Coin processing device

Abstract

To reduce occurrence of coin jamming.SOLUTION: A coin processing device including a conveyance belt 122 endlessly stretched over conveyance pulleys 121a, 121b and displaced in an extending direction in association with rotation of the pulleys, thereby conveying a coin placed on the belt itself, and a reverse roller 123 located above the conveyance belt 122 and rotating about a central axis, thereby bringing a coin present at a downstream side in a conveyance direction of the conveyance belt 122 relative to the reverse roller into a state in which a front surface or a rear surface is in contact with the conveyance belt 122, includes: a material detection sensor 30 that detects a material of a coin present at an upstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveyance belt 122 relative to the reverse roller 123; and distance adjustment means (31, 40) for, when a material of a thin coin identified as having a relatively small thickness is detected by the material detection sensor 30, adjusting a mutual distance between the conveyance belt 122 and the reverse roller 123 to be relatively smaller than when the material of a coin other than the thin coin is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a coin processing device applied as, for example, a change dispenser has been proposed in Patent Document 1. This coin processing device has a coin validation unit that validates the authenticity and denomination of coins inserted into a deposit slot, and then automatically takes in coins that have been validated as genuine and stores them in storage vaults provided for each denomination. In this coin processing device, a rotating reverse roller abuts against coins placed on a conveyor belt, thereby conveying the coins with their front or back surfaces in contact with the conveyor belt, and the coins are validated by the validation unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-39773 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The gap between the conveyor belt and the reverse roller is generally set to a predetermined size to allow the passage of the thickest coins. However, if the gap becomes too large due to dimensional errors or deflection of the conveyor belt, two relatively thin coins may enter the gap between the conveyor belt and the reverse roller in a stacked state, causing a coin jam or the like.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing device that can reduce the occurrence of coin jamming. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the coin processing device of the present invention comprises a conveying belt that is endlessly stretched over a plurality of conveying pulleys and displaces along its extension direction as the conveying pulleys rotate, thereby conveying coins placed on it, and a reverse roller that is arranged above the conveying belt and rotates around its central axis, thereby causing coins downstream of the conveying belt in the conveying direction to be in contact with the conveying belt on their front or back sides, and is characterized by comprising a material detection means that detects the material of coins upstream of the reverse roller in the conveying direction of the conveying belt, and a distance adjustment means that, when the material detection means detects the material of a thin coin, which is considered to be relatively thin in thickness, adjusts the distance between the conveying belt and the reverse roller so that it is relatively smaller than when the material of a coin other than the thin coin is detected.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that in the coin processing device, the thin coins are 1 yen coins, 5 yen coins and 10 yen coins.

[0008] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned coin processing device, the reverse roller is arranged to be movable toward and away from the conveying belt, and the distance adjustment means moves the reverse roller to adjust the mutual distance. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the material detection means detects the material of the coin upstream of the reverse roller in the conveying direction of the conveying belt, and when the material detection means detects the material of a thin coin, which is considered to be relatively thin in thickness, the distance adjustment means adjusts the distance between the conveying belt and the reverse roller so that it is relatively smaller than when the material of a coin other than a thin coin is detected, thereby achieving the effect of reducing the occurrence of coin jams. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the external configuration of a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the external configuration of the coin processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the coin processing device shown in FIGS. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a characteristic control system of the coin processing device shown in FIGS. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the deposit unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the deposit unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 as viewed from the front. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view showing the main part of the deposit unit shown in FIGS. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view showing the main part of the deposit unit shown in FIGS. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the mutual distance adjustment processing performed by the control unit shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a coin processing device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] <Overview of coin handling machine configuration> 1 and 2 respectively show the external configuration of a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with Fig. 1 being a plan view and Fig. 2 being a front view. The coin processing device 10 shown here is used as an automatic change dispenser connected to a POS (Point Of Sales) register device (host device 1) in a store such as a supermarket or convenience store, and includes a device main body 11.

[0013] The device main body 11 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped housing, and includes a deposit unit 12, an operation and display unit 13, a withdrawal port 14, and a return port 15. The deposit unit 12 includes a deposit port 12a provided on the right side of the top front surface of the device main body 11, and is a section for receiving coins inserted through the deposit port 12a into the device main body 11. The deposit unit 12 functions as a temporary holding unit that temporarily holds deposits from users such as customers, and its configuration will be described later.

[0014] The operation display unit 13 is provided on the left side of the top front surface of the device body 11, and has a display unit 13a and an operation unit 13b. The display unit 13a displays various information, and the operation unit 13b is an input means, such as a numeric keypad, for inputting various operations.

[0015] The dispensing port 14 is provided on the left side of the front of the device body 11. This dispensing port 14 is an opening for dispensing coins stored inside the device body 11, and dispenses coins into a dispensing tray 16 attached to the device body 11. The return port 15 is provided on the right side of the front of the device body 11. This return port 15 is an opening for returning coins.

[0016] Furthermore, the coin processing device 10 is positioned so that the front of the device body 11 faces the user, who is the customer of the store, and functions as a self-checkout where the user (customer) reads the barcodes of products and hands over money, or as a semi-self-checkout where the user only hands over money.

[0017] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the coin processing device 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a characteristic control system of the coin processing device 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The internal configuration of the coin processing device 10 will be explained by function using Figures 3 and 4.

[0018] A coin transport mechanism 20 is provided inside the device main body 11. This coin transport mechanism 20 has a deposit transport section 21, a temporary holding section 22, a sorting section 23, a storage 24, a withdrawal transport section 25, and a switching gate group 26.

[0019] The deposit transport unit 21 transports coins that are inserted through the deposit port 12a and detected by the insertion detection sensor 17 provided in the deposit unit 12. The deposit transport unit 21 is provided with a coin validation unit 21a. The coin validation unit 21a identifies the authenticity and denomination of coins.

[0020] The temporary storage unit 22 temporarily stores coins that have been identified as genuine by the coin validation unit 21 a. The sorting unit 23 sorts the coins that have been stored in the temporary storage unit 22 and then transported, by denomination.

[0021] The storage cabinets 24 are provided for each denomination and store the coins sorted by the sorting unit 23. More specifically, six storage cabinets 24 are provided from the front side: a 1 yen storage cabinet 24a, a 50 yen storage cabinet 24b, a 5 yen storage cabinet 24c, a 100 yen storage cabinet 24d, a 10 yen storage cabinet 24e, and a 500 yen storage cabinet 24f.

[0022] The dispensing transport unit 25 transports coins dispensed from the storage 24 forward. In other words, the dispensing transport unit 25 transports coins dispensed from the storage 24 forward toward the dispensing chute 27 that communicates with the dispensing port 14.

[0023] The switching gate group 26 includes a first switching gate 26a, a second switching gate 26b, and a third switching gate 26c. The first switching gate 26a is provided downstream in the conveying direction of the deposit conveying unit 21. The first switching gate 26a is capable of selectively switching between a state in which coins conveyed by the deposit conveying unit 21 are conveyed to the temporary holding unit 22, and a state in which the coins are conveyed to the withdrawal port 14.

[0024] The second switching gate 26b is provided downstream in the conveying direction of the temporary storage unit 22. This second switching gate 26b is capable of selectively switching between a state in which the coins stored in the temporary storage unit 22 are sent to the sorting unit 23 and a state in which the coins are sent to the return port 15. In a normal state, the second switching gate 26b is in a state in which the coins stored in the temporary storage unit 22 are sent to the sorting unit 23.

[0025] The third switching gate 26c is provided downstream in the conveying direction of the dispensing conveying section 25. This third switching gate 26c is capable of selectively switching between a conveying state in which coins conveyed by the dispensing conveying section 25 are conveyed to the dispensing port 14 via the dispensing chute 27, and a circulating state in which the coins are conveyed to the temporary storage section 22. The third switching gate 26c is normally in the conveying state.

[0026] In addition to the above configuration, the coin processing device 10 also includes a control unit 40. The control unit 40 is communicatively connected to the display unit 13a, operation unit 13b, coin transport mechanism 20, and coin validation unit 21a, and is also communicatively connected to a higher-level device 1 such as a POS register. When a command is given through the operation unit 13b, or when a detection signal is given from the coin validation unit 21a, or when various commands are given from the higher-level device 1, the control unit 40 controls the display of the display unit 13a and the drive of the coin transport mechanism 20 based on the programs and data stored in the memory unit 41.

[0027] The control unit 40 may be realized, for example, by having a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) execute a program, i.e., by software, or by hardware such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0028] <Overview of operation of coin processing device 10> The coin processing device 10 configured as described above operates as follows. First, the deposit operation will be described. When a deposit permission command is given from the higher-level device 1, a coin inserted into the deposit port 12a is detected by the insertion detection sensor 17, and then transported by the deposit transport unit 21, and its authenticity and denomination are identified by the coin validation unit 21a. If the coin is genuine, it is stored in the temporary storage unit 22. On the other hand, if the coin is not genuine, it is transported to the withdrawal port 14 via the first switching gate 26a and returned to the withdrawal tray 16. When a return command is given from the higher-level device 1, the coin stored in the temporary storage unit 22 is returned to the return port 15 via the second switching gate 26b.

[0029] The coins stored in the temporary storage unit 22 are transported to the sorting unit 23, where they are sorted by denomination while being transported backward. The coins sorted by the sorting unit 23 are stored in the storage cabinet 24 according to their denominations, and then the deposit operation is completed by notifying the upper device 1 that the deposit has been completed.

[0030] Next, the dispensing operation will be described. When a dispensing command is given from the higher-level device 1, coins of the denomination corresponding to the dispensing command are fed from any storage 24 to the dispensing transport unit 25. They are fed from the appropriate storage 24 to the dispensing transport unit 25. The coins fed to the dispensing transport unit 25 are transported forward by the dispensing transport unit 25, and are dispensed from the dispensing chute 27 through the third switching gate 26c which is in the transport state, and from the dispensing port 14 to the outside of the device main body 11. After the predetermined coins have been dispensed to the outside in this way, the dispensing operation is completed by notifying the higher-level device 1 that dispensing has been completed.

[0031] <Deposit Section 12> 5 and 6 respectively show the depositing unit 12 shown in Figures 1 and 3, with Figure 5 being a perspective view and Figure 6 being a cross-sectional view seen from the front. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the depositing unit 12 is equipped with the above-mentioned insertion detection sensor 17, as well as a conveyor belt 122, a reverse roller 123, and a material detection sensor 30.

[0032] The conveyor belt 122 is endlessly stretched between conveyor pulleys 121a and 121b that are rotatably arranged as a pair on the left and right of the deposit unit main body 12H that forms the deposit port 12a at its upper side. Part of the upward extending portion 122a of the conveyor belt 122 between the conveyor pulleys 121a and 121b is exposed through the deposit port 12a.

[0033] Here, of the pair of left and right conveying pulleys 121a, 121b, the left conveying pulley 121a is disposed higher than the right conveying pulley 121b and has a larger outer diameter than the right conveying pulley 121b. The left conveying pulley 121a is a drive pulley that rotates counterclockwise around its own central axis as viewed from the front, driven by a motor (not shown).

[0034] As a result, the conveying belt 122 extends with an upward inclination as the upward extending portion 122a moves toward the left, and when the left conveying pulley 121a is driven by a motor to rotate around its central axis, the upward extending portion 122a is displaced along its own extension direction in such a manner that it moves toward the left.

[0035] The reverse roller 123 is a cylindrical member extending in the front-rear direction, and is disposed above the conveyor belt 122. Explaining in more detail, the reverse roller 123 is rotatably mounted around its own central axis between right ends of a pair of front and rear reverse roller levers 124. The pair of front and rear reverse roller levers 124 are disposed in the depositing unit main body 12H in a manner that allows them to rotate around the central axis of a lever shaft 124a located to the left of the reverse roller 123.

[0036] As a result, the reverse roller 123, like the reverse roller lever 124, can rotate around the central axis of the lever shaft portion 124a, and can rotate in a manner of moving towards and away from the upward extending portion 122a of the conveying belt 122 between a position where the mutual distance (shortest distance) between the reverse roller 123 and the upward extending portion 122a is d1 and a position where the mutual distance (shortest distance) between the reverse roller 123 and the upward extending portion 122a is d2, as shown in Figures 7 and 8.

[0037] Here, the mutual distance d1 is, for example, about 2.0 mm to 2.4 mm, which is a size that allows the passage of the thickest coins (for example, 500 yen coins). The mutual distance d2 is smaller than the mutual distance d1, for example, about 1.7 mm to 2.1 mm, which is a size that allows the passage of thin coins that are considered to be relatively thin (for example, 1 yen coins, 5 yen coins, and 10 yen coins).

[0038] Such a reverse roller 123 rotates by the driving force of an actuator 31 acting on a connecting shaft 124b installed between the left ends of the reverse roller levers 124. The actuator 31 is configured with, for example, a motor or a solenoid, and is driven by commands from a control unit 40 connected so as to be able to communicate with it.

[0039] The reverse roller 123 is linked to a motor common to the left conveying pulley 121a, and by transmitting the driving force of the motor, the reverse roller 123 rotates around its own central axis in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the front. Although a detailed explanation will be omitted, the reverse roller 123 is linked to the motor at both positions, by changing the gear that meshes with it between the position of mutual distance d1 and the position of mutual distance d2, and the driving force of the motor is transmitted thereto.

[0040] The reverse roller 123 rotates around its central axis when the conveyor belt 122 is displaced along the extension direction. By rotating around its central axis, the reverse roller 123 places the coins on its left, i.e., the coins downstream of the conveyor belt 122 in the conveying direction, one by one in a sideways position (with the front or back of the coin in contact with the conveyor belt 122).

[0041] 4, the material detection sensor 30 detects the material of coins on the right side of the reverse roller 123, i.e., on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 122. More specifically, the material detection sensor 30 is provided below the upward extending portion 122a of the conveyor belt 122, and detects the material of coins that are placed directly on the upward extending portion 122a, on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 122, of the reverse roller 123. The material detection sensor 30 is communicatively connected to the control unit 40, and sends the detection result to the control unit 40 as a detection signal.

[0042] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the details of the mutual distance adjustment process carried out by the control unit 40 shown in Fig. 4. This mutual distance adjustment process is carried out during the deposit operation described above.

[0043] In Figure 9, the control unit 40 determines whether the material detection sensor 30 has detected something after the mutual distance has been reduced (steps S101 and S102), or whether the material detection sensor 30 has detected something without the mutual distance being reduced (steps S101 and S103).

[0044] If the material detection sensor 30 detects that the mutual distance has been reduced (step S101: Yes, step S102: Yes), i.e., if the material detection sensor 30 detects at the mutual distance d2, the control unit 40 determines whether the material detection sensor 30 has detected the material of a thin coin (step S104). If the material detection sensor 30 detects the material of a thin coin (step S104: Yes), i.e., if the material detection sensor 30 detects aluminum (the material of 1-yen coins), brass (the material of 5-yen coins), or bronze (the material of 10-yen coins), the control unit 40 maintains the mutual distance at d2 without issuing a drive command to the actuator 31 (step S105), and then returns the procedure to end this processing.

[0045] On the other hand, if the material detection sensor 30 detects a material other than a thin coin in step S104 (step S104: No), that is, if the material detection sensor 30 detects a material such as cupronickel or nickel, the control unit 40 issues a drive command to the actuator 31 to increase the mutual distance from d2 to d1 (step S106), and then returns the procedure to end the current processing.

[0046] If the material detection sensor 30 detects that the mutual distance has not been reduced (step S101: No, step S103: Yes), i.e., if the material detection sensor 30 detects that the mutual distance is d1, the control unit 40 determines whether the material detection sensor 30 has detected the material of a thin coin (step S107). If the material detection sensor 30 detects the material of a thin coin (step S107: Yes), i.e., if the material detection sensor 30 detects aluminum (the material of 1-yen coins), brass (the material of 5-yen coins), or bronze (the material of 10-yen coins), the control unit 40 issues a drive command to the actuator 31 to reduce the mutual distance from d1 to d2 (step S108), and then returns the procedure to end this processing.

[0047] On the other hand, if the material detection sensor 30 detects a material other than a thin coin in step S107 (step S107: No), that is, if the material detection sensor 30 detects a material such as cupronickel or nickel, the control unit 40 does not issue a drive command to the actuator 31 and maintains the mutual distance as d1 (step S109), and then returns the procedure to end this processing.

[0048] In this way, in the coin processing device 10, the material detection sensor 30 constitutes a material detection means that detects the material of coins upstream of the reverse roller 123 in the conveying direction of the conveying belt 122, and the actuator 31 and control unit 40 constitute a distance adjustment means that, when the material detection means detects the material of a thin coin, which is considered to be relatively thin in thickness, adjusts the distance between the conveying belt 122 and the reverse roller 123 so that it is relatively smaller than when the material of a coin other than a thin coin is detected.

[0049] As described above, according to the coin processing device 10 which is an embodiment of the present invention, the material detection sensor 30 detects the material of the coin upstream of the reverse roller 123 in the conveying direction of the conveying belt 122, and when the material detection sensor 30 detects the material of a thin coin, which is considered to be relatively thin in thickness, the control unit 40 and actuator 31 adjust the distance between the conveying belt 122 and the reverse roller 123 to d2 so that it is relatively smaller than when the material of a coin other than a thin coin is detected.This makes it possible to prevent two thin coins, which are relatively thin in thickness, from entering between the conveying belt 122 and the reverse roller 123 in a stacked state, thereby reducing the occurrence of coin jams.

[0050] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications can be made.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the reverse roller 123 is rotatably arranged so as to move toward and away from the upward extending portion 122a of the conveying belt 122, but in the present invention, the conveying belt may be movable toward and away from the reverse roller.

[0052] The configurations illustrated in the above-described embodiments are merely functional schematics and are not necessarily physically configured as shown. In other words, the distribution and integration of each device and component is not limited to that illustrated, and all or part of them can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various usage situations, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1...upper device, 10...coin processing device, 11...device main body, 12...deposit section, 12a...deposit port, 12H...deposit section main body, 121a, 121b...conveying pulley, 122...conveying belt, 122a...upward extension portion, 123...reverse roller, 124...reverse roller lever, 124a...lever shaft portion, 124b...connecting shaft portion, 13...operation display unit, 14...withdrawal port, 15...return port, 16...withdrawal tray, 17...insertion detection sensor, 20...coin transport mechanism, 30...material detection sensor, 31...actuator, 40...control unit, 41...memory unit.

Claims

1. a conveyor belt that is endlessly stretched around a plurality of conveyor pulleys and displaces along its extension direction in accordance with the rotation of the conveyor pulleys to convey coins placed thereon; a reverse roller disposed above the conveyor belt and rotating about a central axis to bring the front or back of a coin downstream of the conveyor belt in the conveying direction into contact with the conveyor belt; A coin processing device comprising: a material detection means for detecting the material of the coin located upstream of the reverse roller in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt; a distance adjusting means for adjusting the distance between the conveyor belt and the reverse roller so that it is relatively smaller when the material of a coin other than the thin coin is detected by the material detecting means. A coin processing device comprising:

2. 2. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the thin coins are 1-yen coins, 5-yen coins, and 10-yen coins.

3. the reverse roller is disposed so as to be movable toward and away from the conveyor belt, 3. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the distance adjusting means adjusts the mutual distance by moving the reverse rollers.

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