Article supply device

Abstract

To provide an article supplying device in which measures against the use of counterfeit coins are taken. [Solution] The article supply device 1 includes an insertion section 5 into which genuine coins and counterfeit coins can be inserted, a passage section 20a through which the coins inserted from the insertion section 5 can move, and an adsorption section 23 in the passage section 20a that cannot adsorb genuine coins but can adsorb counterfeit coins, the adsorption section 23 being provided as a component of the passage section 20a. In the passage section 20a through which the inserted coins pass, the adsorption section 23 that can adsorb only counterfeit coins is provided as a component of the passage section 20a, that is, as part of the side wall section of the passage section 20a, on a flat surface with no irregularities on the side wall section. This makes it possible to provide a coin insertion mechanism that performs stable functions without interfering with the currency of genuine coins.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article supplying device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are various kinds of goods supplying devices (vending machines) for automatically selling goods. The goods supplying devices are provided with various functions for determining the price required to purchase goods. For example, in Patent Document 1, the coin holding section is configured so that coins held in the coin holding section in a row are electrically connected in series. Also, a first electrode that contacts coins located at one end of the row is provided in the coin holding section, and a second electrode that contacts coins located at the other end of the row is provided in the coin holding section. A configuration is disclosed in which it is determined whether or not a current flows between the first electrode and the second electrode that the required number of coins have been inserted. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-196318 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, it is determined whether or not the number of coins required to purchase an item has been completely inserted. However, in the case of an item supplying device, it has long been necessary to deal with the problem of counterfeit coins.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide an article supplying device in which measures are taken to prevent the use of counterfeit coins. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An item supply device of one embodiment of the present invention comprises an insertion section into which a first type of coin and a second type of coin can be inserted, a passage section through which the coins inserted from the insertion section can move, and an adsorption section within the passage section that is incapable of adsorbing the first type of coin but is capable of adsorbing the second type of coin, the adsorption section being provided as a component of the passage section. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an article supplying device in which measures are taken to prevent the use of counterfeit coins. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an article supplying device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the article supplying device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coin insertion unit shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the suction part shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion taken along line AA shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view showing another aspect of the suction portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an article supplying device according to one aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an article supplying device 1 of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the article supplying device 1. As shown in FIG.

[0010] The article supplying device 1 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a device capable of supplying an article P in a spherical capsule case containing, for example, toys or parts. More specifically, the article supplying device 1 includes a storage unit 10 capable of storing a plurality of articles P in a random arrangement, a supplying unit 30 having a turntable 31 rotatably provided on the bottom 10b of the storage unit 10 and capable of randomly selecting and supplying the articles P one by one, a locking unit 41 for locking the supplying unit 30 inoperable, and a control unit 40 for driving the locking unit 41 to release the locking on the condition that a price is paid from a coin insertion unit 5. Then, in the unlocked state, the operating unit 4 provided on the front surface 2f is rotated. This causes a gear train 4b provided on the tip side of a shaft 4a of the operating unit 4 to rotate, and the turntable 31 is rotated via its rack gear 31g. The article P held in the holding hole 31h of the turntable 31 drops at the passage hole 10bh provided in the bottom portion 10b, and is supplied to the supply port 9 via the article passage portion 9a.

[0011] In the article supply device 1, a coin insertion unit 20 is provided on the right side of the operation unit 4 (the right side when facing the device). This coin insertion unit 20 is connected to an insertion section 5 provided on the front surface 2f of the main body 2. A coin C inserted from the insertion section 5 passes through a passage section 20a formed in the coin insertion unit 20, falls into a holding section 25 on the lower side of the unit, and is held therein. When a genuine coin is inserted, the coin C held in the holding section 25 is stored in a coin storage section 29 provided, for example, below the holding section 25, if a predetermined amount is inserted and a predetermined operation is performed. However, the inserted coin C may not be a genuine coin of the first type, but a counterfeit coin of the second type. In this case, the coin C is configured to be captured by an adsorption section 23 provided in the passage section 20a, as described below.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main part of the coin insertion unit 20 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the coin insertion unit 20 is a thin unit in which a left half case 21 and a right half case 22 are combined from the left-right direction, and the left and right side walls, a first side wall portion 21w and a second side wall portion 22w, face each other closely to form an internal space. Here, the left half case 21 including the first side wall portion 21w is made of a colored material and is opaque, whereas the right half case 22 including the second side wall portion 22w is made of a color different from that of the left half case 21, for example, a light-transmitting material. Therefore, the inside of the unit can be seen through the second side wall portion 22w, as shown in FIG.

[0013] The coin insertion unit 20 has a passage 20a formed therein, extending from a starting end 20as (upper right in the figure) where the coin C is inserted to a terminal end 20ae at the entrance of the holder 25 that holds the coin C. The passage 20a is configured so that the coin C moves by gravity. For example, the first coin introduction portion including the starting end 20as is provided with an inclined portion 20ab that forms an inclined surface along which the coin C rolls. A drop portion 20ac is provided behind the inclined portion 20ab, and the coin C drops from the inclined portion 20ab. The dropped coin C is guided by the passage wall 20w to drop again, passing through an opening that is the terminal end 20ae of the passage 20a and dropping to the holder 25.

[0014] In the drop section 23ac, a first oscillating plate 20ag is provided on the upper side, and a second oscillating plate 20ah is provided on the lower side. When a coin C is placed on the two oscillating plates 20ag and 20ah, they rotate under the weight of the coin C and guide the coin C in the inclined direction of the plate portion. This can change the moving direction of the coin C and slow down the falling speed of the coin C, for example.

[0015] The coin C that has fallen into the holding section 25 is held in the holding section 25 that is capable of holding genuine coins. The holding section 25 has an inclination that allows a genuine coin that has fallen into the holding section 25 to move toward the front surface 2f (see FIG. 2) under its own weight. The movement position of the coin C at this time is regulated by a position regulating pin 25a, so that a specified number of coins C can be held.

[0016] A coin sorting member 20b that sorts coins C to the left and right sides is provided at the opening of the terminal end portion 20ae. Although not shown in Fig. 3, a holding portion having the same configuration as the holding portion 25 is also provided on the first side wall portion 21w side, and the coin sorting member 20b is configured to sort coins C to the left and right sides.

[0017] In addition, a return button 7 is provided below the insertion unit 5. For example, when a user wishes to return a coin C that has already been inserted, the return button 7 can be pressed to eject the coin C held in the holding unit 25 to the return port 6.

[0018] 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the suction portion 23 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion taken along line AA in FIG. The suction part 23 for capturing the counterfeit coin is provided in the area where the inclined part 20ab is arranged, i.e., in a position close to the starting end 20as, as shown in the figure. In this inclined part 20ab, the moving speed of the inserted coin C is not so fast, so the counterfeit coin is attracted to the suction part 23 just before the dropping part 20ac (where the moving speed becomes fast) and is not dropped into the dropping part 20ac.

[0019] The attraction unit 23 is arranged as a part of the side wall, which is a component of the passage unit 20a. The attraction unit 23 is composed of, for example, a pair of magnets, a first attraction unit 231, and a second attraction unit 232. The first attraction unit 231 and the second attraction unit 232 are arranged at an appropriate interval according to the size (d1) of the coin C. In this way, the attraction unit 23 is arranged vertically at a predetermined distance, which strengthens the magnetic force of the attraction unit 23. That is, the first attraction unit 231 and the second attraction unit 232 are arranged at a distance from each other that affects the magnetic field. The vertical arrangement of the first attraction unit 231 and the second attraction unit 232 is suitable for dealing with counterfeit coins of various sizes.

[0020] The suction portion 23 is provided on the first side wall portion 21w via the mounting portion 24. The mounting portion 24 holds the first suction portion 231 and the second suction portion 232, for example, in a recess 24c of a cylindrical portion 24a on one end side of the mounting portion 24. The mounting portion 24 is fixed from the outside of the first side wall portion 21w, for example, with screws 24b. A pair of circular openings are formed in the first side wall portion 21w, and the mounting portion 24 is attached such that the cylindrical portion 24a is fitted into the openings.

[0021] The attracting surface 23a of the attracting portion 23 and the tip surface 24at of the cylindrical portion 24a are flush with the first side wall portion 21w. In other words, the attracting surface 23a forms the same surface as the first side wall portion 21w that forms the plane of the passage portion 20a, so that an effective magnetic force can be applied to the counterfeit coins to attract (adsorb) them. The tip surface 24at of the cylindrical portion 24a may be slightly recessed from the first side wall portion 21w.

[0022] The passage section 20a is configured so that, when a counterfeit coin is attracted to the attraction section 23, it will not move a genuine coin beyond the attraction section 23. When a counterfeit coin is attracted to the attraction section 23, the width (d3) of the passage section 20a is set so that the width (d4) obtained by subtracting the thickness (d2) of the attracted coin C is smaller than the width of the genuine coin. This can be achieved, for example, by setting the width (d3) of the passage section 20a to be close to the coin width of the genuine coin C.

[0023] Furthermore, when removing the counterfeit coin adsorbed to the suction portion 23 of the passage portion 20a, the coin insertion unit 20 can be removed from the main body portion 2. At this time, since the suction portion 23 is located close to the starting end portion 20as of the passage portion 20a, the counterfeit coin adsorbed from the starting end portion 20as side can be easily removed.

[0024] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing another embodiment of the suction portion 23. As shown in FIG. In the attraction section 23 shown in Fig. 6, the first attraction section 231 and the second attraction section 232 are provided at positions that are shifted forward and backward and up and down in the coin movement direction. Here, the distance between the two attraction sections 231, 232 in the movement direction of the coin C is particularly configured to be large. The distance (d5) between the two attraction sections 231, 232 is set to be less than the maximum diameter of the genuine coin C or the counterfeit coin. This allows a magnetic force to be applied to the counterfeit coin over a long area in the coin movement direction, and also allows the magnetic field lines between the two attraction sections 231, 232 to form a closed loop of the magnetic field, making capture more reliable.

[0025] As described above, in the article supply device 1 of this embodiment, genuine coins are not affected by the magnetic force in the passage 20a through which the inserted coins pass, so they are not attracted, but in many cases only counterfeit coins that use magnetic materials can be attracted. Also, the attraction portion 23 is provided as a component of the passage 20a, for example as a part of the side wall of the passage 20a, so as to form a flat surface on the side wall, and therefore it is possible to provide a coin insertion mechanism that performs stable functions without interfering with the passage of genuine coins.

[0026] Furthermore, in the item supply device 1 of this embodiment, if a counterfeit coin is adsorbed to the suction section 23, the device is configured not to move genuine coins beyond the suction section 23, thereby making it possible to stop the sale of the item.

[0027] Furthermore, in the present embodiment of the item supply device 1, the counterfeit coin is captured by the suction section 23 at a position close to the coin insertion section 5, making it easy to remove the counterfeit coin from the coin insertion section 5 side, and eliminating the need to provide a separate removal port.

[0028] Furthermore, in the article supply device 1 of this embodiment, the passage 20a has a structure in which two side walls face each other, and the suction part 23 is disposed on one side (first side wall 21w), so that the flat part of the coin C can face the surface of the suction part 23. This makes it possible to increase the capturing force (magnetic force) of the suction part 23 against counterfeit coins, enabling reliable countermeasures against counterfeit coins.

[0029] In the article supply device 1 of this embodiment, the first side wall 21w on which the suction portion 23 is provided on the side wall of the passage 20a is made of a different color from the second side wall 22w, so that the position of the suction portion 23 can be easily recognized when removing counterfeit coins or performing other maintenance work, and the workability is good. In addition, the second side wall 22w is made of a light-transmitting material, so that the passage 20a can be visually observed from the outside, and the maintainability of the coin insertion unit 20 can be improved.

[0030] In the article supply device 1 of this embodiment, the passage section 20a is provided with a drop section 20ac through which coins can fall, thereby enabling coins to be moved quickly. In addition, a falling sound is generated when the coin is inserted, allowing the purchaser to recognize that the insertion operation is successful. In addition, when a counterfeit coin is inserted, it is caught by the inclined section 23ab in front of the drop section 20ac and does not fall, eliminating the generation of a falling sound. As a result, it is possible to inform the person inserting the counterfeit coin that the insertion has failed. In addition, since the suction section 23 is provided on the inclined section 23ab, the moving speed at which the counterfeit coin can be easily caught can be set by the inclination angle.

[0031] In addition, in the article supply device 1 of this embodiment, since a plurality of attraction parts 23 made of magnets are provided, a closed loop of the magnetic field can be formed between the magnets, and the magnetic flux density can be increased, so that counterfeit coins can be captured more reliably. In addition, when the plurality of attraction parts 23 are arranged at a large distance in the coin movement direction, if a closed loop of the magnetic field is not formed, the magnetic capture force can be applied to the counterfeit coin multiple times. This makes it easier to capture the counterfeit coin at the next attraction part after reducing the movement speed at the first attraction part, for example, and therefore makes it possible to capture the counterfeit coin reliably. In addition, since the plurality of attraction parts 23 are spaced apart in the vertical direction with respect to the coin movement direction, it is easier to deal with counterfeit coins of different sizes, and this makes it possible to increase the reliability of the counterfeit coin countermeasures.

[0032] In addition, by setting the distance between the multiple attraction parts 23 to be less than the maximum diameter of a genuine coin in the coin movement direction, it is possible to create a state in which magnetic field lines pass through the inside of the counterfeit coin between the front and rear attraction parts 23, and a strong capturing force can be applied over the longest possible area in the coin movement direction. This strengthens the capturing force for counterfeit coins, making it possible to take more reliable measures against counterfeit coins.

[0033] In the item supply device 1 of this embodiment, the holding section 25 has an inclination that allows genuine coins to move under their own weight, so that multiple genuine coins can be held in the holding section 25 in a line with no gaps between them, making it easy to hold and confirm (detect) the number of coins corresponding to the amount of payment for a product.

[0034] In the present embodiment of the article supply device 1, the coin insertion unit 20 is formed to include at least the passage portion 20a and the holding portion 25, so that it can be easily removed and attached as a unit to the main body portion 2 of the article supply device 1, making it easy to maintain.

[0035] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be modified as appropriate within the scope of its technical concept. For example, in the above embodiment, the coin insertion unit 20 is provided in the article supplying device 1 that sells the article P in the capsule case, but the device in which the coin insertion unit 20 is provided is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to various devices for selling articles.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the attraction portion 23 is configured to have two magnets arranged side by side, but this is not limiting, and one or three or more magnets may be arranged side by side.

[0037] As described above, the present specification discloses the following:

[0038] (1) An article supplying device, an insertion section into which a first type of coin and a second type of coin can be inserted; a passage through which the coin inserted from the insertion portion can move; a suction section in the passage section that is not capable of suctioning the first type of coins but is capable of suctioning the second type of coins, The suction portion is provided as a component of the passage portion.

[0039] (2) The article supply device according to (1), The article supplying device, wherein the suction portion is configured as a part of a side wall portion of the passage portion.

[0040] (3) The article supply device according to (2), An article supplying device, wherein the suction surface of the suction portion is flush with a wall surface of the side wall portion.

[0041] (4) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (3), The suction portion is arranged so as not to protrude into the passage portion.

[0042] (5) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (4), The passage portion is configured not to move the first type of coin beyond the suction portion when the second type of coin is suctioned to the suction portion.

[0043] (6) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (5), The passage portion is configured to be able to discharge the second type of coin attracted to the attraction portion from the insertion portion.

[0044] (7) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (6), The adsorption portion is configured as a part of the side wall of the passage portion. Further, a mounting portion is provided for mounting the suction portion to the side wall portion, The article supplying device, wherein the attachment portion is configured as part of the side wall portion together with the suction portion.

[0045] (8) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (7), The adsorption portion is configured as a part of the side wall of the passage portion. The side wall portion includes a first side wall portion and a second side wall portion, The suction portion forms part of the first side wall portion.

[0046] (9) The article supply device according to (8), The article supplying device, wherein the first side wall portion is colored, and the second side wall portion is colored differently from the first side wall portion.

[0047] (10) The article supply device according to (9), The article supply device, wherein the second side wall portion is made of a light-transmitting material.

[0048] (11) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (10), The passage portion includes a starting end and a terminal end, The suction portion is provided at a position closer to the starting end than to the terminal end.

[0049] (12) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (11), The passage portion includes a drop portion through which the coin can drop, The passage portion is configured so as not to allow the second type of coin attracted to the attraction portion to fall into the falling portion.

[0050] (13) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (12), The attraction unit is configured with a magnet capable of attracting the second type of coins by magnetic force.

[0051] (14) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (13), The adsorption unit includes at least a first adsorption unit and a second adsorption unit, The first suction portion and the second suction portion are provided at a predetermined distance from each other in the article supplying device.

[0052] (15) The article supply device according to (14), The article supplying device, wherein the first suction portion and the second suction portion are provided at positions shifted from each other in at least one of the front-rear and up-down directions in the coin movement direction.

[0053] (16) An article supply device according to (14) or (15), The predetermined distance is a distance less than a maximum diameter of the first type of coin or the second type of coin to be inserted.

[0054] (17) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (16), The passage portion includes a drop portion through which the coin can drop, the passage portion includes an inclined portion so that the first type of coin inserted into the insertion portion can move by its own weight, The dropping section is configured to allow the first type of coins that have passed through the inclined section to fall freely.

[0055] (18) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (17), The passage portion includes a drop portion through which the coin can drop, The coin machine further includes a holding section capable of holding the first type of coin dropped through the dropping section, The holding section includes a slope that allows the first type of coin that has fallen down the falling section to move by its own weight.

[0056] (19) An article supply device according to any one of (1) to (18), The article supplying device, wherein a coin insertion unit is formed by a configuration including at least the passage portion and the holding portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1 Goods supply device 5 Input section 6 Return Port 20 Coin Insert Unit 20a Coin passage 20ab slope 20ac falling part 20as Starting end 20ae Termination 21w 1st side wall part 22w 2nd side wall part 23 Adsorption part 23a Adsorption surface 24 Mounting part 25 Holding part 231 1st suction part 232 2nd suction part C Coin

Claims

1. An article supplying device, an insertion unit into which a first type of coin and a second type of coin can be inserted; a passage through which the coin inserted from the insertion portion can move; a suction section in the passage section that is not capable of suctioning the first type of coins but is capable of suctioning the second type of coins, the suction portion is configured as a part of a side wall portion of the passage portion and is provided so as not to protrude into the passage portion, and the suction surface thereof is flush with a wall surface of the side wall portion; The passage section is configured so as not to move the first type of coin beyond the suction section when the second type of coin is adsorbed to the suction section, and is configured so that the second type of coin adsorbed to the suction section can be discharged from the insertion section.

2. The article supply device according to claim 1, The adsorption portion is configured as a part of a side wall portion of the passage portion, The adhesive portion further includes an attachment portion for attaching the adhesive portion to the side wall portion, An article supplying device, wherein the attachment portion is configured as part of the side wall portion together with the suction portion.

3. The article supply device according to claim 2, The adsorption portion is configured as a part of a side wall portion of the passage portion, The side wall portion includes a first side wall portion and a second side wall portion, An article supplying device, wherein the suction portion forms part of the first side wall portion.

4. The article supply device according to claim 3, An article supplying device, wherein the first side wall portion is configured to be colored, and the second side wall portion is configured to be a color different from that of the first side wall portion.

5. The article supply device according to claim 4, An article supplying device, wherein the second side wall portion is made of a light-transmitting material.

6. An article supplying device, an insertion unit into which a first type of coin and a second type of coin can be inserted; a passage section including a starting end section, a terminal end section, and a coin drop section through which the coin can drop, and through which the coin inserted from the coin insertion section can move; an attraction portion that is provided in the passage portion at a position closer to the start end than to the end end, and that is unable to attract the first type of coins but is able to attract the second type of coins; The passage portion is configured so as not to allow the second type of coin attracted to the attraction portion to fall into the falling portion, the attraction unit includes at least a first attraction unit and a second attraction unit, is configured with a magnet capable of attracting the second type of coin by magnetic force, and is provided as a component of the passage unit; An article supplying device, wherein the first suction portion and the second suction portion are provided at a predetermined distance from each other.

7. 7. The article supplying device according to claim 6, The article supplying device, wherein the first suction portion and the second suction portion are provided at positions offset from each other in at least one of the front-rear and up-down directions in the coin moving direction.

8. The article supplying device according to claim 7, An item supplying device, wherein the predetermined distance is a distance less than a maximum diameter of the first type of coin or the second type of coin to be inserted.

9. 7. The article supplying device according to claim 6, the passage portion includes an inclined portion so that the first type of coin inserted into the insertion portion can move by its own weight, The dropping section is configured to allow the first type of coins that have passed through the inclined section to fall freely.

10. 7. The article supplying device according to claim 6, a holding section capable of holding the first type of coin dropped through the dropping section, An article supplying device, wherein the holding section includes a slope that allows the first type of coin that has fallen down the falling section to move by its own weight.

11. The article supplying device according to claim 10, An article supplying device, wherein a coin insertion unit is formed by a configuration including at least the passage portion and the holding portion.

Images