Money processor and money processing method

Abstract

To prepare money for withdrawal in advance in a predetermined storage unit in a device of a money processor.SOLUTION: A money processor includes: a first storage unit and a second storage unit for storing money; a conveyor unit that conveys the money; an identification unit that identifies the money conveyed by the conveyor unit; and a control unit that conveys the money in the first storage unit by the identification unit to identify the money in the identification unit, conveys a portion of the money stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit based on the identification result, and stores a predetermined number of money of each denomination in the second storage unit. The control unit detects a denomination in the insufficient amount of money stored in the first storage unit and, for the denomination in the insufficient amount of money, stores money exceeding a predetermined number of money set for the denomination in the insufficient amount of money in the second storage unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a currency processing device that processes currency and a currency processing method executed by the currency processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, currency processing devices for processing currency have been used. Patent Document 1 discloses a coin processing device that stores coins of multiple denominations in a mixed state in the device and dispenses change when a transaction is made with a customer. This device has a reserve storage space for storing change reserves, which are coins for change, in addition to a storage section that stores a large amount of coins in a mixed state. From among the coins stored in the storage section, coins of a denomination and number of coins per denomination that constitute the maximum amount of 999 yen that may be dispensed as coins are prepared in advance as change reserves in the reserve storage space. Specifically, four 1-yen coins, one 5-yen coin, four 10-yen coins, one 50-yen coin, four 100-yen coins, and one 500-yen coin, which are the minimum numbers of change in Japanese coins, are prepared as change reserves. The coin processing device selects and dispenses one or more coins from the change fund depending on the amount of change, allowing the user to dispense change in a shorter time than if the user had to search for and dispense the coin to be used as change from a large number of coins stored in a mixed state in a storage unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4516270 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional technology, in preparation for dispensing change, a minimum number of change reserves are prepared from a large amount of coins stored in a storage unit. Since the storage unit stores coins of multiple denominations in a mixed state, the coins dispensed from the storage unit may not be coins that make up the change reserve. By repeating the process of identifying the denominations of the coins dispensed from the storage unit, storing the coins to be used for the change reserve in a reserve storage space, and returning the other coins to the storage unit, a predetermined number of coins of a predetermined denomination are prepared for each denomination. Depending on the denominations and the number of coins by denomination stored in the storage unit, it may take a long time to prepare the change reserve, or it may not be possible to prepare the change reserve.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems in the conventional technology, and one of its objectives is to provide a currency processing device and a currency processing method that can efficiently prepare currency for withdrawal in a designated storage section within the currency processing device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The currency processing device of the present disclosure comprises a first storage unit and a second storage unit for storing currency, a transporting unit for transporting the currency, an identification unit for identifying the currency transported by the transporting unit, and a control unit for transporting the currency in the first storage unit by the transporting unit and identifying it by the identification unit, transporting a portion of the currency stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit based on the identification result, and storing a predetermined number of currency for each denomination in the second storage unit, and the control unit detects a denomination for which the amount of currency stored in the first storage unit is insufficient, and for the currency of the denomination, stores a number of currency in the second storage unit that exceeds the predetermined number set for the denomination. In the above configuration, the control unit stores the money deposited from the deposit unit in the first storage unit. In the above configuration, after executing a withdrawal process, the control unit executes a process of storing a portion of the money in the first storage unit in the second storage unit before starting a next deposit process. The control unit may detect the denomination that is insufficient by comparing a mixing ratio by denomination of the coins of the multiple denominations stored in the first storage unit with a threshold value preset for each denomination. The control unit may detect the denomination that is insufficient by comparing a quantity by denomination of the coins of the multiple denominations stored in the first storage unit with a threshold value preset for each denomination. The control unit may execute a replenishment process in which coins of the same denomination and number as coins dispensed from the second storage unit are replenished from the first storage unit to the second storage unit, and detect the denomination that is insufficient by comparing a time required for the replenishment process with a threshold value preset for each denomination. The control unit may detect the denomination as the denomination that is insufficient when a denomination of the coins to be replenished is not paid out from the first storage unit during the replenishment process and an alternative replenishment is performed by changing the denomination and number of the coins to be replenished.

[0007] In the above configuration, the control unit may detect the shortage denomination based on a ratio of the number of coins of each denomination to the number of coins of all denominations stored in the first storage unit.

[0008] In the above configuration, the control unit may store coins of the denomination that is short in the second storage unit until the number of coins of the denomination stored in the second storage unit reaches a maximum number set for the denomination, and after the maximum number is reached, store coins of the denomination that is short in the first storage unit.

[0009] In the above configuration, when the total number of coins of the denomination that are deficient stored in the first storage unit and the second storage unit increases while executing currency processing, and the shortage of coins of the denomination is resolved, the control unit may return the second storage unit to a state in which multiple coins of each denomination are stored in the predetermined number that is set in advance for each denomination.

[0010] In the above configuration, when the shortage state of coins of the denomination is resolved by replenishment of coins of the shortage denomination from outside the device, the control unit may return the second storage unit to a state in which multiple coins of each denomination are stored in the predetermined number set in advance for each denomination.

[0011] In the aforementioned configuration, the control unit may store in the second storage unit currency to be dispensed during a dispensing process.

[0012] In the above configuration, if the control unit does not detect a denomination that is short, it stores the coins deposited during the deposit process in the first storage unit regardless of their denomination, and if it detects a denomination that is short, it stores coins of the short denomination among the coins deposited during the deposit process in the second storage unit, while storing coins of other denominations in the first storage unit.

[0013] In the above configuration, when the control unit executes the process of sequentially paying out coins from the first storage unit and identifying them using the recognition unit, transporting some of the coins stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit based on the recognition result, and storing a predetermined number of coins for each denomination in the second storage unit, if a denomination that is short is not detected, after completing storage of the coins in the second storage unit, the control unit may return the coins already paid out from the first storage unit to the first storage unit, and if a denomination that is short is detected, after completing storage of the coins in the second storage unit, the coins of the short denomination among the coins already paid out from the first storage unit may be stored in the second storage unit, and coins of other denominations may be returned to the first storage unit.

[0014] In the above configuration, when the control unit executes a process of sequentially feeding out coins from the first storage unit and identifying them with the identification unit, transporting some of the coins stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit based on the identification result, and storing a predetermined number of coins for each denomination in the second storage unit, if a denomination that is deficient is detected, the control unit may store the coins of the deficient denomination in the second storage unit even if the number of coins of the deficient denomination stored in the second storage unit meets the predetermined number from the start of the process to the end of storing the coins in the second storage unit. Even if the process is a process of replenishing coins to the second storage unit and the denomination that is deficient is not included in the denominations to be replenished to the second storage unit, the control unit may store the coins of the deficient denomination fed from the second storage unit in excess of the predetermined number in the second storage unit.

[0015] In the above configuration, the control unit may store the deposited coins in the first storage unit during a deposit process, and withdraw the coins from the second storage unit, which stores a predetermined number of coins for each denomination, during a withdrawal process, and if a denomination is detected that is short, store the coins of the shortfall in the second storage unit and store coins of other denominations in the first storage unit during a deposit process, and withdraw the coins of the shortfall in the second storage unit and withdraw the coins of the other denominations from the first storage unit during a withdrawal process.

[0016] In the above configuration, the control unit that has detected a denomination that is lacking selects one of the following modes: a first expansion mode in which, during a deposit process, the control unit stores, among the deposited coins, coins of the lacking denomination in the second storage unit, while storing coins of other denominations in the first storage unit; a second expansion mode in which, during a replenishment process in which coins are sequentially fed from the first storage unit to replenish the coins to be replenished to the second storage unit, after the coins to be replenished have been replenished to the second storage unit, the coins of the lacking denomination among the coins that have been fed from the first storage unit are stored in the second storage unit, and the coins of the other denominations are returned to and stored in the first storage unit; and a third expansion mode in which, during the replenishment process, the control unit starts the replenishment process and then finishes replenishment of coins to the second storage unit. Even if the number of coins of the denomination that is deficient stored in the second storage unit meets the specified number until the specified number is reached, at least one of a plurality of types of expansion modes including a third expansion mode in which coins of the deficient denomination are stored in the second storage unit, and a fourth expansion mode in which the manner in which the first storage unit and the second storage unit are used is changed so that coins of the deficient denomination are stored in the second storage unit and coins of other denominations are stored in the first storage unit during a deposit process, and coins of the deficient denomination are withdrawn from the second storage unit and coins of other denominations are withdrawn from the first storage unit during a withdrawal process, and the operating mode may be selected to switch to the selected expansion mode to perform currency processing.

[0017] In the above configuration, the control unit may select one or two of the three expansion modes, i.e., the first expansion mode, the second expansion mode, and the third expansion mode, to execute currency processing, and then select a new expansion mode from the three expansion modes depending on the shortage status of currency of the shortage denomination, and execute currency processing by combining the previously selected expansion mode with the newly selected expansion mode.

[0018] In the above configuration, the control unit may perform currency processing by combining three extended modes, namely the first extended mode, the second extended mode, and the third extended mode, and then select the fourth extended mode depending on the shortage status of currency of the shortage denomination, and perform currency processing in the fourth extended mode.

[0019] In the above configuration, the control unit may detect the denomination that is insufficient from among a portion of the multiple denominations of coins stored in the first storage unit. The control unit may detect the denomination that is insufficient based on a threshold value that is preset for each denomination. The threshold value used for detection may differ depending on the denomination.

[0020] The currency handling method disclosed herein is a currency handling method executed by a currency handling device, and includes the steps of: paying out currency from a first storage section that stores currency and identifying it in a recognition section; transporting a portion of the currency stored in the first storage section to a second storage section based on the recognition result, and storing a predetermined number of currency for each denomination in the second storage section; detecting a denomination for which the amount of currency stored in the first storage section is insufficient; and, when the denomination is detected, storing more of the currency of the denomination in the second storage section than the predetermined number set for the denomination. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the currency handling device and currency handling method disclosed herein, currency for dispensing can be efficiently prepared in a designated storage section within the currency handling device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a coin processing device according to this embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the coin processing device shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the deposit process and the withdrawal process in the normal mode. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the replenishment process in the normal mode. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the coin processing device in the deposit expansion mode. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the coin processing device in the first replenishment extension mode. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the coin processing device in the second replenishment extension mode. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the money transfer process performed in the withdrawal expansion mode. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the coin processing device in the withdrawal extended mode. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process executed by the coin processing device. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a change of the operation mode. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining substitution replenishment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of switching of the operation mode of the coin processing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a currency handling device and a currency handling method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The currency to be handled by the currency handling device may be banknotes, coins, or both banknotes and coins, but in this embodiment, coins will be described as an example. When the currency handling device handles banknotes, the banknotes may be handled in a manner suitable for the banknotes, as described below.

[0024] 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a coin processing device (currency processing device) 1 according to this embodiment. The coin processing device 1 has a deposit unit 10, a withdrawal unit 20, a transport unit 30, a recognition unit 40, a first storage unit 51, and a second storage unit 52.

[0025] The location where the coin processing device 1 is installed is not particularly limited, but we will continue with the explanation using an example where the coin processing device 1 is installed together with a banknote processing device in a store where transactions with customers are conducted, and is used to settle transaction amounts between the store and customers.

[0026] The transaction amount between a store and a customer is determined, for example, by using a cash register installed at the checkout counter of the store. The coin processing device 1 executes a deposit process for coins that the customer deposits to pay the transaction amount (A). If the cash paid by the customer includes banknotes, the coins can be deposited into the coin processing device 1, and the banknotes can be deposited into a banknote processing device installed adjacent to the coin processing device 1. The coin processing device 1 and the banknote processing device are not limited to being separate devices, and may be configured as an integrated device.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 1, the coin processing device 1 accepts coins paid by customers into the deposit unit 10 (A1). The deposit unit 10 can accept multiple coins at the same time. The coins accepted by the deposit unit 10 are dispensed one by one into the transport unit 30 within the coin processing device 1. The dispensed coins are transported by the transport unit 30 as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1.

[0028] The coins are transported from the deposit unit 10 to the recognition unit 40 (A2). The recognition unit 40 identifies the denomination of the coin. The recognition unit 40 may also identify the authenticity and fitness of the coin. The configuration of the recognition unit 40 is not particularly limited, but for example, the recognition unit 40 is configured to include at least one of an optical sensor such as a line sensor or a camera, and a magnetic sensor. The transport unit 30 transports the coins along a transport path provided within the device based on the recognition result by the recognition unit 40.

[0029] The transport unit 30 transports coins that can be deposited to the first storage unit 51 (A3). The first storage unit 51 stores the coins transported by the transport unit 30. The coin processing device 1 uses the first storage unit 51 to store coins deposited during a deposit process. The first storage unit 51 stores coins of multiple denominations in a mixed state.

[0030] The first storage unit 51 can store and dispense coins. The second storage unit 52 can similarly store and dispense coins. Coins transported by the transport unit 30 are stored in the first storage unit 51 or the second storage unit 52. The coins dispensed by the first storage unit 51 and the coins dispensed by the second storage unit 52 are transported by the transport unit 30.

[0031] The first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52 can store coins in a mixed state. In this embodiment, the mixed state refers to a state in which multiple denominations of coins are stored in a single storage unit in a mixed state, and it is not possible to identify which of the multiple denominations stored will be the denomination of the coin to be next dispensed from this storage unit.

[0032] The transport unit 30 transports rejected coins that have been identified by the recognition unit 40 and determined not to be deposited to the dispensing unit 20 for rejection (A4). The rejected coins are returned to the customer from the dispensing unit 20. For example, coins that have not been identified as genuine coins, and coins that are genuine but not eligible for processing by the coin processing device 1 are rejected from the dispensing unit 20.

[0033] The coin processing device 1 calculates the deposit amount of the coins stored in the first storage unit 51 based on the recognition result by the recognition unit 40. When a customer makes a payment with banknotes in addition to coins and the banknote deposit process is executed in the banknote processing device, the deposit amount is the total amount of the banknote deposit amount obtained by the banknote processing device and the coin deposit amount obtained by the coin processing device 1.

[0034] The coin processing device 1 stores in a memory unit the denominations and the number of coins by denomination stored in the first storage unit 51 during a deposit process. The memory unit stores inventory information of the coin processing device 1. The inventory information includes the denominations and the number of coins by denomination stored in the first storage unit 51, and the denominations and the number of coins by denomination stored in the second storage unit 52. The inventory information is not limited to being stored inside the coin processing device 1, and may be stored in an external device connected to the coin processing device 1.

[0035] The coin processing device 1 executes a dispensing process for returning change to the customer (B). If the deposited amount exceeds the transaction amount between the store and the customer, a dispensing process is performed to return the change to the customer. If the change includes bills, the bills of the change can be dispensed from the bill processing device, and the coins can be dispensed from the coin processing device 1.

[0036] The coin processing device 1 calculates the amount of change to be given based on the transaction amount obtained from the external device and the deposited amount calculated by identifying the deposited coins, and executes the dispensing process. The coin processing device 1 executes the dispensing process based on the amount of change to be given, the coin balance information, and setting information related to the dispensing of change.

[0037] The change dispensing process is performed using the coins stored in the second storage unit 52. The coin processing device 1 uses the second storage unit 52 to store coins to be dispensed during the dispensing process. At least the minimum number of coins constituting the change are stored in advance in the second storage unit 52. The minimum number of coins in this embodiment refers to multiple denominations and the number of coins per denomination when the maximum amount of change that can be dispensed in coins is composed of the minimum number of coins that can be dispensed from the coin processing device 1. For example, in the case of Japanese currency coins, the minimum number of coins is 15 coins in total, 999 yen, consisting of four 1 yen coins, one 5 yen coin, four 10 yen coins, one 50 yen coin, four 100 yen coins, and one 500 yen coin. The coin processing device 1 causes the second storage unit 52 to store at least the minimum number of coins before a dispensing process is executed. For example, the second storage unit 52 causes the second storage unit 52 to store coins for change before a deposit process is started.

[0038] The coin processing device 1, which has started the dispensing process, dispenses coins to be dispensed from the second storage unit 52 (B1). The dispensed coins are transported by the transport unit 30 to the recognition unit 40 (B2). The recognition unit 40 identifies the denomination of the coin. The recognition unit 40 may also identify the authenticity and fitness of the coin.

[0039] The second storage unit 52 stores coins of multiple denominations in a mixed state, and as the coins are dispensed randomly, it may happen that coins not used for change are dispensed. Based on the recognition result by the recognition unit 40, the transport unit 30 transports the coins included in the change to the dispensing unit 20 (B2), and transports the coins not included in the change to the second storage unit 52 (B3). The coin processing device 1 continues the process of transporting only the coins that make up the change to the dispensing unit 20 and returning the other coins to the second storage unit 52, thereby ejecting coins in the amount of the change from the dispensing unit 20 to the outside of the device and returning them to the customer.

[0040] For example, in a dispensing process in which the change amount is 3 yen and three 1-yen coins are returned to the customer, if the coin dispensed from the second storage unit 52 is a 1-yen coin until the three 1-yen coins are dispensed from the dispensing unit 20, this coin is dispensed from the dispensing unit 20. If the dispensed coin is not a 1-yen coin, this coin is returned to the second storage unit 52. Until the three 1-yen coins are dispensed from the dispensing unit 20, the coins dispensed from the second storage unit 52 are identified one by one by the recognition unit 40, and the coins are transported to the dispensing unit 20 or the second storage unit 52 based on the recognition result. After completing the dispensing process, the coin processing device 1 updates the inventory information of the second storage unit 52 based on the denomination and number of coins by denomination dispensed from the second storage unit 52. The coin processing device 1 notifies an external device such as a cash register that the settlement of the transaction amount has been completed. The calculation of the change amount is not limited to being performed by the coin processing device 1, but may be performed by an external device. For example, the coin processing device 1 may calculate the deposited amount and output it to a cash register, and the cash register may calculate the change amount from the transaction amount and the deposited amount. In this case, the coin processing device 1 may obtain information indicating the change amount from the cash register and execute the dispensing process.

[0041] After completing the dispensing process, the coin processing device 1 executes a replenishment process to replenish coins in the second storage unit 52 (C). The coin processing device 1 dispenses coins for replenishment from the first storage unit 51. The dispensed coins are transported by the transport unit 30 to the recognition unit 40 (C1). The recognition unit 40 identifies the denomination of the coin. The recognition unit 40 may also identify the authenticity and fitness of the coin.

[0042] The first storage unit 51 stores coins of multiple denominations in a mixed state, and dispenses coins randomly, so that coins not to be used for replenishment may be dispensed. Based on the recognition result by the recognition unit 40, the transport unit 30 transports coins to be replenished to the second storage unit 52 (C2), and transports coins not to be replenished to the first storage unit 51 (C3). The coin processing device 1 replenishes coins to the second storage unit 52 by continuing the process of transporting only coins to be replenished to the second storage unit 52 and returning other coins to the first storage unit 51. Coins to be replenished refer to coins of one or more denominations in the number of coins by denomination that need to be replenished to the second storage unit 52.

[0043] For example, when three 1-yen coins and two 10-yen coins are dispensed as change from second storage section 52, the three 1-yen coins and two 10-yen coins that were reduced by the dispensing become the coins to be replenished. After the change is dispensed, the three 1-yen coins and two 10-yen coins are replenished from first storage section 51 to second storage section 52, and second storage section 52 returns to a state in which it stores the minimum number of coins.

[0044] Specifically, from the start of the replenishment process until the second storage unit 52 is completed to contain three 1-yen coins and two 10-yen coins to be replenished, if the coin dispensed from the first storage unit 51 is a 1-yen coin or a 10-yen coin to be replenished, it is stored in the second storage unit 52. If the dispensed coin is a coin other than a 1-yen coin or a 10-yen coin, i.e., a coin not to be replenished, this coin is returned to the first storage unit 51. Until the second storage unit 52 is completed to contain three 1-yen coins and two 10-yen coins to be replenished, the process of identifying each coin dispensed from the first storage unit 51 by the identification unit 40 and transporting the coin to the first storage unit 51 or the second storage unit 52 based on the identification result is repeatedly executed. After completing the replenishment process, the coin processing device 1 updates the inventory information of the first storage section 51 and the inventory information of the second storage section 52 based on the denomination and number of coins by denomination moved from the first storage section 51 to the second storage section 52 by the replenishment process.

[0045] In this way, the coin processing device 1 stores deposited coins in the first storage unit 51, dispenses coins paid out from the second storage unit 52 as change, and replenishes coins lost during the dispensing process from the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52. By performing the deposit process, dispensing process, and replenishment process as a set, the coin processing device 1 ensures that the minimum number of coins for change are stored in the second storage unit 52 when the deposit process begins.

[0046] For example, the first storage unit 51 is configured to be able to store a large amount of coins so as to be able to handle multiple deposit processes. On the other hand, the second storage unit 52 only needs to be able to handle one change dispensing process, so it can be made smaller than the first storage unit 51. For example, the first storage unit 51 may be configured to be able to store 1000 or more coins, and the second storage unit 52 may be configured to be able to store around 50 coins.

[0047] The coin processing device 1 can change the operation mode from the normal mode to the extended mode while performing each of the above-mentioned deposit process, withdrawal process, and replenishment process in the normal mode. One feature of the coin processing device 1 according to this embodiment is that it changes the operation mode to the extended mode based on the amount information of the first storage unit 51, and changes the amount of coins stored in the second storage unit 52 (D).

[0048] Specifically, when the coin processing device 1 detects a denomination for which the number of coins of the denomination is insufficient in the first storage unit 51, the coin processing device 1 changes the operation mode to the extended mode, and stores a number of coins of the denomination for which the number of coins of the denomination is insufficient in the second storage unit 52 that exceeds the minimum number of coins. In other words, by changing the operation mode, the coin processing device 1 allows a larger number of coins of the denomination for which the number of coins of the denomination is insufficient in the first storage unit 51 to be stored in the second storage unit 52 than usual. By securing the coins of the denomination for which the number of coins of the denomination is insufficient in the second storage unit 52, the coin processing device 1 suppresses the occurrence of a refilling process that takes a long time when refilling coins from the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52 because coins of the denomination for which the number of coins of the denomination is insufficient are not easily dispensed from the first storage unit 51.

[0049] The extended modes include a deposit extended mode, a replenishment extended mode, and a withdrawal extended mode. The replenishment extended mode includes a first replenishment extended mode and a second replenishment extended mode. In order to illustrate the difference between the normal mode and the extended mode, a specific example of the coin processing device 1 will be shown to explain the movement of coins within the device in the normal mode, and then the extended mode will be explained.

[0050] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the coin processing device 1 shown in FIG. 1. The coin processing device 1 shown in FIG. 2 has a coin processing unit 90, a control unit 100, a memory unit 110, and a communication unit 120. The coin processing unit 90 shown in FIG. 2 includes a payout unit 60 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 1. The payout unit 60 receives and stores a plurality of coins from each of the deposit unit 10, the second storage unit 52, and the lower transport unit 30d, and can pay out the stored coins one by one to the upper transport unit 30a. The payout unit 60 is conventionally known, so a detailed description will be omitted. For example, a rotating disk-type payout unit 60 may be used, which rotates a disk having a protrusion on the outer periphery of its surface in an inclined state, transports coins hooked on the protrusions upward as it rotates, and pays out the coins one by one to the upper transport unit 30a.

[0051] 2 includes an upper conveying section 30a, a plurality of gates 30b, chutes 30c provided corresponding to each gate 30b, and a lower conveying section 30d. The upper conveying section 30a can convey coins dispensed one by one from the dispensing section 60 through the recognition section 40 and the gate 30b to the dispensing section 20. The chute 30c connects each gate 30b provided in the upper conveying section 30a to the first storage section 51 and the second storage section 52 in a one-to-one relationship.

[0052] The upper conveying unit 30a conveys the coin along the conveying path, for example, by bringing a protrusion of a belt arranged facing the conveying surface with the coin sandwiched therebetween into contact with the rear edge of the coin in the conveying direction, and pushing the coin in the conveying direction with the protrusion, while at least a part of one side of the coin is in contact with the conveying surface of the conveying path. The gate 30b is provided so as to be openable and closable so as to form the same plane as the conveying surface when closed, and is normally closed. The upper conveying unit 30a opens the gate 30b corresponding to the first storage unit 51, drops the coin into the chute 30c, and stores it in the first storage unit 51. Similarly, the upper conveying unit 30a opens the gate 30b corresponding to the second storage unit 52, drops the coin into the chute 30c, and stores it in the second storage unit 52. In this way, the conveying of the coins performed by the conveying unit 30 may include conveying by free fall of the coins.

[0053] The lower transport section 30d transports the coins stored in the first storage section 51 to the pay-out section 60 above. The first storage section 51 is configured to include a part of the lower transport section 30d. Specifically, a part of the lower transport section 30d is provided in a part of the bottom surface forming the storage space of the first storage section 51. The lower transport section 30d transports the coins stored in the first storage section 51 in the horizontal direction, and then transports them diagonally upward toward the pay-out section 60. For example, the lower transport section 30d has a belt conveyor type transport mechanism that transports coins on a belt. The upper transport section 30a transports coins one by one, but the lower transport section 30d may transport multiple coins on the belt at the same time. For example, two to three coins on the belt may be transported at the same time and dropped into the pay-out section 60. The dropped coins are temporarily stored in the pay-out section 60. The coins in the dispensing section 60 are dispensed one by one to the upper transport section 30a.

[0054] The second storage unit 52 is provided above the pay-out unit 60. The second storage unit 52 has a gate on the bottom surface that forms a storage space, and stores coins with the gate closed. When the gate is opened, all coins stored in the second storage unit 52 drop down and are stored in the storage space of the pay-out unit 60.

[0055] The control unit 100 controls the functions and operations of each unit constituting the coin processing unit 90. The control unit 100 can control each unit while referring to various information stored in a dedicated storage device or memory such as the storage unit 110 based on user operations performed on each component unit, information received from an external device via the communication unit 120, and the like. For example, a program corresponding to the control unit 100 is stored in advance in the memory, and the function and operation of the control unit 100 is realized by executing this program by hardware such as a CPU. In this way, the function and operation of the coin processing device 1 according to this embodiment are realized. According to an exemplary embodiment, the control unit 100 is, for example, one or more general-purpose processing circuits such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor, or a dedicated processing circuit such as an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

[0056] The memory unit 110 is a non-volatile storage device that stores various information necessary for the operation of the control unit 100. The information stored in the memory unit 110 includes the amount information of the first storage unit 51, the amount information of the second storage unit 52, and setting information related to each currency processing mode.

[0057] The communication unit 120 is used to transmit and receive information to and from an external device. For example, an external device includes a cash register that is connected to the coin processing device 1. The control unit 100 can receive settlement instructions from the external device and send a settlement completion notification to the external device via the communication unit 120. The control unit 100 can also transmit and receive information indicating the amount of deposit and information indicating the amount of change to and from the external device via the communication unit 120.

[0058] The coin processing described in this embodiment is realized by the control unit 100 controlling the coin processing unit 90 based on at least one of information stored in the memory unit 110 and information transmitted and received by the communication unit 120. In this embodiment, the processing described as being executed by the coin processing device 1 is realized by the control of the control unit 100.

[0059] Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining the deposit process and the withdrawal process in the normal mode. Fig. 3(a) shows the deposit process, and Fig. 3(b) shows the withdrawal process. In Figs. 3 to 9, the movement of coins is indicated by arrows using the diagram of the coin processing unit 90 shown in Fig. 2, and below that, the movement of coins is indicated by a block diagram corresponding to Fig. 1. As long as it is possible to process coins as shown in the block diagram, the configuration of the coin processing unit 90 is not particularly limited, and the coin processing unit 90 may have a configuration different from the configuration shown in Fig. 2.

[0060] FIG. 3(a) shows a deposit process in normal mode. One or more coins deposited from the deposit unit 10 drop into the payout unit 60. The payout unit 60 pays out the multiple coins received from the deposit unit 10 one by one to the upper transport unit 30a. The coins transported by the upper transport unit 30a are identified by the recognition unit 40. Based on the recognition result, coins that can be deposited drop from the gate 30b into the chute 30c and are stored in the first storage unit 51. Coins that cannot be deposited are rejected by the withdrawal unit 20 and returned to the customer, as indicated by the dashed arrow in FIG. 3(a). All coins received by the deposit unit 10 are rejected from the payout unit 20 or stored in the first storage unit 51, and the deposit process is completed.

[0061] FIG. 3(b) shows a dispensing process in normal mode. The second storage section 52 stores multiple coins in a mixed state. During a dispensing process, the gate on the bottom of the second storage section 52 opens, and all of the multiple coins stored in the second storage section 52 fall into the dispensing section 60. After all of the coins are released from the gate of the second storage section 52 at approximately the same time and fall into the dispensing section 60, the gate closes, and the second storage section 52 returns to a state in which it can store coins again. The dispensing section 60 dispenses the multiple coins received from the second storage section 52 one by one to the upper conveying section 30a. The coins conveyed by the upper conveying section 30a are identified by the recognition section 40. Based on the recognition result, the coins to be dispensed that constitute the change are discharged from the dispensing section 20 to the outside of the device. 3(b), coins that are not to be dispensed fall from gate 30b into chute 30c and are returned to second storage unit 52. Of the coins that have fallen from second storage unit 52 to pay-out unit 60, coins equivalent to the change amount are dispensed from dispensing unit 20, and the other coins are returned to second storage unit 52, completing the dispensing process.

[0062] Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the refilling process in the normal mode. Fig. 4(a) shows the movement of coins while the second storage unit 52 is being refilled with coins, and Fig. 4(b) shows the movement of coins after the second storage unit 52 has been refilled with coins.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the coins stored in the first storage unit 51 are transported to the dispensing unit 60 by the lower transport unit 30d. For example, about 10 coins per second are moved from the first storage unit 51 to the dispensing unit 60 by the transport by the lower transport unit 30d. The dispensing unit 60 delivers the coins received from the first storage unit 51 one by one to the upper transport unit 30a. The coins transported by the upper transport unit 30a are identified by the recognition unit 40. Based on the recognition result, the coins to be replenished are stored in the second storage unit 52. The coins not to be replenished fall from the gate 30b into the chute 30c and are returned to the first storage unit 51, as shown by the dashed arrow in FIG. 4(a).

[0064] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the coin processing device 1 repeats the operation of storing, among the coins dispensed from the first storage unit 51, coins to be replenished in the second storage unit 52 and returning coins not to be replenished to the first storage unit 51, thereby replenishing coins in the second storage unit 52. When the replenishing of coins in the second storage unit 52 is completed, the lower transport unit 30d stops transporting coins from the first storage unit 51 to the dispensing unit 60. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4(b), when the coin processing device 1 finishes replenishing coins in the second storage unit 52, the upper transport unit 30a drops the coins being transported from the gate 30b into the chute 30c and returns them to the first storage unit 51. The coins remaining in the dispensing unit 60 are also dispensed to the upper transport unit 30a, and then returned to the first storage unit 51 from the gate 30b via the chute 30c. Of the coins dispensed from the first storage unit 51, the coins to be replenished are stored in the second storage unit 52, and the other coins are returned to the first storage unit 51, completing the replenishment process.

[0065] After the change is dispensed from the second storage section 52, a replenishment process is performed in which one or more coins to be replenished are dispensed from the first storage section 51 and replenished to the second storage section 52 based on the denomination and number of coins per denomination used for the change.

[0066] Coins are dispensed from first storage unit 51 until the coin to be replenished is obtained from the coins dispensed from first storage unit 51, but it may take some time for the coin to be replenished to be dispensed depending on the storage status of first storage unit 51. For example, if the first storage unit 51 contains only 50 coins of the denomination to be replenished among the 1,000 coins stored therein, it will take longer to complete replenishment than if the first storage unit 51 contains 500 coins of this denomination.

[0067] When the number of coins of a denomination to be replenished satisfies a predetermined condition based on the inventory information of the first storage unit 51, i.e., the denomination and number of coins by denomination of the coins stored in the first storage unit 51, the coin processing device 1 determines that the denomination is a denomination that is insufficient and switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the extended mode. The operation mode switching conditions are prepared in advance in the memory unit 110. For example, when the number of coins stored in the first storage unit 51, i.e., the ratio of the number of coins of the denomination to the total number of coins of all denominations, falls below a predetermined threshold, the denomination is determined to be a denomination that is insufficient. The switching conditions will be described later.

[0068] When a denomination shortage occurs, the coin processing device 1 can execute the deposit process in the deposit expansion mode. Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the coin processing device 1 in the deposit expansion mode. In the deposit expansion mode, the process from receiving coins deposited from the deposit unit 10 by the pay-out unit 60, paying them out to the upper transport unit 30a, and recognizing them by the recognition unit 40 is also performed in the same manner as the deposit process in the normal mode shown in Fig. 3(a). Rejected coins are also processed in the same manner as the deposit process in the normal mode.

[0069] The extended deposit mode and the normal mode handle depositable coins of a denomination that is in short supply differently. In the normal mode, all depositable coins are stored in the first storage unit 51, regardless of their denomination. On the other hand, in the extended mode, as shown in Fig. 5, among the depositable coins, coins of a denomination that is in short supply are stored in the second storage unit 52, and coins of denominations other than the denomination that is in short supply are stored in the first storage unit 51.

[0070] In this way, the coin processing device 1 prevents the time required for the replenishment process from increasing by storing coins of a shortage denomination, which may require a long time to be replenished from the first storage section 51 to the second storage section 52 during the replenishment process, in the second storage section 52 from the deposit process stage.

[0071] When the operation mode of the coin processing device 1 switches to the extended mode, for the denomination that is insufficient, a number of coins exceeding the minimum number are stored in the second storage unit 52. For example, the minimum number of Japanese coins is four 100 yen coins, but when it is detected that the 100 yen coin has become a denomination that is insufficient and the deposit process is executed in the deposit extended mode, the coin processing device 1 can store five or more 100 yen coins in the second storage unit 52.

[0072] When a denomination becomes deficient in the first storage unit 51, the coin processing device 1 can switch the operation mode from the normal mode to the extended mode to execute the replenishment process. The extended mode for the replenishment process includes two types of extended modes, a first replenishment extended mode and a second replenishment extended mode. The coin processing device 1 can execute the replenishment process by selecting at least one of the first replenishment extended mode and the second replenishment extended mode depending on the occurrence status of the denomination becoming deficient.

[0073] Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the first replenishment extended mode of the coin processing device 1. When a denomination shortage occurs, the coin processing device 1 can execute a replenishment process in the first replenishment extended mode shown in Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 6(a), the process from the start of the replenishment process in the first replenishment extended mode to the completion of replenishing the coins to be replenished in the second storage unit 52 is performed in the same manner as the extended process in the normal mode shown in Fig. 4(a).

[0074] In the refill process in the normal mode, after the second storage unit 52 has been refilled with the coins to be replenished, all coins remaining in the transport path or the pay-out unit 60 are returned to the first storage unit 51, as shown in Fig. 4(b). On the other hand, in the refill process in the first replenishment extended mode, after the second storage unit 52 has been refilled with the coins to be replenished, if the coins remaining in the transport path or the pay-out unit 60 include a coin of the denomination that is lacking, this coin is stored in the second storage unit 52, as shown by the dashed arrow in Fig. 6(b). Coins other than the denomination that is lacking are returned to the first storage unit 51, as in the normal mode.

[0075] For example, in the first replenishment extended mode in which 10 yen coins are the denomination in short supply, when a total of five replenishment target coins, three 1 yen coins and two 10 yen coins, are replenished to the second storage unit 52, after all five replenishment target coins are stored in the second storage unit 52, the 10 yen coins of the denomination in short supply that are on the conveyance path and in the pay-out unit 60 are stored in the second storage unit 52. Specifically, the 10 yen coins that have been identified by the recognition unit 40 and are being conveyed by the upper conveyance unit 30a are stored in the second storage unit 52. Coins remaining in the pay-out unit 60, coins being paid out from the pay-out unit 60, and coins that have been paid out from the pay-out unit 60 and are being conveyed toward the recognition unit 40 are also identified by the recognition unit 40, and are stored in the second storage unit 52 if they are 10 yen coins.

[0076] For example, even if the denomination of the coins to be replenished is different from the denomination of the coins that are in short supply, such as when the coins to be replenished are 50 yen coins and the denomination of the coins that are in short supply is 10 yen coins, by executing the replenishment process in the first replenishment extended mode, it may be possible to store the coins of the short supply in the second storage unit 52 during the replenishment process. The number of 10 yen coins included in the minimum number of change that can be stored in the second storage unit 52 is four, but when 10 yen coins become the denomination of the coin that is in short supply, the coin processing device 1 allows five or more 10 yen coins to be stored in the second storage unit 52.

[0077] In this way, in the replenishment process in the first replenishment extended mode, the coin processing device 1 can store coins of the denomination that is lacking in the second storage unit 52, regardless of whether the denomination is included in the denomination to be replenished. Furthermore, the coin processing device 1 allows the storage of a number of coins of the denomination that exceeds the minimum number set to be stored in the second storage unit 52 for the denomination that is lacking. Since coins of the denomination that is lacking are stored in the second storage unit 52 during the replenishment process, it is possible to prevent the replenishment process from continuing for a long period of time when a replenishment process for coins of the denomination that is lacking becomes necessary.

[0078] Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the second replenishment extended mode of the coin processing device 1. When a denomination that is lacking occurs, the coin processing device 1 can execute a replenishment process in the second replenishment extended mode shown in Fig. 7. The replenishment process in the second replenishment extended mode differs from the replenishment process in the first replenishment extended mode in that the lacking denomination is stored in the second storage unit 52 from the start of the replenishment process.

[0079] As shown in Fig. 7(a), the coin processing device 1 that has started the replenishment process in the second replenishment extended mode identifies the denomination of the coins dispensed from the first storage unit 51 by the recognition unit 40, and stores the coins to be replenished and coins of the denomination that is insufficient in the second storage unit 52. Coins of denominations that are not to be replenished and are not of the denomination that is insufficient are returned to the first storage unit 51.

[0080] The process after the second storage unit 52 has been replenished with the coins to be replenished is the same as the replenishment process in the normal mode shown in Fig. 4(b). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 7(b), all coins remaining in the conveying path and the payout unit 60 are returned to the first storage unit 51.

[0081] In the replenishment process in the second replenishment extended mode, as in the replenishment process in the first replenishment extended mode, the coin processing device 1 stores coins of the denomination that is deficient in the second storage unit 52 regardless of whether the denomination is included in the denomination to be replenished, and allows a number of coins of the denomination that exceeds the minimum number to be stored in the second storage unit 52. Since it is possible to store more coins of the denomination that is deficient in the second storage unit 52 than usual during the replenishment process, it is possible to avoid the replenishment process continuing for a long time when it becomes necessary to replenish coins of the denomination that is deficient.

[0082] In the first replenishment expansion mode shown in Fig. 6, coins of the denomination that is lacking are stored in the second storage unit 52 after coin replenishment to the second storage unit 52 is completed, and in the second replenishment expansion mode shown in Fig. 7, coins of the denomination that is lacking are stored in the second storage unit 52 while coins are being replenished to the second storage unit 52. In addition, the coin processing device 1 can combine the first expansion mode and the second replenishment expansion mode to store coins of the denomination that is lacking in the second storage unit 52 from the start of the replenishment process to the end of the replenishment process. Combinations of multiple expansion modes will be described later.

[0083] The coin processing device 1 performing currency processing in the extended mode can store a number of coins exceeding the minimum number in the second storage unit 52. For example, assume that the minimum number of four 100-yen coins is a denomination that is in short supply, and the coin processing device 1 operates in the extended mode and six 100-yen coins are stored in the second storage unit 52. In this case, even if three 100-yen coins are dispensed from the second storage unit 52 in the change dispensing process that is subsequently executed, three 100-yen coins still remain in the second storage unit 52. Therefore, in the refilling process that is subsequently executed, if one 100-yen coin can be refilled into the second storage unit 52, the number of 100-yen coins will reach the minimum number of four, and the time required for the refilling process can be shortened.

[0084] As described above, the coin processing device 1 operating in the normal mode uses the first storage unit 51 to store deposited coins and to feed coins to be replenished to the second storage unit 52, and uses the second storage unit 52 to store coins to be dispensed. When a shortage of a denomination occurs, the coin processing device 1 can operate in the extended withdrawal mode. The coin processing device 1 operating in the extended withdrawal mode changes the way in which the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52 are used from the way in the normal mode. In the extended withdrawal mode, both the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52 store deposited coins and feed coins to be dispensed.

[0085] When the operation mode is switched to the withdrawal extended mode, the coin processing device 1 can execute a movement process for moving coins between the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the movement process executed in the withdrawal extended mode. FIG. 8(a) shows the first movement process, and FIG. 8(b) shows the second movement process. In the withdrawal extended mode, the second storage unit 52 is used to store and dispense coins of the denomination that is lacking, and the first storage unit 51 is used to store and dispense coins of denominations other than the denomination that is lacking. The coin processing device 1 that has decided to transition to the withdrawal extended mode can execute the first movement process to place the second storage unit 52 in a state in which only coins of the denomination that is lacking are stored.

[0086] As shown in Fig. 8(a) , when the coin processing device 1 starts the first movement process, it releases all coins of multiple denominations stored in a mixed state in the second storage unit 52 to the pay-out unit 60. The coin processing device 1 pays out coins one by one from the pay-out unit 60 and identifies them in the recognition unit 40, returns coins of the denomination that is lacking to the second storage unit 52, and stores coins of other denominations in the first storage unit 51. In the first movement process, coins of denominations other than the denomination that is lacking that are stored in the second storage unit 52 are moved to the first storage unit 51. As a result, the second storage unit 52 is in a state in which it stores only coins of the denomination that is lacking.

[0087] At the stage where the first movement process is completed, if the coins stored in the first storage unit 51 do not include coins of the denomination that is in short supply, the coin processing device 1 starts operating in the extended withdrawal mode. Whether or not the first storage unit 51 includes coins of the denomination that is in short supply can be confirmed from the inventory information in the memory unit 110.

[0088] If the coins stored in the first storage unit 51 include coins of the denomination that is lacking, the coin processing device 1 can further execute a second movement process. After starting the second movement process, the coin processing device 1 pays out coins from the first storage unit 51 and transports them to the pay-out unit 60, identifies each coin paid out from the pay-out unit 60 by the recognition unit 40, stores coins of the denomination that is lacking in the second storage unit 52, and returns coins of denominations other than the denomination that is lacking to the first storage unit 51, as shown in FIG. 8(b). In the second movement process, coins of the denomination that is lacking stored in the first storage unit 51 are moved to the second storage unit 52.

[0089] The second movement process is executed so that the second storage unit 52 stores only coins of the denomination that is lacking, and the first storage unit 51 stores a mixed state of coins of multiple denominations other than the denomination that is lacking. The second movement process may be executed continuously after the first movement process is executed upon deciding to transition to the withdrawal extended mode. The second movement process may be executed after a period of time has elapsed since the first movement process was executed, utilizing the free time during which no other coin processes are being executed.

[0090] In a case where the coins of the denomination that is deficient stored in the first storage unit 51 satisfy a predetermined condition, the coin processing device 1 may be configured not to execute the second movement process. For example, in a case where the number of coins of the denomination that is deficient stored in the first storage unit 51 is less than a predetermined threshold, the coin processing device 1 may be configured not to execute the second movement process. For example, in a case where the ratio of the number of coins of the denomination that is deficient to the total number of coins stored in the first storage unit 51 is less than a predetermined threshold, the coin processing device 1 may be configured not to execute the second movement process. Since coins of the denomination that is deficient can be moved from the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52 in the dispensing process in the dispensing extension mode described later, the second movement process may be configured not to be executed regardless of the number of coins of the denomination that is deficient stored in the first storage unit.

[0091] The first movement process is not limited to a mode in which it is executed independently from other currency processes. The first movement process may be executed together with the withdrawal process when the first change withdrawal process is performed after the operation mode is switched to the withdrawal extended mode. Specifically, when the change withdrawal process is performed, among the coins discharged by the coin processing device 1 from the second storage unit 52 to the feeding unit 60, the coins constituting the change may be dispensed from the withdrawal unit 20, the coins of the denomination that is insufficient may be returned to the second storage unit 52, and the remaining coins may be stored in the first storage unit 51.

[0092] After switching the operation mode to the withdrawal extended mode, the coin processing device 1 at least executes a first movement process alone or in combination with a withdrawal process to cause the second storage unit 52 to store only coins of the denomination in question. The coin processing device 1 executes the deposit process and the withdrawal process in the withdrawal extended mode by using the second storage unit 52 that stores only coins of the denomination in question and the first storage unit 51 that stores a mixture of coins of multiple denominations.

[0093] Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the coin processing device 1 in the withdrawal extended mode. The coin processing device 1 that has transitioned to the withdrawal extended mode executes deposit processing and withdrawal processing with processing contents different from those in the normal mode. Fig. 9(a) shows deposit processing performed in the withdrawal extended mode, and Fig. 9(b) shows withdrawal processing performed in the withdrawal extended mode.

[0094] During the deposit process, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the coin processing device 1 feeds coins received from the deposit unit 10 to the pay-out unit 60 one by one to the upper transport unit 30a and identifies them with the recognition unit 40. The coin processing device 1 rejects coins that cannot be deposited from the dispensing unit 20 in the same way as the deposit process in the normal mode. On the other hand, coins that can be deposited are processed in a manner different from that in the normal mode. Of the coins that can be deposited, the coin processing device 1 stores coins of the denomination that is insufficient in the second storage unit 52, and stores coins of denominations other than the denomination that is insufficient in the first storage unit 51. The deposit process in the withdrawal extended mode is performed in the same way as the deposit process in the deposit extended mode.

[0095] During the dispensing process, the coin processing device 1 dispenses, among the coins to be dispensed, coins of the denomination with which there is a shortage from the second storage unit 52, and dispenses coins of denominations other than the denomination with which there is a shortage from the first storage unit 51. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the coin processing device 1 releases all coins of the denomination with which there is a shortage stored in the second storage unit 52 to the pay-out unit 60, and starts a process of conveying coins stored in the first storage unit 51 to the pay-out unit 60 by the lower conveying unit 30d. The coin processing device 1 conveys the coins in the pay-out unit 60 one by one by the upper conveying unit 30a, identifies them by the recognition unit 40, and discharges the coins to be dispensed from the dispensing unit 20 to the outside of the device. On the other hand, coins not to be dispensed are returned to the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52. The coin processing device 1 stores, among the coins not to be dispensed, coins of the denomination in question in the second storage unit 52, and stores coins of denominations other than the denomination in question in the first storage unit 51.

[0096] While the coins stored in first storage unit 51 include coins of the denomination with the shortfall, the coins of the denomination with the shortfall may be dispensed from first storage unit 51 during the dispensing process. When coins of the denomination with the shortfall are to be dispensed, they are dispensed from dispensing unit 20 regardless of whether they were stored in first storage unit 51 or in second storage unit 52. After dispensing of the coins of the denomination with the shortfall among the coins to be dispensed, if the coins of the denomination with the shortfall are included among the coins identified by recognition unit 40, these coins are stored in second storage unit 52. In this way, while the dispensing process is repeated, coins of the denomination with the shortfall among the coins stored in first storage unit 51 are moved to second storage unit 52.

[0097] To explain this with a specific example, when the minimum number of Japanese coins including four 100-yen coins are stored in the second storage unit 52, the 100-yen coin becomes a denomination that is insufficient, and the coin processing device 1 transitions to the dispensing extension mode, the coin processing device 1 executes a first movement process to move all coins of other denominations to the first storage unit 51, leaving only the four 100-yen coins in the second storage unit 52. If it is not necessary to execute the coin process immediately after the completion of the first movement process, the coin processing device 1 may execute a second movement process to move the 100-yen coin from among the coins stored in the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52. The second movement process may be executed for a predetermined time, or may be executed continuously until it becomes necessary to execute a deposit process for a transaction with a customer.

[0098] Thereafter, in a deposit process performed in the extended withdrawal mode, the 100-yen coins are stored in the second storage unit 52, so the number of 100-yen coins of the denomination that is lacking does not increase in the first storage unit 51. During a withdrawal process, if the coins to be withdrawn are only 100-yen coins, the coin processing device 1 releases the 100-yen coins in the second storage unit 52 to the pay-out unit 60 to execute the withdrawal process. If the coins to be withdrawn do not include 100-yen coins, the coin processing device 1 transports the coins in the first storage unit 51 to the pay-out unit 60 to execute the withdrawal process. At this time, if a 100-yen coin is included among the coins paid out from the first storage unit 51, this 100-yen coin is stored in the second storage unit 52. If the coins to be withdrawn include 100-yen coins and coins of other denominations, the withdrawal process is executed using the 100-yen coins in the second storage unit 52 and the coins in the first storage unit 51 as described above. After the coin processing device 1 has finished dispensing the 100 yen coins, it stores all of the 100 yen coins obtained from the pay-out unit 60 in the second storage unit 52. When all of the coins to be dispensed have been dispensed, the coin processing device 1 stores the 100 yen coins, of the coins being transported by the transport unit 30 and the coins stored in the pay-out unit 60, in the second storage unit 52 and stores coins other than the 100 yen coins in the first storage unit 51, completing the dispensing process.

[0099] After transitioning to the extended withdrawal mode, only coins of the denomination in deficit are stored in the second storage unit 52. For this reason, unlike the normal mode, there is no need to execute a replenishment process for replenishing coins in the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52. However, if a coin of the denomination in deficit is included among the coins stored in the first storage unit 51, as described above, the coin processing device 1 may execute a second movement process to move the coin of the denomination in deficit from the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52.

[0100] Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the coin processing device 1. The processing shown in Fig. 10 is realized by the control unit 100 controlling the functions and operations of each component of the coin processing device 90. When the transaction amount between the store and the customer is determined, the store receives cash from the customer for the transaction amount, so that the coin processing device 1 executes a deposit process in normal mode as shown in Fig. 10 (step S1).

[0101] If it is necessary to return change coins to the customer (Step S2; Yes), the coin processing device 1 executes a change dispensing process in normal mode (Step S3). After executing the dispensing process, the coin processing device 1 executes a replenishment process in normal mode to replenish the coins dispensed from the second storage unit 52 (Step S4). If it is not necessary to dispense change coins (Step S2; No), the dispensing process and replenishment process are not executed.

[0102] When a deposit process is performed, or when a deposit process, a withdrawal process, and a replenishment process are performed, and the amount of inventory in the first storage unit 51 changes, the coin processing device 1 determines whether or not it is necessary to change the operation mode from the normal mode to the extended mode (step S5). If it is necessary to change the operation mode (step S5; Yes), the coin processing device 1 changes the operation mode from the normal mode to the extended mode (step S6). As a result, from the next deposit process onwards, at least one of the deposit process, replenishment process, and withdrawal process will be executed in the above-mentioned extended mode. If it is not necessary to change the operation mode (step S5; No), the coin processing device 1 ends the process without changing the operation mode.

[0103] Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining a change of the operation mode. Fig. 11 shows an example in which the coin processing device 1 processes 1-cent coins, 5-cent coins, 10-cent coins, and 25-cent coins, which are US currency coins.

[0104] The second storage section 52 is set to store the minimum number of coins that constitute the change. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 11, a total of 10 coins worth 99 cents are stored in the second storage section 52, including four 1-cent coins, one 5-cent coin, two 10-cent coins, and three 25-cent coins.

[0105] When operating in the normal mode, the coin processing device 1 stores all deposited coins in the first storage unit 51 (S11), dispenses all dispensed coins from the second storage unit 52 (S12), and replenishes the dispensed coins of the same denomination and number of coins per denomination from the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52 (S13). As a result, before starting the next deposit process, the second storage unit 52 returns to a state in which it stores the minimum number of coins.

[0106] In order to prevent a situation in which the coins to be replenished are not dispensed from the first storage section 51 for a long time when refilling the second storage section 52 with coins, it is preferable that the ratio of the number of coins of each denomination stored in the first storage section 51 is the same as the ratio of the number of coins of each denomination in the minimum number of coins to be stored in the second storage section 52. The coins stored in the second storage section 52 are four 1-cent coins, one 5-cent coin, two 10-cent coins, and three 25-cent coins, and the ratios of the number of 1-cent coins, 5-cent coins, 10-cent coins, and 25-cent coins are 40%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the ideal mixing ratios of the 1-cent coins, 5-cent coins, 10-cent coins, and 25-cent coins stored in the first storage section 51 are 40%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively. The mixing ratio is the ratio of the number of coins of each denomination stored in the first storage unit 51 to the total number of coins stored in the first storage unit 51.

[0107] The first storage unit 51 is set with an upper limit number of coins of each denomination to be stored. The upper limit number can be set based on the ideal mixing ratio. For example, if the upper limit (maximum number of coins stored) of the number of coins that can be stored in the first storage unit 51 is 1300, the upper limit number of 1-cent coins calculated based on the ideal mixing ratio is 520 (=1300×40%) as shown in FIG. 11. Similarly, the upper limit numbers of coins of other denominations are 130 5-cent coins, 260 10-cent coins, and 390 25-cent coins, respectively, based on the maximum number of coins that can be stored in the first storage unit 51 and the ideal mixing ratio. The upper limit number may be set automatically by the coin processing device 1, or may be set by a user of the coin processing device 1, such as a clerk of the store where the coin processing device 1 is installed.

[0108] A lower limit number is set for each denomination of coins to be stored in the first storage unit 51. The lower limit number can be set based on the upper limit number. For example, the upper limit number for each denomination is multiplied by a predetermined coefficient to set the lower limit number. The example in FIG. 11 shows an example in which the upper limit number is multiplied by a coefficient of 0.1 to set the lower limit number. The lower limit number may be set automatically by the coin processing device 1 or may be set by a user of the coin processing device 1.

[0109] The coin processing device 1 detects the shortage of denominations by monitoring the number of coins of each denomination stored in the first storage unit 51. The coin processing device 1 determines that the first storage unit 51 needs to be replenished with coins of the shortage denomination from outside the device.

[0110] The coin processing device 1 can execute a notification process to notify a store clerk of the determination result. In the notification process, for example, information requesting the clerk to replenish the coins of the denomination that is lacking is displayed on an external device such as a cash register or a display device connected to the coin processing device 1.

[0111] The memory unit 110 of the coin processing device 1 stores in advance switching conditions for switching the operation mode from the normal mode to the extended mode based on the amount information of the first storage unit 51. The coin processing device 1 determines whether or not switching of the operation mode is necessary based on the switching conditions stored in the memory unit 110 (S14). The switching conditions for the operation mode, i.e., the conditions for determining whether or not a change in the operation mode is necessary, can be set by a user of the coin processing device 1, such as a clerk of the store where the coin processing device 1 is installed.

[0112] For example, the store clerk sets the threshold value to the lower limit number of coins of each denomination to be stored in the first storage unit 51. Specifically, as shown as "Condition 1" in the dashed line frame in Fig. 11, when the number of coins of a denomination decreases and reaches the predetermined threshold value, the coin processing device 1 is set to determine that this denomination is a denomination that is insufficient and switch the operation mode from the normal mode to the extended mode. The threshold value may be the lower limit number, or may be another number obtained by multiplying the upper limit number or the lower limit number by a predetermined coefficient.

[0113] For example, as in "Condition 2," when the mixing ratio in the first storage unit 51 decreases and a denomination that has reached a predetermined threshold occurs, the switching condition is set so that this denomination is determined to be insufficient and the operation mode is switched. The threshold may be the ideal mixing ratio, or another mixing ratio obtained by multiplying the ideal mixing ratio by a predetermined coefficient.

[0114] For example, as in "Condition 3," when a coin of a denomination that takes a long time to be withdrawn from the first storage section 51 during the change replenishment process occurs and the time required for the replenishment process exceeds a predetermined threshold, the switching condition is set so that this denomination is determined to be a shortage denomination and the operating mode is switched.

[0115] In the case where the coin processing device 1 is permitted to execute alternative replenishment when replenishing coins in the second storage unit 52, a switching condition can also be set so that the denomination for which alternative replenishment has been performed is determined to be the denomination in shortage and the operation mode is switched, as in "Condition 4." Here, alternative replenishment is a setting that permits replenishment with coins of another denomination instead of coins of the denomination to be replenished, when executing a replenishment process for replenishing coins from the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52.

[0116] Fig. 12 is a diagram for explaining alternative replenishment. As shown in Fig. 12 as "minimum configuration" corresponding to each denomination to be replenished, the minimum number of US coins is four 1-cent coins, one 5-cent coin, two 10-cent coins, and three 25-cent coins.

[0117] One-cent coins cannot be substituted for because there is no lower denomination. On the other hand, five-cent coins of lower denominations can be substituted for five-cent coins instead of the minimum number of five-cent coins, as set as "substitution replenishment 1" in FIG. 12. In other words, the replenishment process may store one five-cent coin, which is the minimum number, in the second storage section 52, or may store five one-cent coins instead of one five-cent coin. When substitution replenishment is performed, five one-cent coins are dispensed instead of the five-cent coin in the change dispensing process in which the five-cent coin is dispensed.

[0118] Similarly, for 10-cent coins, "Alternative Refill 1" with one 10-cent coin and two 5-cent coins, and "Alternative Refill 2" with four 5-cent coins are permitted instead of the minimum of two coins. For 25-cent coins, "Alternative Refill 1" with one 5-cent coin, two 10-cent coins, and two 25-cent coins, "Alternative Refill 2" with five 10-cent coins and one 25-cent coin, and "Alternative Refill 3" with one 5-cent coin and seven 10-cent coins are permitted instead of the minimum of three coins.

[0119] For example, when the coin processing device 1 operating in normal mode dispenses change from the second storage section 52 and then replenishes coins from the first storage section 51 to the second storage section 52 in a subsequent replenishment process, if the coins to be replenished cannot be replenished even after a pre-set specified time (threshold) has elapsed, replenishment is performed using the alternative replenishment method shown in Figure 12.

[0120] Specifically, for example, if a 5-cent coin cannot be dispensed from first storage unit 51 even after a predetermined threshold time has elapsed since the start of a replenishment process to replenish one 5-cent coin from first storage unit 51 to second storage unit 52, the replenishment target is changed from one 5-cent coin to five 1-cent coins based on the alternative replenishment setting. "Condition 4" within the dashed line frame shown in Fig. 11 shows an example of determining that a denomination for which alternative replenishment has been performed based on the alternative replenishment setting during the replenishment process is a denomination that is insufficient, and switching the operating mode to the extended mode.

[0121] The operating mode switching condition may be such that only one condition is set, or such that multiple conditions are set and, when any one of the conditions is satisfied, the coin processing device 1 determines that a missing denomination has been detected and switches the operating mode from the normal mode to the extended mode.

[0122] When the operation mode of the coin processing device 1 is switched from the normal mode to the extended mode, as described above, a number of coins exceeding the minimum number of coins required for change are permitted to be stored in the second storage unit 52. At this time, as shown in Fig. 11, the coin processing device 1 allows the setting of an upper limit on the number of coins of each denomination that can be stored in the second storage unit 52 (S15).

[0123] The upper limit number of each denomination is set based on, for example, the alternative replenishment setting shown in Fig. 12 (S16). The upper limit number is calculated based on the replenishment number by denomination shown in a circle in Fig. 12. Specifically, for example, for 1-cent coins, the upper limit number is set to 9, which is the sum of the minimum number of 4 coins and the 5 1-cent coins required for alternative replenishment of 5-cent coins.

[0124] Similarly, the upper limit number of 5-cent coins is 6, which is the sum of the circled numbers of 5-cent coins arranged vertically by denomination in FIG. 12. Specifically, the upper limit number of 5-cent coins is 6, which is the sum of the minimum number of 1 coin, the maximum number of 5-cent coins when replacing 10-cent coins, which is 4 coins, and the maximum number of 5-cent coins when replacing 25-cent coins, which is 1 coin. The upper limit number of 10-cent coins is 9, which is the minimum number of 2 coins, and the maximum number of 25-cent coins when replacing 25-cent coins, which is 7 coins. For 25-cent coins, the minimum number of 3 coins is the upper limit number.

[0125] When switching the operating mode to the extended mode, the coin processing device 1 can set the maximum number of coins of each denomination to be stored in the second storage section 52 to the maximum number calculated based on the alternative replenishment setting, as shown within the dotted line frame in Figure 11.

[0126] For example, when operating in normal mode, the minimum number of 1-cent coins, four, are stored in the second storage unit 52. In other words, in normal mode, when the refill process is completed, the number of 1-cent coins stored in the second storage unit 52 will never be three or less, or five or more.

[0127] On the other hand, after the 1-cent coin becomes a denomination that is insufficient and the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the extended mode, the coin processing device 1 can store 1-cent coins in the second storage unit 52 up to an upper limit of 9 coins, with the minimum number of 4 coins as the lower limit. Specifically, in the processing of the extended mode described above, 1-cent coins are stored in the second storage unit 52 in a range of 4 to 9 coins. Similarly, in the extended mode, 5-cent coins are stored in the second storage unit 52 in a range of 1 to 6 coins, and 10-cent coins are stored in the second storage unit 52 in a range of 2 to 9 coins. For 25-cent coins, 3 coins are stored in the second storage unit 52 regardless of the operation mode. However, this is merely an example, and the upper limit number may be set to a number obtained by multiplying the minimum number of coins by a predetermined coefficient, such as twice the minimum number of coins, or the upper limit number may be set by a different method for each denomination. For example, in the example described in Figures 11 and 12, the maximum number of 25-cent coins is the same as the minimum number in the configuration, so for other denominations, the maximum number may be set based on the alternative replenishment setting as described above, and the maximum number of 25-cent coins of the largest denomination may be set to twice the minimum number, or to 6 or 3 times the minimum number, or to 9.

[0128] In this way, when the coin processing device 1 switches operating modes due to a shortage of a denomination and stores a number of coins in the second storage section 52 that exceeds the minimum number of coins required for change, setting an upper limit on the number of coins prevents it from becoming difficult to dispense coins of other denominations when dispensing the change.

[0129] For example, when one 5-cent coin is dispensed from the second storage unit 52 storing the minimum number of U.S. coins, the 5-cent coin is dispensed from the total of 10 coins discharged from the second storage unit 52 to the dispensing unit 60. On the other hand, if, for example, 1-cent coins become insufficient and 30 coins, which is the minimum number of 10 coins plus 20 1-cent coins, are stored in the second storage unit 52, when dispensing one 5-cent coin, the 5-cent coin is dispensed from the total of 30 coins discharged from the second storage unit 52 to the dispensing unit 60, and it may take a long time to complete the dispensing. Even when operating in the extended mode, the time required for the dispensing process can be reduced by limiting the number of 1-cent coins stored in the second storage unit 52 to 9, as described above.

[0130] The upper limit number of coins of the denomination in short supply to be stored in the second storage unit 52 in the extended mode can also be set to be determined based on the maximum number of coins that can be stored in the second storage unit 52 and the ideal mixing ratio. For example, if the maximum number of coins that can be stored in the second storage unit 52 is 50 and 1-cent coins are the denomination in short supply, the upper limit number of 1-cent coins is set to 20 (=50×40%) since the ideal mixing ratio of 1-cent coins is 40%. Similarly, the upper limit numbers of coins of other denominations are set to 5 5-cent coins (=50×10%), 10 10-cent coins (=50×20%), and 15 25-cent coins (=50×30%) based on the maximum number of coins that can be stored in the second storage unit 52 and the ideal mixing ratio.

[0131] The operation mode switching conditions shown in the dashed frame in Fig. 11 are merely examples, and other conditions may be set. The operation mode switching conditions are not limited to settings that are common to all denominations, and different switching conditions may be set for each denomination. For example, the threshold value of the switching condition may be set to a different value for each denomination.

[0132] Specifically, different thresholds may be set for denominations that can be replaced by lower denominations and the lowest denomination that cannot be replaced. For example, in the example of "Condition 1" shown in Fig. 11, the thresholds for 5-cent coins, 10-cent coins, and 25-cent coins that can be replaced by lower denominations may be set to 13, 26, and 39, respectively, as the lower limit numbers of the first storage section 51, and for 1-cent coins that cannot be replaced by lower denominations, the threshold may be set to a number greater than the lower limit number of 52.

[0133] For example, in the example of "Condition 2" shown in FIG. 11, the thresholds for 5-cent coins, 10-cent coins, and 25-cent coins may be set to 5%, 15%, and 25%, respectively, which are 5% lower than the ideal mixing ratio, while the threshold for 1-cent coins may be set to, for example, 37%, which is 3% lower than the ideal mixing ratio, or a value higher than the ideal mixing ratio.

[0134] For example, in the example of "Condition 3" shown in Figure 11, the same time may be set as the threshold for the replenishment process for 5-cent coins, 10-cent coins, and 25-cent coins, while a longer time may be set as the threshold for the replenishment process for 1-cent coins than for the other denominations.

[0135] Alternatively, a threshold may not be set for some denominations, and the operation mode may not be switched. For example, a threshold may be set for the lowest denomination that cannot be substituted by a lower denomination, and the operation mode may be switched, but the operation mode may not be switched for other denominations that can be substituted by a lower denomination.

[0136] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of switching of the operation mode of the coin processing device 1. When a shortage of denomination occurs and an operation mode switching condition is satisfied, the coin processing device 1 can switch the operation mode from the normal mode to any one of the extended modes, i.e., the deposit extended mode, the first replenishment extended mode, and the second replenishment extended mode, as shown by the solid arrow in Fig. 13. The store clerk can change the settings to select which operation mode to switch to.

[0137] The mode is not limited to a transition from the normal mode to one extended mode, but may be a mode in which the normal mode is switched to an operation mode that is a combination of a plurality of extended modes, as indicated by the dashed line in FIG.

[0138] For example, the deposit expansion mode and the first replenishment expansion mode may be combined to switch to an operation mode in which a deposit process in the deposit expansion mode and a replenishment process in the first replenishment expansion mode are performed. The deposit expansion mode and the second replenishment expansion mode may be combined to switch to an operation mode in which a deposit process in the deposit expansion mode and a replenishment process in the second replenishment expansion mode are performed. The first replenishment expansion mode and the second expansion mode may be combined to switch to an operation mode in which a replenishment process in the first replenishment expansion mode and a replenishment process in the second replenishment expansion mode are performed.

[0139] It may also be possible to combine the deposit expansion mode, the first replenishment expansion mode and the second replenishment expansion mode to switch to an operating mode that performs a deposit process using the deposit expansion mode, a replenishment process using the first replenishment expansion mode, and a replenishment process using the second replenishment expansion mode.

[0140] When the refill process in the first replenishment extended mode and the refill process in the second replenishment extended mode are performed, the coins of the denomination with which there is a shortage are stored in the second storage unit 52 from the start of the refill process to the completion of the refill process. Specifically, the coins of the denomination with which there is a shortage are stored in the second storage unit 52 as shown in FIG. 7(a) from the start of the refill process to the completion of the refill of coins to the second storage unit 52. Even after the refill of coins to the second storage unit 52 is completed, the coins of the denomination with which there is a shortage are stored in the second storage unit 52 as shown in FIG. 6(b) .

[0141] The normal mode may be switched to an operation mode that combines the deposit extended mode and the withdrawal extended mode. In this case, the coin processing device 1 may transition to the deposit extended mode and execute a deposit process as shown in FIG. 5, and then execute a withdrawal process to return coins of the denomination that is lacking among the coins discharged from the second storage unit 52 to the feeding unit 60 to the second storage unit 52, and store the other coins in the first storage unit 51. The coin processing device 1 may execute a first movement process of the withdrawal extended mode shown in FIG. 8(a), to store coins of the denomination that is lacking in the second storage unit 52, and store the other coins in the first storage unit 51. After the second storage unit 52 has entered a state in which only coins of the denomination that is lacking are stored, the coin processing device 1 operates in the withdrawal extended mode as described above.

[0142] After transitioning from the normal mode to the extended mode, the mode may be further transitioned to another extended mode. For example, as shown by the solid arrow in Fig. 13, the mode may transition to any one of the three extended modes, the deposit extended mode, the first replenishment extended mode, and the second replenishment extended mode, and then transition to an operation mode that combines any two of the three extended modes, as shown by the dashed and dotted arrow. After that, the mode may further transition to an operation mode that combines the deposit extended mode, the first replenishment extended mode, and the second replenishment extended mode, or from there to an operation mode that combines the deposit extended mode and the withdrawal extended mode.

[0143] For example, as shown by the dashed arrow in Fig. 13, the normal mode may be switched to an operation mode that combines two of the three expanded modes, the deposit expanded mode, the first replenishment expanded mode, and the second replenishment expanded mode, and then switched to an operation mode that combines the three expanded modes, as shown by the dashed arrow. After that, the operation mode may further be switched to an operation mode that combines the deposit expanded mode and the withdrawal expanded mode.

[0144] For example, as shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 13, the operation mode may transition from the normal mode to a combination of the three operating modes, namely the deposit extended mode, the first replenishment extended mode, and the second replenishment extended mode, and then, as shown by the dotted arrow, to an operating mode that combines the deposit extended mode and the withdrawal extended mode.

[0145] The operation mode may be changed based on an operation mode switching condition in which a threshold is set in stages. Specifically, for example, the threshold shown in the dashed frame in FIG. 11 is set in multiple stages, and when a denomination that has reached the first stage threshold is detected, the operation mode is changed from the normal mode to any of the expansion modes of the deposit expansion mode, the first replenishment expansion mode, and the second replenishment expansion mode, and when the storage status of the denomination that has reached the second stage threshold, the operation mode is changed to an operation mode that combines any two of the deposit expansion mode, the first replenishment expansion mode, and the second replenishment expansion mode. In this case, the operation mode may be changed based on each threshold set in multiple stages, such that a different threshold is set for each denomination for the threshold of each stage used to change the operation mode, or a threshold is not set for some denominations.

[0146] When the coin processing device 1 detects the occurrence of a shortage of denominations, it executes a notification process to notify a store clerk and switches the operation mode to the extended mode, and then returns the operation mode to the normal mode if the coin shortage is resolved. For example, when a store clerk who has received the notification process performs a refilling operation to refill the coins of the shortage denomination from outside the device into the coin processing device 1 and the coin shortage is resolved, the coin processing device 1 detects this and returns the operation mode to the normal mode. For example, even if the number of coins of the shortage denomination in the coin processing device 1 increases and the shortage is resolved during the execution of a currency process including a deposit process, the coin processing device 1 detects this and returns the operation mode to the normal mode.

[0147] When performing a replenishment process to move coins from the first storage section 51 to the second storage section 52, the coin processing device 1 can change the transport mode of the lower transport section 30d, which transports the coins from the first storage section 51 to the payout section 60.

[0148] The coin processing device 1 can change the manner in which coins are transported from the first storage section 51 to the dispensing section 60 in at least one of the replenishment processes of the normal mode shown in Figure 4, the first replenishment extended mode shown in Figure 6, and the second replenishment extended mode shown in Figure 7.

[0149] When a predetermined condition is satisfied while repeating the process of transporting coins from the first storage unit 51 to the payout unit 60, identifying them by the recognition unit 40, storing coins to be replenished in the second storage unit 52, and returning coins not to be replenished to the first storage unit 51, the transport mode by the lower transport unit 30d is changed. The change in the transport mode includes at least one of an immediate stop of transport, a stop of transport after a predetermined time has elapsed, and a change in the transport speed.

[0150] For example, the transport mode is changed on the condition that the number of coins of each denomination to be replenished stored in the second storage unit 52 falls below a predetermined threshold number for all denominations. For example, the transport mode is changed on the condition that the number of coins of each denomination to be replenished in the second storage unit 52 falls to one coin each. However, a different threshold number may be set for each denomination. A threshold number may not be set for some denominations, and the transport mode may be changed based on the threshold number set for the other denominations.

[0151] The conveying mode may be changed to a different one for each denomination. For example, the conveying mode may be changed to a different one for each denomination, such that conveying of coins of a certain denomination is stopped when a threshold number set for that denomination is reached, and the conveying speed of coins of another denomination is reduced when a different threshold number set for that denomination is reached.

[0152] In Fig. 2 of this embodiment, an example is described in which the coin processing device 1 includes the control unit 100, the storage unit 110, and the communication unit 120, but as long as the coin processing device 1 can execute each of the above-mentioned processes, the control unit 100, the storage unit 110, and the communication unit 120 may be provided outside the coin processing device 1. For example, an external device connected to the coin processing device 1 may include the control unit 100, the storage unit 110, and the communication unit 120, and the coin processing device 1 may execute each of the above-mentioned processes under the control of the external device. The external device may be any of a banknote processing device, an operation terminal, a cash register, and a server device that are used in connection with the coin processing device 1, or may be other devices.

[0153] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the coin processing device 1 uses two storage units, the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52, but this is merely an example and does not exclude devices with three or more storage units. For example, the coin processing device 1 may have three or more storage units, one of which is used as the second storage unit 52, and one selected from the remaining storage units is used as the first storage unit 51. For example, the coin processing device 1 may have two or more sets of storage units, with the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52 considered as one set, and Japanese currency may be processed in one set as described above, and U.S. currency may be processed in the other set as described above.

[0154] In this embodiment, each process has been described using coins as an example, but the above-mentioned processes may be performed on banknotes. In this case, two storage units capable of storing and feeding banknotes are respectively the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52, and the banknotes are processed as shown in the block diagrams at the bottom of Figs. 3 to 9.

[0155] As described above, the currency processing device according to this embodiment prepares in advance a predetermined denomination and a predetermined number of currency for dispensing in the second storage unit, separate from the first storage unit that stores currency deposited by executing a deposit process, and executes a dispensing process using the currency in the second storage unit. After executing a dispensing process, the currency processing device executes a replenishment process to replenish currency from the first storage unit to the second storage unit in preparation for the next dispensing process. When the currency processing device detects a denomination with a small amount of currency in the first storage unit, it stores in the second storage unit a number of currency of the denomination that exceeds the predetermined number set for dispensing, for the denomination in question. By securing currency of the denomination in the second storage unit in advance when executing a deposit process or replenishment process, the currency processing device can avoid taking a long time to prepare the denomination in question when preparing currency for dispensing, including the denomination in question, in the second storage unit in preparation for a dispensing process. [Explanation of symbols]

[0156] 1 Coin processing device (currency processing device) 10 Deposit Department 20 Withdrawal Department 30 (30a to 30d) Conveyor section 40 Identification section 51 First storage section 52 Second storage section 60 Payout section 90 Coin Processing Unit 100 Control section 110 Storage section 120 Communications Department

Claims

1. a first storage section and a second storage section for storing currency; A conveying unit that conveys currency; A recognition unit that recognizes currency transported by the transport unit; a control unit that transports the currency in the first storage unit using the transport unit and recognizes it using the recognition unit, transports some of the currency stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit based on the recognition result, and stores a predetermined number of currency for each denomination in the second storage unit; Equipped with The control unit detects a denomination for which the amount of coins stored in the first storage unit is insufficient, and stores, in the second storage unit, a number of coins of the denomination that exceeds the predetermined number set for the denomination. A currency processing device.

2. The currency processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit detects the shortage of the denomination based on the ratio of the number of coins of each denomination to the number of coins of all denominations stored in the first storage unit.

3. The control unit is storing the shortfall denomination of currency in the second storage unit until the number of the shortfall denomination of currency stored in the second storage unit reaches an upper limit number set for the shortfall denomination; After the upper limit number is reached, the shortage denomination of coins is stored in the first storage unit. The currency processing device according to claim 1 .

4. The control unit is During the execution of the currency processing, when the total number of the denominations of currency that is short stored in the first storage unit and the second storage unit increases and the shortage state of the denominations of currency is resolved, The second storage unit is returned to a state in which the plurality of denominations of coins are stored in the predetermined number for each denomination. The currency processing device according to claim 1 .

5. The control unit is When the shortage of coins of the denomination is resolved by replenishing the coins of the denomination from outside the device, The second storage unit is returned to a state in which the plurality of denominations of coins are stored in the predetermined number for each denomination. The currency processing device according to claim 1 .

6. The currency handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control unit stores in the second storage unit currency to be dispensed during a dispensing process.

7. The control unit is If the denomination of the deficient coin is not detected, the coins deposited during the deposit process are stored in the first storage unit regardless of the denomination. If a denomination that is deficient is detected, among the coins deposited during the deposit process, the coins of the denomination that is deficient are stored in the second storage unit, while the coins of the other denominations are stored in the first storage unit. The currency handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The control unit is When a process is executed in which currency is sequentially fed from the first storage unit and recognized by the recognition unit, a portion of the currency stored in the first storage unit is transported to the second storage unit based on a recognition result, and a predetermined number of currency for each denomination is stored in the second storage unit, If a denomination that is insufficient is not detected, after the storage of the currency in the second storage unit is completed, the currency that has been fed out from the first storage unit is returned to the first storage unit, If a denomination that is lacking is detected, after the storage of the currency in the second storage unit is completed, the currency of the lacking denomination among the currency that has been fed out from the first storage unit is stored in the second storage unit, and the currency of the other denominations is returned to the first storage unit. A currency processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The control unit is When a process is executed in which currency is sequentially fed from the first storage unit and recognized by the recognition unit, a portion of the currency stored in the first storage unit is transported to the second storage unit based on a recognition result, and a predetermined number of currency for each denomination is stored in the second storage unit, If a denomination that is deficient is detected, during the period from the start of the process to the completion of storing the denominations in the second storage unit, even if the number of the denominations that are deficient and stored in the second storage unit meets the predetermined number, the denominations are stored in the second storage unit. A currency handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The control unit is During a deposit process, the deposited currency is stored in the first storage unit, During a dispensing process, the currency is dispensed from the second storage unit that stores a predetermined number of currency for each denomination; If a denomination shortage is detected, During a deposit process, the coins of the denomination that is insufficient are stored in the second storage unit, and the coins of the other denominations are stored in the first storage unit, During a dispensing process, the denomination of the coin that is lacking is dispensed from the second storage unit, and the other denominations of the coin are dispensed from the first storage unit. The currency handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

11. The control unit that detects the shortage denomination a first expansion mode in which, during a deposit process, among the deposited currency, currency of a denomination that is insufficient is stored in the second storage unit, while currency of other denominations is stored in the first storage unit; a second expansion mode in which, during a replenishment process in which currency is sequentially dispensed from the first storage unit to replenish the currency to be replenished to the second storage unit, after the currency to be replenished has been replenished to the second storage unit, currency of the denomination that is insufficient among the currency dispensed from the first storage unit is stored in the second storage unit and currency of other denominations is returned to and stored in the first storage unit; a third extension mode in which, during the replenishment process, even if the number of coins of the denomination that are lacking and stored in the second storage unit meets the predetermined number during the period from the start of the replenishment process to the end of the replenishment of coins to the second storage unit, the coins of the denomination that lack are stored in the second storage unit; a fourth expansion mode in which a usage method of the first storage unit and the second storage unit is changed so that, during a deposit process, the shortfall in the denomination is stored in the second storage unit and the other denominations are stored in the first storage unit, and, during a withdrawal process, the shortfall in the denomination is withdrawn from the second storage unit and the other denominations are withdrawn from the first storage unit; and and selects at least one of a plurality of types of extended modes including the above, and switches the operation mode to the selected extended mode to execute currency processing. The currency processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

12. The control unit is Select one or two of the three expansion modes, i.e., the first expansion mode, the second expansion mode, and the third expansion mode, and execute currency processing. According to the shortage of the denomination of the coin, another expansion mode is newly selected from the three expansion modes, and the previously selected expansion mode is combined with the newly selected expansion mode to execute the currency processing. The currency processing device according to claim 11 .

13. The control unit is After performing currency processing by combining the three extension modes, i.e., the first extension mode, the second extension mode, and the third extension mode, The fourth expansion mode is selected according to a shortage status of the denomination of the currency in question, and currency processing is performed in the fourth expansion mode. The currency processing device according to claim 12 .

14. A currency processing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control unit detects the shortage denomination from among a portion of the multiple denominations of currency stored in the first storage unit.

15. A currency processing method executed by a currency processing device, comprising: a step of feeding out currency from a first storage unit that stores currency and recognizing the currency with a recognition unit; a step of transporting a portion of the currency stored in the first storage unit to a second storage unit based on a recognition result, and storing a predetermined number of currency for each denomination in the second storage unit; detecting a denomination for which the amount of currency stored in the first storage unit is insufficient; When the shortage denomination is detected, storing in the second storage unit more than the predetermined number of coins set for the shortage denomination. A currency processing method comprising:

Images