JP3760066B2

JP3760066B2 - Card and coin sorting device

Info

Publication number: JP3760066B2
Application number: JP31123599A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 富康佐々木; 保人高屋敷
Original assignee: Shinko Mechatrotech Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shinko Mechatrotech Co Ltd
Priority date: 1999-11-01
Filing date: 1999-11-01
Publication date: 2006-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-01
Also published as: JP2001134787A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、一つの搬送ベルト上に乗せられたカードと硬貨とを分別する新規な分別装置に関する。
このような分別装置は、例えば、鉄道駅の出口自動改札機又はバスに搭載された自動運賃収受機の投入口に乗車区間の一部分に対して有効な定期乗車券又は回数券（カード）と乗車区間の残余部分に対する運賃としての硬貨とが投入された場合に、カードと硬貨を料金演算処理の前に分別するために使用され、あるいは、パチンコ遊技島にカード式台間玉貸機と現金式台間玉貸機とが設置されている場合に、各台間玉貸機において遊技客から収受した使用済みカード及び硬貨を当該台間玉貸機から排出させて島端部まで搬送し、それぞれカード収納箱又は金庫に回収する前に、カードと硬貨を分別するために使用される。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、現金式台間玉貸機とカード式台間玉貸機とが設置されているパチンコ遊技島において、各台間玉貸機において遊技客から収受した硬貨及び使用済みカードを当該台間玉貸機から排出させて島端部まで搬送して、それぞれカード収納箱又は金庫に回収する場合は、硬貨搬送手段とカード搬送手段とを各別に備えている。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
従って、遊技島の中の狭い空間に複数の搬送手段を設置することが容易でなく、また、メンテナンスも容易でなかった。
遊技島においても、また、自動改札機や自動運賃収受機においても、カードと硬貨を一つの搬送路を介して所定位置まで搬送し、その所定位置においてカードと硬貨を分別するようにしたものは知られていない。その理由は、カードと硬貨とでは形状寸法が異なるため、その分別が確実に行えない点にあると思われる。本発明は、上記事情を背景になされたものであり、その課題は、搬送ベルト上にカードと硬貨が無造作に乗せられた場合にも、確実に１枚ずつに分離して所定方向に送り出すことができるカードと硬貨の分別装置を提供することにある。
【０００４】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記課題を解決するため、請求項１の本発明による分別装置は、一つの搬送路を介して搬送ベルトにより搬送する搬送機構と、搬送機構により搬送路の末端まで搬送されてきた硬貨とカードを一枚ずつに分離し、かつ、硬貨はこれを自重落下させ、カードはこれを直進させて分別する分別機構とを備えており、前記分別機構は、中央部に硬貨の直径よりもやや大きい幅を有する径小部を、両端部にカードの幅方向両端部に対応する径大部を有する異径ローラからなる分離ローラを、前記搬送路の末端付近において搬送ベルトの上側に設置し、前記搬送ベルトによる搬送方向と逆方向に回転させてなり、前記径小部においては搬送路を搬送されてくる硬貨を１枚のみ通過させ、前記径大部においては搬送路を搬送されてくるカードを１枚のみ通過させるように規制する第１分離手段と、その第１分離手段により搬送路の末端から直進されるカードの進行面の上下に、少なくとも下側においては搬送路の末端から硬貨の直径よりもやや大きな距離を隔てた位置において、カードの進行方向と同じ方向に回転される引渡しローラを設けてなり、搬送路の末端から放出される硬貨は、これを搬送路の末端と引渡しローラとの間から自重落下させ、かつ、搬送路の末端から直進されるカードは、その両端部を挟持して前進させる第２分離手段とから構成されていることを特徴している。
上記発明は、投入される硬貨が１種類のみである場合に好適である。上記構成により、搬送路を搬送ベルトにより搬送されてくる硬貨は、第１分離手段の分離ローラの径大部により搬送ベルトの上面の中央に寄せられる。また、２枚以上の硬貨が重なった状態で搬送ベルトの搬送終端部に到達した場合は、１枚ずつに分離されて搬送ベルトの回転とともに逆転している分離ローラの下端部の径小部を通過され、搬送路の末端から放出され、第２分離手段の引渡しローラとの間から自重落下する。また、搬送ベルトにより搬送されてくるカードが２枚以上重なっている場合は、分離ローラの径大部により１枚ずつに分離され、搬送ベルトの回転とともに分離ローラの下端部を通過され、搬送路の末端から直進されて、第２分離手段の引渡しローラによりカード搬送部に送り込まれる。
【０００５】
また、請求項２の本発明による分別装置は、一つの搬送路を介して搬送ベルトにより搬送する搬送機構と、その搬送機構により搬送路の末端まで搬送されてきた硬貨とカードを一枚ずつに分離し、かつ、硬貨はこれを自重落下させ、カードはこれを直進させて分別する分別機構とを備えており、分別機構は、中央部に硬貨の直径よりもやや大きい幅を有する径小部を、両端部にカードの幅方向両端部に対応する径大部を有する異径ローラからなる分離ローラを、前記搬送路の末端付近において搬送ベルトの上側に設置し、前記搬送ベルトによる搬送方向と逆方向に回転させてなり、径小部においては搬送ベルト上を搬送されてくる硬貨を１枚のみ通過させ、径大部においては搬送ベルト上を搬送されてくるカードを１枚のみ通過させるように規制する第１分離手段と、その第１分離手段により前記搬送路の末端から直進されるカードの進行面の上下に、少なくとも下側においては搬送路の末端から硬貨の直径よりもやや大きな距離を隔てた位置において、カードの進行方向と同じ方向に回転される引渡しローラを設けてなり、前記搬送路の末端から放出される硬貨は、これを搬送路の末端と引渡しローラとの間から自重落下させ、かつ、前記搬送路の末端から直進されるカードは、その両端部を挟持して前進させる第２分離手段と、前記引渡しローラの後方に設けられ、その引渡しローラにより前進されるカードの幅方向両端部をその下面において支持し、幅方向中間部が空いているガイドと、前記ガイドの上側に設けられ、引渡しローラによるカードの前進方向と逆方向に回転されて、カードに乗ってきた時の硬貨をそのカードから分離して前記ガイドの空いている部分から自重落下させる分離ローラとからなる第３分離手段とから構成されていることを特徴としている。
上記構成は、投入される硬貨が、例えば５００円と１００円の２種類である場合に好適である。上記構成により、第１分離手段と第２分離手段を通過したカードの上に硬貨が乗った状態で第３分離手段まで直進された場合は、カードはそのまま第３分離手段のガイドに案内されて送られる。そして、カードに乗ってきた硬貨は第３分離手段の分離ローラにより停止され、前記カードがガイドを通過した後に、ガイドの空いている部分から自重落下する。
【０００６】
【発明の実施の形態】
次に、本発明の実施の形態を、図面を参照しながら実施例の場合について説明する。
図１は本発明の要部の斜視図、図２は同じく平面図、図３は同じく側面図、図４は硬貨とカードの搬送状態とその分離作用を説明する図表である。
【０００７】
本発明による分別装置は、搬送機構Ａと分離機構Ｂとからなっている。
搬送機構Ａは、所定の位置で搬送ベルトの上面に乗せられた硬貨及びカードを搬送終端部まで搬送するものであり、図１，２に一部のみを示すように、一例として複数個のプーリ１，２，…に張設された、無端ベルトで構成された搬送ベルト３と、歯付きプーリ４₁ ，４₂ …に張設された伝動ベルト５を介して搬送ベルト３を所定方向（図１，２においては左方向）に回転させるモータ６とから構成されている。
搬送ベルト３は、硬貨とカードに共通な一つの搬送路に設けてあり、その搬送路の両側には、硬貨及びカードの安定した搬送を可能にするための周知のガイド（図示省略）が設けてある。また、搬送ベルト３の幅は、これにより搬送されるカードＣＤの幅よりも若干大きめである。そして、搬送ベルト３の上面には、その搬送終端部を除く任意の位置において、硬貨及びカードが同じ時又は異なる時に載置又は投下することができるようにしてある。
【０００８】
分離機構Ｂは、搬送ベルト１の搬送終端部及びそれより後方の位置に、搬送ベルト３により搬送されてきた硬貨及びカードを１枚ずつに分離し、硬貨はこれを自重落下させ、カードはこれを直進させるためのである。
分別機構Ｂは、例示するように、搬送路の末端部及び搬送ベルト３による搬送方向延長上に互いに比較的近接して設けられた、第１分離手段７と、第２分離手段８と、第３分離手段９とから構成されている。
【０００９】
第１分離手段７は、搬送ベルト３により搬送される硬貨又はカードが２枚以上重なった状態で搬送終端部に到達した場合に、これを１枚ずつに分離して、後方に引き続き搬送させるためのものである。
第１分離手段７は、図１，２に示されているような異径ローラからなる分離ローラ７１を有している。すなわち、分離ローラ７１は、中央部に、搬送路を搬送される硬貨ＣＮの直径よりもやや大きな幅を有する径小部７１ａを、その両端部に搬送路を搬送されるカードＣＤの両端部に対応する径大部７１ｂとを有している。
そして、分離ローラ７１は、歯付きプーリ４₂ の軸を共通の回転軸としてその軸に固着され、搬送終端部直前における搬送ベルト３の上面から上方に後述のような所定間隔を隔てた位置に設けられている。従って、分離ローラ７１は、搬送ベルト３による搬送方向と逆方向に回転される。
また、分離ローラ７１の径小部７１ａの下端部と搬送ベルト３の上面との間には、例えば１００円硬貨１枚分の厚み（min1.4〜max1.7 mm）よりも大きく、１００円硬貨２枚分の厚みよりも小さいギャップが形成され、分離ローラ７１の径大部７１ｂの下端部と搬送ベルト面の間には、カード１枚分の厚み（min0.68〜max0.8 mm ）よりも大きく、カード２枚分の厚みよりも小さいギャップが形成されて、これらのギャップにより第一のゲートが構成されている。
【００１０】
搬送ベルト３の上面と分離ローラ７１の径大部及び径小部との間のギャップは、搬送される硬貨の種類及びカードの種類により、設定されるものである。
使用可能な硬貨の金種には、例えば、５００円と１００円と１０円などの複数種類の場合がある。いずれの場合も、径小部７１ａにおけるギャップは、５００円硬貨（ＣＮ１）１枚分の厚み（min1.7〜max1.9mm ）よりも大きく、１００円硬貨（ＣＮ２）２枚分の厚み（min2.8〜max3.4mm ）よりも小さければ良い。
【００１１】
分離ローラ７１が上記ギャップ条件で搬送ベルト３による搬送方向と逆方向に回転されるように設けてあるため、まず、搬送ベルト３により搬送路の末端に向けて搬送される硬貨は、搬送路の進行方向左右いずれかの側に偏っている場合は、硬貨のベルト中央側の部分は搬送ベルト３から搬送方向の力を加えられ、硬貨の路肩側の部分は分離ローラ７１から逆方向の力を受けるため、その硬貨は搬送ベルトの中央側に引き寄せられる。従って、搬送される全ての硬貨は、分離ローラの径小部７１ａとベルトの間のゲート部分を通過しようとする。
次に、その通過しようとする硬貨が２枚以上重なっている場合は、径小部７１ａにおけるギャップ条件により、最下部の１枚のみが前記ゲートを通過することができ、上側に重なっている硬貨はゲートの通過を阻止される。そして、最下部の硬貨が通過すると、これによりベルト上面に接触することになった１枚の硬貨が今度は通過が可能になる。
第一のゲートに硬貨が２枚重なった状態で進入しようとする場合の重送パターンと、その時の第一のゲートの分離作用は、図表１の（イ）〜（ニ）に示す通りである。
【００１２】
また、硬貨とカードが重なった状態で進入しようとする場合の重送パターンと、その時の第一のゲートの分離作用は、図表１の（ホ）〜（チ）に示す通りである。
すなわち、硬貨ＣＮの上にカードが重なった状態で分離ローラ７１と搬送ベルト３の間に進入しようとする場合は、図表（ホ）（ト）に示すように、硬貨ＣＮは搬送ベルト３から加えられる搬送力によりゲートを通過するが、カードＣＤには分離ローラのみが接触して逆方向の力が加えられるため、カードＣＤは通過を阻止される。
また、カードＣＤの上に１枚の硬貨ＣＮが重なった状態で分離ローラ７１と搬送ベルト３の間に進入しようとする場合は、図表１（ヘ）（チ）に示すように、カードは搬送ベルト３から搬送力が与えられるが、硬貨にカードを介して間接的に与えられる搬送力よりも、分離ローラ７１から加えられる逆方向の力が大きいため、硬貨はこのゲートの通過を阻止される。
さらに、搬送路を搬送されてくるカードＣＤが２枚以上重なっている場合は、図表１（リ）に示すように、径大部７１ｂにおけるギャップ条件により、最下部の１枚のカードのみがゲートを通過でき、上側のカードは通過を阻止される。そして、下側のカードが通過した後、今度は搬送ベルト３の上面に接触することになった１枚のカードが通過可能になる。
以上のようにして、第１分離手段７においては、硬貨又はカードが一枚ずつに分離されて、搬送路の末端に送り出される。
【００１３】
搬送路の末端の延長上には、搬送ベルト３から送り出される硬貨とカードを硬貨の直径とカードの長さの差を利用して、硬貨はこれを重力落下させ、カードはこれをそのまま直進させることにより、硬貨とカードを分離する第２分離手段８が設けられている。
第２分離手段８は、搬送面の上側に設けられた搬送ベルト８１と、搬送面の下側に搬送ベルト８１と同じ幅をもって回転自在に設けられた引渡しローラ８２とを有している。搬送ベルト８１と引渡しローラ８２とにより、第二のゲートが構成されている。そして、搬送路の末端と引渡しローラ８２との間に硬貨落し穴８３が形成されている。また、硬貨落し穴８３の両側にカードガイド８４が設けられている。搬送ベルト８１の後部を支持するプーリ８１ａは、ねじりコイルばね（図示省略）により引渡しローラ８２に向けて弾力的に押圧されている。
これにより、第１分離手段７により一枚ずつに分離されて搬送ベルト３により搬送路の末端から放出される硬貨ＣＮは、硬貨落し穴８３から自重落下して第二のゲートの通過を阻止される。また、第１分離手段７により一枚ずつに分離されて搬送ベルト３により搬送路の末端から直進されるカードＣＤは、ベルト８１と引渡しローラに８２に挟持されて、そのまま直進を続けて第二のゲートを通過すトることができる
なお、搬送ベルト８１に代えて、ローラ８２に弾力的に押圧するローラを用いても良い。
【００１４】
使用可能な硬貨が１金種である場合は、分離手段は第１分離手段７と第２分離手段８だけで充分であり、第３分離手段９は不要である。そして、その場合は、第二のゲートから落下した硬貨は、一例としてシュートを介して、下方に設けられた金庫に、又は硬貨鑑別機及び硬貨計数器を通過された後、金庫に収納されるようにすることができる。また、第二のゲートを直進されるカードは、この分別装置の用途により、カードの読取り・書き込みなどの処理を行うカード処理機（図示省略）を通過した後、又は処理をせずに直接、カード搬送部（図示せず）を介してカード収納箱（図示せず）に送り込まれるようにすることができる。
【００１５】
しかし、使用可能な硬貨が２種類以上である場合は、図示されているように、第２分離手段８の後方に、さらに第３分離手段９が設けられる。
第３分離手段９は、図１，２に示すように、第２分離手段８の搬送ベルト８１と引渡しローラ８２とのニップ部の直後において、カード移動面の下側に設けられ、カードの両側部分をその下面から支持し、中間部が空いているガイド９１と、カード移動面の上側に搬送方向と直角な軸回りに第２分離手段８によるカード搬送方向と逆方向に回転される分離ローラ９２とを有している。ガイド９１と分離ローラ９２とで第三のゲートが構成されている。
【００１６】
ガイド９１は、図７に示すように、一例として角形Ｙ字形に形成され、二股の部分は第２分離手段８から直進されるカードの両側部分に対応し、かつ、二股の部分の間に形成された硬貨落し穴９３が、第２分離手段８の硬貨落し穴８３と連続するように設置されている。また、分離ローラ９２は、その外周面とガイド９１との間にカード１枚分の厚みよりもやや大きく、かつ、カード１枚と１００円硬貨１枚分の厚みの和よりも小さな間隔をもって設置され、例えば、モータ１０の回転力を分与されて、搬送ベルト８１の搬送方向とは逆方向に回転される。
上記第二のゲートを通過するもののパターンには、図表（ヌ）及び（ル）に示すように、カードのみのパターンと、カードに１００円硬貨が乗ったパターンとがある。前者の場合はいうまでもなく、第三のゲートを通過してさらに直進されるが、後者の場合は、硬貨が分離ローラ９２により停止され、カードのみが第三のゲートを通過される。そして、カードの直進後に、停止されていた硬貨が硬貨落し穴９３から落下される。
【００１７】
硬貨落し穴８３及び９３の下方には、この穴から落下される硬貨を、例えば、シュートを経て、硬貨選別機や硬貨計数器により選別計数した後、最終的に金庫に収納するように、これらの硬貨選別機、硬貨計数器及び金庫をこの順序で設置することができる。
また、第３分離手段９のガイド９１及び分離ローラ９２の後方には、図示されていないカード搬送手段を介してカードに記録されているデータに対する処理を行うカード処理手段（図示省略）を経て、カード返却口に送り出され、又はカード収納箱に回収されるように、これらのカード処理手段及びカード収納箱を設置することができる。
【００１８】
上記構成の分別装置を自動改札機又は運賃自動収受装置において利用客が投入する乗車券や回数券などのカードを処理し、硬貨を収受するために用いる場合は、所定投入口から投入されるカード及び硬貨を搬送機構Ａにより搬送終端部まで搬送し、その終端部において分別機構Ｂにより硬貨又はカードをそれぞれ１枚ずつに分離し、かつ、硬貨はこれを自重落下させて、硬貨鑑別機及び計数器により投入金額を計算して、カードに基づく乗車区間に対応する料金条件が満たされた場合は、その硬貨を金庫に収納し、また、カードは搬送終端部を直進させて、カード搬送手段及びカード処理手段により必要な演算処理をした後、そのカードをカード収納箱に送込んで回収するか、カード返却口から当該客に返却することができる。
【００１９】
また、上記構成の分別装置を遊技装置の台間玉貸機から排出される硬貨又は使用済みカードの回収に用いる場合は、搬送機構Ａにより各台間玉貸機から排出される硬貨又は使用済みカードを搬送ベルト３の上面に投下されて搬送終端部まで搬送し、搬送終端部において上記分別機構Ｂにより硬貨又はカードをそれぞれ１枚ずつに分離し、かつ、硬貨は自重落下させて、必要により硬貨選別機により金種ごとに選別して金庫に収納し、また、カードは搬送終端部を直進させて、必要によりカード搬送路によりカード収納箱に送込んで回収することができる。
【００２０】
【発明の効果】
上述のように、請求項１の本発明によれば、一つの搬送路で硬貨とカードを搬送することができるので、硬貨とカードの両方が用いられる装置本体の搬送機構が簡素になり、装置の小型化を図ることができる。また、一つの搬送路を搬送しても、硬貨とカードが確実に１枚ずつ分別することができる。
【００２１】
また、請求項２の本発明によれば、２種類以上の金種の硬貨が用いられる場合に、金種ごとの硬貨に分別して収受又は回収することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の要部の斜視図。
【図２】同じく平面図。
【図３】同じく側面図。
【図４】搬送状態と分離作用を説明する図表。
【符号の説明】
Ａ搬送機構
１プーリ
２プーリ
３搬送ベルト
４歯付きプーリ
５伝動ベルト
６モータ
Ｂ分別機構
７第１分別手段
７１分離ローラ
７１ａ径小部
７１ｂ径大部
８第２分別手段
８１搬送ベルト
８２引渡しローラ
８３硬貨落し穴
９第３分別手段
９１ガイド
９２分離ローラ
９３硬貨落し穴
ＣＮ硬貨
ＣＤカード[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel sorting device for sorting cards and coins placed on one transport belt.
Such a sorting device is, for example, a regular ticket or a ticket (card) that is valid for a part of the boarding zone at the entrance of an automatic ticket gate at the exit of a railway station or an automatic fare collector installed on a bus. Used to separate cards and coins before charge calculation processing when coins as fare for the remainder of the section are inserted, or card-type inter-bed ball lending machine and cash type on Pachinko Yugijima When a daitama ball lending machine is installed, the used cards and coins received from the players in each daitama ball lending machine are discharged from the daima ball lending machine and transported to the edge of the island. Used to separate cards and coins before collection in card storage box or safe.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, on pachinko amusement islands where cash-type inter-table ball lending machines and card-type inter-table ball lending machines are installed, coins and used cards received from players at each inter-ball ball lending machine When the paper is ejected from the lending machine and transported to the end of the island and collected in a card storage box or a safe, respectively, a coin transport means and a card transport means are provided separately.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, it is not easy to install a plurality of transfer means in a narrow space in the game island, and maintenance is not easy.
On the amusement islands, as well as in automatic ticket gates and automatic fare collection machines, cards and coins are transported to a predetermined position via a single transport path, and cards and coins are separated at the predetermined position. unknown. The reason seems to be that the card and the coins are different in shape and size and cannot be separated reliably. The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances, and the problem is that even when cards and coins are placed on a conveyor belt in a random manner, they are reliably separated one by one and sent out in a predetermined direction. The object is to provide a card and coin sorting device.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, a sorting device according to the present invention of claim 1 includes a transport mechanism transported by a transport belt through one transport path, and a coin and a card transported to the end of the transport path by the transport mechanism. The coins are separated one by one, and the coins are dropped by their own weight, and the cards are provided with a sorting mechanism that sorts the cards by moving them straight, and the sorting mechanism has a width slightly larger than the diameter of the coins at the center. A separation roller composed of a different diameter roller having a large diameter portion corresponding to both ends in the width direction of the card at both ends, and installed on the upper side of the conveyance belt in the vicinity of the end of the conveyance path. It is rotated in the direction opposite to the conveying direction by the belt, and only one coin conveyed through the conveying path is allowed to pass through the small diameter portion, and 1 card is conveyed through the conveying path in the large diameter portion. Pass only A first separation means that regulates the movement of the card and a card traveling surface straight from the end of the transport path by the first separation means, at least on the lower side, slightly larger than the diameter of the coin from the end of the transport path. A transfer roller that is rotated in the same direction as the card traveling direction is provided at a position separated from the distance, and coins discharged from the end of the transport path are weighted between the end of the transport path and the transfer roller. The card that is dropped and straightly advanced from the end of the transport path is characterized by comprising second separating means that sandwiches and advances both ends of the card.
The above invention is suitable when only one type of coin is inserted. With the above-described configuration, the coins conveyed by the conveyance belt on the conveyance path are brought close to the center of the upper surface of the conveyance belt by the large diameter portion of the separation roller of the first separation means. In addition, when two or more coins overlap each other and reach the conveyance end portion of the conveyance belt, the small diameter portion of the lower end portion of the separation roller that is separated one by one and reverses with the rotation of the conveyance belt Passed, discharged from the end of the conveyance path, and dropped by its own weight from between the second separation means and the delivery roller. Further, when two or more cards conveyed by the conveyor belt are overlapped, the cards are separated one by one by the large diameter portion of the separation roller, and passed through the lower end of the separation roller along with the rotation of the conveyor belt, and the conveyance path And is fed into the card transport section by the delivery roller of the second separating means.
[0005]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sorting apparatus according to the present invention, a transport mechanism transported by a transport belt through one transport path, and coins and cards transported to the end of the transport path by the transport mechanism one by one. And a separation mechanism that separates the coin by its own weight and separates the card by moving it straight, and the separation mechanism has a small diameter portion having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the coin at the center. Separating rollers made of different diameter rollers having large diameter portions corresponding to both ends in the width direction of the card at both ends, are installed on the upper side of the conveying belt near the end of the conveying path, and the conveying direction by the conveying belt is It is rotated in the opposite direction so that only one coin conveyed on the conveyor belt passes through the small diameter portion, and only one card conveyed on the conveyor belt passes through the large diameter portion. In A first separating means for controlling the upper and lower sides of the advancing surface of the card straightly advanced from the end of the transport path by the first separating means, at least on the lower side, a distance slightly larger than the diameter of the coin from the end of the transport path. A transfer roller that is rotated in the same direction as the card traveling direction is provided at a separated position, and the coins discharged from the end of the transport path are dropped by their own weight from between the end of the transport path and the transfer roller. And a card that is straightly advanced from the end of the transport path is provided with second separation means for holding the both ends of the card to advance, and a width of the card that is provided behind the transfer roller and advanced by the transfer roller. Both ends in the direction are supported on the lower surface of the guide and the intermediate portion in the width direction is vacant, and provided on the upper side of the guide and rotated in the direction opposite to the card advance direction by the transfer roller. Te, and characterized in that it is composed of a third separating unit comprising a separation roller to free-fall from the portion separating the coin when rode the card from the card is empty the guide.
The above configuration is suitable when there are two types of coins to be inserted, for example, 500 yen and 100 yen. With the above configuration, when the coin has been placed on the card that has passed through the first separation means and the second separation means and is moved straight to the third separation means, the card is directly guided to the guide of the third separation means. Sent. Then, the coin that has entered the card is stopped by the separation roller of the third separation means, and after the card has passed through the guide, it falls by its own weight from the empty portion of the guide.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main part of the present invention, FIG. 2 is also a plan view, FIG. 3 is a side view, and FIG. 4 is a chart for explaining the state of carrying coins and cards and their separating action.
[0007]
The sorting apparatus according to the present invention includes a transport mechanism A and a separation mechanism B.
The transport mechanism A transports coins and cards placed on the upper surface of the transport belt at a predetermined position to the transport end portion. As shown in FIGS. The conveyor belt 3 is formed in a predetermined direction via a conveyor belt 3 composed of an endless belt stretched around 1, 2,... And a transmission belt 5 stretched around the toothed pulleys 4 ₁ , 4 ₂ . The motor 6 is rotated in the left direction (1, 2).
The conveyance belt 3 is provided in one conveyance path common to coins and cards, and a well-known guide (not shown) for enabling stable conveyance of coins and cards is provided on both sides of the conveyance path. It is. Further, the width of the transport belt 3 is slightly larger than the width of the card CD transported thereby. Then, on the upper surface of the conveyor belt 3, coins and cards can be placed or dropped at the same time or different times at any position except for the conveyance end portion.
[0008]
The separation mechanism B separates the coins and cards conveyed by the conveyance belt 3 one by one at the conveyance end portion of the conveyance belt 1 and the position behind the conveyance belt 1, and the coins drop this weight by itself, For going straight.
As illustrated, the separation mechanism B includes a first separation unit 7, a second separation unit 8, a first separation unit 8 and a second separation unit 8 provided relatively close to each other on the end of the conveyance path and the conveyance direction extension by the conveyance belt 3. 3 separation means 9.
[0009]
The first separating means 7 separates the coins or cards conveyed by the conveying belt 3 in the state where two or more coins or cards have overlapped, and separates them one by one and continuously conveys them backward. belongs to.
The first separation means 7 has a separation roller 71 made of different diameter rollers as shown in FIGS. That is, the separation roller 71 has a small-diameter portion 71a having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the coin CN conveyed in the conveyance path at the central portion, and both ends of the card CD conveyed along the conveyance path. And a corresponding large diameter portion 71b.
Then, the separation roller 71 is fixed to its axis the axis of the toothed pulley 4 ₂ as a common rotation axis, at a position spaced a predetermined distance as described later upwardly from the upper surface of the conveyor belt 3 at the transfer terminal end portion immediately before Is provided. Accordingly, the separation roller 71 is rotated in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction by the conveyance belt 3.
Further, between the lower end portion of the small-diameter portion 71a of the separation roller 71 and the upper surface of the conveyor belt 3, for example, the thickness is larger than that of one 100-yen coin (min 1.4 to max 1.7 mm) and is 100 yen. A gap smaller than the thickness of two coins is formed, and the thickness of one card (min 0.68 to max 0.8 mm) is provided between the lower end portion of the large diameter portion 71b of the separation roller 71 and the conveying belt surface. A gap smaller than the thickness of two cards is formed, and the first gate is constituted by these gaps.
[0010]
The gap between the upper surface of the conveyance belt 3 and the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion of the separation roller 71 is set according to the type of coins to be conveyed and the type of cards.
There are several types of coin denominations that can be used, such as 500 yen, 100 yen, and 10 yen. In any case, the gap in the small diameter portion 71a is larger than the thickness of one 500 yen coin (CN1) (min1.7 to max1.9mm), and the thickness of two 100 yen coins (CN2) (min2). Smaller than .8 to max3.4mm).
[0011]
Since the separation roller 71 is provided so as to be rotated in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction by the conveyance belt 3 under the above gap condition, first, the coins conveyed by the conveyance belt 3 toward the end of the conveyance path are When it is biased to the left or right side in the direction of travel, a force in the transport direction is applied from the conveyor belt 3 to the belt center side portion of the coin, and a reverse direction force is applied from the separation roller 71 to the shoulder portion of the coin. In order to receive it, the coin is drawn to the center side of the conveyor belt. Accordingly, all the coins to be conveyed try to pass through the gate portion between the small diameter portion 71a of the separation roller and the belt.
Next, when two or more coins to be passed overlap, only the lowermost one can pass through the gate due to the gap condition in the small-diameter portion 71a, and the coins overlapping on the upper side Is blocked from passing through the gate. Then, when the lowermost coin passes, the one coin that comes into contact with the upper surface of the belt can now pass.
The double feed pattern when two coins are going to enter the first gate and the separation action of the first gate at that time are as shown in (a) to (d) of Figure 1. .
[0012]
In addition, the double feed pattern in the case where the coin and the card are to be entered and the separation action of the first gate at that time are as shown in (e) to (h) of FIG.
That is, when the card is overlapped on the coin CN and is about to enter between the separation roller 71 and the conveyor belt 3, the coin CN is added from the conveyor belt 3 as shown in the charts (e) and (g). Passing through the gate by the transport force applied, only the separation roller comes into contact with the card CD and a reverse force is applied, so that the card CD is prevented from passing.
In addition, when one coin CN is superimposed on the card CD and an attempt is made to enter between the separation roller 71 and the transport belt 3, the card is transported as shown in FIG. Although the conveying force is applied from the belt 3, the reverse force applied from the separation roller 71 is larger than the conveying force indirectly applied to the coin via the card, so that the coin is prevented from passing through the gate. .
Furthermore, if two or more cards CD are transported on the transport path, as shown in Chart 1 (R), only the bottom one card is gated due to the gap condition in the large diameter portion 71b. And the upper card is blocked from passing. Then, after the lower card has passed, one card that has come into contact with the upper surface of the conveyor belt 3 can pass.
As described above, in the first separating means 7, coins or cards are separated one by one and sent out to the end of the conveyance path.
[0013]
On the extension of the end of the transport path, the coin and the card sent out from the transport belt 3 are dropped by gravity using the difference between the diameter of the coin and the length of the card, and the card advances straight as it is. Thereby, the 2nd separation means 8 which isolate | separates a coin and a card | curd is provided.
The second separating means 8 has a conveying belt 81 provided on the upper side of the conveying surface and a delivery roller 82 provided rotatably below the conveying surface with the same width as the conveying belt 81. The conveyance belt 81 and the delivery roller 82 constitute a second gate. A coin dropping hole 83 is formed between the end of the conveyance path and the delivery roller 82. Card guides 84 are provided on both sides of the coin drop hole 83. The pulley 81a that supports the rear portion of the conveyor belt 81 is elastically pressed toward the delivery roller 82 by a torsion coil spring (not shown).
As a result, the coins CN separated one by one by the first separating means 7 and discharged from the end of the conveying path by the conveying belt 3 fall by their own weight from the coin dropping hole 83 and are prevented from passing through the second gate. . Further, the card CD separated one by one by the first separating means 7 and straightly advanced from the end of the transport path by the transport belt 3 is sandwiched between the belt 81 and the transfer roller 82 and continues to travel straight as it is. A roller that elastically presses the roller 82 may be used in place of the conveyor belt 81.
[0014]
When the usable coin is one denomination, only the first separating means 7 and the second separating means 8 are sufficient as the separating means, and the third separating means 9 is unnecessary. In that case, the coins dropped from the second gate are stored in the safe after passing through the chute, as an example, in the safe provided below, or through the coin discriminator and the coin counter. Can be. Also, the card that goes straight through the second gate, depending on the use of this sorting device, passes through a card processing machine (not shown) that performs processing such as reading and writing of the card, or directly without processing. It can be sent to a card storage box (not shown) via a card transport unit (not shown).
[0015]
However, when there are two or more types of coins that can be used, a third separation means 9 is further provided behind the second separation means 8 as shown.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the third separating means 9 is provided on the lower side of the card moving surface immediately after the nip portion between the conveying belt 81 and the delivery roller 82 of the second separating means 8, and is provided on both sides of the card. A guide 91 that supports a portion from its lower surface and has an empty middle portion, and a separation roller that is rotated above the card moving surface in a direction opposite to the card conveying direction by the second separating means 8 about an axis perpendicular to the conveying direction. 92. The guide 91 and the separation roller 92 constitute a third gate.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 7, the guide 91 is formed in a square Y-shape as an example, and the forked portion corresponds to both sides of the card that goes straight from the second separating means 8 and is formed between the forked portions. The formed coin drop hole 93 is installed so as to be continuous with the coin drop hole 83 of the second separating means 8. Further, the separation roller 92 is installed between the outer peripheral surface and the guide 91 with a space slightly larger than the thickness of one card and smaller than the sum of the thickness of one card and one 100-yen coin. For example, the rotational force of the motor 10 is distributed and the conveying belt 81 is rotated in the direction opposite to the conveying direction.
As shown in the charts (nu) and (le), there are patterns of only cards and patterns of 100-yen coins on the cards. Needless to say, in the former case, the coin passes further through the third gate, but in the latter case, the coin is stopped by the separation roller 92 and only the card is passed through the third gate. Then, after the card goes straight, the stopped coin is dropped and dropped from the hole 93.
[0017]
Below the coin drop holes 83 and 93, the coins dropped from these holes are sorted and counted by, for example, a chute, a coin sorter or a coin counter, and finally stored in a safe. A coin sorter, coin counter and safe can be installed in this order.
Further, behind the guide 91 and the separation roller 92 of the third separation means 9, via a card processing means (not shown) for processing data recorded on the card via a card conveyance means (not shown), These card processing means and the card storage box can be installed so as to be sent out to the card return port or collected in the card storage box.
[0018]
When the sorting device having the above configuration is used to process a card such as a ticket or a coupon issued by a user in an automatic ticket gate or an automatic fare collection device, and used to collect coins, a card inserted from a predetermined slot And the coins are transported to the transport terminal by the transport mechanism A, and the coins or cards are separated one by one by the sorting mechanism B at the terminal, and the coins are dropped by their own weight, and the coin discriminator and the counter When the charge amount is calculated by the container and the fare condition corresponding to the boarding section based on the card is satisfied, the coin is stored in the safe, and the card advances straight through the transfer terminal, and the card transfer means and After performing necessary arithmetic processing by the card processing means, the card can be sent to the card storage box for recovery or returned to the customer from the card return slot.
[0019]
In addition, when the sorting device having the above-described configuration is used for collecting coins or used cards that are discharged from the interbank ball lending machine of the gaming apparatus, the coins or used coins that are discharged from each interpolated ball lending machine by the transport mechanism A The card is dropped onto the upper surface of the transport belt 3 and transported to the transport end, where the coins or cards are separated one by one by the sorting mechanism B at the transport end, and the coin is dropped by its own weight, if necessary A coin sorter sorts each denomination and stores it in a safe. Further, the card can be collected by moving the terminal end of the transfer straight and, if necessary, sent to a card storage box through a card transfer path.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the coin and the card can be transported in one transport path, the transport mechanism of the device main body in which both the coin and the card are used is simplified, and the device Can be miniaturized. Moreover, even if it conveys one conveyance path, a coin and a card can be sorted out one by one reliably.
[0021]
Further, according to the present invention of claim 2, when coins of two or more types of denominations are used, they can be collected or collected separately for each denomination.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is also a plan view.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the same.
FIG. 4 is a chart for explaining a conveyance state and a separating action.
[Explanation of symbols]
A Conveying mechanism 1 Pulley 2 Pulley 3 Conveying belt 4 Toothed pulley 5 Transmission belt 6 Motor B Separating mechanism 7 First separating means 71 Separating roller 71a Small diameter portion 71b Large diameter portion 8 Second separating means 81 Conveying belt 82 Delivery roller 83 Coin drop hole 9 Third sorting means 91 Guide 92 Separating roller 93 Coin drop hole CN Coin CD card

Claims

A transport mechanism transported by a transport belt through one transport path, and a coin and a card transported to the end of the transport path by the transport mechanism are separated one by one, and the coins drop by their own weight. The card is equipped with a sorting mechanism that sorts the card by moving it straight.
The separation mechanism includes a separation roller including a small diameter portion having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the coin in the center and a different diameter roller having large diameter portions corresponding to both ends in the width direction of the card on both sides. Near the end of the conveyor belt and on the upper side of the conveyor belt, and the separation roller is rotated in a direction opposite to the conveyor direction of the conveyor belt. The first separation means for restricting only one sheet to pass, and passing only one card conveyed through the conveyance path in the large-diameter portion, and straight traveling from the end of the conveyance path by the first separation means The card is rotated in the same direction as the card traveling direction at a position slightly above the diameter of the coin from the end of the transport path at least above and below the traveling surface of the card. The coin discharged from the end of the transport path is dropped by its own weight from between the end of the transport path and the transfer roller, and is moved straight from the end of the transport path. The card is composed of a second separating means that moves forward while holding both ends of the card.

A transport mechanism transported by a transport belt through one transport path, and a coin and a card transported to the end of the transport path by the transport mechanism are separated one by one, and the coins drop by their own weight. The card is equipped with a sorting mechanism that sorts the card by moving it straight.
The separation mechanism transports the separation roller composed of a different diameter roller having a small diameter portion having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the coin at the center portion and a large diameter portion corresponding to both end portions in the width direction of the card at both ends. It is installed on the upper side of the conveying belt near the end of the road, and is rotated in the direction opposite to the conveying direction by the conveying belt, and only one coin conveyed on the conveying belt is passed through the small diameter portion. In the large diameter portion, the first separating means for restricting the passage of only one card conveyed on the conveying belt in the large diameter portion, and the straight line from the end of the conveying path by the first separating means The card is rotated in the same direction as the card traveling direction at a position slightly above the diameter of the coin from the end of the transport path at least above and below the traveling surface of the card. The coin discharged from the end of the transport path is dropped by its own weight from between the end of the transport path and the transfer roller, and is moved straight from the end of the transport path. The card is provided with a second separating means for holding the both ends of the card to advance and a rear side of the transfer roller, and supports both ends in the width direction of the card advanced by the transfer roller on the lower surface thereof. An empty guide, and a guide provided on the upper side of the guide and rotated in the direction opposite to the advance direction of the card by the transfer roller to separate the coin when it has entered the card from the card A card and coin sorting device, characterized in that the card and the coin are separated from each other by a third separating means comprising a separating roller for dropping its weight from an empty portion.