JP7131826B2 - Coin hopper, coin hopper unit, coin processor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coin hopper that discharges coins one by one, a coin hopper unit having the coin hopper, and a coin processing apparatus that includes the coin hopper unit.

Coins that are circulating currency, disk-shaped bodies such as medals and tokens used in game machines, etc., or polygonal plate-shaped coins, medals, tokens, etc. such as hexagons and octagons A coin hopper that discharges coins one by one is known. These coins, medals, tokens, etc. are hereinafter referred to as coins.

For example, in the coin hopper, a disk having a plurality of openings for holding the coins supplied from the storage container one by one is arranged at the bottom of the storage container that stores coins in bulk. is provided. By rotating the disk, the coin that has entered the opening is circularly conveyed along the conveying path. The coins can be ejected one by one from the ejection port by changing the moving direction as necessary by the ejecting mechanism arranged on the transport path. For example, by driving and controlling movable pins, rollers, plates, etc., the direction of movement of the coins is changed so that the coins are guided from the transport path toward the discharge port, and the coins are discharged.

Also known is a coin processing apparatus that has a coin hopper for each coin type, for example, for each denomination, controls the number of coins to be discharged for each denomination, and discharges a desired amount of coins such as change. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-79318 and the like are known as such a coin processing device.

The coin processing apparatus has coin hoppers corresponding to denominations arranged along a belt, and a tray for receiving coins is arranged at the tip of the belt in the rotating direction. The outlet of the coin hopper is directed toward the belt so that the coins discharged from the coin hopper are placed on the belt.

Since coin hoppers corresponding to each denomination are generally arranged, a plurality of coin hoppers are required along the belt.

JP 2019-79318 A

The coin hopper requires wiring for a power supply, a control signal, and the like, and a connector is used to connect the control circuit of the coin processing device and the control circuit of the coin hopper. When the coin hopper is placed at a predetermined position of the device, the connector on the coin hopper side can be connected to the connector on the side of the main body of the coin processing device. Further, if the connector is damaged, there arises a problem that normal signal input/output cannot be performed.

In addition, the coin hopper must be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the belt that conveys the coins.In addition, the coin hopper, when filled with coins, becomes quite heavy, so it is desired that it be easy to handle when attaching and detaching the coin. ing.

In addition, it is necessary to arrange the coin hopper corresponding to the denomination at a predetermined position in the case. For example, there arises a problem that change or the like is dispensed with an incorrect amount. It is desired to place coin hoppers corresponding to denominations only at predetermined positions of the device.

A coin hopper unit of the present invention includes a coin hopper that discharges coins stored in a storage container one by one, a case that fixes the coin hopper, a detection unit that is arranged in the case, and a detected object that is arranged in the coin hopper. and the coin hopper can be attached to the case when the detecting portion and the detected portion are engaged, and the coin hopper can be attached to the case when the detecting portion and the detected portion are not engaged. In the non-attachable coin hopper unit, the detection unit has an identification member fixed to an attachment portion provided on the case, the identification member has a projection on the side facing the attachment portion, and the attachment portion has a plurality of holes engaged with the projections at predetermined angles for fixing the identification member at predetermined angles, and when the identification member is mounted on the mounting portion, the mounting direction in a plan view is the predetermined direction. The detected part has a member to be identified that is fixed to the storage part provided in the coin hopper, and when the member to be identified is attached to the storage part, in a plan view The mounting direction is determined step by step for each of the predetermined angles, and whether or not the detection section and the detection section are engaged is determined according to the mounting direction of the identifying member and the mounting direction of the member to be identified. It is characterized by being
Further, the coin hopper unit of the present invention includes: a coin hopper for discharging coins stored in a storage container one by one; a case for fixing the coin hopper; a detector arranged in the case; a portion to be detected, wherein the detection portion has an identification member fixed to a mounting portion provided on the case, and when the identification member is mounted to the mounting portion, the mounting direction is a predetermined angle in plan view. The part to be detected has a member to be identified fixed to a storage part provided in the coin hopper, and when the member to be identified is attached to the storage part, it is attached in a plan view. The direction is determined step by step for each predetermined angle, and it is determined whether or not the detection section and the detection section are engaged according to the mounting direction of the identification member and the mounting direction of the identification member. , the case has a bottom surface, a wall portion protruding from the bottom surface in a thickness direction and forming a periphery, and a partition plate dividing the case into a plurality of areas, and the mounting portion is an abbreviation of each of the areas. It is characterized by being centrally located.
Further, the coin hopper unit of the present invention includes: a coin hopper for discharging coins stored in a storage container one by one; a case for fixing the coin hopper; a detector arranged in the case; a portion to be detected, wherein the detection portion has an identification member fixed to a mounting portion provided on the case, and when the identification member is mounted to the mounting portion, the mounting direction is a predetermined angle in plan view. The part to be detected has a member to be identified fixed to a storage part provided in the coin hopper, and when the member to be identified is attached to the storage part, it is attached in a plan view. The direction is determined step by step for each predetermined angle, and it is determined whether or not the detection section and the detection section are engaged according to the mounting direction of the identification member and the mounting direction of the identification member. The case has a bottom surface, a wall portion protruding from the bottom surface in a thickness direction and forming a periphery, and a partition plate dividing the case into a plurality of areas, and the coin hopper is attached to the partition plate. A stepped portion is provided at a corresponding position so that the partition plate and the coin hopper overlap in plan view from the thickness direction, and the partition plate enters one side surface of the coin hopper. , a first connector electrically connected to an external board, the first connector being accommodated in a recess having an opening provided on the back surface of the coin hopper, the opening being formed on one side surface of the coin hopper. When the coin hopper is attached to the case, the longitudinal direction of the first connector is arranged parallel to the partition plate, and the case has a through hole formed at a position facing the opening. A second connector connected to the external substrate and connected to the first connector is inserted through the through hole, and the longitudinal direction of the second connector is arranged to be parallel to the partition plate. and the fixing portion on one side of the second connector is fixed at a position including the center in the lateral direction of the case.

A coin processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the above-described coin hopper unit and a transport path for transporting coins discharged from the coin hopper unit, and the transport path is arranged along the coin hopper unit. It is characterized by

The coin hopper of the present invention includes a storage container for storing coins, a transport path for transporting the coins supplied from the storage container, and an ejection port for ejecting the coins one by one from the transport path, which are arranged outside. A coin hopper having a detected part that engages with a detection part, wherein the detected part is arranged in a concave storage part having an opening on the back surface of the coin hopper, and the detected part is installed at every predetermined angle in the mounting direction. A member to be identified for selecting whether or not to engage with the detection unit is fixed by changing stepwise to The member to be identified can be stored and fixed for each type of coin to be used, and the mounting direction of the member to be identified is changed and fixed for each type of the coin to be used, and the part to be detected includes the center of gravity of the coin hopper in a plan view. It is characterized by being arranged in a position .

According to the present invention, it becomes easy to place a desired coin hopper at a predetermined position of the device without fail. Since the mounting position of the coin hopper is prevented from being mistaken and it can be easily attached and detached, damage to the coin hopper such as the connector can be reduced or prevented. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the coin hopper which can be arrange|positioned at the predetermined position of an apparatus easily can be provided. In addition, it is possible to provide a coin hopper unit in which coin hoppers corresponding to denominations can be easily placed at predetermined positions. Also, a coin processing device having the coin hopper unit can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin hopper unit. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a coin processing device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coin hopper unit with one coin hopper storage container removed. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coin hopper unit with three coin hoppers removed. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the case. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an erroneous insertion prevention pin. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the erroneous insertion prevention body. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the coin hopper unit. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the coin hopper. FIG. 10 is a front view of the coin hopper. FIG. 11 is a perspective view from the back side of the coin hopper. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining connection of connectors. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the erroneous insertion prevention pin and the erroneous insertion prevention body are engaged.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Each figure is merely a schematic representation to the extent that the present invention can be fully understood. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples only. Moreover, in each figure, the same code|symbol is attached|subjected about a common component and a similar component, and those overlapping description is abbreviate|omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin hopper unit according to an embodiment of the invention. A coin hopper unit 1 is a unit in which four coin hoppers 2 are placed in a case 3 . Each coin hopper 2 corresponds to four kinds of coins of different denominations, namely a first coin 4, a second coin 5, a third coin 6 and a fourth coin . The coin ejection openings 8 of the respective coin hoppers 2 are oriented in the same direction. A coin hopper 2 having the same outer shape is arranged at a predetermined position of the case 3 . The tip of the coin discharge port 8 of each coin hopper 2 is arranged to project outward from the edge of the case 3 . For example, when the belt is arranged along the case 3, the ejection port 8 can be arranged above the belt, and the coins ejected from the ejection port 8 can be reliably placed on the belt.

In such a coin hopper unit 1, it is easy to align the coin ejection port 8 of the coin hopper 2 at a desired position. Since the coin hopper 2 can be arranged with high precision and can be arranged at the position determined for each denomination, it is possible to prevent coins of different denominations from being erroneously discharged.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a coin processing device. The coin processing apparatus 10 uses 8 coin hoppers 2 arranged in 2 rows of 4 units each in order to handle 8 kinds of denominations. Four coin hoppers 2 are arranged in one coin hopper unit 1. - 特許庁Coin hopper units 1 are arranged on both sides of the belt 11 . By arranging them on both sides, the length of the belt 11 is shortened.

Coins are discharged onto the belt 11 from the discharge port 8 of the coin hopper 2.例文帳に追加A belt 11 on which coins are placed is conveyed in the direction of a tray 9, and coins are dropped from the end of the belt 11 onto the tray 9.例文帳に追加Coins discharged from each coin hopper 2 can be collected in a receiving tray 9.例文帳に追加

For example, coins of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen and 500 yen are generally used in the case of Japanese coins. Since it is sufficient to use coin hoppers 2 corresponding to six kinds of denominations, one coin hopper unit 1 may have three coin hoppers 2 mounted on both sides of the belt 11, respectively. In addition, four coin hoppers 2 are mounted in one unit, and any two of the coin hoppers 2 corresponding to denominations such as 1 yen, 10 yen, and 100 yen, which increase the number of discharged coins, are used to determine the number of discharged coins. may be configured to control.

The coin hopper 2 is controlled by control means (not shown) provided on the main body side of the coin processing device 10 . A power source, a signal line, and the like are connected to the main body side and the coin hopper 2 side by a connector to be described later. With the connector on the coin hopper 2 side as the first connector and the connector on the main body side as the second connector, the first connector and the second connector are connected. As a result, the external board, which is the board on the main body side, and the power supply, signal lines, etc. of the control board on the coin hopper 2 side are electrically connected. The external board, which is a control means on the main body side, drives and controls, for example, each coin hopper 2, controls the number of coins to be ejected, controls the drive of the belt 11, etc., and transfers the coins to the receiving tray 9 for each denomination. Pay out the number of coins.

For example, the discharge port 8 of the coin hopper 2 is provided so as to protrude from the end of the case 3 of the coin hopper unit 1 in the coin discharge direction by about 1/4 to 2/3 of the coin diameter when viewed from above. is preferred. The ejection port 8 is arranged so that its height is lowered as it approaches the belt 11, and the coins ejected from the ejection port 8 are moved so as to drop toward the belt 11 due to the inclination of the ejection port 8.例文帳に追加Further, if the tip of the discharge port 8 is protruded, the distance between the coin hopper units 1 can be shortened by arranging the coin hopper units 1 on both sides of the belt 11, and the size of the device can be reduced.

In addition, the discharge port 8 is arranged on one side when the coin hopper 2 is viewed from the front, in this case, at a position biased to the right side. Thus, when the coin hopper units 1 are arranged to face both sides of the belt 11, the discharge ports 8 of the units are arranged alternately without facing each other. It is possible to reduce or prevent occurrence of unexpected problems caused by collision of ejected coins.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coin hopper unit with one coin hopper storage container removed. The figure shows a state in which the storage container 12 of the coin hopper 2 arranged at the end of the coin hopper unit 1 is removed. The coin hopper 2 will be explained.

The coin hopper 2 includes a storage container 12 for storing coins, a disk 14 for transporting coins, an annular transport path 15 for coins, a driving device for the disk 14, a base 13 for storing components such as a control circuit and the annular transport path 15, and a storage. It includes a stirring member 17 for stirring the coins stored in the container 12 .

The stirring member 17 is rotationally driven in the rotational direction of the disk 14 to stir the coins in the storage container 12 .

A disc 14 is arranged between the reservoir 12 and the base 13 . Further, the storage container 12 is open at the top. Coins can be inserted through the top opening. A substantially circular opening facing the disk 14 is provided at the bottom of the storage container 12 . The bottom surface is slanted toward the opening and is formed in a funnel shape, so that randomly piled coins fall toward the disk 14 . The slope of the bottom surface is set so that the placed coins will naturally slide down due to their own weight. Random coins piled up in the storage container 12 are guided along this slope toward the disk 14 and supplied to the opening 16 provided in the disk 14 . The diameter of the opening at the bottom of reservoir 12 is smaller than the diameter of disc 14 . A disk 14 is sandwiched between the storage container 12 and the base 13 and can be restrained so as not to come off.

As the disk 14 rotates, the coin held in the opening 16 slides on the circular conveying path 15 and is circularly conveyed. A stirring member 17 provided in the center of the disk 14 and rotating together with the disk 14 stirs the stored coins.

The coin hopper 2 is provided with a discharge port 8 for discharging coins one by one. Coins are ejected by changing the moving direction of the coins annularly conveyed on the annular conveying path 15 to the direction of the ejection port 8 by ejection means (not shown). For example, by controlling the driving of movable pins, rollers, plates, etc., the direction of movement of the coins is changed so as to guide them toward the direction of the ejection port 8, and the coins are ejected.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the coin hopper unit with three coin hoppers removed. The coin hopper unit 1 has an area where four coin hoppers 2 can be mounted, and in this example, one coin hopper 2 is mounted in the end area. The case 3 is divided by a partition plate 18 into areas where the coin hoppers 2 are arranged. This serves as a guide plate when arranging the coin hopper 2 on the case 3, and also serves as a positional reference. It is equally divided into four areas by three partition plates 18 . One coin hopper 2 can be arranged in each area.

The case 3 has a wall portion formed in the thickness direction of the bottom surface, that is, in the vertical direction from the outer peripheral portion of a base having a rectangular flat bottom surface. The case 3 is formed in the shape of a container having walls on four sides and an open top facing the bottom surface. Three partition plates 18 are provided along the width direction of the case 3 to form four equal areas for storing the coin hoppers 2 . The partition plate 18 is formed integrally with the wall. The thickness of the partition plate 18 is formed to be the same as that of the wall portion, and it also functions as a rib, contributing to the improvement of strength. Further, since the case 3 carries the heavy coin hopper 2, it is preferably made of a highly rigid material such as metal or resin. The partition plate 18 may be separately detachable. The partition plate 18 is preferably provided in the form of a single plate between the walls, but may be formed intermittently or partially with an opening or the like.

A pedestal 19 is provided in each area, and this pedestal 19 is provided at a position including the central portion of the area. An erroneous insertion prevention pin 20, which is an identification member for identifying the coin hopper 2 to be mounted, is fixed on the pedestal 19. As shown in FIG. The outer circumference of the pedestal 19 has the same shape as the outer circumference of the incorrect insertion prevention pin 20 . The pedestal 19 is provided so as to protrude from the bottom surface of the case 3 as an attachment portion for an erroneous insertion prevention pin 20, which is an identification member. The erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 is provided with a hollow cylindrical center pin 21 protruding from the center. The erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 is provided with a protruding cylindrical peripheral pin 22 arranged at a predetermined distance from the center. The central pin 21 is thicker than the peripheral pin 22 . The misinsertion prevention pin 20 is fixed on the pedestal 19 with a screw or the like, and the direction of the peripheral pin 22 can be changed in various directions.

The misinsertion prevention pin 20 is an identification member for detecting the coin hopper 2 attached to the case 3 . The detection section including the identification member can detect whether or not the coin hopper 2 is mounted depending on whether or not it engages with a detection section including an erroneous insertion prevention body, which is a member to be identified fixed to the coin hopper 2 described later. The erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 functions as a detector arranged outside the coin hopper 2 . The erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 can be fixed to the pedestal 19 of the case 3, that is, the mounting portion. Peripheral pins 22 can be arranged in eight directions, i.e., changing directions every 45 degrees. That is, identification members of the same shape can identify a plurality of types, here eight types, according to the direction of arrangement. Also, by visually recognizing the arrangement angle of the identification member, the target object can be confirmed. In this way, the erroneous insertion prevention pins 20 having the same shape are used in the four areas, but the coin hoppers 2 corresponding to the eight denominations are selectively arranged according to the difference in the direction of the peripheral pins 22. be able to. In other words, the types can be identified by changing the mounting angles of the identifying member and the member to be identified for each different type of coin.

The erroneous insertion prevention pins 20 in the three areas to which the coin hopper 2 is not attached have peripheral pins 22 arranged in different directions, so that the coin hoppers 2 of different denominations can be attached.

A connector hole 23 is provided along the partition plate 18 in each area. This connector hole 23 is, for example, a connector on the body side of the coin processing device 10 . A socket 24 connected to a control board on the main body side is inserted into the connector hole 23 and fixed to the case 3 while passing through the front and back of the bottom surface of the case 3 . The control board on the main body side becomes an external board when viewed from the coin hopper 2, and is connected via a connector. Both ends of the socket 24 are fixed to the case 3 with screws 25 . The longitudinal direction of the socket 24 is arranged along the partition plate 18 , and the lateral direction thereof is arranged along the wall of the case 3 . They are arranged at the corners of the rectangular area so as to be near the partition plate 18 and the wall, respectively. When the coin hopper 2 is mounted, the partition plate 18 and the wall part around the coin hopper 2 serve as a kind of guide part, and by moving along these, the mounting position is determined and the mounting is facilitated. Also, it is preferable that the members to be fitted are in the vicinity of these guiding members.

A first side surface 26 on one side of the storage container 12 of the coin hopper 2 is formed substantially flat. At least a portion of the second side surface 27 on one side of the base 13 of the coin hopper 2 is formed substantially flat with respect to the first side surface 26 as well. Side surfaces including the first side surface 26 and the second side surface 27 on one side of the coin hopper 2 are configured so as not to protrude beyond the partition plate 18 into the next area. In addition, coin hoppers 2 can be stored in each area.

5, 6, and 7, an erroneous insertion prevention mechanism will be described in which an identification member is arranged in each area so that a coin hopper 2 of a denomination other than the corresponding denomination cannot be set. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the case. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an erroneous insertion prevention pin. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the erroneous insertion prevention body.

The case 3 has side walls formed vertically around the bottom surface of a rectangular base, and an upper portion facing the bottom surface is open. The four side walls form a wall. A partition plate 18 is provided parallel to the side wall in the lateral direction, and partitioned into four areas of a first area 29 , a second area 30 , a third area 31 and a fourth area 32 . A partition plate 18 is formed vertically from the bottom surface of the case 3 . Moreover, although the partition plate 18 is formed in a plate shape, it is also possible to partially provide an opening.

A pedestal 19 is arranged substantially in the center of each area of the case 3 , and an erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 as an identification member is fixed on the pedestal 19 . The erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 is provided with eight projections at equal intervals on the circumference when viewed from the thickness direction, that is, when viewed from above, and a peripheral pin 22, which is a cylindrical projection, is formed at one of the eight projections. It is The tips of the eight protrusions correspond to the shape of the outer periphery of the peripheral pin 22 in plan view. Between two concentric circles around the center of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20, eight protruding portions and approximately half of the distal direction portion of the peripheral pin 22 are configured to fit.

When the erroneous insertion prevention pins 20 are fixed to the case 3, the directions of the peripheral pins 22 of the erroneous insertion prevention pins 20 with respect to the central pin 21 can be arranged in eight different directions. The eight types of coin hoppers 2 can be arranged so that they can be identified.

A center line 28 indicated by a one-dot chain line indicates a line passing through the center of the case 3 in the lateral direction. The misinsertion prevention pin 20 is arranged at a position where the center pin 21 includes the center line. Preferably, the coin hopper 2 is arranged at a position including the position of the center of gravity when viewed from the thickness direction of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20, that is, when viewed from above. When the coin hopper 2 is attached to the case 3, it is placed from the opening side of the case 3, so if the center of gravity is substantially in the center, it becomes easy to handle. Since the coin hopper 2 becomes particularly heavy when coins are stored, it is desired to facilitate handling during operations such as attachment/detachment operations. If the center of gravity is near the center, it is easy to handle.

The direction of the peripheral pin 22 of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 arranged on the case 3 determines the denomination of the coin hopper 2 that can be attached. For example, in the first area 29, the peripheral pin 22 is arranged in the lower right direction on the paper surface, in the second area 30 it is arranged in the right direction, in the third area 31 it is arranged in the upper right direction, and in the fourth area 32 it is arranged in the upper direction. . Based on this, the coin hoppers 2 corresponding to four different denominations can be set without making a mistake.

The longitudinal direction of the socket 24 is parallel to the lateral side walls of the case 3 and the partition plate 18, and the sockets 24 are arranged along the vicinity of these. In addition, the socket 24 is arranged parallel to the longitudinal wall of the case 3, and is arranged near one side wall. At the corner of the area of the case 3 separated by the partition plate 18, the socket 24 is arranged along the side wall or the partition plate 18 of the case 3 in the longitudinal direction and along the wall portion of the case 3 in the short direction. ing. Since the sockets 24 are arranged along the partition plate 18 and the wall at a position close to them, the connector can be accurately fitted by using these as guide members and attaching the coin hopper along these. can.

When attaching the coin hopper 2 to the case 3, the coin hopper 2 is moved along the side wall or the partition plate, so it is preferable to arrange the coin hopper 2 in the vicinity of the partition plate in parallel. Moreover, in the fixing portion that fixes the socket 24 to the case 3 , the screw 25 arranged on one side is arranged at a position including the center line 28 . This is to position the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 and the socket 24 as close as possible. Since both of them are members to be fitted with the coin hopper 2, it is easier to handle when they are closer than when they are apart. On the other hand, it is preferable to arrange them along the partition plate 18 or the like, so it is desirable to make them as close as possible. preferably.

The mark 33 of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 is provided on the peripheral projecting portion. Peripheral protrusions protrude at corresponding positions on the back side of the mark 33 . The peripheral protrusion is provided at a position corresponding to the center of the peripheral pin 22 of the protrusion. That is, they are provided on the circumference of the same radius from the center of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 . Through holes are also provided at positions corresponding to the eight projecting portions of the base 19 . That is, from the center of the pedestal 19, eight through-holes are provided at equal intervals on the circumference of the aforementioned radius. The eight projections around the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 are arranged between the circumference where the mark 33 is located and the circumference passing through the tips of the projections. A curved surface is formed in the tip direction with the circumference of the mark 33 positioned as a hem. Both protrusions have the same shape.

The through-hole provided in the base 19 and the above-described peripheral projection on the back side also serve as positioning members when the incorrect insertion prevention pin 20 is set on the base 19 . By fitting the peripheral protrusions into the through holes, the direction of the misinsertion prevention pin 20 can be determined at a stepwise determined angle. Further, the center pin 21 is a cylindrical protruding portion, and the center is open. A screw hole is provided in the center of this opening, and an erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 set on the pedestal 19 is fixed by a screw. The central pin 21 and the peripheral pin 22 are configured to have the same height. These heights are preferably configured as low as possible. Since it is inserted into the coin hopper 2, the higher the coin hopper 2 is, the larger the coin hopper 2 becomes. A pedestal 19 is formed on the case 3 and arranged substantially in the center of each area. The pedestal 19 and the misinsertion prevention pin 20 can also be used as members for determining the position of the coin hopper 2 .

The case 3 is nothing but a detector including an identification member for identifying the coin hopper 2 . The part to be detected is arranged in the coin hopper 2 .

On the coin hopper 2 side, an erroneous insertion prevention body 34, which is a member to be identified corresponding to the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20, is fixed. The erroneous insertion prevention body 34 has a first recess 35 corresponding to the central pin 21 of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 and a second recess 36 corresponding to the peripheral pin 22 .

A screw hole 37, which is a through hole for fixing to the coin hopper 2, is provided in the center of the first concave portion 35 of the erroneous insertion prevention body 34, and is fixed to the coin hopper 2 with screws. Also, when the erroneous insertion prevention body 34 is fixed to the coin hopper 2 , the position where it can be attached to the case 3 is determined according to the position of the second recess 36 . That is, when the second concave portion 36 of the erroneous insertion prevention body 34 fixed to the coin hopper 2 is arranged at a position corresponding to the peripheral pin 22 of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 arranged in the case 3, it can be attached. Become. By arranging the second concave portion 36 at a position corresponding to the denomination, the coin hopper 2 corresponding to the denomination can be obtained. By providing the part to be detected including the erroneous insertion prevention body 34, which is a member to be identified, on the side of the coin hopper 2, it is possible to identify whether or not the coin is attached.

With this configuration, the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20, the erroneous insertion prevention body 34, the coin hopper 2, and the case 3 can be of the same shape even if the denomination is changed. That is, by changing the mounting position, eight denominations can be handled, so the parts can be used efficiently. Also, the denomination of the coin hopper 2 to be attached can be easily determined from the position of the peripheral pin 22 of the misinsertion prevention pin 20 fixed to the case 3 . Also, the denomination to be used can be easily determined from the position of the second concave portion 36 of the erroneous insertion prevention body 34 arranged on the back surface of the coin hopper 2 . Since the positions of the objects arranged on the circumference are discriminated when visually recognizing them, compared with the case of the positions of the objects arranged on a straight line, it is possible to easily discriminate without getting lost in the number of the objects.

In order to change the identifiable object by changing the arrangement direction for each predetermined angle, a circular or regular polygonal base may be provided with a convex portion or a concave portion. Also, a shape without the center pin 21 may be used. On the other hand, it is desired that the arrangement is easy even if the direction is changed, and that the arrangement direction is easy to visually recognize. Alternatively, the erroneous insertion prevention body 34 may be arranged in the case and the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 may be arranged in the coin hopper 2 . That is, it is also possible to reversely arrange the convex portion and the concave portion.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the coin hopper unit. FIG. 2 is a view of the coin hopper unit 1 as viewed from the back side; Four coin hoppers 2 are arranged in the case 3 . Each coin hopper 2 is arranged in the case 3 as a dedicated coin hopper 2 for each of the first coin 4, the second coin 5, the third coin 6, and the fourth coin .

A central hole 38 and a peripheral hole 39 are provided in areas corresponding to the respective coin hoppers 2 on the bottom surface of the case 3 . The eight peripheral holes 39 are arranged on the same circumference with the central hole 38 as the center, and the adjacent holes are arranged at regular intervals. The central hole 38 is arranged at a position corresponding to the central pin 21 of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 , and the peripheral hole 39 is arranged at a position corresponding to the peripheral pin 22 and the protrusion of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 . A peripheral protrusion 40 is provided at a position corresponding to the mark 33 of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 , and this protrusion is inserted into the peripheral hole 39 . In other words, it is possible to see from the back side of the case 3 in which position of the peripheral hole 39 the projection is inserted.

For example, in the peripheral hole 39 of the case 3 corresponding to the coin hopper 2 for the fourth coin 7, it can be seen that the peripheral protrusions 40 are inserted into the peripheral holes 39 on the right and left sides of the central hole 38 on the paper surface. Similarly, in the coin hopper 2 for the first coin 4 , peripheral protrusions 40 are inserted into the peripheral holes 39 on the upper left and lower right sides of the central hole 38 . In the coin hopper 2 for the second coin 5, peripheral protrusions 40 are inserted into the peripheral holes 39 above and below the central hole 38 on the paper surface. In the coin hopper 2 for the third coin 6, peripheral protrusions 40 are inserted into the peripheral holes 39 on the upper right side and the lower left side of the central hole 38 on the paper surface.

A screw 41 for fixing the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 can be seen through the central hole 38 on the back side of the case 3 .

By configuring as described above, the direction of the peripheral pin 22 of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 can be confirmed by confirming the position of the peripheral projection 40 in the peripheral hole 39 from the back side of the case 3. can do. That is, the denomination of the coin hopper 2 to be attached can be known from the back side of the case 3 . Also, by checking the screw 41 through the central hole 38, it is possible to check whether the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 is fixed.

In this way, various confirmations such as the set denomination and the fixing status of the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 can be made even from the back side of the case 3. The variation of the method will increase and spread, and the certainty of confirmation will improve.

Next, the coin hopper 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the coin hopper. FIG. 10 is a front view of the coin hopper. FIG. 11 is a perspective view from the back side of the coin hopper. Here, the coin hopper 2 for the fourth coin 7 will be explained. Further, the mounting position to the case 3 is determined based on the arrangement direction of the second concave portion 36 of the erroneous insertion prevention body 34 in the body housing portion 52 . By changing the arrangement direction of the second concave portion 36 for each denomination, it is possible to prevent erroneous attachment to the case 3 . The erroneous insertion prevention body 34 is fixed to the coin hopper 2 through a screw hole provided in the center of the first recess 35 and using screws 53 as fixing means. Alternatively, a wedge or the like can be fitted into the gap between the erroneous insertion prevention body 34 and the body housing portion 52 to fix them.

The coin hopper 2 is provided with a storage container 12 for storing coins in the upper portion, a disk 14 in the lower portion, an annular conveying path 15 for coins, and a base 13 for accommodating members such as a driving device. The coin ejection port 8 is arranged above the front inclined portion 47 . On the front side of the base 13 , a front inclined portion 47 is formed above a front lower portion 46 facing the wall surface of the case 3 . The front lower part 46 is arranged so as to face and be parallel to the wall surface of the case 3 when mounted. That is, the front lower portion 46 can be moved along the wall surface of the case 3 . Further, the front inclined portion 47 protrudes in a direction projecting from the front lower portion 46 as it goes upward. For example, the edge of the front inclined portion 47, which is the end of the ejection port 8 for ejecting the fourth coin 7, protrudes. By arranging the belt 11 so that a portion of the belt 11 overlaps with the front inclined portion 47 when viewed from above, the fourth coin 7 to be ejected can be suitably placed on the conveying path of the belt 11 or the like. can.

A first side surface 26, which is one side surface of the storage container 12, and a second side surface 27, which is a part of one side surface of the base 13, are substantially planar. A third side surface 42, which is the other side surface of the storage container 12, and a fourth side surface 43, which is a part of the other side surface of the base 13, are substantially planar. A stepped portion 45 is provided at a portion of the fourth side surface 43 corresponding to the partition plate 18 of the case 3 of the base 13 , and a fifth side surface 44 is formed at a position shifted by the stepped portion 45 with respect to the fourth side surface 43 . It is As a result, when the coin hopper 2 is attached to the case 3, the other side surface of the partition plate 18, the third side surface 42, and the fourth side surface 43 are arranged substantially flat.

A rear lower portion 48 facing the wall surface of the case 3 is formed on the rear side of the base 13 . The lower back surface 48 is arranged so as to face and be parallel to the wall surface of the case 3 when mounted. That is, the lower back surface 48 can be moved along the wall surface of the case 3 .

The connector housing portion 49 is a substantially rectangular recess provided on the bottom surface of the base 13 of the coin hopper 2 . A header 50 is fixed by a screw 51 to the bottom surface of the recess. The header 50 is provided for supplying signals, power, etc. for operating the coin hopper 2 . The longitudinal direction of the header 50 is arranged parallel to the fifth side surface 44 . Since the connector accommodating portion 49 is arranged so as to surround the header 50, physical contact with other objects can be prevented.

The body storage portion 52 is a recess provided on the bottom surface of the base 13 for inserting and fixing the erroneous insertion prevention body 34 . The opening has a shape corresponding to the shape of the outer circumference of the erroneous insertion prevention body 34 . The erroneous insertion prevention body 34 can be easily arranged in eight different directions. The second concave portion 36 of the erroneous insertion prevention body 34 is inserted into the body housing portion 52 in a predetermined direction determined for each denomination, and fixed by a screw 53 as fixing means. If it does not come off, it may be fixed by another method such as an adhesive. It is preferable to arrange the body storage portion 52 and the header 50 at positions as close as possible. The body housing portion 52 is arranged substantially in the center of the bottom surface of the base 13, and the connector housing portion 49 for housing the header 50 is arranged in the vicinity thereof so as to be parallel to the third side surface 42, the fourth side surface 43, and the fifth side surface 44. It is The body storage part 52 has the erroneous insertion prevention body 34 arranged at the back so that the coin hopper 2 is fitted up to the root of the pedestal 19 when the coin hopper 2 is set in the case 3 .

Header 50 is the male side of the connector and socket 24 is the female side of the connector. A converse configuration is also possible.

When the coin hopper 2 is attached to the case 3, preferably, the coin hopper 2 is guided along the lower front surface 46, lower rear surface 48, second side surface 27, and fifth side surface 44 of the coin hopper 2 using the wall surface or the partition plate 18 of the case 3 as a guide. By sliding and mounting, it can be mounted at a desired position.

Further, if the coin hopper 2 is attached to the case 3, the third side 42 and the fourth side 42 of the coin hopper 2 are attached to the first side 26, the second side 27 and the partition plate 18 of the attached coin hopper 2. It is mounted along the side surface 43 and the fifth side surface 44 . Preferably, it can be mounted at a desired position by mounting while sliding. Conversely, the coin hopper 2 is mounted so that the first side surface 26 and the second side surface 27 of the coin hopper 2 to be mounted are along the third side surface 42, the fourth side surface 43, and the partition plate 18 of the coin hopper 2 that is mounted. Preferably, it can be mounted at a desired position by sliding it.

Since the coin hopper 2 is provided with the stepped portion 45 and the case 3 is provided with the partition plate 18, when the coin hoppers 2 are arranged in the case 3, the gap between the coin hoppers 2 can be reduced or eliminated without interference. , can be miniaturized. Adjacent coin hoppers 2 can be arranged with narrow or no clearance. In addition, the gap between the coin hoppers 2 can be made smaller than the thickness of the coin, preventing a coin or the like from being accidentally or intentionally caught in the gap, thereby preventing unexpected problems. Also, the size of the storage container 12 can be increased by the thickness of the partition plate 18 .

The side surface of the coin hopper 2 or the partition plate and the wall surface of the case 3 serve as guide means for arranging the coin hopper 2 in a suitable position when attaching the coin hopper 2, thereby improving workability and preventing damage due to incorrect attachment. You can solve the problem too.

Further, by arranging the center of gravity of the coin hopper 2 at a position overlapping with the body storage part 52 when viewed from above, the right-left and front-rear balance is improved and the mountability is improved. Particularly when the storage container 12 contains a large number of coins, it is desired that the storage container 12 is heavy and easy to handle.

When attaching the coin hopper 2, the third side 42, the fourth side 43, and the fifth side 44, which are the sides where the header 50 is arranged, can be attached to the coin hopper 2 already arranged in the case 3 or the case. It is preferable to move along the wall surface of 3. The weak header 50 of the coin hopper 2 to be mounted can be preferably guided to the socket 24. - 特許庁This is because the sockets 24 are arranged parallel to the partition plate 18 and the headers 50 are arranged parallel to the fourth side surface 43 and the third side surface 42 . The socket 24 and the header 50 can be securely fitted by sliding the portion closest to the connector. Further, since the connector including the socket 24 and the header 50 constitutes a floating connector, even if there is some positional movement after fitting, there is no damage or contact failure.

On the back surface of the coin hopper 2, a plurality of ribs 55 are arranged between the front side and the back side in order to improve the strength of the back side. It is also configured in the peripheral edge portion. Also, feet 54 are arranged near the four corners of the back surface. The tip of the rib 55 is formed flat, and the entire surface of the flat tip of the rib 55 is in contact with the bottom surface of the case 3 . Since the ribs are widely distributed on the back side of the coin hopper 2, the coins can be placed on the case 3 stably. Each area of the case 3 is provided with a through hole at a position corresponding to the leg 54 so that the coin hopper 2 is fitted when the case 3 is attached. The height of the leg 54 is configured to be smaller than the thickness of the bottom surface of the case 3, and it does not protrude even if it is attached, and whether or not the coin hopper 2 is attached can also be confirmed from the back side of the case 3.例文帳に追加

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining connection of connectors. FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the coin hopper 2 when the coin hopper 2 is attached to the case 3 and the vicinity of the socket 24 is cut in the lateral direction of the case 3; FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a state in which the erroneous insertion prevention pin and the erroneous insertion prevention body are engaged. 2 is a partial perspective view of the coin hopper 2 when the coin hopper 2 is attached to the case 3 and the misinsertion prevention pin 20 and the misinsertion prevention body 34 are cut in the lateral direction of the case 3. FIG.

A case height 56 of case 3 is indicated by a double arrow in FIG. A case height 56 represents the height of the walls of the case 3 and the partition plate 18 . The socket height 57 is indicated by a double arrow in FIG. A socket height 57 is the height of the socket 24 from the bottom surface of the case 3 . Case height 56 is greater than socket height 57 . Further, the header 50 is arranged so as to be accommodated in the connector accommodating portion 49, and is configured so that the tip thereof does not protrude from the opening. Pin height 58 is indicated by a double arrow in FIG. A pin height 58 is the height of the peripheral pin 22 and the central pin 21 of the incorrect insertion prevention pin 20 from the bottom surface of the case 3 . Case height 56 is greater than pin height 58 . Also, socket height 57 is greater than pin height 58 .

When attaching the coin hopper 2 to the case 3, the side surface of the coin hopper 2 is brought into contact with the wall of the case 3 and the partition plate 18, and the lower back surface 48 is brought into contact with the wall of the case 3. Preferably, the coin hopper 2 is slid in this state. insert. The tolerance between the inner circumference of the area separated by the partition plate 18 of the case 3 and the outer circumference of the coin hopper 2, and the misinsertion prevention pin 20 fixed to the case 3 and the misinsertion prevention body 34 fixed to the coin hopper 2. There are shape tolerances. In order to prevent damage to the connector due to these tolerances, the floating mechanism of the connector including the socket 24 and the header 50 deforms or moves the connector parts in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction from the start to the end of mounting the coin hopper 2. do. After the tips of the socket 24 and the header 50 are fitted and it is found that they can be engaged, they are moved to the proper contact position while inserting, so that they can be engaged reliably. Since it is not forcibly engaged in a positional relationship in which it is not known whether it will fit or not, damage or the like can be prevented.

With a part of the header 50 inserted into the socket 24, the erroneous insertion prevention pin 20 is inserted into the erroneous insertion prevention body 34, and then further inserted until the coin hopper 2 reaches the bottom surface of the case 3 and is put into an attached state. Become.

1 coin hopper unit 2 coin hopper 3 case 4 first coin 5 second coin 6 third coin 7 fourth coin 8 ejection port 9 tray 10 coin processing device 11 belt 12 storage container 13 base 14 disk 15 circular conveying path 16 Opening 17 Stirring member 18 Partition plate 19 Base 20 Incorrect insertion prevention pin 21 Central pin 22 Peripheral pin 23 Connector hole 24 Socket 25 Screw 26 First side 27 Second side 28 Center line 29 First area 30 Second area 31 Second 3 area 32 4th area 33 mark 34 erroneous insertion prevention body 35 first recess 36 second recess 37 screw hole 38 central hole 39 peripheral hole 40 peripheral projection 41 screw 42 third side 43 fourth side 44 fifth side 45 stepped portion 46 Front lower part 47 Front inclined part 48 Rear lower part 49 Connector storage part 50 Header 51 Screw 52 Body storage part 53 Screw 54 Foot 55 Rib 56 Case height 57 Socket height 58 Pin height

Claims (10)

a coin hopper that discharges the coins stored in the storage container one by one;
a case for fixing the coin hopper;
a detection unit arranged in the case;
a detected part arranged in the coin hopper;
has
In the coin hopper unit, the coin hopper can be attached to the case when the detecting section and the detected section are engaged, and the coin hopper cannot be attached to the case when the detecting section and the detected section are not engaged,
The detection unit has an identification member fixed to a mounting portion provided on the case, the identification member has a projection on a side facing the mounting portion, and the mounting portion has the In order to fix the identification member, it has a plurality of holes that engage with the projections at the predetermined angles, and when the identification member is mounted on the mounting portion, the mounting direction in a plan view is determined stepwise at the predetermined angles. and
The part to be detected has a member to be identified fixed to a storage part provided in the coin hopper, and when the member to be identified is attached to the storage part, the mounting direction in a plan view is stepwise at every predetermined angle. has been decided,
A coin hopper unit according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not said detecting portion and said portion to be detected are engaged according to the mounting direction of said identification member and the mounting direction of said member to be identified. 2. The coin according to claim 1, wherein the case has a bottom surface, a wall projecting from the bottom surface in a thickness direction and forming a periphery, and a partition plate dividing the case into a plurality of areas. hopper unit. a coin hopper that discharges the coins stored in the storage container one by one;
a case for fixing the coin hopper;
a detection unit arranged in the case;
a detected part arranged in the coin hopper;
has
The detection unit has an identification member fixed to an attachment portion provided on the case, and when the identification member is attached to the attachment portion, the attachment direction in a plan view is determined stepwise at every predetermined angle. ,
The part to be detected has a member to be identified fixed to a storage part provided in the coin hopper, and when the member to be identified is attached to the storage part, the mounting direction in a plan view is stepwise at every predetermined angle. has been decided,
whether or not the detection section and the detection section are engaged is determined according to the mounting direction of the identification member and the mounting direction of the member to be identified,
The case has a bottom surface, a wall portion protruding from the bottom surface in a thickness direction and forming a periphery, and a partition plate dividing the case into a plurality of areas,
The coin hopper unit , wherein the mounting portion is arranged substantially in the center of the area . The coin hopper is provided with a stepped portion at a position corresponding to the partition plate so that the partition plate and the coin hopper overlap in plan view from the thickness direction, and the partition plate enters one side surface of the coin hopper. 4. The coin hopper unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the coin hopper unit is The coin hopper has a first connector electrically connected to an external board,
the first connector is housed in a recess having an opening provided in the back surface of the coin hopper, the opening being arranged near one side surface of the coin hopper;
When the coin hopper is attached to the case, the longitudinal direction of the first connector is arranged parallel to the partition plate,
5. The coin hopper unit according to claim 4, wherein the case has a through hole formed at a position facing the opening. A second connector connected to the external substrate and connected to the first connector is inserted through the through hole, and fixed to the case so that the longitudinal direction of the second connector is parallel to the partition plate. and
6. The coin hopper unit according to claim 5, wherein the fixing portion on one side of the second connector is fixed at a position including the center of the case in the lateral direction. a coin hopper that discharges the coins stored in the storage container one by one;
a case for fixing the coin hopper;
a detection unit arranged in the case;
a detected part arranged in the coin hopper;
has
The detection unit has an identification member fixed to an attachment portion provided on the case, and when the identification member is attached to the attachment portion, the attachment direction in a plan view is determined stepwise at every predetermined angle. ,
The part to be detected has a member to be identified fixed to a storage part provided in the coin hopper, and when the member to be identified is attached to the storage part, the mounting direction in a plan view is stepwise at every predetermined angle. has been decided,
whether or not the detecting portion and the detected portion are engaged is determined according to the mounting direction of the identification member and the mounting direction of the member to be identified,
The case has a bottom surface, a wall portion protruding from the bottom surface in a thickness direction and forming a periphery, and a partition plate dividing the case into a plurality of areas,
The coin hopper is provided with a stepped portion at a position corresponding to the partition plate so that the partition plate and the coin hopper overlap in plan view from the thickness direction, and the partition plate enters one side surface of the coin hopper. and
The coin hopper has a first connector electrically connected to an external board,
the first connector is housed in a recess having an opening provided in the back surface of the coin hopper, the opening being arranged near one side surface of the coin hopper;
When the coin hopper is attached to the case, the longitudinal direction of the first connector is arranged parallel to the partition plate,
The case has a through hole formed at a position facing the opening,
A second connector connected to the external substrate and connected to the first connector is inserted through the through hole, and fixed to the case so that the longitudinal direction of the second connector is parallel to the partition plate. and
A coin hopper unit, wherein the fixed portion on one side of the second connector is fixed at a position including the center of the case in the lateral direction . 8. The coin hopper unit according to claim 2 or 7, wherein said mounting portion is arranged substantially in the center of said area. a coin hopper unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8;
a transport path for transporting coins discharged from the coin hopper unit;
, wherein the conveying path is arranged along the coin hopper unit. a storage container for storing coins;
a transport path for transporting the coins supplied from the storage container;
a discharge port for discharging the coins one by one from the transport path;
a detected part engaged with a detecting part arranged outside;
In a coin hopper having
The detected part is arranged in a concave storage part having an opening on the back surface of the coin hopper,
The detected part has a member to be identified that determines whether or not to engage with the detection part by changing the mounting direction step by step for each predetermined angle,
The storage section can fix the member to be identified at each of the predetermined angles,
changing and fixing the mounting direction of the member to be identified for each type of the coin to be used;
The coin hopper, wherein the detected portion is arranged at a position including the center of gravity of the coin hopper in plan view.

Images