Currency Processing Device

Abstract

To provide a technology for detecting whether a door is opened or closed while the power is turned off. [Solution] A currency processing device 100 is provided, which comprises a housing 101 for storing coins and has a door 105, a switch 195 for detecting the opening and closing of the door, a latch circuit 192 connected to the switch for maintaining the state indicating that the door is open, a capacitor 193 for supplying power to the latch circuit, and a control unit 191 for acquiring the state of the latch circuit when power begins to be supplied from outside, wherein the latch circuit does not include an IC but includes at least two transistors.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for a currency handling device for accepting and storing currency and dispensing the currency. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, currency handling devices for receiving and storing currency and dispensing the currency have been known. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2024-067367 (Patent Document 1) discloses a coin handling device. Patent Document 1 provides a coin handling device that includes a sorting unit that receives coins or medals one by one and sends them out at intervals, and a sorting unit that receives coins or medals one by one from the sorting unit, moves the coins or medals along an arc, determines the type of coin or medal, and guides them to a path for each type. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-067367 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for detecting whether a door has been opened or closed while the power is turned off. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a currency processing device comprising: a housing having a door for storing coins, a switch for detecting whether the door is open or closed, a latch circuit connected to the switch for keeping the door open, a capacitor for supplying power to the latch circuit, and a control unit for acquiring the state of the latch circuit when external power begins to be supplied. The latch circuit does not include an IC, but includes at least two transistors. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] As described above, the present invention provides a technique for detecting whether a door has been opened or closed while the power is turned off. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall appearance of a currency handling device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a right side cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a currency handling apparatus according to a first embodiment, with the bucket in the raised position. [Figure 3] 1 is a right side cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a currency handling apparatus according to a first embodiment, with the bucket lowered. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing the identifying and sorting unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an identification and sorting unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a front oblique view showing the front part of the currency handling device of the first embodiment, with the front wall removed and the bucket raised. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an upper storage unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a lower storage unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 is a block diagram showing a door opening detection function of a currency handling apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10]1 is a circuit diagram for realizing a door opening detection function of a currency handling device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 11] 3 is a flowchart showing the processing of the currency handling apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of a currency handling apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a block diagram for realizing a door opening detection function of a currency handling device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart showing the processing of a currency handling apparatus according to a fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] [First embodiment] <Overall configuration of currency handling device 100> First, the overall configuration of a currency handling device 100 according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is an external view of the currency handling device 100 according to this embodiment. Referring to Fig. 1, the currency handling device 100 is made up of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 101, with a coin insertion slot 102 provided on the top surface and a coin ejection slot (described later) provided on the front surface.

[0009] Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the overall internal structure of currency handling apparatus 100 with bucket 160 according to this embodiment raised. Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing the overall internal structure of currency handling apparatus 100 with bucket 160 according to this embodiment lowered. With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, currency handling apparatus 100 is provided with an identifying and sorting unit 110 at the top for feeding coins 10 one by one, identifying them, and sorting and feeding them out by type. A storage and dispensing unit 150 is provided at the bottom for storing and dispensing coins 10 by type.

[0010] In this embodiment, the storage and dispensing section 150 includes an upper storage unit 151 for four denominations and a lower storage unit 152 for four denominations. In this embodiment, the upper storage unit 151 and the lower storage unit 152 can be removed with the front wall of the currency handling device 100, i.e., the front door 105, open.

[0011] The currency handling device 100 according to this embodiment is provided with a control board 190 at the lower end of the recognition and sorting unit 110. As will be described later, the control board 190 is equipped with a CPU (control unit) for controlling each part of the currency handling device 100, a latch circuit for storing the open / closed state of the front door 105, an electric double layer capacitor for supplying power to the latch circuit when the power is turned off, various communication interfaces, and the like.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the identifying and sorting unit 110 according to this embodiment with the upper cover 101A removed. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the identifying and sorting unit 110 according to this embodiment with the upper cover 101A removed. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the inserted coins 10 are sent one by one to the sorting unit 130 by the handling unit 120. The sorting unit 130 identifies the type of each coin 10 using the recognition unit 1330, and sends the coin 10 to a first conveying path 1311 formed outside the sorting unit 130, a second conveying path 1312 formed inside the sorting unit 130, a third conveying path 1313 formed outside the sorting unit 130, a fourth conveying path 1314 formed inside the sorting unit 130, or a fifth conveying path 1315 formed outside the sorting unit 130. The waste paper is sent to the conveying path 1315 formed inside the sorting section 130, to the sixth conveying path 1316 formed inside the sorting section 130, to the seventh conveying path 1317 formed outside the sorting section 130, to the eighth conveying path 1318 formed inside the sorting section 130, to the overflow conveying path 1319 formed outside the sorting section 130, or to the reject conveying path 1320 formed outside the sorting section 130.

[0013] 2 to 5, coins 10 sent to the first conveying path 1311, the third conveying path 1313, the fifth conveying path 1315, and the seventh conveying path 1317 outside the sorting unit 130 are accumulated by denomination in a predetermined storage space of the lower storage unit 152. Coins 10 sent to the second conveying path 1312, the fourth conveying path 1314, the sixth conveying path 1316, and the eighth conveying path 1318 inside the sorting unit 130 are accumulated by denomination in a predetermined storage space of the upper storage unit 151.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the currency handling device 100 showing the bucket 160 in a raised state. However, for the sake of explanation, FIG. 6 shows the state in which the front door 105 has been removed, while the discharge tray 165 is shown. Referring to FIG. 6, in the currency handling device 100 according to this embodiment, when coins 10 are dispensed, the bucket 160 is lowered to the bottom end in accordance with a command from the CPU 191 of the control unit. Then, in accordance with the command from the CPU 191 of the control unit, a specified number of coins 10 stored in each storage space are ejected forward and onto the discharge tray 165 by the bucket 160.

[0015] More specifically, the coins 10 accumulated in the upper storage unit 151 are sent forward by a conveyor belt driven in accordance with instructions from the CPU of the control unit, and fall onto the upper surface of the bucket 160. Similarly, the coins 10 accumulated in the lower storage unit 152 are sent forward by a conveyor belt driven in accordance with instructions from the CPU 191 of the control unit, and fall onto the upper surface of the bucket 160.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1 , the front of the lower part of the housing 101 and the right and left sides of the front of the housing 101 are covered with a front door 105 made of resin. As shown in FIG. 6 , the bucket 160 is configured so that coins 10 are held by the main body of the bucket 160 and the inner surface of the front door 105 and are lifted up to the discharge tray 165. More specifically, the bucket 160 is mainly configured with an inclined surface 160X that is low at the front and high at the rear. The coins 10 are held by the inclined surface 160X and the back surface of the front door 105 of the currency handling device 100. More specifically, the coins 10 discharged from the upper storage unit 151 and the lower storage unit 152 are held by the inclined surface 160X of the bucket 160, the back surface of the front part of the housing 101 that forms the outer surface of the currency handling device 100, the left surface of the front part of the right side of the housing 101 of the currency handling device 100, and the right surface of the front part of the left side of the housing 101 of the currency handling device 100.

[0017] The front door 105 is opened above the rear of the discharge tray 165. The bucket 160 rises to the opening in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 191 of the control unit. That is, it rises to a position above the rear of the discharge tray 165. As a result, the coins 10 on the bucket 160 slide down toward the front along the inclined surface 160X. That is, they slide down from the opening of the front door 105 onto the discharge tray 165.

[0018] Here, we will explain the configuration of the storing and paying out section 150. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in this embodiment, an upper storing unit 151 is arranged in approximately the center of the currency handling apparatus 100 in the vertical direction, and a lower storing unit 152 is arranged in the lower part of the currency handling apparatus 100.

[0019] The coins 10 stored in the upper storage unit 151 and the lower storage unit 152 are then transported forward by the conveyor belt 154 and the separating roller 155, discharged from the discharge port 1515 at the front end, and dropped onto the bucket 160. More specifically, a motor is driven by a signal from the CPU 191 of the control unit, and the motor drives the conveyor belt 154 and the separating roller 155.

[0020] Next, the configuration of the upper storage unit 151 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The upper storage unit 151 is provided with four storage spaces 1511, 1512, 1513, and 1514 for storing four types of coins 10. The first storage space 1511 is connected to the second conveying path 1312 of the sorting unit 130. The second storage space 1512 is connected to the fourth conveying path 1314 of the sorting unit 130. The third storage space 1513 is connected to the sixth conveying path 1316 of the sorting unit 130. The fourth storage space 1514 is connected to the eighth conveying path 1318 of the sorting unit 130.

[0021] In this embodiment, the storage spaces 1513 and 1514 are configured with smaller left-right widths to accommodate coins 10 with smaller diameters, while the storage spaces 1511 and 1512 are configured with larger left-right widths to accommodate coins 10 with larger diameters. For example, the storage spaces 1513 and 1514 are configured to accommodate coins 10 with a diameter of approximately 25 mm, while the storage spaces 1513 and 1514 are configured to accommodate coins 10 with a diameter of up to approximately 35 mm. This allows the upper storage unit 151 to accommodate multiple types of coins 10 while keeping the left-right width of the upper storage unit 151 small, and as a result, the left-right width of the entire currency handling apparatus 100 can be made compact.

[0022] Behind the first storage space 1511, a space is formed for coins 10 from the first transport path 1311 to fall into the lower storage unit 152. Behind the second storage space 1512, a space is formed for coins 10 from the third transport path 1313 to fall into the lower storage unit 152. Behind the third storage space 1513, a space is formed for coins 10 from the fifth transport path 1315 to fall into the lower storage unit 152. Behind the fourth storage space 1514, a space is formed for coins 10 from the seventh transport path 1317 to fall into the lower storage unit 152.

[0023] The configuration of the lower storage unit 152 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The lower storage unit 152 also has four storage spaces 1511, 1512, 1513, and 1514 for storing four types of coins 10. The first storage space 1511 is connected to the first conveying path 1311 of the sorting unit 130. The second storage space 1512 is connected to the third conveying path 1313 of the sorting unit 130. The third storage space 1513 is connected to the fifth conveying path 1315 of the sorting unit 130. The fourth storage space 1514 is connected to the seventh conveying path 1317 of the sorting unit 130.

[0024] In addition, with regard to the lower storage unit 152, the storage spaces 1513 and 1514 are configured with smaller left and right widths to accommodate coins 10 with smaller diameters, while the storage spaces 1511 and 1512 are configured with larger left and right widths to accommodate coins 10 with larger diameters. For example, the storage spaces 1513 and 1514 are configured to accommodate coins 10 with a diameter of approximately 25 mm, and the storage spaces 1513 and 1514 are configured to accommodate coins 10 with a diameter of up to approximately 35 mm. This allows the left and right width of the lower storage unit 152 to be reduced while accommodating multiple types of coins 10, and as a result, the left and right width of the entire currency handling apparatus 100 can be made compact. <Front door opening detection configuration>

[0025] Next, we will explain the configuration for storing the fact that the front door 105 provided on the front of the currency handling device 100 has been opened when power is not being supplied from an external source such as an outlet. Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the currency handling device 100 according to this embodiment. Fig. 10 is an electrical circuit diagram of the portion relating to the latch circuit 192 and the electric double layer capacitor 193 of the currency handling device 100 according to this embodiment.

[0026] 9 and 10, the currency handling device 100 is provided with a physical switch 195 for detecting the open / closed state of the front door 105. The physical switch 195 is attached to the front of the housing 101 in a position that contacts the rear end of the side surface of the front door 105.

[0027] The control board 190 is mainly provided with a CPU 191, a latch circuit 192, an electric double layer capacitor 193, and various connectors 194.

[0028] The CPU 191 is driven by power supplied from outside the currency handling device 100. In other words, it operates when the power is normally on. Conversely, it becomes inoperable when the user turns off the power or when a power outage occurs.

[0029] Latch circuit 192 monitors whether front door 105 is open or closed (monitoring state). Latch circuit 192 detects that front door 105 is opened and stores the information (holding state). More specifically, when the power is turned off or during a power outage, latch circuit 192 uses power from electric double layer capacitor 193 to detect that front door 105 is opened via connector 194 or physical switch 195, and maintains the logical state indicating that the front door 105 is opened.

[0030] Electric double layer capacitor 193 stores power when power is being supplied from the outside. When the power supply from the outside is interrupted, electric double layer capacitor 193 supplies the power stored therein to latch circuit 192. In this embodiment, electric double layer capacitor 193 has a capacitance of about 1 F (farad).

[0031] In this way, in this embodiment, even if the currency processing device 100 is not equipped with a battery, the power from the electric double layer capacitor 193 can be used to maintain a monitoring state using the latch circuit 192 for a long period of time, and the latch circuit 192 can retain information that the front door 105 has been opened for a long period of time.

[0032] As a result, when external power supply is started, CPU 191 can recognize whether front door 105 has been opened while the power was off by checking the logical state of latch circuit 192. In this embodiment, CPU 191 resets the logical state of latch circuit 192 after this check.

[0033] Then, it is preferable that the CPU 191 notifies the result of the confirmation from the communication interface 196 via the connector 197 to an external server 200 or the like.

[0034] In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, latch circuit 192 is mainly composed of two transistors. In other words, latch circuit 192 according to this embodiment does not use an IC (integrated circuit), but is composed only of discrete components. This allows power consumption to be reduced in both the monitoring state and the holding state. For example, in the monitoring state, only about 500 nA (nanoamperes) is consumed, allowing operation for approximately 140 days at room temperature and approximately 68 days at high temperatures using a 1 F capacitor. In addition, in the holding state, only 1 μA (microamperes) is consumed, allowing operation for approximately 70 days at room temperature and approximately 34 days at high temperatures.

[0035] The components required to hold information on the opening of the front door 105 are as follows, so the device can be constructed inexpensively with a small number of components. Electric double layer capacitor: 1 Diodes: 2 Transistors: 3 FET: 1 piece Resistance: 9 pieces Microswitch: 1

[0036] The following describes the processing of the CPU 191 according to this embodiment. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing when the power supply of the currency handling apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is turned on and the CPU 191 is started up.

[0037] When the power supply of the currency handling apparatus 100 is turned on (step S102), the CPU 191 checks the logic state of the latch circuit 192 (a record of the open / closed state of the door when the power supply of the currency handling apparatus 100 is turned off) (step S104).

[0038] The CPU 191 resets the logic state of the latch circuit (step S108).

[0039] The CPU 191 checks the current open / close state of the front door 105 (step S110).

[0040] The CPU 191 activates the communication interface 196 to transmit the information on whether the front door 105 is open or closed, and the current open / close state, which has been recorded in the latch circuit 192, to the predetermined server 200 (step S112). [Second embodiment]

[0041] In the above embodiment, the server 200 is notified every time the power is turned on, regardless of whether the door was open when the power was turned off. However, the server 200 may be notified only if the door was open when the power was turned off.

[0042] Referring to Figure 12, first, when the power to the currency handling device 100 is turned on (step S102), the CPU 191 checks the logic state of the latch circuit 192 (a record of the open / closed state of the door when the power to the currency handling device 100 is turned off) (step S104).

[0043] If information indicating that front door 105 has been opened is recorded in latch circuit 192 (YES in step S106), CPU 191 resets the logic state of the latch circuit (step S108).

[0044] The CPU 191 checks the current open / close state of the front door 105 (step S110).

[0045] The CPU 191 activates the communication interface 196 and transmits the information recorded in the latch circuit 192 that the front door 105 has been opened and the current open / closed state to the predetermined server 200 (step S112).

[0046] If information that front door 105 is open is not recorded (NO in step S106), CPU 191 activates communication interface 196 and executes normal initialization processing (step S116). [Third embodiment]

[0047] In the above embodiment, when it is confirmed that the front door 105 has been opened while the power supply is off, information is transmitted to a predetermined server 200. However, as shown in FIG. 13, the currency handling device 100 may have a speaker 198. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, when it is confirmed that the front door 105 was open when the power supply was off (YES in step S106), the CPU 191 may output information to that effect from the speaker 198 at the timing of notifying the server 300 (step S112). [Fourth embodiment]

[0048] Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 13, the currency handling device 100 may have a display 199. Then, as shown in Fig. 12, if the CPU 191 is able to confirm that the front door 105 was open when the power was turned off (YES in step S106), it may display information to that effect on the display 199 at the timing of notifying the server 300 (step S112). [Fifth embodiment]

[0049] In the above embodiment, when it is confirmed that front door 105 has been opened while the power is off, information is transmitted to predetermined server 200. However, if front door 105 is closed when the power is turned on and when it is confirmed that front door 105 has been opened while the power is off, CPU 191 may transmit the information to predetermined server 200.

[0050] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, when the power is turned on (step S102), the CPU 191 checks the logical state of the latch circuit 192 (a record of the door open / close state when the power to the currency processing device 100 is turned off) (step S104).

[0051] If the information that front door 105 is open is recorded (YES in step S106), CPU 191 resets the logic state of the latch circuit (step S108).

[0052] The CPU 191 checks the current open / close state of the front door 105 (step S110). If the front door 105 is currently closed (YES in step S210), the CPU 191 activates the communication interface 196 to transmit the information that the front door 105 is open and the current open / close state, which have been recorded in the latch circuit 192, to the predetermined server 200 (step S112).

[0053] If the information that the front door 105 is open is not recorded (NO in step S106), or if the front door 105 is currently open (NO in step S210), the CPU 191 starts the communication interface 196 and executes the normal initialization process (step S116). <Summary>

[0054] In the above embodiment, a currency processing device is provided that includes a housing having a door for storing coins, a switch for detecting whether the door is open or closed, a latch circuit connected to the switch for keeping the door open, a capacitor for supplying power to the latch circuit, and a control unit that acquires the state of the latch circuit when external power begins to be supplied. The latch circuit does not include an IC, but includes at least two transistors.

[0055] Preferably, when the supply of power from an external source begins, the control unit acquires the state from the latch circuit and then resets the latch circuit.

[0056] Preferably, the currency processing device further includes a communication interface. When power is supplied from an external source, the control unit acquires the state from the latch circuit and notifies a predetermined device via the communication interface if the door is open.

[0057] Preferably, the currency processing device further includes a communication interface. When power starts to be supplied from an external source, the control unit acquires the state from the latch circuit, and if the door was open and is now closed, notifies a predetermined device via the communication interface.

[0058] Preferably, the currency handling device does not include a battery.

[0059] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10: Coins 100: Currency processing device 101: Housing 101A: Upper cover 102: Coin slot 105: Front door 110: Identification and sorting unit 120: Cutting Department 130: Sorting Department 1311: First transport path 1312: Second transport path 1313: Third transport path 1314: 4th transport path 1315: 5th transport route 1316: 6th transport route 1317: 7th transport route 1318: 8th transport route 1319: Overflow conveyor 1320: Reject transport path 1330: Identification unit 150: Storage and dispensing section 151: Upper storage unit 152: Lower storage unit 154: Conveyor belt 155: Slicing Roller 157: Motor 1511: First storage space 1512: Second storage space 1513: Third storage space 1514: 4th storage space 1515: Outlet 160: Bucket 160X: Inclined surface 165: Output tray 190: Control board 191:CPU 192: Latch circuit 193: Electric double layer capacitor 194: Connector 195: Physical switch 196: Communication interface 197: Connector 198: Speaker 199: Display 200: Server

Claims

1. a housing for storing coins, the housing having a door; a switch for detecting whether the door is open or closed; a latch circuit connected to the switch for holding the door open; a capacitor for supplying power to the latch circuit; A communication interface; a control unit, the latch circuit does not include an IC and includes at least two transistors; When power begins to be supplied from outside, the control unit obtains the open / closed state of the door when the power is off from the latch circuit, and if it recognizes that the door was open but is currently closed, it notifies a specified device via the communication interface.

2. The currency processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit acquires the state from the latch circuit when external power begins to be supplied, and then resets the latch circuit.

3. The currency processing device according to claim 1, which does not include a battery.

4. The capacitance of the capacitor is 1 F, 2. The currency processing device according to claim 1, wherein the currency processing device consumes only 500 nA in the monitoring state and only 1 μA in the holding state.

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