JPH10275264A - Automatic change payment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the inconvenience of operation that is caused by the sudden discontinuation of an automatic change payment operation when the drop of output level is detected for an optical sensor which is used at each part of an automatic change payment device. SOLUTION: The degree of dirt of respective optical sensors placed at each part of an automatic change payment device is detected in plural steps until the degree of dirt exceeds its allowable level based on the output of the light receiving part of the optical sensor (step S2 to S4). The different types of dirt reports, e.g. the different types of warning tones are produced and displayed in response to the steps of detected degree of dirt of every optical sensor (step S7, S8). If the detected degree of dirt of the optical sensor exceeds its allowable level, the automatic payment operation of charge is discontinued (step S6). Thus, the drop of output level of every optical sensor is reported before the automatic change payment is discontinued to prevent such an inconvenience case where the customers are compelled to wait for a long time due to the sudden discontinuation of the automatic change payment operation, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic change dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to a POS terminal (Point of Sales) / ECR.
The present invention relates to an automatic change dispensing apparatus suitable for use by connecting to an (Electronic Cash Register).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic change dispensing apparatus has been used to collectively insert coins in a state where various denominations are mixed from an insertion port,
After checking whether or not the coins are genuine, the coins are classified for each coin, stored in the storage unit, and the designated coin and the number of coins are paid out. One example of such a change automatic payment apparatus is shown in FIG.

First, the automatic change dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. 14 will be described along the flow of coins. When a coin is inserted through a coin insertion slot 102 provided on the right front side of the main body case 101, the insertion of the coin is detected based on the output of the insertion slot sensor S1, and each unit is activated accordingly. This allows
The coins are conveyed by the insertion port belt 103, and are fed out one by one by the insertion port rollers 104 during the conveyance, and are conveyed in a line. The coins conveyed in one line are delivered from the insertion belt 103 to the conveyor belt 105, and undergo an outer diameter check by the outer diameter check unit 106 during the conveyance by the conveyor belt 105. As a result, if the coin being transported is not a genuine coin, the coin is rejected by the reject overflow unit 107. The direction of the coin passing through the reject overflow unit 107 is changed to a right angle by the direction changing unit 110 in the process of being transferred from the conveyor belt 108 to the conveyor belt 109.

[0004] The coins whose traveling direction has been changed are transported by the conveyor belt 10
Separation hole 1 for each denomination whose hole width dimension increases sequentially along line 9
It is guided to a coin sorting unit 112 provided with the coin 11. Sorting hole 1
11 is 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, 50
Six are provided so as to correspond to each denomination of 0 yen. Therefore, the coins fall sequentially from the sorting holes 111 determined for each denomination. The drop of coins from each sorting hole 111 is detected by the output of the denomination discriminating sensor S2, and it is recognized which coins of which denomination have dropped.

Next, at the position where the coins fall from the sorting hole 111, a coin storage section 114 partitioned by a partition plate 113 for each denomination is provided, and the coin storage section 114 is provided at a bottom portion for each denomination. Is a delivery belt 11 having a transport belt structure.
5 is provided rotatably. Therefore, when the payout belt 115 is driven, the coins stored in the coin storage unit 114 are conveyed toward the exit, and the separation rollers 11
6 separates and transports each sheet. The separated coins continue to be conveyed by the payout belt 115 as they are, and reach a coin waiting unit 117 that arranges a predetermined number of coins in a line for each denomination and waits. At this time, the separation roller 11
The coin passing through 6 is detected by the passage sensor S3, and a coin stopper (not shown) selectively operates according to the detected coin. The coin stopper is driven by a solenoid (not shown) to advance and retreat with respect to the coin transport path, and prevents the coin from advancing by entering the coin transport path. Thereby, the coin standby unit 11
At 7, the coins are temporarily stopped and aligned in a line to stand by.

Then, in accordance with a command from a POS terminal, an ECR, or the like, the solenoid is driven and controlled so that only the required number of coins are sent to the coin payout position. That is, the coins stored in the coin storage unit 114 are paid out to the coin payout position by the coin payout unit 118 having the payout belt 115 as a main component. At this time, the output of the payout sensor S4 recognizes how many coins of the denomination have been paid out. Then, the coins paid out to the coin payout position are collectively received at a coin outlet 119 having an upper opening. Thus, the cashier or the like can grab the coins paid out to the coin payout port 119 in a lump and deliver it to the customer as change. This facilitates the change processing.

Here, the sensors S1 to S4 described above are:
All are transmissive optical sensors.

[0008]

In an automatic change dispensing device, for example, as in the automatic change dispensing device shown in FIG.
The flow of coins in each section is detected by the outputs of a plurality of optical sensors (optical sensors S1 to S4 in FIG. 14).
Therefore, in order to prevent a detection failure due to a defect such as dirt or deterioration in the optical sensor, and to prevent a malfunction due to this, the output level of the optical sensor is monitored, and the output level of the optical sensor is higher than a predetermined value. It has been customary to stop the change automatic payout operation by notifying an error when it has decreased. In this case, the automatic change dispensing operation is restored after cleaning or replacing the optical sensor.

However, in consideration of the actual operation, the automatic change dispensing device is used when transferring money, so that the automatic change dispensing operation is stopped when the output level of the optical sensor falls below a predetermined value. This causes the customer to wait, resulting in operational inconvenience. In addition, once the change automatic dispensing operation is stopped, the operation cannot be recovered unless the optical sensor is cleaned, so that there is a problem that such recovery processing requires a long time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic change dispensing apparatus which can avoid inconvenience in operation due to a stop of an automatic change dispensing operation due to a decrease in the output level of an optical sensor used in each section. is there.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic change dispensing apparatus for transferring coins inserted into a coin insertion slot to a coin sorting unit, sorting coins by denomination, and dropping them into a coin storage unit. In a change automatic dispensing device in which coins stored in a coin storing unit are selectively dropped to a coin payout slot by a required denomination and a required number of coins, a plurality of optical sensors provided in each unit and light receiving by the optical sensors Dirt detecting means for detecting the degree of dirt of each optical sensor based on the output of the unit in a plurality of steps until the dirt exceeds an allowable value, and dirt different according to the dirt level of the optical sensor detected by the dirt detecting means. A dirt notifying means for notifying and a stopping means for stopping the automatic change dispensing operation when the dirt detecting means detects that the dirt on the optical sensor exceeds an allowable value. Therefore, when the optical sensor becomes dirty, the degree of dirt on the optical sensor is detected by the dirt detecting means according to the degree of dirt, and different dirt notification is performed by the dirt notifying means according to the degree of dirt in this case. . Then, when it is detected that the dirt exceeds the allowable value, the automatic payout operation of change is stopped by the stopping means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic change dispensing apparatus for transferring coins inserted into a coin insertion slot to a coin sorting section, sorting coins by denomination, dropping them into a coin storage section, and storing the coins in the coin storage section. Automatic change dispensing device in which the required coins and the required number of coins are selectively dropped to a coin payout exit, a plurality of sets of optical sensors provided in each of a plurality of sets, and light receiving of the optical sensors. The dirt detecting means for detecting that the dirt exceeds the allowable value for each of the optical sensors in the set based on the output of the unit, and the dirt detecting means determines that the dirt of some of the optical sensors in the set has the allowable value. The dirt notifying means for performing dirt notification when it is detected that it has exceeded, and the automatic dispensing operation of change is stopped when the dirt detecting means detects that the dirt of all the optical sensors in a set exceeds the allowable value. And stopping means for performing the operation. Therefore, when dirt exceeding the allowable value occurs in the optical sensor, this is detected by the dirt detecting means.
In this case, a plurality of optical sensors are provided in each part, and dirt is individually detected for each of the optical sensors in the set. Therefore, as a result of the detection by the dirt detecting means, if the detection of the dirt exceeding the allowable value is only for a part of the optical sensors in the set, the dirt notifying means performs dirt notification, and the dirt exceeding the allowable value is performed. Is detected for all the optical sensors in a set, the automatic payout operation of change is stopped by the stopping means.

Therefore, according to the automatic change dispensing device according to the first or second aspect, when the output level of the optical sensor used for each unit is reduced, this is reported before the automatic change dispensing operation is stopped, and the automatic change dispensing operation is performed. Operational inconvenience due to sudden stoppage of the server is avoided in advance.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of an automatic change dispensing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the basic configuration and operation of the automatic change dispensing apparatus will be described, and then the detection of dirt detection of an optical sensor used in each section will be described.

<Basic Configuration and Operation of Automatic Change Dispensing Apparatus> FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view, and FIG. 2 is an overall plan view.
A coin insertion slot 2 is provided at the front right side of the main body case 1 to open a coin insertion slot 2 into which coins C are collectively inserted. The coin insertion slot 2 is provided with a set of three insertion slot sensors 3 that photoelectrically detect the presence or absence of the coin C. The input port sensor 3 is a transmissive optical sensor in which a light emitting unit LD composed of a light emitting diode and a light receiving unit PT composed of a phototransistor are arranged to face each other. The coin slot 2 is provided with an insertion belt 4 for transporting the inserted coin C toward the back. On the insertion belt 4, the coin is positioned at one end of the coin insertion slot 2 and irregularly arranged. Is provided with a slot roller 5 for feeding out the coins C inserted into the coins one by one.

A transfer belt 6 having a higher transfer speed so that the coins C can be fed at a predetermined gap by increasing the feed speed of the coins C is connected to the insertion port belt 4. Another transport belt 7 is provided continuously. An outer diameter check unit 8 for checking the outer diameter of the coin C is provided at a portion of the conveyor belt 6. This outer diameter check part 8
Is determined by a combination of a set of three outer diameter check sensors 9 arranged in parallel from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction of the coin C and hole sensors (not shown) provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the transport path of the coin C. The outer diameter of the coin C is detected. Both the outer diameter check sensor 9 and the hole sensor are provided with a light emitting section LD composed of a light emitting diode and a light receiving section P composed of a phototransistor.
T is a transmissive optical sensor that is disposed to face. Therefore, the outer diameter check unit 8 includes the outer diameter check sensor 9.
To detect whether the coin C is a perforated coin C by a hole sensor, and determine whether the coin C passing through the outer diameter check unit 8 is a true coin or a false coin by a combination of these detections. To detect.

At the end of the outer diameter check section 8, a reject overflow section for interrupting and transporting coins when the coins C to be transported are not genuine or when a coin storage section to be described later is full. 10 are provided. At the entrance of the reject overflow section 10, a reject counting sensor 11 for counting the number of counterfeit coins and the like stored in the reject overflow section 10 is provided.
Is provided. This reject counting sensor 11
This is a transmission-type optical sensor in which a light-emitting unit LD composed of a light-emitting diode and a light-receiving unit PT composed of a phototransistor are arranged to face each other. Also, at the end of the conveyor belt 7,
A transport belt 12 is provided which transports the coin C to a coin sorting position by changing the transport direction to a right angle.

Next, a sorting hole 13 for each denomination whose hole width dimension is sequentially increased along the conveyor belt 12 is provided in the rear of the main body case 1, and a coin sorting portion 14 located at a coin sorting position is formed therein. Have been. Six sorting holes 13 are provided so as to correspond to respective denominations of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen. Each of the sorting holes 13 is provided with a counting sensor 15 for counting the number of coins C falling. This counting sensor 15
Is a transmission-type optical sensor in which a light-emitting unit LD composed of a light-emitting diode and a light-receiving unit PT composed of a phototransistor are arranged to face each other.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a coin storing section, a coin payout section, and a coin standby section, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side view thereof. A coin storage section 17 having an upper opening is provided which is separated by a partition plate 16 for each coin C in communication with each of the sorting holes 13. Entrance for each denomination of this coin storage unit 17,
That is, a full sensor 18 is provided near the sorting hole 13 to detect whether or not the coin storage unit 17 is full. The full sensor 18 is a transmissive optical sensor in which a light emitting unit LD composed of a light emitting diode and a light receiving unit PT composed of a phototransistor are arranged to face each other. On the bottom surface of each coin type of the coin storage unit 17, a delivery belt 19 having a transport belt structure is suspended between a driving roller 20 and a driven roller 21 which are connected to and driven by a storage unit motor (not shown). It is provided. A separation roller 22 for separating coins C one by one is provided at an exit of the coin storage unit 17. A predetermined number of coins C are arranged in a line on the downstream side of the separation roller 22. A coin standby unit 23 for standby is provided for each denomination.
In the coin standby section 23, a holding plate 2 having a size determined so that two or more coins C do not overlap the payout belt 19.
4 and a coin stopper 25 for temporarily stopping the coins C and controlling the operation so as to send out the required number of coins C. The coin stopper 25 is connected to the payout solenoid 2 via the swing arm 26.
7, the coin C specified by the operation control and the number of coins are paid out. Further, immediately after the coin stopper 25, the coin C to be paid out to the coin payout position
A payout sensor 28 for checking the denomination and the number of coins is provided for each denomination. The payout sensor 28 is a transmissive optical sensor in which a light emitting unit LD composed of a light emitting diode and a light receiving unit PT composed of a phototransistor are arranged to face each other.

Further, the main body case 1 is provided with a coin payout opening 29 located at a coin payout position, and a display 30 and various operation keys 31 are provided on the front left side.

Next, the operation will be described. When a coin C is inserted into the coin slot 2, the slot sensor 3 detects the coin C, and the slot belt 4, the transport belts 6, 7, and the transport belt 12 are driven. And the inserted coin C
The coins are sent out and conveyed one by one by the input roller 5 and the input belt 4, and are conveyed by the conveyance belt 6 with the interval of the coins C widened. During this process, the outer diameter check unit 8 determines whether the coin is genuine or fake, and if it is not genuine, the reject overflow unit 10
Is stored in. At this time, even if the coin storage unit 17 is full and cannot store a new coin C, the conveyed coin C is stored in the reject overflow unit 10. In the case of genuine coins, the direction is changed from the conveyor belt 7 to the conveyor belt 12 to be conveyed, and the coin sorter 14 sorts each denomination. That is, sorting holes 1 according to the denomination
3 and stored in the coin storage unit 17. Sorting hole 13
The number of the coins C dropped from is counted by the counting sensor 15. The coin C that has dropped into the coin storage 17 is
The coin is conveyed to the payout belt 19 and is in a standby state in the coin standby unit 23.

In accordance with a command from a POS terminal, an ECR, or the like, the payout solenoid 27 is driven and controlled so that the required number of coins C are delivered to the required coin payout position. As a result, coins C of the required denomination are paid out to the coin payout exit 29 by the required number. At this time, the denomination and the number of coins C paid out are managed based on the output of the payout sensor 28.

<Notification of Dirt Detection of Optical Sensor> FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of the optical sensor. Optical sensors provided in each part, that is, the inlet sensor 3, the outer diameter check sensor 9, the reject count sensor 11, the count sensor 1
5, the full sensor 18 and the payout sensor 28 are composed of a light emitting part LD composed of a light emitting diode and a light receiving part PT composed of a phototransistor, which are arranged opposite to each other across the path of the coin C. The light emitting part LD is provided with + 24V. And +5 V is applied to the light receiving portion PT. Then, the light receiving portion PT performs a switching operation that opens based on the light irradiation by the light emission of the light emitting portion LD, and when the light receiving portion PT is opened by the switching operation, +5 V is output as the output Vout by the partial pressure with the resistor R1. Taken out. The output Vout is actually +4.4 V because the voltage is reduced by Vce (sat) which is the saturation of the light receiving unit PT. The output Vout, which is an analog value, is converted into digital data by an analog-to-digital converter 41, and the output Vout converted into the digital data is input to a microcomputer 42 that controls each unit.

Therefore, the optical sensors 3, 9, 11, 1
The outputs Vout of the light receiving portions PT of 5, 18, and 28 are V1 values of +4.4 V unless the coin C passes (FIG. 6A).
), The light emitting unit LD and the light receiving unit PT
When the optical path is interrupted, the voltage becomes 0 V (see FIG. 6B).
In this case, the output Vout has the V1 value of +4.4 V when the optical sensors 3, 9, 11, 15, 18, and 28 are not dirty and is normal, and the optical sensors 3, 9, 11, 15, 15, 1
When the stains 8 and 28 become dirty, the value of the output Vout gradually decreases to, for example, the V2 value (see FIG. 7). Therefore, in the device of the present embodiment, such an output Vout
Is detected, a warning sound and a message are issued when the value decreases to 4.3 V, and the value is set to 4.2 V.
When the value falls to 4.1 V or lower, which is higher than the allowable value, a warning sound and an error message are displayed to stop the money dispensing operation. 8). Such a process is a dirt detection notification process of the optical sensor. Here, the warning sound is a sound that is output when a built-in buzzer (not shown) is driven, and as a type of the sound, the warning sound is an intermittent sound “Pi-Pi”, and the warning sound is “Pi-Pi”.・ The intermittent sound of “Pee” and the warning sound are continuous sounds of “Pee” for 5 seconds. The display of the message and the error is performed by controlling the operation of the display unit 30. As a type of the display, the message is a display “Sensor Dir: Err xx”, and the message is a “Sensor Dir :: The display “Err xx” and the error display are the display “Err xx”.
In each of these displays, “xx” refers to an optical sensor block, that is, which optical sensor 3, 9, 11, 15, 1
8 and 28 are dirty. The number of “≫” indicates the degree of dirt, and the larger the number of “≫”, the more dirt is.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the dirt detection notification processing of the optical sensor executed when the power is turned on. First, when the power is turned on, the sensor 1, that is, the inlet sensor 3 is checked (Step S).
1) Whether the output Vout of the inlet sensor 3 is not in the range of + 4.10V or less (step S2), or + 4.11V to + 4.11V
Is not in the range of 4.20 V (step S3), or +4.2
It is sequentially determined whether the voltage is in the range of 1 V to +4.30 V (step S4). Such a determination is performed by the arithmetic processing of the microcomputer 42 based on the output Vout of the input port sensor 3 converted into digital data by the analog / digital converter 41. If it is determined in step S2 that the output Vout of the inlet sensor 3 is within the range of +4.10 V or less, a warning sound and an error display are performed (step S5), and a process of stopping the money dispensing operation is performed (step S5). S6). In step S3, the output Vout of the inlet sensor 3 is +4.11 V to +4.20.
If it is determined that the value is within the range of V, a warning sound and a message are issued (step S7), and step S7 is performed.
4, the output Vout of the inlet sensor 3 is + 4.21V- +
If it is determined that the output voltage is within the range of 4.30 V, a warning sound and a message are issued (step S8). If the output Vout of the input port sensor 3 is equal to or more than +4.31 V, the sensor number is incremented as it is. Is performed (step S9). Thereby, the check of the outer diameter check sensor 9 as the next optical sensor is performed in steps S2 to
It is executed as shown in FIG. Then, in step S10, when it is determined that the sensor number has reached N, that is, when it is determined that the check processing of the payout sensor 28 has been completed, the processing ends.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the dirt detection notification process of the optical sensor executed at the time of coin insertion and at the time of an automatic change dispensing command. That is, the process of this flowchart is performed when it is determined that the coin C has been inserted into the coin insertion slot 2 or when the coin C is input from the POS terminal, the ECR, or the like.
Is executed (step S51). First, when it is determined that the coin C has been inserted into the coin insertion slot 2, the end of the coin storing operation is waited (step S3).
1) Subsequently, a check operation of the sensor 1, that is, the insertion port sensor 3 is performed (step S32), and after the change automatic storage operation is completed (step S33), the input port sensor 3 is checked.
Is not in the range of + 4.10V or less (step S34), is not in the range of + 4.11V to + 4.20V (step S35), or is + 4.21V to + 4.30V.
Are determined in order (step S36).
Such a determination is performed by the arithmetic processing of the microcomputer 42 based on the output Vout of the input port sensor 3 converted into digital data by the analog / digital converter 41. If it is determined in step S34 that the output Vout of the inlet sensor 3 is within the range of +4.10 V or less, a warning sound and an error display are performed (step S37), and a process of stopping the money dispensing operation is performed (step S37). S38). If it is determined in step S35 that the output Vout of the inlet sensor 3 is in the range of + 4.11V to + 4.20V, a warning sound and a message are issued (step S39), and step S36 is performed.
, The output Vout of the inlet sensor 3 is +4.21 V to +4.
If it is determined that the output voltage is within the range of 30 V, a warning sound and a message are issued (step S40). (Step S41). Accordingly, the outer diameter check sensor 9, which is the next optical sensor, is checked in step S34.
-41 are executed. Then, step S42
Then, if it is determined that the sensor number has reached N, that is, if it is determined that the check processing of the payout sensor 28 has been completed, the processing ends.

Next, the coin C is sent from the POS terminal or ECR.
(Step S51), a check operation of the sensor 1, that is, the input port sensor 3 is performed (Step S52), and the output Vout of the input port sensor 3 becomes +.
4. Check if the voltage is not within the range of 10 V or less (step S53).
Is it in the range of 4.11 V to +4.20 V (step S
54), and whether it is not in the range of + 4.21V to + 4.30V (step S55) is determined in order. Such a determination is performed by the arithmetic processing of the microcomputer 42 based on the output Vout of the input port sensor 3 converted into digital data by the analog / digital converter 41. If it is determined in step S53 that the output Vout of the inlet sensor 3 is in the range of +4.10 V or less, a warning sound and an error display are made (step S5).
6), a process of stopping the money dispensing operation is performed (step S)
57). If it is determined in step S54 that the output Vout of the input sensor 3 is in the range of +4.11 V to +4.20 V, a warning sound and a message are issued (step S58), and in step S55, the input sensor is used. When it is determined that the output Vout of the input port 3 is in the range of +4.21 V to +4.30 V, a warning sound and a message are issued (step S59), and the output Vout of the input port sensor 3 is +4.31 V or more. In this case, the sensor number is incremented as it is (step S60). Thereby, the check of the outer diameter check sensor 9, which is the next optical sensor, is executed as in steps S53 to S60. If it is determined in step S61 that the sensor number has reached N, that is, the payout sensor 2
If it is determined that the check process of No. 8 has been completed, the execution of the automatic change dispensing operation is permitted (step S6).
2), end the process. If the execution of the automatic change dispensing operation is permitted in step S62, the automatic change dispensing operation is executed according to another routine.

Therefore, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the optical sensors 3, 9, 11, 15, 18, 2,
8 is notified before the automatic change dispensing operation is stopped, and there is a problem in operation due to sudden stop of the automatic change dispensing operation, for example, a problem that the customer waits. Avoided in advance.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit constituting a dirt detecting means as a modification of the first embodiment.
In this circuit, three comparators CP1, CP2, C
P3 is provided, and each of the comparators CP1, CP2, CP
3, the output Vout of the optical sensors 3, 9, 11, 15, 18, and 28 is input.
+4.31 V, +4.21 V, +
It is compared with a reference voltage of 4.11V. Such a reference voltage is supplied to each comparator C by dividing + 5V.
P1, CP2, and CP3 are input. More specifically, the reference voltage + 4.31V is generated by the voltage division of the resistors R1 and R2, and the reference voltage + 4.21V is generated by the resistors R3 and R2.
4 and a reference voltage of +4.11 V is generated by the voltage division of the resistors R5 and R6. And
The output of the comparator CP1 is the microcomputer 42
Is input to a port of a CPU (not shown) provided, and an output of the comparator CP2 is input to a port of the CPU.
The output of the comparator CP3 is input to a port of the CPU. Therefore, the microcomputer 42
Output Vout of optical sensors 3, 9, 11, 15, 18, and 28
Is higher than +4.31 V, lower than +4.31 V but higher than +4.21 V, lower than +4.21 V but higher than +4.11 V, or lower than +4.11 V. Therefore, based on such a recognized value of the output Vout, it is possible to make determinations in steps S2 to S4 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 and determinations in steps S34 to S36 and 53 to 55 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
2 and FIG. FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical connection of the inlet sensor, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of the dirt detection notification process. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

Slot sensor 3 arranged at coin slot 2
Are composed of a set of three, each of which includes a light emitting unit LD composed of a light emitting diode and a light receiving unit P composed of a phototransistor
T and T are opposed to each other. And the light emitting section LD
Is supplied with +24 V and emits light, and the light receiving portion PT receives +5 V
Is given. At this time, the light receiving section PT is connected to the light emitting section LD.
When the light receiving portion PT is opened by this switching operation, + 5V is taken out as outputs S1, S2 and S3 by the partial pressure of the resistors R1, R2 and R3. . These outputs S1, S2, and S3 have a voltage of Vce (sat), which is a saturation amount of the light receiving portion PT, and therefore, actually, the output voltage is +4.
4V. Then, outputs S1, S which are analog values
2, S3 are the same as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 5),
The output S converted into digital data by the analog-to-digital converter 41 and converted into the digital data
1, S2, and S3 are input to the microcomputer 42 that controls each unit. And the microcomputer 42
Determines whether the outputs S1, S2, S3 of the input port sensor 3 converted into digital data do not exceed an allowable value. The allowable value is, for example, 4.10V.

Next, the flow of the dirt detection notification processing of the inlet sensor 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process of FIG. 13 is executed when it is determined that the coin C has been inserted into the coin insertion slot 2. First, execution of a coin storing operation is instructed (step S71), and the end is waited for (step S72). The actual coin storing operation is executed according to another routine. If it is determined that the coin storing operation has been completed, it is checked whether or not the levels of the outputs S1, S2, S3 of the slot sensor 3 are below the allowable value (step S73). Outputs S1, S of input sensor 3
If all levels of S2 and S3 exceed the permissible value, the process is terminated. On the other hand, when at least one of the levels of the outputs S1, S2, and S3 of the input port sensor 3 is lower than the allowable value, it is determined whether all the levels of the outputs S1, S2, and S3 are lower than the allowable value. A determination is made (step S74). If all the levels of the outputs S1, S2, and S3 are not below the permissible values, the process ends after a warning sound and a message notification process (step S75).
If the levels of the outputs S1, S2, and S3 are all below the permissible values, after the warning sound and the error display are notified (step S76), the operation is stopped, and the process is terminated (step S77).

As described above, in the apparatus according to the present embodiment, if the contamination of some of the input port sensors 3 in the set exceeds the allowable value, the dirt is notified (step S75). When the contamination of all the input port sensors 3 exceeds the allowable value, the automatic change dispensing operation is stopped (step S7).
7). Therefore, it is possible to avoid in advance the inconvenience in operation due to the sudden stop of the automatic change dispensing operation, for example, the inconvenience of having the customer wait.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic change dispensing apparatus.
Based on the outputs of the light receiving sections of the plurality of optical sensors provided in each section, the degree of dirt of each optical sensor is detected in a plurality of steps until the dirt exceeds an allowable value, and the detected dirt level of the optical sensor is detected. Different dirt notification according to the condition, and when the dirt of the optical sensor is detected as exceeding the allowable value, the automatic dispensing operation of the change is stopped, so that the output level of the optical sensor used for each part is reduced. In this case, this can be notified before the automatic change dispensing operation is stopped. Therefore, inconveniences in operation due to sudden stop of the automatic change dispensing operation, for example, inconvenience such as causing the customer to wait, can be notified in advance. Can be avoided.

In the automatic change dispensing apparatus according to the second aspect, dirt is allowed for each of the optical sensors in one set based on the outputs of the light receiving sections of the plural sets of optical sensors provided in each section. Value is detected, and if it is detected that some of the optical sensors in a set exceed the allowable value, a dirt notification is issued and all optical sensors in the set are allowed to be dirty. The automatic change dispensing operation is stopped when it is detected that the value has been exceeded. Therefore, when the output level of the optical sensor used for each unit decreases, this is notified before the automatic change dispensing operation is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to avoid in advance the inconvenience in operation due to the sudden stop of the automatic change dispensing operation, for example, the inconvenience of having the customer wait.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a change automatic payout apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a coin storage unit, a coin payout unit, and a coin standby unit.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of the optical sensor.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing an output voltage of a light receiving unit of the optical sensor.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing an output voltage of a light receiving unit of the optical sensor by comparing the case where the optical sensor is not dirty and the case where the optical sensor is dirty.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the degree of dirt on the optical sensor and the detection level of the output voltage of the light receiving unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a dirt detection notification process of the optical sensor executed when the power is turned on.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of a dirt detection notification process of the optical sensor executed at the time of coin insertion and at the time of a change automatic payout instruction.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing, as a modification of the first embodiment, a circuit constituting a dirt detection means.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing an electrical connection of an inlet sensor as a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of the dirt detection notification processing.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a conventional automatic change dispensing apparatus.

[Description of Signs] 2 Coin slot 3, 9, 11, 15, 18, 28 Optical sensor 14 Coin sorting unit 17 Coin storage unit 29 Coin payout port C Coin PT light receiving unit Steps S2 to 4, 34 to 36, 53 to 55, 73
Soil detection means Steps S7-8, 39-40, 58-59, 74-7
5 Dirt notification means Steps S6, 38, 57, 74 and 77
Stopping means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A coin inserted into a coin slot is conveyed to a coin sorting section, sorted for each denomination, dropped into a coin storage section, and the coins stored in the coin storage section are required for a denomination and a required number of coins. An automatic change dispensing device that selectively drops the coin to a coin payout exit, wherein a plurality of optical sensors provided in each section; and a dirt on each of the optical sensors based on an output of a light receiving section of the optical sensor. Dirt detection means for detecting the degree in a plurality of steps until the dirt exceeds an allowable value; dirt notification means for performing dirt notification different according to the dirt level of the optical sensor detected by the dirt detection means; An automatic change dispensing device, comprising: a stop means for stopping the automatic change dispensing operation when the means detects that the dirt on the optical sensor exceeds an allowable value. 2. A coin inserted into a coin slot is conveyed to a coin sorting unit, sorted for each denomination, dropped into a coin storage unit, and the coins stored in the coin storage unit are required for a denomination and a required number of coins. An automatic change dispensing device configured to selectively drop the coin to a coin payout exit, wherein a plurality of sets of optical sensors are provided in each of the plurality of sets, and one set based on an output of a light receiving unit of the optical sensor. A dirt detecting means for detecting that the dirt exceeds an allowable value for each of the light sensors in the medium; and the dirt detecting means detecting that dirt of some of the optical sensors in the set has exceeded the allowable value. A dirt notifying means for notifying dirt in the case of stopping, and a stopping means for stopping the automatic change dispensing operation when the dirt detecting means detects that the dirt of all the optical sensors in a set exceeds an allowable value. And that Change the automatic dispensing device.