JPH06142400A - Coin chuting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a coin chuting apparatus capable of being switched between paid operation and free operation without requiring the arrangement of a button for starting the free operation in the incorporation into various coil-operated equipment. CONSTITUTION:A coil guide means 6 is provided below a coin detection mechanism 3 in a easing 1. The coin guide means 6 is made up of a mounting plate 6a, a hinge 6b, a front coin chute 6c, a rear coin chute 6d and a solenoid 6e. The hinge 6b has a front part thereof fixed at a forward inclined part of a mounting plate 6a and the rear part thereof is made free to turn vertically. The front coin chute 6c is fixed on the front part of the hinge 6b and the rear coin chute 6d is fixed on the rear surface part of the hinge 6b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin chute device, and more specifically, to a coin laundry machine such as a coin-type washing machine, a coin-type clothes dryer, a coin-type dry cleaner or the like, and a coin The present invention relates to a coin chute device for operating those devices by inserting coins).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a coin chute device of this type, a coin insertion opening for inserting a coin, a coin detection mechanism for detecting a coin inserted through the coin insertion opening, and a coin exiting the coin detection mechanism are used. A coin passage through
2. Description of the Related Art There is known one provided with a coin box for storing coins passing through a coin passage and a coin return opening for returning a non-predetermined coin among the inserted coins.

In the coin chute device, the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot is discriminated by the coin detecting mechanism, and then a predetermined coin (correct coin) is guided to the coin box through the coin passage and then the predetermined coin. A coin that is not a coin (different coin) is guided to the coin return slot through the coin passage.

[0004]

Such a coin chute device is incorporated in, for example, a coin laundry machine. Then, in a coin laundry or the like, when a user pays a usage fee by inserting a coin, the coin detection mechanism is normally operated to perform a predetermined driving operation, which is usually used in a paid driving method. However, when using the coin laundry machine in an employee dormitory or a welfare facility, there is a demand to use the coin-operated laundry machine in a free driving method that allows the user to operate the vehicle without paying the usage fee.

However, in the coin chute device as described above, when the coin chute device is incorporated in various coin-operated devices, if the modification such as the disposition of the free-driving start button is not performed, the paid driving system to the free driving system There was a problem that it could not be switched to.

Further, in the coin chute device as described above, when the coin chute device is incorporated into various coin-operated devices, different coins among the coins inserted from the coin insertion slot are after energization and before the start of operation. If so, the coin detection mechanism operates and is returned by being guided to the coin return slot. However, there is a problem that the coin detection mechanism does not operate when there is no power supply, after the start of operation, and when a trouble occurs, so that the coin is not returned.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problem and Its Action The coin chute device according to the present invention has the following three modes. The first form is a coin insertion slot for inserting coins, a coin detection mechanism for detecting coins inserted from the coin insertion slot, and a coin detection mechanism provided below the coin detection mechanism, which passes through the coin detection mechanism. It is provided below the coin detection mechanism and the coin box that stores the coins after
A coin return opening for returning the coin after passing through the coin detection mechanism, and further provided below the coin detection mechanism and displaced according to the case, whereby the coin after passing through the coin detection mechanism. A coin chute device including coin guide means for distributing and guiding the coins to a coin box or a coin return port, and a switching means for manually switching the displacement of the coin guide means.

That is, the first coin chute device is
A coin guiding means and a switching means having a characteristic are provided, and the coin guiding means is displaced by a switching operation by the switching means,
The gist is that the coins after passing through the coin detection mechanism are sorted, and thereby the coins are guided to the coin box or the coin return port.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a coin insertion slot for inserting a coin, a coin detection mechanism for detecting a coin inserted through the coin insertion slot, and a coin detection mechanism provided below the coin detection mechanism, A coin box for storing coins after passing through the coin detection mechanism, and a coin return opening provided below the coin detection mechanism for returning a coin that is not a predetermined one of the inserted coins,
Further, a coin guide means provided below the coin detection mechanism for displacing depending on the case, thereby allocating and guiding the coin after passing through the coin detection mechanism to the coin box or the coin return port, and the coin guide means. The coin chute device is provided with a control means for controlling the displacement of the means.

That is, the second coin chute device is
A characteristic coin guiding means and a control means are provided, and the coin guiding means is displaced by this control means to sort the coins that have passed through the coin detection mechanism, whereby the coins that have passed through the coin detection mechanism are placed in the coin box. Alternatively, the point is that the coin is led to the coin return slot.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a coin slot for inserting a coin, a coin detecting mechanism for detecting a coin inserted from the coin slot, and a coin detecting mechanism provided below the coin detecting mechanism, A coin box having a coin storage opening for leading in coins is provided in the upper front part, and a coin after passing through the coin detection mechanism is introduced and stored from the coin storage opening. Is provided in a downward slope from below the coin storage opening, and is provided below the front end of the inclined plate for coin accumulation, which is rotatable up and down with the rear end as a rotation axis. A coin chute device comprising: an elastic member that urges the front end of the inclined plate upward and elastically deforms downward due to the weight of a predetermined amount of coins accumulated on the inclined plate.

That is, the third coin chute device is
Provide a characteristic inclined plate and elastic member inside the coin box, accumulate coins introduced into the coin box on the inclined plate, gradually elastically deform the front end of the inclined plate downward by the elastic member, As a result, the coin storage space inside the coin box is set forward (front side) and rear (back side).
And try to make them almost even.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to three embodiments shown in the drawings. The present invention is not limited to these.

Embodiment 1 In FIG. 1, a coin chute device D ₁ comprises a box-shaped casing 1, a coin insertion slot 2 provided in an upper front portion of the casing 1, and a coin insertion slot 2 in the casing 1 below the coin insertion slot 2. A coin detection mechanism (coin mechanism) 3 provided, a coin box 4 provided below the coin detection mechanism 3 in the casing 1, and a coin return opening 5 provided below the coin detection mechanism 3 on the front surface of the casing 1. It has and.

Coins (coins) are inserted from the coin insertion slot 2. The coin detection mechanism 3 detects a coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 2. The coin box 4 stores coins that have passed through the coin detection mechanism 3. The coin return port 5 returns the coin after passing through the coin detection mechanism 3.

Inside the casing 1, a coin guide means 6 is provided below the coin detecting mechanism 3. The coin guide means 6 is composed of a mounting plate 6a, a hinge 6b, a front coin shooter 6c, a rear coin shooter 6d and a DC solenoid 6e.

The mounting plate 6a is mounted vertically on the inner bottom surface of the casing 1. The hinge 6b is configured such that one surface portion (front surface portion) sandwiching the connecting portion is fixed to the front descending inclined portion of the mounting plate 6a, and the other surface portion (rear surface portion) freely rotates up and down. . And the front coin shooter 6
c is fixed to the front surface of the hinge 6b, and the rear coin shooter 6d is fixed to the rear surface of the hinge 6b. The solenoid 6e is connected to the rear surface of the hinge 6b by a connecting fitting 6f attached to the plunger of the solenoid 6e. The hinge 6b is biased upward by a coil spring (not shown),
Even when the solenoid 6e does not operate, the rear coin shooter 6d is positioned at the uppermost position.

The front coin shooter 6c includes a solenoid 6
As shown in FIG. 2 which shows the state of the coin guide means 6 when the rear surface of the hinge 6b is pivoted upward by e as much as possible, a square flat plate portion fixed to the front surface of the hinge 6b,
It is composed of a pair of left and right L-shaped bent plate portions fixed to the upper surface of the flat plate portion. The pair of bent plate portions are arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval, and a coin passage is provided between the bent plate portions and the flat plate portion. The rear coin shooter 6d has the same structure as the front coin shooter 6c and is fixed to the rear surface of the hinge 6b. The rear coin shooter 6d is adapted to be vertically rotated by the solenoid 6e.

As shown in FIG. 3, inside the casing 1, there is provided a control board 7 for controlling the operation of the coin chute device D ₁ . Then, on the control board 7,
A dip switch 8 is provided as switching means. The dip switch 8 is manually switched to operate the coin guiding means 6 to perform paid operation or free operation.

When the coin chute device D ₁ thus constructed is to be operated for a fee, the dip switch 8 of the control board 7 is manually switched to the "at a fee" side in advance. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the rear surface portion of the hinge 6b is maximally rotated downward by the solenoid 6e, and the rear coin shooter 6d is inclined rearward and downward.

Therefore, after the coin is detected by the coin detecting mechanism 3 as a true coin, the coin exits the coin detecting mechanism 3 and then slides on the rear coin shooter 6d which is inclined rearward and falls into the coin box 4.

On the other hand, when the coin chute device D ₁ is to be operated free of charge, the dip switch 8 of the control board 7 is manually switched to the "free" side in advance. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear surface of the hinge 6b is maximally rotated upward by the solenoid 6e, and the rear coin shooter 6d is inclined forward and downward.

Therefore, coins inserted from the coin insertion slot 2 and passed through the coin detection mechanism 3 are not detected.
After exiting, the vehicle slides on the rear coin shooter 6d and the front coin shooter 6d that are tilted downward and is guided to the coin return slot 5. Here, when a coin is inserted into the coin detection mechanism 3, the control board 7 controls the washing machine and the dryer in which the coin chute device D ₁ is incorporated to start a predetermined operation such as washing and drying. Controlled.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control unit of a coin type clothes dryer using gas, in which the coin chute device D ₁ is incorporated. In FIG. 5, the microcomputer 9 includes a power supply circuit 10 and a clock oscillation circuit 1.
1, the reset circuit 12, the power failure detection circuit 13, and the backup detection circuit 14 for holding the memory at the time of power failure, and outputs to the load drive circuit 15 and the display 16 such as an LED or a fluorescent display tube. The microcomputer 9 further includes
It is provided on the circuit board together with the reset switch 17, the door switch 18, and the like.

The load drive circuit 15 includes a fan motor 1
9, drum motor 20, + output circuit 21 for pushing out the plunger portion of solenoid 6e, -output circuit 22 for pulling back the plunger portion of solenoid 6e, when troubles such as motor overheating occur in the clothes dryer A buzzer 23 for notifying it is connected. Then, the control unit shown in FIG. 5 controls the operation of the solenoid 6e.

In this coin chute device D ₁ ,
Since the coin guide means 6 and the dip switch 8 are provided as described above, when incorporated into various coin-type devices, the paid operation system can be used without modification such as disposition of a free operation start button. It is possible to switch to the free operation method.

Embodiment 2 In FIG. 6, a coin chute device D ₂ has a casing 1, a coin slot 2, a coin detection mechanism (coin mechanism) 3, a coin box 4, and a coin return port 5 as in the coin chute device D _1. And a coin guiding means 6.

Inside the casing 1, a thin plate-like holding metal fitting 30 is provided behind the coin guiding means 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the holding metal fitting 30 includes a horizontal mounting portion 30 a mounted on the inner bottom surface of the casing 1 and a mounting portion 3 a.
0a, an operating portion 30b that extends vertically and extends upward, and an engaging portion 30c that extends forward from the operating portion 30b.
It consists of and.

The holding metal fitting 30 has an operating portion 30.
b is biased forward by the L-shaped coil spring 31, and the operating portion 30b is elastically deformed rearward from the state of FIG. The engaging portion 30c is a rear coin shooter 6d.
When the solenoid is turned to the maximum by the solenoid 6e,
Engage with the right horizontal portion 6g of the rear coin shooter 6d,
The rear coin shooter 6d is held at that position.

The rear coin shooter 6d is set to the position shown in FIG. 6, that is, the uppermost position when the coin chute device D ₂ is not energized. In addition,
In FIG. 7, 6h is a connecting hole for connecting the connecting fitting 6f attached to the plunger portion of the solenoid 6e.

The operation of the coin chute device D ₂ will be described below for each state.

(1) Non-energized state When the coin chute device D ₂ is not energized,
The rear coin shooter 6d assumes the position shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8 (the solenoid 6e is not shown), 100-yen positive coins and different coins (including 50-yen coins) do not enter the coin box 4 and the rear coin shooter 6d and the front coin shooter It slides on 6d and is guided to the coin return slot 5.

(2) Standby for energization First, in the state of FIG. 7, the solenoid 6e is energized for a predetermined time (5 seconds). Solenoid 6e at this time
Assuming that the direction of movement of the plunger portion of the hinge is downward, as shown in FIG.
The rear surface portion is rotated downward to the maximum. The rear coin shooter 6d also pivots downward as much as possible, and the rear end of the right side horizontal portion 6g pushes the engaging portion 30c of the holding metal fitting 30 downward. Then, the operating portion 30b of the holding metal fitting 30 elastically deforms rearward as shown by the broken line in FIG.

The operating portion 30b of the holding metal fitting 30 returns to the original state as shown by the solid line in FIG. 9 after passing the rear end of the right side horizontal portion 6g of the rear coin shooter 6d. And
The engaging portion 30c of the holding metal fitting 30 holds the rear coin shooter 6d in the state of FIG. 9 after the energization of the solenoid 6e is completed. Therefore, FIG. 10 (the solenoid 6e is not shown)
As shown in FIG. 3, only 100-yen positive coins enter the coin box 4, and different coins (including 50-yen coins) slide on the front coin shooter 6d and are guided to the coin return slot 5.

(3) During operation From the state shown in FIG. 9, the solenoid 6e is energized for a predetermined time (5 seconds) with the current polarity reversed so that the plunger portion of the solenoid 6e operates upward. Then, the engaging portion 30c of the holding metal fitting 30 is connected to the rear coin shooter 6d.
It is pushed up by the rear end of the right side horizontal portion 6g and is elastically deformed rearward as shown by the broken line in FIG. Then, the rear coin shooter 6d is biased upward by the coil spring of the hinge 6b, and comes to be positioned at the uppermost position as shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the coin is guided to the coin return port 5 without entering the coin box 4.

(4) When a Trouble Occurs The coin is guided to the coin return slot 5 without entering the coin box 4, as in the case of no power supply and during operation.

The state of operation of the coin chute device D ₂ , that is, the judgment of no power supply, standby of power supply, operation, and occurrence of trouble is performed by the control unit shown in FIG. Moreover, the solenoid 6e is controlled by this control unit.
Control such as the operation of is also performed.

In this coin chute device D ₂ ,
Since the coin guide means 6, the holding metal fitting 30 and the control section are provided as described above, when incorporated in various coin type equipment, different coins out of the coins inserted from the coin slot 2 are not energized. At the time, after the start of operation and when a trouble occurs, the coin is returned to the coin return slot 5.

Embodiment 3 FIGS. 11 and 12 show coin chute device D, respectively.
_{FIG. 3} is a front view and a partially cut-away side view of a coin-type clothes dryer using gas, in which ₃ is incorporated. In these figures, 51 is a coin slot, 52 is a coin box cover, 53 is a coin box cover key, 54 is a coin detection mechanism (coin mechanism), and 55 is a coin box.

13 and 14 are a side view and a plan view of the handle 56 and the lid 57 of the coin box 55, respectively. In these figures, the handle 56 integrated with the shaft 58 is attached to the bearing 59, and is always laid on the side of the coin storage opening 61 (hatched portion in FIG. 14) by the coil spring 60. The lid 57 is attached to the bearing 62 similarly to the handle 56. Handle 56 and lid 57
Are also connected to each other by connecting rods 65 having shafts 63 and 64 at their upper portions and bearings at both ends.

When the coin box 55 containing coins is taken out from the coin box cover 52 in the coin recovery, the handle 56 is fully rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Then, by the action of the connecting rod 65, the lid 57 is also fully rotated together in the arrow direction. As a result,
5, the handle 56 projects horizontally to the left and
7 closes the coin storage opening 61 of the coin box 55. Therefore, when carrying the coin box 55 with the handle 56, there is no possibility that coins in the coin box 55 will fall from the coin storage opening 61.

The internal structure of this coin box 55 is shown in FIG.
It looks like 6. That is, in the figure, coins passing through the coin detecting mechanism 54 are
An inclined plate 6 for accumulating coins arranged in a state of extending in the front-back direction and descending backward (backward) (θ is an inclination angle)
6 is slid down and accumulated on the back side of the inclined plate 66. As the accumulation of coins proceeds, the coins gradually accumulate on the front side of the inclined plate 66.

As the accumulated weight of coins accumulated on the inclined plate 66 increases, the coil spring 67, which is an elastic member attached below the inclined plate 66 below the coin storage opening 61, is compressed, and the inclined plate 66 is compressed. The inclination angle θ becomes smaller. As a result, the coin storage space on the front side is increased, and it becomes possible to store coins almost the same as those on the back side in the coin box 55. When collecting coins, after releasing the key 53, the coin box cover 52
And pull out the coin box 55.

[0044]

Since the coin chute device according to claim 1 of the present invention is configured as described above, when incorporated into various coin-operated equipment, modification such as disposition of a button for starting a free operation is performed. It is possible to switch from the paid operation method to the free operation method without performing the operation. Further, since the coin chute device according to claim 2 of the present invention is configured as described above, when incorporated into various coin-type devices, different coins among coins inserted from the coin insertion slot are: The coins will be returned to the coin return slot when power is off, after operation has started, and when trouble occurs. Further, since the coin chute device according to claim 3 of the present invention is configured as described above, as the accumulated weight of coins accumulated on the inclined plate increases, the elastic member is elastically deformed downward and the forward direction. The coin storage space on the side is increased, and coins similar to those on the rear side can be stored in the coin box.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a configuration when a coin chute device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is operated for a fee.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the coin chute device.

FIG. 3 is a structural explanatory view of a switching means in the coin chute device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration when the coin chute device is operated free of charge.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control unit of a coin-type clothes dryer using gas, in which the coin chute device is incorporated.

FIG. 6 is a structural explanatory view showing a state in which a rear coin shooter of the coin chute device according to the second embodiment of the present invention occupies the uppermost position.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a main part of the coin chute device.

FIG. 8 is a structural explanatory view showing a state in which coins are guided to a coin return slot by the coin chute device.

FIG. 9 is a structural explanatory view showing a state where a rear coin shooter of the coin chute device occupies the lowest position.

FIG. 10 is a structural explanatory view showing a state in which coins are guided to a coin box by the coin chute device.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a coin-type clothes dryer using gas, in which the coin chute device according to the third embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a partial cutout of the coin-type clothes dryer.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a handle and a lid of the coin chute device in the coin-type clothes dryer.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a handle and a lid of the coin chute device.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a state in which a handle and a lid of the coin chute device are tilted.

FIG. 16 is a structural explanatory view showing an internal structure of a coin box in the coin chute device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 casing 2 coin insertion slot 3 coin detection mechanism 4 coin box 5 coin return slot 6 coin guide means 6a mounting plate 6b hinge 6c front coin shooter 6d rear coin shooter 6e solenoid 6f connecting bracket 7 control board 8 dip switch (switching means) 9 Microcomputer (control part) 30 Holding metal fittings 30a Attachment part 30b Operating part 30c Engagement part 31 Coil spring 61 Coin storage port 66 Inclined plate 67 Coil spring (elastic member)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A coin insertion slot for inserting a coin, a coin detection mechanism for detecting a coin inserted from the coin insertion slot, and a coin detection mechanism provided below the coin detection mechanism, which passes through the coin detection mechanism. The coin box for storing the coins of the
A coin return opening for returning coins that have passed through the coin detection mechanism, further provided below the coin detection mechanism and displaced according to the case, whereby the coin after passing through the coin detection mechanism. A coin chute device comprising coin guiding means for allocating and guiding the coins to a coin box or a coin return port, and a switching means for manually switching the displacement of the coin guiding means. 2. A coin insertion slot for inserting a coin, a coin detection mechanism for detecting a coin inserted through the coin insertion slot, and a coin detection mechanism provided below the coin detection mechanism, which has passed through the coin detection mechanism. The coin box for storing the coins of the
It is equipped with a coin return opening for returning a non-predetermined coin among the inserted coins, and is further provided below the coin detecting mechanism, and is displaced depending on the case, thereby passing through the coin detecting mechanism. A coin chute device comprising coin guiding means for allocating and guiding the coins to a coin box or a coin return port, and control means for controlling the displacement of the coin guiding means. 3. A coin insertion slot for inserting a coin, a coin detection mechanism for detecting a coin inserted through the coin insertion slot, and a coin provided below the coin detection mechanism for introducing a coin. A coin box that has a storage opening at the upper front and stores the coin that has passed through the coin detection mechanism by being introduced from the coin storage opening; and inside the coin box, below the coin storage opening. The inclined plate for tilting coins, which is provided in a downward slope from the rear to the upper end and is rotatable up and down with the rear end as a rotation axis, and the lower end of the front end of the inclined plate. A coin chute device comprising: an elastic member that is urged toward and that elastically deforms downward due to its weight when a predetermined amount of coins are accumulated on the inclined plate.