JPH0116220Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] (a) Industrial application field In automatic ticket vending machines where money is inserted to purchase tickets, the central part of the money handling mechanism, the so-called coin mechanism, is used to distinguish, sort, count, and transfer money. It is constructed as a mobile unit and can be pulled out for maintenance and inspection. The present invention relates to a money handling device in which a part of such a structure is made into a movable unit.

B. Prior Art The money handling section of a vending machine, etc., usually includes a movable unit 1 for storing a coin mechanism, a money slot 2, a money outlet 3 for change, returned money, etc., and a coin storage, as shown in Fig. 1. It consists of a box 4, a change replenishment mechanism 5, etc., and the coin mechanism in the movable unit distinguishes the authenticity of the coins sent from the input port 2, stores genuine coins inside, and stores fake coins from the output port 3. discharge. The coins that have been retained inside the machine remain temporarily in the storage section, and are either returned from the discharge port 3 by an external signal such as a cancellation, or taken into the change mechanism in the mechanism by an external signal such as a purchase, or when the change stock is sufficient. When the coin passes through the coin mechanism, it is sent to the coin storage box 4. When the change in the coin mechanism decreases below a certain amount, coins are supplied from the coin supply mechanism 5 to the change mechanism in the mechanism.

C. Problems to be solved by the invention As is clear from the above operations, during the handling of coins, the coins are transferred to the movable unit 1 and other mechanisms, namely the input port 2, the discharge port 3, the coin storage box 4, and the coin supply mechanism 5. Temporarily exists in the communication route with. Therefore, when the movable unit 1 is pulled out while coins are present in these passages, the passages may become uncoupled, causing the coins to be scattered inside the automatic ticket vending machine, making it difficult to remove the coins. In order to prevent such inconvenience from occurring, the present invention does not require additional detection means, and detects when there is a coin in the communication passage around the movable unit or when it is expected that there will be a coin. A mechanism is provided to temporarily prevent the movable unit from being pulled out.

D. Means for Solving Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the money handling device of the present invention includes various detection means for controlling money handling operations in the coin mechanism, respectively, in the money path between the movable unit and other parts. A means for detecting the presence or period of presence of money, and a means for preventing withdrawal of the movable unit between the movable unit and the main body of the money handling device, such as a movable locking means or a means for preventing withdrawal. provide a means of issuing a warning;
The above-mentioned blocking means or warning means is operated based on the output of the above-mentioned detection means.

E. Effect With the above configuration, the means for detecting the period during which money exists in the money passage means that, for example, the money passage is long and it takes time for money to pass through it, so It detects money, detects money at the exit, and outputs a signal indicating that money is present during the period from detection at the entrance to detection at the exit. According to the above configuration, when there is money in the money passage, the withdrawal prevention means of the movable unit operates,
The movable unit is locked to the main body of the device and cannot be pulled out. Alternatively, a warning is issued to prevent inadvertent withdrawals. Therefore, the mistake of pulling out the movable unit while there is money in the money passage to separate the money passage and scattering the money inside the device is prevented. Examples of the present invention will be described below.

F. Embodiment FIG. 1 shows the general configuration of the money handling section of an automatic ticket vending machine, and the embodiment described here also has the configuration shown in FIG. Although not shown in the figure, the coin mechanism in the movable unit 1 checks the amount of money inserted, and depending on the check result, the coin mechanism issues a signal to activate the ticket issuing mechanism and issue a ticket corresponding to the amount of money inserted. Coins inserted from the money slot 2 enter the coin mechanism through the passage. When the coin mechanism determines that change is required and a request for returning the inserted coin is made, a predetermined amount of change is discharged from the change stock in the movable unit to the discharge port 3 through the passage. The inserted coins are stored in the movable unit as a change reserve, but when the stock is sufficient, the inserted coins are delivered from the movable unit 1 to the storage box 4 through the passage. When the change stock in the movable unit decreases below a predetermined amount, coins are supplied from the coin supply mechanism 5 to the change holder in the movable unit 1 through the passage. The various control operations described above are performed by a control circuit installed within the movable unit. The movable unit 1 can be pulled out from the main body of the ticket vending machine for inspection and maintenance. The mechanism for pulling out and locking this movable unit is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes an underframe of the movable unit 1, and wheels 13 are pivotally connected to this underframe 11.
is housed in the guide channel 12 on the main body 14 side of the ticket vending machine and rolls as the movable unit 1 is pulled out. 15 is an engagement piece protruding from the lower surface of the underframe 11;
6 is an L-shaped movable piece that connects the frame plate 12 on the channel 12.
The tip 1 is pivotally supported by a pin 17 planted in a.
6a engages with the engagement piece 15 as shown by a dashed line. A coil spring 18 for urging the movable piece 16 to rotate counterclockwise is stretched between the base 16b of the movable piece 16 and a projecting piece 19 on the channel 12 side. base 1 at
A connecting rod 21 is connected to the solenoid 20 in opposition to the spring 6b, and the solenoid 20 is fixed to the channel 12. 22, 22' in the figure
are each set up on the frame plate 12a as a stopper for preventing the movable piece 16 from excessive rotation past the engagement position and the disengagement position. In this mechanism, the engaging piece 15 is connected to the underframe 1 of the movable unit.
Although the movable piece 16 is attached to the channel 12 side and the movable piece 16 is attached to the channel 12 side, this relationship may be reversed. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system for driving the solenoid 20, and 23 is a pull-out prohibition signal generation circuit that prevents the movable unit 1 from being pulled out. This circuit includes means for detecting the presence of coins in the money passageway, means for detecting the presence of coins in the passageway, means for detecting the presence of coins in the passageway, and means for detecting the presence of coins in the passageway in FIG. It's better than the means.

The means for detecting the presence of coins in the passage is a coin insertion detector installed in the money insertion slot 2 to control the money processing operation in the coin mechanism.The one shot circuit 27 is triggered by the output of this detector, and from 27 A signal is output for a certain period of time. This certain period of time is set to give a certain margin to the time from when the coin is inserted into the slot 2 until it passes through the passage. The coin detection means in the passage is a coin discharge control means in response to a change or return request in a coin mechanism in a movable unit, and the flip-flop 24 is set by the coin discharge start signal, and is reset by the coin discharge end signal. The Q output of the flip-flop 24 becomes a withdrawal prohibition signal. Similarly, the coin detection means in the passage is a control means for transferring coins in a movable unit to the storage box 4 in a coin mechanism,
The Q output of the flip-flop 25, which is set by the coin transfer start signal and reset by the coin transfer end signal, becomes a withdrawal prohibition signal. The coin detection means in the passage uses the change reserve control means in the coin mechanism, and is set by a signal that causes the coin supply mechanism 5 to start supplying coins, and is reset by a coin supply end signal that stops coin supply. The output becomes a withdrawal prohibition signal. The Q outputs from the one-shot circuit 27 and the flip-flops 24 to 26 described above are connected to a driver via an OR circuit 28 for obtaining a logical sum signal of these outputs, that is, a single signal regardless of which Q output is present. circuit 29
is applied, and the solenoid 20 is driven by the driver circuit 29.

For example, when coins for change are being supplied to the movable unit 1 by the coin supplying mechanism 5, there are coins in the passage, but while the coins are being supplied, the flip-flop 26 outputs a Q output. , the driver circuit 29 operates and the solenoid 20
is suctioned, and the movable piece 16 is rotated to the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to pull out the movable unit 1 in the direction of arrow 30, the upper end 16a of the raised movable piece 16 engages with the engagement piece 15, making it impossible to pull it out. In this state, when the coin replenishment end signal is issued, the output of the OR circuit 28 becomes "0", the suction operation of the solenoid 20 is stopped, and the movable piece 16 is moved by the tensile force of the coil spring 18.
returns as shown by the solid line and disengages from the engagement piece 15, allowing the movable unit 1 to be pulled out. The above operation is the same for other signals generated by the withdrawal prohibition signal generation circuit 23, and as long as the OR circuit 28 outputs in response to any start or detection signal,
Assuming that the coin is in the path to the unit 1, the unit 1 cannot be withdrawn.

Note that in the above embodiment, the driver circuit 29
Although the engagement mechanism has been constructed by providing a solenoid at a subsequent stage, an alarm lamp may be provided instead of the solenoid. In this case, if the alarm lamp is lit, it is determined that withdrawal is not permitted and the movable unit is not pulled out.

Furthermore, although the above example has been described as one that handles coins, it is also possible to implement other devices such as a building mechanism that processes banknotes, a printing mechanism that handles tickets, etc. as a movable unit.

Effects The present invention is as described above, and when there is always money in the money passage between the movable unit and other mechanisms,
Otherwise, when this condition is predicted to occur, the system detects this condition, obtains a withdrawal prohibition signal, and activates a withdrawal prohibition means such as an engagement device and a warning light. The failure of money being scattered in the device after being withdrawn is prevented, the burden of attention on the staff is reduced, and there is no need to provide a dedicated means for detecting the presence or expected presence of money in the money passage. Since it utilizes various detection means to control the money processing operation itself, it has the characteristic that it does not cause price increases.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the cash handling section of an automatic ticket vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the main mechanism part of an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a diagram of the control section of the same. It is a partial block diagram. In the figure, 1... movable unit that stores the coin mechanism, 2... input port, 3... output port, 4... coin storage box, 5... coin supply mechanism, 11... underframe of the movable unit, 12... ...Channel on the main body side, 12a
... Frame plate, 13 ... Wheel, 15 ... Engagement piece, 16
... L-shaped movable piece, 17 ... Pin, 18 ... Coil spring for return, 19 ... Connection rod, 20 ... Solenoid, 21, 22 ... Stopper, 23 ... Drawing disallowance signal generation circuit, 29 ...Driver circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] In a money handling device in which a coin mechanism for sorting, counting, transferring money, etc. is a movable unit that can be withdrawn from the main body of the device, the above movable unit and a money slot are connected. As a means of detecting the presence of money in the connecting passage,
A one-shot circuit activated by the output of the inserted coin detection means for controlling the money processing operation is used as a means for detecting the presence of money in the passageway for discharging money from the movable unit to the outside by detecting change in the coin mechanism or coins requested for return. Using a release control means, a change reserve control means in a coin mechanism is used as a means for detecting the presence of money in a passage connecting the movable unit and the change coin replenishment mechanism, A transfer control means for transferring the coins in the movable unit to the storage box is used as the presence detection means, and the output signal of the one-shot circuit, the signal emitted by the coin discharge control means from the start to the end of coin discharge, and the change reserve. The movable unit draw-out prevention means or the movable unit draw-out prevention means is activated by a logical sum signal of a signal issued by the control means from the start to the end of replenishment and a signal issued by the transfer control means from the start to the end of the transfer. A money handling device characterized by being provided with a means for generating a warning that withdrawals are not allowed.