Coin handling equipment

Abstract

To improve the functionality relating to separation of coins.SOLUTION: A coin handling device includes: an input part into which a coin is input; a spirally-wound structure which has a groove part in which the coin input in the input part is caught; a pin part which is positioned inside the structure and has a center axis different from a center axis of the structure; a driving part which rotates the structure and the pin part to raise the coin caught in the groove part; and a flapper part which receives the coin raised to a predetermined position or more by driving force of the driving part. A tip of the pin part is not positioned in a range of the groove part which is nearest to the center axis of the pin part, and is arranged to be brought into contact with the coin raised to the predetermined position or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] In recent years, technologies have been developed for automatic ticket vending machines, vending machines, etc., that separate multiple coins inserted at once one by one. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which coins inserted into an insertion slot are separated one by one by a rotating disk. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-298749 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 requires the provision of a disk for separating inserted coins, which may result in the separation unit becoming larger and more complex. Furthermore, a larger or more complex separation unit may increase the probability of coins getting stuck during separation.

[0005] 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 handling device that can improve functionality related to coin separation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a coin handling device is provided, comprising: an insertion section into which coins are inserted; a spirally wound structure having a groove in which the coin inserted into the insertion section is caught; a pin section located inside the structure and having a central axis different from the central axis of the structure; a drive section that rotates the structure and the pin section and raises the coin caught in the groove; and a flapper section that receives the coin that has been raised above a predetermined position by the driving force of the drive section, wherein the tip of the pin section is not located within the range of the groove closest to the central axis of the pin section and is positioned so as to come into contact with the coin that has been raised above the predetermined position.

[0007] The structure and the flapper portion may be disposed so as to be inclined in a direction corresponding to the sliding direction of the coin inserted into the insertion portion.

[0008] The flapper unit may receive the coin that has been raised by the drive unit to a height above the height of an end surface of the flapper unit.

[0009] The vertical distance between the tip of the pin portion and the end face of the flapper portion may be equal to or greater than one thickness of the coin and less than two thicknesses of the coin.

[0010] The coins may include at least two or more coins of different thicknesses, and the vertical distance may be equal to or greater than one thickness of the coin with the largest thickness and less than two thicknesses of the coin with the smallest thickness.

[0011] The insertion unit may be provided with an opening / closing mechanism, and may further include a connecting unit that moves the flapper unit in response to opening and closing of the insertion unit.

[0012] The height of the end face of the flapper portion may be variable depending on whether the input portion is opened or closed.

[0013] The connecting portion may move the flapper portion so that, when the insertion portion is open, the vertical distance is at least one thickness of the thickest coin and less than two thicknesses of the smallest coin.

[0014] The coin receiving unit further includes a rotating body having at least one protrusion and rotating, and the rotating body is configured to receive the coins inserted into the insertion unit in front of the structure. Height of the end face of the flapper portion The projection may be arranged to come into contact with a coin.

[0015] The rotating body may rotate in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the drive unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve functionality relating to coin separation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an overview of a batch feeding unit 1 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a unit main body 5 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of a spring unit 20. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the unit body 5 obtained by cutting the unit body 5 along the line AA shown in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the flow of coins C being separated one by one by a unit main body. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the flow of coins C being separated one by one by a unit main body. [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a structure for clearing a jam of coins in the unit main body 5 according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8]8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a problem of the unit body 5 shown in FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the structure of a unit body 5 according to a modified example. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of the structure of the unit body 5 according to the modified example. FIG. 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. Overview of Bulk Input Unit 1>> An embodiment of the present invention relates to a coin handling device that can improve functionality related to coin separation. First, an overview of a batch insertion unit according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0020] 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an overview of a bulk insertion unit 1 according to this embodiment. The bulk insertion unit 1 according to this embodiment is an example of a coin handling device, and is a device that separates and dispenses coins one by one when a user inserts multiple coins.

[0021] For example, coins dispensed from the bulk insertion unit 1 may be dispensed into a coin sorting section (coin mech), where a coin process related to counting the total number of dispensed coins may be executed.

[0022] The batch insertion unit 1 may be mounted on various cash processing devices such as automatic ticket vending machines and automatic vending machines.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the lump-insertion unit 1 includes a coin insertion tray 3 and a unit main body 5.

[0024] (Coin tray 3) The coin insertion tray 3 according to this embodiment is a temporary tray into which a user inserts multiple coins. For example, different coin denominations are inserted into the coin insertion tray 3 by different users.

[0025] Here, different denominations of coins include, for example, 100 yen coins, 1 yen coins, 5 yen coins, 10 yen coins, 50 yen coins, 500 yen coins, etc. The bulk insertion unit 1 according to this embodiment can also be applied to coins in circulation in other countries.

[0026] (Unit body 5) The unit main body 5 according to this embodiment is a main body portion that separates and discharges a plurality of coins inserted into the coin insertion tray 3 one by one.

[0027] The above has described an overview of the batch insertion unit 1 according to this embodiment. Next, we will explain the configuration of the unit main body 5 and the flow of coins separated one by one by the unit main body 5. In the following explanation, the direction of the batch insertion unit 1 shown in Figure 1 will be described as the front direction.

[0028] <<2. Configuration of unit main body 5>> 2 is a diagram showing a schematic front view of the unit body 5 according to this embodiment. The schematic front view of the unit body in FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a path L of a coin C inserted into the unit body 5.

[0029] The unit body 5 according to this embodiment has an inlet 10, a spring unit 20, a flapper portion 30, and a gear 40.

[0030] (Inlet port 10) The insertion slot 10 according to this embodiment is an example of an insertion portion into which coins C are inserted. For example, the coins C are inserted into the insertion slot 10 via the coin insertion tray 3.

[0031] A coin C inserted into the insertion slot 10 moves along the inclination as shown in FIG.

[0032] (Spring unit 20) The spring unit 20 according to this embodiment is a unit that raises the coin C to a height equal to or higher than the height of the end face 31 of the flapper portion 30.

[0033] The spring unit 20 may be arranged so as to be inclined in a direction corresponding to the sliding direction of the coin C inserted into the insertion slot 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the spring unit 20 may be arranged so that the groove of the spring part of the spring unit 20 is parallel to the sliding direction of the coin C inserted into the insertion slot 10. This allows the coin C sliding inside the unit main body 5 to be easily caught by the groove of the spring part. Here, an example of the configuration of the spring unit 20 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0034] 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the spring unit 20. As shown in FIG.

[0035] {Spring part 21} The spring portion 21 according to this embodiment is an example of a spirally wound structure having a groove portion 21A in which a coin inserted into the insertion slot 10 is sandwiched. Note that the structure according to the present invention is not limited to an elastic body such as a spring. For example, the structure may be formed from a non-elastic body.

[0036] {Gear part 23} The gear portion 23 according to this embodiment is an example of a drive portion that rotates the spring portion 21 and a pin portion 25, which will be described later.

[0037] Furthermore, the gear portion 23 rotates the spring portion 21, thereby causing the coin C held in the groove portion 21A of the spring portion 21 to rise.

[0038] Therefore, gear portion 23 rotates spring portion 21 and pin portion 25 in the direction that raises the coin. For example, gear portion 23 may rotate spring portion 21 and pin portion 25 clockwise as shown in Fig. 3. Gear portion 23 may change the direction of rotation in accordance with the winding direction of spring portion 21.

[0039] {Pin part 25} The pin portion 25 according to this embodiment is a pin attached to the gear portion 23. For example, the pin portion 25 may be attached to the gear portion 23 by being inserted into a hole in the gear portion 23 having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the pin portion 25.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the pin portion 25 is located inside the spring portion 21 and has a central axis different from the central axis of the spring portion 21.

[0041] The pin portion 25 may be a spring pin. However, the pin portion 25 is not limited to a spring pin. The pin portion 25 may be any pin that can be attached to the gear portion 23.

[0042] The above describes an example of the configuration of the spring unit 20. Referring again to FIG. 2, the configuration of the unit body 5 will be further described.

[0043] (Flapper part 30) The flapper unit 30 according to this embodiment receives the coins C that have been raised to a predetermined position or higher by the driving force of the gear unit 23. For example, the predetermined position may be the height of the end surface 31A of the flapper unit 30.

[0044] The flapper unit 30 may also be arranged so as to be tilted in a direction corresponding to the sliding direction of the coin C inserted into the insertion slot 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the flapper unit 30 may be arranged so that the inclination of the flapper unit 30 is approximately parallel to the sliding direction of the coin C inserted into the insertion slot 10.

[0045] (Gear 40) The gear 40 according to this embodiment has at least one protrusion and is an example of a rotating body that rotates. In this specification, an example in which the gear 40 has four protrusions will be mainly described.

[0046] For example, the gear 40 is positioned so that the protrusion comes into contact with coins inserted into the insertion slot 10 that are at a height equal to or higher than the end face 31 of the flapper section 30, just before the spring section 21. This reduces the possibility that the inserted coin will pass through the end face 31 of the flapper section 30 without passing through the spring unit 20.

[0047] Furthermore, gear 40 may rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of gear portion 23. For example, if gear portion 23 rotates spring portion 21 and pin portion 25 clockwise, gear 40 may rotate counterclockwise.

[0048] The above describes the schematic front view of the unit body 5. Next, with reference to Fig. 4, the flow up to the discharge of coin C will be described using a schematic cross-sectional view of the unit body 5 obtained by cutting the unit body 5 along line AA shown in Fig. 2.

[0049] Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the unit body 5 obtained by cutting the unit body 5 along the line AA shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a path L showing the flow line of a coin C from insertion to ejection.

[0050] First, coin C is inserted into slot 10. At this time, the user may insert multiple coins into slot 10. Furthermore, the user may insert coins of different denominations into slot 10.

[0051] Next, the coin C slides down due to gravity along the inclination inside the unit body 5 to the position of the spring unit 20.

[0052] Then, the coin C slides down to the position of the spring unit 20 and is caught in the groove 21A of the spring part 21 provided in the spring unit 20.

[0053] Then, the coin C sandwiched in the groove portion 21A is raised above a predetermined position (for example, the height of the end surface 31 of the flapper portion 30) by the driving force of the gear portion 23, crosses the end surface 31 of the flapper portion 30, and falls onto the flapper portion 30.

[0054] Then, the coin C that has fallen onto the flapper section 30 slides down again along the inclination of the flapper section 30 and is discharged.

[0055] Next, the flow of how coins C are separated one by one by the structure of a certain unit main body will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Note that Figures 5 to 9 described below are diagrams showing examples of the internal structure of the unit main body as seen from the direction of the insertion slot 10 through which coins C are inserted.

[0056] 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams illustrating an example of the process by which a unit main body separates coins C one by one. First, coin C1 is inserted into slot 10 and caught in groove 21A of spring 21. As described above, coin C1 is raised by spring 21 rotating due to the driving force of gear 23.

[0057] Then, the coin C2 that has been raised to the height of the end face 31 of the flapper section 30 falls back onto the flapper section 30 due to its own weight.

[0058] On the other hand, there may be coins that do not fall due to their own weight, depending on the circumstances and environment in which they are caught, even if they exceed the height of the end face 31 of the flapper unit 30. After rising to a position exceeding the height of the end face 31, such coins come into contact with the pin portion 25 and fall into the flapper unit 30.

[0059] The pin portion 25 is located inside the spring portion 21 and has a central axis A2 that is different from the central axis A1 of the spring portion 21. This allows the pin portion 25 to come into contact with a coin that has risen to a position above the height of the end face 31 with higher accuracy.

[0060] In the example shown in FIG. 5, the tip 25A of the pin portion 25 is located within the range of the groove portion 21A of the spring portion 21 that is closest to the central axis A2 of the pin portion 25.

[0061] In this case, depending on the size of the coin C and the angle at which it is inserted, the coin C may get caught between the tip 25A of the pin portion 25 and the spring portion 21.

[0062] 6, when a coin C is caught between the tip 25A of the pin portion 25 and the spring portion 21, the side opposite to the position where the coin C is caught by the tip 25A may be lifted and may then be caught by the gear 40. As a result, the coin C may not fall into the flapper portion 30 and may become stuck inside the unit main body 5.

[0063] Therefore, the lump-insertion unit 1 according to this embodiment has a structure that eliminates the cause of such coins C clogging the unit main body 5.

[0064] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of a structure for clearing a jam of coins in the unit main body 5 according to this embodiment.

[0065] 7, tip 25A of pin portion 25 according to this embodiment is not located within the range of groove portion 21A of spring portion 21 that is closest to central axis A2 of pin portion 25. In other words, tip 25A of pin portion 25 may be arranged so as to be hidden by the solid portion of spring portion 21.

[0066] For example, when the examples shown in Figures 5 and 6 are used as a reference, the length of pin portion 25 or the depth of the hole in gear portion 23 into which pin portion 25 is inserted can be changed, thereby adjusting tip 25A so that it is not positioned within the range of groove portion 21A.

[0067] This can reduce the probability that the coin C will get caught between the tip 25A of the pin portion 25 and the spring portion 21, as shown in Fig. 6. As a result, the structure of the unit main body 5 according to this embodiment can improve functionality related to coin separation by eliminating the cause of the coin C getting stuck inside the unit main body 5.

[0068] Furthermore, in order to further improve functionality relating to coin separation, further ingenuity may be applied to the structure of the unit body 5. Modified examples of the unit body 5 will be described below with reference to Figs. 8 to 10.

[0069] <<3. Modifications>> Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the problem with the unit main body 5 shown in Fig. 7. As described above, when coins rise to the height of the end face 31 of the flapper section 30, some coins may fall due to their own weight, while others may not fall.

[0070] Coins that do not fall will fall into the flapper section 30 by coming into contact with the pin section 25. Here, the greater the vertical distance between the tip 25A of the pin section 25 and the end face 31 of the flapper section 30, the more likely it is that the number of coins that fall into the flapper section 30 at the same time will increase.

[0071] For example, at the vertical distance shown in Fig. 8, the first coin C1 and the second coin C2 may fall onto the flapper section 30 at the same time. In this case, the bulk insertion unit 1 may not be able to separate and discharge the coins one by one.

[0072] Therefore, the unit body 5 according to the modified example may have a structure in which the vertical distance between the tip 25A of the pin portion 25 and the end face 31 of the flapper portion 30 is specially designed.

[0073] 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the unit body 5 according to the modified example. For example, the unit body 5 according to the modified example may be structured so that the vertical distance between the tip 25A of the pin portion 25 and the end face 31A of the flapper portion 30 is equal to or greater than the thickness of one coin C and less than the thickness of two coins C.

[0074] For example, the end face 31 of the flapper section 30 may be adjusted from the height of end face 31A, which allows two or more coins C to fall as shown in Figure 9, to the height of end face 31B, which allows only one coin C to fall.

[0075] Furthermore, when coins C include at least two or more coins of different thicknesses, the unit body 5 according to the modified example may be structured so that the vertical distance is equal to or greater than the thickness of one coin of the thickest coin and less than two coins of the thinnest coin. This can reduce the probability of coins getting stuck inside the unit body 5 even when coins of different denominations are inserted into the insertion slot 10.

[0076] In addition, in Figure 9, an example has been described in which the vertical distance is adjusted by changing the height of the end face 31 of the flapper portion 30, but the vertical distance may also be adjusted, for example, by changing the length of the pin portion 25 or the depth of the hole in the gear portion 23 into which the pin portion 25 is inserted.

[0077] Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining another example of the structure of the unit body 5 according to the modified example. As shown in Fig. 10, the insertion port 10 may be provided with an opening and closing mechanism.

[0078] The unit body 5 may further include a crank portion 11 that moves the flapper portion 30 in response to the opening and closing of the insertion port 10. The crank portion 11 is an example of a connecting portion.

[0079] The end surface 31 of the flapper portion 30 may be variable depending on whether the insertion port 10 is opened or closed.

[0080] For example, as shown in Fig. 10, crank unit 11 has opening 12. Shaft 13 moves along opening 12 in response to the opening and closing of insertion port 10. As shaft 13 moves, end face 31 of flapper unit 30 may move via fulcrum 14 connecting shaft 13 and flapper unit 30.

[0081] For example, the height of the end face 31 of the flapper portion 30 is raised when the inlet 10 is open, and is lowered when the inlet 10 is closed. That is, the height of the end face 31 of the flapper portion 30 can be raised as the opening 12 narrows.

[0082] Therefore, by changing the width of the opening 12, the vertical distance between the tip 25A of the pin portion 25 and the end face 31A of the flapper portion 30 may be adjusted to be at least one thickness of the thickest coin and less than two thicknesses of the thinnest coin.

[0083] The lower part of the flapper part 30 may be a discharge port, so that, for example, an object present inside the unit main body 5 when the insertion port 10 is closed may be discharged through the discharge port.

[0084] According to the unit main body 5 of the modified example described above, the flapper section 30 is capable of receiving only one coin at a certain timing, thereby reducing the possibility of coins getting stuck inside the unit main body 5.

[0085] <<4. Supplementary Information>> 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]

[0086] 1 Bulk input unit 3 Coin tray 5 Unit body 10 Inlet 20 Spring unit 21 Spring section 23 Gear section 25-pin section 30 Flapper section 31 End face 40 Gears

Claims

1. an insertion portion into which coins are inserted; a spirally wound structure having a groove in which the coin inserted into the insertion portion is sandwiched; a pin portion located inside the structure and having a central axis different from the central axis of the structure; a drive unit that rotates the structure and the pin unit to lift the coin caught in the groove unit; a flapper unit that receives the coins raised to a predetermined position or higher by the driving force of the driving unit; and a tip of the pin portion is not positioned within the range of the groove portion closest to the central axis of the pin portion, and is positioned so as to come into contact with the coin that has been raised above the predetermined position; Coin handling equipment.

2. The structure and the flapper portion are The coin is arranged inclined in a direction corresponding to the sliding direction of the coin inserted into the insertion portion.

2. The coin handling device according to claim 1.

3. The flapper portion is receiving the coin raised by the drive unit to above the height of the end surface of the flapper unit; 3. The coin handling device according to claim 2.

4. the vertical distance between the tip of the pin portion and the end face of the flapper portion is equal to or greater than one thickness of the coin and less than two thicknesses of the coin; 4. The coin handling device according to claim 3.

5. The coins include at least two or more coins having different thicknesses, The vertical distance is equal to or greater than one thickness of the thickest coin and less than two thicknesses of the smallest coin.

5. The coin handling device according to claim 4.

6. The input unit includes an opening / closing mechanism, a connecting portion that moves the flapper portion in response to opening and closing of the insertion portion; Further comprising:

6. The coin handling device according to claim 5.

7. The height of the end surface of the flapper portion is variable depending on whether the insertion portion is open or closed.

7. The coin handling device according to claim 6.

8. The connecting portion is When the insertion port is open, the flapper unit is moved so that the vertical distance is equal to or greater than the thickness of one coin of the largest thickness and less than the thickness of two coins of the smallest thickness.

8. The coin handling device according to claim 7.

9. a rotating body having at least one protrusion and rotating; and The rotating body is The protrusion is arranged so as to come into contact with a coin that is inserted into the insertion portion and is located at a height equal to or higher than the end face of the flapper portion in front of the structure. The coin handling device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The rotating body is Rotating in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the drive unit, 10. The coin handling device according to claim 9.

Images