JPH03130893A - Coin processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save labor of coin storage and change pay-out by automating the sorting of the deposited coins in a mixed state into each kind and storing them in a change hopper mechanism, paying out of the required number of change coin from the change hopper mechanism, and the operation to overflow the coins when it is unnecessary to store the change. CONSTITUTION:When coins M as sale money is deposited in a mixed state to a receiving hopper mechanism A, it is transferred one by one to a sorting mechanism B, sorted into each kind at a coin window W of a sorting plate 7, the respective kinds of coins after the sorting are transferred by respective reception belts 15 and supplied to a change hopper mechanism D. The coins are stored at these respective change hopper mechanisms D, and when a change pay-out signal is received, the required number of change coins are paid out, and are supplied through a pay-out conveyer mechanism E to a change receiving plate 52. When the coin supply to the change hopper mechanism D becomes unnecessary, the coins on the reception belt 15 are supplied to an overflow belt 53, and collected at an overflow receiving plate 54. Thus, the storage of the coins and the pay-out of the change can be automated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a coin processing machine that is used by being incorporated into, for example, a cash register.

(Prior Art) Conventional cash registers have calculation functions such as calculation of sales and purchases and calculation of change for received amounts, but the receipt and withdrawal of coins is done manually. That is, change is supplied to the drawer by manually sorting it into each denomination, and change is taken out from the drawer while being counted manually.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Conventional cash registers rely on humans to insert and remove coins, which requires a great deal of time and effort, and is prone to errors.

By the way, some coin processing machines are used in financial institutions, etc., and when a mixture of various coins is input, the coins can be sorted and stocked by type (
For example, there are old Utility Model Publication Nos. 60-22451 and 1985, and there are technologies that can dispense the required number of stocked coins (for example, Utility Model Publication No. 56-20854). No technology has been developed to do this automatically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing machine that can automate everything from inputting transaction proceeds to sorting and storing coins, dispensing change, and overflowing when coin storage is not required.

Further, in the present invention, a plurality of receiving belts are used as a set of two,
To provide a coin processing machine which can be configured compactly in a plan view by providing a space between two sets and arranging a change hopper mechanism therebetween, without providing a space between sets.

(Means for solving the problem) The first specific configuration for solving the problem in the present invention is as follows:
A receiving hopper mechanism A that sends out coins M input in a mixed state one by one, and a sorting mechanism B having a sorting plate 7 that sorts the coins M sent out from the receiving hopper mechanism A through a plurality of types of coin windows W. , a receiving conveyor mechanism C having a plurality of receiving belts 15 for transferring sorted coins one by one, and a change for receiving and dispensing the required number of stored coins by dropping the coins on each receiving belt 15. A hopper mechanism and a dispensing belt 5 that collects coins dispensed from each change hopper mechanism and transfers them to a change tray 52
1, and an overflow tray 5 that receives coins from a receiving belt 15 in place of the change hopper mechanism when the change hopper mechanism does not need to store coins.
The second specific configuration is that, in addition to the first specific configuration, a plurality of receiving belts of the receiving conveyor mechanism C are provided. 15 is a set of two, and each set of receiving belts 15 has an interval of 2 to allow coins to fall.
3 are arranged parallel to each other, and between the sets there is a receiving belt 15
are arranged next to each other, and the change hopper mechanisms for receiving coins M from the two receiving belts 5 of each set are arranged along the coin transport direction below between the two receiving belts 15. That's true.

(Function) When the coins M as trading proceeds are received in a mixed state and put into the receiving hopper mechanism A, they are sent out one by one to the sorting mechanism B, where they are sorted by type by the coin window W of the sorting plate 7. After sorting, each type of coin is transferred by each receiving belt 15 and supplied to a change hopper mechanism. Each change hopper mechanism stores coins, receives a change payout signal, pays out a required number of change coins, and supplies them to the change tray 52 via a payout conveyor mechanism E. When it is no longer necessary to supply coins to the change hopper mechanism, the coins on the receiving belt 15 are supplied to the overflow belt 53, and the coins are fed to the overflow tray 5.
It is collected in 4.

The receiving belts 15 are a set of two, with a gap 23 between them to allow coins to fall, and a 2Mi change hopper mechanism is arranged below the receiving belts 15 along the coin transport direction. The pairs are next to each other,
The dimensions of the receiving belt 15 itself and the arrangement relationship between it and the change hopper mechanism in the direction intersecting the receiving belt 15 are smaller.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 12 show a coin processing machine 1 configured as a coin receiving/change dispensing device for a cash register.
This coin processing machine l is housed in a case 2 placed in place of the drawer at the bottom of the register body, and is roughly divided into a receiving hopper mechanism A, a sorting mechanism B, and a receiving conveyor mechanism C.
1 has a change hopper mechanism D, a payout conveyor mechanism E, and an overflow mechanism F.

In Figure 1.2, IL 12, receiving hopper mechanism A
A receiving hopper 3 into which various types of coins M received from customers are thrown in as a mixture, a rotating disk 4 forming the bottom of the receiving hopper 3, and a scraping roller 6 provided at the outlet 5 of the receiving hopper 3. By the rotation of the rotary disk 4, the coins M in the receiving hopper 3 are sent out one by one from the outlet 5 by centrifugal force and arranged, and the scraping rollers 6 securely send the coins M to the sorting mechanism B. Scrape it out. The circumferential speed of this scraping roller 6 is set smaller than the circumferential speed of the rotating disk 4.

The sorting mechanism B is shown in Figures 1 to 3.5.1) 12, and includes a sorting brake -17 that slides and guides the coins M scraped out from the receiving hopper mechanism A, and a sorting plate 7 that faces the sorting plate 7. It has a transfer belt 8 that moves the coins while holding them down.

The sorting plate 7 has a guide surface 7a formed on one side of the upper surface thereof, which serves as a trajectory for the coins M, and a plurality of coin windows W through which the coins M are dropped in order from the smallest outer diameter along the guide surface 7a. The coin window W is 1 inner window h1 from the scraping roller 6 side.
．． 50 yen window W50.5 Inner window W5.100 yen window old 00.1
A 0 yen window WIO and a 500 yen window W500 are formed in this order, and each coin window W is provided with a detection means (not shown) to count the number of coins passed and calculate the amount inserted. ing.

In addition, if the type of coins being circulated or the coin diameter changes, the coin window W
The size and number of pieces vary.

The transfer belt 8 is wrapped between the boots IJ9 and 9,
The lower portion of the plurality of pressure rollers 10 is configured to press the coins M on the sorting plate 7, and the pulley 989 and the pressure roller 10 are supported by a support base 1), and this support base 1) Pivot 12 relative to sorting plate 7
It is mounted so that it can be rotated upwards through the Further, the transfer belt 8 is inclined with respect to the guide surface 7a in a plan view, so that the coin M can be transferred while always being pressed against the guide surface 7a.

The coin transport speed of the transport belt 8 is set higher than the circumferential speed of the scraping roller 6, so that a gap is created between the coins being transported.

In the sorting plate 7, when the coins M pass through the coin window W, they fall first from the side opposite to the guide surface 7a side.

A guide plate 13 for guiding the trailing side of the falling coins M is provided on the lower surface side of the sorting plate 7, that is, between it and the receiving belt 15 of the receiving conveyor mechanism C. The guide plate 13 is attached to the lower surface of the sorting plate 7, and the receiving belt 1
5 is inclined downward in the coin transport direction. When forming the sorting plate 7, the guide plate 13 may be integrally formed by bending the portion corresponding to the coin window W downward.

In the receiving conveyor mechanism C shown in FIGS. 13-5.8-12, a receiving belt 15 made of a flat belt extending laterally from below is disposed corresponding to each coin window W of the sorting plate 7. A pulley 16 around which the receiving belt 15 is wound is provided on a common drive shaft 17 and a driven shaft 18, and the coin transport direction of the receiving belt 15 is perpendicular to the coin transport direction of the sorting plate 7 in plan view. .

Each receiving belt 15 is inclined forward and upward in the coin transport direction from below each coin window W, and is arranged horizontally in front of the idler pulley 19, so that the leading side of the sorted coins M falling from the coin window W is placed first. The coin M is placed on the receiving belt 15 by sliding the trailing side down on the guide plate 13, and transferred to the change hopper mechanism side while lifting the coin M.

The guide plate 13 allows the coin M falling from the coin window W to be transferred onto the receiving belt 15 reliably and smoothly without standing up. Since the various coins M have different outer diameters, the distance between the sorting plate 7 and each receiving belt 15 should be a drop corresponding to the outer diameter of each coin M. However, by providing the guide plate 13, all receiving belts i5 can be made to have the same height, and the driven shaft 18 can be made common.

The inclined portion 15a of the receiving belt 15 allows the sorting mechanism B to be mounted at a lower position. Incidentally, if there is no height restriction on the coin processing machine 1, the entire length of the receiving belt 15 may be made horizontal.

In the receiving conveyor mechanism C, side wall plates 20 are arranged on the left and right sides of each receiving bell port 5 in the coin transfer direction, and the left and right side wall plates 2
A change coin drop port 21 is formed on one side of the 0, and an overflow coin drop port 22 is formed on the other side.

Each receiving belt 15 of the receiving conveyor mechanism C has two
Book 1: I, and the two coins in each set are arranged in parallel with an interval 23 that allows the coin M to fall, that is, one for 1 yen and one for 50 yen, one for 5 yen and one for 100 yen. , 10 yen and 500
Those for yen and those for 100 yen each form group I, and the receiving bell ports 5 of the groups are placed back to back.
The circles for yen and those for 10 yen are arranged next to each other with no interval 23, and are arranged so that the area occupied by the receiving conveyor mechanism C (the depth of the device) is minimized.

Two sets of change hoppers 28 having a change hopper mechanism are arranged below between each set of receiving belts 15 along the coin transfer direction. Change hopper machine #ID is 1 for each type of coin
A set is provided.

1.3.4.6 to 12, the change hopper mechanism is a coin dropping means D26 disposed on the receiving belt 15 and dropping the coin M from the change coin drop opening 21.
, a change hopper 28 that stores fallen coins and has a payout board 27 at its bottom, and a motor 29 that rotationally drives the payout board 27.

There are two types of coin dropping means 026, movable and fixed, and the movable coin dropping means D26a is provided in the change hopper mechanism on the front side of the receiving belt 15 in the coin transport direction, and is attached to the side wall plate 2.
0 via a pivot 30, and an iron core 33 of a solenoid 32, which is also fixed to the side wall plate 20, is interlocked and connected to the shutter Fi31 via a U-shaped metal R34.
By the operation of the solenoid 32, the shutter plate 31 can be rotated to switch between a coin dropping state α and a coin passing state β.

When the shirt top plate 31 is lowered and in the coin falling state α, it is close to the upper surface of the receiving belt 15 and has an inclined guide portion 31a that guides the transferred coins M to the change coin drop opening 21. When the shirt flap plate 31 rises to reach the coin passing state β, the inclined guide portion 31a rises and the coin M passes underneath it.

The solenoid 32 urges the iron core 33 in the projecting direction with a spring 35, and the U-shaped metal fitting 34 at the tip of the iron core is engaged when the shutter plate 31 is raised, and the shutter plate 31 is lowered by its own weight. However, the shirt flap plate 31 may be provided with a spring that biases it in a direction approaching the receiving belt 15, or the iron core 33 and the shirt flap plate 31 may be interlocked and connected.

The fixed coin dropping means D26b is provided in the change hopper mechanism on the front side in the coin transport direction, and is a plate member 36 inclined at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the coin transport direction above the receiving belt 15. 36 is fixed to the side wall plate 20. This plate material 36 comes into contact with the coin M being sent and causes it to fall from the change coin drop opening 21.

The change hopper 28 and the motor 29 are mounted on a common mounting plate 38.
Both axes are parallel to each other, and power is transmitted from the output shaft 29a of the motor 29 to the rotating shaft 27a of the dispensing board 27 via a gear transmission means 37 (or a winding transmission means). It is now possible.

The output shaft 29a of the motor 29 may be directly connected to the rotating shaft 27a, but if it is arranged parallel to the side of the change hopper 28, the vertical space will be smaller and the height of the register can be lowered.

The change hopper 28 rotates the payout board 27 in response to a signal from the automatic change calculation mechanism of the cash register main body.
It sends out the required number of coins.

That is, the hopper inner bottom surface 39 is formed into a conical convex surface, and a discharge guide protrusion 41 is formed near the dispensing port 40, and a plurality of through holes 42 are bored in the dispensing disk 27 arranged so as to overlap the hopper inner bottom surface 39. When the power from the motor 29 is transmitted and the dispensing board 27 is rotated, the coins that have entered the through hole 42 rotate while sliding on the hopper inner bottom surface 39 and hit the discharge guide protrusion 4I. and is discharged from the dispensing port 40.

A counting means 43 is provided near the payout port 40 on the outer periphery of the change hopper 28. This counting means 43 includes a star wheel 44 that engages with and rotates the coin M to be ejected;
When this star wheel 44 rotates, the roller 4 is pushed.
5, and a counter 46 that is pushed and operated by this roller 45.
and counts the number of coins dispensed.

A remaining change sensor 47 is provided in the middle part of the change hopper 28, and a continuous recording sensor 48 is provided in the upper part, and both sensors 47
, 48 are, for example, phototubes.

The remaining sensor 47 is activated when the number of coins in the change hopper 28 is below a certain value (for example, 20 to 40 coins), and the continuous recording sensor 48 is activated when the number of coins is above a certain value (for example, 100 to 120 coins). Both sensors 47 and 48 are change hopper 28
Although they are provided with different phases in the circumferential direction, they may be arranged in the same phase.

Section 1.3.4.1). In FIG. 12, the payout conveyor mechanism E has a payout belt 51 and a change tray 52, and the overflow mechanism F has an overflow belt 53, an overflow tray 54, and a coin dropping means F26.
The dispensing belt 51 and the overflow belt 53 are arranged to overlap in the vertical direction, and the change tray 52 and the overflow tray 54 are arranged adjacent to each other in the left and right directions.

The dispensing belt 51 and the overflow belt 53 are 1
The coins are inserted between the change hopper mechanisms of the front and rear sets arranged for three sets of receiving belts 15, and are shared by all change hopper mechanisms to transfer coins. The directions are the same and perpendicular to the receiving belt 15 in plan view, with the payout belt 51 at the lowest position and the overflow belt 53 located below the receiving belt 15 with a gap 55 in between.

The dispensing belt 51 has a dispensing port 40 for all change hoppers 28.
The change dispensed from each change hopper 28 is placed therein, and the change is collected and transferred to a change receiving tray 52.

The coin dropping means F26 of the overflow mechanism F has two types, movable and fixed, similar to those of the change hopper mechanism, and the movable coin dropping means F26a is similar to the movable coin dropping means D26.
The fixed coin dropping means F26b is the same as the fixed coin dropping means D26b and is composed of only a plate 36, and both means F26a and F26b are arranged on an overflow belt. 53
This is a position close to the upper surface of the receiving belt 15 almost directly above the receiving belt 15 . The movable coin dropping means F26a is located in front of the fixed coin dropping means D26b of the change hopper mechanism in the coin transfer direction, and is paired with the fixed coin dropping means P26.
b is in front of and paired with the movable coin dropping means D26a having a change hopper mechanism.

The movable coin dropping means F26a has its own solenoid 32 when the paired fixed coin dropping means D26b does not need to store coins in the corresponding change hopper mechanism (for 1 yen, 5 yen, and 10 yen in the embodiment). is OFF, the shutter plate 31 is lowered (coin falling state α), and the coin M on the receiving belt 15 is dropped from the overflow coin drop opening 22 onto the overflow belt 53.

The fixed coin dropping means F26b is a change hopper mechanism (for 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen in the embodiment) with which the movable coin dropping means D26a is paired, and when coin storage is not necessary, the change hopper mechanism is used. Movable coin dropping means D26
Since a is turned on and lifts the shirt top plate 31,
Coins M passing under the shirt top plate 31 are dropped onto an overflow belt 53 from an overflow drop port 22.

The coins are dropped from the receiving belt 15 to the overflow belt 53 by one means (fixed coin dropping means F26b).
In the case of the other method (2), since the direction is the same as the transport direction of the overflow belt 53, the coin M does not stand up and rotate, allowing smooth transfer.
In the case of using the movable coin dropping means F26a, the direction is opposite to the direction of transport of the overflow belt 53, so depending on the height relationship with the receiving belt 15, the coin will stand up and rotate.
It may take a long time to transfer, or it may not be transferred and may remain on the belt.

In FIG. 10, the height 56 from the top surface of the overflow belt 53 to the top surface of the receiving belt 15 is set to be less than or equal to the diameter of the coin M, and the gap 55 from the top surface of the overflow belt 53 to the bottom surface of the receiving belt 15 is set to be less than the coin thickness. Experiments have shown that by setting the diameter to be larger than approximately one-half of the coin diameter, it is possible to prevent the coin from rising.

That is, if the height 56 is larger than the coin diameter, the drop of the coin will be large, and the falling and landing postures of the coin will not be constant.
If the gap 55 is larger than 1/2 of the coin diameter, the coin may not fall smoothly and may stand leaning against the side wall plate 20. There is.

Then, when the height 56 and the gap 55 are made to meet the above conditions, when a coin falls from the receiving bell eye 5 and one end touches the overflow belt 53, even if it leans against the receiving belt 15, one end of the coin falls from the receiving belt 5. It rotates so as to enter the underside of the heald 15 and rests flat on the overflow belt 53.

The change function and overflow function can be used in various ways. First, only the remaining change sensor 47 is provided in the change hopper 28, the overflow mechanism F is always operated, all the coins M thrown into the receiving hopper 3 are thrown into the overflow tray 54, and the remaining change sensor 47 is When activated,
Change coins or input coins are supplied to the change hopper 28 for the time set by the timer.

Second, only a continuous recording sensor 48 is provided in the change hopper 28, and the input coins M are always supplied to the change hopper 28, and when the continuous recording sensor 48 is activated, the overflow mechanism F is activated to cause the input coins to overflow. In series 3, a remaining amount sensor 47 and a continuous recording sensor 48 are provided, and the inserted coins are always supplied to the change hopper 28, and when the remaining amount sensor 47 is activated, the coins for change are specially supplied, and the coins are continuously recorded. sensor 48
When activated, the overflow mechanism F corresponding to the change hopper 28 of that series is activated to cause the input coins to overflow.

Next, the processing operation and power transmission system of the coin processing machine 1 of the above embodiment will be explained.

For example, when coins in a mixed state are received from a customer and put into the receiving hopper 3, this is detected and the motors Pi, P2. P3 is activated. The rotating disk 4, the scraping roller 6, and the transfer belt 8 are rotated by the operation of the motor Pi.
is driven, the coins in the receiving hopper 3 are transferred one by one onto the sorting plate 7 at intervals, and fall from the coin window W that matches each type, the number of coins of each type is detected by the detection means, The amount invested will be calculated.

The coin M that has fallen from the coin window W is guided by a guide plate 13, transferred flat onto a receiving belt 15 driven by a motor P2, lifted to an idler pulley 19, and then transferred in a horizontal direction. .

When there is storage space left in the change hopper 28 and the overflow mechanism F is not operating (remaining sensor 47 is operating or continuous sensor 48 is not operating), the solenoid 32 of the movable coin dropping means D26a of the change hopper mechanism is activated. OFF, coins of 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen are transferred from the receiving belt 15 to the change hopper 28 by the shirt plate 31.
At the same time, the solenoid 32 of the movable coin dropping means F26a of the overflow mechanism F is turned on, and the 1 yen, 5 yen, and 10 yen coins pass below the shutter 131 and pass through the fixed coin dropping means. The change is dropped and supplied from the receiving belt 15 to the change hopper 28 by the plate material 36 of D26b.

When the cash register body compares and calculates the transaction amount and the input amount and calculates the amount of change, the motor 29 of the change hopper mechanism is activated to dispense the coins that make up the amount of change, and the change hopper 28 The dispensing plate 27 rotates and sends out the stored coins onto the dispensing belt 51, and the dispensing belt 5I collects coins M for change and transfers them to the change tray 52 by driving the motor P3.

When the remaining change sensor 47 of the change hopper mechanism is not operating, or when the continuous recording sensor 48 is operating, the overflow mechanism F is activated and the solenoid 32 of the movable coin dropping means F26a is turned OFF, and 1 yen is , 5 yen, and 10 yen coins are dropped from the receiving belt 15 to the overflow belt 53 by the shutter plate 31, and at the same time, the solenoid 32 of the movable coin dropping means D26a of the change hopper mechanism is turned OFF.
N, the shank plate 31 rises, and the coins of 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen passing under it are dropped onto the overflow belt 53 by the fixed coin dropping means F26b, and these coins are collected and placed in the overflow tray 54. is stored in.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention described in detail above, coins M in a mixed state are inputted, sorted by type, stored in the change hopper mechanism, and required number of coins are collected from the change hopper mechanism. The operation of dispensing coins and overflowing coins when storage of change is not required can be automated, saving labor in coin storage and dispensing change, and appropriately handling coins when overflow occurs.

In addition, the plurality of receiving belts 15 are set as two 1: [,
By providing a coin falling interval 23 between the two, arranging two sets of change hopper mechanisms side by side, and arranging the receiving bell openings 5 of each set next to each other, the dimension in the direction intersecting the receiving belt 15 is can be made smaller, making it possible to make the coin processing machine more compact.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an overall plan view, FIG. 2 is a view in the direction of the ■ arrow in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of the ■ arrow in FIG. 1, and FIG. Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken along the IV-IV line in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the ■-V line in Fig. 1, Fig. 6.7 is a longitudinal sectional view and a plan view of the change hopper mechanism, Fig. 8.9 is a coin A plan view and a vertical cross-sectional view of the dropping means; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view showing the relationship between the intersection of the receiving belt and the overflow belt; 1). 12
The figures are a cross-sectional side view and a plan view for explaining the coin processing operation. 1... Coin processing machine, 7... Sorting plate, 13...
- Information board, 15... Receiving belt, 28... Change hopper. A...Accepting hopper mechanism, B...Sorting mechanism,
C... Receiving conveyor mechanism, D... Change hopper mechanism, E... Dispensing conveyor mechanism, F... Overflow mechanism, M... Coin, W... Coin window, D26, F
26... Coin dropping means.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A receiving hopper mechanism (A) that sends out coins (M) inserted in a mixed state one by one, and this receiving hopper mechanism (
The coins (M) sent from A) are sent to multiple types of coin windows (W).
), and a receiving conveyor mechanism (C) having a plurality of receiving belts (15) for transporting coins after sorting, coin by coin.
), a change hopper mechanism (D) that drops the coins on each receiving belt (15) to receive and dispense the required number of stored coins; a payout conveyor mechanism (E) having a payout belt (51) that collects and transfers the change to a change tray (52);
An overflow mechanism (F) having an overflow belt (53) that receives coins from a receiving belt (15) in place of the change hopper mechanism (D) and transfers them to an overflow tray (54) when the change hopper mechanism (D) does not need to store coins. )
A coin handling machine characterized by being equipped with. (2) The plurality of receiving belts (15) of the receiving conveyor mechanism (C) are arranged in sets of two, and each set of receiving belts (15) are parallel to each other with an interval (23) that allows coins to fall. The receiving belts (15) are arranged next to each other between the sets, and the two receiving belts (15) of each set are arranged next to each other.
2. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the change hopper mechanisms (D) for receiving coins (M) from the two receiving belts (15) are arranged along the coin transport direction below between the two receiving belts (15). Machine.