphery. It is a perspective view which shows a state when a coin guide device is seen from the back side of a main door, (a) shows the state where the coin guide for change replenishment was installed, and (b) shows the state where the coin guide was removed. (A) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state by which the coin thrown into the coin insertion slot of the main door is guided to the coin receiving port of a coin processing apparatus, (b) is a coin for change, and a coin replenishment slot is used. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state guided to a coin receiving port through.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 (a) shows a vending machine to which a coin guide device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The vending machine 1 is a cup-type vending machine that sells beverages such as coffee and juice in cups, for example. The vending machine body (not shown) in the form of a vertically long box with the front open, and the vending machine A main door 2 is provided on the front side of the main body so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis and opens and closes the front of the vending machine main body.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (a), a plurality of product plates 3 for displaying a plurality of types of beverage products to be sold are juxtaposed at the upper part of the main door 2, and product selection buttons are provided below the product plates 3. 4 is provided. Also, a product outlet 5 is provided near the center of the main door 2 for a user of the vending machine 1 to take out a cup of beverage. Further, the main door 2 is provided with a banknote insertion part 6 for inserting banknotes, a coin insertion part 7 for inserting coins, and a coin return lever 8 at the upper right of the commodity outlet 5. A coin return port 9 is provided at the lower right of 5. The coin insertion unit 7 has a horizontally long coin insertion slot 7a, and coins are inserted from the coin insertion slot 7a at the time of sale.

  Further, on the back side of the main door 2, a coin guide device 11 that guides the inserted coins and a coin processing device 12 that processes the coins guided thereby are provided. This coin processing device 12 has a coin sorting unit, a coin counting unit, and a change dispensing unit, similar to the general coin processing device described above, and a funnel-shaped coin receiving port 12a that opens upward. Is provided.

  Further, a control device 10 including a display panel 10a is provided on the rear side of the main door 2 as in the control device described above. The control device 10 has a support function for replenishment work of change coins to the coin processing device 12. That is, when performing the replenishment operation, the display panel 10a displays the denominations of coins to be replenished and the number of coins to be replenished, and the displayed number of coins each time the coins for change are replenished one by one. Changes so that the value of approaches 0.

  FIG. 1B is a side sectional view of the coin guide device 11, and FIG. 2A shows a state when the coin guide device 11 is viewed from the back side of the main door 2. As shown in both figures, the coin guide device 11 extends from the back side of the coin insertion unit 7 (coin insertion port 7a) downward toward the coin receiving port 12a of the coin processing device 12, and the passage through which coins pass. A cylindrical coin chute 13 (hereinafter referred to as “coin passage 13 a”) and a cover 14 provided at the downstream end of the coin chute 13 and covering the coin receiving port 12 a of the coin processing device 12 are provided.

  The coin chute 13 is composed of a main chute 21 formed so as to extend while being inclined and a downstream end portion is bent and extends vertically, and a sub chute 22 connected to the downstream end portion of the main chute 21. The main chute 21 is made of plastic molded into a predetermined shape, and includes a downhill part 21a that guides the coins inserted into the coin slot 7a while sliding down, and a top plate part 21b that covers the downside of the downhill part 21a. Are assembled together. The main chute 21 is arranged so that the upstream end of the top plate portion 21b is screwed to the upper back of the coin insertion portion 7 and the upstream end of the coin passage 13a faces the coin insertion port 7a. The upstream end portion of the downhill portion 21a of the main chute 21 is formed in the shape of a spider, and when liquid such as rainwater enters the coin passage 13a from the outside via the coin insertion port 7a, the coin passage 13a The liquid that has flowed out can be discharged to the outside through the drainage part 21c.

  On the other hand, each of the sub-chutes 22 is made of a metal plate bent into a predetermined shape, and includes a front plate portion 22a connected to a downstream end portion of the downhill portion 21a of the main chute 21, and a top plate portion 21b of the main chute 21. The rear plate portion 22b is connected to the downstream end portion in an overlapped state. The front plate portion 22a and the rear plate portion 22b are screwed to a stationary mounting plate (not shown).

  By the coin chute 13 constituted by the main chute 21 and the sub chute 22 as described above, the coin passage 13a is defined so as to extend from the coin insertion port 7a to the vicinity of the coin receiving port 12a of the coin processing device 12.

  The cover 14 is made of a metal plate formed in a predetermined shape, and is attached to the lower end portion of the sub chute 22 so as to be integrated therewith. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B, the cover 14 is formed with a horizontally long coin replenishing port 14 a penetrating in the vertical direction immediately behind the rear plate portion 22 b of the sub chute 22. Has been. This coin replenishment port 14a is used to directly insert coins for change into the coin processing device 12 when the operator replenishes coins, and is formed to a size that allows the passage of the largest diameter coin. Has been.

  Further, a coin guide 23 is provided on the cover 14 for guiding the coin to the coin replenishing port 14a when replenishing the coin for change. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the coin guide 23 is formed by bending a metal plate of a predetermined shape, etc., and an inclined portion 23a inclined forward and downward toward the coin replenishing port 14a, It is composed of left and right attachment parts 23b and 23b for attaching the coin guide 23 itself onto the cover 14 with the rear plate part 22b of the sub chute 22 being sandwiched from both sides while being bent at both ends of the inclined part 23a. ing. By this coin guide 23, a space is formed between the inclined portion 23a and the rear plate portion 22b of the sub chute 22 which is continuous with the coin replenishing port 14a and is wider toward the upper side.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B show a state where the coin C inserted into the coin insertion slot 7 a and the coin replenishment slot 14 a is guided to the coin receiving port 12 a of the coin processing device 12. As shown in FIG. 5A, when a coin C is inserted into the coin insertion slot 7a, the coin C sequentially passes through the main chute 21 of the coin chute 13 and the coin passage 13a of the sub chute 22 to perform coin processing. It is guided to the coin receiving port 12a of the device 12. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, when coins C for change are inserted into the coin replenishing port 14a, the coins C are placed in the space defined by the coin guide 23 and the rear plate portion 22b of the sub chute 22. When inserted, the coin C passes through the coin replenishment port 14 a while sliding down along the inclined portion 23 a of the coin guide 23, and is guided to the coin receiving port 12 a of the coin processing device 12.

  As described above, according to the coin guide device 11 of the present embodiment, since the cover 14 that covers the coin receiving port 12a of the coin processing device 12 is provided at the downstream end of the coin chute 13, the coin slot 7a. It is possible to reliably prevent the coin C, which is inserted into the coin and guided through the coin chute 13, from hitting the inner surface of the coin receiving port 12 a and rebounding from the coin receiving port 12 a.

  Moreover, since the coin replenishing port 14a is provided in the cover 14, when the operator replenishes the coin processing device 12 with the coin C for change, the coin C for change is supplied via the coin replenishment port 14a. Can be put directly into the coin receiving port 12a. As described above, since the control device 10 having a support function for the change coin replenishment operation is provided on the back side of the main door 2, the change coin to be replenished displayed on the display panel 10a. While confirming the denomination and number of coins, the coin processing device 12 can be replenished with coins C for change. Thereby, the replenishment work can be performed efficiently. In addition, by using the coin guide 23, the coin C for change can be easily guided to the coin replenishment port 14a, and the replenishment operation can be performed more efficiently.

  In addition, this invention can be implemented in various aspects, without being limited to the said embodiment described. In the embodiment, the coin guide device 11 of the present invention is applied to a cup-type vending machine, but can be applied to various other vending machines. The detailed configurations of the coin chute 13, the cover 14, and the coin guide 23 shown in the embodiment are merely examples, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 2 Main door 7 Coin insertion part 7a Coin insertion port 11 Coin guidance device 12 Coin processing device 12a Coin receiving port 13 Coin chute 14 Cover 14a Coin replenishment port 21 Main chute 22 Subchute 23 Coin guide C Coin

Claims (2)

A coin guide device for a vending machine that guides coins inserted into a coin insertion port of a main door to a coin receiving port of a coin processing device provided on the back side of the main door,
The coin receiving port is formed in a funnel shape opening upward,
The coin extending from the coin insertion slot toward the coin receiving slot is formed so that the cross section of the downstream end is smaller than the size of the upper end surface of the coin receiving slot. A coin chute to guide the coin to the entrance,
A cover provided at the downstream end of the coin chute and covering the coin receiving port;
A coin replenishing port for inserting coins for change into the coin receiving port when replenishing coins for change to the coin processing device, provided to penetrate the cover,
A coin guide device for a vending machine, comprising:   The coin guide device for a vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover is provided with a coin guide for guiding a coin for change to the coin replenishing port.

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