Coin transport device and coin processing device

Abstract

To provide a coin conveyance device and a coin processor with a coin conveyance device that can suitably convey coins to a separation unit when multiple coins fed from a feeding port do not stand up on the conveyance belt and are not conveyed to the separation unit.SOLUTION: A coin conveyance device includes a conveyor belt 6 placed at the bottom of a container 5 for storing coins, and separation rollers 9 placed at predetermined intervals relative to the conveyor belt 6, between which the coins pass, to convey the coins lying on the conveyor belt 6 to the next process. Both sides of the conveyor belt 6 are provided with an agitating roller 10 with a plurality of protrusions 11 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the conveyor belt 6. A coin 13 standing up in the container 5 and leaning against the agitating roller 10 contacts the projections 11 of the rotating agitating roller 10, is pushed down onto the conveyor belt 6, and is conveyed between the conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9 to the next process.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a coin conveying device that separates and conveys coins on a belt one by one, and a coin processing device equipped with the coin conveying device.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a coin separating and conveying device that separates and conveys a plurality of coins inserted from an insertion port one by one. For example, a coin separating and conveying device is used in a coin processing device such as an automatic change machine. Coins inserted into the insertion port are placed on a conveying belt and conveyed to a separating unit. The coins are separated one by one in the separating unit, and then the denomination is identified in an identifying unit. The identified coins are stored in a storage unit for each denomination. The storage unit can discharge the stored coins one by one. The coin processing device includes a control unit that controls the identifying unit and the storage unit. The coin processing device can, under the control of the control unit, acquire the denomination and number of the inserted coins from the identification result of the identifying unit, store the coins in the storage unit for each denomination, and discharge the coins from the storage unit.

[0003] However, in the coin separating and conveying device, there is a problem that the inserted coins may stand on the conveying belt with the circumferential surface of the coin. As the conveying belt moves, the coins standing on the circumferential surface rotate without falling on the conveying belt and are not conveyed to the separating unit.

[0004] To solve such problems, for example, a coin processing device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-147271 was conceived. This coin processing device includes a screw-shaped member having spiral projections on its outer surface, and discloses a technology that moves coins standing upright on a conveyor belt to the upstream side in the conveying direction. Side walls are provided at the lateral and upstream ends of the conveyor belt, and these ends are narrowed in a U-shape, at which the coins are released from their upright position. The screw-shaped member has spiral projections formed along its entire length on its surface. Coins standing upright on the conveyor belt come into contact with the rotating spiral projections and are forcibly moved in the opposite direction to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt. In addition, to prevent coins from moving outside the conveying surface through gaps formed along the screw-shaped member, a brush is provided that contacts the surface of the screw-shaped member and covers the gaps. Furthermore, a cover is provided on the outside of the brush, which prevents coins from flying out. The spiral projection has three grooves at predetermined intervals, and the cover has projections at positions corresponding to these grooves. The distance between the projections is set to prevent coins from passing through.

[0005] The brushes are fixed to the support and positioned above and below the screw-shaped member. They are made of a flexible material that can be easily deformed by contact with the helical projections, allowing the helical projections to rotate and change position as the screw-shaped member rotates. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-147271 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Conventional technology involves changing the contact position between a spiral projection and a coin by rotating a screw-shaped member, thereby transporting an upright coin. As the screw-shaped member rotates, the spiral projection continuously applies force to the coin from the downstream side to the upstream side in the transport direction. As a result, the coin moves to the upstream side in the transport direction.

[0008] The coins used differ in diameter, thickness, and weight depending on the denomination. The shape of the spiral projection on the screw-shaped member must be adapted to accommodate all of these denominations. Furthermore, the screw-shaped member must be positioned so that the spiral projection contacts various coins of different diameters when standing upright. In addition, the spiral projection needs to be made of a material that provides high frictional force upon contact, as it moves the contacted coin upstream in the transport direction. Also, to prevent coins from getting stuck between the brush and the screw-shaped member, the brush is always in contact with the screw-shaped member, which can cause wear and deformation.

[0009] For example, if the contact point of the spiral projection with the coin is set near the center of a small-diameter coin, the contact point of the spiral projection with a large-diameter coin will be on the lower side of that coin. Conversely, if the contact point of the spiral projection with the coin is set near the center of a large-diameter coin, the contact point of the spiral projection with a small-diameter coin will be on the upper side of that coin. The contact point between the coin and the spiral projection affects the movement of the coin upstream in the transport direction, and in the worst case, it may become difficult for the coin to move upstream in the transport direction.

[0010] The present invention provides a coin conveying device and a coin processing device equipped with the coin conveying device, which are highly durable and capable of suitably tipping over coins standing upright on a conveyor belt, regardless of their shape, such as diameter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention provides a coin transport device comprising: a storage section having an upper opening into which coins are inserted and a bottom opening located at the bottom that is narrower than the upper opening; a transport belt that closes the bottom opening and carries the coins inserted from the upper opening; and a rotating body located at the end of the bottom opening in the direction of coin transport, spaced apart from the transport belt, wherein the coin transport device transports the coins inserted into the storage section to the next process by passing them between the transport belt and the rotating body, and further comprises a stirring roller having a plurality of protrusions on its circumferential surface, and the storage section having an inclined surface between the upper opening and the bottom opening that guides the coins onto the transport belt. Displaced on both sides in the width direction of the conveyor belt The inclined surface includes a recess through which the projection passes, and has a side opening at its lower end that corresponds to the contour of the stirring roller, and the storage portion is ,before A wall portion is formed extending from the lower end of the side opening toward the direction of the conveyor belt, and the stirring roller has a portion of its circumferential surface exposed from the side opening, and the projection is arranged to protrude from the side opening, and by rotating the stirring roller in conjunction with the conveyor belt, the projection comes into contact with the coin leaning against the stirring roller in an upright position, thereby knocking the coin over.

[0012] The coin processing device of the present invention comprises the above-described coin transport device and the coin transport device transport The device is characterized by having an identification unit that identifies the denomination of the delivered coins, and a storage unit that stores the coins identified by the identification unit according to their denomination. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the upright position of coins of different shapes on the conveyor belt can be effectively resolved, allowing coins to be conveyed one by one to the next process, and durability can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the coin processing device. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the input section. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the coin storage section. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a top view of the coin storage section. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of the stirring roller. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the structure of the stirring roller.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Each drawing is only schematically shown to such an extent that the present invention can be sufficiently understood. Therefore, the present invention is not limited only to the illustrated examples. Also, in each drawing, common components and similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of the coin processing device. The coin processing device 1 is covered with an outer casing having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The coin processing device 1 is provided with an insertion slot 2 for inserting coins and a tray 3 for receiving the dispensed coins.

[0017] The insertion slot 2 for inserting coins is disposed on the front side of the upper surface of the outer casing, and the tray 3 for receiving the dispensed coins is disposed on the front surface of the outer casing. A payout opening 4 that penetrates between the inside and the outside of the coin processing device 1 is provided at a position corresponding to the tray 3 on the front surface of the outer casing. The dispensed coins are sent to the tray 3 through the payout opening 4.

[0018] For example, the coin processing device 1 is a device for receiving and dispensing coins, such as an automatic change machine or an automatic money changer. The coins inserted into the insertion slot 2 are acquired by a control unit (not shown) in terms of denomination and number, and are stored in the storage section for each denomination. The control unit can calculate and obtain the total amount of the inserted coins. The control unit calculates the denomination and number of the coins to be dispensed from the amount to be paid out, and controls the coin hopper in the storage section to discharge the coins. The discharged coins are sent to the tray 3.

[0019] Coins of multiple denominations are inserted into the insertion slot 2 in a mixed state. The inserted coins are temporarily stored in the insertion section and then conveyed to the separation section in the subsequent process, which is arranged inside the coin processing device 1. Thereafter, the coins are separated one by one, the denominations are identified, and the coins are stored in the storage section for each denomination and then reused. If a problem occurs inside the device, the exterior of the device must be removed to resolve the problem, which takes time for maintenance. Therefore, a configuration that does not cause problems inside the device is desired. Even when a large number of coins are inserted, the coins are conveyed while restricting the conveyance amount so that no problems occur in the subsequent process. The insertion section also has a function of making the posture of the conveyed coins substantially constant. For example, the posture of the coin is in a state of lying on the conveyor belt 6.

[0020] Next, the coin conveying device will be described. The insertion section is a coin conveying device that conveys a plurality of inserted coins to the subsequent process while restricting the conveyance amount. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the insertion section.

[0021] The container 5 has openings at the top and bottom. A plurality of coins 14 inserted into the upper opening provided in the upper part of the container 5 are temporarily stored in the container 5. The conveyor belt 6 forms the bottom surface of the container 5 and is arranged so as to close the bottom opening of the container 5. The conveyor belt 6 is wound around the driving roller 7 and the driven roller 8. The conveyor belt 6 is arranged to be inclined such that the side of the separation roller 9 is higher in the vertical direction. The conveyor belt 6 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the driving roller 7. The separation roller 9 is separated from the conveyor belt 6 above the driving roller 7. The rotation axes of the driving roller 7 and the separation roller 9 are arranged in parallel.

[0022] The conveyor belt 6 transports the placed coins 14 in the direction of the separation roller 9, i.e., in the transport direction indicated by the arrow. The distance between the conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9 is such that one or two coins 14 lying on the conveyor belt 6 can pass through when stacked. That is, the distance between the separation roller 9 and the conveyor belt 6 is set to be less than or equal to the thickness of two coins. For example, the distance between the conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9 is set to allow one coin with the greatest thickness among the coins used to pass through. In that case, two thin coins can pass through when stacked. The distance between the conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9 can be used to regulate the amount of coins transported. Coins 13 standing upright on the conveyor belt 6 cannot pass between the conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9. The separation roller 9 is a rotating body that rotates in the opposite direction to the transport direction of the conveyor belt 6, and a rotating body such as a belt can be used as a substitute. Even if two coins are stacked on top of each other, if they are tilted significantly and their height from the conveyor belt 6 exceeds a predetermined height, the coins 14 will be repelled by the separation roller 9 and will not be able to pass between the conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9. The coin 15, shown by the dashed line, is in the process of passing between the conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9, showing the state just before it is transported to the next process, after being lying on the conveyor belt 6. The conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9 limit the amount of coins being transported and also correct the orientation of the coins being transported.

[0023] The coin sensor 12 is a sensor that detects the presence or absence of coins on the conveyor belt 6. Multiple coin sensors 12 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 6. By using multiple sensors, coins on the conveyor belt 6 can be detected evenly.

[0024] The stirring roller 10 has multiple protrusions 11 on its surface. The stirring roller 10 rotates in conjunction with the conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9. Coins may sometimes end up standing upright on the conveyor belt 6, such as an upright coin 13. For example, a coin may rotate in place in conjunction with the conveyor belt 6 and be unable to move towards the separation roller 9, or it may lean against the stirring roller 10. An upright coin 13 cannot pass between the conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9. Therefore, the stirring roller 10 is rotated to bring the protrusions 11 into contact with the upright coin 13, thereby resolving the upright position. Since the stirring roller 10 comes into contact with the upright coin 13, it is preferable that it has high durability. For example, it is preferable that it is made of a hard, wear-resistant engineering plastic or a metal such as an iron alloy or aluminum alloy. For example, the stirring roller 10 is made of polyacetal resin.

[0025] The control means 16 includes a CPU and memory (not shown), and operates according to a program stored in the memory to control the device.

[0026] The sensor driving means 17 is controlled by the control means 16, acquires detection results from multiple connected coin sensors 12, and outputs them to the control means 16. The control means 16 performs various controls based on the acquired sensor detection results. For example, the control means 16 determines whether there are coins on the conveyor belt 6 and controls the driving of the conveyor belt 6 accordingly.

[0027] The motor 18 is operated by the control of the control means 16. The motor 18 is connected to the drive roller 7, the separation roller 9, and the stirring roller 10 via a transmission means 19 which includes multiple gears. For example, the transmission means 19 is a gear mechanism with multiple gears. The motor 18 can be rotated in the forward or reverse direction by the control means 16. The conveyor belt 6 can be driven in both the forward and reverse directions, and the separation roller 9 and the stirring roller 10 can also be driven in both the forward and reverse directions.

[0028] The timer 20 operates under the control of the control means 16 and measures time. The control means 16 can acquire the time measured by the timer 20 and use it for control. For example, the motor 18 can be driven for a predetermined time under the control of the control means 16.

[0029] Next, the configuration of the coin storage compartment will be explained using Figures 3 and 4.

[0030] First, let's explain using Figure 3. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the coin storage compartment.

[0031] The storage section for temporarily storing inserted coins comprises a container 5. The container 5 is surrounded by a resin wall. The upper opening is formed by a frame 21. The bottom opening is narrower than the upper opening, and the container 5 has an inclined surface. Inserted coins are guided by the wall of the container 5 and placed on the conveyor belt 6. The length of the separation roller 9 is longer than the width of the conveyor belt 6, and the separation roller 9 is positioned to cover the entire width of the upper part of the conveyor belt 6.

[0032] Container 5 has side walls positioned opposite each other on both sides in the width direction of the conveyor belt 6. On the upstream side of the conveyor belt 6 in the conveying direction, there is an upstream side wall including an upstream inclined section 23, an upstream upright section 28, and an upstream connecting section 30. On the downstream side of the conveyor belt 6 in the conveying direction, there is a separation roller 9 and a downstream inclined section 25.

[0033] The upstream vertical section 28 is positioned roughly perpendicular to the conveyor belt 6 and has a U-shaped curved section when viewed from above. The upstream inclined section 23 is an inclined surface positioned at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the upstream vertical section 28. The upstream connecting section 30 has a curved surface and smoothly connects the upstream inclined section 23 and the upstream vertical section 28. The upstream inclined section 23 is an inclined surface for dropping coins in the direction of the conveyor belt 6. The upstream vertical section 28 has a notch at the end facing the conveyor belt 6. The coin sensor 12 detects coins on the conveyor belt 6 through this notch. The downstream inclined section 25 is also an inclined surface for dropping coins in the direction of the conveyor belt 6.

[0034] One side of the side wall of the container 5 is provided with a first vertical section 26, a second vertical section 27, a first inclined section 22, a third vertical section 32, and a first connecting section 29. The first vertical section 26 has a notch at the end facing the conveyor belt 6. The coin sensor 12 detects coins on the conveyor belt 6 through this notch. The first vertical section 26 is inclined toward the conveyor belt 6 so that the bottom opening widens. The second vertical section 27 is perpendicular to the conveyor belt 6. The first vertical section 26 and the second vertical section 27 are connected.

[0035] The first inclined section 22 is an inclined surface positioned at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the second upright section 27. The first inclined section 22 and the second upright section 27 are smoothly connected by a first connecting section 29 which has a curved surface. A third upright section 32 is provided between the first inclined section 22 and the frame section 21, in the vertical direction of the frame section 21.

[0036] On the other side of the side wall, a second inclined portion 24 is provided at a position opposite to the first inclined portion 22. The first inclined portion 22 and the second inclined portion 24 have different inclination angles. The configuration is the same on one side of the side wall and the other side, except that the inclination angles of the first inclined portion 22 and the second inclined portion 24 are different.

[0037] Container 5 can store a large number of coins by having both an inclined surface and a surface perpendicular to the conveyor belt 6. In addition, the inserted coins are guided onto the conveyor belt 6 by the inclined surface.

[0038] Between the first inclined section 22 and the second upright section 27, a stirring roller 10 is positioned along the longitudinal direction of the container 5. The stirring roller 10 is also positioned along the lower end of the first inclined section 22. Multiple protrusions 11 are arranged on the surface of the stirring roller 10. By rotating the stirring roller 10, the protrusions 11 come into contact with the upright coins 13. The upright coins 13 are pushed down by the protrusions 11. The stirring roller 10 can also stir the inserted coins. When the conveyor belt 6 is rotating forward, the protrusions 11 exposed from the container 5 move from top to bottom on the stirring roller 10. The upright coins 13 are pushed from above and fall onto the conveyor belt 6. The first upright section 26, located below the stirring roller 10, is positioned so that the conveyor belt 6 side spreads outwards, so the upright coins 13 cannot lean against the first upright section 26.

[0039] A second vertical section 27 is positioned below the stirring roller 10, and a first vertical section 26 is positioned below the second vertical section 27. The edge of the second vertical section 27 on the stirring roller 10 side is positioned closer to the center in the width direction of the conveyor belt 6 when viewed from above, compared to the edge of the first vertical section 26 on the conveyor belt 6 side. In other words, a recess is provided in the lower wall of the stirring roller 10 to prevent coins from leaning against it. By positioning the stirring roller 10 along the lower end of the first inclined section 22, it is prevented that upright coins 13 lean against the first inclined section 22. The upright coins 13 lean against the stirring roller 10 which protrudes beyond the first inclined section 22. The same configuration is applied on the second inclined section 24 side.

[0040] The first inclined section 22 and the second upright section 27 are provided with a side opening in the container 5 that exposes the stirring roller 10 and a portion of the projection 11. This side opening is located at the lower end of the first inclined section 22 and has a shape corresponding to the contour of the stirring roller 10. This side opening is provided with a recess 31 corresponding to the shape of the projection 11, allowing the projection 11 to pass through. The stirring roller 10 is positioned on the extension of the first connecting section 29. The stirring roller 10 is positioned so as not to come into contact with the side opening, whether stationary or rotating. The gap between the stirring roller 10 and the side opening is minute, preventing coins and debris from entering. The side opening and the stirring roller 10 are located at the lower end of the first inclined section 22, which is the part where the inclination of the container 5 changes. The stirring roller 10 can support coins that can lean against the first inclined section 22.

[0041] Furthermore, the spacing and height of the protrusions 11 are adjusted so that the upright coin 13 contacts the portion of the stirring roller 10 that does not have protrusions 11. It is preferable to widen the spacing between at least one pair of protrusions 11 in the rotation axis direction of the stirring roller 10. Since the conveyor belt 6 is inclined, this must also be taken into consideration. For example, at the axial center of the stirring roller 10, it is preferable that the distance between the protrusions 11 in the rotation axis direction of the stirring roller 10 is equal to or greater than the height from the conveyor belt 6 to the rotation center of the stirring roller 10. For example, when the largest diameter coin used is upright, the center of the coin is set to be at the height of the rotation center of the stirring roller 10. In this case, it is preferable that the distance between the protrusions 11 is equal to or greater than the diameter of the coin. For example, if the maximum size of the coin used is about 30 mm, it is preferable to separate the protrusions 11 in the rotation axis direction of the stirring roller 10 by 35 mm to 40 mm. For example, the upright coin 13 shown by the solid line is upright, leaning against the protrusions 11 of the stirring roller 10. The upright coin 13, shown by the dashed line, leans against the surface of the stirring roller 10 and stands upright without contacting the projection 11. By transitioning the state from when the projection 11 is not in contact with the upright coin 13 leaning against the stirring roller 10 to when it is in contact, the height of the projection 11 from the surface of the stirring roller 10 can be effectively applied to the upright coin 13.

[0042] The protrusions 11 do not necessarily have to correspond to the recesses 31. For example, the protrusions on the stirring roller 10 may be arranged so that recesses 31 through which the protrusions 11 pass and recesses 31 through which the protrusions 11 do not pass alternate. Also, the height of all of the multiple protrusions 11 from the surface of the stirring roller 10 may be constant or different. For example, the heights of two protrusions that pass through the same recess 31 may be different. Also, the heights of adjacent protrusions in the longitudinal direction of the stirring roller 10 may be different. By varying the heights of the protrusions 11, the contact position and timing with the upright coin 13 can be varied, which may make the upright coin 13 more likely to fall over. In addition, the spacing between adjacent protrusions 11 may be random or equal.

[0043] Next, Figure 4 is a top view of the coin storage section. The frame 21 forming the upper opening of the container 5 is roughly rectangular, and the bottom opening is roughly U-shaped. Between the frame 21 and the conveyor belt 6, the first inclined section 22, the upstream inclined section 23, the second inclined section 24, and the downstream inclined section 25 are arranged. Each inclined section guides the coins that enter the frame 21 onto the conveyor belt 6.

[0044] The lower ends of the first inclined section 22 and the second inclined section 24 are provided with side openings that expose the stirring roller 10, and the side openings are provided with recesses 31 through which the projections 11 pass. The upright coins 13 are pushed by the projections 11 provided on the surface of the stirring roller 10 and fall onto the conveyor belt 6. The fallen coins 14 are conveyed onto the conveyor belt 6, pass between the separation roller 9 and the conveyor belt 6, and are sent to the next process.

[0045] The stirring roller 10 is positioned opposite the lower ends of the inclined surfaces on both sides of the conveyor belt 6. The first inclined section 22 and the second inclined section 24 have different inclination angles, but the stirring roller 10 is positioned parallel to them. When the stirring roller 10 is rotated, the projection 11 pushes the upright coin 13 away from the stirring roller 10 and stirs the inserted coin. Even if the projection 11 cannot directly contact and knock down the upright coin 13, the stirring roller 10 can change the posture of the upright coin 13. As a result, subsequent coins cannot maintain their upright position.

[0046] Next, the stirring roller 10 will be explained using Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stirring roller and is a side view of the stirring roller 10.

[0047] The shaft 33 is a rotating shaft and is connected to the transmission means 19 described in Figure 2, and rotates. The end of the shaft 33 is provided with a flat surface to prevent slippage when connected to the transmission means 19. The end of the shaft 33 opposite to the end with the flat surface is rotatably supported by a bearing. The stirring roller 10 is formed by the shaft 33 and the stirring section. The stirring section is substantially cylindrical and is fixed to the shaft 33. The first stirring section 34 and the second stirring section 35 are substantially semi-cylindrical, and when connected, they form a substantially cylindrical shape. The stirring roller 10 is constructed by connecting the first stirring section 34 and the second stirring section 35 with the shaft 33 in between so that they form a substantially cylindrical shape, and further fixing both ends of the stirring section with a substantially cylindrical first locking ring 36 and a second locking ring 37. The first stirring section 34 and the second stirring section 35 constitute the main body of the stirring roller 10, while the first locking ring 36 and the second locking ring 37 engage with the main body and can be described as engaging parts for fixing the main body.

[0048] The first locking ring 36 and the second locking ring 37 each have two equally spaced projections 11 on their circumferential surfaces. The end of the first stirring section 34 is provided with a first semi-projection 38, and the end of the second stirring section 35 is provided with a second semi-projection 39. When the first stirring section 34 and the second stirring section 35 are connected, the first semi-projection 38 and the second semi-projection 39 connect. When connected, the first semi-projection 38 and the second semi-projection 39 form the shape of projection 11. The first stirring section 34 has two first semi-projections 38 on one end and two first semi-projections 38 on the other end, and corresponding to the first semi-projections 38, the second semi-projection 39 is located at the end of the second stirring section 35.

[0049] The projections 11 of the first locking ring 36 and the second locking ring 37 are positioned adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the shafts 33 of the projections 11 at both ends of the stirring section. By aligning the projection 11 formed by the first semi-projection 38 and the second semi-projection 39 with the projections 11 of the first locking ring 36 and the second locking ring 37, it is possible to use them as markers when attaching the first locking ring 36 and the second locking ring 37, and to reinforce the projection 11 formed by the first semi-projection 38 and the second semi-projection 39 located at the ends.

[0050] The projection 11 has a vertex 40 furthest from the surface of the stirring roller 10 and an inclined surface around it. The projection 11 has a curved surface that gradually rises in an arc from the surface of the stirring roller 10 to the vertex 40 along the axial direction of the shaft 33. The curved surface on the projection 11 is a first curved section 41 and a second curved section 42, flanking the vertex 40. The longitudinal direction of the shaft 33 can also be said to be the rotation axis direction. The projection 11 has a first flat section 43 and a second flat section 44 that are flat from the surface to the vertex 40 and gradually rise in a direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the shaft 33, for example, in a direction perpendicular to it. The boundary between the surface of the stirring roller 10 and the first flat section 43 is a straight line parallel to the axial direction of the shaft 33, and is formed to gradually rise from that boundary toward the vertex 40. The second flat section 44 is similar. That is, when the stirring roller 10 rotates, this boundary is positioned perpendicular to the direction of rotation. The first flat portion 43 or the second flat portion 44 of the projection 11 comes into contact with the coin. To prevent the coin from getting caught on the projection 11, the projection 11 is composed of a flat surface and a curved surface that are inclined to gradually become higher toward the apex portion 40. In addition, except for the ends of the stirring roller 10, the projections 11 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the axis 33 are spaced at intervals of at least three projections 11. The projections 11 are also spaced apart in the rotational direction of the stirring roller 10. For example, the projections 11 are positioned opposite each other on the circumferential surface of the stirring roller 10. During one rotation of the stirring roller 10, there is an opportunity for the projections 11 to come into contact with the coin twice. It is preferable that there is only one projection 11 of the stirring roller 10 that is exposed from the side opening and passes through the same recess 31 (see Figure 3). By spacing out the projections 11 in the circumferential direction of the stirring roller 10, an area can be provided where the surface of the coin and the surface of the stirring roller 10 can come into contact.

[0051] When the container 5 contains many coins, the coins are agitated by the rotating agitating roller 10. The first flat section 43 repeatedly pushes the randomly piled coins from above downwards. By making the angle between the first flat section 43 and the surface of the agitating roller 10 acute, it is possible to push the coins without them getting caught on the piled coins. If the angle is large, the first flat section 43 is more likely to get caught on the coins, and if it is small, the length of the first flat section 43 will be long, so an angle of 10 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less is preferable, and an angle of 25 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less is even more preferable. In the example in Figure 5, the angle is 30 degrees. If the projection 11 is too high above the surface of the agitating roller 10, the stroke for pushing the coins will be large, and the coin that is pushed directly may get caught on other coins, potentially causing rotational problems. If the height of the projection 11 is too low or too high, it will not be possible to tilt or agitate the coins properly. Therefore, it is preferable that the height of the projection 11 from the surface of the stirring roller 10 be set to a predetermined height, for example, greater than or equal to the maximum thickness of the coins to be inserted, and no more than three times the maximum thickness of the coins to be inserted. For example, the height can be set to be approximately the same as the distance between the conveyor belt 6 and the separation roller 9. The same applies to the second flat section 44, the first curved section 41, and the second curved section 42, and it is preferable that the angle formed by the surface of the stirring roller 10 and the inclined surface be acute.

[0052] When the stirring roller 10 is rotated, a coin that comes into contact with the second flat portion 44 may come into contact with the apex portion 40. The apex portion 40 can come into contact with the coin for a width equal to the distance from the second flat portion 44 to the first flat portion 43. Since the apex portion 40 is the furthest from the rotation center of the stirring roller 10, increasing the contact time between the apex portion 40 and the coin improves reliability when knocking the coin over. The same applies when stirring the inserted coins. If the projection 11 is rotated 90 degrees on the surface of the stirring roller 10, the first flat portion 43 and the second flat portion 44 will be positioned axially. In this case, the coin will only come into contact with the apex portion 40 for a moment and may be pushed back by vibrations or other factors, making it impossible to knock the coin over.

[0053] Figure 6 illustrates an example of the structure of a stirring roller. It shows the stirring roller 10 with the second locking ring 37 removed. By removing the first locking ring 36 and the second locking ring 37, the first stirring section 34 and the second stirring section 35 can be removed from the shaft 33. The first locking section 46 is a part that protrudes from the end of the first stirring section 34 and engages with the second locking ring 37. The opposite end of the first stirring section 34 also has a part that engages with the first locking ring 36. The second locking section 47 is a part that protrudes from the end of the second stirring section 35 and engages with the second locking ring 37. The opposite end of the second stirring section 35 also has a part that engages with the first locking ring 36.

[0054] The first locking part 46 is equipped with a locking groove 45, and although not shown, the second locking part 47 is also equipped with a locking groove 45. A protrusion is formed on the inner circumference of the second locking ring 37 at a position corresponding to the locking groove 45. The second locking ring 37 can be fixed to the first and second stirring parts 34 and 35 by inserting the joined first stirring part 34 and second stirring part 35 into the second locking ring 37 and fitting the protrusion on the inner circumference of the second locking ring 37 into the locking groove 45. The first locking ring 36 has a similar configuration, and the first locking ring 36 can be fixed to the first stirring part 34 and second stirring part 35. In this way, by dividing the stirring part into multiple parts and fixing them to the shaft 33, the stirring part can be easily fixed to the shaft 33, the structure can be simplified, and manufacturing can be made easier. By configuring the stirring section in this way, if a part of the stirring section is damaged, or if it is necessary to replace the stirring section to match the different coin types used in each country, the part that needs to be replaced is limited to a portion of the stirring section.

[0055] Next, the conveyance control will be explained with reference to Figure 2. The control means 16 can monitor the output of the coin sensor 12 by the sensor drive means 17 and obtain the presence or absence of coins on the conveyor belt 6. The control means 16 can measure and obtain time by the timer 20. The control means 16 can drive the motor 18 and make the conveyor belt 6 rotate in the forward or reverse direction. The stirring roller 10 rotates in conjunction with the conveyor belt 6. If the conveyor belt 6 is rotated in the forward direction for a first predetermined time and coins are still on the conveyor belt 6, the control means 16 executes a process to release the coins from their upright position.

[0056] The process of eliminating the upright position involves reversing the conveyor belt 6 for a second predetermined time, which is shorter than the first predetermined time, and then rotating the conveyor belt 6 forward for a third predetermined time, which is shorter than the first predetermined time. The second predetermined time is the time it takes for the conveyor belt 6 to complete at least half a rotation. This is to move the coins on the separation roller 9 side to the upstream end of the container in the conveying direction. Coins that are not yet upright are moved to the upstream end of the container in the conveying direction. The shape of this end is narrowed into a U-shape and has an inclined surface. The upright position is eliminated by moving the upright coins along the shape of this end. It is preferable that the third predetermined time be longer than the second predetermined time. Since coins leaning against the stirring roller 10 can also be knocked down by the stirring roller 10, it is preferable that the time be sufficient to allow the coins collected at the end to pass through the separation roller 9. For example, the third predetermined time is the time it takes for the conveyor belt 6 to complete at least one rotation.

[0057] Furthermore, once the upright position correction process is complete, the unit is rotated forward for the first predetermined time. This operation is performed a predetermined number of times. If the coins do not disappear from the conveyor belt 6 even after the upright position correction process is performed, the second predetermined time and the third predetermined time are increased, and the upright position correction process is performed again. It is preferable to make the second predetermined time and the third predetermined time at least twice the initially set time. By repeatedly performing the upright position correction process, abnormalities in the conveyance of coins to the next process can be reduced or eliminated. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 1. Coin processing device 2 Inlet 3 trays 4 Withdrawal port 5 containers 6. Conveyor belt 7 Drive rollers 8 Driven rollers 9 Separation rollers 10 stirring rollers 11 Protrusions 12 Coin Sensor 13. Upright coins 14 coins 21 Frame section 22 1st slope part 23 Upstream slope 24 2nd slope part 25 Downstream slope 26. First Assembly 27. Second Standing Section 28 Upstream side rise 29. First connection section 30 Upstream connection 31 Recess 32 Third Statistical Section 33 axes 34 1st stirring section 35 2nd stirring section 36. First locking ring 37 Second locking ring 38 1st semi-process 39 Second half process 40 Vertex 41 First curved section 42 Second Curve Section 43 1st flat part 44 2nd flat part 45 Locking groove 46 First locking section 47 Second locking section

Claims

1. A storage compartment having an upper opening into which coins are inserted, and a lower opening located at the bottom that is narrower than the upper opening, A conveyor belt that closes the bottom opening and carries the coins inserted from the top opening, The bottom opening has a rotating body positioned at the end in the coin transport direction, spaced apart from the transport belt, In a coin transport device that transports the coins placed in the storage section to the next process by passing them between the transport belt and the rotating body, It has a stirring roller with multiple protrusions on its circumferential surface, The storage section has an inclined surface between the upper opening and the bottom opening that guides the coins onto the conveyor belt. The inclined surfaces arranged on both sides in the width direction of the conveyor belt include recesses through which the protrusions pass, and have side openings at their lower ends that correspond to the contour of the stirring rollers. The storage section has a wall formed extending from the lower end of the side opening toward the direction of the conveyor belt. The stirring roller has a portion of its circumferential surface exposed through the side opening, and the projection is arranged to protrude from the side opening. A coin conveying device characterized by rotating the stirring roller in conjunction with the conveying belt, thereby bringing the projection into contact with the coin leaning against the stirring roller in an upright position, and knocking the coin down.

2. The coin conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection has an inclined flat surface that gradually rises from the circumferential surface in the rotational direction of the stirring roller, and the flat surface is brought into contact with the coin standing upright on the conveying belt.

3. The coin conveying device according to claim 2, characterized in that the projection has a curved surface that gradually rises from the circumferential surface in the direction of the rotation axis of the stirring roller, and the edge of the flat surface and the edge of the curved surface are connected.

4. The multiple protrusions are arranged at a distance from the rotation axis direction and the rotational direction of the stirring roller. The coin conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the distance between at least one pair of adjacent protrusions in the direction of rotation axis of the stirring roller is at least twice the height from the conveyor belt to the rotation center of the stirring roller.

5. The coin conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inclined surfaces arranged on both sides in the width direction of the conveying belt are arranged opposite each other with the conveying belt in between when viewed from above, and the stirring rollers arranged in correspondence with the inclined surfaces arranged on both sides in the width direction of the conveying belt are arranged in parallel.

6. The coin conveying device according to claim 5, characterized in that, when viewed from above, the end of the wall on the stirring roller side is closer to the center of the conveying belt than the end on the conveying belt side.

7. The coin conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stirring roller is provided with two or more protrusions that are at different heights from the surface of the stirring roller.

8. The stirring roller comprises a rotating shaft and a stirring section having the projection fixed around the rotating shaft, The stirring unit comprises two semi-cylindrical main body parts and locking parts that engage with the ends of the main body parts. The coin transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the two main body parts are connected with the rotating shaft in between, and the ends of the connected main body parts are locked by the locking parts to fix the main body parts to the rotating shaft.

9. The coin transport device according to claim 8, wherein the ends of the two main body portions are provided with protrusions that are divided into two, and the two main body portions are connected to each other, thereby forming the protrusions.

10. The locking portion is provided with the projection, The coin transport device according to claim 9, characterized in that the projection formed by connecting the two divided projections of the main body and the projection provided on the locking portion are adjacent to each other in the direction of the rotation axis.

11. If the coin remains on the conveyor belt even after the conveyor belt has been rotated forward for a predetermined first time, The coin conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the conveying belt is reversed for a second predetermined time shorter than the first predetermined time, the coins on the conveying belt are gathered on the side facing the rotating body, and after the reversal, the conveying belt is rotated forward for a time shorter than the first predetermined time but longer than the second predetermined time, thereby agitating the coins on the conveying belt.

12. The coin transport device according to claim 1, An identification unit for identifying the denomination of the coins transported by the coin transport device, A coin processing device characterized by having a storage unit for storing the coins identified by the identification unit according to their denomination.

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