Coin Processing Device

Abstract

To provide a coin processing device capable of further reducing the accumulation of coins. [Solution] A coin processing device comprising: a coin insertion section having an insertion port through which coins are inserted and an ejection port through which the coins inserted into the insertion port are ejected; a coin guide path having a receiving port that receives the coins ejected from the ejection port and guides the destination of the received coins; and a coin dispensing section that takes in the coins that have slid down through the coin guide path and dispenses the taken-in coins one by one, wherein the ejection port and the receiving port are joined to each other so that the lower end of the opening of the receiving port is lower than the lower end of the opening of the ejection port.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A coin processing device installed in a vending machine, ticket vending machine, or the like passes coins inserted into an insertion slot through a coin identifier, and then stores the coins according to the identified denomination in a collection box, etc. Therefore, the coin processing device is required to smoothly receive coins inserted into the insertion slot and smoothly transport the received coins within the device.

[0003] For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below disclose a mechanism for a coin slot that makes it easier to take coins into the coin processing device. Also, Patent Documents 3 and 4 below disclose a mechanism for smoothly transporting coins inserted into the coin processing device using a transport belt. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-15499 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-162754 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-151792 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-102809 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when coins are transported by sliding down under their own weight without using a transport belt, there is a problem that the coins get caught in the middle of the guideway, causing blockages or accumulations.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved coin processing device that can further reduce coin accumulation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a coin processing device is provided, comprising: a coin insertion section having an insertion port through which coins are inserted and an ejection port through which the coins inserted into the insertion port are ejected; a coin guide path having an acceptance port that receives the coins ejected from the ejection port and that guides the received coins to a destination; and a coin ejection section that takes in the coins that have slid down through the coin guide path and ejects the taken-in coins one by one, wherein the ejection port and the acceptance port are joined to each other so that the lower end of the opening of the acceptance port is lower than the lower end of the opening of the ejection port.

[0008] The lower end of the opening of the delivery port may have a curved shape in which the central part in the width direction of the opening is lower.

[0009] The coin insertion section may be attached to an openable front panel of the housing of the coin processing device, and may be connected to the coin guide path when the front panel is in a closed state, and may be separated from the coin guide path when the panel is in an open state.

[0010] The coin guide path may have a curved guide path that guides the coin to a destination.

[0011] At the bend in the guideway, an evacuation space may be provided that is wider than the extension of the opening before the bend.

[0012] The size of the opening of the taxiway after bending may be larger than the size of the opening of the taxiway before bending.

[0013] The receiving opening of the coin guideway may have an inverse tapered shape that widens toward the coin insertion section.

[0014] The coin may be inserted into the insertion slot in a substantially horizontal position.

[0015] With the above configuration, when a coin inserted into the coin slot slides down from the coin insertion section into the coin guide path, it can pass smoothly over the joint surface between the coin insertion section and the coin guide path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to further reduce the accumulation of coins. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of a coin insertion section. [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the coin insertion section from the side where the delivery opening is provided. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram showing a coin guide path. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the coin guide path from the side where the receiving slot is provided. [Figure 6] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the coin insertion section and the coin guide path from the side where the outlet is provided. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram schematically illustrating a coin processing device according to a comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0019] <1. Outline configuration> The schematic configuration of a coin processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the coin processing device according to this embodiment.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 1, the coin processing device 1 includes a coin insertion unit 10, a coin guide path 20, and a coin feeding unit 30. A coin C inserted into the coin insertion unit 10 is guided by the coin guide path 20 and slides down to the top of the coin feeding unit 30. The coin feeding unit 30 can take in the coins C that have slid down and feed the taken-in coins C one by one to a coin validator (not shown) at a subsequent stage.

[0021] The coin insertion unit 10 is provided on an openable front panel 40 of the housing of the coin processing device 1, and takes inserted coins C into the inside of the coin processing device 1. Specifically, the coin insertion unit 10 has an insertion opening 12 provided on a first surface S1 of the front panel 40, and an outlet 11 provided on a second surface S2 opposite the first surface S1. The first surface S1 is the surface of the front panel 40 facing the outside of the coin processing device 1, and the second surface S2 is the surface of the front panel 40 facing the inside of the coin processing device 1. The coin insertion unit 10 can send coins C inserted into the insertion opening 12 facing the outside of the coin processing device 1 to the coin guide path 20 from the outlet 11 facing the inside of the coin processing device 1.

[0022] Coins C are inserted into the coin insertion unit 10 in a substantially horizontal state. The substantially horizontal state refers to a state in which the main surface of the plate-shaped coin C is substantially parallel to the ground. The coin insertion unit 10 can slide multiple coins C in an overlapping state, so multiple coins C can be inserted into the coin processing device 1 at the same time.

[0023] The front panel 40 is normally closed, but can be unlocked and opened by, for example, a worker performing maintenance on the coin processing device 1. By opening the front panel 40, a worker performing maintenance on the coin processing device 1 can inspect, operate, repair, and replace each internal component of the coin processing device. At this time, the coin insertion unit 10 attached to the openable front panel 40 moves as the front panel 40 is opened and closed, and the coin guide path 20 connects to or separates from the coin insertion unit 10 as the front panel 40 is opened and closed. Specifically, when the front panel 40 is closed, the coin guide path 20 connects to or separates from the coin insertion unit 10, as shown in FIG. 1 . On the other hand, when the front panel 40 is open, the coin guide path 20 separates from the coin insertion unit 10's outlet 11.

[0024] The coin guide path 20 is provided above the coin dispensing unit 30, and guides the coin C received from the coin insertion unit 10 to slide down to the coin dispensing unit 30. Specifically, the coin guide path 20 has a curved guide path 22, and guides the coin C received from the outlet 11 of the coin insertion unit 10 to the top of the coin dispensing unit 30 by causing it to slide down through the inside of the guide path 22. Because the coin insertion unit 10 moves in conjunction with the opening and closing of the front panel surface 40, it is difficult to provide a size that can guide the coin C to the coin dispensing unit 30. Therefore, in order to guide the coin C from the coin insertion unit 10 to the coin dispensing unit 30, a separate coin guide path 20 is required that is provided above the coin dispensing unit 30.

[0025] The coin feeding unit 30 takes in multiple coins C that have slid down the coin guideway 20, and feeds the taken-in coins C one by one to a coin validator (not shown) at a subsequent stage. The coin validator (not shown) identifies the denomination and authenticity of each coin C fed out one by one from the coin feeding unit 30, and counts the number of coins C that have been identified as genuine for each denomination. The coins C counted by the coin validator are stored in a temporary holding unit or a coin recovery box or the like provided at a subsequent stage of the coin validator.

[0026] In the coin processing device 1 according to this embodiment, the receiving opening 21 of the coin guide path 20 is provided below the delivery opening 11 of the coin insertion unit 10. Specifically, the lower end of the opening of the receiving opening 21 of the coin guide path 20 is provided lower than the lower end of the opening of the delivery opening 11 of the coin insertion unit 10. This enables the coin processing device 1 to reduce the chance of the coin C getting caught at the interface between the coin insertion unit 10 and the coin guide path 20.

[0027] <2. Detailed configuration> (Coin slot 10) Next, the detailed configuration of the coin insertion unit 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a schematic enlarged view of the coin insertion unit 10. Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the coin insertion unit 10 from the side where the delivery opening 11 is provided.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, the coin insertion unit 10 has an insertion port 12 that takes in an inserted coin C into the coin processing device 1, and an outlet 11 that sends out the taken-in coin C into the coin processing device 1.

[0029] Coins C are inserted into the insertion slot 12 in a substantially horizontal position. A tray for receiving the inserted coins C may be provided in the insertion slot 12. The shape of the tray may be, for example, a trapezoid in plan view from above, with the insertion slot 12 (i.e., the front panel surface 40) being the upper base (i.e., the side shorter than the opposing lower base).

[0030] The outlet 11 may be provided with a downward inclination angle of 45° or more and 60° or less. For example, the inclination angle θ of the outlet 11 may be 56° downward. By providing the outlet 11 with an inclination angle within the above range, the coin insertion unit 10 can allow the coin C inserted into the insertion slot 12 to slide down from the outlet 11 smoothly and at an appropriate speed. On the other hand, if the inclination angle of the outlet 11 is shallower, the coin C will not slide down easily, which is not preferable. Also, if the inclination angle of the outlet 11 is deeper, the sliding speed of the coin C will be excessively high, which is not preferable, as the coin C will be more likely to clog the coin guide path 20.

[0031] 3, the lower end 11B of the opening 11A of the delivery port 11 may have a curved shape such that the central portion of the opening 11A in the width direction is lower. Specifically, when the upper end of the opening 11A is flat, the lower end 11B of the opening 11A may have a curved shape such that the height Hb of the opening 11A is 15 mm on both sides of the opening 11A in the width direction, and the height Ha of the opening 11A is 18 mm at the central portion of the opening 11A in the width direction. In this way, the coin insertion portion 10 can collect the inserted coins C in the central portion of the opening 11A as they slide down, and therefore the coins C can be more smoothly delivered to the coin guide path 20.

[0032] (Coin Taxiway 20) Next, the detailed configuration of the coin guide path 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of the coin guide path 20. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the coin guide path 20 from the side where the receiving opening 21 is provided.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 4, the coin guide path 20 has a guide path 22 that allows the coin C sent out from the outlet 11 of the coin insertion unit 10 to slide down in a substantially horizontal position. The inside of the guide path 22 is hollow, and the coin C slides down the hollow inside the guide path 22.

[0034] Specifically, the guide path 22 has a slope that is approximately continuous with the slope of the outlet 11 of the coin insertion unit 10. The guide path 22 bends the slope that is approximately continuous with the slope of the outlet 11 to an approximately vertical direction midway, causing the coin C to fall onto the top of the coin dispensing unit 30.

[0035] Here, at the bent portion 22A of the guide path 22, an evacuation space 22B is provided, which is an enlarged opening of the guide path 22. The evacuation space 22B may be provided, for example, on the outside (vertically upward) of the bent portion 22A of the guide path 22, with an angular shape that protrudes further outward from the extension line of the opening 22C before the bend. The evacuation space 22B functions as a space into which some of the coins C are evacuated when multiple coins C slide down the bent portion 22A of the guide path 22. This allows the coin guide path 20 to reduce the possibility of coins C becoming jammed or stuck at the bent portion 22A of the guide path 22 due to a change in the sliding direction.

[0036] Furthermore, the guide path 22 may be provided so that the size of the opening 22D after bending is larger than the size of the opening 22C before bending. Specifically, the height Hd of the opening 22C before bending may be 18 mm, and the height Hc of the opening 22D after bending may be 28 mm. This allows the coin guide path 20 to reduce the possibility of the coin C becoming clogged or stuck when the coin C that has slid down the opening 22C before bending changes direction at the bending point 22A and falls down the opening 22D after bending.

[0037] Furthermore, the receiving opening 21 provided upstream of the guide path 22 may have an inverse tapered shape that widens toward the outlet 11 of the coin insertion unit 10. Specifically, the receiving opening 21 may have an inverse tapered shape such that, in a cross section including the path along which the coin C slides, the height He of the opening joining the outlet 11 is 21 mm and the height Hd of the opening 22C before bending is 18 mm. This allows the coin guide path 20 to smoothly receive the coin C received from the coin insertion unit 10 from the outlet 11 to the receiving opening 21 and slide it down the guide path 22.

[0038] (Interface between coin insertion section 10 and coin guide path 20) Next, the details of the joint surface between the coin insertion unit 10 and the coin guide path 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the joint between the coin insertion unit 10 and the coin guide path 20 from the surface on which the delivery opening 11 is provided.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 6, the coin insertion unit 10 and the coin guide path 20 are joined together so that the lower end 21B of the opening 21A of the receiving opening 21 is lower than the lower end 11B of the opening 11A of the dispensing opening 11. For example, the coin insertion unit 10 and the coin guide path 20 may be joined together so that the lower end 21B of the opening 21A of the receiving opening 21 is 1 mm lower than the lower end 11B of the central part of the opening 11A of the dispensing opening 11 (i.e., the lowest point of the lower end 11B of the opening 11A of the dispensing opening 11). By providing the opening 21A of the receiving opening 21 at a position lower than the opening 11A of the dispensing opening 11, the coin processing device 1 can slide the coin C down the coin guide path 20 without it getting caught on the joint surface between the coin insertion unit 10 and the coin guide path 20.

[0040] Since the coin insertion section 10 is attached to the openable front panel 40, the coin insertion section 10 and the coin guide path 20 are repeatedly joined and separated as the front panel 40 is opened and closed. Therefore, by positioning the lower end 21B of the opening 21A of the receiving port 21 lower than the lower end 11B of the opening 11A of the dispensing port 11, the coin guide path 20 can prevent the occurrence of a step where the lower end 21B of the receiving port 21 is higher than the lower end 11B of the dispensing port 11.

[0041] In the coin processing device 1 according to this embodiment, the lower end 21B of the opening 21A of the receiving port 21 of the coin guide path 20 is set lower than the lower end 11B of the opening 11A of the delivery port 11 of the coin insertion unit 10, thereby allowing the coins C to slide more smoothly into the coin dispensing unit 30. Therefore, the coin processing device 1 according to this embodiment can further reduce clogging or accumulation of coins C inside the device.

[0042] <3. Effects> The effects of the coin processing device 1 according to this embodiment will be described in comparison with a coin processing device according to a comparative example shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows a coin processing device 100 according to the comparative example.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 7, the coin processing device 100 according to the comparative example includes a coin insertion unit 110, a coin guide path 120, a coin feeding unit 130, and a coin validator 150.

[0044] The coin insertion unit 110 sends out coins C inserted from an insertion port 112 from an outlet 111 to a coin guide path 120. The coin guide path 120 has a curved guide path 122, and causes coins C received from an acceptance port 121 to slide down to the coin feeding unit 130. The coin feeding unit 130 feeds the coins C that have slid down through the coin guide path 120 one by one to the coin validator 150. The coin validator 150 identifies the denomination and authenticity of the coins C fed one by one from the coin feeding unit 130.

[0045] In the coin processing device 100 according to the comparative example, the opening of the receiving port 121 of the coin guide path 120 is not located at a position lower than the opening of the delivery port 111 of the coin insertion unit 110, and the lower end of the opening of the receiving port 121 and the lower end of the opening of the delivery port 111 are continuous without any step. Also, in the coin processing device 100 according to the comparative example, no evacuation space is provided in the guide path 122 of the coin guide path 120.

[0046] Ten coins worth 990 yen (i.e., four 100-yen coins, four 10-yen coins, one 50-yen coin, and one 500-yen coin) were inserted 1,000 times into the coin processing device 100 according to the comparative example shown in Fig. 7. As a result, in the coin processing device 100 according to the comparative example, clogging or retention of coin C occurred approximately 500 times out of 1,000 insertions.

[0047] Similarly, ten coins worth 990 yen (i.e., four 100-yen coins, four 10-yen coins, one 50-yen coin, and one 500-yen coin) were inserted into the coin processing device 1 according to this embodiment 1,000 times. As a result, no clogging or accumulation of coins C occurred in the coin processing device 1 according to this embodiment despite the 1,000 insertions.

[0048] Therefore, it can be seen that the coin processing device 1 of this embodiment is able to further reduce the occurrence of clogging or accumulation of coins C when a large number of coins C are inserted, compared to the coin processing device 100 of the comparative example.

[0049] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the technical ideas set forth in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Coin processing device 10 Coin slot 11 Outlet 11A aperture 11B Bottom end 12 Inlet 20 Coin Taxiway 21 Inlet 21A opening 21B Bottom end 22 Taxiway 22A Bend 22B Evacuation space 30 Coin dispensing section 40 Front panel C coin

Claims

1. a coin insertion unit having an insertion port into which coins are inserted and an outlet port from which the coins inserted into the insertion port are ejected; a coin guide path having a receiving port for receiving the coins sent out from the sending port and for guiding the destination of the received coins; a coin feeding unit that takes in the coins that have slid down through the coin guideway and feeds out the taken-in coins one by one; Equipped with The coin processing device, wherein the delivery outlet and the receiving opening are joined to each other so that a lower end of the opening of the receiving opening is lower than a lower end of the opening of the delivery outlet.

2. The coin processing device according to claim 1 , wherein a lower end of the opening of the delivery outlet has a curved shape in which a central portion in a width direction of the opening is lower.

3. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the coin insertion section is attached to an openable front panel of the housing of the coin processing device, and is connected to the coin guide path when the front panel is in a closed state, and is separated from the coin guide path when the panel is in an open state.

4. The coin processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coin guide path has a curved guide path that guides the coin to a destination.

5. The coin processing device according to claim 4, wherein a retraction space is provided at the bent portion of the guide path, the retraction space being wider than the extension of the opening before the bend.

6. The coin processing device according to claim 4 , wherein the size of the opening of the guide path after bending is larger than the size of the opening of the guide path before bending.

7. The coin processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving port of the coin guide path has an inverse tapered shape that widens toward the coin insertion portion.

8. The coin processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the coin is inserted into the insertion slot in a substantially horizontal position.

Images