Coin processing device and currency handling device

Abstract

To reduce coin jam in discharging coins onto a payment tray.SOLUTION: Provided is a coin processing device including: a payment port through which coins are discharged; a payment tray that stores the coins discharged through the payment port; a guide part that guides the coins discharged through the payment port to the payment tray; and an eaves part that is provided above and opposing to the guide part and covers an upper side of the guide part. The guide part has a first inclined surface extending from a lower side of the payment port in a direction in which the coins are discharged, and a second inclined surface inclined toward a bottom side of the payment tray with respect to the first inclined surface. The eaves part is shaped such that an interval between an opposed surface which is a surface on the side opposed to the guide part and the second inclined surface is wider than an interval between the opposed surface and the first inclined surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coin processing device and a currency handling device. [Background technology]

[0002] In a coin processing device having a coin dispensing function, the coins stored inside are dispensed from a dispensing port onto a dispensing tray to dispense the coins. In such a coin processing device, for crime prevention purposes, a visor such as a cover that covers and conceals the dispensing port is provided above the dispensing port side of the dispensing tray (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2001-195626 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2008-198146 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional coin processing devices, coins are released onto the dispensing tray by passing under the eaves, but there was a problem in that if a user placed their hand under the eaves as if waiting for the coins to be dispensed, the coins could be blocked by the hand, causing a coin jam at the back of the eaves.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to propose a coin processing device and a currency handling device that can prevent coins from jamming when being discharged onto the dispensing tray. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve such problems, the coin processing device of the present invention comprises a dispensing port for dispensing coins, a dispensing tray for storing the coins discharged from the dispensing port, a guide section for guiding the coins discharged from the dispensing port to the dispensing tray, and a eaves section provided above the guide section facing the guide section and covering the upper part of the guide section, the guide section having a first inclined surface extending from the underside of the dispensing port in the direction in which the coins are discharged, and a second inclined surface inclined toward the bottom side of the dispensing tray relative to the first inclined surface, and the eaves section has a shape in which the distance between the opposing surface, which is the surface facing the guide section, and the second inclined surface is wider than the distance between the opposing surface and the first inclined surface.

[0007] A currency handling device according to the present invention includes an operation and display unit and the above-mentioned coin handling device.

[0008] With this invention, even if a hand is placed under the eaves portion as if waiting for a coin, the gap between the eaves portion and the guide portion is wider on the dispensing tray side than on the dispensing port side, so that space is secured between the eaves portion and the guide portion in which coins can move freely, thereby preventing coins from getting jammed at the back side of the eaves portion (i.e. between the eaves portion and the guide portion). Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a coin processing device and a currency handling device that can prevent coins from jamming when being discharged onto a dispensing tray. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a depositing / dispensing machine according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an internal structure of a depositing and dispensing machine (coin processing device) according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a deposit transport unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing a lift coin dispensing transport section according to a first embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion from a coin ejection opening to a dispensing tray according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a lower guide according to a first embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above and on the front side. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a lower guide according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing tray according to the first embodiment, seen obliquely from above and front. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation when a coin is discharged from the coin discharge port according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the operation of a coin discharged from a coin discharge port and discharged through a coin withdrawal port according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the operation when a coin is discharged forward by a protrusion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the operation when a coin is discharged diagonally forward and left by a protrusion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating the operation when a coin is discharged diagonally forward and to the right by a protrusion according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing coins accumulated in a dispensing tray according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the movement of a coin when a finger is placed under the visor according to the first embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the movement of coins following FIG. 15. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the movement of coins when multiple fingers are placed under the eaves according to the first embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the movement of a coin when one finger is placed under the canopy according to the first embodiment. [Figure 19] 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a finger is inserted between the canopy and a lower guide according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 20]11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating how the canopy according to the first embodiment receives a foreign object. [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a portion from a coin ejection opening to a dispensing tray according to a second embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a dispensing tray according to a second embodiment, as viewed obliquely from above and front. [Diagram 23] 13 is a perspective view of a coin dispensing tray according to another embodiment, in which a recess is provided in a visor, as viewed obliquely from above and front. FIG. [Figure 24] 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion from the coin ejection opening to the dispensing tray when a recess is provided in the eaves according to another embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 25] 13 is a perspective view of a dispensing tray according to another embodiment in which holes are provided in the eaves, as viewed obliquely from above and front. FIG. [Figure 26] 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion from the coin discharge port to the dispensing tray when holes are provided in the eaves according to another embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] 1. First embodiment [1-1. Appearance of the deposit / withdrawal machine] 1 shows the external appearance of a depositing / dispensing machine 1 according to the first embodiment. This depositing / dispensing machine 1 is a machine capable of depositing and dispensing banknotes and coins, and has a box-shaped machine housing 2. Of the surfaces forming the machine housing 2, the surface facing the user is referred to as a front surface 2a, and the surface above the user is referred to as an upper surface 2b.

[0013] The device housing 2 is box-shaped and is longer in the vertical direction than in the front-rear and left-right directions, and in the center of the top surface 2b are provided a receipt printer 3 that outputs receipts containing transaction details, and an operation display unit 4 that functions as a display unit that displays various screens and an operation unit that accepts operation inputs for the various screens displayed on the display unit. As the operation display unit 4, for example, a display with a touch panel is used.

[0014] Furthermore, a banknote deposit port 5 into which banknotes are inserted is provided toward the upper left of the front surface 2a of the device housing 2, and a banknote withdrawal port 6 from which banknotes are ejected is provided below the banknote deposit port 5. Furthermore, a coin deposit port 7 into which coins are inserted is provided to the right of the banknote deposit port 5 on the front surface 2a of the device housing 2, and a coin withdrawal port 8 from which coins are ejected is provided below the banknote withdrawal port 6. Furthermore, a shallow dish-shaped withdrawal tray 9 is provided on the front surface 2a of the device housing 2 directly below the coin withdrawal port 8, and coins discharged from the coin withdrawal port 8 are arranged to be accumulated on this withdrawal tray 9.

[0015] [1-2. Internal structure of a deposit / withdrawal machine (coin processing device)] Next, the internal structure of the depositing / dispensing machine 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2(A) and (B). Figure 2(A) is a front see-through view of the depositing / dispensing machine 1 as viewed from the front side, and Figure 2(B) is a side see-through view of the depositing / dispensing machine 1 as viewed from the right side. Inside the depositing / dispensing machine 1, there are provided a banknote processing device that performs processes related to the deposit and dispensing of banknotes, and a coin processing device 10 that performs processes related to the deposit and dispensing of coins, but the banknote processing device is omitted in Figures 2(A) and (B). Therefore, Figures 2(A) and (B) show only the internal structure of the coin processing device 10.

[0016] The coin processing device 10 is compatible with six types of coins, for example, 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen. This coin processing device 10 is provided with a sloped coin insertion section 11 that is connected to the coin insertion slot 7 and extends downward, located toward the right of the upper front side of the device housing 2. Below this coin insertion section 11, there is provided a coin dispensing section 12 that dispenses coins that have passed through the coin insertion section 11 one by one to the rear. This coin dispensing section 12 has an ejection port on the rear side, and is designed to dispense coins to the rear from this ejection port.

[0017] A deposit transport unit 14 is provided behind the coin payout unit 12, and a coin sending unit 13 is provided at the connection between the outlet of the coin payout unit 12 and the deposit transport unit 14, which sends out coins paid out from the coin payout unit 12 one by one to the deposit transport unit 14. The coin sending unit 13 is configured to sandwich the coins between rollers arranged opposite each other in the vertical direction, for example, and send them out one by one.

[0018] Here, a cross-sectional view of the coin processing device 10 taken along the AA cutting line (a cutting line passing above the deposited money transport unit 14) in Fig. 2(B) is shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows the deposited money transport unit 14 as seen from above.

[0019] 3, the deposit transport unit 14 has a transport path R through which the coins Ci pass. The transport path R is generally annular and is made up of a first portion R1 extending diagonally rearward from the coin discharge unit 13, a second portion R2 extending leftward from the end of the first portion R1, a third portion R3 extending rearward from the end of the second portion R2, a fourth portion R4 extending rightward from the end of the third portion R3, and a fifth portion R5 extending forward from the end of the fourth portion R4.

[0020] The deposit transport unit 14 also has a pin belt 31 for transporting the coins Ci along the transport path R. The pin belt 31 has a transport belt 31b that runs above the transport path R along the transport path R, and rod-shaped transport pins 31p that extend downward from the transport belt 31b toward the transport path R. The deposit transport unit 14 transports the coins Ci sent from the coin sending unit 13 onto the transport path R by pushing them with the transport pins 31p while running the transport belt 31b along the transport path R.

[0021] In addition, in the third portion R3 of the conveying path R, a coin verification unit 32, a reject gate 33, and a denomination-specific gate 34a are provided in this order from the upstream side in the conveying direction (i.e., the front side). In addition, in the fifth portion R5 of the conveying path R, denomination-specific gates 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, and 34f are provided in this order from the upstream side in the conveying direction (i.e., the rear side).

[0022] The coin recognition unit 32 has a discrimination function for discriminating the denomination of the coin Ci transported along the transport path R and for discriminating whether or not the coin is normal. Note that a coin that is determined to be an abnormal coin that can be deposited in the coin processing device 10 (i.e., a coin that cannot be deposited in the coin processing device 10) is called a rejected coin.

[0023] The reject gate 33 is a gate for sorting rejected coins. By opening and closing, the reject gate 33 allows the coin Ci transported along the transport path R to be transported along the transport path R as is, or sorts (drops) the coin Ci into the reject chute 15 (see FIGS. 2(A) and (B)) located below the reject gate 33.

[0024] The denomination-specific gates 34a to 34f are gates for distributing coins Ci (more specifically, normal coins that can be deposited) according to their denominations. By opening and closing, these denomination-specific gates 34a to 34f allow the coins Ci transported along the transport path R to be transported along the transport path R as is, or to distribute (drop) the coins Ci to the denomination-specific chutes 16a to 16f located below them.

[0025] As shown in Figure 2 in addition to Figure 3, the denomination-specific chutes 16a to 16f each extend from the deposit transport section 14 to the denomination-specific withdrawal hoppers 17a to 17f located below the deposit transport section 14, and guide the coins sorted by the denomination-specific gates 34a to 34f to the denomination-specific withdrawal hoppers 17a to 17f.

[0026] Each of the denomination-specific dispensing hoppers 17a to 17f has the function of storing coins and the function of dispensing the stored coins one by one, and is configured to dispense the stored coins one by one to the horizontal dispensing transport section 18 located below.

[0027] The reject chute 15 extends from the deposit transport section 14 to the horizontal withdrawal transport section 18 and guides rejected coins sorted by the reject gate 33 to the horizontal withdrawal transport section 18.

[0028] The horizontal dispensing conveying unit 18 has a conveying belt that can travel in the front-rear direction, and conveys coins dispensed from the denomination-specific dispensing hoppers 17a-17f and rejected coins guided by the reject chute 15 to the front (specifically, near the front surface 2a of the device housing 2) by the conveying belt. The front part of this horizontal dispensing conveying unit 18 is connected to a collection box 19 located below the horizontal dispensing conveying unit 18, and a lift dispensing conveying unit 20 that extends upward from the front part of the horizontal dispensing conveying unit 18. The horizontal dispensing conveying unit 18 is capable of switching the destination of coins between the collection box 19 and the lift dispensing conveying unit 20.

[0029] The collection box 19 stores, as collected coins, the coins transported by the horizontal dispensing transport unit 18. The lift dispensing transport unit 20 transports the coins transported by the horizontal dispensing transport unit 18 to the coin dispensing port 8 (see FIG. 1) located above.

[0030] A control unit (not shown) that controls the entire coin processing device 10, stores various information, etc. is provided at a predetermined position inside the device housing 2. The internal structure of the coin processing device 10 is as described above.

[0031] Here, a brief description will be given of the deposit operation as an operation of the coin processing device 10. Note that this deposit operation is an operation controlled by the control unit.

[0032] When depositing coins, a user inserts the coins they wish to deposit into the coin slot 7. The coins inserted into the coin slot 7 pass through the coin insertion section 11, are fed out from the coin feeding section 12, and are sent out one by one by the coin feeding section 13 to the conveying path R of the deposit conveying section 14. The coins sent out to the conveying path R are conveyed by the pin belt 31, and are identified by the coin recognition section 32 as to their denomination and whether they are normal or abnormal.

[0033] Here, when the inserted coin is determined to be a rejected coin by the coin recognition unit 32, the control unit opens the reject gate 33. As a result, the rejected coin is sent from the conveyance path R through the reject chute 15 to the horizontal dispensing conveyance unit 18. The rejected coin sent to the horizontal dispensing conveyance unit 18 is sent to the lift dispensing conveyance unit 20 and conveyed to the coin dispensing port 8. The rejected coin conveyed to the coin dispensing port 8 is released from the coin dispensing port 8 and accumulated on the dispensing tray 9.

[0034] In this manner, the coin processing device 10 is configured to return, to the user, any coins that are determined to be rejected coins among those inserted by the user by conveying them to the coin dispensing port 8.

[0035] On the other hand, when the inserted coin is determined to be a normal coin by the coin recognition unit 32, the control unit then opens the denomination-specific gate among the denomination-specific gates 34a to 34f corresponding to the denomination determined by the coin recognition unit 32. As a result, the normal coin passes through the denomination-specific chute corresponding to the coin's denomination (i.e., any of the denomination-specific chutes 16a to 16f) and is stored in the denomination-specific dispensing hopper corresponding to the coin's denomination (i.e., any of the denomination-specific dispensing hoppers 17a to 17f).

[0036] In this way, the coin processing device 10 stores, among the coins inserted by the user, those that are determined to be normal coins in the denomination-specific dispensing hopper that corresponds to the denomination determined by the coin recognition unit 32. The depositing operation of the coin processing device 10 is as described above.

[0037] Next, the dispensing operation will be described. This dispensing operation is also an operation controlled by the control unit. When coins are dispensed, the control unit, when the number of coins of each denomination to be dispensed is specified, dispenses the specified number of coins of each denomination from each of the denomination-specific dispensing hoppers 17a to 17f. The coins dispensed from each of the denomination-specific dispensing hoppers 17a to 17f are sent from the horizontal dispensing transport unit 18 to the lift dispensing transport unit 20, and are transported to the coin dispensing port 8. The coins transported to the coin dispensing port 8 are released from the coin dispensing port 8 and accumulated on the dispensing tray 9. The dispensing operation of the coin processing device 10 is as described above.

[0038] In addition, during the collection operation of the coin processing device 10, the control unit dispenses the stored coins from each of the denomination-specific dispensing hoppers 17a to 17f, transports the dispensed coins to the collection box 19 by the horizontal dispensing transport unit 18, and stores the coins in the collection box 19.

[0039] [1-3. Configuration of the coin withdrawal port surrounding area] Next, a more detailed description will be given of the configuration of the peripheral portion of the coin dispensing port 8. Here, as the peripheral portion of the coin dispensing port 8, a portion that transports coins to the coin dispensing port 8 and discharges them from the coin dispensing port 8 to the dispensing tray 9 will be described.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 2(A), coins sent from the horizontal dispensing transport unit 18 are transported to the coin dispensing port 8 by the lift dispensing transport unit 20. The lift dispensing transport unit 20 has two transport belts 20A and 20B, which transport the coins by sandwiching them between them in the thickness direction.

[0041] Specifically, the lift withdrawal transport section 20 passes through the left side of the device housing 2 (the left side of the coin withdrawal port 8) and transports the coins upward to a height approximately the same as that of the coin withdrawal port 8, and then transports the coins in a rightward direction toward the coin withdrawal port 8.

[0042] Here, a cross-sectional view of the coin processing device 10 taken along the BB section line in Fig. 2(A) (a section line passing above the lift dispensing transport unit 20) is shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows the lift dispensing transport unit 20 as viewed from above. Note that the coin discharge port 40 shown in Fig. 4 is an opening located diagonally above and behind the coin dispensing port 8, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 5, and coins discharged from this coin discharge port 40 are arranged to pass through the coin dispensing port 8 and accumulate in the dispensing tray 9.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4, the lift dispensing transport section 20 transports coins in a right direction (indicated by an arrow Ar1 in the figure) approaching the coin discharge port 40, with the coins sandwiched between the upper transport belt 20A and the lower transport belt 20B on the left side of the coin discharge port 40. Here, the upper transport belt 20A is turned back to the left at a predetermined point P1 near the left side of the coin discharge port 40, while the lower transport belt 20B passes behind the coin discharge port 40 and extends to the right side of the coin discharge port 40. In addition, a front guide 41f and a rear guide 41b are provided in front of and behind the transport belt 20B, respectively, which extend along the transport belt 20B. A part of the front guide 41f is notched, and the coin discharge port 40 is provided in this part.

[0044] Furthermore, a corner guide 42 is provided behind the coin discharge port 40 to smoothly switch the conveying direction of the coins conveyed to the right by the conveyor belt 20B from the right to the forward direction toward the coin discharge port 40. This corner guide 42 is provided on the conveyor belt 20B with a small gap (a gap narrower than the thickness of the thinnest coin, for example, a 1-yen coin) and has a guide surface 42s that extends in an arc shape from a predetermined position P2 of the rear guide 41b (a position closer to the left end than the right end of the coin discharge port 40) toward the right end of the coin discharge port 40.

[0045] A gap is provided between the front end of the guide surface 42s of the corner guide 42 and the right end of the coin discharge port 40, and a guide plate 43 is provided in this gap. The guide plate 43 has a guide surface 43s that is located on an extension of the guide surface 42s of the corner guide 42 and forms the right end of the coin discharge port 40.

[0046] Here, a cross-sectional view of the coin processing device 10 taken along the CC cutting line in Fig. 2(B) (a cutting line passing through the center of the dispensing tray 9 in the left-right direction) is shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the portion from the coin discharge port 40 to the dispensing tray 9 as viewed from the right. As shown in Fig. 5, the dispensing tray 9 is provided diagonally below and in front of the coin discharge port 40, and further, between the coin discharge port 40 and the dispensing tray 9, there are provided the coin discharge port 8 and a guide unit 50 that guides coins discharged forward from the coin discharge port 40 to the dispensing tray 9 through the coin discharge port 8.

[0047] The dispensing tray 9 has a stacking section 60 for stacking coins. The stacking section 60 has a central section 60c that is the deepest, and an upward inclined surface 60s is provided from the central section 60c toward the outer periphery. The central section 60c and the inclined surface 60s are collectively referred to as the bottom of the stacking section 60.

[0048] The guide section 50 has a lower guide 51 that connects the lower end side of the coin discharge port 40 and the inclined surface 60s on the rear side (coin withdrawal port 8 side) of the accumulation section 60, and an upper guide 52 that is located above the rear side of the lower guide 51 and connects the upper end side of the coin discharge port 40 and the upper end side of the coin withdrawal port 8.

[0049] The upper guide 52 is a plate-like member extending obliquely downward and forward from the upper end side of the coin discharge port 40 toward the upper end side of the coin dispensing port 8, and is parallel to the rear portion of the lower guide 51. In other words, the coin dispensing port 8 is provided between the front end of this upper guide 52 and the lower guide 51. This upper guide 52 is attached to a dispensing tray cover 53 located above the rear side of the dispensing tray 9, and guides coins discharged from the coin discharge port 40 together with the lower guide 51 toward the coin dispensing port 8 (i.e., obliquely downward and forward).

[0050] The lower guide 51 has a rear portion close to the coin discharge port 40 that is one step higher than the rear inclined surface 60s of the stacking unit 60 of the dispensing tray 9, and forms an inclined surface 51s that is approximately parallel to the inclined surface 60s and inclined from the coin discharge port 40 toward the stacking unit 60. The lower guide 51 also has a step 51t between the inclined surface 51s and the rear inclined surface 60s of the stacking unit 60. In other words, the step 51t is an inclined surface that inclines from the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 toward the inclined surface 60s of the stacking unit 60.

[0051] The coin dispensing port 8 is provided on the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51. A coin discharged from the coin discharge port 40 is dropped onto the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 by the upper guide 52, passes through the coin dispensing port 8 while sliding down the inclined surface 51s, and slides down the inclined surface 51s and the step 51t of the lower guide 51 to be accumulated in the accumulation section 60 of the dispensing tray 9.

[0052] Incidentally, the lower guide 51 may be provided in whole or in part integral with the stacking unit 60 of the coin-dispensing tray 9, or may be provided in whole or in part as a separate component from the stacking unit 60. The upper guide 52 may be provided in whole or in part with the coin-dispensing tray cover 53, or may be provided as a separate component from the coin-dispensing tray cover 53.

[0053] Furthermore, on the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51, a protrusion 51p is provided between the coin dispensing port 8 and the step 51t, protruding upward from the inclined surface 51s. The protrusion 51p comes into contact with the coins that have slid down on the inclined surface 51s, and distributes the coins in the left-right direction and discharges them to the dispensing tray 9. As shown in FIG. 6, which is a perspective view of the lower guide 51 seen obliquely from above and in the front, the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 has a maximum width (length in the left-right direction) Dx of the front portion where the protrusion 51p is provided, which is sufficiently larger than the diameter of a 500 yen coin, which is the largest diameter coin among the coins dispensed from the coin processing device 10, in order to guide the coins distributed in the left-right direction by the protrusion 51p to the dispensing tray 9 via the step 51t. Specifically, the maximum width Dx of the front portion of the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 is, for example, twice or more the diameter of a 500 yen coin. The width of the lower guide 51 is narrower than the width of the stacking portion 60 of the coin-dispensing tray 9 .

[0054] As shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 which is an enlarged view of a part (lower guide 51) of Fig. 5, the protrusion 51p is in the shape of a rib extending from the vicinity of the coin dispensing port 8 to the step 51t along the direction (diagonally downward forward) from the coin dispensing port 40 toward the dispensing tray 9, and has a trapezoidal cross section as viewed in the longitudinal direction. The protrusion 51p has a triangular cross section as viewed in the width direction (short direction), with the rear part of the upper surface 51ps inclined upward relative to the inclined surface 51s, and the front part inclined downward relative to the inclined surface 51s. The width (length in the left-right direction) D1 of the upper surface 51ps of the protrusion 51p is sufficiently shorter (specifically, 1 to 2 mm) than the diameter (20.0 mm) of the smallest diameter 1-yen coin.

[0055] 6, the protrusion 51p is provided obliquely below and in front of the coin discharge port 40 (i.e., in the coin passage), and is provided at a distance D2 to the left of the reference position P3 when the coin is discharged from the coin discharge port 40 (i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the coin discharge direction when discharged from the coin discharge port 40), with the left-right position of the guide surface 43s of the guide plate 43 (i.e., the right end position of the coin discharge port 40, where the peripheral side of the coin comes into contact when the coin is discharged from the coin discharge port 40) being set as the reference position P3 when the coin is discharged from the coin discharge port 40. Note that this distance D2 is the distance from the reference position P3 to the center position P4 in the width direction of the protrusion 51p.

[0056] In this embodiment, the distance D2 is approximately the same length as the radius of the 100 yen coin, which has the third largest diameter among the six types of coins.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 7, the length (i.e., height) D3 of the protrusion 51p from the inclined surface 51s to the top is, for example, about 2 to 3 mm, and the rear inclination angle (i.e., the coin entry angle) θ1 is, for example, 10 to 20 degrees.

[0058] The inclination of the front side of the protrusion 51p is on the same plane as the step 51t and is provided on the extension of the step 51t. The height D4 of the step 51t is large enough so that even if coins are piled up in the stacking unit 60, the coins do not interfere with the stacking of subsequent coins. In this embodiment, for example, a maximum of about 50 coins can be stacked in the stacking unit 60, and the height D4 of the step 51t is 10 mm or more.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 6, a protrusion 51r is provided on each of the left and right sides of the protrusion 51p at a fixed distance from the protrusion 51p. The protrusion 51r extends in the same direction as the protrusion 51p and is sufficiently lower in height than the protrusion 51p. The protrusion 51r is intended to reduce friction between the plate surface of the coin Ci and the inclined surface 51s when the coin Ci slides down on the inclined surface 51s, making it easier for the coin Ci to slide down. The protrusion 51r may be omitted.

[0060] 5 and 8, which is a perspective view of the dispensing tray 9 seen obliquely from above and ahead, a visor portion 54 is provided on the front side of the upper guide 52, facing and disposed above the front side (dispensing tray 9 side) of the lower guide 51. The visor portion 54 covers and conceals the passage of coins from the coin dispensing port 8 to the dispensing tray 9. The visor portion 54 is a plate-like member having a substantially L-shaped cross section as seen from the left and right direction, and is composed of a visor 55 extending obliquely downward and ahead from the upper end side of the coin dispensing port 8 (i.e., extending from the upper end side of the coin dispensing port 8 toward the dispensing tray 9) and a fixing portion 56 extending upward from the rear end side of the visor 55 (i.e., the upper end side of the coin dispensing port 8), and is attached to the dispensing tray cover 53 by fixing the fixing portion 56 to the dispensing tray cover 53. The visor portion 54 may be integrally molded as a part of the dispensing tray cover 53.

[0061] The eaves 55 is provided on an extension of the upper guide 52, and covers the passage of coins from the coin dispensing port 8 to the dispensing tray 9, and guides the coins discharged from the coin dispensing port 8 to the dispensing tray 9 together with the lower guide 51. The inclined surface 55s on the back side of the eaves 55 (i.e., the inclined surface facing the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51) is parallel to the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51. In this embodiment, the inclined surface 55s of the eaves 55 is parallel to the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 (i.e., the eaves 55 is shaped so that the distance between the inclined surface 55s and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 is constant), but the present invention is not limited to this, and the eaves 55 may be shaped so that the distance between the inclined surface 55s and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 becomes wider as it approaches the dispensing tray 9 (i.e., a flared shape).

[0062] Also, the eaves 55 extends from the coin dispensing port 8 to above the inclined surface 60s on the rear side of the stacking unit 60. In other words, the tip of the eaves 55 is located closer to the inclined surface 60s of the stacking unit 60 (toward the bottom of the stacking unit 60) than the front end of the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51. In other words, the eaves 55 is shaped such that the distance between the inclined surface 55s and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 is constant on the rear side (the coin dispensing port 8 side) (or the distance between the inclined surface 55s and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 becomes wider as it approaches the dispensing tray 9), and the distance between the inclined surface 55s and the step 51t of the lower guide 51 becomes wider as it approaches the dispensing tray 9 on the front side (the dispensing tray 9 side).

[0063] 7, the distance Da between the inclined surface 55s of the eaves 55 and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 is equal to or smaller than the average thickness of the second joint of an adult's finger (specifically, for example, about 10 mm to 12 mm). This distance Da is set so that the coin will not come into contact with the inclined surface 55s of the eaves 55 even if the coin rides up on the protrusion 51p and is ejected so as to bounce. On the other hand, this distance Da is more than twice the thickness (1.8 mm) of a 500 yen coin, which is the thickest coin among the coins dispensed from the coin processing device 10.

[0064] 5, the length Db from the coin discharge port 40 to the tip of the eaves 55 is equal to or greater than the average length from the tip to the second joint of an adult's finger (specifically, for example, about 40 mm to 60 mm). The reason for this dimension will be described later. Furthermore, the distance Dc between the inclined surface 55s of the eaves 55 and the step 51t of the lower guide 51 is greater than the distance Da, and gradually increases as it approaches the tip of the inclined surface 55s of the eaves 55.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 8, the eaves 55 is provided on the rear end side of the stacking unit 60 and has a width almost equal to the width of the rear end side of the stacking unit 60. The coin dispensing port 8 is provided near the center of the rear end side of the stacking unit 60 in the width direction (left-right direction) and has a width narrower than the width of the rear end side of the stacking unit 60. The eaves 55 is, for example, substantially trapezoidal in shape with a narrower width on the front end side than on the rear end side, and is wider than the lower guide 51, and is provided so as to cover at least the upper part of the coin dispensing port 8 and the lower guide 51 when viewed from a user facing the front side of the depositing / dispensing machine 1. Here, the eaves 55 is substantially trapezoidal when viewed from above, but is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, substantially rectangular or substantially semicircular. The configuration of the periphery of the coin dispensing port 8 is as described above.

[0066] [1-4. Operation when withdrawing coins] Next, the operations performed when dispensing coins will be described, including the operation of transporting the coin to the coin dispensing port 8 and dispensing it from the coin dispensing port 8 to the dispensing tray 9, and the operation performed when a hand is placed under the canopy 55 when dispensing the coin to the dispensing tray 9.

[0067] 9, the lift dispensing transport unit 20 sandwiches the coin between transport belts 20A and 20B and transports the coin in a rightward direction (indicated by arrow Ar1 in the figure) approaching the coin discharge port 40. The coin sandwiched and transported between the upper transport belt 20A and the lower transport belt 20B separates from the upper transport belt 20A at a predetermined position P1, and is transported in a rightward direction from here while placed on the lower transport belt 20B.

[0068] The coin Ci conveyed to the right by the conveyor belt 20B curves forward along the guide surface 42s as the peripheral side of the coin Ci abuts against the guide surface 42s of the corner guide 42, and is guided to the vicinity of the coin discharge port 40. Thereafter, the coin Ci is guided to the coin discharge port 40 as the peripheral side of the coin Ci abuts against the guide surface 43s of the guide plate 43 located at the right end of the coin discharge port 40, and is discharged forward from the coin discharge port 40.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 10, a coin Ci discharged forward from the coin discharge port 40 comes into contact with the upper guide 52 and is dropped onto the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51, and passes through the coin withdrawal port 8 (i.e., is discharged from the coin withdrawal port 8) as the plate surface comes into contact with the inclined surface 51s and slides down the inclined surface 51s.

[0070] As shown in Fig. 11, the coin Ci discharged from the coin dispensing port 8 runs onto a protrusion 51p provided on the inclined surface 51s. At this time, if the center of gravity Pg of the coin Ci is substantially the same as the center position P4 in the width direction of the protrusion 51p (i.e., if the radius of the coin Ci is approximately the same as the distance D2), the coin Ci slides forward on the protrusion 51p as it is, is discharged forward, and is accumulated in the accumulation section 60 of the dispensing tray 9. That is, in this case, the discharge direction of the coin Ci is the forward direction.

[0071] 12, when the center of gravity Pg of the coin Ci is shifted leftward from the center position P4 of the width direction of the protrusion 51p (i.e., when the radius of the coin Ci is greater than the distance D2), the coin Ci that has climbed up onto the protrusion 51p loses balance and tilts to the left of the protrusion 51p, sliding down while contacting the protrusion 51p and the inclined surface 51s on the left side of the protrusion 51p, and is thereby discharged diagonally forward to the left and accumulated in the accumulation section 60 of the dispensing tray 9. That is, in this case, the discharge direction of the coin Ci has changed from the front direction to the diagonally forward to the left by the protrusion 51p.

[0072] 13, when the center of gravity Pg of the coin Ci is shifted to the right from the center position P4 of the width direction of the protrusion 51p (i.e., when the radius of the coin Ci is smaller than the distance D2), the coin Ci that has climbed up onto the protrusion 51p loses balance and tilts to the right of the protrusion 51p, sliding down while contacting the protrusion 51p and the inclined surface 51s on the right side of the protrusion 51p, and is thereby discharged diagonally forward to the right and accumulated in the accumulation section 60 of the dispensing tray 9. That is, in this case, the discharge direction of the coin Ci has changed from the front direction to the diagonally forward to the right by the protrusion 51p.

[0073] Specifically, when the coin Ci is a 100 yen coin, as shown in FIG. 11, the center of gravity Pg of the coin Ci is approximately the same as the widthwise center position P4 of the protrusion 51p, so that the coin Ci slides forward along the protrusion 51p and is released forward.

[0074] Furthermore, if the coin Ci is a 10 yen coin or a 500 yen coin, which have a larger diameter than a 100 yen coin, as shown in Figure 12, the center of gravity Pg of the coin Ci is shifted to the left from the widthwise center position P4 of the protrusion 51p, so that the coin Ci loses balance and tilts to the left of the protrusion 51p and slides down, and is released diagonally forward to the left.

[0075] Furthermore, if the coin Ci is a 1 yen coin, a 5 yen coin, or a 50 yen coin, which have a smaller diameter than a 100 yen coin, as shown in Figure 13, the center of gravity Pg of the coin Ci is shifted to the right from the widthwise center position P4 of the protrusion 51p, so that the coin Ci loses balance and slides down while tilting to the right of the protrusion 51p, and is released diagonally forward to the right.

[0076] 14 shows a perspective view of the dispensing tray 9 as seen obliquely from above and ahead (with the visor 55 omitted). As shown in this Fig. 14, the coin dispensing port 8 is provided near the center of the width direction (left-right direction) of the accumulation section 60, and as described above, the 100-yen coin Ci100 is discharged directly forward through the coin dispensing port 8, and is therefore accumulated in approximately the center of the accumulation section 60 of the dispensing tray 9, which is located in front of the coin dispensing port 8. Also, the 10-yen coin Ci10 and the 500-yen coin Ci500, which are larger in diameter than the 100-yen coin, are discharged obliquely forward and leftward through the coin dispensing port 8, and are therefore accumulated in the left part of the accumulation section 60 of the dispensing tray 9. Furthermore, 1 yen coins Ci1, 5 yen coins Ci5, and 50 yen coins (omitted from FIG. 14) that are smaller in diameter than 100 yen coins are discharged diagonally to the right and forward through the coin dispensing port 8, and are therefore accumulated on the right side of the accumulation section 60 of the dispensing tray 9. The operations of transporting coins to the coin dispensing port 8 and discharging them from the coin dispensing port 8 to the dispensing tray 9 are as described above.

[0077] Next, the operation when a hand is placed under the eaves 55 when discharging a coin to the dispensing tray 9 will be described. Here, FIG. 15 shows a case where a user places a hand (specifically, a finger Th) under the tip of the eaves 55 so as to block the gap between the eaves 55 and the lower guide 51 in order to wait for the coin. In this case, the coin discharged from the coin dispensing port 8 slides down obliquely forward and downward while riding on the protrusion 51p provided on the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51, as described above. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15, if a finger Th is placed under the tip of the eaves 55, the coin CiA that slides down is blocked by the finger Th and stays under the tip of the eaves 55 (for example, on the step 51t of the lower guide 51).

[0078] Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 16, the following coin CiB slides down obliquely forward while climbing up onto the protrusion 51p provided on the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51. Then, assume that this coin CiB collides with the previous coin CiA that is staying under the tip of the canopy 55. Here, the distance Da (see Fig. 7) between the inclined surface 55s of the canopy 55 and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 is more than twice the thickness of a 500 yen coin as described above, and is sufficiently wider than the thickness of the coin Ci (1.5 mm to 1.8 mm). Furthermore, the distance Dc (see Fig. 7) between the inclined surface 55s of the canopy 55 and the step 51t of the lower guide 51 is greater than the distance Da and increases as it approaches the tip of the canopy 55.

[0079] In this way, there is a sufficient gap between the canopy 55 and the lower guide 51 so that when a subsequent coin CiB collides with the previous coin CiA that remains below the tip of the canopy 55, the subsequent coin CiB moves up above the previous coin CiA.

[0080] For this reason, when the succeeding coin CiB collides with the previous coin CiA that is staying under the tip of the eaves 55, for example, the succeeding coin CiB moves so as to climb up above the previous coin CiA. In this case, the previous coin CiA and the succeeding coin CiB stay overlapping each other under the tip of the eaves 55. At this time, these two coins CiA and CiB naturally slide down into the stacking section 60 when the finger Th is released, and no coin jamming occurs between the eaves 55 and the lower guide 51.

[0081] Furthermore, even if a subsequent coin is released, there is a sufficient gap between these two coins CiA, CiB and the visor 55, so that, for example, the subsequent coin will move so as to ride up above the previous coins CiA, CiB, and no coin jamming will occur.

[0082] On the other hand, the canopy 55 and the lower guide 51 have a width (see maximum width Dx shown in Figure 6) sufficient to allow the subsequent coin CiB to move in a manner that distributes it to the left or right side of the previous coin CiA when the subsequent coin CiB collides with the previous coin CiA that remains under the tip portion of the canopy 55.

[0083] For this reason, when a subsequent coin CiB collides with a previous coin CiA that is staying under the tip of the eaves 55, for example, the subsequent coin CiB moves so as to be distributed to the left or right side of the previous coin CiA. Here, as shown in FIG. 17, for example, when a plurality of fingers Th are blocking the space between the eaves 55 and the lower guide 51, the previous coin CiA and the subsequent coin CiB stay lined up in the left-right direction under the tip of the eaves 55. At this time, these two coins CiA and CiB naturally slide down into the accumulation section 60 when the fingers Th are removed, and no coin jamming occurs between the eaves 55 and the lower guide 51.

[0084] Furthermore, even if a subsequent coin is released, there is a sufficient gap between these two coins CiA, CiB and the canopy 55, so, for example, the subsequent coin will move so as to ride up above the previous coins CiA, CiB, and no coin jamming will occur.

[0085] 18, for example, if one finger Th partially blocks the space between the eaves 55 and the lower guide 51, the following coin CiB that has been sorted to the left or right of the previous coin CiA slides down through the left or right side (left side in FIG. 18) of the blocking finger Th into the stacking unit 60. In this case, the remaining coin CiA naturally slides down into the stacking unit 60 when the finger Th is released, and no coin jamming occurs between the eaves 55 and the lower guide 51.

[0086] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the distance Da between the inclined surface 55s of the eaves 55 and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 is less than the average thickness of the second joint of an adult's finger (specifically, for example, about 10 mm to 12 mm), and the length Db from the coin discharge port 40 to the tip of the eaves 55 is greater than the average length from the tip of an adult's finger to the second joint (specifically, for example, about 40 mm to 60 mm).

[0087] 19, even if a finger Th is inserted between the visor 55 and the lower guide 51 in the direction from the tip of the visor 55 toward the back (the coin discharge port 40 side), the finger can only be inserted up to the second joint, and the fingertip does not reach the coin discharge port 40. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which the fingertip reaches the coin discharge port 40 and causes injury.

[0088] 20, when a foreign object Fo falls from above the dispensing tray 9, the foreign object Fo is received by the eaves 55, so that it is possible to prevent the foreign object Fo from colliding with the coins being dispensed. This prevents the foreign object Fo from colliding with the coins being dispensed and causing the coins to be thrown in an unintended direction, and allows the coins to be properly piled up in the stacking section 60.

[0089] [1-5. Summary and Effects] As described above, in the first embodiment, the depositing / dispensing machine 1 serving as a currency handling device is provided with the coin processing device 10 and the operation display unit 4. Furthermore, this coin processing device 10 is provided with the coin dispensing port 8 as a dispensing port for dispensing coins, the dispensing tray 9 for storing coins dispensed from the coin dispensing port 8, the lower guide 51 as a guide unit for guiding the coins dispensed from the coin dispensing port 8 to the dispensing tray 9, and the eaves unit 54 that is provided above the lower guide 51 so as to face the lower guide 51 and cover the upper part of the lower guide 51.

[0090] The lower guide 51 has an inclined surface 51s as a first inclined surface extending from the lower side of the coin dispensing port 8 in the coin dispensing direction, and a step 51t as a second inclined surface inclined relative to the inclined surface 51s toward the central portion 60c which is the bottom of the dispensing tray 9. Furthermore, the overhanging portion 54 has a shape in which the distance between the step 51t and an inclined surface 55s as an opposing surface which is the surface opposing the lower guide 51 is wider than the distance between the inclined surface 55s and the inclined surface 51s.

[0091] By doing this, in the coin processing device 10, even if a hand is placed under the eaves portion 54 (specifically, under the eaves 55) as if waiting for a coin, the distance between the eaves portion 54 and the lower guide 51 is wider on the dispensing tray 9 side than on the coin dispensing port 8 side, so that space is secured between the eaves portion 54 and the lower guide 51 in which coins can move freely in the vertical direction, thereby preventing coins from getting jammed at the back side of the eaves portion 54 (i.e. between the eaves portion 54 and the lower guide 51).

[0092] Furthermore, the width of the lower guide 51 and the overhanging portion 54 is more than twice the diameter of a 500 yen coin, which is the largest diameter coin. By doing so, in the coin processing device 10, even if a hand is placed under the overhanging portion 54 (specifically, under the overhanging portion 55) as if waiting for a coin, the width of the overhanging portion 54 and the lower guide 51 is larger than the diameter of the coin, so that a space is secured between the overhanging portion 54 and the lower guide 51 in which the coin can move freely in the left-right direction, thereby preventing the occurrence of a coin jam on the back side of the overhanging portion 54 (i.e., between the overhanging portion 54 and the lower guide 51).

[0093] 2. Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment mainly in the shapes of the upper guide 52 and the eaves portion 54. Therefore, the upper guide 52 and the eaves portion 54 will be mainly described here. In order to distinguish it from the first embodiment, the upper guide 52 and the eaves portion 54 of the second embodiment will be referred to as the upper guide 152 and the eaves portion 154, respectively, hereinafter.

[0094] [2-1. Configuration of the coin withdrawal port surrounding area] Fig. 21 shows the periphery of the coin dispensing port 8. As shown in Fig. 21, the guide section 50 has a lower guide 51 that connects the lower end side of the coin dispensing port 40 and the inclined surface 60s on the rear side (the coin dispensing port 8 side) of the accumulation section 60, and an upper guide 152 that is located above the rear side of the lower guide 51 and connects the upper end side of the coin dispensing port 40 and the upper end side of the coin dispensing port 8.

[0095] The upper guide 152 is a plate-like member extending obliquely downward and forward from the upper end side of the coin discharge port 40 toward the upper end side of the coin dispensing port 8. The upper guide 152 is shaped so that the distance between the upper guide 152 and the lower guide 51 becomes narrower as it approaches the coin dispensing port 8. For this reason, in the second embodiment, the vertical distance of the coin dispensing port 8 located between the front end of the upper guide 152 and the lower guide 51 is narrower than that in the first embodiment. For example, in the first embodiment, the vertical distance of the coin dispensing port 8 is equal to or smaller than the average thickness of the second joint of an adult's finger (specifically, for example, about 10 mm to 12 mm), whereas in the second embodiment, the vertical distance of the coin dispensing port 8 is narrower than the average thickness of the second joint of a child's finger (specifically, for example, about 5 mm). The lower guide 51 is the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0096] 21 and 22, a visor portion 154 is provided on the front side of the upper guide 152, facing above the front side (dispensing tray 9 side) of the lower guide 51. The visor portion 154 covers the path of the coins from the coin dispensing port 8 to the dispensing tray 9. The visor portion 154 is composed of a fixed portion 156 extending upward from the upper end side of the coin dispensing port 8, and a visor 155 extending diagonally downward and forward from the fixed portion 156, and is attached to the dispensing tray cover 53 by fixing the fixed portion 156 to the dispensing tray cover 53. The visor portion 154 may be integrally molded as a part of the dispensing tray cover 53.

[0097] The eaves 155 is composed of a rear part 155b extending forward from the fixed part 156, and a front part 155a extending diagonally downward from the front end of the rear part 155b, and is a plate-like member whose cross section viewed from the left and right direction as a whole is substantially L-shaped. The eaves 155 covers the path of coins from the coin dispensing port 8 to the dispensing tray 9, and guides coins discharged from the coin dispensing port 8 to the dispensing tray 9 together with the lower guide 51.

[0098] In this canopy 155, a backside inclined surface 155as of the front portion 155a is parallel to the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51, whereas a backside surface 155bs of the rear portion 155b is a substantially horizontal surface. Also, the canopy 155 extends from the coin dispensing port 8 to above the rear side inclined surface 60s of the stacking unit 60. In other words, the tip of the front portion 155a of the canopy 155 is located closer to the inclined surface 60s of the stacking unit 60 than the front end of the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51.

[0099] That is, at the rear portion 155b, the eaves 155 is shaped so that the distance between the back surface 155bs and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 gradually increases as it approaches the dispensing tray 9. Also, at the front portion 155a, the eaves 155 is shaped so that the distance between the inclined surface 155as and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 is constant at the rear side (the coin dispensing port 8 side), and the distance between the inclined surface 155as and the step 51t of the lower guide 51 increases at the front side (the dispensing tray 9 side) as it approaches the dispensing tray 9.

[0100] 21, the distance Dj between the inclined surface 155s of the front portion 155a of the canopy 155 and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 is wider than the distance Da (see FIG. 7) in the first embodiment. Similarly, the distance Dk between the inclined surface 155s of the front portion 155a of the canopy 155 and the step 51t of the lower guide 51 is also wider than the distance Dc in the first embodiment.

[0101] In this way, if the distances Dj, Dk are large, it is possible to insert fingers between the eaves 155 and the lower guide 51, but in the second embodiment, the coin dispensing opening 8 is sufficiently narrower than that in the first embodiment, so that fingers can only be inserted up to the coin dispensing opening 8. For this reason, in the second embodiment, it is possible to more reliably prevent a situation in which a fingertip reaches the coin discharge opening 40 and causes injury, compared to the first embodiment.

[0102] The distance Dj is slightly smaller than the diameter (20 mm) of a 1 yen coin, which is the smallest coin. This prevents a coin from being stuck between the inclined surface 155s of the front part 155a of the canopy 155 and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51, causing a jam. The distance Dj is set so that the coin will not come into contact with the inclined surface 155s of the canopy 155 even if the coin rides up on the protrusion 51p and is released in a bouncing manner.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 22, the eaves 155 is provided on the rear end side of the stacking unit 60 and has a width approximately equal to the width of the rear end side of the stacking unit 60. The eaves 155 is, for example, approximately trapezoidal in shape with a narrower width at the front end side than at the rear end side, and is wider than the lower guide 51, and is provided so as to cover at least the upper part of the coin dispensing port 8 and the lower guide 51 when viewed from the front of the depositing / dispensing machine 1. The widths of the eaves 155 and the lower guide 51 are approximately the same as those in the first embodiment. Here, the eaves 155 is approximately trapezoidal when viewed from above, but is not limited to this, and may be, for example, approximately rectangular or approximately semicircular. The configuration of the periphery of the coin dispensing port 8 is as described above.

[0104] [2-2. Operation when withdrawing coins] Next, the operation when dispensing coins will be briefly described. Note that this operation is basically the same as that in the first embodiment, so a detailed description will be omitted.

[0105] Simply put, a coin discharged from the coin discharge port 40 comes into contact with the upper guide 152 and falls onto the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51, slides down the inclined surface 51s, passes through the coin withdrawal port 8, and rides up the protrusion 51p before being discharged into the accumulation section 60 of the withdrawal tray 9.

[0106] At this time, if a user places their hand (specifically, their fingers) under the tip of canopy 155 to block the gap between canopy 155 and lower guide 51 in order to wait for the coin, the coin will hit the fingers and be blocked, remaining under the tip of canopy 155 (for example, on step 51t of lower guide 51).

[0107] Thereafter, the succeeding coin slides down diagonally forward while climbing up on the protrusion 51p provided on the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51, and collides with the preceding coin. Here, a sufficient gap is provided between the canopy 155 and the lower guide 51 so that when the succeeding coin collides with the preceding coin that is lodged under the tip of the canopy 155, the succeeding coin moves up above the preceding coin. Also, the canopy 155 and the lower guide 51 have a sufficient width so that when the succeeding coin collides with the preceding coin that is lodged under the tip of the canopy 155, the succeeding coin moves to the left or right of the preceding coin.

[0108] For this reason, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, even if a hand (specifically, fingers) is placed under the tip of canopy 155 so as to block the gap between canopy 155 and lower guide 51 in order to wait for a coin, coin jamming is less likely to occur between canopy 155 and lower guide 51.

[0109] [2-3. Summary and Effects] As described above, in the second embodiment, the coin processing device 10 is provided with a coin withdrawal port 8 as a withdrawal port for discharging coins, a withdrawal tray 9 for storing coins discharged from the coin withdrawal port 8, a lower guide 51 as a guide section for guiding coins discharged from the coin withdrawal port 8 to the withdrawal tray 9, and a canopy section 154 that is provided above the lower guide 51 opposite the lower guide 51 and covers the upper part of the lower guide 51.

[0110] The overhanging portion 154 is shaped so that the distance between the inclined surface 155as, which is the facing surface that faces the lower guide 51, and the step 51t is greater than the distance between the inclined surface 155as and the inclined surface 51s.

[0111] In this way, in the coin processing device 10, even if a hand is placed under the eaves portion 154 (specifically, under the eaves 155) as if waiting for a coin, the distance between the eaves portion 154 and the lower guide 51 is wider on the dispensing tray 9 side than on the coin dispensing port 8 side, so that space is secured between the eaves portion 154 and the lower guide 51 in which coins can move freely in the vertical direction, thereby preventing coins from becoming jammed at the back side of the eaves portion 154 (i.e., between the eaves portion 154 and the lower guide 51).

[0112] Furthermore, the width of the lower guide 51 and the overhanging portion 154 is set to be approximately the same as in the first embodiment (i.e., more than twice the diameter of a 500 yen coin, which is the largest diameter coin). By doing so, in the coin processing device 10, even if a hand is placed under the overhanging portion 154 (specifically, under the overhanging portion 155) as if waiting for a coin, a space is secured between the overhanging portion 154 and the lower guide 51 in which the coin can move freely in the left-right direction, because the width of the overhanging portion 154 and the lower guide 51 is larger than the diameter of the coin, so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a coin jam on the back side of the overhanging portion 154 (i.e., between the overhanging portion 154 and the lower guide 51).

[0113] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the rear portion 155b, which is the first part of the canopy 155, is shaped so that the distance between the back surface 155bs, which is the first opposing surface, and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51 gradually increases as it approaches the coin-dispensing tray 9, and the front portion 155a, which is the second part of the canopy 155, is shaped so that the distance between the inclined surface 155as, which is the second opposing surface, and the step 51t is wider than the distance between the inclined surface 155as and the inclined surface 51s.

[0114] In this way, in the coin processing device 10, the coin withdrawal port 8 can be narrowed while the distance between the front part 155a of the canopy 155 and the lower guide 51 can be widened, so that coin jamming can be sufficiently suppressed while preventing fingertips from being inserted deeper than the coin withdrawal port 8.

[0115] 3. Other embodiments [3-1. Another embodiment 1] In the first embodiment described above, the eaves portion 54 is provided above the lower guide 51, but as shown in Figs. 23 and 24, a recess 55sc may be provided on the inclined surface 55s of the eaves 55 of the eaves portion 54. The recess 55sc is provided above the protrusion 51p and is a recess that is wider than the protrusion 51p. Specifically, the recess 55sc is provided so that its widthwise center coincides with the widthwise center of the protrusion 51p, and has a width slightly larger than the diameter of a 500 yen coin, which is the largest diameter coin. The recess 55sc has a depth approximately equal to the height of the top of the protrusion 51p.

[0116] By providing such a recess 55sc on the inclined surface 55s of the eaves 55, the distance Dy between the top part of the protrusion 51p, which is provided one step higher than the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51, and the bottom (ceiling part) of the recess 55sc becomes equal to the distance Da between the inclined surface 55s of the eaves 55 and the inclined surface 51s of the lower guide 51. In this way, a sufficient space for coins to move can be provided above the protrusion 51p as well.

[0117] Similarly, in the second embodiment, a recess may be provided in the inclined surface 55s of the front portion 155a of the canopy 155.

[0118] [3-2. Other embodiment 2] In the first embodiment described above, the overhanging portion 54 is provided above the lower guide 51, but as shown in Figs. 25 and 26, a hole 100 penetrating the overhanging portion 54 in the thickness direction may be provided at the rear of the overhanging portion 54 (the portion on the coin dispensing port 8 side). The hole 100 is, for example, rectangular in shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction (i.e., the coin dispensing direction). A plurality of holes 100 are provided at intervals in the width direction at the rear of the overhanging portion 55 from one end side (left end side) to the other end side (right end side) in the width direction.

[0119] As shown in FIG. 26, this hole 100 is for inserting a rod-shaped member 200 such as a cotton swab or tweezers between the canopy 55 and the lower guide 51.

[0120] In other words, if a coin Ci becomes jammed between the canopy 55 and the lower guide 51, the rod-shaped member 200 can be inserted from the hole 100 to the rear side of the coin Ci, and the rod-shaped member 200 can push the coin Ci toward the dispensing tray 9, thereby clearing the jammed coin. The size of the hole 100 is such that the rod-shaped member 200 can be inserted but a finger or a coin cannot be inserted. Similarly, in the second embodiment, a hole may be provided at the rear of the canopy 155.

[0121] [3-3. Other embodiment 3] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the eaves portion 54 is provided above the lower guide 51, but the eaves 55 of the eaves portion 54 may be formed of a transparent material (i.e., a see-through material). In this way, the coins located between the eaves 55 and the lower guide 51 can be visually confirmed from above the eaves 55. The eaves 55 may also be made of a transparent material and provided with the above-mentioned hole 100. In this way, the coins jammed between the eaves 55 and the lower guide 51 can be visually confirmed from above the eaves 55, and then the rod-shaped member 200 can be inserted through the hole 100 to push out the coins, thereby clearing the jammed coins. Note that, although the eaves 55 is made of a transparent material, it is sufficient that the material is see-through enough to allow the coins located between the eaves 55 and the lower guide 51 to be visually confirmed from above the eaves 55.

[0122] Furthermore, without being limited to this, if the entire canopy 55 is made transparent, it becomes difficult to see the canopy 55 itself, so a part of the entire canopy 55 may be made semi-transparent or opaque and cloudy. For example, the outer edge of the canopy 55 may be cloudy. Also, for example, the entire canopy 55 may be made in a striped pattern in which transparent parts and cloudy parts are alternately arranged. In this way, it becomes possible to see the coins located between the canopy 55 and the lower guide 51 while improving the visibility of the canopy 55 itself.

[0123] [3-4. Other embodiment 4] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the coin processing device 10 that discharges coins to the dispensing tray 9 and the depositing / dispensing machine 1 that has the coin processing device 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to coin processing devices with a configuration different from the coin processing device 10 and money handling devices other than the depositing / dispensing machine 1, as long as they have a function of dispensing coins to the dispensing tray. Specifically, for example, the present invention can be applied to a coin processing device included in a semi-self-service settlement machine.

[0124] [3-5. Other embodiment 5] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and other embodiments. That is, the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments in which the above-mentioned embodiment and the other embodiments are combined in part or in whole in any manner, or embodiments in which a part is extracted. [Industrial Applicability]

[0125] The present invention can be used, for example, in a coin processing device that handles coins. [Explanation of symbols]

[0126] 1: deposit / withdrawal machine, 2: device housing, 7: coin input port, 8: coin dispensing port, 9: dispensing tray, 10: coin processing device, 20: lift dispensing transport section, 20A, 20B: transport belt, 40: coin discharge port, 42: corner guide, 42s: guide surface, 43: guide plate, 43s: guide surface, 50: guide section, 51: lower guide, 51s: inclined surface, 51t: step, 51 p...protrusion, 51ps...top surface, 52, 152...upper guide, 53...dispensing tray cover, 54, 154...eaves portion, 55, 155...eaves, 55s, 155as, 155bs...inclined surface, 55cs...recess, 56, 156...fixing portion, 60...accumulation portion, 60c...central portion, 60s...inclined surface, 155a...front portion, 155b...rear portion, 100...hole, Ci...coin, Fo...foreign object.

Claims

1. A dispensing port for dispensing coins; a dispensing tray that stores the coins discharged from the dispensing port; a guide portion that guides the coins discharged from the dispensing port to the dispensing tray; a visor portion provided above the guide portion and facing the guide portion, the visor portion covering an upper portion of the guide portion; Equipped with The guide portion is a first inclined surface extending from a lower side of the dispensing port in a direction in which the coins are discharged, and a second inclined surface inclined toward a bottom side of the dispensing tray with respect to the first inclined surface, The eaves portion is The distance between the second inclined surface and an opposing surface that faces the guide portion is larger than the distance between the opposing surface and the first inclined surface. A coin processing device.

2. The eaves portion is The opposing surface and the first inclined surface are parallel to each other, The distance between the facing surface and the second inclined surface becomes wider as it approaches the coin dispensing tray.

2. The coin processing device according to claim 1 .

3. The distance between the opposing surface and the first inclined surface is Maximum thickness: More than twice the thickness of a coin 3. The coin processing device according to claim 2 .

4. The guide portion and the eaves portion are The width is more than twice the diameter of the largest coin.

3. The coin processing device according to claim 2 .

5. The eaves portion is It extends from the upper side of the dispensing port toward the dispensing tray, and its tip is located above the bottom of the dispensing tray.

3. The coin processing device according to claim 2 .

6. The eaves portion is A first portion on the dispensing port side and a second portion on the dispensing tray side, The first portion is a first opposing surface that is a surface facing the guide portion has a shape that becomes wider as it approaches the coin dispensing tray, The second portion is A distance between a second opposing surface, which is a surface facing the guide portion, and the second inclined surface of the guide portion is larger than a distance between the second opposing surface and the first inclined surface of the guide portion.

6. The coin processing device according to claim 1,

7. The first inclined surface of the guide portion has a protrusion portion is provided for contacting the coin discharged from the dispensing port and sliding down the first inclined surface, and distributing the coin in the width direction of the guide portion, The opposing surface of the overhanging portion has A recess is provided at a location facing the protrusion.

6. The coin processing device according to claim 1,

8. The eaves portion has: A hole for inserting a rod-shaped member is provided between the eaves portion and the guide portion from the opposite side to the opposing surface.

6. The coin processing device according to claim 1,

9. The eaves portion is Made of transparent material 6. The coin processing device according to claim 1,

10. The eaves portion is It has transparent parts and semi-transparent or opaque parts.

6. The coin processing device according to claim 1,

11. An operation display unit; The coin processing device according to claim 1 , Equipped A currency handling device characterized by:

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