JPS6315968Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to a coin sorting device used in a coin processing device of a vending machine.

This type of coin sorting device sorts coins accepted as genuine coins by type based on the authenticity and type determination of the coins by a coin validator. The sorting method involves guiding the verified coins into one sloping passage, and arranging windows corresponding to each type of coin size in the sloping passage, starting from the smallest to the largest. , one in which each type of coin is made to fall from the corresponding window, one in which the verified coin is made to fall directly below, and shutters corresponding to the type of coin are arranged at regular intervals in the falling path. The shutter is retracted from the falling passage based on the signal output by the coin validator indicating the coin type, and the remaining shutter is used to divert the falling coins to passages provided for each type. be.

The former method has the advantage of simplifying the configuration, but on the other hand, coins with a small diameter may pass through a predetermined window and fall out of a window for coins with a large diameter, resulting in problems with sorting accuracy. be. Also,
In the case of the latter method, the configuration is relatively complicated, but as long as the coin validator does not make a false judgment, the coins that have been validated are reliably sorted into the designated type of passage, so it has the advantage of high sorting accuracy. have

However, in conventional shutter-type sorting devices, the shutter is fixed against coins falling from the coin validator, so when a falling coin hits the shutter, the coin bounces or slugs due to reaction force. The coins are not diverted smoothly into the aisle, and coin detectors installed in the aisles may not detect coins within a predetermined time or may detect duplicate coins, which may cause incorrect sorting decisions, or the coin detector may fail to detect coins. There were drawbacks such as delays in accepting new coins.

In view of the above points, this invention improves the support structure of the shutter in a shutter-type sorting device so that the impact of the coins falling from the coin validator is absorbed by the shutter and the solenoid connected to the shutter, thereby preventing the coins from bouncing. To provide a coin sorting device which prevents sluggishness, smoothly changes direction of coins, and improves sorting performance.

An embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Coins inserted from a coin slot 2 provided on a customer service surface 1 of the vending machine are sent one by one into a coin validator 4 through an input passage 3, and authenticated by the coin validator 4. The coins that have been verified are dropped downward from the outlet 4a at the lower end of the coin validator. Reference numeral 5 designates a shock absorbing plate provided so that a coin passing diagonally through the coin validator 4 hits the coin when it exits from the outlet.
It is always kept rotated counterclockwise from the dead center and forms part of the outlet 4a.
As a result, the coin passing through the coin validator 4 hits one side of the shock absorbing plate 5 at a position higher than the pin 6, so the shock absorbing plate 5 is rotated and the moment of inertia of the coin is reduced. absorb. Therefore, the coin falls into the falling path directly below due to gravity without being bounced back. When the coin falls downward, the shock absorbing plate returns to its original position.

A is a sorting device according to this invention, in which a plurality of shutters a ₁ , a _{2 ,} arcuate in cross section are arranged at a predetermined interval in a falling path below the outlet 4a of the coin validator.
a ₃ and a ₄ , and distribution passages b ₁ , b ₂ , and b ₃ extending diagonally downward in parallel from the lower ends of the second and subsequent shutters a _{2 ,} a ₃ , and a 4 , and Windows c ₁ , c ₂ , which are opened at different positions at the ends of the passages and allow coins guided into each passage to fall.
c ₃ .

The number of shutters a ₁ to _{a 4} is the number of coins that can be used in the automatic ticket vending machine plus 1, and the number of shutters a 1 to a ₄ is the same as the number of coins that can be used in the automatic ticket vending machine.
a ₁ , a ₂ , and a ₃ are solenoids d ₁ , which are attached to the back side of the board 8 forming a drop passage at positions closer to the opposite side of the passage than the center in the longitudinal direction, respectively.
The shutter _{a 4 is} rotatably held by a stepped portion 10 a of a stepped screw ₁₀ fixed to the base plate 8 .
When the coin validator 4 outputs a counterfeit coin determination signal as a discrimination result, the sorting control circuit does not energize any of the solenoids, so that the coins falling from the outlet of the coin validator are sent to the top shutter _a1 . It is sorted to the return sorting passage 11 side, passed through the passage 11, and returned to the tray 12 provided on the customer service surface, and
When the coin validator 4 outputs a judgment signal indicating a type 1 coin (for example, a 10 yen coin), the sorting control circuit energizes only the solenoid _d1 of the shutter _a1 on the top stage, causing the shutter _a1 to drop the coin. Since the coins can be retracted from the passageway, the coins falling from the exit of the coin validator will hit the second stage shutter _A2 , change direction and be led to the first class coin sorting passageway _B1 , where it will pass through the window C at the tip. Fall from ₁ . Similarly, when the coin validator 4 outputs a determination signal indicating a second type coin (for example, a 100 yen coin) and a third type coin (for example, a 50 yen coin), the first and second stage shutters a ₁ , a ₂ , the first to third stage shutters a ₁ , a ₂ , and a ₃ can be retracted from the coin drop passage, so the second type coin is the third type shutter a ₃ , and the third type coin is The vehicles hit the shutters _A4 on the fourth stage and are changed direction, passing through passages _B2 and _B3 and then changing from windows _C2 and _C3 . Reference numeral 13 denotes a deflection piece protruding from the rear end of the window, and a curved surface 13a at the front end of the deflection piece deflects the coin toward the paper surface to ensure that the coin falls down.

The coins that have fallen from the windows c ₁ , c ₂ , and c ₃ are stored by type and temporarily stored in a storage cylinder 14 provided below the sorting device. This storage barrel 14 is supported by a rotatable horizontal shaft 15, and when rotated by a predetermined angle in one direction with respect to the vertical line by a reversible motor 16 coupled to the horizontal shaft, the stored coins are transferred to each chute e ₁ , e ₂ , e ₃ to the coin dispensing machines f ₁ , f ₂ , f ₃ provided for each type, and when the coins are rotated at a predetermined angle in the other direction with respect to the vertical line, the held coins are For example, the coin can be placed on the coin conveying belt 17 and returned to the receiving tray 12.

By the way, each shutter a ₁ to
a ₄ are diagonal punch holes g ₁ , g ₂ ,
g ₃ and g ₄ , among which the shutters a ₁ to a ₃ are normally projected from the extraction holes into the falling passage because the solenoids d ₁ to _{d 3} are not energized,
Shutter _A4 always remains protruded into the fall path.

The punch holes g ₁ to _{g 4} have similar shapes that are slightly larger than the cross-sectional shape of each shutter, and are provided with a space between them and the shutter. In addition, the top shutter a ₁
is tilted downward toward the return sorting path 11 with respect to the direction in which coins fall from the coin validator, and the other shutters _a2 to _a4 are all tilted toward paths _b1 , _b2 , and _b3 . . Then, shutter a ₁ is in passage 1 with respect to the vertical line.
The lower end of the arm part _a1 ' which is tilted toward one side is supported by the plunger 9, and the shutters _a2 to _a4 are connected to the arm parts a2' to a which are tilted to the side of each distribution passage _{b1 to b3} with respect to the vertical line. The lower ends of ₄ ' are each fixed to a plunger 9 (in the case of shutters a ₂ and a ₃ ), and rotatably supported by a screw 10. Therefore, since the rotational force due to its own weight acts on each of the shutters a ₁ to a ₄ , as shown representatively in FIG. 3 for the second stage shutter a ₂ ,
The upper part of the shutter is held in contact with the upper upper side of each of the punching holes _g1 to _g2 , and the lower part of the shutter is held in contact with the lower lower side of each punching hole. Each shutter is positioned such that its upper half is at the drop position of coins falling from the outlet of the coin validator 4.

In addition, shutters a ₁ to a ₄ are assigned to distribution aisle 1.
In order to always bias the arm portions a ₁ ′ to a 4 ′ so as to be inclined toward the 1 side or the distribution passages b ₁ to b ₃ side, it is possible to do so without necessarily tilting the arm portions a 1 ′ to _{a 4} ′ with respect to the vertical line.

In this way, the coin sent out from the coin validator 4 falls in the upper half of the shutter in most cases in either shutter, and is biased by gravity within the gap of the hole in the shutter. Apply a rotational force in the opposite direction. Therefore, the impact force is absorbed. However, because the space for installing the shutter is limited, it is not possible to increase the force exerted by gravity by attaching a weight to the shutter.

Therefore, in this invention, a spring for returning the plunger is locked to the plunger 9 that supports the shutters a ₁ to a ₃ , and this prevents a slight amount of rotation of the plunger when it receives an impact. Furthermore, frictional resistance is applied to the shutter _a4 from the shaft of the stepped screw 10. Therefore, the shock given by the coin is absorbed by the shutter. Therefore, coins that fall from the coin validator and hit the shutter are smoothly turned into the aisle without bouncing or getting stuck between the shutter and the upper aisle.

h ₁ , h ₂ , and h ₃ are coin detectors installed in each passage b ₁ , b ₂ , and b ₃ , and the coin detectors 4 and 5 are coin detectors that are obtained by counting the judgment signals output by the coin validator 4 for each type. This is for detecting erroneous sorting by the sorting device by comparing the count values obtained by counting the detection signals of each coin detector and determining whether they match. When the comparison results do not match, incorrect sorting is detected, the motor 16 is reversed, and the coins in the holding tube 14 are returned. The lowest coin detector _h3 is provided very close to the shutter _a4 because the length of the passage _b3 is also shortened in order to make the length of the holding cylinder 14 as short as possible. Therefore, if a coin repeatedly bounces between the shutter _A4 and the aisle _B3 , it will be detected as being missorted, but with this invented configuration described above, such missorting detection can be prevented. Ru.

In addition, in this type of coin processing device, the accuracy of sorting is increased, and until each of the coin detectors h ₁ to _{h 3} outputs a detection signal, the next coin is discriminated by a coin validator to determine whether it is genuine coin. Even if the signal is output, the top shutter
Perform control so that solenoid d ₁ of a ₁ is not energized. In such a case, according to this invention, the coin sent out from the coin validator is smoothly changed direction by the shutter without bounce or sluggishness, and is quickly detected by the coin detectors _h1 to _h3 . ,
There will be no delay in accepting the next coin. Therefore, coin processing speed is improved.

As described above, in the coin sorting device according to this invention, the sorting shutter is supported by a plunger of a solenoid below the center in the longitudinal direction on the side opposite to the sorting passage, so that the shutter can be tilted freely within the hole, and Since the return spring is locked to the plunger, even if a coin falls from the coin validator and hits the shutter, the impact will be absorbed by the tilting force of the shutter's own weight and the restoring force of the solenoid spring, so the coin will The direction is changed smoothly without bouncing or sluggish, the distribution is accurate and quick, and the accuracy of distribution is improved.
Coin processing speed will be improved. Furthermore, since there is no need to attach weights or the like to the shutters to increase the tilting force due to their own weight, the distance between each shutter and the distance between the passages can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawing shows an example of this invention.
1 is a schematic side view, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the shutter section, FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of one middle shutter section, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the lowest shutter section. 3... Input passage, 4... Validator, 5... Shock absorbing plate, A... Sorting device, _a1 to _a4 ... Shutter,
11, b ₁ to b ₃ ... sorting passage, c ₁ to c ₃ ... window, d ₁
~ _d3 ...Solenoid, _e1 ~ _e3 ...Shoot, _f1 ~
f ₃ ... coin dispensing machine, 8 ... circuit board, g ₁ to _{g 4} ... hole, h ₁ to _{h 3} ... coin detector.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A plurality of shutters are disposed vertically at regular intervals in a vertical drop passage provided below the outlet of the coin validation device so as to be protruding and retractable, and are communicated with the drop passage, In addition, a sorting passage corresponding to each shutter is provided, and the coins falling from the exit of the coin validator are disposed of through the coin drop passage according to the identification result of the coin validator, and the coins falling from the exit of the coin validator are separated from the coins that protrude into the falling passage. In the coin sorting device, the coins are sorted by a shutter into a sorting passageway corresponding to the shutter, (a) a board forming the dropping passageway is provided with diagonal holes through which the shutters are inserted so as to be freely protrusive and retractable; , the hole is made large enough to allow each shutter to swing in the hole, and each shutter or the shutters other than the lowest one are placed below the center of the coin validator on the side opposite to the sorting passage. The shutter is fixed to a rotatable plunger of a solenoid that is energized in response to the discrimination result, so that the shutter is tilted downward toward the distribution passage, and is always urged by its own weight to rotate toward the distribution passage. and (b) a return spring is locked to the plunger, and (c) the upper halves of all the shutters are arranged so as to be at the falling position of coins falling down the falling passage. Characteristic coin sorting device.