Rod bar storage device

Abstract

To improve convenience.SOLUTION: A rod bar storage device 10 includes: a storage tray 40 for storing rod bars each formed by packaging a predetermined number of coins of the same denomination in a stacked rod shape; an intermediate drawer portion 30 for slidably accommodating the storage tray 40 along a front-rear direction in a manner allowing the storage tray 40 to advance and retract through an intermediate opening 31 formed in the intermediate drawer portion 30; and a housing 20 having a front opening 21 and a rear opening 22 in a front surface, the housing 20 being configured to slidably accommodate the intermediate drawer portion 30 together with the storage tray 40 along the front-rear direction in a manner allowing the intermediate drawer portion 30 to advance and retract through the front opening 21 and to permit the storage tray 40 to advance and retract through the intermediate opening 31 from the rear opening 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coin roll storage device, and more particularly to a coin roll storage device for storing coin rolls in which a predetermined number of coins of the same denomination are stacked and packaged in a rod shape. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, among automatic change dispensers, there is known a currency processing device that is equipped with a coin roll storage device. The coin roll storage device stores coin rolls in which a predetermined number of coins of the same denomination are stacked and packaged in a rod shape, and when the currency processing device runs out of coins to be dispensed, a coin roll of the same denomination as the missing coins can be taken out and replenished into the currency processing device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-293422 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The coin roll storage device described above generally includes a rectangular housing with a front opening, and a storage tray that has a storage section for storing coin rolls and is stored in a manner that allows it to slide back and forth through the front opening. Therefore, when replenishing or retrieving coin rolls, the storage tray can only be pulled out from the front opening of the housing, which is not very convenient.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a coin roll storage device that can improve convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The coin roll storage device of the present invention is a coin roll storage device equipped with a storage tray for storing coin rolls packaged in the form of a rod in which a predetermined number of coins of the same denomination are stacked, and is characterized in that it comprises an intermediate drawer section that stores the storage tray in a manner that allows it to slide forward and backward in the front-to-back direction so that it can be inserted and removed through an intermediate opening formed in the storage tray, and a housing that has a front opening on the front side and a rear opening on the rear side, stores the intermediate drawer in a manner that allows it to slide forward and backward in the front and backward direction so that it can be inserted and removed together with the storage tray from one of the front opening and the rear opening, and allows the storage tray to be inserted and removed through the intermediate opening from the other of the front opening and the rear opening.

[0007] The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above-mentioned coin roll storage device, the intermediate drawer has an intermediate locking unit that can be switched alternatively between a locked state that prevents the storage tray from protruding from the intermediate opening and an unlocked state that allows the storage tray to protrude from the intermediate opening, and the housing has a housing locking unit that can be switched alternatively between a locked state that prevents the intermediate drawer from protruding from one of the front opening and the rear opening and an unlocked state that allows the intermediate drawer to protrude from one of the front opening and the rear opening, and is equipped with a coin roll control unit that, upon receiving an release command from a communicatively connected higher-level device, puts one of the intermediate locking unit and the housing locking unit into an unlocked state and keeps the other in a locked state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the intermediate drawer section accommodates the storage tray so that it can slide forward and backward in a manner that allows it to be inserted and removed from the intermediate opening, and the housing accommodates the intermediate drawer section so that it can slide forward and backward in a manner that allows it to be inserted and removed together with the storage tray from the front opening, and the rear opening allows the storage tray to be inserted and removed through the intermediate opening, thereby making it possible to pull the storage tray out both forward and backward, thereby achieving the effect of improving convenience. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a money handling machine to which a coin roll storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a money handling machine to which a coin roll storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a typical control system of the coin roll storage device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the coin roll storage device shown in FIG. 1 and the like. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the coin roll storage device shown in FIG. 1 and the like. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the coin roll storage device shown in FIG. 1 and the like. [Figure 7] 7 is a bottom view schematically showing the main part of the housing locking part shown in FIG. 2 from below. [Figure 8] 8 is a bottom view schematically showing the main part of the housing locking part shown in FIG. 2 from below. [Figure 9] 9 is a bottom view showing a schematic view of the main part of the intermediate locking part shown in FIG. 2 from below. [Figure 10] 10 is a bottom view schematically showing the main part of the intermediate locking part shown in FIG. 2 from below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a coin roll storage device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Figures 1 and 2 show a money handling machine to which a coin roll storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, with Figure 1 being a front view and Figure 2 being a plan view. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a typical control system of the coin roll storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] The money handling machine 1 illustrated here is installed in a store such as a supermarket or convenience store, and is connected to a POS (Point Of Sales) terminal (not shown) to form a cash register system that manages and stores change and coin rolls. This money handling machine 1 has a currency handling device 2 mounted on top of a coin roll storage device 10, which is the present embodiment. The currency handling device 2 has a coin handling unit 2a that handles coins and a banknote handling unit 2b that handles banknotes. A detailed description of the currency handling device 2 will be omitted, but this currency handling device 2, together with the POS terminal, is a higher-level device of the coin roll storage device 10.

[0013] 4 to 6 are perspective views showing the coin roll storage device 10 shown in Fig. 1 etc. As shown in Fig. 4 to 6, the coin roll storage device 10 stores coin rolls as reserve money to replenish the coin processing unit 2a of the currency processing device 2.

[0014] Here, a coin roll refers to a predetermined number of coins of the same denomination stacked and packaged in a rod shape, configured as a single handling unit. The coin roll storage device 10 is intended to store coin rolls (1 yen coins, 5 yen coins, 10 yen coins, 50 yen coins, 100 yen coins, and 500 yen coins) that are stacked in a predetermined number (for example, 50 coins) and packaged in a rod shape.

[0015] Such a coin roll storage device 10 is configured to include a housing 20, an intermediate drawer section 30, and a storage tray 40.

[0016] The housing 20 has a rectangular shape with an open top, and has a front opening 21 formed on the front side and a rear opening 22 formed on the rear side. The longitudinal direction of the housing 20 is the front-to-rear direction, and the top side may be closed by a cover (not shown) or by the currency handling device 2.

[0017] The intermediate drawer 30 is a box-shaped body with an open top, configured to a size that allows it to enter the interior of the housing 20 through the front opening 21. The intermediate drawer 30 is provided in the housing 20 via a conventionally known first rail mechanism 11, and is slidable in the front-to-rear direction so as to be able to appear and disappear through the front opening 21 of the housing 20. An intermediate opening 31 is formed in the rear surface of the intermediate drawer 30.

[0018] The storage tray 40 is a box-shaped body with an open top, configured to a size that allows it to enter the interior of the intermediate drawer section 30 through the intermediate opening 31. The storage tray 40 is provided in the intermediate drawer section 30 via a conventionally known second rail mechanism 12, and is slidable in the front-to-rear direction so as to be able to enter and exit through the intermediate opening 31.

[0019] Such a storage tray 40 is configured to include a storage section 41 and a free space section 42. The storage section 41 is for storing predetermined types of coin rolls in predetermined positions, and is configured by combining a plurality of units 411 to 414.

[0020] The storage section 41 includes, in order from the rear side to the front side in the sliding direction of the storage tray 40, a first unit 411 on the right side of the rear row, a second unit 412 and a third unit 413 in the middle row, and a fourth unit 414 in the front row. The second unit 412 and the third unit 413 are arranged side by side on the left and right in the middle row.

[0021] The first unit 411 is provided with four storage pockets 411a-411d from the rear to the front that can store coin rolls, and in this embodiment, there are four storage pockets 411a-411d that can store 100 yen coin rolls, for example. The second unit 412 is provided with four storage pockets 412a-412d from the rear to the front that can store coin rolls, and in this embodiment, there are four storage pockets 412a-412d that can store 10 yen coin rolls, for example. The third unit 413 is provided with four storage pockets 413a-413d from the rear to the front that can store coin rolls, and in this embodiment, the front storage pocket 413a can store, for example, a 5 yen coin roll, and the other storage pockets 413b-413d can store, for example, 1 yen or 5 yen coin rolls. The fourth unit 414 has six storage pockets 414a-414f arranged from right to left, each capable of storing coin rolls. In this embodiment, the two rightmost storage pockets 414a and 414b can store 500 yen coin rolls, and the two central storage pockets 414c and 414d can store 50 yen coin rolls. The leftmost storage pocket 414f can store 1 yen coin rolls, and the second leftmost storage pocket 414e can store 1 yen or 5 yen coin rolls.

[0022] The free space section 42 is provided to the left of the first unit 411, separated from the storage section 41. The free space section 42 is for storing non-coin rolls, such as bills, gift certificates, and other vouchers, as well as stamps and other non-coin rolls.

[0023] In addition to the above configuration, such a coin roll storage device 10 also includes a housing locking unit 50, an intermediate locking unit 60, and a coin roll control unit 15 as shown in FIG.

[0024] 5, the housing locking section 50 is provided at the rear portion of the bottom surface of the housing 20. The housing locking section 50 will now be briefly described.

[0025] The housing locking unit 50 is provided on the rear side of the bottom surface of the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 7, the housing locking unit 50 includes a latch 51 and a ratchet 52. The latch 51 is a member rotatable about a latch rotation shaft 511 provided in the center, and is formed with a locking groove 512 that allows the intermediate locked portion 35 provided in the intermediate drawer 30 to enter. The ratchet 52 is located to the right of the latch 51 and extends rearward from a ratchet rotation shaft 521 provided in the front. The ratchet 52 is rotatable about the ratchet rotation shaft 521. The ratchet 52 is constantly biased by a ratchet spring (not shown) to rotate leftward in FIG. 7, and a portion of the ratchet 52 is engageable with the latch 51.

[0026] In this housing locking unit 50, when the intermediate drawer 30 slides rearward, the intermediate locked portion 35 enters and presses the locking groove 512, causing the latch 51 to rotate clockwise in FIG. 7 and engage with the ratchet 52, thereby locking the intermediate drawer 30 housed in the housing 20. When the housing locking unit 50 is locked in this manner, the tip of the sensing member 53 attached to the ratchet 52 is interposed between the light-emitting element 541 and the light-receiving element 542 of the optical sensor 54, blocking the light emitted from the light-emitting element 541 and turning off the optical sensor 54. As a result, the optical sensor 54 sends an OFF signal to the coin roll control unit 15, indicating that the locking state has been established.

[0027] When actuator 55, such as a solenoid, is driven, ratchet 52 in housing locking unit 50 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 8 against the biasing force of the ratchet spring, disengaging latch 51 from ratchet 52 and setting the housing in an unlocked state, as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the tip of sensing member 53 is removed from between light-emitting element 541 and light-receiving element 542 of optical sensor 54, allowing light emitted from light-emitting element 541 to be received by light-receiving element 542, turning optical sensor 54 on. As a result, optical sensor 54 sends an on signal to coin roll control unit 15, indicating that the housing is in an unlocked state.

[0028] With the housing locking unit 50 in the unlocked state in this way, the intermediate drawer 30 can be slid forward. When the intermediate drawer 30 is slid forward, the latch 51 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 8, and the open end 512a of the locking groove 512 assumes a position facing forward. Although not shown in the figure, when the actuator 55 subsequently stops driving, the ratchet 52 rotates clockwise in FIG. 8 due to the ratchet spring. However, the open end 512a of the locking groove 512 engages with the latch 51, which is in a position facing forward, thereby maintaining the tip of the sensing member 53 in a position disengaged from the optical sensor 54. In other words, the housing locking unit 50 can turn off the optical sensor 54 only when the housing locking unit 50 is in the locked state.

[0029] In this way, the housing locking section 50 can be switched alternatively between a locked state that prevents the intermediate drawer section 30 from protruding from the front opening 21, and an unlocked state that allows the intermediate drawer section 30 to protrude from the front opening 21.

[0030] 6, the intermediate locking section 60 is provided at the front portion of the bottom surface of the intermediate drawer section 30. The intermediate locking section 60 will now be briefly described.

[0031] The intermediate locking section 60 is provided on the front side of the bottom surface of the intermediate drawer section 30. As shown in FIG. 9, this intermediate locking section 60 includes a latch 61 and a ratchet 62. The latch 61 is a member rotatable about a latch rotation shaft 611 provided in the center, and is formed with a locking groove 612 that allows the locking section 45 provided on the storage tray 40 to enter. The ratchet 62 is a member located to the left of the latch 61 and extends forward from a ratchet rotation shaft 621 provided at the rear. The ratchet 62 is rotatable about the ratchet rotation shaft 621. The ratchet 62 is constantly biased by a ratchet spring (not shown) to rotate rightward in FIG. 9, and a portion of the ratchet 62 is engageable with the latch 61.

[0032] In this intermediate locking unit 60, when the storage tray 40 slides forward, the locked portion 45 enters and presses the locking groove 612, causing the latch 61 to rotate clockwise in FIG. 9 and engage with the ratchet 62, thereby locking the storage tray 40 stored in the intermediate drawer 30. When the intermediate locking unit 60 is locked, the tip of the sensing member 63 attached to the ratchet 62 is positioned between the light-emitting element 641 and the light-receiving element 642 of the optical sensor 64, blocking the light emitted from the light-emitting element 641 and turning off the optical sensor 64. As a result, the optical sensor 64 sends an OFF signal to the coin roll control unit 15, indicating that the locking state has been established.

[0033] When the actuator 65, such as a solenoid, is driven, the ratchet 62 in the intermediate locking unit 60 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 10 against the biasing force of the ratchet spring, disengaging the latch 61 from the ratchet 62 and setting the intermediate locking unit 60 in an unlocked state, as shown in FIG. 10. In this case, the tip of the sensing member 63 is removed from between the light-emitting element 641 and the light-receiving element 642 of the optical sensor 64, allowing the light-receiving element 642 to receive the light emitted from the light-emitting element 641, turning the optical sensor 64 on. As a result, the optical sensor 64 sends an on signal to the coin roll control unit 15, indicating that the intermediate locking unit 60 is in an unlocked state.

[0034] With the intermediate locking unit 60 in the unlocked state in this way, the storage tray 40 can be slid rearward. When the storage tray 40 is slid rearward, the latch 61 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 10, and the open end 612a of the locking groove 612 assumes a position facing rearward. Although not shown in the figure, when the actuator 65 subsequently stops driving, the ratchet 62 rotates clockwise in FIG. 10 due to the ratchet spring, but the open end 612a of the locking groove 612 engages with the latch 61, which is in a position facing rearward, so that the tip of the sensing member 63 is held in a position disengaged from the optical sensor 64. In other words, the optical sensor 64 can be turned off only when the intermediate locking unit 60 is in the locked state.

[0035] In this way, the intermediate locking section 60 can be alternatively switched between a locked state that prevents the storage tray 40 from protruding from the intermediate opening 31, and an unlocked state that allows the storage tray 40 to protrude from the intermediate opening 31.

[0036] The coin roll control unit 15 is communicatively connected to the housing lock unit 50 and the intermediate lock unit 60, and is also communicatively connected to the currency processing device 2, and comprehensively controls the operation of each part of the coin roll storage device 10 in accordance with the programs and data stored in the memory unit 16.

[0037] In this embodiment, when a front open command is given from the currency processing device 2, the coin roll control unit 15 drives only the actuator 55 of the housing locking unit 50 to change the housing locking unit 50 from a locked state to an unlocked state, while when a rear open command is given from the currency processing device 2, it drives only the actuator of the intermediate locking unit 60 to change the intermediate locking unit 60 from a locked state to an unlocked state.

[0038] In other words, when a front open command is given from the currency processing device 2, the coin roll control unit 15 unlocks the housing locking unit 50 while maintaining the intermediate locking unit 60 in a locked state, and when a rear open command is given from the currency processing device 2, it unlocks the intermediate locking unit 60 while maintaining the housing locking unit 50 in a locked state.

[0039] When the housing locking section 50 is kept unlocked while the intermediate locking section 60 is kept locked, the coin roll storage device 10 allows the intermediate drawer section 30 to slide forward together with the storage tray 40 in a manner that protrudes from the front opening 21, as shown in Figure 5.

[0040] On the other hand, when the intermediate locking unit 60 is unlocked while the housing locking unit 50 is maintained in the locked state, the coin roll storage device 10 allows the storage tray 40 to slide rearward in a manner that protrudes from the rear opening 22 via the intermediate opening 31, as shown in Figure 6.

[0041] According to the coin roll storage device 10 having the above-described configuration, the storage tray 40 is accommodated so that the intermediate drawer section 30 can slide forward and backward in a manner that allows it to be retracted and retracted from the intermediate opening 31, and the housing 20 accommodates the intermediate drawer section 30 so that it can slide forward and backward in a manner that allows it to be retracted and retracted together with the storage tray 40 from the front opening 21, and the storage tray 40 is allowed to retract and retract from the rear opening 22 through the intermediate opening 31, so that the storage tray 40 can be pulled out both forward and backward, thereby improving convenience.

[0042] Furthermore, when the coin roll storage device 10 is installed on a cash register with the front facing the customer and the rear facing the store clerk, the storage tray 40 can be pulled out rearward to collect or replenish coin rolls, thereby improving theft prevention.

[0043] 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.

[0044] In the above-described embodiment, the intermediate drawer section 30 can slide forward together with the storage tray 40 through the front opening 21 of the housing 20, and the storage tray 40 can slide backward through the rear opening 22 of the housing 20, but in the present invention, the intermediate drawer section can slide backward together with the storage tray through the rear opening of the housing, and the storage tray can slide forward through the front opening of the housing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1...cash handling machine, 2...currency handling device, 10...coin roll storage device, 15...coin roll control unit, 16...memory unit, 20...casing, 21...front opening, 22...rear opening, 30...intermediate drawer unit, 31...intermediate opening, 40...storage tray, 41...storage unit, 42...free space unit, 50...casing lock unit, 60...intermediate lock unit.

Claims

1. A coin roll storage device equipped with a storage tray for storing coin rolls, each of which is a stack of a predetermined number of coins of the same denomination packed in a rod shape, an intermediate drawer portion that accommodates the storage tray in a manner that allows the storage tray to slide forward and backward in a manner that allows the storage tray to be retracted from an intermediate opening formed in the intermediate drawer portion; a housing having a front opening on its front surface and a rear opening on its rear surface, housing the intermediate drawer section slidably along the front-to-rear direction so that the intermediate drawer section can be inserted and removed together with the storage tray from one of the front opening and the rear opening, and allowing the storage tray to be inserted and removed through the intermediate opening from the other of the front opening and the rear opening; A coin roll storage device comprising:

2. the intermediate drawer section has an intermediate lock section that is switchable between a locked state that prevents the storage tray from protruding from the intermediate opening and an unlocked state that allows the storage tray to protrude from the intermediate opening, the housing has a housing locking section that is switchable between a locked state that restricts the intermediate drawer section from protruding from one of the front opening and the rear opening and an unlocked state that allows the intermediate drawer section to protrude from one of the front opening and the rear opening, The coin roll storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with a coin roll control unit that, upon receiving an opening command from a higher-level device that is communicatively connected, causes one of the intermediate locking unit and the housing locking unit to be unlocked and keeps the other in a locked state.

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