Coin processing apparatus and money handling apparatus

Abstract

To smoothly convey coins.SOLUTION: The coin processing device includes a coin insertion unit into which a coin CN is inserted, an insertion transport unit that transports the inserted coin CN, a recognition unit that discriminates the coin CN being transported, a sorting transport path having a plurality of sorting switching units that sort the coin CN by denomination according to a discrimination result and branch a transport path, and a pin belt 84 having a pin 86 that comes into contact with the coin CN on the sorting transport path Ws to transport the coin CN. The coin discharge unit 12 is provided on the downstream side of the plurality of sorting switching units in the coin transport direction of the sorting transport path and discharges the coin CN from the sorting transport path Ws, and the coin discharge unit has an inclined surface 80S that is inclined downward along the transport direction of the coin CN discharged from the sorting transport path with respect to the transport surface 97S of the sorting transport path in the vicinity of the final end portion where the pin 86 abuts on the coin CN in the sorting transport path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coin processing device and a currency handling device, and is suitable for application to a currency handling device that handles currency (i.e., coins and banknotes) and performs various processes. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, in relatively large retail stores (such as supermarkets), cash registers are installed at each of the multiple checkout stations where customers process their bills, and currency handling equipment that handles banknotes and coins may also be installed in the back of house, an area where only employees enter and exit.

[0003] Such currency handling devices include, for example, a banknote processing device that processes banknotes, a coin processing device that processes coins, and a general management device that accepts operating instructions from employees and the like (hereinafter referred to as users) and manages the entire system.

[0004] Among these coin processing devices, some have a coin insertion section that dispenses inserted coins one by one, a transport section that transports the coins, a recognition section that identifies the coin's denomination and authenticity, a temporary holding section that temporarily stores coins, a storage cabinet that stores coins by denomination, and a return cabinet that returns coins to the user (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-26744 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In such a coin processing device, it is desirable to smoothly transport coins.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to propose a coin processing device and a currency handling device that can process coins smoothly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve this problem, the coin processing device of the present invention comprises an input port through which coins are inserted, a conveying unit that conveys the coins inserted into the input port, a discrimination unit that discriminates the coins conveyed by the conveying unit, a sorting conveying path having a plurality of sorting switching units that sort coins by denomination and branch the conveying path depending on the discrimination results of the discrimination unit, a pin belt having pins that convey coins by abutting against the coins on the sorting conveying path, and a discharge unit that is provided downstream of the plurality of sorting switching units in the coin conveying direction of the sorting conveying path and discharges coins from the sorting conveying path, and the discharge unit has an inclined surface near the final end of the sorting conveying path where the pins abut against the coins, which slopes downward relative to the conveying surface of the sorting conveying path in the conveying direction of the coins discharged from the sorting conveying path.

[0009] In addition, the currency handling device of the present invention is provided with an operation unit that accepts operations related to coin processing, an input port through which coins are inserted, a transport unit that transports coins inserted into the input port, a discrimination unit that discriminates coins transported by the transport unit, a sorting transport path having a plurality of sorting switching units that sort coins by denomination and branch the transport path depending on the discrimination results of the discrimination unit, a pin belt having pins that transport coins by abutting against the coins on the sorting transport path, and a discharge unit that is provided downstream of the plurality of sorting switching units in the coin transport direction of the sorting transport path and discharges coins from the sorting transport path, and the discharge unit has an inclined surface that slopes downward relative to the transport surface of the sorting transport path near the final end of the sorting transport path where the pins abut against the coins, so as to follow the transport direction of the coins discharged from the sorting transport path.

[0010] As a result, the present invention allows coins that have been transported by the pin belt and separated from the pins to easily fall down the inclined surface under their own weight, making it easier to discharge them from the sorting transport path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, coins that have been transported by the pin belt and have separated from the pins can be made to fall easily by their own weight down the inclined surface, making it easier to discharge them from the sorting transport path. Thus, the present invention can realize a coin processing device that can smoothly process coins. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a currency handling device. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a right side view showing the configuration (1) of a coin processing device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration (2) of the coin processing device. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the configuration (3) of the coin processing device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration (1) of the coin discharge unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the configuration (2) of the coin discharge unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5, showing the configuration (3) of the coin discharge unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the detection light and the holed coin. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state (1) in which coins are discharged from the sorting and conveying path to the non-recycled coin chute. [Figure 10] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5, showing a state (2) in which coins are discharged from the sorting and conveying path to the non-recycled coin chute. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] [1. Overall configuration of currency handling equipment] As shown in Figure 1, the currency handling device 3 is generally shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped overall, and is broadly composed of a central management device 5, a coin processing device 1, and a banknote processing device 4. This currency handling device 3 is installed in a place where general customers cannot enter, such as an area where employees of a financial institution's branch work or an office in a large store, and is intended to be used by employees of the financial institution, store employees, or security guards of a security company (hereinafter referred to as "users").

[0015] In the following, the side of the currency handling device 3 that the user faces will be referred to as the front side, the opposite side as the rear side, and the left and right sides as seen from the user facing the front side will be referred to as the left side and right side, respectively, and the upper and lower sides will be further defined and explained.

[0016] The currency handling device 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped coin processing device 1 on the left side, and a rectangular parallelepiped banknote processing device 4 on the right side that is the same length as the coin processing device 1 in the vertical and front-to-back directions, and a central management device 5 above the banknote processing device 4.

[0017] The overall management device 5 has a receipt printing unit 6, a display operation panel 7, a numeric keypad 8, and a card reading unit 9. The overall management device 5 is controlled by an overall control unit 20. The overall control unit 20 is mainly composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and has a ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory) (not shown), etc.

[0018] This integrated control unit 20 controls various processes related to coins and banknotes by reading and executing predetermined programs from a ROM, a memory unit (not shown), etc. using a CPU. The integrated control unit 20 is also connected to the coin control unit 10 (FIG. 2) of the coin processing device 1 and the banknote control unit (not shown) of the banknote processing device 4 via a connection cable (not shown), and transmits and receives various information. The memory unit has a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk drive or flash memory, and stores various information such as various programs and various setting values.

[0019] The receipt printing unit 6 has a configuration similar to that of a general thermal printer, for example, and includes a holder that holds a roll of thermal paper, a transport mechanism that transports the thermal paper pulled out from the roll, and a thermal head that uses heat to print characters, figures, etc. on the thermal paper.

[0020] The display / operation panel 7 is configured as a so-called touch panel, in which a touch sensor is combined with the surface of a display panel having a display function, such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel. The display / operation panel 7 displays various display screens under the control of the central control unit 20, and also accepts touch operations by the user and notifies the central control unit 20. The numeric keypad 8 is configured as a combination of multiple physical keys, and includes keys for inputting the numbers "0" to "9" and predetermined symbols, as well as a "Confirm" key and a "Cancel" key. The numeric keypad 8 accepts press operations by the user and notifies the central control unit 20.

[0021] The card reader 9 is a part that reads magnetic information from a predetermined user card (not shown). This user card is distributed in advance to each user who will use the currency handling device 3, such as a general employee of a retail store, a manager, or a security guard of a security company, and the scope of operation (e.g., the authority to carry out transactions) is preset for each user.

[0022] The coin processing device 1 has a coin control unit 10 (Fig. 2), a coin insertion unit 31, a coin withdrawal safe 63, a coin collection safe 70, and a coin return safe 58 inside a housing 2. The housing 2 is configured in the shape of a hollow rectangular parallelepiped, and the front part of the housing 2 is an openable and closable front door 2F.

[0023] [2. Configuration of coin processing device] As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the coin processing device 1 is configured around a box-shaped housing 2, and performs cash-related transactions such as deposit and withdrawal processes with users. Note that Figure 3 is a schematic illustration with the internal configuration of the housing 2 omitted as appropriate, and also shows the coin transport path. Also, in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the pin belt 84 and the pulley 88 around which the pin belt 84 is stretched are not shown.

[0024] A coin control unit 10 that performs overall control of the coin processing device 1 is provided inside the housing 2. Like the overall control unit 20, the coin control unit 10 is configured around a CPU (not shown), and performs various processes such as deposit processing and withdrawal processing by reading and executing predetermined programs from a ROM, flash memory, etc. (not shown). Incidentally, like ordinary coins, coins are made of metals such as nickel, copper, aluminum, or alloys or combinations of these metals, and are formed into thin plates.

[0025] The coin processing device 1 is provided with a coin insertion port 31 near the front end of the top surface of the housing 2. Therefore, under the control of the coin control unit 10, the coin processing device 1 takes in coins CN inserted into the coin insertion port 31 by a user and stores them in the internal storage cabinets 33 (storage cabinets 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, and 33F), and also dispenses from the coin withdrawal safe 63 coins CN of a denomination and number according to the amount instructed by the coin control unit 10.

[0026] The coin insertion unit 31 has an insertion space 31S that is open at the top and receives coins CN in a misaligned state, and a rotatable disk 31C is incorporated at the bottom. The coin insertion unit 31 also has a sensor (not shown) that detects the presence or absence of a coin CN in the insertion space 31S. When the sensor detects that a coin CN has been inserted into the insertion space 31S, the coin insertion unit 31 rotates the disk 31C in a predetermined dispensing direction, and applies centrifugal force to the coin CN, transporting it to the outer periphery of the disk 31C. The coins CN are then handed over to the dispensing unit 35, which is located behind the disk 31C, via a gate that separates them one by one.

[0027] Hereinafter, the coin CN with the largest diameter among the coins CN handled by the coin processing device 1 will also be referred to as the maximum diameter coin, and the coin CN with the smallest diameter will also be referred to as the minimum diameter coin. Since the coin processing device 1 in this embodiment handles Japanese coins, the maximum diameter coin is a 500 yen coin (diameter 26.5 mm) and the minimum diameter coin is a 1 yen coin (diameter 20 mm).

[0028] An input conveying section 36 is arranged behind the payout section 35 so as to connect the upper side of the storage 33 in a hollow rectangular shape. The input conveying section 36 is made up of an input conveying guide 37 having a flat upper surface formed above the storage 33, a pin belt 84 (not shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4) shown in Fig. 5 that moves above the input conveying guide 37, and pulleys 88 (not shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4) shown in Fig. 5 that are arranged at inflection points in the moving direction of the pin belt 84 and around which the pin belt 84 is stretched.

[0029] As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the input conveying guide 37 is made up of a main guide 80, sub-guides 81A and 81B, and a groove portion 82. Here, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the input conveying guide 37 near the coin discharge unit 12 will be described as an example. Note that in Figures 5 and 9, the upper guide 90t of the non-recycled coin chute 90 and the conveying path upper guide 94 are not shown, and the portion where the conveying belt 85 of the pin belt 84 is stretched around the pulley 88 is indicated by a dashed line.

[0030] The main guide 80 is formed in the shape of a plate that is long in the front-rear direction, short in the left-right direction, and thin in the up-down direction, and its upper surface, the conveying surface 80S, is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the front. This main guide 80 abuts against the plate surface of the coin CN by the conveying surface 80S.

[0031] Sub-guides 81A and 81B are provided on the left and right sides of the main guide 80, respectively. The sub-guides 81A and 81B protrude upward from the conveying surface 80S, and their inner surfaces (surfaces on the conveying surface 80S side) of the sub-guides 81AS and 81BS restrict the range of movement of the coin CN in the left-right direction. This allows the input conveying guide 37 to guide the coin CN in the vicinity of the coin discharge unit 12 substantially in the front-rear direction.

[0032] The pin belt 84 is composed of a conveyor belt 85 and a plurality of pins 86. The conveyor belt 85 is formed in a substantially circular ring shape from a flexible material. Meanwhile, in the coin processing device 1, a plurality of pulleys (only pulley 88 is shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 9) are rotatably provided, mainly near the point where the insertion conveyor guide 37 curves. The conveyor belt 85 is stretched so as to connect each pulley in sequence, and is therefore located slightly above and away from approximately the center of the conveyor surface 80S in the front-to-rear direction.

[0033] The conveyor belt 85 has a rectangular cross section, and its short sides are substantially parallel to the conveying surface 80S of the main guide 80. Pins 86 are fixed to the conveyor belt 85 at equal intervals along the conveying direction.

[0034] The insertion and conveyance unit 36 ​​rotates a motor (not shown) to supply driving force from the motor to the pulley 88 to rotate it, thereby causing the pin belt 84 to travel at a predetermined traveling speed. On the other hand, the payout unit 35 has a roller, and when it receives a coin CN from the coin insertion unit 31, it rotates the roller in synchronization with each pin 86 of the traveling pin belt 84, and delivers the coin CN to the insertion and conveyance unit 36. At this time, the payout unit 35 delivers each coin CN one by one between two adjacent pins 86 along the moving direction of the pin belt 84. Incidentally, a sensor that detects the passage of a coin CN is disposed near the payout unit 35.

[0035] In response to this, the insertion and conveying unit 36 ​​abuts the coin CN received from the payout unit 35 against the pin 86 of the pin belt 84, and conveys the coin CN as the pin belt 84 moves. As the pin belt 84 moves, the insertion and conveying unit 36 ​​conveys the coin CN backward along the insertion and conveying guide 37, then changes its direction of travel to the left, and then changes its direction of travel again backward, until the coin reaches the recognition unit 40. For convenience of explanation, the path along which the coin CN is conveyed along the insertion and conveying guide 37 by the movement of the pin belt 84 is also referred to as the insertion and conveying path W below.

[0036] The recognition unit 40 is located to the left rear of the coin insertion unit 31, downstream of the payout unit 35 along the insertion and conveyance path W. The recognition unit 40 has various sensors, such as optical sensors and magnetic sensors, and determines whether the coin CN is legitimate and its denomination based on the results obtained from each sensor, and notifies the coin control unit 10. In response, the coin control unit 10 determines the conveyance destination of the coin CN.

[0037] Here, the recognition unit 40 determines whether the coin CN is one of the six denominations of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, or 500 yen (i.e., whether it is a genuine coin CN), whether it is a coin CN that cannot be identified as any of the denominations and may not be genuine (hereinafter referred to as a rejected coin), or whether it is a coin CN whose denomination can be identified but is in poor condition or is an old coin and therefore should not be recycled as a coin CN to be withdrawn and should not be stored in the storage vault 33 (i.e., a coin CN unsuitable for withdrawal) (hereinafter referred to as a non-recycled coin).

[0038] A reject switching unit 41 is provided behind the recognition unit 40, i.e., downstream of the recognition unit 40 along the input conveying path W and upstream of the sorting conveying path Ws (described later). The reject switching unit 41 (FIG. 2) is composed of a plate-shaped reject blade 42, an actuator (not shown) that drives the reject blade 42, and a reject hole 43 that penetrates the input conveying guide 37 in the vertical direction. The reject blade 42 is formed like a thin plate on both the top and bottom, and is configured to be rotatable relative to the input conveying guide 37 around a rotation axis that is provided near the rear edge and extends in the left-right direction.

[0039] The reject switching unit 41 transmits a driving force from the actuator to the reject blade 42 to rotate it, based on the control of the coin control unit 10. This causes the reject switching unit 41 to switch between a state in which the upper surface of the reject blade 42 is substantially aligned with the upper surface of the insertion and conveyance guide 37 (hereinafter referred to as a closed state or a stored state), and a state in which the front side of the reject blade 42 is lifted and the upper surface is inclined relative to the insertion and conveyance guide 37 (hereinafter referred to as an open state or a reject state).

[0040] In the closed state, the reject switching unit 41 allows the coin CN transported from the upstream side by the insertion and transport unit 36 ​​to proceed downstream, i.e., backward. In the open state, the reject switching unit 41 allows the coin CN transported from the upstream side by the insertion and transport unit 36 ​​to fall downward from the reject hole 43. Below the reject blade 42, a cylindrical reject chute 49 is provided, inside which the coin CN falls.

[0041] A reject conveying section 44 (FIG. 2) is provided below the reject chute 49. The reject conveying section 44 is arranged in a range extending from below the reject chute 49 to above the reject tray 50. A reject tray 50 is provided in front of the reject conveying section 44. The reject tray 50 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open top, is positioned so that the user can access it from the front of the housing 2, and stores rejected coins. The reject tray 50 incorporates a sensor (not shown) that detects the presence or absence of coins CN in the storage space that stores the coins CN, and whether the storage space is full (full state).

[0042] The reject conveying unit 44 is composed of pulleys 44P disposed at the front and rear ends, and an endless belt 44B stretched around the pulley 44P so as to extend in the front-rear direction along a substantially horizontal direction. Based on the control of the coin control unit 10, the reject conveying unit 44 rotates the pulley 44P counterclockwise in FIG. 2. As a result, the reject conveying unit 44 moves the upper surface of the endless belt 44B forward from below the reject chute 49 toward the reject tray 50. As a result, the reject conveying unit 44 conveys the coin CN that has fallen from the reject hole 43 forward toward the reject tray 50, where it falls and is stored.

[0043] On the other hand, when the reject switching unit 41 is in the closed state, the insertion and conveying unit 36 ​​conveys the coin CN in the rearward direction, then changes its traveling direction to the right, and then changes its traveling direction to the forward direction, and allows the coin CN to reach the sorting unit 45. In other words, the insertion and conveying unit 36 ​​turns the traveling direction of the coin CN back 180° from the rearward direction to the forward direction after passing through the reject switching unit 41. A sorting unit 45 is provided in the upper part of the storage 33 above the insertion and conveying unit 36. The sorting unit 45 is made up of six sorting switching units 46 (sorting switching units 46A, 46B, 46C, 46D, 46E, and 46F) each configured in the same way as the reject switching unit 41.

[0044] Each sorting switcher 46 is located directly above a corresponding storage 33, and based on the control of the coin control unit 10, rotates a sorting blade 47 configured similarly to the reject blade 42 to close or open a sorting hole 48 that passes through the input conveying guide 37 in the vertical direction. Based on the control of the coin control unit 10, the sorting unit 45 opens one sorting switcher 46 and closes the other sorting switcher 46, thereby causing coins CN to fall toward the storage 33 corresponding to the open sorting switcher 46. Below each sorting blade 47, six cylindrical chutes 52 (denomination-specific chutes 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D, 52E, and 52F) are provided, through which coins CN fall.

[0045] Six denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54 (denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, 54E, and 54F) are arranged below each of the denomination-specific chutes 52 (denomination-specific chutes 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D, 52E, and 52F). Each denomination-specific temporary storage section 54 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open top, and temporarily stores coins CN dropped from the denomination-specific chutes 52 by denomination. Each denomination-specific temporary storage section 54 is movable left and right by a motor (not shown) relative to a plate-shaped guide 56 (FIG. 3) that forms the bottom.

[0046] A coin return box 58 is disposed below the position where the denomination-specific temporary storage section 54 has moved leftward relative to the guide 56. The coin return box 58 is configured so that six rectangular parallelepiped coin return boxes for each denomination, each open at the top, are aligned in a straight line along the front-to-back direction so as to be positioned below the openings in the bottom surfaces of the respective denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54 (denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, 54E, and 54F) when the denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54 have moved leftward, and stores coins CN that have fallen from the denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54. The coin return box 58 can be pulled out from the front of the housing 2 to the outside.

[0047] Meanwhile, storage cabinets 33 are arranged below the positions where the denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54 are moved to the right relative to the guide 56. The storage cabinets 33 as denomination-specific storage cabinets are arranged such that the six storage cabinets 33 (storage cabinets 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, and 33F) are aligned in a straight line along the front-to-rear direction so as to be located below the openings in the bottom surfaces of the respective denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54 (denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, 54E, and 54F) when the denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54 are moved to the right, and store the coins CN that have dropped from the denomination-specific temporary storage sections 54 by denomination. A feeding unit that feeds out coins CN one by one from a feeding outlet is provided near the bottom end of each storage cabinet 33.

[0048] A dispensing switching unit 60 that switches the dispensing destination is provided on the right side of the feeding unit of the storage 33. The dispensing switching unit 60 is composed of a plate-shaped dispensing blade 62, an actuator (not shown) that drives the dispensing blade 62, and a dispensing hole (not shown) formed between the storage 33 and the coin dispensing safe 63. The dispensing blade 62 is formed in the shape of a thin plate on top and bottom, and is configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis that is provided near the right side and extends in the front-to-rear direction.

[0049] The dispensing switching unit 60 transmits a driving force from the actuator to the dispensing blade 62 to rotate it, based on the control of the coin control unit 10. This allows the dispensing switching unit 60 to switch between a state in which the upper surface of the dispensing blade 62 is substantially aligned with the lower surface of the payout opening of the storage 33 (hereinafter referred to as the closed state), and a state in which the left side of the dispensing blade 62 is lifted and the upper surface is inclined relative to the payout opening of the storage 33 (hereinafter referred to as the open state).

[0050] In the closed state, the dispensing switching unit 60 advances coins CN transported from the upstream side by the feeding unit of the storage 33 to the right. A cylindrical dispensing chute (not shown) is provided to the right of the dispensing blade 62. The dispensing chute drops coins CN inside. A coin dispensing safe 63 is disposed below the dispensing chute. The coin dispensing safe 63 has six rectangular parallelepiped dispensing boxes 64 (64A, 64B, 64C, 64D, 64E, and 64F) with open tops that are aligned linearly along the front-to-rear direction and positioned below the outlets of the dispensing chutes of the respective storage 33 (storage 33A, 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E, and 33F). The coin dispensing safe 63 stores coins CN to be dispensed that have dropped from the storage 33.

[0051] In addition, when the dispensing switching unit 60 is in the open state, it drops downward from the dispensing hole portion coins CN that have been transported from the upstream side by the feeding unit of the storage 33. A cylindrical collection temporary storage chute (not shown) is provided below the dispensing blade 62, and drops coins CN inside.

[0052] Below the collection temporary storage section chute, there is disposed a collection temporary storage section 66. The collection temporary storage section 66 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open top so as to be located below the outlet of the collection temporary storage section chute, and stores coins CN that have dropped from the storage cabinet 33. The collection temporary storage section 66 is movable in the left-right direction by a motor (not shown) relative to a plate-shaped guide 68 (FIG. 3) that forms the bottom.

[0053] A coin collection box 70 is disposed below the position to which the collection temporary holding section 66 has moved leftward relative to the guide 68. The coin collection box 70 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open top so that it is positioned below the opening in the bottom of the collection temporary holding section 66 when the collection temporary holding section 66 has moved leftward, and stores coins CN that have fallen from the collection temporary holding section 66. The coin collection box 70 can be pulled out to the outside of the housing 2 from the front of the housing 2.

[0054] On the other hand, a collection and return box 72 is disposed below the position where the collection and temporary storage unit 66 has moved to the right relative to the guide 68. The collection and return box 72 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open top so that it is positioned below the opening in the bottom of the collection and temporary storage unit 66 when the collection and temporary storage unit 66 has moved to the right, and stores coins CN that have fallen from the collection and temporary storage unit 66. The collection and return box 72 can be pulled out to the outside of the housing 2 from the front of the housing 2.

[0055] The coin collection box 70 and the collection / return box 72 also incorporate sensors (not shown) that detect the presence or absence of coins CN in the storage space that stores the coins CN and whether the storage space is full or not.

[0056] The collection escrow unit 66, the coin collection box 70, and the collection return box 72 may be structured to be able to store coins CN by denomination, similar to the denomination-specific escrow unit 54, the coin return box 58, and the like.

[0057] Hereinafter, the portion of the insertion conveyance path W from the coin insertion unit 31 to the sorting conveyance path Ws will be referred to as the deposit conveyance path Wi, and the portion of the conveyance path in the front-to-rear direction where the sorting unit 45 is located will be referred to as the sorting conveyance path Ws. The insertion conveyance guide 37 has its upper surface aligned substantially horizontally within the range of the deposit conveyance path Wi, and its upper surface is inclined downward toward the front within the range of the sorting conveyance path Ws. The conveyance direction of coins CN on the sorting conveyance path Ws, which is downward toward the front and faces forward, will be referred to as the sorting conveyance path conveyance direction Dws.

[0058] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the input conveying guide 37 extends in an approximately straight line from rear to front on the sorting conveying path Ws, and when it reaches the right side of the pulley 88 forward of the denomination-specific chute 52F, it curves toward the left to form an arc shape, extending to the front side of the pulley 88.

[0059] The pin belt 84 is disposed in the main guide 80 of the insertion / conveyance guide 37 at approximately the center in the conveyance width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the coins CN, and extends in an approximately straight line from the rear to the front in the sorting / conveyance path Ws in accordance with the shape of the insertion / conveyance guide 37, and when it reaches the right side of the pulley 88 forward of the denomination-specific chute 52F, it curves leftward to form an arc, and is formed up to the front side of the pulley 88. In addition, the pin belt 84 passes through a gap formed in the sub-guide 81A in front of the pulley 88 and extends leftward.

[0060] Therefore, the pin belt 84 abuts the coin CN against the pin 86 and transports it from rear to front on the sorting and transporting path Ws, and when the coin CN reaches the right side of the pulley 88, the pin belt 84 transports the coin CN on a path that curves to the left, pushing the coin CN onto the inclined surface 97S (described later) and causing it to fall.

[0061] 7, a coin discharge outlet 14 is provided at the front end of the input / transport unit 36 ​​downstream of the sorting unit 45, i.e., at the front end of the sorting transport path Ws. The coin discharge outlet 14 is an opening that connects the space on the sorting transport path Ws side with an intake section 90i (described later) of the non-recycled coin chute 90.

[0062] A conveying path upper guide 94 is provided above the conveying surface 80S on the sorting conveying path Ws, including the inclined surface 97S (described later). A conveying path upper guide surface 94S, which is a flat surface facing downward, is formed between the conveying path upper guide 94 and the conveying surface 80S, with a gap slightly wider than the thickness of the thickest coin, which is the thickest coin CN among the coins CN handled in the coin processing device 1. The conveying path upper guide 94 restricts the upward movement range of the coin CN by the conveying path upper guide surface 94S.

[0063] As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, a cylindrical non-recycled coin chute 90 is provided in front of the inclined surface 97S. The non-recycled coin chute 90 guides and drops coins CN discharged from the sorting conveying path Ws. A non-recycled coin escrow unit 91 is disposed below the non-recycled coin chute 90 as a chute unit. The non-recycled coin escrow unit 91 as a non-recycled storehouse is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped with an open top, and temporarily stores coins CN that have dropped from the non-recycled coin chute 90. The non-recycled coin escrow unit 91 is movable rightward by a motor (not shown) relative to the plate-shaped guide 56 (Figure 3) that forms the bottom.

[0064] Although the non-recycled coin chute 90, non-recycled coin temporary storage section 91 and non-recycled coin storage cabinet 92 are positioned approximately in the same left-right direction as the denomination-specific chute 52, denomination-specific temporary storage section 54 and storage cabinet 33, and are arranged in a line in the front-to-back direction, in Figure 3, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the non-recycled coin chute 90, non-recycled coin temporary storage section 91 and non-recycled coin storage cabinet 92 are shown to the right of the denomination-specific chute 52, denomination-specific temporary storage section 54 and storage cabinet 33.

[0065] A non-recycled coin storage 92 is disposed below the position to which the non-recycled coin escrow section 91 has moved to the right relative to the guide 56 of the non-recycled coin escrow section 91. The non-recycled coin storage 92 is disposed so as to be located below the opening in the bottom surface of the non-recycled coin escrow section 91 when the non-recycled coin escrow section 91 has moved to the right, and stores non-recycled coins, which are coins CN that have fallen from the non-recycled coin escrow section 91.

[0066] [3. Configuration of the coin ejection section] 5, 6, and 7, in the sorting conveying path Ws, downstream of the sorting switching unit 46 in the conveying direction of the coin CN (sorting conveying path conveying direction Dws), and near the final end where the pin belt 84 conveys the coin CN, the coin discharge unit 12 is provided. The coin discharge unit 12 is composed of an inclined surface 97S, a coin discharge port 14, a non-recirculated coin chute 90, and a coin detection sensor 98, and discharges the coin CN that has passed through the sorting switching unit 46 from the sorting conveying path Ws.

[0067] [4. Configuration of inclined surface] The inclined surface 97S is located forward of the position where the traveling pin 86 can ultimately contact and push out the coin CN. It has a rectangular shape elongated in the left-right direction in a plan view and a flat surface. As it moves forward toward the non-recycle coin chute 90, it slopes downward relative to the forward-sloping conveying surface 80S of the sorting conveying path Ws. The rear end of the inclined surface 97S is located forward of the position where the pin 86 ultimately contacts the coin CN conveyed along the sorting conveying path Ws, and the front end is located below the coin discharge opening 14. The inclined surface 97S directs the coin CN conveyed along the sorting conveying path Ws downward from the conveying surface 80S, causing it to slide toward the coin discharge opening 14. As shown in FIG. 7 , the inclination angle Θ1 of the inclined surface 97S relative to the horizontal is set to 35° or more. Therefore, the coin CN falls by its own weight without remaining on the inclined surface 97S. Note that the coins CN transported along the sorting conveying path Ws may slide down while contacting the inclined surface 97S, or may fly forward above the inclined surface 97S due to the force of being pushed by the pin 86, as shown in Fig. 7. Here, the portion of the main guide 80 of the input conveying guide 37 where the inclined surface 97S is formed is also referred to as the inclined plate 97.

[0068] At the left and right ends of the inclined surface 97S, sub-guides 81A and 81B are provided parallel to each other, extending substantially in the front-to-rear direction. Hereinafter, the direction along the sub-guide surfaces 81AS and 81BS on the upper side of the inclined surface 97S will be referred to as the inclined surface conveying direction D1, and the direction perpendicular to the inclined surface conveying direction D1 will be referred to as the inclined surface conveying width direction D2. The length of the inclined surface 97S in the inclined surface conveying direction D1 is approximately three-quarters the diameter R of the minimum diameter coin, and the length of the inclined surface conveying width direction D2 is approximately just under twice the diameter R of the minimum diameter coin.

[0069] 9, the position at which the traveling pin 86 can finally contact the coin CN by design and push out the coin CN is also referred to as the pin final contact position P1. Furthermore, the position of the coin CN when the pin 86 at the pin final contact position P1 finally contacts the rear side of the coin CN (i.e., the final state in which the coin CN is pushed out by the pin 86) is also referred to as the coin final contact position P2. When the smallest diameter coin CNs is at the coin final contact position P2, the coin CNs is in a state where its face is in contact with the inclined surface 97S parallel to the face, and its center of gravity is located above the inclined surface 97S in a plan view, which is a view of the inclined surface 97S from above. More specifically, when the smallest diameter coin CNs is at the coin final contact position P2, more than three-quarters of the diameter R of the smallest diameter coin CNs overlaps with the inclined surface 97S in a plan view. Therefore, the center of gravity of coins CN having a diameter larger than that of the minimum diameter coins CNs at the final coin contact position P2 is located further forward than that of the minimum diameter coins CNs. Therefore, when coins CN including the minimum diameter coins CNs reach the final coin contact position P2, they do not remain on the conveyance surface 80S but fall under their own weight in the direction toward the non-recycled coin escrow section 91.

[0070] In addition, in the coin processing device 1, the diameter of the coin CN, the contact position between the coin CN and the pin 86, and the contact position between the sub-guide surface 81AS and the pin 86 are adjusted so that when the coin CN being pushed out by the pin 86 contacts the sub-guide surface 81AS of the sub-guide 81A, the coin CN is not pinched between the pin 86 and the sub-guide surface 81AS, preventing the coin CN from moving and becoming locked.

[0071] Incidentally, the inclined plate 97 is provided with detection light passing holes 95a and 95b that penetrate from the inclined surface 97S side of the inclined plate 97 to the rear lower side. The left detection light passing hole 95a and the right detection light passing hole 95b are aligned along the inclined surface conveyance width direction D2. In addition, the upper guide 90t of the non-recycled coin chute 90 is also provided with two detection light passing holes (not shown) that penetrate from the top to the bottom of the upper guide 90t.

[0072] [5. Coin detection sensor] 6 and 7, a coin detection sensor 98 is provided above and in front of the inclined surface 97S to detect coins CN passing above the inclined surface 97S. The coin detection sensor 98 as a detection unit is an optical sensor and is composed of a light-emitting unit 98e and a light-receiving unit 98r.

[0073] The light-emitting unit 98e emits (i.e., emits) detection light L1 in a rear-down direction substantially perpendicular to the inclined surface 97S. The light-receiving unit 98r is disposed adjacent to the right side of the light-emitting unit 98e and receives (i.e., receives incident on) the detection light L1 that is emitted from the light-emitting unit 98e and passes sequentially through a detection light passage hole (not shown) in the upper guide 90t, the detection light passage hole 95a in the inclined plate 97, the prism 99, the detection light passage hole 95b in the inclined plate 97, and another detection light passage hole (not shown) in the upper guide 90t.

[0074] This light receiving unit 98r notifies the coin control unit 10 (Figure 2) of the light receiving result of the detection light L1. Specifically, when a coin CN crosses the detection light L1, the light receiving unit 98r notifies the coin control unit 10 of the light receiving result (i.e., ON state (light-blocking state)) indicating that the detection light L1 is blocked by the coin CN and is not received. On the other hand, when the coin CN does not cross the detection light L1, the light receiving unit 98r notifies the coin control unit 10 of the light receiving result (i.e., OFF state (light-transmitting state)) indicating that the detection light L1 is received. Based on this light receiving result, when the state is ON (light-blocking state), the coin control unit 10 determines that the coin CN has passed above the inclined surface 97S, and counts the number of coins CN transported to the non-recycle coin storage vault 92.

[0075] Hereinafter, the detection light L1, which is emitted from the light-emitting element 98e and enters the prism 99, will be referred to as pre-bending detection light L1a (emitted light), and the detection light L1, which is transmitted through the prism 99 and enters the light-receiving element 98r, will be referred to as post-bending detection light L1b (incident light). The centers of the detection light passing holes 95a and 95b in the inclined surface conveying width direction D2 coincide with the centers of the sub-guide surfaces 81AS and 81BS. Therefore, the centers of the pre-bending detection light L1a and post-bending detection light L1b in the inclined surface conveying width direction D2 coincide with the centers of the sub-guide surfaces 81AS and 81BS. Therefore, the pre-bending detection light L1a and post-bending detection light L1b are arranged symmetrically in the inclined surface conveying width direction D2, with the center between the sub-guide surfaces 81AS and 81BS as the axis.

[0076] The prism 99 is provided behind and below the inclined plate 97, and allows light to pass through while changing its traveling direction inside. Specifically, the prism 99 has an incident surface formed on the left front side surface, facing the upper-front direction, and into which light is incident, which faces the light-emitting unit 98e, and is disposed so that the detection light L1 (pre-bending detection light L1a) emitted from the light-emitting unit 98e and passed through the detection light passing hole 95a of the inclined plate 97 is incident thereon. The prism 99 also has an exit surface formed on the front side surface to the right of the incident surface, facing the upper-front direction, and into which light is emitted, which faces the light-receiving unit 98r, and is disposed so that the detection light L1 (post-bending detection light L1b) emitted from the exit surface and passed through the detection light passing hole 95b of the inclined plate 97 is incident thereon. In such a configuration, the prism 99 receives the detection light L1 (pre-bending detection light L1a) emitted from the light-emitting unit 98e in a rear-downward direction and passed through the detection light passing hole 95a of the inclined plate 97, and then bends the detection light L1 (pre-bending detection light L1a) sequentially to the right and then in a front-upward direction inside the prism 99, and emits the detection light L1 in a front-upward direction from the emission surface, causing the post-bending detection light L1b to be incident on the light-receiving unit 98r.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 8, the distance between the sub-guide surface 81AS and the sub-guide surface 81BS within the range of the inclined surface 97S is 30 mm, which is slightly wider than the diameter of the 500-yen coin (26.5 mm). The detection light diameter Da, which is the diameter of the detection light L1 (i.e., the diameter of the detection light passing holes 95a and 95b through which the detection light L1 passes), is 4 mm. Hereinafter, coins with a hole in the center, such as the 5-yen coin and the 50-yen coin, are also referred to as "hole-punched coins." The 50-yen coin (also referred to as the CN50 coin) has a smaller diameter of 21.0 mm than the 5-yen coin. The diameter of the hole CN50h of the CN50 coin is 4 mm.

[0078] 8, when the coin CN50 is shifted to the left on the inclined surface 97S and at least a portion of the pre-bending detection light L1a passes through the hole CN50ha of the coin CN50a, the post-bending detection light L1b reaches the disk portion CN50sa, which is a portion of the coin CN50a other than the hole CN50ha. Therefore, the post-bending detection light L1b is blocked by the coin CN50a, and the light-receiving portion 98r of the coin detection sensor 98 does not receive the post-bending detection light L1b.

[0079] On the other hand, when the coin CN50 is positioned to the right on the inclined surface 97S, as in the case of coin CN50c, and is positioned such that at least a portion of the post-bending detection light L1b can pass through the hole CN50hc of the coin CN50c, the pre-bending detection light L1a reaches the disk portion CN50sc of the coin CN50c. Therefore, the pre-bending detection light L1a is blocked by the coin CN50c, and the light-receiving portion 98r of the coin detection sensor 98 does not receive the post-bending detection light L1b.

[0080] Furthermore, the passage hole interval C, which is the left-right distance between the end of the detection light passage hole 95a serving as an exit light passage hole on the side of the detection light passage hole 95b serving as an incident light passage hole (i.e., the right side) and the end of the detection light passage hole 95b serving as the detection light passage hole 95a on the side of the detection light passage hole 95a (i.e., the left side), is set to be equal to or greater than the diameter (4 mm) of the hole CN50h. Therefore, when the center of the coin CN50b is aligned with the center of the sub-guide surface 81AS and the sub-guide surface 81BS, as in the case of coin CN50b, the pre-bending detection light L1a and the post-bending detection light L1b are positioned outside the hole CN50hb of the coin CN50b in the inclined surface conveyance width direction D2. Therefore, the detection light L1 is blocked by the disk portion CN50sb of the coin CN50b, and the light receiving unit 98r of the coin detection sensor 98 does not receive the post-bending detection light L1b.

[0081] Furthermore, since the detection light diameter Da is 4 mm, the radius of the pre-bending detection light L1a and the post-bending detection light L1b is 2 mm, and the passing hole interval C is 4 mm or more as described above. Therefore, the optical axis distance Ds, which is the distance in the inclined surface conveyance width direction D2 between the center of the pre-bending detection light L1a and the center of the post-bending detection light L1b, is set to 8 mm or more. Hereinafter, coins CN50a, CN50b, and CN50c will be collectively referred to as coin CN50, holes CN50ha, CN50hb, and CN50hc will be collectively referred to as hole CN50h, and disks CN50sa, CN50sb, and CN50sc will be collectively referred to as disk CN50s.

[0082] Therefore, no matter how a holed coin such as coin CN50 is transported along the inclined surface 97S, the coin processing device 1 can cause at least one of the pre-bending detection light L1a or the post-bending detection light L1b in the detection light L1 to be blocked by the disk portion CN50s of the coin CN50. Therefore, for one coin CN, the coin processing device 1 can prevent erroneous detection of one coin CN as two coins by having the detection light L1 blocked by the disk portion CN50s and the light receiving unit 98r detect the light-blocked state, and then the detection light L1 passes through the hole portion CN50h and the light receiving unit 98r detects the light-transmitting state, and then the detection light L1 is blocked by the disk portion CN50s again and the light receiving unit 98r detects the light-blocked state.

[0083] [6. About the discharge chute] 7 and 10, the non-recirculating coin chute 90 is formed with an intake section 90i that opens at the rear surface and a throwing section 90o that opens at the bottom surface, and also with a coin passing space 90s that connects the intake section 90i and the throwing section 90o. An upper guide 90t, an inclined guide 90d, and a front guide 90f are formed on the upper side, upper-front side, and front side of the coin passing space 90s, respectively.

[0084] The upper guide 90t extends forward from above the front end of the conveying path upper guide 94 over a length approximately three-quarters of the diameter of the largest coin. An upper guide surface 90tS is formed on the underside of the upper guide 90t. The upper guide surface 90tS is a flat surface parallel to the conveying path upper guide surface 94S and is slightly inclined downward relative to the horizontal as it extends forward. The upper guide 90t restricts the upward movement of coins CN taken into the coin passing space 90s from the coin discharge opening 14 via the take-in portion 90i. The upper guide 90t is positioned as low as possible within the design, with the rear end of the upper guide surface 90tS positioned above the front end of the conveying path upper guide surface 94S. Therefore, the coin processing device 1 prevents the coin CN discharged forward from the coin discharge port 14 from getting caught on the upper guide 90t, while minimizing the space in which the coin CN's posture changes significantly and it moves wildly.

[0085] The inclined guide 90d extends forward from the front end of the upper guide 90t over a length approximately half the diameter of the largest coin. An inclined guide surface 90dS is formed on the lower surface of the inclined guide 90d. The inclined guide surface 90dS is flat and is inclined downward from the horizontal direction more than the upper guide surface 90tS as it approaches the front. The inclined guide 90d restricts the forward and upward movement of coins CN taken into the coin passage space 90s from the coin discharge opening 14 via the take-in section 90i. The inclination angle Θ2 of the inclined guide surface 90dS relative to the conveying surface 80S (i.e., the sorting conveying path conveying direction Dws) in the sorting conveying path Ws is set to approximately 45°. Therefore, when a coin CN collides with the inclined guide surface 90dS, the contact angle, which is the angle between the inclined guide surface 90dS and the direction along the plate surface of the coin CN moving toward the sorting conveying path conveying direction Dws, is about 45°. Therefore, the coin processing device 1 can prevent the coin CN that collides with the inclined guide surface 90dS from bouncing backward toward the sorting conveying path Ws, and can ensure that the tip of the coin CN on the downstream side in the conveying direction faces downward smoothly.

[0086] Furthermore, when the downstream end of the maximum diameter coin CNb in the conveying direction collides with the inclined guide surface 90dS, the upstream end of the maximum diameter coin CNb in the conveying direction is located forward of the rear end of the upper guide 90t (i.e., forward of the conveying path upper guide 94), and is located far enough forward that the maximum diameter coin CNb passes through the sorting conveying path Ws and enters the non-recycled coin chute 90. Therefore, when the coin CN collides with the inclined guide surface 90dS and changes its position, the coin processing device 1 can prevent the coin CN from coming into contact with the conveying path upper guide surface 94S, and can ensure that the downstream tip of the coin CN in the conveying direction faces downward smoothly.

[0087] The front guide 90f extends from the front end of the upper guide 90t almost directly downward to the lower end of the non-recycled coin chute 90. A front guide surface 90fS is formed on the rear surface of the front guide 90f. The front guide surface 90fS is a flat surface that faces rearward in the vertical direction. The front guide 90f restricts the forward movement of coins CN that have been taken into the coin passing space 90s from the coin discharge opening 14 via the take-in portion 90i.

[0088] Furthermore, the coin processing device 1 is arranged so that the detection light L1 passes behind the maximum diameter coin CNb whose downstream end in the conveying direction collides with the inclined guide surface 90dS. Therefore, the coin processing device 1 can allow the detection light L1 to pass outside the range where the position of the coin CN changes within the non-recirculated coin chute 90.

[0089] [7. Effects, etc.] In the above configuration, the coin processing device 1 is configured such that, near the final end where the pins 86 of the pin belt 84 abut against the coin CN in the sorting conveying path Ws, an inclined surface 97S is formed in the main guide 80 of the input conveying guide 37. The inclined surface 97S slopes downward in the forward direction along the inclined surface conveying direction D1, which is the conveying direction of the coin CN discharged from the sorting conveying path Ws, relative to the conveying surface 80S of the sorting conveying path Ws. The coin processing device 1 is also configured such that, when the minimum diameter coin CNs are no longer being conveyed by the pins 86, the inclined surface 97S overlaps with at least three-quarters of the diameter of the minimum diameter coin CNs in a plan view.

[0090] Therefore, the coin processing device 1 can make it easier for the coin CN to fall by its own weight on the inclined surface 97S. As a result, even if the travel path of the pin belt 84 is separated from the coin discharge outlet 14, the coin processing device 1 can prevent the coin CN from stopping on the conveying surface 80S of the main guide 80 of the input / output guide 37 before reaching the coin discharge outlet 14, compared to a case in which the inclined surface 97S is not formed and the conveying surface 80S of the main guide 80 of the input / output guide 37 is extended to the coin discharge outlet 14.

[0091] Furthermore, the coin processing device 1 is configured to set the passing hole interval C, which is the distance in the inclined surface conveyance width direction D2 between the end of the pre-bending detection light L1a of the coin detection sensor 98 on the post-bending detection light L1b side (right side) and the end of the post-bending detection light L1b on the pre-bending detection light L1a side (left side), to be equal to or greater than the diameter of the hole CN50h of the coin CN50. Therefore, the coin processing device 1 can block at least one of the pre-bending detection light L1a and the post-bending detection light L1b by the coin CN50 when a holed coin passes above the inclined surface 97S. This prevents the coin processing device 1 from erroneously detecting one coin CN as two coins, and enables the coin processing device 1 to accurately count the number of coins CN conveyed to the non-recycled coin storage vault 92.

[0092] Furthermore, the coin processing device 1 is configured so that the inclined guide surface 90dS, which serves as a guide surface for the non-recycled coin chute 90, is inclined relative to the conveying surface 80S of the sorting conveying path Ws so as to descend toward the conveying direction of the coin CN discharged from the sorting conveying path Ws. This prevents the coin CN, which has been discharged from the sorting conveying path Ws to the non-recycled coin chute 90 and collides with the inclined guide surface 90dS, from bouncing significantly backward toward the sorting conveying path Ws, and allows the tip of the coin CN on the downstream side in the conveying direction to smoothly point downward.

[0093] According to the above configuration, the coin processing device 1 includes the coin insertion unit 31 into which coins CN are inserted, the insertion and transport unit 36 ​​that transports the coins CN inserted into the coin insertion unit 31, the recognition unit 40 that discriminates the coins CN transported by the insertion and transport unit 36, a sorting and transporting path Ws having a plurality of sorting switching units 46 that sort the coins CN by denomination and branch the transporting path according to the discrimination result of the recognition unit 40, and pins 8 that come into contact with the coins CN on the sorting and transporting path Ws to transport the coins CN. 6, and a coin discharge section 12 that is provided downstream of the plurality of sorting switching sections 46 in the coin conveying direction of the sorting conveying path Ws and discharges the coin CN from the sorting conveying path Ws, and the coin discharge section 12 has an inclined surface 97S that is inclined downward along the conveying direction of the coin CN discharged from the sorting conveying path Ws relative to the conveying surface 80S of the sorting conveying path Ws near the final end where the pins 86 abut against the coin CN on the sorting conveying path Ws.

[0094] This allows the coin processing device 1 to make it easier for the coins CN that have been transported by the pin belt 84 and separated from the pins 86 to fall by their own weight on the inclined surface 97S, and to make it easier for them to be discharged from the sorting transport path Ws.

[0095] 8. Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to a coin processing device 1 that drops coins CN into a non-recycled coin escrow unit 91 and a non-recycled coin storage 92 provided inside the housing 2 via a non-recycled coin chute 90 provided inside the housing 2, i.e., that discharges coins CN from the sorting conveying path Ws to a member inside the housing 2. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to various devices in which a coin discharge port 14 is provided in the housing 2 and coins CN are dropped into, for example, a storage bag provided outside the housing 2 via a non-recycled coin chute 90 provided outside the housing 2, i.e., that discharges coins CN from the sorting conveying path Ws to a member outside the housing 2.

[0096] In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is described as being applied to the coin processing device 1 that performs various transactions with users. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to various devices that handle coins.

[0097] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and other embodiments. That is, the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments in which the above-described embodiment and the other embodiments are combined in part or in whole. The scope of application of the present invention also extends to embodiments in which part of the configuration described in any of the above-described embodiment and other embodiments is extracted and used as part of the configuration of any of the above-described embodiment and other embodiments, or in which part of the extracted configuration is added to any of the above-described embodiment.

[0098] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the currency handling device 3 is configured as a currency handling device by the display operation panel 7 and numeric keypad 8 as the operation unit, the coin insertion unit 31 as the insertion slot, the insertion and conveyance unit 36 ​​as the conveyance unit, the recognition unit 40 as the discrimination unit, the sorting and conveyance path Ws as the sorting and conveyance path, the pin belt 84 as the pin belt, and the coin discharge unit 12 as the discharge unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the currency handling device may be configured by an operation unit, an insertion slot, a conveyance unit, a discrimination unit, a sorting and conveyance path, a pin belt, and a discharge unit having various other configurations. [Industrial Applicability]

[0099] The present invention can be used in, for example, a coin processing device that processes transactions related to coins between users. [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] 1...Coin processing device, 2...Housing, 2F...Front door, 3...Currency handling device, 4...Banknote processing device, 5...General management device, 6...Receipt printing unit, 7...Display operation panel, 8...Numeric keypad, 9...Card reading unit, 10...Coin control unit, 12...Coin ejection unit, 14...Coin ejection port, 20...General control unit, 31...Coin insertion unit, 31S...Input space, 33...Storage, 35...Feeding unit, 36...Input transport unit, 37...Input transport guide, W...Input transport path, Wi...Deposit transport path, Ws...Sorting transport path, 40...Recognition unit, 41...Reject switching unit, 42...Reject blade, 43...reject hole section, 44...reject transport section, 44P...pulley, 44B...endless belt, 45...sorting section, 46...sorting switching section, 47...sorting blade, 48...sorting hole section, 49...reject chute, 50...reject tray, 52...denomination-specific chute, 54...denomination-specific temporary holding section, 56...guide, 58...coin return box, 60...withdrawal switching section, 62...withdrawal blade, 63...coin withdrawal box, 64...denomination-specific withdrawal box, 66...collection temporary holding section, 68...guide, 70...coin collection box, 72...collection return box, 80...main guide , 80S... conveying surface, 81A, 81B... auxiliary guide, 81AS, 81BS... auxiliary guide surface, 82... groove portion, 84... pin belt, 85... conveying belt, 86... pin, 88... pulley, 90... non-recycled coin chute, 90i... intake section, 90o... drop section, 90s... coin passage space, 90t... upper guide, 90tS... upper guide surface, 90d... inclined guide, 90dS... inclined guide surface, 90f... front guide, 90fS... front guide surface, 91... non-recycled coin temporary storage section, 92... non-recycled coin storage cabinet, 94... upper guide of conveying path, 94S... on the conveying path Side guide surface, 95a, 95b...detection light passage hole portion, 97...inclined plate, 97S...inclined surface, 98...coin detection sensor, 98e...light emitting portion, 98r...light receiving portion, 99...prism, P1...final pin contact position, P2...final coin contact position, Θ1, Θ2...inclined angle, L1...detection light, L1a...pre-bending detection light, L1b...post-bending detection light, Dws...sorting conveying path conveying direction, D1...inclined surface conveying direction, D2...inclined surface conveying width direction, CNb...maximum diameter coin, CNs...minimum diameter coin, CN50...coin, CN50h...hole portion, CN50s...disk portion, Da...detection light diameter,C... through the aperture spacing, Ds... distance between optical axes.

Claims

1. A coin slot into which coins are inserted; a conveying unit that conveys the coins inserted into the insertion slot; a discriminating unit that discriminates the coins transported by the transport unit; a sorting conveyance path having a plurality of sorting switching units that sort the coins by denomination and branch the conveyance path according to the discrimination result of the discriminator; a pin belt having pins that contact the coins in the sorting and conveying path to convey the coins; a discharge unit that is provided downstream of the plurality of sorting switching units in the coin conveying direction of the sorting conveying path and discharges the coins from the sorting conveying path; and The discharge unit has an inclined surface inclined downward along the conveying direction of the coins discharged from the sorting conveying path, in the vicinity of the final end of the sorting conveying path where the pins come into contact with the coins. A coin processing device characterized by:

2. The inclined surface is provided so as to overlap with at least three-quarters of the diameter of the smallest diameter coin when the smallest diameter coin among the coins is no longer being transported by the pins.

2. The coin processing device according to claim 1.

3. an optical sensor provided in the discharge section, the optical sensor including a light emitting section that irradiates emitted light that passes through the inclined surface, and a light receiving section that receives incident light that is reflected from the emitted light and passes through the inclined surface; and a detection section that detects the passage of the coin on the inclined surface. and The detection unit is disposed at a position where at least one of the emitted light and the incident light is blocked when a holed coin passes over the inclined surface.

2. The coin processing device according to claim 1.

4. The inclined surface is an exit light passing hole through which the exit light passes and an incident light passing hole through which the incident light passes; The distance between the end of the exit light passing hole on the side of the incident light passing hole and the end of the incident light passing hole on the side of the exit light passing hole is equal to or greater than the diameter of the hole in the holed coin.

4. The coin processing device according to claim 3.

5. a chute section provided in the discharge section and including a guide surface for guiding the coins that have passed through the inclined surface in a falling direction; 2. The coin processing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

6. The guide surface is inclined downward relative to the conveying surface of the sorting conveying path along the conveying direction of the coins discharged from the sorting conveying path.

6. The coin processing device according to claim 5.

7. a plurality of denomination-specific storage cabinets for storing the coins branched off from the sorting and conveying path by denomination; a non-recycling box that is provided on the falling direction side of the chute section and stores the coins that should not be stored in the denomination-specific storage box; 6. The coin processing device according to claim 5, further comprising:

8. an operation unit that accepts operations related to coin processing; an insertion slot into which the coin is inserted; a conveying unit that conveys the coins inserted into the insertion slot; a discriminating unit that discriminates the coins transported by the transport unit; a sorting conveyance path having a plurality of sorting switching units that sort the coins by denomination and branch the conveyance path according to the discrimination result of the discriminator; a pin belt having pins that contact the coins in the sorting and conveying path to convey the coins; a discharge unit that is provided downstream of the plurality of sorting switching units in the coin conveying direction of the sorting conveying path and discharges the coins from the sorting conveying path; and The discharge unit has an inclined surface inclined downward along the conveying direction of the coins discharged from the sorting conveying path, in the vicinity of the final end of the sorting conveying path where the pins come into contact with the coins. A currency handling device characterized by:

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