JPH06342493A - Coin processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the coin processor for easily changing the denomination of a coin holding cylinder into the other denomination. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with a coin discriminating means 4 for discriminating the denomination of an inserted coin, coin sorting means 6 for sorting the discriminated coin by denominations, plural coin holding cylinders 31-34 for holding the sorted coins as change by denominations, denomination setting means for chanigng the denomination setting of the coin holding cylinders 31-34, and control part for controlling the operation of the coin sorting mechanism 6 so that the coins discriminated by the coin discriminating means 4 can be sorted to the coin holding cylinders 31-34 of the relevant denominations set by the denomination setting 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 which is incorporated in, for example, an automatic vending machine or a money changer, and which sorts and holds inserted coins and dispenses change.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional coin processing device for an automatic vending machine, for example, one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-119892 is known. This coin processing device is a coin discriminating unit that discriminates the authenticity and denomination of inserted coins, a coin allocating mechanism for allocating the inserted coins by denomination, and the allocated coins for change by denomination. It is provided with a plurality of coin holding cylinders that are temporarily held and a change dispensing mechanism that pays out the coins held in the coin holding cylinders as change.

The coin holding cylinders are 10 yen coins, 50 yen coins,
A total of 4 for each denomination of 100 yen coins and 500 yen coins
Individually provided. The coin sorting mechanism is composed of a plurality of coin passages leading to each coin holding cylinder, a plurality of gates capable of opening and closing these coin passages, and a drive mechanism such as a solenoid for driving these gates, In order to control the operation of the drive mechanism, a control unit composed of a microcomputer is provided. And
The control unit follows a predetermined control program stored in advance, and according to the discrimination result of the coin discriminating unit, causes the drive mechanism to perform a predetermined operation and operates the coin sorting mechanism to sort the coins by denomination, The coins of the applicable denomination are dropped into a coin storage cylinder and stored in the coin storage cylinder. The coins stored in the coin storage cylinder are appropriately dispensed by the change dispensing mechanism and used as change.

[0004]

On the other hand, in such a coin processing device, the change frequency of the change is different depending on the denomination, and generally, the 10-yen coin and the 100-yen coin are used in large numbers, and the 50-yen coin is used. And there are few 500 yen coins. Further, the frequency of using change also depends on the selling price of the product, and as a typical example, when selling a product of 160 yen, a 50-yen coin is basically unnecessary. In such a case, if you can change the coin holding cylinders of unnecessary denominations to other denominations that are frequently used, it will be difficult to run out of change even if you frequently change the products sold, so the burden of change management will be reduced. It is also preferable in order to prevent a decrease in product sales.

However, in the coin processing device described above, the denomination of each coin holding cylinder is predetermined, and the control unit
Based on the determined denomination, according to the discrimination result of the coin discriminating section, the sorting mechanism merely causes the allocating mechanism to perform a predetermined operation, so changing the denomination of the coin storage cylinder to another denomination is
This is impossible unless the control program of the control unit or the configuration of the coin sorting mechanism is fundamentally changed.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing device capable of easily changing the denomination of the coin storage cylinder to another denomination. I am trying.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, a coin processing device of the present invention is a coin discriminating means for discriminating the denomination of inserted coins, and a coin allocating for discriminating the discriminated coins into denominations. Mechanism, a plurality of coin holding cylinders for holding sorted coins as change according to denomination, denomination setting means capable of changing denomination setting of the coin holding cylinder, and coins discriminated by the coin discriminating means are denominations. It is characterized by including a control unit for controlling the operation of the coin sorting mechanism so that the coins can be sorted into the coin holding cylinders of the denomination set by the setting means.

[0008]

According to the coin processing device of the present invention, the denomination of the coin holding cylinder is preset by the denomination setting means.
When a coin is inserted into the coin processing device, first, the coin discriminating means discriminates the denomination of the inserted coin. The control unit controls the operation of the coin allocating mechanism according to the discrimination result of the coin discriminating unit and the setting result of the denomination setting unit, so that the coin allocating mechanism sets the denomination of the coin discriminated by the coin discriminating unit. It is distributed to coin holding cylinders of the corresponding denomination set by the means, and the coin holding cylinder holds this as change. Therefore, by merely changing the denomination setting of the coin holding cylinder by the denomination setting means, the inserted coin can be automatically held in the coin holding cylinder of the corresponding denomination after the change.

[0009]

EXAMPLES An example of a coin processing device of the present invention will be described below.
A detailed description will be given with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the coin processing device, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the coin processing device. This coin processing device is a so-called coin mechanism that is installed in a vending machine.
The coins of 0 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen can be used as purchased coins, and these coins can be used as change or return money when the return lever is operated.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coin processing device 1 discriminates the authenticity and denomination of the inserted coin, and the coin sorting device portion 2 for allocating the discriminated coins and the distributed coins temporarily. And a coin processing device section 3 for temporarily holding and paying out as change. The coin processing device unit 3 also sets the denomination of coins to be held.

The coin sorting device unit 2 sorts the discriminated coins under the control of the coin discriminating unit 4 and the first control device 5 for discriminating the authenticity and denomination of the inserted coin and the first control device 5. It is composed of a coin sorting mechanism 6.

The coin discriminating section 4 constitutes a coin discriminating means together with the first control device 5, and is provided below the coin slot 20 as shown in FIG. The coin discriminating unit 4 includes a plurality of magnetic sensors (none of which is shown) facing the entrance passage between the coin slot 20 and the coin sorting mechanism 6. Each magnetic sensor is connected to the first control device 6, detects the shape and thickness of the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 20, and outputs the detection signal to the first control device 5.

The first control device (control unit) 5 is composed of a microcomputer, performs arithmetic processing based on the detection signals from each magnetic sensor, and the arithmetically processed data and the stored reference data. And the authenticity of the inserted coin and the denomination are discriminated, and the operation of the coin sorting mechanism 6 is controlled based on the discrimination result.

The coin sorting mechanism 6 has a true / false sorting gate (not shown) at the uppermost stream and a denomination sorting gate group thereafter, and the denomination sorting gate group is a first group arranged in the vertical direction.
~ It is constituted by the third gate 21, 22, 23. True / false distribution gate and first and second gates 21 and 22
Is a type in which the valve element facing upward is rotated in the front-rear direction (direction orthogonal to the paper surface of the drawing), and the third gate 23 is a front-rear movement type configured to be retractable. . Further, each of these gates has a solenoid (not shown) connected to the first controller 5. Then, the first control device 5 turns ON / O each solenoid.
By FF control, each gate is opened and closed independently of each other, and by the cooperation of the opened and closed gates, a return passage leading to the return port (none of which is shown), and a plurality of coins of the change storing unit 7 described later. Any one of a plurality of coin passages leading to each of the holding cylinders 31 to 34 and a safe passage (not shown) leading to the safe is selectively opened to sort the inserted coins. .

On the other hand, the coin processing unit 3 includes a change holding unit 7 for temporarily holding coins distributed by the coin distribution mechanism 6 and a denomination setting switch for setting a denomination to be held in the change storing unit 7. 8, second control device 9, and second control device 9
Under the control by, the change-off mechanism 10 for paying out coins held in the change holding unit 7 as change, and the change sensor 11 for detecting the holding state of coins in the change holding unit 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the change holding unit 7 is arranged below the coin allocating mechanism 6 and has a total of four coins including the first to fourth coin holding cylinders 31, 32, 33 and 34. It has a holding cylinder and a preliminary holding cylinder 35, which are integrally formed on the left and right sides. First to fourth coin storage cylinders 31 to 34
Are arranged so as to face the lower end openings of a plurality of coin passages whose upper ends are opened and which are opened and closed by the respective gates of the coin allocating mechanism 6, and which are sorted by the coin allocating mechanism 6 to roll in the coin passages. It receives coins, drops them inside, and holds them in a stacked state. In addition, a large number of coins, which are most frequently used as change, such as 10-yen coins, are stored in advance in the reserve storage cylinder 35 from the outside in advance.

The denomination setting switch 8 sets the denomination of coins to be held in the first to fourth coin holding cylinders 31, 32, 33, 34 for each holding cylinder, and for example, the second control. It is composed of a DIP switch attached to the device 9. The setting signal of the denomination setting switch 8 is the second
It is input to the control device 9 and further output to the first control device 5 via the second control device 9.

The second control device 9 is composed of a microcomputer like the first control device 5, and the first control device 5
Calculate the amount of change according to the signal from
A change signal is output to the change dispensing mechanism 10 based on the calculation result and the setting signal of the denomination setting switch 8 and the like.
Control its operation.

The change dispensing mechanism 10 is disposed below the change storing section 7, and the internal mechanism operates based on the change signal from the second control device 9 to cause the corresponding coin storing cylinder 31. Open the dispensing opening at the bottom of ~ 34,
It is designed to be paid out as change. In this case, for example, when the coin holding cylinder for 10-yen coins becomes empty,
A 10-yen coin is paid out from the reserve cylinder 35.

The change sensor 11 is attached to each of the first to fourth coin storage cylinders 31 to 34, detects whether or not each coin storage cylinder 31 to 34 is full, and outputs the signal. Output to the second controller 9.

Next, the operation of the coin processing device 1 having the above-mentioned configuration will be described in detail, focusing on the denomination setting of the first to fourth coin storage cylinders 31 to 34 and the distribution operation of the coin distribution mechanism 6.
First, the denomination of coins to be held in the first to fourth coin holding cylinders 31 to 34 is preset by the denomination setting switch 8. Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first coin holding cylinder 31 is for a 50-yen coin, and the second coin holding cylinder 3 is used.
2 is for 10-yen coins, the third coin holding cylinder 33 is 100
For yen coins, and the fourth coin holding cylinder 34 is 500
It is assumed that they are set for yen coins.

When a coin is inserted from the coin insertion slot 20,
The coin rolls in the entrance passage in the coin discriminating unit 4, and in the process of rolling, the first control device 5 discriminates the authenticity and denomination of the coin according to the detection signal from the magnetic sensor. Here, when the inserted coin is determined to be a true coin, the first control device 5
By the control of, the true / false distribution gate rotates backward to guide the coin to the first gate 21, and when it is determined that the coin is a false coin, the true / false distribution gate rotates forward to move the coin into the return passage. Through the return port.

Next, the first control unit 5 turns on each solenoid of the first to third gates 21 to 23 according to the denomination of the inserted coin and the setting signal of the denomination setting switch 8.
ON / OFF of each gate by ON / OFF control
By operating (opening and closing), the inserted coins are distributed to the first to fourth coin storage tubes 31 to 34 or the safe. Figure 3 (a)
Shows the relationship between the setting state of the denomination setting switch 8 and the ON / OFF operation of the first to third gates 21 to 23.

As shown in the figure, when the first control device 5 determines that the input coin is a 10-yen coin, the first control device 5 turns on all the first to third gates 21 to 23 to turn the second coin storage cylinder. The coin passage leading to 32 is opened, and the coin is guided to and held in the second coin holding cylinder 32. Also, 5 coins
If it is a 0-yen coin, the first and second gates 2
While turning on 1 and 22, the third gate 23 is turned off.
By performing the F operation, the coin passage communicating with the first coin storage cylinder 31 is opened, and the coins are stored in the first coin storage cylinder 31. Similarly, when the inserted coin is determined to be a 100-yen coin, the first gate 21 is turned on and the second and third gates 22 and 23 are turned off to hold the coin in the third coin holding cylinder 33. , When the input coin is determined to be a 500-yen coin, the first and third gates 21 and 23 are turned on.
Operation, by turning off the second gate 22,
The coins are held in the fourth coin holding cylinder 34.

By the above operation, the 10-yen coin is placed in the second coin holding tube 32 and the 50-yen coin is placed in the first coin holding tube 31.
In addition, 100-yen coins are sorted into the third coin holding cylinder 33 and 500-yen coins are sorted into the fourth coin holding cylinder 34 and held, that is, as set by the denomination setting switch 8,
The coin is held in the corresponding coin holding cylinder. Further, when any one of the coin holding cylinders is full, this state is detected by the change sensor 11, and the first control device 5 detects the change sensor 11 when a coin of the corresponding denomination is inserted. According to the detection signal from the, for example, the first to third gates 21 to 2
When all 3 are turned off, the safe passage is opened and the input coins are stored in the safe.

Next, the operation when the denomination setting of the coin holding cylinder is changed by the denomination setting switch 8 will be described. Here, assuming that 50 yen coins are no longer required as change,
As shown in FIG. 3B, the denomination setting switch 8
Only the first coin storage cylinder 31 is changed from one for 50 yen coins to one for 10 yen coins, both coin storage cylinders of the first and second coin storage cylinders 31, 32 are set for 10 yen coins, and the third and It is assumed that there is no change in the denomination setting of the fourth coin storage tubes 33, 34.

In this case, the first controller 5 turns ON / OFF the first to third gates 21 to 23 in accordance with the setting signal from the denomination setting switch 8 as shown in FIG. 3B. Let That is, the first control device 5 puts in 10 coins.
When it is determined that the coin is a yen coin, as in the case before the setting change shown in FIG. 3A, all the first to third gates 21 to 23 are turned on to hold the inserted coin in the second coin holding cylinder 32. . When the input coin is determined to be a 50-yen coin, unlike the case before the setting change, the first to third gates 21 to 23 are different.
By turning off all of the coins, the input coins are stored in the safe. Furthermore, input coins are 100 yen coins or 5 coins.
When it is determined that the coin is a 00-yen coin, each gate is turned on / off in the same manner as before the setting is changed, and the inserted coin is held in the third coin holding cylinder 33 or the fourth coin holding cylinder 34, respectively.

When the second coin holding cylinder 32 is filled with 10-yen coins, this state is detected by the change sensor 11 attached to the second coin holding cylinder 32, and the signal thereof is subjected to the first control. It is input to the device 5. In this case, the first
When the control device 5 determines that the input coin is a 10-yen coin, the control device 5 turns on the first and second gates 21 and 22 and turns off the third gate 23 so that the first coin holding cylinder 31 is placed. Hold the input coins.

By the above operation, the 10 yen coin is
First to the second coin holding cylinder 32, and then to the first coin holding cylinder 31
The 50-yen coin is stored in the safe, the 100-yen coin and the 500-yen coin are held in the third and fourth coin-retaining tubes 33 and 34, respectively, that is, the changed denomination setting switch 8 is set. As it is, it is automatically held in the corresponding coin holding cylinder.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the denomination setting switch 8 can be used to change the denomination setting of the coin holding cylinder, and the first control device 5 can determine the denomination of the inserted coin, and According to the denomination setting signal from the denomination setting switch 8, the first to third gates 21 to 2 of the coin sorting mechanism 5
By controlling the operation of No. 3, the input coin is held in the corresponding denomination of the first to fourth coin holding cylinders 31 to 34. Therefore, simply by changing the denomination setting of the first to fourth coin holding cylinders 31 to 34 with the denomination setting switch 8, the inserted coins are automatically held in the coin holding cylinders of the corresponding denomination after the change. can do. Therefore, if a denomination that does not require change is generated due to a change in the product or a price increase, the coin holding cylinder of that denomination is changed to another denomination that is frequently used. By effectively utilizing the whole, it is possible to reduce the risk of running out of change, and therefore, it is possible to reduce the burden of change management and prevent a decrease in product sales.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be implemented in various modes. For example, in the embodiment, the denomination setting of the coin holding cylinder is changed by the denomination setting switch attached to the control device, but this can be done by other suitable means such as rewriting of the PROM. Good. Further, the denomination setting of the coin holding cylinder is not limited to 50 yen → 10 yen in the embodiment, but may be changed between other denominations, for example, 500 yen → 100 yen depending on the situation. You can Further, in the embodiment, when the first and second coin holding cylinders are set for 10 yen, the latter is 1
After the 0-yen coins are full, the former 10-yen coins are started to be withheld, but it is also possible to alternately withhold them.

[0032]

As described above, according to the coin processing device of the present invention, it is possible to easily change the denomination of the coin storage cylinder to another denomination. If it occurs, you can easily change the coin holding cylinder of that denomination to another denomination that is frequently used, making it difficult for change to run out, reducing the burden of change management and reducing product sales. It has an effect that it can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the coin processing device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between a setting state of a denomination setting switch and an operation of a coin sorting mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 coin processing device 4 coin discriminating unit 5 first control device 6 coin sorting mechanism 8 denomination setting switch 21 first gate 22 second gate 23 third gate 31 first coin holding cylinder 32 second coin holding cylinder 33 third coin Hold cylinder 34 4th coin hold cylinder

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A coin discriminating means for discriminating the denomination of inserted coins, a coin allocating mechanism for allocating the discriminated coins into denominations, and a plurality of coin holdings for retaining the categorized coins as change according to denominations. A cylinder, a denomination setting means capable of changing the denomination setting of the coin holding cylinder, and a coin discriminated by the coin discriminating means is distributed to the coin holding cylinder of the corresponding denomination set by the denomination setting means. As described above, a coin processing device including a control unit that controls the operation of the coin sorting mechanism.