JPH06119527A - Coin processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the sureness of coin selection by preventing the operation timing of a coin extracting means from being deviated from the movement of a coin in the case of driving the means for extracting coin in each sort based upon the identification of the coin sort. CONSTITUTION:In a coin processor arranging coin extracting means 20a to 20g on plural positions of a coin carrying route 5, a coin diameter detecting part 15 and a coin sort identifying means for identifying the sort of a coin based upon a detected result of the detecting part 15 are also arranged on the route 5, sensors 30 for detecting the passage of each coin are arranged in the vicinity of respective means 20a to 20g and a coin extracting means corresponding to a coin sort identified by the identifying means is driven in accordance with a detection signal outputted from the sensor 30 arranged in the vicinity of the coin extracting means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin processing device for selecting coins of a plurality of denominations and sending them to a coin storage section according to denomination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a coin processing device for sorting coins of a plurality of denominations and sending the coins to a coin storage portion according to denomination has been used in an automatic vending machine, a deposit change machine, and the like.

An example of this type of device is, for example, Tokushusho Sho 64-
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 500380, the coin denomination is identified by measuring the outer diameter of the coin by an optical measuring means,
Some coins are selected based on that. That is, this device is provided with a conveyor belt extending above and horizontally adjacent to a horizontal support surface so that the coins on the support surface can be moved while being held by the conveyor belt. In the middle of the transportation route
A plurality of deflection means for taking out coins, which can be switched between a state in which the coins are linearly moved and a state in which the coins are deflected so as to be guided to the coin storage portion for each denomination, are provided in correspondence with the number of denominations and are conveyed The sensor is provided on the upstream side of the path for measuring the coin diameter, the encoder for detecting the drive amount of the belt drive unit, and the control means for receiving these signals. And the control means identifies the denomination based on the signal from the sensor, selects the deflection means to be actuated accordingly, and determines the amount of movement of the coin from the reference position by the pulse number of the signal from the encoder. Upon examination, when the number of pulses reaches a value corresponding to the distance immediately before the selected deflecting means, the deflecting means is activated.

[0004]

According to the above-mentioned conventional device, when the slip of the belt during driving or the slip of the coin with respect to the belt occurs, the correspondence between the number of pulses from the encoder and the actual movement amount of the coin is obtained. Since an error occurs, there is a problem that the operation timing of the deflecting means is deviated and coins may not be sorted correctly.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention operates a means for extracting coins according to the denomination of coins based on the identification of the denomination of coins. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with a coin transporting means for moving coins fed into a coin transporting path one by one along the coin transporting path. What is claimed is: 1. A coin processing device, comprising coin extracting means for extracting coins of different denominations and sending the coins to a coin storage portion at a plurality of points of a path, wherein denomination identifying means for identifying denominations of coins sent to the coin transport path. On the other hand, the timing detecting means for detecting the passage of coins is provided in the vicinity of each of the coin removing means, and the coin removing means corresponding to the denomination identified by the denomination identifying means is provided immediately before that. The control means is provided to operate in response to the detection signal from the position timing detection means.

In this structure, the coin carrying path has a supporting surface for supporting the coin in the upright state, and the coin carrying means is arranged above the supporting surface so as to extend in the coin carrying direction and at regular intervals. The coin ejecting means is composed of a coin pushing member that can be retracted from the outer side to the coin passing position on the support surface and is operated by a solenoid. Preferably there is.

[0008]

According to the above construction, based on the identification of the denomination by the denomination identifying means, the coin take-out means corresponding to the denomination is operated and the coin is sent to the coin storing portion of the denomination, thus the coin is Be sorted. In particular, the coin take-out means corresponding to the identified denomination is operated in response to the detection signal from the timing detecting means in the vicinity thereof, so that the operation timing of the coin take-out means with respect to the movement of the coins on the conveying path. Therefore, the coins can be taken out correctly without any deviation.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 show a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In these figures, 1 is a hopper for storing unprocessed coins C of plural denominations. A turntable 2 which is driven by an external motor to rotate for stirring coins and the like is provided, and a transporting chain 10 described later is arranged so as to extend over the periphery of the rear side of the turntable 2. Then, the coin-feeding pin 11 described below projects forward in the peripheral portion of the turntable 2 to push up the coin C in the hopper 1,
The coins are fed one by one into the coin transport path 5 above the hopper 1.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the coin conveying path 5 is provided with a wall plate forming a coin supporting surface 6 having a relatively narrow width and a back plate 7 for supporting the coin from behind, and a coin C The back plate 7 is slightly inclined rearward so that coins do not fall forward. Also,
When the coin is conveyed by being pushed by the pin 11 of the coin conveying means described later, the coin supporting surface 6 is located on the downstream side so that the coin does not unexpectedly roll to the downstream side (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the conveying route. It is shaped like a gentle climb that rises.

The coin transporting means for transporting coins along the coin transporting path 5 is a coin feeding pin 1 at regular intervals.
It is configured by a transport chain 10 having the number 1.
The transport chain 10 has a cutout portion provided on the back plate 7 at a predetermined height above the coin support surface 6 (below the diameter of the smallest coin to be selected) on the coin transport path. 8 and extending in the conveying direction (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and in a state where the hopper 1 is arranged over the coin conveying path, the driving sprocket 12 and an appropriate number of driven sprockets (not shown). It is wrapped around. The drive sprocket 12 is connected to a motor 13 (see FIG. 3). When the transport chain 10 is operated in a certain direction by the motor 13, the pins 11 push and move the coins C in the coin transport path one by one.

A coin diameter detecting section 15 for detecting the diameter of the coin C moving on the coin conveying path 5 is provided on the upstream side of the coin conveying path 5. The coin diameter detecting portion 15 is formed by an optical sensor or the like.

Coin take-out means 20a to 20 for taking out coins C according to denominations are provided at a plurality of locations along the coin transport path 5.
g is provided, and a plurality of coin accommodating portions 2 corresponding to the respective coin taking-out means 20a to 20g are provided below the coin conveying path 5.
5a to 25g are provided.

The coin take-out means 20a to 20g are
A plate-shaped coin pushing member 2 connected to the solenoid 21
Have two. The coin pushing member 22 is located on the back side 7 from the outside with respect to the coin passing position of the coin carrying path 5.
It can be retracted through a cutout hole 23 provided in the back plate 7, and projects into the coin transport path 5 when the solenoid 21 is turned on. Then, when the coin C is at the position corresponding to the coin taking-out means, the coin pushing member 22
When is projected, the coin C is pushed out from the coin transport path 5 and comes off (see FIG. 5). The coin C is sent to the coin storage units 25a to 25g via the chute 24.

The coin take-out means 20a to 20g and the coin storage units 25a to 25g are provided in a number corresponding to at least the number of denominations to be selected. In the illustrated embodiment,
Current Japanese coins "1 yen""5yen""10"
First to sixth so that coins of six denominations of "yen", "50 yen", "100 yen" and "500 yen" can be selected and stored.
The coin take-out means 20a to 20f and the first to sixth coin storage units 25a to 25f are provided, and the auxiliary storage unit 2 is provided in case some coin storage units are full.
5 g and a seventh coin removing means 20 g corresponding thereto are provided. This seventh take-out means 20g is
Or it is provided downstream from the sixth coin take-out means.
Further, below the downstream end of the coin transport path 5, a reject passage 26 for rejecting coins (counterfeit coins, etc.) having a diameter other than the above six denominations is provided.

A coin ejection portion 27 is connected to the first to sixth coin storage portions, and the coin ejection portion 27 communicates with a payout opening 28. Further, the reject passage 26 has a return port 29.
It leads to.

A sensor 30 as a timing detecting means for detecting passage of the coin C is provided immediately in front of each of the coin take-out means 20a to 20g and at each location near the downstream end of the coin transport path 5. These sensors 30
4 is an optical sensor including a light emitting element 31 and a light receiving element 32, as shown in FIGS.
32 are opposed to each other by sandwiching the coin passage portion of the coin transport path 5 and the back plate 7, and the back plate 7 has a hole 33 for transmitting light rays.
Is provided.

FIG. 6 shows a control system. In this figure,
Reference numeral 40 denotes a control unit. The control unit 40 receives a signal from the coin diameter detecting section 15 and a signal from an encoder 35 provided in the drive mechanism of the carrying chain 10. Further, signals from respective sensors (SEN1, SEN2 ... SEN7, SEN8) 30 as the timing detecting means are input. The control unit 40 includes a signal input / conversion unit 41, a reference value storage unit 42, C
The PU 43 and the motor control unit 46 are included. The signal input / conversion unit 41 samples the signal of the coin diameter detection unit 15 for each fixed minute coin movement distance checked by the signal of the encoder 35, so that the coin moves during the movement of the coin diameter detection unit 15. The number of pulses corresponding to the coin diameter is obtained, and the coin diameter equivalent value based on the number of pulses is sent to the CPU 43. The reference value storage unit 42 stores six kinds of reference values corresponding to the coin diameters of the above denominations.

The CPU 43 has a data comparison section (denomination identifying means) 44 and a calculation control section (control means) 45. The data comparison unit 44 includes the signal input / conversion unit 41.
The coin denomination is identified by comparing the coin diameter equivalent value sent from the device with each reference value read from the reference value storage unit 42. The calculation control unit 45
Is a solenoid (SOL1, SOL
2 ... SOL6, SOL7) 21 is controlled, and based on the identification of the denomination by the data comparison unit 44,
The coin take-out means corresponding to the identified denomination is selected and its solenoid 21 is operated, and its operation timing is determined by a signal from the sensor 30 immediately before the coin take-out means.

Specifically, for example, a tracking storage unit 47 having addresses TR [0] to TR [15] is provided in the control unit 40 so as to control coin selection by so-called tracking processing shown in the flow chart described later. The denomination identification code corresponding to the identified denomination is stored in the tracking storage unit 47, and while the address is sequentially changed, the operation control unit 45 responds to the denomination identification code according to the denomination identification means. The solenoid 21 is controlled.

Further, the motor control section 46 controls a hopper motor (not shown) for driving the turntable 2 of the hopper 1 and a motor 13 of the coin conveying means according to the presence or absence of coins in the hopper. It has become.

The coin processing device as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is incorporated in a deposit change machine as shown in FIG. 7, for example. This deposit change machine has a coin slot 5 in its main body 50.
1, a coin payout opening 28, a coin return opening 29, a bill insertion opening 52, a bill payout opening 53, an operation section 54 and a display section 55, and from the insertion of coins from the coin insertion opening 51 and the bill insertion opening 52. The money is deposited by inserting the bill, and the sales amount is determined by the operation of designating the product or the like on the operation unit 54, and the change is paid out accordingly. The coin processing device is provided inside the deposit change machine main body 50, together with the banknote processing device for sorting and counting banknotes.

8 and 9 are flow charts showing specific examples of control by the control unit.

FIG. 8 is a routine for the process of the hopper unit including the process of identifying the denomination. In this routine, the start key input is started (step S1), the hopper motor is first driven in step S2, and it is determined in step S3 whether or not there is a coin in the hopper 1 based on a signal from a hopper sensor (not shown). If there are no coins in the hopper 1, the hopper motor is stopped and a message to that effect is displayed (steps S4 and S5). Hopper 1
If there is a coin inside, the denomination is identified based on the detection of the outer diameter of the coin (steps S6 and S7), and the identification code corresponding to the denomination is TR [0] of the tracking storage unit 47.
Is set (step S8). In this case, the correspondence relationship between the denomination and the denomination identification code is predetermined by a table, and as shown in FIG. 10, for example, “1 yen” →
"1", "5 yen" → "2", "10 yen" → "3", "5"
"0 yen"->"4","100yen"->"5","500yen"
Correspondences are defined as → "6" and other → "9". Then, from this table, the denomination identification code is obtained according to the identified denomination.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of coin selection processing by so-called tracking processing. The processing of this flowchart includes each routine from the routine R1 for processing in the first area to the routine R8 for processing in the eighth area. The area referred to here means, for the first to seventh areas, a portion including the first to seventh coin taking-out means 20a to 20g and the sensors (SEN1 to SEN7) immediately before the means, and the eighth to seventh areas. 8th sensor (SEN
8) means the portion where the above is provided.

In the routine R1 for processing in the first area,
First, in step S11, it is determined whether or not the flag FL1 indicating that the coin is passing through the first area is "1". If the determination is NO, the first sensor (SEN1) is activated in step S12. It is determined whether or not it is on. SEN1
When is turned on, in step S13, the above TR
The value of the money type code set in [0] is moved to TR [1], TR [0] is cleared, and then step S14.
Then, it is determined whether or not the value of TR [1] matches the code (CODE1) of the denomination to be taken out by the first coin taking-out means. If the decision is YES, at step S15, the first coin storing section 25a. Is determined to be full.

When TR [1] is equal to CODE1 and the first coin storing portion 25a is not full, at step S16, the solenoid (SOL) of the first coin take-out means.
When 1) is turned on, the coin take-out operation is performed, and the coin count value N1 of the first coin storage unit 25a is 1
The value of TR [1] is [identification code +16] in order to add the number of sheets and to show that this operation is completed by the identification code.
Is changed to. In this case, the process proceeds from step S16 to step S17, and if TR [1] does not match CODE1 or the first coin storage unit 25a is full, the process directly proceeds to step S17. In step S17, the flag FL1 is set to "1".

Subsequently, in step S18, it is determined whether or not SEN1 is turned off. When the determination is YES (when the coin has passed the first sensor), the above TR
The value of the identification code set in [1] is moved to TR [2], TR [1] is cleared, and the flag FL1 is cleared to "0". Then move to the next routine.

When the determination in step S11 is YES, steps S12 to S17 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S18. When the determination in step S12 is NO, the routine proceeds to the next routine.

In each of the areas from the second area to the sixth area, the processing according to the processing in the first area is performed, so that the routines R2 to R6 of the processing in the second area are performed. The process up to the routine R6 of the process is omitted.

In the routine R7 for processing in the seventh zone,
First, in step S21, it is determined whether or not the flag FL7 indicating that the coin is passing through the seventh zone is "1". If the determination is NO, the seventh sensor (SEN7) is activated in step S22. It is determined whether or not it is on. SEN7
Is turned on, in step S23, the value of the identification code set in TR [12] is moved to TR [13] to clear TR [12], and subsequently in step S24, TR is set.
It is determined whether the value of [13] is a value from 1 to 6. If this determination is YES, the identification code corresponds to one of the denominations, but since the coin storage area was full in the area corresponding to this, the coin was removed and the identification code was converted (to the identification code). 16) is not performed, and in this case, step S2
5, the solenoid of the seventh coin removing means 20g (SOL
When 7) is turned on, the coin take-out operation is performed, and the coin count value N7 of the seventh coin storage unit 25g is 1
The value of TR [7] is changed to [identification code + 16] so that only the number of sheets is added and the code indicates that this operation is completed. In this case, the process proceeds from step S25 to step S26, and if the determination in step S24 is NO, the process directly proceeds to step S26. This step S2
At 6, the flag FL7 is set to "1".

Subsequently, in step S27, it is determined whether or not SEN7 is turned off, and when the determination is YES (when the coin passes through the seventh sensor), the above TR [13] is set. The value of the set gold code is TR [1
Moved to 4], TR [13] was cleared, and flag F
L7 is cleared to "0". Then move to the next routine.

When the determination in step S21 is YES, steps S22 to S26 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S27. When the determination in step S22 is NO, the routine proceeds to the next routine.

In the routine R8 for processing in the eighth zone,
First, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the flag FL8 indicating that the coin is passing through the eighth zone is "1". If the determination is NO, the eighth sensor (SEN8) is activated in step S32. It is determined whether or not it is on. SEN8
When is turned on, in step S33, the above TR
The value of the money type code set in [14] is moved to TR [15], TR [14] is cleared, and then step S34.
Then, it is determined whether or not the value of TR [15] is within the range of 17 to 22. If this determination is YES, the identification code, which was initially in the range of 1 to 6, was converted by the processing in any of the first to seventh areas, so that the coin removal processing was performed, but malfunction occurred. Means that no coins were picked up,
If this judgment is NO, it means that the identification code is other than the 6-denomination. Therefore, if the determination in step S34 is YES, the reject number Ri of the denomination is increased by one in step S35, and if the determination is NO, the other reject number R'is increased in step S36 by one. . Then, in step S37, the flag FL8
Is set to "1".

Subsequently, in step S38, it is checked whether or not the SEN8 is turned off. When the determination is YES (when the coin has passed the eighth sensor), the above TR [ 15] is cleared, and the flag FL8 is cleared to "0". Then, the process returns to the first routine.

When the determination in step S31 is YES, steps S32 to S37 are skipped and the process proceeds to step S38. If the determination in step S32 is no, the process returns to the first routine.

According to the apparatus of the present embodiment as described above, the denomination is identified based on the detection by the coin diameter detecting section 15, and the identification code corresponding to the denomination is given. Then, each time it passes through each of the above areas, it is checked whether the identification code corresponds to the coin to be taken out by the coin taking out means of the area, and if so, the coin taking out operation is performed. , The coins are sorted and sent to each coin storing section according to the denomination.

In this case, the coin take-out means 20a-20
When the passage of the coin is detected by the sensor 30 immediately before g, the coin pushing member 22 is surely operated at an appropriate timing corresponding to the movement of the coin.

The coins are supported by the pins 11 provided on the chain 10 while the coins are supported in an upright state, so that the coins move reliably and smoothly without slipping. Therefore, the coin can be taken out easily and surely by the operation of the pushing member 22.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the coin take-out means is provided at a plurality of points in the coin transport path to take out coins according to the denomination, while the denomination identifying means is provided while each coin take-out means is provided. Timing detecting means for detecting the passage of coins are respectively provided in the vicinity of, and coin removing means corresponding to the denomination identified by the denomination identifying means,
Since it is operated in response to the detection signal from the timing detection means in the vicinity thereof, the coin take-out means which is operated based on the identification of the denomination is always appropriate for the coin moving on the coin transport path. It operates at the timing, and the reliability of coin selection operation can be greatly improved compared to the conventional one. Even if the coin take-out means corresponding to the identified denomination may not be taken out due to an operation error, the coin remains in the coin carrying path by the timing detection means downstream thereof. Is also detected, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent the operation error from being overlooked.

Further, in the present invention, the coin conveying path supports the coins in an upright state, the coin conveying means is constituted by a chain having a coin feeding pin, and the coin taking-out means is a coin pushing member operated by a solenoid. With this configuration, the coin can be moved reliably and smoothly, and the coin can be easily and reliably taken out.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part in a coin transporting state.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part when the coin take-out means operates.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a deposit change machine shown as an application example of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of a hopper unit including denomination identification processing.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing coin selection processing.

FIG. 10 is a table showing an example of a correspondence relationship between coin denominations and identification codes.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Coin Conveying Route 10 Conveying Chain 11 Pins 15 Coin Diameter Detecting Section 20a-20g Coin Extracting Means 21 Solenoid 22 Coin Pushing Out Member 25a-25g Coin Storage 30 Sensor (Timing Detecting Means) 40 Control Unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A coin transporting means for moving coins fed into the coin transporting path one by one along the coin transporting path, and at a plurality of positions of the coin transporting path, coins are taken out according to denominations and a coin storing section is provided. A coin processing device having a means for ejecting coins, wherein coin type identifying means for identifying the denomination of coins sent to the coin transporting path is provided, while passing coins in the vicinity of each of the coin ejecting means. A control means for arranging a timing detecting means for detecting a coin, and for activating the coin taking-out means corresponding to the denomination identified by the denomination identifying means in response to a detection signal from the timing detecting means at the immediately preceding position. A coin processing device characterized by being provided with. 2. The coin transfer path has a support surface for supporting the coin in an upright state, and the coin transfer means is disposed above the support surface so as to extend in the coin transfer direction and is arranged at regular intervals. The coin ejecting means is constituted by a chain provided with a feeding pin, and the coin taking-out means is constituted by a coin pushing-out member which can be retracted from the outer side to a coin passing position on the supporting surface and which is operated by a solenoid. Coin handling equipment.