JPS6324389A - Residual coin detector for coin processing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of the Invention) The present invention relates to a device for detecting the remaining amount of a coin handling machine installed in an automatic vending machine such as an automatic ticket vending machine.

(Prior Art and its Problems) In automatic vending machines such as automatic ticket vending machines, coin processing machines are used that recycle inserted coins into change.

In this coin processing machine, since it is necessary to know the remaining amount of coins, a remaining coin detecting device is provided.

Conventional remaining coin detection devices detect the stacking level of coins in a coin hopper of a coin processing machine using an optical sensor or a proximity switch. However, with this method of detection, the stacking level is not uniform, so the remaining amount cannot be detected by the number of coins.
There was a variation of about 0 to 100 sheets.

In addition, attempts have been made to use multiple sensors or a sensor with high accuracy that can detect a wide range in order to increase the accuracy of remaining amount detection, but even with this,
Only ~50 remaining sheets could be detected. Moreover, in this case, it is difficult to adjust the positioning of the sensor,
There are problems in that the sensor is expensive and the electrical circuit such as the interface is complicated, resulting in an expensive coin processing machine.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a detection device that has a simple structure and is capable of detecting a small number of remaining coins. There is a particular thing.

(Structure and Effect of the Invention) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a hopper for storing coins, a rotating drum provided at the bottom of the hopper and having a pocket for storing coins, and a rotating drum for storing coins. A conductive flexible member whose tip faces the pocket of the drum, and a remaining coin amount detection means that conducts between the flexible member, the coins accommodated in the pocket, and the rotating drum to perform a remaining coin amount signal. It is characterized by consisting of.

This is configured to detect the remaining amount of coins by detecting the coins in the pocket, so the remaining amount of coins can be detected with high accuracy, and there is no need for expensive and complicated sensors. , it has the advantage of being inexpensive to manufacture.

(Explanation of Examples) Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view of a remaining coin detecting device for a coin processing machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram particularly showing the electrical configuration of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a hopper for storing coins a, and a conductive rotary drum 3 made of metal is provided at the bottom of the hopper, which is rotated by a motor 2 capable of forward and reverse rotation. A pocket 4 for storing a coin a having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the coin a is placed around the rotating drum 3.
, 4 are provided, and the center of the upper surface of the rotating drum 3 is raised. Therefore, due to the rotation of the rotating drum 3, the coin a on the surface of the rotating drum 3 is smoothly moved to the pockets 4, 4 due to the centrifugal force of the rotating drum and the effect of the inclination.

In this embodiment, each pocket 4, 4 is configured to store four coins a.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a conductive flexible member, which is made of, for example, a metal coil spring. One end of this flexible member 5 is fixed to the hopper 1 in an electrically insulated state. On the other hand, the other end, ie, the tip, is positioned facing the pocket 4 described in the ship. In the illustrated embodiment, two flexible members 5 are provided, but just one flexible member 5 is sufficient. However, in order to accurately detect the remaining amount of coins, it is preferable to provide a plurality of coins as shown in the figure and form an AND circuit as described later. Further, since the tip of the flexible member 5 faces the pocket 4 of the rotating drum 3, the coin a on the rotating drum 3 is effectively guided to enter the pocket 4.

In the figure, 6 is a coin discharge control base having a coin discharge lower, and 8 is a sensor for detecting coins discharged from the coin discharge lower.

Further, 9 is an optical transmission sensor provided in the coin hopper 1. Note that this sensor is not an essential sensor, and by using it in combination with the detection device according to the present invention, more accurate detection can be made possible, and its operation will be described later.

Now, the operation of detecting the remaining layer of coins will be explained with reference to the electric circuit shown in FIG. There is electrical continuity between them. Further, the optical transmission sensor 9 is blocked from transmitting light due to the stacked coins. The electrical continuity described above maintains the electric circuit on the input side of the OP amplifier 2Q in a sense of continuity. At this time OP
Light emitting diode L provided on the output side of amplifier 2Q
A flexible member 5. is used to prevent the ED from turning on (light emission). Resistances R1, R2, R3 and R4 in the circuit are adjusted taking into account the contact resistance of the coin a1 rotating drum 6. That is, the voltage v1 at point X on the input side is adjusted to be higher than the voltage v2 at point Y. light emitting diode led
does not operate (OFF), the coin remaining signal is OFF.
becomes.

However, as the number of coins in hopper 1 decreases,
Finally, a time comes when the coin a is no longer present between the flexible member 5 and the rotating drum 3 in the pocket 4 of the rotating drum 3, and electrical continuity is broken.

At this time, the resistances R1 to R4 on the input side mentioned above are V from ■1.
Since the value of 2 is adjusted to be large, the light emitting diode LED is turned on. As a result, although not shown in the drawings, an alarm is issued to inform the user that the remaining amount of coins is low, or an operation such as inserting additional coins is performed.

Note that when a plurality of flexible members 5 (two in the illustrated example) are provided as shown in FIG. It is possible to perform this operation when the coin is no longer in contact with the coin, that is, it can be an AND circuit. In this case, it is possible to detect a smaller number of remaining coins.

Above) In this embodiment, each pocket can accommodate four coins, so the remaining amount can be detected using as few as 4 to 8 coins. Also, for example, even if there are coins on the drum that are delayed in being guided to the pocket, the number of coins is around ○~6, so 4
The remaining amount is detected at ~16 coins. This is a detection with an extremely small number of remaining sheets compared to the conventional method.

In addition, by providing an optical transmission sensor 9 in the hopper 1, even when a remaining amount detection signal is output (LED is ON), the optical sensor 9 is set to 0FF (light transmission is blocked).
In this case, the coins in the hopper 1 must be in an abnormal state such as a bridging phenomenon. In this case, if an alarm is issued and the motor 2 is reversed for a predetermined period of time, the coins will fall onto the rotating drum and the abnormal condition will be resolved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the remaining coin detection device for a coin processing machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view thereof, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical groove configuration. . 1... Hopper 2... Motor 3... Rotating drum 4... Pocket 5... Flexible member a... Coin Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A hopper for storing coins, a rotating drum provided at the bottom of the hopper and having a pocket for storing coins, and a conductive flexible member with its tip facing the pocket of the rotating drum. A remaining coin amount detecting device for a coin processing machine, comprising: a remaining coin amount detecting means that conducts between the flexible member, the coins accommodated in the pocket, and the rotating drum to detect the remaining amount of coins. (2) The remaining coin detection device for a coin processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the conductive flexible member is a coil spring.