JPH07129821A - Coin processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a coin processing device simple and small in size and exclude trouble such as a coin jam. CONSTITUTION:In the figure, 2 is a coin throw-in opening, 3 a coin sorting track, 4 a coin sorting part, 13 a coin storage track, and 16a-16d 1st-4th coin storage parts. Further, 23 is a coin housing track, 24 is a coin housing opening, and 15 is a coin returning opening. And, the coin storage parts 16a-16d store all genuine and false coins and determine the coins to be housed according to coin information and tariff data of the coin sorting part.

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 incorporated in a public telephone, a vending machine or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional coin processing device, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. A conventional coin processing device will be described with reference to these drawings. A reference numeral 1 denotes a substrate that is provided substantially upright on a base (not shown), and has a coin insertion slot 2 into which a coin C is inserted at the upper left portion. Reference numeral 3 denotes a coin sorting track which is connected to the coin slot 2 and is gently inclined, and is provided with a coin sorting section 4 and a sorting lever 10 for sorting illegal coins. Coin sorting section 4
Is composed of an insertion detection sensor 6 for detecting the insertion of coins, an outer diameter detection sensor 7 for detecting the outer diameter of the coin, and a material thickness detection sensor 8 for detecting the material and thickness of the coin.
The sorting lever 10 normally projects into the coin sorting track 3 from the window 11 formed in the substrate 1, and the coin sorting unit 4 is provided.
With the selection magnet 9 that operates according to the control signal when the true coins are selected in step 1, the coins exit from the coin selection track 3 through the window 11.

Reference numeral 12 is a passage sensor for detecting the passage of genuine coins.
Reference numeral 13 denotes a coin accumulating orbit continuously provided to the coin selecting orbit 3, and is gently inclined in a direction opposite to the coin selecting orbit 3. 14
Is a coin return orbit which is arranged substantially parallel to the coin accumulating orbit 13 and the thickness direction of the rolling coins.
The inlet part is provided on the slightly upstream side, and the coin return port 15 is provided on the lower left part of the substrate 1. Further, the end portion of the coin accumulating track 13 joins with the coin returning track and is continuously provided. Reference numerals 16a to 16d denote first to fourth coin accumulating portions arranged in parallel below the coin accumulating trajectory 13, and have an opening 18 facing the coin accumulating trajectory 13 at an upper end and an accumulation release lever 19 at a lower end, respectively. It has a coin storage pocket 17 that it has.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a substantially V-shaped storage lever, which is an arm 20a for opening and closing the opening 18 and a coin storage pocket 1.
7 and a leg portion 20b positioned inside 7, and a swinging habit is imparted so that the arm portion 20a opens the opening portion 18 and projects into the coin accumulating track 13 by a weight (not shown). Reference numeral 21 is a storage magnet, which operates when a storage signal or an on-hook signal arrives, withdraws the storage release lever 19 from the lower portion of the coin storage pocket 17, and moves the coins in the coin storage pocket 17 into a coin storage track 2 described later.
Lead to 3. Reference numeral 22 is an accumulation sensor arranged in the coin accumulation pocket 17. Reference numeral 23 is a coin storage track located below the four coin storage sections 16 and inclined at the same inclination as the coin storage track 13. A coin storage port 24 is provided at the lower end of the end portion and coins are provided at the side ends of the end portion. Contact port 25 linked with return port 15
Are provided respectively.

Reference numeral 26 is a storage / return switching lever having a storage lever portion 26a for opening and closing the coin storage opening 24 and a return lever portion 26b for opening and closing the communication opening 25. The storage lever portion 26a and the return lever portion 26b. Is configured to alternately open and close the coin storage port 24 and the communication port 25, and the storage / return switching magnet 27 operates to open the coin storage port 24 and close the communication port 25.
Reference numeral 28 denotes a storage sensor arranged below the coin storage opening 24. Although not shown, a flapper, which is supported by the substrate 1 so as to be openable and closable, is disposed at a position 29 of the coin sorting track 3 just below the coin slot 2 and is inserted from the slot 2. When a coin is jammed due to a scale jam or the like, the coin is opened in conjunction with a well-known on-hook operation by a handset (not shown), and the jammed coin is guided to the lower return track 14 and returned from the coin return port 15.

Next, the coin processing operation of the coin processing device having such a configuration will be described. Coin C inserted from the slot 2
Rolls on the coin sorting track 3 and, when passing through the input sensor 6, the input of coins is detected, the coin sorting unit 4 starts sorting, and the coins C passing through the sorting unit 4 are sorted. Coin sorting section 4
When the fraudulent coins are sorted by, the sorting lever 10 keeps the state of protruding into the coin sorting orbit 3 and removes the fraudulent coins in the thickness direction of the rolling coins to guide the coins to the coin return orbit 14 and the coin return port. Return from 15.

On the other hand, when coins are sorted by the coin sorting unit 4, the sorting magnet 9 is operated by the control signal from the coin sorting unit 4 and the sorting lever 10 is withdrawn from the coin sorting track 3. Passes through the passage sensor 12 and is guided to the coin accumulation track 13. 1 led to the coin accumulation orbit 13
The second true coin comes into contact with the arm portion 20a of the accumulation lever 20 of the first coin accumulation portion 16a located at the uppermost stream of the coin accumulation track 13 and is prevented from rolling, and falls from the opening portion 18 into the accumulation pocket 17. Accumulated. The coins that have been dropped and accumulated are the legs 20.
Since the arm 20a is brought into contact with b and pivots the accumulation lever 20, the arm 20a retreats from the coin accumulating track 13 and closes the opening 18, and the arm 20a forms the coin accumulating track 13. Therefore, the second genuine coin is accumulated in the second coin accumulating unit 16b, and the succeeding genuine coins are sequentially accumulated in the coin accumulating units 16c,
It is stored in 16d. Four coin storage units 16a to 16d
When all genuine coins are accumulated, the sorting operation in the coin sorting unit 4 is exhibited, the sorting lever 10 projects into the coin sorting track 3, and the fifth and subsequent inserted coins come into contact with the sorting lever 10 and return the coins. It is guided to the track 14 and returned from the coin return port 15.

When the four true coins accumulated in the coin accumulating unit 16 are sorted by the coin sorting unit 4, the denomination of the coin is stored in the memory unit of the apparatus as coin information. The coin information to be stored is determined from the four coins based on the coin information and the tariff data in which the call charge is calculated based on the charge table, and the corresponding storage magnet 21 operates to store and release lever 19. Will leave, so the specie coins stored will be
It drops from the storage pocket 17 to the coin storage track 23 and rolls to the end of the storage track 23. Here, since the storage / return switching magnet 27 operates and the storage switching lever 26 swings so that the storage lever portion 26a opens the coin storage opening 24, coins are stored from the coin storage opening 24. When the stored coins pass the storage sensor 28, it is detected that the number of accumulated coins detected by the passage sensor 12 has decreased by one, and it is detected that the coin accumulating unit 16 capable of accumulating is generated. 10 exits from the coin sorting orbit 3 to be in the accumulable state.

When the call ends and the handset is hooked on the hook, the storage lever portion 26a of the storage / return switching lever closes the coin storage opening 24, and the return lever portion 26b opens the communication opening 25. At the same time, since the storage magnet 21 of the coin storage portion 16 on the downstream side operates and the storage release lever 19 withdraws from the coin storage pocket 17, the storage pocket 17
The coin inside falls into the coin storage track 23 and rolls, and the communication port 2
After passing 5, the coin is returned from the coin return port 15.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional coin processing device, since the illegal coins are removed in the thickness direction of the coins rolled by the selection lever and guided to the coin return trajectory, In addition to the coin accumulation orbit that guides the coins, a coin return orbit must be provided in the thickness direction of the coin that rolls with this coin accumulation orbit, which not only complicates the structure but also increases the thickness and makes the device larger. There was a drawback that it turned into. In addition, since the sorting lever changes the rolling direction of the illegal coins and guides the illegal coins in the thickness direction of the rolling coins, the coins are easily jammed,
In particular, when illegal coins are continuously thrown in, coins are overlapped and clogged, so-called scale clogging occurs, which causes a permanent obstacle.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and problems, and an object of the present invention is to simplify the apparatus and to reduce the size thereof, while eliminating obstacles such as coin jams. It is to provide a coin processing device.

[0012]

In order to achieve this object, a coin processing device according to the present invention comprises a coin sorting section and a plurality of coins arranged downstream of the coin sorting section for accumulating coins one by one. A coin storage unit is provided, the coin information in the coin selection unit is stored, and a coin to be stored is selected from the coins stored in the coin storage unit based on the stored coin information and tariff data.

[0013]

According to the present invention, regardless of whether it is a genuine coin or a fraudulent coin, a genuine coin that is temporarily accumulated in a plurality of coin accumulation units and then stored based on the coin information and the tariff data in the coin sorting unit. Is selected.

[0014]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a coin processing device according to the present invention, and FIG.
Is a flow chart showing the operation of the storage process, FIG.
Is a flow chart showing the operation of the storing process, FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the on-hook process. In these drawings, the same components as those in the conventional technique are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The feature of the present invention resides in that a sorting lever for removing illegal coins is not provided and a coin return track is not provided. That is, only the coin accumulating track 13 is provided on the downstream side of the coin sorting unit 4, and the coin thickness direction in which the illegal coins rolled by the sorting lever 10 in the above-described conventional coin processing device rolls. Coin orbit 14 leading to
Is not provided, and illegal coins are also guided to the coin accumulation orbit 13.

Next, the operation of the accumulating process in the coin processing device having such a configuration will be described. Waiting for the coins to be inserted in step 41, when the coin C is inserted from the coin insertion slot 2 and passes through the insertion sensor 6, the coin insertion is detected in step 42, and the coin sorting unit 4 starts sorting. The selection ends in step 43. Result of selection, step 4
When it is selected as a true coin in 4, the true money information such as the denomination of the true coin is temporarily stored in the accumulated information area in a step 45. On the other hand, if the illegal currency is selected in step 44, the illegal currency information is temporarily stored in step 46.

In step 47, the four coin storage units 16a ...
16d waits for coins to be accumulated, and when the first coin having passed through the passage sensor 12 is accumulated in the first coin accumulating unit 16a, the accumulation sensor 22 accumulates it in step 48. That is detected, step 49
Then, the coin information temporarily stored in the accumulated information area in steps 45 and 46 is saved, and the first coin accumulation unit 16a is saved.
The denomination information or the illegal coin information of the coins stored in is stored. In step 50, the number of coins accumulated in one of the coin accumulating units 16a to 16d is counted, and in step 51, it is determined whether all the coin accumulating units 16a to 16d have accumulated, that is, whether four coins have been accumulated, The same operation is repeated by returning to step 41 until four sheets are accumulated. Four
When the coins are accumulated, the sorting operation in the coin sorting unit 4 is stopped in step 52, and the coins inserted thereafter roll on the coin accumulating track 13 regardless of whether they are genuine coins or illegal coins. It is returned from the return port 15.

Next, the storage processing operation will be described. In step 61, the stored coin is determined from the tariff data based on the coin information temporarily stored in the stored information area, and the storage magnet 21 of the coin storage unit storing the corresponding stored coin is operated to release the storage. Withdraw the lever 19,
The stored coins are dropped and rolled on the coin storage track 23. At the same time, the storage / return switching magnet 27 is operated to swing the storage / return switching lever 26 so that the storage lever portion 26a is withdrawn, and the coin is stored from the coin storage opening 24. In step 63, when the storage sensor 28 detects the storage,
In step 64, the accumulated information area in which the stored coins are temporarily stored is cleared, and in step 65, the accumulated count is decremented by one. When the accumulated count is decremented, step 42
Then, the input detection is started again, and the above-mentioned accumulation processing becomes possible.

Here, the illegal coins are the coin accumulation units 16a to 16c.
If stored in any of d, the return operation is performed during the operation of storing the genuine coin. That is, the storage magnet 21 of the corresponding coin storage section operates to operate the storage release lever 19
, The illegal coins are dropped into the coin storage track 23 and rolled, and returned from the coin return port 15 through the contact port 25. By doing this, new genuine coins can be accumulated.

As described above, all coins, regardless of whether they are genuine coins or illegal coins, are temporarily stored in the coin accumulating portion 16a.
16 to 16d, coin information in the coin sorting unit 4 is temporarily stored, and the stored coins are determined from the accumulated coins accumulated in the coin accumulating units 16a to 16d from the tariff data based on this coin information. Since the coin return track and the selection lever, which were required, are not required, the structure is simplified and the device can be made thinner in the thickness direction. In addition, since no scale clogging occurs during the sorting operation of the sorting lever, the function and quality are improved.

Next, the on-hook processing operation will be described. When the call ends and the handset is placed on the hook, so-called on-hook processing, if there are accumulated coins in the coin accumulating units 16a to 16d in step 71, the accumulated coins are accumulated in step 72. The coin storage orbit 2 is operated by operating the storage magnet 21 of the coin storage portion located on the downstream side of the portion to cause the storage release lever 19 to retract.
Drop to 3 and roll. Storage return switching magnet 2 at the same time
7 to operate the storage return switching lever, the return lever section 2
6b is swung so as to be withdrawn from the communication port 25, and the coin is returned from the coin return port 15 in step 72. In step 73, the accumulated count is decremented by one, and if there are accumulated coins in step 71, the coin return operation similar to the above is performed and coins are returned one by one. When all the coins have been returned, the on-hook process ends in step 74.

As described above, since the coins are returned one by one, the coin jam at the coin storage track 23 or the coin return port 15 is stopped. In this embodiment, the coins are returned sequentially from the coin storage unit on the downstream side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the coins may be returned from any coin storage unit.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the coin sorting section and the coin sorting unit disposed downstream of the coin sorting section
A coin accumulating unit for accumulating one by one is stored, the coin information in the coin sorting unit is stored, and a coin to be stored is selected from the coins accumulated in the coin accumulating unit based on the stored coin information and tariff data. In this way, all coins, regardless of whether they are genuine coins or fraudulent coins, are once stored in the coin storage unit, so there is no need to provide a coin return track.
Therefore, the structure is simplified and the thickness can be reduced. Further, it is not necessary to provide a selection lever, and therefore, the coin jam due to the selection operation does not occur, and the function and quality can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a coin processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram for explaining the operation of the accumulation processing of the coin processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart diagram illustrating an operation of a storing process of the coin processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of on-hook processing of the coin processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional coin processing device.

6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 coin selection track 4 coin selection section 13 coin storage track 15 coin return slot 16a to 16d 1st to 4th coin storage section 17 coin storage pocket 20 storage lever 23 coin storage track 24 coin storage slot 26 storage return switching lever

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A coin selection unit, and a plurality of coin storage units arranged downstream of the coin selection unit for accumulating coins one by one, storing coin information in the coin selection unit, and storing the coin information. A coin processing device, wherein a coin to be stored is selected from the coins accumulated in the coin accumulating unit based on the coin information and the tariff data.