JPH11296723A - Coin processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent damage due to substitution of forced coins for correct coins in a coin processor provided in a vending machine. SOLUTION: A connection state detection means 1j detects whether a paper money discrimination device 1h is attached to a vending machine 1 and is electrically connected to it or not. If connection of the paper money discrimination device 1h is not detected by the connection state detection means 1j, a coin ejection control means 1k controls a coin discharge mechanism part 1d and a coin distribution mechanism 1e to eject all 500-yen coins of the largest denomination out of coins in a coin storage part 1c to safe 1g. When a coin of the same denomination as these ejected coins is thrown in, a holding means 11 stops the operation of the coin ejection control means 1k to temporarily hold the thrown-in coin in the coin storage part 1c. When a return button 1n is depressed while the coin is held, a return control means 1m controls the coin discharge mechanism part 1d and the coin distribution mechanism 1e to supply the held coin to a return hole 1f.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a coin processing device provided in a vending machine, and more particularly to a coin processing device provided in a vending machine to which a bill validating device can be connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a coin processing device built in a vending machine stores a coin discriminating mechanism for distributing inserted coins according to denominations and stacks the allocated coins in order from the bottom for each denomination. A coin storage unit and a change payout mechanism that pays out coins in the coin storage unit as change are provided. Recently, there is also a device provided with a bill validator so that bills can be accepted.

In such a vending machine, the coins in the coin storage unit are paid out as change or return coins in order from the lowest coin as required.

[0004]

However, in a conventional vending machine, if the return button is pressed without purchasing a product, a coin of the same amount as the inserted denomination is placed in the bottom of the coin storage unit. When a false coin is inserted and it is mistakenly determined to be a true coin, the vending machine receives the false coin and pays out the true coin to the depositor side Was supposed to. For this reason, the act of inserting a fake coin and pressing the return button without buying a product and allowing the user to return with a positive coin is permitted, which may cause financial damage.

On the other hand, in a vending machine provided with a bill validator, even if a return button is pressed when a bill is inserted, the inserted bill can be returned as it is.
There is no problem as with coins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing apparatus capable of minimizing damage caused by replacement of a fake coin with a true coin.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a coin processing device provided in a vending machine, a coin discriminating mechanism for discriminating and sorting denominations of inserted coins, A coin storage unit for storing the sorted coins in order from the bottom for each denomination, a coin discharging mechanism for discharging the coins in the coin storage unit as necessary, and the automatic vending of the discharged coins A coin sorting mechanism for sorting between a safe side and a coin return slot side provided in advance in the machine, a connection state detecting means for detecting whether a bill identifying device for identifying bills is connected to the vending machine, and When the bill discriminating device is not connected, the coin discharging mechanism and the coin sorting mechanism are controlled so that the coin pocket in the coin storage section is controlled. A coin discharge control means for discharging all coins used for change only to the safe side when the bill is used, and when a coin of the same kind as the discharged coin is inserted, the inserted coin is Holding means for temporarily holding the coin in the coin storage section, and if the return button is pressed while holding the coin, the coin release mechanism section and the sorting mechanism section are controlled to return the held coin to the return port. And a return control means for supplying the coin to the coin processing device.

In such a coin processing apparatus, when it is determined by the connection state detecting means that the bill discriminating apparatus is not connected to the vending machine, the coin discharging control means includes a coin discharging mechanism and a coin discharging mechanism. The coin distribution mechanism is controlled to discharge all coins used for change only when a banknote is used among coins in the coin storage to the safe.

When coins of the same kind as the ejected coins are inserted, the holding means temporarily holds the inserted coins in the coin storage section. If the return button is pressed while the coins are being held, the return control means controls the coin release mechanism and the sorting mechanism to supply the held coins to the return slot.

Thus, the inserted coin is returned as it is.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the function of the present embodiment. In the vending machine 1, components of the coin processing device shown in the figure are provided. The coin identification mechanism 1a identifies the denomination of the coin 2 inserted from the coin insertion slot 1b and distributes it to the coin storage 1c. Coin storage 1c
Stores the sorted coins in order from the bottom for each denomination. The coin discharging mechanism 1d discharges downward as needed. The coin distribution mechanism 1e distributes the released coin to either the safe 1g side or the return slot 1f side.

The vending machine 1 can also be attached with a bill validator 1h. The bill identifying device 1h identifies the bill 3 inserted from the bill insertion slot 1i. The connection state detecting means 1j is that the bill recognizing device 1h is a vending machine 1
To detect whether it is electrically connected or not.

When the connection state detecting means 1j does not detect the connection of the bill discriminating apparatus 1h, the coin discharging control means 1k controls the coin discharging mechanism 1d and the coin sorting mechanism 1e to store the coin in the coin storing section 1c. Of coins used for change only when banknote 3 is used, for example, the most expensive 500 coins among the coins handled
Discharge all the coins to the safe 1g side.

When coins of the same kind as the ejected coins are inserted, the holding means 11 outputs the coin ejection control means 1
The operation of k is suppressed, and the inserted coin is temporarily held in the coin storage unit 1c. Then, when the return button 1n is pressed while the coins are being held, the return control means 1m controls the coin release mechanism 1d and the coin distribution mechanism 1e to supply the held coins to the return slot 1f.

Next, a specific configuration of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control system in the vending machine. The vending machine has a configuration of a master-slave system, and is entirely controlled by a main control unit 11 as a master. The coin controller 12, the bill validator 13, the door controller 14, the discharge controller 15, and the like are connected as slaves to the main controller 11 via a communication line 16. Coin processing device 1
No. 2 accepts coins and pays out change.
The bill validator 13 accepts a bill and identifies its authenticity. The door control device 14 controls opening and closing of the door. The carry-out unit control device controls the operation of a carry-out mechanism for providing a product from the product storage unit to the purchaser.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific connection configuration between the main control section 11 and the slave side. However, here, the main control unit 11, the coin processing device 12, and the bill identification device 13
Only the connection configuration with is shown. The communication line 16 is a line 16 for transmitting a synchronization signal from the main control unit 11 to each device.
a, a line 16b for transmitting a command from the main control unit 11 to each device, and a line 16c for the main control unit 11 to receive response data from each device.

On the main control unit 11 side, a NOT gate 11
a, 11b, and 11c, each line 16a, 16b,
16c. In the banknote recognition device 13, NO
Each line 16 through the T gates 13a, 13b, 13c
a, 16b, and 16c. The coin processing device 12 is connected to the lines 16a, 16b, 16c via NOT gates 12a, 12b, 12c.
In the coin processing device 12, a NOT gate 12d is connected to the line 16c in a direction opposite to the NOT gate 12c.

In such a connection configuration, the main control unit 1
1 indicates that a synchronization signal for command transmission is periodically transmitted to line 16.
A is transmitted to each device on the slave side via a. Each device receiving this waits for transmission of a command from the main control unit 11 via the line 16b. When the command is sent,
Each device determines whether or not the command is addressed to itself, and if the command is addressed to itself, sends a response signal on line 16.
c.

The coin processing device 12 performs a normal response process if the command is addressed to itself. On the other hand, the coin processing device 12 sends the command to the bill recognizing device 1.
3 is NOT gate 12
Monitor via b. If the command is for the bill validator 13, the bill validator 13 is the main controller 1
1, the coin processing device 12
The response signal of the bill validator 13 is received via the OT gate 12d. Then, when the response signal of the bill validator 13 can be received within a predetermined time, a flag indicating that the bill validator 13 is connected to the vending machine is set, and normal coin processing control is performed. On the other hand, when the response signal of the bill validator 13 cannot be received within a certain time,
Reset the flag.

Next, a specific configuration of the coin processing device 12 will be described. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a structure for attaching the coin processing device 12 to a vending machine. The coin processing device 12 is attached to the back surface of the panel 21 of the vending machine 20. The coin processing device 12 includes a main unit 31, a control device 32, a gate 33, a solenoid 34, a safe 35, and the like. Here, the control device 32
Is displayed separately from the main unit 31, but may be incorporated in the main unit 31. The control device 32 includes the main control unit 11
And the line 16, and controls the entire coin processing device 12 according to a command from the main control unit 11.

A gate 33 is provided below the main unit 31.
And a solenoid 34. A safe 35 is provided below the gate 33. The solenoid 34 operates according to a drive signal from the control device 32, and switches and controls the direction of the gate 33.

The coin C1 inserted through the coin insertion slot 22 on the panel 21 is inserted into the main unit 31 through the coin insertion slot 31a. The main unit 31 stores the coin C1 in a coin tube described later, and discharges the coin C1 from the lower surface as needed.

When the coin C1 is a fake coin or a bad coin, or when the return button 23 is pressed, or when a normal change dispensing operation is performed, the control device 32
Turns the solenoid 34 on, for example, moves the gate 33 to the left side of the drawing, and distributes the coin C1 to the return slot 24. On the other hand, when the coin tube is full, or when the bill validator 13 is not connected to the vending machine 20, the controller 32 turns off the solenoid 34, moves the gate 33 to the right side in the drawing, and sets the coin C1. Is collected in the safe 35.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the external structure of the main unit 31 of the coin processing device 12. As shown in FIG. Main unit 31
Mainly includes a coin identification device 36, a coin storage device 37,
And a change dispensing device 38. The coin identification device 36 is a coin identification mechanism 1a shown in FIG.
And identifies the coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 31a, and according to the type of the coin, each of the coin tubes 37a, 37b, 37 of the coin storage device 37.
c, 37d. Here, the coin tube 37
a, 37b, 37c, 37d are 500 yen coins,
It is a coin tube for 100 yen coin, 10 yen coin, and 50 yen coin. The coin tube 37e is a tube for auxiliary change, and stores coins dedicated to change.

The coin payout device 38 corresponds to the coin discharging mechanism 1d shown in FIG. 1, and discharges the coin in the coin tube downward as needed. The discharged coins are distributed to the return port 24 or the safe 35 by the gate 33 described above.

Next, main operations of the coin processing device 12 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure on the control device 32 side regarding a communication process with the main control unit 11. [S1] It is determined whether or not a synchronization signal has been input from the main control unit 11. If the synchronization signal has been input, the process proceeds to step S2, and if not, the flowchart is temporarily ended. [S2] It is determined whether the reception of the command from the main control unit 11 has been completed. If completed, the process proceeds to step S3, and if not completed, step S2 is repeated. [S3] It is determined whether or not the received command is a command for the coin processing device 12, and if it is a command for the coin processing device 12, the process proceeds to step S4; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S5. [S4] Processing for the command for the coin processing device 12 is performed. [S5] It is determined whether the received command is a command for the bill validator 13. If the received command is a command for the bill validator 13, the process proceeds to step S6; otherwise, the process ends. [S6] The timer for monitoring the response of the bill validator 13 is cleared. [S7] It is determined whether or not the banknote recognition device 13 has responded to the command. If so, the process proceeds to step S8; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S9. [S8] It is determined that the bill validator 13 is connected to the vending machine 20, and a flag is set. [S9] The timer is counted up. [S10] It is determined whether or not the count value of the timer is equal to or more than a predetermined value and the time is over. If the time is over, the process proceeds to step S11. If not, the process proceeds to the step S11.
Return to 7. [S11] It is determined that the bill validator 13 is not connected to the vending machine 20, and the flag is reset.

Next, the procedure of the change payout processing of the coin processing device 12 will be described. FIG. 7 shows a coin processing device 1
It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure by the control apparatus 32 regarding the 2nd change payout processing. [S21] From the state of the flag, it is determined whether or not the bill validator 13 is connected to the vending machine 20. If it is, the process proceeds to step S22. If not, the process proceeds to step S23. [S22] Coin tube 37a of coin storage device 37
All 500 yen coins stored in the safe 35
To collect money. [S23] It is determined whether or not a coin has been inserted through the coin insertion slot 22, and if inserted, the process proceeds to step S24, and if not inserted, step S23 is repeated. [S24] The inserted coin is held in a coin tube. Further, it transmits data such as the amount of money to be input to the main control unit 11. [S25] It is determined whether or not the return button 23 has been pressed or the product has been sold, and a command to dispense change has been issued from the main controller 11, and if so, the process proceeds to step S26.
If not, the process proceeds to step S27. The change payment command also includes change amount data. In addition,
When the return button 23 is pressed without selling the product, the input amount is sent as the change amount. [S26] A change payout operation is performed. At this time, the bill validator 13 is not connected, and the number of pending coins is 50.
If the coin is a 0 yen coin, the inserted 500 yen coin is returned as it is. On the other hand, when a coin other than the 500-yen coin on hold is inserted, or when the bill validator 13 is in the connected state, the coin at the bottom of the coin tube of the denomination used for change is discharged. Is distributed to the return port 24 side. [S27] It is determined whether or not the sale has been completed based on the data from the main control unit 11, and if completed, the flowchart ends, and if not completed, the process returns to step S23. After the end of the flowchart, the process is executed again from step S21. Therefore, even if a 500-yen coin remains in the coin tube 37a, the 500-yen coin is always discharged unless the bill validator 13 is connected.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the bill identifying device 1
When 3 is not connected to the vending machine 20, all the 500 yen coins used for change only when the bills are used are discharged from the coin tube to the safe 35 side, and the 500 yen coins are inserted. Also, if the return button 23 is pressed without purchasing the merchandise, the 500-yen coin on hold is returned, so that damage due to replacement with a fake coin can be prevented as much as possible. In addition, since there is no need to change the mechanical structure, the cost does not increase.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The data on the line 16c can be read by providing the NOT gate 12d on the line 16c that responds to the main control unit 11 from the slave side, so that the bill can be easily changed only by changing the configuration of the coin processing device 12. The connection state of the identification device 13 can be confirmed.

In the present embodiment, the coins to be held when the bill validator 13 is not connected are 500 yen coins. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other coins such as 100 yen coins can be held. Is also good.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, when it is determined that the bill validator is not connected to the vending machine, only when the bill among the coins in the coin storage is used, the change is made. All used coins are ejected to the safe, and if coins of the same type as the ejected coins are inserted, the inserted coins are temporarily stored in the coin storage unit. When the return button is pressed, the pending coins are supplied to the return slot, so the inserted coins can be returned as they are,
Thus, it is possible to prevent damage caused by replacement of a fake coin with a true coin as much as possible without changing the mechanical structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the function of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control system in the vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific connection configuration between a main control unit and a slave side.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a structure for attaching a coin processing device to a vending machine.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an external configuration of a main unit of the coin processing device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on the control device side regarding communication processing with the main control unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on the control device side regarding a change payout process of the coin processing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vending machine 1a Coin identification mechanism unit 1b Coin insertion slot 1c Coin storage unit 1d Coin ejection mechanism unit 1e Coin sorting mechanism unit 1f Return slot 1g Safe 1h Banknote identification device 1j Connection state detection unit 1k Coin discharge control unit 1l Reservation unit 1m Return control means 1n Return button 11 Main control unit 12 Coin processing device 13 Banknote recognition device 16 Communication line 20 Vending machine 22 Coin slot 23 Return button 24 Return port 31 Main unit 32 Control device 33 Gate 35 Safe 35 Coin recognition device 37 Coin storage device 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d, 37e Coin tube 38 Coin payout device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G07F 9/10 G07F 9/10 D

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A coin processing device provided in a vending machine, comprising: a coin identification mechanism for identifying and sorting denominations of inserted coins; and stacking the sorted coins for each denomination in order from the bottom. A coin storage unit to be stored, a coin release mechanism unit that releases the coins in the coin storage unit as needed, and a vending machine provided with the released coins in a safe side and a coin return opening side. A coin distribution mechanism for distributing, a connection state detecting means for detecting whether or not a bill identifying device for identifying bills is connected to the vending machine; and the coin discharging when the bill identifying device is not connected. A mechanism unit and the coin distribution mechanism unit are controlled so that coins used for change only when the bill is used among coins in the coin storage unit. Coin ejection control means for ejecting all the coins to the safe side, and when coins of the same kind as the ejected coins are inserted, holding means for temporarily holding the inserted coins in the coin storage section, Return control means for controlling the coin ejection mechanism and the sorting mechanism when the return button is pressed while the coins are being held and supplying the held coins to the return slot. Coin processing device. 2. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coin ejection control means is the most expensive coin among coins handled by said vending machine. 3. The connection state detecting means detects whether or not the bill discriminating apparatus is connected to the vending machine by reading data on a line connecting the main control unit of the vending machine. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The coin processing device according to the above. 4. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the line is a line for transmitting response data from a slave to the main control unit serving as a master.