JPH0121409Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the invention] (a) Industrial application field This invention can be used, for example, when a coin inserted into a vending machine is verified, the insertion interval is shorter than the verification processing time of the preceding coin. The present invention relates to a coin processing device that controls subsequent coins to be inserted at intervals of a coin verification processing time.

(b) Prior art For example, a blocking member for preventing coins from rolling is provided in a passageway through which inserted coins are introduced into a coin verification device so as to be movable in and out, and the insertion interval is shorter than the verification time of the preceding coin. When controlling subsequent coins to be inserted during the coin verification processing time, the above-mentioned blocking member is moved in and out of the passage in short cycles for the coin, and the coin is repeatedly held between the passages and released, thereby preventing the coin from rolling. It can be stopped gradually.

In this case, when blocking a plurality of coins, all the coins can be controlled at the coin verification processing time by gradually rolling these coins one after another.

(c) Problems that the invention aims to solve However, when coins are thrown in at high speeds or when deformed coins are thrown in, there is a difference in the rolling of the coins and the coin becomes unstable, resulting in the above-mentioned problem. A single blocking member cannot completely block the coins, and in this case, there is an inconvenience that the received coins are determined to be defective and even genuine coins are returned as defective.

In addition, when coins are inserted continuously, due to the incomplete prevention of high-speed insertion as described above, if fake coins are inserted at high speed in succession with real coins, they will not be accepted. It also had the disadvantage of being inconvenient.

The object of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a coin handling device that can reliably block coins even if the rolling of the coins is unstable.

(d) Means for solving the problem This invention includes a coin detector that detects the insertion of coins in the path leading the inserted coins to the electronic coin verification device, and a coin detector located downstream of the coin detector. , when the tip of the coin enters the passage with an interval of one coin or more but less than two coins in the direction of the passage,
Two blocking members that are movable in and out to block coins between opposing passage walls are provided, and the two blocking members are normally located outside the passage to open the passage, and are alternately arranged at a predetermined period during rolling control. The electronic coin verification device is connected to a driving means that is driven to protrude into the passage, and based on the coin detection signal of the coin detector, the electronic coin verification device determines whether subsequent coins have been inserted at intervals shorter than the processing time required to verify one coin. A determination circuit is provided for determining the following coins, and when this determination circuit determines a subsequent coin with a short insertion interval, the driving means alternately drives and controls the blocking member during the minimum time that satisfies the verification processing time of the preceding coin. The coin processing device is characterized by being equipped with a rolling control circuit.

(E) Function of the invention In the coin processing device of this invention, the determination circuit determines the subsequent coins inserted based on the coin detection signal of the coin detector at an interval that allows the electronic coin verification device to perform verification processing on the preceding coin. When it is determined that the rolling control circuit positions the two blocking members outside the passage,
Allow coins to roll and fall.

However, when the determination circuit determines that the interval between the input subsequent coins and the preceding coin is too short for the electronic coin verification device to process the coin verification process, the rolling control circuit determines the minimum interval that satisfies the verification processing time of the preceding coin. The driving means is driven so as to alternately project the two blocking members into the passage at a predetermined period during a limited period of time.

As a result, even if a plurality of subsequent coins are present in the path, the determined subsequent coin is subjected to repeated movements of blocking and releasing by the two blocking members, and
The determined insertion interval of subsequent coins is gradually rolled to an interval at which coin verification processing is possible.

Therefore, when multiple coins are blocked, by continuing the above-mentioned rolling control, each of the multiple coins can be rolled at intervals that allow verification processing, and one coin can be rolled one by one. have no control over it.

(f) Effects of the invention As a result of the above, according to this invention, each succeeding coin can be stopped by the two blocking members arranged at a predetermined interval in the path direction, thereby making it possible to continuously insert coins at high speed. Even when coins are inserted, the rolling control circuit sets the cycle to the minimum necessary time that satisfies the coin validation processing time, so that the coins can be reliably blocked and controlled at constant intervals.

Furthermore, when a large number of coins are blocked, the weight of the coins at the rear is loaded against the first blocked coin.
Since the aforementioned two blocking members alternately move in and out to unblock the coin, the first blocked coin is not pushed out by the aforementioned weight, and as a result, the above-mentioned extrusion occurs. This eliminates the inconvenience of unstable control of coin verification processing time due to changes in rolling speed, and allows reliable coin blocking control.

(g) Example of the invention An example of the invention will be described below in detail based on the drawings.

The drawing shows a coin processing device used in a vending machine, and in FIG.
is an electronic coin verification device, which is a well-known device that electrically detects the shape and material of the coin 2 without contact to determine the authenticity and denomination of the coin 2.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a passage on the input side, through which coins 2 inserted are introduced into the electronic coin validation device 3.

A coin detector 5 composed of a photoelectric sensor for detecting the insertion of coins 2 is provided on the path starting end side of the above-mentioned input side path 4, and furthermore, a coin detector 5 is provided at the rear stage of the coin detector 5 along the path direction. Two blocking members 6 and 7 for blocking the passage 4 are provided so as to be movable in and out.

The aforementioned blocking members 6 and 7 are formed into pin shapes, and are driven in and out alternately by means to be described later.

A sorting device 8 is provided on the entrance/exit side of the electronic coin validating device 3 described above, and this sorting device 8 distributes the coins 2 discriminated by the preceding electronic coin validating device 3 according to the discrimination. For this purpose, a vertical sorting passage 9 and denomination-specific passages 10, 11, and 12 branched from this sorting passage 9 are provided.

The above-mentioned distribution passage 9 has the above-mentioned passage 1 for each denomination.
Shutter 1 guiding coin 2 to 0, 11, 12
3, 14, and 15, and these shutters 13 to 1
5 is usually located on the side of the passage 9, and this passage 9
The shutter 13 corresponding to the denomination is opened based on the denomination discrimination signal of the electronic coin verification device 3 mentioned above.
-15 block the passage 9 and guide the denominations to the corresponding denomination-specific passages 10-12.

Note that each of the above-mentioned shutters 13 to 15 is driven by an appropriate solenoid or other drive mechanism.

2 and 3A show the drive mechanism of the aforementioned blocking members 6, 7, the aforementioned coin detector 5 is arranged to be shifted to one side from the center line of the passage 4,
It is also provided to individually detect coins 2 that are continuously inserted.

Further, the above-mentioned blocking members 6 and 7 are spaced apart by a length of at least one coin 2 but less than two coins, but in this embodiment, the length is set to about 1.5 coins. There is.

Each blocking member 6, 7 has a first solenoid 1.
6 and a second solenoid 17, and when these solenoids 16 and 17 are turned on, the respective blocking members 6 and 7 are retracted from the passage 4 and open the passage 4.

Also, if solenoids 16 and 17 are turned off,
Each blocking member 6, 7 blocks the passage 4, and when a coin 2 is facing each blocking member 6, 7, the coin 2 is held between the opposite passage wall 18 of the passage 4.

At an intermediate position between the two blocking members 6 and 7,
A ram 21 whose central part is pivoted by a pin 20 of a fixed piece 19 is located, and the lower end of this ram 21 is connected to the blocking member 7.
The upper end is connected to the outer side of the pin 23 implanted in the blocking member 6 via a pin 22 .

The above-mentioned blocking member 6 has a spring 25 interposed between the above-mentioned pin 23 and the fixed wall 24,
The blocking member 6 is always urged toward the passage 4 side.

Note that the above-mentioned spring 25 is connected to the solenoid 16.
The suction power is set to be weaker than that of the

Also, when the first solenoid 16 is turned off,
The iron core becomes free, and the blocking member 6 is moved by the spring 2.
It is projected into the passage 4 with an acting force of 5.

In addition, the second solenoid 17 is of a type in which the iron core forcibly protrudes when turned off.
The blocking member 7 moves in and out of the passage 4 by turning ON and OFF.

FIG. 4 shows a drive control circuit for the aforementioned blocking members 6 and 7, and FIG. 5 shows a time chart of the main parts thereof.

The determination control circuit 26 has the function of determining whether or not the electronic coin verification device 3 has inserted coins 2 at an interval shorter than the processing time required for verification processing of one coin 2, and if the insertion interval is short, a blocking member It has a rolling control function that controls the rolling of the coin 2 by controlling the driving of the coins 6 and 7.

The first timer 27 is set to a minimum time sufficient for the coin 2 detected by the coin detector 5 to pass through the blocking members 6 and 7, and when this set time has passed, an output is generated, and this output is D It is input to the input terminal D of a type FF (abbreviation for flip-flop) 28.

The second timer 29 is set to the minimum time sufficient for the coin 2 detected by the coin detector 5 to be verified by the electronic coin verification device 3, and when this set time has passed, an output is generated. It is input to the reset terminal R of the D-type FF 28 and resets the first timer 27.

Note that each of the above-mentioned timers 27 and 29 is of a type that, if a new input is received during time measurement, the time measurement is restarted from the time of the new input.

AND gate 30 outputs a signal when coin detector 5 detects coin 2 when D-type FF 28 is in the reset state, and this output is input to trigger terminal T of D-type FF 28 to trigger it.

It should be noted that the D-type FF 28 is set if there is an output of the first timer 27 at the input terminal D at the time of being triggered, and if there is no output, it maintains the reset state.

As a result, when the coin 2 is inserted at an interval longer than the coin verification processing time of the electronic coin verification device 3, although the output of the first timer 27 is input to the D-type FF 28, Before the AND gate 30 generates an output, the second timer 29 generates an output and resets the first timer 27, so the D-type FF2
8 holds the reset state.

However, when the interval between inserting coins 2 is shorter than the coin verification processing time, the subsequent coin 2 is detected and the output of the AND gate 30 triggers the D-type FF 28 before the second timer 29 resets the first timer 27. Therefore, the D-type FF 28 is set, and this set output becomes a signal indicating that the coin insertion interval is shorter than the coin verification processing time.

The AND gate 31 produces an output when the D-type FF 28 detects the insertion of the coin 2 in the reset state, starts the oscillator 32 with this output, and is reset with the output of the second timer 29.

The above-mentioned oscillator 32 outputs an oscillation signal at a set short cycle, and this cycle is the blocking time during which the blocking members 6 and 7 hold the coin 2 in the passage 4 and gradually roll it in and out. In other words, the blocking members 6 and 7 prevent the coin 2 from rolling during the minimum period of time necessary to satisfy the coin verification processing time of the preceding coin 2. ,
After this time has elapsed, the coin 2 is removed from the blocking members 6, 7.
This cycle is such that it deviates even further, and the verification processing time for subsequent coins 2 is controlled by this cycle.

AND gate 33 outputs the oscillation signal of oscillator 32 when D-type FF 28 is set.

The first solenoid 16 mentioned above is operated by the reset output of the D-type FF 28, and the second solenoid 17 is operated by the reset output of the D-type FF 28.
is operated via the OR gate 34 between the above-mentioned reset output and the output of the oscillator 32.

The aforementioned first and second solenoids 16 and 17 are normally turned on by the reset output of the D-type FF 28, and therefore both blocking members 6 and 7 are located outside the passage 4 to open the passage 4. .

If the coin 2 is inserted at an interval longer than the coin validation processing time, the D-type FF 28 stores the output of the first timer 27, but before it is triggered by the output of the AND gate 30 based on the detection of the subsequent coin 2. Since the first timer 27 is reset by the output of the second timer 29, the D-type FF 28 remains in the reset state without being set.

However, if the subsequent coin 2 is inserted with respect to the preceding coin 2 at an interval shorter than the verification processing time of the preceding coin 2, the first timer 27 and the second timer 29 time the subsequent coin 2. Since the process is restarted based on the detection, the AND gate 30 generates an output before the second timer 29 generates an output, and the D-type FF2
8 is set.

As a result, the first and second solenoids 16, 17
In this case, the control by the reset output of the D-type FF 28 is cut off, and it becomes OFF.

On the other hand, the AND gate 31 produces an output due to the detection of the succeeding coin 2 described above, and the oscillator 32 is started, and by setting the D-type FF 28, the oscillation signal of the oscillator 32 is transmitted to the second solenoid 17. This solenoid 17 is turned OFF and ON depending on its oscillation cycle.

FIG. 3A shows the initial state of rolling control. When a subsequent coin 2 at a short interval is detected, the second solenoid 17 is first turned off and the blocking member 7 protrudes toward the passage 4. The first subsequent coin 2
prevents rolling.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned protruding movement of the blocking member 7 is transmitted to the upper blocking member 6 through the lever 21 to drive the blocking member 6 backward, and the upper blocking member 6 opens the passage 4.

Therefore, in the early stage of the rolling prevention control, the subsequent coin 2 of the previous application is prevented from rolling by the lower blocking member 7, and if there is a second subsequent coin 2, then the subsequent coin 2 is It faces the upper blocking member 6.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the second solenoid 17 is turned on, the lower blocking member 7 opens the passage 4 for the time of the above-mentioned ON operation, and the coin 2
flows down due to its own weight during the time the passage 4 is open.

At the same time, by turning on the second solenoid 17, the restriction of the upper blocking member 6 is released, and the blocking member 6 projects toward the passage 4 side by the biasing force of the spring 25, thereby pushing the opposing coin 2 into the opposite passage. wall 18
sandwiched between.

When the rolling prevention control is performed on the two coins 2 by such alternating movement of the blocking members 6 and 7, the first subsequent coin 2 that is blocked is moved by the blocking member during the rolling prevention control. When rolling away from 7, the upper coin 2 is held by the blocking member 6, so even if there is a subsequent coin 2 after the second coin, its weight will not be applied. Pushed out by the above load (rolling speed increases)
This does not occur, and the rolling speed is kept constant and rolling prevention control is performed. Further, when the coin 2 is thrown in in a flipping manner, the two blocking members 6 and 7 control the blocking.

In this way, the subsequent coin 2 is controlled during the validation processing time, and when it comes off the blocking member 7 by gradual rolling, the coin 2 is rolled into the electronic validation device 3.

When the subsequent coin 2 runs out or the insertion interval becomes longer than the coin verification processing time, the second timer 29 toms up and produces an output, so the D-type FF 28 is reset and the rolling prevention control is activated. will be canceled.

In the above embodiment, the blocking members 6 and 7 were driven alternately by the OFF and ON operations of the second solenoid 17 and the transmission of the lever 21, but the operating cycles of the first and second solenoids 16 and 17 Alternatively, both solenoids 16 and 17 may be moved alternately.

Furthermore, the first solenoid 16 side may be operated in and out based on the oscillator 32; in this case, the second
The solenoid 17 can be of a type in which the iron core is free when it is OFF.

Further, it may be carried out mechanically using another cam mechanism, and the alternate driving of the blocking members 6 and 7 in and out is not limited to these driving means.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of this invention, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of the coin processing device, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional front view of the input passage, and Fig. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of the drive mechanism of the blocking member. 3B is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing the clamping action of the upper blocking member, FIG. 4 is a control circuit block diagram, and FIG. 5 is a time chart of the main parts. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Insertion slot, 2...Coin, 3...Electronic coin verification device, 4...Insertion side passage, 6, 7...Blocking member, 1
6, 17... Solenoid, 21... Ram, 25...
…spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A coin detector for detecting the insertion of coins is provided in the middle of the path leading the inserted coins to the electronic coin verification device, and a coin detector located at the rear stage of the coin detector, which detects the insertion of coins in the direction of the path. two blocking members that are separated by a length of one coin or more but less than two coins and that are movable in and out and block the coin between opposing passage walls when the tip of the coin enters the passage; The two blocking members are normally located outside the passage to open the passage, and during rolling control are connected to a driving means that drives the two blocking members to alternately protrude into the passage at a predetermined period, based on a coin detection signal from the coin detector. , the electronic coin verification device is provided with a determination circuit that determines whether a subsequent coin is inserted at an interval shorter than the processing time required for verification of one coin, and when this determination circuit determines that a subsequent coin is inserted with a short interval. A coin processing device comprising: a rolling control circuit that alternately drives and controls the blocking member using the drive means during a minimum time that satisfies the coin verification processing time of the preceding coin.