Coin processing device

Abstract

To shorten the time required to transport coins to a lift-up section while reducing the depth dimension. [Solution] A coin processing device (10) in which coins dispensed from an arbitrary storage cabinet (30) in response to a withdrawal command are transported by a withdrawal transport section (32), and then transported upward by a lift-up section (38) to be dispensed from a withdrawal port (39). The withdrawal temporary holding section (34) that temporarily holds coins to be dispensed from the withdrawal port (39) comprises a holding transport section (341) that holds coins on the upper surface of a holding transport belt (3412) that is stretched endlessly around a pair of holding transport pulleys (3411) and transports coins by the holding transport belt (3412) being displaced in the extension direction, a reverse roller (342) that is arranged in the upper area of ​​the holding transport section (341) and transports coins transported by the holding transport section (341) one by one downstream in the conveying direction, and an upper guide member (343) that is arranged to be swingable around the central axis of the reverse roller (342) in a manner that moves towards and away from the holding transport section (341).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a coin processing device, and more particularly to a coin processing device applied as a change dispenser.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for the purpose of reducing the depth dimension, a coin processing device incorporating a lift-up section has been proposed in Patent Document 1. The lift-up section extends in a manner that gradually inclines upward as it approaches the coin outlet, and conveys coins upward to discharge them from the coin outlet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, although not described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, in a coin processing device, there may be provided a temporary storage section for temporarily storing coins conveyed to the lift-up section. When such a temporary storage section is provided, shortening the time required for conveyance to the lift-up section is required.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing device capable of shortening the conveyance time of coins to the lift-up section while reducing the depth dimension.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, the coin processing device according to the present invention identifies the authenticity and denomination of deposited coins, stores coins identified as genuine coins in the corresponding storage compartments according to their denomination, and, upon receiving a dispensing instruction, transports coins dispensed from any storage compartment in a dispensing transport section, then transports them upward by a lift-up section and dispenses them from a dispensing opening. The device comprises a temporary dispensing hold section for temporarily holding coins to be dispensed from the dispensing opening, the temporary dispensing hold section comprising a hold transport section that holds the coins on the upper surface of a hold transport belt stretched endlessly over a pair of hold transport pulleys arranged along the transport direction, and transports the coins as the hold transport belt is displaced in the extending direction, a reverse roller positioned above the hold transport section and transports the coins one by one downstream in the transport direction, and an upper guide member provided so as to be swingable around the central axis of the reverse roller in a manner that moves toward and away from the hold transport section.

[0007] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned coin processing apparatus, when coins are transported from the dispensing transport unit to the dispensing temporary holding unit, the upper guide member is swung downward in a manner that brings it close to the holding transport unit, while when coins that have been deposited and identified as counterfeit, or coins that have been deposited and identified as genuine but are temporarily held in the deposit temporary holding unit are transported, the upper guide member is swung upward in a manner that moves it away from the holding transport unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the temporary coin holding section for temporarily holding coins to be dispensed from the dispensing slot includes a holding and transport section that holds the coins on the upper surface of a holding and transport belt stretched endlessly over a pair of holding and transport pulleys arranged along the transport direction, and transports the coins as the holding and transport belt is displaced in the extending direction; a reverse roller positioned above the holding and transport section and transporting the coins one by one downstream in the transport direction; and an upper guide member that is pivotably provided around the central axis of the reverse roller in a manner that moves toward and away from the holding and transport section. This suppresses the coins sent to the temporary coin holding section from rolling around and remaining in place during transport by the holding and transport section, reduces the time required for transport to the lift-up section, and has the effect of shortening the time required for transporting coins to the lift-up section while reducing the depth dimension. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a money processing machine to which a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a money processing machine to which a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the coin processing device shown in Figure 2, that is, a coin processing device that is an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal structure of a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the withdrawal temporary holding section, direction change section, and lift-up section shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a side view showing the configuration of the temporary withdrawal holding section as seen from the left. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the upper guide member shown in Figure 6. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a side view showing the configuration of the temporary withdrawal holding section as seen from the left. [Figure 9]FIG. 9 is a side view showing the state of coin conveyance when the upper guide member is swung downward. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view showing the state of coin conveyance when the upper guide member is swung downward. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a side view showing the configuration of the direction changing portion as viewed from the left. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a side view showing the state of coin conveyance in the direction changing portion. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a side view showing the state of coin conveyance in the direction changing portion. [Figure 14] FIGS. 14(a) and (b) are enlarged side views showing the state of coin conveyance of coins having different outer diameters and thicknesses in the direction changing portion. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an enlarged side view showing the state of conveying coins from the direction changing portion to the lift-up portion.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a coin processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a money processing machine to which a coin processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The money processing machine 1 illustrated here is connected to a host device (not shown) such as a POS (Point Of Sales) register in a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store, and includes a device main body 2.Illustration:

[0012] The device main body 2 is a rectangular parallelepiped casing having a front opening 2a at the front and a top surface opening (not shown) at the top, and is movable with a plurality (four in the illustrated example) of casters 2d provided at the bottom 2c.

[0013]

[0014] The front opening 2a of the device main body 2 can be opened and closed by a door body 3, and the top surface opening can be opened and closed by a top plate portion 4. The door body 3 includes a front cover 3a and a front door 3b. The front cover 3a is pivotally supported on the front side of the top surface opening so as to be swingable. By swinging upward, the front cover 3a opens the upper part of the front opening 2a, while by swinging downward, the front cover 3a closes the upper part of the front opening 2a.

[0015] The front door 3b is pivotally supported at the front end portion of the left side edge of the apparatus main body 2 so as to be swingable. By swinging forward, the front door 3b opens the lower part of the front opening 2a, that is, the part that cannot be closed by the front cover 3a, while by swinging backward, the front door 3b closes the lower part of the front opening 2a.

[0016] A locking mechanism 3c is provided on the front door 3b. When the locking mechanism 3c is in the locked state, the front door 3b is held in a state of closing the lower part of the front opening 2a, while when the locking mechanism 3c is in the unlocked state, the front door 3b can swing forward.

[0017] Moreover, the front door 3b has a function of pressing a part of the front cover 3a in the closed state. When the locking mechanism 3c is in the locked state, the front cover 3a is held in the closed state.

[0018] The top plate portion 4 is slidable in the front-rear direction. By sliding backward, the top surface opening is opened, while by sliding forward, the top surface opening is closed.

[0019] Inside such an apparatus main body 2, as shown in FIG. 2, a coin processing device 10 is housed together with a banknote processing device 5. The banknote processing device 5 performs operations such as depositing and withdrawing banknotes.

[0020] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the coin processing device 10 shown in Figure 2, that is, the coin processing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal structure of the coin processing device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The internal structure of the coin processing device 10 will be explained functionally using Figures 3 and 4. In the following, the configuration of each part of the coin processing device 10 will be explained along the directions indicated in Figure 3.

[0021] The coin processing device 10 illustrated here is capable of being pulled forward from the front opening 2a of the device body 2 by a pull-out mechanism (not shown), and is equipped with a coin transport mechanism 20.

[0022] <Coin transport mechanism 20> The coin transport mechanism 20 includes a deposit transport section 22, a deposit temporary holding section 24, a verification temporary holding section 26, a sorting section 28, a storage section 30, a withdrawal transport section 32, a withdrawal temporary holding section 34, a direction change section 36, a lift-up section 38, and a switching gate group 40.

[0023] The deposit transport unit 22 transports coins that are inserted through the deposit slot 21 and detected by a coin insertion detection sensor (not shown). The deposit slot 21 is an opening for inserting coins and is exposed to the outside through a coin deposit opening 3d formed in the front cover 3a. The deposit transport unit 22 is equipped with a coin inspection unit 22a. The coin inspection unit 22a identifies the authenticity and denomination of the coins.

[0024] The deposit temporary holding section 24 is located below the deposit transport section 22 and is connected to the deposit transport section 22 via the deposit chute 23a. The scrutiny temporary holding section 26 is located below the deposit temporary holding section 24 and is connected to the deposit temporary holding section 24 via the connecting chute 25a. This scrutiny temporary holding section 26 temporarily holds coins that have fallen through the connecting chute 25a.

[0025] The sorting unit 28 sorts the coins that have been held in the scrutiny and temporary holding unit 26 and then transported, according to their denomination. The storage units 30 are provided for each denomination and store the coins sorted by the sorting unit 28. More specifically, there are six storage units 30, from the rear: a 1-yen storage unit 30a, a 50-yen storage unit 30b, a 5-yen storage unit 30c, a 100-yen storage unit 30d, a 10-yen storage unit 30e, and a 500-yen storage unit 30f. Each storage unit 30 also has a dispensing unit 301 that dispenses the stored coins to the dispensing and transporting unit 32, and this dispensing unit 301 is equipped with a discrimination unit 302 that discriminates predetermined discrimination elements of the coins to be dispensed, such as the denomination and number.

[0026] The coin dispensing and transporting unit 32 is located on the right side of the storage compartment 30. This unit transports the coins dispensed from the storage compartment 30 toward the rear.

[0027] The temporary withdrawal holding section 34 is located to the rear right of the withdrawal transport section 32 and below the temporary deposit holding section 24. This temporary withdrawal holding section 34 temporarily stores coins to be withdrawn from the withdrawal slot 39, which will be described later. The configuration of the temporary withdrawal holding section 34 will be described later.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, the direction change unit 36 ​​is located in front of the temporary withdrawal holding unit 34. This direction change unit 36 ​​receives the coins held in the temporary withdrawal holding unit 34 one by one and transports them to the lift-up unit 38. The configuration of the direction change unit 36 ​​will be described later.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5, the lift-up section 38 is located in front of the direction-changing section 36. This lift-up section 38 extends in a manner that gradually inclines upward as it moves forward, transporting coins from rear to front, that is, transporting coins upward and dispensing them from the dispensing slot 39. The configuration of the lift-up section 38 will be described later.

[0030] The dispensing slot 39 is an opening located above the deposit temporary holding section 24 and below the deposit slot 21, and is exposed to the outside through a coin dispensing opening 3e formed in the front cover 3a. Coins dispensed from this dispensing slot 39 are paid out into a dispensing tray 3f provided in the front cover 3a.

[0031] The switching gate group 40 comprises a first switching gate 40a, a second switching gate 40b, and a third switching gate 40c. The first switching gate 40a is located on the rear side (downstream side in the transport direction) of the deposit transport unit 22. This first switching gate 40a can selectively switch between a state in which coins that are being transported by the deposit transport unit 22 and identified as genuine coins by the inspection unit 22a are transported to the deposit chute 23a, and a state in which coins that are being transported by the deposit transport unit 22 and identified as counterfeit coins by the inspection unit 22a are transported to the first refund chute 23b. Here, the first refund chute 23b guides the coins from the deposit transport unit 22 to the withdrawal temporary holding unit 34.

[0032] The second switching gate 40b is located behind the deposit temporary holding section 24 (downstream in the transport direction). This second switching gate 40b can selectively switch between a state in which the coins held in the deposit temporary holding section 24 are transported to the connecting chute 25a, and a state in which the coins are transported to the second refund chute 25b. The second refund chute 25b guides the coins from the deposit transport section 22 to the withdrawal temporary holding section 34.

[0033] The third switching gate 40c is located on the rear side (downstream side in the transport direction) of the dispensing transport unit 32. This third switching gate 40c can selectively switch between a transport state in which the coins transported by the dispensing transport unit 32 are transported to the dispensing temporary holding unit 34, and a circulating state in which the coins are transported to the scrutiny temporary holding unit 26. Under normal circumstances, the third switching gate 40c is in the transport state.

[0034] The operation of the coin transport mechanism 20 described above will be briefly explained. First, the deposit operation will be explained. When a deposit permission command is given from a higher-level device, the coins inserted into the deposit slot 21 are detected by the deposit detection sensor, then transported by the deposit transport unit 22, and the authenticity and denomination are identified by the coin inspection unit 22a. If the coins are genuine coins, they are held in the deposit temporary holding unit 24 via the deposit chute 23a.

[0035] On the other hand, if the coin is not genuine, it is transported to the temporary withdrawal holding section 34 via the first switching gate 40a and the first refund chute 23b. The coin is then transported from the temporary withdrawal holding section 34 and the direction change section 36 to the lift-up section 38, where it is transported to the withdrawal opening 39 and returned to the withdrawal tray 3f.

[0036] Furthermore, if a refund command is issued from the higher-level device for coins held in the deposit temporary holding unit 24, the coins are transported to the withdrawal temporary holding unit 34 via the second switching gate 40b and the second refund chute 25b. Subsequently, the coins are transported from the withdrawal temporary holding unit 34 and the direction change unit 36 ​​to the lift-up unit 38, where they are transported to the dispensing slot 39 and returned to the dispensing tray 3f.

[0037] When a deposit command is issued from a higher-level device for coins held in the deposit temporary holding unit 24, the coins held in the deposit temporary holding unit 24 are held in the scrutiny temporary holding unit 26, and then the coins held in the scrutiny temporary holding unit 26 are transported to the sorting unit 28, where they are transported forward and sorted by denomination. The coins sorted by the sorting unit 28 are stored in the storage unit 30 according to their denomination, and then the deposit operation is terminated by notifying the higher-level device that the deposit is complete.

[0038] Next, the dispensing operation will be explained. When a dispensing command is issued from a higher-level device, coins of the corresponding denomination are dispensed from the storage unit 30 to the dispensing transport unit 32. The coins dispensed to the dispensing transport unit 32 are transported backward and sent to the dispensing temporary holding unit 34 via the third switching gate 40c, which is in a transport state. Subsequently, the coins are transported from the dispensing temporary holding unit 34 and the direction changing unit 36 ​​to the lift-up unit 38, where they are transported to the dispensing opening 39 and dispensed into the dispensing tray 3f. After dispensing the predetermined amount of coins to the outside in this manner, the dispensing operation is terminated by notifying the higher-level device that the dispensing is complete.

[0039] Let me now explain the inspection process. The inspection process involves measuring the number of coins stored in each storage compartment 30.

[0040] When a scrutiny command is issued from a higher-level device, the dispensing unit 301 in the corresponding storage unit 30 is driven to dispense coins from the storage unit 30 to the coin dispensing and transporting unit 32, and the discrimination unit 302 is made to distinguish predetermined discrimination elements. The coins are then transported to the rear by the coin dispensing and transporting unit 32 and temporarily held in the scrutiny temporary holding unit 26.

[0041] Then, the coins held in the inspection temporary holding unit 26 are transported to the sorting unit 28, where they are sorted by denomination, the number of coins is detected, and they are stored in a designated storage unit 30, thus completing the inspection operation.

[0042] <Withdrawal temporary hold section 34> Figure 6 is a side view showing the configuration of the temporary withdrawal holding unit 34 as seen from the left. As shown in Figure 6, the temporary withdrawal holding unit 34 is composed of a holding transport unit 341, a reverse roller 342, and an upper guide member 343.

[0043] The holding and conveying section 341 is constructed by stretching an endless holding and conveying belt 3412 between a pair of holding and conveying pulleys 3411 arranged along the front-to-back direction, which is the conveying direction. In this holding and conveying section 341, the upper portion 3412a of the holding and conveying belt 3412 between the holding and conveying pulleys 3411 is gradually inclined upward as it moves forward, with an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane being, for example, about 10°. In this holding and conveying section 341, coins are placed on the upper surface of the upper portion 3412a of the holding and conveying belt 3412 between the holding and conveying pulleys 3411.

[0044] The holding and transporting unit 341 transports the coins placed on the upper surface forward by rotating the front holding and transporting pulley 3411 clockwise when viewed from the left, driven by a motor (not shown).

[0045] The reverse roller 342 is a cylindrical member that extends along the left-right direction and is positioned in the upper area on the front side of the holding and conveying section 341. This reverse roller 342 rotates clockwise around its own central axis when viewed from the left, in synchronization with the front holding and conveying pulley 3411, and conveys the coins being conveyed by the holding and conveying section 341 one by one towards the front side (downstream side in the conveying direction).

[0046] The upper guide member 343 is a plate-shaped member made of, for example, a resin material. As shown in Figure 7, the upper guide member 343 has a pivot portion 3431a formed at its front base portion 3431 that pivotally supports the reverse roller 342, so that the rear tip portion 3432 is oscillating so as to move closer to and away from the holding and conveying section 341. In other words, the upper guide member 343 is provided so as to be oscillating vertically around the central axis of the reverse roller 342 so as to move closer to and away from the holding and conveying section 341.

[0047] Such an upper guide member 343 has a gear portion 3431b formed on the left side of its base portion 3431, and this gear portion 3431b is linked to a guide actuator 352 via a plurality of linkage gear portions 351. The guide actuator 352 is configured to incorporate, for example, a solenoid, and under normal conditions, as shown in Figure 6, the upper guide member 343 is swung downward in a manner that brings it close to the holding and transporting portion 341.

[0048] Furthermore, when the guide actuator 352 swings the upper guide member 343 downward in a manner that brings it close to the holding and transporting section 341, it allows the upper guide member 343 to swing slightly upward due to a spring or the like built into the actuator itself.

[0049] Furthermore, the guide actuator 352, in response to a command from a control unit (not shown), energizes its solenoid, causing it to swing upward in a manner that separates the upper guide member 343 from the holding and transporting unit 341, as shown in Figure 8. This allows coins guided through the first refund chute 23b (coins identified as counterfeit by the inspection unit 22a), as indicated by the dashed-dotted arrow (i) in Figure 8, or coins guided through the second refund chute 25b, as indicated by the dashed-dotted arrow (ii) in Figure 8, to be placed on the holding and transporting unit 341.

[0050] In other words, when coins are transported from the dispensing transport unit 32 to the temporary dispensing hold unit 34, the guide actuator 352 swings the upper guide member 343 downward in a manner that brings it close to the hold transport unit 341. On the other hand, when coins that have been deposited and identified as counterfeit, or coins that have been deposited and identified as genuine but are temporarily held in the deposit temporary hold unit 24, are transported, the upper guide member 343 swings upward in a manner that moves it away from the hold transport unit 341.

[0051] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the upper guide member 343 has multiple holes 3432a formed in its tip portion 3432 to reduce its weight. Moreover, as shown in Figure 6, when the upper guide member 343 is swung downward to approach the holding and transporting section 341, the left side portion 3432b of the tip portion 3432 gradually inclins upward as it moves to the left, and the front end portion 3432c of the tip portion 3432, that is, the portion close to the base portion 3431, gradually inclins downward as it moves forward.

[0052] In a temporary withdrawal holding section 34 having such a configuration, when the upper guide member 343 is in a state where it is swinging downward so as to be close to the holding transport section 341, the left side portion 3432b of the tip portion 3432 of the upper guide member 343 gradually inclins upward as it moves to the left, thus facilitating the inflow of coins transported by the withdrawal transport section 32.

[0053] Furthermore, in the temporary withdrawal holding section 34, the upper guide member 343 is in a state where it swings downward so that it is close to the holding and transporting section 341, which allows the coins to be placed on the holding and transporting section 341 in a horizontal position, preventing the coins from becoming upright. As a result, it is possible to prevent the coins from rolling around or getting stuck during transport by the holding and transporting section 341.

[0054] Furthermore, in the temporary withdrawal holding section 34, when the upper guide member 343 is swung downward so as to be close to the holding and transporting section 341, the front end 3432c of the tip portion 3432 gradually slopes downward as it moves forward. As shown in Figure 9, even if multiple coins are transported in a stacked state in the holding and transporting section 341, as shown in Figure 10, the front end 3432c of the tip portion 3432 comes into contact with the stacked state of the coins, and the reverse roller 342 can transport the coins forward one by one smoothly. Moreover, when the upper guide member 343 is swung downward in a manner that is close to the holding and transporting section 341, the guide actuator 352 allows the upper guide member 343 to swing slightly upward due to a spring or the like built into the actuator, thus preventing the coins from getting jammed between the upper guide member 343 and the holding and transporting section 341.

[0055] Furthermore, in the temporary withdrawal holding section 34, when coins that have been deposited and identified as counterfeit, or coins that have been deposited and identified as genuine but are temporarily held in the deposit temporary holding section 24 are being transported, the guide actuator 352 swings the upper guide member 343 upward in a manner that separates it from the holding transport section 341, thereby temporarily holding these coins. Moreover, since the tip portion 3432 of the upper guide member 343 is made lighter, the force required to swing the upper guide member 343 can be reduced.

[0056] <Direction change section 36> Figure 11 is a side view showing the configuration of the direction changing section 36 as seen from the left. As shown in Figure 11, the direction changing section 36 is configured to include a fixed conveying section 361 and a movable conveying section 362.

[0057] The fixed transport section 361 is positioned in front of the holding transport section 341, which constitutes the temporary withdrawal holding section 34. This fixed transport section 361 is constructed by stretching an endless fixed transport belt 3612 over a pair of fixed transport pulleys 3611 arranged along the front-to-back direction, which is the transport direction.

[0058] Furthermore, in the fixed conveying section 361, the upper portion 3612a of the fixed conveying belt 3612 between the fixed conveying pulleys 3611 is gradually inclined upward as it moves forward, and the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane is, for example, about 10°, similar to the retaining conveying section 341.

[0059] The movable conveying section 362 is constructed by stretching an endless movable conveying belt 3623 between a pair of movable conveying pulleys 3621 arranged along the front-rear direction, which is the conveying direction, and a tension roller 3622 arranged between these movable conveying pulleys 3621.

[0060] The movable conveying unit 362 is positioned above the fixed conveying unit 361 such that the lower portion 3623a of the movable conveying belt 3623, which is in front of the tension roller 3622, grips the coins between the fixed conveying belt 3612 and the conveying unit. The movable conveying unit 362 is also provided so as to be able to swing around the axis of the movable conveying pulley 3621 on the rear side (upstream side in the conveying direction) in such a manner that the front portion (downstream side in the conveying direction) moves closer to and away from the fixed conveying unit 361. Furthermore, the movable conveying unit 362 is biased downward to move closer to the fixed conveying unit 361 by a conveying spring 37, which is a biasing means that is locked to the shaft portion 3622a of the tension roller 3622.

[0061] In the movable conveying section 362, when no coins are being conveyed, the lower portion 3623b of the movable conveying belt 3623, which is located between the pair of movable conveying pulleys 3621 and behind the tension roller 3622, is adjusted to gradually incline upward as it moves towards the rear, and the distance between it and the fixed conveying section 361 is greater than the thickness of a coin.

[0062] In the direction changing section 36 described above, the fixed transport pulley 3611 on the rear side of the fixed transport section 361 and the movable transport pulley 3621 on the rear side of the movable transport section 362 are set to rotate synchronously with each other by the rotational drive of a motor (not shown). The fixed transport pulley 3611 on the rear side rotates clockwise when viewed from the left, while the movable transport pulley 3621 on the rear side rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the left, thereby transporting the coins forward. Here, the transport speed of the coins in the direction changing section 36 is greater than the transport speed of the coins in the holding transport section 341 of the temporary withdrawal holding section 34. Specifically, the transport speed of the holding transport section 341 is, for example, 400 mm / s, and the transport speed of the direction changing section 36 is, for example, 1000 mm / s.

[0063] In a direction-changing unit 36 ​​having such a configuration, the transport speed is greater than the transport speed of the temporary withdrawal / holding unit 34, which improves the separability of coins transported from the temporary withdrawal / holding unit 34 and increases the spacing between transported coins.

[0064] Furthermore, in the direction change section 36, when no coins are being transported, the distance between the lower portion 3623b of the movable transport belt 3623, which is located between the pair of movable transport pulleys 3621 and behind the tension roller 3622, and the fixed transport section 361 is adjusted to be greater than the thickness of a coin. As shown in Figure 12, only the fixed transport section 361 receives coins from the holding transport section 341 of the temporary withdrawal hold section 34. Therefore, even if there is a speed difference between the transport speed of the direction change section 36 and the transport speed of the temporary withdrawal hold section 34, wear on the fixed transport belt 3612 is less likely to occur, and the service life of the fixed transport belt 3612 can be extended.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, when a coin received from the temporary withdrawal holding unit 34 (hereinafter also referred to as the target coin) is gripped and transported by the fixed transport belt 3612 and the movable transport belt 3623, the movable transport unit 362 swings upward around the axis of the rear movable transport pulley 3621 against the biasing force of the transport spring 37, and the distance between the lower portion 3623b of the movable transport belt 3623, which is between the pair of movable transport pulleys 3621 and behind the tension roller 3622, and the fixed transport unit 361 can be further increased. As a result, the coin transported from the temporary withdrawal holding unit 34 after the target coin (hereinafter also referred to as the next coin) is received only by the fixed transport unit 361, and the next coin is not gripped and transported by the fixed transport unit 361 and the movable transport unit 362, thus prioritizing the transport of the target coin.

[0066] Furthermore, in the direction changing section 36, the movable conveying section 362 is provided so as to be able to swing around the axis of the movable conveying pulley 3621 on the rear side (upstream side in the conveying direction) in such a manner that the front side (downstream side in the conveying direction) portion approaches and moves away from the fixed conveying section 361. As shown in Figures 14(a) and (b), when conveying coins with different outer diameters and thicknesses, the swing angle can be adjusted according to the outer shape of the coins, and the coins can be conveyed with appropriate conveying pressure.

[0067] <Lift-up section 38> As shown in Figure 5, the lift-up unit 38 is configured to include a first lift-up transport unit 381 and a second lift-up transport unit 382.

[0068] The first lift-up conveying section 381 is constructed by stretching an endless first lift-up conveying belt 3812 over a first lift-up conveying pulley 3811 arranged along the conveying direction. More specifically, the rear first lift-up conveying pulley 3811 in the first lift-up conveying section 3811 is located in the area below the direction changing section 36, while the front first lift-up conveying pulley 3811 is located near the dispensing opening 39.

[0069] In other words, the first lift-up conveying section 381 has a conveying surface in which the upper portion 3812a of the first lift-up conveying belt 3812 between a pair of first lift-up conveying pulleys 3811 is inclined and extends forward. As shown in Figure 15, the first lift-up conveying belt 3812 has irregularities formed on its surface, and the inclination angle of the conveying surface with respect to the horizontal plane is, for example, about 40°.

[0070] The second lift-up conveying section 382 is constructed by stretching an endless second lift-up conveying belt 3822 over a second lift-up conveying pulley 3821 arranged along the conveying direction. In this second lift-up conveying section 382, ​​the rear second lift-up conveying pulley 3821 is positioned forward and above the front movable conveying pulley 3621 of the movable conveying section 362, and the front second lift-up conveying pulley 3821 is positioned above the front first conveying pulley.

[0071] In other words, the second lift-up conveying unit 382 is positioned above the first lift-up conveying unit 381 such that the lower portion 3822a of the second lift-up conveying belt 3822 between the pair of second lift-up conveying pulleys faces a part of the upper portion 3812a (conveying surface) of the first lift-up conveying belt 3812 between the pair of first lift-up conveying pulleys 3811, enabling the gripping and conveying of coins.

[0072] In such a lift-up section 38, the rear first lift-up transport pulley 3811 and the front movable transport pulley 3621 are linked by a linking mechanism, and the front first lift-up transport pulley 3811 and the front second lift-up transport pulley 3821 are also linked by a linking mechanism, and each lift-up transport pulley is set to rotate in synchronization with the direction changing section 36.

[0073] More specifically, the lift-up section 38 transports coins toward the dispensing slot 39 by the first lift-up transport pulley 3811 rotating clockwise when viewed from the left, and the second lift-up transport pulley 3821 rotating counterclockwise when viewed from the left. Here, the transport speed of coins in the lift-up section 38 is the same as the transport speed of the direction-changing section 36, for example, 1000 mm / s.

[0074] Furthermore, in the lift-up section 38, multiple idlers 383 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the extending direction and pressurized in the upper portion 3812a of the first lift-up conveying belt 3812 between a pair of first lift-up conveying pulleys 3811, and in the lower portion 3822a of the second lift-up conveying belt 3822 between a pair of second lift-up conveying pulleys 3821, and pressurized conveying by the idlers 383 is possible in the opposing regions of the first lift-up conveying belt 3812 and the second lift-up conveying belt 3822. The installation interval of the idlers 383 in the first lift-up conveying section 381 and the second lift-up conveying section 382 is set to a size that allows for pressurized conveying of coins so that the distance between the conveyed coins is 4 mm or more, that is, for example, 40 mm or less, preferably 20 mm or more and 40 mm or less.

[0075] In the lift-up section 38 having the above configuration, since irregularities are formed on the surface of the first lift-up conveyor belt 3812, as shown in Figure 15, coins conveyed from the direction-changing section 36 can enter the recesses 3812b, and the coins can be received and conveyed well from the direction-changing section 36.

[0076] Furthermore, in the lift-up section 38, the coins are held and transported by the idler 383 while being pressurized by the first lift-up transport section 381 and the second lift-up transport section 382, ​​so the transport resistance is only the weight of the coins themselves. In this regard, it is conceivable to hold and transport the coins using a transport belt and sheet metal, but due to deterioration over time, the frictional resistance of the belt decreases or the frictional resistance of the sheet metal increases, leading to a decrease in transport force. Therefore, by holding and transporting the coins by the idler 383 while being pressurized by the first lift-up transport section 381 and the second lift-up transport section 382, ​​the coins can be transported efficiently.

[0077] Furthermore, the idler 383 is set to be installed at intervals of 40 mm or less so that the coins are spaced at least 4 mm apart, thereby improving the counting accuracy of the counting sensor 42 (see Figure 5) installed on the downstream side of the lift-up unit 38 in the transport direction.

[0078] As described above, according to the coin processing apparatus 10, which is an embodiment of the present invention, the temporary coin holding section 34, which temporarily holds coins to be dispensed from the dispensing slot 39, includes a holding transport section 341 that holds coins on the upper surface of a holding transport belt 3412 stretched endlessly over a pair of holding transport pulleys 3411 arranged along the transport direction, and transports the coins as the holding transport belt 3412 is displaced in the extending direction; a reverse roller 342 positioned above the holding transport section 341 that transports the coins transported by the holding transport section 341 one by one downstream in the transport direction; and an upper guide member 343 that is provided so as to be able to swing around the central axis of the reverse roller 342 in a manner that moves toward and away from the holding transport section 341. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the coins sent to the temporary coin holding section 34 from rolling around and remaining in place when transported by the holding transport section 341, and to reduce the time required for transport to the lift-up section 38.

[0079] Therefore, it is possible to reduce the depth dimension while shortening the time required to transport coins to the lift-up section 38.

[0080] According to the coin processing device 10 described above, the direction changing unit 36, which receives coins held one by one in the temporary withdrawal holding unit 34 and transports them to the lift-up unit 38, comprises a fixed transport unit 361 having a fixed transport belt 3612 stretched endlessly on a pair of fixed transport pulleys 3611 arranged along the transport direction and displaceable along the extending direction, and a movable transport unit 362 having a movable transport belt 3623 stretched endlessly on a pair of movable transport pulleys 3621 arranged along the transport direction and displaceable along the extending direction. The movable transport unit 362 is positioned above the fixed transport unit 361 so that the movable transport belt 3623 grips the coins between the fixed transport belt 3612 and transports them, and is provided so as to be able to swing around the axis of the movable transport pulley 3621 on the upstream side in the transport direction in such a manner that the downstream side in the transport direction approaches and moves away from the fixed transport unit 361. Therefore, the swing angle can be adjusted according to the outer shape of the coins to transport them with appropriate transport pressure.

[0081] Therefore, the depth dimension can be reduced while ensuring efficient transport of coins to the lift-up section 38. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1...Cash processing machine, 2...Main unit, 10...Coin processing device, 20...Coin transport mechanism, 21...Deposit slot, 22...Deposit transport unit, 22a...Inspection unit, 23a...Deposit chute, 23b...First refund chute, 24...Deposit temporary holding unit, 25a...Contact chute, 25b...Second refund chute, 26...Verification temporary holding unit, 28...Distribution unit, 30...Storage unit, 32...Withdrawal transport unit, 34...Withdrawal Gold temporary holding section, 341... Holding and conveying section, 3411... Holding and conveying pulley, 3412... Holding and conveying belt, 3412a... Upper section, 342... Reverse roller, 343... Upper guide member, 3431... Base end section, 3431a... Shaft support section, 3431b... Gear section, 3432... Tip section, 3432a... Hole, 3432b... Left side section, 3432c... Front end section, 351... Linking gear section 352... Guide actuator, 36... Direction change section, 361... Fixed conveying section, 3611... Fixed conveying pulley, 3612... Fixed conveying belt, 3612a... Upper section, 362... Movable conveying section, 3621... Movable conveying pulley, 3622... Tension roller, 3623... Movable conveying belt, 3623a, 3623b... Lower section, 37... Conveying spring, 38... Lift-up section, 381... First lift-up conveying section, 3811... First lift-up conveying pulley, 3812... First lift-up conveying belt, 3812a... Upper section, 382... Second lift-up conveying section, 3821... Second lift-up conveying pulley, 3822... Second lift-up conveying belt, 3822a... Lower section, 383... Idler, 39... Discharge port, 40... Switching gate group.

Claims

1. A coin processing device that identifies the authenticity and denomination of deposited coins, stores coins identified as genuine coins in the corresponding storage compartments according to their denomination, and, upon receiving a withdrawal instruction, transports coins from any storage compartment in a withdrawal transport unit, then transports them upwards in a lift-up unit and dispenses them from a withdrawal opening. The system includes a temporary coin holding section for temporarily holding coins to be dispensed from the aforementioned dispensing slot, The aforementioned temporary withdrawal holding section is, A retaining conveying unit that holds the coins on the upper surface of a retaining conveying belt stretched endlessly between a pair of retaining conveying pulleys arranged along the conveying direction, and conveys the coins as the retaining conveying belt is displaced in the extending direction, A reverse roller is positioned in the upper area of ​​the holding and transporting section and transports the coins being transported by the holding and transporting section one by one downstream in the transport direction, An upper guide member is provided so as to be able to swing vertically along the central axis of the reverse roller in a manner that moves toward and away from the holding and transporting section, and swings downward in a manner that moves toward the holding and transporting section to suppress the coin from becoming upright. A coin processing device characterized by having the following features.

2. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that when coins are transported from the dispensing transport unit to the temporary dispensing hold unit, the upper guide member is swung downward in a manner that brings it close to the hold transport unit, while when coins that have been deposited and identified as counterfeit, or coins that have been deposited and identified as genuine but are temporarily held in the temporary deposit hold unit are transported, the upper guide member is swung upward in a manner that moves it away from the hold transport unit.

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