JP5564733B2 - Coin hopper - Google Patents

Description

The present invention provides a signal for counting coins that are ejected one by one by sandwiching coins between a fixed guide and a movable guide that is elastically biased, and detecting the movement of the movable guide. The present invention relates to a coin hopper provided with a detection sensor for outputting.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a coin hopper in which one signal for the detection sensor to count coins is output by an action piece interlocking with the movement of the movable guide.
In more detail, the static electricity charged on the resin slide base due to the sliding of the coin is prevented from discharging to the detection sensor from the action piece for the detection sensor interlocked with the movable guide. It can be a coin hopper.
In this specification, the coin includes not only a coin as a currency but also a token for a game.

  As a first conventional technique, a storage tank for storing a large number of coins and a plurality of coin introduction ports into which the coins retained in the storage tank are introduced are pushed out to the outer peripheral side while rotating the introduced coins. A disc-shaped payout rotor, a plastic base disposed on the lower side of the payout rotor and receiving the coin introduced into the coin introduction port on the upper surface, and a direction of the payout port for coins pushed out from the payout rotor A coin dispenser comprising: a metal guide member for guiding to a sheet; a dispensing unit having a count sensor for detecting coins discharged from the dispensing port; and a metallic base supporting the storage tank and the dispensing unit There is known a coin hopper which is an apparatus and is characterized in that the guide member is electrically grounded (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As a second conventional technique, a coin-shaped member housing portion is provided on a synthetic resin base member, and the housing portion is formed by rotation of a synthetic resin delivery rotor that is formed on the base member by forming a plurality of separation holes. In the coin-shaped member feeding apparatus, the coin-shaped member is provided with a detecting unit for detecting passage of the coin-shaped member to be sent. In order to define, a coin hopper is known in which at least one of the fixed side walls facing each other is formed of a conductive member that releases static electricity (for example, Patent Document 2). reference).

  As a third conventional technique, a rotating plate having a plurality of coin openings formed on the circumference, a driving motor for driving the rotating plate, a connector for supplying power to the driving motor, and a coin A payout unit having a payout unit for paying out one by one; a bucket installed on the payout unit and storing coins; a first ground plate provided on an inner surface of the bucket; and a second ground on the payout unit A coin hopper characterized by providing a plate is known (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent No. 3738159 (paragraph numbers 0006 to 0021 FIGS. 1 to 3) JP 2007-206865 (paragraph numbers 0007 to 0044, FIGS. 1-13) JP-A-2005-316895 (paragraph numbers 0006 to 0036, FIG. 1-10)

In the first prior art, since the static electricity charged on the coin is grounded to the base via the metal guide member and the set screw, the static electricity charged on the coin is removed.
In other words, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a spark between the count sensor and the breakage of the count sensor by bringing the metal guide member into contact with the metal guide member immediately before paying out the coin to remove electricity from the coin. .
In recent years, there is a tendency to make the base also resin from the viewpoint of reducing the assembly work burden and cost.
Since the base is excellent in mechanical strength and low cost, non-conductive ABS resin (acrylonitrile, butadiene (Butadiene), styrene (Styrene) copolymer synthetic resin) is used. Many.
When an ABS resin base is used, there is a problem that the first prior art cannot be used.
In addition, when the coin payout count sensor adopts a method in which a counter that detects movement of the movable guide that is moved when the coin is flipped is detected by the count sensor (see, for example, JP-A-2006-323530). ), The first prior art cannot be adopted.
The count sensor indirectly detects the passage of the coin by detecting the action piece moved by the coin, so that even if the static electricity of the coin is removed, the coin slides on the resin base. If the base is charged as a result and the action piece is charged as a result, when the action piece approaches the count sensor, the charged static electricity is instantaneously discharged between the count sensor and the action piece. This is because the count sensor is damaged.
In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to ground the working piece to remove static electricity.
However, since the action piece moves, when considering durability and the like, the ground structure becomes complicated and it is difficult to adopt it for the bag.

In the second prior art, at least one of the fixed side walls located in the vicinity of the detection part among the facing fixed side walls that define the passage width of the delivery part is formed of a conductive member that releases static electricity.
As a result, when the coin-like member delivered to the delivery unit by the rotation of the delivery rotor is charged with static electricity, the static electricity can be released by one fixed side wall located in the vicinity of the detection unit in the passage of the delivery unit. .
Therefore, the detection unit is not affected by static electricity with a simple configuration, and a normal detection operation can be achieved.
Moreover, even if the coin-shaped member sent out from the sending rotor moves within the passage width of the sending portion by forming both the fixed side walls forming the passage width of the sending portion with a conductive member that releases static electricity, Since the static electricity can always be released, there is an advantage that a stable normal detection operation can be achieved in the detection unit.
In the second prior art, a conductive member made of a metal plate is arranged at the bottom of a U-shaped count sensor, and static electricity charged on a passing coin is discharged to the conductive member, so that the count sensor is damaged by discharge. It is preventing.
However, the coin may be close to the main body of the count sensor before the conductive member.
In this case, there is a problem that the charged coin and the count sensor are discharged and the count sensor or the like is damaged.
For this reason, in the second prior art, the light projecting / receiving unit of the count sensor is housed in a conductive synthetic resin holder so that a high voltage is not applied to the light projecting / receiving unit during discharge.
When the light projecting / receiving unit is housed in the conductive synthetic resin holder in this way, the count sensor becomes expensive and difficult to adopt as a bag.

In the third prior art, a coin hopper capable of effectively removing static electricity as a whole by providing a coin payout portion, which is a portion where static electricity is most generated during use, and an earth plate on the inner surface of the bucket. There is an advantage that can be obtained.
However, also in this third prior art, as in the first and second prior arts, when a count sensor that indirectly detects the passage of coins by detecting an action piece moved by a coin, There is a problem that the adverse effects of static electricity cannot be prevented.

The first object of the present invention is that a coin holding bowl, a coin slide base and a frame are manufactured of a non-conductive resin, and the movement of the movable guide is interlocked with the movement of the action piece, and the action piece is detected by a photoelectric sensor. In the coin hopper, the photoelectric sensor is prevented from being damaged by static electricity.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a coin hopper that can prevent the photoelectric sensor from being damaged at low cost.

In order to achieve this object, a coin hopper according to the present invention is configured as follows.
The coins are separated one by one by a rotating disk with a through hole arranged in the bottom hole of the coin holding bowl, and slid on a resin slide base arranged below the rotating disk. The coin is fed to an outlet opening constituted by a first guide arranged in a fixed state and a second guide provided so as to be elastically contactable / separable from the first guide, and then moved to a flip-out position. The two guides and the first guide are ejected and moved in association with the movement of the second guide by the coin, and the action piece arranged on the opposite side of the slide base with respect to the second guide is electrically moved. by detected by the sensor, in coin hopper provided with a coin detecting device which detects the flipping of the coin, it is made of a conductive material, One, the the slide base to the working pieces are disposed arranged side the provided mounted conductors to the slide base, the conductor is the traveling direction before position of the operation member relative to the electrical sensor It is a coin hopper characterized by being arranged with a predetermined gap on the side .

  In the present invention, the electrical sensor is attached to the conductor.

  In the present invention, the electrical sensor is a photoelectric sensor having a gate shape in which a rod-shaped light projecting portion and a light receiving portion are arranged in parallel, and the conductor is arranged to overlap the optical sensor. It is formed into a shape.

In the coin hopper according to the present invention, the coins stacked in the resin-made holding bowl fall into the through-hole by the rotation of the resin-made rotating disk, and the resin is formed by the pushing portion formed on the back surface of the rotating disk. It is slid on a sliding base made of metal and moved to an outlet opening constituted by a metal first guide and a second guide.
The coin that has reached the outlet opening is pushed by the pushing portion of the rotating disk, thereby moving the second guide to the flip-out position.
As a result, the coin is ejected to the exit passage by the resilient force applied to the second guide immediately after the diameter portion passes between the first guide and the second guide.
By sliding with the non-conductive resin slide base, static electricity is charged to the metallic coin as the conductor.
The static electricity charged on the coin is charged to the action piece through the metal second guide.
For example, even if the action piece is made of a non-conductive resin, it is charged.
This is presumably because it is conductive due to dust such as metal powder and oil adhering to the surface of the action piece or the like.
Since the conductive conductor is positioned before the working piece advances to the electrical sensor, if the charging voltage of the working piece has reached the discharge voltage, the electrical sensor is discharged after the discharge with the conductor. Proceed to.
Therefore, when the working piece reaches the electrical sensor, it is not charged exceeding the discharge voltage, so that no discharge occurs between the electrical sensor and the working piece, and the electrical sensor is not damaged.

In the present invention, the photoelectric sensor is fixed to a conductor.
In other words, the conductor has an advantage that the cost can be reduced because it also serves as a bracket of the photoelectric sensor.

In the present invention, the conductor has approximately the same shape as the photoelectric sensor.
The photoelectric sensor is hidden behind the conductor against the moving action piece.
In other words, even when the action piece is deformed for some reason and hits the photoelectric sensor, there is an advantage that the photoelectric sensor is not damaged because it first collides with the conductor.

  The best mode of the present invention is to divide coins one by one by a rotating disk with a through hole disposed in the bottom hole of the coin holding bowl and slide on a resin slide base disposed below the rotating disk. The first guide arranged in a fixed state on the side of the rotating disk and the second guide provided elastically detachable from the first guide, and then sent to the ejection position The slide base made of a non-conductive member that is electrically insulated from the movement of the action piece that is ejected by the moved second guide and the first guide and moves in association with the movement of the second guide by the coin. In a coin hopper provided with a coin detection device that detects the flip of the coin by detecting with an electrical sensor attached to the A conductor attached to the non-conductive member is disposed on the front side of the action piece relative to the sensor with a predetermined gap from the electrical sensor, and the electrical sensor is attached to the conductor. The optical sensor has a gate shape in which a rod-shaped light projecting portion and a light receiving portion are arranged in parallel, and the conductor is formed in a gate shape so as to overlap the electric sensor. This is a featured coin hopper.

First, an outline of the coin hopper 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
The coin hopper 100 has a function of paying out the disk-shaped coins 102 held in a stacked state one by one.
The coin hopper 100 includes at least a frame 104, a slide base 106, a holding bowl 108, a rotating disk 110, a circumferential guide device 112 for the coin 102, a ejecting device 114, an exit passage 116, a coin detecting device 118, and an exit passage defining device 122. It is out.

First, the frame 104 will be described with reference to FIG.
The frame 104 has a function of supporting the slide base 106 and the storage bowl 108, and has a rectangular cylindrical shape that is injection-molded with a non-conductive resin such as ABS resin.
The frame 104 includes a base 124 at the lower end and a rectangular cylindrical support portion 126 that is integrated with the base 124 and extends upward.
In the hollow portion of the support portion 126, an electric motor and the like for driving the control board and the rotating disk 110 are disposed, and the head portion is formed obliquely.
The lower end surface of the support portion 126 is also formed of resin, and a ground metal spring piece 130 is screwed to the lower end surface of the frame 104 with a resin screw 131.
The spring piece 130 is formed in a semicircular shape with the tip downward, one end is a free end, and the base end is screwed. Slightly deflected as shown by the chain line in FIG.
As a result, the spring piece 130 is grounded via the bottom plate 133.
The screw 131 presses a ground terminal 262B at one end of a later-described ground wire 262 to the spring piece 130.

Next, the slide base 106 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The slide base 106 has a function of holding the holding bowl 108, the rotating disc 110, the circumferential guide device 112, the ejecting device 114, and the coin detecting device 118 in a predetermined position, and the coin 102 moved by the rotating disc 110. Has a function to guide.
The slide base 106 is molded from non-conductive resin such as ABS resin, has a rectangular thick plate shape as a whole, and is fixed to the top of the support portion 126.
In other words, the slide base 106 is inclined at a predetermined angle.

The slide base 106 has a bottomed and round pan-shaped guide hole 132 located at the center of the upper surface 128, first mounting portions 134A and 134B and second mounting portions 136A and 136B of the holding bowl 108 formed at the upper and lower ends, and guide holes. An outlet opening 138 that opens a part of the peripheral surface of 132, and a third mounting portion 140 of the coin detecting device 118 and a fourth mounting portion 142 (see FIG. 6) of the circumferential guide device 112 are included on the back surface side.
A bottom surface 144 of the guide hole 132 is a substantially flat surface, and a shaft hole 147 through which the rotating shaft 146 to which the rotating disk 110 is attached is formed at the center.
A peripheral wall 150 of the guide hole 132 is C-shaped, and is constituted by an inner peripheral surface of an iron guide ring 148 slightly thicker than the thickness of the coin 102 and a first side surface 208 of an iron guide body 196 described later.
In this embodiment, the bottom surface 144 is constituted by the top surface of the slide plate 258 fitted in the guide hole 132, but may be integrally molded with the slide base 106.
The coin 102 pushed by the rotating disk 110 moves while its lower surface slides on the bottom surface 144 of the guide hole 132 and its peripheral surface is guided by the peripheral wall 150 that is the peripheral surface of the guide hole 132.
A later-described ejection device 114 is arranged facing the outlet opening 138.
With this configuration, the coin 102 is discharged in principle by grounding the slide plate 258 and the like via the spring piece 130.
However, when the charged coin 102 is supplied to the holding bowl 108, the holding bowl 108 is formed of a non-conductive resin, so there are special circumstances such as the coin 102 being covered with dust containing oil. When superposed, the state where the coin is electrically floating continues, and as a result, the coin 102 may be charged.

Next, the storage bowl 108 will be described with reference to FIG.
The holding bowl 108 has a function of storing the coins 102 in a broken state, and is formed of a non-conductive resin such as ABS resin.
The lower end portion 152 of the storage bowl 108 has a cylindrical shape having substantially the same diameter as the guide hole 132 and extends in a direction orthogonal to the slide base 106.
In other words, the lower end 152 extends obliquely upward, the upper end 154 expands in a square shape, and the upper end is an upper opening 156 for inserting the coin 102.
An upper portion of the rotating disk 110 is disposed in a bottom hole 158 in the cylinder of the lower end portion 152.
The upper end 154 and the lower end 152 of the storage bowl 108 are connected by an inclined wall, and the coin 102 riding on the upper end 154 naturally slides down due to gravity and falls onto the rotating disk 110 below.
By locking a locking portion (not shown) formed at the lower part of the holding bowl 108 to the first mounting portions 134A, 134B and the second mounting portions 136A, 136B, the holding bowl 108 can be easily attached to the slide base 106. It can be installed and removed.
Therefore, in this state, the support 126, the slide base 106, and the storage bowl 108 are in contact with each other, but are not electrically grounded because they are formed of a non-conductive resin.

Next, the rotating disk 110 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The rotating disk 110 has a function of sorting the coins 102 held in a loosely stacked state in the holding bowl 108 one by one and transporting them to the ejecting device 114.
The rotating disk 110 is formed into a disk shape by a non-conductive resin such as ABS resin, and is rotated by an electric motor 162 (see FIG. 6) via a speed reducer 163 .
On the rotating disk 110, circular through holes 164 are formed at equal intervals on a circle with a predetermined radius centered on the rotation axis C, and a downward cone-shaped introduction portion 166 is formed on the upper surface side of the through holes 164. ing.
The through hole 164 is formed in a substantially circular shape that is slightly larger than the diameter of the largest coin 102 assumed to be used.
Further, a conical shape is formed at the central portion, and a central convex portion 172 for stirring the coin 102 is formed while the rotating shaft 146 is attached.
The rotating disk 110 has a lower part in the guide hole 132 and a circumferential surface of the rotating disk 110 that is narrower than the thickness of the coin 102 with respect to the peripheral wall 150, and an upper part in the bottom hole 158 of the lower end 152 of the storage bowl 108. It is arranged with a large gap.

A first pushing portion 174 and a second pushing portion 176 for pushing the coin 102 are opposed to each of the through holes 164 on the lower surface of the rib 170 that defines the through hole 164 that is the back surface 160 of the rotating disk 110. Projecting downward.
The first push out surface 174A of the first pushing portion 174 and the second pushing portion 176, and a second pusher out 176A (see FIG. 5) is located on the involute curve extending from the center of the rotary disc 110 Yes.
Between the first pushing portion 174 and the second pushing portion 176, the first groove 178A for passing through the first restricting body 112A and the second restricting body 112B constituting the circumferential guide device 112 described later is passed. A second groove 178B for the purpose is formed.

When the rotating disk 110 rotates, the coin 102 placed thereon is agitated by the through hole 164, the central convex portion 172, etc., and the posture is changed and falls into the through hole 164.
The lower surface of the dropped coin 102 is guided to the bottom surface 144 of the guide hole 132, and the outer periphery is guided by the peripheral wall 150.
Then, the rotating disk 110 is rotated by the first extruding surface 174A and the second extruding surface 176A and rotated together with the rotating disk 110.
At this time, the peripheral surface of the coin 102 is guided to the peripheral wall 150, but the contact pressure with respect to the peripheral wall 150 is not based on a large contact pressure because it is mostly based on centrifugal force.
In the follow-up process, the coin 102 whose rotation is prevented by the first restricting body 112A and the second restricting body 112B of the circumferential guide device 112 is guided in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 110, and finally the second extrusion The surface 176A is pushed into the outlet opening 138.

Next, the circumferential guide device 112 will be described with reference to FIG.
The circumferential direction guiding device 112 has a function of guiding the coin 102 pushed by the first pushing portion 174 and the second pushing portion 176 in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 110 and guiding it to the outlet opening 138.

Specifically, a cylindrical pin-shaped first restricting body 112A and second restricting body 112B that pass through the slide base 106 from the lower side to the upper side and extend toward the back surface 160 of the rotating disk 110 are arranged.
In other words, the first restricting body 112A and the second restricting body 112B protrude in the movement path 182 of the coin 102.

The first restricting body 112A and the second restricting body 112B are fixed to leaf springs 184A and 184B (see FIG. 6) whose one ends are fixed to the fourth mounting portion 142 on the back surface of the slide base 106.
As a result, the coin 102 pushed by the first pushing portion 174 and the second pushing portion 176 is prevented from being rotated by the rotating disk 110 by the first restricting body 112A and the second restricting body 112B, and the exit opening 138 side To be guided to.
In addition, when the coin 102 naturally moves to the outlet opening 138 without using only one of the first restrictor 112A or the second restrictor 112B, or without using the first restrictor 112A and the second restrictor 112B, it is necessary to arrange them. There is no.

In other words, when the diameter of the rotating disk 110 is large and the coin 102 can be guided in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 110 by the first pusher 174 and the second pusher 176, the first restrictor 112A and the second restrictor There is no need to place 112B.
When the first restricting body 112A and the second restricting body 112B receive a predetermined lateral force from the coin 102, the leaf springs 184A and 184B are elastically deformed, and the first restricting body 112A and the second restricting body 112B become the bottom surface 144. The coins 102 can move over the coins 102 and move together with the rotating disk 110.

The outlet opening 138 will now be described with reference to FIGS.
The outlet opening 138 is a rectangular opening in which the peripheral wall 150 of the guide hole 132 on the side of the circumferential guide device 112 is cut out over a predetermined length.
In the embodiment, since the exit of the coin 102 is defined by the first guide 188 and the second guide 192, the exit opening 138 is between them.
The length of the outlet opening 138 (the circumferential length of the guide hole 132) is sufficient for the coin 102 to pass through.
In other words, the outlet opening 138 is formed to have a slightly larger lateral length than the diameter of the coin 102.

Next, the ejecting device 114 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The ejecting device 114 has a function of ejecting the coins 102 that are separated and sent one by one by the rotating disk 110 one by one.
The ejecting device 114 includes a first guide 188, a second guide 192, and an urging means 194.

First, the first guide 188 will be described with reference to FIG.
The first guide 188 has a function of fixedly defining one side of the outlet opening 138 when the coin 102 is ejected.
Further, in the present embodiment, the coin guide 102 has a function of making the movement amount of the second guide 192 the same regardless of whether the small diameter coin 102S or the large diameter coin 102L is used.
The first guide 188 in the present embodiment is formed by selectively arranging the first corner portion 198A or the second corner portion 198B in which the left and right corner portions of the spatula-shaped sheet metal guide body 196 are formed in an arc shape at the guide position. Composed.
In the guide body 196, the other end portion 202 and the side convex portion 204 on the side thereof are formed in a semicircular shape, the side convex portion 204 is fitted in the arc-shaped concave portion 207 formed on the side wall 205 of the slide base 106, and the like. In a state where the end portion 202 is in contact with the concave restriction portion 206 at one end of the guide ring 148, the end portion 202 is set to be positioned at a first position P1 suitable for the coin 102.

In this state, the linear first side surface 208 forms a part of the guide hole 132.
As indicated by a chain line in FIG. 4, when the guide body 196 is turned upside down, the second side surface 212 opposite to the first side surface 208 forms part of the guide hole 132.
At this time, the first side surface 208 is positioned by the vertical wall 210 standing at the end of the slide base 106 and the other end 202 engaged by the recess 214 of the guide ring 148.
The second side surface 212 is curved more than the first side surface 208, and the distance from the center of the guide hole 132 (the center of the rotation shaft 146 ) is set larger.
In other words, the large diameter coin 102L is guided to the outlet opening 138 by the first restricting body 112A and the second restricting body 112B, and the second guide 192 is set to have the same movement amount as when the coin 102 is ejected. Has been.

Next, the second guide 192 will be described with reference to FIG.
The second guide 192 is provided so as to be movable, and has a function of flipping the coin 102 between the first guide 188 and flipping it.
The second guide 192 is a metal roller 218 that is rotatably supported by the support shaft 216 in this embodiment.
The second guide 192 is disposed on the side of the rotary disk 110 and the first guide 188, and constitutes one side wall of the outlet opening 138.

The metal support shaft 216 is fixed to one end of a resin swing lever 224 that is pivotally attached to a metal fixed shaft 222 that is fixed downward on the back surface of the slide base 106. The outlet passage 116 is adjacent to the outlet opening 138 through the arc-shaped elongated hole 226 and is separated from the first guide 188 by a predetermined distance.
A biasing means 194, specifically a spring 232, is latched between a pin 228 projecting on the lower surface of the slide base 106 and a support shaft 216 projecting downward from the swing lever 224. 4 is biased counterclockwise in FIG. 4 (clockwise in FIG. 6) so as to approach the guide 188.

The urging means 194 has a function of elastically bringing the second guide 192 closer to the first guide 188.
Usually, the rocking lever 224 is integrally formed with a locked portion 234 that is integrally formed with a locking portion 236 that is elastically formed on the back surface of the slide base 106, so that the first The guide 188 is stationary at the standby position SP stopped at an interval smaller than the diameter of the coin 102.
The locking portion 236 is, for example, a rubber ring 238 that is externally mounted on a pin 237 that protrudes from the back surface of the slide base 106.
By configuring the locking portion 236 with an elastic body, it is possible to suppress the bouncing of the swing lever 224 and prevent the coin detection device 118 from erroneously detecting.

When the diameter portion of the coin 102 advances between the first guide 188 and the second guide 192 (the straight line passing through the center of the coin 102 and the contact point between the first guide 188 and the second guide 192 are on the straight line) 4), after the second guide 192 is moved to the ejection position DP as indicated by the chain line in FIG. 4, the coin 102 is ejected to the exit passage 116 by the resilient force of the spring 232.
The second guide 192 is pivoted by the swing lever 224, but can be changed so as to approach and separate from the first guide 188 by linear motion.
Further, the urging means 194 can be changed to a device having a similar function such as an electromagnetic actuator and an air actuator in addition to the spring.

Next, the coin detection device 118 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The coin detection device 118 has a function of detecting a movement of the second guide 192 by the coin 102 directly or indirectly and outputting a detection signal DS.
The coin detecting device 118 of the embodiment includes a second guide 192, a swing lever 224 that supports the second guide 192, an action piece 242 that moves integrally with the swing lever 224, and an electric sensor 244 of the action piece 242. It is out.

The action piece 242 is a non-conductive material integrally molded with the swing lever 224, is formed at a position farther from the support shaft 216 than the second guide 192, and has a predetermined arc shape centered on the fixed shaft 222. This is a detected part 246 extending in length.
Since the action piece 242 is made of resin together with the swing lever 224, even if the fixed shaft 222 is made of metal, and the coin 102 is charged, even if it is made of the metal roller 218 and the support shaft 216, Basically, it will not be charged.
However, it may be charged until the discharge voltage is exceeded for some reason.
The electrical sensor 244 has a function of outputting an electrical detection signal DS of “H” or “L” when the detected part 246 is detected.
The electrical sensor 244 of the embodiment is a transmissive photoelectric sensor 248 in this embodiment. When the projection light projected from the through hole 248P is blocked, “L”, when receiving the projection light, “ The detection signal DS of “H” is output.

Next, the photoelectric sensor 248 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the photoelectric sensor 248, a light projecting beam 248A and a light receiving beam 248B each having a rectangular cross section are fixed to a support column 248C in parallel at a predetermined interval, and the light projecting beam 248A, the light receiving beam 248B, and the support column 248C as a whole. It is formed in a gate shape.
The photoelectric sensor 248 is set so that the projection light from the through-hole 248P formed in the light projecting beam 248A enters the light receiving portion disposed on the light receiving beam 248B facing the photoelectric sensor 248.
A plate-like mounting plate 248D is formed integrally with the column 248C at a right angle with respect to the light projecting beam 248A and the light receiving beam 248B.
The photoelectric sensor 248 is fixed to a mounting bracket 252 located on the back surface of the slide base 106.

In the embodiment, since the photoelectric sensor 248 is positioned below the slide base 106 surrounded by the support portion 126, it is extremely difficult to illegally access from the outside.
When the second guide 192 is moved to the ejection position DP by the coin 102 and the detected part 246 faces the through hole 248P as shown by a chain line in FIG. 4, the projection light from the through hole 248P to the light receiving part is blocked. .
By this interruption, the output of the photoelectric sensor 248 changes from “H” to “L”.
When the second guide 192 moves from the ejection position DP to the standby position SP, the detected part 246 moves out of the through-hole 248P during the movement, so the output of the photoelectric sensor 248 changes from “L” to “H”.
When the output of the photoelectric sensor 248 changes from “L” to “H”, the detection signal DS is output.
By counting this detection signal DS, the number of coins 102 paid out can be known.
Therefore, the electrical sensor 244 can be changed to other electrical sensors having the same function, such as a reflective photoelectric sensor or a metal sensor.

Next, the mounting bracket 252 will be described.
In this embodiment, the mounting bracket 252 also serves as a mounting portion for the conductor 250 and the photoelectric sensor 248 according to the present invention.
First, the conductor 250 will be described with reference to FIG. 6 and FIGS.
In the process of moving the action piece 242 by the coin 102 ejected by the ejecting device 114, the conductor 250 approaches the action piece 242 before the electrical sensor 244, and the action piece 242 is charged exceeding the discharge voltage. In this case, the action piece 242 is discharged, so that the action piece 242 is discharged before approaching the electrical sensor 244.
In the present embodiment, the conductor 250 is a mounting bracket 252 that is disposed close to the action piece 242 at the stand-by position SP2 of the action piece 242 that is positioned corresponding to the stand-by position SP of the second guide 192.
The mounting bracket 252 is cut out integrally with the slide plate 258 and then bent downward to form a right angle with respect to the constituent parts of the bottom surface 144.
The mounting bracket 252 has a flat mounting portion 252M and a protection portion 252P, which are bent so as to form a right angle, and are formed in an L shape when viewed upward.
In this embodiment, the conductor 250 is the protection part 252P.

A mounting hole 252H of a vertically long rectangular photoelectric sensor 248 and a mounting screw hole 252S are formed on the side of the mounting portion 252M.
The protection part 252P has a first transverse beam part 252P1 and a second transverse beam part 252P2 in the same shape as the photoelectric sensor 248.
In other words, the first transverse beam portion 252P1 and the second transverse beam portion 252P2 are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and one end portions thereof are connected by the stay 252P3 and formed in a lateral gate shape, and the first transverse beam portion 252P1 and A transverse passage groove 252G through which the action piece 242 passes is formed between the second transverse beam portion 252P2.
In the photoelectric sensor 248, the light projecting beam 248A and the light receiving beam 248B are passed through the mounting hole 252H, and then screwed into the mounting screw hole 252S of the mounting portion 252M through the through hole obtained by drilling the screw 253 in the mounting plate 248D. It is fixed by.
In a state in which the photoelectric sensor 248 is fixed to the mounting portion 252M, the light projecting beam 248A and the light receiving beam 248B are disposed behind the first horizontal beam portion 252P1 and the second horizontal beam portion 252P2, respectively.
The shade means that when viewed from the action piece 242 side, the light projecting beam 248A is hidden behind the second horizontal beam portion 252P2, and the light receiving beam 248B is hidden behind the first horizontal beam portion 252P1 and is substantially invisible. .
It is desirable that the width of the passage groove 252G, in other words, the interval between the first transverse beam portion 252P1 and the second transverse beam portion 252P2 is as small as possible.
This is for reducing the discharge voltage between the action piece 242 and the conductor 250 as much as possible.
However, considering the parts, assembly accuracy, vibration during swinging of the action piece 242 and the like, the width of the passage groove 252G is about 5 mm so that the action piece 242 does not contact the conductor 250 and the photoelectric sensor 248. is there.
Thereby, when the thickness of the action piece 242 is set to 1 mm, the interval can be set to 2 mm, and generally the collision of the action piece 242 can be avoided.

Next, a method for attaching the slide plate 258 will be described.
The slide plate 258 passes through the mounting bracket 252 through an L-shaped through hole 250A formed in the slide base 106 from the top to the bottom, closely contacts the upper surface of the slide base 106, and then the outward tab of the guide ring 148. Screws of slide base 106 through through holes 148A, 148B, 148C, 148D formed in 149A, 149B, 149C, etc. and through holes 258A, 258B, 258C, 258D of slide plate 258 formed in the relative positions to them The resin screws 260A, 260B, 260C, 260D are fixed by screwing into the holes.
The photoelectric sensor 248 is attached after the mounting bracket 252 is passed through the through hole 250A.
In the slide plate 258, the terminal 262A of the ground wire 262 is fastened together with a screw 260B.
The terminal 262B at the other end of the ground wire 262 is electrically connected to the spring piece 130 by the screw 131 as described above.
Therefore, the slide plate 258 is grounded via the ground wire 262 and the spring piece 130.
In other words, the conductor 250 (protection unit 252P) is grounded via the slide plate 258, the ground wire 262, and the spring piece 130.

Next, a method for attaching the photoelectric sensor 248 will be described.
In the photoelectric sensor 248, after the slide plate 258 is fixed to the slide base 106, the light projecting beam 248A and the light receiving beam 248B are passed through the mounting hole 252H, and the mounting plate 248D is applied to the mounting portion 252M to mount the screw 253. The plate 248D is fixed by screwing it through the through hole formed in the plate 248D.
In this state, a predetermined gap, for example, a gap of about 3 mm is formed between the light projecting beam 248A and the light receiving beam 248B and the protection unit 252P.
This is because when the discharge is performed between the conductor 250 and the action piece 242, the photoelectric sensor 248 is not affected.
The conductor 250 is located closer to the action piece 242 than the photoelectric sensor 248.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11, it is preferable to set the tip of the action piece 242 to be positioned in the passage groove 252G at the stand-by position SP2 of the action piece 242 corresponding to the stand-by position SP of the second guide 192.
As a result, the distance between the action piece 242 and the first and second transverse beam portions 252P1 and 252P2 is set to about 2 mm, and the conductor 250 is the closest to the action piece 242. In the case of charging at or above the discharge voltage, the electric conductor 250 is surely discharged.
Thereby, the photoelectric sensor 248 is not damaged by the discharge.
In addition, as the second guide 192 moves to the projecting position DP, the action piece 242 also rotates and advances between the light projecting beam 248A and the light receiving beam 248B of the photoelectric sensor 248. Even so, the action piece 242 is located in the passage groove 252G.
When the distance between the acting piece 242 and the light projecting beam 248A and the light receiving beam 248B and the distance between the first transverse beam part 252P1 and the second transverse beam part 252P2 are the same, the conductor closest to the acting piece 242 is the protective part. It is 252P.
In other words, when charging exceeds the discharge voltage of the action piece 242, a discharge occurs between the nearest conductor 250 and the action piece 242.
Therefore, even if the action piece 242 is swinging, no discharge is generated between the photoelectric sensor 248 and the photoelectric sensor 248 is not damaged.

Next, the outlet passage 116 will be described with reference to FIG.
The exit passage 116 has a function of guiding the coin 102 ejected by the ejecting device 114.
The outlet passage 116 is a thin plate-like passage that extends in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 110 continuously to the outlet opening 138.
The outlet passage 116 is defined by a concave groove 272 formed in the slide base 106, a first guide 188, a second guide 192, and an outlet passage definition guide 274 that covers the upper release surface of the concave groove 272. Is growing.
The bottom surface 276 of the concave groove 272 is disposed in the same plane as the bottom surface 144, and the lower surface of the coin 102 ejected by the ejecting device 114 is guided.
The bottom surface 144 is the top surface of the slide plate 258 formed in the shape of the guide hole 132.
By making the bottom surface 144 a conductive metal plate ", static electricity generated by friction between the resin rotating disk 110 and the coin 102 can be grounded via the bottom surface 144, so that electronic parts caused by static electricity, etc. There is an advantage that problems such as damage can be solved.
The outlet passage defining device 122 is constituted by the slide base 106 and the outlet passage defining guide 274 in this embodiment.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.
When the coin 102 payout instruction signal is received, the electric motor 162 rotates, and the rotating disk 110 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 via the speed reducer 164 and the rotating shaft 146.
As the rotating disk 110 rotates, the coin 102 falls into the through hole 164 and the lower surface thereof is supported by the bottom surface 144 of the guide hole 132.
Further, the coin 102 is pushed by the first pushing portion 174 (first pushing surface 174A) and the second pushing portion 176 (second pushing surface 176A), the lower surface thereof slides on the bottom surface 144, and the circumferential surface is While being guided by the peripheral wall 150, it is rotated together with the rotating disk 110.
At this time, since the coin 102 is pushed by the second pushing portion 176 on its outward arc surface, the coin 102 receives a force pushing the coin 102 toward the center of rotation, and the centrifugal force due to the rotation acts on the coin 102. The contact pressure on one side 208 moves with almost zero.

The coin 102 is guided in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 110 by itself or by the regulating bodies 112A and 112B .
At this time, a force is applied to the regulating bodies 112A and 112B from the lateral direction, but the state is kept substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 144.
Due to the movement of the coin 102 in the circumferential direction, the coin 102 reaches between the first guide 188 and the second guide 192 (shown by a chain line in FIG. 4).
The second guide 192 is positioned at the standby position SP until it is moved by the coin 102 .
In the photoelectric sensor 248, when the second guide 192 is positioned in the vicinity of the standby position SP, the projection light from the through hole 248P is incident on the light receiving unit, so the output of the photoelectric sensor 248 remains “H”. .

Since the coin 102 is pushed further in the circumferential direction by the second pushing portion 176 following the first pushing portion 174, and the first guide 188 is fixed, the second guide 192 is moved by the coin 102 to the standby position SP. To the ejection position DP (shown in FIG. 4 with a chain line).
As a result, the swing lever 224 is rotated clockwise about the fixed shaft 222.
In the process of moving to the ejection position DP, the action piece 242 is opposed to the through hole 248P and blocks the projection light from the light projecting unit, so that the output of the photoelectric sensor 248 changes from “H” to “L”. .
As shown in FIG. 12, a control device (not shown) starts measuring a predetermined time T from the time when the output changes from “H” to “L”.

Immediately after the diameter portion of the coin 102 passes between the first guide 188 and the second guide 192, the coin 102 is ejected substantially laterally through the second guide 192 by the resilient force of the biasing means 194, and the exit passage Pay through exit 284 through 116.
As a result, the second guide 192 returns to the standby position SP.

The action piece 242 interrupts the light shielding of the photoelectric sensor 248 in conjunction with the return movement of the second guide 192 to the standby position SP, so that the projection light from the light projecting unit is received by the light receiving unit.
As a result, the output of the photoelectric sensor 248 changes from “L” to “H”.
Based on the output change from “L” to “H”, a control device (not shown) outputs a detection signal DS.
Therefore, by counting this detection signal DS, the number of coins 102 paid out from the outlet 284 can be counted.
In addition, after changing from “H” to “L”, if the duration of “L” is shorter than the predetermined time, no abnormal signal is output.
When the duration of the output “L” of the photoelectric sensor 248 continues for a predetermined time T, for example, twice or more the normal time, the abnormal signal ES can be output as an abnormal state.
For example, when the time required for paying out two coins has elapsed for “L”, the abnormality signal is output, and based on this, the rotation of the electric motor 162 can be stopped.

Usually, the coin 102 is rubbed against the holding hole 108 of the non-conductive resin by the rotation of the rotating disk 110, so that the coin 102 is charged with static electricity.
The charged static electricity is grounded through the metal slide plate, the ground wire 262, and the spring piece 130, and the swing lever 224 and therefore the action piece 242 are not charged.
However, the action piece 242 may be charged for some reason.
When the charging voltage exceeds the discharge voltage, when the action piece 242 is positioned at the standby position SP2 , the electric charge is discharged to the conductor 250 closest to the action piece 242 and is discharged.
Even if the action piece 242 moves in conjunction with the movement of the second guide 192 after the charge removal, the action piece 242 is not charged, and therefore, no discharge occurs between the action sensor 242 and the photoelectric sensor 248.

When the action piece 242 is charged more than the discharge voltage during the swinging motion, the distance between the action piece 242 and the light projecting beam 248A, the light receiving beam 248B and the first transverse beam portion 252P1 and the second transverse beam portion 252P2 is substantially the same. It is.
However, the conductor 250 has higher conductivity than the resin constituting the photoelectric sensor 248.
Therefore, it is discharged between the action piece 242 and the conductor 250, and is not discharged between the photoelectric sensor 248.
Therefore, damage to the electrical sensor can be prevented.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coin hopper according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the slide base on which the rotating disk of the coin hopper of the embodiment is mounted. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the slide base and the frame with the storage bowl of the coin hopper of the embodiment removed. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the slide base with the rotating disk and outlet passage defining guide removed from FIG. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the rotating disk. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the slide base of the coin hopper according to the embodiment. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the rotating disk, the slide plate, and the slide base of the coin hopper according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the slide plate and the slide base from the back side of the coin hopper according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the coin detection device section from the back side of the coin hopper according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is an enlarged back view of the coin detection device unit from the back side of the coin hopper according to the embodiment. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the coin hopper according to the embodiment.

102 coins
106 Slide base
108 coin holding bowl
110 Rotating disc
118 Coin detector
138 Exit opening
158 Bottom hole
164 Through hole
188 First guide
192 Second guide
242 Acting piece
244 electrical sensors
248 Photoelectric sensor
248A Floodlight (light beam)
248B Light receiving part (light receiving beam)
250 conductor

Claims (1)

The coins (102) are divided one by one by a rotating disk (110) with a through hole (164) arranged in the bottom hole (158) of the coin holding bowl (108), and arranged below the rotating disk (110). Slide on the resin-made slide base (106),
The first guide (188) disposed in a fixed state on the side of the rotating disk (110) and the second guide (192) provided so as to be elastically movable toward and away from the first guide (188). After feeding the coin (102) into the exit opening (138),
The second guide (192) and the first guide (188) moved to the starting position (DP)
The action piece (242) moved in relation to the movement of the second guide (192) by the coin (102) and disposed on the opposite side of the slide base (106) with respect to the second guide (192). In a coin hopper provided with a coin detection device (118) for detecting movement of the coin (102 ) by detecting movement by an electric sensor (244) ,
A conductor (250) made of a conductive material and disposed on the side where the working piece (242) is disposed with respect to the slide base (106) and attached to the slide base (106). Provided,
The coin hopper the conductor (250), characterized in that arranged at a predetermined gap in the traveling direction before position side of the operating member relative to the electrical sensor (244) (242).

Images