JPH05274518A - Automatic change paying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To rapidly and surely pay back coins for change. CONSTITUTION:Coins P injected into a hopper 6 are aligned and delivered by a coin delivering mechanism 7 and then counted by a coin counter 8 in accordance with a prescribed change setting amount and the change coins counted by the counter 8 are temporarily stored by a coin storing mechanism 10. The change coins temporarily stored in the mechanism 10 are ejected from a coin ejecting port 5 of an ejecting means. A sensor 14 for optically detecting the approach of a hand H, releasing the temporarily storing state of the change coins by the mechanism 10 and ejecting the coins is arranged in the vicinity of the coin ejecting port 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic change payment device installed at a toll booth on a highway, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, at a toll booth on an expressway or the like, a change is paid when a toll is received from a customer, particularly when a coin is paid, and the change is required to be paid by the user each time. The present situation is that the amount of money is handed, or coins corresponding to a predetermined amount of change are arranged in advance in piles and arranged and arranged, and the required amount is handed while picking up each mountain.

[0003]

However, such a conventional change payment operation is not swift if the change is counted one by one at a place where the change is frequently used or a site where a long time is spent. Not only is it physically and mentally painful, but it is easy to cause troubles with users due to mistakes in billing. In addition, there is a problem that a huge amount of work is required and a large space is required even when the change is arranged and prepared and arranged.

The present invention has been made under the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic change payment device capable of promptly and reliably paying change coins. Especially.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a coin accommodating means for accommodating coins for change, and a feeding means for feeding out the coins accommodated in the coin accommodating means. Counting means for counting the coins fed out by the feeding means according to a predetermined change setting amount, and storage means for temporarily storing the change coins counted by this counting means,
The payout means for paying out the change coins temporarily stored by the storage means from the coin payout exit, and the payout means provided in the vicinity of the coin payout exit of the payout means, and optically detecting the approach of an object The change coin is provided with a payout detecting means for releasing the temporary storage state and discharging the change coin.

Further, the present invention, in the above structure, is provided with a payout holding means for starting the operation of releasing the temporary storage state of the change coins of the storage means by the detection operation of the payout detection means after holding for a certain period of time. It is what

[0007]

That is, according to the present invention, by adopting the above-mentioned structure, the change coins stored in the coin storing means are fed out by the feeding means, and the coins fed out by the feeding means are used as the counting means. The change coins are counted according to a predetermined set change amount, and the change coins counted by the counting unit are temporarily stored by the storing unit. On the other hand, the change coins temporarily stored by the storage means are paid out from the coin payout exit of the payout means, and the approach of an object such as a hand is optically detected near the coin payout exit of the payout means. Since the dispensing detecting means for releasing the temporary storage state of the change coins by the storing means and discharging the change coins is provided, the predetermined amount of change coins are discharged onto the object only by bringing the object close to the coin payout outlet.

Further, since the withdrawal holding means for starting the operation of releasing the temporary storage state of the change coins of the storage means by the detection operation of the withdrawal detection means after holding for a fixed time is provided,
If the detection operation by the payout detection means lasts for a certain period of time, the temporary storage state of the storage means is canceled to prevent malfunction.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows the appearance of an automatic change payment device according to the present invention, in which 1 is a device main body and 2 is this device. An operation panel provided on the upper front surface of the main body 1. The operation panel 2 is provided with a power switch 3 and a payout button 4, and at the lower front surface of the apparatus main body 1, a payout means for paying out change coins. Is provided as a coin payout exit 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hopper 6 serving as a coin accommodating means into which coin P for change is inserted is provided in the main body 1 of the apparatus, and a coin P inserted into the hopper 6 is provided.
Coin feeding mechanism 7 as feeding means for aligning and feeding the coins
And a coin counter 8 as a counting means for counting the coins P fed out by the coin feeding mechanism 7 according to a predetermined change amount, and the change coins P counted by the coin counter 8 are temporarily The coin storing mechanism 10 as a storing means for storing is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the coin storage mechanism 10 includes a storage plate 11 for receiving change coins P counted by the coin counter 8 and dropped from the guide plate 9, and the storage plate 11 is The shaft 12 serves as a support shaft so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction, and the solenoid 13 is driven to control opening and closing.

As shown in FIG. 4, the solenoid 13 is driven by the light L to optically approach an object provided in the vicinity through a detection window 51 provided at the lower end of the coin payout opening 5 of the payout means. It is controlled by the sensor 14 as a payout detecting means for detecting the storage plate 11, and when the state where the hand H as an object approaches the lower part of the coin payout opening 5 is detected, the solenoid 13 is driven to cause the storage plate 11 to move. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 3, the coin coin P is released downward to release the temporary storage state of the coin P, and the coin P is discharged from the coin payout outlet 5 onto the hand H. Is.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control state of the automatic change dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. The control section 100 has a coin feeding mechanism 7 as a feeding means, a coin counter 8 as a counting means, and a storing means. Coin storage mechanism 10, a sensor 14 as a payout detection means, a payout holding time as a payout holding means for starting the operation of canceling the temporary storage state of change coins of the storage means by the detection operation of the payout detection means after a certain time is held. A setting switch (dip switch) 21, a batch discharge key 22 for collectively discharging and collecting the coins P inserted in the hopper 6, a one-time discharge key 23 for discharging one change, and one change are set. One-time change setting key 2
4 and a status display unit 2 for displaying a payout preparation status and an abnormal status
5 are connected to each other.

Next, the control state of the automatic change payment device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6. First, after the coin P is put into the hopper 6 of the device main body 1 and filled, The power switch 3 is turned on, the number of coins and the holding time are set according to the change amount, and whether the payout button 4 operates normally is checked by a self-check.

At this time, if an abnormality (NG) occurs in the payout button 4, the number of coins and the holding time are set according to the change amount, and the self-check of the payout button 4 is performed again.

When the operation of the payout button 4 is judged to be normal, the coin payout mechanism 7 operates and the coins P in the hopper 6 are paid out, and the coin counter 8 gives a predetermined number of coins corresponding to the change amount. The coins are counted, the operation of the coin feeding mechanism 7 is stopped, and a predetermined number of coins are sent to the coin storing mechanism 10 to temporarily store the change coins.

At this time, if the number of coins is insufficient, the abnormal lamp is turned on, the coin feeding mechanism 7 is operated again, and the coins P in the hopper 6 are fed out. Make up for coins.

When a predetermined number of coins are stored in the temporary storage section of the coin storage mechanism 10, the state of the solenoid 13 (change payment standby state) is checked, and in this state, the hand H is placed at the lower end of the coin payout outlet 5. In addition, when the sensor 14 detects the approaching state of the hand H during a preset certain time, the solenoid 13 is driven to open the storage plate 11,
The change is automatically paid on the hand H.

Simultaneously with the payment of the change, the coin feeding mechanism 7 operates again, and similarly, the coin P in the hopper 6 is fed out, and the coin counter 8 gives a predetermined number of coins corresponding to the amount of change. By counting and sending a predetermined number of coins to the coin storing mechanism 10 to temporarily store change coins, the next change payment standby state is maintained.

In the standby state where a predetermined number of coins are stored in the temporary storage section of the coin storage mechanism 10, when the discharge key 23 for one time is turned on, the solenoid 13 is driven and the change is paid. On the other hand, the batch release key 22 is ON
Then, the solenoid 13 is operated together with the operation of the coin feeding mechanism 7.
Is driven to start discharging coins in the hopper 6, collect coins, and turn on the batch discharge key 22 again to stop discharging coins.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the coins for change stored in the coin storing means are fed out by the feeding means, and the coins fed out by the feeding means are counted. The change coin is counted by the means according to a predetermined change amount, and the change coin counted by the counting means is temporarily stored by the storage means, while the change coin temporarily stored by the storage means is paid out by the storage means. Of the coin payout outlet, and the payout detection means for optically detecting the approach of an object in the vicinity of the coin payout outlet of the payout means to release the temporary storage state of the change coins by the storage means and discharge the coins. Since a coin is provided, it is possible to eject a predetermined amount of change coins onto the hand by a simple operation of bringing an object such as a hand close to the coin payout exit, which requires a large space for change payment work. thing Ku can be done, it can be carried out quickly and reliably the payment of change coins.

Further, in the apparatus according to the second aspect, the payout detection means is provided to start the operation of releasing the temporary storage state of the change coins of the storage means by the detection operation of the payout detection means, after the payout detection means is provided. If the detection operation of the storage unit lasts for a certain period of time, the temporary storage state of the storage unit is released, so that an erroneous operation can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the overall internal configuration showing an embodiment of an automatic change payment device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of the same automatic change payment device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a principal part of the coin storing mechanism.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view schematically showing the structure of a payout detecting means for optically detecting the approach of an object provided near the coin payout exit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control state of the automatic change payment device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control state of the automatic change payment device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Device main body, 2 ... Operation panel, 4 ... Dispensing button, 5 ...
Coin payout outlet (payment means), 6 ... Hopper (coin accommodation means), 7 ... Coin payout mechanism (payout means), 8 ... Coin counter (counting means), 10 ... Coin storage mechanism (storage means), 14
... sensor (payout detection means), 21 ... payout holding time setting switch (payout holding means), 24 ... change setting key for one time,
100 ... Control part, P ... Coin, H ... Hand (object).

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A coin storing means for storing change coins, a feeding means for feeding out the coins stored in the coin storing means, and coins fed out by the feeding means according to a predetermined change amount. Counting means for counting, storage means for temporarily storing the change coins counted by this counting means, payout means for paying out the change coins temporarily stored by this storage means from a coin payout outlet, and And a payout detecting means provided in the vicinity of the coin payout opening and optically detecting an approach of an object to release the temporary storage state of the change coins by the storage means and discharge the change coins. Automatic change payment device. 2. A coin accommodating means for accommodating coins for change, a payout means for paying out the coins accommodated in the coin accommodating means, and a coin paid out by the payout means in accordance with a predetermined change amount. Counting means for counting, storage means for temporarily storing the change coins counted by this counting means, payout means for paying out the change coins temporarily stored by this storage means from a coin payout outlet, and A payout detecting unit provided near the coin payout port and optically detecting an approach of an object to release the temporary change state of the change coin by the storing unit and discharge the change coin, and the storage by the detecting operation of the payout detecting unit. An automatic change payment device, comprising: a payout holding means for starting the temporary holding state of the change coins of the means after holding for a fixed time.