JP6423770B2 - Sauce device and coin change machine - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a receiving dish device and the coin change machine.

  Conventionally, a coin change machine has been used as a device for depositing and dispensing coins. In such a coin change machine, a coin is received from an insertion slot, and the coin is sorted and stored in a storage for storing coins by denomination. Moreover, when a change occurs with respect to the deposit amount, the coin change machine pays out a specified denomination and a specified number of coins from the coins stored in the storage, and discharges the coins to the tray. The tray is provided with a sensor element such as a magnetic sensor. And the residual detection is performed by using the detection result of this sensor element whether there is no forgetting to take a coin.

  Incidentally, in the above-described magnetic sensor, a coil is generally used as a sensor element. As such a sensor element, a sensor element using a spiral planar coil (hereinafter referred to as a spiral coil) has been proposed. Such a spiral coil generally has a circular or rectangular air core in the center and a spiral (spiral) wiring pattern formed around the air core.

  However, it has been found that the conventional sensor element using a spiral coil has a lower detection level near the outer periphery than in the vicinity of the center (air core) of the spiral coil due to its configuration. For this reason, the conventional sensor element may not be able to detect coins in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the spiral coil.

An object of the present invention is to provide is to provide a receiving tray device and the coin change machine capable of expanding the detection range of the coin.

The saucer device of the embodiment has a bottom part and a side wall part surrounding the bottom part, and a saucer in which a passage for taking out a stored substance from the bottom part is provided in a part of the side wall part, and a back surface of the bottom part. And a spiral coil in which a spiral wiring pattern is formed around a U-shaped or U-shaped linear air core on the surface of the substrate. The spiral coil is arranged with the concave portion of the air core facing the passage.

Drawing 1 is an appearance perspective view showing an example of a coin change machine concerning an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tray shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line K-K ′ of the saucer shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating an example of the sensor element according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional sensor element.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a sensor element, a tray device, and a coin change machine will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a coin change machine 1. The coin change machine 1 includes a main body unit 1a and a housing case 1b that houses the main body unit 1a so that the main unit 1a can be pulled out. FIG. 1 shows a state where the main unit 1a is housed in the housing case 1b.

  The main unit 1 a includes a tray 10, a coin insertion unit 20, a coin discharge port 30, and an operation display unit 40 on the front side. Further, the main unit 1a includes a control unit including a denomination sensor, a processor, etc., a coin transport mechanism, a coin sorting unit, a coin storage unit, a payout mechanism, a payout transport mechanism, etc. (all are shown). )

  The coin slot 20 includes a coin slot 20a, a reject unit 20b, a slot sensor (not shown), and the like. When the user inserts a coin into the coin insertion slot 20a, the deposit is detected by an insertion slot sensor provided near the entrance of the coin insertion slot 20a. Is carried to the back of the main unit 1a. The coin on the deposit belt detects the denomination and the saddle coin with a denomination discrimination sensor in the middle of the transport path. The coins detected here are discharged to the reject unit 20b.

  The genuine coins placed on the deposit belt are then transported to the coin sorting unit by the coin transport mechanism. In the coin sorting unit, the coins are sorted into denominations, and the coins are dropped into the coin storage unit by denomination from the drop holes for each denomination. At the time of the fall, the number of coins of denomination is calculated by the counting sensor.

  The payout mechanism pays out a specified number of coins from the coin storage part by opening and closing the shutter, etc., and puts them on a payout belt of the coin transport mechanism. During the feeding, the number of coins is counted by the detection belt. Also, the denomination of the coin is determined by the material sensor. The coins placed on the payout belt are transported from the back to the front inside the main unit 1a by the payout carry-out mechanism, and are discharged from the coin discharge port 30 to the tray 10. And the control part inside the main body unit 1a detects whether or not coins remain in the tray 10 based on a detection result of a sensor element 50 (see FIG. 3) described below provided in the lower portion of the tray 10.

  The operation display unit 40 includes a display and various operation keys. The operation display unit 40, various sensors, a solenoid for driving a shutter, a belt drive motor for each transport mechanism, and the like are electrically connected to and controlled by the control unit inside the main unit 1a.

  In addition, it is possible to apply a well-known technique for the mechanism inside the main unit 1a and the control mechanism of each part. For example, it adopts a mechanism that conveys coins of each denomination by a side-by-side discharge belt for each denomination and discharges coins of each denomination side by side from the end of each discharge belt at the coin discharge port 30. Also good. In this mechanism, coins of each denomination discharged from the coin discharge port 30 flow down to the tray 10.

  Next, the structure which concerns on the saucer 10 is demonstrated. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tray 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line K-K ′ of the tray 10 shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the lower side of the tray 10 is the front side of the coin change machine 1 on the right side of the tray 10 in FIG. 3.

  The saucer 10 is open at the top of the main body. The bottom surface 11A of the opening 11 has a structure for receiving a coin and storing the coin. The structure will be described by dividing it into two structures (first storage part 12 and second storage part 13) for easy understanding.

  The first storage unit 12 has a structure for storing a predetermined number of coins among the maximum number of coins that can be stored in the tray 10. The first reservoir 12 includes a bottom 12a that forms the bottom of the first reservoir 12, side walls 12b, 12c, and 12d that are erected on a portion of the outer periphery of the bottom 12a, and the remaining outer periphery of the bottom 12a. It consists of a coin take-out unit 12e that is smoothly connected and from which a user takes out coins.

  Moreover, the coin taking-out part 12e further comprises a concentrated taking-out part 12e-1, a coin guide part 12e-2, and an inclined part 12e-3. The concentrated take-out portion 12e-1 is a portion that serves as a main passage for coins when the user draws the coins collected on the bottom portion 12a with his / her fingers and puts them in the hand. Coin guide part 12e-2 is a part which guides the movement of the coin on concentration extraction part 12e-1. The inclined portion 12e-3 is a portion that causes coins outside the concentrated extraction portion 12e-1 to flow down to the concentrated extraction portion 12e-1 or the bottom portion 12a.

  The bottom portion 12 a is a portion that forms the lowest surface of the bottom surface 11 </ b> A of the opening 11. Coins are gathered at the bottom portion 12a by the structure described later of the bottom surface 11A of the opening 11. The user takes out the coins accumulated on the bottom 12a through the concentrated take-out part 12e-1.

  Concentrated extraction part 12e-1 consists of a curved surface part which draws a smooth arc. This curved surface portion is in the direction of taking out coins. From the bottom 12a to the edge of the opening 11 (in this case, the edge of the opening 11 located between the pair of coin guide parts 12e-2) 11a or the vicinity thereof, a smooth arc is drawn. The concentrated extraction part 12e-1 and the bottom part 12a are smoothly connected to each other. Accordingly, the concentrated extraction portion 12e-1 has a structure in which the surface rises smoothly from the surface of the bottom portion 12a so as to draw an arc. In addition, it is preferable to make the width | variety (M1 shown in FIG. 2) of the concentration extraction part 12e-1 into the width | variety of the grade which the largest coin among the denominations used for the coin change machine 1 passes.

  The coin guide portion 12e-2 is a structure that is provided at each of the end portions L1 and L2 of the concentrated extraction portion 12e-1 and serves as a wall for guiding the movement path of the coins in the hand direction. Each of the pair of walls extends along the direction of the coin take-out port (the portion of the edge 11a) indicated by the arrow P, and supports the movement of the coins in the concentrated take-out portion 12e-1.

  In this embodiment, a level | step difference is provided in the boundary of the concentration extraction part 12e-1 and the inclination part 12e-3, and the level | step-difference part 121e is utilized for the wall as the coin guide part 12e-2. In this case, the positional relationship between the concentrated take-out part 12e-1 and the inclined part 12e-3 is such that the concentrated take-out part 12e-1 is in a position lowered to the inside of the main body of the saucer 10 with respect to the inclined part 12e-3. To do. As a result, a stepped portion 121e formed of a vertically rising surface or an inclined surface is formed from the concentrated extraction portion 12e-1 toward the inclined portion 12e-3. The stepped portion 121e functions to restrict the movement of coins within the concentrated take-out portion 12e-1 and prevent the movement of coins from the concentrated take-out portion 12e-1 to the inclined portion 12e-3. The height difference of the stepped portion 121e is preferably set to such a height that a coin that moves in a state of being flatly placed on the concentrated extraction portion 12e-1 does not easily get over the stepped portion 121e. Moreover, it is preferable that the inclination | tilt angle of the level | step-difference part 121e is an angle close | similar to perpendicular | vertical.

  The inclined portion 12e-3 forms an inclined surface from the edge 11b of the opening 11 to the bottom portion 12a. The edge 11b is an edge of the opening part 11 located in the coin taking-out part 12e, and points out the part except the edge 11a. The inclined surfaces are connected to the surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 12b and 12c and the surfaces formed in the inclined portions 13a and 13b of the second storage portion 13 described later with smooth curved surfaces. Moreover, the said inclined surface is connected with the surface of the concentration extraction part 12e-1, and the level | step-difference part 121e as the coin guide part 12e-2.

  The second storage unit 13 has a structure for receiving a coin discharged from the coin discharge port 30 and pouring the coin into the first storage unit 12. Furthermore, the structure also serves as a function of storing coins that cannot be stored in the first storage unit 12.

  The second reservoir 13 has inclined portions 13 a, 13 b, 13 c extending from the edge 11 c of the opening 11 to the upper part of the first reservoir 12. The edge 11c constitutes the entire edge of the opening 11 together with the edges 11a and 11b.

  The inclined surface of the inclined portion 13a has in part an inclined surface that is gentler than the side wall portion 12b. Further, the inclined portion 13a, the upper end portion of the side wall portion 12b, and a part of the inclined portion 12e-3 are smoothly connected by a surface. Similarly, the inclined surface of the inclined portion 13b has in part an inclined surface that is gentler than the side wall portion 12c. Further, the inclined portion 13b, the upper end portion of the side wall portion 12c, and a part of the inclined portion 12e-3 are smoothly connected by a surface.

  The inclined portion 13c is provided below the coin discharge port 30 and has an inclined surface on which the coins discharged from the coin discharge port 30 slide down first. The inclined portion 13c is connected to the upper end portion of the side wall portion 12d.

  The second reservoir 13 is configured such that the upper portions of the inclined portions 13a, 13b, 13c, and the coin take-out portion 12e are provided on the upper portion of the first reservoir 12, and a predetermined amount of coins is received by the surface that they surround. A space for storage is formed.

  Here, the opening area (area in the horizontal plane of the opening) at the boundary between the first reservoir 12 and the second reservoir 13 (the side wall 12b of the first reservoir 12 or the upper end of the side wall 12c) is as follows. It is preferable to be as follows. The opening area is set to be smaller than the opening area of the portion surrounded by the entire edge of the opening 11 (area when projected in the horizontal plane), and from the area of the bottom 12a (area when projected in the horizontal plane) Also set larger.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensor element 50 for detecting the coin stored (residual) in the saucer 10 is provided in the back surface side of the bottom part 12a. The saucer device of the present embodiment corresponds to the configuration of the saucer 10 and the sensor element 50. Hereinafter, the sensor element 50 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the sensor element 50. As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor element 50 includes a substrate 51 and a spiral coil (planar coil) 52 formed on the surface of the substrate 51.

  The spiral coil 52 has a linear air core 53 therein. The air core 53 has a bent portion (bent portion), and is formed in a shape combining both or one of a straight line and a curved line. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the shape of the air core 53 is a U-shape. The spiral coil 52 is formed by arranging a spiral wiring pattern around the air core 53. The shape of the air core 53 is not limited to the U-shape, and may be, for example, a U-shape, a V-shape, an S-shape, or a meander shape obtained by connecting these shapes.

  Further, the spiral coil 52 is formed over a region A1 having a predetermined size on the surface of the substrate 51. Here, the air core 53 is preferably installed on a track based on the shape of the region A1. For example, FIG. 4 shows an example in which all of the air core 53 is provided along an intermediate position between the center and the outer periphery of the region A1, and the spiral coil 52 extends over the region A1 around the air core 53. Is formed. In FIG. 4, all the air cores 53 are arranged along the intermediate position. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a part of the air core 53 may be arranged along the intermediate position. Moreover, although the installation position of the air core 53 shall not be restricted to the example of FIG. 4, it is preferable to route in the area | region A1 so that it may not be unevenly distributed in the specific site | part in area | region A1. Moreover, it is more preferable to install the air core 53 on a track that can route the wiring pattern over the area A1 based on the outer shape of the area A1.

  In the configuration of the tray 10 described above, the sensor element 50 is installed such that the spiral coil 52 faces the back side of the bottom portion 12a. In this case, the size of the spiral coil 52, that is, the size of the region A1, is preferably set to a size that can cover at least the bottom 12a. In addition, the number of turns of the spiral coil 52, the winding direction, the interval, the width, length, cross-sectional shape, bent shape, and the like of the air core 53 are not particularly limited, and it is preferable to design appropriately according to the environment to be used.

  The terminals 52a and 52b of the spiral coil 52 are connected to devices such as an LC transmission circuit, a rectifier circuit, and a control unit (not shown). The sensor element 50 (spiral coil 52) constitutes a residual detection sensor that detects coins remaining in the tray 10 together with these devices. Specifically, in the residual detection sensor, magnetic force lines (magnetic flux) are generated in the spiral coil 52 by applying drive power (alternating current) to the spiral coil 52. At this time, when a coin is present on the tray 10 (bottom portion 12a), in the spiral coil 52, inductance and impedance change due to electromagnetic induction (eddy current loss) action. The residual detection sensor detects the presence or absence of coins remaining in the tray 10 by detecting this change from a change in alternating current or the like.

  By the way, a spiral coil used in a sensor element having a conventional configuration generally has a circular or rectangular air core at the center, and a spiral wiring pattern is laid around the air core. Here, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional sensor element. This sensor element 100 shows a spiral coil 102 formed on the surface of a substrate 101. The spiral coil 102 has a rectangular air core 103 in the center, and is formed of a wiring pattern laid around the air core 103 in a spiral shape. Further, the devices having the above-described configuration are connected to the terminals 102a and 102b of the spiral coil 102, and the residual detection is performed by the same method.

  However, in the spiral coil 102 having the conventional configuration as shown in FIG. 5, it is known that the amount of magnetic flux (magnetic flux density) is high around the air core 103 and the amount of magnetic flux decreases toward the outer periphery. That is, compared with the vicinity of the center of the spiral coil 102, the coin detection level is lower near the outer periphery. Therefore, if a coin detection sensor is configured using the spiral coil 102 having the conventional configuration, there is a possibility that coins cannot be detected near the outer periphery of the spiral coil 102.

  On the other hand, in the spiral coil 52 of this embodiment, since the air core 53 is formed in a linear shape having a bent portion, the air core 53 can be ubiquitous in the region A1. Thereby, the amount of magnetic flux can be increased in the peripheral region along the air core 53. In addition, since the probability that coins overlap with the upper part of the air core 53 increases, the presence or absence of coins can be detected more reliably. Therefore, by using the sensor element 50 (spiral coil 52) of the present embodiment, the range in which coins can be detected (detection range) is expanded as compared with the sensor element 100 (spiral coil 102) of the conventional configuration. be able to.

  In the case of the spiral coil 52 shown in FIG. 4, the amount of magnetic flux is lower in the vicinity of the outer periphery (notch portion 52 c) of the wiring pattern folding position than the other portions because there is no air core 53. Therefore, it is preferable to determine the arrangement position (direction) of the notch 52c according to the use environment of the sensor element 50. For example, in the tray 10, coins are taken out in the direction of the outlet where the edge 11 a is located along the surface of the concentrated outlet 12 e-1. For this reason, the coins that are missed tend to remain on the back side (side wall portion 12d side) of the bottom portion 12a. In such a case, the remaining coins can be detected more efficiently by installing the sensor element 50 with the notch 52c facing the concentrated extraction portion 12e-1 side of the bottom 12a.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, said embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. This embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the example in which the sensor element 50 and the tray device are applied to the coin change machine 1 has been described. However, the device to which the sensor is applied is not limited thereto. For example, you may apply the above-mentioned sensor element 50 and saucer apparatus to the coin discharge | emission part of the self-checkout apparatus used in stores, such as a supermarket.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the saucer 10 of the structure demonstrated in FIG. 2, 3 was used, the structure will not be ask | required in particular if it is a saucer which can receive metals, such as a coin, and can store the metal. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Coin change machine 10 Sauce tray 12a Bottom part 20 Coin insertion part 30 Coin discharge port 40 Operation display part 50 Sensor element 51 Board | substrate 52 Spiral coil 52a, 52b Terminal 52c Notch part 53 Air core

JP-A-5-225427

Claims (2)

A saucer having a bottom part and a side wall part surrounding the bottom part, and provided with a passage for taking out stored matter from the bottom part in a part of the side wall part ;
A substrate provided opposite to the back surface of the bottom, and a spiral coil in which a spiral wiring pattern is formed around a U-shaped or U-shaped linear air core on the surface of the substrate And a sensor element having
With
The said spiral coil is a saucer apparatus arrange | positioned with the recessed part of the said air core toward the said channel | path . A coin change machine that takes out a specified denomination and a specified number of coins from a storage unit for storing coins, and discharges the coins as change,
A tray having a bottom portion and a side wall portion surrounding the bottom portion, and provided with a passage for taking out the change stored in the bottom portion in a part of the side wall portion ;
A substrate provided opposite to the back surface of the bottom, and a spiral coil in which a spiral wiring pattern is formed around a U-shaped or U-shaped linear air core on the surface of the substrate And a sensor element having
With
The spiral coil is a coin change machine that is disposed with the concave portion of the air core facing the passage .

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