Coin processing device, automatic transaction device, and method for controlling coin processing device

Abstract

To reduce an error stop due to a jam.SOLUTION: Provided is a coin processing device including: an input unit to which a coin is input; a conveyance unit configured to convey a coin delivered from the input unit along a conveyance path; a discrimination unit provided on the conveyance path and configured to discriminate a coin; a temporary holding unit configured to temporarily store a coin discriminated by the discrimination unit as a normal coin; and a control unit configured to execute coin counting processing of delivering a coin input to the input unit for discrimination by the discrimination unit, conveying the coin discriminated as the normal coin to the temporary holding unit, and conveying a coin discriminated as a rejected coin to the input unit. In a case where a jam occurs when the coin counting processing is executed, the control unit stops the coin counting processing for automatic restoration processing, and returns a coin on the conveyance path and a coin stored in the temporary holding unit to the input unit to execute the coin counting processing again.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a coin processing device, an automatic transaction device, and a method for controlling a coin processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, automated teller machines used in financial institutions, supermarkets, etc. have been widely used to allow users (customers, store clerks, etc.) to deposit cash such as banknotes and coins and to dispense cash to users depending on the content of the transaction with the user.

[0003] Some automated teller machines and the like have a built-in coin processing device that processes coins, for example. The coin processing device has, for example, a deposit / withdrawal unit that receives and delivers coins to and from users, a transport unit that transports coins, an identification unit (also called a recognition unit) that identifies the denomination and authenticity of coins, and a storage unit that stores coins by denomination.

[0004] In this type of coin processing device, if a coin jams (also called a transport jam) during coin deposit or withdrawal processing, the device will stop due to an error, and will then recover after a maintenance worker or other person removes the coin (also called a jammed coin) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-65627 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In conventional coin processing devices, if a transport jam occurs and the device shuts down, the device cannot be used until maintenance personnel have finished removing the coins. For this reason, there has been a strong demand for reducing error shutdowns caused by transport jams. However, coin processing devices often contain sticky objects, deformed coins, foreign objects, etc., inserted along with coins, making it difficult to reduce error shutdowns caused by transport jams.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to propose a coin processing device, an automatic transaction device, and a control method for a coin processing device that can reduce error stops due to jams. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve this problem, the coin processing device of the present invention comprises an input section into which coins are inserted, a transport section that transports coins dispensed from the input section along a transport path, a discrimination section that is provided on the transport path and discriminates the coins, a temporary holding section that temporarily stores coins that have been discriminated as normal coins by the discrimination section, and a control section that executes a coin counting process that dispenses coins inserted into the input section, discriminates them by the discrimination section, transports coins that have been discriminated as normal coins to the temporary holding section, and returns coins that have been discriminated as rejected coins to the input section.If a jam occurs during the coin counting process, the control section stops the coin counting process as an automatic recovery process, returns the coins on the transport path and the coins stored in the temporary holding section to the input section, and executes the coin counting process again.

[0009] The automatic transaction apparatus of the present invention is provided with an operation unit that accepts user operations and the coin processing device described above.

[0010] Furthermore, the control method for a coin processing device of the present invention is a control method for a coin processing device that includes an input section into which coins are inserted, a transport section that transports coins dispensed from the input section along a transport path, a discrimination section that is provided on the transport path and discriminates the coins, a temporary holding section that temporarily stores coins that have been discriminated as normal coins by the discrimination section, and a control section that executes a coin counting process that dispenses coins inserted into the input section, discriminates them by the discrimination section, transports coins that have been discriminated as normal coins to the temporary holding section, and transports coins that have been discriminated as rejected coins to the input section, and if a jam occurs during the execution of the coin counting process, the control section stops the coin counting process as an automatic recovery process, returns the coins on the transport path and the coins stored in the temporary holding section to the input section, and executes the coin counting process again.

[0011] In the present invention, if a jam occurs during coin counting, an automatic recovery process is performed by returning the coin to the insertion port and then restarting the coin counting process. This may clear the jam, thereby reducing the number of error stoppages that require maintenance personnel to remove the coins. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a coin processing device, an automatic transaction device, and a control method for a coin processing device that can reduce error stops due to jams. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of an automated teller machine according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a coin processing device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a coin processing device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure of an automatic recovery process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation procedure following the operation procedure shown in FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation procedure following the operation procedure shown in FIG. 5 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an operation procedure of an automatic recovery process according to the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation procedure following the operation procedure shown in FIG. 7 according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation procedure following the operation procedure shown in FIG. 8 according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] 1. First Embodiment [1-1. ATM configuration] As shown in FIG. 1, an automated teller machine 1 as an automatic transaction device is composed mainly of a box-shaped housing 2, and is installed in, for example, financial institutions or various commercial facilities, and performs cash-related transactions such as deposit and withdrawal processing between the machine and users (i.e., customers, bank employees, store clerks, maintenance staff, etc. of financial institutions or commercial facilities).

[0016] The housing 2 has a reception area 3 on the front side where a user can easily insert banknotes and operate the touch panel while facing the reception area 3. The reception area 3 is provided with a passbook slot 4, a card slot 5, a coin slot 6, a banknote slot 7, an operation display 8, etc., and is used to directly exchange cash, cards, etc. with the user, as well as to notify them of transaction-related information and receive operation instructions.

[0017] The passbook slot 4 is where passbooks are inserted and ejected. Behind the passbook slot 4, there is a passbook processing unit (not shown) that reads magnetic information from a magnetic recording unit provided on the back cover or the like of the passbook and records the details of transactions in the passbook. The card slot 5 is where various cards such as cash cards are inserted and ejected. Behind the card slot 5, there is a card processing unit (not shown) that reads account numbers and the like magnetically recorded on various cards. Although not shown in the figure, there is a receipt ejection slot just above the card slot 5, and behind the receipt ejection slot, there is a receipt printing unit that prints a record of the transaction and ejects a receipt.

[0018] The coin deposit / withdrawal slot 6 is the portion through which coins to be deposited by the user are inserted and from which coins to be dispensed to the user are ejected. The banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 7 is the portion through which banknotes to be deposited by the user are inserted and from which banknotes to be dispensed to the user are ejected. The coin deposit / withdrawal slot 6 and the banknote deposit / withdrawal slot 7 are opened or closed by driving shutters, respectively. The operation display unit 8 serving as the operation unit is a touch panel that integrates a liquid crystal display panel that displays the operation screen and transaction details during a transaction, and a touch sensor that detects input operations by the user.

[0019] Here, the side of the automated teller machine 1 that the user faces is referred to as the front side, the opposite side as the rear side, and the top, bottom, left and right sides as viewed from the user facing the front side are referred to as the upper side, lower side, left side and right side, respectively.

[0020] The housing 2 contains a main control unit 9 that controls the entire automated teller machine 1, a coin processing device 10 that performs various processes related to coins that are the subject of transactions, and a banknote processing device (not shown) that performs various processes related to banknotes. The main control unit 9 is mainly composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and performs various processes such as deposit processing and withdrawal processing by reading and executing predetermined programs from a ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, etc. (not shown). The main control unit 9 also has an internal storage unit made up of a RAM (Random Access Memory), hard disk drive, flash memory, etc., and stores various information in this storage unit.

[0021] The coin processing device 10 is configured in a shape similar to a rectangular parallelepiped overall, and is attached to the housing 2 via slide rails (not shown). An openable door (not shown) is provided on the front or rear side of the housing 2. When maintenance work or the like is performed on the automated teller machine 1, the door on the front or rear side of the housing 2 is opened, and the coin processing device 10 is slid forward or backward to position the coin processing device 10 outside the housing 2 or store it inside the housing 2.

[0022] [1-2. Internal structure of coin processing device] As shown in Figure 2, the coin processing device 10 has multiple components that perform various processes related to coins built into the coin processing device housing 11. The coins are made of a non-magnetic material with sufficient strength, such as an alloy of copper and nickel or aluminum, and are formed into a thin plate. The coin processing device 10 is designed to handle multiple types of coins with different diameters, thicknesses, and the presence or absence of holes.

[0023] Inside the coin processing device housing 11, provided relatively at the upper side or near the center are a depositing / dispensing section 13, a chute section 14, an upper separation section 15, a recognition and conveying section 16, a delivery section 17, a pin belt conveying section 18, six stacker sections 21, a dispensing conveying section 22, and a temporary holding section 23. Also provided relatively at the lower side inside the coin processing device housing 11 are a coin control section 12, a replenishment recovery box 24, a first replenishment reject box 25, a second replenishment reject box 26, a reject box 27, a forgotten coin collection box 28, and a lower separation section 29.

[0024] Like the main control unit 9, the coin control unit 12 is mainly composed of a CPU (not shown), and performs various processes related to deposit transactions, withdrawal transactions, etc. by reading and executing predetermined programs from a memory unit (memory unit 101 shown in Figure 3) consisting of a ROM, flash memory, etc. (not shown), and provides overall control of the coin processing device 10.

[0025] The depositing / withdrawing unit 13 receives and delivers coins to and from a user, thereby allowing the user to deposit or withdraw coins. The depositing / withdrawing unit 13 has a receptacle 13A that has an opening on the upper side and stores coins, a shutter 13B that opens and closes the opening, and a sensor (not shown) that detects the presence or absence of coins in the receptacle 13A.

[0026] When a customer deposits a coin into container 13A with shutter 13B open, depositing / withdrawing unit 13 closes shutter 13B, delivers the coin from container 13A to chute unit 14, and drops it down chute unit 14 until it reaches upper separation unit 15. Furthermore, when a coin is transported from pin belt transport unit 18 (described later) with shutter 13B closed, depositing / withdrawing unit 13 stores the coin in container 13A, and then opens shutter 13B to allow the customer to receive the coin.

[0027] The upper separation section 15 is composed of an accumulation / separation section 15A, which is a portion occupying a relatively large volume on the lower side, and a separation / conveyance section 15B formed to protrude upward from the accumulation / separation section 15A. The upper separation section 15 accumulates coins in the accumulation / separation section 15A, separates the coins one by one, conveys them upward by the separation / conveyance section 15B, and further conveys them backward along the conveyance path to hand them over to the recognition / conveyance section 16.

[0028] The recognition and conveyance unit 16 is located on the right or left side of the chute unit 14, and takes images of the coins as it conveys them, and determines whether the coins can be handled based on the obtained image signals, such as the denomination and authenticity of the coins, the degree of damage, and whether the coins are of a denomination that can be handled. The recognition and conveyance unit 16 then notifies the coin control unit 12 of the obtained determination result as the recognition result of the coin, and hands over the coins to the delivery unit 17. The delivery unit 17 hands over the coins received from the recognition and conveyance unit 16 to the pin belt conveyance unit 18.

[0029] The pin belt conveying unit 18 surrounds the front lower, lower, rear, and upper sides of the stacker unit 21 with the front pin belt conveying unit 18F, the lower pin belt conveying unit 18L, the rear pin belt conveying unit 18R, and the upper pin belt conveying unit 18U, respectively, forming a conveying path for conveying coins. The pin belt conveying unit 18 is composed of a conveying guide that contacts the coin's surface and guides it along the conveying path, and a pin belt that runs roughly along the conveying path. The pin belt is provided with pins that contact the tail end of the coin and push it in the conveying direction. By running the pin belt, the pin belt conveying unit 18 conveys coins received from the delivery unit 17 along the conveying path and releases them into the receptacle 13A of the depositing / dispensing unit 13.

[0030] Furthermore, the pin belt conveying unit 18 is provided with branching units 19 that branch the coin conveying path at multiple locations in the lower front and lower portions of the stacker unit 21. On the left side of each branching unit 19, a guide unit 30 that guides the coins is provided.

[0031] Each branching section 19 has a rotatable guide plate and an actuator (neither of which are shown), and by rotating the guide plate under the control of the coin control section 12, the coin is switched between continuing to travel along the pin belt transport section 18 or branching off to each guide section 30. Each guide section 30 is a chute section, and guides coins by dropping them into the replenishment recovery box 24, the first replenishment reject box 25 or the second replenishment reject box 26, the temporary holding section 23, the reject box 27, the forgotten coin collection box 28, etc.

[0032] Furthermore, the pin belt conveying unit 18 is provided with stacker branching units 20 at six locations above the six stacker units 21. A guide unit 31 that guides coins to the stacker unit 21 is provided on the left side of each stacker branching unit 20. Each stacker branching unit 20 is configured in the same manner as each branching unit 19, and by rotating a guide plate based on the control of the coin control unit 12, it switches between allowing the coins to continue traveling along the pin belt conveying unit 18 or branching off to each stacker unit 21.

[0033] Each stacker unit 21 is associated with a coin of a predetermined denomination, and has a guide unit 31 provided on the upper side, a stacking unit 32 that stacks coins in a vertical pile below the guide unit 31, and a payout unit 33 that pays out coins from below the stacking unit 32. When the stacker unit 21 receives coins transported by the pin belt transport unit 18 from the stacker branch unit 20, the stacker unit 21 guides the coins to the stacking unit 32 by the guide unit 31 and stacks them. Furthermore, under the control of the coin control unit 12, the stacker unit 21 pays out coins accumulated in the stacking unit 32 one by one by the payout unit 33, and drops them into the dispensing transport unit 22 or temporary storage unit 23 below.

[0034] The dispensing conveying unit 22 is located to the right of the pin belt conveying unit 18, and is configured as a hollow rectangular parallelepiped with the top and front sides open, forming a space inside that can store coins. The dispensing conveying unit 22 also has a belt conveying mechanism made up of a belt, pulleys, etc. built into its bottom, and places or accumulates coins dispensed from the stacker unit 21 on the belt. With coins placed or accumulated on the belt, the dispensing conveying unit 22 runs the upper part of the belt forward, causing the coins to drop into the temporary holding unit 23 at the front.

[0035] The temporary storage unit 23 is connected to the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15, and is also connected to the conveying path R via the guide unit 30. The temporary storage unit 23 forms a space therein for storing coins, and its bottom is an inclined surface that rises diagonally upward toward the front, with a belt conveying mechanism built into this bottom. The temporary storage unit 23 places or accumulates coins that have fallen from the guide unit 30 or coins that have been dispensed from the stacker unit 21 on a belt in the internal space. Furthermore, with coins placed or accumulated on the belt, the temporary storage unit 23 dispenses the coins to the accumulation / separation unit 15A on the front side and drops them into it by running the upper part of the belt diagonally upward toward the front.

[0036] The replenishment and recovery box 24 has an accumulation section for accumulating coins therein, a transport mechanism for transporting the coins accumulated in the accumulation section, etc. This replenishment and recovery box 24 accumulates coins guided by the guide section 30, and also feeds coins accumulated inside it forward and hands them over to the lower separation section 29. The first replenishment and reject box 25 and the second replenishment and reject box 26 each have a space therein for accumulating coins, and accumulate the coins guided by the guide section 30. The reject box 27 and the forgotten coin collection box 28 each have a space therein for accumulating coins, and accumulate the coins guided by the guide section 30, respectively.

[0037] The lower separation unit 29 is disposed adjacent to the rear side of the replenishment and recovery bin 24. Although the lower separation unit 29 has a similar configuration to the upper separation unit 15, its attachment direction to the coin processing device housing 11 differs from that of the upper separation unit 15. The lower separation unit 29 is composed of an accumulation and separation unit 29A and a separation and transport unit 29B corresponding to the accumulation and separation unit 15A and the separation and transport unit 15B, respectively. The lower separation unit 29 receives coins from the replenishment and recovery bin 24 and accumulates them therein, and also separates the accumulated coins one by one, transports them upward one by one, and releases them into the temporary storage unit 23.

[0038] Furthermore, although not shown in Fig. 2, the coin processing device 10 has a plurality of sensors for detecting coins on the conveyance path (specifically, on the conveyance path R shown in Fig. 2, from the accumulation / separation section 15A of the upper separation section 15, through the separation / conveyance section 15B, the recognition / conveyance section 16, the delivery section 17, and the pin belt conveyance section 18, to the receptacle 13A of the depositing / dispensing section 13). The coin processing device 10 also has sensors for detecting that the coin processing device 10 has been pulled out to the front of the housing 2 via slide rails (or to the rear if the door is located on the rear side of the housing 2) during maintenance work, etc., and that the pulled-out coin processing device 10 has been stored inside the housing 2.

[0039] [1-3. Functional configuration of coin processing device] Next, the main functional components of the coin processing device 10 will be described using the block diagram shown in Fig. 3. The main functional components of the coin processing device 10 include a communication unit 100, a coin control unit 12, a memory unit 101, a coin processing unit 102, and multiple sensors 103.

[0040] The communication unit 100 communicates with the main control unit 9 (Figure 1) and the like. The coin control unit 12 controls the operation of the entire coin processing device 10. The memory unit 101 stores programs and various information handled by the coin control unit 12. The coin processing unit 102 is controlled by the coin control unit 12 and executes processes related to depositing, dispensing, replenishment, and collection of coins. This coin processing unit 102 drives the above-mentioned depositing and dispensing unit 13, upper separation unit 15, recognition and conveying unit 16, delivery unit 17, pin belt conveying unit 18, branching unit 19, stacker branching unit 20, stacker unit 21, withdrawal conveying unit 22, temporary holding unit 23, replenishment and collection box 24, lower separation unit 29, etc. to execute processes related to depositing and dispensing.

[0041] The multiple sensors 103 (103A, 103B) are sensors that the coin processing device 10 has. As described above, the multiple sensors 103 include multiple sensors 103A that are provided on the transport path of the coin processing device 10 and that detect coins, and sensor 103B that detects that the coin processing device 10 has been pulled out to the front (or rear) of the housing 2 via the slide rail and that the pulled-out coin processing device 10 has been accommodated inside the housing 2.

[0042] Based on the detection results of each sensor 103A, the coin control unit 12 determines how many coins have been transported to each unit, whether the coins are being transported normally, whether a transport jam has occurred, etc. In other words, the coin control unit 12 also functions as a transport jam detection unit that detects a transport jam.

[0043] On the conveyance path R of the coin processing device 10, for example, sensors 103A are provided near the front and rear of a branching section 19 provided at a branching point from the pin belt conveying section 18 to the temporary holding section 23. From the detection result of this sensor 103A, the coin control section 12 can determine whether a coin has been conveyed directly along the pin belt conveying section 18 or whether it has branched off from the pin belt conveying section 18 and been conveyed to the temporary holding section 23. Based on the detection result of this sensor 103A, the coin control section 12 can also identify the number of coins conveyed to the temporary holding section 23 by counting the number of coins that have branched off from the pin belt conveying section 18 and been conveyed to the temporary holding section 23 (actually, coins that have been conveyed to the guide section 30 leading from the pin belt conveying section 18 to the temporary holding section 23).

[0044] Furthermore, the coin control unit 12 is configured to detect whether the coin processing device 10 has been withdrawn from or stored in the housing 2 based on the detection result of the sensor 103B. In the automated teller machine 1, a maintenance person withdraws the coin processing device 10 from the housing 2 to perform maintenance work on the coin processing device 10, and after completing the maintenance work, stores the coin processing device 10 inside the housing 2. For this reason, the coin control unit 12 is also configured to determine that maintenance work has been performed on the coin processing device 10 when the detection result of the sensor 103B indicates that the coin processing device 10 has been withdrawn from the housing 2 and then stored. In other words, the coin control unit 12 also functions as a maintenance work detection unit that detects whether maintenance work has been performed or not.

[0045] The coin processing device 10 has the above-mentioned functional configuration, and the coin control unit 12 controls the coin processing unit 102 to perform coin deposit processing and coin dispensing processing. Furthermore, when the coin control unit 12 detects that a conveyance jam has occurred based on the detection result of the sensor 103A during the coin deposit processing, it controls the coin processing unit 102 to perform automatic recovery processing. This automatic recovery processing will be described later.

[0046] [1-4. Coin transport in various processes] Next, various processes involving the transportation of coins in the coin processing device 10, i.e., the transportation and accumulation of coins in deposit and withdrawal processes, etc. will be described. Here, each process in the coin processing device 10 when a deposit transaction and a withdrawal transaction are carried out between the automated teller machine 1 and a user will be described. Note that each process described here is executed by the coin processing unit 102 under the control of the coin control unit 12.

[0047] When a deposit transaction is made with a user at the automated teller machine 1 (FIG. 1), the coin processing device 10 counts the number of coins deposited by the user while recognizing the denomination, etc., of the coins in a first-stage deposit counting process, and then transports and stores each coin to an appropriate storage location in a second-stage deposit storage process. Specifically, in the first-stage deposit counting process, when the user inserts coins into the deposit / withdrawal unit 13, the coins are stored in the temporary storage unit 23 via the chute unit 14, upper separation unit 15, recognition and transport unit 16, delivery unit 17, pin belt transport unit 18, and guide unit 30 which leads to the temporary storage unit 23.

[0048] At this time, the coin processing device 10 transports any coins that have been identified by the recognition and conveyance unit 16 as not being valid coins that can be deposited (such as counterfeit coins or damaged coins, hereinafter referred to as rejected coins) to the deposit and withdrawal unit 13 via the recognition and conveyance unit 16, the delivery unit 17 and the pin belt conveyance unit 18 in sequence, and returns them to the user.

[0049] The coin processing device 10 then tallies the deposit amount based on the recognition results of each coin by the recognition and transport unit 16, displays the total amount on the operation and display unit 8 (Fig. 1), and allows the user to select whether to continue or cancel the deposit transaction. If the user selects to continue, the coin processing device 10 performs the subsequent deposit storage process, but if the user selects to cancel, the coin processing device 10 cancels the deposit transaction and transports the coins to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 to return them, just as in the case of the withdrawal process described below.

[0050] In the subsequent deposit storage process, the coin processing device 10 transports coins from the temporary holding unit 23 to the stacker unit 21 via the upper separation unit 15, the recognition and conveyance unit 16, the delivery unit 17, the pin belt conveyance unit 18, and the stacker branch unit 20 in this order, and accumulates them. At this time, the coin processing device 10 transports each coin to the stacker unit 21 according to its denomination, based on the recognition result of each coin by the recognition and conveyance unit 16.

[0051] Furthermore, when a withdrawal transaction is carried out between the automated teller machine 1 (FIG. 1) and a user, the coin processing device 10 transports and dispenses coins of the amount specified by the user to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 through a withdrawal process. Specifically, when the coin processing device 10 receives an operation input from the user via the operation display unit 8 (FIG. 1) indicating that a withdrawal transaction will be started and the amount to be withdrawn, the coin processing device 10 starts the withdrawal process, dispenses coins of the denomination and number corresponding to the amount to be withdrawn from each stacker unit 21, and accumulates them in the temporary holding unit 23 via the withdrawal conveyance unit 22. Next, the coin processing device 10 transports the coins to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 and stores them via the temporary holding unit 23, upper separation unit 15, recognition conveyance unit 16, delivery unit 17, and pin belt conveyance unit 18 in this order, and opens the shutter 13B to allow the user to receive the coins.

[0052] Incidentally, in addition to deposit and withdrawal processes, the coin processing device 10 is also capable of carrying out replenishment processes in which coins are replenished from the replenishment and recovery store 24 to the stacker unit 21, and recovery processes in which coins are recovered from the stacker unit 21 to the replenishment and recovery store 24.

[0053] [1-5. Automatic recovery process] Next, the automatic recovery process performed by the coin processing device 10 will be explained using Figures 4 to 6. Figures 4 to 6 are simplified diagrams of the internal configuration of the coin processing device 10 shown in Figure 2. This automatic recovery process is a process performed by the coin control unit 12 controlling the coin processing unit 102 when a transport jam occurs during the deposited money counting process in the deposit process, and is a process that automatically resolves the transport jam and recovers.

[0054] 4(A) shows the coin transport status when the coin processing device 10 is performing a deposit counting process. That is, during the deposit counting process, the coin processing device 10 accumulates coins Ci inserted into the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 in the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 via the chute unit 14.

[0055] Thereafter, the coin processing device 10 dispenses the coins Ci accumulated in the accumulation separation section 15A of the upper separation section 15 one by one and stores them in the temporary storage section 23 via the conveying path indicated by the thick arrow in Figure 4 (A) (i.e., the conveying path that passes sequentially through the separation conveying section 15B of the upper separation section 15, the recognition conveying section 16, the transfer section 17, the pin belt conveying section 18, and the guide section 30 leading to the temporary storage section 23).

[0056] At this time, the coin processing device 10 transports rejected coins Ci that have been determined by the recognition and transport unit 16 not to be normal coins that can be deposited to the receptacle 13A of the deposit and withdrawal unit 13 along the transport path indicated by the dotted arrow in Figure 4(A) (i.e., the transport path that passes sequentially through the recognition and transport unit 16, the delivery unit 17, and the pin belt transport unit 18), and returns them to the user. In Figures 4 to 6, rejected coins Ci returned to the deposit and withdrawal unit 13, coins Ci accumulated in the accumulation and separation unit 15A, and coins Ci stored in the temporary holding unit 23 are distinguished by different hatching.

[0057] When the coin control unit 12 of the coin processing device 10 detects a transport jam from the detection results of each sensor 103A installed on the transport path R during this deposit counting process, it causes the coin processing unit 102 to stop transporting the coin Ci, stops the deposit counting process, and executes an automatic recovery process.

[0058] In this automatic recovery process, the deposit counting process is redone (re-executed). Specifically, as part of the automatic recovery process, the coin control unit 12 first operates the recognition and conveyance unit 16, the delivery unit 17, and the pin belt conveyance unit 18 so that any coins Ci remaining on the conveyance path R at this point in time (i.e., the conveyance path R that passes through the recognition and conveyance unit 16, the delivery unit 17, and the pin belt conveyance unit 18 to the container 13A of the depositing and dispensing unit 13) are conveyed to the container 13A of the depositing and dispensing unit 13, just like the rejected coins Ci. As a result, as shown in Figure 4(B), if a coin Ci (omitted in Figure 4(B)) remains on the conveyance path R, this coin Ci is conveyed to the container 13A of the depositing and dispensing unit 13 along the conveyance path indicated by the dotted arrow in Figure 4(B) just like the rejected coins Ci. At this point, the receptacle 13A of the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 contains the rejected coins Ci transported during the deposit counting process and the coins Ci remaining on the transport path R when the deposit counting process was stopped. Note that the coins Ci that were accumulated in the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 and the coins Ci stored in the temporary holding unit 23 when the deposit counting process was stopped remain accumulated at this point.

[0059] Next, as shown in Fig. 5(A), the coin control unit 12 transports the coins Ci stored in the temporary storage unit 23 to the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 along the transport path indicated by the thick arrow in Fig. 5(A) (i.e., the transport path that feeds the coins Ci from the temporary storage unit 23 to the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15). At this point, the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 contains the coins Ci that were accumulated in the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 when the deposit counting process was stopped, and the coins Ci that were stored in the temporary storage unit 23.

[0060] Next, as shown in Fig. 5(B), the coin control unit 12 transports the coins Ci accumulated in the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 to the receptacle 13A of the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 via the transport path indicated by the thick arrow in Fig. 5(B) that passes through the transport path R. As a result, the coins taken into the coin processing device 10 from the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 are returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 again, and the coins become available for re-execution of the deposit / withdrawal process.

[0061] 6, the coin control unit 12 accumulates the coins returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 in the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 via the chute unit 14, and re-executes the deposit counting process. This is the automatic recovery process.

[0062] In other words, in the automatic recovery process, coins taken into the coin processing device 10 from the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 during the deposit / count process are temporarily returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13, and then the deposit / count process is executed again, and this operation attempts to clear the transport jam. Note that the automatic recovery process can clear, for example, relatively minor transport jams. To give a specific example, if a transport jam occurs in which a coin gets caught in the middle of the transport path R due to a sticky substance or the like, the coin may become unstuck and the transport jam may be cleared when the coins remaining on the transport path R are returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 during the automatic recovery process.

[0063] Then, if the coin control unit 12 does not detect a transport jam when re-executing the deposited coin counting process (that is, if the deposited coin counting process can be re-executed normally), it executes the subsequent deposited coin storage process and ends the deposit processing.

[0064] In this way, when the coin control unit 12 detects a transport jam during the deposit counting process, it first stops the deposit counting process. Then, the coin control unit 12 attempts to resolve the transport jam by executing an automatic recovery process (a process in which the coins taken into the coin processing device 10 are temporarily returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 and then the deposit counting process is executed again), and if the transport jam is resolved, it executes the deposit storage process following the deposit counting process, thereby completing the deposit processing without an error stop.

[0065] On the other hand, if the coin control unit 12 detects a transport jam again when re-executing the deposited coin counting process, it stops the deposited coin counting process and executes the automatic recovery process again. If the transport jam is not resolved even after repeating the automatic recovery process a preset number of times, the coin control unit 12 stops the coin processing device 10 due to an error. When the coin processing device 10 stops due to an error, the automated teller machine 1 displays, for example, on the operation display unit 8, a message indicating that the coin processing device has stopped due to an error and instructing the user to wait until maintenance work (coin removal work) is completed. In this case, the automated teller machine 1 cannot be used until the coin removal work by a maintenance person or the like is completed.

[0066] [1-6. Summary and Effects] As explained above, in the first embodiment, the coin processing device 10 includes the depositing / dispensing unit 13 as an insertion unit into which coins are inserted, the accumulating / separating unit 15A as a separating unit that stores the coins inserted into the depositing / dispensing unit 13 and separates and dispenses them one by one, the separating / conveying unit 15B as a conveying unit that conveys the coins dispensed from the depositing / separating unit 15A along the conveying path R, the delivery unit 17 and the pin belt conveying unit 18, and the authenticating unit 15A as a discriminating unit that is provided on the conveying path R and discriminates the coins. The system is provided with a recognition and conveyance unit 16, a temporary holding unit 23 that temporarily stores coins that have been identified as normal coins by the recognition and conveyance unit 16, and a coin control unit 12 that serves as a control unit that performs a deposit counting process as a coin counting process, which feeds coins inserted into the deposit and withdrawal unit 13 from the accumulation and separation unit 15A, identifies them using the recognition and conveyance unit 16, and conveys coins that have been identified as normal coins to the temporary holding unit 23, and conveys (returns) coins that have been identified as rejected coins to the deposit and withdrawal unit 13.

[0067] If a transport jam occurs during the execution of the deposit counting process, the coin control unit 12 stops the deposit counting process and, as an automatic recovery process, returns the coins on the transport path R, the coins stored in the accumulation / separation unit 15A, and the coins stored in the temporary holding unit 23 to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13, and executes the deposit counting process again.

[0068] In this way, in the coin processing device 10 of the first embodiment, if a transport jam occurs during the execution of the deposit counting process, the coin processing device 10 operates to return all coins to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 and then executes the deposit counting process again. By doing this, the transport jam may be cleared, and as a result, it is possible to reduce error stoppages that require coin removal work by maintenance personnel or the like. Thus, with the coin processing device 10 of the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce error stoppages due to transport jams.

[0069] Furthermore, if the transport jam is not resolved even after the automatic recovery process is executed, the coin control unit 12 of the coin processing device 10 executes the automatic recovery process again. By doing so, the coin processing device 10 of the first embodiment can increase the probability of clearing the transport jam.

[0070] Furthermore, if the transport jam is not cleared even after the automatic recovery process has been repeatedly executed a predetermined number of times, the coin control unit 12 of the coin processing device 10 will cause an error stop of the coin processing device 10. In this way, in the coin processing device 10 of the first embodiment, if a transport jam that cannot be cleared by the automatic recovery process occurs, the coin processing device 10 will cause an error stop, and can prompt a maintenance person or the like to remove the coin.

[0071] 2. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. This second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the content of the automatic recovery process executed by the coin processing device 10. Therefore, here, a description of the configuration of the coin processing device 10 will be omitted, and only the automatic recovery process will be described.

[0072] [2-1. Automatic recovery process] The automatic recovery process performed by the coin processing device 10 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 9. Figures 7 to 9 are simplified diagrams of the internal configuration of the coin processing device 10 shown in Figure 2. As in the first embodiment, this automatic recovery process is a process performed by the coin control unit 12 controlling the coin processing unit 102 when a transport jam occurs during the deposited money counting process in the deposit process, and is a process that automatically resolves the transport jam and recovers.

[0073] Figure 7(A) shows the state of coin transport when the coin processing device 10 is performing a deposit counting process. The operation in Figure 7(A) (i.e., the operation of the deposit counting process) is the same as in the first embodiment (see Figure 4(A)), so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0074] When the coin control unit 12 of the coin processing device 10 detects a transport jam from the detection results of each sensor 103A installed on the transport path R during this deposit counting process, it causes the coin processing unit 102 to stop transporting coins, stops the deposit counting process, and executes an automatic recovery process.

[0075] In the coin processing device 10, if the transport jam detected by the coin control unit 12 is caused by a coin being stuck in the guide unit 30, which serves as a chute that guides coins dropped from the pin belt transport unit 18 to the temporary storage unit 23, during the automatic recovery process, even if the coins Ci remaining on the transport path R, the coins Ci accumulated in the accumulation / separation unit 15A, and the coins Ci stored in the temporary storage unit 23 are returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13, the coins may remain stuck in the guide unit 30. If the deposit / counting process is performed again while the coins remain stuck in the guide unit 30, the coin jam in the guide unit 30 may become even worse, and a transport jam may occur again. In other words, if a coin is stuck in the guide unit 30, the automatic recovery process may not be able to resolve the transport jam.

[0076] Therefore, in this second embodiment, during the automatic recovery process, the number of coins transported to the temporary storage section 23 before the deposit counting process is stopped, counted using the detection results of sensors 103A located near the front and rear of branch section 19, which is located at the branch point from pin belt conveying section 18 to temporary storage section 23 (called the number of coins transported to the temporary storage section), is compared with the number of coins returned from temporary storage section 23 to accumulation / separation section 15A and counted using recognition conveying section 16 (or the detection results of sensor 103A) after the deposit counting process is stopped (called the number of coins stored in the temporary storage section).If the number of coins transported to the temporary storage section and the number of coins stored in the temporary storage section match (i.e., if there are no coins stuck in guide section 30), the deposit counting process is re-executed, and if they do not match (i.e., if there is a possibility that coins are stuck in guide section 30), the deposit counting process is not re-executed and an error stop is performed.

[0077] Furthermore, during the deposit counting process, the coin control unit 12 counts the number of coins transported to the temporary holding section using the detection results of sensors such as 103A, and when the deposit counting process is stopped, the number of coins transported to the temporary holding section up to that point is stored in the memory unit 101.

[0078] As an automatic recovery process, the coin control unit 12 first operates the recognition and conveyance unit 16, the delivery unit 17, and the pin belt conveyance unit 18 so that coins Ci remaining on the conveyance path R (i.e., the conveyance path R that passes through the recognition and conveyance unit 16, the delivery unit 17, and the pin belt conveyance unit 18 to the container 13A of the deposit and withdrawal unit 13) at the time the deposit counting process is stopped are conveyed to the container 13A of the deposit and withdrawal unit 13, just like rejected coins Ci.As a result, as shown in Figure 7(B), if a coin Ci (omitted in Figure 7(B)) remains on the conveyance path R, this coin Ci is conveyed to the container 13A of the deposit and withdrawal unit 13 along the conveyance path indicated by the dotted arrow in Figure 7(B) just like the rejected coin Ci. At this point, the receptacle 13A of the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 contains rejected coins Ci that were transported during the deposit counting process and coins Ci that remained on the transport path R when the deposit counting process was stopped (omitted in Figure 7(B)).

[0079] At the time when the deposit counting process was stopped, the coins Ci that had been accumulated in the accumulation / separation section 15A of the upper separation section 15 and the coins Ci that had been stored in the temporary holding section 23 remain accumulated at this point. Also, if coins were jammed in the guide section 30 that guides coins from the pin belt conveyance section 18 to the temporary holding section 23 at the time when the deposit counting process was stopped, there is a possibility that the coins will remain jammed in the guide section 30 at this point.

[0080] Next, as shown in Figure 8(A), the coin control unit 12 empties the accumulation / separation unit 15A by transporting the coins Ci accumulated in the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 to the container 13A of the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 via the transport path indicated by the thick arrow in Figure 8(A) that passes through the transport path R.

[0081] Next, as shown in Fig. 8(B), the coin control unit 12 transports the coins Ci stored in the temporary storage unit 23 to the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 along the transport path indicated by the thick arrow in Fig. 8(B) (i.e., the transport path that feeds the coins Ci from the temporary storage unit 23 to the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15). At this point, the coins Ci that were stored in the temporary storage unit 23 when the deposit counting process was stopped are accumulated in the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15.

[0082] Next, as shown in Fig. 9, the coin control unit 12 transports the coins Ci accumulated in the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 to the receptacle 13A of the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 along a transport path indicated by a thick arrow in Fig. 9 that passes through the transport path R. At this time, the coin control unit 12 counts the number of coins Ci using the recognition and transport unit 16 (or the detection result of the sensor 103A), and sets this as the number of coins Ci stored in the temporary holding unit.

[0083] The coin control unit 12 then compares the number of coins stored in the temporary storage unit with the number of coins transported to the temporary storage unit stored in the memory unit 101. If the number of coins stored in the temporary storage unit and the number of coins transported to the temporary storage unit match, this means that there is no possibility that coins are jammed in the guide unit 30 leading to the temporary storage unit 23 at this time.

[0084] In this case, the coin control unit 12 accumulates the coins Ci returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 in the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 via the chute unit 14, and re-executes the deposit counting process, in the same manner as in Figure 7(A). This is the automatic recovery process. Thereafter, if the coin control unit 12 does not detect a transport jam when re-executing the deposit counting process (i.e., if the deposit counting process can be re-executed normally), it executes the subsequent deposit storage process and ends the deposit process.

[0085] Furthermore, if the coin control unit 12 detects a transport jam again when re-executing the deposited coin counting process, it stops the deposited coin counting process and executes the automatic recovery process again. If the transport jam is not resolved even after repeating the automatic recovery process a preset number of times, the coin control unit 12 stops the coin processing device 10 due to an error.

[0086] On the other hand, if the number of coins stored in the temporary storage section counted during the automatic recovery process does not match the number of coins transported to the temporary storage section, this means that there is a possibility that coins are stuck in the guide section 30 leading to the temporary storage section 23.

[0087] In this case, the coin control unit 12 is configured to stop the coin processing device 10 due to an error that indicates a discrepancy in the number of coins during the automatic recovery process. When the coin processing device 10 stops due to an error, the automated teller machine 1 displays, for example, on the operation and display unit 8, a message indicating that the coin processing device has stopped due to an error and instructing the user to wait until the maintenance work (coin removal work) is completed. In this case, the automated teller machine 1 becomes unusable until the coin removal work by a maintenance person or the like is completed. In this case, the maintenance person performs the coin removal work by, for example, pulling the coin processing device 10 out to the front (or rear) of the housing 2 of the automated teller machine 1 to remove the jammed coins, and then storing the coin processing device 10 inside the housing 2 and resetting the coin processing device 10.

[0088] [2-2. Summary and Effects] As explained so far, in the second embodiment, if a conveying jam occurs during the execution of the deposit counting process, the coin control unit 12 of the coin processing device 10 stops the deposit counting process and, as an automatic recovery process, compares the number of coins conveyed to the temporary holding unit, which is the number of coins counted up to this point and conveyed to the temporary holding unit 23 (more specifically, the number of coins conveyed to the guide unit 30, which serves as a chute unit that drops and guides coins into the temporary holding unit 23), with the number of coins stored in the temporary holding unit, which is the number of coins that were fed out of the temporary holding unit 23 and counted using the recognition and conveying unit 16 after the deposit counting process was stopped.

[0089] If the number of coins transported in the temporary holding section matches the number of coins stored in the temporary holding section (i.e., if there are no coins stuck in the guide section 30), the coin control section 12 re-executes the deposit counting process, and if they do not match (i.e., if there is a possibility that coins are stuck in the guide section 30), it does not re-execute the deposit counting process and stops with an error.

[0090] In this way, in the coin processing device 10 of the second embodiment, if the number of coins transported in the temporary storage section does not match the number of coins stored in the temporary storage section and it is highly likely that the transport jam cannot be cleared by the automatic recovery process, an error stop is made at a stage before the deposited coin counting process is re-executed by the automatic recovery process. In this way, in the coin processing device 10 of the second embodiment, if a transport jam that cannot be cleared by the automatic recovery process (a transport jam caused by a coin stuck in the guide section 30) occurs, an error stop is made quickly, and it is possible to prompt a maintenance person or the like to remove the coins.

[0091] In addition, in the coin processing device 10, the coin control unit 12 compares the number of coins transported to the temporary holding unit, which is the number of coins transported to the guide unit 30 leading to the temporary holding unit 23, counted using the detection results of the sensor 103A, etc., with the number of coins stored in the temporary holding unit, which is the number of coins dispensed from the temporary holding unit 23 and counted by the recognition and transport unit 16, thereby making it possible to determine whether or not coins are stuck in the guide unit 30 without installing a sensor or the like in the guide unit 30.

[0092] 3. Other Embodiments [3-1. Other embodiment 1] In the second embodiment described above, after a transport jam is detected and the deposit counting process is stopped, if the number of coins transported to the temporary storage section counted up to this point matches the number of coins stored in the temporary storage section counted after the deposit counting process was stopped by feeding them out from the temporary storage section 23, the deposit counting process is re-executed; if they do not match, it is determined that there may be a coin stuck in the guide section 30, so the deposit counting process is not re-executed, and the process is stopped due to an error indicating a number mismatch.

[0093] Alternatively, another method may be used to compare the number of coins transported to the temporary storage section 23, which is the number of coins transported to the temporary storage section 23, with the number of coins stored in the temporary storage section, which is the number of coins dispensed from the temporary storage section 23.

[0094] Specifically, after detecting a transport jam and stopping the deposit counting process, the coin control unit 12 first transports the coins Ci remaining on transport path R to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 via a transport path that passes through transport path R, and then transports the coins Ci accumulated in the separation transport unit 15B of the upper separation unit 15 to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 via a transport path that passes through transport path R. At this point, the number of coins Ci returned to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 is the sum of the number A of rejected coins Ci transported to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 during the deposit counting process, the number B of coins Ci remaining on transport path R when the deposit counting process was stopped, and the number C of coins Ci accumulated in the separation transport unit 15B. The coin control unit 12 stores this sum in, for example, the memory unit 101 as the temporary storage unit pre-count number N1. In addition, the coin control unit 12 is configured to count the number of coins transported to the deposit / withdrawal unit 13, for example, using the detection results of the recognition and transport unit 16 or a sensor 103A located near the deposit / withdrawal unit 13 on the transport path R.

[0095] Next, the coin control unit 12 feeds the coins Ci stored in the temporary storage unit 23 to the accumulation / separation unit 15A of the upper separation unit 15 for accumulation, and then transports the coins Ci accumulated in the accumulation / separation unit 15A to the depositing / withdrawing unit 13 via a transport path that passes through the transport path R. At this point, the number of coins Ci returned to the depositing / withdrawing unit 13 is the sum (total number) of the temporary storage unit pre-count number N1 and the number D of coins Ci fed out from the temporary storage unit 23. The coin control unit 12 sets this sum as the temporary storage unit post-count number N2.

[0096] The coin control unit 12 then compares the value obtained by subtracting the number of coins before counting in the escrow unit N1 from the number of coins after counting in the escrow unit N2 as the number of coins stored in the escrow unit with the number of coins transported in the escrow unit. In this case, as in the second embodiment, if the number of coins transported in the escrow unit and the number of coins stored in the escrow unit match, the coin control unit 12 re-executes the deposited coin counting process, but if they do not match, it determines that there may be a coin jam in the guide unit 30 and does not re-execute the deposited coin counting process, and causes an error stop due to a number mismatch error.

[0097] [3-2. Other embodiment 2] Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, the number of coins conveyed to the temporary storage section does not match the number of coins stored in the temporary storage section, and so an error is detected during automatic recovery processing to stop the operation as a number mismatch error, as there is a possibility that coins may be stuck in the guide section 30 leading to the temporary storage section 23. When the coin processing device 10 is thus detected as a number mismatch error, a maintenance worker or other operator must perform maintenance work (i.e., coin removal work) to recover the coin processing device 10.

[0098] Therefore, when the coin processing device 10 is stopped due to an error of coin number mismatch during the automatic recovery process, the error stop may be released only when maintenance work is performed by an operator.

[0099] In this case, the coin control unit 12 of the coin processing device 10 detects whether maintenance work has been performed on the coin processing device 10, for example, based on the detection result of sensor 103B, which detects that the coin processing device 10 has been pulled out to the front (or rear) of the housing 2 via a slide rail and that the pulled-out coin processing device 10 has been stored inside the housing 2, and only when it detects that maintenance work has been performed does it perform a reset in response to a subsequent reset operation to recover. In other words, the coin processing device 10 can be released from the error stop and recovered by, for example, issuing a reset instruction remotely, but if the coin processing device 10 has stopped due to an error such as a number mismatch error during automatic recovery processing, the coin control unit 12 will not accept a remote reset instruction.

[0100] This makes it possible to avoid a situation where, when the coin processing device 10 stops due to an error caused by a mismatch in the number of coins during the automatic recovery process, the coin processing device 10 recovers without maintenance work being performed and then stops due to an error again.

[0101] Here, the coin control unit 12 determines whether or not maintenance work has been performed based on the detection result of the sensor 103B, but this is not limiting, and for example, it may be determined whether or not maintenance work has been performed based on whether or not an operator has performed an operation indicating that maintenance work has been performed on the automated teller machine 1. Also, a sensor may be provided on the front (or rear) of the automated teller machine 1 to detect the opening and closing of a door, and whether or not maintenance work has been performed may be determined based on the detection result of this sensor (whether or not the door has opened or closed).

[0102] [3-3. Other embodiment 3] Furthermore, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the coin control unit 12 detects (detects) a conveying jam from the detection results of each sensor 103A that serves as a conveying monitoring means provided on the conveying path R, but various means such as an optical sensor or a contact sensor may be used as the conveying monitoring means.

[0103] [3-4. Other embodiment 4] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention is applied to a coin processing device 10 having a deposit / withdrawal unit 13 as an input unit, a stacking / separating unit 15A as a separating unit, a separating / conveying unit 15B, a delivery unit 17, and a pin belt conveying unit 18 as conveying units, a recognition / conveying unit 16 as a discriminator, a temporary holding unit 23, and a coin control unit 12 as a control unit that executes a deposit / counting process. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to a coin processing device that does not have a separating unit such as the stacking / separating unit 15A, or a coin processing device in which the function of the separating unit is incorporated into the coin processing device. In other words, the present invention can be applied to a coin processing device that has a transport path that allows coins taken into the coin processing device from the input unit during a deposit / counting process to be temporarily returned to the input unit.

[0104] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention is applied to a coin processing device 10 that supports both deposits and withdrawals, but is not limited to this and can also be applied to a coin processing device that supports only deposits.

[0105] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention is applied to an automated teller machine 1 as an automated transaction device incorporating a coin processing device 10, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to various automated transaction devices that incorporate a coin processing device, such as automated transaction devices that conduct coin-related transactions with customers, such as automatic ticket vending machines, and cash management devices used by financial institution employees and retail store clerks to manage cash.

[0106] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments described above or other embodiments, and the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments in which the first and second embodiments described above and some or all of the other embodiments described above are arbitrarily combined, or embodiments in which some of the embodiments are extracted. [Industrial Applicability]

[0107] The present invention can be used, for example, in an automated teller machine that performs transactions related to coins with users. [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 1...Automated teller machine, 2...Housing, 8...Operation display unit, 10...Coin processing device, 12...Coin control unit, 13...Deposit / withdrawal unit, 13A...Storage container, 14...Chute unit, 15...Upper separation unit, 15A...Accumulation / separation unit, 15B...Separation / conveyance unit, 16...Recognition / conveyance unit, 17...Delivery unit, 18...Pin belt conveyance unit, 19...Branching unit, 20...Stacker branching unit, 21...Stacker unit, 22...Dispensing / conveyance unit, 23...Temporary holding unit, 30, 31...Guidance unit, 32...Accumulation unit, 33...Feeding unit, 100...Communication unit, 101...Memory unit, 102...Coin processing unit, 103...Sensor.

Claims

1. an insertion portion into which coins are inserted; a conveying unit that conveys the coins dispensed from the insertion unit along a conveying path; a coin discriminating unit provided on the conveying path for discriminating coins; a temporary storage unit that temporarily stores coins that have been identified as normal coins by the identification unit; a control unit that executes a coin counting process in which coins inserted into the insertion unit are fed out, the coins are discriminated by the discriminating unit, and coins discriminated as normal coins are transported to the temporary storage unit, and coins discriminated as reject coins are transported to the insertion unit; Equipped with The control unit If a jam occurs during the execution of the coin counting process, the coin counting process is stopped, and as an automatic recovery process, the coins on the conveyance path and the coins stored in the temporary storage unit are returned to the insertion unit, and the coin counting process is executed again. A coin processing device characterized by:

2. The machine further includes a separation unit that stores coins inserted into the insertion unit and separates and dispenses the coins one by one. The conveying section is The coins fed from the separation unit are transported along the transport path, The control unit If a jam is detected during the coin counting process, the coin counting process is stopped, and as an automatic recovery process, the coins on the conveyance path, the coins stored in the separation section, and the coins stored in the temporary storage section are returned to the insertion section, and the coin counting process is restarted.

2. The coin processing device according to claim 1.

3. The temporary holding unit The coin machine is connected to the separation unit and also to the conveyance path via a chute unit, stores coins that drop through the chute unit, and delivers the stored coins to the separation unit.

3. The coin processing device according to claim 2.

4. The control unit If a jam is detected during execution of the coin counting process, the coin counting process is stopped, and as the automatic recovery process, the coins on the conveyance path are returned to the insertion section, then the coins stored in the separation section are returned to the insertion section, then the coins stored in the temporary storage section are fed out to the separation section and then returned to the insertion section, and the number of coins conveyed to the temporary storage section, which is the number of coins conveyed to the temporary storage section counted until the coin counting process is stopped, is compared with the number of coins stored in the temporary storage section, which is the number of coins fed out from the temporary storage section, which is counted after the coin counting process is stopped, and if the number of coins conveyed to the temporary storage section and the number of coins stored in the temporary storage section match, the coin counting process is re-executed, and if they do not match, the coin counting process is stopped due to an error.

4. The coin processing device according to claim 3.

5. a transport monitoring means for detecting coins transported to the chute section; The control unit The number of coins counted using the detection result of the transport monitoring means until the coin counting process is stopped is set as the number of coins transported to the temporary storage unit.

5. The coin processing device according to claim 4.

6. The control unit After the coin counting process is stopped, when the coins stored in the temporary storage unit are fed to the separation unit and then returned to the insertion unit, the number of the coins is counted using the discrimination unit, and the counted number is set as the number of coins stored in the temporary storage unit.

6. The coin processing device according to claim 4 or 5.

7. The control unit The number of coins stored in the temporary storage unit is determined as the difference between the number of coins returned to the insertion unit, which is counted from when the coin counting process is stopped until the coins stored in the separation unit are completely returned to the insertion unit, and the total number of coins returned to the insertion unit, which is counted from when the coin counting process is stopped until the coins stored in the separation unit are completely returned to the insertion unit and the coins stored in the temporary storage unit are also fed to the separation unit and completely returned to the insertion unit.

6. The coin processing device according to claim 4 or 5.

8. a maintenance work detection unit for detecting whether or not maintenance work for clearing the jam has been performed; The control unit When the number of sheets conveyed to the temporary holding section does not match the number of sheets stored in the temporary holding section, an error is detected and the system is stopped. When the error is stopped due to the number of sheets mismatch error, the system is released from the error stop when the maintenance work detection section detects that the maintenance work has been performed.

7. The coin processing device according to claim 4, wherein the coin processing device is a coin processing device.

9. The control unit If the jam is not resolved even after the automatic recovery process is executed, the automatic recovery process is executed again.

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

10. The control unit If the jam is not resolved even after repeating the automatic recovery process a predetermined number of times, an error will be stopped. The coin processing device according to claim 9 .

11. an operation unit that accepts operations by a user; The coin processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. An automatic transaction device comprising:

12. A control method for a coin processing device comprising: an insertion unit into which coins are inserted; a transport unit that transports the coins dispensed from the insertion unit along a transport path; a discrimination unit that is provided on the transport path and discriminates the coins; a temporary holding unit that temporarily stores coins that have been discriminated as normal coins by the discrimination unit; and a control unit that executes a coin counting process that dispenses the coins inserted into the insertion unit, discriminates them by the discrimination unit, transports the coins that have been discriminated as normal coins to the temporary holding unit, and returns coins that have been discriminated as reject coins to the insertion unit, When a jam occurs during the execution of the coin counting process, the control unit stops the coin counting process, and as an automatic recovery process, returns the coins on the conveyance path and the coins stored in the temporary storage unit to the insertion unit, and executes the coin counting process again. A method for controlling a coin processing device.

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