JPH0498386A - Coin sorting mechanism for automatic vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure coin sorting and to reduce production cost by providing a weight checker on a coin shooter to perform coin sorting. CONSTITUTION:A coin shooter 10 formed on a section flat and approximately like C-shaped guiding only the specified coin with the prescribed diameter and thickness positions its open surface 11 on the back of a main body casing 80 to be arranged on the back of a merchandise storage holder 1 in parallel so as to be inclined in the back direction. In an upper step fixed axis 20 horizontally provided on the upper space between the coin shooter 10 and the storage holder 1, a weight checker 21 is suspended freely in oscillation, and the weight checker 21 is flipped on the side of the storage holder 1 when the specified coin passes through this window hole position of the shooter 10 due to the weight of the coin, while holds the position projected from the window hole 13 and the corresponding coin leaps on the back of the main body casing 80 when it is lighter than the specified coin. Thus, the simplification of cleaning and the reduction of the production cost can be realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a simple coin sorting mechanism in a vending machine.

(Prior Art) Coin sorting mechanisms in vending machines are broadly divided into those that incorporate an IC such as an arithmetic control unit and are controlled electronically, and those that consist of purely mechanical mechanisms. In the case of vending machines selling relatively low-priced products such as gum, camping tissue, razors, and toys, the sorting mechanism is also an inexpensive mechanical mechanism.

Such a mechanical sorting mechanism for coins consists of steel plates facing each other at a predetermined interval, and a coin track member arranged at the bottom of the facing space of the plates to form a kite member, and the coins are passed through the guide member. As it passes through, its diameter, thickness, weight, etc. are mechanically measured, and those that are not suitable are excluded.

(Problem to be solved by invention) However, in the case of the sorting mechanism having the above structure, the coin guide path in the guide member is partially formed as a closed space. Even if you try to sort the coins properly, dirt from coins will accumulate (not only will it be difficult to sort them properly, but you will also have to clean them frequently to eliminate the clogging caused by the dirt). .

In addition, in conventional mechanical sorting mechanisms, manufacturing costs tend to increase because they are formed by processing steel plates and tend to have a large number of parts.

In view of these points, the present invention has been developed to create a coin that prevents dirt from accumulating on the guide path, and even if it does accumulate, it is easy to clean it, and furthermore, it has a simple structure and can reduce manufacturing costs. The purpose is to provide a sorting mechanism.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has a substantially flat C-shaped cross section in the main casing with a groove width and width corresponding to the thickness and diameter of a specific coin. A coin shooter is provided with a window hole at a predetermined position in the lengthwise direction of the center board, and a notch in the open edge at a position corresponding to the window hole, and the coin shooter is placed so that its open surface faces diagonally downward. The coin guide path in the coin shooter enters the coin guide path in the coin shooter through the window hole in a freely suspended state at a position close to the substrate;
When the specific coin guided by the coin shooter passes, it collides with the coin and is pushed out of the coin guide path, while when a coin lighter than the coin slides down the guide path, it remains in the guide path. A weight checker for repelling the coin from the open surface is swingably supported, and a weight checker is placed below the coin shooter at a distance from the coin shooter to receive the specific coin that has slipped from the coin shooter in an upright state. It is unique in that it has a coin pocket.

In the present invention, the main body casing inclination prevention checker having a baffle piece at the lower part may be pivotally supported close to the guide path of the coin shooter so as to be freely swingable. When the main body casing is not tilted, this tilt prevention checker is in a freely suspended state that does not enter the guide path of the coin shooter, and when the main body casing is tilted, the baffle piece or the above guide It bounces coins that have entered the road and slid down the coin shooter.

(Function) In the present invention, among the incorrectly inserted coins, those with a larger diameter or thickness than the correct specified coins do not enter the coin shooter and are left in hand. Coins with a smaller diameter than the specified coin will enter the coin shooter, but will fall immediately from the open surface and will not reach the coin pocket. Furthermore, even if the coin has the same diameter as the specific coin, a lighter coin will be hit by the weight checker and fall.

If you tilt the main casing to reverse the direction in which the coin shooter is tilted (open side facing upwards),
The obstructing piece of the tilt prevention checker will get into the guideway, so
Any coin will be bounced by this baffle piece.

The specific coin that bounces off the weight checker and slides down the guide path is stored in the coin pocket below the coin shooter.

The coin shooter is erected with the open surface facing diagonally downward, and even the open edge has a cutout at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction, so that it is difficult for dirt to accumulate in the coin guide path. Furthermore, even if dirt accumulates, cleaning is easy because the open surface extends over the entire length.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a gum vending machine incorporating a coin sorting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. Three types of gum are stored in parallel, and a coin can be inserted into each. A port 17 is provided. Located below the coin slot. The internal coin sorting, product storage and delivery mechanisms are the same for each type of gum, and the mechanism is the same for each type of gum, and the mechanism is the same for each type of gum.
Three units are arranged in parallel inside the machine (see Fig. 3), and the desired mechanism is operated by operating a single operating member, which will be described later.

The internal structure will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 11. First, Fig. 2 is a rear view showing the internal mechanism of the vending machine. The unit Ul on the left in the figure shows the coin sorting mechanism with the coin shooter removed, the unit U2 in the middle shows only the coin shooter, and the unit U1 on the right shows the coin sorting mechanism with the coin shooter removed. Unit U3
1 shows the coin shooter and forward tilt prevention checker, respectively.

A product storage holder l is provided on the front side of the vending machine. As shown in FIG. 4, this holder 1 is formed into a substantially C channel shape with dimensions suitable for the volume of products A to be stacked and stored, and the opening surface 2 is positioned in front of the main body gauging 80, and slightly rearward. It is tilted and fixed.

3 is the opening edge of the product storage holder 1, 4 is the back plate, 5 is the product support piece on both sides of the bottom, 6 is an inverted U-shaped notch at the bottom of the back plate, and 7 is an opening/closing bar. When closed, it is attached to a magnet 8 fixed to the side of the holder 1 to maintain its closed state, and is pushed open by the product A.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a coin shooter having a flat C-shaped cross section, which guides only a specific coin of a predetermined diameter and thickness, for example, a 100 yen coin. This coin shooter 10 has an open surface 1
1 are located on the back side of the main casing at an angle of 8 degrees, and are arranged in parallel behind the product storage holder 1 so as to be inclined about 5 degrees toward the back surface. Also, coin shooter 10
The board 12 has vertically long window holes 13°1 at the top, middle and bottom.
4.15 is provided. Of course, the window holes 13 to 15 may be one continuous long hole.

Furthermore,! 8 is the coin guide path in the coin shooter;
Reference numeral 19 indicates a cutout portion obtained by cutting out the opening edges on both sides of the front surface corresponding to the window holes 13 to 15 to a required length, for example, a length slightly smaller than the outer diameter of a specific coin.

16 is a coin slot detachably attached to the upper end of the coin shooter 10, and this coin slot 16 is connected to the sixth coin slot 16.
As shown in the figure, the opening slot 17 has a width and groove width that prevents the insertion of coins thicker than a 100 yen coin or coins with a larger diameter.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an upper fixed shaft 2° installed horizontally in the upper space between the coin shooter 10 and the storage holder 1, and a weight checker 21 is swingably suspended from the upper fixed shaft 20. The weight checker 21 has a lower end protrusion 21a.
slightly protrudes from the upper window hole 13 of the coin shooter board 12 into the guide path 18 of the shooter 1o, and when a specific coin passes through this window hole position of the shooter 10, the weight of the coin causes the coin to fall on the storage holder 1 side. While being scolded by
Even if the inserted coin has a diameter that allows it to be guided through the shooter 10, if it is lighter than a specific coin, the coin is held in a position protruding from the window hole 13 and bounced toward the back side of the main body casing 80.

Further, a swing-shaped forward tilt prevention checker 22 is swingably suspended from the upper fixed shaft 20 so as to sandwich the shooter 10 from the inside to the outside. The forward tilt prevention checker 22 is
Left and right sides 11iii whose upper ends are pivotally supported on the upper fixed shaft 20
23, a connecting bar 24 located on the open surface 11 of the coin shooter 10 and connecting the lower ends of the side arms, and a projecting piece 25 projecting obliquely upward from the connecting bar 24 toward the intermediate window hole 14 of the coin shooter 10. has.

The forward tilt prevention checker 22-, which hangs vertically from the upper fixed shaft 20, is designed so that when the vending machine is in a stable state without tilting forward or backward, the protruding piece 25 of the connecting bar 24 is in the guide path of the coin shooter 10. It is located in a position that does not enter the inside of 18.

Reference numeral 30 denotes an intermediate fixed shaft installed horizontally in the lower part of the space between the coin shooter 10 and the storage holder 1. This intermediate fixed shaft 30 includes a product delivery arm 31 and a swinging shaft that holds a coin pocket 50, which will be described later. The bracket 40 and the coin standby arm 60 are pivotally supported.

The product delivery arm 31 is provided with delivery pieces 33 formed on the left and right sides thereof in an abbreviated shape and with short sides 32 having rounded tips, and the long sides 3 of the left and right delivery pieces 33
The upper ends and lower ends of 4 are connected by connecting pieces 35 and 36. Further, the product delivery arm 31 is configured such that the upper part of the long side 34 of the delivery piece 33 is swingably pivoted on the intermediate fixed shaft 30 such that the tip of the short side of the delivery piece 33 faces the product storage holder 1 side. In the freely suspended state, the tip of the short side portion 32 passes through the above-mentioned notch 6 of the product storage holder 1 and enters the lower part of the storage holder 1.

Furthermore, a product sold-out activation piece 37 is provided on the upper connecting piece 35 to protrude toward the coin shooter 10. This product sold-out operation piece 37 enters into the guide path 18 of the coin shooter 10 from the lower window hole 15 of the coin shooter 10 when the product delivery arm 31 is in the above-described free hanging state, and the product storage holder 1 Product A is stored inside,
The tip of the short side 32 of the product delivery arm 31 or this product A
The length is set such that it retracts from the lower window hole 15 of the coin shooter 10 when it is pressed.

The swinging bracket 40 has a substantially U-shape in plan, consisting of both side plates 41.41 and a back plate 42 connecting them. The upper part of the product dispensing arm 31 is pivoted around an intermediate shaft between the two dispensing pieces 33, 33 of the product dispensing arm 31. The lower end of the coin shooter 10 is brought into contact with the upper end of the outer surface of the back plate 42, and rotation in the counterclockwise direction in the figure is restricted, and a coin pocket 50 is provided at the lower part of the outer surface to receive a specific coin dropped from the coin shooter 10. is fixed close to the lower end of the coin shooter 10.

As shown in FIG. 9, the coin pocket 50 is provided with coins dropped from the coin shooter 10 on both sides of the upper end of a main body piece 51 which is made of plate material and formed to have approximately the same width as the coin shooter 10. The received receiver is provided with a U-shaped guide portion 52.52 that guides the portion 53.

The receiving portion 53 provided at a position protruding downward from the back plate 42 of the swing bracket 40 has a side surface shape with a groove width necessary to receive a specific coin, and is connected to the lower part of the main body. From here, the receiver that faces each other with an interval slightly wider than the thickness of the specific coin is piece 54, and the lower part for the main body and this receiver are piece 54.
and a connecting piece 55 that connects the two at the lower end.

An opening 56 whose width is smaller than the diameter of the coin is formed in the center of the plate surface from the lower part of the main body piece 51 to the connecting piece 55, and the receiving piece 54 has a substantially inverted U-shape. to accomplish. Further, one side of the coin receiver section 53 is closed, while the other side is open, and coins placed in the receiver can be removed from the open side surface 57.

In addition, the coin pocket 50 is inserted into the product delivery arm 31 when the tip of the short side 32 of the delivery piece 33 of the product delivery arm 31 is pushed backward by the product A stored in the storage holder 1. 31 lower connecting piece 36
is in contact with.

Further, below the swing bracket 40 described above, a coin push-up pin (not shown) is provided to protrude toward the rear opening 56 of the coin pocket 50 at a position where the movement of the product delivery arm 31 is not hindered. This bin pushes up the coins stored in the coin pocket 50 from the coin receiving part 53 during the product delivery operation and guides them out of the coin pocket 50.

As shown in FIG. 9, the coin standby arm 60 has a bent portion 62 of a main body piece 61 formed in a substantially dogleg shape, which is pivotally supported by one shaft end of the intermediate fixed shaft 30. A connecting piece 63 is connected to the upper end toward the inside of the vending machine, and a coin standby operating piece 64 is provided at the tip of the connecting piece 63 to protrude toward the lower window hole 15 of the coin shooter 10. Also,
At the lower end of the main body piece 61, a receiver for an operating cam 72, which will be described later, is attached to the piece 6.
5 is provided.

The coin standby arm 60 is pulled by a spring 66 at a proper position below the body piece 61, and the receiver holds the coin standby actuating piece 64 into the lower window hole 15 of the coin shooter 100 unless the piece 65 is pressed by the actuating cam 72. It is held in a position where it cannot be inserted.

Reference numeral 70 denotes a lower rotating shaft 70 installed horizontally below the coin pocket 50 and the coin standby arm 60, and a dial-shaped operating member 71 is fixed to one end protruding to one side of the main body casing 80, although not shown. , a ratchet is provided so that it can rotate only in one direction (counterclockwise in the figure).

Reference numeral 72 denotes an operating cam fixed to the periphery of the shaft of the coin standby arm 60 facing the piece 65 in the lower rotary wheel 70, and as the operating member 71 rotates, the cam surface 73 protrudes semicircularly. The receiver is brought into contact with the piece 65 and rotates the lower half of the main body piece 61 of the coin standby arm 60 clockwise in the figure.

Reference numeral 74 denotes an operation start lever 74 fixed to the periphery of the lower rotary shaft 70 facing the coin pocket 50 and having the same phase as the operating cam 72. is brought into contact with the piece 65, and at the same time, its tip is brought into contact with the surface of the coin inside the coin pocket 50, causing the coin pocket 50 and the swinging bracket 40 to be pressed against the product A.
Push it toward the storage chute 10 side.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the reference numeral 81 indicates the main body casing 80.
A product replenishment opening/closing door 82 provided at the front of the main body casing 80 is a product takeout port 82 provided at the lower front of the main body casing 80.

Further, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 83 is a coin collection box disposed at the lower left end of each unit U.

Next, the usage state of this vending machine will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 12.

First, the user inserts a coin through the slot 16 provided on the top surface of the main body casing 80. This coin is a single specific coin (e.g. 100 coins) that is accepted by this vending machine.
If the coin is of a large diameter or thick (for example, a 500 yen coin is 1l0 yen 1), the coin cannot be inserted into the slot 16 and remains in the hand.

The coins that have passed through the coin slot 16 are guided to the coin pocket 50 by the coin shooter IO. If the inserted coin has a smaller diameter than the specified coin, the coin will not be guided by the chute 10 and will fall into the notch 19 because the coin chute 10 is installed with its open surface 11 tilted backwards. through the open surface 11
The product falls down and is taken out from the product takeout port 82, which also serves as a coin return port, with the inclined bottom plate 84 red.

In addition, if the inserted coin has the same diameter as the specific coin but is small in thickness or lightweight, when passing through the coin guide path 10, the coin guide path 18 may resist the lower end protrusion 21a of the weight checker 21. could not slide down, and the protrusion 21
The coin is bounced by a and falls from the notch 19, and is similarly led to the coin return port 82.

If the vending machine is tilted for the purpose of disabling the weight checker 21, etc., the protrusion 25 of the lower part of the swingable forward tilt prevention checker 22 will move against the open surface of the coin shooter 10 as shown in FIG. Enter the coin guide path 18 from the 11 side. As a result, all coins that have passed through the weight checker 21, regardless of whether they are proper or incorrect, are pushed out of the coin shooter from the notch 19 by the protruding piece 25.

If the vending machine is tilted backwards, coin checker 19
is the guide path 18 of the coin shooter 10 from the back side of the board 12.
Since the notch 19 is completely blocked, even a proper coin will be repelled by this part and removed from the notch 19.

If the product A is not loaded in the product storage holder 1 (if it is sold out), the product sold-out activation piece 37 of the suspended product delivery arm 31 enters the guide path 18 at the bottom of the coin shooter 10 from behind the board 12. Due to the position of the coin, the coin that has fallen out of the vending machine is not tilted and even if the correct coin is inserted, this actuating piece 37
It is rejected by.

When the product A is loaded in the storage holder 1, the short side 32 of the product delivery arm 31 is pushed by the back of the product A.
Since the tip is pushed backward, the sold-out activation piece 37 is pulled out of the guide path 18 and is in the retracted position. Therefore, the inserted specific coin slides down the coin shooter 10 to its lower end and is stored in the coin pocket 50.

When another proper coin is inserted into the receiver of the coin pocket 50 with a coin stored in the part 53, the inserted coin collides with the upper end of the coin in the coin pocket 50 and falls, and is returned through the return port 82.

Next, when the operating member 71 on the side of the vending machine is rotated,
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the actuation cam 72 and the actuation start lever 74 rotate simultaneously. The operating cam 72 pushes the receiving piece 65 of the coin standby arm 60 along the cam surface 73 at a predetermined rotational position, and moves the coin waiting actuating piece 64 from the lower window hole 15 of the coin shooter 10 to the shooter 10. (See FIG. 11).

As a result, when a coin is inserted again with the operating member 71 rotated, the inserted coin is transferred to the coin shooter 10.
Inside, the lower part is supported by the coin standby operating piece 64 to maintain the standby state. Even if the operating member is rotated, when the operating member is in the state shown in FIG. 10, the continuously inserted proper coins collide with the coins in the coin pocket 50 and are returned.

On the other hand, the operation start lever 74 rotated at the same time as the coin standby arm 60 presses the lower surface of the coin exposed from the coin receiver part 53 in the front direction of the main body casing 80. The coin pocket 50, which is swung in the front direction together with the swinging bracket 40, pushes the lower connecting piece 36 of the product delivery arm 31 in the same direction, thereby moving the tip of the short side 32 of the delivery piece 33 forward. Since the tip of the short side 32 is rounded, the product A at the lowest level in the product holder that comes into contact with it is smoothly pushed forward by a sufficient distance. The product A that has moved forward is placed in the storage holder 1 by opening the opening/closing bar 7.
The product falls from the support piece 5, is guided by the inclined plate 84, and reaches the product outlet 82.

Coin pocket 5 that advances the product delivery arm 31
While the coin in 0 is pushed forward by the actuation start lever 74, the receiver of the coin pocket 50 is gradually lifted from the part 53 by the coin push-up pin and removed from the left open surface 57. Ru. coin pocket 50
The more detached coins fall and are collected in the collection box 83.

When the coin falls, the swing bracket 40, which had been pushed forward by the operation start lever 74, becomes vertically suspended, and the product delivery arm 31 also returns accordingly. In addition, the coin standby arm 60 has a receiving part 65 or an operating cam 72.
The pressing force is released, and the spring 66 returns to its original state by the urging force of the spring 66. Due to the stiffness, the standby actuating piece 64 of the coin standby arm 60 is inserted into the lower through hole 1 of the shooter 10.
5, the coins that have been continuously inserted lose their support, slide down the shooter 10, and end up in the coin pocket 50. Thereafter, the next product is taken out by operating the same operating member as described above.

The operation of the unit mechanism as described above is the same for other units installed in parallel in this vending machine, but in the unit where coins are not inserted, even if the operating member is rotated and the operation start lever is rotated. Since no coins are stored in the coin receiver, the coin pocket does not move toward the front of the main body casing, and therefore, the product delivery arm does not move forward, and only the activation lever rotates idly.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the coin shooter has a substantially flat C-shaped cross section with a predetermined groove width and width, and is erected with its open surface facing diagonally downward. Since the coins are sorted by installing a weight checker in the machine, the coins can be sorted reliably with a small number of components, and all of the above members can be integrally molded with resin. Therefore, manufacturing costs can be significantly reduced.

In addition, the coin shooter, which allows coins to slide down, is erected with the open surface extending over the entire length diagonally downward, and a notch is provided in a part of the open edge to prevent dust from adhering to it. It is easy to clean and can be easily cleaned.

Furthermore, by providing a tilt prevention checker, even if the main body casing is tilted to cause unauthorized use of coins, this can be accurately prevented.

In addition, the coin pocket, where coins are temporarily stored and which acts as a bridge between operations to the product delivery mechanism, is provided below the coin shooter at a distance from the coin pocket. Even if an attempt is made to withdraw the coins illegally, it becomes difficult to return the coins to the slot, which helps prevent this type of fraudulent activity.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of a gum vending machine incorporating a coin sorting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the main parts of the internal mechanism seen from the back, and Fig. 3 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the coin sorting, product storage and delivery mechanisms seen from behind, Figure 4 is a partial sectional view of Figure 3 viewed from the side, Figure 5
The figure is an overall perspective view of the product storage holder, Figure 6 is a front view showing the input slot at the upper end of the coin shooter, Figures 7 and 8 are sectional views of the upper part of the coin shooter in its proper position and forward tilted state,
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the main parts of the product delivery mechanism, FIGS. 10 and 11 are sectional views showing the operation of the product delivery mechanism, and FIG. 12 is a flowchart when using the above vending machine. 1 ・ ・ 10 ・ 12 ・ 16 ・ 19 ・ ・Product storage holter, ・・Coin shooter, 1 ・・Platform board, 13-15 ・・・Coin slot, 18 ・・Notch, 20 ・・ 1 ・・Open surface...Window hole, ...-Guideway, -Upper fixed shaft, 21...21a...22...30...31...33...50...60...64...65...71... 74 ・ ・ 82− ・ ・Weight checker, ・Lower end protrusion, ・Forward tilt prevention checker, 25 ・Protrusion piece/intermediate fixed shaft, ・Product delivery arm, ・Delivery piece, ・Coin pocket, 51... Main body piece/coin standby arm, - Coin standby actuation piece, - Receiver is one piece, 70...lower rotating shaft, -Operation member, 72...operating cam, -Operation start lever/product outlet Fig. 5∆ Figure 6 Figure 10 I2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Inside the main casing, a groove width and width corresponding to the thickness and diameter of a specific coin form a substantially flat C-shaped cross section, and a window hole is formed at a predetermined position in the length direction of the central board. Coin shooters each having a notch in the open edge at a position corresponding to the window hole are erected with their open sides facing diagonally downward, and are freely suspended at a position close to the board. In the suspended state, the coin enters the coin guide path in the coin shooter through the window hole, and when the specific coin guided by the coin shooter passes, it collides with the coin and is repelled out of the coin guide path, while the coin enters the coin guide path in the coin shooter. When a lightweight coin slides down the guide path, a weight checker that stays in the guide path and flicks the coin away from the open surface is swingably supported, and a weight checker is provided below the coin shooter at a distance from the coin shooter. A coin sorting mechanism for a vending machine, characterized in that a coin pocket is provided to receive the specified coin in an upright state when the specified coin falls from a coin shooter. (2) In the coin sorting mechanism for a vending machine according to claim 1, a main body casing tilt prevention checker having a baffle piece at a lower part is swingably pivoted close to the guide path of the coin shooter. When the main body casing is not tilted, the baffle pieces are in a freely suspended state in which they do not enter the guide path of the coin shooter, while when the main body casing is tilted, the baffle pieces enter the guide path. A coin sorting mechanism for a vending machine that bounces coins that have slipped down a coin shooter.