JPH103566A - Coin receiving and paying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily attain the post-processing of an overflow processing when a housing part for each denomination is full. SOLUTION: In this coin receiving and paying device, an irregularly thrown coin C is discriminated for each denomination, the discriminated coin C is housed in an each denomination housing part 16 for each denomination, and only the designated number of coins C in the designated denomination are ejected from this each denomination housing part 16. When the coin C is thrown, and the each denomination housing part 16 for the same denomination as the coin C reaches the overflow set number, the coin C in the same denomination as the thrown coin C is ejected from the each denomination housing part 16, and housed in an each denomination overflow part 45. Thus, when the residual number of the coins C in the each denomination housing part 16 for a certain denomination is small, and it is necessary to refill it with the coins in the each denomination overflow part 45, only the coin C in the necessary denomination can be easily thrown and supplied since the coins are discriminated for each denomination.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to a POS / ECR (Point of Sale / Ele).
The present invention relates to a coin depositing and dispensing device suitable for use as an automatic change machine or the like connected to a ctronic cash register).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A coin dispensing and dispensing apparatus of this kind inputs coins in a state where various denominations are mixed at once from a slot and checks whether or not these coins are genuine. It has a function of sorting by denomination, storing it in a storage unit, and paying out a specified number of coins. An example of the structure will be described with reference to FIGS. First, an insertion port 2 opened upward is provided in front of the right side of the main body case 1 to collectively input coins C. The insertion slot 2 is provided with a plurality of sets of insertion sensors 3 for photoelectrically detecting the presence or absence of the coin C. At one end of the insertion slot 2, an insertion roller 4 for sending out coins C which are randomly inserted one by one is provided, and the insertion roller 4 and the insertion slot 2 form an insertion section 5. .

[0003] A feeding belt 6 for conveying coins C in a line is connected to the feeding roller 4. The feeding speed of the coins C is increased at a predetermined interval on the feeding belt 6. A transport belt 7 for forming a transport unit having a higher transport speed so that each coin C can be transported is provided continuously, and further another transport belt 8 is provided continuously. An outer diameter check unit 9 for checking the outer diameter of the coin C using a sensor is provided in the portion of the conveyor belt 7. A reject overflow section 10 for storing a transported coin is provided at the end of the outer diameter check section 9 when the transported coin C is not a genuine coin, or when a storage section described later is full. .

[0004] Further, at the end portion of the conveyor belt 8,
A transport belt 11 for converting the transport direction to a right angle is provided,
A coin sorting section 13 is formed by providing a sorting hole 12 of a denomination of which the hole width dimension sequentially increases along the transport belt 11. The sorting hole 12 is 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen,
Six are provided to correspond to each denomination of 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen. A counting sensor 14 is provided for each sorting hole 12. Then, the sorting hole 1
2 is provided with a denomination storing section 16 of an upper opening which is separated by a denomination by a partition plate 15 in communication with each of the two. The bottom surface portion of each denomination of the denomination storing section 16 has a feeding belt 1 connected to and driven by a storing section motor (not shown).
7 is provided so as to be suspended between the driving roller 18 and the driven roller 19.

[0005] At the outlet of the denomination storing section 16, one separating roller 20 for separating coins C one by one is provided so as to cross all the outlets.
A coin standby unit 21 is provided for each denomination, in which a predetermined number of coins C are arranged in a line and made to stand by. These coin standby units 21 are provided with a payout belt 24 wound around a driving roller 22 and a driven roller 23, and are dimensioned so that two or more coins C do not overlap the upper part of the payout belt 24. A predetermined holding plate 25 is provided, and a coin dispensing unit 26 for temporarily stopping the coins C and performing operation control so as to send out the required number of coins C and pays out the designated coins C and the number of coins C Is provided by an electromagnet. Further, a payout standby sensor 28 is provided immediately after the separation roller 20 in the coin standby section 21 and the coin shutter 2
Immediately after 7, a payout sensor 29 is provided. Next, on the exit side of the coin payout section 26, there is provided a payout receiving section 31 formed by a payout port 30 having an upper opening for receiving coins C paid out from all the coin payout sections 26 collectively. Further, a display 32 and various operation keys 33 are provided on the left side of the main body case 1.

In such a configuration, when a coin C is inserted into the insertion slot 2, the insertion sensor 3 detects the coin C, and the insertion belt 6, and the conveyor belts 7, 8, 11 are driven. The inserted coins C are sent out and conveyed one by one by the input roller 4 and the input belt 6 of the input section 5, and are conveyed by the conveyance belt 7 with the interval between the coins C widened. In this process, the outer diameter check unit 9 and the material check unit (not shown) determine whether the coin is genuine or fake, and if it is not genuine, it is stored in the reject overflow unit 10. You. Even if it is a genuine coin, when the denomination storing unit 16 is full and cannot store a new coin C, the conveyed coin C is stored in the reject overflow unit 10. When the denomination storing section 16 is not full, genuine money is transferred from the transport belt 8 to the transport belt 11.
The coins are sorted by the coin sorter 13 and sorted by denomination. That is, it is dropped into the sorting hole 12 according to the denomination and is stored in the denomination storing section 16. The number of coins C dropped from the sorting hole 12 is counted by the counting sensor 14. When there is no coin C in the coin waiting unit 21,
The operation control is performed such that the feeding belt 17 and the payout belt 24 are driven and a predetermined number of coins C are always present in the coin standby unit 21.

Next, when there is a payout signal from the POS / ECR or the like, the payout belt 24 is driven and the coin shutter 27 is operated for each denomination to feed out the required number of coins C. Coin C sent out in this way
Are paid out to the payout port 30 collectively.

In this type of coin depositing and dispensing apparatus, each denomination storage section has a predetermined capacity, and when more than the number of coins is inserted, the coins cannot be stored and cause coins to be jammed. Overflow processing is performed. In the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, as described above, when the denomination storage unit 16 is unable to store the newly inserted coin C in a full state, the coin is inserted from the insertion slot 2 and conveyed. The coin C is stored in the reject overflow unit 10. Then, the coin C is taken out from the reject overflow section 10 as needed and is put into the slot 2 so that it can be reused.

[0009]

According to the conventional overflow processing method, the reject overflow section 10
Since the coins C overflowed regardless of the denomination are stored in a lump, there are the following drawbacks. First, the reject overflow section 10 itself tends to be full, and when full, it is necessary to take out all the coins C from the reject overflow section 10 and store them in the drawer for each denomination. is there. Secondly, when coins C in a certain denomination storage unit 16 are low and replenishment of a certain denomination coin C in the reject overflow unit 10 is to be performed, various denominations are mixed. Only the coins C of the required denomination are selected from the coins C, and are inserted through the sorting hole 12 or the insertion slot 2 to be replenished. This is troublesome, inefficient, and requires extra processing time. That is, the handling property of the coin C subjected to the overflow processing is poor.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Randomly selected coins are sorted by denomination, the selected coins are stored in denomination storage units for each denomination, and the specified number of coins of the denomination specified from these denomination storage units In the coin depositing and dispensing apparatus which is configured to pay out only coins, when the coin is inserted, when the denomination storing section of the same denomination is full, the coin of the same denomination as the inserted coin is removed. The money is stored in the denomination overflow section and paid out from the denomination storage section. The invention according to claim 2 has a slot for inserting coins, a coin sorting unit for sorting the inserted coins by denomination, a denomination storing unit for storing the sorted coins for each denomination, A coin payout unit that pays out a specified number of coins of a specified denomination from the coins stored in the denomination storage unit, a payout receiving unit that collectively receives the coins paid out by the coin payout unit, A denomination overflow unit for storing coins dispensed by the coin dispensing unit by denomination, a dispensing destination switching unit for switching the dispensing destination of the coin dispensing unit to the dispensing unit and the denomination overflow unit, A full detection unit that counts the number of coins in the type storage unit by denomination and detects whether the overflow set number has been reached, and in the denomination storage unit of the same denomination as the coin when the coin is inserted. Hard When the full number of overflows is detected by the full detection unit, the payout destination switching unit is switched to cause coins of the denomination to be paid out from the denomination storage unit by the coin payout unit. Overflow processing control means to be stored in the money type overflow section.

Therefore, when the denomination storage section of a certain denomination reaches the overflow set number and is full, coins of the same denomination are paid out from the denomination storage section and stored in the denomination storage section. The coins paid out by the overflow are stored in the denomination overflow section. As a result, when the coins in the denomination storage unit of a certain denomination are running low and the coins of a certain denomination in the denomination overflow unit are to be replenished, the coins required for each denomination are separated. It is possible to easily insert and replenish only coins of the species. Also, the denomination overflow section itself is unlikely to become full, and processing such as moving into the drawer is a rare case.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a predetermined number of margins are provided for the overflow set number detected by the full detection section, and the full detection section counts the overflow set number. In such a case, the coins of the margin are continuously paid out by the overflow processing control means.

Generally, a large number of coins are inserted into the insertion slot at the same time, but a predetermined number of margins are provided for the overflow set number of the denomination storage section, and the full detection section sets the overflow set number. When the number of coins is counted, the payout of coins corresponding to the margin number is performed at a time, so that the trouble of overflowing coins which are put together and overflowing one by one one by one is eliminated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the present invention, the metal type overflow portion is formed integrally with the drawer which can be pulled out of the main body case. Therefore, when a shortage of coins of a certain denomination occurs, it is only necessary to pull out the drawer, take out the coins from the corresponding denomination overflow section, and insert the coins into the insertion slot, and replenish the shortage coins easily and immediately. .

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those of the conventional coin depositing and dispensing device described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

First, the coin depositing and dispensing device 41 of the present embodiment.
Is used as an automatic change machine connected to, for example, the POS terminal 42, and also functions as a drawer 43 for the POS terminal 42. The drawer 43 is provided at a lower front side of the main body case 1. It is provided so that it can be pulled out. The drawer 43 has a width corresponding to the denomination storage section 16 for six denominations, and has a 1,000-yen bill, a 5,000-yen bill,
A plurality of bill storage units 44 for storing a banknote, etc., are formed so as to be partitioned in the left-right direction. A denomination overflow section 45 corresponding to six denominations is formed at a position in front of the bill storage section 44 of the drawer 43 and commonly covered by the payout receiving section 31 including the payout port 30. . That is,
These denomination overflow sections 45 are denomination storage sections 1.
6 is formed by a partition plate 46 in correspondence with each denomination. An overflow payout path 47 is formed on the back side of the payout section 31 and connects the payout side of the payout belt 24 of the coin standby section 21 for each denomination and the overflow section 45 of each denomination. Normally, a switching gate plate 48 that makes the coin payout destination the payout port 30 side is provided so as to be openable and closable about a fulcrum 49 by covering all the entrance sides of the overflow payout path 47 so as to cover them. The switching gate plate 48 is connected to a switching solenoid 50 which is selectively opened so that the coin payout destination is on the overflow discharge path 47 side instead of the payout port 30 side. A payout destination switching unit 51 is constituted by the switching gate plate 48 and the switching solenoid 50.

In the present embodiment, the outer diameter check section 9 functions as a denomination detecting section.
Is provided with a reject unit 52 for storing only when the conveyed coin C is not a genuine coin. The reject unit 52 is structurally the same as the conventional reject overflow unit 10, but is not used for storing the coin C that has overflowed.

Next, the hardware configuration will be described with reference to FIG. The coin depositing and dispensing device 41 of the present embodiment is used by being connected to the POS terminal 42.
The POS terminal 42 includes a CPU 54 which is connected to the POS terminal 42 via an interface 53 and controls each unit. The CPU 54 is connected to a ROM 55 in which data such as programs are fixedly stored, a RAM 56 to temporarily store various data, and the above-described display 32 and operation keys 33. In addition, the CP
The U54 is connected with sensors 57 such as the above-described input sensor 3, counting sensor 14, payout standby sensor 28, and payout sensor 29 via an I / O port 58, and the switching solenoid 5
0, a payout belt motor 59, a coin shutter 27, and other various loads 60 are connected via an I / O port 61.

In the RAM 56, a coin number management information storage area 62 as shown in FIG. The coin number management information storage area 62 contains 1 yen to 50 yen.
A column 63 for storing the number of deposited coins, a column 64 for storing the number of deposited coins, a column 65 for storing the number of coins, and a column 66 for setting the number of overflow payouts are provided. The counting sensor 14 (outside diameter check unit 9) is stored in the deposit number storage column 63.
The number of deposits for each denomination detected in is cumulatively added. The number-of-payouts stored for each denomination detected by the payout sensor 29 is cumulatively added to the number-of-payouts storage field 64. A value obtained by subtracting the number of payments from the number of payments for each denomination is updated and stored in the amount-of-money storage column 65. The overflow payout set number field 66 stores a fixed number of margin numbers for a full state which is predetermined for each denomination. In the present embodiment, for each denomination, each denomination storage unit 1
6 is 100, and 10 sheets are set and stored in the overflow payout set number field 66 as the margin number. As a result, each denomination is 110
The number of sheets (= 100 + the number of margins: 10) is set as the overflow set number, and it is set so that no more sheets can be stored.

The process control by the CPU 54 at the time of overflow accompanying coin insertion based on the program stored in the ROM 55 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process control starts when the coin C is inserted from the insertion slot 2 and the coin C that has been conveyed is detected by the sensor of the outer diameter check unit 9. Therefore, in the normal state, whether or not the coin C is inserted is determined. Is checked (step S1). When the sensor of the outer diameter checker 9 detects that the coin C has been inserted and conveyed (Y in S1), the denomination is detected when the coin C passes through the outer diameter checker 10 (S2). Subsequently, a normal storing process for storing the inserted and transferred coin C in the corresponding denomination storing section 16 is executed (S3). At this time, based on the detection output of the counting sensor 14, the number in the deposit number storage column 63 for the denomination and the number in the deposit amount storage column 65 for the corresponding denomination are each increased by one.

Next, the number information of the detected denominations stored in the money amount storage column 65 is read and compared with the preset overflow number (110). It is checked whether it is full (S4). This step S4
Is executed as a function of the full state detection unit. If it is determined that the number of overflows has not been reached (N in S4), the process is terminated.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the number of overflows has reached the set number and the state is full (Y in S4), the switching solenoid 50 is turned on (S5). As a result, the switching gate plate 48 is opened and rotated, and the coin payout destination is switched to the overflow discharge path 47 side. Next, the payout belt motor 59 is turned on (S6). As a result, the payout belt 24 is driven, and a payout standby state is set for the coins C of all denominations. At this time, the feeding belt 17 is also driven. Further, only the coin shutter 27 for the corresponding denomination is turned on (S7). As a result, only the coins C of the corresponding denomination are paid out, and the paid-out coins C are stored in the denomination overflow unit 45 for the corresponding denomination through the overflow discharge path 47.
At this time, the coin C to be paid out is detected by the payout sensor 29 and is used for counting the number of paid out coins. Until the payout number reaches the margin number N (= 10), coins C of the denomination are received.
Is repeated at a time, and when it is detected that the number of margins has been paid out (N in S8), the number in the payout number storage field 64 for the corresponding denomination is reduced by N and The number of coins stored in the coin amount storage column 65 for the denomination is reduced by N (S9). Further, the switching solenoid 50, the payout belt motor 59, and the corresponding coin shutter 27 are all turned off (S10), and the process ends. Therefore, when it is determined in step S4 that the corresponding denomination storage unit 16 is full, the processing shown in steps S5 to S10 is executed as a function of the overflow processing control unit.

In such a configuration, when a coin C is inserted into the insertion slot 2, the insertion sensor 3 detects the coin C, and the insertion belt 6, and the conveyor belts 7, 8, and 11 are driven. In the process of passing the outer diameter check unit 10, the inserted coin C is checked through the outer diameter check or the like to determine whether or not the coin is genuine, and if it is genuine, the denomination is also checked. . If it is not a genuine coin, it is stored in the reject unit 52. 6 and 7 in the case of a genuine coin
In the same manner as described above, an operation of storing coins in the denomination storage unit 16 for the corresponding denomination through coin sorting processing or the like is executed. Then, it is checked whether or not the denomination storing section 16 for the corresponding denomination has reached the overflow set number, and if the overflow set number has not been reached, the process is terminated as it is. When a payout signal is received from the POS terminal 42 side, the payout belt motor 59 is turned on to drive the payout belt 59, and the coin shutter 27 is operated for each denomination to thereby provide the required number of coins. C is sent out from the coin standby unit 21. At this time, the switching solenoid 50 is normally in the off state, and the switching gate plate 48 is in the state in which the overflow discharge path 47 is closed and the coin payout destination is the payout port 30.
It is paid out to 0 at once. Along with such a deposit operation and a dispensing operation, the information in the storage columns 63 to 65 in the coin number management information storage area 62 is accumulated and updated as appropriate.

Now, for example, when a 5-yen coin is inserted and the coin C is stored in the corresponding denomination storing section 16 (at the stage after the processing of S3 is completed), the coin number management information storage area 62 Are stored in parentheses in FIG. 4 (e.g., the number of payments for 1 yen = 125, the number of payments for 5 yen = 122,...). . Number information stored in the coin amount storage field 65 for 5 yen in the coin number management information storage area 62 = 110
The number of sheets is read out and compared with the preset overflow set number of sheets 110 (S4). In this case, since both match, it is determined that the denomination storage unit 16 for 5 yen is full (Y in S4). In response to the determination result, the switching solenoid 50 is energized (S5), and the switching gate plate 48 is opened and rotated, whereby the coin payout destination is switched to the overflow discharge path 47 side.
Next, the payout belt motor 59 is turned on (S
6) When the payout belt 24 is driven, all the coins C of the denominations are in a payout standby state. At this time, the feeding belt 17 is also driven. In addition, the applicable 5
Only the coin shutter 27 for the yen is turned on (S7), and payout of only the corresponding 5-yen coin C is performed. The paid-out 5-yen coin C passes through the overflow discharge path 47 and is
The money is stored in the overflow section 45 for the denomination of the yen. At this time, the dispensed 5-yen coin C is detected by the dispensing sensor 29 and is used for counting the number of dispensed coins. Until the payout number reaches the margin number N (= 10), the payout processing of the 5-yen coin C is continuously repeated. That is, the payout processing for ten sheets is executed collectively. When it is detected that the number N has been paid out (Y in S8), the number in the withdrawal number storage field 64 for 5 yen is increased by N = 10 to 22.
The number of coins stored in the coin amount storage column 65 for 5 yen is reduced by N = 10 to 100 (S9). Further, the switching solenoid 50, the payout belt motor 59, and the corresponding coin shutter 27 are all turned off (S10).

The overflow processing is similarly performed for other denominations.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the denomination storage section 16 reaches the overflow set number and becomes full, the overflow processing is performed for each denomination and the payout to the denomination overflow section 45 is performed. Therefore, when the coins C in the denomination storage unit 16 of a certain denomination are later reduced, only the coins C of the corresponding denomination are received from the corresponding denomination overflow unit 45. What is necessary is just to replenish by taking out a plurality of sheets and throwing them into the slot 2. In particular, the overflow section 4 by denomination
5 is integrally formed with a drawer 43 which can be pulled out from the main body case 1. The coin C can be taken out from the denomination overflow section 45 only by pulling out the drawer 43. It can be done easily and instantly.

Further, since the predetermined number N = 10 margins are provided for the set overflow number detected by the full state detection section, overflow processing can be performed collectively. That is, without having a margin number, for example, it is determined that the overflow set number is reached immediately when the number of moneys reaches 100, and every time the overflow set number is reached, one money is set. In the case of overflow processing to be paid out to the type overflow section, when a large number of coins C are collectively inserted into the insertion slot 2 as generally performed, once the full state is reached, In this case, the overflow state is immediately repeated, and the overflow process must be performed intermittently one by one. This makes the overflow process complicated. However, according to the overflow process having the margin number described above, There is no such complication.

Further, since the denomination overflow section 45 is formed as a partition and is responsible for storing coins C of denominations, the refill overflow section 11 for storing coins C of any denomination is more full. The case where the coin C in the denomination overflow section 45 becomes full and the coin is transferred to another is a rare case and is not troublesome.

[0029]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, when coins are inserted and the denomination storage unit of the same denomination as the coin reaches the overflow set number and is full, the coin is inserted. Since the coins of the same denomination as the set coins are paid out from the denomination storing section and stored in the denomination overflow section, the number of coins in the denomination storing section of a certain denomination decreases and the denomination overflow occurs. When trying to replenish with coins in the department, since it is divided for each denomination, it is possible to easily insert and replenish only coins of the required denomination, and the denomination overflow part itself is unlikely to be full, Almost no processing such as transfer to the drawer is required. In addition, according to the third aspect of the present invention, a predetermined number of margins are provided for the overflow set number detected by the full detection unit, and when the full detection unit counts the overflow set number, the overflow processing control unit controls the overflow setting unit. Since the margins of coins are continuously paid out, coins of the margins can be paid out at a time when the overflow set number is reached, so that the coins are thrown in at once and overflowed. This makes it possible to avoid the trouble of overflowing coins one by one intermittently. According to the invention described in claim 4, since the denomination-specific overflow portion is formed integrally with the drawer that can be pulled out in the main body case, when a shortage of coins of a certain denomination occurs, the drawer is pulled out. It is only necessary to take out coins from the corresponding denomination overflow section and insert them into the insertion slot, so that shortage coins can be easily and immediately replenished.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing an enlarged configuration of a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of a coin number management information storage area in a RAM.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing control accompanying coin insertion.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a configuration of a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional side view thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case 2 Slot 16 Coin sorting part 16 Deposit type storing part 26 Coin payout part 31 Payout receiving part 43 Drawer 45 Deposit type overflow part 51 Payout destination switching part C coin

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claims: 1. Coins inserted randomly are sorted by denomination, and the selected coins are stored in a denomination storage unit for each denomination.
In a coin depositing and dispensing device configured to pay out a specified number of coins of a specified denomination from these denomination storage units, when coins are inserted, the denomination storage unit of the same denomination as the coin is inserted. Is full, the coins of the same denomination as the inserted coins are paid out from the denomination storing section and stored in the denomination overflow section. 2. A slot for inserting coins, a coin sorting section for sorting the inserted coins by denomination, a denomination storage section for storing the selected coins for each denomination, and storing these denominations. A coin payout unit that pays out a specified number of coins of a designated denomination from the coins stored in the unit, a payout receiving unit that collectively receives the coins paid out by the coin payout unit, and the coin payout A denomination overflow section for storing coins paid out by a denomination, a payout destination switching section for switching a payout destination of the coin dispensing section to the payout section and the denomination overflow section, and in each denomination storage section. A full detection unit that counts the number of coins of each coin type and detects whether the overflow set number has been reached, and a coin in the denomination storage unit of the same denomination as the coin when the coin is inserted. When the full-flow detection unit detects that the set number of overflows has been reached, the payout destination switching unit is switched so that coins of the denomination are paid out from the denomination storage unit by the coin payout unit. A coin depositing and dispensing device, comprising: overflow processing control means to be stored in a denomination overflow section. 3. A predetermined number of margins are provided for the set number of overflows detected by the fullness detection section, and when the fullness detection section counts the set number of overflows, the overflow processing control means removes the coins of the margin number by overflow processing control means. 3. The coin depositing and dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the dispensing is performed continuously. 4. The coin depositing and dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein a denomination overflow section is formed integrally with a drawer that can be withdrawn in the main body case.