JP4137538B2 - Coin handling machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coin processing machine provided with a residual coin detection device that detects the presence or absence of residual coins on a placement surface.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a coin processor used in a financial institution such as a bank, there is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-58515. In this coin processing machine, one metal detection sensor that detects coins is provided over substantially the entire area of the coin transport section of the transport belt, and this one metal detection sensor detects the transport state of the coins, and the coin transport section The conveyor belt is stopped on condition that there is no residual coin.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, like what was indicated by the above-mentioned gazette, when detecting the remaining coins on the conveyor belt with a metal detection sensor, for example, when a small number of coins such as one 1-yen coin remains, The change in the output of the metal detection sensor is weak. On the other hand, since the output of metal detection sensors may fluctuate due to temperature change, secular change, etc., in order to ensure the detection of residual coins even for the weak output changes as described above. The sensor output in a state where it is guaranteed that no coin remains is required to be determined as an initial value.
[0004]
However, the sensor output in this state cannot be determined as the initial value because the presence or absence of coins on the conveyor belt is not guaranteed when the power is turned on or after an error recovery process involving an operator such as jam processing. . For this reason, conventionally, by driving the conveyor belt for a predetermined time set in advance, it is considered that no coin remains, and the sensor output in this state is determined as an initial value.
[0005]
However, even if the conveyor belt is driven for a predetermined time set in advance, coins may not be conveyed due to catching or the like and may remain on the conveyor belt. In such a state, the initial value of the sensor output is determined as described above. Since the initial value is not appropriate, there has been a problem that the subsequent detection of the remaining coins is uncertain.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide the coin processing machine provided with the residual coin detection apparatus which can detect a residual coin reliably.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, a coin processing machine according to claim 1 of the present invention is provided with a residual coin detection device that detects the presence or absence of residual coins on a mounting surface, and the residual coin detection device. Has a plurality of metal detection sensors each having an oscillating coil and a residual coin presence / absence determining means for determining the presence or absence of residual coins by comparing the outputs of these metal detection sensors.Of all the metal detection sensors constituting the residual coin detection device, the distance from the placement surface of the oscillation coil of one metal detection sensor is the placement surface of the oscillation coils of all the remaining metal detection sensors. It is set long for the distance fromIt is characterized by that.
[0008]
  Thus, the residual coin presence / absence determining means determines the presence or absence of residual coins by comparing the outputs of a plurality of metal detection sensors each having an oscillation coil. Similarly, the presence or absence of residual coins is determined by comparing the outputs of a plurality of received metal detection sensors, and the influence of temperature change, secular change, etc. can be offset between the metal detection sensors. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the sensor output as an initial value in a state in which it is guaranteed that no coins remain, and as a result, the sensor output when coins actually remain is used as the initial value. As a result, the problem that the subsequent detection of the remaining coins becomes uncertain does not occur.
  In addition, since the distance from the placement surface of the oscillation coil of one metal detection sensor is set longer than the distance from the placement surface of the oscillation coil of all the remaining metal detection sensors, The output of one metal detection sensor described above is used as a reference for a state in which no coin is detected, and the presence or absence of residual coins is determined by comparing the outputs of all the remaining metal detection sensors.
[0009]
  The coin processor according to claim 2 of the present invention relates to the coin processor according to claim 1.The mounting surface is configured by the upper surface of the conveyor belt, and drives the conveyor belt when the residual coin presence / absence determining means determines the presence or absence of residual coins.It is characterized by that.
[0010]
  in this way,Since the conveyor belt is driven when the presence / absence of residual coins is determined by the residual coin presence / absence determining means, coins remain in the same situation for each metal detection sensor, and the output of these metal detection sensors is once the same. Even if it becomes, it will change the situation of the coin with respect to each of each metal detection sensor by driving a conveyance belt, and it will change the output of each metal detection sensor, and can detect a residual coin.
[0011]
  The coin processor according to claim 3 of the present invention isIn a coin processing machine provided with a residual coin detection device that detects the presence or absence of residual coins on a placement surface, the residual coin detection device includes a plurality of metal detection sensors each having an oscillation coil, and outputs of these metal detection sensors And a residual coin presence / absence determining means for determining the presence / absence of residual coins by comparing Drive the conveyor belt whenIt is characterized by that.
[0012]
  in this way,The residual coin presence / absence determining means determines the presence / absence of residual coins by comparing the outputs of a plurality of metal detection sensors each having an oscillation coil. Thus, the presence or absence of residual coins is determined by comparing the outputs of the metal detection sensors, and the effects of temperature change and secular change can be offset between the metal detection sensors. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the sensor output as an initial value in a state in which it is guaranteed that no coins remain, and as a result, the sensor output when coins actually remain is used as the initial value. As a result, the problem that the subsequent detection of the remaining coins becomes uncertain does not occur.
  Further, since the conveyor belt is driven when the residual coin presence / absence determining means determines the presence / absence of residual coins, coins remain in the same situation for each of the metal detection sensors. Even if the situation may be the same, driving the conveyor belt will change the status of the coins for each metal detection sensor and vary the output of each metal detection sensor to detect residual coins. it can.
[0013]
  The coin processing machine according to claim 4 of the present invention is the claim3With respect to what is described, the oscillation coils of all the metal detection sensors constituting the residual coin detection device have the same distance to the placement surface.
[0014]
As described above, since the oscillation coils of all the metal detection sensors constituting the residual coin detection device have the same distance to the placement surface, the minimum number of metal detection sensors necessary for coin detection should be provided. Thus, the metal detection sensor can be easily arranged and wired.
[0015]
  The coin processor according to claim 5 of the present invention relates to the coin processor according to any one of claims 1 to 4.Each of the plurality of metal detection sensors is characterized in that each oscillation coil is driven at the same oscillation frequency.
[0016]
  in this way,Since the oscillation coils of the plurality of metal detection sensors are driven at the same oscillation frequency, it is easy to compare the outputs of these metal detection sensors in the residual coin presence / absence determination means.
[0017]
The coin processing machine according to claim 6 of the present invention is the one according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the oscillation coil has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the smallest diameter coin to be handled, A plurality of oscillating coils are arranged at intervals at which the coins can be detected even if the coin with the minimum diameter is located in the center between adjacent ones.
[0018]
As a result, a coin in the range of the oscillation coil with the outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the coin with the smallest diameter to be handled is always detected, and even if the coin with the minimum diameter is located in the center between the plurality of oscillation coils, Coins are detected.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A coin processor according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The arrow X direction in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicates the operator side that performs the operation, that is, the front side (front side). In the following, “front” is the operator side, “rear” is the opposite side of the operator, and left and right are the left and right when viewed from the operator side.
[0020]
The coin processing machine 10 according to the first embodiment performs various processes related to coins such as coin deposit, storage, collection and withdrawal, and as shown in FIG. A coin insertion unit 30, a feeding conveyance unit 31 for separating and feeding the coins inserted into the coin insertion unit 30 one by one, and identifying the true / false and denomination of the coins provided in the feeding conveyance unit 31 A coin identifying unit 32 is provided.
[0021]
The coin insertion unit 30 has a rotating disk 34 that receives the inserted coins and rotates horizontally.
[0022]
The feeding / conveying unit 31 has a coin identifying passage 35 on the left side of the rotary disk 34, and the coin identifying passage 35 is formed between the wall portions 35a and 35a that are vertically provided. Further, the feeding and conveying unit 31 has a gap regulating member 37 that separates coins fed to the coin identification passage 35 side by the centrifugal force of the rotating disk 34 one by one, and further above the coin identification passage 35. The conveyor belt 38 conveys the coins fed out from the gap forming member 37 along the coin identification passage 35 while pressing the coins from above.
[0023]
The coin identifying unit 32 is provided at an intermediate position in the conveying direction of the coin identifying passage 35, and determines the authenticity and denomination of the coin passing through the coin identifying passage 35 as described above.
[0024]
At the end of the coin discriminating passage 35 opposite to the rotating disk 34, a reject / temporary storage sorting gate 40 for sorting coins according to the discrimination result of the coin discriminating unit 32 is provided. The reject / temporary storage sorting gate 40 guides the coins identified as the fake coins including the coins that cannot be discriminated by the coin discriminating unit 32 from the coin discriminating path 35 to the coin reject port 19 at the front of the machine body 12. Are identified from the coin identification passage 35 to the rear temporary storage section 42.
[0025]
The temporary storage unit 42 temporarily stores true coins of the coins identified by the coin identification unit 32 in a denomination mixed state, and has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the machine body. The temporary storage part 42 includes a pair of wall parts 43 and 43 arranged along the front-rear direction and the vertical direction and at a predetermined interval in the left-right direction, and a part arranged between the wall parts 43 and 43. The conveyor type conveyor belt 44 shown in FIG. 2 that forms the bottom of the temporary storage section 42 and the deposit guide wall section 45 that forms the front of the temporary storage section 42 are included.
[0026]
The deposit guide wall 45 is inclined so as to be located on the lower side toward the rear side, and the coins distributed rearward by the reject / temporary storage sorting gate 40 are guided onto the transport belt 44 of the temporary storage unit 42. To do.
[0027]
The conveyor belt 44 is inclined so that the placement surface 200 on the upper surface on which coins are placed is located on the upper side toward the rear side, and the placement surface 200 is moved rearward and upward by rotating. The coins inserted through the deposit guide wall 45 and placed on the placement surface 200 are rotated and conveyed rearward and upward.
[0028]
Here, the conveyance belt 44 is slightly bent by the guide roller 201 at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction, and the first of the placement surface 200 in front of the guide roller 201, that is, the upper portion on the deposit guide wall 45 side. The placement surface portion 202 is nearly horizontal, and the second placement surface portion 203 at the upper rear side of the guide roller 201 is inclined at a larger angle than the first placement surface portion 202.
[0029]
Further, the temporary storage unit 42 has a gap regulating roller 47 at an upper position on the rear side of the conveyor belt 44. The gap regulating roller 47 breaks up the accumulated coins conveyed rearward by the conveying belt 44 by rotating so that the lower part moves forward and separates them one by one and feeds them backward. Here, the gap regulating roller 47 and the conveyor belt 44 are driven via a plurality of gears 49 by a common motor 48 disposed in a space below the rear portion formed by the inclination of the conveyor belt 44.
[0030]
Further, the temporary storage unit 42 has a gate stopper 51 on the rear side of the gap regulating roller 47 of the transport belt 44. When the gate stopper 51 is turned on, the stopper member 52 comes close to the conveyor belt 44 and enters a closed state that restricts the backward movement of the coins on the conveyor belt 44 beyond the stopper member 52. Further, when the gate stopper 51 is turned off, the stopper member 52 at the tip is separated from the transport belt 44 and is in an open state in which the coin on the transport belt 44 is allowed to move backward from the stopper member 52.
[0031]
Here, in a state where the gate stopper 51 is turned on, the coins are gradually accumulated on the gap regulating roller 47 side by the rotating conveying belt 44, and thereafter, when the gate stopper 51 is turned off, the accumulated coins are once accumulated. May cause jamming or the like in the gap regulating roller 47. For this reason, the temporary storage unit 42 has a belt hitting mechanism 54 that hits the transport belt 44 from below.
[0032]
The belt hitting mechanism 54 is disposed in front of the gap regulating roller 47 of the transport belt 44, and a belt hitting pusher 55 that hits the upper side portion 212 of the transport belt 44 from below, and the belt hitting pusher 55 reciprocating up and down. And a belt hitting solenoid (belt hitting drive unit) 56 to be moved. The belt hitting pusher 56 has a flat plate portion 57 parallel to the conveying belt 44 on the side where the conveying belt 44 is hit. The belt hitting solenoid 56 moves the flat plate portion 57 in a direction perpendicular to the flat plate portion 57 with a short stroke. To reciprocate.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 1, the coins fed rearward from the conveyor belt 44 of the temporary reservoir 42 beyond the gate stopper 51 are further conveyed rearward, and then moved to the right. A conveyance unit 59 that changes the direction of conveyance is provided. The transport portion 59 has a coin passage 60 that extends rearward on the rear side and on the left side of the machine body, and further extends to the right. The coin passage 60 is a wall portion that stands vertically. It is formed between 60a and 60a.
[0034]
Further, the conveying unit 59 is a bent-shaped conveying belt that conveys the coins separated and fed from the temporary storage unit 42 one by one to the upper side of the coin channel 60 along the coin channel 60 while pressing from above. 61.
[0035]
A coin discriminating unit 63 that discriminates the denomination of the passing coin is provided near the temporary storage unit 42 at a portion along the front and rear of the coin passage 60 of the transport unit 59.
[0036]
A storage distribution gate 65 that sorts coins according to the determination result of the coin determination unit 63 or the like is provided behind the coin determination unit 63 at a portion along the front and rear of the coin passage 60 of the transport unit 59. The storage sorting gate 65 is in a state in which coins are passed through the storage sorting gate 65 as they are in the coin passage 60 and guided to a denomination sorting portion 68 described later, and a coin is dropped from the coin passage 60. The coins that are selectively switched to one side and dropped from the coin passage 60 are fed into the return conveyance path 67 from a discharge port 83 described later.
[0037]
The denomination distribution unit 68 distributes coins fed out from the temporary storage unit 42 by denomination. The denomination distribution unit 68 includes a coin classification passage 70 that is continuous with the coin passage 60 of the conveyance unit 59, and a conveyance belt 71 that conveys the coins while pressing the coins from above along the coin classification passage 70. The coin classification passage 70 is provided between the walls 70a and 70a provided vertically. In the coin classification passage 70, the classification holes 72A to 72F for classifying and dropping the coins to be conveyed are arranged in order from the smallest coin diameter, and pass immediately before each of the classification holes 72A to 72F. A coin detection sensor 73 for detecting a coin to be correspondingly disposed.
[0038]
Below each of the classification holes 72A to 72F, there are provided money-type storing and feeding portions 76A to 76F that can store the coins sorted by them and can feed the stored coins to the dispensing port 75. It has been. Specifically, a storage and feeding portion 76A for storing 1-yen coins is provided below the classification hole 72A, and a storage and feeding portion 76B for storing 50-yen coins is provided below the classification hole 72B. A storage and feeding portion 76C for storing 5-yen coins on the side, a storage and feeding portion 76D for storing 100-yen coins below the classification hole 72D, and a storage for storing 10-yen coins on the lower side of the classification hole 72E. The feeding portion 76E is provided with a storing and feeding portion 76F for storing 500 yen coins below the classification hole 72F.
[0039]
Between the storage and feeding sections 76A to 76F of these denominations and the temporary storage section 42, the storage and feeding sections 76A to 76F have substantially the same configuration, and are fed out from the temporary storage section 42 and are stored in the storage sorting gate 65 at the right. A return conveyance path 67 is provided that can return the coins distributed to the direction to a withdrawal port 75 described later. Here, the storage and distribution gate 65 and the return transport path 67 constitute a coin return unit 77 that returns the coins fed from the temporary storage unit 42 to the withdrawal port 75.
[0040]
Each of the storage and feeding sections 76A to 76F and the return transport path 67 for each type of money includes a pair of wall sections 80 and 80 that are disposed along the front-rear direction and the vertical direction and at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction. The upper surface portion disposed between the wall portions 80 and 80 has a conveyor belt 81 that forms a placement surface 204 on which coins are placed.
[0041]
In each of the storing and feeding sections 76A to 76F and the return transport path 67 of each denomination, the transport belt 81 is inclined so as to be positioned on the upper side toward the front side, and is stored by moving the mounting surface 204 forward. The coins are transported forward and upward of the machine body 12.
[0042]
Further, the denomination storage and feeding sections 76 </ b> A to 76 </ b> F and the return conveyance path 67 each have a gap regulating roller 85 at an upper position on the front side of the conveyance belt 81. The gap regulating roller 85 breaks up and separates the accumulated coins conveyed forward by the conveyor belt 81 by rotating so that the lower part moves rearward.
[0043]
Further, the denomination storage and feeding sections 76 </ b> A to 76 </ b> F and the return conveyance path 67 each have a gate stopper 91 in front of the gap regulating roller 85 of the conveyance belt 81. When the gate stopper 91 is turned on, the stopper member 92 at the tip protrudes to enter a closed state that restricts the forward movement of the coin beyond the stopper member 92. When the gate stopper 91 is turned off, the stopper member 92 at the tip retracts. Thus, the coin is opened to allow the coin to move forward from the stopper member 92.
[0044]
Conveyor-type forward / reverse rotation is possible on the lower side of all front portions of the storage and feeding sections 76A to 76F and the return conveyance path 67 according to denominations, so that coins fed from these can be guided to the temporary storage section 42 and the coin collective safe 23. A coin transport path 101 having a proper transport belt 100 is provided. The coins transported to the temporary storage unit 42 side in the coin transport path 101 are temporarily stored in the temporary storage section 42 from the coin transport path outlet 102 formed at an intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the wall 43 of the temporary storage section 42 shown in FIG. Will be released.
[0045]
In addition, coins fed out from the money storage and feeding sections 76A to 76F and the return transport path 67 can be discharged to the outside of the front part of the money storage and feeding sections 76A to 76F and the return transport path 67. A withdrawal side gate (not shown) for selectively guiding one of the withdrawal port 75 and the coin transport path 101 is provided.
[0046]
On the opposite side to the temporary storage section 42 of the coin transport path 101, a safe guide section 106 that receives coins from the coin transport path 101 and guides them to the coin collective safe 23 is provided. On the side, a coin collective safe 23 is provided in front of the coin transport path 101.
[0047]
And in 1st Embodiment, the residual coin detection which detects the presence or absence of a residual coin only with respect to the 1st mounting surface part 202 which is a part of the mounting surface 200 of the conveyance belt 44 of the temporary storage part 42. FIG. A device 206 is provided.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 3, the residual coin detection device 206 includes a plurality of specifically 15 metal detection sensors 209 each having an oscillation coil 207 and a coil oscillator 208 that oscillates the oscillation coil 207, and the metal detection sensors 209. It has a residual coin presence / absence determination unit (residual coin presence / absence determination means) 210 that determines the presence / absence of residual coins on the first placement surface unit 202 by comparing outputs.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 4, the oscillating coil 207 has an annularly wound shape, and all the coils provided for the residual coin detecting device 206 are the same. The oscillation coil 207 has an outer diameter smaller than the minimum diameter coin to be handled, specifically, the outer diameter of a one-yen coin.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 2, one oscillation coil 207 a among the plurality of oscillation coils 207 is below the upper side portion 212 that constitutes the first placement surface portion 202 of the conveyance belt 44 of the temporary storage portion 42. It is formed on the lower printed circuit board 214 disposed on the upper side of the lower side portion 213 of the conveyor belt 44 so as to be parallel to the first placement surface portion 202. Note that the oscillation coil 207a provided on the lower printed circuit board 214 is far from the first placement surface portion 202. For this reason, it is substantially unaffected by the coin on the 1st mounting surface part 202 (namely, an output does not change substantially with the presence or absence of the coin on the 1st mounting surface part 202), and the coin of another part The reference is not affected (hereinafter, the oscillation coil 207a, the coil oscillator 208a connected one-to-one with the oscillation coil 207a, and the metal detection sensor 209a including these are referred to as a reference side).
[0051]
On the other hand, the remaining oscillating coils 207b among the plurality of oscillating coils 207 are all disposed close to the lower side of the upper side portion 212 constituting the first placement surface portion 202 of the conveying belt 44 of the temporary storage portion. The upper printed circuit board 216 is formed so as to be parallel to the first placement surface portion 202. Note that all the oscillation coils 207b provided on the upper printed circuit board 216 are closer to the reference side than the first mounting surface portion 202. For this reason, the output changes depending on the presence / absence of coins on the first placement surface portion 202, and the coins are substantially detected (hereinafter referred to as these oscillation coils 207b, coil oscillators connected to them one-on-one, respectively). 208b and the metal detection sensor 209b composed of these are referred to as a detection side).
[0052]
As a result, among the oscillation coils 207 of all the metal detection sensors 209 constituting the residual coin detection device 206, the distance from the first placement surface portion 202 of the oscillation coil 207a of one reference side metal detection sensor 209a is as follows. The length of the remaining detection-side metal detection sensors 209b is set longer than the distance from the first placement surface portion 202 of the oscillation coil 207b.
[0053]
Here, all the oscillation coils 207b on the detection side provided on the upper printed circuit board 216 are parallel and equidistant to the first placement surface portion 202 of the conveyor belt 44. As shown in FIG. The oscillating coil 207b is provided so as to entirely overlap the first placement surface portion 202 as a whole. Further, all the oscillation coils 207b on the detection side can detect the coins even when a coin with the minimum diameter is located at the center between the adjacent oscillation coils 207b on the first placement surface portion 202 of the transport belt 44. They are arranged at intervals. Furthermore, all the oscillation coils 207b on the detection side can detect this coin with any one of the oscillation coils 207b even if a coin with the minimum diameter is located on the first placement surface 202 at a position in contact with the wall 43. It is arranged away from the wall 43 within the range of distance.
[0054]
Specifically, when one coin with the minimum diameter exists on the first placement surface portion 202 between the wall portions 43 and 43, one of the oscillation coils 207b on the detection side is always the one with the minimum diameter. The interval between the oscillation coils 207b on the detection side and the distance from the wall 43 are set so that a predetermined ratio, specifically 50% or more, is covered with coins.
[0055]
A coil oscillator 208 shown in FIG. 3 that oscillates one to one connected to the oscillation coil 207 drives the oscillation coil 207 at the same synchronized oscillation frequency in all the constituents of the same residual coin detection device 206. It is like that.
[0056]
The residual coin presence / absence determination unit 210 has the same number of detectors 218 as the detection-side oscillation coils 207b into which the outputs of the coil oscillators 208b connected to the detection-side oscillation coils 207b are introduced one-on-one. In all detectors 218, the output of the coil oscillator 208a connected to the reference-side oscillation coil 207a is introduced.
[0057]
Each detector 218 obtains a differential frequency between the oscillation frequency that is the output of the detection-side coil oscillator 208b and the oscillation frequency that is the output of the reference-side coil oscillator 208a, and outputs this. Here, if the coin on the first mounting surface portion 202 is not close to the oscillation coil 207b on the detection side and the oscillation frequency does not change in the oscillation coil 207b, the difference frequency is substantially zero, If a coin on the first placement surface portion 202 comes close to the oscillation coil 207b and the oscillation frequency changes in the oscillation coil 207b due to this coin, the difference frequency increases.
[0058]
Further, the residual coin presence / absence determination unit 210 has the same number of fV converters 219 as the detectors 218 into which the outputs of the detectors 218 are introduced on a one-to-one basis, and each fV converter 219 is introduced. The obtained difference frequency is converted into a voltage value and output. That is, if the oscillation frequency of the oscillation coil 207b on the detection side is changed by the coins close to each other, the difference frequency is increased, so that the fV converter 219 outputs a high voltage value. On the other hand, if there is no adjacent coin and there is no fluctuation in the transmission frequency in the oscillation coil 207b on the detection side, the difference frequency is substantially zero, so the fV converter 219 outputs a low voltage value.
[0059]
Furthermore, the residual coin presence / absence determination unit 210 has the same number of comparators 220 as the fV converters 219 in which the outputs of the respective fV converters 219 are introduced on a one-to-one basis. The value is binarized and output. That is, when a high voltage value is output from the fV converter 219, the comparator 220 outputs an ON signal indicating the presence of residual coins, and when a low voltage value is output from the fV converter 219, the comparator 220 indicates no residual coins. Outputs an off signal. As a result, the binarized data output from the comparator 220 indicates the presence or absence of coins.
[0060]
And the output of each comparator 220 is introduced into the control part 221 which controls the whole coin processor 10. In the control unit 221, when all the outputs of the comparators 220 indicate that there is no coin, it is determined that there is no remaining coins, and when the output of at least one of the comparators 220 indicates that there is a coin, It is determined that there are residual coins.
[0061]
As described above, the residual coin presence / absence determination unit 210 uses the output of one reference-side metal detection sensor 209a as a reference, and individually compares the outputs of all the remaining detection-side metal detection sensors 209b with respect to this reference. Then, it is determined whether or not coins are detected by the metal detection sensor 209b on the detection side, and the presence or absence of residual coins is determined.
[0062]
In the first embodiment, a residual coin detection device that detects the presence or absence of residual coins only on the first placement surface portion 202 that is a part of the placement surface 200 of the conveyor belt 44 of the temporary storage portion 42. Since the metal detection sensor 209 206 is provided, the control unit 221 drives the transport belt 44 constituting the placement surface 200 when detecting the presence or absence of residual coins. In addition, the control unit 221 taps the transport belt 44 by the belt hitting mechanism 54 when detecting the presence or absence of residual coins.
[0063]
Of course, the metal detection sensor 209 of the residual coin detection device 206 may be disposed on the entire surface of the placement surface 200 of the conveyor belt 44. In this case, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of residual coins even when the conveyor belt 44 is stopped. For example, the coins that have risen along the wall portion 43 are defeated, or the deposit guide wall portion 45 is The conveyor belt 44 may be driven in order to place a partially loaded coin or the like on the placement surface 200. In that case, forward and reverse rotation is performed, and finally, the conveyance belt 44 is stopped by rotating it forward by a predetermined amount so as not to stop when coins are placed on the deposit guide wall portion 45.
[0064]
The principal part of the operation | movement of the coin processing machine 10 of the above 1st Embodiment is demonstrated below.
For example, when a coin to be deposited by the operator is inserted into the rotary disk 34 of the coin insertion unit 30 and an execution input of “payment processing” is made to an operation unit (not shown), the control unit 221 controls the gap from the rotary disk 34 to the gap. The members 37 are separated one by one and transported by the feeding conveyor belt 38, and the coins identified as true coins by the coin sorting unit 32 are dropped to the temporary storage unit 42 by the temporary storage sorting gate 40 and temporarily stored. Store.
[0065]
Then, the control unit 221 displays the identification result of the coin identifying unit 32. When the operator performs an input for confirming the deposit, that is, the “storage process”, from this display, for example, the conveyor belt 44 and the conveyor belt 61 are driven, and coins are drawn out from the temporary storage unit 42 to store the money type. It distributes and accommodates in feeding part 76A-76F.
[0066]
Here, in order to determine the completion of the feeding of coins from the temporary storage unit 42 during such storage processing, the control unit 221 detects the presence or absence of residual coins in the temporary storage unit 42 by the residual coin detection device 206.
[0067]
For example, when all the coins temporarily stored from the temporary storage unit 42 are fed out, the conveyor belt 44 is rotated forward in the feeding direction while detecting the presence or absence of residual coins with the residual coin detector 206 and the residual coin detector 206 with the residual coin detector 206. When it is determined that there is no residual coin on the first placement surface portion 202, until a first predetermined time sufficient for all the coins on the second placement surface portion 203 to be paid out from the temporary storage portion 42 has elapsed. A forward rotation process is performed in which the transport belt 44 is further rotated forward and then stopped.
[0068]
Of course, if the residual coin detection device 206 determines that there is a residual coin during the normal rotation process, the normal rotation process is performed again.
[0069]
When the forward rotation process ends (the state of no remaining coins is maintained for the first predetermined time), the control unit 221 rotates the transport belt 44 in the reverse direction, and the residual coin detector 206 detects the presence or absence of residual coins. However, if it is assumed that there is a coin on the second placement surface portion 203, the conveyor belt 44 is rotated in reverse until a second predetermined time sufficient to position the coin on the first placement surface portion 202 has elapsed. A reverse rotation process is performed to stop after a short time. During this reverse rotation process, the belt hitting mechanism 54 hits the conveyor belt 44.
[0070]
If the residual coin detection device 206 determines that there is a residual coin during the reverse rotation process, the normal rotation process is performed again.
[0071]
When the reverse rotation process is completed (the state in which there is no residual coin is maintained for the second predetermined time), the control unit 221 is finally in a state in which some coins are temporarily placed on the deposit guide wall portion 45. Even in this case, a final processing is performed in which the entire coin is placed on the oscillation coil 207 (207b) of the first placement surface portion 202 and stopped after a predetermined amount of rotation that allows the conveyor belt 44 to rotate forward.
[0072]
During the final process, if the residual coin detection device 206 determines that there is a residual coin, the process starts again from the normal rotation process.
[0073]
On the other hand, during the final process, if the residual coin detecting device 206 determines that there is no residual coin on the first placement surface portion 202, it is determined that all coins from the temporary storage unit 42 have been paid out.
[0074]
According to the coin processing machine 10 of the first embodiment described above, the residual coin presence / absence determination unit 210 determines the presence / absence of residual coins by comparing the outputs of the plurality of metal detection sensors 209 each having the oscillation coil 207. Therefore, the presence or absence of residual coins is determined by comparing the outputs of a plurality of metal detection sensors 209 that are similarly affected by temperature changes and secular changes. Can offset effects such as aging. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the sensor output as an initial value in a state in which it is guaranteed that no coins remain, and as a result, the sensor output when coins actually remain is used as the initial value. As a result, the problem that the subsequent detection of the remaining coins becomes uncertain does not occur. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably detect the remaining coins.
[0075]
In addition, since the plurality of metal detection sensors 209 have their oscillation coils 207 driven at the same oscillation frequency, it is easy to compare the outputs of the metal detection sensors 209 in the residual coin presence / absence determination unit 210. Therefore, the remaining coin presence / absence determination unit 210 can be configured simply.
[0076]
Furthermore, the distance from the first placement surface portion 202 of the oscillation coil 207a of one metal detection sensor 209a is set longer than the distance from the first placement surface portion 202 of the oscillation coil 207b of all the remaining metal detection sensors 209b. Therefore, the residual coin presence / absence determination unit 210 uses the output of one metal detection sensor 209a as a reference for a state in which no coin is detected, and compares the outputs of all the remaining metal detection sensors 209b with respect to this. Determine the presence of coins. As described above, since the output of the metal detection sensor 209a having a long distance from the first placement surface portion 202 of the oscillation coil 207a that is not affected by the coin can be used as a reference, the remaining coin can be detected more reliably. it can.
[0077]
Furthermore, since the residual coin presence / absence determination unit 210 drives the conveyor belt 44 when determining the presence / absence of residual coins, coins remain in the same situation for all of the metal detection sensors 209b on the detection side, Even if the output of these metal detection sensors 209b may be the same, once the conveyor belt 44 is driven, the situation of the coins corresponding to each of the metal detection sensors 209b is changed, and each metal detection sensor 209b Residual coins can be detected by varying the output. Therefore, the remaining coins can be detected more reliably.
[0078]
In addition, the oscillation coil 207 has an outer diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the smallest diameter coin to be handled, and even if a plurality of oscillation coils 207 are located at the center between adjacent ones, the coin Therefore, coins in the range of the oscillation coil 207 having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the smallest diameter coin to be handled are always detected, and between the plurality of oscillation coils 207 Even if the coin with the smallest diameter is located in the center, the coin is detected. Therefore, the remaining coins can be detected more reliably.
[0079]
Furthermore, since the residual coin detection device 206 compares the outputs of the metal detection sensors 209b on all the remaining detection sides with the above-mentioned reference on the basis of the output of the single metal detection sensor 209a on the reference side, the residual coin detection device 206 more reliably. Coins can be detected.
[0080]
In the first embodiment, the same number of detectors 218, the same number of fV converters 219, and the same number of comparators 220 are provided corresponding to the plurality of oscillation coils 207b and coil oscillators 208b on the detection side. However, instead of these configurations, one analog multiplexer (not shown) for inputting a plurality of outputs of the coil oscillator 208b on the detection side is provided, and this analog multiplexer further includes one of the plurality of inputs. A selection signal for selecting and outputting one is input from the control unit 221, and one output from the analog multiplexer is input to one detector 218, one fV converter 219, and one comparator 220. It can also be configured to guide.
[0081]
Accordingly, the control unit 221 outputs a selection signal to the analog multiplexer at predetermined time intervals, and the analog multiplexer sequentially selects each of the plurality of outputs of the coil oscillator 208b on the detection side. The controller 221 outputs a signal indicating the presence / absence of coins via the detector 218, the fV converter 219, and the comparator 220, and the control unit 221 determines whether or not there is a coin at the above-described time interval and at a predetermined timing. It is also possible to determine the presence or absence of residual coins by reading a signal representing.
[0082]
Next, the coin processing machine of 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated below centering on a different part from 1st Embodiment with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG.
[0083]
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the oscillation coil of the residual coin detector 222 that detects the presence or absence of residual coins with respect to the entire surface of the placing surface 200 of the conveyor belt 44 that constitutes the bottom of the temporary storage unit 42. 223 is provided.
[0084]
As shown in FIG. 6, the residual coin detection device 222 includes a plurality of specific metal detection sensors 225 each having an oscillation coil 223 and a coil oscillator 224 that oscillates the oscillation coil 223, and these metal detection sensors 225. And a residual coin presence / absence determination unit (residual coin presence / absence determination means) 226 that determines the presence / absence of residual coins on the placement surface 200 by comparing the outputs of the two.
[0085]
As shown in FIG. 5, the oscillation coil 223 has a shape that is wound in a square ring shape, and both provided for the residual coin detecting device 222 are the same.
[0086]
And in 2nd Embodiment, the oscillation coil 223 of all the metal detection sensors 225 which comprise the residual coin detection apparatus 222 makes the distance with respect to the mounting surface 200 equal. That is, a printed circuit board 228 is disposed in parallel with and close to the lower side of the upper side 212 constituting the mounting surface 200 of the transport belt 44 of the temporary storage unit 42, and the mounting surface is placed on the printed circuit board 228. Oscillation coils 223 of both metal detection sensors 225 are formed so as to be parallel to the opposing portions of 200.
[0087]
Here, the oscillation coil 223 provided on the printed circuit board 228 is parallel to and equidistant from the placement surface 200 of the transport belt 44, and the two oscillation coils 223 entirely overlap the placement surface 200 as a whole. It is provided as follows.
[0088]
A coil oscillator 224 that is connected to each oscillation coil 223 in a one-to-one manner and oscillates each one drives all the oscillation coils 223 constituting the same residual coin detection device 222 at the same synchronized oscillation frequency. ing.
[0089]
As shown in FIG. 6, the residual coin presence / absence determination unit 226 includes one detector 218 into which the outputs of the pair of coil oscillators 224 connected to the respective oscillation coils 223 are introduced, and the output of the detector 218. Is provided with one fV converter 219 and one comparator 220 into which the output of the fV converter 219 is introduced.
[0090]
Similarly to the first embodiment, the detector 218 obtains the difference frequency of the oscillation frequency that is the output of the pair of coil oscillators 224 and outputs this difference, and the fV converter 219 is introduced from the detector 218. The differential frequency is converted into a voltage value and output, and the comparator 232 binarizes and outputs the voltage value introduced from the fV converter 219.
[0091]
Here, since it is rare that the coin has the same influence on the pair of oscillation coils 223, the difference frequency is substantially 0, and the fV converter 219 outputs a low voltage value, The state in which the comparator 220 outputs the off signal is a state in which it is determined that there is no coin on the placement surface 200.
[0092]
On the other hand, if coins exist on the mounting surface 200, the coins have different influences on the pair of oscillation coils 223, and the difference frequency becomes large, so that the difference frequency is substantially zero. Instead, the state in which the fV converter 219 outputs a high voltage value and the comparator 220 outputs an ON signal is a state in which it is determined that a coin is present on the placement surface 200.
[0093]
Note that in the unlikely event that the coins have the same influence on the pair of oscillation coils 223, the control unit 221 once determines that there is no coins in the residual coin presence / absence determination unit 226, so that the conveyor belt 44 And the control of breaking the balance of coins with respect to the pair of oscillation coils 223 is performed, and the presence / absence of coins is determined again by the remaining coin presence / absence determination unit 226.
[0094]
Further, when the placement surface 200 is wide, a plurality of the remaining coin detection devices 222 may be provided. In this case, the control unit 222 determines that there is no remaining coin when the outputs of all the comparators 220 indicate no coins, and when the output of at least one comparator 220 indicates that there is a coin. It is determined that there is a residual coin.
[0095]
Also in the coin processing machine 10 according to the second embodiment described above, the control unit 221 determines a pair of the remaining coin detection device 222 in order to determine completion of the coin feeding from the temporary storage unit 42 during the storage process as described above. The metal detection sensor 225 detects the presence or absence of residual coins in the temporary storage unit 42.
[0096]
In this case, first, to rotate all the coins from the temporary storage unit 42, the forward rotation is stopped after the conveyor belt 44 is rotated forward until a predetermined time sufficient for delivering all the temporarily stored coins has passed. Process.
[0097]
At the end of the forward rotation process, the residual coin detector 222 detects the presence or absence of residual coins, and when the residual coin detector 222 determines that there is residual coins on the placement surface 200, the residual coin detector after the end. The forward rotation process is repeated until it is determined in 222 that there is no residual coin on the placement surface 200.
[0098]
On the other hand, after the forward rotation process, when the residual coin detector 222 determines that there is no residual coin on the placement surface 200, there is a coin on the placement surface 200 and this balances against the pair of metal detection sensors 225. Assuming that the coin is in the position, the conveyor belt 44 is rotated in reverse until a predetermined time sufficient for the coin to lose balance with respect to the pair of metal detection sensors 225, and then the coin is placed on the deposit guide wall 45. Even if a part of the coin is in a state of being partially placed, a final processing is performed in which the entire amount of the coin is placed on the placement surface 200 and can be stopped by rotating the conveyor belt 44 forward for a predetermined amount.
[0099]
When this final process is completed, the residual coin detection device 222 detects the presence or absence of residual coins, and when the residual coin detection device 222 determines that there is residual coins on the placement surface 200, the above-described normal rotation processing is performed. Try again.
[0100]
On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no residual coin on the placement surface 200 by the residual coin detection device 222 at the time when this final processing is completed, it is determined that the delivery of all coins from the temporary storage unit 42 has been completed.
[0101]
According to the coin processing machine 10 of the second embodiment described above, the effects similar to those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the oscillation coils 223 of all the metal detection sensors 225 constituting the residual coin detection device 222 are mounted. Since the distance with respect to the mounting surface 200 is made equal, the minimum number of metal detection sensors 225 necessary for coin detection is provided, and the arrangement and wiring of the metal detection sensors 225 are facilitated. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0102]
In the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the residual coin detection device is provided in the temporary storage unit 42 has been described as an example. However, the remaining coins in the denomination storing and feeding units 76A to 76F and the return conveyance path 67 are described. In order to detect the presence or absence of these, it is also possible to provide the above-mentioned residual coin detector.
[0103]
Moreover, it is not limited to what comprises the mounting surface which mounts a coin with a conveyance belt, For example, it is also possible to provide mounting surfaces, such as above-mentioned coin collective safe 23, in a fixed container shape. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, out of the oscillation coils 223 of all the metal detection sensors constituting the residual coin detection device, one is arranged at a position away from the placement surface 230 and the reference side metal detection sensor. And the other one may be arranged at a position close to the mounting surface 230 to form the oscillation coil 223 of the metal detection sensor on the detection side.
[0104]
【The invention's effect】
  As described in detail above, according to the coin processing machine of the first aspect of the present invention, the residual coin presence / absence determining means compares the outputs of the plurality of metal detection sensors each having an oscillation coil to determine the residual coins. Since the presence / absence is determined, the output of multiple metal detection sensors that are similarly affected by changes in temperature and aging are compared to determine the presence / absence of residual coins. Can offset the effects of changes and aging. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the sensor output as an initial value in a state in which it is guaranteed that no coins remain, and as a result, the sensor output when coins actually remain is used as the initial value. As a result, the problem that the subsequent detection of the remaining coins becomes uncertain does not occur. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably detect the remaining coins.
  In addition, since the distance from the placement surface of the oscillation coil of one metal detection sensor is set longer than the distance from the placement surface of the oscillation coil of all the remaining metal detection sensors, The output of one metal detection sensor described above is used as a reference for a state in which no coin is detected, and the presence or absence of residual coins is determined by comparing the outputs of all the remaining metal detection sensors. Thus, since the output of the metal detection sensor having a long distance from the placement surface of the oscillation coil not affected by the coin can be used as a reference, the remaining coin can be detected more reliably.
[0105]
  According to the coin processor of claim 2 of the present invention,Since the conveyor belt is driven when the presence / absence of residual coins is determined by the residual coin presence / absence determining means, coins remain in the same situation for each metal detection sensor, and the output of these metal detection sensors is once the same. Even if it becomes, it will change the situation of the coin with respect to each of each metal detection sensor by driving a conveyance belt, and it will change the output of each metal detection sensor, and can detect a residual coin. Therefore, the remaining coins can be detected more reliably.
[0106]
  According to the coin processor of claim 3 of the present invention,The residual coin presence / absence determining means determines the presence / absence of residual coins by comparing the outputs of a plurality of metal detection sensors each having an oscillation coil. Thus, the presence or absence of residual coins is determined by comparing the outputs of the metal detection sensors, and the effects of temperature change and secular change can be offset between the metal detection sensors. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the sensor output as an initial value in a state in which it is guaranteed that no coins remain, and as a result, the sensor output when coins actually remain is used as the initial value. As a result, the problem that the subsequent detection of the remaining coins becomes uncertain does not occur. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably detect the remaining coins.
Further, since the conveyor belt is driven when the residual coin presence / absence determining means determines the presence / absence of residual coins, coins remain in the same situation for each of the metal detection sensors. Even if the situation may be the same, driving the conveyor belt will change the status of the coins for each metal detection sensor and vary the output of each metal detection sensor to detect residual coins. it can. Therefore, the remaining coins can be detected more reliably.
[0107]
According to the coin processing machine of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the oscillation coils of all the metal detection sensors constituting the residual coin detection device have the same distance to the placement surface, and thus are necessary for the coin detection. A minimum number of metal detection sensors is provided, and the metal detection sensors can be easily arranged and wired. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
[0108]
  According to the coin processor of claim 5 of the present invention,Since the oscillation coils of the plurality of metal detection sensors are driven at the same oscillation frequency, it is easy to compare the outputs of these metal detection sensors in the residual coin presence / absence determination means. Therefore, the residual coin presence / absence determining means can be simplified.
[0109]
According to the coin processing machine of the sixth aspect of the present invention, coins in the range of the oscillation coil having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the smallest diameter coin to be handled are always detected, and between the plurality of oscillation coils. Even if the coin with the smallest diameter is located in the center, the coin is detected. Therefore, the remaining coins can be detected more reliably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a coin processing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a temporary storage unit of the coin processing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of the coin processor of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a temporary storage unit of the coin processing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a temporary storage part of a coin processor of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a main part of a coin processor of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a case where a residual coin detection device of a coin processor of a second embodiment of the present invention is applied to a coin safe.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 coin handling machine
44 Conveyor belt
200 Placement surface
202 First placement surface section
206,222 Residual coin detector
207, 223 oscillation coil
209,225 Metal detection sensor
210, 226 Remaining coin presence / absence determination unit (remaining coin presence / absence determination means)

Claims (6)

In a coin processing machine equipped with a residual coin detection device that detects the presence or absence of residual coins on the mounting surface,
The residual coin detector is
A plurality of metal detection sensors each having an oscillation coil;
Have a residual coin presence determination means determines the presence or absence of residual coin by comparing the output of the metal detection sensor,
Among all the metal detection sensors constituting the residual coin detection device, the distance from the placement surface of the oscillation coil of one metal detection sensor is the distance from the placement surface of the oscillation coil of all the remaining metal detection sensors. A coin processor characterized by being set longer than the distance . 2. The coin processing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the placing surface is constituted by an upper surface of a conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt is driven when the residual coin presence / absence determining means determines the presence / absence of residual coins. . In a coin processing machine equipped with a residual coin detection device that detects the presence or absence of residual coins on the mounting surface,
The residual coin detector is
A plurality of metal detection sensors each having an oscillation coil;
Having a residual coin presence / absence determining means for determining the presence or absence of residual coins by comparing the outputs of these metal detection sensors;
The placement surface is configured by an upper surface of a conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt is driven when the residual coin presence / absence determining means determines the presence / absence of residual coins . The coin processing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the oscillation coils of all the metal detection sensors constituting the residual coin detection device have the same distance to the mounting surface. 5. The coin processing machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of metal detection sensors has an oscillation coil driven at the same oscillation frequency . 6.   The oscillating coil has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the smallest coin to be handled, and even if the oscillating coil is located in the center between adjacent ones, the coin is detected. The coin processing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the coin processing machine is arranged at a possible interval.

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