JPH11296716A - Coin receiving and dispencing device with drawer function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a coin receiving and dispensing device with drawer function which doesn't drop coins to be excluded to the outside of a drawer even at the time of giving a drawer open signal from the POS terminal side on the assumption of a structure where coins to be excluded are dropped in a drawer which is so stored that it can be freely pulled out and opened. SOLUTION: The drawer open signal from a POS terminal is monitored on the coin receiving and dispensing device side (steps S4 and S20); and when the drawer open signal is found and the coin storing operation is not being executed, the drawer opening operation is immediately executed because operations don't overlap to have no hindrance (S21). If the coin storing operation is being executed then, the storing operation is temporarily stopped (S16 or S17), and thereafter, the drawer opening operation is executed (S18 or S19). Thus, the drawer is prevented from being carelessly opened in the middle of string operation accompanied with the excluding processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus, and more particularly, to a POS (Point Of Sales).
The present invention relates to a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus with a drawer function, which is used as an automatic change dispensing apparatus by connecting to a terminal or a product sales data registration processing apparatus such as an ECR.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an automatic change dispensing apparatus (coin depositing and dispensing apparatus) collectively inserts coins in a state where various denominations are mixed from an insertion port and determines whether or not the coins are genuine. Is checked, the coins are sorted by denomination and stored in a coin storage unit, and the specified coins and the number of coins are automatically paid out. Such an automatic change dispensing apparatus is generally used by connecting to a POS terminal or an ECR. One example is shown in FIG.

A conventional automatic change dispensing apparatus 10 shown in FIG.
0 will be described along the flow of coins. First, coins that are collectively inserted from a coin insertion slot 101 provided on the right front side of the automatic change dispensing apparatus 100 are fed into an insertion belt 102.
The feeding roller 103
Are fed one by one and conveyed in a line. The coins conveyed in one line are fed from the input belt 102 to the conveying belt 1
The outer diameter is checked by an outer diameter check unit 105 during the transfer process by the transfer belt 104. As a result, if the coin being conveyed is not a genuine coin, or if the coin storage unit described later is full, the coin is rejected by the reject overflow unit 106. This reject overflow section 10
The coin rejected in 6 is stored in the reject overflow coin storage unit 107 provided immediately below the reject overflow unit 106. The reject overflow coin storage unit 107 has a box shape with an upper surface opening, and is provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the automatic change dispensing apparatus 100 to the outside.

[0004] The coins passing through the reject overflow section 106 are delivered to a conveyor belt 108, and in the process of being delivered to a subsequent conveyor belt 109, the traveling direction is changed by a direction converter 110 to a right angle. In this way, the coins are loaded into the input belt 102 and the input roller 10.
3, and a coin transport section constituted by the transport belts 104, 108, and 109 transports the coin in a predetermined direction.
The coins whose traveling direction has been changed are guided to a coin sorting unit 112 having sorting holes 111 for each denomination whose hole width dimension sequentially increases along the conveyor belt 109. The sorting hole 111 is
Six sizes are provided corresponding to the diameter of each denomination of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen. Therefore, the coins fall sequentially from the sorting holes 111 determined for each denomination.

[0005] Next, at a position where coins fall from the sorting hole 111, a coin storage section 114 partitioned by a partition plate 113 for each denomination is provided, and a bottom portion for each denomination of the coin storage section 114 is provided. Is provided with a delivery belt 115 having a transport belt structure, which is rotatably driven. For this reason, when the payout belt 115 is driven, the coins stored in the coin storage unit 114 are conveyed toward the exit, and the separation rollers 116
Is separated and transported one by one. Then, the separated coins continue to be conveyed by the payout belt 115 as they are,
A coin standby unit 117 is provided in which a predetermined number of coins are always arranged in a line for each denomination and waits.

In the coin standby unit 117, a predetermined number of coins are temporarily stopped and made to stand by, and operation control is performed so as to send out a required number of coins in accordance with a command from a POS terminal or ECR. That is, the coin storage unit 114
Are paid out to a predetermined coin payout position by a coin payout section 118 having a payout belt 115 as a main component. Coins paid out to the coin payout position
The coins are collected in a coin outlet 119 having an upper opening. Therefore,
The cashier can grab the coins paid out to the coin payout port 119 in a lump and deliver it to the customer as change.

As an actual mode of use of such an automatic change dispensing apparatus, it is generally used together with a drawer in consideration of handling of bills. Here, FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional side view showing an installation example when the conventional automatic change dispensing apparatus 100 is used together with the drawer 200. As shown in FIG. 13, the automatic change dispensing apparatus 100 generally includes a drawer 20.
0 and used.

However, as shown in FIG. 13, in the conventional drawer 200, a coin case 2
02 is arranged, and the bill storage unit 203 is arranged on the back side. In such a drawer 200, the bill storage unit 203
When the drawer 201 is pulled out to use the cashier, there is a problem that the working space of the cashier is narrowed by the length of the coin case 202. Further, even if the positions of the coin case 202 and the bill storage unit 203 are switched, the coin case 202 becomes a useless empty space when the automatic change dispensing apparatus 100 is used.

In addition, since the reject overflow coin storage unit 107 rarely has an opportunity to open and close, coins overflow inside the unit due to overflow of coins therein, causing malfunctions in the unit. Problem.

For this reason, there has been proposed an automatic change dispensing apparatus in which a drawer having a bill storing section and a reject overflow coin storing section is housed inside a housing of the automatic change dispensing apparatus so as to be freely drawn and opened. In this case, the drawer is accommodated immediately below the transport belt structure so that the height of the entire apparatus can be reduced and the apparatus can be thinned and flattened. In addition, the drawer itself is normally locked in the housed state as in the case of a normal drawer device, and when the drawer is opened, the drawer opening signal is given to unlock the drawer, and the drawer is automatically pulled out and opened. .

Depending on the amount of change, it may be necessary to take out bills from the bill storage unit in the drawer. However, by providing a change automatic payout structure and a drawer structure, the POS
The terminal or the ECR determines the necessity of opening the drawer based on the amount of change, and when it is determined that it is necessary, gives a drawer opening signal to automatically open the drawer.

FIG. 14 shows a configuration example of a conventional drawer control circuit for this purpose. The drawer control circuit 300 is a circuit for controlling energization of the drawer magnet 301 in a solenoid (opening mechanism) for releasing the locked state of the drawer urged in the opening direction by the urging means. The drawer magnet 301 is supplied to the drawer opening signal (H level) from an operation unit or the like of the automatic change dispensing apparatus 100 itself.
To turn on the transistor 302 to turn on the transistor 302 and release the lock, and also to supply the drawer opening signal (L level) from the POS terminal 303 to turn on the power and release the lock.

[0013]

That is, in a conventional automatic change dispensing apparatus having a drawer function, the drawer can be instantaneously changed by a drawer opening signal from the POS terminal 303 regardless of the operation of the automatic change dispensing apparatus itself. It is configured to be opened to the user. As a result, if the drawer opening signal is given from the POS terminal 303 side during the reject operation in the reject overflow section of the automatic change dispensing apparatus side and the drawer is opened, the coin to be rejected is removed from the drawer inside the housing. The reject overflow coin may drop to a position outside the coin storage unit.

Therefore, the present invention presupposes a structure in which coins to be removed are dropped into a drawer housed so that they can be pulled out and opened freely, and a drawer opening signal is given from a merchandise sales data registration processing device such as a POS terminal. Even in such a case, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus with a drawer function that does not cause a coin to be removed to fall outside the drawer.

Further, the present invention presupposes a structure in which a removed coin is dropped into a drawer housed so as to be able to be pulled out and opened freely, and a coin receiving / dispensing with a drawer function which does not cause the removed coin to fall outside the drawer. It is intended to provide a device.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
The coins inserted into the coin slot are conveyed to the coin sorting section, sorted by denomination, dropped into the coin storage section, and the coins stored in the coin storage section are selectively conveyed by the coin payout section of the conveyor belt structure. A coin dispensing apparatus that drops coins into a coin payout port, and removes coins conveyed in the coin conveyance path from the coin conveyance path under predetermined conditions by dropping into a lower drawable openable drawer. An exclusion means; and a drawer opening restricting means for permitting the operation of opening the drawer under conditions that do not overlap with the elimination processing of coins into the drawer when a drawer opening signal is received from the merchandise sales data registration processing device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin transport unit having a coin slot into which coins are inserted, a coin transport path, and transporting coins inserted into the coin slot to a coin sorting position.
A coin removal unit that is disposed in the coin transport path and drops coins to be transported from the coin transport path under predetermined conditions to remove the coins, and coins transported to the coin sorting position by denomination and coins A coin sorting unit to drop into the storage unit, a coin payout unit with a conveyor belt structure that selectively transports the coins stored in the coin storage unit for each denomination and drops it to the coin outlet, and a storage directly under the coin transfer path A drawer which is provided between the position and a withdrawal position which protrudes out of the apparatus and which is provided so as to be capable of being pulled out and opened, and which has a rejected coin storage section for storing coins rejected by the coin rejection section at the storage position; And a drawer opening restricting means for permitting a drawer opening operation under conditions that do not overlap coin removal processing by the coin removing unit when the drawer opening signal is detected from the drawer opening signal. Obtain.

Therefore, the first and second aspects of the present invention are provided with a structure in which coins to be removed are dropped into a drawer housed so that they can be pulled out and opened. In other words, coins conveyed in the coin transport path are removed by dropping the coins from the coin transport path under the predetermined conditions into the removed coin storage section of the lower drawer which can be pulled out and opened freely. This allows
The removed coins are stored in a drawer together with bills and the like.
In this case, when a drawer opening signal is given from the merchandise sales data registration processing device side such as a POS terminal, the drawer opening operation is performed by the drawer opening restricting means under conditions that do not overlap with the processing for removing coins into the drawer. Even if the elimination process is in progress, the drawer can be opened after the elimination process of the coins in the exclusion drawer is completed or the elimination process is temporarily stopped. Is reliably performed with the drawer closed, so that there is no problem of dropping the drawer outside the drawer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin receiving and dispensing apparatus with a drawer function according to the second aspect, wherein the coin removing section temporarily stores the dropped coins in the upper portion of the removed coin storing section. A temporary storage unit; and a drive unit for selectively driving the temporary coin storage unit to drop the temporarily stored coins into the temporary coin storage unit.

Therefore, basically the same as the case of the second aspect of the present invention, the removed coin does not fall directly to the drawer side but is temporarily stored in the removed coin temporary storage section. When the drawer opening signal is given from the merchandise sales data registration processing device side, the necessity of interrupting the conveyance of coins and the like is reduced, so that the situation where the drawer can be opened immediately increases, and the processing and workability are improved. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, coins inserted into a coin slot are conveyed to a coin sorting section, sorted by denomination, dropped into a coin storage section, and conveyed in the coin storage section. In a coin depositing and dispensing device in which a coin is selectively conveyed by a coin dispensing section having a belt structure and dropped to a coin dispensing port, coins conveyed in the coin conveying path are pulled out from the coin conveying path at a lower portion under predetermined conditions. There is provided coin removing means for dropping and removing coins in a free drawer, and removing processing restricting means for monitoring a drawer storage and withdrawal state and permitting the removal of coins on condition that the drawer is at a storage position.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a coin transporter having a coin slot into which coins are inserted, a coin transport path, and transporting coins inserted into the coin slot to a coin sorting position.
A coin removal unit that is disposed in the coin transport path and drops coins to be transported from the coin transport path under predetermined conditions to remove the coins, and coins transported to the coin sorting position by denomination and coins A coin sorting unit to drop into the storage unit, a coin payout unit with a conveyor belt structure that selectively transports the coins stored in the coin storage unit for each denomination and drops it to the coin outlet, and a storage directly under the coin transfer path A drawer which is provided between the position and a drawer position protruding out of the apparatus so as to be capable of being pulled out and opened, and which has a rejected coin storage section for storing coins removed by the coin rejection section at the storage position, and monitors the drawer storage state of the drawer. An exclusion processing restricting means for permitting the elimination processing of coins into the exclusionary coin storage section by the coin elimination section on condition that the drawer is at the storage position.

Therefore, the invention according to claims 4 and 5 has a structure in which coins to be removed are dropped into a drawer housed so that they can be pulled out and opened freely. In other words, coins conveyed in the coin transport path are removed by dropping the coins from the coin transport path under the predetermined conditions into the removed coin storage section of the lower drawer which can be pulled out and opened freely. This allows
The removed coins are stored in a drawer together with bills and the like.
In this case, coin removal processing is permitted only under the condition that the drawer is closed at the storage position, so that a problem that the removed coin falls out of the drawer does not occur.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an entire automatic change dispensing apparatus A as a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus with a drawer function, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof. First,
A coin insertion slot 2 having an upper opening through which coins C are collectively inserted is provided in front of a main case 1 serving as a housing of the automatic change dispensing apparatus A. The coin insertion slot 2 is provided with a plurality of sets of coin sensors 3 as coin detectors for optically detecting the presence or absence of the coin C. The coin slot 2 is provided with an insertion belt 4 for transporting the inserted coin C toward the back. On the insertion belt 4, the coin is positioned at one end of the coin insertion slot 2 and irregularly arranged. Is provided with a slot roller 5 for feeding out the coins C inserted into the coins one by one. The coin insertion slot 2, the insertion slot belt 4, and the insertion slot roller 5 form an insertion section 6.

The loading roller 5 is provided with a loading belt 4 for conveying the coins C in a line, and the feeding speed of the coins C is increased at the loading belt 4 with a predetermined gap. A transport belt 7 whose transport speed is increased so that each coin C can be sent is provided continuously, and another transport belt 8 is further provided continuously. Coin C on the conveyor belt 7
Is provided with an outer diameter check section 9 for checking the outer diameter. Coins C to be transported
Is not a genuine coin, or when a coin storage unit to be described later is full, a reject overflow unit 10 which is a coin elimination unit which selectively interrupts coin conveyance and drops and removes the coins C is provided. Is provided. Further, a transport belt 11 that converts the transport direction to a right angle and transports the coins C to the coin sorting position is provided at the end portion of the transport belt 8. Here, each is connected to and driven by a motor (see FIG. 9), and forms a coin transport path to a coin sorting position including the input roller 5, the input belt 4, and the transport belts 7, 8, and 11. Coin C inserted in slot 2
The coin transport unit 6 that transports the coin is configured.

Next, a sorting hole 12 is provided for each denomination whose hole width dimension is sequentially increased along the conveyor belt 11, and is located at a coin sorting position where coins for sorting the conveyed coins by denomination are provided. A sorting unit 13 is formed. Sorting hole 12
Have a size corresponding to each denomination of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen and 500 yen, and six are provided. A counting sensor 14 as a coin sensor is provided for each sorting hole 12.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the coin storing section 16 and the coin payout section 25 built in the main body case 1. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side view showing the internal structure near the coin payout section 25 of the automatic change dispensing apparatus A. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a coin slot 2 of the automatic change dispensing apparatus A.
It is a vertical side view which shows the internal structure of the vicinity. A coin storage unit 16 having an upper opening and separated by a partition plate 15 for each coin C is provided in communication with each of the sorting holes 12. A motor (FIG. 9) is provided at the bottom of each coin type of the coin storage unit 16.
(See FIG. 1), and is driven by a driving roller 18 and a driven roller 19. The payout belt 17 is constituted by a set of two long and short endless belts, and is inclined so as to increase in height toward the downstream side in the coin transport direction. A separation roller 20 for separating the coins C one by one is provided at the exit of the coin storage section 16 so as to cross the exits of all the denominations. Are arranged in a line, and a coin standby unit 21 for waiting is provided for each denomination. The long transport belt of the payout belt 17 also extends to the coin standby unit 21 and the coin standby unit 2
It has passed 1 to the coin dispensing position. Further, the coin standby section 21 is provided with a presser plate 22 sized so that two or more coins C do not overlap the payout belt 17, and temporarily stops the coins C and sets the required number of coins. A coin stopper 23 for selectively executing the operation of sending out the coin C is provided. Further, a payout sensor 24 is provided immediately after the coin stopper 23. Here, a coin payout unit 25 having a transport belt structure for selectively transporting the coins C stored in the coin storage unit 16 for each denomination is configured.

At the coin dispensing position where the coin C is dropped by the coin dispensing section 25 for each denomination, a coin dispensing opening 26 having an upper surface opening is arranged. Then, inside the main body case 1, the payout belt 17 and the coin payout port 26, which are components of the transfer belt structure of the coin payout section 25, and the coin transfer section 6 formed by the insertion roller 5 and the like, are located below. A drawer 27 constituting a drawer structure is housed in the formed space so that the drawer can be freely opened. Therefore, the height of the entire device is reduced while the drawer structure is provided in addition to the change dispensing structure, and the device is thin and flat. Here, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the drawer 27. As shown in FIG. 6, a money case 28 is detachably housed in the drawer 27. The inside of the money case 28 is
As viewed from the cashier, the front side is divided into a bill storage unit 29, the right back is divided into a reject overflow coin storage unit 30, and the left back is divided into a bar and silver storage unit 31.

Here, the reject overflow coin storage unit 30 is a reject coin storage unit. When the drawer 27 is in the storage state in the main body case 1, the reject overflow coin storage unit 30 has an upper surface open near the lower part of the reject overflow unit 10. The coin C that falls is stored. The maximum storage number of the reject overflow coin storage unit 30 is set to, for example, 40. The reject overflow unit 10 includes a reject overflow coin temporary storage unit 32. The reject overflow coin temporary storage section 32 includes a reject overflow coin receiver 33 whose maximum number of stored coins is set to, for example, 13, and a drive section 34. reject·
The overflow coin receiver 33 is formed by bending a flat plate into an L-shape. Usually, the bent portion of the L-shape is directed to the downstream side in the coin transport direction, and the height becomes lower toward the downstream side in the coin transport direction. It is arranged at an angle. The drive unit 34 includes an electromagnet (not shown), and by driving the arm 35 by excitation of the electromagnet, a connection position 36 between the reject overflow coin receiver 33 and the drive unit 34.
Is used as a rotation fulcrum to change the inclination direction of the reject overflow coin receiver 33 toward the reject overflow coin storage unit 30, and is provided below the reject overflow coin receiver 33. The electromagnet of the drive unit 34 is controlled by the control unit based on detection signals output from the input sensor 3 and the detector 37 to a control unit described later. In the present embodiment, when the insertion sensor 3 stops detecting the coin C inserted into the coin insertion slot 2 and the detector 37 detects that the drawer 27 is in the closed state, the electromagnet is excited. You.

A detector 37 is provided on the main body case 1 so as to be in contact with the drawer 27 in the opening direction upstream side of the drawer 27.
It is detected by contact / non-contact between the drawer 7 and the drawer 27. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
It is provided below. The drawer 27 itself is normally locked in the retracted state while being urged in the drawer opening direction by a compression spring (not shown) as in the case of the current drawer device. The structure is such that the drawer magnet 38 of the solenoid (opening mechanism) is energized to release the lock and the drawer is automatically pulled out and opened.

Further, as shown in FIG.
A display 39, various operation keys 40, and a key key 41 for setting a mode such as a management mode are provided in front of the left side. The operation keys 40 include a “start” key, a “collective collection” key, a “reject full clear” key, and the like.

Further, in this embodiment, in order to improve the workability of collecting coins when the store is closed, as shown in FIG. 4, a collecting mechanism capable of collecting all coins in the automatic change dispensing apparatus A at once is provided. I have. The collective collection of coins can be executed, for example, by setting the “management mode” with the key key 41 after closing the store and pressing the “collective collection” key of the operation keys 40.
First, as for the drawer 27, a coin collection case 51 used for coin collection can be selectively housed with the money case 28. The coin dispensing section 25 is vertically displaced between the downstream end of the coin dispensing section 25 (the distal end of the dispensing belt 17) and the coin exit 26.
There is provided a switching gate 52 for selectively guiding the coin C paid out from the coin outlet 26 and the coin collection case 51.

The switching gate 52 has a guide surface 53 which is inclined downward from the tip of the payout belt 17 toward the coin payout port 26, and has guides (long sides) provided on both sides of the main body case 1 on both sides. (Not shown), an oval-shaped guide 54 which is held movably up and down, and a pin 55 projecting laterally from the guide 54 are formed (see FIG. 7).

As shown in FIG. 4, a lever 57 having a horizontally long hole 56 fitted to a pin 55 of the switching gate 52 is provided on the main body case 1 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 58. The lever 57 is urged by a spring 59 to return to the original position when the lever 57 is forcibly rotated clockwise. Also, on the side of the coin collection case 51,
A protruding operating portion 60 is formed which presses the lever 57 clockwise during the storage operation of the drawer 27 to displace the switching gate 52 upward. As shown in FIG. 8, the coin collection case 51 is partitioned by a partition plate 61 so that coins C can be stored by denomination in this example. The interval between the partition plates 61 coincides with the boundary between the plurality of payout belts 17 for paying out coins C by denomination. Although not particularly shown, when the coin collection case 51 is housed in the drawer 27 and housed in the main body case 1, when the money case 28 is housed in the drawer 27 and housed in the main body case 1, A detection mechanism is provided for detecting this distinction.

Next, the electrical connection of the hardware will be described with reference to FIG. The automatic change dispensing apparatus A includes a control unit 70 that controls each unit, and a POS terminal 72, which is a merchandise sales data registration processing device, is connected to the control unit 70 via an interface 71. Control unit 7
0 denotes a CPU (not shown) for centrally controlling each unit, a ROM for storing fixed data such as programs in advance, and a RAM for variably storing variable data.
And so on. The control unit 7
The display 39 and the operation keys 40 (including the key key 41) are also connected to 0. Further, sensors 73 such as a loading sensor 3, a counting sensor 14, and a payout sensor 24 are connected to the control unit 70 via an I / O port 74, and the coin stopper 23, the drawer 27, the detector 37, and each motor 75 Are connected via the I / O port 76. Here, the sensors 73 such as the input sensor 3, the counting sensor 14, and the payout sensor 24 transmit, for example, a signal obtained by optically detecting the coin C to the control unit 70. 70 drives and controls each unit. Further, the coin stopper 23 pays out the designated coin C and the number of coins by driving and controlling an electromagnet (not shown) based on a signal output from the control unit 70. Upon detecting contact / non-contact with the drawer 27, the detector 37 transmits a detection signal to the control unit 70, and the control unit 70 controls driving of each motor 75 based on the detection signal. In the present embodiment, when the drawer 27 is in the open state, the detector 37 detects the non-contact state with the drawer 27 and stops the transport of the coin C, and when the drawer 27 is in the closed state, the detector 37 detects the contact state with the drawer 27 and conveys the coin C. A drawer control circuit 76 for controlling a drawer magnet 38 for opening the drawer 27 includes an I / O
It is connected to the control unit 70 via the O port 76. Further, the driving unit 34 controlled by the control unit 70 is also connected as described above.

FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of the drawer control circuit 76. First, the automatic change dispensing device A is operated through the operation keys 40 and the like.
A dispensing device-side opening circuit 78 is provided to turn on the transistor 77 under the power supply V1 of the automatic change dispensing device A and to energize the drawer magnet 38 when there is a drawer opening signal (H level) in itself. I have. Here, the power supply V1 is energized when the power is supplied, so that the relay contact 79a of the relay 79 is connected to the terminal B.
Relay coil 79b that switches to the neutral position NC through the relay
Is connected. On the other hand, the power supply V2 on the POS terminal 72 side
POS side opening circuit 80 is provided which can supply electricity to the drawer magnet 38 when there is a drawer opening signal (L level) from the POS terminal 72 side. Have been. POS
The drawer opening signal from the terminal 72 is output, for example, to take out the banknote from the banknote storage unit 29 of the drawer 27 when the banknote is required as a change process accompanying the closing process. These open circuits 78 and 80 are diodes 81 and 8
2 are OR-connected. Here, the POS terminal 7
The drawer release signal (L level) from the 2 side is directly
The automatic change dispensing device A is not provided to the S-side open circuit 80.
And is given under the control of the control unit 70. For this reason, first, transistors 83 and 84 are provided for taking in a drawer opening signal from the POS terminal 72 to a port input of the control unit 70. The midpoint of the transistors 83 and 84 is connected to the relay 79. The terminal A of the relay 79, which is switched when the relay contact 79a is not energized (when the power supply V1 is off), is connected to the drawer magnet 38 via the transistor 85.

The basic flow of coins in the automatic change dispensing apparatus A will be described. When a coin C is inserted into the coin insertion slot 2, the insertion sensor 3 detects the coin C. At this time, the input port belt 4 and the transport belts 7, 8, and 11 are driven on condition that the drawer 27 is in the closed state. Then, the inserted coins C are arranged one by one by the input port roller 5 in the process of being conveyed by the input port belt 4, and are conveyed by the conveying belt 7 while widening the interval between the coins C. In this process, the outer diameter check unit 9 and a material check unit (not shown) determine whether the inserted coin C is genuine or fake. If the coin C is not genuine, the reject overflow unit 10 , The coin transport is selectively interrupted and the coins C are dropped and removed. Also, when the counting sensor 14 determines that any of the denominations stored in the coin storage unit 16 is full and cannot store a new coin C, the reject overflow unit 10 does The coin C is selectively interrupted and dropped to remove the coin C.
Coins (reject overflow coins) that have fallen from the reject overflow section 10 are rejected.
It is temporarily stored on the overflow coin temporary storage unit 32. In this case, the reject overflow coin receiver 33 of the reject overflow coin temporary storage unit 32
The L-shaped bent portion is inclined toward the downstream side in the coin transport direction, and is inclined so as to decrease in height toward the downstream side in the coin transport direction, so that reject overflow coins are rejected from the reject overflow coin receiver 33. Don't spill.

On the other hand, the reject overflow coin receiver 3 of the reject overflow coin temporary storage section 32
The reject overflow coin on the coin 3 is detected when the insertion sensor 3 detects that the conveyance of the coin C inserted into the coin insertion slot 2 has been completed and the detector 37 detects that the drawer 27 is in the closed state. When the electromagnet of the drive unit 34 of the reject overflow coin temporary storage unit 32 is excited, the leading end of the reject overflow coin receiver 33 in the coin transport direction is the reject overflow coin of the drawer 27 with the connection position 36 as a pivot point. As it moves toward the storage unit 30, it falls and is securely stored in the reject overflow coin storage unit 30. Here, the function of the removed coin temporary storage unit driving means is executed.

When the coin is a full coin and the coin storage section 16 is not full, the coin C is changed in direction from the conveyor belt 8 to the conveyor belt 11 and conveyed, and is sorted by the coin sorting section 13 for each denomination. That is, the coin C falls from the sorting hole 12 according to the denomination, and is stored in the coin storage unit 16 for each denomination. Sorting hole 1
The number of coins C dropped from 2 is counted by the counting sensor 14. When there is no coin C in the coin standby section 21, the payout belt 17 is driven to drive the coin standby section 2
The operation control is performed so that a predetermined number of coins C always exist in one.

When the closing process is performed in the POS terminal 72 and a coin C payout command is issued from the POS terminal 72, the payout belt 17 is driven, and the coin stopper 23 is operated for each denomination to operate the required number of coins. Coin C is sent out. The coins C sent out in this way are collectively paid out to the coin payout port 26. So the cashier
The coin C paid out to the coin payout port 26 can be grabbed and delivered to the customer.

Next, the operation control executed by the control unit 70 in accordance with the presence or absence of the drawer opening signal will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As this operation control,
It is roughly divided into coin storage, storage standby, and collective collection. First, during the opening of a store that is used in combination with the POS terminal 72, the management mode is not set (N in step S1), and whether the coin C has been inserted into the coin insertion slot 2 is determined by the input sensor 3. Monitoring is performed based on the output (S2) (or monitoring whether the "start" key of the operation keys 40 is pressed). When there is an output of the input sensor 3 (or
When the start key is pressed) (Y in S2), the coin storage operation as described above is started (S3), and the coin is stored. During such a storing operation, the POS terminal 7 is connected to the port input through the transistors 83 and 84.
It is monitored whether there is a drawer opening signal from the second side (S
4). If there is no drawer opening signal (N in S4), it is checked whether or not the number of coins C on the reject overflow coin receiver 33 has reached 13 (maximum storage number) (S5). If not (N in S5),
Repeat the coin storage operation. If the number has reached 13 (Y in S5), the reject overflow coin receiver 3
In order to drop the coin C on 3 into the reject overflow coin storage unit 30 of the drawer 27, the storage operation is temporarily stopped (S6). At this time, it is checked whether or not the drawer 27 is closed by the output of the detector 37 (S7). If it is not closed (N of S7), a message such as "Please close the drawer" is displayed on the display 39. (S
8). When the drawer 27 is closed (Y in S7), a reject process is performed in which the driving unit 34 is driven to drop the coin C on the reject overflow coin receiver 33 into the reject overflow coin storage unit 30 of the drawer 27 (S9). ). Here, by Y and S9 in step S7,
The function of the exclusion process restricting means for permitting the coin exclusion process (reject process) is executed on condition that the drawer 27 is closed at the storage position. Therefore, since the reject processing is performed in a state where the drawer 27 is securely closed, there is no problem that the rejected coin falls out of the reject overflow coin storage unit 30.
At this time, the number of coins falling into the reject overflow coin storage unit 30 is counted and managed in the memory, and the total number of coins in the reject overflow coin storage unit 30 reaches 40 (maximum storage number). Is checked (S10). If the number has not reached 40 (S
10 N), the storing operation is continued. On the other hand, if the number has reached 40 (Y in S10), the drawer opening operation is executed by outputting a drawer opening signal to the transistor 77 in order to remove the coins in the reject overflow coin storage unit 30 ( S11) At the same time, a message such as "Reject is full" is displayed on the display 39 (S12). As a result, the removal of coins in the reject overflow coin storage unit 30 and the reject full clear operation are prompted. Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the reject full clear operation has been performed (S13). Until the operation is performed, a message such as "Please operate the reject clear key" is displayed on the display 39 (S14), and the reject clear is performed. When the key is operated, the process returns to the initial process.

On the other hand, during such a coin storing operation, the PO
When there is a drawer opening signal from the S terminal 72 side (Y in S4), it is checked whether the number of coins C on the reject overflow coin receiver 33 has reached 13 (the maximum number of stored coins) (S15). ). At this time, both when the number has not reached 13 (N in S15) and when the number has reached 13 (Y in S15), the rejection associated with the coin storage operation
The storage operation is temporarily stopped so that the operation is not hindered by overlapping with the overflow processing (S16 or S1).
7) A drawer opening operation is executed later (S18 or S1).
9). That is, if there is only a drawer opening signal from the POS terminal 72 side, the relay contact 79a is connected to the relay coil 79b.
Is switched to the neutral position NC side via the terminal B, so that the POS side opening circuit 80 does not operate immediately, but overlaps with the reject overflow processing through the temporary stop processing of the storing operation which may involve the reject processing. Power supply V of the automatic change dispensing device A
When 1 is turned off, the power to the relay coil 79b is cut off, the relay contact 79a is switched to the terminal A side, and when the transistor 85 is turned on, the POS side open circuit 80 becomes effective and the drawer magnet 38 is energized. By doing so, the opening operation of the drawer 27 is permitted. Here, Y in step S4, S16, S18 or Y in S4,
In S17 and S19, the function of the drawer opening restricting means in response to the drawer opening request on the POS terminal 72 side is executed. Therefore, at the time when the drawer opening operation is performed (S18 or S19), the storing operation (accordingly, the reject overflow process is also included) is temporarily stopped, so that the drawer opening operation and the reject operation overlap. There is no problem that the coin falls to a position outside the reject overflow coin storage unit 30. Conversely, the reject / overflow coin storage unit 30 is rejected only under the condition that the drawer 27 is in the storage state. After step S18, the drawer 27 is closed to resume the storing operation (S3), and after step S19, the process proceeds to step 7 and subsequent steps.

On the other hand, if there is no output from the closing sensor 3 in step S2, the storage is in a standby state and the transistor 8
It is monitored whether or not there is a drawer opening signal from the POS terminal 72 at the port input through 3, 84 (S20). If there is a drawer opening signal (Y in S20), the drawer opening operation is immediately executed (S21). That is, in this case, since the coin storing operation is not performed and the opening of the drawer 27 has no influence, the power supply V1 of the automatic change dispensing apparatus A is turned off when the drawer opening signal is received from the POS terminal 72 side. By switching, the relay coil 79b is de-energized and the relay contact 79a is switched to the terminal A side. When the transistor 85 is turned on, the POS side open circuit 80 is enabled, and when the drawer magnet 38 is energized, the drawer is pulled out. The opening operation of 27 is immediately permitted. Here, the function of the drawer opening restricting means in response to the drawer opening request on the POS terminal 72 side is also executed by Y and S20 in step S20.

Next, the case of collective collection after the store is closed will be described. This collective collection is executed by setting the management mode with the key key 41 (Y in S1) and pressing the “collective collection” key of the operation keys 40 (S22). In this case, since it is necessary to set the coin collecting case 51 in the drawer 27 instead of the money case 28, a drawer opening signal is given to the transistor 77 to execute the drawer opening operation (S23). Thus, the case can be replaced, and after the replacement, the user waits for the drawer 27 to be closed. Whether or not the exchange has been completed is checked based on whether or not the detection mechanism for the coin collection case 51 detects that the exchanged drawer 27 has been stored in the coin collection case 51 (S24). If not, a message such as "Please set a coin collection case" or "Please close the drawer" is displayed on the display 39 (S25). When the exchange to the coin collection case 51 and the closing of the drawer 27 are completed, the switching gate 52 is switched to the coin collection case 51 side, so that the collective collection operation is executed (S26), and all the coins C in the coin storage unit 16 are stored.
Is paid out by the payout belt 17 and falls into the coin collecting case 51 in the drawer 27 according to the switching gate 52 in accordance with the denomination. After being collected in the coin collection case 51, the transistor 77 is again used to carry the coin collection case 51.
Is given a drawer opening signal to execute a drawer opening operation (S27). Thus, the coin collection case 51 can be taken out and the money case 28 can be set. When the drawer 27 is closed again, a series of processing ends. As described above, when there is a drawer opening signal from the automatic change dispensing apparatus A itself, the drawer opening operation is immediately performed. However, this signal is output during the coin storing operation (including the reject overflow processing). There is no particular problem.

In this embodiment, the reject overflow processing is performed such that the drawer 27 is once dropped into the reject overflow coin storage section 30 of the drawer 27 via the reject overflow coin temporary storage section 32. The reject overflow coin storage unit 30 directly from the reject overflow unit 10 without the overflow coin temporary storage unit 32
The same can be applied to the case of a configuration in which the device is dropped.

[0046]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the coin conveyed in the coin transport path is provided under a predetermined condition by the coin removing section so that the lower portion of the drawer can be freely pulled out and opened. Assuming a structure in which the coin is dropped and dropped into the rejected coin storage unit, when a drawer opening signal is given from the merchandise sales data registration processing device such as a POS terminal, the drawer opening restricting means causes the coin to enter the drawer. Because the drawer opening operation is permitted under conditions that do not overlap with the exclusion process, even if the exclusion process is in progress, after the coin elimination process in the exclusion drawer is completed, or
The drawer can be opened after the elimination process is temporarily stopped, so that the elimination process is performed reliably with the drawer closed, so that it is possible to avoid a problem of dropping out of the drawer.

In particular, according to the invention of claim 3, basically the same as the case of the invention of claim 2, except that the coin to be rejected does not fall directly to the drawer side but is rejected once. Since the coins are stored in the temporary coin storage unit, the necessity of interrupting the transfer of coins when a drawer opening signal is given from the merchandise sales data registration processing device is reduced, so that the drawer can be immediately opened. This increases the processing and workability.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, coins conveyed in the coin transport path are removed under a predetermined condition from the coin transport path by the coin removing section so that the lower drawer can be freely opened and removed. Assuming a structure in which coins are removed by dropping them into the storage section, coin removal processing is permitted only under conditions where the drawer is closed at the storage position by the removal processing restricting means. The problem of falling outside can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an entire automatic change dispensing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a coin storage unit and a coin payout unit built in a main body case.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view showing an internal structure near a coin payout portion of the automatic change dispensing device.

5A and 5B show an internal structure near a coin slot of the automatic change dispensing apparatus, wherein FIG.
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of the drawer and stored state.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a drawer structure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a structure of a switching gate.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a structure of a coin collection case.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connection of hardware.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration example of a drawer control circuit.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating operation control according to the presence or absence of a drawer opening signal.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a configuration example of a conventional automatic change dispensing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional side view showing an installation example when the automatic change dispensing apparatus is used together with a drawer.

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional drawer control circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Coin slot 4,6,7,8,11 Coin transport section 10 Coin exclusion section, coin exclusion means 13 Coin sorting section 16 Coin storage section 25 Coin payout section 26 Coin payout port 27 Drawer 30 Excluded coin storage section 33 Excluded coins Temporary storage 72 Product sales data registration processor C coin

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A coin inserted into a coin insertion slot is conveyed to a coin sorting section, sorted for each denomination, dropped into a coin storage section, and coins stored in the coin storage section are transferred to a coin payout section having a conveyor belt structure. In a coin depositing and dispensing device that selectively conveys coins and drops them to a coin payout slot, coins conveyed in the coin conveying path fall from the coin conveying path into a lower drawer that can be freely opened under a predetermined condition under a predetermined condition. Coin removal means for removing coins, and a drawer opening regulation for permitting the drawer opening operation under conditions that do not overlap coin removal processing in the drawer when there is a drawer opening signal from the merchandise sales data registration processing device And a coin depositing and dispensing apparatus with a drawer function. 2. A coin transporter having a coin slot into which coins are inserted, a coin transport path, and transporting coins inserted into the coin slot to a coin sorting position; and a coin transport section disposed in the coin transport path; A coin removal unit that drops the conveyed coins from the coin conveyance path under predetermined conditions and removes them, and a coin sorting unit that sorts coins conveyed to the coin sorting position by denomination and drops them into a coin storage unit. And a coin payout unit having a conveyor belt structure for selectively transporting coins stored in the coin storage unit for each denomination and dropping the coins to a coin payout port, and a storage position immediately below the coin transport path and a drawer protruding outside the apparatus. The drawer is provided so as to be able to be pulled out and opened to and from the position, and has an excluded coin storage section for storing coins removed by the coin removal section at the storage position, and monitors a drawer release signal from the merchandise sales data registration processing device side. Drawer opening signal A drawer opening / closing device with a drawer function, comprising: a drawer opening restricting means for permitting a drawer opening operation under a condition that does not overlap with a process of removing a coin into the removed coin storage unit by the coin removing unit when the coin is removed. 3. A coin removing unit for temporarily storing coins that have been removed and dropping at the top of the removed coin storage unit, and selectively driving the removed coin temporary storage unit to temporarily store the removed coins. 3. The coin receiving and dispensing apparatus with a drawer function according to claim 2, further comprising a drive unit for temporarily removing the coins stored in the coin storage unit. 4. A coin inserted into a coin insertion slot is conveyed to a coin sorting section, sorted for each denomination, dropped into a coin storage section, and coins stored in the coin storage section are fed out in a conveyor belt structure. In a coin depositing and dispensing device that selectively conveys coins and drops them to a coin payout slot, coins conveyed in the coin conveying path fall from the coin conveying path into a lower drawer that can be freely opened under a predetermined condition under a predetermined condition. A coin with a drawer function, comprising: a coin removing means for removing the coin by removing the coin; and a rejection processing restricting means for monitoring a drawer storage / withdrawal state and permitting the coin to be rejected on condition that the drawer is in a storage position. Deposit and withdrawal device. 5. A coin transport unit having a coin slot into which coins are inserted, a coin transport path, and transporting coins inserted into the coin slot to a coin sorting position; and a coin transport unit disposed in the coin transport path; A coin removal unit that drops the conveyed coins from the coin conveyance path under predetermined conditions and removes them, and a coin sorting unit that sorts coins conveyed to the coin sorting position by denomination and drops them into a coin storage unit. And a coin payout unit having a conveyor belt structure for selectively transporting coins stored in the coin storage unit for each denomination and dropping the coins to a coin payout port, and a storage position immediately below the coin transport path and a drawer protruding outside the apparatus. A drawer that is provided to be freely drawn out and opened between the drawers and has an excluded coin storage unit that stores coins removed by the coin removal unit at the storage position, and that the drawer is in the storage position by monitoring the drawer storage and withdrawal state. Coin removal section And a rejection processing restricting means for permitting the rejection of coins into the rejected coin storage unit.