JP2002157628A - Coin processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a forged coin from secretly being changed with a genuine coin by a coin processor equipped with a coin discriminating device which is built in an automatic vending machine, etc., and discriminates whether a thrown-in coin is genuine or false and its kind and distributes the coin. SOLUTION: When the coin 1 is thrown in, a sensor 2 discriminates whether the coin 1 is genuine or false and its denomination and kind first. A distribution control means 3 drives a driving device 4 according to the discrimination result to place a gate 4a in operation and controls the distribution of the coin 1. Assuming that the distributed coin 1 is highest denomination coin among handled coins, a stopper 6a is provided in its path. A temporary holding control means 5 drives a driving device 6 to control the operation of the stopper 6a and temporarily hold the coin 1. Then when a return command or a purchase command for an article is sent from the automatic vending machine side, the coin 1 is released from being held. When no article is purchased and the return command is sent, an introduction destination switching control means 7 drives a driving device 8 to place a gate 8a in operation and distributes the coin 1 to the passage connecting to a return opening.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coin processing apparatus provided in a vending machine or the like and having a coin identification device for identifying and distributing the authenticity and type of inserted coins.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, devices handling coins, such as vending machines, have a built-in coin identification device for identifying the type of inserted coin and allocating a destination.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional coin identification device. When a coin is inserted through the coin insertion slot 50a, the coin identification device 50 determines the type and authenticity of the coin by a sensor 52 provided on the back side of the substrate 51. The coin that has passed the sensor 52 then passes through the gate 53. In the gate 53, when the inserted coin is a fake coin or a bad coin, the coin is passed to the front side of the gate and distributed to a return passage (not shown). On the other hand, if the coin is a true coin, the gate 53 sends the coin to the gate 54 by passing through the back side.

When the coin is, for example, a 10-yen coin or a 50-yen coin, the gate 54 distributes the coin to the gate 55 side.
If it is a 00 yen coin or a 500 yen coin, it is sorted to the gate 57 side. When the coin is a 10-yen coin, the gate 55
It passes through the back side and is distributed to the gate 56 side. On the other hand, when the coin is a 50-yen coin, the gate 55 passes through the front side and distributes it to a coin tube (not shown) for a 50-yen coin. However, when the coin tube for 50 yen coins is full, the coins are distributed to the gate 56 side.

[0005] When the coin is a 10-yen coin, the gate 56 passes through the front side and distributes the coin to a 10-yen coin tube (not shown). If the coin is a 50-yen coin, or the coin tube is full even if the coin is a 10-yen coin, the coin is distributed to a safe (not shown).

[0006] When the coin is a 500-yen coin, the gate 57 passes the back side and distributes the coin to the gate 58. On the other hand, when the coin is a 100-yen coin, the coin is passed through the front side and distributed to a coin tube (not shown) for a 100-yen coin. However, when the coin tube for 100 yen coins is full, the coins are distributed to the gate 58.

When the coin is a 500-yen coin, the gate 58 passes through the front side and sorts the coin tube into a 500-yen coin tube (not shown). Also, 100 coins
In the case of a coin, or if the coin tube is full even with a 500 yen coin, it is passed through the back side and sorted to a safe not shown.

The coins thus sorted are stored in each coin tube. The coins in the coin tube are paid out as change or return coins in order from the bottom coin as needed.

[0009]

However, in the conventional coin discriminating apparatus 50, when the return button is pressed, the lowest coin in the coin tube of the corresponding amount is paid out. When the sensor is inserted, if the sensor mistakenly determines that the coin is a true coin, the false coin is received and the true coin is paid out. For this reason, the act of inserting a fake coin and pressing the return button without buying a product and allowing the user to return with a positive coin is permitted, which may cause financial damage.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a coin processing device provided with a coin identification device capable of preventing a false coin from being replaced with a true coin.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a coin identification unit for identifying the authenticity and type of a coin inserted, and a method for identifying the authenticity and type of the coin identified by the identification unit. A coin discriminating device having a sorting mechanism that sorts the coins according to the type, a coin storage device that stores coins sorted according to types by the coin identification device, and coins stored in the coin storage device as change. A coin dispensing device for paying out coins, comprising a stopper for opening and closing the passage of coins sorted according to the kind by the sorting mechanism, and temporarily closing the passage in the passage by closing the passage of the stopper. A temporary holding mechanism that is provided at a stage subsequent to the temporary holding mechanism. Introduction destination switching mechanism for switching the introduction destination of the coin dropping through the passage solved the pending and return port side and the coin storage device side, the characterized in that provided on the coin identifying device.

In such a coin processing apparatus, coins sorted according to the type are temporarily held in a passage, and when a return command is issued, the held coins are introduced into the return port side, and a purchase command is issued. In this case, the held coin is introduced into the coin storage device.

Thus, when a return command is issued, the inserted coins are returned as they are, and when a purchase command is issued, coins are automatically supplied to the coin storage device as change coins.

As described above, when a return command is issued without purchasing a product, the inserted coin is returned as it is, so that coin replacement can be prevented.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the function of the present embodiment. It is assumed that the coin identification device of this embodiment is built in a vending machine. In this coin identification device, coin 1
Is inserted, the sensor 2 first identifies the authenticity of the coin 1 and the type of the amount. The distribution control means 3 drives the driving device 4 based on the identification result and operates the gate 4a to control the distribution of the coins 1.

The sorted coin 1 is a specific coin,
For example, if the coin being handled is the most expensive coin, a stopper 6a is provided on the path. The temporary holding control means 5 controls the operation of the stopper 6 a by driving the driving device 6, and
Hold on hold. When a return command or a product purchase command is sent from the vending machine, the coin 1 is released from holding.

When the return command is sent without purchasing the product, the introduction destination switching control means 7 drives the driving device 8 to operate the gate 8a, and distributes the coin 1 to the passage through which the return port passes. On the other hand, when the purchase command is sent, the introduction destination switching control means 7 distributes the coin 1 to the coin storage device side.

Next, a specific configuration of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an external configuration of a coin processing device provided with the coin identification device of the present embodiment. The coin processing device 10 is, for example, a device installed in a vending machine,
It is mainly composed of a coin identification device 11, a coin storage device 12, and a coin payout device 13. The coin identification device 11 identifies a coin inserted from the coin insertion slot 11a, and according to the type of coin, each of the coin tubes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12c of the coin storage device 12.
Assign to d. Here, the coin tubes 12a, 12
b, 12c and 12d are coin tubes for 500 yen coin, 100 yen coin, 10 yen coin and 50 yen coin, respectively. The coin tube 12e is a tube for auxiliary change, and stores coins dedicated to change.

The coin payout device 13 pulls out the coins in the coin tubes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e as necessary, and pays out the change to the user of the vending machine as a change, or the coins of the inserted amount. return.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where the coin processing apparatus 10 is installed. The coin processing device 10 includes a vending machine 2
0 is attached to the back surface of the panel 21. The operation of the coin processing device 10 is controlled by the control device 17. The control device 17 may be used for controlling the entire vending machine 20 or may be used exclusively for the coin processing device 10. When a dedicated control device is used, it may be built in the coin processing device 10.

A gate 1 is provided below the coin processing device 10.
4 and a solenoid 15 are provided. A safe 16 is provided below the gate 14. The solenoid 15 operates in accordance with a drive signal from the control device 17 and controls switching of the direction of the gate 14.

The coin C1 inserted from the coin insertion slot 22 on the panel 21 side is introduced into the coin identification device 11 through the coin insertion slot 11a. Coin processing device 10
Stores coin C1 in coin storage device 12 described above. If coin C1 is a fake coin or a bad coin,
Alternatively, when the return button 23 is pressed or when the coin tube is full, the coin C1 is discharged from the lower surface. Also, in the case of a normal change dispensing operation, the lowermost coin in the coin tube is discharged.

When the coin C1 is a fake coin or a bad coin, when the return button 23 is pressed, or when a normal change dispensing operation is performed, the control device 17
The solenoid 15 is turned on, for example, to move the gate 14 to the left side of the drawing, and the coin C1 is distributed to the return port 24.
On the other hand, when the coin tube is full, the controller 17
Turns off the solenoid 15, moves the gate 14 to the right side of the drawing, and collects the coin C1 in the safe 16.

Next, a specific configuration of the coin identification device 11 will be described. FIG. 4 shows a coin identification device 11 of the present embodiment.
It is a front view which shows the structure of. However, in FIG.
It is shown with the front plate removed. When a coin is inserted through the coin insertion slot 11a, the coin identification device 11 determines the type and authenticity of the coin by a sensor 31 provided on the back side of the substrate 30. Sensor 31
Pass through the gate 32 next. In the gate 32, when the inserted coin is a fake coin or a bad coin, the coin is passed through the front side of the gate and distributed to a return passage (not shown). On the other hand, if the coin is a true coin, the gate 32 sends the coin to the gate 33 by passing through the back side.

When the coin is, for example, a 10-yen coin or a 50-yen coin, the gate 33 distributes the coin to the gate 34 side.
If it is a 00 yen coin or a 500 yen coin, it is sorted to the gate 36 side. When the coin is a 10-yen coin, the gate 34
It passes through the back side and is distributed to the gate 35 side. On the other hand, when the coin is a 50-yen coin, the gate 34 passes through the front side and the coin tube 12d for the 50-yen coin shown in FIG.
Distribute to. However, coin tube 1 for 50 yen coin
If 2d is full, it is distributed to the gate 35 side.

When the coin is a 10-yen coin, the gate 35 passes the front side and distributes the coin to the coin tube 12c for a 10-yen coin shown in FIG. When the coin is a 50-yen coin, or when the coin tube 12c is full even if the coin is a 10-yen coin, the coin is distributed to the safe 16 shown in FIG. At this time, the gate 14 naturally performs the corresponding operation.

When the coin is a 500-yen coin, the gate 36 passes the back side and distributes the coin to the gate 37. on the other hand,
If the coin is a 100 yen coin, pass it through the front side and
Is distributed to the coin tube 12b for 100 yen coin indicated by. However, when the coin tube 12b for 100 yen coins is full, the coins are distributed to the gate 37.

When the coin is a 500-yen coin, the gate 37 passes through the back side and distributes the coin to the coin tube 12a for the 500-yen coin shown in FIG. Also, if the coin is 10
If the coin tube 12a is full in the case of a 0-yen coin or a 500-yen coin, the coin is passed to the front side and distributed to the safe 16 side. Further, the gate 37 has 500
Even when the return button 23 is pressed after the coin is inserted, the coin is passed through the front side and distributed to the safe 16 side. However, the 500 yen coin in this case is the gate 14 shown in FIG.
To the return port 24.

Each of these gates 32, 33, 34, 35,
The operations of 36 and 37 are controlled by a solenoid as described later. Incidentally, a stopper 38 is provided between the gate 36 and the gate 37. This stopper 3
Reference numeral 8 is provided to temporarily hold a 500-yen coin when it is inserted. The operation of the stopper 38 is controlled by a solenoid as described later.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view seen from the right direction in FIG. In the coin identification device 11, four solenoids 41, 42, 43, 4 for operating the gates 32 to 37 are provided.
4 are provided. The solenoid 41 controls the opening and closing operation of the gate 32. The solenoid 42 controls the opening and closing operation of the gate 33. Also, the solenoid 43
Controls opening and closing operations of the gate 34 and the gate 36. Further, the solenoid 44 controls opening and closing operations of the gate 35 and the gate 37.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing the structure of the stopper 38 portion. The stopper 38 is provided so as to be slidable in the left-right direction in the drawing by a solenoid 45. That is, when the solenoid 45 is off, the stopper 38 is located on the right side in the drawing and is located in the path 30a for the coin C2 of 500 yen.
And when the solenoid 45 is on, the passage 30a is opened. Normally, solenoid 45
Is off, the stopper 38 blocks the passage 30a. For this reason, the coin C2 of 500 yen is prevented from falling along the passage 30a by the stopper 38. Thus, until the solenoid 45 is turned on,
The coin C2 is temporarily reserved. At this time, the gate 37 is located on the left side as shown in the figure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in the operation of the stopper 38 when the return button 23 is pressed. When the return button 23 is pressed without purchasing a product after the coin C2 of 500 yen is inserted, the solenoid 45 is turned on, and the stopper 38 opens the passage 30a, as shown in the figure. As a result, the coin C2 falls down the passage 30a,
It is sorted by the gate 37 and sent to the return port 24 side.

On the other hand, if a product is purchased while the coin C2 is held, as shown in FIG.
7 moves to the right. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the solenoid 45 is turned on, and the stopper 38 opens the passage 30a. Thus, the coin C2 falls down the passage 30a, is sorted by the gate 37, and is sent to the coin tube 12a for 500 yen.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure related to the coin returning operation of the control device 17. [S1] It is determined whether or not a coin has been inserted. If there is, the process proceeds to step S2, and if not, step S1 is repeated. [S2] It is determined whether or not the inserted coin is a 500-yen coin. If the coin is a 500-yen coin, the process proceeds to step S4; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S3. [S3] Since the inserted coins are other than the 500 yen coin, the coins are distributed to the coin tubes corresponding to the coins as usual. If the corresponding coin tube is full, the coin is distributed to the safe 16. [S4] A 500-yen coin is temporarily held. [S5] It is determined whether the return button 23 has been pressed and a return command has been issued. If so, the process proceeds to step S6, and if not, the process proceeds to step S7. [S6] The 500-yen coin held is distributed to the return port 24. [S7] It is determined whether or not a product has been purchased. If so, the process proceeds to step S8. If not, the process proceeds to step S5.
Return to [S8] The reserved 500-yen coin is distributed to the coin tube 12a for 500 yen.

As described above, in the present embodiment, if a return command is issued without purchasing a product even if a coin is inserted, the inserted coin itself is returned. Can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, a mechanism is provided for holding only the most expensive 500 yen coin among the amount of money to be handled, so that damage can be suppressed as much as possible with a simple mechanism.

[0037]

According to the present invention as described above, a stopper for opening and closing the passage of coins sorted according to the type is provided, and the coin is temporarily held in the passage by closing the passage of the stopper. A temporary holding mechanism unit, which is provided at a subsequent stage of the temporary holding mechanism unit, releases coins to be released by the return opening side and the coin payout device by introducing a coin to be released from the hold by opening the passage of the stopper and falling down the passage. Provide the coin identification device with an introduction destination switching mechanism that switches to the coin storage device side that has a coin tube to be stored, temporarily store coins sorted according to the type in the passage, and hold when a return command is issued Introduce the coins inside to the return slot side, and if a purchase order is issued, introduce the pending coins to the coin storage device side, In the event that the coin is inserted, the inserted coin will be returned as it is, and if a purchase command is issued, it will be automatically replenished as a coin for change to the coin storage device, so it will not be replaced with a fake coin and the coin storage device will be replaced. Automatic supply of change coins can be realized by changing the coin identification device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the function of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an external configuration of a coin processing device including the coin identification device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an installed state of the coin processing device.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the configuration of the coin identification device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view seen from the right direction in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a structure of a stopper portion.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a change in the operation of the stopper when the return button is pressed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an initial state of a coin distribution operation at the time of product purchase.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a sorting operation of coins at the time of product purchase.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure relating to a coin returning operation of the control device.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional coin identification device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 coin 2 sensor 3 distribution control means 4, 6, 8 drive device 4a, 8a gate 5 temporary holding control means 6a stopper 7 introduction destination switching control means 10 coin processing device 11 coin identification device 11a coin insertion slot 12 coin storage device 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e Coin tube 13 Coin payout device 16 Safe 17 Control device 20 Vending machine 22 Coin slot 23 Return button 24 Return slot 31 Sensor 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 Gate 38 Stopper

Claims (3)

[Claims] A coin discriminator comprising: a coin discriminator for discriminating the authenticity and type of the inserted coin; and a distributing mechanism for distributing the coin identified by the discriminator according to its authenticity and type. A coin storage device that stores coins sorted according to the type by the coin identification device; and a coin payout device that pays out coins stored in the coin storage device as change. A stopper for opening and closing the passage of the coins sorted according to the type by the mechanism, a temporary holding mechanism for temporarily holding the coin in the passage by closing the passage of the stopper, and a temporary holding mechanism provided at a subsequent stage of the temporary holding mechanism. The coin is released from the hold by opening the passage of the stopper and falls down the passage. Coin processing apparatus characterized by providing the introduction destination switching mechanism for switching the authorized service provider to the return port side and the coin storage device side, to the coin identification device. 2. The coin treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the temporary holding mechanism is provided on a path of a specific coin. 3. The coin according to claim 2, wherein the specific coin is the most expensive coin among the coins handled.
The coin processing device according to the above.