JP6786966B2 - Coin payout mechanism, coin processing unit, and ticket vending machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for separating and feeding out coins stored in a coin storage unit one by one.

Conventionally, a coin processing unit that processes coins has been used in various types of equipment such as a ticket vending machine that sells tickets such as tickets, a payment machine that setstles the transaction amount, and a vending machine that sells goods. Some coin processing units are configured so that a plurality of coins can be inserted at one time in order to improve usability for users and the like. The coin processing unit having this configuration temporarily stores a plurality of inserted coins in the coin storage unit. The coin processing unit is provided with a coin feeding mechanism for feeding coins stored in a coin storage unit one by one (see Patent Document 1 and the like).

As described in Patent Document 1, for example, the coin feeding mechanism includes a rotating disk having a contact surface that comes into contact with coins stored in the coin storage unit (storage unit). This rotating disk has protrusions on the contact surface. The coin feeding mechanism rotates the rotating disk on a rotation axis substantially orthogonal to the contact surface, so that the coins stored in the coin storage portion are hooked on the protrusions formed on the contact surface and scraped out. The coins scraped out from the coin storage section are sent out from the delivery port to the outside (coin transport path).

In addition, the coin feeding mechanism prevents deformed coins and a plurality of coins from being fed out from the feeding port in a state of being overlapped by providing a regulating member between the coin storage unit and the sending port. ing. The regulating member has a regulating surface facing the contact surface of the rotating disk, and is attached slightly larger than the thickness of the coin having the maximum thickness for handling the gap between the contact surface and the regulating surface. That is, the regulating member has a configuration that prevents deformed coins and a plurality of overlapping coins from passing through the gap between the contact surface and the regulating surface.

In particular, Patent Document 1 proposes a configuration that more reliably prevents the deformed coin from passing through the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface and being fed out from the delivery port to the outside. Specifically, the regulating member is attached so as to allow displacement to the outlet side from the predetermined position and to restrict displacement to the opposite side of the outlet from the predetermined position. Further, the restricting member is attached so that the gap between the contact surface and the restricting surface becomes narrower as it is displaced toward the outlet side from the predetermined position.

The coins drawn out from the delivery port are transported along the coin transport path, and the identification unit performs identification processing for identifying the denomination and authenticity. In addition, a transport process of transporting to a stacker, a refund port, or the like is performed according to the identification result of the identification process in the identification unit.

Japanese Patent No. 5410149

However, in the coin feeding mechanism described in Patent Document 1 and the like, a coin that rides on a protrusion formed on a contact surface or a coin that rides on another coin has a contact surface of a rotating disk and a regulation surface of a regulating member. It may enter the gap from an oblique direction and clog the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface. When a coin is stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface, the coin feeding mechanism reversely rotates the rotating disk in order to remove the coin stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface.

When extracting coins stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface, the magnitude of the driving force required to rotate the rotating disk in the reverse direction changes depending on the state of the coin stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface. To do. Therefore, depending on the state of the coins stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface, it may not be possible to rotate the rotating disk in the reverse direction due to insufficient driving force (the coin jam may not be cleared).

Also, when the rotating disk is rotated in the reverse direction to remove the coins stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface, the preceding coin that has already passed through the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface is regulated with the contact surface. Returning to the gap between the surfaces, the leading coin may get stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulatory surface.

If the coin feeding mechanism cannot clear the coin jam due to the reverse rotation of the rotating disk, the staff will be required to perform the recovery work to clear the coin jam, which will increase the work load of the staff and the like. Decrease the operating rate of the equipment to which the coin processing unit is applied.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for suppressing a decrease in the operating rate while suppressing a work load on a staff member or the like due to a clogging of coins.

The coin feeding mechanism of the present invention is configured as follows in order to achieve the above object.

The coin storage unit can store a plurality of coins. The coin storage unit is a space for temporarily storing coins inserted by users and the like.

The rotating disk has a contact surface that comes into contact with coins stored in the coin storage unit. Further, protrusions are formed on the contact surface. Further, the drive control unit controls the rotation of the rotating disk by controlling the electric motor (motor) that rotates the rotating disk. By rotating the rotating disk, the protrusions formed on the contact surface of the rotating disk hook the coins stored in the coin storage section and scrape them out from the coin storage section. The guide member guides the coins scraped from the coin storage portion to the outside (coin transport path, etc.) by the protrusions formed on the contact surface of the rotating disk. The axis of rotation of the rotating disk is, for example, substantially orthogonal to the contact surface of the rotating disk. The axis of rotation of the rotating disk is approximately the center of the rotating disk.

The regulating member is attached so that the regulating surface faces the contact surface of the rotating disk. It regulates the regulation member and a plurality of coins that pass through the gap between the regulation surface and the contact surface and reach the guide member in a state of being overlapped.

Further, the displacement limiting member restricts the restricting member from being displaced toward the guide member from the reference position, and allows the restricting member to be displaced toward the opposite side of the guide member from the reference position. When the regulating member is displaced to the opposite side of the guide member from the reference position, the gap between the contact surface and the regulating surface widens.

According to this configuration, when the rotating disk is rotated in the reverse direction in order to remove the coin stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface, the regulation member is displaced to the opposite side of the guide member from the reference position. As a result, the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface is widened, so that the coins stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface can be pulled out almost reliably. Therefore, the work load of the staff and the like due to the occurrence of coin clogging can be suppressed, and the decrease in the operating rate can be suppressed.

Further, the regulating member rotates a configuration in which the gap between the contact surface and the regulating surface widens when displaced to the opposite side of the guide member from the reference position, for example, to a rotating shaft that is not parallel to the rotating shaft of the rotating disk. It can be realized with a simple configuration that it can be attached freely.

Further, the regulation member may be provided with an urging member for urging the guide member side. An elastic member such as a spring or rubber may be used as the urging member.

Further, the drive control unit rotates the rotating disk in the forward direction when the coins stored in the coin storage unit are scraped out and sent to the guide member side, and when the decrease in the rotation speed of the rotating disk is detected, the rotating disk is rotated in the reverse direction. , May be configured.

With this configuration, it is possible to quickly detect that a coin is stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface, and it is possible to quickly remove the coin stuck in the gap between the contact surface and the regulation surface. Therefore, the decrease in the operating rate is further suppressed.

According to the present invention, the work load of the staff and the like due to the occurrence of coin clogging can be suppressed, and the decrease in the operating rate can be suppressed.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the main part of a ticket vending machine. It is a schematic diagram which shows the appearance of a ticket vending machine. It is a figure which shows the structure of the main part of a coin processing unit. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the main part of a coin feeding part. It is the schematic of the coin feeding part. It is a front view of the coin feeding part. It is sectional drawing in the BB direction in FIG. 6 of the coin feeding part. 8 (A) is a view showing a contact surface of a rotating disk, and FIG. 8 (B) is a cross-sectional view in the CC direction in FIG. 8 (A). It is a figure explaining the relationship between the rotation shaft of a motor, and the rotation shaft of a regulation member. 10 (A) and 10 (B) are views conceptually showing the configuration of the regulating member. It is a figure explaining the movement of the coin which is drawn out to a coin carrying path by a coin feeding part. It is a figure explaining the movement of the coin which is drawn out to a coin carrying path by a coin feeding part. It is a figure explaining the movement of the coin which is drawn out to a coin carrying path by a coin feeding part. FIG. 14A is a diagram showing a state in which the coin B riding on the coin C is clogged between the contact surface of the rotating disk and the regulation surface of the regulation member, and FIG. 14B is a diagram showing a state in which the coin B is stuck between the contact surface of the rotating disk and the regulation surface of the regulation member. It is sectional drawing in the EE direction in (A). FIG. 15 (A) is a diagram showing a state in which the rotating disk is rotated in the reverse direction when the coin B riding on the coin C is clogged between the contact surface of the rotating disk and the regulating surface of the regulating member. FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. 15A. FIG. 16A is a diagram showing a state when the coin A is jammed between the contact surface of the rotating disk and the regulation surface of the regulation member at the end portion on the guide member side, and FIG. 16B is a diagram. , FIG. 16 (A) is a cross-sectional view in the GG direction. FIG. 17A is a diagram showing a state in which the rotating disk is rotated in the reverse direction when the coin A is clogged between the contact surface of the rotating disk and the regulating surface of the regulating member. (B) is a cross-sectional view in the HH direction in FIG. 17 (A).

Hereinafter, a ticket vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a ticket vending machine. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the appearance of the ticket vending machine. The ticket vending machine 1 includes a control unit 2, a display unit 3, an operation unit 4, a ticket issuing unit 5, a coin processing unit 6, a bill processing unit 7, a wireless communication unit 8, and a communication unit 9. ing. This ticket vending machine 1 issues a ticket such as a ticket. The ticket vending machine 1 can also process charges (payments) and the like for IC cards that can be used as tickets.

The control unit 2 controls each unit included in the ticket vending machine 1 main body.

The display unit 3 has a display 3a provided on the front surface of the main body, and controls the screen display on the display 3a.

The operation unit 4 has an input device such as a touch panel 4a attached on the screen of the display 3a and a key operation unit 4b having a numeric keypad. The operation unit 4 detects a user's input operation on the input device and notifies the control unit 2 of this.

The ticketing unit 5 issues a ticket. The ticket vending machine 1 is provided with a ticket issuing port 5a, a card insertion / discharging port 5b, and the like on the front surface of the main body. The ticketing unit 5 discharges a ticket issued to the user to the ticketing port 5a. Further, the ticketing unit 5 takes in the IC card inserted into the card insertion / discharge port 5b, reads the card data recorded on the IC card, and writes the card data to the IC card (updates the card data). And then, in order to return it to the user, it is discharged to the card insertion / discharge port 5b. The wireless communication unit 8 executes reading of the card data recorded on the IC card and writing of the card data to the IC card by wireless communication with the IC card.

The coin processing unit 6 accepts coins used for settlement of the transaction amount related to ticket issuance and the like, and discharges change coins to the user. The ticket vending machine 1 is provided with a coin slot 6a and a change coin tray 6b on the front surface of the main body. The coin insertion slot 6a has a shape that allows the coins to be inserted into the ticket vending machine 1 even when a plurality of coins (about 2 to 3 coins) are stacked. The coin processing unit 6 has a coin identification unit that identifies the denomination and authenticity of the inserted coins inserted by the user and the change coins released as change to the user. Details of the coin processing unit 6 will be described later.

The bill processing unit 7 accepts bills used for settlement of the transaction amount related to the issuance of a ticket and the like, and discharges change bills to the user. The ticket vending machine 1 is provided with a bill insertion slot 7a and a bill discharge port 7b on the front surface of the main body. The bill processing unit 7 has a bill identification unit that identifies the denomination and authenticity of the inserted bills inserted by the user at the bill insertion slot 7a and the change bills discharged to the user at the bill discharge port 7b. ..

The communication unit 9 communicates with other types of station affairs equipment such as an automatic ticket gate and a station server (not shown) and another ticket vending machine 1 via a network.

Here, the ticketing process of a ticket such as a ticket in the ticket vending machine 1 will be briefly described. The ticket vending machine 1 accepts the insertion of money (coins and banknotes) by the user. The money inserted by the user may be one of coins or banknotes, or both. The coin is inserted at the coin insertion slot 6a. The bills are inserted at the bill insertion slot 7a.

When coins are inserted in the coin insertion slot 6a, the coin processing unit 6 detects the total amount of the inserted coins (coin insertion amount). Further, when a bill is inserted in the bill insertion slot 7a, the bill processing unit 7 detects the total amount of the inserted bills (banknote insertion amount). The ticket vending machine 1 calculates the total amount of the coin insertion amount and the bill insertion amount as the input amount.

If no coin is inserted at the coin insertion slot 6a, the coin insertion amount is 0. Similarly, when no bill is inserted in the bill insertion slot 7a, the bill insertion amount is 0.

The ticket vending machine 1 accepts the issuance of a ticket that the user wishes to issue in the operation unit 4. At this time, the ticket vending machine 1 accepts ticketing for tickets that are less than or equal to the total amount that the user has put in, and does not accept ticketing for tickets that exceed the total amount that the user has put in.

When the ticket vending machine 1 receives the ticket issuance, the ticket issuing unit 5 issues the accepted ticket (the ticket is discharged to the ticketing port 5a). Further, the ticket vending machine 1 releases the change if it is necessary to return the change to the user (when a ticket less than the total amount input by the user is issued). When a coin (change coin) is released as change, the coin processing unit 6 releases the change coin to the change coin tray 6b. Further, when a bill (change bill) is discharged as change, the bill processing unit 7 discharges the change bill to the bill discharge port 7b.

Moreover, the charge processing to the IC card in the ticket vending machine 1 will be briefly described. The ticket vending machine 1 takes in the IC card inserted in the card insertion / ejection port 5b and reads the card data recorded in the IC card. The reading of the card data is performed by wireless communication with the IC card in the wireless communication unit 8. Further, the ticket vending machine 1 accepts the insertion of money (coins and banknotes) by the user. The processing of the input money is the same as the ticketing processing described above.

The ticket vending machine 1 accepts the designation of the charge amount desired by the user in the operation unit 4. The charge amount for accepting the designation is less than or equal to the total amount input by the user. When the ticket vending machine 1 receives the designation of the charge amount, the ticket issuing unit 5 charges the IC card with the designated charge amount. The wireless communication unit 8 instructs the IC card to update the card data, and the IC card updates the card data according to this instruction. The ticket vending machine 1 discharges the IC card with the updated card data to the card insertion / discharge port 5b. Further, the ticket vending machine 1 releases the change if it is necessary to return the change to the user (when the charge amount is less than the total amount input by the user). The release of change is the same as the ticketing process described above.

Next, the coin processing unit 6 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the coin processing unit. The coin processing unit 6 includes a control unit 20, a coin feeding unit 21, a coin transport unit 22, and a coin identification unit 23.

The control unit 20 controls the operation of each part of the coin processing unit 6 main body. Further, the control unit 20 performs input / output with the control unit 2.

The coin feeding unit 21 separates the coins inserted at the coin insertion slot 6a one by one and guides them to the coin transport path. The coin feeding unit 21 has a coin feeding mechanism according to the present invention.

The coin transport unit 22 transports coins guided to the coin transport path by the coin feeding section 21 along the coin transport path.

The coin identification unit 23 identifies the denomination and authenticity of each coin transported along the coin transport path. The coin identification unit 23 corresponds to the coin processing unit referred to in the present invention.

Further, the coin transport unit 22 transports and stores the coins in a coin stacker provided for each denomination according to the denomination in the coin identification unit 23 and the authenticity identification result.

Next, the coin feeding unit 21 will be specifically described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main portion of the coin feeding portion. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the coin feeding portion. FIG. 6 is a front view of the coin feeding portion (arrow view in the A direction shown in FIG. 5). FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 8 (A) is a schematic view showing the contact surface of the rotating disk, and FIG. 8 (B) is a schematic view of a cross section in the CC direction in FIG. 8 (A).

As shown in FIG. 4, the coin feeding unit 21 includes a drive control unit 31, a motor 32, and an encoder 33. The motor 32 rotates the rotating disk 41. The motor 32 may be a pulse motor or a DC motor. The motor 32 corresponds to the electric motor referred to in the present invention.

The drive control unit 31 controls the rotation speed of the rotation shaft 32a of the motor 32, that is, the rotation speed of the rotation disk 41. The drive control unit 31 detects the rotation speed of the rotation shaft 32a of the motor 32 from the output of the encoder 33. The encoder 33 may detect the rotation speed of the rotation shaft 32a of the motor 32, or may detect the rotation speed of the rotation disk 41. That is, the encoder 33 may have any configuration as long as it can directly or indirectly detect the rotation speed of the rotation shaft 32a of the motor 32. The drive control unit 31 also controls to switch the rotation direction of the rotation shaft 32a of the motor 32.

The rotating disk 41 is a plate-shaped member having a substantially circular outer shape.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, coins inserted by a user or the like at the coin insertion slot 6a flow into the coin feeding unit 21, and a coin storage unit 40 for temporarily storing the flowed coins is formed. Has been done. A part of the rotating disk 41 is located in the coin storage unit 40, and one surface of the rotating disk 41 is attached so as to be in contact with the coins stored in the coin storage unit 40. One surface of the rotating disk 41 in contact with the coin is the contact surface referred to in the present invention (also in the following description, this surface is also referred to as a contact surface). The coins stored in the coin storage unit 40 are prevented by the rotating disk 41 from moving to the opposite surface side of the contact surface of the rotating disk 41.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rotation axis 32a of the motor 32 is an axis substantially orthogonal to the contact surface of the rotation disk 41. Further, the rotating shaft 32a is substantially the center of the rotating disk 41. Further, the rotating shaft 32a is attached so that the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 is an inclined surface with respect to the vertical direction (for example, the angle formed by the vertical direction and the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 is 10 ° to 30 °. It is installed so that it is about °.). In this example, the rotating disk 41 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 8 by the motor 32 when the coin is being drawn out. In this example, it is said that the rotating shaft 32a of the motor 32 is rotating forward when the rotating disk 41 is rotating counterclockwise, and the rotation of the motor 32 when the rotating disk 41 is rotating clockwise. It is said that the shaft 32a is rotated in the reverse direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the rotating disk 41 has a plurality of protrusions 41a formed on the contact surface. FIG. 8 shows an example in which five protrusions 41a are formed at equal intervals on the circumference whose center is the center of the rotating disk 41. The distance between the two adjacent protrusions 41a does not have to be equal as long as it is longer than the diameter of the coin having the maximum diameter to be handled. When the rotating disk 41 rotates, the protrusion 41a formed on the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 hooks the coin stored in the coin storage unit 40 and scrapes it out.

The protrusion 41a may be formed on each of a plurality of circumferences having a center of the rotating disk 41 and different radii.

Further, the coin feeding portion 21 is provided with a guide member 42 and a regulating member 43. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the coin storage portion 40, the regulating member 43, and the guide member 42 are arranged in this order in the counterclockwise direction (the forward rotation direction of the rotating disk 41).

The regulating member 43 is rotatably attached to the rotating shaft 51. The regulating member 43 has a regulating surface facing the contact surface of the rotating disk 41. Further, the regulating member 43 is urged by a coil spring 52 attached to the rotating shaft 51 in a direction of rotating clockwise around the rotating shaft 51. The coil spring 52 corresponds to the urging member (elastic member) referred to in the present invention. Further, the coin feeding portion 21 is provided with a stopper 53 that restricts the rotation of the regulating member 43 in the clockwise direction. The regulating member 43 is formed with a contact portion 43a that comes into contact with the stopper 53. The restricting member 43 is restricted from rotating clockwise (that is, displacement toward the guide member 42) at a position where the contact portion 43a abuts on the stopper 53 provided on the coin feeding portion 21. The stopper 53 corresponds to the displacement limiting member referred to in the present invention. Further, the reference position of the regulation member 43 referred to in the present invention is a position where the contact portion 43a is in contact with the stopper 53.

In this example, when the regulation member 43 is rotated counterclockwise, the position where the regulation surface and the contact surface face each other is displaced toward the coin storage portion 40, and the regulation member 43 is rotated clockwise. The position where the regulation surface and the contact surface face each other is displaced toward the guide member 42 side. Further, as described above, the regulating member 43 is only urged by the coil spring 52 in the direction of rotating clockwise with respect to the rotating shaft 51, and rotates counterclockwise (in the counterclockwise direction). That is, the displacement toward the coin storage unit 40 side) is not limited.

Further, the gap between the regulating surface of the opposing regulating member 43 and the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 widens as the regulating member 43 rotates counterclockwise. In this example, as shown in FIG. 9, the rotating shaft 51 of the regulating member 43 is not parallel to the rotating shaft 32a of the motor 32, which is the rotating shaft of the rotating disk 41, but is tilted by an appropriate angle. That is, the rotating shaft 51 of the regulating member 43 and the rotating shaft 32a of the motor 32, which is the rotating shaft of the rotating disk 41, intersect.

The gap between the regulating surface of the opposing regulating member 43 and the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 is slightly larger than the thickness of the maximum thickness of coins to be handled at the narrowest point, and is larger than the thickness of two coins to be handled. Is also narrow (for example, a gap of about 2 mm). In a state where the abutting portion 43a is in contact with the stopper 53, at the end of the regulating member 43 on the guide member 42 side, between the regulating surface of the opposing regulating member 43 and the contact surface of the rotating disk 41. The gap is the narrowest.

Further, the guide member 42 is a member that guides coins to be fed out from the coin feeding portion 21 to the coin transport path.

Here, the movement of coins delivered from the coin storage section 40 to the coin transport path by the coin feeding section 21 will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the above-mentioned regulatory member. 10 (A) is a conceptual view of the contact surface of the rotating disk as an arrow, and FIG. 10 (B) is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 (A) in the DD direction. 11th, 12th, and 13th are views for explaining the movement of coins to be delivered to the coin transport path by the coin feeding section. 11, 12, and 13 are conceptual diagrams similar to those in FIG. 10 for the sake of clarity. Further, FIGS. 14 to 17 described later are conceptual diagrams similar to those in FIG. 10.

The rotating disk 41 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 11 by the motor 32. As shown in FIG. 11, the protrusion 41a provided on the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 rotating in the forward direction hooks the side surface of the coin stored in the coin storage unit 40, and scrapes the coin out of the coin storage unit 40.

The coins scraped out from the coin storage unit 40 are conveyed to the regulation member 43 as the rotating disk 41 rotates (see FIGS. 11 to 12). As described above, the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 is an inclined surface with respect to the vertical direction. Therefore, the coin on which the protrusion 41a is hooked on the side surface is placed on the contact surface of the rotating disk 41. This prevents the coin from coming off the protrusion 41a and falling into the coin storage portion 40.

When the coin reaches the mounting position of the regulating member 43 by the rotation of the rotating disk 41, the coin is conveyed to the guide member 42 through the gap between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating surface of the regulating member 43. .. As described above, the gap between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulation surface of the regulation member 43 is narrower than the thickness of two coins to be handled. Therefore, even if a plurality of coins scraped from the coin storage unit 40 reach the regulation member 43 in a stacked state, the excess coins are dropped into the coin storage unit 40 and one coin is conveyed to the guide member 42. (See FIG. 12 → FIG. 13).

The coins conveyed to the guide member 42 are sent by the guide member 42 to a coin transfer path provided outside the coin feeding portion 21.

Further, when the coin B reaches the regulating member 43 while riding on another coin C (see FIG. 14) or on the protrusion 41a of the rotating disk 41, the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating member 43 It may get stuck with the regulatory aspect. FIG. 14A is a diagram showing a state in which the coin B riding on the coin C is clogged between the contact surface of the rotating disk and the regulation surface of the regulation member. 14 (B) is a cross-sectional view in the EE direction in FIG. 14 (A). When coins are jammed between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating surface of the regulating member 43, the jammed coins serve as a load and the rotation speed of the rotating disk 41 decreases.

The coin feeding unit 21 indicates that the drive control unit 31 is clogged with coins between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating surface of the regulating member 43 due to the rotation speed of the rotating disk 41 obtained from the output of the encoder 33. To detect. Specifically, when the rotation speed of the rotary disk 41 obtained from the output of the encoder 33 becomes less than a predetermined speed, the drive control unit 31 between the contact surface of the rotary disk 41 and the regulation surface of the regulation member 43. Judge that the coins are jammed.

When the drive control unit 31 detects that coins are jammed between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating surface of the regulating member 43, the drive control unit 31 rotates the rotating disk 41 clockwise (rotates the rotating disk 41 in the reverse direction). .). As a result, the coins stuck between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating surface of the regulating member 43 are oriented to rotate the regulating member 43 counterclockwise against the urging force of the coil spring 52. Force acts. When the regulating member 43 rotates counterclockwise, the gap between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating surface of the regulating member 43 becomes wide as shown in FIG. FIG. 15A is a diagram showing a state in which the rotating disk is rotated in the reverse direction when the coin B riding on the coin C is clogged between the contact surface of the rotating disk and the regulating surface of the regulating member. Is. FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. 15A. As a result, the coins stuck between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulation surface of the regulation member 43 fall into the coin storage portion 40. That is, the coin B stuck in the gap between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulation surface of the regulation member 43 can be pulled out.

Further, when a coin stuck between the contact surface of the rotary disk 41 and the regulation surface of the regulation member 43 falls into the coin storage portion 40, the coin is rotated counterclockwise against the urging force of the coil spring 52. The directional force does not act on the regulating member 43. As a result, the regulating member 43 returns to the reference position by the urging force of the coil spring 52 (the state shown in FIG. 13).

When the drive control unit 31 rotates the rotary disk 41 in the reverse direction and clears the coin jam between the contact surface of the rotary disk 41 and the regulation surface of the regulation member 43, the drive control unit 31 rotates the rotary disk 41 in the forward direction at that time. The operation of scraping out the coins stored in the coin storage unit 40 and sending them to the coin transport path is resumed.

Further, since the drive control unit 31 rotates the rotating disk 41 clockwise, the coin A that has already passed through the regulating member 43 is returned, and the rotating disk 41 comes into contact with the end portion on the guide member 42 side. It may become clogged between the surface and the regulation surface of the regulation member 43 (see FIG. 16). FIG. 16A is a diagram showing a state when the coin A is jammed between the contact surface of the rotating disk and the regulation surface of the regulation member at the end portion on the guide member side. 16 (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line GG in FIG. 16 (A).

However, since the drive control unit 31 rotates the rotating disk 41 clockwise, the regulating member 43 is pressed by the coin A that is clogged between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating surface of the regulating member 43. A force acting in the direction of rotating counterclockwise acts against the urging force of the coil spring 52. Therefore, the regulating member 43 rotates counterclockwise, and the gap between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating surface of the regulating member 43 becomes wider (see FIG. 17), and the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating member The coin A stuck between the regulation surface and the regulation surface of 43 falls into the coin storage section 40. FIG. 17A is a diagram showing a state in which the rotating disk is rotated in the reverse direction when the coin A is clogged between the contact surface of the rotating disk and the regulating surface of the regulating member. FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of HH in FIG. 17A.

As described above, the coin feeding portion 21 according to this example can substantially reliably remove the coins stuck between the contact surface of the rotating disk 41 and the regulating surface of the regulating member 43. Therefore, the work load of the staff and the like due to the occurrence of coin clogging can be suppressed, and the decrease in the operating rate can be suppressed.

Further, the coin processing unit 6 according to the present invention can be used not only for the ticket vending machine 1 described above, but also for various types of devices such as a vending machine for settling transaction amounts and a vending machine for selling goods.

1 ... Ticket vending machine 2 ... Control unit 3 ... Display unit 4 ... Operation unit 5 ... Ticketing unit 6 ... Coin processing unit 7 ... Banknote processing unit 8 ... Wireless communication unit 9 ... Communication unit 20 ... Control unit 21 ... Coin feeding unit 22 ... Coin transport unit 23 ... Coin identification unit 31 ... Drive control unit 32 ... Motor 32a ... Rotating shaft 33 ... Encoder 40 ... Coin storage unit 41 ... Rotating disk 41a ... Protrusion 42 ... Guide member 43 ... Regulatory member 43a ... Contact portion 51 ... Rotating shaft 52 ... Coil spring 53 ... Stopper

Claims (6)

A coin storage unit that stores multiple coins,
A rotating disk having a contact surface in contact with coins stored in the coin storage portion and having protrusions formed on the contact surface.
A drive control unit that controls an electric motor that rotates the rotating disk around a rotating shaft extending in a direction penetrating the contact surface.
A guide member that guides coins scraped from the coin storage unit to the outside by the protrusion formed on the contact surface of the rotating disk rotated by the drive control unit.
A regulation in which a regulation surface is attached so as to face the contact surface of the rotating disk, and a plurality of coins are overlapped to pass through a gap between the regulation surface and the contact surface and reach the guide member. Members and
A displacement limiting member that limits the displacement of the regulating member to the guide member side from the reference position and allows the displacement to be displaced to the opposite side of the guide member from the reference position.
A urging member for urging the regulating member toward the guide member is provided.
A coin feeding mechanism in which when the regulating member is displaced to the opposite side of the guide member from the reference position, the gap between the contact surface and the regulating surface widens. The coin feeding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the regulating member is rotatably attached to a rotating shaft of the rotating disk that is not parallel to the rotating shaft. The coin feeding mechanism according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the urging member is an elastic member. The drive control unit rotates the rotating disk in the forward direction when the coins stored in the coin storage unit are scraped out and sent to the guide member side.
The coin feeding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein when a decrease in the rotation speed of the rotating disk is detected, the rotating disk is rotated in the reverse direction. The coin feeding mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A coin transporting unit that transports coins guided to the outside of the coin feeding mechanism by the guide member,
A coin processing unit including a coin processing unit that processes coins transported by the coin transport unit. The coin processing unit according to claim 5 is provided.
The coin processing unit processes the inserted coins and processes the inserted coins.
Furthermore, an operation unit that accepts user input operations and
A ticket vending machine including a coins processed by the coin processing unit and a ticketing unit that issues a ticket in response to an input operation received by the operation unit.