JPH08227470A - Medium handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To decrease the number of sensors while maintaining high detection precision, and to clearly light up the inner side of a medium handling opening by a light projecting element and prevent a medium from being forgot to be taken out by providing a photodetecting element and the light projecting element which is so arranged that the irradiation part of a visible light beam emitted toward the photodetecting element can be viewed from outside. CONSTITUTION: A coin taking-in/out opening 12 is formed in a bowl shape having its top opening part made large and its inner bottom part position made small and received coins 13 can easily be viewed from above. The light projecting element 23 such as a lamp is provided at the upper edge part of the coin taking-in/out opening 12 while having its irradiation direction set toward the bottom part, and the photodetecting element 25 such as a phototransistor is arranged facing the bottom plate opening part 24 in the irradiation direction; and a lamp which emits the visible light beam used even for lighting is used as the light projecting element 23 to allow the inner side of the coin taking-in/out opening 12 to clearly be viewed. The light projected on the bottom part is photodetected by the photodetecting element 25 to detect whether or not there is a coin and when the light is cut off, the presence of the coin is detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medium handling device which is handled, for example, at a coin door of an automatic transaction machine, and more specifically, can simplify a medium detecting structure and prevent forgetting to take a medium. A medium handling device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A coin inlet / outlet of an automatic transaction machine will be described below as an example of a medium handling device. As shown in FIG. 6, the coin inlet / outlet 61 is provided with coins 62 inserted / displaced in accordance with an automatic transaction. Presence / absence is detected by the detection sensor.
At this time, a large number of coins can be easily detected, but in the case of a small number, for example, one coin, it is necessary to improve the detection accuracy.

Therefore, in order to ensure the detection of a small number of coins 62, a photoelectric detection sensor 63 such as a photo sensor consisting of a pair of a light projector 63a and a light receiver 63b is arranged at the bottom of the coin inlet / outlet set in a small space. It is ensured that a small number of coins 62 remaining in the coin inlet / outlet 61 are detected.

However, when the detection direction of the photoelectric detection sensor 63 is configured to be detected along the bottom surface of the coin inlet / outlet 61, it is necessary to detect the thickness of the coins 62 accommodated in a plane along the bottom surface. For this reason, the optical axis is narrowed corresponding to the coin thickness of this small irradiation area, and the detection length is set short to secure the detection output. However, if the sensor output is made too high, accurate detection in the thickness direction cannot be performed, so that the sensor output is inevitably reduced, and as a result, the resistance to sensor contamination caused by dust adhesion and the like is low.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a coin door 71
A photoelectric sensor 72 for reflection type is provided on the bottom of the coin 73
In the case where the coin is not detected, the light emission detection check of the sensor 72 in the “when no coin exists” cannot be performed. Further, these sensors 63 and 72 require a plurality of detection sensors to detect one coin, which leads to high cost, and the inside bottom of the coin entrance is dark and difficult to see from the outside. Customers sometimes forget to pick up coins.

Further, as a measure for preventing forgetting to take coins, a lighting device is provided at the entrance and exit, and the lighting device is turned ON / OF.
There is also provided a device for clearly informing the customer of the presence or absence of coins by turning on and off the light after turning on and off (see, for example, JP-A-63-149786). However, in this case, it is necessary to install a lighting device separately from the coin detection sensor, which causes a problem of high cost.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, the number of sensors is reduced while maintaining high detection accuracy, and the inside of the medium handling port is clearly illuminated by the light projecting element so that the transaction medium is forgotten. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medium handling device capable of solving the above problems.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A medium handling device having a medium handling port for allowing a transaction medium to enter and leave and temporarily storing the medium, and a light receiving element disposed at a bottom inner position of the medium handling port, and irradiating the light receiving element with visible light. However, the light emitting element is provided so as to allow the irradiated portion of the irradiated visible light to be visually recognized from the outside.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the transaction medium is detected by a common irradiation type light-projecting element for commonly irradiating with one light source and a plurality of light-receiving elements.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided projection output switching means for switching the projection output of the projection element based on detection of the transaction medium.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the light projecting element illuminates the inner bottom position of the medium handling port, and when the light receiving element receives the light, the transaction medium "absent" is detected, and when the irradiation is interrupted, the transaction medium is detected. "Yes" of is detected. Further, at this time, since the outer surface of the transaction medium is irradiated with visible light of the light projecting element, the inner bottom position of the medium handling port illuminated by this visible light is clearly visible and permitted.

If a common irradiation type light projecting element is used,
Only one light source can irradiate a plurality of light receiving elements in common to detect the transaction medium.

Further, in conjunction with the detection operation of the transaction medium,
By switching the projection output by the projection output switching means, for example, blinking / high brightness, the presence or absence of the transaction medium can be notified more clearly.

[0014]

As described above, since the light receiving element is arranged at the inner bottom position of the medium handling port and the irradiation area of the large outer surface of the transaction medium interposed on the upper surface side is detected,
The limitation of narrowing the optical axis of the sensor and the limitation of shortening the detection length are eliminated, and the output of this sensor can be sufficiently secured. Therefore, the resistance of the sensor to dirt and the like of the sensor is increased, and it is possible to avoid the deterioration of the sensor performance. Further, since it is not a reflection type detection sensor, it is possible to check the light emission detection of the sensor. Further, since the light projecting element irradiates visible light as a light source, the inner bottom position of the medium handling port is illuminated brightly for easy viewing, and the medium handler can clearly recognize the presence or absence of the transaction medium. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of forgetting to take out the transaction medium, and since it is possible to irradiate a plurality of light receiving elements with only one light emitting element of the light source for detection operation, it is possible to reduce the number of light emitting elements. The cost can be reduced. Further, by switching the output of the light projecting element to blinking output or high-intensity output depending on the presence / absence of coins, the presence / absence of the transaction medium can be further clarified, and the forgetting to remove the transaction medium can be completely eliminated.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a coin inlet / outlet 12 equipped in a coin processing machine 11. This coin inlet / outlet 12 allows coins 13 to be put in and taken out from above to allow a deposit / withdrawal transaction. , The upper opening is closed by the shutter 14 to wait for deposit / withdrawal transactions, and various processes such as the deposit / withdrawal path 15 communicating with the inside and deposit / withdrawal / disbursement / collection are carried out at the time of deposit / withdrawal transactions. Transaction processing of coins is performed by the units 16 to 22.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the coin door 12.
This coin inlet / outlet 12 has a bowl shape in which the top opening is large and the inner bottom position is small. By having this bowl shape, it is easy to receive the coin 13 from above and the received coin is The coins 13 are naturally gathered in a small area at the inner bottom position so that the received coins 13 can be easily seen from above.

Further, a light projecting element 23 such as a lamp is provided on the inner surface of the upper edge of the coin inlet / outlet 12 with its irradiation direction toward the bottom, and a phototransistor is provided in the bottom plate opening 24 in this irradiation direction. Are arranged so as to face each other, and in this case, the light projecting element 23 is provided with a lamp which emits visible light for illumination and allows the inside of the coin inlet / outlet 12 to be clearly visible. Then, the light receiving element 25 receives the light projected toward the bottom to detect the coin “absence”, and detects the existence of the coin when the irradiation is blocked.

As described above, when detecting coins at the coin inlet / outlet 12, a large irradiation area is detected by irradiating the coins from the upper side to the lower side and planarly capturing the entire circular surface of the coins 13 interposed at the inner bottom position. Due to the configuration, the sensor output is not restricted and the sensor output can be sufficiently secured. Further, since the circular outer surface of the coin 13 illuminated at this time is illuminated with the visible light of the light projecting element 23 for illumination as well, the inner bottom position of the coin entrance / exit 12 illuminated by this visible light is made bright and clear. The coin can be visually recognized, and therefore, the coin can be surely visually recognized even if a small amount of coin remains on the inner bottom of the coin inlet / outlet 12.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the coin slot 12. The CPU 31 controls each circuit device according to a program stored in the ROM 32, and the control data is stored in R.
It is stored so that it can be read by the AM 33.

The coin inlet / outlet control unit 34 controls the opening / closing of the shutter 14 according to the contents of the deposit / withdrawal transaction of the coin 13, and also reverses the deposit coin from the coin inlet / outlet 12 so that it can be taken inside.

Similarly, the transport control unit 35 drives and controls the inner deposit / withdrawal path 15 and the respective processing units 16 to 22 communicating with the coin inlet / outlet 12 according to the deposit / withdrawal transaction contents of the coin 13.

Further, when the CPU 31 is configured to switch the output of the light projecting element 23 by not only the normal irradiation output but also the blinking output or the high brightness output, the presence / absence of the coin 13 is further clarified to make it clear to the customer. Can be informed, and forgetting to take the coin 13 can be completely eliminated.

In the coin inlet / outlet 12 thus constructed,
Now, when one coin 13 in which it is easy to forget to pick up a coin remains, the inside of this coin inlet / outlet 12 is provided with the light projecting element 2
Since 3 illuminates with visible light clearly for illumination, the inside of this coin entrance 12 illuminates the bottom position brightly, making it easy to see from the outside, and the coin handler can clearly see the presence or absence of the coin 13. For this reason, the occurrence of forgetting to collect coins is reliably reduced, and the difference accident due to the occurrence of residual coins is accurately resolved.

Further, in order to improve the visibility, the coin door 12
It is also possible to make the inner surface of the mirror a mirror surface wall, and in this case, the reflection efficiency of visible light is increased, and it becomes even brighter and easier to see. Furthermore, since it is not a reflection type sensor but a detection configuration for detecting the presence / absence of coins by projecting / receiving light, it is possible to easily perform a projection detection check.

FIG. 4 shows a coin inlet / outlet port 41 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The coin inlet / outlet port 41 has a coin storage portion having a U-shaped cross section, and a side opening for allowing a coin 42 to be inserted and removed on one side of this side surface. One portion 43 is opened, one light projecting element 44 for irradiating visible light such as a lamp is arranged in the center of the upper surface, and light receiving elements 46 such as phototransistors are arranged on the lower surface through the bottom plate opening 45. I have set up.

As described above, since the detection operation can be performed only by disposing one light emitting element 44 for one light source for the plurality of light receiving elements 46, the number of light emitting elements can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Can be achieved.

As described above, since the irradiation of the flat circular outer surface of the coin located at the inner bottom of the coin inlet / outlet is detected, the optical axis of the sensor is narrowed or the detection length is shortened. There is no restriction, and the output of this detection sensor can be sufficiently secured. For this reason, the resistance of the sensor to the dirt of the sensor is increased, and the deterioration of the sensor performance can be avoided. Further, since it is not a reflection type detection sensor, it is possible to check the light emission detection of the sensor.

Further, since the light projecting element irradiates with visible light also as illumination, the position of the inner bottom of the coin entrance is illuminated brightly for easy viewing, and the coin handler can clearly recognize the presence or absence of coins. Therefore, the occurrence of forgetting to collect coins is reduced, and irradiation of a plurality of light receiving elements can be detected only by the light emitting element of one light source, so that the number of light emitting elements can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, if the output of the light emitting element is switched to blinking output or high brightness output depending on the presence or absence of coins,
The presence or absence of coins can be further clarified, and forgetting to retrieve coins can be completely eliminated.

FIG. 5 is a bill doorway 52 of the bill processing device 51.
It shows the case where it is applied to
The banknote inlet / outlet 52 normally closes the upper opening with a shutter 54 to stand by for deposit / withdrawal transactions, and when the deposit / withdrawal transaction is performed, the deposit / withdrawal transaction is made. The banknote transaction processing is performed by the transport system 55 and the storage processing system 56.

In this case, since the banknote inlet / outlet 52 is configured to store and store the banknotes 53 in a standing shape, the light projecting / receiving elements are arranged along the horizontal direction in which the irradiation area of the banknotes can be wide. 58 is provided to detect the presence or absence of the banknote 53.

In the correspondence between the present invention and the configuration of the above-described one embodiment, the medium handling device of the present invention corresponds to the coin processing machine 11 and the bill processing device 51 of the embodiment. Corresponding to coins 13, 42 and banknote 53,
The medium handling ports are the coin doors 12 and 41 and the banknote doorway 5.
2, the projection output switching means corresponds to the CPU 31, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal configuration diagram showing a coin processing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an internal irradiation state of the coin door of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the coin doorway of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal irradiation state of the coin inlet / outlet of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an internal configuration diagram showing a bill processing apparatus of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of a bottom irradiation state of a conventional coin entrance / exit.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view in the case where a reflection type photoelectric detection sensor is used for a conventional coin entrance / exit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Coin processing machine 12, 41 ... Coin entrance / exit 13, 42 ... Coin 23, 44, 57 ... Light projecting element 25, 46, 58 ... Light receiving element 31 ... CPU 51 ... Banknote processing device 52 ... Banknote entrance 53 ... Banknote

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A medium handling device having a medium handling port for allowing a transaction medium to be taken in and out and temporarily stored therein, comprising: a light receiving element disposed at a bottom inner position of the medium handling port; and a light receiving element facing the light receiving element. And a projecting element which is arranged so as to permit visible irradiation of the irradiated visible light from the outside. 2. The medium handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light projecting element is set to a common irradiation type in which a plurality of light receiving elements are commonly irradiated by one light source. 3. The medium handling device according to claim 1, wherein the light projecting element is provided with a light projecting output switching means for switching a light projecting output based on detection of a transaction medium.