JPH09237374A - Coin sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely prevent the catching of a second coin into a sorting gate even when the second coin is thrown in just after that of a first coin. SOLUTION: After a coin thrown-in a coin throw-in port 1 passes through a coin passage 2, it is sorted to a right coin passage 6 or a returning passage 7 depending on whether it is right or not. The sorting gate 5 is opened based on the right coin detecting signal of identification sensors 3 and 4 to guide the coin to the right coin passage 6 and is closed based on the detection signal of a passage sensor 8 to guide the coin to the returning passage 7. Then a catching-into preventing means 11 being pivotally supported by a rotary shaft 12 is provided at a position near the upstream side of the sorting gate 5. The tip part of the catching-into preventing lever 11 is projected into the coin passage by synchronizing with the operation of closing the sorting gate 5 after a first coin C, passes through, to guide a second coin C2 dropping just after it to the side of the returning passage 7 in order not to be caught into the sorting gate 5 starting to close.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin sorter for identifying authenticity of inserted coins and identification of denominations in stand machines, game machines, vending machines and the like of pachinko parlors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is an external view of a coin sorting device.
In FIG. 4, 1 is a coin slot, 21 is an opening / closing gate, 2
2 is a return lever, 23 is a sensor cover, 24 is a front cover, 25 is a locking tool, and 26 is a coin pullback prevention tool. When a coin is inserted into a device provided with this coin sorting device, for example, a machine between machines, the coin is guided to a coin introduction path in the machine between machines and enters the coin insertion slot 1. The coins thus introduced into the coin sorter are identified by the identification sensor provided inside the sensor cover 23 along the coin passage.
The authenticity of coins and the denomination of coins are identified, and according to the result, the coins are sorted into a genuine coin passage and a return passage provided inside the front cover 24.

When the coins inserted into the coin slot 1 are clogged during the coin sorting in this way, the return lever 22 is pulled upward to open the opening / closing gate 21 a little. Drop the jammed coin into the return passage. The locking tool 25 is a locking tool for attaching the coin sorting device to the device, and the coin pullback preventive tool 26 is used for a fraudulent act using a coin with a thread or the like. This is to prevent coins from being pulled back by cutting.

Next, the internal structure of such a coin sorting device will be described. FIG. 5 is an internal schematic diagram of a conventional coin sorting device, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a distribution gate operation of the conventional coin sorting device. Reference numeral 1 corresponds to that of FIG. 4, 2 is a coin passage, 3 is a first identification sensor, 4 is a second identification sensor, 5
Is a sorting gate, 6 is a true passage, 7 is a return passage, 8 is a passage sensor, 9 is a solenoid, 10 is a link, 13 is a container front side wall, 14 is a container rear side wall, 15 is a passage partition wall, and 27 is a deposit prohibited Lever, C ₁ and C ₂ are coins.

The coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 1 is identified based on the outputs of the first identification sensor 3 and the second identification sensor 4 provided on the side wall of the coin passage 2 as to the authenticity and denomination of the coin.
The opening / closing control of the sorting gate 5 is performed by the identification signal. As a result, if the inserted coin is a true coin, the solenoid 9
Is activated and the link 10 is operated, the sorting gate 5 is opened, and the coin is guided to the true coin passage 6. However, if the coin is fake, the sorting gate 5 remains closed and the coin is guided to the return passage 7. When the sorting gate 5 is opened and the coin is guided to the true coin passage 6, the passage sensor 8 detects the passage of the coin and closes the sorting gate 5.

At this time, when the second coin C ₂ is inserted immediately after the _first coin C ₁ is inserted, the first coin C ₁ passes through the passage sensor 8 and is then sorted. When the gate 5 is closed, the second coin C ₂ may reach the position of the sorting gate 5. When such a situation occurs, as shown in FIG. 6, the second coin C ₂ is sandwiched between the sorting gates 5. Although the coin C ₂ has not been determined as a true coin, it is pushed by a coin (not shown) inserted next and enters the true coin passage 6,
Originally, it is a coin that should be returned, but it will not be returned.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Is provided with a deposit prohibiting lever 27 that extends in the axial direction integrally with the rotating shaft of L and has an L-shaped tip, and when the sorting gate 5 opens, the deposit prohibiting lever 27 also rotates accordingly. The L-shaped tip crosses the coin passage 2 so as to close it. That is, when the first coin C ₁ is inserted and the distribution gate 5 is opened based on the outputs of the first identification sensor 3 and the second identification sensor 4, the deposit provided integrally with the distribution gate 5 The tip of the prohibiting lever 27 projects so as to cross the coin passage 2. As a result, even if the second coin C ₂ is inserted immediately after the _first coin C ₁ is inserted, the second coin C ₂ remains in the deposit prohibition lever 27.
The second coin C ₂ is prevented from being pinched by the sorting gate 5.

As a conventional document related to such a coin sorting device, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-266310 (G.
07F 3/04)

[0009]

However, the above-mentioned conventional technique has the following problems.

The first problem is that, in the conventional coin sorting apparatus shown in FIG. 4, due to the structure of the deposit prohibition lever 27 integrated with the sort gate 5, the sort gate 5 and the deposit prohibit lever 27 are arranged between the sort gate 5 and the deposit prohibit lever 27. Therefore, if the distance between the first and second coins is small, the second coin may be caught in the sorting gate 5. is there. That is, when the distance between the sorting gate 5 and the deposit prohibition lever 27 becomes large, the coin passage 2 becomes 1
When the second coin C ₂ is sent with almost no gap from the _first coin C ₁ , the second coin C ₂ passes there before the deposit prohibition lever 27 closes the coin passage 2. In that case, the second coin C
₂ will be caught in the sorting gate 5.

The second problem is that the second coin inserted immediately after the first coin is inserted is temporarily stopped in the middle of the coin passage and then sent to the return passage. It is a problem based on this. That is, the return of the second coin is delayed due to the stoppage in the middle, and the third coin is inserted while the second coin is stopped in the middle of the coin passage, Even if the coins are inserted at appropriate intervals, the second coin and the third coin continuously flow through the coin passage, and the third coin cannot be judged as a true coin. The point is that there is a nature.

The third problem is that due to the structure of the deposit prohibiting lever 27 integrated with the sorting gate 5, when a coin falling from the deposit prohibiting lever 27 is received, stress is applied to the base of the deposit prohibiting lever 27. There is a risk of concentrating and breaking that part.

The present invention solves such a problem, and
Even if the second coin is inserted immediately after the second coin is inserted, it is possible to reliably prevent the second coin from being caught by the sorting gate 5 and eliminate the structurally weak portion. The challenge is to prevent damage.

[0014]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a coin sorting device of the present invention, a coin slot, a coin passage through which a coin inserted into the coin slot passes, and a side wall of the coin passage. An identification sensor that is provided to identify coins that pass through the coin passage, a genuine coin passage that guides coins that have been identified as genuine coins to the coin receiving side, and a coin that has not been identified as a genuine coin. A return passage leading to the mouth, a passage sensor for detecting that a coin has passed through the genuine coin passage, a downstream passage of the identification sensor, provided at the upper ends of the genuine coin passage and the return passage, and the identification sensor And a sorting gate that is opened based on the true coin detection signal to guide the coin to the genuine coin passage, and is closed based on the detection signal from the passage sensor to guide the coin to the return passage, and an upstream side of the sorting gate. The sorting gate is closed at a close position Protrudes into the coin passage in synchronization with the operations, was that it comprises a catch prevention lever guides the coins falling down to the return passage side.

Further, the pinch prevention lever is formed of a plate-like member whose upstream side is axially supported, and a protruding portion is formed at an intermediate portion in the axial direction toward the distribution gate side. It was decided to form a notch corresponding to the protrusion.

Further, the trapping prevention lever is operated by a link for driving to open / close the sorting gate.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an internal schematic view of the coin sorting device of the present invention. Reference numerals correspond to those in FIG. 4, 11 is a pinch prevention lever, and 12 is a rotating shaft.

The pinch prevention lever 11 is formed in a plate shape, and is pivotally supported on the side wall of the coin sorting device by a rotating shaft 12 in the vicinity of the upstream side of the sorting gate 5. The pinch prevention lever 11 projects into the coin passage in synchronism with the closing operation of the sorting gate 5 so that coins that fall thereafter are guided to the return passage 7 side. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation is performed by a link 10 attached to a plunger of a solenoid 9 for opening and closing the distribution gate 5. That is, the length of the link 10 is made longer than that of the conventional one, and the arm for driving the pinch prevention lever 11 is engaged therewith, and at the same time when the sorting gate 5 is closed, the pinch prevention lever 11 is projected toward the coin passage side. I am trying.

When two coins are continuously inserted into this coin sorting device, first, the first discrimination sensor 3 and the second discrimination sensor 4 detect the _first coin C ₁ and the sorting gate. 5 is opened. At that time, the pinch prevention lever 11 is closed by the link 10 and hidden in the container rear side wall 14 as shown in FIG. However, the first coin C ₁
When the distribution gate 5 is guided to the true coin passage 6 and passes in front of the passage sensor 8, the link 10 is driven so that the distribution gate 5 is closed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the pinch prevention lever 1 moves as the link 10 moves.
1 is opened to the side of the coin passage, and the second coin C ₂ falling thereafter is guided to the side of the return passage 7 by flipping. Therefore,
Even if the second coin is continuously inserted immediately after the _first coin C ₁ is inserted into the coin sorting device, the sorting gate 5 that closes after the first coin passes through The second coin C ₂ is no longer caught.

At this time, the center end in the length direction of the pinch prevention lever 11 is projected in an arc shape, and the tip part of the sorting gate 5 facing it is cut in an arc shape.
Even coins that have reached the tip of the sorting gate 5 are reliably prevented from being caught in the sorting gate 5.
The shape in which the tip of the coin detecting portion 11 is projected is not limited to the arc shape, and may be other shapes.

Further, since the link 10 attached to the plunger of the solenoid 9 for driving the sorting gate 5 drives the entrapment prevention lever 11, it is easy to use without using a special drive device. In structure,
Securely synchronize with the sorting gate 5 to prevent the trapping lever 1
1 can be activated.

[0022]

As described above, according to the coin sorting apparatus of the present invention, the second coin is inserted immediately after the first coin is inserted, and the two coins are almost spaced from each other. Even if it falls without it, the first coin is sorted by the sorting gate 5.
At the same time that the sorting gate 5 is closed by passing through the pinch prevention lever 11, the pinch prevention lever 11 projects into the coin passage immediately above the sorting gate 5. As a result, the second coin is sent to the return passage, and the sorting gate 5 reliably prevents the second coin from being caught.

Further, in the coin sorting apparatus of the present invention, the second coin is guided to the return passage without being stopped halfway, so that the return is quicker and the second coin is inserted. After that, even if the third coin is further inserted, the true coin determination of the third coin can be performed without any trouble as long as a proper insertion interval is provided between the second coin and the second coin.

If a protrusion toward the distribution gate is formed in the axially intermediate portion of the pinch prevention lever 11 and a notch corresponding to the protrusion is formed in the distribution gate 5, the distribution gate is formed. Even a coin that has reached the tip of 5 can be more reliably prevented from being caught in sorting gate 5. Furthermore, if the pinch prevention lever 11 is operated by sharing the link 10 for opening and closing the sorting gate 5, the sorting gate 5 is closed at the same time without providing a special operating mechanism. The pinch prevention lever 11 can be projected.

Moreover, the entrapment prevention lever 11 is a separate member from the sorting gate 5 and has a simple structure.
It is easy to manufacture, and the pinch prevention lever 11 is
Only the function of preventing the coins from being caught in the sorting gate 5 should be provided. Therefore, the length from the rotating shaft 12 may be short, and even if a coin hits the tip of the rotating shaft 12, stress is not excessively concentrated on the supporting portion, and damage is less likely to occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic internal view of a coin sorting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which a coin passes through a sorting gate.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which after the first coin passes, the second coin is guided to the return passage side by the pinch prevention lever.

[Figure 4] External view of coin sorting device

FIG. 5 is an internal schematic diagram of a conventional coin sorting device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a sorting gate operation of a conventional coin sorting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 coin slot 2 coin passage 3 first identification sensor 4 second identification sensor 5 sorting gate 6 true coin passage 7 return passage 8 passage sensor 9 solenoid 10 link 11 pinch prevention lever 12 pivot shaft 13 container front side wall 14 container rear Side wall 15 passage partition

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A coin slot, a coin passage through which a coin inserted into the coin slot passes, a discrimination sensor provided on a side wall of the coin passage for discriminating a coin passing through the coin passage, A coin passage that guides coins that are identified as coins to the coin receiving side, a return passage that guides coins that are not identified as genuine coins to the return port, and detects that a coin has passed through the coin passage And a passage sensor provided at the upper end of the genuine passage and the return passage downstream of the identification sensor,
A sorting gate that is opened based on a true coin detection signal of the identification sensor to guide the coin to the true coin passage, and is closed based on a detection signal of the passage sensor to guide the coin to the return passage,
An upstream side of the sorting gate is provided with a pinch prevention lever that protrudes into the coin passage in synchronization with the operation of closing the sorting gate and guides the falling coin to the return passage side. And coin sorting equipment. 2. The entrapment prevention lever is made of a plate-like member whose upstream side is axially supported, and a protrusion is formed at an intermediate portion in the axial direction toward the distribution gate.
The coin sorting device according to claim 1, wherein a notch corresponding to the protrusion is formed. 3. The coin sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the pinch prevention lever is operated by a link for driving to open / close the sorting gate.