Coin processing device and currency handling device

Abstract

To improve the detection accuracy of coins in a coin withdrawal unit.SOLUTION: A coin processor 1 includes a withdrawal tray 20 forming a coin storage space 32 for storing a coin CN discharged from the inside of the coin processor 1 via a discharge port 18, and a magnetic sensor 34 for detecting the presence or absence of the coin CN remaining in the withdrawal tray 20. The withdrawal tray 20 has a bottom surface 22D as a bottom portion and slopes 22 formed on four sides of the bottom surface 22D to guide the coin CN discharged from the discharge port 18 toward the bottom surface 22D. The magnetic sensor 34 is provided on at least one of the rear side, which is the opposite side in the coin storage space 32 to the slope 22 (rear slope 22B) near the bottom surface 22D and on the side of the discharge port 18, and the front side, which is the opposite side in the coin storage space 32 to the slope 22 (front slope 22F) near the bottom surface 22D and on the opposite side to the discharge port 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coin processing device and a currency handling device, and is suitable for use in a coin processing device used at checkout counters in retail stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, cash register change systems that combine a change machine that processes the deposit and withdrawal of banknotes and coins with a POS (Point Of Sales) register connected to a POS system or the like have become widespread. Among these change machines, some coin processing devices that process coins include a coin insertion section into which users insert coins, a transport section that transports the coins, a recognition section that discriminates the denomination and authenticity of inserted coins, a storage section that stores coins by denomination, and a coin dispensing section that stores coins to be dispensed to users as change and delivers them to the users. Some of these coin dispensing sections have a magnetic sensor located at the bottom of a coin tray that stores coins dispensed from the storage section, to detect the presence of remaining coins in the coin tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5434422 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such a coin processing device, when coins remain in the coin tray of the coin dispensing section, it is desirable to reliably detect the coins regardless of the position of the coins in the coin tray.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to propose a coin processing device and a currency handling device that can improve the accuracy of detecting coins in a coin dispensing section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve this problem, the coin processing device of the present invention is provided with a dispensing tray that forms a space for storing coins discharged from the device through the discharge port, and a magnetic sensor for detecting whether or not there are coins remaining in the dispensing tray, and the dispensing tray is The length of the dispensing tray along the front-to-back direction is approximately the thickness of the largest diameter coin among the coins handled. a bottom portion and inclined surfaces formed on all four sides of the bottom portion for guiding coins discharged from the discharge opening toward the bottom portion; The coin to be discharged can be supported in a position where a part of the outer periphery of the coin abuts against the bottom surface and the coin is leaning against one of the inclined surfaces in the front-rear direction, The magnetic sensor is provided at least either on the rear side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space to the inclined surface on the discharge outlet side, or on the front side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space to the inclined surface on the opposite side to the discharge outlet.

[0007] In addition, the currency handling device of the present invention includes a coin processing device that processes coins and a banknote processing device that processes banknotes, and the coin processing device includes a dispensing tray that forms a space for accommodating coins discharged from the device through the discharge port, and a magnetic sensor for detecting whether or not there are coins remaining in the dispensing tray, and the dispensing tray includes: The length of the dispensing tray along the front-to-back direction is approximately the thickness of the largest diameter coin among the coins handled. a bottom portion and inclined surfaces formed on all four sides of the bottom portion for guiding coins discharged from the discharge opening toward the bottom portion; The coin to be discharged can be supported in a position where a part of the outer periphery of the coin abuts against the bottom and the coin is leaning against one of the inclined surfaces in the front-rear direction, The magnetic sensor is provided at least either on the rear side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space to the inclined surface on the discharge outlet side, or on the front side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space to the inclined surface on the opposite side to the discharge outlet.

[0008] This allows the present invention to ensure a coin projection area between the detection surface of the magnetic sensor and the coin for coins stored in various positions, and to include at least a portion of the coin within the detectable area of ​​the magnetic sensor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a coin processing device and a currency handling device that can improve the detection accuracy of coins in a coin dispensing unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the coin processing device. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration (1) of a coin dispensing unit according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, showing the configuration (2) of the coin dispensing unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing a minimum diameter coin and a coin projection area in the coin dispensing unit according to the first embodiment, as seen from the front in a direction perpendicular to the rear slope. FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, showing a state in which a coin is floating above the bottom surface in the coin dispensing unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, showing the magnetic field of the magnetic sensor in the coin dispensing unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the configuration (1) of a coin dispensing unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 7, showing the configuration (2) of the coin dispensing unit according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 7, showing a foreign object and a magnetic field of a magnetic sensor in the coin dispensing unit according to the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a coin dispensing section of a first comparative example. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which a coin cannot be detected in the coin dispensing unit of the first comparative example. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state (1) in which a coin cannot be detected in the coin dispensing unit of the second comparative example. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 12, illustrating a state (2) in which a coin cannot be detected in the coin dispensing unit of the second comparative example. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings. 1. First Embodiment [1-1. Configuration of coin processing device] As shown in Fig. 1, a coin processing device 1 according to the first embodiment is installed at a checkout counter (a so-called cash register) of a retail store such as a supermarket or convenience store, and is connected to a POS register or the like, and is operated by a customer (hereinafter also referred to as a user) when paying for the products the customer wishes to purchase. In the following description, the side of the coin processing device 1 that the user faces is referred to as the front side, the opposite side as the rear side, and the left and right sides as seen from the user facing the front side are respectively defined as the left side and right side, with upper and lower sides further defined. In addition, a banknote processing device (not shown) that handles banknotes is installed on the left or right side of the coin processing device 1.

[0012] The coin processing device 1 has a control unit (not shown). This control unit controls various processes related to coins by reading and executing predetermined programs from a read-only memory (ROM) or a storage unit (not shown) using a central processing unit (CPU).

[0013] The coin processing device 1 is mainly provided with a coin insertion section 10, a deposit transport section 12, a withdrawal transport section 14, and a coin withdrawal section 16. Incidentally, like ordinary coins, coins are made of metals such as nickel, copper, and aluminum, or alloys or combinations of these, and are formed into thin plates. Hereinafter, of the coins handled by the coin processing device 1, the coin with the smallest diameter, such as a 1-yen coin, will also be referred to as the smallest diameter coin, and the coin with the longest diameter, such as a 500-yen coin, will also be referred to as the largest diameter coin.

[0014] The coin insertion unit 10 is located on the upper right side of the front of the coin processing device 1. This coin insertion unit 10 takes in coins deposited by a user, separates them one by one, and feeds them to the deposit transport unit 12. While transporting the coins, the deposit transport unit 12 uses a recognition unit to identify the authenticity and denomination of the coins and counts them, and transports the coins by denomination to a storage unit for storage. When coins equivalent to the amount of change for a deposit made by a user in settling the price of a product are fed from the storage unit, the withdrawal transport unit 14 transports them to the coin withdrawal unit 16.

[0015] The coin dispensing unit 16 is provided on the upper left side of the front of the coin processing device 1. This coin dispensing unit 16 is open at the top and is positioned so that the user can access it from the front. When a coin to be dispensed to the user is transported by the dispensing transport unit 14, the coin dispensing unit 16 stores the coin as change.

[0016] In this configuration, the coin processing device 1 takes in coins deposited by a user through the coin insertion unit 10 and stores them in an internal storage unit, and also dispenses coins from the storage unit and dispenses them as change from the coin dispensing unit 16.

[0017] [1-2. Coin Dispensing Unit Configuration] [1-2-1. Configuration of the dispensing tray] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the coin dispensing unit 16 has a dispensing tray 20 that is open at the top and that has a coin storage space 32 for storing coins. An outlet 18 (Figure 1) is provided above the rear end of the dispensing tray 20, through which coins transported from the dispensing transport unit 14 are discharged to the dispensing tray 20. The dispensing tray 20 is symmetrical as a whole with respect to the center in the left-right direction, and is composed of a bottom surface 22D, a front inclined surface 22F, a rear inclined surface 22B, a left inclined surface 22L, and a right inclined surface 22R. Hereinafter, the front inclined surface 22F, the rear inclined surface 22B, the left inclined surface 22L, and the right inclined surface 22R will also be collectively referred to as inclined surfaces 22.

[0018] The bottom surface 22D is a rectangular flat plate when viewed in a horizontal plane, with a length in the front-to-back direction (depth direction) of 0 mm or more, for example, the thickness of one of the largest diameter coins, and a length in the left-to-right direction of, for example, the diameter of the largest diameter coin.

[0019] The front inclined surface 22F has a lower end connected to the front end of the bottom surface 22D, an upper end extending upward, and a curved shape that is concave toward the front. Specifically, the front inclined surface 22F gradually curves upward from the front end of the bottom surface 22D toward the front at a smaller inclination angle relative to the horizontal than the rear inclined surface 22B, and at its top, is approximately vertical. Therefore, the front inclined surface 22F has a shape that is substantially similar to the trajectory of a user's finger when facing the front of the coin processing device 1, inserts his / her finger into the coin storage space 32, and then bends his / her finger to scrape out a coin CN stored in the dispensing tray 20. When a coin CN comes into contact with the front inclined surface 22F, it slides down toward the bottom surface 22D under its own weight. Furthermore, because the front inclined surface 22F faces forward, the same direction as the user, it is less visible to the user than the rear inclined surface 22B.

[0020] The rear inclined surface 22B has a planar shape in which its lower end is connected to the rear end of the bottom surface 22D and its upper end slopes upward as it approaches the rear. The rear inclined surface 22B faces the front inclined surface 22F in the front-rear direction across the bottom surface 22D, and the inclination angle of the rear inclined surface 22B with respect to the bottom surface 22D is approximately 30 to 45°. When a coin CN comes into contact with the rear inclined surface 22B, it slides down toward the bottom surface 22D under its own weight.

[0021] The left slope 22L has a planar shape in which its lower end is connected to the left end of the bottom surface 22D and its upper end slopes upward as it moves leftward. The inclination angle of the left slope 22L with respect to the bottom surface 22D is approximately 30 to 45°. When a coin CN comes into contact with the left slope 22L, it slides down toward the bottom surface 22D under its own weight.

[0022] The right slope 22R has a planar shape in which its lower end is connected to the right end of the bottom surface 22D and its upper end slopes upward as it moves to the right. The right slope 22R faces the left slope 22L in the left-right direction across the bottom surface 22D, and the inclination angle of the right slope 22R with respect to the bottom surface 22D is approximately 30 to 45°. When a coin CN comes into contact with the right slope 22R, it slides down toward the bottom surface 22D under its own weight.

[0023] In the coin dispensing unit 16, a coin storage space 32 that opens upward is formed in the space surrounded by the bottom surface 22D, front inclined surface 22F, rear inclined surface 22B, left inclined surface 22L, and right inclined surface 22R of the dispensing tray 20, and coins are received all at once in a misaligned state into the coin storage space 32 from the dispensing transport unit 14. As described above, the angle of each inclined surface 22 with respect to the horizontal direction is set to an angle that allows the coins CN to slide down under their own weight.

[0024] Furthermore, the cross section of the dispensing tray 20, which passes through the center of the left-right direction of the front inclined surface 22F, the rear inclined surface 22B, and the bottom surface 22D and is taken along the front-rear direction, is shaped like an approximate capital letter "V." In this way, the dispensing tray 20 forms inclined surfaces 22 that rise outward at an angle relative to the bottom surface 22D, surrounding all four sides of the bottom surface 22D in a plan view. Therefore, the dispensing tray 20 is shaped so that coins CN dispensed from the dispensing transport unit 14 and coming into contact with the inclined surfaces 22 tend to gather at the central bottom surface 22D. Furthermore, the width of the bottom surface 22D of the dispensing tray 20 in the front-rear direction (depth direction) is narrow, and the cross section along the front-rear direction is shaped like an uppercase letter "V," so that coins CN can be stored so that they are concentrated in a narrow area in the front-rear direction.

[0025] [1-2-2. Magnetic sensor configuration] Furthermore, the coin dispensing unit 16 has two magnetic sensors 34 arranged side by side in the left-right direction, symmetrically arranged around the center of the left-right direction of the dispensing tray 20, on the rear side near the lower end of the rear inclined surface 22B of the dispensing tray 20. The magnetic sensors 34 have a coil itself or a core around which a coil is wound. As shown in FIG. 6 , the magnetic sensors 34 detect a change in the magnetic field 36 generated by the coil when a metal coin CN enters the magnetic field 36 generated by the coil and send the detection result to the control unit. That is, when a coin CN is dispensed from the dispensing transport unit 14, it falls along the rear inclined surface 22B of the dispensing tray 20 toward the bottom surface 22D. At this time, the stored coin CN changes the magnetic field 36 of the magnetic sensor 34, causing the magnetic sensor 34 to detect the coin CN. The control unit determines the presence or absence of a coin CN in the coin storage space 32 based on the detection result obtained from the magnetic sensors 34 and determines whether a coin CN dispensed to the coin dispensing unit 16 has remained and been left behind.

[0026] The magnetic sensor 34 is an imaginary plane along one end of the coil, and has a detection surface 34S that is substantially perpendicular to the magnetic flux of the magnetic field 36 generated by the coil. The magnetic sensor 34 is disposed so that the inclination angle of the detection surface 34S relative to the horizontal direction is substantially the same as that of the rear slope 22B, and the detection surface 34S is parallel to the rear slope 22B. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 34 is disposed so that the detection surface 34S for detecting the coin CN is inclined toward the coin storage space 32 relative to the horizontal direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic sensor 34 is disposed at a position where its central axis A passes slightly rearward of the point of contact between the bottom surface 22D and the rear slope 22B on the rear slope 22B.

[0027] 5, the magnetic sensor 34 has a detectable area 38, which is a predetermined range from the detection surface 34S in a direction perpendicular to the detection surface 34S and away from the detection surface 34S, depending on the strength of the magnetic field 36. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 34 cannot detect coins CN that are located farther away from the detection surface 34S than the detectable area 38 because the magnetic field 36 is weaker.

[0028] 4, the hatched area where the detection surface 34S and the coin CN overlap when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the detection surface 34S is the coin projection area 40, and the area of ​​the coin projection area 40 is the coin projection area. The magnetic sensor 34 cannot detect coins CN whose coin projection area ratio, which is the ratio of the coin projection area to the area of ​​the detection surface 34S, is less than a certain percentage because a sufficient amount of magnetic flux does not intersect with the coin CN.

[0029] Furthermore, when the coin projected area ratio of either of the magnetic sensors 34 in a set of two magnetic sensors 34 aligned in the left-right direction is equal to or greater than a certain ratio, the magnetic sensor 34 can detect the coin CN. Furthermore, when the sum of the coin projected area ratio of one magnetic sensor 34 and the coin projected area ratio of the other magnetic sensor 34 in a set of two magnetic sensors 34 aligned in the left-right direction is equal to or greater than a certain ratio, the magnetic sensor 34 can also detect the coin CN.

[0030] In this way, the magnetic sensor 34 can detect coins CN that are at least partially located within the detectable area 38 and have a coin projected area ratio equal to or greater than a certain ratio.

[0031] Furthermore, when coins CN of different diameters are in the same posture and storage position, the smaller the diameter of the coin CN, the smaller the coin projected area, and therefore, in terms of coin projected area, the coin CN with the smallest diameter is the coin CN that is most difficult for the magnetic sensor 34 to detect. Furthermore, two magnetic sensors 34 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction so as to be symmetrical about the axis of the left-right center of the dispensing tray 20. For this reason, the coin projected area ratio tends to be smaller for coin CNs located in the left-right center of the bottom surface 22D between the magnetic sensors 34 than for coins CN located on both the left and right sides of the bottom surface 22D.

[0032] In contrast, Figure 4 shows a minimum diameter coin CNs1 in a position where its lower end abuts the contact point between the bottom surface 22D and the rear inclined surface 22B and it is leaning so that its face abuts against the rear inclined surface 22B. The magnetic sensor 34 is positioned at a position and inclination that ensures that the coin projected area ratio is a certain percentage or more, even for a minimum diameter coin CNs1 in a position where its lower end abuts at the center of the left and right of the bottom surface 22D and it is leaning so that its face abuts against the rear inclined surface 22B. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 34 can detect a coin CN in a position where its lower end abuts at any position on the bottom surface 22D and it is leaning against the rear inclined surface 22B.

[0033] 4 shows a minimum diameter coin CNs2 with its lower end abutting the bottom surface 22D and leaning against the front slope 22F. The magnetic sensor 34 is positioned and inclined to ensure that the coin projected area ratio is a certain percentage or more, even for a minimum diameter coin CNs2 with its lower end abutting the bottom surface 22D at the center of the left and right sides and leaning against the front slope 22F. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 34 can detect a coin CN with its lower end abutting at any position on the bottom surface 22D and leaning against the front slope 22F.

[0034] Furthermore, the larger the diameter of the coin CN, the more likely it is that the coin CN will get caught at a higher position relative to the bottom surface 22D between the opposing slopes 22 in the front-to-rear direction or the opposing slopes 22 in the left-to-right direction. For this reason, in the detectable area 38, the coin CN with the largest diameter CNl is the coin CN that is most difficult for the magnetic sensor 34 to detect.

[0035] 5 shows a maximum diameter coin CNl caught in a position parallel to the bottom surface 22D and along the horizontal direction, with its front end abutting the front slope 22F and its rear end abutting the rear slope 22B. The magnetic sensor 34 is positioned so that at least a portion of the maximum diameter coin CNl caught in a position floating above the bottom surface 22D is included within the detectable area 38. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 34 can detect the maximum diameter coin CNl caught in a position floating above the bottom surface 22D.

[0036] [1-3. Effects, etc.] 10 and 11, in which the same reference numerals are assigned to the components corresponding to those in Fig. 2, a coin dispensing unit 216 of a first comparative example can be considered. The coin dispensing unit 216 differs from the coin dispensing unit 16 (Fig. 2) in that a dispensing tray 220 is provided instead of the dispensing tray 20, and a magnetic sensor 234 is provided instead of the magnetic sensor 34, but is otherwise configured similarly.

[0037] The dispensing tray 220 has a bottom surface 222D at the front and rear of the inclined surface 222 compared to the dispensing tray 20. direction The length of the magnetic sensor 234 is approximately the radius of the minimum-diameter coin CNs and is longer than the bottom surface 22D. The magnetic sensor 234 is disposed directly below the bottom surface 22D, horizontally aligned so that the detection surface 34S is parallel to the bottom surface 22D. In this coin dispensing unit 216, as shown in FIG. 11 , a coin CN whose lower end abuts on the contact point between the bottom surface 222D and the front inclined surface 22F and leans against the rear inclined surface 22B, and a coin CN whose lower end abuts on the contact point between the bottom surface 222D and the rear inclined surface 22B and leans against the rear inclined surface 22B, are located at a distance from the magnetic sensor 234 in a plan view. For this reason, in the coin dispensing unit 216, there are cases where the coin projection area between the detection surface 34S of the magnetic sensor 234 and the coin CN cannot be sufficiently secured. Therefore, in the coin dispensing unit 216, there is an area where the coin CN stored in the dispensing tray 220 cannot be detected. In this case, it may not be possible to accurately determine whether or not coins CN remain in the dispensing tray 220.

[0038] To solve this problem, it is conceivable to increase the output of the magnetic sensor 234. However, this would lead to an increase in costs.

[0039] On the other hand, as a configuration that solves this problem without increasing the output of the magnetic sensor 234, a coin dispensing unit 316 of a second comparative example, as shown in Fig. 12 in which the same reference numerals are used for components corresponding to those in Fig. 2 and Fig. 10, is considered. Compared to the coin dispensing unit 216 (Fig. 10), the coin dispensing unit 316 is provided with a dispensing tray 20 similar to the coin dispensing unit 16 (Fig. 2) instead of the dispensing tray 220. In this coin dispensing unit 316, a coin CN whose lower end abuts on the contact point between the bottom surface 22D and the front inclined surface 22F and leans against the rear inclined surface 22B, and a coin CN whose lower end abuts on the contact point between the bottom surface 22D and the rear inclined surface 22B and leans against the rear inclined surface 22B, are moved toward the center of the dispensing tray 20 in the front-to-rear direction in a plan view, and are close to the detection surface 34S of the magnetic sensor 234 in a plan view. As a result, the coin dispensing unit 316 can ensure a larger coin projection area between the detection surface 34S of the magnetic sensor 234 and the coin CN compared to the coin dispensing unit 216. Therefore, the coin dispensing unit 316 can reduce the area where the coin CN stored in the dispensing tray 20 cannot be detected compared to the coin dispensing unit 216.

[0040] 12 and 13, in the coin dispensing unit 316, a coin CN with a relatively large diameter, such as the maximum diameter coin CNl, may get caught on the front inclined surface 22F and the rear inclined surface 22B and be stored parallel to the bottom surface 22D without coming into contact with the bottom surface 22D. In the coin dispensing unit 316, the area of ​​the bottom surface 22D is narrower than that of the bottom surface 222D (FIG. 10). Therefore, the distance between the front inclined surface 22F and the rear inclined surface 22B, which are inclined surfaces 22 opposing each other in the front-rear direction, and the distance between the left inclined surface 22L and the right inclined surface 22R, which are inclined surfaces 22 opposing each other in the left-right direction, is narrower than in the coin dispensing unit 216 when they are at the same height relative to the bottom surface 22D. Therefore, compared to the coin dispensing unit 216, the coin dispensing unit 316 has a tendency for coins CN to get caught at a higher position relative to the bottom surface 22D between the opposing slopes 22 in the front-to-rear direction or the opposing slopes 22 in the left-to-right direction. Therefore, the coin dispensing unit 316 cannot detect coins CN that are caught on the slopes 22 and remain there outside the area above the bottom surface 22D and the detectable area 38 of the magnetic sensor 234, and there is an area where coins CN stored in the dispensing tray 20 cannot be detected.

[0041] In contrast, the coin dispensing unit 16 has a dispensing tray 20 whose cross section along the front-to-back direction is roughly shaped like a capital letter "V," and the magnetic sensor 34 is positioned near the bottom surface 22D and on the back side of the rear slope 22B with the detection surface 34S parallel to the rear slope 22B.

[0042] Therefore, even if the coin CN is in a position where its lower end abuts at any position on the bottom surface 22D and leans against the rear inclined surface 22B or the front inclined surface 22F, the coin dispensing unit 16 can ensure that the coin projection area ratio is equal to or greater than a certain percentage and can detect the coin CN with the magnetic sensor 34. Furthermore, the coin dispensing unit 16 can detect even a coin CN that is caught in a state where it is floating above the bottom surface 22D, by including it within the detectable area 38.

[0043] In this way, compared to the coin dispensing units 216 and 316, the coin dispensing unit 16 can reduce the area where coins CN stored in the dispensing tray 20 cannot be detected, and can widen the detectable range of the magnetic sensor 34. Therefore, the coin dispensing unit 16 can accurately detect various coins CN stored in various positions using the magnetic sensor 34. In this way, the coin dispensing unit 16 can prevent coins CN from being forgotten to be removed from the dispensing tray 20.

[0044] According to the above configuration, the coin processing device 1 is provided with a dispensing tray 20 that forms a coin storage space 32 that stores coins CN discharged from the coin processing device 1 through the discharge outlet 18, and a magnetic sensor 34 for detecting whether or not coins CN remain in the dispensing tray 20. The dispensing tray 20 has a bottom surface 22D as a bottom portion and inclined surfaces 22 formed on all four sides of the bottom surface 22D that guide coins CN discharged from the discharge outlet 18 toward the bottom surface 22D. The magnetic sensor 34 is provided on at least one of the rear side near the bottom surface 22D and on the opposite side of the coin storage space 32 from the inclined surface 22 (rear inclined surface 22B) on the discharge outlet 18 side, or the front side near the bottom surface 22D and on the opposite side of the coin storage space 32 from the inclined surface 22 (front inclined surface 22F) on the opposite side from the discharge outlet 18.

[0045] This allows the coin processing device 1 to ensure the coin projection area between the detection surface 34S of the magnetic sensor 34 and the coin CN for coins CN stored in various positions, and to include at least a portion of the coin CN within the detectable area 38 of the magnetic sensor 34.

[0046] 2. Second Embodiment [2-1. Configuration of coin processing device] As shown in Figure 1, the coin processing device 101 according to the second embodiment differs from the coin processing device 1 according to the first embodiment in that it has a coin dispensing unit 116 instead of the coin dispensing unit 16, but is otherwise configured in the same way.

[0047] [2-2. Coin Dispensing Unit Configuration] As shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, in which the same symbols are used for components corresponding to those in Figures 2, 3 and 6, the coin dispensing unit 116 according to the second embodiment differs from the coin dispensing unit 16 according to the first embodiment in that a magnetic sensor 134 is provided instead of the magnetic sensor 34, but is otherwise configured in the same manner.

[0048] The magnetic sensor 134 has the same configuration as the magnetic sensor 34, but is disposed differently relative to the dispensing tray 20. The two magnetic sensors 134 are disposed side by side in the left-right direction on the front side near the lower end of the front inclined surface 22F of the dispensing tray 20, so as to be symmetrical with respect to the center of the dispensing tray 20 in the left-right direction.

[0049] 8, the magnetic sensor 134 is disposed so that the detection surface 34S is inclined relative to the horizontal direction and the central axis A of the coil, i.e., the direction perpendicular to the detection surface 34S, is approximately parallel to the rear inclined surface 22B. Furthermore, this central axis A passes through the coin storage space 32 side of the rear inclined surface 22B. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 314 is disposed so that the detection surface 34S is inclined relative to the horizontal direction toward the coin storage space 32 side.

[0050] Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 134 is positioned and inclined to ensure that the coin projected area ratio is a certain percentage or more, even for minimum diameter coins CNs that are in a position where their lower end abuts the center of the bottom surface 22D and are leaning against the rear slope 22B, so that the magnetic sensor 134 can detect coins CN that are in a position where their lower end abuts at any position on the bottom surface 22D and are leaning against the rear slope 22B.

[0051] Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 134 is positioned and inclined so as to ensure that the coin projected area ratio is a certain percentage or more, even for minimum diameter coins CNs whose lower end abuts the center of the bottom surface 22D and leans against the front slope 22F. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 134 can detect coins CN whose lower end abuts at any position on the bottom surface 22D and leans against the front slope 22F.

[0052] Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 134 is positioned so that at least a portion of the maximum diameter coin CNl (not shown) that is caught and floating above the bottom surface 22D is included within the detectable area 38. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 134 can detect the coin CN that is caught and floating above the bottom surface 22D.

[0053] In this way, the coin dispensing unit 116 is arranged with the magnetic sensor 134 on the front side near the lower end of the front inclined surface 22F. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 9, if a metallic foreign object 42 such as a thumbtack, a cutter blade, or a piece of metal is tampered with and attached to the area of ​​about several mm to 10-odd mm from the bottom surface 22D toward the front inclined surface 22F, which is an area that is difficult for the user to see and is likely to be touched first when scooping up a coin CN from the coin storage space 32, the magnetic field 36 will change, and the magnetic sensor 134 can detect the foreign object 42 in advance before the user uses the coin dispensing unit 116. This allows the coin dispensing unit 116 to prevent injuries to the user and provide security measures.

[0054] In addition, the coin processing device 101 according to the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as the coin processing device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0055] 3. Other Embodiments In the above-described embodiment, the dispensing tray 20 has a horizontally extending bottom surface 22D between the front slope 22F and the rear slope 22B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the dispensing tray may have a cross section that is approximately V-shaped, passing through the center of the left and right sides and extending in the front-to-rear direction, in which the bottom surface 22D does not extend in the horizontal direction and the lower end of the front slope 22F directly connects to the lower end of the rear slope 22B. In this case, the contact point between the front slope 22F and the rear slope 22B is not the bottom surface but a side extending in the left-to-right direction. In the case of a dispensing tray having such a structure, the bottom of the dispensing tray is the apex of the V-shape where the front slope 22F and the rear slope 22B connect. Furthermore, in the case of a cross section that is approximately V-shaped, the connection point between the front slope 22F and the rear slope 22B may be curved. Furthermore, the dispensing tray may have no bottom surface along the horizontal direction, and the cross section along the front-to-back direction passing through the center in the left-to-right direction may be shaped like the capital letter "U." In the case of a dispensing tray with such a structure, the bottom of the dispensing tray is a curved portion that curves in the U-shaped cross section.

[0056] In the first embodiment described above, the front inclined surface 22F is curved and the rear inclined surface 22B is flat. The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the front inclined surface 22F may be flat and the rear inclined surface 22B may be curved. However, since a shorter distance between the coil of the magnetic sensor 34 and the metal (coin CN) is more advantageous for detection, it is preferable to place the magnetic sensor 34 near the flat inclined surface 22. Also, both the front inclined surface 22F and the rear inclined surface 22B may be flat. Furthermore, both the front inclined surface 22F and the rear inclined surface 22B may be curved. The same applies to the second embodiment.

[0057] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the magnetic sensor 34 is disposed so that the detection surface 34S is parallel to the rear slope 22B. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the magnetic sensor 34 may be disposed so that the detection surface 34S is aligned in a direction other than parallel to the rear slope 22B. In this case, it is preferable to tilt the detection surface 34S at an angle relative to the horizontal direction that approaches parallel to the rear slope 22B, so that a coin CN caught in a state floating above the bottom surface 22D can be more easily included within the detectable area 38. In the second embodiment, the tilt angle of the detection surface 34S relative to the horizontal direction may also be set to various other values.

[0058] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the case where two magnetic sensors 34 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one magnetic sensor 34 may be arranged, or three or more magnetic sensors 34 may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction or in any other manner. The same applies to the second embodiment.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the magnetic sensor 34 is disposed on the rear side near the lower end of the rear inclined surface 22B of the dispensing tray 20, and in the second embodiment, the magnetic sensor 134 is disposed on the front side near the lower end of the front inclined surface 22F of the dispensing tray 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the magnetic sensor 34 may be disposed on the rear side near the lower end of the rear inclined surface 22B of the dispensing tray 20, and others Alternatively, the magnetic sensor 134 may be disposed on the front side near the lower end of the front inclined surface 22F of the dispensing tray 20. Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 34 may be disposed on the left side near the lower end of the left inclined surface 22L or on the right side near the lower end of the right inclined surface 22R. This is also true in the second embodiment.

[0060] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to the coin processing device 1 or 101 that is connected to a POS register or the like used in a cash register checkout area of ​​a supermarket, convenience store, etc. and performs a coin deposit and withdrawal process. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to various devices such as a terminal used by bank staff, such as an automated teller machine (counter terminal) used in a bank.

[0061] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to the coin processing device 1 or 101 installed together with the banknote processing device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to, for example, the coin processing device 1 or 101 installed independently of the banknote processing device.

[0062] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and other embodiments. That is, the scope of application of the present invention also extends to embodiments in which the above-described embodiments are combined in part or in whole with any of the above-described other embodiments. Furthermore, the scope of application of the present invention also extends to cases in which part of the configuration described in any of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments is extracted and replaced or diverted with part of the configuration of any of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments, or where part of the extracted configuration is added to any of the above-described embodiments.

[0063] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the coin processing device 1 or 101 is configured as a coin processing device by using the dispensing tray 20 as a dispensing tray and the magnetic sensor 34 or 134 as a magnetic sensor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the coin processing device may be configured by using a dispensing tray having various other configurations and a magnetic sensor. [Industrial Applicability]

[0064] The present invention can also be used in various conveying devices that convey and discriminate media such as coins. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1, 101...coin processing device, 10...coin insertion section, 12...deposit transport section, 14...withdrawal transport section, 16, 116, 216, 316...coin withdrawal section, 18...discharge port, 20, 220...withdrawal tray, 22D, 222D...bottom, 22F...front slope, 22B...rear slope, 22L...left slope, 22R...right slope, 22...slope, 32...coin storage space, 34, 134, 234...magnetic sensor, 34S...detection surface, 36...magnetic field, 38...detectable area, 40...coin projection area, 42...foreign object, CN...coin, CNs...minimum diameter coin, CNl...maximum diameter coin, A...central axis.

Claims

1. a dispensing tray that forms a space for accommodating coins discharged from the device through the discharge port; a magnetic sensor for detecting whether or not there are any coins remaining in the dispensing tray; Equipped with The dispensing tray is The dispensing tray has a bottom whose length along the front-to-rear direction is approximately the thickness of the largest diameter coin among the coins handled, and slopes formed on all four sides of the bottom that guide coins discharged from the discharge opening toward the bottom, and the coin being discharged can be supported with a part of its outer periphery abutting the bottom and leaning against one of the slopes in the front-to-rear direction, The magnetic sensor The recess is provided on at least one of the rear side, which is near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space with respect to the inclined surface on the discharge port side, and the front side, which is near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space with respect to the inclined surface on the opposite side of the discharge port. A coin processing device characterized by:

2. The magnetic sensor is provided so that a detection surface for detecting the coin is inclined toward the space with respect to the horizontal direction.

2. The coin processing device according to claim 1.

3. The inclined surface on the opposite side to the discharge port has a curved shape.

3. The coin processing device according to claim 2.

4. the inclined surface on the discharge port side has a flat shape, and the inclined surface on the opposite side to the discharge port has a curved shape, The magnetic sensor is provided in front of the inclined surface on the side opposite to the discharge outlet, and the direction perpendicular to the detection surface is substantially parallel to the inclined surface on the discharge outlet side.

3. The coin processing device according to claim 2.

5. The magnetic sensor When a minimum diameter coin, which has the smallest diameter among the coins handled in the coin processing device, leans against the slope on the discharge outlet side, the ratio of the projected area of ​​the minimum diameter coin to the detection surface when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the detection surface is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio at which the coin can be detected.

3. The coin processing device according to claim 2.

6. The magnetic sensor When a minimum diameter coin, which has the smallest diameter among the coins handled in the coin processing device, leans against the inclined surface on the side opposite to the discharge outlet, the ratio of the projected area of ​​the minimum diameter coin to the detection surface when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the detection surface is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio at which the coin can be detected.

6. The coin processing device according to claim 2 or 5.

7. The magnetic sensor When the maximum diameter coin floats above the bottom while contacting the inclined surface on the outlet side and the inclined surface on the opposite side from the outlet, at least a portion of the maximum diameter coin is positioned within a predetermined range in which the coin can be detected in a direction perpendicular to the detection surface and away from the detection surface.

7. The coin processing device according to claim 2, claim 5 or claim 6.

8. The dispensing tray has a substantially V-shaped cross section along the front-rear direction, which is the direction in which the coins are guided from the inclined surface on the discharge port side to the bottom.

8. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the coin processing device is a coin processing device.

9. The coin processing device processes coins, and the banknote processing device processes banknotes, The coin processing device includes: a dispensing tray that forms a space for accommodating coins discharged from the device through the discharge port; a magnetic sensor for detecting whether or not there are any coins remaining in the dispensing tray; Equipped with The dispensing tray is The dispensing tray has a bottom whose length along the front-to-rear direction is approximately the thickness of the largest diameter coin among the coins handled, and slopes formed on all four sides of the bottom that guide coins discharged from the discharge opening toward the bottom, and the coin being discharged can be supported with a part of its outer periphery abutting the bottom and leaning against one of the slopes in the front-to-rear direction, The magnetic sensor The recess is provided on at least one of the rear side, which is near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space with respect to the inclined surface on the discharge port side, and the front side, which is near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space with respect to the inclined surface on the opposite side of the discharge port. A currency handling device characterized by:

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