JPH10231047A - Medium handling system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the generation of a medium clog early to inform by providing a second medium handling device with a medium mutual monitor timer started to measure time every time a sensor detects the passage of a medium and informing the unpassed state of the medium in case time elapsed from the start time exceeds the monitor time. SOLUTION: Every time the passage of a medium is detected by a second sensor provided on the second medium handling device (moneychanger) 8 side, a medium mutual monitor timer 11 is started, and the generation of a medium clog is judged from time-out of the medium mutual monitor timer 11. At this time, complete processing can be executed only on the moneychanger 8 side without using sensor information on the money handling device side. The specified value is preset as the monitor time value to the medium mutual monitor timer 11, and the generation of time-out is specified on the basis of this monitor time value. The monitor time value is determined on the basis of a medium charging cycle and an allowable condition of a medium clog condition.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medium handling system, and more particularly, to a medium handling system capable of detecting when a medium is jammed around a connection between devices in a common medium transport path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Media handling apparatuses such as automatic machines for handling money, for example, automatic depositing and dispensing machines and vending machines, and currency exchange machines for exchanging inserted media such as bills and coins into other desired denominations. There is a medium handling system configured to move a medium from another apparatus via inter-apparatus transfer means instead of using the apparatus alone. In such a medium handling system, a step, a looseness, a bulge, or the like may occur in a connection portion between the devices, and the medium may be easily jammed.

In various apparatuses, a medium is run by a roller, a belt, a chain, or the like using the power of a motor or the like, and the running position of the medium is monitored by various sensors.
If necessary, use a travel path switching mechanism using blades or the like, change the transport path with a magnet or the like, and transport the medium to a desired position.If it is detected that the medium has traveled in a direction different from the desired position, Abnormal processing is being performed.

[0004] Abnormal processing is also performed when the medium has not reached a desired position within a predetermined time. In order to realize such processing, a means for uniquely acquiring position management information of a medium is required. For example, the main control unit in the apparatus manages and controls the position of the medium. In a system composed of a plurality of devices, the main control device only needs to be able to completely acquire the position management information of the medium in the entire process. In the case of a system configuration consisting of
It is difficult to centrally manage the location management information of the medium,
Further, when the system configuration is changed by exchanging devices, a more difficult problem arises.

[0005] For these reasons, it has not been possible in practice to detect media jams between the devices at an early stage.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Media clogging occurs,
If this cannot be detected early, the media that have been conveyed one after another will accumulate and become jammed from the first jammed position. is there. Also, if severe clogging occurs, the device may be damaged.

Therefore, it is important to detect a medium jam at an early stage. However, if a new device is added to a system including existing devices to update the system configuration so that the medium jam can be detected, the existing system is detected. It is necessary to modify the above device so that information can be exchanged with the new device, or to provide a means for exchanging information via the main control device.

However, when there are many types and numbers of devices, the operation becomes complicated, and problems such as a delay in a development period of a new device and a delay in freezing specifications occur. In addition, there are problems such as deterioration of quality due to tampering with existing equipment, securing of man-hours and remodeling time at the delivery site, increase in equipment cost, and difficulty in determining cost sharing. I couldn't be.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a medium common conveyance path for conveying a medium, and a plurality of medium arrangement means arranged along the medium common conveyance path for receiving a medium and sending the medium to the medium common conveyance path. A first medium handling apparatus, a second medium handling apparatus disposed at an end of the medium common transport path for receiving the medium transported by the medium common transport path, and a second medium handling apparatus side of the medium common transport path In the medium handling system comprising a sensor arranged to detect the passage of the medium, the second medium handling device is started every time the sensor detects the passage of the medium, measures the time, and has elapsed since the start. When the time exceeds the monitoring time, a medium mutual monitoring timer for notifying that the medium has not passed is provided.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a medium common transport path, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an in-store configuration. FIG. 3 exemplifies a branch of a game arcade such as a pachinko parlor, and comprises a hall 1 and an office 2. In hall 1 there is a gaming table 3
A plurality of islands 4 are provided as a unit in which pachinko machines, metal machines, and the like are combined. Typically, information about gaming tables is
It is managed every 4 units on each island. FIG. 1 shows the island 4.

A plurality of gaming tables 3 are arranged on the island 4, and a currency handling device 5 as a first medium handling device is provided between the gaming tables 3.
Is provided. Thus, no matter which gaming table 3 the player uses, the currency handling device 5 is always arranged near the gaming table 3. In the island 4 shown in the figure, the gaming table 3 and the money handling device 5 are provided on both sides of the medium common transport path. That is, the gaming table 3 and the money handling apparatus 5 are arranged in two rows. However, depending on the in-store configuration, such as when the islands 4 are arranged on the wall surface of the hall 1, only one row of the gaming table 3 and the money handling device 5 may be installed.

The money handling apparatus 5 accepts money such as bills and coins inserted by the player, determines whether the money is a valid medium, and determines that the money is not a valid medium. Then, the received medium is discharged to return to the player who has inserted the medium, and waits for the medium to be inserted again. If it is determined that the medium is a legitimate medium, the amount is displayed if necessary, and the next process is awaited. By the operation of the player, the ball or metal for pachinko or the like for the entire amount or the desired amount is discharged, and if there is change, it is returned. The information of the accepted amount is notified to the controller 6 installed in the office as needed.

Some of the money handling apparatuses 5 immediately discharge pachinko balls, metal, and the like corresponding to the input amount without displaying the amount. The media captured as described above
The medium is conveyed to the medium common conveyance path 7 via the medium individual conveyance path from each money handling device 5, and further passed through the medium common conveyance path 7, and is a recycle type exchange machine 8 as a second medium handling device.
Transported to The exchange machines 8 are provided for each island 4 and use the media thus taken to carry out exchange transactions.

As shown in FIG. 2, at the connection between the devices in the medium common transport path, that is, at the boundary area between the money handling device 5 and the changer 8, the sensor is provided on the money handling device 5 side so as to correspond to the entrances of both devices. 9a is provided, and a sensor 9b is provided on the exchange machine 8 side. Each of the sensors 9a and 9b has, for example, a light emitting unit (not shown) and a light receiving unit that receives light from the light emitting unit. it can.

The problem here is that when the medium moves from the money handling apparatus 5 to the money changer 8, the medium that has passed the position of the sensor 9a is processed as if it normally passed on the money handling apparatus 5 side. However, if some medium jam or the like occurs in the inter-apparatus coupling portion, the medium that has passed through the sensor 9a is not detected by the sensor 9b, and even in that case, the exchange machine 8 simply waits for the next medium to pass. Simply means that the medium jam cannot be detected.

At first, the medium is sequentially clogged from the position where the medium is clogged, and reaches the position of the sensor 9a. When the medium passes normally, the optical axis of the sensor 9a is intermittently interrupted and turned ON only at that time.
When the medium is clogged up to the position, the ON state with the medium blocking the optical axis of the sensor 9a continues.

Until now, the sensor 9a has been set to O
When the N state is continued, it is determined that an abnormality such as a media jam has occurred, and the abnormality is displayed to a supervisor (clerk) by turning on or blinking the display lamp 10 shown in FIG. The present embodiment is characterized in that an inter-medium monitoring timer 11 is provided on the exchange machine 8 side so that an abnormality such as a media jam can be detected earlier.

That is, each time the second sensor 9b provided on the exchange machine 8 side detects the passage of the medium, the timer 11 is started (restarted) each time, and the timer 11 is timed out. Thus, it is determined that a medium jam has occurred. At this time, the complete processing can be executed only on the money changer 8 side without using the information of the sensor 9a on the money handling device side.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the medium clogging monitoring process, which will be described for each step in the figure. Sa1: If the timeout of the inter-medium monitoring timer 11 has not occurred, the process proceeds to Sa2, and if the timeout has occurred, the process branches to Sa5. Sa2: If the sensor 9b detects the passage of a coin, the process proceeds to Sa4, but if the passage is not detected, the process branches to Sa3.

Sa3: If the sensor 9b detects passage of a bill, the process proceeds to Sa4, but if passage is not detected, the process returns. Sa4: Since the passage of a coin or a bill has been detected, the inter-medium monitoring timer 11 is restarted and the process is returned. Sa5: Since the inter-medium monitoring timer 11 has timed out, a medium non-passing notification is issued to the controller 6.

Next, the monitor call display processing of the controller 6 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the monitor call display, and will be described for each step in this figure. Sb1: The controller 6 determines whether or not a device abnormality has occurred. If an apparatus abnormality has occurred, the controller 6 advances the process to Sb2. If no device abnormality has occurred, the controller 6 proceeds to Sb3. Branch to

Sb2: The controller 6 has an indicator lamp 10
Is displayed to indicate that a device error has occurred, and the process returns. The display light 10 can display a plurality of patterns. By giving meaning to each pattern in advance, the observer can see the display pattern of the display light 10 to determine what state the device has. Can be known, and necessary measures can be taken accordingly.

Sb3: The controller 6 determines whether or not a big hit has occurred based on the individual information from each of the gaming tables.
The process advances to b4, and if no big hit has occurred, the process branches to Sb5. Sb4: The controller 6 controls the indicator lamp 10 to display a jackpot indicating that a jackpot has occurred, and returns the processing.

Sb5: The controller 6 determines whether or not the player has called the store clerk, that is, whether or not an OP (operator) call has occurred, based on the individual information from each game console, and calls the OP. If the error has occurred, the process proceeds to Sb6. If the OP call has not occurred, the process branches to Sb7. Sb6: The controller 6 controls the indicator light 10 to
An OP call indicating that the P call has occurred is displayed, and the process returns.

Sb7: The controller 6 determines whether or not the above-described medium non-passing notification has been received. If the medium non-passing notification has been received, the process proceeds to Sb8. If the medium non-passing notification has not been received. , The process simply returns without displaying the indicator light 10. Sb8: The controller 6 controls the indicator lamp 10,
Displays a jam confirmation display indicating that the media is jammed,
Reverse processing. By this clogging confirmation display, the observer can detect at an early stage that any abnormality has occurred between the money handling apparatus 5 and the change machine 8.

A predetermined value is set in advance in the inter-medium monitoring timer 11 as a monitoring time value, and the occurrence of a timeout is defined based on the monitoring time value. The monitoring time value is determined based on the period of medium feeding and the allowable condition of the degree of media clogging. For example, in a game arcade system, tens of minutes are appropriate values. By operating a rotary type switch (not shown) or a setting button, etc., it is possible for the observer to directly change the set value of the monitoring time, for example, the remaining time from 30 minutes to closing the store, so that the optimum value according to the situation can be obtained. Settings can be executed.

Note that the alarm release in this processing is
Opening a cover (not shown) of the money changing machine 8,
To operate a specific switch in the
May be executed by giving some notification to. Further, in the above description, the predetermined time is used as the monitoring time or the time set by the monitor is described as being used. However, as described below, information on the game console, information on business days, and information on the time zone are used. It is also possible to automatically calculate and set the monitoring time based on information and the like.

FIG. 6 shows a monitoring time value table (1), FIG. 7 shows a monitoring time value table (2), and FIG. 8 shows a monitoring time value table (3). FIG. 9 is a business day information table showing holiday / weekday / opening information of the current month, FIG. 10 shows an installation environment information table, and FIG. 11 shows a coefficient table. The tables prepared in advance as described above are stored in, for example, the change machine 8, and the date information and the time information by the clock built in the change machine 8 are also referred to.
The amount of clogs that can be tolerated is automatically calculated, and the monitoring time is set automatically according to the actual situation.

The monitoring time is determined, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, information on the date is extracted from the business day information table, information on the installation model and popularity is extracted from the installation environment table, and a monitoring time value table to be used is determined based on the information. After the table is determined, the monitoring time value of the time zone corresponding to the current time is obtained.

When the island where the device is installed is in one row, the obtained value is used as it is. In the case of two rows, the monitoring time values of both are obtained according to the installation environment information table, The shorter one is temporarily selected as the reference monitoring time value, and the coefficient extracted from the coefficient table based on the information in the other columns is multiplied by the reference monitoring time value to reduce the monitoring time value. The value is corrected and used as the value of the monitoring time actually used.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the monitoring time calculation process, which will be described below with reference to the steps in this figure. Sc1: Date data is acquired from a clock built in the exchange machine 8, and information on weekdays, holidays, or opening of business is acquired from a business day information table based on the data. Note that the “opening” here refers to a special day on which an unusual situation is expected, such as a newly opened store.

Sc2: Obtain connection column information (island information), installation table information and installation degree information for the installation model from the installation environment information table. Sc3: Time data is acquired from a built-in clock, and a time zone is determined. Sc4: Based on the information acquired in Sc1 and Sc2,
Determine the monitoring time value table to be referenced.

Sc5: Obtain the monitoring time value in the corresponding time zone from the table determined in Sc4. Sc6: It is determined whether only one row is connected. If only one row is connected, the process proceeds to Sc7; otherwise, the process branches to Sc8. Sc7: Since only one line is connected, the monitoring time is set in the medium mutual monitoring timer 11 using the monitoring time value obtained in the above processing.

Sc8: Since only one column is connected, the process is performed for the other columns. Note that a column on which the above processing has been performed is referred to as a column, and a column on which processing is performed thereafter is referred to as a column. Sc9: Obtain the monitoring time value of the corresponding time zone from the determined table for each column.

Sc10: The column obtained as described above is compared with the monitoring time value of the column. If the column value is larger than the column value, the process proceeds to Sc11; otherwise, the process proceeds to Sc11. Is branched to Sc14. Sc11: Since the value of the column is smaller, the column is used as a reference monitoring time value for the time being, but the column information is used to further correct the monitoring time. Here, a coefficient is obtained from the coefficient table based on the column information.

Sc12: The correction calculation is performed in a direction to further reduce the time by multiplying the monitoring time of the reference column by the coefficient obtained in Sc11. The corrected monitoring time value thus obtained is actually used. Sc13: The corrected monitoring time value is set in the medium mutual monitoring timer 11.

Sc14: Since the value of the column is equal to or less than the value of the column, the column is temporarily used as the reference monitoring time value, but the column information is used to further correct the monitoring time. Here, a coefficient is obtained from the coefficient table based on the column information. Sc15: The correction calculation is performed in a direction to further shorten the time by multiplying the monitoring time of the reference column by the coefficient obtained in Sc14. The corrected monitoring time value thus obtained is actually used. Processing is Sc13
Proceed to

As described above, in the present embodiment, the occurrence of a medium jam can be detected and notified at an early stage, so that the TAT (turn-around-time) after the occurrence of an abnormality can be shortened. Also, if the medium is strongly clogged due to repeated clogging, the device may be damaged during the removal operation.However, the clogging of the medium can be detected at an early stage. It becomes possible to deal with the problem, the device is not damaged, and the operation of removing the clog can be simply and quickly completed.

Further, it is possible to complete all processing off-line only on the exchange machine 8 side. In this case, even without considering coordination with other devices or the like, only the exchange machine 8 side can monitor the media jam. Processing can be executed. Of course, the controller 6 may have each table for each island 4, and the controller 6 may calculate the monitoring time for each island 4 and set it in the corresponding medium mutual monitoring timer 11.

As described above, regarding the value of the inter-media monitoring timer, the timer value must be set according to the purpose, the time zone, the degree of popularity of the installed model, the degree of customer attachment, the degree of return to the game, and the like. This makes it possible to perform monitoring that is more actual. For example, in the case where the medium does not flow at all during a certain time period, it is unnecessary to call a supervisor and perform a work of checking for a medium jam to prevent waste. be able to.

[0041]

As described in detail above, since the inter-medium monitoring timer is provided to detect and notify the occurrence of jamming of the medium at an early stage, the time required for normal recovery after the occurrence of an abnormality is reduced. Has the effect of Further, since the degree of clogging can be found while the degree of clogging is small, there is no damage to the apparatus when removing the clogged medium, and the clogging removal operation itself can be easily performed in a short time. .

Further, since the monitoring processing can be executed only on the second medium handling device side without having to communicate with the first medium handling device side, the configuration and arrangement of the first medium handling device side can be freely set. It has the effect that it becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a medium common transport path.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a configuration in a branch

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a medium jam monitoring process;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a supervisor call display.

FIG. 6 is a monitoring time value table (1).

FIG. 7 is a monitoring time value table (2).

FIG. 8 is a monitoring time value table (3).

FIG. 9 is a business day information table

FIG. 10 is an installation environment information table.

FIG. 11 is a coefficient table.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a monitoring time calculation process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 First media handling device 6 Controller 7 Media common transport path 8 Second media handling device 9b Sensor 11 Media mutual monitoring timer

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshimitsu Matsui 1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A medium common conveyance path for conveying a medium, a plurality of first medium handling devices arranged along the medium common conveyance path, for receiving a medium and sending the medium to the medium common conveyance path, A second medium disposed at an end of the medium common conveyance path for receiving the medium conveyed by the medium common conveyance path;
In a medium handling system comprising a medium handling device and a sensor disposed on the side of the second medium handling device in the common medium transport path and detecting passage of a medium, the sensor detects the passage of the medium in the second medium handling device. A medium handling system characterized by providing a medium mutual monitoring timer for notifying the non-passage of the medium when the time is measured by starting each time, and when the time elapsed since the start exceeds a preset monitoring time. . 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first medium handling device is arranged near the game console, and information on the game console, information on business days and information on the time zone are stored in the second media handling device in advance. And a second medium handling device that automatically calculates a monitoring time based on the information and sets the monitoring time in a medium mutual monitoring timer. 3. The information processing device according to claim 2, further comprising: a controller capable of communicating with a plurality of second medium handling devices, wherein the controller has information on a game console corresponding to each of the second medium handling devices and information on business days. And information on time zones is stored in advance, a monitoring time is calculated for each second medium handling device based on the information, and the monitoring time is set in a corresponding medium mutual monitoring timer. system.