JPH11238157A - Automatic coin pay-out device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic coin pay-out device miniaturized by reducing the height dimension of a case body. SOLUTION: At the downstream side of plural carry-away belts 62 arranged corresponding to respective coin housing parts 60a-60f for paying out coins 5 that are fed from a coin feeding port and that are carried through a carrying path 20 and that are sorted for respective denominations and that are housed in the coin housing parts 60a-60f so as to output to pay-out ports 13a-13f, the obstruction means of a coin pay-out control means composed of the obstruction means (obstruction mechanism 130 and operation rod) and a driving means (electromagnetic) is mounted on the carrying surface of the carry-away belts 62, and the driving means is mounted on the back of the carrying surface of the carry-away belts 62, so that the height dimension of the case body is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic coin dispensing apparatus used in connection with an electronic cash register, a terminal of a POS system, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a store, a supermarket, or the like, a cash register is connected to an electronic cash register or a POS system terminal in order to quickly and accurately transfer cash at the time of payment for a product purchased by a customer. ,
Coins handled at the time of payment for the goods purchased by the customer are sorted and stored by denomination, and when change includes coins, information on the type of coins to be paid from an electronic register or a POS system terminal etc. An automatic coin dispensing apparatus is used which automatically pays out coins of a required denomination based on the coin.

This type of automatic coin dispenser is provided with a slot at the front and a plurality of coin storages at the rear for storing coins for each type of coin. Or 500 yen coins are conveyed through a conveyance path provided with a conveyance belt, and are discriminated during transportation as fraudulent or false coins, and each coin is classified by denomination and stored in the plurality of coin storage units. Then, at the time of payment for the product purchased by the customer, that is, at the time of settlement of the price, the POS system terminal or the like conveys coins of the type required for change from the coin storage unit to the payout outlet based on the change information. And pay it out to a saucer.

[0004] The payout of a predetermined number of coins required as change is performed as follows. That is, a carry-out belt is provided from the bottom of each of the plurality of coin storage units to the payout port,
Counting means for counting coins to be paid out in the vicinity of the payout port, and a stopping means for preventing movement of coins to stop paying out more coins after a predetermined number of coins are paid out,
When the coin automatic payment device receives change information, that is, the type of coins to be paid out as change and the number of coins, from the terminal of the POS system or the like, the payout belt is driven under the control of the control means, and the coin storing section is operated. Coins are sequentially conveyed in the payout direction. In the process of being conveyed, the coins are counted by the counting means. When the counting means counts a predetermined number of coins and the predetermined number of coins are paid out, the control means operates the blocking means to operate the predetermined number of coins. The movement of coins immediately following, that is, the conveyance of the coins is prevented.

[0005] As a conventional structure of the blocking means, for example, Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2513792 describes a circulation type coin loading / unloading machine as a coin stopping means.

The coin stopping means described in this publication is described in page 4, column 8, lines 13 to 24 and FIG.
As described in (1), the ends of the electromagnet and the plunger are formed of thin stop pins, and the non-excitation of the electromagnet causes the stop pin to move between the feed belt or the discharge belt by a compression spring provided on the plunger. It is opposed to the feeding belt with a gap equal to or less than one coin, and when the electromagnet is excited, it is attracted against the compression spring so as to be retracted to a space where coins can pass between the stop pin and the feeding belt. It is composed. The coin stopping means described in the above publication has an advantage that the configuration is relatively simple and the reliability is high.

On the other hand, this kind of automatic coin dispensing apparatus is used for a POS terminal or the like as described above, and in this case, in order to make the installation space as small as possible, the automatic coin dispensing apparatus and the POS terminal are used. POS terminal or the like is placed on an automatic coin dispensing apparatus for use. Therefore, the size of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus in the height direction should be as small as possible.
This is also desirable from the viewpoint of operation of a keyboard provided in a terminal or the like.

However, the coin stopping means described in the above publication is
As is clear from FIG. 3, since the electromagnets having protruding plungers each provided with a stop pin at the distal end are positioned above the feeding belt and are arranged above the feeding belt, a portion allowing the height of these electromagnets and the like is allowed. Only the height of the housing of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus must be increased in size. This means that, in order to place a POS terminal or the like on the top, it is necessary to protrude only a part of the housing. It is necessary to provide a concave portion corresponding to the protruding portion at the bottom of the housing of the POS terminal or the like to be mounted. Therefore, it is generally difficult to achieve this, and the height of the housing of the POS terminal or the like must be increased, and there is a problem that the overall height eventually increases.

As a coin blocking means (hereinafter simply referred to as blocking means) which solves this problem, that is, the problem that the height of the automatic coin dispensing device becomes large, the applicant has prototyped blocking means as shown in FIG. In other words, a substantially middle portion of the substantially "F" -shaped blocking piece 300 in which the blocking protrusion 301 is formed at one end and the action portion 302 is formed at the other end, the blocking protrusion 301 is driven by a driven roller 308 (not shown). It is positioned on the downstream side in the moving direction of the unloading belt 306, that is, in the transport direction, and is rotatably supported by a shaft 305, and a hole (not shown) provided in the working portion 302 and a plunger 307 a of the electromagnet 307. Shaft 3 at the tip
05, and the leading end of the blocking protrusion 301 is always kept at the output belt 3 by a spring (not shown).
It is configured to be biased to the 06 side. Note that, when the blocking projection 301 is urged, its tip portion 301a
A gap G smaller than the thickness of the coin is formed between the discharge belt 306 and the discharge belt 306.

When the automatic coin dispensing apparatus receives change information from a POS terminal or the like at the time of settlement, control means supplies electricity to the electromagnet 307 and the plunger 3
07a operates to be sucked, and the blocking piece 300
18 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.
6, the coins 310 are successively conveyed without being blocked by the blocking protrusions 301 and are likewise paid out from a payout port (not shown) to a tray (not shown).

The dispensed coin is inserted into the blocking projection 30.
It is counted by a counting means (not shown) arranged slightly upstream from 1, and when the predetermined number to be paid out is counted, the control means controls so as to stop energizing the electromagnet 307. As a result, the blocking piece 300 is rotated clockwise by the urging force of the spring, and the leading end 301a of the blocking protrusion 301 is lightly pressed by the spring against the last coin surface counted, and the leading end 301a and the surface of the coin are pressed. Depending on the frictional force, the coin is pressed by a pressing force enough to allow the coin to be conveyed or moved normally, and the leading end portion 301a is located outside the center of the conveyed coin and is adjacent to the center line. The coins conveyed in a state where the circumferential surfaces passing through the coins are in contact with each other and fall outside the circumferential surface passing through the center line of the coin so as to fall into the gap by the circumferential side surfaces of each other. To have.

Therefore, when the leading end portion 301a which is in contact with the surface of the preceding or counted last coin comes off the surface of the coin with the movement of the coin, the coin and the coin following the coin are displaced. In other words, the leading end 3 is located in the gap between the last coin to be dispensed and the coin located next to the coin.
01a falls, and the movement of the coin following the coin is not blocked by the blocking protrusion 301 until the last coin paid out. However, the movement of the coin following the coin is blocked by the blocking protrusion 301, so that the coin is prevented from moving. A predetermined number of coins can be paid out based on change information from the POS terminal or the like.

[0013] The structure of the blocking means allows the size of the automatic coin dispensing device in the height direction to be reduced since the electromagnet 307 is disposed below the conveying surface of the carry-out belt 306.

However, the blocking means having the above-described structure is the same as the blocking piece 3.
00 is located on the carry-out belt 30 more than the shaft 303.
6, the urging force of the spring urging the blocking protrusion 301a of the blocking piece 300 toward the carry-out belt 306 is extremely small as described above. It is necessary to move the coin while bringing the tip portion 301a of the blocking protrusion 301 into contact with the surface of the coin), and the movement is blocked by the blocking protrusion 301 as shown in FIG. When the unloading belt 306 is moving in the transport direction, the transport force of a plurality of coins continuously transported to the coin is applied to the blocked coin.
It has been found that a counterclockwise force or moment is generated about the center of rotation 03, and as a result, in some cases, the blocking piece 300 rotates counterclockwise and the previously blocked coins are paid out. .

[0015]

As described above, the coin stopping means of the conventional automatic coin dispensing apparatus, that is, the circulation type coin dispensing machine described in the above-mentioned publication, is arranged above the carry-out belt. The height of the body is increased, so that the position of the register, that is, the position of the POS terminal and the like, is increased, and the position of the keyboard is also increased. As a result, the operability of the operator is deteriorated. There is. In addition, the blocking means of the above-described configuration examined by the applicant can improve the operability of the operator because the height of the housing can be reduced, and can also reduce the size and reduce the cost. However, it has been found that it is not always satisfactory in terms of reliably preventing coins.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an invention according to claim 1 has a coin insertion slot for inserting various coins, and a coin inserted from the coin insertion slot. A transport path provided with transport means for transporting, a plurality of coin storage sections provided downstream of the transport path and storing the coins selected for each type, corresponding to each of these coin storage sections. A plurality of delivery belts, a plurality of payout ports for paying out coins which are arranged in parallel with the respective carryout belts on the downstream side of the carryout belts, and are provided below the payout ports. A receiving tray, a blocking means having a blocking protrusion, and a driving means for operating the blocking means, and a coin payout regulating means provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the carry-out belt. In the automatic coin dispensing device, which controls the step and prevents the movement of coins after the predetermined number of coins are paid out by the blocking means, the predetermined number of coins is paid out. The means is rotatable via a rotation fulcrum so as to be on the conveyance surface side of the carry-out belt, and the blocking projection is disposed on the upstream side in the conveyance direction from the rotation fulcrum, and the driving means is provided on the conveyance surface of the carry-out belt. This is an automatic coin dispensing device arranged on the back side.

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, coins stored in a plurality of coin storage sections provided for each denomination are paid out by a carry-out belt disposed in correspondence with each of the coin storage sections. The coin dispensing regulating means, which is composed of a blocking means having a blocking projection and a driving means for operating the blocking means, is controlled by the control means to prevent a predetermined number of coins from being paid out. By doing so, in the automatic coin dispensing device that dispenses a predetermined number of coins, the blocking means of the coin dispensing restricting means is rotatable via a rotation fulcrum, and is set to the conveying surface side of the discharge belt, and The height of the automatic coin dispensing device can be reduced because the blocking protrusion is disposed upstream of the rotation fulcrum in the conveying direction and the driving means is disposed on the back side of the conveying surface of the unloading belt. And the blocking projection is located upstream in the transport direction, so that the force applied by the conveyed coin is unlikely to generate a rotational force that separates the blocking projection of the blocking means from the transport surface of the carry-out belt. Has the effect that the payout can be surely performed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the coin dispensing restricting means comprises a blocking means.
The blocking protrusion is formed on the upstream side in the transport direction by a blocking piece having a rotation fulcrum at a downstream end, and the distance between the blocking portion of the blocking protrusion and the transport surface of the discharge belt is adjusted by the distance between the rotation fulcrum and the discharge belt. This is an automatic coin dispensing device which is set so as to be smaller than the distance to the conveying surface.

As described above, according to the invention of claim 2, the blocking means of the coin payout restricting means according to the invention of claim 1 has a blocking projection on the upstream side in the transport direction and a rotation fulcrum at the downstream end. And the distance between the blocking portion of the blocking protrusion and the carrying surface of the carry-out belt is set to be smaller than the distance of the rotation fulcrum to the carrying surface of the carry-out belt. Is disposed at a position farther from the conveying surface of the carry-out belt than a portion of the blocking protrusion that abuts on the circumferential side surface of the coin. In addition to the operation according to claim 1, the blocking protrusion is formed by the conveyed coin. It is possible to more reliably prevent coins from being dispensed because the applied force can reliably prevent the generation of a rotational direction force that causes the blocking piece to move away from the conveying surface of the carry-out belt with the blocking piece centered on the rotation fulcrum. It is expected to have an effect that it is.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stopper means for preventing the blocking projection side of the blocking piece from rotating more than a predetermined amount in the direction toward the carrying surface of the carry-out belt. This is an automatic coin dispensing device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stopper means for preventing the blocking protrusion side of the blocking piece from rotating more than a predetermined amount in the direction toward the conveying surface of the carry-out belt. Therefore, in addition to the operation of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the blocking piece is rotated by the force applied to the blocking projection by the conveyed coin so that the blocking projection is directed toward the transport surface of the carry-out belt. However, since the blocking piece is prevented from rotating more than a predetermined amount by the stopper means, it is possible to prevent the leading end of the blocking projection from biting into the conveying surface of the carry-out belt, and to achieve good running of the carry-out belt. This has the effect of being able to maintain and prevent breakage of the blocking piece.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect of the invention, the thickness of the coin between the tip of the blocking projection of the blocking piece and the transport surface of the carry-out belt is smaller than the thickness of the coin. This is an automatic coin dispensing device having a gap.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the coin is smaller than the thickness of the coin between the tip of the blocking projection of the blocking piece and the transport surface of the carry-out belt. Due to the formation of the gap, in addition to the effects of the respective inventions according to claims 1 to 3, there is an effect that good running of the carry-out belt can be maintained and wear of the carry-out belt can be prevented. is there.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjusting means for adjusting a gap formed between the tip of the blocking projection of the blocking piece and the conveying surface of the carry-out belt according to the fourth aspect of the present invention. This is an automatic coin dispensing device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the stopper is formed between the tip of the blocking projection of the blocking piece and the transport surface of the carry-out belt. Since the adjustment means to adjust the gap is provided,
In addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 4, since the gap formed between the tip of the blocking projection and the conveying surface of the carry-out belt can be adjusted, this makes it possible to adjust the gap according to the thickness of each coin. The gap can be adjusted to ensure that coins of different thicknesses can be dispensed, and the gap of the gap formed between the blocking projection and the transport surface due to the manufacturing dimensional variation of the blocking means can be easily adjusted. It has the effect of being able to.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the width dimension of the carry-out belt is set smaller than the diameter of the coin, and the blocking protrusion is formed on the side edge of the carry-out belt. This is an automatic coin dispensing device located at a position outside of the coin.

Thus, the invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the width dimension of the carry-out belt is set smaller than the diameter of the coin, and
Since the blocking protrusion is located at a position deviated from the side edge of the carry-out belt, in addition to the effects of the inventions of claims 1 to 5, the contact of the blocking protrusion with the carry-out belt is ensured. It has the effect of being able to prevent the problem.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin path for inputting various coins, a conveying path provided with conveying means for conveying coins inserted from the coin input port, and a downstream side of the conveying path. A plurality of coin storage units that are provided on the side and store the coins selected for each denomination, a carry-out belt disposed corresponding to each of the coin storage units, and a downstream side of the carry-out belt, respectively. A plurality of payouts for paying out coins that are arranged and transported in parallel corresponding to the carry-out belt, a tray provided below these payouts, a blocking means having a blocking projection, and this blocking means. And a coin payout restricting means provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the carry-out belt, comprising: a driving means for operating; and moving the coins after a predetermined number of coins have been paid out by controlling the driving means by controlling means. In the automatic coin dispensing device, in which a predetermined number of coins are dispensed by being blocked by the blocking means, the blocking means of the coin dispensing restricting means is rotatable via a rotation fulcrum to convey the discharge belt. Surface side, and the blocking projection is disposed upstream of the rotation fulcrum in the transport direction, and the distance of the blocking portion of the blocking portion from the transport surface of the unloading belt to the transport surface of the unloading belt at the rotation fulcrum. This is an automatic coin dispensing apparatus set to be smaller than the distance.

As described above, according to the present invention, the stopping means of the coin discharging control means provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the carry-out belt is rotatable via the pivot point, and the conveying surface of the carry-out belt is provided. Side, and the blocking projection is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction from the rotation fulcrum, and the distance between the blocking portion of the blocking projection and the transportation surface of the discharge belt is set with respect to the transportation surface of the discharge belt of the rotation fulcrum. Since it is set to be smaller than the distance, the force applied to the blocking protrusion by the conveyed coin generates a rotational force that separates the blocking protrusion from the conveying surface of the carry-out belt with the blocking piece centered on the rotation fulcrum. Therefore, it is possible to reliably pay out coins.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an automatic coin dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus when used by connecting to a terminal of an S system (hereinafter referred to as a POS terminal).

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an automatic coin dispensing device, and a POS terminal 100 is placed on the upper surface of the automatic coin dispensing device 1.

The configuration of the POS terminal 100 is the same as that of a conventional POS terminal. In other words, a keyboard 102 provided with various function keys such as a numeric keypad for inputting number information, a department key for inputting product department information, a closing key for instructing a registration process, and a subtotal key is provided on the upper surface. A CPU (central processing unit) comprising a microcomputer (not shown), a ROM (storage means) for storing various control programs, a RAM (memory means) for recording various data,
A main unit 101 provided with a keyboard control circuit, a display control circuit, a printer control circuit, a drawer control circuit, etc., for taking in information input by the keyboard 102, and a price of a purchased product provided in the main unit 101; And a printer for displaying the price, total price, etc. of each product when a checkout process is performed for one customer, and issue a receipt and print the sales contents on journal paper. R / J
(Receipt / Journal) It is composed of a printer unit 104 and the like, and sends predetermined information such as sales information to an upper model (not shown).

Next, the automatic coin dispensing apparatus 1 will be described.

The housing 10 of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus 1 is shown in FIG.
The projection from the upper surface is formed in a flat shape having a substantially square shape, and a drawer 2 is provided below the projection. This drawer 2 is used for all registration processing of products purchased by one customer. When the tightening operation is performed, it is opened under the control of the CPU and the drawer control circuit.

A coin insertion slot 11 for inserting coins (hereinafter simply referred to as an insertion slot) is provided on a front upper right surface of the front of the housing 10, and a left-right direction, that is, a lateral direction is a longitudinal direction at a front center portion. A receiving tray 12 for receiving coins is provided.

The receiving tray 12 is formed in a rectangular shape elongated in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 2, and the bottom surface thereof has a plurality of denominations, that is, the number of denominations (1 yen coin to 500 yen coin). The same number of receiving areas 12a are formed, and two of the receiving areas 12a on the left side in the figure are formed deeper than the other receiving areas 12a. This is to remove coins paid out to the tray 12 as change in general by moving a hand from the right to the left while scraping it into the leftmost receiving area 12a, and taking out the collected coins by hand. This is to make this take-out easier.

The other receiving area 12a except for the two receiving areas 12a on the left side is formed as a concave part having a concave curved surface.
This prevents coins paid out to the adjacent receiving areas 12a from being mixed.

As shown in FIG. 7, a rectangular through-hole 12c is formed in the rear wall 12b of the receiving tray 12 over the entire length in the vertical direction below the vertical direction.
The through hole 12c is normally closed by a shielding plate 12d. As shown in FIG.
It is rotatably supported by a shaft 12f fitted to bearing members 12e provided on both side edges in the vertical middle part. When the turning operation button 19a (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is operated, the shielding plate 12d turns clockwise in FIG. 7 and stops at a position indicated by a two-dot chain line. ,
When the collection button 19b is operated in this state, all the coins stored in the coin storage units 60a to 60f described later are guided by the back surface of the shielding plate 12d, and the coin storages arranged at the upper part of the drawer 2 are denominated by denomination. The case 2a is accommodated in each denomination.

Above the tray 12, a plurality of coin outlets 1 for dispensing coins of various types by carrying-out belts 62a to 62f, which will be described later, that is, the same number of payout ports 1 as the number of coins.
3a to 13f are provided in parallel in the horizontal direction. The payout ports 13a to 13f are provided in order from the right side in FIGS. 1 to 3 in order of coins having smaller outer diameters. In other words, the rightmost payout port 13a is a payout port for a 1-yen coin having the smallest outer diameter, and the next payout port 13b is a payout port for a 50-yen coin having a larger outer diameter than the 1-yen coin. Payout 13c is 50
This is a payout port for a 5-yen coin having an outer diameter larger than that of a yen coin, and the next payout port 13d has a diameter of 100 that is larger than the 5-yen coin.
The payout outlet 13e is a payout outlet for yen coins, the payout outlet 13e is a payout outlet for a 10-yen coin having an outer diameter larger than that of a 100-yen coin, and the payout outlet 13f located on the leftmost side is a payout outlet 13f having an outer diameter larger than that of a 10-yen coin. It is a payout for yen coins.

The payout ports 13a to 13f
When the coins fall from the tray 12 to the receiving tray 12, the same coins or the 500-yen coins are received in the receiving area 12a corresponding to each of the payout ports 13a to 13f without being completely overlapped with each other and in a set state, At this time, as described above, coins received in the receiving areas 12a adjacent to each other are not mixed.

Next, on both sides of the input port 11, light emitting elements 14a, 14a arranged opposite to each other and a light receiving element 14 for receiving light from the light emitting elements 14a, 14a.
a detecting means 14 for detecting that a coin has been inserted into the insertion slot 11, comprising: Further, as shown in FIG.
A transport belt 15 is provided so as to be suspended between the roller 5a and the driven roller 15b. The transport belt 15 rotates in a direction in which the coins 5 inserted into a transport path 20, which will be described later, are sent out. Also, the conveyor belt 15 of the input port 11
An alignment roller 16 is provided on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the roller, and the alignment roller 16 is arranged with a gap for passing one coin and the transport belt 15, and in the opposite direction to the transport direction of the transport belt 15. In this way, even if a plurality of coins are inserted into the insertion slot 11 at the same time, the coins are arranged in a line and are sequentially sent out to the transport path 20. It is.

Next, the transport path 20 provided downstream of the inlet 11 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the transport path 20 is formed in the housing 10 in an L-shape along the right side wall and the rear side wall (the upper side in FIG. 3). The transport path 20 includes a first transport path 21 formed along the upstream side, that is, the right wall side, and a second transport path 25 formed along the downstream side, that is, the rear wall side.

The transfer surface 2 of the first transfer path 21
Numeral 2 is formed on a flat surface, and on the upstream side of the first transport path 21 is a discriminating unit 23 for discriminating whether a coin is a genuine coin or a false coin. The downstream side of the discrimination unit 23 is a fake coin or the like and a coin storage unit 60 described later.
When a through 60f are full, the elimination unit 24 that eliminates these fake coins and the like and the full coins.
It has become.

The discriminating section 23 is provided with an outer diameter discriminating means 30 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) for discriminating the diameter, that is, the outer diameter of the coin.
As shown in FIG. 5, a hole 22a formed in the transport surface 22 is provided.
And a light receiving element 30b disposed above the hole 22a. The outer diameter determining means 30 determines the amount of light passing through the hole 22a according to the size of the outer diameter of the coin. That is, since the amount of light received by the light receiving element 30b is different, the outer diameter of the coin is determined based on the electrical output that changes according to the amount of light.

The discriminator 23 includes a five-yen coin and a fifty-five coin.
A hole discriminating means (not shown) for discriminating whether or not the coin is a coin having a hole, such as a yen coin, is provided.
(See FIG. 3). The light-receiving element comprises a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element (not shown) arranged above and below (see FIG. 3). The presence or absence of the hole of the coin is detected by the light-receiving element. It is done by doing.

The exclusion section 24 is provided with an exclusion hole 22b formed in the conveyance surface 22, and a shutter disposed so as to always project a predetermined width from the right edge of the exclusion hole 22b in the conveyance direction to the exclusion hole. S and a storage unit (not shown) provided below the exclusion hole 22b.
The shutter S is not shown when the outer diameter discriminating unit 30 and the hole discriminating unit determine that the coin is a fake coin or the like and when the coin storage unit in which the discriminated coin is to be stored is full. The fake coins and the coins to be stored in the full coin storage unit, which have been conveyed with the protruding portion immersed to the right side by an electromagnet (not shown) operated by the control of the control unit, fall into the storage unit from the rejection hole 22b. It is designed to be stored.

In the first transport path 21, a first transport belt 40 is disposed as opposed to the transport surface 22, and is provided with a drive roller as transport means for transporting coins sent from the insertion port 11. It is arranged so as to be suspended between the driven roller 41a and the driven roller 41b. The first conveyor belt 40 is configured to rotate while being pressed against the upper surface of the coin, so that the coin fed into the first conveyance path 21 is conveyed while sliding on the conveyance surface 22. Things.

Further, on the downstream side of the first transport path 21, that is, near the boundary with the second transport path 25, the upper surface thereof is the same as the transport surface 22, and the drive roller 44a and the driven roller (not shown) are used. A belt-shaped belt 44 is provided as a conveying means suspended and arranged.

The first transport path 21 and the second transport path 2
5, a driving roller (not shown) at a corner 28, a driven roller 45 rotatably mounted on the same shaft 45a as the driving roller and provided at a predetermined distance, and a driven roller 45 and a driving roller And a conveying means suspended around an idler roller (not shown) attached to a shaft provided so as to have an intermediate portion between the driving roller and the driven roller 45 at right angles to the driving roller and the driven roller 45. A belt 46 having a circular cross section is provided, and the belt 46 transfers coins transported by the belt belt 44 to the second transport path 25.
In order to feed the coins 5, the transport direction of the coins 5 is changed by 90 degrees.

Next, the second transport path 25 will be described. The transport surface 26 of the second transport path 25 is formed as a flat surface, and the second transport path 26 includes a coin sorting unit 5.
0 is provided. The coin sorting unit 50 passes coins having smaller outer diameters in order from the right side in FIG.
Sorting holes 51a to 51 dropped to 0a to 60f
f. That is, in FIG. 3, the sorting hole 51a on the rightmost side, that is, on the side of the first transport path 21 is a sorting hole for a 1-yen coin having the smallest outer diameter.
b is a sorting hole for a 50-yen coin whose outer diameter is larger than a 1-yen coin, a sorting hole 51c is a sorting hole for a 5-yen coin having an outer diameter larger than a 50-yen coin, and a sorting hole 51d is 5 yen. The sorting hole 51e is a sorting hole for a 100-yen coin having a larger outer diameter than the coin, and the sorting hole 51e is a sorting hole for a 10-yen coin having a larger outer diameter than the 100-yen coin.
f is a sorting hole for a 500-yen coin having an outer diameter larger than that of a 10-yen coin.

In the second transport path 25, a second transport means is disposed as opposed to the transport surface 26, and serves as a transport means for transporting the coins 5 whose transport direction has been changed and transported by the belt 46. Is suspended from a driving roller (not shown) and a driven roller 48 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Then, the second transport belt 4
The coin 7 rotates while being pressed against the upper surface of the coin, so that the coin fed into the second conveying path 25 is conveyed while sliding on the conveying surface 26.

When each coin is conveyed to the position of the sorting holes 50a to 50f for sorting the coins in the course of transportation, the coins fall down from the sorting holes and are stored in the coin storage sections 60a to 60f for storing the coins. It is supposed to be.

Next, the guide member 70 provided in the transport path 20 will be described.

The guide member 70 is formed in an L-shape along the outside of the transport path 20, and is set to a thickness slightly larger than the thickness of the coin 5 as shown in FIGS. I have. The transport surface of the transport path 20 of the guide member 70, that is, the transport surface 22 of the first transport path and the transport surface 26 side of the second transport path 25,
And a reference plane 71 orthogonal to 26, and coin 5
Are transported along the transport path 20 by being guided by the reference surface 71.

Further, at the corner where the reference surface 71 and the transfer surface, that is, the transfer surface 22 and the transfer surface 26 are orthogonal to each other, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the transfer surface 22 and the transfer surface 26 are connected to the bottom wall 7.
A dust removal groove 72 having a U-shape and having a U-shaped opening 2 a is formed along the conveyance path 20. As described above, the dust exclusion groove 72 has the bottom wall 72a formed on the transport surface 2.
2 and the transfer surface 26, they are the same as the transfer surfaces 22, 26.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the dust elimination groove 72 is provided for dust adhering to coins conveyed through the conveyance path 20, dust entering from the insertion slot 11, or conveyance during long-term use. The belt, that is, the dust D generated in the transport path 20 due to the wear of the first transport belt 40, the belt-shaped belt 44, the belt 46, and the second transport belt 47, etc., enters the dust removal groove 72. It works to eliminate it. That is, the dust that has entered the first transport path 21 and the second transport path 25 easily accumulates at the corner formed by the transport surfaces 22 and 26 and the reference surface 71. The dust D is being removed by being gradually moved or pushed into the dust removing groove 72 by the outer peripheral surface of the coin 5 being conveyed as shown in FIGS.

When the coin 5 is transported along the transport path 20, the outer peripheral surface 5a of the coin 5 is guided by the reference surface 71 of the guide member 70 and is transported.
The dust D entering the second transport path 25 and accumulating at the corners formed by the transport surfaces 22 and 26 and the reference surface 71 is removed by the dust removal groove 72, so that the coin 5
Since the outer peripheral surface 5a is always conveyed without touching the reference surface 71, that is, without being separated from the reference surface 71, the outer diameter of the coin is accurately determined by the outer diameter determining means 30 when the determining unit 23 is moved. And it can be reliably detected. Similarly, when moving the coin sorting unit 50, the outer peripheral surface 5a of the coin is conveyed without being separated from the reference surface 71. Therefore, when moving the coin sorting unit 50, the sorting holes corresponding to the respective coins. From the coin storage unit 60
a to 60f.

Next, the transfer surface 2 of the second transfer path 25
6, as described above, the partition plates 61 a to 61 b correspond to the sorting holes 51 a to 51 f, respectively.
1 yen coin or 500 divided by e
The coin storage units 60a to 60f for storing yen coins are provided.

Next, these coin storage units will be described based on a coin storage unit 60f which is one of them. Since the coin storage units 60a to 60f have the same structure, the description of the other coin storage units 60a to 60e is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, a carry-out belt 62 is provided at the bottom of the coin storage section 60f. The carry-out belt 62 has a short first carry-out belt 62a and a long second carry-out belt 62b. Consists of The first carry-out belt 62a is suspended by the drive roller 63 and the driven roller 64, and its front portion extends outward from the coin storage portion 60f. In addition, the second discharge belt 62
b is suspended between the drive roller 63 and a driven roller 65 provided near the payout port 13f. That is,
The second carry-out belt 62b extends outward from the coin storage portion 60f and extends to the payout opening 13f. The first carry-out belt 62a and the second carry-out belt 62b, that is, the carry-out belt 62
It rotates in the direction of transport toward f.

Further, at the exit of the coin storage section 60f,
The first discharge belt 62a and the second discharge belt 62b
An alignment roller 66 is provided in opposition to this. The alignment roller 66 rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the discharge belt 62, and when the coin is conveyed toward the payout port 13f by the discharge belt 62, coins are discharged. It functions so as to be aligned in one row.

At a downstream side of the second unloading belt 62b, that is, in the vicinity of the outlet 13f, a coin payout restricting means 120 which is controlled and operated by a control means (not shown) and which will be described in detail later is provided. The coin payout restricting means 120 pays out or passes a predetermined number of coins based on the change information from the POS terminal 100 under the control of the control means, and the subsequent coins immediately following the last coin to be paid out. And stops or restricts the payout of coins exceeding a predetermined number of coins.

The coins to be dispensed are delivered to the carry-out belt 6.
2 and the payout port 13 by the second carry-out belt 62b.
The coin 5 conveyed to f is dropped into the tray 12, that is, is paid out. The coins 5 paid out from the payout ports 13a to 13f slide on the shielding plate 12d and are received in the receiving area 12a of the tray 12.

Next, the coin payout restricting means 120 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the coin dispensing restricting means 120 includes a blocking means 121 and a blocking means 121.
And an electromagnet 125 as driving means for driving the motor.

The blocking means 121 comprises a blocking mechanism 130 and an operating rod 140, and the blocking mechanism 130 has a fixed rod 131 as shown in FIG.
And a blocking piece 136.

The fixed rod 131 is formed of a metal plate, and has a board portion 132 and a bridge piece 133 formed on one end of the board portion 132 and extending laterally from the board 132.
a, a U-shaped portion 13 composed of a bent piece 133b bent in parallel with the substrate 132 from the tip of the bridge piece 133a.
And the bent piece 133
b is provided with a mounting piece 133c formed by bending a side edge parallel to the substrate 132, and the mounting piece 133c is provided with a mounting hole 133d. The one end of the substrate 132 protrudes from the mounting surface of the mounting piece 133c by a predetermined dimension, and a fitting portion 134 having a fitting groove 134a is provided at the tip. The other end of the substrate 132 is provided with a through hole 132a. In addition, a concave portion having a flat receiving surface 132b is formed at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the substrate 132.

Next, the blocking piece 136 is formed of a metal plate, and has a U-shaped fitting groove 137a formed at one end thereof. The U-shaped fitting groove 137a is shown in FIG. In the lower side, there is provided a blocking protrusion 137b formed so as to protrude from the lower side surface in the longitudinal direction of the blocking piece 136. A contact piece 137c is provided on the upper surface in the longitudinal direction of the blocking piece 136 as stopper means for contacting the receiving surface 132b provided on the fixed rod 132. Also,
The other end of the blocking piece 136 is provided with a fitting hole 137d.

The length of the blocking piece 136 in the longitudinal direction is
Center of fitting hole 137d and through hole 13 of fixed rod 131
When the center of 2a coincides with the center of the bridge piece 133a, the tip is set to a length that does not interfere with the bridge piece 133a.

The blocking piece 136 is fitted in the fitting hole 137d.
A stud 138a forming a rotation fulcrum is made to penetrate through and a tip 138b of the stud 138a is
32 is rotatably attached to the fixed rod 131 by press-fitting into the through-hole 132a and caulking.

Next, the operating rod 140 will be described.

The operating rod 140 is made of a metal plate as shown in FIG. 10, and is formed by bending a bridge piece 141 and both ends of the bridge piece 141, and having the tips separated from each other. First action piece 14 formed
2 and a second action piece 143. An oval hole 142 is formed at the tip of the first action piece 142.
a, and a through hole 143 a is provided at the tip of the second operation piece 143. The base of the first working piece 142 and the second working piece 143, that is, a portion located under the bridge piece 141 faces the fitting hole 1 facing each other.
44 and 144 are formed.

The distal end of the first working piece 142 is inserted into a slit 126a formed at the distal end of a plunger 126 of an electromagnet 125 as a driving means, which will be described later. Plunger 12
6 is provided with a through hole 126b formed in a direction perpendicular to the slit 126a, and the leading end of the first working piece 142 is inserted into the slit 126a to form an oval hole 142a and a through hole. After the pin 126c is made to coincide with the first working piece 14b, the pin 126c is press-fitted.
2 and the plunger 126 are coupled, and in the coupled state, the pin 126c has a smaller diameter than the oval hole 142a, so that the first working piece 142 is rotatable in the slit.

A fixing projection 146a formed at one end of the operation projection 146 is press-fitted and attached to the through hole 143a at the end of the second operation piece 143, and the other end of the operation projection 146 is provided. On the side, an annular collar 146 is provided at the tip.
An engagement protrusion 146b provided with a c is formed, and the engagement groove 137a of the blocking piece 136 is rotatably fitted to the engagement protrusion 146b.

Next, the base plate 150 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, a front wall 152 (see FIG. 12) and a rear wall 153 are formed of strip-shaped metal plates, and are formed by bending both sides of a ceiling wall 151 along the longitudinal direction.
(See FIG. 9), and a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is formed in a U-shape. Further, side walls 154 and 154 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 150,
The side walls 154 and 154 are provided with shaft holes 155 (see FIG. 9) formed to face each other.

As shown in FIG. 12, six cutout openings 156a to 156f are formed in the front wall 152, and these cutout openings 156a to 156f are formed.
On one side edge, a protruding edge 157 is formed on the fixed rod 131 of the blocking mechanism 130 so as to fit into the fitting groove 134a provided in the fitting portion 134 of the substrate 132.

The notch opening 156a of the front wall 152
6 to 156f are formed with six screw holes 152a, each of which has a fixing screw 170 inserted through a mounting hole 133d provided in a mounting piece 133c of a fixing rod 131 of the blocking mechanism 130. The blocking mechanism 130 is thereby attached to the base plate 150. Further, three mounting holes 152b are formed in the ceiling wall 151, and the base plate 150 is mounted on the housing 10 (not shown) through the mounting holes 152b.

Further, on the rear wall 153 of the base plate 150,
Six spring receiving grooves 153a are formed.

Next, the attachment of the blocking mechanism 130 and the operating rod 140 to the base plate 150 will be described.

As described above, the blocking mechanism 1 in which the blocking piece 136 is attached to the fixed rod 131 via the stud 138a.
Prepare 30. Also, the plunger 1 is attached to the operating rod 140.
26 is prepared.

Then, as shown in FIG.
One end of the shaft 160 is inserted into a shaft hole 155 provided in one side wall 154 (the left side in FIG. 9), and then the operating rod 140 located on the leftmost side in FIG. One end of the shaft 160 is inserted through the fitting hole 144 of the second operating piece 143, and then one end of the shaft 160 is inserted through an urging spring 162 formed of a coil spring. It is inserted into the fitting hole 144. When the shaft 160 is inserted through the biasing spring 162, a hook-shaped engaging portion (hereinafter referred to as a hook-shaped engaging portion) 162a provided on one end side is engaged with the second action piece 143 from above. Let it. A linear locking portion (hereinafter referred to as a linear locking portion) 162b is formed on the other end side of the biasing spring 162.

Similarly, the operating rod 140 and the urging spring 162 located on the left side of FIG.
0, and the rightmost operating rod 140 and the urging spring 162 are attached.
The shaft 160 is inserted through the shaft hole 155 of the other side wall 154 of the base plate 150.
The E-ring 163 is fitted into annular grooves 161a formed at both ends of the shaft 160 so as not to come off. The shaft 1
The shaft 16 is used to position each of the operating rods 140 at 60.
E-rings 161 are provided in the six annular grooves 161b formed in
Then, each of the operating rods 140 is positioned at a predetermined position and attached to the base plate 150.

Then, each operating rod 140 is connected to the base plate 150.
Then, the linear locking portion 162b provided on the other side of the urging spring 162 is locked in the spring receiving groove 153a formed in the rear wall 153 of the base plate 150. Thus, axis 1
The hook-shaped locking portion 162a of the biasing spring 162 through which the lock member 60 is inserted is locked to the second action piece 143 from above, and By locking the linear locking portion 162b into the spring receiving groove 153a formed in the rear wall 153 of the base plate 150, the operating rod 14
0 is urged by the urging spring 162 so as to rotate clockwise in FIG.

When the operating rod 140 is attached to the base plate 150, as shown in FIG.
The second action piece 143 projects rotatably from the second notch openings 156a to 156f while being biased by the biasing spring 162.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the blocking mechanism 130 is provided with a mounting hole 133d formed in the mounting piece 133c of the fixed rod 131 and a screw hole 152 formed in the front wall 152.
a, the mounting piece 133c, that is, the blocking mechanism 130
The blocking mechanism 130 is attached to the base plate 150 by fastening the fixing screw 170 to the front wall 152 as described above.

Further, when the blocking mechanism 130 is mounted, the blocking member 136 is fitted into the fitting groove 134a of the fitting portion 134 of the board 132 of the fixed rod 131 and the projection 157 of the notch opening 152a. The operating rod 14 is provided in the groove 137a.
The engagement protrusion 146b provided on the second action piece 143 of the zero is engaged.

As described above, the operating rod 140 and the blocking mechanism 130 are attached to the base plate 150. Then, the base plate 150 to which the operating rod 140 and the blocking mechanism 130 are attached is attached to the ceiling wall 1 as described above.
It is attached to the housing 10 by screws (not shown) through the attachment holes 152b provided in the 51. Then, in the attached state, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the blocking means 121 including the blocking mechanism 130 and the operating rod 140 is
That is, it is arranged along the transport surface above the transport surface of the second discharge belt 62b.

Then, the operating rod 140 and the blocking mechanism 13
0, that is, in a state in which the base plate 150 to which the blocking means 121 is mounted is attached to the housing 10, the rotation fulcrum of the blocking piece 136, that is, the stud 138a is the second unloading position more than the blocking projection 137b as shown in FIGS. The rotation fulcrum, ie, the stud 138a, is located on the downstream side in the transport direction of the belt 62b, and is farther from the transport surface than the portion where the coin 5 transported by the second unloading belt 62b abuts on the blocking protrusion 137b. Position. That is, the distance between the transport surface and the stud 138a is larger than the distance between the transport surface of the transport belt 62b and the blocking protrusion 137b.

As a result, the first discharge belt 62a
When the coin 5 conveyed by the second carry-out belt 62b abuts on the blocking protrusion 137b and the conveyance, that is, the movement to the downstream side is prevented, and a force in the moving direction acts, the blocking piece is used. 136 has a stud 138
a as a fulcrum, a force in a counterclockwise direction, that is, a blocking protrusion
Therefore, a force in a direction of pressing the coin against the transport surface acts, so that the movement, that is, the payout of coins can be surely prevented or regulated.

The contact piece 1 provided on the blocking piece 136
37c is in contact with the receiving surface 132b provided on the substrate 132, and the blocking piece 136 is not less than a predetermined value, that is, the blocking protrusion 137b
A gap G1 having a size smaller than the thickness of the coin is formed such that the gap G1 does not contact the transfer surface of the second discharge belt 62b. For this reason, even if a counterclockwise force is exerted by the coin 5 conveyed as described above, the blocking protrusion 137b does not cut into the conveying surface of the second discharge belt 62b.

The force that the blocking protrusion 137b receives from the coin is considerably large because all the conveying force applied to each coin continuously conveyed to the first carry-out belt 62a and the second carry-out belt 62b is applied. Become.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the electromagnet 125 as a driving means is attached to the attachment frame 127 on the opposite side, that is, below, of the transport surface of the second carry-out belt 62b by a screw (not shown). That is, the blocking means 12
1 is arranged above the conveying surface of the conveying belt 62, and the electromagnets 125 are arranged below the unloading belt 62, so that the height of the housing 10 in the height direction can be made small, that is, low. In addition, the carry-out belt 62 is attached to the housing 1.
0, the coin storage units 60a to 60f are arranged obliquely toward the payout ports 13a to 13f provided above the housing 10.
Since the lower part of the carry-out belt 62 in which the 25 is disposed is a so-called dead space, arranging the electromagnet 125 below the transport belt 62 utilizes the dead space, so that any housing 10 is not used. It is not necessary to increase it.

When attaching the electromagnet 125,
The side of the plunger 126 opposite to the end attached to the first working piece 142 is inserted into a hole formed in a bobbin of the electromagnet 125 around which a coil winding (not shown) is wound. The plunger 126 is attracted when the coil winding is energized under the control of the control means (not shown), and is returned by the biasing spring 162 when the energization is stopped. .

Then, the blocking means 121, ie, the operating rod 140, the blocking mechanism 130, and the electromagnet 125
13, the blocking piece 136 is positioned on one side, that is, on the left side in FIG. 13 with respect to the transport direction from the center of the second discharge belt 62b in the longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. As a result, the blocking protrusion 137b presses the outer side of the center of the conveyed coin as shown in FIG. The electromagnet 125 is located at a position separated from the second carry-out belt 62b.

Further, the operating rod 1 which is the blocking means 121
In a state where the locking mechanism 40, the blocking mechanism 130, and the electromagnet 125 are attached to the housing 10, the operating rod 140 is urged by the urging spring 162 in a clockwise direction about the shaft 160 as a movable fulcrum, as shown in FIG. In addition, the engagement protrusion 146b provided on the second action piece 143 is
Since the stud 138a is pivotally supported by the stud 138a, a force acts in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 8, that is, the direction in which the blocking protrusion 137b faces the conveying surface. At this time, as described above, a gap G1 having a size smaller than the thickness of the coin is formed between the blocking protrusion 137b and the transport surface.

When the coil winding of the electromagnet 125 is energized by the control means (not shown), the plunger 126 is attracted. When the plunger 126 is attracted, the operating rod 140 is pivoted about the shaft 160 as shown in FIG. 8, Fig. 1
4, the second operation piece 143 moves in a direction away from the transport surface of the second discharge belt 62b as shown in FIG. When the second action piece 143 separates from the transport surface, the blocking piece 136 becomes stud 1
38a is rotated clockwise about the rotation fulcrum,
37b is separated from the conveying surface, and a gap G2 larger than the thickness of the coin is formed between the tip of the blocking protrusion 137b and the conveying surface, so that the downstream side of the coin, that is, the payout ports 13a to 13f.
Allow movement in the direction.

The magnitude of the urging force of the urging spring 162 is determined by applying the blocking piece 136 counterclockwise through the operating rod 140 when the electromagnet 125 is not energized, that is, when the plunger 126 is in the free state. Receiving the urging force, the urging force causes the blocking protrusion 137b to move to the second carry-out belt 62b.
Is pressed against the surface of the coin being conveyed, but when the coin is conveyed and moved in this pressed state, the blocking protrusion 1
37b is set to a size that slides on the surface of the coin.

The magnitude of the urging force of the urging spring 162 is set as described above,
b is displaced from the center of the coin, so that the blocking protrusion 137b is conveyed or moved with the blocking protrusion 137b pressing the surface of the coin 5 as shown in FIG.
7b slides on the surface of the coin 5, and when the coin 5 further moves, the coin 5 comes off the surface of the coin 5 and falls into a gap formed between the coin 5 and the following coin 5, and a blocking protrusion 137b is formed on the circumferential side surface of the subsequent coin 5. The coin 5 is abutted and is prevented from moving.

Then, when the blocking projection 137b is in contact with the coin to block the coin, the coin is in contact with the blocking projection 137.
The part b is a stud 1 which is a pivot of the blocking piece 136.
Since it is located closer to the transport surface than the position 38a,
Since a counterclockwise rotating force acts on the blocking piece 136 with the stud 138a as a fulcrum, a force directed toward the transport surface acts on the blocking projection 137b, and this force increases as the transporting force of the coins increases. Because of their size, coins are reliably blocked.

Next, the operation of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus 1 will be described.

First, the operator inserts into the slot 11 various coins used as change, ie, coins prepared in advance and coins received in a mixed state from the customer at the time of payment for the purchased commodity. The detection means 14 detects that a coin has been inserted, and sends a detection signal to the control means (not shown). When the control means receives this detection signal, the conveyance belt 15 and the first conveyance belt 4
0, belt-shaped belt 44, belt 46, second transport belt 4
The drive rollers 15a, 41a, etc. are driven so as to rotate the drive roller 7.

Then, the coins 5 inserted into the insertion slot 11 are further aligned in a line by the aligning rollers 16 and sent out to the transport path 20, that is, the first transport path 21, and then these coins 5 are transferred to the first transport belt 40. The first conveying path 21 is conveyed while the outer peripheral surface 5a on one side is in contact with the reference surface 71 of the guide member 70, and the hole is detected by a hole detecting means (not shown) provided in the discriminating unit 23 in the course of this conveyance. The outer diameter is determined by the outer diameter determining means 30 to determine whether or not the conveyed coin is a genuine coin. When passing through the discriminating portion 23, dust accumulated on the corner formed by the reference surface 71 and the transport path 22 is removed by the dust removal groove 72. Since the outer surface 5a of the coin 5 is in contact with the hole, the hole detecting means and the outer diameter discriminating means 30 detect the presence or absence of a hole and determine the outer diameter with reference to the reference surface 71. Things.

Next, the coins 5 are further conveyed to the downstream side by the belt-like belt 44, are sent to the second conveying path 25 by the belt 46, changing their moving direction toward the second conveying path 25, and The coin 5 is transported by the transport belt 47 while contacting the outer peripheral surface 5a thereof with the reference surface 71 of the guide member 70.
When it corresponds to the sorting hole corresponding to the coin 5 out of 1a to 51f, the coin is dropped and stored in the coin storage units 60a to 60f provided corresponding to the sorting hole through the sorting hole.

When change information for paying coins as change is sent from the POS terminal 100 to the automatic coin dispensing apparatus 1 in this state, the carry-out belt 62, that is, the first carry-out belt 62a, is controlled by the control means.
The second carry-out belt 62b and the alignment roller 66 are driven to convey the coins 5 from the coin storage units 60a to 60f toward the payout ports 13a to 13f. Further, the control means operates the electromagnet 125, that is, energizes the coil winding, so as to pay out the predetermined number of coins specified in the change information. This energization causes the operating rod 140 to rotate counterclockwise, the blocking piece 136 to rotate counterclockwise, and the blocking protrusion 137b to be separated from the transport surface of the second discharge belt 62b and blocked up to that point. The coins are released from being blocked and are conveyed toward the payout ports 13a to 13f to be paid out.

The coin to be paid out is the same as the above-mentioned blocking piece 1.
When the counting means counts the last coin out of a predetermined number of coins to be dispensed, the control means turns on the coil winding of the electromagnet 125. Because of the stop, the blocking piece 136 is rotated clockwise by the biasing force of the biasing spring 162 via the operating rod 140, and the tip of the blocking projection 137b contacts and presses the surface of the last coin. And
As the coin moves, the blocking protrusion 137b moves downstream of the surface of the coin, and further moves off the surface to fall between the last coin and the coin located immediately after the coin. Block the movement of coins located in.

That is, the blocking piece 136 pays out the last coin out of the predetermined number of sheets, but prevents or restricts the paying out of coins subsequent to the last coin. As a result, a predetermined number of coins are accurately paid out to the receiving tray 12 from the payout ports 13a to 13f based on the change information sent from the POS terminal 100.

The blocking protrusion 137b receives the force generated by the movement of the second carry-out belt 62b of the coin whose movement has been prevented. The force received from this coin causes the blocking protrusion 137b to act on the conveying surface. Therefore, the blocking protrusion 137b does not separate from the transport surface, and
The movement of coins can be reliably prevented.

As described above, in the automatic coin dispensing apparatus 1, the coin dispensing restricting means 120 includes the blocking means 121 including the blocking means 130 and the operating rod 140 and the electromagnetic magnet 125, and the blocking means 121 includes the carrying belt 62. By disposing the electromagnet 125 on the opposite side of the transfer surface, that is, on the back side, the height of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus can be reduced, and the blocking protrusion 137a is set to the upstream side in the transfer direction. The rotation fulcrum of the blocking piece 136 is
Since the position of the coin 7b is farther from the conveying surface of the carry-out belt 62 than the portion that abuts on the circumferential side surface of the coin, the force applied to the blocking protrusion 137b by the conveyed coin blocks the blocking piece about the rotation fulcrum. Since it is possible to reliably prevent the generation of a rotational force that causes the protrusion 137b to move away from the conveying surface of the carry-out belt, it is possible to reliably pay out coins.

Further, the contact piece 137c for preventing the blocking projection 137b of the blocking piece 136 from rotating more than a predetermined amount in the direction toward the second carry-out belt 62b is provided.
Since the blocking piece 136 is prevented from rotating by a predetermined amount or more by the contact piece 137c, the tip of the blocking protrusion 137b is prevented from biting into the transport surface of the second transport belt 62b, and the transport belt is prevented from being bent. The good running can be maintained and the blocking piece 136 can be prevented from being damaged.

Further, since a gap G1 smaller than the thickness of the coin is formed between the tip of the blocking projection 137b of the blocking piece 136 and the transport surface of the transport belt 62, the transport belt 6
2 can maintain good running, and the discharge belt 62
Can be prevented from being worn.

In the above-described embodiment, the contact between the contact piece 137c as the stopper means and the receiving surface 132b of the fixed rod 131 provided on the substrate 132 is constant. As shown in FIG.
7c, the fixed rod 131 is attached to the receiving surface 132 of the substrate 132.
b, a screw hole 137e is formed corresponding to the screw hole 1b.
An adjusting screw 137f is screwed into the adjusting screw 137f.
By changing the amount of protrusion of the contact piece 137c from the lower surface of the contact piece 137c, that is, by increasing the amount of protrusion,
The gap G1 between 37b and the transport surface can be increased, and conversely, the gap G1 can be reduced by reducing the amount of protrusion.

In this case, the size of the gap G1 between the blocking protrusion 137b and the conveying surface can be adjusted according to the thickness of the coin which differs depending on the type, and the manufacturing error of the fixed rod 131 and the blocking piece 136 causes the manufacturing error. There is an advantage that the above-mentioned gap generated can be adjusted. In FIG. 16, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the above-described embodiment, the structure in which the blocking protrusion 137b of the blocking piece 136 is moved toward and away from the conveying surface of the second discharge belt 62b is rotated by the electromagnet 125 and the urging spring 162. Although it was configured to be performed via the rod 140, as shown in FIG.
A blocking piece 236 having a blocking protrusion 237a at the distal end is provided with an action piece 231 behind a rotation fulcrum, that is, a stud 138a.
May be formed, and the plunger 126 of the electromagnet 125 may be coupled to the action piece 231. In this case, the contact piece 237 as the stopper means is a member separate from the blocking piece 236, as shown in FIG.
As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, the blocking piece 236 may be provided above the action piece 231 to restrict the rotation of the blocking piece 236 by a predetermined amount or more in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. This configuration has an advantage that the operating rod 140 can be omitted. In FIG. 17, the same portions as those of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the above embodiment, the portion of the blocking protrusion 137b that the conveyed coin abuts is set to the conveying surface side from the position of the rotation fulcrum of the blocking piece 136. In this configuration, the force in the direction in which the blocking protrusion 137b is separated from the transport surface is not generated by the force applied to the coin. However, because the thickness of the coin is thin, both the contact portion and the position of the rotation fulcrum are transported. Even if they are substantially the same with respect to the surface, generation of a force that separates the blocking protrusion 137b from the surface can be prevented.

If both the abutting portion and the position of the rotation fulcrum are substantially the same with respect to the transport surface, the blocking protrusion 1
The contact surface of 37b is formed as an inclined surface slightly protruding toward the upstream side of the carry-out belt toward the lower end, so that a force can be generated in the coin conveying direction to turn the blocking protrusion 137b toward the conveying surface by force. It is.

In the above embodiment, the width of the carry-out belt is set to be larger than the diameter of the coin. However, the width of the carry-out belt is set to be smaller than the width of the coin, and the blocking protrusion 137b of the blocking piece 136 is connected to the carry-out belt. In such a configuration, the contact of the blocking protrusion 137b with the carry-out belt 62 can be reliably prevented, so that the wear-out of the carry-out belt is more reliably prevented. You can do it.

[0119]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, coins stored in a plurality of coin storage units provided for each denomination are
Control means controls the coin dispensing control means, which is conveyed to a payout port by a carry-out belt disposed corresponding to each of the coin storage sections, and is constituted by blocking means having a blocking projection and driving means for operating the blocking means. In the automatic coin dispensing device configured to prevent the dispensing of coins after the predetermined number of coins have been dispensed by controlling the coin dispensing, the blocking means of the coin dispensing restricting means is rotated. It is rotatable via a fulcrum and is located on the transport surface side of the unloading belt, and the blocking projection is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction from the rotation fulcrum. As a result, the height of the automatic coin dispensing device can be reduced, and the blocking projection is located on the upstream side in the transport direction. The force of the rotation direction of separating the blocking projection from the conveying surface of the unloading belt since hardly occurs, those having the effect that can be made reliably payout of coins.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, the blocking means of the coin payout restricting means in the invention of claim 1 comprises:
The blocking protrusion is formed on the upstream side in the transport direction by a blocking piece having a rotation fulcrum at a downstream end, and the distance between the blocking portion of the blocking protrusion and the transport surface of the discharge belt is adjusted by the distance between the rotation fulcrum and the discharge belt. Since the rotation fulcrum was set to be smaller than the distance to the conveyance surface, that is, the rotation fulcrum was arranged at a position further away from the conveyance surface of the carry-out belt than a portion of the blocking protrusion that abuts on the circumferential side surface of the coin, In addition to the effect of claim 1, the force exerted on the blocking projection by the conveyed coin ensures the generation of a rotational force that causes the blocking piece to move away from the transport surface of the carry-out belt about the rotation piece as a center. This prevents the coins from being dispensed more reliably.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stopper means for preventing the blocking protrusion side of the blocking piece from rotating more than a predetermined amount in the direction toward the carry-out belt. In addition to the effects of the invention of claim 1 or claim 2, the blocking piece receives a rotational force in the direction toward the transport surface of the carry-out belt due to the force applied to the blocking projection by the conveyed coin. Since the blocking piece is prevented from rotating more than a predetermined amount by the stopper means, it is possible to prevent the leading end of the blocking projection from digging into the conveying surface of the carry-out belt, thereby maintaining good running of the carry-out belt. This has the effect of preventing breakage of the blocking piece.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first to third aspects of the present invention, a gap smaller than the thickness of a coin is provided between the tip of the blocking projection of the blocking piece and the transport surface of the carry-out belt. Thus, in addition to the effects of each of the first to third aspects of the present invention, a gap smaller than the thickness of a coin is provided between the tip of the blocking projection of the blocking piece and the transport surface of the carry-out belt. Since the belt is formed, good running of the carry-out belt can be maintained, and wear of the carry-out belt can be prevented.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gap formed between the tip of the blocking projection of the blocking piece and the transport surface of the carry-out belt. Since the adjusting means for adjusting the distance is provided, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 4, since the gap formed between the tip of the blocking projection and the conveying surface of the carry-out belt can be adjusted, Since the gap can be adjusted in accordance with the thickness of each coin, coins having different thicknesses can be reliably dispensed and formed between the blocking projection and the transport surface due to a variation in manufacturing dimensions of the blocking means. This has the effect that the variation of the gap can be easily adjusted.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the width dimension of the carry-out belt is set smaller than the diameter of the coin, and the blocking protrusion is formed on the side edge of the carry-out belt. In addition to the effects of the inventions according to the first to fifth aspects, the present invention has an effect that the contact of the blocking projection with the carry-out belt can be surely prevented because it is located at a position deviated from the first position. It is.

Further, according to the present invention, the blocking means of the coin payout restricting means provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the carry-out belt is rotatable via a rotation fulcrum, so that the conveying surface side of the carry-out belt is provided. And the blocking projection is disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction from the rotation fulcrum, and the distance between the blocking fulcrum and the transport surface of the discharge belt of the blocking portion is set to the distance between the rotation fulcrum and the transport surface of the discharge belt. Since it is set to be smaller than that, the force applied to the blocking protrusion by the conveyed coin causes the generation of a rotational force that separates the blocking protrusion from the conveying surface of the carry-out belt with the blocking piece centered on the rotation fulcrum. Since the coins can be reliably prevented, coins can be paid out reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an automatic coin dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The perspective view at the time of using for S terminal.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the coin automatic payout apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view (XX cross-sectional view in FIG. 2) of the coin automatic dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a coin insertion slot of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus and a part of an upstream side of a conveyance path.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conveyance path of the coin automatic dispensing apparatus (FIG. 3)
AA sectional view in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyance path of the coin automatic dispensing apparatus (FIG. 3)
FIG.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus (a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 3).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between a coin payout restricting means and a carry-out belt of the automatic coin payout apparatus (a state in which coins are prevented from passing).

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an operating rod, a base plate, and the like, which are a part of a blocking means of the coin automatic payout device.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an operating rod which is a part of a blocking means of the coin automatic dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a blocking mechanism which is a part of the blocking means of the coin automatic dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a blocking mechanism of the coin automatic dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the relationship between the coin payout restricting means and the carry-out belt of the automatic coin payout device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a relationship between a coin payout restricting means of the automatic coin payout device and a carry-out belt (a state in which coins can pass).

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a relationship between a coin and a blocking protrusion of a blocking means of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the blocking mechanism of the coin automatic dispensing apparatus (a perspective view in a case where an adjusting means for adjusting a gap between a blocking protrusion and a conveying surface of a discharge belt is provided).

FIG. 17 is a view showing another embodiment of the blocking mechanism of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a coin dispensing restricting means of the automatic coin dispensing apparatus according to the prototype of the applicant.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic coin dispenser 5 Coin 11 Coin slot 12 Receiving tray 13a-13f Outlet 20 Conveyance path 40 First conveyance belt (conveyance means) 44 Belt belt (conveyance means) 46 Belt (conveyance means) 47 Second conveyance belt (Conveying means) 60a to 60f Coin storage section 62 Carry-out belt (dispensing conveying means) 121 Inhibiting means 125 Electromagnet (Drive means) 130 Inhibiting mechanism (part of the inhibiting means) 137b Inhibiting protrusion 138a Stud (rotating means) 140 Operating rod (Part of the blocking means)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A coin insertion slot for inserting various coins, a conveyance path provided with conveyance means for conveying coins inserted from the coin insertion slot, and a denomination for each denomination provided downstream of the conveyance path. A plurality of coin storage sections for storing the coins sorted out, a carry-out belt arranged corresponding to each of the coin storage sections, and a downstream side of these carry-out belts corresponding to the respective carry-out belts. A plurality of payout ports for paying out coins provided and conveyed, a tray provided below these payout ports, a blocking means having a blocking protrusion, and a driving means for operating the blocking means. A coin dispensing regulating means provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the carry-out belt, wherein the controlling means controls the driving means to prevent the movement of coins after the predetermined number of coins have been dispensed by the inhibiting means. Thus, in the automatic coin dispensing device configured to pay out a predetermined number of coins, the blocking means of the coin dispensing restricting means is rotatable through a rotation fulcrum to be on the conveying surface side of the carry-out belt, and is blocked. Along with disposing the protrusion on the upstream side in the transport direction from the rotation fulcrum,
An automatic coin dispensing device, wherein the driving means is provided on the back side of the conveying surface of the carry-out belt. 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the blocking means of the coin payout restricting means is formed by a blocking piece having a blocking projection on an upstream side in a transport direction and a rotation fulcrum at a downstream end. An automatic coin dispensing device, wherein the distance between the blocking portion of the blocking protrusion and the transport surface of the discharge belt is set smaller than the distance of the rotation fulcrum to the transport surface of the discharge belt. 3. The automatic coin dispensing device according to claim 2, further comprising stopper means for preventing the blocking protrusion side of the blocking piece from rotating more than a predetermined amount in a direction toward the conveying surface of the carry-out belt. apparatus. 4. The invention according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a gap smaller than the thickness of the coin is formed between the tip of the blocking projection of the blocking piece and the transport surface of the carry-out belt. Automatic coin dispenser. 5. An automatic coin dispensing device according to claim 4, further comprising an adjusting means for adjusting a gap formed between the tip of the blocking projection of the blocking piece and the conveying surface of the carry-out belt. apparatus. 6. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the width dimension of the carry-out belt is set smaller than the diameter of the coin, and the blocking projection is located at a position deviated from the side edge of the carry-out belt. An automatic coin dispensing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 7. A coin insertion slot for inserting various coins, a conveyance path provided with a conveyance means for conveying coins inserted from the coin insertion port, and a denomination for each denomination provided downstream of the conveyance path. A plurality of coin storage sections for storing the coins sorted out, a carry-out belt arranged corresponding to each of the coin storage sections, and a downstream side of these carry-out belts corresponding to the respective carry-out belts. A plurality of payout ports for paying out coins provided and conveyed, a tray provided below these payout ports, a blocking means having a blocking protrusion, and a driving means for operating the blocking means. A coin dispensing regulating means provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the carry-out belt, wherein the controlling means controls the driving means to prevent the movement of coins after the predetermined number of coins have been dispensed by the inhibiting means. Thus, in the automatic coin dispensing device configured to pay out a predetermined number of coins, the blocking means of the coin dispensing restricting means is rotatable through a rotation fulcrum to be on the conveying surface side of the carry-out belt, and is blocked. Along with disposing the protrusion on the upstream side in the transport direction from the rotation fulcrum,
An automatic coin dispensing apparatus, wherein the distance between the blocking portion of the blocking protrusion and the transport surface of the discharge belt is set smaller than the distance of the rotation fulcrum to the transport surface of the discharge belt.