Coin Processing Device

Abstract

To efficiently transport coins to a lift-up section while reducing the depth dimension. [Solution] The direction change section 36 receives coins one by one from the withdrawal temporary holding section 34, which temporarily holds coins to be withdrawn from the withdrawal port 39, and transports them to the lift-up section 38. The direction change section 36 comprises a fixed conveying section 361 which is stretched endlessly around a pair of fixed conveying pulleys 3611 and has a fixed conveying belt 3612 which is displaceable along the extension direction, and a movable conveying section 362 which is stretched endlessly around a pair of movable conveying pulleys 3612 and has a movable conveying belt 3623 which is displaceable along the extension direction. The movable conveying section 362 is positioned above the fixed conveying section 361 so that the movable conveying belt 3623 clamps the coins together with the fixed conveying belt 3612 and transports them, and is arranged to be swingable around the axis of the movable conveying pulley 3612 which is upstream of the conveying direction, with the downstream section in the conveying direction moving towards and away from the fixed conveying section 361.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coin processing device, and more particularly to a coin processing device that is used as a change dispenser. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a coin processing device with a built-in lift-up section for the purpose of reducing the depth dimension has been proposed in Patent Document 1. The lift-up section extends in a manner that gradually slopes upward as it approaches the dispensing port, and transports coins upward to be dispensed from the dispensing port. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-154439 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned coin processing device, in order to reduce the depth dimension, the inclination angle of the lift-up section relative to the horizontal plane needs to be 40° or more, and it is required that the lift-up section be able to transport coins one by one smoothly.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing device that can efficiently transport coins to a lift-up section while reducing the depth dimension. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the coin processing device according to the present invention identifies the authenticity and denomination of deposited coins, and stores coins identified as genuine coins in storage vaults corresponding to the denominations, while transporting coins dispensed from any storage vault in response to a dispensing instruction by a dispensing transport unit and then transporting them upward by a lift-up unit to dispense them from a dispensing port. The coin processing device includes a dispensing escrow unit that temporarily holds coins to be dispensed from the dispensing port, and a direction changing unit that receives coins held in the dispensing escrow unit one by one and conveys them to the lift-up unit, and the direction changing unit is disposed along the conveying direction. The coin conveying device is characterized in that it comprises a fixed conveying section having a fixed conveying belt that is stretched endlessly around a pair of fixed conveying pulleys arranged along the conveying direction and that can be displaced along the extension direction, and a movable conveying section that is stretched endlessly around a pair of movable conveying pulleys arranged along the conveying direction and that can be displaced along the extension direction, and the movable conveying section is arranged above the fixed conveying section so that the movable conveying belt holds the coin between itself and the fixed conveying belt and conveys it, and the movable conveying section is arranged so that the downstream portion in the conveying direction moves towards and away from the fixed conveying section and can swing around the axis of the movable conveying pulley upstream in the conveying direction.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the coin processing device further comprises a biasing means for biasing the movable transport unit so as to approach the fixed transport unit.

[0008] Furthermore, in the coin processing device according to the present invention, the direction changing section has a coin conveying speed that is faster than the coin conveying speed of the withdrawal escrow section.

[0009] Furthermore, in the coin processing device according to the present invention, the lift-up section has a lift-up conveyor belt that conveys the coins, and the surface of the lift-up conveyor belt is formed with projections and depressions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the direction changing section receives coins one by one stored in the withdrawal temporary storage section, which temporarily stores coins to be withdrawn from the withdrawal port, and transports them to the lift-up section.The section comprises a fixed conveying section having a fixed conveying belt that is stretched endlessly around a pair of fixed conveying pulleys arranged along the conveying direction and is displaceable along the extension direction, and a movable conveying section having a movable conveying belt that is stretched endlessly around a pair of movable conveying pulleys arranged along the conveying direction and is displaceable along the extension direction.The movable conveying section is arranged above the fixed conveying section so that the movable conveying belt sandwiches and transports the coins between itself and the fixed conveying belt, and is arranged so that the downstream portion in the conveying direction can swing around the axis of the movable conveying pulley upstream in the conveying direction with the portion moving towards and away from the fixed conveying section.Therefore, the swing angle can be adjusted according to the outer shape of the coin to transport the coin with an appropriate conveying pressure, and the effect is achieved that coins can be transported well to the lift-up section while reducing the depth dimension. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a money handling machine to which a coin handling device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a money handling machine to which a coin handling device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the coin processing device shown in FIG. 2, that is, the coin processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the coin processing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the withdrawal escrow unit, the direction changing unit, and the lift-up unit shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view showing the configuration of the withdrawal escrow unit as viewed from the left. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the upper guide member shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view showing the configuration of the withdrawal escrow unit as viewed from the left. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side view showing a coin transport state when the upper guide member is swung downward. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a coin transport state when the upper guide member is swung downward. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a side view showing the configuration of the direction changing section as viewed from the left. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a side view showing the state of coin transport at the direction changing section. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a side view showing the state of coin transport at the direction changing section. [Figure 14] 14(a) and 14(b) are enlarged side views showing the conveyance state of coins with different outer diameters and thicknesses in the direction changing section. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an enlarged side view showing a state in which coins are transported from the direction changing section to the lift-up section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a coin processing device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a money handling machine to which a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The money handling machine 1 shown here is connected to a host device (not shown) such as a POS (Point Of Sales) register in a store such as a supermarket or convenience store, and includes a device main body 2.

[0014] The device main body 2 is a rectangular housing having a front opening 2a at the front and a top opening (not shown) at the top, and is movable with multiple casters 2d (four in the illustrated example) provided on the bottom 2c.

[0015] The device body 2 has a front opening 2a that can be opened and closed by a door 3, and a top opening that can be opened and closed by a top panel 4.

[0016] The door body 3 includes a front cover 3a and a front door 3b. The front cover 3a is pivotally supported forward of the top opening. When the front cover 3a swings upward, it opens the upper part of the front opening 2a, and when it swings downward, it closes the upper part of the front opening 2a.

[0017] The front door 3b is pivotally supported at the front end portion of the left edge of the device main body 2. When the front door 3b swings forward, it opens the lower portion of the front opening 2a, i.e., the portion that cannot be closed by the front cover 3a, and when it swings backward, it closes the lower portion of the front opening 2a.

[0018] The front door 3b is provided with a locking mechanism 3c, and when this locking mechanism 3c is in a locked state, the front door 3b is kept in a state in which the lower part of the front opening 2a is blocked, while when the locking mechanism 3c is in an unlocked state, the front door 3b becomes able to swing forward.

[0019] Moreover, the front door 3b has a function of pressing a part of the front cover 3a in the closed state, and when the locking mechanism 3c is in the locked state, the front cover 3a is maintained in the closed state.

[0020] The top panel portion 4 is slidable in the front-rear direction, and opens the top opening by sliding it rearward, and closes the top opening by sliding it forward.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2, the apparatus main body 2 accommodates a coin processing device 10 together with a banknote processing device 5. The banknote processing device 5 performs operations such as depositing and dispensing banknotes.

[0022] Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the coin processing device 10 shown in Fig. 2, i.e., the coin processing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the coin processing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The internal structure of the coin processing device 10 will be explained by function using Figs. 3 and 4. In the following, the configuration of each part of the coin processing device 10 will be explained along the directions indicated in Fig. 3.

[0023] The coin processing device 10 illustrated here can be pulled out forward from a front opening 2a of the device main body 2 by a pull-out mechanism (not shown), and includes a coin transport mechanism 20.

[0024] <Coin transport mechanism 20> The coin transport mechanism 20 has a deposit transport section 22, a deposit temporary holding section 24, an inspection temporary holding section 26, a sorting section 28, a storage cabinet 30, a withdrawal transport section 32, a withdrawal temporary holding section 34, a direction change section 36, a lift-up section 38, and a group of switching gates 40.

[0025] The deposit transport unit 22 transports coins that are inserted through the deposit port 21 and detected by an insertion detection sensor (not shown). The deposit port 21 is an opening for inserting coins, and is exposed to the outside through a coin deposit opening 3d formed in the front cover 3a. This deposit transport unit 22 is provided with a coin validation unit 22a. The coin validation unit 22a identifies the authenticity and denomination of coins.

[0026] Deposit escrow section 24 is disposed below deposit transport section 22 and is connected to deposit transport section 22 via deposit chute 23a. Reconciliation escrow section 26 is disposed below deposit escrow section 24 and is connected to deposit escrow section 24 via connecting chute 25a. Reconciliation escrow section 26 temporarily holds coins that have fallen through connecting chute 25a.

[0027] The sorting unit 28 sorts the coins that have been stored in the inspection temporary storage unit 26 and then transported, by denomination. The storage cabinets 30 are provided for each denomination and store the coins sorted by the sorting unit 28. More specifically, there are six storage cabinets 30, from the rear side: a 1 yen storage cabinet 30a, a 50 yen storage cabinet 30b, a 5 yen storage cabinet 30c, a 100 yen storage cabinet 30d, a 10 yen storage cabinet 30e, and a 500 yen storage cabinet 30f. Each storage cabinet 30 has a feeding unit 301 that feeds the stored coins to the dispensing transport unit 32, and this feeding unit 301 is provided with a discrimination unit 302 that discriminates predetermined discrimination elements, such as the denomination and number of the coins to be dispensed.

[0028] The dispensing transport unit 32 is disposed on the right side of the storage 30. This dispensing transport unit 32 transports coins dispensed from the storage 30 rearward.

[0029] The withdrawal escrow section 34 is disposed on the rear right side of the withdrawal transport section 32, below the deposit escrow section 24. This withdrawal escrow section 34 temporarily stores coins to be withdrawn from a withdrawal port 39, which will be described later. The configuration of the withdrawal escrow section 34 will be described later.

[0030] 5, the direction changing unit 36 ​​is disposed in front of the withdrawal escrow unit 34. The direction changing unit 36 ​​receives the coins stored in the withdrawal escrow unit 34 one by one and transports them to the lift-up unit 38. The configuration of the direction changing unit 36 ​​will be described later.

[0031] 5, the lift-up section 38 is disposed on the front side of the direction changing section 36. This lift-up section 38 extends in a manner that gradually slopes upward as it approaches the front, and conveys coins from the rear to the front, that is, conveys coins upward and dispenses them from the dispensing port 39. The configuration of the lift-up section 38 will be described later.

[0032] The withdrawal port 39 is an opening provided above the deposit temporary holding section 24 and below the deposit port 21, and is exposed to the outside through a coin withdrawal opening 3e formed in the front cover 3a. Coins withdrawn from this withdrawal port 39 are paid out to a withdrawal tray 3f provided in the front cover 3a.

[0033] The switching gate group 40 includes a first switching gate 40a, a second switching gate 40b, and a third switching gate 40c. The first switching gate 40a is provided behind (downstream in the conveying direction) the deposit transport unit 22. The first switching gate 40a is switchable between a state in which coins that are being transported by the deposit transport unit 22 and identified as genuine by the validation unit 22a are transported to the deposit chute 23a, and a state in which coins that are being transported by the deposit transport unit 22 and identified as counterfeit by the validation unit 22a are transported to the first refund chute 23b. The first refund chute 23b guides coins from the deposit transport unit 22 to the withdrawal escrow unit 34.

[0034] The second switching gate 40b is provided on the rear side (downstream side in the transport direction) of the deposit escrow section 24. This second switching gate 40b can alternatively switch between a state in which coins stored in the deposit escrow section 24 are transported to the connection chute 25a and a state in which the coins are transported to the second refund chute 25b. Here, the second refund chute 25b guides coins from the deposit transport section 22 to the withdrawal escrow section 34.

[0035] The third switching gate 40c is provided on the rear side (downstream side in the conveying direction) of the dispensing conveying section 32. This third switching gate 40c is capable of selectively switching between a conveying state in which coins conveyed by the dispensing conveying section 32 are conveyed to the dispensing escrow section 34, and a circulating state in which the coins are conveyed to the inspection escrow section 26. The third switching gate 40c is normally in the conveying state.

[0036] The operation of the coin transport mechanism 20 will be briefly described. First, the deposit operation will be described. When a deposit permission command is given from a higher-level device, a coin inserted into the deposit port 21 is detected by an insertion detection sensor, then transported by the deposit transport unit 22, and its authenticity and denomination are identified by the coin validation unit 22a. If the coin is genuine, it is stored in the deposit temporary storage unit 24 via the deposit chute 23a.

[0037] On the other hand, if the coin is not a genuine coin, it is transported to the dispensing escrow section 34 via the first switching gate 40a and the first refund chute 23b. Thereafter, the coin is transported from the dispensing escrow section 34 and the direction changing section 36 to the lift-up section 38, which transports it to the dispensing port 39 and returns it to the dispensing tray 3f.

[0038] Furthermore, when a refund command is given from a higher-level device regarding a coin held in the deposit escrow unit 24, the coin is transported to the withdrawal escrow unit 34 via the second switching gate 40b and the second refund chute 25b. Thereafter, the coin is transported from the withdrawal escrow unit 34 and the direction changing unit 36 ​​to the lift-up unit 38, which then transports the coin to the withdrawal port 39 and returns it to the withdrawal tray 3f.

[0039] When a deposit command is given from a higher-level device regarding coins held in deposit escrow unit 24, the coins held in deposit escrow unit 24 are held in reconciliation escrow unit 26, and then the coins held in reconciliation escrow unit 26 are transported to sorting unit 28, where they are sorted by denomination as they are transported forward. The coins sorted by sorting unit 28 are stored in storage vaults 30 according to their denominations, and then the deposit operation is completed by notifying the higher-level device that deposit has been completed.

[0040] Next, the dispensing operation will be described. When a dispensing command is given from the higher-level device, coins of the denomination corresponding to the dispensing command are fed from the corresponding storage 30 to the dispensing transport unit 32. The coins fed to the dispensing transport unit 32 are transported rearward and sent to the dispensing escrow unit 34 via the third switching gate 40c, which is in a transport state. The coins are then transported from the dispensing escrow unit 34 and the direction changing unit 36 ​​to the lift-up unit 38, which transports them to the dispensing port 39 and dispenses them into the dispensing tray 3f. After the specified coins have been dispensed to the outside in this way, the dispensing operation is completed by notifying the higher-level device that dispensing has been completed.

[0041] The reconciliation operation is an operation for counting the number of coins stored in each storage box 30.

[0042] When a reconciliation command is given from a higher-level device, the feeding unit 301 in the corresponding storage 30 is driven to feed coins from the storage 30 to the dispensing transport unit 32, and the coins are discriminated by the discriminator 302. The coins are then transported rearward by the dispensing transport unit 32 and temporarily stored in the reconciliation temporary storage unit 26.

[0043] The coins stored in the reconciliation temporary storage section 26 are then transported to the sorting section 28, where they are sorted by denomination, and the reconciliation operation is completed by detecting the number of coins and storing them in a designated storage cabinet 30.

[0044] <Withdrawal temporary hold section 34> Fig. 6 is a side view showing the configuration of the dispensing escrow section 34 as seen from the left. As shown in Fig. 6, the dispensing escrow section 34 is configured to include a storage conveyance section 341, a reverse roller 342, and an upper guide member 343.

[0045] The holding conveyance section 341 is configured by a pair of holding conveyance pulleys 3411 arranged along the forward and backward direction, which is the conveyance direction, and a holding conveyance belt 3412 stretched endlessly over the pair of holding conveyance pulleys 3411. In this holding conveyance section 341, an upper portion 3412a of the holding conveyance belt 3412 between the holding conveyance pulleys 3411 is gradually inclined upward as it moves forward, and the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane is, for example, about 10°. The holding conveyance section 341 places coins on the upper surface of the upper portion 3412a of the holding conveyance belt 3412 between the holding conveyance pulleys 3411.

[0046] The holding and conveying section 341 conveys coins placed on the upper surface forward by rotating the front holding and conveying pulley 3411 clockwise as viewed from the left by the rotational drive of a motor not shown.

[0047] The reverse roller 342 is a cylindrical member extending in the left-right direction, and is disposed in an upper area on the front side of the storage conveying section 341. The reverse roller 342 rotates clockwise around its own central axis as viewed from the left, in synchronization with the storage conveying pulley 3411 on the front side, and conveys the coins conveyed by the storage conveying section 341 one by one to the front side (downstream side in the conveying direction).

[0048] The upper guide member 343 is a plate-like member made of, for example, a resin material. As shown in Fig. 7, the upper guide member 343 has a base end portion 3431 on the front side formed with a support portion 3431a that supports the reverse roller 342, so that the tip end portion 3432 on the rear side is arranged to be swingable toward and away from the holding conveying section 341. In other words, the upper guide member 343 is arranged to be swingable up and down around the central axis of the reverse roller 342 in a manner that moves toward and away from the holding conveying section 341.

[0049] Such upper guide member 343 has a gear portion 3431b formed on the left side of the base end portion 3431, and this gear portion 3431b is linked to a guide actuator 352 via a plurality of linking gear portions 351. The guide actuator 352 is configured to incorporate, for example, a solenoid, and normally keeps the upper guide member 343 in a state where it is swung downward in a manner close to the holding conveying section 341 as shown in FIG.

[0050] Furthermore, when the guide actuator 352 swings the upper guide member 343 downward in a manner approaching the holding conveying section 341, the guide actuator 352 allows the upper guide member 343 to swing slightly upward due to a spring or the like built into the guide actuator 352.

[0051] Furthermore, when the solenoid of guide actuator 352 is energized in response to a command from a control unit (not shown), guide actuator 352 swings upper guide member 343 upward in a manner that moves it away from holding and conveying unit 341, as shown in Fig. 8. This allows coins guided through first refund chute 23b (coins identified as counterfeit by validation unit 22a) as shown by dashed-dotted arrow (i) in Fig. 8, or coins guided through second refund chute 25b as shown by dashed-dotted arrow (ii) in Fig. 8, to be placed on holding and conveying unit 341.

[0052] In other words, when coins are transported from the withdrawal transport section 32 to the withdrawal temporary holding section 34, the guide actuator 352 swings the upper guide member 343 downward in a manner that brings it close to the holding transport section 341, while when coins that have been deposited and identified as counterfeit, or coins that have been deposited and identified as genuine and temporarily held in the deposit temporary holding section 24, are transported, the guide actuator 352 swings the upper guide member 343 upward in a manner that moves it away from the holding transport section 341.

[0053] 7, a plurality of holes 3432a are formed in the tip portion 3432 of the upper guide member 343 to reduce its weight. Furthermore, when the upper guide member 343 is swung downward to approach the storage conveying section 341 as shown in FIG. 6, a left side portion 3432b of the tip portion 3432 extends gradually inclined upward as it moves leftward, and a front end portion 3432c of the tip portion 3432, i.e., a portion close to the base end portion 3431, extends gradually inclined downward as it moves forward.

[0054] In the withdrawal temporary holding section 34 having such a configuration, when the upper guide member 343 is swung downward so as to approach the holding and conveying section 341, the left side portion 3432b of the tip portion 3432 of the upper guide member 343 gradually extends at an upward incline as it moves toward the left, thereby facilitating the flow of coins conveyed by the withdrawal conveying section 32.

[0055] Furthermore, in the withdrawal escrow unit 34, the upper guide member 343 is in a state of swinging downward so as to approach the storage transport unit 341, so that coins can be placed in a sideways position in the storage transport unit 341, and the coins can be prevented from taking an upright position. As a result, it is possible to prevent coins from rolling over or remaining behind due to transport by the storage transport unit 341.

[0056] Furthermore, in the withdrawal escrow section 34, when the upper guide member 343 is swung downward to approach the storing and conveying section 341, the front end 3432c of the tip portion 3432 gradually extends at an incline downward as it moves forward, so that even if multiple coins are conveyed in a stacked state in the storing and conveying section 341 as shown in Fig. 9, the front end 3432c of the tip portion 3432 abuts against the stacked coins to break up the coin stack as shown in Fig. 10, and the coins can be smoothly conveyed forward one by one by the reverse roller 342. Moreover, when the upper guide member 343 is swung downward to approach the storing and conveying section 341, the guide actuator 352 allows the upper guide member 343 to sway slightly upward by a spring or the like built in the guide actuator 352, so that it is possible to prevent coins from getting caught between the upper guide member 343 and the storing and conveying section 341.

[0057] Furthermore, in the withdrawal escrow section 34, when a coin that has been deposited and identified as a counterfeit coin, or a coin that has been deposited and identified as a genuine coin and is temporarily held in the deposit escrow section 24, is transported by the guide actuator 352, the upper guide member 343 is swung upward in a manner to move it away from the holding and transport section 341, so that these coins can be temporarily held. Moreover, the tip portion 3432 of the upper guide member 343 is made lighter, so that the force required to oscillate the upper guide member 343 can be reduced.

[0058] <Direction change section 36> 11 is a side view showing the configuration of the direction changing unit 36 ​​as seen from the left. As shown in this Fig. 11, the direction changing unit 36 ​​is configured to include a fixed conveying unit 361 and a movable conveying unit 362.

[0059] The fixed conveying section 361 is disposed in front of the holding conveying section 341 that constitutes the dispensing banknote escrow section 34. The fixed conveying section 361 is configured by a pair of fixed conveying pulleys 3611 that are disposed along the front-rear direction, which is the conveying direction, and a fixed conveying belt 3612 that is endlessly stretched over the pair of fixed conveying pulleys 3611.

[0060] In addition, in the fixed conveying section 361, the upper portion 3612a of the fixed conveying belt 3612 between the fixed conveying pulleys 3611 gradually slopes upward as it moves forward, and the angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal plane is, for example, about 10°, similar to that of the holding conveying section 341.

[0061] The movable conveying section 362 is composed of a pair of movable conveying pulleys 3621 arranged along the forward / backward direction, which is the conveying direction, and a tension roller 3622 arranged between these movable conveying pulleys 3621, with a movable conveying belt 3623 stretched endlessly between them.

[0062] The movable conveying unit 362 is disposed above the fixed conveying unit 361 so that a lower portion 3623a of the movable conveying belt 3623, which is located forward of the tension roller 3622, sandwiches and conveys coins together with the fixed conveying belt 3612. The movable conveying unit 362 is also provided so as to be swingable around the axis of the movable conveying pulley 3621 on the rear side (upstream side in the conveying direction) such that the portion on the front side (downstream side in the conveying direction) approaches and moves away from the fixed conveying unit 361. Furthermore, the movable conveying unit 362 is biased downward by a conveying spring 37, which is a biasing means engaged with the shaft portion 3622a of the tension roller 3622, so as to move closer to the fixed conveying unit 361.

[0063] In such a movable conveying section 362, when no coins are being conveyed, the lower portion 3623b of the movable conveying belt 3623, which is between a pair of movable conveying pulleys 3621 and behind the tension roller 3622, extends gradually upward in an inclined manner as it moves toward the rear, and the distance between it and the fixed conveying section 361 is adjusted to be greater than the thickness dimension of the coin.

[0064] In the direction changing unit 36, the fixed conveying pulley 3611 on the rear side of the fixed conveying unit 361 and the movable conveying pulley 3621 on the rear side of the movable conveying unit 362 are set to rotate synchronously with each other by rotational drive of a motor (not shown), and the fixed conveying pulley 3611 on the rear side rotates clockwise as viewed from the left, while the movable conveying pulley 3621 on the rear side rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the left, thereby conveying coins forward. Here, the coin conveying speed of the direction changing unit 36 ​​is higher than the coin conveying speed of the reserved conveying unit 341 in the withdrawal escrow unit 34. Specifically, the conveying speed of the reserved conveying unit 341 is, for example, 400 mm / s, and the conveying speed of the direction changing unit 36 ​​is, for example, 1000 mm / s.

[0065] In the direction change section 36 having such a configuration, the conveying speed is faster than the conveying speed of the withdrawal temporary holding section 34, so the separation of coins conveyed from the withdrawal temporary holding section 34 can be improved and the intervals between the conveyed coins can be increased.

[0066] Furthermore, in the direction changing unit 36, when no coins are being transported, the distance between the fixed transport unit 361 and a lower portion 3623b of the movable transport belt 3623, which is located between the pair of movable transport pulleys 3621 and behind the tension roller 3622, is adjusted to be larger than the thickness of the coin, so that only the fixed transport unit 361 receives coins from the holding transport unit 341 of the withdrawal escrow unit 34, as shown in Fig. 12. Therefore, even if there is a speed difference between the transport speed of the direction changing unit 36 ​​and the transport speed of the withdrawal escrow unit 34, wear of the fixed transport belt 3612 is unlikely to occur, and the service life of the fixed transport belt 3612 can be extended.

[0067] 13, when a coin received from the withdrawal escrow unit 34 (hereinafter also referred to as the target coin) is sandwiched and transported between the fixed transport belt 3612 and the movable transport belt 3623, the movable transport unit 362 swings upward around the axis of the rear movable transport pulley 3621 against the biasing force of the transport spring 37, thereby further increasing the distance between the fixed transport unit 361 and a lower part 3623b of the movable transport belt 3623, which is between the pair of movable transport pulleys 3621 and rearward of the tension roller 3622. As a result, the coin transported from the withdrawal escrow unit 34 next to the target coin (hereinafter also referred to as the next coin) is received only by the fixed transport unit 361, and the next coin is not sandwiched and transported between the fixed transport unit 361 and the movable transport unit 362, so that the transport of the target coin can be prioritized.

[0068] Furthermore, in the direction change section 36, the movable conveying section 362 is arranged to be able to swing around the axis of the movable conveying pulley 3621 on the rear side (upstream side in the conveying direction) with the front side (downstream side in the conveying direction) moving towards and away from the fixed conveying section 361.Therefore, as shown in (a) and (b) of Figure 14, when conveying coins with different outer diameter dimensions or thickness dimensions, the swing angle can be adjusted according to the outer shape of the coin, and the coin can be conveyed with an appropriate conveying pressure.

[0069] <Lift-up part 38> As shown in FIG. 5, the lift-up section 38 is configured to include a first lift-up transport section 381 and a second lift-up transport section 382.

[0070] The first lift-up conveying section 381 is configured by an endless first lift-up conveying belt 3812 stretched across a first lift-up conveying pulley 3811 arranged along the conveying direction. Explaining in more detail, the rear first lift-up conveying pulley 3811 in the first lift-up conveying section 381 is arranged in the area below the direction change section 36, and the front first lift-up conveying pulley 3811 is arranged in the vicinity of the dispensing opening 39.

[0071] That is, the first lift-up conveying section 381 forms a conveying surface that inclines as it extends forward at an upper portion 3812a of the first lift-up conveying belt 3812 between a pair of first lift-up conveying pulleys 3811. As shown in Fig. 15, the surface of the first lift-up conveying belt 3812 is uneven, and the inclination angle of the conveying surface relative to the horizontal plane is, for example, about 40°.

[0072] The second lift-up conveying section 382 is configured by an endless second lift-up conveying belt 3822 stretched across a second lift-up conveying pulley 3821 arranged along the conveying direction. In this second lift-up conveying section 382, ​​the rear second lift-up conveying pulley 3821 is arranged forward and above the front movable conveying pulley 3621 of the movable conveying section 362, and the front second lift-up conveying pulley 3821 is arranged above the front first conveying pulley.

[0073] In other words, the second lift-up conveying section 382 is positioned above the first lift-up conveying section 381 so that the lower portion 3822a of the second lift-up conveying belt 3822 between a pair of second lift-up conveying pulleys faces a part of the upper portion 3812a (conveying surface) of the first lift-up conveying belt 3812 between a pair of first lift-up conveying pulleys 3811, thereby enabling coins to be clamped and conveyed.

[0074] In such a lift-up section 38, the first lift-up conveying pulley 3811 on the rear side and the movable conveying pulley 3621 on the front side are linked by a linking means, and the first lift-up conveying pulley 3811 on the front side and the second lift-up conveying pulley 3821 on the front side are linked by a linking means, and each lift-up conveying pulley is configured to rotate in synchronization with the direction changing section 36.

[0075] More specifically, the lift-up unit 38 transports coins toward the dispensing port 39 by rotating the first lift-up transport pulley 3811 clockwise as viewed from the left and rotating the second lift-up transport pulley 3821 counterclockwise as viewed from the left. Here, the coin transport speed in the lift-up unit 38 is the same as the transport speed in the direction changing unit 36, for example, 1000 mm / s.

[0076] In the lift-up section 38, a plurality of idlers 383 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the extension direction to apply pressure to an upper portion 3812a of the first lift-up conveyor belt 3812 between a pair of first lift-up conveyor pulleys 3811 and a lower portion 3822a of the second lift-up conveyor belt 3822 between a pair of second lift-up conveyor pulleys 3821, and the idlers 383 enable pressurized conveyance in the opposing region between the first lift-up conveyor belt 3812 and the second lift-up conveyor belt 3822. Here, the installation intervals of the idlers 383 in the first lift-up conveying section 381 and the second lift-up conveying section 382 are set to a size that allows coins to be pressurized and conveyed so that the intervals between conveyed coins are 4 mm or more, i.e., for example, 40 mm or less, preferably 20 mm to 40 mm.

[0077] In the lift-up section 38 having the above-described configuration, unevenness is formed on the surface of the first lift-up conveying belt 3812, so that, as shown in FIG. 15, coins conveyed from the direction change section 36 can enter the recess 3812b, and the coins can be received and conveyed well from the direction change section 36.

[0078] Furthermore, in the lift-up section 38, coins are sandwiched and conveyed while being pressed by the idler 383 between the first lift-up conveying section 381 and the second lift-up conveying section 382, ​​so the only resistance to conveyance is the coin's own weight. In this regard, it is possible to sandwich and convey coins between a conveying belt and a metal plate, but this would result in a decrease in the frictional resistance of the belt due to aging or an increase in the frictional resistance of the metal plate, resulting in a decrease in conveyance force. Therefore, by sandwiching and conveying coins while being pressed by the idler 383 between the first lift-up conveying section 381 and the second lift-up conveying section 382, ​​coins can be conveyed smoothly.

[0079] Furthermore, the installation intervals of the idlers 383 are set to 40 mm or less so that the coins are conveyed under pressure with the intervals between coins being 4 mm or more, thereby improving the counting accuracy of the counting sensor 42 (see Figure 5) installed downstream of the lift-up section 38 in the conveying direction.

[0080] As described above, according to the coin processing device 10 which is an embodiment of the present invention, the withdrawal temporary holding section 34 which temporarily holds coins to be withdrawn from the withdrawal port 39 comprises a holding conveying section 341 which holds coins on the upper surface of a holding conveying belt 3412 which is endlessly stretched around a pair of holding conveying pulleys 3411 arranged along the conveying direction, and conveys coins by the holding conveying belt 3412 being displaced in the extension direction, a reverse roller 342 which is arranged in an upper area of ​​the holding conveying section 341 and conveys coins conveyed by the holding conveying section 341 one by one downstream in the conveying direction, and an upper guide member 343 which is arranged to be swingable around the central axis of the reverse roller 342 in a manner to move towards and away from the holding conveying section 341. This prevents coins sent to the withdrawal temporary holding section 34 from rolling over or remaining behind during transport by the holding conveying section 341, and reduces the time required for transporting them to the lift-up section 38.

[0081] Therefore, the depth dimension can be reduced, and the time required to transport coins to the lift-up section 38 can be shortened.

[0082] According to the coin processing device 10, the direction changing section 36, which receives the coins held in the withdrawal temporary holding section 34 one by one and transports them to the lift-up section 38, comprises a fixed conveying section 361 which is stretched endlessly around a pair of fixed conveying pulleys 3611 arranged along the conveying direction and has a fixed conveying belt 3612 which is displaceable along the extension direction, and a movable conveying section 362 which is stretched endlessly around a pair of movable conveying pulleys 3621 arranged along the conveying direction and has a movable conveying belt 3623 which is displaceable along the extension direction.The movable conveying section 362 is arranged above the fixed conveying section 361 so that the movable conveying belt 3623 sandwiches the coin between itself and the fixed conveying belt 3612 and transports it, and is arranged so that the downstream portion in the conveying direction can swing towards and away from the fixed conveying section 361, so that the swing angle can be adjusted according to the outer shape of the coin to transport it with an appropriate conveying pressure.

[0083] Therefore, the coins can be transported to the lift-up section 38 in a satisfactory manner while the depth dimension can be reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1...cash handling machine, 2...machine body, 10...coin processing device, 20...coin transport mechanism, 21...deposit port, 22...deposit transport section, 22a...money validation section, 23a...deposit chute, 23b...first refund chute, 24...deposit temporary holding section, 25a...connection chute, 25b...second refund chute, 26...scrutiny temporary holding section, 28...sorting section, 30...storage, 32...withdrawal transport section, 34...withdrawal Temporary storage section, 341...storage conveyance section, 3411...storage conveyance pulley, 3412...storage conveyance belt, 3412a...upper portion, 342...reverse roller, 343...upper guide member, 3431...base end portion, 3431a...axial support portion, 3431b...gear portion, 3432...tip portion, 3432a...hole, 3432b...left side portion, 3432c...front end portion, 351...linked gear portion , 352...guide actuator, 36...direction change section, 361...fixed conveying section, 3611...fixed conveying pulley, 3612...fixed conveying belt, 3612a...upper part, 362...movable conveying section, 3621...movable conveying pulley, 3622...tension roller, 3623...movable conveying belt, 3623a, 3623b...lower part, 37...conveying spring, 38...lift-up section, 381...first lift-up conveying section, 3811...first lift-up conveying pulley, 3812...first lift-up conveying belt, 3812a...upper part, 382...second lift-up conveying section, 3821...second lift-up conveying pulley, 3822...second lift-up conveying belt, 3822a...lower part, 383...idler, 39...withdrawal port, 40...switching gate group.

Claims

1. A coin processing device that identifies the authenticity and denomination of deposited coins, stores coins identified as genuine coins in storage vaults corresponding to the denominations, and transports coins dispensed from any storage vault in response to a dispensing instruction by a dispensing transport unit, and then transports them upward by a lift-up unit to dispense them from a dispensing port, a withdrawal escrow unit that temporarily holds coins to be withdrawn from the withdrawal port; a direction changing unit that receives the coins stored in the withdrawal escrow unit one by one and transports them to the lift-up unit; Equipped with The direction changing section is a fixed conveying unit having a fixed conveying belt that is endlessly stretched around a pair of fixed conveying pulleys that are arranged along the conveying direction and that is displaceable along the extending direction; a movable conveying unit having a movable conveying belt that is endlessly stretched around a pair of movable conveying pulleys arranged along the conveying direction and that is displaceable along the extending direction; Equipped with The movable conveying unit is arranged above the fixed conveying unit so that the movable conveying belt sandwiches the coin between itself and the fixed conveying belt and conveys it, and is configured to be able to swing around the axis of the movable conveying pulley upstream in the conveying direction so that the downstream portion in the conveying direction approaches and moves away from the fixed conveying unit.

2. 2. The coin processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing means for biasing the movable transport unit so as to approach the fixed transport unit.

3. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the coin conveying speed of the direction changing unit is faster than the coin conveying speed of the withdrawal escrow unit.

4. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the lift-up section has a lift-up conveyor belt that conveys the coins, and the surface of the lift-up conveyor belt is formed with projections and depressions.

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