Storage mechanism and coin processing machine

Abstract

To provide a storage mechanism and a coin processor capable of easily removing foreign matter from a storage unit.SOLUTION: A storage mechanism (storage and delivery unit 40) has a cylindrical-shaped storage portion 46 in which coins are stored in a stacked state and an opening extending along the direction of coin accumulation is formed, and an open / close door 47 that opens and closes the opening. The open / close door 47 rotates around an axis 47a extending along the direction of coin accumulation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 20

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage mechanism and a coin processing machine. [Background technology]

[0002] A known so-called circulation-type coin handling machine that reuses deposited coins for dispensing is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the coin handling machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, during the coin deposit process, coins received in a coin receiving unit are sent by a transport unit to a storage cylinder of a coin storage mechanism by denomination and stored in the storage cylinder. Also, during the coin dispensing process, this coin handling machine is configured so that coins are fed one by one from the storage cylinder to the transport unit, and the transport unit sends the coins to a coin dispensing box.

[0003] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a coin storage device that includes a lid that forms the side of a coin storage cylinder and covers it in an openable and closable manner. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-009378 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-101434 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The conventional coin change machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 etc. has a problem in that it is not easy to remove foreign matter such as dust and dirt from the storage cylinder even if the foreign matter accumulates in the storage cylinder. Also, the coin storage device disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that it is necessary to secure space for opening the lid because the lid opens around an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the coin accumulation direction.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a storage mechanism and a coin processing machine that can easily remove foreign objects from the storage section. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The storage mechanism of the present invention comprises: a cylindrical storage portion in which coins are stored in a stacked state and in which an opening extending along the coin stacking direction is formed; an opening / closing door that opens and closes the opening; a guide member extending along the coin stacking direction in the storage section; Equipped with The opening and closing door is adapted to rotate around an axis extending along the coin stacking direction. the law of nature, The width of the gap formed around the guide member is smaller than the diameter of the coin to be stored in the storage section. It is characterized by:

[0008] The storage mechanism of the present invention comprises: Transporting coins The coin machine further includes a cam for storing the coins sent from the transport unit in the storing portion, The cam may be configured to feed out the coin located at the top layer of the coins stored in the storage portion.

[0010] The guide member may be positioned inside the door when the door closes the opening.

[0011] The inner surface of the door may be formed with a recess in which the guide member is housed when the opening is closed.

[0012] Furthermore, a plurality of the guide members may be provided, and the width of the gap between the plurality of guide members may be smaller than the diameter of the coin to be stored in the storage portion.

[0013] Further, a second opening for removing the top coin accumulated in the storage section from the storage section may be formed near the cam in the storage section.

[0014] The coin processing machine of the present invention comprises: The storage mechanism described above; a conveying unit that conveys coins; Equipped with The coins branched from the conveying section are sent to the storage mechanism and stored in the storage mechanism, and coins dispensed from the storage mechanism by the cam are sent to the conveying section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the storage mechanism and coin processing machine of the present invention, foreign matter can be easily removed from the storage portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a currency handling machine including a coin handling machine and a banknote handling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic internal configuration of the coin processing machine shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the inside of the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 1 as seen from above. FIG. [Figure 4] 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a branching section provided in a circulating transport section in the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 1 and so on. [Figure 5] 2 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of an insertion section in the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view showing a part of the exterior of the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc., and FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view showing the configuration when the top door is open. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a tray, a dispensing chute, etc. of the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. [Figure 8] 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the tray shown in FIG. 7 when viewed from the front side of the coin processing machine. FIG. [Figure 9]8 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the tray, dispensing chute, and reject chute of the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 7 when viewed from the front side of the coin processing machine. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the tray and the coin dispensing chute shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 11] 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of each storing and feeding unit of the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. FIG. [Figure 12] 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged storing and feeding section shown in FIG. 11. FIG. [Figure 13] 12 is a side view of each storing and feeding section shown in FIG. 11. FIG. [Figure 14] 12 is a perspective view schematically showing each component of each storing and feeding section shown in FIG. 11. FIG. [Figure 15] 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional configuration of the storing and feeding section shown in FIG. 14. FIG. [Figure 16] 15 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the cam and guide member of the storing and feeding section shown in FIG. 14 when viewed from below. FIG. [Figure 17] 17 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a cam and a guide member shown in FIG. 16. FIG. [Figure 18] 17 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a cam and a guide member shown in FIG. 16. FIG. [Figure 19] 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the cross-sectional configuration of the storing and feeding section shown in FIG. 14. FIG. [Figure 20] 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the opening and closing door of the storing and feeding section shown in FIG. 19 is open. FIG. [Figure 21] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the coin handling machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. [Figure 22] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the movement of coins when a coin deposit process is performed in the coin handling machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. FIG. [Figure 23] 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the movement of coins when a coin dispensing process is performed in the coin handling machine shown in FIG. 1 etc.. FIG. [Figure 24] 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the movement of coins when a coin reconciliation process is performed in the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. [Figure 25]1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the movement of coins when a coin reconciliation process is performed in the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. [Figure 26] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when a coin reconciliation process is performed in the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. [Figure 27] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when a coin dispensing process is performed in the coin processing machine shown in FIG. 1 etc. [Figure 28] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a coin processing machine according to a modified example. [Figure 29] FIG. 10 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of a coin processing machine according to another modified example. [Figure 30] 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a banknote processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 31] FIG. 31 is a side view schematically showing the internal configuration of the banknote handling machine shown in FIG. 30. [Figure 32] FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the banknote handling machine shown in FIG. 30 etc. [Figure 33] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the inside of a conventional coin processing machine as viewed from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 27 are diagrams showing a coin processing machine 10 and a coin processing method according to this embodiment. In Figures 1 to 27, coins are indicated by reference character C.

[0018] First, the overall configuration of coin handling machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a money handling machine equipped with coin handling machine 10 and banknote handling machine 200 according to this embodiment, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic internal configuration of coin handling machine 10 shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of the inside of coin handling machine 10 shown in Figure 1 as viewed from above. The money handling machine shown in Figure 1 is used as a money change machine installed at a checkout counter in the front area where product shelves are arranged in a store such as a supermarket or convenience store.

[0019] 1 to 3, the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 12, an insertion unit 20 provided at the top of the housing 12, a circulating conveyance unit 30 arranged along a horizontal plane at the top of the housing 12, a plurality of storing and feeding units 40 that store coins by denomination, a recognition unit 50 that recognizes coins conveyed by the circulating conveyance unit 30, a tray 60 from which dispensed coins and rejected coins are dispensed so that they can be removed from outside the housing 12, a dispensing chute 80 that drops dispensed coins from the circulating conveyance unit 30 onto the tray 60, a reject chute 70 that drops rejected coins to be rejected from the circulating conveyance unit 30 onto the tray 60, and a control unit 90 that controls each component of the coin processing machine 10. Each component of the coin processing machine 10 will be described in detail below.

[0020] The configuration of the insertion unit 20 will be described with reference to Figures 2, 3, 5, etc. Figure 5 is a side view schematically illustrating the configuration of the insertion unit 20 in the coin processing machine 10 shown in Figure 1, etc. As shown in Figure 5, the insertion unit 20 includes a circulating belt 22 stretched over a plurality of pulleys, a drive motor 21 (see Figure 21) that rotates and drives one of the pulleys around which the circulating belt 22 is stretched, a reverse roller 24, a payout detection sensor 26, and a remaining coin detection sensor 28 (see Figure 21). Coins inserted into the insertion unit 20 are accumulated on the circulating belt 22. Furthermore, the drive motor 21 drives and rotates the pulleys, causing the circulating belt 22 to circulate in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 5. In this way, the coins accumulated on the circulating belt 22 move leftward in Figure 5 (upward in Figure 3) and are fed out to the circulating conveyance unit 30, which will be described later.

[0021] The reverse roller 24 is disposed above the circulating belt 22, separated from the circulating belt 22 by a gap greater than the thickness of one coin but smaller than the thickness of two coins. When the drive motor 21 rotates the pulley, the rotational drive force is transmitted to the reverse roller 24 via gears (not shown) and the reverse roller 24 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5 . This prevents two or more coins from passing through the gap between the circulating belt 22 and the reverse roller 24 in a stacked state, allowing the circulating belt 22 to dispense coins one by one. A dispense detection sensor 26, which may be an optical sensor or the like, is provided downstream of the reverse roller 24 in the direction of movement of the circulating belt 22. The dispense detection sensor 26 can detect coins dispensed by the circulating belt 22 to the circular conveyance unit 30 (described later). A residual detection sensor 28 detects coins present on the circulating belt 22 at the insertion unit 20. The residual detection sensor 28 may be a magnetic sensor, for example. In this embodiment, when a coin is detected by the residual detection sensor 28, the drive motor 21 rotates the pulley to move the circulating belt 22 in a circular motion, and when the residual detection sensor 28 no longer detects a coin, the drive motor 21 stops the pulley.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 6, a top door 14 is provided on the top surface of the housing 12 at a position above the insertion port 20. FIG. 6(a) is a perspective view showing a portion of the exterior of the coin processing machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 etc., and FIG. 6(b) is a perspective view showing the configuration when the top door 14 of the coin processing machine 10 shown in FIG. 6(a) is opened. The top door 14 rotates around an axis 15. As a result, the top door 14 can be opened by rotating the top door 14 around the axis 15 as shown in FIG. 6(b). When the top door 14 is opened, an operator can insert a large number of coins into the insertion port 20 at once. In other words, the operator can accumulate a large number of coins on the circulating belt 22 at once. The top door 14 also has an opening 16 shaped to allow the passage of a single coin that is the largest of the coins to be processed. When top door 14 is closed, an operator can insert coins one by one into opening 16, and the inserted coins will be accumulated on circulating belt 22 of insertion port 20. In addition, on the back side of top door 14, insertion detection sensor 18 (see FIG. 21), such as an optical sensor, is provided near the top of insertion port 20, and coins passing through opening 16 are detected by insertion detection sensor 18. In addition, a door opening / closing detection sensor 19 (see FIG. 21) is provided to detect whether top door 14 is open or closed.

[0023] Here, when top door 14 is closed, the operator cannot see the inside of insertion port 20 from outside housing 12, so it is necessary for control unit 90 to reliably detect the insertion of a coin and drive circulating belt 22 when the insertion of a coin is detected. In contrast, in this embodiment, when door open / close detection sensor 19 detects that top door 14 is closed, if insertion detection sensor 18 detects a coin inserted into opening 16 or if remaining coin detection sensor 28 detects a coin, drive motor 21 drives and rotates the pulley, thereby circulating circulating belt 22. Therefore, even if the inside of insertion port 20 cannot be seen from outside housing 12, control unit 90 can reliably detect the insertion of a coin and drive circulating belt 22 when the insertion of a coin is detected.

[0024] Furthermore, when the door opening / closing detection sensor 19 detects that the top door 14 is open, the drive motor 21 does not drive the pulley to rotate, even when the insertion detection sensor 18, located near the top of the insertion port 20, detects the same. When the top door 14 is open, the operator can see the inside of the insertion port 20 from outside the housing 12. Therefore, if there are coins remaining on the circulating belt 22, the operator can recognize this. Furthermore, even if the operator inserts their finger into the insertion port 20 when inserting a coin into the insertion port 20 and the insertion detection sensor 18 detects the operator's finger, the drive motor 21 does not drive the pulley to rotate. This prevents the operator's finger from getting caught in the circulating movement of the circulating belt 22 and becoming pinched. Furthermore, when the door opening / closing detection sensor 19 detects that the top door 14 is open, the insertion detection sensor 18 may be turned off.

[0025] As described above, the circulating conveying unit 30 is disposed along a horizontal plane at the top of the housing 12 and conveys coins along a predetermined circular path. The circular path has a substantially rectangular shape. The circular path is not limited to a substantially rectangular shape, and may be a substantially square shape. The above-described insertion port 20 is provided inside the substantially rectangular or square circular path. The circulating conveying unit 30 includes an endless circulating belt 32, a plurality of pulleys 34 around which the circulating belt 32 is tensioned, a tensioning mechanism 36 for adjusting the tension of the circulating belt 32, and a drive motor 30a for driving one of the pulleys 34 to rotate. The drive motor 30a drives the pulley 34 to rotate, thereby enabling the circulating belt 32 to circulate in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 . 3 by the circulating belt 22 of the insertion unit 20 and sent to the circulating conveyance unit 30, are transported one by one along the circular path by the circulating belt 32. More specifically, the circulating belt 32 has pins provided at equal intervals, and the coins are pushed by the pins on the conveyance surface extending along a substantially horizontal plane in the circulating conveyance unit 30, thereby being transported along the circular path.

[0026] Furthermore, a diverter mechanism 38 that sends coins conveyed by the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the insertion port 20 is provided at a position in the vicinity of the insertion port 20 in the circulating conveyance unit 30 (a position below the insertion port 20 in FIG. 3). The configuration of such a diverter mechanism 38 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the diverter mechanism 38 is provided with a diverter member 39, and coins conveyed along the conveyance surface by the circulating belt 32 are selectively sent to the insertion port 20 by the diverter member 39 in the diverter mechanism 38. As shown in FIG. 4, the diverter member 39 has a pair of oscillating portions 39b, 39c that rotate around an axis 39a, and a gap 39d provided between these oscillating portions 39b, 39c, and the circulating belt 32 is configured to pass through the gap 39d. The diverter 39 is provided with a solenoid 30b (see FIG. 21). When the solenoid 30b is driven, a pair of swinging portions 39b and 39c project upward from the coin conveying surface around an axis 39a as shown in FIG. 4, causing the coins to be sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the insertion port 20 along a guide surface 39e of the swinging portion 39b. The diverter mechanism 38 changes the conveying direction of the coins conveyed by the circulating belt 32 of the circulating conveyance unit 30 by 90° using the guide surface 39e of the diverter 39, and sends the coins to the insertion port 20 through the insertion port 38a. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, coins diverted from the circulating conveyance unit 30 by the diverter mechanism 38 are discharged in the direction indicated by reference symbol C1 at the insertion port 20. As a result, the coins are accumulated near the center of the circulating belt 32 at the insertion port 20, rather than near the downstream end of the circulating belt 32. This allows the coins to be smoothly dispensed from the insertion port 20. If the diverter mechanism 38 were provided with a diverter member that would drop coins conveyed by the circulating belt 32 of the circulating conveyance unit 30 directly downward, the coins diverted from the circulating conveyance unit 30 by the diverter mechanism 38 in Fig. 5 would be discharged in the direction indicated by reference sign C2 (i.e., directly downward) at the insertion port 20, and the coins would accumulate at the downstream end of the circulating belt 32. In this case, the coins would not be able to be dispensed smoothly from the insertion port 20.

[0027] 3 and other figures, a diverter member 31 is provided on the conveying surface corresponding to each storing and dispensing unit 40, and coins conveyed along the conveying surface by the circulating belt 32 are selectively sent to each storing and dispensing unit 40 by the diverter member 31. The configuration of the diverter member 31 is substantially the same as the configuration of the diverter member 39 of the above-mentioned diverting mechanism 38. Specifically, a solenoid 30b (see FIG. 21) is provided on the diverter member 31, and when the solenoid 30b is driven, the diverter member 31 protrudes upward from the conveying surface, causing coins to be sent from the circulating conveying unit 30 to each storing and dispensing unit 40.

[0028] In addition, a diverter 33 is provided at a position corresponding to the dispensing chute 80 on the conveying surface of the circulating conveying unit 30, and coins conveyed by the circulating belt 32 along the conveying surface in the clockwise direction in Figure 3 are selectively sent to the dispensing chute 80 by the diverter 33. The configuration of the diverter 33 is substantially the same as the configuration of the diverter 39 of the diverting mechanism 38 described above. Specifically, a solenoid 30b (see Figure 21) is provided on the diverter 33, and when the solenoid 30b is driven, the diverter 33 protrudes upward from the conveying surface, causing coins to be sent from the circulating conveying unit 30 to the dispensing chute 80.

[0029] In addition, a diverter 35 is provided at a position corresponding to the reject chute 70 on the conveying surface of the circulating conveying unit 30, and coins conveyed by the circulating belt 32 along the conveying surface in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 are selectively sent to the reject chute 70 by the diverter 35. The configuration of the diverter 35 is substantially the same as the configuration of the diverter 39 of the above-mentioned diverting mechanism 38. Specifically, a solenoid 30b (see FIG. 21) is provided on the diverter 35, and when the solenoid 30b is driven, the diverter 35 protrudes upward from the conveying surface, thereby sending coins from the circulating conveying unit 30 to the reject chute 70.

[0030] As will be described later, the coin conveying direction by the circulating conveying unit 30 when the coins conveyed by the circulating conveying unit 30 are branched by the branching member 33 and sent to the dispensing chute 80 (clockwise direction, see FIG. 23) is opposite to the coin conveying direction by the circulating conveying unit 30 when the coins conveyed by the circulating conveying unit 30 are branched by the branching member 35 and sent to the reject chute 70 (counterclockwise direction, see FIG. 22). In addition, coins are sent to the same tray 60 from the dispensing chute 80 and the reject chute 70.

[0031] In this embodiment, the circulating belt 32 of the circulating conveyor unit 30 is tensioned by multiple pulleys 34 and a tensioning mechanism 36, and the tension of the circulating belt 32 is adjusted by the tensioning mechanism 36. Specifically, the tensioning mechanism 36 is movable left and right in FIG. 3 . When the tensioning mechanism 36 is moved leftward in FIG. 3 , the tension applied to the circulating belt 32 increases, and when the tensioning mechanism 36 is moved rightward in FIG. 3 , the tension applied to the circulating belt 32 decreases. The tensioning mechanism 36 is movable left and right together with the pulleys and the conveying path. Even when the tensioning mechanism 36 is moved left and right, the relationship between the pulleys and the conveying path within the tensioning mechanism 36 remains unchanged, reducing conveying defects. Therefore, the tensioning mechanism 36 can be installed within the circular path of the circulating conveyor unit 30. This eliminates the need for a separate space for the tensioning mechanism 36 within the housing 12, thereby saving space within the housing 12.

[0032] The arrangement of such a tension mechanism 36 will be described below in comparison with the configuration of a conventional coin processing machine 400 shown in FIG. 33. The conventional coin processing machine 400 includes an input unit 420, a transport unit 430, a storing and feeding unit 440 to which each denomination of coins is assigned, a pair of left and right dispensing boxes 460 and 462, and a collection box 464. Coins input into the input unit 420 are fed out one by one to the left in FIG. 33. The transport unit 430 also includes a circulating belt 432 stretched around multiple pulleys 434 and a tension mechanism 436, and the circulating belt 432 moves in a circulating manner in a clockwise direction in FIG. 33. In a coin deposit process, coins input into the input unit 420 are fed out one by one from the input unit 420 to the left in FIG. 33 and are transported in the clockwise direction in FIG. 33 by the circulating belt 432. Specifically, the coins are transported by the circulating belt 432 in the order of upward, rightward, and downward directions in FIG. 33. The transport unit 430 is provided with a recognition unit 450, and the coins transported by the circulating belt 432 are recognized by the recognition unit 450, and then sent by denomination from a region 431 on the right side of each storing and feeding unit 440 in the transport unit 430 to each storing and feeding unit 440, and stored in these storing and feeding units 440 by denomination. In addition, in the coin dispensing process, coins fed from each storing and feeding unit 440 to a region 433 on the left side in FIG. 33 are transported one by one in the clockwise direction in FIG. 33 by the circulating belt 432. That is, the coins fed from each storing and feeding unit 440 to the region 433 on the left side in FIG. 33 are transported by the circulating belt 432 in the order of upward, rightward, and downward directions in FIG. 33, and the coins are sent to the dispensing box 460 or the dispensing box 462.

[0033] Here, the coin processing machine 400 shown in FIG. 33 is also provided with a tension mechanism 436 for adjusting the tension of the circulating belt 432. The tension mechanism 436 is movable left and right in FIG. 33; when the tension mechanism 436 moves leftward in FIG. 33, the tension applied to the circulating belt 432 increases, and when the tension mechanism 436 moves rightward in FIG. 33, the tension applied to the circulating belt 432 decreases. However, in the coin processing machine 400 shown in FIG. 33, such a tension mechanism 436 moves the pulley regardless of the conveyance path, and therefore, if the conveyance path includes a tension mechanism, this can cause conveyance problems. For this reason, it is not possible to provide a tension mechanism in the path of coin conveyance by the conveyance unit 430, and coins cannot be conveyed in a circular manner. In contrast, in the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment, the tension mechanism 36 is configured so that the pulley and the conveying path are integrated and can move in both the left and right directions, so that moving the tension mechanism 36 does not affect the conveying.The tension mechanism 36 can be installed within the circular path of the circular conveying section 30, so coins can be conveyed in a circular manner, and there is no need to provide separate space within the housing 12 to install the tension mechanism 36, thereby saving space within the housing 12.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3 and other figures, in the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment, multiple (specifically, seven) storing and feeding units 40 are provided along the circular path of the circulating conveyance unit 30. Each storing and feeding unit 40 is capable of storing coins sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 and feeding the stored coins to the circulating conveyance unit 30. In this embodiment, the number of storing and feeding units 40 is greater than the number of denominations of coins to be processed by the coin processing machine 10. In this embodiment, the circular path has a substantially rectangular shape as described above, and each storing and feeding unit 40 is arranged along a pair of path portions (path portions extending vertically on the left and right in FIG. 3) that are perpendicular to a path portion of the circular path located on the front side of the housing 12 (a path portion extending horizontally on the lower side in FIG. 3). The configuration of such a storing and feeding unit 40 will be described using FIG. 3 and FIGS. 11 to 20.

[0035] 3 and other figures, the storage and dispensing unit 40 is composed of a 5-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40A that stores 5-yen coins, a 50-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40B that stores 50-yen coins, a 1-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40C that stores 1-yen coins, a 10-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40D that stores 10-yen coins, a mixed-denomination storage and dispensing unit 40E that can store a mixture of 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins, a 100-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40F that stores 100-yen coins, and a 500-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40G that stores 500-yen coins. Here, the 5-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40A and the 50-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40B are arranged on the left side of the circulating transport unit 30 in FIG. Meanwhile, 1-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40C, 10-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40D, mixed-denomination storage and dispensing unit 40E, 100-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40F, and 500-yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40G are disposed on the right side of circulating transport unit 30 in Fig. 3. When dispensing processing is performed, if coin processing machine 10 is a coin change machine, a maximum of four 1-yen coins, four 10-yen coins, four 100-yen coins, one 5-yen coin, one 50-yen coin, and one 500-yen coin (total of 999 yen) will be dispensed as change, and the number of 1-yen coins, 10-yen coins, and 100-yen coins dispensed will be greater than the number of 5-yen coins, 50-yen coins, and 500-yen coins dispensed. Here, when a coin is dispensed, the coins are conveyed clockwise in the circulating conveying unit 30, so that the time it takes for the coin to be dispensed from the storage and dispensing unit 40 located on the left side of the circulating conveying unit 30 and sent to the tray 60 is longer than the time it takes for the coin to be dispensed from the storage and dispensing unit 40 located on the right side of the circulating conveying unit 30 and sent to the tray 60. However, by arranging the 5 yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40A and the 50 yen coin storage and dispensing unit 40B, which correspond to the 5 yen coins and 50 yen coins that are dispensed in smaller numbers, on the left side of the circulating conveying unit 30, the time required for the dispense process can be shortened as much as possible.

[0036] 11, each storing and feeding unit 40 has a cylindrical shape, and the coins sent from the circulating transport unit 30 are stored inside in a stacked state one by one from the top. Of the coins accumulated in a stacked state inside each storing and feeding unit 40, the coins in the top layer are fed out one by one from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating transport unit 30.

[0037] 11 to 15, etc., the storing and feeding unit 40 has a cam 41, a stage 42 on which coins are accumulated in a stacked state, a lifting member 43 that raises and lowers the stage 42, a spring 42a provided between the stage 42 and the lifting member 43, a pair of upper guide members 44, 45, a cylindrical storage portion 46, an opening / closing door 47, a first guide member 48, and a pair of second guide members 49. In the storing and feeding unit 40, coins are stored in a stacked state on the stage 42 inside the cylindrical storage portion 46. Each of the components of the storing and feeding unit 40 will be described in detail below.

[0038] The cam 41 rotates in both forward and reverse directions around a vertically extending axis. As shown in FIG. 14 and other figures, the cam 41 has three downwardly extending protrusions 41a. When a coin is caught on each of the protrusions 41a, the coin being conveyed by the circulating belt 32 in the circulating conveyance unit 30 is sent to the storage section 46, or the top coin among the coins stored in the storage section 46 is dispensed to the circulating conveyance unit 30. The storing and dispensing unit 40 is provided with a drive motor 41b (see FIG. 21), which rotates the cam 41 in both forward and reverse directions. In this embodiment, the cam 41 rotates in the direction opposite to the direction in which the coins are conveyed by the circulating conveyance unit 30. As a result, for example, during a coin deposit process, as described below, the coins are conveyed counterclockwise by the circulating conveyance unit 30 (see FIG. 22), and the cam 41 rotates clockwise at this time. As a result, among the coins transported by the circulating conveying unit 30, coins that should be sent to a certain storing and feeding unit 40 (specifically, a storing and feeding unit 40 to which a denomination is assigned) are diverted from the conveying path of the circulating conveying unit 30 by the diverting member 31 corresponding to this storing and feeding unit 40, and then the diverted coins can be sent to the storing and feeding unit 40 by the rotation of the cam 41 while hooking the diverted coins onto the respective protrusions 41a of the cam 41. Meanwhile, as will be described later, during the coin dispensing process, coins are transported in the clockwise direction by the circulating conveying unit 30 (see FIG. 23), but at this time the cam 41 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. As a result, among the coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40, coins that should be dispensed can be sent to the circulating conveying unit 30 by the rotation of the cam 41 while hooking the coins onto the respective protrusions 41a of the cam 41, and the circulating conveying unit 30 can continue transporting the coins.

[0039] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, etc., storing and feeding unit 40 is cylindrical with a hollow space formed therein, and coins are accumulated in a stacked state on the upper surface of stage 42 inside storage section 46. Furthermore, stage 42 is constantly pushed upward by spring 42a. A linear motor 43a (see Figure 21) is attached to the lower part of lifting member 43, and lifting member 43 is raised and lowered by linear motor 43a. More specifically, linear motor 43a raises and lowers lifting member 43 so that each time a coin is stored in storing and feeding unit 40 from circulating conveyance unit 30, lifting member 43 moves downward by the thickness of one coin, and each time a coin is dispensed from storing and feeding unit 40 to circulating conveyance unit 30, lifting member 43 moves upward by the thickness of one coin. Furthermore, a spring 42a is provided between the lifting member 43 and the stage 42, so that when the lifting member 43 moves up and down, the stage 42 also moves up and down.

[0040] The pair of upper guide members 44, 45 press down on the coins on the stage 42 from above to prevent them from flying out of the storage section 46. A gap is formed between the pair of upper guide members 44, 45, and the protrusion 41a of the cam 41 passes through this gap. As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, recesses 44a, 45a are formed on the surfaces of each upper guide member 44, 45 that come into contact with the coins. Each recess 44a, 45a extends in an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the cam 41. If the topmost coin among the multiple coins accumulated on the stage 42 inside the storage section 46 is not bent and is completely flat, as shown in FIG. 17, this topmost coin is fed out to the circulating transport section 30 by the protrusion 41a of the cam 41 without entering each recess 44a, 45a. On the other hand, if the top coin among the multiple coins accumulated on stage 42 inside storage section 46 is bent, the edge of this top coin will be placed in each of recesses 44a, 45a as shown in Figure 18 and will be fed out to circulating conveyance section 30 by protrusion 41a of cam 41. If such recesses 44a, 45a are not provided in upper guide members 44, 45, the edge of the coin will come into contact with the lower surface of upper guide members 44, 45 when the top coin is bent. In this case, the center portion of the bent top coin will be separated downward from the lower surface of upper guide members 44, 45, and will not be caught by protrusion 41a of cam 41, and may not be fed out to circulating conveyance section 30. In contrast, by forming recesses 44a, 45a on the surfaces of each upper guide member 44, 45 that come into contact with the coins, even if the top layer of coins is bent, the edge of the coin will fit into the recesses 44a, 45a, so that the central portion of the bent top layer of coins will not be significantly spaced downward from the underside of the upper guide members 44, 45. This prevents the central portion of the bent coin from getting caught on the protrusion 41a of the cam 41 and not being fed to the circulating conveying section 30.

[0041] Each storing and feeding unit 40 is provided with a full detection sensor 40a (see FIG. 21) that detects when the coins stored in that storing and feeding unit 40 are full, an empty detection sensor 40b (see FIG. 21) that detects when no coins are stored in the storing and feeding unit 40, and an upper end detection sensor 40c (see FIG. 21) that detects the upper end of the coins accumulated on the stage 42. The full detection sensor 40a and the empty detection sensor 40b are each configured to detect when the coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 are full or that no coins are stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 based generally on the position of the stage 42.

[0042] The operation when storing coins from the circulating conveyance unit 30 into the storing and feeding unit 40 will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, when a coin of a certain denomination being conveyed in the circulating conveyance unit 30 is to be stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 corresponding to that denomination, the branching member 31 corresponding to the coin is protruded upward from the coin conveyance surface. As a result, the coin being conveyed in the circulating conveyance unit 30 is redirected toward the storing and feeding unit 40. In addition, the cam 41 rotates 120° clockwise in FIG. 12. As a result, the coin is caught on the protruding portion 41a of the cam 41, and the coin is sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the storing and feeding unit 40 and accumulated on the stage 42. When a coin is sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the storing and feeding unit 40, the linear motor 43a moves the lifting member 43 downward by the thickness of one coin. As a result, a coin storage space is formed between the upper surface of the uppermost coin among the coins accumulated on the stage 42 and each of the upper guide members 44, 45.

[0043] Next, the operation when coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 are fed to the circulating conveying unit 30 will be described. When coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 are fed to the circulating conveying unit 30, the linear motor 43a moves the lifting member 43 upward by an amount greater than the thickness of one coin. As a result, the stage 42 is pushed upward by the lifting member 43 via the spring 42a, and the uppermost coin among the multiple coins accumulated on the stage 42 comes into contact with the lower surfaces of the upper guide members 44 and 45. In this state, the cam 41 rotates 120° counterclockwise in FIG. 12. As a result, the coin is caught on the protrusion 41a of the cam 41, and is sent from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating conveying unit 30, where it is continuously conveyed by the circulating belt 32 of the circulating conveying unit 30.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 , the storage section 46 has an opening extending in the coin stacking direction, and the opening / closing door 47 opens and closes this opening. Specifically, the opening / closing door 47 rotates around an axis 47a extending in the coin stacking direction (i.e., vertical direction). By providing such an opening / closing door 47, the interior of the storage section 46 can be accessed simply by opening the opening / closing door 47 when cleaning the interior of the storage section 46. A guide member 48 is provided near the inner surface of the opening / closing door 47 when the opening is closed. The guide member 48 extends in the coin stacking direction (i.e., vertical direction). The width of the gap formed around the guide member 48 is smaller than the diameter of the coin to be stored in the storage section 46. This prevents coins stored in the storage section 46 from flying out of the opening, even when the opening / closing door 47 is open, as shown in FIG. 20 . The inner surface of the door 47 is formed with a recess 47b in which the guide member 48 is accommodated when the opening is closed. A pair of guide members 49 is provided near the storage section 46. The width of the gap between the guide members 48, 49 is smaller than the diameter of the coins to be stored in the storage section 46. Therefore, the coins accumulated on the stage 42 are stored in the storage section 46 by the guide members 48, 49 without being significantly disrupted in their accumulated state. As shown in FIG. 12 and other figures, a top opening 46a (see FIG. 12) is formed near the cam 41 in the storage section 46 for removing the topmost coin accumulated in the storage section 46 from the storage section 46. By passing through this top opening 46a, coins can be sent from the circulating conveying section 30 to the inside of the storage section 46, and coins dispensed from the inside of the storage section 46 can be sent to the circulating conveying section 30.

[0045] The opening / closing door 47 is not limited to a shape extending over substantially the entire length of the storage section 46. The opening / closing door 47 may be divided into multiple door sections in the longitudinal direction of the storage section 46. In this case, by opening each door section, it becomes possible to access the interior of the storage section 46 and clean the interior of the storage section 46. Therefore, if dust has accumulated in only a portion of the interior of the storage section 46, it is only necessary to open only some of the door sections, making maintenance easier.

[0046] The shape and size of cam 41 in each storing and feeding unit 40, the shape and size of each upper guide member 44, 45, the shape and size of storage section 46, the movement distance of lifting member 43 when a coin is sent to storage section 46 or dispensed from storage section 46, and the like are set in advance to predetermined values ​​based on the denomination of coins assigned to that storing and feeding unit 40. Furthermore, for storing and feeding unit 40E, which can store a mixture of 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins, the shape and size of cam 41, the shape and size of each upper guide member 44, 45, the shape and size of storage section 46, the movement distance of lifting member 43 when a coin is sent to storage section 46 or dispensed from storage section 46, and the like are set in advance so that both 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins can be stored and dispensed.

[0047] The recognition unit 50 is configured to recognize the denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc. of coins transported by the circulating belt 32 in the circulating transport unit 30. Specifically, the recognition unit 50 has a line sensor and a magnetic sensor, and the line sensor acquires an image of the surface of the coin transported by the circulating belt 32, and the material, etc. of the coin are determined based on detection information from the magnetic sensor. Then, based on the detection results from the line sensor and the magnetic sensor, the denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc. of the coins transported by the circulating belt 32 are recognized. The coin recognition results by the recognition unit 50 are sent to the control unit 90, which will be described later.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 2, the tray 60 is disposed at a position vertically lower than the circulating conveyance unit 30 on the front surface of the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10. Also, as shown in Figs. 2 and 9, a reject chute 70 is disposed on the left side of the tray 60, and a dispensing chute 80 is disposed on the right side of the tray 60. As described above, coins diverted from the circulating conveyance unit 30 by the diverting members 33 and 35 fall by their own weight inside the reject chute 70 or the dispensing chute 80, and are sent to the tray 60.

[0049] The configuration of the tray 60 will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9, etc. As shown in Figure 8, wall surfaces 66, 67, and 68 are formed on the rear side and both left and right sides of the tray 60, respectively. Furthermore, discharge openings 62 and 64 are formed on the wall surfaces 67 and 68 on both left and right sides of the tray 60, respectively. Discharge coins are discharged from the dispensing chute 80 through the discharge opening 62 to the tray 60, and rejected coins are discharged from the reject chute 70 through the discharge opening 64 to the tray 60. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 9, coins are sent from the reject chute 70 and the dispensing chute 80 to the tray 60 along the width direction of the coin processing machine 10 (i.e., the left-right direction in Figure 9). In this way, since coins are sent to the tray 60 along the width direction of the coin processing machine 10, it is possible to prevent the coins from flying out of the tray 60 to the front side of the housing 12 when they are discharged from the reject chute 70 and the dispensing chute 80 to the tray 60.

[0050] In addition, a wall surface 68 is formed on the opposite side of the tray 60 from the discharge opening 62 of the dispensing chute 80. Therefore, the coins discharged from the discharge opening 62 hit the wall surface 68 and their momentum is weakened, which further prevents the coins discharged from the discharge opening 62 from flying out from the tray 60 to the front side of the housing 12. In addition, a wall surface 67 is formed on the opposite side of the tray 60 from the discharge opening 64 of the reject chute 70. Therefore, the coins discharged from the discharge opening 64 hit the wall surface 67 and their momentum is weakened, which further prevents the coins discharged from the discharge opening 64 from flying out from the tray 60 to the front side of the housing 12.

[0051] The configuration of the dispensing chute 80 will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the tray 60 and dispensing chute 80 shown in FIG. 7. The dispensing chute 80 is composed of a first chute portion 82, a second chute portion 84, and a third chute portion 86. Coins diverged from the circulating conveyance unit 30 by the diverging member 33 are first sent to the first chute portion 82. The second chute portion 84 and the third chute portion 86 branch off from the lower end of the first chute portion 82, and a diverging member 88 is provided at this branching point. The diverging member 88 allows coins sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the dispensing chute 80 to be distributed to the tray 60 or an area other than the tray 60. Specifically, the diverting member 88 rotates around an axis 88a between the position indicated by the solid line and the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 10. A solenoid 80a (see FIG. 21) is connected to the shaft 88a of the diverter 88 via a plurality of gears (not shown), and the diverter 88 rotates around the shaft 88a by the solenoid 80a. When the diverter 88 is located at the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 10, coins sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the dispensing chute 80 are sent from the first chute portion 82 to the second chute portion 84, and are discharged from the second chute portion 84 through the discharge port 62 onto the tray 60. On the other hand, when the diverter 88 is located at the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 10, coins sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the dispensing chute 80 are sent from the first chute portion 82 to the third chute portion 86, and fall downward from the lower end opening of the third chute portion 86 due to their own weight. Here, when coins are dispensed to a customer during a coin dispensing process in the coin processing machine 10, the dispensed coins are sent from the dispensing chute 80 to the tray 60. This allows the customer to remove the dispensed coins from the tray 60. On the other hand, when a store clerk collects the coins stored in each storing and feeding section 40 in the coin processing machine 10, a collection box with an open top is placed directly below the third chute section 86 of the dispensing chute 80.10, the branching member 88 is positioned so that coins sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the dispensing chute 80 are sent from the first chute portion 82 to the third chute portion 86, and then dropped downward by their own weight from the third chute portion 86. This allows store clerks to send a large number of coins to be collected directly from the dispensing chute 80 to the collection box without passing through the tray 60.

[0052] 9 and 10, in this embodiment, the first chute portion 82 drops coins vertically, and the second chute portion 84 sends coins diagonally downward to the tray 60. In this way, the second chute portion 84 sends coins diagonally downward to the tray 60, which can slow down the falling speed of the coins and weaken the momentum of the coins when they are discharged from the discharge port 62 to the tray 60, thereby further preventing coins discharged from the discharge port 62 from flying out of the tray 60 to the front side of the housing 12. In addition, in the dispensing chute 80, the vertical length (the length in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 9 and the length in the left-right direction in FIG. 10) of the cross section of the first chute portion 82 perpendicular to the coin feed direction (downward) is smaller than the diameter of the coin to be processed by the coin processing machine 10. Furthermore, in the dispensing chute 80, the horizontal length (the length in the left-right direction in FIG. 9, the length in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 10) of the cross section of the first chute portion 82, which is perpendicular to the coin feed direction (downward), is larger than the diameter of the coin to be processed by the coin processing machine 10. This enables the first chute portion 82 of the dispensing chute 80 to reliably drop coins in a vertical orientation. If coins drop in a vertical orientation in the first chute portion 82, it is possible to more reliably prevent the coins from jamming at the branch points from the first chute portion 82 to the second chute portion 84 and the third chute portion 86.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 9 , the reject chute 70 is composed of a first chute portion 72 and a second chute portion 74, and coins diverted from the circulating conveyance unit 30 by the diverter 35 are first sent to the first chute portion 72. In the reject chute 70, coins from the first chute portion 72 are not diverted but are sent to the second chute portion 74, from which they are discharged to the tray 60 through the discharge port 64. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9 , the first chute portion 72 drops coins vertically, and the second chute portion 74 sends coins diagonally downward to the tray 60. In this way, the second chute portion 74 sends coins diagonally downward to the tray 60, thereby slowing down the falling speed of the coins and weakening the momentum of the coins when they are discharged from the discharge port 64 to the tray 60, thereby further preventing the coins discharged from the discharge port 64 from flying out of the tray 60 toward the front side of the housing 12. In addition, in the reject chute 70, the vertical length (length perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 9) of the cross section of the first chute portion 72 perpendicular to the coin feed direction (downward) is smaller than the diameter of the coin to be processed by the coin processing machine 10. In addition, in the reject chute 70, the horizontal length (length in the left-right direction in FIG. 9) of the cross section of the first chute portion 72 perpendicular to the coin feed direction (downward) is larger than the diameter of the coin to be processed by the coin processing machine 10. This enables the first chute portion 72 in the reject chute 70 to reliably drop coins in a vertical orientation.

[0054] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 , the tray 60 is partially located inside the housing 12, and when the coin processing machine 10 is viewed vertically, the tray 60 and the circulating transport unit 30 at least partially overlap. This reduces the depth of the coin processing machine 10, making the coin processing machine 10 more compact. In this embodiment, the tray 60 may be located further inside the housing 12, and when the coin processing machine 10 is viewed vertically, the tray 60 and the insertion unit 20 may at least partially overlap. In this case, the depth of the coin processing machine 10 is further reduced, making the coin processing machine 10 even more compact. The dispensing chute 80 and the reject chute 70 are also partially located inside the housing 12, and when the coin processing machine 10 is viewed vertically, the dispensing chute 80, the reject chute 70, and the circulating transport unit 30 may at least partially overlap. In this case, the depth direction length of the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10 is even smaller than when the dispensing chute 80 and the reject chute 70 are positioned at the front side of the housing 12, making it possible to make the coin processing machine 10 even more compact.

[0055] The coin processing machine 10 also includes a control unit 90 that controls each component of the coin processing machine 10. The configuration of the control system of the coin processing machine 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 21. As shown in Fig. 21, the control unit 90 is connected to the insertion detection sensor 18, the door open / close detection sensor 19, the drive motor 21 of the insertion unit 20, the payout detection sensor 26, the remaining coin detection sensor 28, the drive motor 30a of the circulating transport unit 30, the solenoid 30b, the recognition unit 50, the full detection sensor 40a, empty detection sensor 40b, and upper end detection sensor 40c of each storing and paying out unit 40, the drive motor 41b, the linear motor 43a, the solenoid 80a of the dispensing chute 80, and the like. Here, detection information from each of the input detection sensor 18, door open / close detection sensor 19, payout detection sensor 26, remaining part detection sensor 28, full detection sensor 40a, empty detection sensor 40b, upper end detection sensor 40c, etc. of each storing and paying out section 40, and identification information from the recognition section 50 are sent from each of the sensors 18, 19, 26, 28, 40a, 40b, 40c, etc. and the recognition section 50 to the control section 90. In addition, the control section 90 controls the operation of the drive motor 21 of the input section 20, the drive motor 30a and solenoid 30b of the circulating conveyance section 30, the drive motor 41b and linear motor 43a of the storing and paying out section 40, the solenoid 80a of the dispensing chute 80, etc. by sending command signals to these components.

[0056] The coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment is also provided with an operation and display unit 92, a memory unit 94, and a communication unit 96, which are connected to the control unit 90. The operation and display unit 92 is composed of, for example, a touch panel, and upon receiving a display command from the control unit 90, various information is displayed on the operation and display unit 92, and the operator can input various information to the control unit 90 via the operation and display unit 92. The memory unit 94 is configured to store various information such as the denominations and numbers of coins stored in each storing and feeding unit 40, and the history of coin depositing and dispensing processes performed in the coin processing machine 10. In this embodiment, the memory unit 94 is also configured to store the order in which each coin was stored and the denomination of each coin stored in each storing and feeding unit 40. The control unit 90 is also configured to send and receive various signals to and from external devices via the communication unit 96.

[0057] Next, we will explain various processes performed by the coin processing machine 10. The various processes performed by the coin processing machine 10 described below are performed by the control unit 90 controlling each component of the coin processing machine 10.

[0058] First, the operation of the coin processing machine 10 when a coin deposit process is performed will be described with reference to Figure 22. Figure 22 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows the movement of coins when a coin deposit process is performed in the coin processing machine 10 shown in Figure 1 etc. When an operator inserts a coin into the opening 16 (see Figure 6(a)) of the top door 14 provided on the top surface of the housing 12, or when the operator opens the top door 14 (see Figure 6(b)) and directly inserts a coin into the insertion port 20, the coin is accumulated on the circulating belt 22 of the insertion port 20. When the insertion detection sensor 18 detects the coin inserted into the opening 16, or when the remaining coin detection sensor 28 detects the coin accumulated on the circulating belt 22, the drive motor 21 rotates the pulley around which the circulating belt 22 is stretched, causing the circulating belt 22 to move in a circulating direction counterclockwise in Figure 5 (the direction of the arrow in Figure 3). Furthermore, when a coin inserted into the opening 16 is detected by the insertion detection sensor 18, or when a coin accumulated on the circulating belt 22 is detected by the remaining detection sensor 28, the pulley around which the circulating belt 32 is stretched is driven to rotate by the drive motor 30a, causing the circulating belt 22 to circulate counterclockwise in Figures 3 and 22. As a result, the coins accumulated on the circulating belt 22 are fed out one by one to the circulating conveying unit 30, and the fed coins move one by one on the conveying surface of the circulating conveying unit 30 in the counterclockwise direction in Figures 3 and 22. The coins conveyed by the circulating conveying unit 30 are identified by the recognition unit 50 for their denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc.

[0059] Coins that are identified as abnormal by the recognition unit 50 or coins that could not be identified by the recognition unit 50 are diverted as rejected coins from the conveyance surface of the circulating conveyance unit 30 by the diverting member 35 and sent to the reject chute 70. The rejected coins sent to the reject chute 70 are discharged from the reject chute 70 through the discharge port 64 onto the tray 60. This allows the operator to remove the rejected coin from the tray 60 and re-insert it into the insertion unit 20 or insert another coin into the insertion unit 20. Furthermore, coins that are identified as normal by the recognition unit 50 are sent to each storing and feeding unit 40 corresponding to the denomination of the coin, and are stored in the storing and feeding unit 40. Specifically, coins identified as normal by the recognition unit 50 are diverted from the conveyance surface of the circulating conveyance unit 30 by the diverting member 31 corresponding to the storing and feeding unit 40 to which that denomination is assigned. Furthermore, the drive motor 41b of this storing and feeding unit 40 rotates the cam 41 in a clockwise direction. As a result, coins diverted from the conveying surface of the circulating conveying unit 30 by the diverter 31 are caught on the protruding portion 41a of the cam 41 and sent to the inside of the storage section 46, where they are accumulated in a stack on the stage 42. In this way, when all coins inserted into the insertion unit 20 have been sent to each of the storing and feeding units 40 or tray 60, the coin depositing process is completed.

[0060] Next, the operation of the coin processing machine 10 when it performs a coin dispensing process will be described with reference to Figure 23. Figure 23 is an explanatory diagram that schematically shows the movement of coins when it performs a coin dispensing process in the coin processing machine 10 shown in Figure 1 etc. When an operator inputs a command for the coin dispensing process using the operation and display unit 92, or when an external device transmits a command for the coin dispensing process to the control unit 90 via the communication unit 96, the control unit 90 is given a command for the coin dispensing process (specifically, a command including information on the number of coins of each denomination to be dispensed or the total amount), and the control unit 90 calculates how many coins of each denomination to dispense. Furthermore, when the command for the coin dispensing process is given to the control unit 90, the drive motor 30a rotates the pulley around which the circulating belt 32 is stretched, causing the circulating belt 22 to circulate in the clockwise direction in Figures 3 and 23. Furthermore, coins to be dispensed are fed by denomination from each storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating conveying unit 30, and the fed coins move one by one in the clockwise direction in Figures 3 and 23 on the conveying surface of the circulating conveying unit 30. Specifically, the linear motor 43a of the storing and feeding unit 40 moves the lifting member 43 upward, and the uppermost coin of the multiple coins accumulated on the stage 42 comes into contact with the lower surfaces of the upper guide members 44 and 45. Then, in this state, the drive motor 41b rotates the cam 41 in the counterclockwise direction, and the uppermost coin on the stage 42 gets caught on the protrusion 41a of the cam 41, and the coin is moved from the storage section 46 to the conveying surface of the circulating conveying unit 30. Coins that are fed from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating conveyance unit 30 and move in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 3 and 23 on the conveyance surface of the circulating conveyance unit 30 are diverted from the conveyance surface of the circulating conveyance unit 30 by the diverting member 33 and sent to the dispensing chute 80. The dispensing coins sent to the dispensing chute 80 are discharged from the dispensing chute 80 through the discharge port 62 onto the tray 60. Note that when dispensing coins are to be dropped directly downward from the third chute portion 86 of the dispensing chute 80 rather than sent to the tray 60, a command is given to the control unit 90 to discharge the dispensing coins directly from the dispensing chute 80. In this case, the diverting member 88 is moved by the solenoid 80a to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG.As a result, coins sent from the circulating transport unit 30 to the dispensing chute 80 are sent from the first chute portion 82 to the third chute portion 86.

[0061] Next, the operation when the coin processing machine 10 performs the coin inspection process will be described with reference to Figures 24, 25, and 26. Figures 24 and 25 are explanatory diagrams that schematically show the movement of coins when the coin inspection process is performed in the coin processing machine 10 shown in Figure 1 etc. Also, Figure 26 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when the coin inspection process is performed in the coin processing machine 10 shown in Figure 1 etc.

[0062] In this embodiment, the coin processing mode during the reconciliation process can be switched between a hold mode, in which coins not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 50 are temporarily returned to the original storing and feeding unit 40 and the storing and feeding unit 40 is determined to have not been inspected, and a dispensing mode, in which coins not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 50 during the reconciliation process are dispensed outside the housing 12 (machine body). The coin processing mode during such reconciliation process can be switched by the operator inputting a command to the control unit 90 via the operation display unit 92. In other words, the control unit 90 changes the processing mode between the hold mode and the dispensing mode based on the received reconciliation command.

[0063] When a command for coin reconciliation processing is given to the control unit 90 by an operator inputting a command for coin reconciliation processing via the operation display unit 92 or by an external device transmitting a command for coin reconciliation processing to the control unit 90 via the communication unit 96 ("YES" in STEP 1 of FIG. 26), the recognition unit 50 recognizes the coins stored in each storing and feeding unit 40. Specifically, when a command for coin reconciliation processing is given to the control unit 90, the drive motor 30a rotates the pulley around which the circulating belt 32 is stretched, causing the circulating belt 22 to circulate in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 3 and 24. Furthermore, when the coin processing mode for performing the reconciliation processing is the hold mode ("YES" in STEP 2), coins are fed from a certain storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating conveyance unit 30, and the fed coins move one by one on the conveyance surface of the circulating conveyance unit 30 in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 3 and 24. 3 and 24 on the conveyance surface of the circulating conveyance unit 30, a coin is diverted from the conveyance surface of the circulating conveyance unit 30 by a diverting member 39 in a diverting mechanism 38 and sent to the insertion unit 20 (STEP 3). When all coins are dispensed from a certain storing and feeding unit 40 and sent to the insertion unit 20, as shown in FIG. 25, the pulley around which the circulating belt 22 is wound is driven to rotate by the drive motor 21, so that the circulating belt 22 moves circulatingly in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5 (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3). The pulley around which the circulating belt 32 is wound is driven to rotate by the drive motor 30a, so that the circulating belt 22 moves circulatingly in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 and 25. As a result, the coins accumulated on the circulating belt 22 are fed one by one to the circulating conveyance unit 30 and move one by one in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 and 25 on the conveyance surface of the circulating conveyance unit 30. The coins transported by the circulating transport unit 30 are identified by the recognition unit 50 for their denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc. Then, coins that are identified as normal coins by the recognition unit 50 are returned to the original storing and feeding unit 40. On the other hand, coins that are identified as abnormal coins by the recognition unit 50 are also sent to the original storing and feeding unit 40 and stored in this storing and feeding unit 40 (STEP 4).Furthermore, the storing and feeding unit 40 to which the coin that has been identified as an abnormal coin by the recognition unit 50 has been returned is determined by the control unit 90 to be a storing and feeding unit 40 that has not yet completed inspection.

[0064] In this way, when all coins have been sent from the insertion unit 20 to the storage and dispensing unit 40, the same process is performed for each other storage and dispensing unit 40. Then, when the above-described process has been performed for all storage and dispensing units 40 ("YES" in STEP 5), if there is no storage and dispensing unit 40 that has been determined to have not been inspected ("NO" in STEP 6), the control unit 90 determines that the coin inspection process has been completed.

[0065] On the other hand, if there is a storing and feeding unit 40 determined to be incomplete in inspection ("YES" in STEP 6), all of the coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 determined to be incomplete in inspection are again fed to the circulating conveyance unit 30 and sent to the insertion unit 20, as shown in FIG. 24 (STEP 7). As a result, the coins sent from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the insertion unit 20 are accumulated on the circulating belt 32. Then, after all of the coins have been sent from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the insertion unit 20, as shown in FIG. 25, the coins accumulated on the circulating belt 22 are fed one by one to the circulating conveyance unit 30 and move one by one on the conveyance surface of the circulating conveyance unit 30 in the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 3 and 25. The coins transported by the circulating conveyance unit 30 are identified by the recognition unit 50 for their denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc. (STEP 8). Then, coins that are recognized as normal by the recognition unit 50 ("YES" in STEP 9) are returned to the original storing and feeding unit 40 (STEP 10). On the other hand, coins that are recognized as abnormal by the recognition unit 50 or coins that could not be recognized by the recognition unit 50 ("NO" in STEP 9) are diverted as rejected coins from the conveying surface of the circulating conveying unit 30 by the diverter 35 and sent to the reject chute 70. The rejected coins sent to the reject chute 70 are discharged from the reject chute 70 through the discharge port 64 onto the tray 60 (STEP 11). This allows the operator to remove the rejected coins from the tray 60. In this way, when all coins have been fed from the insertion unit 20 to the circulating conveying unit 30 and sent to the original storing and feeding unit 40 or tray 60 ("YES" in STEP 12), the control unit 90 switches the state of this storing and feeding unit 40 from "inspection not completed" to "inspection completed." In this way, the control unit 90 determines that the coin reconciliation process is complete. In this embodiment, all coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 are again fed to the circulating transport unit 30 and sent to the input unit 20, but the coin feeding operation from the storing and feeding unit 40 may be stopped when a coin that has been identified as an abnormal coin stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 based on the storage order stored in the memory unit 94 is fed to the circulating transport unit 30, and only coins that have already been fed from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating transport unit 30 may be sent to the input unit 20.In this case, coins are then fed one by one from the input unit 20 to the circulating transport unit 30, and after the recognition unit 50 identifies the denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc. of the coins, those recognized as normal by the recognition unit 50 are returned to the original storing and feeding unit 40. On the other hand, coins recognized as abnormal by the recognition unit 50 or coins that could not be recognized by the recognition unit 50 are discharged from the reject chute 70 through the discharge port 64 onto the tray 60.

[0066] In this embodiment, in the process of STEP 4 of the hold mode described above, coins that have not been identified as normal by the recognition unit 50 may be recognized again a predetermined number of times by the recognition unit 50, and coins that have not been identified as normal even after being recognized a predetermined number of times by the recognition unit 50 may be temporarily returned to the original storing and feeding unit 40, and the storing and feeding unit 40 may be determined to have not yet been inspected. Specifically, coins that have not been identified as normal by the recognition unit 50 may be temporarily returned to the insertion unit 20 and fed again from the insertion unit 20 to the circulating conveyance unit 30, thereby re-identifying the coins. Alternatively, coins that have not been identified as normal by the recognition unit 50 may be moved upstream of the recognition unit 50 by conveying them in the reverse direction by the circulating conveyance unit 30, and then re-identified by conveying the coins in the forward direction by the circulating conveyance unit 30. Even if a coin is normal, there is a risk that it will be mistakenly identified as an abnormal coin after only one recognition operation by the recognition unit 50. However, by having the recognition unit 50 recognize such a coin again, it is possible to prevent a normal coin from being identified as an abnormal coin by the recognition unit 50 and the storage and dispensing unit 40 in which this coin is stored from being mistakenly determined to have not been inspected.

[0067] On the other hand, if the coin processing mode during the reconciliation process is not the hold mode but the dispensing mode ("NO" in STEP 2), the processes in STEPs 3 to 7 described above are not performed. That is, for a certain storing and feeding unit 40, as shown in FIG. 24, coins are fed from that storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating conveying unit 30 and sent to the insertion unit 20 (STEP 13). As a result, the coins sent from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the insertion unit 20 are accumulated on the circulating belt 32. Then, after all the coins have been sent from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the insertion unit 20, as shown in FIG. 25, the coins accumulated on the circulating belt 22 are fed one by one to the circulating conveying unit 30 and move one by one on the conveying surface of the circulating conveying unit 30 in the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 3 and 25. The coins transported by the circulating conveying unit 30 are identified by the recognition unit 50 for their denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc. (STEP 8). Then, coins that are identified as normal by the recognition unit 50 ("YES" in STEP 9) are returned to the original storing and feeding unit 40 (STEP 10). On the other hand, coins that are identified as abnormal by the recognition unit 50 or coins that could not be identified by the recognition unit 50 ("NO" in STEP 9) are diverted as rejected coins from the conveying surface of the circulating conveying unit 30 by the diverter member 35 and sent to the reject chute 70. The rejected coins sent to the reject chute 70 are discharged from the reject chute 70 through the discharge port 64 onto the tray 60 (STEP 11). This allows the operator to remove the rejected coins from the tray 60. In this way, when all coins have been sent from the insertion unit 20 to the storing and feeding unit 40 or the tray 60 ("YES" in STEP 12), the same process is performed for each of the other storing and feeding units 40. Then, when the above-described processing has been performed for all storing and feeding units 40, the control unit 90 determines that the coin inspection processing has been completed.

[0068] As described above, in this embodiment, the coin processing mode during the reconciliation process can be switched between a hold mode, in which coins not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 50 are temporarily returned to the original storing / feeding unit 40 and the storing / feeding unit 40 is determined to have not been reconciled, and a dispensing mode, in which coins not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 50 during the reconciliation process are dispensed to the outside of the housing 12 (machine body). When the clerk performing the reconciliation process is always in front of the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10, the dispensing mode can be used to quickly perform the reconciliation process. On the other hand, when the clerk moves away from the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10 during the reconciliation process, the hold mode can be used to prevent coins not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 50 from being taken away by a third party. Furthermore, the clerk may be able to select which processing mode to use when instructing the control unit 90 to perform the reconciliation process via the operation / display unit 92.

[0069] In the present embodiment, the control unit 90 may be configured to set either a self-checkout mode in which the coin processing machine 10 is installed at a self-checkout register, or a manned mode in which an attendant operates the coin processing machine 10 at the register. When the self-checkout mode is set at the control unit 90, the coin processing mode for performing the reconciliation process may be set to a hold mode, and when the attended mode is set at the control unit 90, the coin processing mode for performing the reconciliation process may be set to a dispensing mode. When the coin processing machine 10 is installed at a manned register, the dispensing mode can be set when the attendant at the register performs the reconciliation process, thereby enabling the reconciliation process to be performed quickly. On the other hand, when the coin processing machine 10 is installed at a self-checkout register, the hold mode can be set when the reconciliation process is performed when no attendant is present in front of the coin processing machine 10, thereby preventing coins that have not been identified as valid by the recognition unit 50 from being taken away by a third party. Furthermore, if the number of storage and dispensing units 40 that store one or more coins is less than a predetermined number (for example, if only one storage and dispensing unit 40 stores coins), the coin processing mode when performing the reconciliation process may be set to the dispensing mode. If the number of storage and dispensing units 40 that store one or more coins is less than a predetermined number, the reconciliation process is completed in a short time, so even if an attendant is in front of the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10, the attendant will not be made to wait for a long time, and therefore, using the dispensing mode does not place a large burden on the attendant.

[0070] Furthermore, when an attendant directly inputs a command for the reconciliation process to the control unit 90 via the operation display unit 92, the coin processing mode for performing the reconciliation process may be set to the dispense mode, and when the reconciliation process is performed automatically at a predetermined time, the coin processing mode for performing the reconciliation process may be set to the hold mode. When the reconciliation process is performed automatically at a predetermined time, it is highly likely that an attendant will not be in front of the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10, but by setting the hold mode, it is possible to prevent coins that have not been identified as normal by the recognition unit 50 from being taken away by a third party.

[0071] Furthermore, in coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment, for storing and feeding unit 40E, which can store a mixture of 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins, the operator can set the denomination of coins to be stored in storing and feeding unit 40E to either 10-yen coins or 100-yen coins via operation and display unit 92 in control unit 90. In this way, when the denomination of coins to be stored in storing and feeding unit 40E is set to either 10-yen coins or 100-yen coins, it becomes possible to approximately double the amount of coins stored in coin processing machine 10 for that denomination.

[0072] Furthermore, with regard to storing and feeding unit 40E, the operator can set control unit 90 via operation display unit 92 so that 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins are stored in a mixed state in storing and feeding unit 40E. In this case, when coin deposit processing is performed, if recognition unit 50 recognizes that the coins transported by circulating transport unit 30 are 10-yen coins or 100-yen coins, and if full detection sensor 40a does not detect that storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F corresponding to the denomination of 10-yen coins or 100-yen coins is full, the 10-yen coin or 100-yen coin recognized by recognition unit 50 is sent to storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F of the corresponding denomination, and is stored in said storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F. On the other hand, when a coin deposit process is performed and the recognition unit 50 recognizes that the coin being transported by the circulating transport unit 30 is a 10 yen coin or a 100 yen coin, if the full detection sensor 40a detects that the storing and feeding unit 40D or the storing and feeding unit 40F corresponding to the denomination of the 10 yen coin or the 100 yen coin is full, the coin is sent to the storing and feeding unit 40E and is stored in this storing and feeding unit 40E. Also, the memory unit 94 stores the order in which the coins were stored and the denomination of each coin stored in the storing and feeding unit 40E. For example, information that the first coin stored in storing and feeding unit 40E (i.e., the coin located lowest on stage 42) is a 10 yen coin, the second coin stored (i.e., the coin located second from the bottom on stage 42) is a 100 yen coin, and the third coin stored (i.e., the coin located third from the bottom on stage 42) is also a 10 yen coin is stored in memory unit 94. As a result, when coins are fed from storing and feeding unit 40E to circulating transport unit 30, control unit 90 recognizes the denomination of each fed coin based on the information stored in memory unit 94.

[0073] Next, the operation of coin dispensing processing when the storage and feeding unit 40E is set to store 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins in a mixed state will be described using the flowchart shown in Fig. 27. When a dispensing processing command is input to the control unit 90 ("YES" in STEP 101 of Fig. 27), if the storage and feeding unit 40E is set to store 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins in a mixed state ("YES" in STEP 102), when a 10-yen coin or a 100-yen coin is dispensed, based on the information stored in the memory unit 94, the coin is first fed from the storage and feeding unit 40E in which the 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins are stored in a mixed state to the circulating conveyance unit 30, and the dispensed coin is sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the tray 60 via the dispensing chute 80. That is, if the coins to be dispensed can be dispensed from storing and dispensing unit 40E (mixed storing and dispensing unit) ("YES" in STEP 103), the coins are dispensed from storing and dispensing unit 40E to circulating conveying unit 30, and the dispensed coins are sent from circulating conveying unit 30 to tray 60 via dispensing chute 80 (STEP 104). Also, if the coins to be dispensed can no longer be dispensed from storing and dispensing unit 40E, in which 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins are stored in a mixed state, to circulating conveying unit 30 ("NO" in STEP 103), the coins are dispensed from storing and dispensing unit 40D and storing and dispensing unit 40F, which are assigned to 10-yen coins or 100-yen coins, to circulating conveying unit 30, and the dispensed coins are sent from circulating conveying unit 30 to tray 60 via dispensing chute 80 (STEP 105). Then, when all coins to be dispensed have been sent to tray 60 ("YES" in STEP 106), the coin dispensing process is completed. According to this coin dispensing process, by preferentially dispensing coins from storing and feeding unit 40E and sending them to tray 60, it becomes possible to leave as many coins as possible in storing and feeding unit 40D and storing and feeding unit 40F, which store coins of a specific denomination.In addition, since it may not be possible to immediately dispense the desired denomination from storage and dispensing unit 40E, which stores a mixture of 10 yen coins and 100 yen coins, by preferentially leaving coins in storage and dispensing unit 40D and storage and dispensing unit 40F, which store coins of a specific denomination, it is possible to avoid a situation where coins cannot be immediately dispensed from storage and dispensing unit 40E when storage and dispensing unit 40D and storage and dispensing unit 40F, which store coins of a specific denomination, become empty.

[0074] Furthermore, while the coin dispensing process is being performed, based on the information stored in memory unit 94, coins dispensed from storing and feeding unit 40E that are not the coins to be dispensed are not dispensed. This prevents coins dispensed from storing and feeding unit 40E that are not the coins to be dispensed from storing and feeding unit 40E from being sent to tray 60, for example, and thereby making them available for the operator to remove. Furthermore, while the coin dispensing process is being performed, based on the information stored in memory unit 94, if the denomination of the coin to be dispensed next from storing and feeding unit 40E is not included in the denomination of the coins to be dispensed, the coin is dispensed from storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F that corresponds to the denomination of the coin to be dispensed. This prevents unnecessary coins (i.e., coins that are not of the denomination to be dispensed) from storing and feeding unit 40E, thereby enabling the coin dispensing process to be performed more quickly.

[0075] Furthermore, while a coin dispensing process is being performed, if it is necessary to dispense a predetermined number of coins of a denomination not included in the coins to be dispensed before dispensing the coins to be dispensed from storing and dispensing unit 40E based on the information stored in memory unit 94, the coins may be dispensed from storing and dispensing unit 40D or storing and dispensing unit 40F corresponding to the denomination of the coins to be dispensed. For example, when control unit 90 receives a dispensing command for a 100-yen coin, if a predetermined number (e.g., five) or more of 10-yen coins have been stored in storing and dispensing unit 40E and it is necessary to dispense a predetermined number of coins of a denomination not included in the coins to be dispensed (i.e., 10-yen coins) from storing and dispensing unit 40E in order to dispense all of the 100-yen coins to be dispensed, the coins are not dispensed from storing and dispensing unit 40E, but are dispensed from storing and dispensing unit 40F corresponding to 100-yen coins and sent to tray 60. This makes it possible to prevent coins of denominations that are not included in the coins to be dispensed from being dispensed in large quantities from storing and dispensing unit 40E, thereby enabling coin dispensing processing to be carried out more quickly.

[0076] Furthermore, when it is necessary to continuously feed coins of a denomination not included in the coins to be dispensed from storing and feeding unit 40E based on the information stored in memory unit 94, the coins may be fed from storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F corresponding to the denomination of the coins to be dispensed. For example, when control unit 90 receives a dispensing command for a 100-yen coin, if several 100-yen coins and a predetermined number (e.g., five) or more 10-yen coins are stored in order from the top in storing and feeding unit 40E, and it is necessary to continuously feed coins of a denomination not included in the coins to be dispensed (i.e., 10-yen coins) after dispensing several 100-yen coins from storing and feeding unit 40E, the coins are fed from storing and feeding unit 40F corresponding to the 100-yen coins and sent to tray 60. In this case, too, it is possible to prevent a large amount of coins of a denomination that is not included in the coins to be dispensed from the storing and dispensing unit 40E, thereby enabling the coin dispensing process to be carried out more quickly.

[0077] Furthermore, in the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment, when an instruction to perform a coin dispensing process is given to the control unit 90, a re-allocation process of coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40E may be performed as shown below. There are three patterns for the re-allocation process of coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40E. In the first pattern, when an instruction to perform a coin dispensing process is given to the control unit 90, coins are first fed from the storing and feeding unit 40E, which stores a mixture of 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins, to the circulating conveyance unit 30. If the fed coin is to be dispensed, the coin is sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the tray 60 via the dispensing chute 80. On the other hand, if the coin dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 40E to the circulating conveyance unit 30 is not to be dispensed, the coin is temporarily accumulated on the conveyance path of the circulating conveyance unit 30. At this time, if the coins continuously dispensed from storing and feeding unit 40E to circulating conveying unit 30 are of the same denomination, multiple coins of the same denomination are accumulated on the conveying path of circulating conveying unit 30. Thereafter, as circulating belt 32 of circulating conveying unit 30 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 3, the coins accumulated on the conveying path (10-yen coins or 100-yen coins) are sent to storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F assigned to the coin's denomination, and are stored in storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F. Note that when full detection sensor 40a detects that storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F corresponding to the denomination of the coin (10-yen coins or 100-yen coins) accumulated on the conveying path is full, this coin is returned to storing and feeding unit 40E and stored in storing and feeding unit 40E. Thereafter, the coins to be dispensed are not dispensed from storage and dispensing unit 40E, and the coins dispensed from storage and dispensing unit 40D or storage and dispensing unit 40F corresponding to the denomination of the coins to be dispensed are sent from circulating conveyance unit 30 to tray 60 via dispensing chute 80.

[0078] In a second pattern of the re-sorting process of coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40E, when an instruction to perform a coin dispensing process is given to the control unit 90, first, coins are fed from the storing and feeding unit 40E, which stores a mixture of 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins, to the circulating conveyance unit 30, and all of these fed coins are sent to the insertion unit 20. Then, when all of the coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40E have been sent to the insertion unit 20, the coins are fed one by one from the insertion unit 20 to the circulating conveyance unit 30, and the fed coins are conveyed by the circulating conveyance unit 30 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 while their denominations, etc., are recognized by the recognition unit 50. Then, based on the recognition result by the recognition unit 50, if the coin recognized by the recognition unit 50 is a coin that should be dispensed, this coin is sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the tray 60 via the reject chute 70. On the other hand, if the coin identified by the recognition unit 50 is not a coin that should be dispensed, the coin continues to be conveyed by the circulating conveyance unit 30 and is sent to the storing and feeding unit 40D or the storing and feeding unit 40F that is assigned to the denomination of this coin, and is stored in the storing and feeding unit 40D or the storing and feeding unit 40F. In addition, if the recognition unit 50 identifies the coin conveyed by the circulating conveyance unit 30 as a 10-yen coin or a 100-yen coin, and the full detection sensor 40a detects that the storing and feeding unit 40D or the storing and feeding unit 40F that corresponds to the denomination of the 10-yen coin or the 100-yen coin is full, the coin is returned to the storing and feeding unit 40E and is stored in the storing and feeding unit 40E.

[0079] In a third pattern of the re-allocation process of coins stored in storing and feeding unit 40E, when an instruction to perform a coin dispensing process is given to control unit 90, coins are first fed from storing and feeding unit 40E, which stores a mixture of 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins, to circulating conveyance unit 30, and if the fed coin is a coin to be dispensed, it is sent from circulating conveyance unit 30 to tray 60 via dispensing chute 80. On the other hand, if the coin dispensed from storing and feeding unit 40E to circulating conveyance unit 30 is not a coin to be dispensed, it is sent to insertion unit 20. Then, when all coins to be dispensed have been sent to tray 60, coins are dispensed one by one from insertion unit 20 to circulating conveyance unit 30, and the dispensed coins are conveyed by circulating conveyance unit 30 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 while their denominations, etc., are recognized by recognition unit 50. Then, based on the recognition result by recognition unit 50, the coin recognized by recognition unit 50 continues to be conveyed by circulating conveyance unit 30, and is sent to storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F to which the denomination of this coin is assigned, and is stored in storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F. Furthermore, when recognition unit 50 recognizes that the coin conveyed by circulating conveyance unit 30 is a 10-yen coin or a 100-yen coin, and full detection sensor 40a detects that storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F corresponding to the denomination of the 10-yen coin or the 100-yen coin is full, this coin is returned to storing and feeding unit 40E and stored in this storing and feeding unit 40E.

[0080] Which of the three patterns of the re-sorting process for coins stored in storing and feeding unit 40E described above is to be used for the re-sorting process is preset at the time of shipping coin processing machine 10. In addition, the operator may be able to set which pattern of the re-sorting process is to be used using operation display unit 92.

[0081] Furthermore, the above-described coin redistribution process is not limited to being performed when a coin dispensing command is input to the control unit 90. The above-described coin redistribution process may be performed at a predetermined time when the coin processing machine 10 is in a standby state outside the business hours of the store where the coin processing machine 10 is installed.

[0082] Furthermore, whether or not to perform the re-allocation process may be switched based on the number of coins stored in storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F. Specifically, if the number of coins stored in storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the re-allocation process is not performed, and if the number of coins stored in storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F is less than the predetermined number, the re-allocation process is performed. In this case, the coin re-allocation process can be performed when the number of coins stored in storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F, which stores coins of a specific denomination, becomes low, thereby preventing the amount of coins stored in storing and feeding unit 40D or storing and feeding unit 40F from becoming empty or near-empty.

[0083] Furthermore, during the operation of dispensing coins from each storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating conveying unit 30, the coin in the top layer of the multiple coins accumulated on the stage 42 comes into contact with the upper guide members 44, 45 and is forced by the spring 42a against the stage 42, thereby applying a pressing force to the coins on the stage 42, but if this pressing force is too large, the frictional force acting between the upper guide members 44, 45 and the coin increases, which may cause a problem in which the cam 41 is unable to dispense the coins on the stage 42 to the circulating conveying unit 30. Here, in this embodiment, each time a coin is dispensed from each storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating conveying unit 30, the lifting member 43 is lifted by the thickness of one coin of the denomination assigned to that storing and feeding unit 40, thereby preventing such a problem from occurring. By raising the lifting member 43 by an amount corresponding to the denomination of the coin dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 40E to the circulating transport unit 30 based on the information stored in the memory unit 94, it is possible to properly dispense 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins even in a storing and feeding unit 40E in which a mixture of 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins is stored. Furthermore, if the order of coins accumulated in the storing and feeding unit 40E becomes unclear due to error release or the like, the lifting member 43 is raised by a fixed distance (specifically, the average thickness of the 10-yen coin and the 100-yen coin) each time a coin is dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 40E to the circulating transport unit 30. However, if the lifting member 43 continues to be raised by a distance corresponding to the average thickness of the 10-yen coin and the 100-yen coin, errors may accumulate, and the pressing force applied to the coins on the stage 42 may become inappropriate.

[0084] To address this problem, in this embodiment, when coins are dispensed from storing and dispensing unit 40E, which stores a mixture of 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins, to circulating transport unit 30, each time a predetermined number of coins (e.g., five coins) are dispensed from storage section 46 by cam 41, lifting member 43 is lowered, thereby lowering stage 42, and the coin located at the top of the coins accumulated on stage 42 is separated from upper guide members 44 and 45. Thereafter, upper end detection sensor 40c detects the position of the coin located at the top of the coins accumulated on stage 42. As a result, the upper end position of the coins on stage 42 is detected and reset each time a predetermined number of coins (e.g., five coins) are dispensed from storage section 46 by cam 41, thereby preventing the problem of excessive pressure being applied to the coins on stage 42.

[0085] The coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment configured as described above includes a circular transport unit 30 that transports coins along a predetermined circular path, an input unit 20 that is provided inside the circular path and for inputting coins into the machine, and a storage and feeding unit 40 that is provided along the circular path and for storing coins sent from the circular transport unit 30 and for feeding the stored coins to the circular transport unit 30. With this coin processing machine 10, the input unit 20 for inputting coins into the machine is provided inside the circular path of the circular transport unit 30, so the depth of the housing 12 (machine body) of the coin processing machine 10 can be reduced. That is, in conventional coin processing machines, the input unit is located in front of the circular transport unit that transports coins along the predetermined circular path, and the operator inserts coins into the input unit located in front of the housing. However, in such conventional coin processing machines, the input unit and the circular transport unit are arranged side by side along the depth of the machine body, which poses a problem of increasing the depth of the machine body. In contrast, in the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment, the insertion section 20 is positioned inside the circular path of the circulating conveying section 30, thereby making it possible to reduce the depth direction length of the housing 12 (machine body) of the coin processing machine 10.

[0086] As described above, the circulating conveying unit 30 is capable of conveying coins in both forward and reverse directions along the circular path. In this case, the amount of movement when the circulating conveying unit 30 conveys coins can be reduced compared to when the circulating conveying unit 30 conveys coins in only one direction along the circular path, thereby shortening the time required for coin processing. Furthermore, the direction of coin conveyance by the circulating conveying unit 30 when a coin deposit process is performed is opposite to the direction of coin conveyance by the circulating conveying unit 30 when a coin withdrawal process is performed.

[0087] As described above, coins are sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the insertion unit 20, and when coin reconciliation processing is performed, coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 are fed from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating conveyance unit 30 and sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the insertion unit 20, and then the coins sent from the insertion unit 20 to the circulating conveyance unit 30 are sent back to the storing and feeding unit 40. In this case, there is no need to provide a separate storing and feeding unit for the reconciliation processing, and space within the housing 12 can be saved.

[0088] As described above, the storing and feeding unit 40 has a storage section 46 in which coins are stored in a stacked state, and a cam 41 that stores coins sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 in the storage section 46 and feeds the coin located in the uppermost layer of the coins stored in the storage section 46 to the circulating conveyance unit 30, and the cam 41 is rotatable in both forward and reverse directions. In this case, the cam 41 that can rotate in both forward and reverse directions can perform both the operation of storing coins sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 in the storage section 46 and the operation of feeding the coin located in the uppermost layer of the coins stored in the storage section 46 to the circulating conveyance unit 30. The cam 41 also rotates in the direction opposite to the direction of conveyance of coins by the circulating conveyance unit 30.

[0089] As described above, the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment is equipped with an identification unit 50 that identifies coins transported by the circulating conveying unit 30, a withdrawal chute 80 to which coins to be withdrawn from the circulating conveying unit 30 are sent during the coin withdrawal process, and a reject chute 70 to which coins that are identified by the identification unit 50 as not to be stored in the storage and payout unit 40 or coins that have not been identified by the identification unit 50 are sent from the circulating conveying unit 30 during the coin deposit process, and the coin transport direction by the circulating conveying unit 30 when coins are sent from the circulating conveying unit 30 to the withdrawal chute 80 is opposite to the coin transport direction by the circulating conveying unit 30 when coins are sent from the circulating conveying unit 30 to the reject chute 70. In this case, the coin conveying direction when rejected coins are sent to the reject chute 70 and the coin conveying direction when dispensed coins are sent to the dispensing chute 80 are opposite, so compared to when the conveying directions are the same, the amount of movement required by the circulating conveying unit 30 when conveying rejected coins and dispensed coins can be reduced, thereby shortening the time required for coin processing. Furthermore, the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment further includes a tray 60 on which coins to be dispensed are accumulated, and coins are sent from the dispensing chute 80 and the reject chute 70 to the same tray 60. In this case, the configuration of the coin processing machine 10 can be simplified compared to when a tray to which rejected coins are sent from the reject chute 70 and a tray to which dispensed coins are sent from the dispensing chute 80 are separately provided, thereby enabling the coin processing machine 10 to have a smaller installation space.

[0090] As described above, the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment further includes a dispensing chute 80 to which coins to be dispensed from the circulating transport unit 30 are sent during the coin dispensing process, and a tray 60 on which the coins to be dispensed are accumulated, and the tray 60 and the circulating transport unit 30 are at least partially overlapped when the coin processing machine 10 is viewed vertically. This reduces the depth of the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10, making the coin processing machine 10 more compact. Furthermore, the tray 60 and the insertion unit 20 may at least partially overlap when the coin processing machine 10 is viewed vertically. In this case, the depth of the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10 is even shorter, making the coin processing machine 10 even more compact.

[0091] As described above, the number of storing and dispensing units 40 is greater than the number of coin denominations to be processed by the coin processing machine 10. In this case, when the denominations of coins to be processed are assigned to each storing and dispensing unit 40, there will be a storing and dispensing unit 40 to which a specific denomination is not assigned, so operational flexibility can be increased by configuring this storing and dispensing unit 40 to store coins of multiple denominations in a mixed state or by assigning a denomination of coins that is processed in large quantities.

[0092] As described above, the circulating conveyance unit 30 has a circular circulating belt 32 (conveyor belt) extending along the circular path, and is provided with a tensioning mechanism 36 for adjusting the tension of the circulating belt 32. In this case, adjusting the tension of the circulating belt 32 with the tensioning mechanism 36 can prevent the circulating belt 32 from becoming too loose or having too much tension, thereby enabling the circulating belt 32 to more reliably convey coins. In addition, the tensioning mechanism 36 is movable integrally with the conveyance path. In this case, since the tensioning mechanism 36 can be disposed within the circular path for conveying coins, there is no need to provide a separate space for installing the tensioning mechanism 36 within the housing 12, thereby enabling space saving within the housing 12.

[0093] As described above, a plurality of storing and feeding units 40 are provided, the circular path has a substantially rectangular or substantially square shape, and the storing and feeding units 40 are respectively arranged along a pair of side path portions that are perpendicular to the path portion located on the front side of the machine body in the circular path. In this case, the storing and feeding units 40 are respectively arranged on the left and right sides of the substantially rectangular or substantially square circular path of the circulating conveying unit 30, so it is possible to prevent the length in the width direction or depth direction of the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10 from becoming large compared to when the storing and feeding units are arranged in a row along the conveying path.

[0094] Furthermore, according to the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment, the coin dispensing unit of the coin processing machine 10 includes a dispensing chute 80 and a reject chute 70 (chute) through which coins branching off from the circulating transport section 30 (transport section) fall by their own weight, and a tray 60 on which coins sent from the dispensing chute 80 and the reject chute 70 are accumulated, and the coins are sent from the dispensing chute 80 and the reject chute 70 to the tray 60 along the width direction of the coin processing machine 10. In this case, because coins are sent to the tray 60 along the width direction of the coin processing machine 10, it is possible to prevent the coins from flying out of the tray 60 to the front side of the housing 12 when they are ejected from the reject chute 70 or the dispensing chute 80 to the tray 60.

[0095] As described above, coins are discharged from the outlets 62, 64 of the dispensing chute 80 and the reject chute 70, which discharge coins into the tray 60, along the width direction of the coin processing machine 10, and wall surfaces 67, 68 are formed on the opposite side of the tray 60 from the outlets 62, 64. In this case, the coins discharged from the outlets 62, 64 hit the wall surfaces 67, 68, weakening their momentum, which further prevents the coins discharged from the outlets 62, 64 from flying out of the tray 60 to the front side of the housing 12.

[0096] As described above, the dispensing chute 80 is provided with a branching member 88 (branching section), which enables coins sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30 to the dispensing chute 80 to be sorted to tray 60 or an area other than tray 60, and coins sorted to an area other than tray 60 fall from the dispensing chute 80. In this case, when a store clerk collects coins stored in each storing and feeding unit 40 in the coin processing machine 10, a collection box with an open top is placed directly below the third chute section 86 of the dispensing chute 80, and the coins sent to the dispensing chute 80 from the circulating conveyance unit 30 are sent from the first chute section 82 to the third chute section 86, and then dropped downward from this third chute section 86 by their own weight, allowing the store clerk to send a large number of coins to be collected directly from the dispensing chute 80 to the collection box without passing through the tray 60.

[0097] As described above, a pair of chutes (specifically, the dispensing chute 80 and the reject chute 70) are arranged on either side of the tray 60. One of the pair of chutes includes the dispensing chute 80, from which coins to be dispensed from the circulating transport unit 30 are branched in the coin dispensing process, and the other chute includes the reject chute 70, from which coins that have been identified by the recognition unit 50 as not to be stored in the storing / feeding unit 40 (storage unit) or coins that have not been identified by the recognition unit 50 are branched from the circulating transport unit 30 in the coin depositing process.

[0098] As described above, the reject chute 70 and the dispensing chute 80 have first chute portions 72, 82 to which coins are sent from the circulating conveyance unit 30, and second chute portions 74, 84 located downstream of the first chute portions 72, 82, and the first chute portions 72, 82 drop coins vertically, while the second chute portions 74, 84 send coins diagonally downward to the tray 60. In this case, because the coins are sent diagonally downward to the tray 60 in the second chute portions 74, 84, the falling speed of the coins can be slowed down, and the momentum of the coins when they are discharged from the discharge openings 62, 64 to the tray 60 can be weakened, which further prevents coins discharged from the discharge openings 62, 64 from flying out of the tray 60 to the front side of the housing 12. Furthermore, the vertical length of the cross section of first chute portions 72, 82 perpendicular to the coin feed direction is smaller than the diameter of the coin to be processed by coin processing machine 10, and the horizontal length of the cross section is larger than the diameter of the coin to be processed by coin processing machine 10. In this case, coins can be reliably dropped vertically in first chute portions 72, 82.

[0099] Furthermore, as described above, when the coin processing machine 10 is viewed vertically, the dispensing chute 80 and the reject chute 70 at least partially overlap with the circulating transport unit 30. In this case, compared to when the dispensing chute 80 and the reject chute 70 are arranged on the front side of the housing 12, the length of the coin processing machine 10 in the depth direction of the housing 12 is even shorter, making it possible to make the coin processing machine 10 even more compact.

[0100] Furthermore, according to the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment, the storing and feeding unit 40 (storage mechanism) of the coin processing machine 10 includes a cylindrical storage section 46 in which coins are stored in a stacked state and which has an opening extending along the coin accumulation direction, and an opening / closing door 47 for opening and closing the opening. The opening / closing door 47 rotates around an axis 47a extending along the coin accumulation direction. According to this type of storing and feeding unit 40, opening the opening / closing door 47 allows access to the interior of the storage section 46, making it easy to remove foreign matter from the storage section 46. More specifically, conventional coin processing machines have had a problem in that even if foreign matter such as dust or dirt accumulates in the storage cylinder in which coins are stored, it is difficult to remove the foreign matter from the storage cylinder because the storage cylinder is sealed. Furthermore, coin processing machines in which the storage section lid opens around an axis extending along a direction perpendicular to the coin accumulation direction have had a problem in that it is necessary to secure space for opening the lid. In contrast, in the storage and dispensing section 40 of the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment, the opening and closing door 47 rotates around an axis 47a extending along the coin accumulation direction, making it easy to remove foreign matter from the storage section 46 and reducing the space required to open the opening and closing door 47.

[0101] The storing and feeding unit 40 further includes a cam 41 that stores coins sent from the circulating conveying unit 30 (conveying unit) in the storage unit 46, and the cam 41 feeds out the coins located in the top layer of the coins stored in the storage unit 46. By providing such a cam 41, it becomes possible to use a single cam 41 to move coins from the circulating conveying unit 30 to the storage unit 46 and to feed coins from the storage unit 46 to the circulating conveying unit 30.

[0102] The storing and feeding unit 40 further includes guide members 48, 49 extending in the direction in which the coins are accumulated in the storage portion 46, and the width of the gap formed around the guide members 48, 49 is smaller than the diameter of the coins to be stored in the storage portion 46. In this case, when the opening / closing door 47 is opened, it is possible to prevent the coins stored in the storage portion 46 from flying out of the opening to the outside of the storage portion 46. Furthermore, the guide member 48 is positioned inside the opening / closing door 47 when the opening is closed. In this case, it is possible to reduce the installation space for the guide member 48 compared to when the guide member 48 is installed outside the opening / closing door 47. Furthermore, a recess 47b is formed on the inner surface of the opening / closing door 47, in which the guide member 48 is housed when the opening is closed.

[0103] Furthermore, in the storing and feeding section 40, a plurality of guide members 48, 49 are provided, and the width of the gap between the plurality of guide members 48, 49 is smaller than the diameter of the coins to be stored in the storage section 46. In this case as well, when the opening and closing door 47 is opened, it is possible to prevent the coins stored in the storage section 46 from flying out of the storage section 46 through the opening.

[0104] In addition, in the storing and feeding unit 40, an upper surface opening 46a (second opening) is formed near the cam 41 in the storage section 46 for removing the topmost coin accumulated in the storage section 46 from the storage section 46. This makes it possible to feed coins from the circulating transport unit 30 to the storage section 46 and feed coins from the storage section 46 to the circulating transport unit 30 via the upper surface opening 46a.

[0105] In addition, the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a first storage and dispensing unit (storage and dispensing units 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40F, 40G) that stores coins of a predetermined denomination in a single row and is capable of dispensing the stored coins, a second storage and dispensing unit (storage and dispensing unit 40E) that stores coins of multiple denominations in a single row and is capable of dispensing the stored coins, a control unit 90 that controls the first storage and dispensing unit and the second storage and dispensing unit, and a memory unit 94 that stores the coin denomination set in the first storage and dispensing unit and the amount of coins stored in the first storage and dispensing unit, and stores the denominations of each coin stored in the second storage and dispensing unit in the order in which they were stored. Then, when the control unit 90 receives a dispensing command including the number of coins to be dispensed for each denomination, it controls the first storing and feeding unit and the second storing and feeding unit so that, when coins of the denomination to be dispensed are stored in the first storing and feeding unit and the second storing and feeding unit, respectively, based on the information stored in the memory unit 94. In this case, compared to when a second storing and feeding unit (storing and feeding unit 40E) that stores coins of multiple denominations in a single row and can feed out the stored coins is not provided, it is possible to increase the amount of stored coins of multiple specific denominations (for example, 10-yen coins and 100-yen coins) and leave as many coins as possible in the first storing and feeding unit that stores coins of the specific denomination.

[0106] Furthermore, while the coin dispensing process is being performed, the control unit 90 controls the coins dispensed from the second storing and feeding unit (storing and feeding unit 40E) so as not to dispense those coins that should not be dispensed, based on the information stored in the memory unit 94. This makes it possible to prevent coins dispensed from the second storing and feeding unit that should not be dispensed from being sent to the tray 60, for example, and thereby becoming available for removal by the operator.

[0107] Furthermore, while the coin dispensing process is being performed, if it is necessary to dispense a predetermined number of coins of a denomination not included in the coins to be dispensed before dispensing the coins to be dispensed from the second storing and dispensing unit (storing and dispensing unit 40E) based on the information stored in the memory unit 94, the control unit 90 controls the first storing and dispensing unit to dispense coins from the first storing and dispensing unit corresponding to the denomination of the coins to be dispensed. This makes it possible to prevent a large number of coins of a denomination not included in the coins to be dispensed from the second storing and dispensing unit, thereby making it possible to more quickly perform the coin dispensing process.

[0108] Furthermore, while the coin dispensing process is being performed, if it is necessary to continuously dispense coins of a denomination not included in the coins to be dispensed from the second storing and dispensing unit (storing and dispensing unit 40E) based on the information stored in the memory unit 94, the control unit 90 may control the first storing and dispensing unit to dispense coins from the first storing and dispensing unit corresponding to the denomination of the coins to be dispensed. In this case too, it is possible to prevent coins of a denomination not included in the coins to be dispensed from the second storing and dispensing unit in large quantities, thereby making it possible to more quickly perform the coin dispensing process.

[0109] Furthermore, while the coin dispensing process is being performed, if the denomination of the coin to be next dispensed from the second storing and dispensing unit (storing and dispensing unit 40E) is not included in the denominations of the coins to be dispensed, the control unit 90 controls the first storing and dispensing unit to dispense coins from the first storing and dispensing unit corresponding to the denomination of the coin to be dispensed, based on the information stored in the memory unit 94. This makes it possible to prevent unnecessary coins (i.e., coins that are not of the denomination to be dispensed) from being dispensed from the second storing and dispensing unit, thereby making it possible to perform the coin dispensing process more quickly.

[0110] The control unit 90 is also capable of executing a re-allocation process in which coins stored in the second storing and feeding unit (storing and feeding unit 40E) are fed from the second storing and feeding unit and stored in the first storing and feeding unit. In this case, it becomes possible to store as many coins as possible in the first storing and feeding unit, which stores coins of a specific denomination. Furthermore, when the re-allocation process is performed, the control unit 90 stores, among the coins fed from the second storing and feeding unit, coins that are not to be dispensed in the first storing and feeding unit corresponding to the denomination of the coin.

[0111] Furthermore, when the re-sorting process is performed, the control unit 90 sends the coins dispensed from the second storing and feeding unit that are not to be dispensed to the input unit 20 (temporary storage unit), and then stores the coins dispensed from the input unit 20 that are not to be dispensed in the first storing and feeding unit that corresponds to the denomination of the coin. In this case, by temporarily sending the coins dispensed from the second storing and feeding unit that are not to be dispensed to the input unit 20, the coins dispensed from the second storing and feeding unit that are to be dispensed can be quickly paid out to the outside of the housing 12, while the coins dispensed from the second storing and feeding unit that are not to be dispensed can be temporarily stored in the input unit 20, so that the operation of sending the coins from the input unit 20 to the first storing and feeding unit can be performed after the dispensing process.

[0112] The control unit 90 is also configured to switch whether or not to perform the re-allocation process based on the number of coins stored in the first storing and feeding unit, and the control unit 90 does not perform the re-allocation process when the number of coins stored in the first storing and feeding unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, and performs the re-allocation process when the number of coins stored in the first storing and feeding unit is less than the predetermined number. In this case, the coin re-allocation process can be performed when the number of coins stored in the first storing and feeding unit, which stores coins of a specific denomination, becomes low, thereby preventing the amount of coins stored in the first storing and feeding unit from becoming empty or near-empty.

[0113] In addition, the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a circulating conveying unit 30 (conveying unit) that transports coins, a storage and dispensing unit 40 that stores coins sent from the circulating conveying unit 30 and can feed the stored coins to the circulating conveying unit 30, an identification unit 50 that identifies coins transported by the circulating conveying unit 30, and a control unit 90 that controls the circulating conveying unit 30 and the storage and dispensing unit 40.The control unit 90 performs a coin inspection process in which it pays out coins stored in the storage and dispensing unit 40 from the storage and dispensing unit 40 to the circulating conveying unit 30, sends the coins by the circulating conveying unit 30 to a location other than the original storage and dispensing unit 40 (specifically, the insertion unit 20) for storage, and then returns the coins sent to the other location to the original storage and dispensing unit 40 by the circulating conveying unit 30, and at that time identifies the coins by the identification unit 50. In addition, the control unit 90 temporarily returns coins that are not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 50 during the reconciliation process to the original storing and dispensing unit 40 and determines that the reconciliation of the coins is incomplete. In this case, there is no need to provide a separate storage unit for storing coins that are not recognized as valid during the coin reconciliation process, and it is possible to prevent third parties from taking away coins even if the operator is away from the machine during the coin reconciliation process. More specifically, in conventional coin processing machines, coins that are not recognized as valid by the recognition unit during the coin reconciliation process are moved to a spare storage unit, thereby completing the reconciliation of coins that are recognized as valid. However, this requires the provision of a separate spare storage unit in addition to the coin storage units for each denomination, which results in problems such as an increase in the size of the coin processing machine and a complex device structure. Furthermore, in other conventional coin processing machines, coins that cannot be counted properly during the coin reconciliation process are discharged through a dispensing port. However, such coin processing machines have a problem in that if no attendant is present near the machine, the dispensed coins may be taken away by a third party.In contrast, in the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment, when the coin inspection process is performed, coins that are not identified as normal by the identification unit 50 are temporarily returned to the original storage and dispensing unit 40, and the storage and dispensing unit 40 is determined to have not been inspected, thereby eliminating the need to provide a spare storage unit, and also preventing coins that are not identified as normal from being immediately dispensed outside the housing 12, thereby preventing these coins from being taken away by third parties.

[0114] In the above explanation, the coin is identified by the recognition unit 50 when the coin sent to another location (specifically, the insertion unit 20) is returned to the original storing and feeding unit 40 by the circulating conveying unit 30, but the coin processing machine 10 of this embodiment is not limited to this. As another example, the coin may be identified by the recognition unit 50 when the coin stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 is fed from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating conveying unit 30 and sent by the circulating conveying unit 30 to a location other than the original storing and feeding unit 40 (specifically, the insertion unit 20).

[0115] As described above, a plurality of storing and feeding units 40 are provided, and the control unit 90 performs the reconciliation process on the coins for each storing and feeding unit 40. In this case, even if it is determined that the reconciliation of a certain storing and feeding unit 40 has not been completed, the control unit 90 performs the reconciliation process on the coins stored in the next storing and feeding unit 40. In this case, the reconciliation process on the coins stored in each of the plurality of storing and feeding units 40 can be performed continuously.

[0116] Furthermore, as described above, the control unit 90 may cause the recognition unit 50 to recognize again a predetermined number of times those coins that were not recognized as normal by the recognition unit 50 during the reconciliation process, and may temporarily return coins that were not recognized as normal even after being recognized by the recognition unit 50 a predetermined number of times to the original storing and feeding unit 40, and determine that the storing and feeding unit 40 has not been reconciled. In this case, it is possible to prevent a normal coin from being recognized as an abnormal coin by the recognition unit 50, and to erroneously determine that the storing and feeding unit 40 in which the coin is stored has not been reconciled.

[0117] Furthermore, as described above, when the control unit 90 receives a predetermined command, it controls the circulating conveying unit 30 and the storing and feeding unit 40 so that coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 that have been determined to have not been inspected are fed from the storing and feeding unit 40 to the circulating conveying unit 30 and identified by the recognition unit 50, and coins that have been identified as normal by the recognition unit 50 are returned to the storing and feeding unit 40 from which they originated, and coins that have not been identified as normal by the recognition unit 50 are dispensed outside the housing 12 (machine body). As a result, coins stored in the storing and feeding unit 40 that have been determined to have not been inspected are identified again by the recognition unit 50, and coins that have not been identified as normal are dispensed outside the housing 12, allowing for more accurate inspection processing.

[0118] As described above, the control unit 90 can switch the coin processing mode during the reconciliation process between a hold mode, in which coins not identified as valid by the recognition unit 50 are temporarily returned to the original storing and feeding unit 40 and the storage and feeding unit 40 is determined to have not been reconciled, and a dispensing mode, in which coins not identified as valid by the recognition unit 50 during the reconciliation process are dispensed to the outside of the housing 12 (machine body). In this case, when the clerk performing the reconciliation process is always in front of the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10, the dispensing mode can be used to quickly perform the reconciliation process. Furthermore, when the clerk moves away from the housing 12 of the coin processing machine 10 during the reconciliation process, the hold mode can be used to prevent coins not identified as valid by the recognition unit 50 from being taken away by a third party. The control unit 90 also switches the processing mode between the hold mode and the dispensing mode based on the received reconciliation instruction.

[0119] The coin processing machine according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

[0120] For example, in the above description, a case has been described in which each storing and feeding unit 40 is of a type in which coins are placed into the storage section 46 from the upper end side and the coins stored in the storage section 46 are dispensed one by one from the upper end side, but this embodiment is not limited to this. As other embodiments, a storing and feeding unit of a type in which coins are placed into the storage section from the upper end side and the coins stored in the storage section are dispensed one by one from the lower end side, or a type in which coins are placed into the storage section from the lower end side and the coins stored in the storage section are dispensed one by one from the lower end side or the upper end side may be used.

[0121] Furthermore, a coin processing machine 10a according to a modified example may be one shown in Figure 28. Figure 28 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of coin processing machine 10a according to a modified example. In coin processing machine 10a shown in Figure 28, the same components as those in coin processing machine 10 shown in Figures 1 to 27 are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0122] 28, instead of being provided with multiple cylindrical storing and feeding units 40, multiple storing and feeding units 40p are provided vertically below the circulating transport unit 30, and each storing and feeding unit 40p is assigned to a different denomination of coins to be stored. Also, openings 31p or gate members (not shown) corresponding to the diameter of the coins corresponding to each storing and feeding unit 40p are provided on the coin transport surface of the circulating transport unit 30, and chutes 41p are provided between the openings 31p or gate members and each storing and feeding unit 40p. Coins sent from the circulating transport unit 30 to the chute 41p by the openings 31p or gate members fall by their own weight within the chute 41p, and are sent to each storing and feeding unit 40p.

[0123] Each storing and feeding unit 40p is provided with a circulating belt, and coins sent from the chute 41p to each storing and feeding unit 40p are stacked on the circulating belt. In this way, during coin deposit processing, coins fed from the insertion unit 20 to the circulating transport unit 30 are identified by the recognition unit 50 and then stored in each storing and feeding unit 40p. Furthermore, during coin dispensing processing, the circulating belt of the storing and feeding unit 40p moves in a circular motion, thereby feeding coins to be dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 40p, and the dispensed coins are sent to tray 60 via first dispensing belt 42p and second dispensing belt 44p. As a result, dispensed coins are accumulated on tray 60, allowing the operator to remove the dispensed coins from tray 60.

[0124] 28 includes a circulatory conveyance unit 30 that conveys coins along a predetermined circular path, an input unit 20 that is provided inside the circular path and for inputting coins into the machine body, and a storing and feeding unit 40p that is provided below the circulatory conveyance unit 30 and is capable of storing coins sent from the circulatory conveyance unit 30 and feeding out the stored coins. In this coin processing machine 10a, as in the coin processing machine 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 27, the input unit 20 that inputs coins into the machine body is provided inside the circular path of the circulatory conveyance unit 30, so that the length of the coin processing machine 10a in the depth direction can be reduced.

[0125] Furthermore, a coin processing machine 10b according to another modified example may be that shown in Figure 29. Figure 29 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of coin processing machine 10b according to the modified example. In coin processing machine 10b shown in Figure 29, the same components as those in coin processing machine 10 shown in Figures 1 to 27 are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0126] As shown in Figure 29, in a coin processing machine 10b according to another modified example, each storing and feeding unit 40 is arranged inside the circular path along which coins are transported in the circulating transport unit 30. Here, the shape and number of each storing and feeding unit 40 in the coin processing machine 10b are the same as the shape and number of each storing and feeding unit 40 in the coin processing machine 10 shown in Figures 1 to 27. In this coin processing machine 10b as well, the storing and feeding unit 40 is able to store coins sent from the circulating transport unit 30 and feed the stored coins to the circulating transport unit 30.

[0127] 29 includes a circulatory conveyance unit 30 that conveys coins along a predetermined circular path, an input unit 20 that is provided inside the circular path and for inputting coins into the machine body, and a storing and feeding unit 40 that is provided along the circular path and for storing coins sent from the circulatory conveyance unit 30 and for feeding the stored coins to the circulatory conveyance unit 30. In this coin processing machine 10b, as in the coin processing machine 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 27, the input unit 20 that inputs coins into the machine body is provided inside the circular path of the circulatory conveyance unit 30, and therefore the length of the coin processing machine 10b in the depth direction can be reduced.

[0128] Furthermore, the money handling machine according to the present invention is not limited to a coin handling machine that handles coins. A banknote handling machine that handles banknotes may also be used as the money handling machine according to the present invention. Such a banknote handling machine will be described with reference to Figures 30 to 32.

[0129] As shown in Fig. 1, a banknote handling machine 200 according to the present invention is installed alongside the coin handling machine 10. As shown in Figs. 30 to 32, the banknote handling machine 200 comprises a housing 212 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a banknote receiving unit 220 provided on the front side of the housing 212, a banknote dispensing unit 222 provided below the banknote receiving unit 220 on the front side of the housing 212, a transport unit 230 that transports banknotes one by one inside the housing 212, and a plurality of storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 that store banknotes inside the housing 212 and can feed the stored banknotes. In Fig. 31, the right side of the housing 212 is the front side of the banknote handling machine 200, and the leftward direction in Fig. 31 is the depth direction of the banknote handling machine 200. 31, the transport unit 230 is composed of a circulating transport unit 230a and multiple connecting transport units 230b arranged at the center of the housing 212. In addition, the banknote receiving unit 220, the banknote dispensing unit 222, the withdrawal rejection unit 224, a cassette mounting unit 226 to which a storage cassette 300 can be detachably attached, and four storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240 are arranged to surround the circulating transport unit 230a. In addition, as shown in FIG. 31, each of the multiple connecting transport units 230b connects the banknote receiving unit 220, the banknote dispensing unit 222, the withdrawal rejection unit 224, the cassette mounting unit 226, and the four storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240 to the circulating transport unit 230a. The circulating conveying unit 230a is provided with a recognition unit 232, which recognizes the denomination, authenticity, fitness, front / back, conveying state, etc. of the banknotes conveyed by the circulating conveying unit 230a.

[0130] The circulating conveying unit 230a is capable of conveying banknotes one by one along a circulation path in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in Fig. 31. In addition, in the conveying unit 230, a path switching unit (not shown) that switches the conveying path of banknotes between the circulating conveying unit 230a and each connecting conveying unit 230b is arranged along the circulating conveying unit 230a.

[0131] 30 and 31, a banknote receiving opening 220a of the banknote receiving unit 220 and a banknote dispensing opening 222a of the banknote dispensing unit 222 are provided on the front surface of the housing 212. A door 226a is provided on the front surface of the cassette mounting unit 226, and opening this door 226a allows the storage cassette 300 to be mounted in the cassette mounting unit 226 or the storage cassette 300 to be removed from the cassette mounting unit 226. The storage cassette 300 mounted in the cassette mounting unit 226 stores banknotes sent from the connecting transport unit 230b of the transport unit 230 in a stacked state, and is also capable of feeding the stored banknotes one by one to the connecting transport unit 230b of the transport unit 230.

[0132] The banknote receiving section 220 is provided with a banknote dispensing mechanism 221, and when a banknote receiving sensor (not shown) detects that one or more banknotes have been inserted into the banknote receiving opening 220a, the banknote dispensing mechanism 221 is driven to dispense the banknotes one by one to the circulating conveying section 230a side via the connecting conveying section 230b.

[0133] The banknote dispensing unit 222 is configured to discharge the banknotes fed from the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240 to the circulating transport unit 230a to the outside of the housing 212 through a banknote dispensing opening 222a.

[0134] The withdrawal rejection unit 224 is configured to store, as withdrawal-rejected banknotes, banknotes that cannot be recognized by the recognition unit 232 due to transport abnormalities such as double feeding or skewing, among the banknotes fed from the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240 during the withdrawal process. Also, among the banknotes taken into the housing 212 from the banknote receiving unit 220, banknotes that cannot be recognized by the recognition unit 232 due to damage or the like during the deposit process are returned to the banknote dispensing unit 222 as deposit-rejected banknotes.

[0135] Each of the three storing and feeding units 234, 236, and 238 is configured to store banknotes by denomination based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 232. These storing and feeding units 234, 236, and 238 are configured to store banknotes as sales proceeds deposited into the banknote processing unit 210 and banknotes to be dispensed as change. Specifically, for example, storing and feeding unit 234 stores 1000 yen bills, storing and feeding unit 236 stores a mixture of 2000 yen and 5000 yen bills, and storing and feeding unit 238 stores 10,000 yen bills. Furthermore, storing and feeding unit 240 stores a mixture of 1000 yen and 10,000 yen bills. In addition, each storage and feeding section 234, 236, 238, 240 is provided with a banknote feeding mechanism 235, 237, 239, 241, respectively, and the banknotes stored in these storage and feeding sections 234, 236, 238, 240 are fed one by one by each banknote feeding mechanism 235, 237, 239, 241 to the circulating conveying section 230a side via the connecting conveying section 230b.

[0136] Next, the configuration of a control system in such a banknote handling machine 200 will be described with reference to Figure 32. As shown in Figure 32, the banknote handling machine 200 is provided with a control unit 290, which is connected to the banknote feeding mechanism 221, the transport unit 230, the recognition unit 232, the banknote feeding mechanisms 235, 237, 239, 241, the cassette mounting unit 226, etc. Banknote identification information and the like from the recognition unit 232 is sent to the banknote control unit 210a, and the control unit 290 controls each component of the banknote handling unit 210 by sending command signals to these components. The banknote handling machine 200 is also provided with an operation and display unit 292, a memory unit 294, and a communication unit 296, which are connected to the control unit 290. The operation and display unit 292 is composed of, for example, a touch panel, and upon receiving a display command from the control unit 290, various information is displayed on the operation and display unit 292, and the operator can input various information to the control unit 290 via the operation and display unit 292. The memory unit 294 is configured to store various information such as the denominations and numbers of banknotes stored in each of the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240, and the history of banknote deposit and withdrawal processes performed in the banknote handling machine 200. The memory unit 294 is also configured to store the denominations of each banknote stored in the storing and feeding unit 240 in the order in which they were stored. The control unit 290 is also configured to send and receive various signals to and from external devices via the communication unit 296.

[0137] Next, we will explain various processes that are performed in the banknote handling machine 200. The various processes performed by the banknote handling machine 200 described below are performed by the control unit 290 controlling the respective components of the banknote handling machine 200.

[0138] First, the operation when the banknote processing machine 200 performs a banknote deposit process will be described. When an operator inserts banknotes into the banknote receiving opening 220a of the banknote receiving unit 220, and a banknote receiving sensor (not shown) detects that one or more banknotes have been inserted into the banknote receiving opening 220a, the banknote feeding mechanism 221 is driven to feed the banknotes one by one to the circulating conveyance unit 230a side via the connecting conveyance unit 230b. The banknotes fed to the circulating conveyance unit 230a are transported by the circulating conveyance unit 230a and recognized by the recognition unit 232. Then, based on the recognition result by the recognition unit 232, the banknotes are sent to the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238 corresponding to the denomination of the banknote recognized by the recognition unit 232. In this way, banknotes inserted into the banknote receiving opening 220a of the banknote receiving unit 220 are stored in the respective storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238. If the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238 corresponding to the denomination of the banknote recognized by the recognition unit 232 are full and no more banknotes can be stored in these storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, the banknotes recognized by the recognition unit 232 are sent to the storing and feeding unit 240 and stored in this storing and feeding unit 240. The memory unit 294 stores the order and denomination of the banknotes stored in the storing and feeding unit 240.

[0139] Next, an operation when a banknote dispensing process is performed by the banknote handling machine 200 will be described. When a command for dispensing banknotes is input to the control unit 290, when 1,000 yen bills or 10,000 yen bills are dispensed, based on the information stored in the memory unit 294, the banknotes are first fed from the storing and feeding unit 240, in which 1,000 yen bills and 10,000 yen bills are stored in a mixed state, to the transport unit 230, and sent from the transport unit 230 to the banknote dispensing unit 222. Furthermore, when the banknotes to be dispensed cannot be fed from the storing and feeding unit 240, in which 1,000 yen bills and 10,000 yen bills are stored in a mixed state, to the transport unit 230, the banknotes are fed from the storing and feeding unit 234, the storing and feeding unit 236, and the storing and feeding unit 238, to which 1,000 yen bills, 5,000 yen bills, or 10,000 yen bills are assigned, respectively, to the transport unit 230, and sent from the transport unit 230 to the banknote dispensing unit 222. Then, when all of the banknotes to be dispensed have been sent to the banknote dispensing unit 222, the banknote dispensing unit 222 releases the banknotes sent from the transport unit 230 to the outside of the housing 212 through the banknote dispensing outlet 222a. In this way, the banknote dispensing process is completed. According to this banknote dispensing process, by preferentially feeding banknotes from the storing and feeding unit 240 and sending them to the banknote dispensing unit 222, it is possible to leave as many banknotes as possible in the storing and feeding units 234 and 238, which store banknotes of a specific denomination.

[0140] Furthermore, while a banknote dispensing process is being performed, banknotes that are not to be dispensed among those dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 240 are not dispensed based on the information stored in the memory unit 294. This makes it possible to prevent banknotes that are not to be dispensed among those dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 240 from being sent to the banknote dispensing unit 222, for example, and thereby making them accessible to an operator. Furthermore, while a banknote dispensing process is being performed, based on the information stored in the memory unit 94, if the denomination of the banknote to be next dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 240 is not included in the denominations of the banknotes to be dispensed, the banknote is dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 234 or storing and feeding unit 238 that corresponds to the denomination of the banknote to be dispensed. This makes it possible to prevent unnecessary banknotes (i.e., banknotes that are not of the denomination to be dispensed) from being dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 240, thereby making it possible to more quickly perform a banknote dispensing process.

[0141] Furthermore, while a banknote dispensing process is being performed, if it is necessary to feed a predetermined number or more of banknotes of a denomination not included in the banknotes to be dispensed before dispensing the banknotes to be dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 240 based on the information stored in the memory unit 294, the banknotes may be dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 234 or the storing and feeding unit 238 corresponding to the denomination of the banknotes to be dispensed. This makes it possible to prevent a large number of banknotes of a denomination not included in the banknotes to be dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 240, thereby making it possible to more quickly perform the banknote dispensing process. Furthermore, if it is necessary to continuously feed a predetermined number of banknotes of a denomination not included in the banknotes to be dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 240 based on the information stored in the memory unit 294, the banknotes may be dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 234 or the storing and feeding unit 238 corresponding to the denomination of the banknotes to be dispensed. In this case, it is also possible to prevent a large amount of banknotes of a denomination other than those included in the banknotes to be dispensed from the storage and dispensing unit 240, thereby enabling the banknote dispensing process to be carried out more quickly.

[0142] Furthermore, in the banknote handling machine 200 of this embodiment, when an instruction to perform a banknote dispensing process is given to the control unit 290, a re-allocation process of the banknotes stored in the storing and feeding unit 240 may be performed as shown below. There are three patterns for the re-allocation process of the banknotes stored in the storing and feeding unit 240. In the first pattern, when an instruction to perform a banknote dispensing process is given to the control unit 290, first, banknotes are fed from the storing and feeding unit 240, which stores a mixture of 1,000 yen bills and 10,000 yen bills, to the transport unit 230, and if the fed banknotes are banknotes that should be dispensed, they are sent from the transport unit 230 to the banknote dispensing unit 222. On the other hand, if the banknotes dispensed from the storing and feeding unit 240 to the transport unit 230 are not banknotes that should be dispensed, they are temporarily held on the transport path of the transport unit 230. At this time, if the denominations of banknotes continuously fed from storing and feeding unit 240 to transport unit 230 are the same, multiple banknotes of the same denomination are reserved on the transport path of transport unit 230. Thereafter, transport unit 230 sends the banknotes (thousand-yen bills or ten-thousand-yen bills) reserved on the transport path to storing and feeding unit 234 or storing and feeding unit 238 to which the denomination of the banknotes is assigned, and the banknotes are stored in storing and feeding unit 234 or storing and feeding unit 238. When storing and feeding unit 234 or storing and feeding unit 238 corresponding to the denomination of the banknotes (thousand-yen bills or ten-thousand-yen bills) reserved on the transport path is full, the banknotes are returned to storing and feeding unit 240 and stored in storing and feeding unit 240. Thereafter, the banknotes to be dispensed are not dispensed from the storage and feeding unit 240, and the banknotes dispensed from the storage and feeding unit 234 or the storage and feeding unit 238 corresponding to the denomination of the banknotes to be dispensed are sent to the banknote dispensing unit 222 by the transport unit 230.

[0143] In a second pattern of the process for re-allocating banknotes stored in the storing and feeding unit 240, when an instruction to perform a banknote dispensing process is given to the control unit 290, banknotes are first fed from the storing and feeding unit 240, in which 1,000 yen bills and 10,000 yen bills are stored in a mixed state, to the transport unit 230, and all of these fed banknotes are sent to the banknote receiving unit 220 or the empty storage cassette 300 attached to the cassette attachment unit 226. Then, when all of the banknotes stored in the storing and feeding unit 240 have been sent to the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300, the banknotes are fed one by one from the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300 to the transport unit 230, and the denominations, etc. of the fed banknotes are recognized by the recognition unit 232 while being transported by the transport unit 230. Then, based on the recognition result by the recognition unit 232, if the banknote recognized by the recognition unit 232 is a banknote that should be dispensed, this banknote is sent from the transport unit 230 to the banknote dispensing unit 222. On the other hand, if the banknote recognized by the recognition unit 232 is not a banknote that should be dispensed, this banknote continues to be transported by the transport unit 230 and is sent to the storing and feeding unit 234 or the storing and feeding unit 236 that is assigned to the denomination of this banknote, and is stored in this storing and feeding unit 234 or the storing and feeding unit 236. Furthermore, if the recognition unit 232 recognizes that the banknote transported by the transport unit 230 is a 1,000 yen note or a 10,000 yen note, and the storing and feeding unit 234 or the storing and feeding unit 238 that corresponds to the 1,000 yen note or the 10,000 yen note is full, this banknote is returned to the storing and feeding unit 240 and stored in this storing and feeding unit 240.

[0144] In a third pattern of the re-allocation process of banknotes stored in the storing and feeding unit 240, when an instruction to perform a banknote dispensing process is given to the control unit 290, first, banknotes are fed from the storing and feeding unit 240, in which a mixture of 1,000 yen bills and 10,000 yen bills are stored, to the transport unit 230, and if the fed banknotes are banknotes that should be dispensed, they are sent from the transport unit 230 to the banknote dispensing unit 222. On the other hand, if the banknotes fed from the storing and feeding unit 240 to the transport unit 230 are not banknotes that should be dispensed, they are sent to the banknote receiving unit 220 or an empty storage cassette 300 attached to the cassette attachment unit 226. Then, when all of the banknotes to be dispensed have been sent to the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300, the banknotes are fed one by one from the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300 to the transport unit 230, and the denominations and the like of the fed banknotes are recognized by the recognition unit 232 while being transported by the transport unit 230. Then, based on the recognition result by the recognition unit 232, the banknote recognized by the recognition unit 232 continues to be transported by the transport unit 230 and sent to the storing and feeding unit 234 or the storing and feeding unit 238 to which the denomination of the banknote is assigned, and is stored in the storing and feeding unit 234 or the storing and feeding unit 238. Furthermore, when the recognition unit 232 identifies that the banknote being transported by the transport unit 230 is a 1,000 yen note or a 10,000 yen note, and it is detected that the storage and feed unit 234 or the storage and feed unit 238 corresponding to the 1,000 yen note or the 10,000 yen note denomination is full, the banknote is returned to the storage and feed unit 240 and stored in the storage and feed unit 240.

[0145] Which of the three patterns of re-allocation processing of banknotes stored in the storing and feeding unit 240 described above is to be used for the re-allocation processing of banknotes is set in advance at the time of shipping the banknote handling machine 200. Also, the operator may be able to set which pattern of the re-allocation processing is to be used using the operation display unit 292.

[0146] Furthermore, the above-described banknote redistribution process is not limited to being performed when a banknote dispensing command is input to the control unit 290. The above-described banknote redistribution process may be performed at a predetermined time when the banknote handling machine 200 is in a standby state outside the business hours of the store in which the banknote handling machine 200 is installed.

[0147] Next, the operation of the banknote processing machine 200 when performing a banknote reconciliation process will be described.

[0148] In this embodiment, the banknote processing mode during the reconciliation process can be switched between a hold mode, in which banknotes not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 232 are temporarily returned to the original storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240 and the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240 are determined to have not been inspected, and a dispensing mode, in which banknotes not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 232 during the reconciliation process are dispensed to the outside of the housing 212 (machine body). The banknote processing mode during the reconciliation process can be changed by an operator inputting a command to the control unit 290 via the operation display unit 292. That is, the control unit 290 changes the processing mode between the hold mode and the dispensing mode based on the received reconciliation command.

[0149] When a command for banknote reconciliation processing is given to the control unit 290 by an operator inputting a command for banknote reconciliation processing via the operation display unit 292 or by an external device transmitting a command for banknote reconciliation processing to the control unit 290 via the communication unit 296, the recognition unit 232 recognizes the banknotes stored in each of the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240. Specifically, when a command for banknote reconciliation processing is given to the control unit 290, if the banknote processing mode for the reconciliation processing is the hold mode, the banknote is fed from a certain storing and feeding unit 234, 236, 238, 240 to the transport unit 230, and the fed banknote is sent by the transport unit 230 to an empty storage cassette 300 attached to the banknote receiving unit 220 or the cassette attachment unit 226. When all banknotes have been fed from a certain storing and feeding unit 234, 236, 238, 240 and sent to the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300, the banknotes stored in the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300 are fed one by one to the transport unit 230 and transported one by one by the transport unit 230. The banknotes transported by the transport unit 230 are identified by the recognition unit 232 as to their denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc. Then, banknotes identified as normal banknotes by the recognition unit 232 are returned to the original storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240. On the other hand, banknotes identified as abnormal banknotes by the recognition unit 232 are also sent to the original storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 and stored in these storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240. Furthermore, the control unit 290 determines that the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240 to which banknotes that have been identified as not being normal by the recognition unit 232 have been returned are storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240 that have not yet completed inspection.

[0150] In this way, when all the banknotes have been sent from the banknote receiving unit 220 or storage cassette 300 to the original storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240, the same process is performed for the other storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240. Then, when the above-described process has been performed for all storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240, if there are no storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 that have been determined to have not been inspected, the control unit 290 determines that the banknote inspection process has been completed.

[0151] On the other hand, if there are any storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 for which inspection has been determined to be incomplete, the banknotes for the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 for which inspection has been determined to be incomplete are fed to the transport unit 230 and sent to the banknote receiving unit 220 or an empty storage cassette 300 attached to the cassette attachment unit 226. Then, after all the banknotes have been sent from the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 to the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300, the banknotes stored in the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300 are fed one by one to the transport unit 230 and transported one by one by the transport unit 230. The banknotes transported by the transport unit 230 are recognized by the recognition unit 232 for their denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc. Then, banknotes that are recognized as normal banknotes by the recognition unit 232 are returned to the original storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240. On the other hand, banknotes that are recognized as abnormal banknotes by the recognition unit 232 or banknotes that could not be recognized by the recognition unit 232 are branched from the transport unit 230 as rejected banknotes and sent to the banknote dispensing unit 222. The banknotes sent to the banknote dispensing unit 222 are discharged to the outside of the housing from the banknote dispensing outlet 222a. This allows the operator to remove the rejected banknotes from the banknote dispensing outlet 222a. In this way, when all banknotes have been fed from the banknote receiving unit 220 or storage cassette 300 to the transport unit 230 and sent to the original storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 or banknote dispensing unit 222, the control unit 290 switches the status of these storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 from "inspection not completed" to "inspection completed." In this way, the control unit 290 determines that the banknote inspection process has been completed.

[0152] In this embodiment, in the process of the hold mode described above, banknotes that have not been recognized as normal by the recognition unit 232 may be recognized again a predetermined number of times by the recognition unit 232, and banknotes that have not been recognized as normal even after being recognized by the recognition unit 232 the predetermined number of times may be temporarily returned to the original storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240, and the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 may be determined to have not been inspected. There is a risk that normal banknotes may be erroneously recognized as abnormal banknotes after only one recognition operation by the recognition unit 232. However, by having the recognition unit 232 recognize such banknotes again, it is possible to prevent normal banknotes from being recognized as abnormal banknotes by the recognition unit 232 and to prevent the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 that store such banknotes from being erroneously determined to have not been inspected.

[0153] On the other hand, when the banknote processing mode during the reconciliation process is the processing mode rather than the hold mode, the following process is performed. That is, for a certain storing and feeding unit 234, 236, 238, 240, the banknotes are fed from that storing and feeding unit 234, 236, 238, 240 to the transport unit 230 and sent to the banknote receiving unit 220 or an empty storage cassette 300 attached to the cassette attachment unit 226. Then, after all the banknotes have been sent from the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 to the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300, the banknotes stored in the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300 are fed one by one to the transport unit 230 and transported one by one by the transport unit 230. The banknotes transported by the transport unit 230 are recognized by the recognition unit 232 for their denomination, authenticity, fitness, etc. Then, banknotes that are recognized as normal by the recognition unit 232 are returned to the original storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240. On the other hand, banknotes that are recognized as abnormal by the recognition unit 232 or banknotes that could not be recognized by the recognition unit 232 are branched from the transport unit 230 as rejected banknotes and sent to the banknote dispensing unit 222. The banknotes sent to the banknote dispensing unit 222 are discharged to the outside of the housing from the banknote dispensing outlet 222a. This allows the operator to remove the rejected banknotes from the banknote dispensing outlet 222a. In this way, when all banknotes have been sent from the banknote receiving unit 220 or the storage cassette 300 to the original storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240 or the banknote dispensing unit 222, the same process is performed for the other storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240. Then, when the above-described processing has been performed for all of the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, and 240, the control unit 290 determines that the banknote reconciliation processing has been completed.

[0154] As described above, in this embodiment, the banknote processing mode during the reconciliation process can be switched between a hold mode in which banknotes not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 232 are temporarily returned to the original storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 and the storing and feeding units 234, 236, 238, 240 are determined to have not been inspected, and a dispensing mode in which banknotes not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 232 during the reconciliation process are dispensed to the outside of the housing 212 (machine body). Here, when the clerk performing the reconciliation process is always in front of the housing 212 of the banknote processing machine 200, the dispensing mode can be used to speed up the reconciliation process. Furthermore, when the clerk leaves the housing 212 of the banknote processing machine 200 during the reconciliation process of banknotes, the hold mode can be used to prevent banknotes not recognized as valid by the recognition unit 232 from being taken away by a third party. [Explanation of symbols]

[0155] 10, 10a, 10b Coin processing machine 12. Case 14 Top door 15 axes 16 aperture 18 Insertion detection sensor 19 Door opening / closing detection sensor 20 Input section 21 Drive motor 22 Circulation Belt 24 Reverse Roller 26 Feeding detection sensor 28 Residual detection sensor 30 Circulating conveyor 30a drive motor 30b solenoid 31 Branching member 31p aperture 32 Circulation Belt 33 Branching member 34 Pulley 35 Branching member 36 Tension mechanism 38 Branching mechanism 38a Inlet 39 Branching member 39a axis 39b, 39c Swinging part 39c Swinging part 39d void 39e Guide surface 40 (40A~40G) Storage and feeding section 40a full detection sensor 40b Empty detection sensor 40c Upper end detection sensor 40p Storage and feeding section 41 Cam 41a Protrusion 41b Drive motor 41p Shoot 42 Stages 42a Spring 42p 1st withdrawal belt 43 Lifting member 43a Linear motor 44 Upper guide member 44a Recess 44p 2nd withdrawal belt 45 Upper guide member 45a recess 46 Storage area 46a Top opening 47 Opening and Closing Doors 47a axis 47b Recess 48 First guide member 49 Second guide member 50 Identification unit 60 trays 62, 64 outlet 66, 67, 68 Wall 70 rejected shots 72 First chute section 74 Second chute section 80 Withdrawal Shoot 80a solenoid 82 First chute section 84 Second chute section 86 Third chute area 88 Branching member 88a axis 90 Control Unit 92 Operation display section 94 Memory section 96 Communications Department 200 Banknote Processing Machine 210 Banknote Processing Unit 210a Banknote control unit 212 Case 220 Banknote acceptance section 220a Bill slot 221 Banknote feeding mechanism 222 Banknote dispensing section 222a Banknote dispensing outlet 224 Withdrawal Rejection Department 226 Cassette mounting section 226a Door 230 Conveyor 230a Circulating conveyor 230b Connection conveying section 232 Identification Unit 234, 236, 238, 240 Storage and feeding section 235, 237, 239, 241 Banknote feeding mechanism 290 Control Unit 292 Operation display section 294 Memory section 296 Communications Department 300 storage cassette 400 coin processing machine 420 Input section 430 Conveyor 431 Right Area 432 Circulation Belt 433 Left Area 434 Pulley 436 Tension mechanism 440 Storage and feeding section 450 Identification Unit 460 Withdrawal Box 462 Withdrawal Box 464 Collection Box

Claims

1. a cylindrical storage portion in which coins are stored in a stacked state and in which an opening extending along the coin stacking direction is formed; an opening / closing door that opens and closes the opening; a guide member extending along the coin stacking direction in the storage section; Equipped with The opening and closing door rotates around an axis extending along the coin stacking direction, A storage mechanism in which the width of the gap formed around the guide member is smaller than the diameter of the coin to be stored in the storage portion.

2. The coin machine further comprises a cam for storing coins sent from a transport unit that transports coins in the storage unit, 2. The storage mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cam is configured to feed out the coin located at the top layer of the coins stored in the storage section.

3. A storage mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein the guide member is positioned inside the opening / closing door when the opening / closing door closes the opening.

4. A storage mechanism as described in claim 3, wherein a recess is formed on the inner surface of the opening / closing door in which the guide member is accommodated when the opening is closed.

5. A storage mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein a plurality of guide members are provided, and the width of the gap between the plurality of guide members is smaller than the diameter of the coin to be stored in the storage portion.

6. A storage mechanism as described in claim 2, wherein a second opening is formed near the cam in the storage portion for removing the top layer of coins accumulated in the storage portion from the storage portion.

7. A storage mechanism according to claim 2; a conveying unit that conveys coins; Equipped with A coin processing machine in which coins branched from the conveying section are sent to the storage mechanism and stored in the storage mechanism, and coins fed out from the storage mechanism by the cam are sent to the conveying section.

Images