JPS6315389A - Coin processor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a small and thin coin processing device with low power consumption, mainly used in public telephones.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, payment methods for public telephones have become more diverse, and since cards can be used in addition to coins, it has become necessary to co-locate a coin processing device and a card processing device within the housing. On the other hand, public telephones are required to be smaller, lighter, and lower in price. Based on the above background, it can be installed in a coin processing device by inserting it from the front of the housing.
In addition, there is a need for a device that is thin, occupies a small volume when mounted, and is inexpensive. In addition, from the perspective of improving serviceability during power outages, various coins such as 10 yen and 100 yen are
Since the processing requires only a small amount of local power, there is a need for lower power consumption.

Conventional coin sorting methods include an electronic sorting method that electronically detects the dimensions and material of the coin and sorts the coins based on the results; and another that uses a sorting window in the coin rolling track to remove coins that are not of a specified size. There are two main types: a mechanical sorting method that separates them by dropping them out of a window. The latter is an additional 10 yen, 10
There are two types of coin processing systems: one uses separate coin processing devices for 0 yen coins, and the other uses a single coin processing device for 10 yen and 100 yen coins.

Among these, the electronic sorting method consumes a lot of power because it constantly monitors the coins with a sensor placed near the coin slot.In cases such as public telephones that do not have sufficient power during power outages, service specifications may be reduced during power outages. However, it is difficult to apply. It also has drawbacks such as expensive circuit components. In this respect, the mechanical sorting method is superior as it requires low power and is relatively inexpensive. However, the system in which a plurality of coin processing devices are used for each type of coin has the disadvantage that it takes up a large amount of space and is expensive.

As a coin processing device that can process multiple coins with one,
Conventionally, a device shown in FIG. 7 has been devised.

In the figure, 1 is a coin processing device, which has two coin input slots 2, 31 and sorting windows 4, 5. Flapper 6, accumulation trajectory of coin A7. Accumulation trajectory of coin B8. Storage mechanism not yet 1G, return mechanism 1
1.12. Return funnel 13. It is equipped with a safe 14, a return box 15, etc.

The coins A and B accumulated in each accumulation track 7.8 are stored by the storage mechanism 9.10 operated by the storage signal from the station.
They are sequentially dropped and stored in the safe 14.

After the call ends, the coins remaining in the orbit are returned to the return mechanism 11.
It is returned to the return funnel 13 by the operation of 12 and is returned to the return receiver 15.
be led to. The sorting windows 4 and 5 sort out the thickness, diameter, etc. of the coins A and B, guide the genuine coins to the respective accumulation tracks 7.8, and pass the other fraudulent coins C into the return funnel 13 according to the number of drops. , return it to the return desk 15.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, as can be seen from the figure, in such a conventional coin processing device 1, the processing tracks for each coin A and H are provided separately and arranged in a two-dimensional manner, so that the occupied volume becomes large and the telephone There is a disadvantage that it cannot be mounted by being inserted from the front of the case, and therefore it is difficult to install it together with a card processing device.

[Object of the invention and means for solving the problems]

Although the coin processing device according to the present invention has the advantage of low power consumption in the conventional coin processing device using a mechanical sorting mechanism, the coin processing device solves the disadvantage of having a large occupied volume due to the planar track configuration. Focusing on the fact that a track of any shape can be constructed by making the track M-shaped by resin molding, the thickness direction of the first coin processing track that has a first sorting window for processing the first coin is By providing a second coin processing track having a second sorting window for processing a second coin so as to overlap with each other, that is, by making the structure of the track three-dimensional,
The purpose of this invention is to significantly reduce the occupied volume and make it thinner while using a sorting window mechanism, and to enable front insertion mounting.To achieve this objective, the present invention has been developed to a coin input slot for blocking coins with a thickness greater than 1, and a first slot provided on a track for rolling the inserted coins to allow coins smaller than a predetermined size to fall out.
a sorting window, a first accumulation trajectory for accumulating up to a predetermined number of coins that have passed through the sorting window, and a first accumulation trajectory for eliminating coins that have passed through the first sorting window in excess of the predetermined number. The first coin processing track includes a first overflow track and a first detection unit for checking the authenticity of coins that have passed through the first sorting window. A rolling surface conversion track for moving the rolling surface by sliding down a surface with a smooth slope in the thickness direction of the coin processing track and then rolling it again, and a predetermined predetermined area provided at the tip of the track. The second for dropping coins with dimensions below
a sorting window, a second accumulation trajectory for accumulating up to a predetermined number of coins that have passed through the sorting window, and a second accumulation trajectory for eliminating coins that have passed through the second sorting window in excess of the predetermined number. a second coin processing track including a second overflow track and a second detection unit for checking the authenticity of coins that have passed through the second sorting window; Two coin processing tracks are provided so as to overlap in the thickness direction.

[Effect]

In the present invention, since the first and second coin processing tracks are configured to overlap in the thickness direction, the device can be made smaller and thinner, occupying less space, and can be inserted from the front of the phone case. and card processing equipment.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are an overall perspective view and a perspective view of a track, showing an embodiment of a coin processing device according to the present invention. In the figure, two types of coins A are used in this example.

A first coin processing track 21 . Second coin processing trajectory 30 for processing coin B. Coin storage mechanism 31.32. Coin return prevention plate 33. It basically consists of a safe 14 degrees, a return tray 15, etc.

The first coin processing track 21 includes a coin input 022 for blocking coins larger than a predetermined diameter or a predetermined thickness;
First sorting track 27 for rolling the inserted coins
A rounded first sorting window 23 is provided to sort out the coins A and drop out coins B of smaller size, and to accumulate up to a predetermined number of coins A that have passed through the first sorting window 23. a first accumulation trajectory 24 for coins A passing through the first sorting window 23; a first overflow trajectory 25 for removing coins A that have passed through the first sorting window 23 in excess of the prescribed number; It is comprised of a first detection unit 26 and the like for checking the authenticity of the coin A.

On the other hand, the second coin processing track 30 includes a rolling surface conversion track 41 that guides the coin B that has fallen out of the first sorting window 23 to a second sorting track 40, and a rolling surface conversion track 41 that guides the coin B that has fallen out of the first sorting window 23 to a second sorting track 40; a second sorting window 42 for dropping coins having a size smaller than a predetermined size, a second accumulation track 43 for accumulating up to a predetermined number of coins B that have passed through the second sorting window 42; A second overflow trajectory 44 for eliminating nine coins B that have passed through the second sorting window 42 in excess of a predetermined number, and the authenticity of one coin B that has passed through the second sorting window 42 are checked. It is composed of a second detection unit 45 and the like for the detection.

Here, in this embodiment, a second coin processing track 30 is provided overlapping the first coin processing track 21 in the thickness direction, and a coin input port 22 commonly used for two types of coins A and B is provided. It is provided on the first coin processing track 21 and has a feature in that the coin B that has fallen from the first sorting window 23 is guided to the second sorting track 40 by the rolling surface conversion track 41 and processed. Such a configuration is possible by molding the first and second coin handling tracks 21.30 with resin. As shown in FIG. 1(b), the track described in the present invention means a path for coins A or B, and includes a lower rail 47 and rolling support surfaces 48 on both sides.
．． 49, and is further composed of various kinds of orbits, and a group of orbits having processing functions such as coin sorting and accumulation will be referred to as a processing orbit. First and second accumulation trajectory 24
．． The openings on the tip side of 43 constitute coin ejection ports 51 and 52, respectively, and these ejection ports 51 and 52 are blocked by the return prevention plate 33 during a call, and the return prevention plate 3 is closed after the call ends.
3 is released by rotating backward.

Note that the first detection unit 26 is a magnetic pseudo coin removal magnet 26.
A, a rotating lever 26B for removing lightweight coins, etc.
The second detection unit 45 includes a magnetic sensor 45A and a drive circuit 45B.
It is composed of etc. The rolling surface conversion track 41 is smoothly inclined in the thickness direction of the first coin processing track 21.

Next, we will briefly explain how coins are processed.

The slot 22 has a coin A (for example, 10 coins) in diameter or thickness.
A gauge that prevents you from inserting counterfeits larger than yen coins (
(not shown). Coins A and B entered from slot 22
is a shock absorbing mechanism (not shown) installed near the input port.
The speed is suppressed so that it rolls on the first sorting track 27 without bouncing. In the first sorting window 23, only coins within an allowable size range that can be considered as coins A pass through, and coins B whose diameter or thickness is less than the allowable value fall off the track. The coin A that has passed through the first sorting window 23 approaches a magnetic coin removal track 55 that has a magnetic coin removal magnet 26A attached to the outside of one rolling support surface. In this case, if the coin A is a 10 yen coin, it will pass through the magnet 26A without being affected since it has no magnetism, but a pseudo coin with magnetism will pass through the magnet 26A.
A, the rolling direction is changed, and the product is returned to the return receiving tray 15 via the first overflow track 25. Further, the coin A that has passed through this portion approaches a light coin removal track 56 in which a rotating lever 26B for removing bulk coins having an arm biased by a predetermined reaction force is installed inside the track.

In the figure, lever 26B is biased by magnet 58.

The coin A that has been rolling on the first sorting track 27 uses its kinetic energy to push the arm of the rotating lever 26B against the reaction force F and enters the first accumulation track 24, but the strange amount of pseudo coins It collides with the arm, changes its rolling direction, and is returned to the return tray 15 via the first overflow track 25. In the figure, the number of sheets stored in the first storage track 24 is five. All coins A that have passed through the first sorting window 23 beyond this point are
is returned via the overflow trajectory 25.

On the other hand, the coin B that has fallen through the first sorting window 23 slides down the rolling surface conversion track 41 and moves to the second sorting track 40 . In the second sorting window 42, only coins within the allowable size range that can be considered as coin B (for example, a 100 yen coin) pass through,
Coins whose diameter or thickness is less than the allowable value fall off the track and are returned to the return receptacle 15 via a return funnel (not shown).

The coins B that have passed through the second sorting window 42 are accumulated in the second accumulation track 43 up to four coins in the figure. Coins B that have passed through the second sorting window 42 are returned via the second overflow track 44.

After receiving the coin storage signal, the accumulated coins A and B are stored one by one in the safe 14 by the storage mechanism 31.32 provided at the tip of each storage track 24.43.

With this trajectory configuration, it is conceivable that a pseudo coin whose dimensions are larger than the coin B and smaller than the coin person falls off the first sorting window 23 and enters the second sorting orbit 40, but in contrast to this, the magnetic When the sensor 45A detects a pseudo coin made of a material other than that of the coin B, the drive circuit 45B controls the coin processing device [20] to send a signal indicating that the coin is fraudulent and it is impossible to continue coin processing. This can be handled by transmitting the signal to the CPU, which is not shown in the figure, and forcibly disconnecting the call when the next coin storage signal is received.

In addition, when the handset hook is pressed down to end a call, etc., the return prevention plate 33 rotates and retreats in conjunction with the hook, so that the remaining coins A and B in each accumulation track 24.43 are
are returned to the return receptacle 15 through the discharge ports 51 and 52, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the invention. In the figure, 65 is a flapper, an actuator using a piezoelectric element for driving the coin B storage mechanism 32.

The flapper 65 is an openable and closable plate that forms a rolling support surface on one side of the raceway. This flapper 65 is
It forms a rolling support surface for the first sorting window 23, the second sorting window 42, and the surrounding track, and is arranged to be openable and closable as shown in the same figure, and similarly to the return prevention plate 33, it is linked to the receiver hook. It operates by opening and closing.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view specifically showing an example of a component configuration when realizing the embodiment of FIG. 2. FIG. In the same figure, 7
0 is a track plate for coin A, 71 is a track plate for coin B, 72 is a coin accumulation plate, 73 is a return funnel, 74 is a storage track, 75 is a return track, 76 is a flapper for attaching the flapper 65 to the track plate 70 This is the mounting part. The flapper 65 is biased υ by a spring, and is attached to three points in total: one of the flapper mounting portions 76 and two support points (not shown) provided on the raceway plate 70 (or 71). Supported by

As for assembly, the raceway plate 71, flapper 65, coin accumulation plate 72, and return funnel 73 are sequentially attached several times to the raceway plate 70 so as to overlap in the thickness direction.

In FIG. 3, the lower rail and rolling support surfaces on both sides constituting the first coin handling track 21 shown in FIG. 2 are the surface of the track plate 70, the lower rail formed on the surface, and the track plate. It is constituted by the back side of T1. T8 is the accumulation track lower rail for coin A, 79 is the overflow track lower rail for coin A, 80 is a return prevention plate for coin A, and 81 is a return prevention plate for coin B. Both of these prevention plates are as shown in FIG. Same as example.

It is installed in one piece. Further, the second coin processing track 30 is similarly constituted by the front surface of the track plate 71, the lower rail 82 formed on the surface, and the back surface of the coin accumulation plate T2. Note that in FIG. 1 and the second sorting window 23, 42 and its surroundings, the rolling support surface on one side is constituted by the back surface of the flapper 65.

In this coin processing device, various electronic sensors are used for coin accumulation detection, storage detection, material detection, etc., and these sensors are mounted in holders 85.
86. 87 is a groove provided in the track plate 71 for embedding the sensor lead wire, and 88 is an overflow track lower rail for coin B.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of essential parts showing an embodiment of a rolling surface conversion track, first and second sorting windows, and a mechanism for preventing passage of coins having a predetermined diameter or more.

FIG. 5 is an overlapping view of the cross section of the portion indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 4. The part where ■ and ■ are overlapped is a solid line,
The part marked ■ is indicated by a broken line.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, 90 is a lower rail, which is inclined in the rolling direction of the coins A and B and in the thickness direction of the track plate 70. Reference numeral 91 denotes an upper rolling support surface formed on the track plate 70 to slightly support the upper part of the coin A, and 92 a side rolling support surface formed on the back surface of the flapper 65 to support the side of the coin A.

The regular coin A has an upper rolling support surface 91. It is supported by the side rolling support surface 92 and the lower rail 9003 points and passes through the first sorting window 23 . On the other hand, like coin B, the diameter of coin A is
A coin whose diameter does not meet the tolerance value, or a pseudo coin A' whose diameter does not meet the tolerance value but whose thickness does not meet the tolerance value, falls toward the raceway plate 70 and falls out from the first sorting window 23. Here, since there is a rolling surface conversion track 41 composed of a sliding support surface 95, a lower rail 96, and a back surface 97 of the flapper 65 below the lower rail 90, B is the sliding surface of the falling coin. 95 and move to the second sorting track 40 as shown in FIG. The sliding support surface 95 is formed by a sloped surface and a perpendicular surface, but the sliding surface is characterized by a slope that becomes steeper as it slides down, and this structure allows the coin to roll smoothly. You can change sides. Note that this support surface 95 may be configured to have a curvature.

In FIG. 4, when the coins roll on the second sorting track 40, B approaches the position (■), but this part of the back side of the flapper has an oversized structure to prevent coins with a diameter larger than a predetermined diameter from passing through. A diameter cargo passage blocking mechanism 100 is provided. The operation of this mechanism 100 will be described below. As aforementioned,
In the first sorting window 23, thin pseudo coins A' whose diameters meet the allowable value but whose thickness does not meet the allowable value fall out and enter the second sorting track 40. There will be no problem if this pseudo coin A' falls off at the second sorting window 42 and is ejected, but it is also possible that the pseudo coin A' passes through. In this case, the subsequent erroneous selection process becomes complicated. Therefore, the oversized diameter coin passage prevention mechanism 100 is provided at a location slightly higher than the upper limit of the regular coin B,
The pseudo coin A' is stopped at or in front of the second sorting window 42, that is, it is entrenched in the sorting track 40, thereby preventing it from entering the base cylinder 2 storage track 43. This pseudo coin A'
The particles fall off the second sorting track 40 by opening the flapper 65 and are returned via the return funnel 73 (FIG. 3).

Next, the coin B that has passed through the oversized diameter coin passage prevention mechanism 100 approaches the second sorting window 42 . The regular coin B is supported at three points: the upper rolling support surface 101, the side rolling support surface (back surface of the flapper), and the lower rail 102, and passes through the second sorting window 42. On the other hand, coins C such as 5 yen and 50 yen coins whose diameter is less than the tolerance of coin B, or pseudo coins whose diameter meets the tolerance but whose thickness does not meet the tolerance, have a second coin. It falls out of the sorting window 42 and is returned via the return funnel 73.

In the present invention, since the track configuration is three-dimensionally displayed as shown above, the track plates 70, 71, the flapper 65. Although the shape of the rolling surface of the main components such as the coin storage plate 72 is complicated, this can be easily realized by resin molding. However, the raceway plates 70 and 71 made of resin are easily deformed due to wear, are weak against impact forces, and have the disadvantage that they are susceptible to the accumulation of finger marks. These drawbacks have a particularly large effect on the coin slot 22 and the first sorting window 23. Therefore, the input port 22 may be constructed by screwing metal such as SUS as shown in FIG. 3. In addition, lower rails 90, 1 forming the first and second sorting windows 23.42
02, Upper rolling support surface 91°101, Side rolling support surface 9
Regarding 2, it may be configured by screwing a metal plate.

FIG. 6 shows how this coin processing device is installed in a public telephone. In the figure, 110 is a telephone housing, 110A is a lower housing, 110B is an upper housing, 20 is a coin processing device, 111 is a card processing device, and 112 is a circuit network. As shown in the figure, this device is small and thin, so it can be mounted by being inserted from the front of the housing.

In the above embodiment, the first detection section 26 is composed of a magnetic cargo removal magnet 26B and a light cargo removal rotation lever 26B, and the second detection section 45 is composed of a magnetic sensor 45A and a drive circuit 4.
5B, but the present invention is not limited to this in any way, and various changes are possible.

[Explanation of effects]

As explained above, the present invention uses a mechanical sorting method using a sorting window, which requires low power, and has a second sorting window in the thickness direction of a first coin processing track having a first sorting window. Since the second coin processing tracks are provided in an overlapping manner, that is, the tracks are configured three-dimensionally, the device can be constructed in a small size, particularly thin, and can be mounted in the front. In addition, since the coins that have fallen through the first sorting window via the rolling surface conversion track smoothly slide down in the thickness direction of the first coin processing track, there is less chance of clogging, and if it does become clogged, the sorting window can be opened and closed. Therefore, the possibility of failure is low and reliability is high. Further, since the input slot is provided integrally with the first coin processing track, convenience for the user is improved. Furthermore, each component is molded with resin and assembled into a device by stacking them on top of each other, which has the advantage of significantly reducing the number of man-hours and making it possible to manufacture at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1(&) and (b) are an overall perspective view and a perspective view of a track showing one embodiment of a coin processing device according to the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view specifically showing an example of the component configuration when realizing the embodiment of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a rolling surface conversion A perspective view of the main parts showing an embodiment of the track section, the first and second sorting windows, and the oversized diameter cargo passage prevention mechanism. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing how the present coin processing device is installed in a public telephone. FIG. 7 is a front view showing an example of a conventional coin processing device. 20... Coin processing device, 21... First coin processing track, 22... Inlet, 23... First sorting window, 24... First accumulation track, 25..first overflow track L26..first detection section, 26A.
... Magnetic cargo removal magnet, 268... Rotating lever for lightweight cargo removal, 2T... First sorting track, 30...
・Second coin processing orbit, 31.32... Storage mechanism, 3
3... Return prevention plate, 40... Second sorting track,
41... Rolling surface conversion track, 42... Second sorting window, 43... Second accumulation track, 44... Second overflow track, 45... e-th 2 detection unit, 45
A: Magnetic sensor, 45B: Drive circuit,
65... Flapper, 90° 102... Lower rail upper rolling support surface, 91° 101... Upper rolling support surface, 92... Side rolling support surface, 100... ... Overdiameter coin passage prevention mechanism, A, B... Coin, A', C.
...pseudo coin. Patent applicant: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation Agent: Masaki Yamakawa (and one other person) Go to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 6

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) A coin slot for blocking coins larger than a predetermined diameter or a predetermined thickness, and a track for rolling the inserted coins to allow coins smaller than a predetermined size to fall out. a first sorting window, a first accumulation trajectory for accumulating up to a predetermined number of coins that have passed through the sorting window, and eliminating coins that have passed through the first sorting window in excess of the predetermined number. a first coin processing track including a first overflow track for checking the coins, a first detecting section for checking the authenticity of the coins that have passed through the first screening window; A rolling surface conversion track for rolling the fallen coins again after moving the rolling surface, and a second sorting window provided at the end of the track for dropping coins smaller than a predetermined size. a second accumulation trajectory for accumulating up to a predetermined number of coins that have passed through the sorting window; and a second accumulation trajectory for eliminating coins that have passed through the second sorting window in excess of the predetermined number. The second coin processing track includes an overflow track and a second detection unit for checking the authenticity of coins that have passed through the second sorting window, and the first coin processing track and the first coin processing track A coin processing device characterized in that two coin processing tracks are provided so as to overlap in the thickness direction thereof. (2) The rolling surface conversion track is smoothly inclined in the thickness direction of the first coin processing track, and guides coins that have fallen through the first sorting window to the second coin processing track. 1
Coin handling equipment as described in Section 1. (3) The first and second sorting windows include a lower rail that is inclined in the coin rolling direction and the thickness direction, an upper rolling support surface that slightly supports the top of the coin, and a rail width that is parallel to the support surface. and lateral rolling support surfaces disposed on opposite sides,
Claims characterized in that the side rolling support surface of the first sorting window, the side rolling support surface of the second sorting window, and the rolling support surfaces in the vicinity connected thereto open and close in conjunction with each other. The coin processing device according to item 1. (4) A mechanism is provided on the side rolling support surface of the second sorting window, or on the upper part of the rolling support surface adjacent thereto, to prevent passage of coins having a predetermined diameter or more. A coin processing device according to claim 3, characterized in that: (5) The first detection unit for checking the authenticity of the coin is
A rotary lever mechanism is provided on the track beyond the sorting window and is energized by a predetermined reaction force for guiding light pseudo coins to the first overflow track and eliminating them; 2. The coin processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a magnet having a predetermined attractive force characteristic for removing coins by guiding them to an overflow trajectory. (6) The second detection unit for checking the authenticity of the coin is composed of a magnetic sensor for checking the material of the coin and a circuit that drives it, and when it is detected that the coin is fraudulent, 2. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the coin processing device outputs a signal indicating that subsequent coin processing is impossible. (7) The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second coin processing tracks are made of resin.