COIN HANDLING DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING COIN HANDLING DEVICE, AND PROGRAM

Abstract

To separate a coin and a foreign matter and convey the coin even in a case where the foreign matter larger than the coin is placed on a conveyance belt and the coin is further placed on the foreign matter.SOLUTION: A coin handling device includes: an input unit in which a coin is input; a conveyance unit having a conveyance belt on which the coin input in the input unit is placed, and conveying the coin with the conveyance belt; a discrimination unit that discriminates the coin conveyed by the conveyance unit; a detection unit that detects presence / absence of the coin and a foreign matter on the conveyance belt; a blower unit that blows air onto the conveyance belt; and a control unit that controls the conveyance unit and the blower unit. When it is detected by the detection unit that there is a foreign matter on the conveyance belt, the control unit controls the blower unit to blow air onto the conveyance belt, thereby separating the coin and the foreign matter placed on the conveyance belt.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coin handling device, a control method for a coin handling device, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a coin handling device that handles coins inserted into an insertion port. Some of these types of coin handling devices include a conveying mechanism that conveys the coins inserted into the insertion port by a conveying belt (Patent Document 1).

[0003] Related art coin handling devices include one that includes an optical sensor that detects inserted items including coins inserted through an insertion section, and a validator that validates the coins transported by a transport belt. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-342492 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the coin handling device described above, a large number of coins may be inserted from a wallet directly into the insertion section, and there is a risk that foreign objects larger than the coins may be inserted together with the coins. In this case, the large foreign objects may land on the conveyor belt, and coins may then be placed on top of the foreign objects. In such cases, it is difficult to separate the coins and foreign objects on the conveyor belt, and the coins separated from the foreign objects cannot be conveyed.

[0006] The disclosed technology has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a coin handling device, a control method for a coin handling device, and a program that can separate coins and foreign objects and transport the coins, even when a foreign object larger than a coin is placed on a conveying belt and a coin is further placed on top of the foreign object. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of a coin handling device disclosed in the present application is a coin handling device having an insertion section into which coins are inserted, a conveyor belt on which the coins inserted into the insertion section are placed, a conveyor section that conveys the coins by the conveyor belt, a discriminating section that discriminates the coins conveyed by the conveyor, and The material fed from the feed section The present invention is provided with a detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a foreign object, a blower unit that blows air onto the conveyor belt, and a control unit that controls the conveyor unit and the blower unit, and the control unit detects the presence or absence of a foreign object on the conveyor belt by the detection unit. The above When a foreign object is detected, the blower is controlled to blow air onto the conveyor belt, thereby preventing the coins placed on the conveyor belt from being caught by the blower. The above Separate foreign matter. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the coin handling device disclosed in the present application, even if a foreign object larger than a coin is placed on the conveying belt and a coin is further placed on top of the foreign object, the coin and the foreign object can be separated and the coin can be conveyed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a coin handling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic diagram of the coin handling device of the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic view of the main part of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic view of a main portion of the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the main parts of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic view for explaining the operation of the main part of the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic view for explaining the operation of the main part of the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic view for explaining the operation of the main part of the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the control in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, examples of the coin handling device, the control method for the coin handling device, and the program disclosed in the present application will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the coin handling device, the control method for the coin handling device, and the program disclosed in the present application are not limited to the following examples. EXAMPLES

[0011] Fig. 1 is a front view showing a coin handling device of the embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the coin handling device of the embodiment.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the coin handling device 1 comprises a deposit / withdrawal unit 5 as an insertion unit into which coins 3 are inserted, a payout unit 6 as a transport unit that transports the coins 3 inserted into the deposit / withdrawal unit 5, an identification unit 7 that identifies the coins 3 sent by the payout unit 6, and a detection unit 8 that detects the presence or absence of coins 3 or foreign objects that are inserted and placed on a transport belt of the payout unit 6 described later.

[0013] The coin handling device 1 also includes an air blowing unit 11 that blows air onto the conveyor belt 22 of the pay-out unit 6, a foreign object discharge unit 12 that discharges foreign objects on the conveyor belt 22 to the outside of the coin handling device 1 by the air blown from the air blowing unit 11, and a control unit 13 that controls the pay-out unit 6, the air blowing unit 11, and the foreign object discharge unit 12. In the drawings, the front-to-rear direction of the coin handling device 1 is indicated as the X direction, the width direction as the Y direction, and the height direction as the Z direction.

[0014] The coin handling device 1 also includes a temporary holding section 14 that temporarily stores the coins 3 sent from the pay-out section 6, a foreign object recovery section 15 that recovers small foreign objects 4 sent from the pay-out section 6, a denomination-specific stacker section 16 in which the coins 3 are stored by denomination, and a coin recovery section 17 in which the recovered coins 3 are stored. The coin handling device 1 also includes various transport sections 18 that transport the coins 3 between the above-mentioned sections, a coin cassette 19 for replenishing the coins 3 to be dispensed, a bulk stacker section 20 that recovers the coins 3 that do not fit into the denomination-specific stacker section 16, etc.

[0015] Here, the small foreign objects 4 collected by the foreign object collection unit 15 are foreign objects 4 that are smaller in area than the coin 3 and the entire coin 3 cannot rest on them, such as rubber bands, paper clips, scraps of paper, etc. On the other hand, large foreign objects 4 are discharged from the foreign object discharge unit 12 to the outside of the coin handling device 1. The large foreign objects 4 are foreign objects 4 that are larger in area than the coin 3 and the coin 3 cannot rest on them, such as small bags, receipts, tickets, candy wrappers, etc.

[0016] (Configuration of the main parts of the coin handling device) Fig. 3 is a plan view and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the main part of the embodiment.

[0017] 2, 3 and 4, the deposit / withdrawal unit 5 has a tray 5a into which a user inserts coins 3, and a rotation mechanism (not shown) that rotates the bottom of the tray 5a. After a user inserts coins 3 into the tray 5a, the deposit / withdrawal unit 5 rotates the bottom of the tray 5a, causing the coins 3 in the tray 5a to fall onto the conveyor belt 22 of the pay-out unit 6. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the deposit / withdrawal unit 5 has a shutter 5b that limits the insertion of coins 3 into the tray 5a, and a shutter mechanism (not shown) that opens and closes the shutter 5b.

[0018] As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the payout section 6 is located directly below the deposit / withdrawal section 5, and includes a conveyor belt 22 on which coins 3 inserted into the deposit / withdrawal section 5 are placed, a drive mechanism (not shown) including a pulley 23 that drives the conveyor belt 22, a separation roller 24 that sends the coins 3 on the conveyor belt 22 one by one, and a guide member 25 that guides the coins 3 to enter the validation section 7.

[0019] The drive mechanism of the payout unit 6 is switched by the control unit 13 between a forward direction for feeding the coins 3 to the discriminating unit 7 and a reverse direction for feeding the foreign objects 4 to the foreign object discharge unit 12 side.

[0020] Further, the conveying surface 22a of the conveyor belt 22 is disposed at an incline with respect to the horizontal X direction so that the discriminating section 7 side of the conveyor belt 22 is higher than the foreign object discharge section 12 side of the conveyor belt 22 opposite the discriminating section 7. This makes it difficult for the foreign object 4 to be sent to the discriminating section 7 side, and allows the foreign object 4 on the conveying surface 22a to be smoothly moved toward the foreign object discharge section 12 side by the wind sent from the blower section 11.

[0021] The validator 7 has a line sensor (not shown), a conveyor belt 7a that conveys the coin 3 relative to the line sensor, pull-in rollers 7b that draw the coin 3 onto the conveyor belt 7a, and a drive mechanism (not shown) that drives the conveyor belt 7a. The conveyor surface of the conveyor belt 7a of the validator 7 is provided along the conveyor surface 22a of the conveyor belt 22 of the pay-out unit 6.

[0022] The detection unit 8 has an optical sensor 27 that detects the presence or absence of coins 3 or foreign objects 4 on the conveyor belt 22 of the pay-out unit 6, and a magnetic sensor 28 that detects the presence or absence of coins 3 on the conveyor belt 22.

[0023] The optical sensors 27 are disposed, for example, at a plurality of locations (for example, three locations as shown in the figure) between the tray 5a of the money deposit / withdrawal unit 5 and the conveyor belt 22. Each optical sensor 27 is provided at a different height in the Z direction. Although not shown, each optical sensor 27 has a light-emitting element that emits detection light and a light-receiving element that receives the detection light, and is provided, for example, so that the detection light passes along the horizontal direction (Y direction) above the conveyor belt 22. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the two optical sensors 27 are disposed so that the detection lights intersect with each other. Each optical sensor 27 transmits the detection result of the presence or absence of coins 3 or foreign objects 4 that are inserted and dropped from the tray 5a to the control unit 13.

[0024] The magnetic sensor 28 is disposed directly below the conveying surface 22a at a position where the coins 3 and foreign objects 4 that have fallen from the tray 5a are placed on the conveying belt 22. The magnetic sensor 28 generates a magnetic field in the vicinity of the conveying surface 22a and detects a change in the magnetic field, thereby detecting the presence or absence of metal materials, i.e., coins 3, on the conveying belt 22. The magnetic sensor 28 transmits the detection result of the presence or absence of the coins 3 to the control unit 13.

[0025] The blower section 11 has a blower fan 31 that blows air onto the conveyor belt 22, and a motor (not shown) that drives the blower fan 31. The blower fan 31 is disposed in a position facing the conveyor surface 22a of the conveyor belt 22, and blows air from the discrimination section 7 side toward the foreign object discharge section 12 side. The blower section 11 also blows air at a volume that moves the foreign objects 4 on the conveyor belt 22 along the conveyor belt 22 toward the foreign object discharge port 35 side of the foreign object discharge section 12 and does not lift the foreign objects 4 from the conveyor belt 22. This prevents the foreign objects 4 with a large area from getting caught inside the payout section 6, and allows the large foreign objects 4 to be discharged smoothly from the foreign object discharge section 12.

[0026] The foreign object discharge section 12 has a foreign object discharge port 35 through which the foreign object 4 is discharged, an opening / closing mechanism 36 having a door member 37 for opening and closing the foreign object discharge port 35, and an exhaust port 38 through which air sent from the blower section 11 passes. The foreign object discharge port 35 is provided on the opposite side of the conveyor belt 22 from the discriminating section 7 side, and is formed in the vicinity of an end of the conveyor belt 22. The door member 37 is provided so as to be openable and closable relative to the foreign object discharge port 35 via a rotating shaft 39 that supports the upper end of the door member 37.

[0027] Air exhaust port 38 is provided in door member 37 and is formed as a slit penetrating door member 37. Air exhaust port 38 may be provided in the vicinity of foreign object discharge port 35 to which the air sent from blower fan 31 is blown, and may be provided, for example, around foreign object discharge port 35. Although not shown, a return tray for storing foreign objects 4 discharged from foreign object discharge port 35 is provided below foreign object discharge port 35.

[0028] When separating the coins 3 and the foreign objects 4 on the conveyor belt 22, the control unit 13 controls the opening / closing mechanism 36 and the motor of the blower unit 11 so that the wind sent by the blower fan 31 of the blower unit 11 is discharged from the exhaust outlet 38 with the door member 37 closing the foreign object discharge outlet 35. As a result, the foreign objects 4 on the conveyor belt 22 are pulled toward the foreign object discharge outlet 35 by the wind from the blower fan 31, and the coins 3 and the foreign objects 4 are separated.

[0029] 5 is a block diagram for explaining the main parts of the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 13 is electrically connected to each of the optical sensors 27 and the magnetic sensor 28, and controls the blower fan 31 of the blower unit 11, the drive mechanism of the payout unit 6, and the opening / closing mechanism 36 of the foreign object discharge unit 12 based on the detection results of each of the optical sensors 27 and the magnetic sensor 28. Furthermore, when the coin 3 is not discriminated by the discriminator 7 when the conveyor belt 22 is sent to the discriminator 7, that is, when the coin 3 is not sent to the discriminator 7 by the conveyor belt 22, the control unit 13 controls the blower fan 31 of the blower unit 11, the drive mechanism of the payout unit 6, and the opening / closing mechanism 36 of the foreign object discharge unit 12 based on the output signal from the discriminator 7.

[0030] When the optical sensor 27 detects the presence of a coin 3 or a foreign object 4 and when the coin 3 is not discriminated by the discriminator 7 when the conveyor belt 22 is sent to the discriminator 7, the controller 13 controls the blower 11 to blow air onto the conveyor belt 22. As a result, even if the coin 3 is placed on the conveyor belt 22 on top of a foreign object 4 that is larger than the coin 3, the foreign object 4 can be moved by the air blower 11, causing the coin 3 on top of the foreign object 4 to fall onto the conveyor belt 22, and the foreign object 4 and the coin 3 can be separated.

[0031] Furthermore, when the optical sensor 27 detects the presence of the coin 3 or the foreign object 4, and the magnetic sensor 28 does not detect the presence of the coin 3, the control unit 13 may control the blower unit 11 to blow air onto the conveyor belt 22. In this case as well, the wind from the blower unit 11 moves the foreign object 4 on which the coin 3 is placed, causing the coin 3 to fall onto the conveyor belt 22, and the foreign object 4 and the coin 3 can be separated.

[0032] (Operation to separate coins from foreign objects) The operation of separating the coin 3 from the foreign object 4 and discharging the foreign object 4 from the foreign object discharge section 12 by the control section 13 controlling the blower fan 31 of the blower section 11, the drive mechanism of the payout section 6, and the opening / closing mechanism 36 of the foreign object discharge section 12 will be described below. Figures 6 to 8 are vertical cross-sectional views typically shown for explaining the operation of the main parts of the embodiment. Figure 9 is a flow chart for explaining the control in the embodiment.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, in the coin handling device 1, when the coin 3 and the foreign object 4 are inserted into the tray 5a of the deposit / withdrawal unit 5 (step S1 in FIG. 9), when the coin 3 and the foreign object 4 fall from the tray 5a to the payout unit 6, the foreign object 4 larger than the coin 3 may land on the conveyor belt 22, and the coin 3 may further land on the foreign object 4. At this time, the control unit 13 judges whether the inserted coin 3 or foreign object 4 is on the conveyor belt 22 based on the detection result of the optical sensor 27 (step S2). In step S2, when the optical sensor 27 does not detect the coin 3 or the foreign object 4 and the control unit 13 judges that the coin 3 or the foreign object 4 is not present on the conveyor belt 22 (No), the control unit 13 ends the control of the blower unit 11, the payout unit 6, and the foreign object discharge unit 12.

[0034] In step S2, if the optical sensor 27 detects the coin 3 or the foreign object 4 and the control unit 13 determines that the coin 3 or the foreign object 4 is present on the conveyor belt 22 (Yes), the control unit 13 rotates the conveyor belt 22 in the normal direction to send the coin 3 to the validation unit 7 (step S3). Next, the control unit 13 determines whether the coin 3 cannot be conveyed to the validation unit 7 by the conveyor belt 22 based on whether the validation unit 7 has validated the coin 3 (step S4).

[0035] In step S4, if the coin 3 is validated by the validator 7 when the conveyor belt 22 is sent to the validator 7 (No), the control unit 13 determines that the coin 3 can be conveyed, returns to step S3, and continues the conveying operation of rotating the conveyor belt 22 forward to send the coin 3 to the validator 7. In step S4, if the coin 3 is not validated by the validator 7 when the conveyor belt 22 is sent to the validator 7 (Yes), the control unit 13 determines that the coin 3 cannot be conveyed, and controls the blower unit 11 to rotate the blower fan 31 (step S5).

[0036] At this time, the control unit 13 controls the opening / closing mechanism 36 of the foreign object discharge unit 12 so that the blower unit 11 performs the blowing operation with the foreign object discharge outlet 35 closed by the door member 37. The air sent from the blower fan 31 is discharged to the outside of the coin handling device 1 through the exhaust outlet 38 of the door member 37. Since the foreign object discharge outlet 35 is closed when the coin 3 and the foreign object 4 are separated in this manner, it is possible to prevent the coin 3 from being discharged from the foreign object discharge outlet 35 together with the foreign object 4 moved by the air from the blower fan 31.

[0037] As a result, as shown in Figure 7, even if a coin 3 is placed on top of a foreign object 4 that is larger than the coin 3 on the conveyor belt 22, the coin handling device 1 moves the foreign object 4 with the wind from the blower fan 31 and drops the coin 3 on top of the foreign object 4 onto the conveyor belt 22, thereby separating the foreign object 4 from the coin 3 (step S6).

[0038] When separating the coins 3 from the foreign object 4, the control unit 13 may control the blower unit 11 to blow air onto the conveyor belt 22 while repeatedly forwarding and reversely feeding the conveyor belt 22 multiple times to swing the conveyor belt 22 in the conveying direction. This allows, for example, even if multiple coins 3 are piled up on a foreign object 4 with an area larger than that of the coin 3, the group of coins 3 on the foreign object 4 to be broken down and dropped onto the conveyor belt 22, allowing the coins 3 and the foreign object 4 to be smoothly separated.

[0039] Next, the control unit 13 judges whether the coin 3 separated from the foreign object 4 is on the conveyor belt 22 based on the detection result of the magnetic sensor 28 (step S7). In step S7, if the magnetic sensor 28 detects the coin 3 and the control unit 13 judges that the coin 3 is on the conveyor belt 22 (Yes), the process returns to step S3, and the conveyor belt 22 is rotated forward to continue the conveying operation of sending the coin 3 to the discriminator 7. After the coin 3 on the conveyor belt 22 is sent to the discriminator 7, in step S6, if the magnetic sensor 28 does not detect the coin 3 and the control unit 13 judges that the coin 3 is not on the conveyor belt 22 (No), the control unit 13 controls the opening / closing mechanism 36 of the foreign object discharge unit 12 so that the door member 37 opens the foreign object discharge port 35 (step S8), and controls the blower unit 11 so as to rotate the blower fan 31 (step S9).

[0040] 8, while the foreign object discharge port 35 is open, the control unit 13 controls the drive mechanism of the payout unit 6 to reverse the conveyor belt 22 while blowing air onto the conveyor belt 22 with the blower fan 31, thereby discharging the foreign object 4 from the foreign object discharge port 35 to the outside of the coin handling device 1 (step S10). This allows the coin handling device 1 to smoothly discharge, from the foreign object discharge port 35, even foreign object 4 that has a large area and is difficult to move from the conveyor surface 22a of the conveyor belt 22.

[0041] When discharging the foreign matter 4 from the foreign matter discharge unit 12, the control unit 13 may control the blower unit 11 to blow air at a speed faster than the speed of air blown when separating the coins 3 and the foreign matter 4.

[0042] As described above, even when a coin 3 is placed on a foreign object 4 larger than the coin 3, the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment can smoothly separate the coin 3 from the foreign object 4, send the coin 3 to the discriminating section 7, and discharge the foreign object 4 separated from the coin 3 from the foreign object discharge port 35 to the outside of the coin handling device 1. Similarly, even when, for example, no coin 3 is inserted into the payout section 6 and only the foreign object 4 is inserted, the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment can discharge the foreign object 4 larger than the coin 3 from the foreign object discharge port 35 to the outside of the coin handling device 1 by performing the above-mentioned foreign object 4 discharge operation.

[0043] (Method of controlling a coin handling device) In the control method of the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment, when the detection unit 8 detects the presence of a foreign object 4 on the conveyor belt 22, the control unit 13 controls the blower unit 11 to blow air onto the conveyor belt 22, thereby separating the coins 3 placed on the conveyor belt 22 from the foreign object 4.

[0044] (Program for controlling coin handling devices) The program for controlling the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment causes the control unit 13 to control the air blowing unit 11 so as to blow air onto the conveyor belt 22 and separate the coins 3 and foreign object 4 placed on the conveyor belt 22 when the detection unit 8 detects the presence of a foreign object 4 on the conveyor belt 22.

[0045] Instead of the control unit 13 of the coin handling device 1, the same control as that of the control unit 13 may be performed by a currency handling device including the coin handling device 1, such as a control unit of an automated teller machine, or an external computer. For this reason, the program is not limited to one that causes the control unit 13 of the coin handling device 1 to execute control, but may also be one that causes the control unit of a currency handling device or an external computer to execute control.

[0046] (Effects of the embodiment) The coin handling device 1 of the embodiment includes a detection unit 8 that detects the presence or absence of coins 3 and foreign objects 4 on the conveyor belt 22, and a blower unit 11 that blows air onto the conveyor belt 22, and when the detection unit 8 detects the presence of foreign object 4 on the conveyor belt 22, the control unit 13 controls the blower unit 11 to blow air onto the conveyor belt 22, thereby separating the coins 3 and the foreign object 4 placed on the conveyor belt 22. In this way, according to the coin handling device 1, even if a foreign object 4 larger than the coin 3 is placed on the conveyor belt 22 and another coin 3 is placed on the foreign object 4, it is possible to separate the coin 3 and the foreign object 4 and convey the coin 3 to the discrimination unit 7.

[0047] Furthermore, in the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment, when the optical sensor 27 detects the presence of a coin 3 or a foreign object 4 and the coin 3 is not discriminated by the discriminator 7 when the conveyor belt 22 is sent to the discriminator 7, the control unit 13 controls the blower unit 11 to blow air onto the conveyor belt 22. This makes it possible to detect the foreign object 4 present on the conveyor belt 22 and separate the foreign object 4 from the coin 3 by the air blower unit 11.

[0048] In addition, the detection unit 8 in the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment has a magnetic sensor 28 that detects the presence or absence of coins 3 on the conveyor belt 22, so that when the coins 3 and foreign objects 4 are separated, the magnetic sensor 28 can detect the coins 3 placed on the conveyor belt 22 and convey the coins 3 to the validation unit 7.

[0049] Furthermore, as a foreign object 4 larger than the coin 3, for example, a transparent resin pouch or the like may be inserted together with the coin 3, and the coin 3 may end up on the transparent foreign object 4. In this case, the detection light of the optical sensor 27 may pass through the transparent foreign object 4, and the coin 3, which is the inserted object, may not be detected. Even in such a case, the detection unit 8 in the embodiment can detect the presence of the coin 3 on the conveyor belt 22 by the magnetic sensor 28. Therefore, according to the embodiment, even if the foreign object 4 larger than the coin 3 is a light-transmitting foreign object 4, it is possible to detect the presence of the foreign object 4 on the conveyor belt 22 and separate the foreign object 4 from the coin 3.

[0050] Furthermore, when the optical sensor 27 detects the presence of a coin 3 or a foreign object 4 and the magnetic sensor 28 does not detect the presence of a coin 3, the control unit 13 in the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment controls the blower unit 11 to blow air onto the conveyor belt 22. This makes it possible to detect the foreign object 4 present on the conveyor belt 22 and separate the foreign object 4 from the coin 3 by the air blower unit 11.

[0051] Further, the foreign object discharge section 12 in the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment has a foreign object discharge port 35 provided on the opposite side of the conveyor belt 22 from the discriminating section 7 side and through which the foreign object 4 is discharged, an opening / closing mechanism 36 having a door member 37 for opening and closing the foreign object discharge port 35, and an exhaust port 38 provided near the foreign object discharge port 35 and through which the wind sent from the blower section 11 passes. The control section 13 controls the opening / closing mechanism 36 and the blower section 11 so that the wind sent by the blower section 11 is exhausted from the exhaust port 38 with the door member 37 closing the foreign object discharge port 35. Since the foreign object discharge port 35 is closed when the coin 3 and the foreign object 4 are separated in this manner, it is possible to prevent the coin 3 from being discharged from the foreign object discharge port 35 together with the foreign object 4 moved by the wind from the blower fan 31, and it is possible to properly separate the coin 3 and the foreign object 4.

[0052] Furthermore, the control unit 13 in the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment controls the opening / closing mechanism 36 and the blower unit 11 so that the blower unit 11 blows air while sending the conveyor belt 22 in the opposite direction to the direction in which the coins 3 are sent to the discriminating unit 7, thereby discharging the foreign object 4 on the conveyor belt 22 from the foreign object discharge port 35. In this way, by sending the foreign object 4 to the foreign object discharge port 35 by the wind from the blower unit 11 and the conveyor belt 22, even if the foreign object 4 has a large area and is difficult to separate from the conveyor surface 22a of the conveyor belt 22, for example, it can be smoothly discharged from the foreign object discharge port 35.

[0053] In the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment, the conveyor belt 22 of the payout unit 6 has a conveying surface 22a inclined so that the other end on the foreign object discharge port 35 side is lower than the one end on the discriminating unit 7 side. This makes it difficult for the foreign object 4 to be sent to the discriminating unit 7 side, and allows the wind sent from the blower unit 11 to smoothly move the foreign object 4 on the conveying surface 22a toward the foreign object discharge unit 12 side.

[0054] Moreover, the blower unit 11 in the coin handling device 1 of the embodiment blows air at a volume that moves the foreign objects 4 on the conveyor belt 22 toward the foreign object discharge port 35 and does not lift the foreign objects 4 from the conveyor belt 22. This prevents foreign objects 4 with a large area from getting caught inside the pay-out unit 6, and allows the large foreign objects 4 to be discharged smoothly from the foreign object discharge unit 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1 Coin handling equipment 3 Coins 4 Foreign object 5. Deposit and withdrawal section (insertion section) 5a Saucer 5b Shutter 6. Payout section (transport section) 7 Identification Department 8. Detection Unit 11 Blower section 12 Foreign matter discharge section 13 Control section 14 Temporary Holding Department 15 Foreign object collection section 16 Denomination-specific stacker section 20 Bulk stacker section 22 Conveyor belt 22a Conveying surface 24 Separation roller 25 Guide member 27 Optical Sensor 28 Magnetic Sensor 31 Blower fan 35 Foreign matter outlet 36 Opening and closing mechanism 37 Door parts 38 Ventilation outlet 39 Rotational Axis

Claims

1. An insertion portion into which coins are inserted; a conveying unit having a conveying belt on which coins inserted into the insertion unit are placed, the conveying belt conveying the coins; a coin discriminating unit that discriminates the coins conveyed by the conveying unit; a detection unit that detects the presence or absence of coins on the conveyor belt and foreign objects inserted through the insertion unit; A blower that blows air onto the conveyor belt; A control unit that controls the transport unit and the blower unit, A coin handling device in which, when the detection unit detects the presence of a foreign object on the conveyor belt, the control unit controls the blower unit to blow air onto the conveyor belt, thereby separating the coins placed on the conveyor belt from the foreign object.

2. The detection unit has an optical sensor that detects the presence or absence of coins or the foreign object on the conveyor belt, and a magnetic sensor that detects the presence or absence of coins on the conveyor belt, The control unit controls the air blowing unit to blow air onto the conveyor belt when the optical sensor detects the presence of a coin or the foreign object and the coin is not discriminated by the discriminating unit when the conveyor belt is sent to the discriminating unit.

2. The coin handling device according to claim 1.

3. The control unit controls the blower unit to blow air onto the conveyor belt when the optical sensor detects the presence of a coin or the foreign object and the magnetic sensor does not detect the presence of a coin.

3. A coin handling device according to claim 2.

4. The coin handling device further includes a foreign object discharge unit for discharging the foreign object on the conveyor belt to the outside of the coin handling device by air blown from the air blowing unit. the foreign object discharge section includes a foreign object discharge port provided on the opposite side of the conveyor belt from the discrimination section side and through which the foreign object is discharged, an opening / closing mechanism having a door member for opening and closing the foreign object discharge port, and an exhaust port provided near the foreign object discharge port and through which air blown from the air blowing section passes, The control unit controls the opening / closing mechanism and the air blowing unit so that the air blown by the air blowing unit is discharged from the air exhaust port while the door member is closing the foreign object exhaust port.

4. A coin handling device according to claim 1.

5. The control unit controls the opening / closing mechanism and the blowing unit so that the foreign objects on the conveying belt are discharged from the foreign object discharge port by sending the conveying belt in a direction opposite to a direction in which the coins are sent to the discriminating unit while the blowing unit blows air.

5. A coin handling apparatus according to claim 4.

6. The conveyor belt of the conveying section has a conveying surface inclined such that one end portion of the conveyor belt on the foreign object discharge port side is lower than one end portion of the conveyor belt on the discrimination section side.

6. A coin handling device according to claim 4 or 5.

7. the air blowing section blows air at a volume sufficient to move the foreign objects on the conveyor belt toward the foreign object discharge port and to prevent the foreign objects from being lifted up from the conveyor belt.

5. A coin handling apparatus according to claim 4.

8. A control method for a coin handling device comprising: an insertion section into which coins are inserted; a transport section having a conveyor belt on which the coins inserted into the insertion section are placed, the transport section transporting the coins by the conveyor belt; a discriminating section discriminating the coins transported by the transport section; a detection section detecting the presence or absence of coins on the conveyor belt and foreign objects inserted from the insertion section; a blower section blowing air onto the conveyor belt; and a control section controlling the transport section and the blower section, A control method for a coin handling device, in which, when the detection unit detects the presence of a foreign object on the conveyor belt, the control unit controls the blower unit to blow air onto the conveyor belt to separate the coins placed on the conveyor belt from the foreign object.

9. A program for controlling a coin handling device comprising: an insertion section into which coins are inserted; a transport section having a conveyor belt on which the coins inserted into the insertion section are placed, the transport section transporting the coins by the conveyor belt; a discriminating section discriminating the coins transported by the transport section; a detecting section detecting the presence or absence of coins on the conveyor belt and foreign objects inserted from the insertion section; a blowing section blowing air onto the conveyor belt; and a control section controlling the transport section and the blowing section, A program that causes the control unit to control the air blowing unit so that, when the detection unit detects the presence of the foreign object on the conveyor belt, the air blowing unit blows air onto the conveyor belt to separate the coins placed on the conveyor belt from the foreign object.

Images