JPH1049732A - Coin sorting mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coin sorting mechanism for preventing a defective coin from being erroneously discharged to the collecting side of a safe or the like. SOLUTION: A coin sorting mechanism 7 for sorting a normal coin and a defective coin discharged from a coin changer 2 to a safe 6 and a returning port 5 by a flapper 72 is provided with a defective coin returning path 71 communicating from a defective coin discharging port 22 of the coin changer 2 to the returning port 5. Thus, the defective coin discharged from the defective coin discharging port 22 can be isolated from the flapper 72. The defective coin discharged from the coin changer 2 is allowed to pass through the defective coin returning path 71 isolated from the flapper 72 so that it can be exactly discharged to the returning port 5 regardless of the operation of the flapper 72.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin distribution mechanism for distributing coins discharged from a coin changer to a collecting side and a returning side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a main part of a coin processing device in a vending machine or the like which provides services and articles according to inserted coins. Coin C inserted from slot 1
When the coin is taken into the coin changer 2, the quality and the denomination are identified by the well-known coin identification mechanism 21a. The coin changer 2 stores coins determined as normal for each denomination in the coin storage unit 21b for change, and as described later, a predetermined amount or more of coins stored in the coin storage unit 21b. About the normal coin outlet 23
It is designed to be discharged from. In addition, coins determined to be defective are discharged from the defective coin outlet 22. Normal coins and bad coins discharged from the coin changer 2 are distributed and discharged to the safe 6 on the collection side and the return port 5 on the return side by the flapper 31 of the coin distribution mechanism 3. The flapper 31 performs a distribution operation in response to a drive signal S5 from the control unit 4, and is driven by well-known driving means (not shown) such as a solenoid.

The coin Cb identified as defective by the coin changer 2 is discharged downward from the defective coin outlet 22 of the coin changer 2. At this time, the control unit 4 that has received the pass / fail identification signal S1 from the coin changer 3 has switched the flapper 31 to the return port 5 side by the drive signal S5 as shown by the solid line in FIG.
It is discharged to the return port 5 by the flapper 31. When discharging normal coins equivalent to change from the coin changer 2, the control unit 4 switches the flapper 31 to the return port 5 side by the drive signal S 5, as shown in FIG. By providing the change control signal S3, coins corresponding to the change are discharged from the normal coin discharge port 23.

On the other hand, coins Cg identified as normal by the coin changer 2 are stored in the coin storage section 31 of the coin changer 3. When more than a predetermined number of coins are stored in the coin storage unit 31, the coin changer 3 inputs a full signal S2 to the control unit 7. When the control unit 4 receives the full signal S2, the control unit 4 switches the flapper 6 to the safe 6 as shown by a broken line in FIG.
An ejection permission signal S4 is sent to the coin changer 2. When the coin changer 2 discharges a predetermined number of coins from the coin storage section 21b to the normal coin discharge port 23 according to the discharge permission signal S4, the coins are discharged to the safe 6 by the flapper 31.

[0005]

However, in the conventional apparatus as described above, when the flapper 31 is switched to the safe 6 as shown by a broken line, a defective coin is inserted from the slot 2. Then, the bad coin is also flapper 31
Is discharged to the safe 6 side. For this reason, there is an inconvenience that the bad coin is stored in the safe 6 together with the normal coin. The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coin sorting mechanism for preventing a bad coin from being erroneously discharged to a collecting side.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a coin distributing mechanism for distributing coins discharged from a coin changer to a collection side and a return side by a flapper, and to communicate from a defective coin discharge port of the coin changer to the return side. By providing a defective coin return passage, defective coins discharged from the defective coin discharge port are isolated from the flapper. According to the above configuration, defective coins discharged from the coin changer pass through the defective coin return passage isolated from the flapper, and thus are reliably discharged to the return side regardless of the operation of the flapper.

According to the present invention, in the above structure, a portion of the flapper corresponding to the defective coin return passage is cut off, a movable shielding member is provided at the cut portion so as to be able to advance and retreat, and a return member for returning to a non-retreat position is provided. When the flapper is switched to the return side, when the movable shielding member is in the non-evacuated state, the passage to the collection side is closed by the flapper, and when the flapper is switched to the collection side, According to another aspect of the present invention, the movable shield member is retracted from the defective coin return passage, so that a passage to the return side excluding the defective coin return passage portion is closed by the flapper. According to the above configuration, when the flapper is switched to the return side, both normal coins and bad coins discharged from the coin changer are reliably discharged to the return side by the action of the flapper. On the other hand, when the flapper is switched to the collecting side, normal coins discharged from the coin changer are reliably discharged to the collecting side by the action of the flapper, and defective coins discharged from the coin changer are discharged to the flapper. The coins are reliably discharged to the return side through the defective coin return passage in a state where the coins are isolated from the coins.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above structure, the movable shielding member of the flapper is rotatably supported at a portion parallel to the support shaft of the flapper and near the support shaft, and is provided on an extension of the flapper. It is characterized in that it is constantly biased so as to be in the non-evacuating state. According to the above configuration, when the flapper is switched to the return side,
When the movable shielding member is held in the non-evacuated state and the flapper is switched to the collecting side, the movable shielding member is rotated by being pressed by the defective coin return passage and held in the retracted state. .

[0009]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the configuration and operation of the coin sorting mechanism of the present invention, and shows a state where the coin sorting mechanism is cut at a position including a movable shielding member 74 described later. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of FIG. 1A taken along line AA, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the flapper, and FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 1 to 4, the same or corresponding members as those in FIG. 7 showing the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a coin changer 2 has a defective coin outlet 2 for discharging a defective coin.
2 and a normal coin outlet 23 for discharging normal coins. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the normal coin outlet 23 and the defective coin outlet 22 are provided adjacent to each other at a lower portion of the coin changer 2.

Bad coin outlet 22 of coin changer 2
The coin sorting mechanism 7 is provided below the normal coin outlet 23. An upper end of a defective coin return passage 71 is connected to a terminal end of the defective coin discharge port 22, and a lower end of the defective coin return passage 71 is connected to a coin return passage 51 communicating with the return port 5 serving as a return means. Connected to.
Therefore, the defective coin outlet 22 of the coin changer 2
All of the defective coins Cb discharged from the hopper are discharged to the return port 5 via the defective coin return passage 71 and the coin return passage 51, and are completely isolated from the flapper 72 described below. For this reason, coins determined as bad coins by the coin changer 2 are surely discharged to the return slot 5 irrespective of the operation of the flapper 72.

Normal coin outlet 23 of coin changer 2
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a support shaft 73 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the flapper 72 having a rectangular shape is rotatably supported below the lower surface of the flapper 72. The flapper 72 is shown in FIG.
(B) and the state switched to the safe side (collection side) shown in FIG. 1 (b) so as to rotate between the state switched to the return port side (return side) and the state switched to the safe side (collection side). You.

The flapper 72 has a bad coin return passage 71
Is cut off, and a rectangular movable shielding member 74 is provided in the cut portion. This movable shielding member 74
The one side parallel to and near the support shaft 73 of the flapper 72 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 75. The movable shielding member 74 is returned to a non-retracted state located on an extension of the flapper 72 by a return member 76 (only shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) such as a helical spring wound around a support shaft 75. Is always energized.

As shown in FIG. 4, the movable shielding member 74 has one corner 74 a at the side of the support shaft 75 of the movable shielding member 74, which is caused by the urging force of the return member 76. The movable shielding member 74 is configured to be positioned at an angle positioned on an extension of the flapper 72 when the movable shielding member 74 is stopped by contacting the regulating surface 72a of the flap 72. Further, when the movable shielding member 74 is rotated counterclockwise on the paper surface against the urging force of the return member 76, the movable shielding member 74 is provided on the support shaft 75 side of the movable shielding member 74 so that the rotation is not restricted. The other corner 74b of the side end is formed to have a circular cross section.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 1 (a)
Indicates a state in which the flapper 72 is switched to the return port 5 side. At this time, since the movable shielding member 74 of the flapper 72 is kept in the non-evacuated state by the urging force of the return member 76, the passage to the safe 6 is closed and the passage to the return port 5 is opened. I have. Therefore,
The change (normal coin) discharged from the normal coin discharge port 23 of the coin changer 2 is returned to the return port 5 by the flapper 72.
Is reliably discharged to the side. Further, the defective coin determined to be defective by the coin changer 2 is reliably discharged from the defective coin discharge port 22 to the return port 5 side through the defective coin return passage 71 in a state of being isolated from the flapper 72.

FIG. 1B shows a state in which the flapper 72 is switched to the safe 6 side. When the flapper 72 is pivoted from the state shown in FIG. 1A to the state shown in FIG. 1B, the movable shielding member 74 held in the non-retracted state moves to the wall surface of the defective coin return passage 71. By being pressed, it rotates clockwise around the support shaft 75 against the urging force of the return member 76. That is, the movable shielding member 74 is in a retracted state in which it is retracted from the defective coin return passage 71. At this time, the passage to the return port 5 which is a space excluding the defective coin return passage 71 is a movable shielding member 7 of the flapper 72.
4 is completely closed, and the passage to the safe 6 is open. Therefore, coins discharged from the normal coin discharge port 22 of the coin changer 2 are:
The flapper 72 reliably discharges the paper to the safe 6.

If the movable shielding member 74 is not provided on the flapper 72, one side of the flapper 72 is
1, a gap is formed between one side of the flapper 72 and the wall of the coin return passage 51, and coins to be discharged to the safe 6 from the gap are erroneously inserted into the return port 5 side. It may be discharged. Therefore, the flapper 7
2 is provided with a movable shielding member 74 so that
Thus, coins to be discharged to the safe 6 are prevented from being erroneously discharged to the return slot 4.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the flapper 72 is switched to the safe 6 side,
Even if a defective coin inserted into the insertion slot is discharged from the defective coin discharge port 23 of the coin changer 2, the defective coin is reliably discharged to the return port 4 via the defective coin return passage 71. Therefore, unlike the conventional device, even if a defective coin is inserted from the insertion slot in a state where the flapper 72 is switched to the safe 6, the defective coin is surely erroneously discharged to the safe 6 side. Is prevented.

As described in detail above, according to the above-described embodiment, when the flapper 72 is switched to the return port 5 side, both normal coins and bad coins discharged from the coin changer 2 are removed. Is reliably discharged to the return port 5. When the flapper 72 is switched to the safe 6, normal coins discharged from the coin changer 2 are surely discharged to the safe 6 and the coin changer 2.
The bad coins discharged from the outlet are reliably discharged to the return port 5 via the bad coin return passage 71.

When the flapper 72 is switched to the safe 6 side, coins to be discharged to the safe 6 from the gap formed between the flapper 72 and the wall surface of the return passage 51 are erroneously moved to the discharge port 5 side. If there is no risk of discharge, the flapper 7
It is not necessary to provide the movable shielding member 74 in 2.

The shape of the movable shielding member 74 provided on the flapper 72 is such that when the flapper 72 is switched to the safe 6, the portion of the flapper 72 other than the movable shielding member 74 securely closes the passage to the discharge port 4 side. Any shape is acceptable,
It goes without saying that the shape may be other than the rectangular shape.

The mechanism for moving the movable shielding member is not limited to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the flapper, and FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. A portion of the flapper 72A corresponding to the defective coin return passage 71 is cut off, and a rectangular movable shielding member 74A is provided in the cut portion. The movable shielding member 74A is provided with a flapper 72A as shown by an arrow d.
Between the non-retreat position Pa that completely covers the cut portion and the retreat position Pb that retreats from the cut portion is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in the direction parallel to the plane of the flapper 72A. Movable shielding member 7
4A is returned to the non-retreat position Pa by a return member (not shown). In this case, an elastic member such as a coil spring or a helical spring may be used as the return member, or permanent magnets are provided on both the flapper 72A side and the movable shielding member 74A side, and their attractive force or The movable shielding member 74A may be returned using the repulsive force.

In the above-described embodiment, the return means and the collection means which are the counterparts to which coins discharged from the coin changer 2 are sorted by the coin sorting mechanism 7 are provided.
The return port 5 and the safe 6 have been described as examples, but the present invention is not limited to this. The return means may be any means for returning change or bad coins, and the collection means may be any means for collecting normal coins.

[0024]

As described above in detail, according to the coin sorting mechanism of the present invention, defective coins discharged from the coin changer pass through the defective coin return passage isolated from the flapper, so that the flapper operates. Irrespective of this, it is reliably discharged to the return side. Therefore, coins identified as defective by the coin changer are surely prevented from being ejected to the collecting side.

The flapper has a portion corresponding to the defective coin return passage cut off, a movable shielding member is provided at the cut portion so as to be able to advance and retreat, and a return member for returning to the non-retreat position is provided. When the flapper is switched to the collection side, the movable shielding member is in the non-evacuated state, so that the passage to the collection side is closed by the flapper. If the flapper closes the path to the return side except for the defective coin return path due to the evacuation state of retracting from the return path, the coin changer will be used when the flapper is switched to the return port side. Normal coins and bad coins that are ejected are both reliably ejected to the return side by the action of the flapper, and the flapper is switched to the collection side. The normal coin discharged from the coin changer is reliably discharged to the collection side by the action of the flapper, and the defective coin discharged from the coin changer is reliably discharged to the return side through the defective coin return passage. You.

A movable shielding member of the flapper is rotatably supported at a portion parallel to and near the support shaft of the flapper,
And, when the flapper is constantly urged to be in the non-evacuation state located on the extension of the flapper, when the flapper is switched to the return side, the movable shielding member is returned to the non-evacuation state. When the flapper is switched to the collecting side, the movable shielding member is rotated by the defective coin return passage and held in the retracted state. Therefore, even if the flapper is switched to either the return side or the recovery side, the passage to one side is reliably opened, and the passage to the other side is securely closed by the flapper. The coin is prevented from being erroneously discharged to the closed passage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the configuration and operation of a coin sorting mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the flapper.

FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a flapper according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a coin processing apparatus provided with a conventional coin sorting mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 coin changer 22 defective coin outlet 23 normal coin outlet 4 safe (collection means) 5 return port (return means) 51 return passage 7 coin distribution mechanism 71 defective coin return passage 72 flapper 74 movable shielding member 76 return member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A coin distribution mechanism for distributing coins discharged from a coin changer to a collecting side and a return side by a flapper, wherein a defective coin return passage communicating from the defective coin discharge port of the coin changer to the return side is provided. A coin distributing mechanism wherein the defective coin discharged from the defective coin outlet is isolated from the flapper. 2. A portion of the flapper corresponding to the defective coin return passage is cut off, a movable shielding member is provided at the cutout portion so as to be able to advance and retreat, and a return member for returning to a non-retreat position is provided. When switched, the movable shielding member is in the non-evacuated state, whereby the passage to the collection side is closed by the flapper. When the flapper is switched to the collection side, the movable shielding member is 2. The coin sorting device according to claim 1, wherein a path to a return side excluding the defective coin return passage portion is closed by the flapper when the evacuation state retracts from the defective coin return passage. mechanism. 3. The movable shielding member of the flapper is rotatably supported at a portion parallel to the support shaft of the flapper and close to the support shaft, and is in a non-retracted state located on an extension of the flapper. The coin sorting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the coin sorting mechanism is constantly biased.