JP7419979B2 - Coin handling equipment and cash handling equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coin processing device and a cash handling device, and is suitable for application to, for example, an automatic teller machine (ATM) in which a user inserts banknotes or coins to perform a desired transaction.

Conventionally, automatic teller machines, etc. used in financial institutions, etc., allow the user to deposit cash such as banknotes and coins, or withdraw cash to the user, depending on the content of the transaction with the user. things are widespread. Some automatic teller machines have an internal coin processing device that processes coins, for example. The coin processing device includes, for example, a deposit/withdrawal section that exchanges coins with the user, a separation section that separates the accumulated coins into individual coins, a conveyance section that conveys the coins, and a coin handling section that handles the denomination and withdrawal of coins. It has an identification section (also called a recognition section) that identifies authenticity, etc., and a storage section that stores coins for each denomination.

In such a coin processing device, a sensor that detects coin accumulation is placed in the chute section that guides the coins inserted into the deposit/withdrawal section by the user to the separation section, and an abnormality of accumulation is detected according to the detection result of the sensor. There is a method that notifies the user (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-134708

In such a coin processing device, it is desired to prevent the coin processing device itself from stopping due to an abnormality such as coin accumulation occurring in the chute portion.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a coin processing device and a cash handling device that can prevent the device from stopping due to an abnormality in the chute section.

In order to solve this problem, the coin processing device of the present invention includes an input section into which coins are input, a chute section which guides the coins input into the input section along a predetermined path, and a predetermined path in the chute section. a passage detection sensor disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the chute section to detect passage of an object guided by the chute section; and a state monitoring section that monitors the state of the chute section based on the detection result of the passage detection sensor. The condition monitoring unit counts the number of times that the detection results of an object by the upstream passage detection sensor and the downstream passage detection sensor are abnormal detection results that are different from the detection results in normal times, and detects abnormal detection results. A warning is now output when the number of detection results reaches a predetermined number.

Further, the cash handling device of the present invention is provided with an operation section that receives operations from a user and the above-mentioned coin processing device.

According to the present invention, maintenance personnel can remove the factors that inhibit the coin processing device from falling before the coin processing device stops due to an abnormality in the chute section.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a coin processing device and a cash handling device that can prevent the device from stopping due to an abnormality in the chute section.

It is a perspective view showing the composition of an automatic teller machine. FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the configuration of the coin processing device. It is a perspective view showing composition (1) of a chute part. FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the configuration (2) of the chute section. FIG. 3 is a right side view showing the state of the chute section when a small number of coins are normally inserted. FIG. 7 is a right side view showing the state of the chute section when the coin stagnates in a state where the passage detection light is blocked. It is a timing chart when a small number of coins are inserted during normal operation. It is a timing chart when inserting a limit number of coins during normal operation. It is a timing chart when a coin lags in a state where it blocks passage detection light. FIG. 7 is a right side view showing the state of the chute section when all the coins stagnate without blocking passage detection light. FIG. 7 is a right side view showing the state of the chute section when some coins stagnate without blocking passage detection light. This is a timing chart when all the coins stagnate without blocking the passing detection light. This is a timing chart when some coins stagnate without blocking the passing detection light. It is a timing chart when a coin blocks passage detection light many times. It is a flowchart which shows the coin fall monitoring process procedure (1). It is a flowchart which shows the coin fall monitoring process procedure (2).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described using the drawings.

[1. Configuration of automated teller machine]
As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic teller machine 1 as a cash handling device is mainly composed of a box-shaped housing 2, and is installed in, for example, financial institutions and various commercial facilities, and is used by users ( In other words, they conduct cash-related transactions such as deposit processing and withdrawal processing with customers of financial institutions and commercial facilities.

The housing 2 is provided with a reception section 3 on the front side thereof at a location where the user can easily insert banknotes, operate the touch panel, etc. while facing the user. The reception section 3 is provided with a passbook inlet/outlet 4, a card inlet/outlet 5, a coin inlet/withdrawal outlet 6, a banknote inlet/withdrawal outlet 7, an operation display section 8, etc. In addition to direct communication, notifications of information regarding transactions and reception of operational instructions are performed.

The passbook inlet/outlet 4 is a part where a passbook is inserted and ejected. A passbook processing unit (not shown) is provided on the back side of the passbook entry/exit 4 for reading magnetic information from a magnetic recording unit provided on the back cover of the passbook and recording the details of transactions in the passbook. There is. The card inlet/outlet 5 is a portion into which various cards such as cash cards are inserted or ejected. A card processing section (not shown) is provided on the back side of the card entry/exit 5 for reading account numbers and the like magnetically recorded on various cards.

The coin deposit/withdrawal port 6 is a part into which coins to be deposited by the user are inserted and coins to be withdrawn to the user are discharged. The banknote deposit/withdrawal port 7 is a portion into which banknotes are deposited by the user and from which banknotes to be withdrawn to the user are discharged. The coin deposit/withdrawal port 6 and bill deposit/withdrawal port 7 are opened or closed by driving a shutter, respectively. The operation display unit 8 as an operation unit is a touch panel that integrates a liquid crystal display panel that displays an operation screen, transaction details, etc. during a transaction, and a touch sensor that detects input operations by the user.

Below, the side of the automatic teller machine 1 that the user faces is referred to as the front side, the opposite side is referred to as the rear side, the left and right sides viewed from the user facing the front side are respectively referred to as the left side and the right side, and furthermore, the upper side and the right side are referred to as the left side and right side, respectively. Define and explain the lower side.

Inside the housing 2, there is a main control unit 9 that centrally controls the entire automatic teller machine 1, a coin processing device 10 that performs various processes regarding coins to be traded, and a banknote processing device that performs various processes regarding banknotes. A device (not shown), etc. are provided. The main control unit 9 is mainly composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), and performs deposit processing and withdrawal processing by reading and executing a predetermined program from a ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, etc. (not shown). Performs various treatments such as gold processing. Furthermore, the main control section 9 has a storage section made up of a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, a flash memory, etc., and stores various information in this storage section.

The coin processing device 10 has a shape similar to a rectangular parallelepiped as a whole, and is attached to the housing 2 via a slide rail (not shown). Further, a door (not shown) that can be opened and closed is provided on the front side or the rear side of the housing 2. Therefore, when maintenance work or the like is performed on the automatic teller machine 1, the coins can be transferred by opening the front or rear door of the housing 2 and sliding the coin processing device 10 forward or backward. The processing device 10 is located outside the casing 2 and housed inside the casing 2.

[2. Configuration of coin processing device]
As shown in a schematic right side view in FIG. 2, the coin processing device 10 includes a plurality of parts that perform various processes regarding coins inside a coin processing device housing 11. This coin is made of a non-magnetic material with sufficient strength, such as an alloy of copper and nickel or aluminum, and is formed into a thin plate shape. Incidentally, the coin processing device 10 is assumed to handle a plurality of types of coins having different diameters and thicknesses.

Inside the coin processing device housing 11, there are six deposit/withdrawal sections 13, a chute section 14, an upper separation section 15, a recognition conveyance section 16, a delivery section 17, a pin belt conveyance section 18, located relatively above or near the center. A stacker section 21, a withdrawal conveyance section 22, and a temporary holding section 23 are provided. Inside the coin processing device housing 11, there is a coin control unit 12, a replenishment collection store 24, a first replenishment reject store 25, a second replenishment reject store 26, a reject store 27, and a replenishment reject store 27 on a relatively lower side. A storage 28 and a lower separation section 29 are provided.

Like the main control unit 9, the coin control unit 12 is mainly configured with a CPU (not shown), and performs deposit transactions, withdrawal transactions, etc. by reading and executing a predetermined program from a ROM, flash memory, etc. (not shown). The coin processing device 10 is centrally controlled. Further, the coin control unit 12 has an internal storage unit consisting of a RAM, a flash memory, etc., and stores various information in this storage unit.

The deposit/withdrawal unit 13 allows the user to deposit coins or withdraws coins from the user by passing coins to and from the user. The deposit/withdrawal unit 13 includes a container 13A that has an opening on the upper side and stores coins, a shutter 13B that opens and closes the opening, and a sensor (not shown) that detects the presence or absence of coins in the container 13A. )have. The container 13A is provided with a saucer gate 13G, which forms the bottom surface thereof, between the container 13A and the chute 14. The saucer section gate 13G is closed when coins are accumulated in the container 13A, and is opened when coins are transferred from the container 13A to the chute section 14. Drop a coin.

When the user inserts coins into the container 13A with the tray gate 13G closed and the shutter 13B open, the deposit/withdrawal section 13 closes the shutter 13B and opens the tray gate 13G. Then, the coins are delivered from inside the storage container 13A to the chute section 14, and are lowered inside the chute section 14 to reach the inside of the upper separation section 15. Further, when a coin is conveyed from a pin belt conveyance section 18 (described later) with the shutter 13B closed, the deposit/withdrawal section 13 stores the coin in the storage container 13A and then opens the shutter 13B so that the user can have it received.

The upper separating section 15 is composed of an accumulation/separation section 15A that occupies a relatively large volume on the lower side, and a separation/conveyance section 15B that is formed to protrude upward from the accumulation/separation section 15A. The upper separating section 15 stacks coins in the stacking/separating section 15A, separates the coins one by one, and transports the coins upward by the separating and transporting section 15B, and further transports them backward along the transport path. and hand it over to the recognition conveyance section 16.

The recognition conveyance section 16 is located on the right side of the chute section 14, and images the coin while conveying it, and based on the obtained image signal, determines the denomination, authenticity, degree of damage, etc. of the coin. It is determined whether the coin can be handled. Then, the recognition conveyance unit 16 notifies the coin control unit 12 of the obtained determination result as the recognition result of the coin, and also delivers the coin to the delivery unit 17. The delivery section 17 delivers the coins received from the recognition conveyance section 16 to the pin belt conveyance section 18.

The pin belt conveyance section 18 surrounds the lower front side, lower side, rear side, and upper side of the stacker section 21 by a front pin belt conveyance section 18F, a lower pin belt conveyance section 18L, a rear pin belt conveyance section 18R, and an upper pin belt conveyance section 18U, respectively, and carries coins. A transport route is formed as a transport route. The pin belt conveyance section 18 is composed of a conveyance guide that comes into contact with the surface of the coin and guides the coin to proceed along the conveyance path, and a pin belt that runs approximately along the conveyance path. This pin belt is provided with a pin that comes into contact with the trailing end of the coin and pushes it in the transport direction. By running the pin belt, the pin belt conveyance section 18 conveys the coins received from the transfer section 17 along the conveyance path and discharges them into the container 13A of the deposit/withdrawal section 13.

Further, the pin belt conveying section 18 is provided with branching sections 19 for branching the coin conveying path at a plurality of locations in the front lower part and the lower side of the stacker section 21, respectively. A guide section 30 for guiding the coin is provided on the left side of each branch section 19.

Each branching section 19 has a rotatable guide plate, an actuator, etc. (none of which are shown), and by rotating the guide plate under the control of the coin control section 12, coins can be continuously transferred. It is switched whether to advance along the pin belt conveyance section 18 or to branch to each guide section 30. Each guide section 30 advances the coins to the replenishment collection warehouse 24, the first replenishment reject store 25 or the second replenishment reject store 26, the temporary storage section 23, the reject store 27, the unclaimed storage 28, etc., respectively.

Furthermore, the pin belt conveying section 18 is provided with stacker branch sections 20 at six locations above each of the six stacker sections 21 . A guide section 31 for guiding coins to the stacker section 21 is provided on the left side of each stacker branch section 20. Each stacker branching section 20 is configured similarly to each branching section 19, and by rotating a guide plate based on the control of the coin control section 12, the coins can continue to advance along the pin belt conveying section 18. , or branch to each stacker section 21.

The stacker sections 21 are each associated with coins of a predetermined denomination, and include a guide section 31 provided on the upper side and a stacker section 21 that stacks coins vertically on the lower side of the guide section 31. It has a part 32 and a payout part 33 that feeds out coins from the lower side of the stacking part 32. When the stacker section 21 receives the coins transported by the pin belt transport section 18 from the stacker branch section 20, the guide section 31 guides the coins to the stacking section 32 and stacks them. Further, under the control of the coin control section 12, the stacker section 21 feeds out the coins accumulated in the stacking section 32 one by one using the feeding section 33 and drops them into the dispensing conveyance section 22 or the temporary storage section 23 below.

The dispensing conveyance section 22 is located on the right side of the pin belt conveyance section 18, and is configured like a hollow rectangular parallelepiped with an open top and front side, and forms a space in which coins can be stored. Further, the dispensing conveyance section 22 has a belt conveyance mechanism made of a belt, a pulley, etc. built into the bottom thereof, and coins fed out from the stacker section 21 are placed or accumulated on the belt. With the coins placed or accumulated on the belt, this dispensing conveyance unit 22 causes the upper part of the belt to run forward, thereby causing the coins to fall into the temporary storage unit 23 on the front side. .

The temporary storage section 23 has a configuration in which the rear end of the dispensing conveyance section 22 is lowered and the front end is raised, and the left and right side plates are triangular. , a belt transport mechanism is built into the bottom. Therefore, the temporary storage section 23 places or accumulates the coins fed out from the stacker section 21 and the coins conveyed from the dispensing conveyance section 22 on a belt in the internal space. In addition, the temporary holding section 23 feeds out the coins to the upper separation section 15 on the front side by running the upper part of the belt diagonally upward in the state in which the coins are placed or accumulated on the belt. , let it fall inside.

The replenishment collection warehouse 24 has a stacking section for stacking coins therein, a transport mechanism for transporting the coins stacked in the stacking section, and the like. This replenishment and collection storage 24 accumulates coins guided by the guide section 30, and also feeds out the coins accumulated inside to the front and delivers them to the lower separating section 29. The first replenishment reject store 25 and the second refill reject store 26 each have a space therein for accumulating coins, and accumulate coins guided by the guide section 30. The reject warehouse 27 and the unclaimed storage 28 each have a space therein for accumulating coins, and each accumulates the coins guided by the guide section 30.

The lower separation section 29 is arranged at a position adjacent to the rear side of the replenishment and recovery storage 24 . Although the lower separating section 29 has a similar configuration to the upper separating section 15, it is different from the upper separating section 15 in the direction in which it is attached to the coin processing device housing 11. This lower separation section 29 receives coins from the replenishment collection warehouse 24 and accumulates them therein, separates the accumulated coins one by one, transports them upward one by one, and discharges them into the temporary storage section 23. do.

[3. Transport of coins in various processes]
Next, a description will be given of various processes involving the conveyance of coins in the coin processing device 10, that is, the conveyance and accumulation of coins in deposit processing, withdrawal processing, and the like. Here, each process performed by the coin processing device 10 when performing a deposit transaction and a withdrawal transaction between the automatic teller machine 1 and the user will be explained.

When a deposit transaction is performed with a user in the automatic teller machine 1 (FIG. 1), the coin processing device 10 recognizes the denomination, etc. of the coin deposited by the user through the deposit counting process in the previous stage. The number of coins is counted, and each coin is transported and stored at an appropriate storage location through subsequent deposit storage processing. Specifically, when the user inserts a coin into the deposit/withdrawal unit 13 in the deposit counting process in the previous stage, the coin processing device 10 operates the chute unit 14, the upper separation unit 15, the recognition conveyance unit 16, the delivery unit 17, and the pin belt conveyance unit. 18 and then stored in the temporary storage section 23.

At this time, the coin processing device 10 aggregates the deposit amount based on the recognition result of each coin by the recognition conveyance section 16, displays it on the operation display section 8 (FIG. 1), and allows the user to continue the deposit transaction, or Let them choose whether to cancel or not. When the user selects to continue, the coin processing device 10 performs the subsequent deposit receiving process, and when the user selects to cancel, the coin processing device 10 cancels the deposit transaction and stores coins as in the case of withdrawal processing, which will be described later. It is transported to the deposit/withdrawal department 13 and returned.

In the subsequent deposit storage process, the coin processing device 10 sequentially transfers coins from the temporary storage section 23 to the stacker section 21 via the upper separation section 15, the recognition conveyance section 16, the delivery section 17, the pin belt conveyance section 18, and the stacker branch section 20. Transport to and accumulate. At this time, the coin processing device 10 transports each coin to the stacker unit 21 according to the denomination of the coin based on the recognition result of each coin by the recognition transport unit 16.

In addition, when a withdrawal transaction is performed with a user in the automatic teller machine 1 (FIG. 1), the coin processing device 10 transfers coins of the amount instructed by the user to the deposit/withdrawal section through the withdrawal process. Transfer to 13 and withdraw money. Specifically, when the coin processing device 10 receives an operation input indicating that a withdrawal transaction is to be started or an amount to be withdrawn from the user via the operation display unit 8 (FIG. 1), the coin processing device 10 starts the withdrawal process and inputs the amount to be withdrawn. The corresponding denomination and number of coins are withdrawn from each stacker section 21 and accumulated in the temporary storage section 23 via the dispensing transport section 22. Next, the coin processing device 10 sequentially passes through the temporary holding section 23, the upper separation section 15, the recognition conveyance section 16, the delivery section 17, and the pin belt conveyance section 18, and conveys the coins to the deposit/withdrawal section 13 for storage and use. have someone receive it.

Incidentally, in addition to deposit processing and withdrawal processing, the coin processing device 10 performs a replenishment process of replenishing coins from the replenishment and collection warehouse 24 to the stacker section 21, a collection process of collecting coins from the stacker section 21 to the replenishment and collection warehouse 24, etc. It is also now possible to do so.

[4. Configuration of chute]
Next, the configuration of the chute section 14 will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the chute section 14 forms a coin passage space 14A in which coins are dropped. Further, the left end portion of the chute portion 14 is formed with a chute portion left inner wall surface 14L, which is an inner wall surface facing right so as to be inclined to the right as it goes downward. Furthermore, the chute section 14 has a chute section front inner wall surface 14F extending rightward from the front end of the chute section left inner wall surface 14L, and a chute section rear inner wall surface 14B extending rightward from the rear end of the chute section left inner wall surface 14L. are formed respectively.

[5. Sensor configuration]
A saucer gate opening/closing detection sensor (not shown) is provided at the upper end of the chute portion 14 to detect the open/closed state of the saucer gate 13G (FIG. 2). This tray gate opening/closing detection sensor is an optical sensor, and notifies the coin control unit 12 (FIG. 2) of the reception result of the detection light as a tray opening/closing detection signal Sgg. The coin control unit 12 determines whether the tray gate 13G is open or closed based on the light reception result. Specifically, when the saucer gate opening/closing detection sensor intercepts the detection light of the saucer gate opening/closing detection sensor, the coin control unit transmits the light reception result (i.e., ON state) indicating that the saucer gate opening/closing detection sensor does not receive the detection light. Notify 12. On the other hand, when the saucer gate opening/closing detection sensor does not block the detection light of the saucer gate opening/closing detection sensor, the saucer gate opening/closing detection sensor controls the coin control of the light reception result indicating that it is receiving the detection light (that is, the OFF state). Notify Department 12.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the chute section 14 is provided with an upper passage detection sensor SEPu that detects coins falling in the coin passage space 14A. The upper passage detection sensor SEPu is an optical sensor, and is composed of a light emitting section SEPue, a light receiving section SEPur, and a prism SEPup.

The light emitting section SEPue is attached to the chute section 14 on the front side of the chute section front inner wall surface 14F, and emits the upper passage detection light Lu in the rear direction toward the coin passing space 14A. The prism SEPup is attached to the chute section 14 on the rear side of the rear inner wall surface 14B of the chute section, and moves the traveling direction of the upper passage detection light Lu emitted from the light emitting section SEPue by 90 degrees diagonally downward to the left. After the light is bent and allowed to travel, the traveling direction of the detection light is further bent by 90 degrees in the forward direction, and the light is made to travel toward the light receiving portion SEPur. The light receiving section SEPur is attached to the chute section 14 together with the light emitting section SEPue on the diagonally lower left side of the light emitting section SEPue on the front side of the front inner wall surface 14F of the chute section, and receives the upper passing detection light Lu reflected by the prism SEPup. receives light.

The upper passage detection sensor SEPu notifies the coin control unit 12 (FIG. 2) of the reception result of the upper passage detection light Lu as an upper passage detection signal Sgu. Based on this light reception result, the coin control unit 12 determines whether a coin is detected, that is, whether the coin is falling through the coin passing space 14A. Specifically, when a falling or staying coin crosses the upper passage detection light Lu, the upper passage detection sensor SEPu does not receive the upper passage detection light Lu because the upper passage detection light Lu is blocked by the coin. The coin control unit 12 is notified of the light reception result (that is, ON state) indicating that the coin control unit 12 is in the ON state. On the other hand, if the coin does not cross the upper passage detection light Lu, the upper passage detection sensor SEPu notifies the coin control unit 12 of a light reception result indicating that the upper passage detection light Lu is being received (that is, an OFF state). .

Further, below the upper passage detection sensor SEPu in the chute section 14, a lower passage detection sensor SEPd is provided to detect coins falling in the coin passage space 14A. This lower passage detection sensor SEPd is an optical sensor similar to the upper passage detection sensor SEPu, and includes a light emitting part SEPue, a light receiving part SEPur, a prism SEPup, a light emitting part SEPde corresponding to the upper passage detection light Lu, and a light receiving part SEPdr. , a prism SEPdp, and a lower passage detection light Ld. The lower passage detection sensor SEPd notifies the coin control unit 12 (FIG. 2) of the reception result of the lower passage detection light Ld as a lower passage detection signal Sgd. Based on this light reception result, the coin control unit 12 determines whether or not a coin is detected, that is, whether or not the coin is falling through the coin passing space 14A. Hereinafter, the upper passage detection light Lu and the lower passage detection light Ld will be collectively referred to as passage detection light L, and the upper passage detection signal Sgu and the lower passage detection signal Sgd will be collectively referred to as passage detection signals, and the upper passage detection light Ld will be collectively referred to as passage detection signals. SEPu and the lower passage detection sensor SEPd are also collectively referred to as passage detection sensor SEP.

In this way, the upper passage detection sensor SEPu is located in the upper part of the coin passage space 14A, that is, on the upstream side of the falling path of the coin in the chute section 14, and the lower passage detection sensor SEPd is located in the lower part of the coin passage space 14A. That is, they are respectively arranged on the downstream side of the coin falling path in the chute section 14.

The coin control unit 12 monitors the passage of a coin as an object falling within the chute unit 14 based on the light reception results obtained from the receiving tray gate opening/closing detection sensor, the upper passage detection sensor SEPu, and the lower passage detection sensor SEPd. . The upper passage detection sensor SEPu and the lower passage detection sensor SEPd are arranged in such a positional relationship that they can detect when a foreign object such as a sheet-like medium or a card is mixed in.

In this configuration, the coin processing device 10 allows coins and foreign objects to be input into the deposit/withdrawal section 13 and, when taking the coins and foreign objects into the coin processing device 10, to pass the coins and foreign objects through the chute section 14. It is made to reach the separating section 15.

At this time, the coin control unit 12 detects the upper passage starting from the time when the tray opening/closing detection signal Sgg changes from the OFF state to the ON state, that is, when the coin is transferred from the container 13A to the chute part 14. Based on the signal Sgu and the lower passage detection signal Sgd, the light blocking time, which is the time during which the upper passage detection sensor SEPu and the lower passage detection sensor SEPd are in the ON state, is monitored.

[6. Coin falling state]
Below, a description will be given of how coins fall down the chute section 14 depending on the number and state of the coins.

[6-1. Normal falling condition]
[6-1-1. When inserting a small number of coins during normal operation]
First, as shown in FIG. 5, when the number of coins inserted is small and the inserted coins normally fall down the chute section 14 and reach the upper separating section 15, when a small number of coins are inserted under normal conditions. explain.

Normally, when a small number of coins are inserted, the tray opening/closing detection signal Sgg changes from the OFF state to the ON state as shown at the tray startup time tgr in FIG. 7, and then as shown in FIG. 5(A). The coin CN falls through the coin passage space 14A, and after the normal falling time tgun during upper passage of the saucer part has elapsed, the upper passage detection light Lu is blocked as shown in FIG. 5(B).

At this time, at the upper passage rising time tur shown in FIG. 7, the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Thereafter, when the coin CN falls below the upper passage detection light Lu as shown in FIG. 5(C) after the light shielding time tsf for small number of coins has elapsed, the upper passage is detected at the upper passage fall time tuf shown in FIG. The signal Sgu returns from the ON state to the OFF state.

Thereafter, the coin CN falls through the coin passage space 14A, and after the normal upper and lower passage fall time tudn has elapsed, the lower passage detection light Ld is blocked as shown in FIG. 5(D). At this time, at the lower passage rising time tdr shown in FIG. 7, the lower passage detection signal Sgd changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Thereafter, when the coin CN falls below the lower passage detection light Ld after the small quantity light blocking time tsf has elapsed, the lower passage detection signal Sgd changes from the ON state at the lower passage fall time tdf shown in FIG. Return to OFF state.

Incidentally, after changing from the OFF state to the ON state, the upper passage detection signal Sgu and the lower passage detection signal Sgd temporarily change from the ON state to the OFF state for a short period of time depending on the number and orientation of falling coins CN. There is a possibility that it will return.

In this way, when a small number of coins are inserted during normal operation, after the tray opening/closing detection signal Sgg changes from the OFF state to the ON state, the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes after the upper passage falling time tgun has elapsed during normal operation. Changes from OFF state to ON state. Thereafter, after the light-shielding time tsf has elapsed for a small number of sheets, the upper passage detection signal Sgu returns from the ON state to the OFF state. Thereafter, after the fall time tudn between normal upper and lower passages has elapsed, the lower passage detection signal Sgd changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Thereafter, after the light-shielding time tsf has elapsed for a small number of sheets, the lower passage detection signal Sgd returns from the ON state to the OFF state.

[6-1-2. When inserting the limit number of coins during normal operation]
Next, the number of coins inserted is larger than when a small number of coins are normally inserted, is close to the upper limit number that the coin processing device 10 can accept at a time, and the inserted coins fall down the chute section 14 normally. A description will be given of the time when the normal limit number of coins is inserted, which is when the coins reach the upper separating section 15.

When the normal limit number of coins is inserted, the coins fall through the coin passing space 14A after the tray opening/closing detection signal Sgg changes from the OFF state to the ON state as shown at the tray startup time tgr in FIG. , after the fall time tgun during normal passage of the upper side of the saucer part has elapsed, the upper side passage detection light Lu is blocked.

At this time, at the upper passage rising time tur shown in FIG. 8, the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Thereafter, when the coin falls below the upper passage detection light Lu after the limit number of coins shading time tsm, which is longer than the small number of coins shading time tsf, the coin falls below the upper passage detection light Lu, at the upper passage fall time tuf shown in FIG. The upper passage detection signal Sgu returns from the ON state to the OFF state.

Here, even while the upper passage detection signal Sgu is ON, a part of the coin mass falls below the upper passage detection light Lu, so the coin falls through the coin passage space 14A, and the lower passage detection light Block Ld. At this time, at the lower passage rising time tdr shown in FIG. 8, the lower passage detection signal Sgd changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Thereafter, when the coin falls below the lower passage detection light Ld after the limit number of coins shielding time tsm has elapsed, the lower passage detection signal Sgd changes from the ON state to the OFF state at the lower passage fall time tdf shown in FIG. Return to state.

In this way, when the normal limit number of coins is inserted, the upper passage detection signal Sgu and the lower passage detection signal Sgd indicate the limit number of coins, which is longer than the light blocking time tsf for the small number of coins when the small number of coins are inserted in the normal state. The lower passage detection signal Sgd changes from the OFF state to the ON state while the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state. do.

As explained above, the time during which the upper passage detection signal Sgu and the lower passage detection signal Sgd are in the ON state (light-shielding time) tends to become longer as the number of inserted coins increases.

If there is any abnormality inside the chute section 14, such as scratches, burrs, or sticky substances, these abnormalities will prevent the coin from falling. In the following, an abnormality that inhibits the falling of a coin will also be referred to as a fall inhibiting factor. Therefore, if there is a fall inhibiting factor in the chute section 14 at a position that blocks the upper passage detection light Lu or the lower passage detection light Ld and prevents the coin from falling, the upper passage detection signal Sgu or the lower passage detection The ON time (light blocking time) of the signal Sgd is longer than in the case where there is no fall inhibiting factor at a position where the falling of the coin is delayed at a position that blocks the upper passage detection light Lu or the lower passage detection light Ld.

If the ON time of the upper passage detection signal Sgu or the lower passage detection signal Sgd becomes longer and remains ON at the device stop time te shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the coin control unit 12 Assuming that an error has occurred in the coin processing device 10, the operation of the coin processing device 10 is stopped. If the coin processing device 10 stops, a maintenance worker will be required to carry out restoration work, which will take time. Therefore, by detecting an abnormality inside the chute section 14 and warning maintenance personnel before the coin processing device 10 stops operating due to an error, the occurrence of an error can be avoided and the coin processing device It is desirable to avoid 10 from ceasing operation.

In addition, for this purpose, the coin control unit 12 controls the period from the bottom passing fall time tdf when a small number of coins are inserted in normal conditions to the device stop time te, and the bottom passing fall time tdf when a limit number of coins are inserted under normal conditions. By providing a certain amount of time margin between the time te and the time te when the device stops, even if the ON time of the upper passage detection signal Sgu or the lower passage detection signal Sgd becomes somewhat longer, the apparatus can be stopped immediately. The stop point te is not reached.

On the other hand, the coin control unit 12 monitors the ON time of the upper passage detection signal Sgu and the lower passage detection signal Sgd, and if the ON time is longer than, for example, the light-shielding time tsm at the time of the limit number of coins, the coin control unit 12 monitors the ON time of the upper passage detection signal Sgu and the lower passage detection signal Sgd. It is determined that there is a high possibility that an error will occur in the chute section 14 and the coin processing device 10 will stop operating, and a warning will be given to maintenance personnel. Specifically, in one transaction, if the ON time (shading time) of the upper passage detection signal Sgu and the lower passage detection signal Sgd becomes longer than the normal time, the coin control unit 12 increases the abnormality detection count by one. The number of anomaly detection counts is constantly monitored in subsequent transactions. Subsequently, the coin control unit 12 issues a warning to the maintenance personnel when the abnormality detection count reaches a preset abnormality detection count upper limit, such as three times. Thereby, the coin control section 12 can detect an abnormality inside the chute section 14 and warn the maintenance personnel before the coin processing device 10 stops due to an abnormality. After receiving the warning, maintenance personnel check the inside of the chute section 14 and, if an abnormality has occurred, repair any scratches or burrs inside the chute section 14, or remove sticky substances to prevent the abnormality from occurring. Take action.

[6-2. Abnormal falling condition]
[6-2-1. If the coin lags in a state that blocks the passage detection light]
Next, as shown in Fig. 6, we will discuss an abnormal situation in which the number of coins inserted is small and the coins stagnate due to factors that prevent them from falling, for example, when the coins are blocking the upper passage detection light Lu. explain.

In this state, after the saucer opening/closing detection signal Sgg changes from the OFF state to the ON state as shown at the time tgr when the saucer rises in FIG. 9, the coin CN changes to the ON state as shown in FIG. It falls through the passage space 14A, and after the normal falling time tgun during upper passage of the saucer part has elapsed, the upper passage detection light Lu is blocked as shown in FIG. 6(B). At this time, at the upper passage rising time tur shown in FIG. 9, the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state.

At this time, it is assumed that the coin CN is caught in a fall inhibiting factor formed on the inner wall surface of the chute section 14, and the falling speed becomes slow and the coin CN becomes sluggish. In this case, if the coin CN falls below the upper passage detection light Lu as shown in FIG. 6(D) after the abnormal light blocking time tse, which is longer than the limit number of coins light blocking time tsm (FIG. 8), has elapsed. , at the upper passage falling time tuf shown in FIG. 9, the upper passage detection signal Sgu returns from the ON state to the OFF state.

Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 6(C) and 6(D) corresponding to FIGS. 5(C) and 5(D), the coin CN falls and reaches the upper separating section 15. In this way, when the coin control unit 12 detects that the upper passage detection signal Sgu takes a longer time than the light-shielding time tsm at the limit number of coins from changing from the OFF state to the ON state to returning to the OFF state ( In other words, when it is detected that the upper passage detection signal Sgu has not returned to the OFF state within the light shielding time tsm for the limit number of sheets after changing from the OFF state to the ON state), in a state where the upper passage detection light Lu is blocked, that is, It is determined that the coin CN has become sluggish in the upper portion (upstream side portion) of the chute section 14. At this time, the coin control unit 12 increases the abnormality detection count by one and then moves on to the next transaction.

Although the upper passage detection signal Sgu has been described above, the same applies to the lower passage detection signal Sgd. Further, although the case where the coins become sluggish when inserting a small number of coins during normal operation has been described, the same applies to the case where the number of coins inserted is larger than when inserting a small number of coins during normal operation.

[6-2-2. If all the coins lag without blocking the passage detection light]
Next, as shown in FIG. 10, if the number of coins inserted is small and all of the inserted coins are dropped from the container 13A until they block the upper passage detection light Lu, for example, , I will explain the abnormal situation in which I slumped due to factors that inhibited my fall.

In this state, after the saucer opening/closing detection signal Sgg changes from the OFF state to the ON state as shown at the time tgr when the saucer rises, as shown in FIG. It falls through the passage space 14A. At this time, it is assumed that the coin CN is caught in a fall inhibiting factor of the chute section 14, and the falling speed becomes slow and the coin CN becomes sluggish. In this case, even if the normal falling time tgun (Fig. 7) during the upper passage of the saucer part has elapsed from the time tgr when the saucer part is raised, the coin CN does not reach the upper passage detection light Lu, as shown in Fig. 10(B). .

Subsequently, the coin CN falls through the coin passing space 14A, and from the time point tgr when the saucer section is raised as shown in FIG. Later, as shown in FIGS. 10(C) and 10(D), the coin CN blocks the upper passage detection light Lu. At this time, at the upper passage rising time point ture shown in FIG. 12, the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state.

After that, the coin CN falls and reaches the upper separating section 15. In this way, the coin control unit 12 prevents the coin from falling during normal passage of the upper side of the tray after the tray opening/closing detection signal Sgg changes from the OFF state to the ON state and before the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state. When it is detected that a time longer than the time tgun is detected (that is, after the saucer opening/closing detection signal Sgg changes from the OFF state to the ON state, the upper passage detection signal Sgg If it is detected that the coin CN has not changed from the OFF state to the ON state), it is determined that the coin CN has become sluggish between the container 13A and the upper passage detection light Lu. At this time, the coin control unit 12 increases the abnormality detection count by one and then moves on to the next transaction.

The above describes the time from when the saucer part open/close detection signal Sgg changes from the OFF state to the ON state until the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state, but when the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the ON state to The same applies to the time from when the lower passage detection signal Sgd changes from the OFF state to the ON state. That is, the coin control unit 12 causes the lower passage detection signal Sgd to change from the OFF state to the ON state within the normal upper and lower passage fall time tudn after the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the ON state to the OFF state. If it is detected that the fall time tude between the upper and lower passages during abnormality has elapsed, it is determined that the coin CN has become sluggish between the upper passage detection light Lu and the lower passage detection light Ld. Further, although the case where the coins become sluggish when inserting a small number of coins during normal operation has been described, the same applies to the case where the number of coins inserted is larger than when inserting a small number of coins during normal operation.

[6-2-3. If some coins stagnate without blocking the passage detection light]
Next, as shown in FIG. 11, when the number of coins inserted is small and a portion of the total number of coins that have been inserted falls from the container 13A, for example, the upper passage is detected. An abnormal situation will be described in which the object lags due to a fall-inhibiting factor until the light Lu is blocked.

In this state, after the saucer opening/closing detection signal Sgg changes from the OFF state to the ON state as shown at the time tgr when the saucer rises, as shown in FIG. It falls through the passage space 14A. At this time, it is assumed that some of the coins CN out of all the coins CN are caught in a fall inhibiting factor of the chute section 14, and the falling speed becomes slow and sluggish. In the following, among all coins CN, coins CN that fell without getting caught in a fall inhibiting factor are also referred to as normal falling coins, and among all coins CN, coins CN that were caught in a falling inhibiting factor and slowing down are also referred to as normal falling coins. It is also called a slow coin.

In this case, the normal falling coin blocks the upper passage detection light Lu as shown in FIG. 11(B) after the normal falling time tgun during upper passage of the saucer part has elapsed from the time tgr of raising the saucer part shown in FIG. 13. At this time, at the upper passage rising time tur shown in FIG. 13, the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state. After that, after the light-blocking time tsf for small number of coins has elapsed, when the normally falling coin falls below the upper passage detection light Lu, the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the ON state to the OFF state at the upper passage fall time tuf1 shown in FIG. Return to state.

Thereafter, after a predetermined period of time has passed since the upper passage detection signal Sgu returns from the ON state to the OFF state, the loose coin blocks the upper passage detection light Lu as shown in FIG. 11(D). At this time, at the upper passage rising time tur2 shown in FIG. 13, the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Thereafter, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, when the loose coin falls below the upper passage detection light Lu, the upper passage detection signal Sgu returns from the ON state to the OFF state at the upper passage fall time tuf2 shown in FIG.

After that, the coin CN falls and reaches the upper separating section 15. In this way, if a part of all the coins CN lags due to a fall inhibiting factor after it falls from the container 13A until it blocks the upper passage detection light Lu, the upper passage detection signal Sgu is turned ON. The state changes multiple times, and the OFF state time between these ON states, that is, the interval between ON states, becomes relatively long.

Therefore, if a portion of all the coins CN sluggish between falling from the container 13A and blocking the upper passage detection light Lu, the timing at which the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes to the ON state, that is, the coin The timing at which CN blocks the upper passage detection light Lu and the number of times the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes to the ON state, that is, the number of times the coin CN blocks the upper passage detection light Lu, are in a normal state (FIG. 7). will be different.

On the other hand, if the coin control unit 12 detects that the timing and number of times the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state are different from the normal time, the coin control unit 12 transmits the upper passage detection light Lu from the container 13A. It is determined that at least a portion of the coin CN has become sluggish during this period. At this time, the coin control unit 12 increases the abnormality detection count by one and then moves on to the next transaction.

Although the upper passage detection signal Sgu has been described above, the same applies to the lower passage detection signal Sgd. Further, although the case where the coins become sluggish when inserting a small number of coins during normal operation has been described, the same applies to the case where the number of coins inserted is larger than when inserting a small number of coins during normal operation.

[6-2-4. If the coin blocks the passage detection light many times]
In addition to the various abnormal falling states of the coin described above, an abnormal state where the coin blocks the passage detection light L a large number of times will be described. When the coin blocks the upper passage detection light Lu multiple times, the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state multiple times, for example, 4 times, as shown in FIG. Further, when the coin blocks the lower passage detection light Ld multiple times, the lower passage detection signal Sgd changes from the OFF state to the ON state multiple times, for example, 4 times, as shown in FIG.

In this way, the number of times that the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes to the ON state, that is, the number of times that the coin blocks the upper passage detection light Lu, and the number of times that the lower passage detection signal Sgd changes to the ON state, that is, the number of times that the coin blocks the upper passage detection light Lu, that is, the number of times that the coin The number of times the passage detection light Ld is blocked may be different from the normal state (FIG. 7).

On the other hand, when the coin control unit 12 detects that the number of times the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state is different from the normal state, the coin control unit 12 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the chute unit 14. . At this time, the coin control unit 12 increases the abnormality detection count by one and then moves on to the next transaction.

The above explanation is based on the case where both the upper passage detection signal Sgu and the lower passage detection signal Sgd have an abnormal number of light interruptions, but if either the upper passage detection signal Sgu or the lower passage detection signal Sgd is abnormal. The same goes for the number of shadings.

[7. Coin drop monitoring process]
Next, the specific processing procedure of the coin drop monitoring process by the coin processing device 10 will be explained in detail using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The coin processing device 10 starts the coin drop monitoring processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG. 15 by executing the coin drop monitoring processing program, and moves to step SP1. In step SP1, the coin control unit 12 waits until the light reception result of the saucer gate opening/closing detection sensor (the saucer opening/closing detection signal Sgg) changes from the OFF state to the ON state, and when it becomes the ON state, the process moves to step SP2.

In step SP2, the coin control unit 12 determines whether or not the abnormality tray upper passage fall time tgue has elapsed since the tray opening/closing detection signal Sgg changed to the ON state. If a negative result is obtained here, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP3. In step SP3, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the light reception result (upper passage detection signal Sgu) of the upper passage detection sensor SEPu has changed from the OFF state to the ON state. If a negative result is obtained here, the coin control unit 12 returns to step SP2. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP3, this means that the coin that has fallen from the saucer section gate 13G has reached the upper passage detection light Lu within the normal falling time tgun during passage above the saucer section. The coin control unit 12 moves to step SP4. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP2, this means that the coin that fell from the saucer part gate 13G is caught by the fall inhibiting factor and reaches the upper passage detection light Lu within the normal falling time tgun during passage above the saucer part. In this case, the coin control section 12 moves to step SP14 (FIG. 16).

In step SP4, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the abnormal light shielding time tse has elapsed since the upper passage detection signal Sgu changed to the ON state. If a negative result is obtained here, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP5. In step SP5, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the upper passage detection signal Sgu has returned from the ON state to the OFF state. If a negative result is obtained here, the coin control section 12 returns to step SP4. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP5, this means that the coins that have reached the upper passage detection light Lu have fallen below the upper passage detection light Lu within the light blocking time tsm for the limit number of coins. At this time, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP6. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP4, this means that the coins that have reached the upper passage detection light Lu are caught by the fall inhibiting factor and fall below the upper passage detection light Lu within the light blocking time tsm at the limit number of coins. In this case, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP14 (FIG. 16).

In step SP6, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the timing at which the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state is normal. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that, for example, some of the coins sluggish between falling from the storage container 13A and blocking the upper passage detection light Lu, and the coins are on the upper side. This indicates that the timing of blocking the passage detection light Lu is no longer normal, and at this time the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP14 (FIG. 16). On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP6, this means that the timing at which the coin blocks the upper passage detection light Lu is normal, and at this time, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP7.

In step SP7, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the number of times the upper passage detection signal Sgu changes from the OFF state to the ON state is normal. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that, for example, some of the coins sluggish between falling from the storage container 13A and blocking the upper passage detection light Lu, and the coins are on the upper side. This indicates that the number of times the passing detection light Lu is blocked is no longer normal and has reached the number of times of abnormal blocking, and at this time, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP14 (FIG. 16). On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP7, this means that the number of times the coin blocks the upper passage detection light Lu is normal, and in this case, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP8 (FIG. 16). .

In step SP8, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the abnormality upper and lower passage fall time tude has elapsed since the upper passage detection signal Sgu changed to the OFF state. If a negative result is obtained here, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP9. In step SP9, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the light reception result (lower passage detection signal Sgd) of the lower passage detection sensor SEPd has changed from the OFF state to the ON state. If a negative result is obtained here, the coin control section 12 returns to step SP8. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP9, this means that the coin that has fallen below the upper passage detection light Lu has reached the lower passage detection light Ld within the normal falling time tudn between the upper and lower passages. In this case, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP10. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP8, this means that the coin that has passed through the upper passage detection light Lu is caught by the fall inhibiting factor, and reaches the lower passage detection light Ld within the normal falling time tudn between the upper and lower passages. This indicates that the coin has not been reached, and at this time the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP14. Hereinafter, the fall time tgue during abnormality during upper passage of the saucer part and the fall time tude during upper and lower passage during abnormality are collectively referred to as abnormality fall time.

In step SP10, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the abnormal light shielding time tse has elapsed since the lower passage detection signal Sgd changed to the ON state. If a negative result is obtained here, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP11. In step SP11, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the lower passage detection signal Sgd has returned from the ON state to the OFF state. If a negative result is obtained here, the coin control section 12 returns to step SP10. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP10, this means that the coins that have reached the lower passage detection light Ld are caught by the fall inhibiting factor, and the coins that have reached the lower passage detection light Ld are caught by the fall inhibiting factor, and the coins that reach the lower passage detection light Ld are This indicates that the coin has not fallen until then, and at this time, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP14.

In step SP12, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the timing at which the lower passage detection signal Sgd changes from the OFF state to the ON state is normal. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that, for example, a portion of all the coins falls below the upper passage detection light Lu until it blocks the lower passage detection light Ld. This indicates that the timing at which the coin blocks the lower passage detection light Ld is no longer normal, and at this time the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP14. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP12, this means that the timing at which the coin blocks the lower passage detection light Ld is normal, and at this time the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP13.

In step SP13, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the number of times the lower passage detection signal Sgd changes from the OFF state to the ON state is normal. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that, for example, a portion of all the coins falls below the upper passage detection light Lu until it blocks the lower passage detection light Ld. This indicates that the number of times the coin blocks the lower passage detection light Ld is no longer normal and has reached the abnormal number of times the light is blocked, and at this time, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP14. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP13, this means that the number of times the coin blocks the lower passage detection light Ld is normal, and at this time, the coin control unit 12 moves to step SP17 and monitors the coin drop. The processing procedure RT1 is completed and the next transaction is performed.

In step SP14, the coin control unit 12 increments the abnormality detection count by 1, and proceeds to step SP15. In step SP15, the coin control unit 12 determines whether the abnormality detection count has reached the upper limit of the abnormality detection count. If a positive result is obtained here, this means that an abnormal condition has occurred in multiple transactions, and if the transaction continues as it is, there is a high possibility that the device will stop, and in this case, the coin control The unit 12 moves to step SP16. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP15, this means that although an abnormal condition has occurred, there is still a low possibility that the device will stop, and therefore the transaction will continue for a while. The unit 12 moves to step SP17, ends the coin drop monitoring procedure RT1, and performs the next transaction.

In step SP16, the coin control unit 12 displays a warning screen on the operation display unit 8 to inform the maintenance personnel that an abnormality has occurred in the chute unit 14 and that there is a high possibility that the device will stop if the situation continues. Then, the process moves to step SP17, and the coin drop monitoring processing procedure RT1 is ended.

[8. Effects, etc.]
In the above configuration, the coin control unit 12 of the coin processing device 10 detects abnormalities in which the coin detection results of the upper passage detection sensor SEPu on the upstream side and the lower passage detection sensor SEPd on the downstream side are different from the detection results in normal times. The number of times a detection result was detected was counted, and a warning was output when the number of abnormal detection results reached a predetermined number while repeating transactions.

Specifically, the coin processing device 10 monitors, in the chute section 14, the light-blocking time during which the passing detection light L of the passing detection sensor SEP is blocked by the coins that have accumulated due to the fall inhibiting factor, and the light-blocking time is determined as the abnormal light-blocking time. When tse is reached, the abnormality detection count is incremented by 1, and when the abnormality detection count reaches the upper limit of the abnormality detection count, a warning is output. For this reason, the coin processing device 10 allows maintenance personnel to remove the factor that inhibits the coin from falling, which causes the coin to remain in a state where the passage detection light L is blocked.

The coin processing device 10 also has a predetermined location upstream of the passage detection sensor SEP in the chute section 14 (that is, a saucer gate opening/closing detection sensor in the case of the upper passage detection sensor SEPu, and a sensor for detecting opening/closing of the saucer part gate in the case of the lower passage detection sensor SEPd). The falling time from when the coin passes through the upper passage detection sensor SEPu until the passage detection light L of the passage detection sensor SEP is blocked by the coin is monitored, and when the falling time reaches the abnormal falling time , the anomaly detection count is incremented by 1, and when the anomaly detection count reaches the upper limit of the anomaly detection count, a warning is output. Therefore, the coin processing device 10 allows the maintenance personnel to remove the factor that inhibits the coin from falling, which causes the coin to stay upstream of the position where the passage detection light L is blocked.

Furthermore, the coin processing device 10 monitors the light blocking timing when the passing detection light L of the passing detection sensor SEP is blocked by a coin, and if the light blocking timing is an abnormal timing, the coin processing device 10 increments the abnormality detection count by 1 and A warning is now output when the detection count reaches the upper limit of anomaly detection count.

Furthermore, the coin processing device 10 monitors the number of times that the passage detection light L of the passage detection sensor SEP is blocked by a coin, and when the number of times of shading reaches the number of times of shading during abnormality, increments the abnormality detection count by 1, A warning is now output when the anomaly detection count reaches the upper limit of anomaly detection count.

For this reason, the coin processing device 10 allows maintenance personnel to remove the factor that inhibits coins from falling, which causes the coins to stay in an unusual state.

In this way, the coin processing device 10 counts the number of times that the coin detection results of the upper passage detection sensor SEPu and the lower passage detection sensor SEPd are not normal as an abnormality detection count, and detects the abnormality as the transaction is repeated. A warning is now output when the detection count reaches the upper limit of the abnormality detection count from the initial value of 0. Therefore, the coin processing device 10 can monitor the inside of the chute section 14 in detail, increasing the probability of noticing a change in the state of the chute section 14, and preventing the coin processing device 10 from stopping due to an abnormality in the chute section 14. In addition, maintenance personnel can remove the factors that inhibit falls. As a result, the coin processing device 10 improves the accuracy of detecting a stoppage of the coin processing device 10 caused by the chute section 14, and prevents the coin processing device 10 from stopping due to an abnormality in the chute section 14. This can be prevented and reliability can be improved.

In this way, the coin processing device 10 does not simply detect a coin accumulation abnormality based on the detection result of the sensor, or detect coin accumulation based on the number of light interruptions of the upstream and downstream sensors. When an error occurs, the number of times the error occurs is counted, and a warning is issued depending on the number of times the error occurs.

According to the above configuration, the coin processing device 10 of the automatic teller machine 1 includes the deposit/withdrawal section 13 into which coins are inserted, and the chute section which guides the coins inserted into the deposit/withdrawal section 13 along a predetermined path. 14, a passage detection sensor SEP which is arranged respectively on the upstream side and the downstream side of a predetermined path in the chute part 14 and detects passage of a coin as an object guided by the chute part 14; A coin control unit 12 is provided that monitors the state of the chute unit 14 based on the detection result, and the coin control unit 12 detects coins at the upper passage detection sensor SEPu on the upstream side and the lower passage detection sensor SEPd on the downstream side. The number of abnormal detection results different from normal detection results is counted, and a warning is output when the number of abnormal detection results reaches a predetermined number. Thereby, the coin processing device 10 can have a maintenance person remove the factors that inhibit the coin from falling before the coin processing device 10 stops due to an abnormality in the chute section 14.

[9. Other embodiments]
In the embodiment described above, a case has been described in which a warning is output when the abnormality detection count reaches the upper limit of the abnormality detection count. The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the case where the abnormality detection count is added once a day and reaches the abnormality detection count upper limit, and the case where the abnormality detection count is added once per week and reaches the abnormality detection count upper limit. Different types of warnings may be issued depending on the frequency of increase in the abnormality detection count (that is, the increasing trend over time or the rate of increase over time), such as when different types of warnings are issued depending on when the abnormality detection count reaches . In addition, the anomaly detection count is counted up (added) by 1 each time an anomaly occurs from the initial value of 0, and the anomaly detection count is not limited to outputting a warning when the anomaly detection count upper limit is reached. may be counted down (subtracted) by 1 from the initial value, which is the upper limit of the abnormality detection count, for each transaction in which an abnormality occurs, and a warning may be output when it reaches 0. In short, it is sufficient to be able to count the number of transactions in which an abnormality has occurred.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a case has been described in which the same abnormality detection count is incremented by 1 when any one of the light blocking time, light blocking timing, and number of light blocking is abnormal. The present invention is not limited to this, but includes a shading time abnormality detection count that is incremented by 1 when the shading time is abnormal, and a shading timing abnormality detection count that is added by 1 when the shading timing is abnormal. There are three types of abnormality detection counts depending on the detected abnormality, including a shading frequency abnormality detection count that is incremented by 1 when the number of light interruptions is abnormal. It may be added as appropriate. Furthermore, when the abnormality detection count reaches the upper limit of the abnormality detection count, different warnings may be output depending on the type of the abnormality detection count that has been reached.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a case has been described in which a warning is output when the abnormality detection count reaches one value, which is the upper limit of the abnormality detection count. The present invention is not limited to this, but provides a plurality of abnormality detection count upper limits with different values, and when the abnormality detection count reaches the first abnormality detection count upper limit, which is the first predetermined number of times set to a low value, the On the other hand, if the anomaly detection count is further added and reaches the upper limit of the second anomaly detection count as the second predetermined number of times set to a higher value, a heavier warning is output. Multiple types of warnings may be issued depending on the current abnormality detection count, such as outputting .

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the case where a warning is displayed on the operation display section 8 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be used as long as the maintenance personnel can be warned by various methods such as outputting a sound. Further, a warning (alarm) may be output (notified) to the management terminal or host server that manages the automated teller machine 1.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a case has been described in which the chute portion 14 is provided with two passage detection sensors SEP, the upper passage detection sensor SEPu and the lower passage detection sensor SEPd. The present invention is not limited to this, and various numbers of passage detection sensors, including three or more, may be provided.

Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the case where the present invention is applied to the chute section 14 incorporated in the coin processing device 10 of the automatic teller machine 1 (FIG. 1) that performs various transactions with users has been described. . The present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to various coin handling devices, such as a cash management device that is installed in a financial institution or a supermarket store, etc., and performs processing such as counting and sorting coins according to the operations of the store's staff or staff. The present invention may be applied to this device.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and other embodiments. In other words, the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments in which each of the above-mentioned embodiments and a part or all of the other embodiments described above are arbitrarily combined, and embodiments in which a part is extracted. It is.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the deposit/withdrawal section 13 as the input section, the chute section 14 as the chute section, the passage detection sensor SEP as the passage detection sensor, and the coin control section 12 as the state monitoring section , the case of configuring the coin processing device 10 as a coin processing device has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the coin processing device may be configured by an input section, a chute section, a passage detection sensor, and a state monitoring section having various other configurations.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention can be utilized, for example in the automatic teller machine etc. which perform transaction processing regarding a coin with a user.

1...Automated teller machine, 2...Casing, 3...Reception department, 4...Passbook entry/exit, 5...Card entry/exit, 6...Coin entry/exit, 7...Banknote entry/exit, 8...Operation display section, 9...Main control section, 10...Coin processing device, 11...Coin processing device housing, 12...Coin control section, 13...Deposit/withdrawal section, 13A...Accommodator, 13B...Shutter, 13G...Saucer part gate, 14...Chute part, 14A...Coin passing space, 14L...Chute part left inner wall surface, 14B...Chute part rear inner wall surface, 14F...Chute part front side Inner wall surface, 15... upper separation section, 15A... accumulation separation section, 15B... separation conveyance section, 16... recognition conveyance section, 17... delivery section, 18... pin belt conveyance section, 19... branching section, 20... Stacker branch section, 21... Stacker section, 22... Payment conveyance section, 23... Temporary holding section, 24... Replenishment collection warehouse, 25... First replenishment reject warehouse, 26... Second replenishment Reject storage, 27...Reject storage, 28...Receipt storage, 29...Lower separation section, 29A...Accumulation separation section, 29B...Separation and conveyance section, 30, 31...Guide section, 32... Accumulating section, 33... Feeding section, SEP... Passage detection sensor, SEPu... Upper passage detection sensor, SEPd... Lower passage detection sensor, Sgg... Receiver opening/closing detection signal, Sgu... Upper passage detection signal, Sgd...lower passage detection signal, tgr...point of time when the saucer part rises, tgun...fall time during normal state of upper passage of the saucer part, tur...point of rise of upper passage, tsf...shading time for small number of sheets, tuf ...Upper pass fall time, tudn...Normal time upper and lower pass fall time, tdr...Lower pass rise time, tdf...Lower pass fall time, tsm...Shading time at limit number of sheets, tgue...Fall time between the upper and lower passages of the saucer part in case of an abnormality, tude...Fall time between the upper and lower sides in case of an abnormality, te...Time of device stop, SEPue, SEPde...Light emitting part, SEPur, SEPdr...Light receiving part, SEPup , SEPdp...prism, L...passage detection light, Lu...upper passage detection light, Ld...lower passage detection light.

Claims (12)

an insertion section into which coins are inserted;
a chute section that guides the coins inserted into the input section along a predetermined path;
a passage detection sensor that is disposed on an upstream side and a downstream side of the predetermined path in the chute section and detects passage of an object guided by the chute section;
and a state monitoring unit that monitors the state of the chute based on the detection result of the passage detection sensor,
The state monitoring unit counts the number of times that the detection result of the object by the passage detection sensor on the upstream side and the passage detection sensor on the downstream side is an abnormal detection result different from a detection result in a normal state, and A coin processing device characterized by outputting a warning when the number of abnormal detection results reaches a predetermined number. The condition monitoring unit includes:
If the detection result of the object by at least one of the passage detection sensor on the upstream side or the passage detection sensor on the downstream side continues to detect the object for a predetermined time or more, it is determined that the detection result is the abnormal detection result. The coin processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The condition monitoring unit includes:
If the time taken from a predetermined point upstream of the upstream passage detection sensor to the upstream passage detection sensor detect the object is longer than a predetermined time, the abnormal detection result is determined. The coin processing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coin processing device makes a judgment. The condition monitoring unit includes:
If the time taken from the passage detection sensor on the upstream side to the passage detection sensor on the downstream side to detect the object is longer than a predetermined time, it is determined that the detection result is abnormal. The coin processing device according to claim 1 or 2. The condition monitoring unit includes:
If the detection result of the object by at least one of the passage detection sensor on the upstream side or the passage detection sensor on the downstream side does not detect the object at a predetermined timing, it is determined that the detection result is abnormal. The coin processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The condition monitoring unit includes:
If the detection result of the object by at least one of the passage detection sensor on the upstream side or the passage detection sensor on the downstream side detects the object a predetermined number of times or more, it is determined that the detection result is the abnormal detection result. The coin processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by: The condition monitoring unit includes:
The coin processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the different warnings are outputted depending on the frequency of increase in the number of abnormal detection results. The condition monitoring unit includes:
The coin processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the number of times the abnormality detection result is detected is added for each type of the detected abnormality. The condition monitoring unit includes:
The coin processing device according to claim 8, wherein when the number of abnormal detection results reaches a predetermined number, the coin processing device outputs the warning that differs depending on the type of the abnormality for which the number of abnormal detection results has reached a predetermined number. . The condition monitoring unit includes:
Any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the warning is output differently depending on whether the number of abnormal detection results reaches a first predetermined number or a second predetermined number. The coin handling device described in . The condition monitoring unit includes:
If the detection result is abnormal, the number of times the detection result is abnormal is increased by 1 for each transaction. Coin handling equipment. an operation section that accepts user operations;
A cash handling device comprising: the coin processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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