JPH0512858Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] This invention is installed in automatic public telephones, vending machines, money changers, etc., and the coins are rolled along an accumulating track and then stored. This invention relates to a coin storage and return device that returns a portion of coins to a return slot.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as this type of coin receiving and returning device, the structure disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-126372 has been known. Fig. 8 is a front view of the main part, and to explain based on this figure, a flat plate 2 and a coin rail 3 are inclined between a base plate 1, which is usually erected at a slight incline, and a side plate (not shown) on the front side of the base plate, and these are provided with a sorting track 4, which has a coin insertion port (not shown) opening diagonally upward, and an accumulation track 5, which are continuous with each other. Furthermore, the coin rail 3 is provided with a storage track 6, which faces diagonally downward at the same inclination angle as the accumulation track 5.
A storage track 6 and a return track 7 are formed next to the storage track 5, and a storage lever 8 and a return plate 9 are provided at the branch point of the tracks 6 and 7.
The coin receiving portion 8a has a tip end that prevents the coin 10 from rolling along the track, and is adapted to move back and forth between the front side of the figure and the back side of the paper by a drive device such as a piezoelectric drive element (not shown), allowing or preventing the coin 10 from rolling. The return plate 9 is adapted to move back and forth between the front side of the figure and the back side of the paper by a drive device (not shown), opening or closing the entrance to the return track 7. 11 denotes a pin that moves back and forth into the accumulation track 5.

With this configuration, for example, in the case of a public telephone, when the handset is lifted and a coin is inserted, the genuine coins 10 sorted by the sorting device in the sorting track 4 are collected by the coin receiver 8a of the storage lever 8. They are prevented from rolling and are stored in parallel in the storage track 5. When a call is made by turning the dial, the storage lever 8 and pin 11 are opened and closed in response to a coin storage signal for each call to roll only one coin 10 into the storage track 6, and this coin 10 is stored in a storage box or the like. be done. When the telephone receiver is hung up after the end of the call, the return plate 9 is opened via the drive mechanism, and the surplus coins 10 are returned to the return slot through the return track 7.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the main parts of a conventional vertical coin storage and return device, in which a storage track 13 and a storage track 14 are continuously formed on a vertical coin rail 12. A return track opening 15 is opened at the boundary. At the entrance of the storage track 14 and the return track opening 15, there are a storage lever 16 and a return plate 1 that move forward and backward in the same way as shown in FIG.
7, and the second coin 10
A pin 18 that moves forward and backward into the storage track 13 is provided below.

With this configuration, the storage lever 16 and the return plate 1 can be moved as shown in FIG.
7 and pin 18 advance and retreat at the predetermined timing to store or return the coin 10.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in such a conventional coin storage and return device, first, in the one shown in FIG. 8, when the return operation is performed during the coin storage operation in which the storage lever 8 is opened and closed, the coin 10 is moved to the position shown by the reference numeral 10A. The coin 10A may be returned without being stored due to the center of gravity, or the storage lever 8 may return quickly in conjunction with the return operation and the coin 10A may be returned to the board 1.
As a result, the coin 10A was sometimes held in a state where it could not be stored or returned.

Also, in the case shown in FIG. 9, if the return operation is performed during the coin storage operation, the coin to be stored is
0A is returned or 10 coins are returned with the storage lever 16.
There were cases where A was held under pressure.

Furthermore, in the devices disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 50-31025 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 50-31026, for example, an inclined cam surface is formed on the return rotation side of the coin return lever, and the coin receiving portion of the coin storage lever is However, even with this configuration, if the return operation is performed during the coin storage operation, there will be frictional resistance to forcibly take in the metal coin with either lever. Therefore, an extremely large force is required, and depending on the position of the coin, the movement balance of the center of gravity will reach an equilibrium state and the coin will come to a standstill, which will stably eliminate the above-mentioned obstacle of half-stowing and half-returning. I couldn't do it.

In this way, the provider of the device may suffer damage due to extra coins being returned, or the user may suffer damage due to subsequent coins not being returned due to the coins being stopped in a half-stacked, half-returned state. Furthermore, when coins are stopped, subsequent users cannot use the device even if subsequent coins are returned, resulting in a problem in that service deteriorates. If such a failure occurs, a worker must go to the location where the device is set up, disassemble the device's board and side panels, remove the stuck coin, and then adjust the operation of each lever. Therefore, a great deal of time and effort was required for maintenance.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve these problems, the present invention provides a coin storage track and a coin storage track that are continuous with each other between the coin input slot and the coin storage section, and an opening for the return track at the boundary between the two tracks. and has a coin receiving part that crosses the coin storage track at the end of the return track opening, and a notch that allows coins to pass through the coin storage track when storing coins, so as to open and close the entrance of the coin storage track. A coin storage lever that is driven forward and backward with respect to the track, and a coin receiving portion that crosses the opening for the return track, and coins that are driven back and forth with respect to the coin accumulation track so as to open and close most of the opening for the return track. a return plate, and a protrusion that corresponds to the notch of the coin storage lever and supports the rolling of coins is attached to the coin storage lever on the same plane as the coin receiving portion of the coin return plate and facing the coin receiving portion. The projecting piece is integrally formed to protrude and has a length that supports one coin.

[Effect]

Coins inserted from the coin slot are received by the coin receiving part of the coin return lever and the coin receiving part of the coin return plate and accumulated in the coin accumulation track, and when the coin storage lever is opened by a coin return signal etc. The coins that have rolled on the protrusion of the coin storage lever and passed through the notch are sequentially ejected and stored one by one through the coin storage track. The coin storage lever that sent out the coin returns to the coin receiving position. When the coin return plate is opened by a coin return signal or the like, the coins are ejected from the return track opening and returned. Even if the return operation is performed during the coin storage operation, the coins are received by the coin receiving part and the protrusion of the coin storage lever, so the coins will not be in a state of being partially stored or half returned.

〔Example〕

Figures 1 to 5 show an example in which the coin storage and return device according to the present invention is implemented in an automatic public telephone. Figure 1 is a front view with the side plate removed, and Figure 2 is a sectional view along AA of Figure 1. , FIG. 3 is a BB sectional view of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the coin storage lever, and FIG. 5 is a CC sectional view of FIG. 3. In the figure, the coin sorting and storage section of the public telephone has a rectangular board 20.
and a side plate (not shown) are erected with a slight inclination as shown in FIG.
is rotatably supported via a shaft 23 to a shaft support 22 on the board 20 side, and this flapper 21 is
It is pressed against the substrate 20 by a leaf spring 24 whose base end is fixed to the substrate 20 side. The flapper 21 has an input port 25 on the board 20 side into which coins 26 are input.
Following this, there is a sorting track 21a as a hollow part extending diagonally downward, and coins 26 that are inserted through the slot 25 and rolling on the sorting track 21a are sorted into the sorting track 21a to detect fraudulent coins, etc. A coin sorting sensor 27 that emits a signal is provided. A coin rail 28 having an accumulation track 28a continuous to the sorting track 21b and a storage track 28b continuous to the storage track 28b is fixed to the board 20 and inclined at the same angle as the flapper 21. is provided with a coin ejection port 28c that opens toward a coin storage box (not shown) or the like. Further, a return track opening 28d is opened downward in the storage track 28a, and between the board 20 and the side plate,
A funnel-shaped guide plate 29 is provided to guide return coins discharged from the return track opening 28d to a return coin receiving box (not shown) or the like.

A magnet 30 is supported on the outer surface of the substrate 20 via an L-shaped bracket 21, and an arm 32a of a storage lever 32, which will be described later, is pivotally attached to the upper end of the magnet with a pivot 33. 32
An armature 34 that is attracted by the excitation of the armature 30 is integrally fixed to the protruding piece a. Further, a tension spring 36 is interposed between the arm 32a and the spring hook 35 on the substrate 20 side, which applies a rotational force to the arm 32a in the direction of releasing the suction of the armature 34. With this configuration, when the magnet 30 is excited, the armature 34 is attracted and the arm 32
When arm a rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2 against the tensile force of the tension spring 36 and the magnet 30 is de-energized, the arm 3
2a rotates clockwise in FIG. The board 20 and the side plate of the coin rail 28 are provided with through holes 28e that are perpendicular to the return track opening 28d.
A storage lever shown enlarged in FIG. 4 is provided in an L-shaped hole formed by the through hole 28e and a part of the return track opening 28d. The coin engaging portion 32b of 32 is connected to the arm 3.
By swinging 2a, it is engaged in the storage track 28a so that it can move forward and backward. The coin engaging portion 28b includes a coin receiving plate 32d as a coin receiving portion parallel to the arm 32a through a notch 32c, and a projecting piece 32e projecting in a right angle direction over the entire width from the arm 32a to the coin receiving plate 32d. The arm 32a is integrally formed with the arm 32a, and a higher protrusion 32f projects from the protrusion 32e in correspondence with the notch 32c. With this configuration, for example, when a coin 26 is inserted and a call is being made, the magnet 30 is demagnetized and the coin engaging portion 32b crosses the entrance of the storage track 28b through the swinging of the arm 32a. The coin receiving plate 32d and the protruding piece 32e are configured to receive the leading coin of the coins 26 stored in parallel in the diametrical direction within the storage track 28a. For example, by energizing the magnet 30 with a signal issued for each call, the coin engaging portion 32b is deeply engaged across the entrance of the storage track 28b through the swinging of the arm 32a, and the The coin 26 is configured to roll on the high protrusion 32f and the low protrusion 32e, and is discharged to the storage track 28b through the notch 32c. A pin arm 32g that is perpendicular to the arm 32 is protruded from the arm 32, and a pin 37 at the tip of the arm 32g moves between the first coin 26 and the second coin 26 as the arm 32a swings. It is engaged so that it can move forward and backward, and is configured to restrict the rolling of the second and subsequent coins 26 when coins are ejected and stored from the notch 32c. It should be noted that immediately after one coin 26 is ejected, the magnet 30 is demagnetized and the storage lever 32 returns to its old position.

What is indicated by the symbol 38 is the return track opening 28d.
The coin return plate is formed to be able to move forward and backward in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 3 with respect to the storage track 28a so as to open and close.In the case of a telephone, by lowering the handset, the storage track 28a can be mechanically or electrically removed. It is configured so that the coins 26 are exited, the return track opening 28d is opened, the surplus coins 26 are discharged, and the surplus coins 26 are returned to a return coin receiving box or the like. Once returned, it will immediately return to its old position.

The operation of the coin storage and return device configured as described above will be explained using an automatic public telephone as an example. When the receiver is picked up and a plurality of coins 26 are inserted into the slot 25, the coins 26 are arranged in parallel in the storage track 28a unless the sorting sensor 27 detects any fraudulent coins. At this time, the magnet 30 is demagnetized and the coin engaging portion 32b of the coin storage lever 32 is shallowly engaged with the entrance of the storage track 28b, so the leading coin 26 is held between the coin receiving plate 32d and the protruding piece 32e. It is accepted. The coin return plate 38 is closed, blocking most of the return track opening 28d, and receives the coins 26.

When you continue talking by turning the dial, the magnet 30 is energized by a command from the control device for each call, and the arm 32a is energized by the attraction of the armature 34.
swings, the coin engaging portion 32b is deeply engaged into the storage track 28b, and the coin 26 corresponds to the notch 32c. Further, the pin 37 engages between the first coin 26 and the second coin 26 due to the swinging of the coin storage lever 32. As a result, the first coin 26 rolls on the protrusions 32f and 32e, leaving the second and subsequent coins 26 whose rolling is restricted by the pin 37, and rolls on the notches 3.
After being discharged from 2c to the storage track 28b, the coins are stored in a coin storage box or the like. After storing the coin 26, the magnet 30 is demagnetized and the coin storage lever 32 returns to its old position.

When you hang up the handset after finishing a call, the coin return plate 38 is mechanically or electrically driven to return to the storage track 2.
8a and opens the return track opening 28d, so if there are surplus coins 26, they are all ejected from the return track opening 28d and returned to the return coin receiving box or the like. After the return, the coin return plate 38 returns to its old position.

Coin 2 in the above coin storage and return operation
6 will be explained based on FIGS. 4 and 5. The first coin 26 on the coin storage plate is placed on the coin receiving plate 3.
2d at point A, and is received in contact with the tip of the coin return plate 38 at point B. At this time, a gap indicated by the symbol t is formed between the center of gravity O of the coin 26 and the tip of the low protrusion 32e. From this state, when the coin engaging portion 32b enters the front side in FIG.
The coin 26 is received by the higher protrusion 32f, and the coin receiving surface 32b is changed to a notch 32c,
The contact at the point is eliminated, and the coin 26 rolls on the protrusion 32f and is stored. Moreover, when the coin return plate 38 moves away from the illustrated state toward the back of the paper in FIG.
The support at the point is removed, and the coin 26 is ejected downward and returned. In this case, as described above, the gap t is formed and the center of gravity O of the coin 26 is
Since it is shifted to the right in the figure from the tip of 2e, B
When the points are no longer in contact, the center of gravity O moves easily and reliably to the right, and the coin is reliably ejected. If a return operation is performed during the storage operation, that is, if the handset is accidentally hung up when the first coin 26 is about to be stored after several calls at the public telephone, the coin return plate 38 will be removed. Even when the coin 26 is started, it is still supported by the protruding piece 32f, so the coin 26 is reliably stored through the notch 32c without becoming jammed.

6 and 7 are a front view and a side view of a coin storage and return device showing another embodiment of the present invention,
In this embodiment, a vertical device is shown. Components having a configuration substantially similar to those of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. That is, a return track opening 28d is opened laterally at the terminal end of the vertical storage track 28a, and a vertical track that advances and retreats in the direction shown by arrow D in FIG. A coin return board 38 shaped like this is provided. Arm 32 with pivot 33
Coin storage lever 3 that swings supported by the base end of a
2 includes an inclined coin receiving plate 32d that crosses the entrance of the storage track 28b, and a protrusion 32f that moves forward and backward to open and close a part of the return track opening 28d.

With this configuration, during a call, the coin engaging portion 32b shallowly enters the storage track 28b as shown in FIG. When the magnet 30 is excited, the coin receiving plate 32 deeply enters the storage track 28b and collects the coin 26.
The support is released, and only the first coin 26 is stored, leaving the second and upper coins 26 supported by the pin 37. At this time, the protrusion 32b enters the return track opening 28d and guides the coin 26 to fall. Further, when the handset is put down, the coin return plate 38 moves out of the return track opening 28d and opens it, allowing the coin 26 to be returned.
are all discharged and returned from the return track opening 28d. Furthermore, even if the return operation is performed during the storage operation, since the protruding piece 32f receives the first coin 26, it will not be half stored or half returned, but the second and subsequent coins 26 will be reliably stored. This will not prevent you from returning it.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, an example was shown in which the present invention was implemented in an automatic public telephone, but it can be similarly implemented in a vending machine or a money exchange machine.

[Effect of idea]

As is clear from the above explanation, in the coin return device according to the present invention, a coin storage track and a coin storage track that are continuous with each other are provided between the coin input slot and the coin storage section, and the boundary between the two tracks is provided. A return track opening is opened at the end of the return track opening, and a coin receiving part that crosses the coin storage track at the end of the return track opening, and a notch that allows the coin to pass through the coin storage track during coin storage, and an entrance of the coin storage track. a coin storage lever that is driven forward and backward with respect to the track so as to open and close it; and a coin receiving section that crosses the return track opening, and is configured to open and close most of the return track opening with respect to the coin storage track; a coin return plate that is driven forward and backward, and a protrusion that corresponds to the notch of the coin storage lever and supports the rolling of coins is substantially flush with the coin receiving portion of the coin return plate and is oriented toward the coin receiving portion. By forming the projecting piece integrally with the coin storage lever and configuring the projecting piece to have a length that supports one coin, the coin storage operation and the coin return plate operation can be performed reliably, and the coin storage operation can also be carried out reliably. Even if a coin return operation is performed inside, the protruding piece receives the coin and guides it to the storage track, so the coin will not become stuck in a half-stacked, half-returned state and will not get stuck. Problems can be prevented by preventing items from being left unused or unreturned, and normal operation can be maintained, improving serviceability. Furthermore, the configuration is simple, and existing equipment can be used effectively with minor modification.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 7 show an embodiment of the coin storage and return device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view with the side plate removed, FIG. 2 is a sectional view along AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. Fig. 1 is a BB sectional view, Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the coin storage lever, Fig. 5 is a CC sectional view of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a vertical coin storage return as another embodiment of the present invention. The front view of the device, Figure 7, is also a side view, Figure 8.
The figure is a schematic front view of an inclined coin storage and return device shown to explain coin jamming in a conventional device.
FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of the vertical coin storage and return device. 20... Board, 28... Coin rail, 28a
...Accumulation orbit, 28b...Storage orbit, 28c...
Ejection port, 28d...Return track opening, 32...Coin storage lever, 32a...Arm, 32b...Coin engaging portion, 32c...Notch, 32d...Coin receiving plate, 32e, 32f...Protrusion Piece 38... Coin return board.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A coin storage track that communicates with the coin slot, a coin storage track that is continuous with the coin storage track and has an opening to the coin storage section, an opening for a return track that opens at the boundary between these two tracks, and a coin storage track for the return track. It has a coin receiving part that crosses the coin storage track at the end of the opening, and a notch that allows coins to pass through the coin storage track when storing coins, and is driven forward and backward with respect to the track to open and close the entrance of the coin storage track. The coin storage lever includes a coin storage lever, and a coin return plate that has a coin receiving portion that crosses the return track opening and is driven forward and backward with respect to the coin storage track so as to open and close most of the return track opening, A protrusion corresponding to the notch of the storage lever and supporting the rolling of coins is formed on the coin storage lever in substantially the same plane as the coin receiving portion of the coin return plate and integrally protrudes toward the coin receiving portion. A coin storage and return device characterized in that a protrusion has a length that supports one coin.