JP7496719B2 - Coin Processing Device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coin processing device that processes coins.

Various types of coin processing devices that process coins have been known for some time. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a coin validator in which coins are sent from a supply section that accepts coins inserted from a deposit/withdrawal port to a payout section, and the payout section pays out the coins to an identification and transport section, and the paid out coins are transported to a temporary storage section. In the coin validator disclosed in Patent Document 1, after the coins are transported to the temporary storage section, coins that need to be re-validated are returned from the temporary storage section to the deposit/withdrawal port by a return transport belt.

Patent Document 2 also discloses a coin processing device in which coins inserted through a deposit port are stored in a storage unit in a mixed denomination state, and when it becomes necessary to dispense coins as change, the coins are fed from the storage unit to a transport path, and only coins to be used as change are diverted from the transport path to the withdrawal port by a diversion mechanism. In the coin processing device disclosed in Patent Document 2, of the coins fed from the storage unit to the transport path, coins that are not used as change are returned from the transport path to the storage unit.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-251221 JP 2002-183789 A

In the coin validator disclosed in Patent Document 1, coins cannot be revalidated unless they pass through a deposit/withdrawal port provided on the circulating transport path. This means that when revalidating coins, it is not possible to deposit coins into the deposit/withdrawal port, and continuous deposit processing cannot be performed. In addition, the coin processing device disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that it can only select one type of coin because it has only one sorting section, and is therefore not suitable for sorting coins into multiple types.

The present invention was made with these points in mind, and aims to provide a coin processing device that can sort coins into multiple types and return unsorted coins to the dispensing section so that they can be dispensed again from the dispensing section.

The coin processing device of the present invention comprises a payout unit capable of storing multiple coins and paying out the stored coins one by one, a transport unit that transports the coins, a recognition unit that identifies the coins, and a sorting unit that sorts the coins into multiple types, and is characterized in that the transport unit returns the coins paid out from the payout unit to the payout unit after passing through the recognition unit and the sorting unit.

The coin processing device of the present invention further includes a control unit that controls the sorting unit to perform a coin sorting operation based on the coin identification result by the identification unit, and when the control unit controls the sorting unit to not select a coin to any sorting location, the coin dispensed from the dispensing unit may be returned to the dispensing unit and then dispensed again from the dispensing unit.

In this case, when the identification unit identifies that a transport abnormality has occurred in the coin transported by the transport unit, the control unit may control the sorting unit so as not to sort the coin transported by the transport unit to any sorting location.

Alternatively, the coin processing device of the present invention may further include a detection unit that detects the transport state of the coin transported by the transport unit, and when the control unit determines that the coin transported by the transport unit should be returned to the pay-out unit based on the detection result by the detection unit, the control unit may control the coin to be returned to the pay-out unit without sorting the coin by the sorting unit based on the coin identification result by the identification unit.

In this case, when the control unit determines that a transport abnormality has occurred in the coin being transported by the transport unit based on the detection result by the detection unit, the control unit may control the coin to be returned to the pay-out unit without sorting the coin by the sorting unit based on the coin identification result by the identification unit.

The coin processing device of the present invention further includes a rejection unit for discharging coins transported by the transport unit, and when it is determined based on the identification result by the identification unit that the coin should be sorted by the sorting unit, the coin is sorted by the sorting unit, and when it is determined based on the identification result by the identification unit that the coin should be discharged by the rejection unit, the coin is discharged by the rejection unit, and otherwise the coin transported by the transport unit may be returned to the dispensing unit and then dispensed again from the dispensing unit.

The dispensing section may have a disk that is rotatable in an inclined state, the disk having a number of protrusions on its surface, and when the disk rotates, the coins are hooked by the protrusions and raised, thereby being dispensed from the dispensing section, and a guide section may be provided that guides the coins to a position higher than the surface of the disk when the transport section returns the coins to the dispensing section.

In this case, the conveying unit conveys the coins through a first conveying path and a second conveying path located above the first conveying path in that order, and the coins are returned from the second conveying path to an upper position of the disk, and the guide unit may be provided at the downstream end of the second conveying path.

The coin processing device of the present invention can sort coins into multiple types, and coins that have not been sorted can be returned to the dispensing section and dispensed again from the dispensing section.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of a coin depositing and dispensing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of each coin storage unit of the coin depositing and dispensing machine shown in FIG. 1 as viewed along the arrows AA. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing details of the configuration of the payout section, transport section, sorting section, etc. of the coin depositing and dispensing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the coin depositing and dispensing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a guide section provided in a transport section of the coin depositing and dispensing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. 2 is a diagram showing the details of the configuration of a folded-back portion of a conveying section of the coin depositing and dispensing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. 7 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of a pulley provided at the folded-back portion shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of the coin transported from the folded portion shown in FIG. 6 to the second transport path. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of a coin transported from a folded portion to a second transport path in a conventional coin depositing and dispensing machine. FIG.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figs. 1 to 8 are diagrams showing a coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 (coin processing device) according to this embodiment. Also, Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of a coin being transported from the folded portion to the second transport path in a conventional coin depositing and dispensing machine. Note that in Figs. 1 to 9, the coin to be processed is indicated by reference character C. Also, of the coins to be processed, the coin with the smallest diameter and the coin with the largest diameter are indicated by reference characters C1 and C2, respectively. The coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 according to this embodiment performs processes such as depositing and dispensing coins.

First, the overall configuration of the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 includes a payout unit 20, a transport unit 30, a recognition unit 40, a sorting unit 50, multiple coin storage units 60, a collection box 100, and a storage drawer 102. The coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 also includes a housing 12 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. Inside the housing 12, the payout unit 20, the transport unit 30, the recognition unit 40, the sorting unit 50, multiple coin storage units 60, the collection box 100, the storage drawer 102, etc. are arranged.

The left side of the housing 12 of the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 in FIG. 1 is the front side when the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 is viewed from the front side. The right direction in FIG. 1 is the depth direction of the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10.

The payout unit 20 stores coins inserted from outside the housing 12 into the housing 12 through a coin insertion slot (not shown) provided on the top surface of the housing 12. The payout unit 20 also pays out the stored coins one by one to the transport unit 30. The configuration of the payout unit 20 will be described in detail later.

The conveying unit 30 conveys the coins dispensed from the pay-out unit 20 one by one. The conveying unit 30 is also provided with a recognition unit 40. The recognition unit 40 recognizes the denomination, authenticity, fitness, conveying status, etc. of the coins conveyed by the conveying unit 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the conveying unit 30 is also provided with a plurality of detection units 42. Each detection unit 42 detects a coin conveyed by the conveying unit 30 as it passes through. The configuration of the conveying unit 30 will be described in detail later.

The conveying unit 30 is provided with multiple (specifically, eight) sorting units 50. Each sorting unit 50 sorts the coins conveyed by the conveying unit 30 based on the coin recognition results by the recognition unit 40, and sends them from the conveying unit 30 to the coin storage unit 60. The configuration of such a sorting unit 50 will be described in detail later.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, multiple (specifically, eight) coin storage units 60 are provided below the conveying unit 30. Here, each of the multiple sorting units 50 corresponds to each of the multiple coin storage units 60. Then, when the coins conveyed by the conveying unit 30 are sorted by the sorting unit 50, the sorted coins are sent to the coin storage unit 60 corresponding to the sorting unit 50.

Each coin storage unit 60 stores the coins sent from the sorting unit 50 and pays out the stored coins one by one to the storage drawer 102. The storage drawer 102 can be pulled out from the front side of the housing 12 to the outside of the housing 12. In addition, a collection box 100 is provided below the storage drawer 102. The collection box 100 can also be pulled out from the front side of the housing 12 to the outside of the housing 12.

A withdrawal transport unit may be provided below each coin storage unit 60 and above the storage drawer 102, and a coin dispensing unit to which coins are transported from the withdrawal transport unit may also be provided. More specifically, the withdrawal transport unit sends coins dispensed from each coin storage unit 60 to either the coin dispensing unit or the storage drawer 102. The coin dispensing unit has a coin receiving portion, and coins sent from the withdrawal transport unit to the coin dispensing unit are accumulated in the coin receiving portion. In addition, the operator can access the coin receiving portion of the coin dispensing unit from outside the housing 12. This allows the operator to remove the withdrawal coins accumulated in the coin receiving portion to the outside of the housing 12.

In addition, an overflow box 106, a counterfeit coin box 108, a foreign object return box 110, and a reject port 112 are provided on the front side inside the housing 12. The overflow box 106, the counterfeit coin box 108, and the foreign object return box 110 can each be pulled out to the outside of the housing 12. In addition, an operator can access the inside of the reject port 112 from outside the housing 12. Therefore, the operator can remove coins sent to the reject port 112 to the outside of the housing 12.

Next, the detailed configuration of the payout unit 20, the conveying unit 30, the identification unit 40, each detection unit 42, each sorting unit 50, etc. will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the payout unit 20 has a disk 22 that rotates around an axis 22a. The disk 22 has a number of protrusions 22b on its surface. The disk 22 is also provided so that it can rotate in an inclined state. When the disk 22 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 3, a coin is caught on each of the protrusions 22b, causing the coin to rise.

The payout unit 20 also has a take-out mechanism 28. The take-out mechanism 28 grasps only one of the coins that has been raised by being hooked onto each protrusion 22b, removes it from the disk 22, and places it outside the disk 22. The coin that has been placed outside the disk 22 by the take-out mechanism 28 is sent to the transport unit 30. In this way, the coins are paid out one by one from the pay-out unit 20 to the transport unit 30.

In addition, the payout unit 20 is provided with a residual detection sensor (not shown) for detecting the coins stored in the payout unit 20.

When the foreign object removal gate 29 provided at the bottom of the payout section 20 opens, foreign objects such as clips stored in the payout section 20 fall from the payout section 20 into the foreign object return box 110 due to their own weight, and are stored in the foreign object return box 110. The operator can remove the foreign objects stored in the foreign object return box 110 by pulling the foreign object return box 110 out from the housing 12.

The conveying unit 30 has a first conveying path 32, a second conveying path 36 provided above the first conveying path 32, and a turn-back portion 34 that changes the conveying direction of coins conveyed by the first conveying path 32 by 180° and sends them to the second conveying path 36. Coins fed from the pay-out unit 20 to the conveying unit 30 are first conveyed to the right in FIG. 3 along the first conveying path 32, and then the conveying direction is changed by 180° at the turn-back portion 34.

The coins sent from the folded portion 34 to the second transport path 36 are transported along the second transport path 36 in the left direction in FIG. 3. A guide unit 38 is provided at the downstream end of the second transport path 36 to guide the coins from the second transport path 36 to the pay-out unit 20. When a coin is sent from the second transport path 36 to the guide unit 38, the coin is returned to the upper position of the disk 22 of the pay-out unit 20 by the guide unit 38.

The detailed configuration of the guide unit 38 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the guide unit 38 is provided below the pulley 39 around which the belt 30a is stretched. This guide unit 38 is composed of a slope for lifting coins from the conveying surface of the second conveying path 36. The lower end of such a slope is located higher than the surface of the disk 22 of the payout unit 20.

In this way, when a coin is returned from the second transport path 36 to the payout unit 20, the coin is guided by the guide unit 38, such as a slope, to a position higher than the surface of the disk 22 of the payout unit 20. This makes it possible to prevent the coin being returned from the guide unit 38 to the payout unit 20 from colliding with the coin being transported while being hooked on the protrusion 22b of the disk 22 in the payout unit 20. Therefore, the coin being returned from the guide unit 38 to the payout unit 20 does not interfere with the coin being paid out by the disk 22 of the payout unit 20 to the first transport path 32 of the transport unit 30.

The conveying unit 30 has an endless belt 30a, which has multiple protrusions 30b at equal intervals. The belt 30a is hung around multiple pulleys 31, 35, 39, etc., and when one of the pulleys 31, 35, 39, etc. is rotated by a motor, the belt 30a moves in a circular motion in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3. As a result, coins dispensed from the dispensing unit 20 to the conveying unit 30 are hooked onto the protrusions 30b and conveyed one by one.

The details of the configuration of the folded portion 34 of the conveying unit 30 will be described with reference to Figs. 6 to 8. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the details of the configuration of the folded portion 34 of the conveying unit 30, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of the pulley 35 provided in the folded portion 34 shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of coins conveyed from the folded portion 34 shown in Fig. 6 to the second conveying path 36.

The folded portion 34 has an inner side wall 34a, which is a curved surface in an arc shape, and an outer side wall 34b, which is a curved surface in an arc shape. These inner side wall 34a and outer side wall 34b extend along semicircular portions of two circles with the same center and different diameters. Coins hooked on the protrusions 30b of the belt 30a are transported along the transport path formed between these inner side wall 34a and outer side wall 34b.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the second conveying path 36 has an inner side wall 36a and an outer side wall 36b. The coins sent from the folded portion 34 to the second conveying path 36 while hooked on the protrusions 30b of the belt 30a are conveyed along the conveying path formed between the inner side wall 36a and the outer side wall 36b.

As shown in Figures 6 and 8, a connecting portion 34c that gradually widens outward is formed between the outer side wall 34b of the folded portion 34 and the outer side wall 36b of the second conveying path 36.

A horizontal portion 34d is formed between the outer sidewall 34b of the folded portion 34 and the connecting portion 34c. Unlike the outer sidewall 34b, this horizontal portion 34d is flat. The inner sidewall 36a of the second transport path 36 is located higher than the inner sidewall 34a of the folded portion 34. In other words, a connecting portion 34e that gradually widens outward is also formed between the inner sidewall 34a of the folded portion 34 and the inner sidewall 36a of the second transport path 36.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a coin hooked on the protrusion 30b of the belt 30a is transported to the second transport path 36 while contacting the outer side wall 34b at the folded portion 34 due to the centrifugal force of the coin. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the coin transferred from the folded portion 34 to the second transport path 36 is shifted in the transport direction to the extension direction of the second transport path 36 (to the left in FIG. 8) by the horizontal portion 34d, and then the coin is biased toward the inner side wall 36a of the second transport path 36 due to its own weight.

Then, in the second conveying path 36, the coins hooked on the protrusions 30b of the belt 30a are conveyed while in contact with the inner side wall 36a. This allows the coins conveyed along the second conveying path 36 to be more reliably sorted by the sorting unit 50, etc.

6 and 8, the horizontal portion 34d causes the coin to be conveyed in the direction in which the second conveying path 36 extends (to the left in FIG. 8) and then the coin is biased toward the inner sidewall 36a of the second conveying path 36 by its own weight. In this way, when the coin leaves the horizontal portion 34d and is biased toward the inner sidewall 36a, the horizontal portion 34d, which is the coin's release point, is located lower than the outer sidewall 36b of the second conveying path 36 and the inner sidewall 36a of the second conveying path 36 is located higher than the inner sidewall 34a of the folded portion 34, so that the angle of incidence of the coin when it reaches the inner sidewall 36a is small. This makes it possible to prevent the coins from bouncing vertically when they collide with the inner sidewall 36a, thereby preventing the coins from bouncing off the inner sidewall 36a of the second transport path 36 and preventing them from being properly sorted by the sorting unit 50.

As a comparative example, FIG. 9 shows the movement of a coin being transported from the turn-back portion 134 to the second transport path 136 in a conventional coin depositing and dispensing machine. The turn-back portion 134 of the coin depositing and dispensing machine shown in FIG. 9 has an inner side wall 134a that is an arc-shaped curved surface and an outer side wall 134b that is an arc-shaped curved surface. These inner side wall 134a and outer side wall 134b extend along semicircular portions of two circles with the same center and different diameters. A coin hooked on the protrusion 130b of the belt 130a is transported along the transport path formed between these inner side wall 134a and outer side wall 134b.

As shown in FIG. 9, the second conveying path 136, to which coins are transferred from the folded portion 134, has an inner side wall 136a and an outer side wall 136b. The coins sent from the folded portion 134 to the second conveying path 136 while hooked on the protrusion 130b of the belt 130a are conveyed along the conveying path formed between the inner side wall 136a and the outer side wall 136b.

In a conventional coin depositing and dispensing machine as shown in FIG. 9, a biasing lever 135 is provided between the outer side wall 134b of the folded portion 134 and the outer side wall 136b of the second transport path 136. The biasing lever 135 is, for example, a folded metal plate, with its base attached to the outer side wall 134b of the folded portion 134 and its tip extending toward the inner side wall 136a of the second transport path 136.

The coin, which is conveyed in contact with the outer side wall 134b at the folded portion 134, is forcibly shifted toward the inner side wall 136a of the second conveying path 136 by the shifting lever 135. After that, in the second conveying path 136, the coin is conveyed in contact with the inner side wall 136a while hooked on the protrusion 130b of the belt 130a.

Providing such a biasing lever 135 can prevent coins from bouncing off the inner side wall 136a of the second transport path 136. However, in a conventional coin depositing and dispensing machine as shown in FIG. 9, coins with a very small diameter may slip through the biasing lever 135 when being transferred from the folded portion 134 to the second transport path 136, and may not be biased to the inner side wall 136a of the second transport path 136.

In contrast, in the folded portion 34 of this embodiment, the conveying direction of the coin conveyed while in contact with the outer side wall 34b of the folded portion 34 is changed by the horizontal portion 34d to the direction in which the second conveying path 36 extends (to the left in FIG. 8), and then the coin is biased toward the inner side wall 36a of the second conveying path 36 by its own weight. Therefore, even coins with a very small diameter can be biased toward the inner side wall 36a of the second conveying path 36 when they are transferred from the folded portion 34 to the second conveying path 36.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pulley 35 installed in the folded portion 34 rotates around an axis 35a. The belt 30a is stretched across the side surface 35b of the pulley 35. The bottom surface of the pulley 35 has multiple (e.g., five) protrusions 35c formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the pulley 35. Each protrusion 35c is provided to prevent coins from slipping through.

In addition, multiple (e.g., five) recesses 35d are formed on the side surface 35b of the pulley 35 to accommodate the protrusions 30b of the belt 30a. When the belt 30a is stretched over the side surface 35b of the pulley 35, the protrusions 30b of the belt 30a are accommodated in the recesses 35d. In addition, each protrusion 35c is arranged in the same phase as each recess 35d in the circumferential direction of the pulley 35.

As shown by reference symbol C2 in Figure 6, when a coin with a large diameter is transported while being hooked on the protrusion 30b of the belt 30a at the folded portion 34, the coin will not slip through between the inner side wall 34a of the folded portion 34 and the protrusion 30b.

On the other hand, as shown by reference symbol C1 in Figure 6, when a coin with a small diameter is transported while being hooked on the protrusion 30b of the belt 30a at the folded portion 34, if the diameter of the coin is smaller than the distance between the inner side wall 34a of the folded portion 34 and the protrusion 30b, there is a risk that the coin will slip through between the inner side wall 34a of the folded portion 34 and the protrusion 30b.

In contrast, in this embodiment, the protrusions 35c are formed in the same phase as the recesses 35d in the circumferential direction of the pulley 35, in which the protrusions 30b of the belt 30a are housed. Therefore, even if a coin with a small diameter tries to slip through between the inner side wall 34a of the folded-back portion 34 and the protrusions 30b, the coin gets caught on the protrusions 35c and cannot slip through. This makes it possible to prevent abnormal coin transport at the folded-back portion 34.

An identification unit 40 and multiple detection units 42 are arranged on the coin transport path in the transport unit 30. The identification unit 40 is, for example, a combination of a line sensor and a magnetic sensor. The identification unit 40 identifies the denomination, authenticity, fitness, transport status, etc. of the coins transported by the transport unit 30.

Each detection unit 42 is an optical sensor including a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element arranged to sandwich the coin transport path. When a coin transported by belt 30a in transport unit 30 passes each detection unit 42, the light emitted from the light-emitting element is blocked by the coin and cannot be received by the light-receiving element, causing each detection unit 42 to detect the coin. The results of coin detection by such detection unit 42 can also detect abnormalities in coin transport (e.g., chain or multiple feeding).

A reject unit 56 is provided downstream of the recognition unit 40 in the direction in which the coins are transported by the belt 30a. The reject unit 56 selects coins (e.g., resin coins made of resin, etc.) that are detected by the detection unit 42 upstream of the recognition unit 40 but cannot be identified by the recognition unit 40 from the transport unit 30 and sends them to the reject port 112. As described above, the operator can also remove the coins sent to the reject port 112 from the housing 12.

A number of sorting sections 50 are provided downstream of the reject section 56 in the direction in which the coins are transported by the belt 30a. The number of sorting sections 50 are composed of a first sorting section 50A, a second sorting section 50B, a third sorting section 50C, a fourth sorting section 50D, a fifth sorting section 50E, a sixth sorting section 50F, a seventh sorting section 50G, and an eighth sorting section 50H.

Each sorting unit 50 corresponds to a coin storage unit 60. A denomination is assigned to each coin storage unit 60. Based on the coin recognition results by the recognition unit 40, each sorting unit 50 sorts coins of the denomination assigned to the corresponding coin storage unit 60 from the transport unit 30 and sends them to the corresponding coin storage unit 60.

An overflow sorting section 52 and a counterfeit coin sorting section 54 are provided downstream of each sorting section 50 in the direction in which coins are transported by the belt 30a. If the coin storage section 60 corresponding to the denomination of the coin identified by the identification section 40 is full or near full and no more coins can be stored in this coin storage section 60, this coin is not sorted by the sorting section 50 corresponding to the coin storage section 60. Then, this coin is sorted from the transport section 30 by the overflow sorting section 52 and sent to the overflow box 106.

In addition, coins that are identified as counterfeit by the recognition unit 40 are sorted from the transport unit 30 by the counterfeit sorting unit 54 and sent to the counterfeit coin box 108. The operator can remove the coins stored in the overflow box 106 and the counterfeit coins stored in the counterfeit coin box 108 by pulling the overflow box 106 and the counterfeit coins stored in the counterfeit coin box 108 out from the housing 12.

A number of coin storage sections 60 are provided below the transport section 30. The number of coin storage sections 60 are composed of a first coin storage section 60A, a second coin storage section 60B, a third coin storage section 60C, a fourth coin storage section 60D, a fifth coin storage section 60E, a sixth coin storage section 60F, a seventh coin storage section 60G, and an eighth coin storage section 60H.

As described above, each coin storage unit 60 stores coins that have been selected from the transport unit 30 by the corresponding sorting unit 50. Each coin storage unit 60 is also capable of feeding the stored coins one by one and sending them to the storage drawer 102 or the collection box 100. Each coin storage unit 60 is also assigned a denomination of the coins that are stored therein. As a result, each coin storage unit 60 stores coins by denomination.

When coins are dispensed, the coins dispensed from each coin storage unit 60 are sent to the storage drawer 102 and stored in the storage drawer 102. After the coins are dispensed, the operator can remove the dispensed coins from the storage drawer 102 by pulling the storage drawer 102 forward from the front of the housing 12.

In addition, when the coin collection process is being performed, if the collection box 100 is installed inside the housing 12 but the storage drawer 102 is not installed inside the housing 12, the coins dispensed from each coin storage section 60 are sent to the collection box 100 and stored in this collection box 100. Then, after the coin collection process is completed, the operator can collect the coins together with the collection box 100 by pulling the collection box 100 from the front side of the housing 12 to the front side.

As shown in FIG. 4, a control unit 90 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) is provided inside the housing 12 of the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10. The control unit 90 is connected to each component such as the payout unit 20, the transport unit 30, the recognition unit 40, the detection units 42, the sorting units 50, the reject unit 56, and the coin storage units 60. The results of coin recognition by the recognition unit 40 and the results of coin detection by the detection units 42 are sent to the control unit 90. The control unit 90 also controls each component of the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 by sending command signals to each component.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 90 is connected to an operation display unit 92, a memory unit 94, and a communication unit 96. The operation display unit 92 is, for example, a touch panel provided on the front or top surface of the housing 12. Information such as the coin processing status in the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 and the amount of coins stored in each coin storage unit 60 is displayed on the operation display unit 92. The operator can also input various commands to the control unit 90 via the operation display unit 92.

The memory unit 94 is composed of a hard disk drive (HDD), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), or a solid state drive (SSD), etc. The memory unit 94 stores information such as the processing history of coins in the coin deposit and withdrawal machine 10 and the amount of coins stored in each coin storage unit 60.

The operation display unit 92 and the memory unit 94 may be provided outside the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 rather than inside the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10. In this case, the control unit 90 may be configured to transmit and receive signals to and from the operation display unit 92 and the memory unit 94 provided outside the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 via the communication unit 96.

The control unit 90 can transmit and receive various signals to devices other than the coin deposit and withdrawal machine 10 via the communication unit 96. For example, the control unit 90 transmits information such as the coin processing status in the coin deposit and withdrawal machine 10 and the amount of coins stored in each coin storage unit 60 to a higher-level terminal such as a POS register via the communication unit 96. In addition, a higher-level terminal such as a POS register may send a coin deposit process start command or a withdrawal process start command to the control unit 90 via the communication unit 96.

Next, a method for processing coins using the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 of this embodiment will be described. Note that the following operations are performed by the control unit 90 controlling each component of the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10.

First, the coin deposit process performed by the coin deposit and withdrawal machine 10 will be described. When a coin is inserted from the outside of the housing 12 into the inside through a coin insertion port provided on the top surface of the housing 12, the inserted coin is stored in the payout unit 20.

When a coin is stored in the payout unit 20 and detected by the remaining coin detection sensor, the disk 22 of the payout unit 20 rotates around the shaft 22a in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3, and the belt 30a of the conveying unit 30 moves in a circular motion in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3. As a result, the coins are paid out one by one from the payout unit 20 to the conveying unit 30.

Coins fed from the pay-out unit 20 to the transport unit 30 are hooked onto protrusions 30b on the belt 30a and transported in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3. The coins transported by the belt 30a along the coin transport path are detected by each detection unit 42. As a result, if there is a transport abnormality in the coin transported by the belt 30a, this is detected by each detection unit 42. In addition, when the coin transported by the belt 30a passes through the recognition unit 40, the denomination, genuineness, fitness, transport state, etc. of the coin are recognized by the recognition unit 40.

Of the coins that have passed through the recognition unit 40, those that have been detected by the detection unit 42 located upstream of the recognition unit 40 but cannot be recognized by the recognition unit 40 (for example, resin coins made of resin) are selected from the conveying unit 30 by the reject unit 56. The coins selected by the reject unit 56 are sent to the reject port 112.

In addition, among the coins that have passed through the recognition unit 40, those that are recognized by the recognition unit 40 as being normal coins are sorted from the conveyance unit 30 by the sorting unit 50 that corresponds to the coin storage unit 60 to which the denomination of the coin is assigned. The coins sorted by the sorting unit 50 are sent to the coin storage unit 60 that corresponds to this sorting unit 50, and are stored in this coin storage unit 60.

When the coin storage unit 60 corresponding to the denomination of the coin identified by the identification unit 40 is full or near full and no more coins can be stored in this coin storage unit 60, this coin is not sorted by the sorting unit 50 corresponding to the coin storage unit 60. Then, this coin is sorted from the transport unit 30 by the overflow sorting unit 52 and sent to the overflow box 106.

In addition, coins that are identified as counterfeit by the recognition unit 40 are selected from the transport unit 30 by the counterfeit sorting unit 54 and sent to the counterfeit coin box 108.

In addition, when the control unit 90 controls the reject unit 56, each sorting unit 50, the overflow sorting unit 52 and the counterfeit sorting unit 54 to select a coin not to any sorting location, the coin that has been paid out from the pay-out unit 20 to the conveying unit 30 is returned to the pay-out unit 20 by the guide unit 38 from the second conveying path 36 of the conveying unit 30. Specifically, when it is determined based on the detection result by the detection unit 42 that the coin being conveyed by the conveying unit 30 should be returned to the pay-out unit 20, control is performed to return the coin to the pay-out unit 20 without sorting the coin by each sorting unit 50, etc. based on the coin identification result by the identification unit 40.

More specifically, when the control unit 90 determines that a transport abnormality (e.g., chain or multiple feeding) has occurred in a coin being transported by the transport unit 30 based on the detection result by the detection unit 42, it controls the coin to be returned to the payout unit 20 without sorting the coin by each sorting unit 50, etc. based on the coin identification result by the identification unit 40.

By performing this type of control, if a coin being transported by the belt 30a in the transport section 30 is not selected by any of the reject section 56, the sorting sections 50, the overflow sorting section 52, or the counterfeit sorting section 54, the coin is returned from the transport section 30 to the payout section 20 by the guide section 38.

In addition, when the control unit 90 controls the reject unit 56, each sorting unit 50, the overflow sorting unit 52, and the counterfeit sorting unit 54 to select a coin for none of the sorting locations, the coin dispensed from the dispensing unit 20 is returned to the dispensing unit 20 and then dispensed again from the dispensing unit 20. As a result, a coin that has been returned from the transport unit 30 to the dispensing unit 20 due to a transport abnormality or the like is dispensed again from the dispensing unit 20 to the transport unit 30, and this dispensed coin is transported by the transport unit 30.

When a predetermined time has elapsed since the disk 22 of the payout unit 20 starts rotating (specifically, a sufficient time for all coins stored in the payout unit 20 to be paid out to the transport unit 30 and stored in each coin storage unit 60), the bottom of the payout unit 20 opens. When the bottom of the payout unit 20 opens, foreign objects such as clips left in the payout unit 20 fall from the payout unit 20 under their own weight into the foreign object return box 110 and are stored in the foreign object return box 110.

In this way, the coin deposit process in the coin deposit and withdrawal machine 10 is completed.

Next, the coin dispensing process performed by the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 will be described. First, a command to start the coin dispensing process is input to the control unit 90, and information related to the total amount of coins to be dispensed or the number of each denomination is input to the control unit 90. As a result, the coins to be dispensed are dispensed from each coin storage unit 60, and these dispensed coins are stored in the storage drawer 102.

In this way, when all coins to be dispensed have been paid out from each coin storage section 60 and stored in the storage drawer 102, the coin dispensing process in the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 is completed. The operator can then remove the dispensed coins from the storage drawer 102 by pulling the storage drawer 102 out from the front of the housing 12 toward the operator.

Next, the coin collection process performed by the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 will be described. First, the operator places the collection box 100 inside the housing 12 and removes the storage drawer 102 from the housing 12. Then, when a command to start the coin collection process is input to the control unit 90, the coins to be collected are dispensed from each coin storage unit 60 and stored in the collection box 100. The coins to be collected may be all coins stored in each coin storage unit 60. Alternatively, a predetermined number of coins may be left in each coin storage unit 60 as change reserve, and the remaining coins may be dispensed from each coin storage unit 60 as coins to be collected.

When all the coins to be collected have been dispensed from each coin storage unit 60 and sent to the collection box 100, the operator can collect the coins together with the collection box 100 by pulling the collection box 100 out of the housing 12. In this way, the coin collection process in the coin depositing and dispensing machine 10 is completed.

The coin deposit and dispensing machine 10 (coin processing device) of this embodiment configured as described above includes a payout unit 20 that can store multiple coins and pay out the stored coins one by one, a transport unit 30 that transports the coins, a recognition unit 40 that identifies the coins, and a sorting unit 50 that sorts the coins into multiple types, and the transport unit 30 returns the coins paid out from the payout unit 20 to the payout unit 20 after passing through the recognition unit 40 and the sorting unit 50.

With this type of coin deposit and withdrawal machine 10, coins can be sorted into multiple types by the sorting section 50, and coins that have not been sorted can be returned to the dispensing section 20 and dispensed again from this dispensing section 20 without any special operations.

To explain in more detail, in conventional coin processing devices, coins could not be re-identified unless they passed through a deposit/withdrawal port provided on the circulating transport path. This meant that when re-identifying coins, it was not possible to deposit coins into the deposit/withdrawal port, and continuous deposit processing could not be performed. In addition, in another conventional coin processing device, there was a problem that it only had one sorting section and could only sort one type of coin, making it unsuitable for sorting coins into multiple types.

In contrast, in the coin deposit and withdrawal machine 10 of this embodiment, the sorting unit 50 can sort coins into multiple types, so that, for example, coins can be stored in each coin storage unit 60 by denomination. Furthermore, coins that have not been sorted by the sorting unit 50 can be returned to the payout unit 20 and paid out again from this payout unit 20 without any special operation, so that the coin deposit process can be prevented from being interrupted midway.

As described above, the coin deposit and withdrawal machine 10 of this embodiment further includes a control unit 90 that controls the sorting unit 50 to perform a coin sorting operation based on the coin identification result by the identification unit 40, and when the control unit 90 controls the sorting unit 50 to select a coin not to any sorting location, the coin dispensed from the dispensing unit 20 is returned to the dispensing unit 20 and then dispensed again from the dispensing unit 20. In this case, when the control unit 90 controls the sorting unit 50 to select a coin not to any sorting location, the coin returned to the dispensing unit 20 is dispensed again to the transport unit 30 by the dispensing unit 20, so that the operator does not need to perform any special operations on the coin returned to the dispensing unit 20, thereby improving convenience.

As described above, the coin deposit and withdrawal machine 10 of this embodiment further includes a detection unit 42 that detects the transport state of the coins transported by the transport unit 30. When the control unit 90 determines based on the detection result by the detection unit 42 that the coin transported by the transport unit 30 should be returned to the payout unit 20, the control unit 90 controls the coin to be returned to the payout unit 20 without sorting the coin by the sorting unit 50 based on the coin identification result by the identification unit 40. In this case, by detecting the transport state of the coins transported by the transport unit 30 with the detection unit 42, the sorting unit 50 will not sort the coins with transport abnormalities, and it is possible to prevent problems such as clogging when the sorting unit 50 sorts the coins.

As described above, when the control unit 90 determines that a transport abnormality has occurred in a coin being transported by the transport unit 30 based on the detection result by the detection unit 42, it controls the coin to be returned to the pay-out unit 20 without sorting the coin by the sorting unit 50 based on the coin identification result by the identification unit 40. In this case, by returning the coin in which the detection unit 42 has detected a transport abnormality to the pay-out unit 20, the coin can be paid out again from the pay-out unit 20 to the transport unit 30 without any special operation.

As described above, the coin deposit and withdrawal machine 10 of this embodiment further includes a reject unit 56 for discharging coins transported by the transport unit 30. When it is determined based on the identification result by the recognition unit 40 that a coin should be sorted by the sorting unit 50, the coin is sorted by the sorting unit 50. When it is determined based on the identification result by the recognition unit 40 that a coin should be discharged by the reject unit 56, the coin is discharged by the reject unit 56. In other cases, the coin transported by the transport unit 30 is returned to the payout unit 20 and then dispensed again from the payout unit 20. In this case, coins other than the coins determined to be discharged by the reject unit 56 can be returned to the payout unit 20 and then dispensed again from the payout unit 20 without any special operation.

Conventionally, all coins other than those identified as normal by the recognition unit 40 were ejected by the reject unit 56. However, in such a conventional method, coins with abnormal transport, etc. were also ejected by the reject unit 56, requiring the operator to re-insert the coin into the coin slot. In contrast, in the coin deposit and dispensing machine 10 of this embodiment, coins with abnormal transport, etc. are not ejected by the reject unit 56, eliminating the need for the operator to re-insert the coin into the coin slot.

As described above, the payout unit 20 has a disk 22 that is rotatably arranged in an inclined state, and the disk 22 has a number of protrusions 22b on its surface. When the disk 22 rotates, coins are hooked by the protrusions 22b and raised, and are paid out from the payout unit 20. A guide unit 38 is provided to guide the coin to a position higher than the surface of the disk 22 when the transport unit 30 returns the coin to the payout unit 20. In this case, it is possible to prevent the coin returned to the payout unit 20 from the guide unit 38 from colliding with the coin transported in the payout unit 20 while being hooked by the protrusions 22b of the disk 22. Therefore, the operation of the disk 22 of the payout unit 20 to pay out the coin to the first transport path 32 of the transport unit 30 is not hindered by the coin returned to the payout unit 20 from the guide unit 38.

As described above, the conveying unit 30 conveys the coins through the first conveying path 32 and the second conveying path 36, which is located above the first conveying path 32, in that order, and returns the coins from the second conveying path 36 to the upper position of the disk 22. A guide unit 38 is provided at the downstream end of the second conveying path 36.

The coin depositing and dispensing machine according to this embodiment is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration, and various modifications can be made.

For example, instead of the coin transport state being detected by a detection unit 42 provided separately from the recognition unit 40, the coin transport state may be detected by the recognition unit 40. In this case, when the recognition unit 40 recognizes that a transport abnormality has occurred in a coin transported by the transport unit 30, the control unit 90 controls the sorting unit 50, etc. so that the coin transported by the transport unit 30 is not sorted to any sorting location. As a result, a coin with a transport abnormality will not be sorted by the sorting unit 50, etc., and it is possible to prevent problems such as clogging when sorting coins by the sorting unit 50, etc.

The coin depositing and dispensing machine according to this embodiment is installed, for example, in the back office area of a store or financial institution. However, it is not limited to this configuration. The coin depositing and dispensing machine according to this embodiment may be used, for example, as a change machine in the front area of a store.

10 Coin depositing and dispensing machine 12 Housing 20 Payout section 22 Disk 22a Shaft 22b Protrusion 28 Take-out mechanism 29 Foreign object removal gate 30 Conveying section 30a Belt 30b Protrusion 31 Pulley 32 First conveying path 34 Folded portion 34a Inner side wall 34b Outer side wall 34c Joint portion 34d Horizontal portion 34e Joint portion 35 Pulley 35a Shaft 35b Side surface 35c Protrusion 35d Recess 36 Second conveying path 36a Inner side wall 36b Outer side wall 38 Guide section 39 Pulley 40 Identification section 42 Detection section 50 Sorting sections 50A to 50H First to eighth sorting sections 52 Overflow sorting section 54 Counterfeit coin sorting section 56 Reject section 60 Coin storage sections 60A to 60H First to eighth coin storage sections 90 Control section 92 Operation display unit 94, memory unit 96, communication unit 100, collection box 102, storage drawer 106, overflow box 108, counterfeit coin box 110, foreign object return box 112, reject port 130a, belt 130b, protrusion 134, folded portion 134a, inner side wall 134b, outer side wall 135, lever 136, second transport path 136a, inner side wall 136b, outer side wall

Claims (7)

a coin dispenser that can store a plurality of coins and dispense the stored coins one by one;
A conveying unit that conveys coins;
An identification unit for identifying coins;
A sorting unit that sorts coins into multiple types;
A detection unit that detects a conveyance state of the coins conveyed by the conveyance unit;
a control unit that controls the sorting unit to perform a coin sorting operation based on the coin recognition result by the recognition unit, and when it is determined based on the detection result by the detection unit that the coin being transported by the transport unit should be returned to the pay-out unit, controls the coin to be returned to the pay-out unit without being sorted by the sorting unit based on the coin recognition result by the recognition unit;
Equipped with
The conveying unit returns the coins dispensed from the dispensing unit to the dispensing unit after the coins have passed through the recognition unit and the sorting unit. The coin processing device according to claim 1 , wherein when the control unit controls the sorting unit to not sort to any of the sorting locations, the coin dispensed from the dispensing unit is returned to the dispensing unit and then dispensed again from the dispensing unit. The coin processing device according to claim 2, wherein when the identification unit identifies that a coin being transported by the transport unit has a transport abnormality, the control unit controls the sorting unit so as not to sort the coin being transported by the transport unit to any sorting location. 2. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines that a transport abnormality has occurred in a coin being transported by the transport unit based on the detection result by the detection unit, the control unit controls the coin to be returned to the pay-out unit without sorting the coin by the sorting unit based on the coin identification result by the identification unit . The coin counter further includes a reject unit for discharging the coins transported by the transport unit,
5. A coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined based on the identification result by the identification unit that a coin should be sorted by the sorting unit, the coin is sorted by the sorting unit, when it is determined based on the identification result by the identification unit that a coin should be ejected by the rejection unit, the coin is ejected by the rejection unit, and otherwise the coin transported by the transport unit is returned to the pay-out unit and then paid out again from the pay - out unit. The payout unit has a disk that is rotatably provided in an inclined state,
The disk has a plurality of protrusions on a surface thereof, and when the disk rotates, the protrusions hook the coins and raise them, thereby dispensing the coins from the dispensing unit.
The coin processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide section for guiding the coin to a position higher than a surface of the disk when the transport section returns the coin to the pay-out section. the conveying unit conveys the coins through a first conveying path and a second conveying path located above the first conveying path in that order, and returns the coins from the second conveying path to an upper position of the disk;
The coin processing device according to claim 6 , wherein the guide portion is provided at a downstream end of the second transport path.

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