JP7565045B2 - Coin Processing Device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coin processing device.

Currently, typical ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) allow the deposit and withdrawal of small amounts (small numbers of coins). On the other hand, some users may deposit large amounts of coins, and therefore coin processing devices are installed next to the ATM to allow the deposit of large amounts of coins.

There are many different types of coin processing devices. For example, the coin processing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 sorts and counts coins by denomination in order of diameter, temporarily stores the coins, and then stores the temporarily stored group of coins in storage boxes below for each denomination.

The coin processing device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is equipped with multiple sorting mechanisms capable of sorting coins by any type. The coin of the denomination that is identified and counted most frequently before the first coin reaches the first sorting mechanism is automatically set as the first denomination. Then, after sorting by the first sorting mechanism, coins of the second denomination are sorted by the second sorting mechanism.

The coin processing device disclosed in Patent Document 3 separates coins into two categories: acceptable and unacceptable, and further distributes acceptable coins in a mixed denomination state to each of a number of distribution sections in order.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 55-092989 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 04-293188 Patent No. 4732121

However, in the coin processing devices disclosed in both patent documents, coins fall downward through a sorting hole in the sorting mechanism and are stored in a temporary storage section or a storage section, and at least the sorting hole at the end of the coin passage (the most downstream in the direction in which the coins are transported) is simply a hole (hole). For this reason, for example, when the conveyor belt stretched above the coin passage is retracted, the temporary storage section or storage section is exposed to the outside through the sorting hole.

In general, in coin processing devices, the coin counting mechanism section in which the coin passage is provided has an upper cover that can be opened and closed so that transport jams and the like can be easily dealt with. For this reason, the upper cover is opened and the transport belt is evacuated. Therefore, during this operation, if the temporary storage section or storage section is exposed to the outside through the sorting hole, a third party can remove the coins stored in the temporary storage section or storage section from the sorting hole. Also, coins that have not been counted may fall and be stored in the temporary storage section or storage section through the sorting hole.

The present invention aims to provide a coin processing device that can close the sorting hole when coin counting is completed or when an abnormal stop occurs.

The first aspect of the present invention is a coin processing device that includes a recognition and counting unit that recognizes and counts inserted coins, a sorting hole that separates coins into at least two types by the recognition and counting unit and drops coins of one type, an opening and closing mechanism that is provided in the sorting hole and opens and closes the sorting hole, and a control unit that controls the opening and closing mechanism to open the sorting hole when counting begins and to close the sorting hole when counting ends.

When counting is complete, the sorting hole is closed, ensuring the reliability of the counting results for the stored coins.

1 is an external perspective view of a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a top view of the inside of a coin processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the coin processing device of the present embodiment as viewed from the right side. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the coin processing device of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a configuration for storing coins in the coin processing device of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the coin processing device of the present embodiment.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention. The following embodiment is an example of an apparatus and method for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea (structure, arrangement) of the present invention is not limited to the one described below. The technical idea of the present invention can be modified in various ways within the technical scope described in the claims. The drawings are schematic, and the configuration of the apparatus and system may differ from the actual one. Furthermore, descriptions of already known technologies are omitted. Front, back, left, and right refer to the front of the coin processing device 1 (the front side as seen from the place where the operator operates it), the rear of the coin processing device 1 (the rear side as seen from the operator), and the left and right of the coin processing device 1 (the left and right as seen from the operator). Furthermore, up and down refer to the direction perpendicular to the front, back, and left and right directions, and the directions are shown in coordinates in each drawing.

The coin processing device 1 enables the deposit of large amounts of coins in a system of a financial institution including ATMs, and is provided separately from the ATM. The coin processing device 1 includes a recognition and counting unit 45 that recognizes and counts inserted coins, sorting holes 71a, 71b (Fig. 3) that separate coins into at least two types by the recognition and counting unit 45 and drop coins that have been separated into one type, and opening and closing mechanisms 72a, 72b (Fig. 3) that are provided in the sorting holes 71a, 71b and open and close the sorting holes 71a, 71b. When counting begins, the opening and closing mechanisms 72a, 72b open the sorting holes 71a, 71b, and when counting ends, the opening and closing mechanisms 72a, 72b close the sorting holes 71a, 71b.

<Specific configuration of coin processing device 1>
The coin processing device 1 (Fig. 1) is equipped with an upper cover 2, which is supported so that the front part of the device can be pivoted upward and opened, starting from a horizontal axis having an axis in the width direction at the rear of the device. A shutter 2a, which is an opening/closing device, is provided on the top surface of the upper cover 2. Note that Fig. 2 shows the visible state when the upper cover 2 is open. An opening/closing detection unit (not shown) of the upper cover 2 is structured to detect a part of the upper cover 2 that has been pivoted down and is located at the front part of the device.

The cart 3 (Fig. 1) is pulled out to the front side of the coin processing device 1 by rolling casters 31 provided at the bottom. It can be removed from the coin processing device 1 and transported, and can be attached to the coin processing device 1 by loading it from the front side. As shown in Fig. 3, safes 12a and 12b are provided on the cart 3 side by side in the front-to-rear direction.

The coin counting unit 4 (Figs. 3 and 5) has a hopper 41, a rotating disk 42, a coin separation unit 43, a coin passage 44, and an identification and counting unit 45. The hopper 41 is provided directly below the shutter 2a and stores inserted coins. The rotating disk 42 is a horizontally rotatable disk provided below the hopper 41 so as to form its bottom.

The coin separation unit 43 has an opening through which only one coin can pass, and uses the centrifugal force generated when the rotating disk 42 rotates to feed the coins one by one into the coin passage 44. The coin passage 44 is a passage that horizontally transports the coins fed one by one by the coin separation unit 43, and as is well known, a conveyor belt (not shown) is suspended along the coin passage 44 and is arranged to press the coins into the coin passage 44 from above. The identification and counting unit 45 (Figures 3 and 5) is provided upstream of the coin passage 44, and identifies the authenticity and denomination of the coins being transported through the coin passage 44, and counts the number of coins.

The reject unit 5 stores coins other than genuine coins (hereinafter referred to as rejected coins) in the reject box 6 based on the counting results of the identification and counting unit 45 of the coin counting unit 4. The reject unit 5 has a reject hole 51, a reject member 52 for dropping coins into the reject hole 51, and an upstream coin sensor 53. The coin sensor 53 is used to control the opening and closing timing of the reject member 52. The reject box 6 is a detachable box that stores rejected coins that have been removed from the coin passage 44 by the reject unit 5.

The sorting units 7a and 7b (Figs. 3 to 5) are disposed downstream of the reject unit 5 in the coin passage 44. The sorting units 7a and 7b (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them individually, they will be simply referred to as sorting units 7; the same applies in other cases) have a mechanism for sorting coins that have been identified and counted as genuine coins and acceptable based on the counting results of the identification and counting unit 45, to the temporary storage unit 8a or the temporary storage unit 8b.

The sorting units 7a and 7b each have a sorting hole 71a and a sorting hole 71b into which the largest coins they handle (500 yen coins in Japan) can fall. The sorting units 7a and 7b are provided with an opening/closing mechanism (shutter) 72a and an opening/closing mechanism (shutter) 72b that can open and close the sorting hole 71a and the sorting hole 71b individually (Figure 3).

The opening and closing mechanisms 72a and 72b use, for example, a solenoid. A solenoid is a cylindrical coil that creates a magnetic field inside the coil by passing a current through it. In a linear actuator using a solenoid, the coil is excited by direct current sent from a power source, and the movable iron core is caused to perform a small linear motion with a fast response by electromagnetic force. The opening and closing mechanisms 72a and 72b using a solenoid are opened and closed at high speed by the opening and closing mechanisms 72a and 72b directly connected to the movable iron core. Note that the opening and closing mechanisms 72a and 72b may use a solenoid coil or other methods such as a cam mechanism.

The temporary storage section 8a is a rectangular frame in a plan view and is provided below the sorting section 7a. The temporary storage section 8b is a rectangular frame in a plan view and is provided below the sorting section 7b. When the sorting hole 71a is opened by the opening/closing mechanism 72a of the sorting section 7a, coins that reach the sorting hole 71a fall from the sorting hole 71a into the temporary storage section 8a. When the sorting section 7a is closed by the opening/closing mechanism 72a of the sorting section 7a, the coins reach the sorting hole 71b, and when the sorting hole 71b is open, the coins fall from the sorting hole 71b into the temporary storage section 8b.

The bottom of the temporary storage sections 8a and 8b is composed of a single horizontal temporary storage bottom plate 81 (Figures 3 and 5).

The temporary storage sections 8a and 8b are supported so as to be able to move horizontally in the left-right direction of the device housing as a unit. The temporary storage bottom plate 81 is also supported so as to be able to move horizontally in the left-right direction independently of the temporary storage sections 8a and 8b. The temporary storage sections 8a and 8b and the temporary storage bottom plate 81 move horizontally to store coins in a specified location.

Guide 11 (Fig. 5) is a guide that guides the temporary storage sections 8a, 8b and the temporary storage bottom plate 81 to transfer the coins stored there to the safes 12a, 12b when they move horizontally to the left. It is also possible to not provide guide 11 and instead increase the height of safes 12a, 12b by the amount of guide 11 so that the coins stored in temporary storage sections 8a, 8b can be transferred to safes 12a, 12b.

The safes 12a and 12b are located below the temporary storage sections 8a and 8b when they are provided along the left side of the device housing.

The safes 12a and 12b are placed on a cart 3 that can be attached to and detached from the coin processing device 1. They can also be supported by a safe carrier supported on a slide rail that can be inserted and removed from the coin processing device 1.

The safes 12a and 12b are boxes with an opening at the top, and the top opening is provided with a shutter member (not shown) that opens and closes the opening. When the safes 12a and 12b are located inside the device body, the shutter member opens the top opening, allowing coins to be received from above.

When the safes 12a and 12b are inside the coin processing device 1, the shutter members of the safes 12a and 12b close and lock their upper openings upon receiving a collection command. The safes can then be pulled out from inside the device housing, and the safes 12a and 12b with their upper openings closed by the shutter members can be pulled out of the device housing together with the dolly 3 or from a safe carrier supported by a slide rail.

When the safes 12a and 12b are outside the coin processing device 1, a shutter or opening lid (not shown) can be opened with a special key to allow the stored coins to be removed.

The display operation unit 13 (Figure 3) displays information to the user and accepts operation inputs from the user. The control unit 14 controls each unit to execute the coin deposit process in the coin processing device 1.

<Coin Deposit Processing of the Coin Processing Device 1>
6 is a flow chart for explaining the coin deposit process. When a user operates the ATM to deposit a large amount of coins and receives an instruction from the ATM that a large amount of coins has been deposited, in step S1, the control unit 14 of the coin processing device 1 opens the shutter 2a to accept the coins. Note that even at this point, including before receiving an instruction from the ATM to deposit a large amount of coins, the sorting holes 71a and 71b of the coin passage 44 are in a standby state in a closed state by the opening/closing mechanisms 72a and 72b.

When the user operates the ATM to start counting, in step S2, the control unit 14 closes the shutter 2a and executes the recognition and counting process. At this point, i.e., when counting starts, the sorting holes 71a and 71b of the coin passage 44 are controlled by the opening and closing mechanisms 72a and 72b to change from a closed state to an open state (the shutter opens). Note that both sorting holes 71a and 71b may be opened simultaneously, or only one of them may be controlled to be open. When the recognition and counting process is executed, the coins on the rotating rotating disk 42 are separated one by one and sent to a conveyor belt (not shown) arranged above the coin passage 44. The conveyor belt presses the coins against the surface of the coin passage 44 and conveys them downstream along the coin passage 44. Recognition and counting of the coins inserted through the shutter 2a begins.

At this time, as described above, the control unit 14 controls the opening and closing mechanisms 72a and 72b to open and close the sorting holes 71a and 71b, and distributes coins that have been identified and counted as genuine coins and acceptable based on the counting results of the recognition and counting unit 45 to the temporary storage unit 8a or the temporary storage unit 8b. When distributing coins to the temporary storage unit 8a, the sorting hole 71a is controlled to open, and the coins fall from the sorting hole 71a into the temporary storage unit 8a. When distributing coins to the temporary storage unit 8b, the sorting hole 71a is controlled to close and the sorting hole 71b is controlled to open, and the coins fall from the sorting hole 71b into the temporary storage unit 8b. Note that even if the sorting hole 71b is open, if the upstream sorting hole 71a is open, the coins will fall from there, so when the recognition and counting process is started, the sorting hole 71b is opened to simplify the process.

When a coin that cannot be identified as a genuine coin by the identification and counting unit 45 (a rejected coin) is detected by the coin sensor 53 of the reject unit 5, the control unit 14 controls the opening of the reject member 52. As a result, the rejected coin detected by the coin sensor 53 passes through the reject hole 51 and is stored in the reject box 6. Note that even commemorative coins that are not subject to handling and genuine foreign coins are stored in the reject box 6 as counterfeit coins. When a counterfeit coin is rejected to the reject box 6, a message to that effect is displayed on the ATM and an LED (not shown) on the front of the main body of the coin processing device 1 lights up or flashes, allowing the user to reliably collect the rejected coins.

In step S3, the control unit 14 determines whether an error has occurred. For example, if the top cover 2 is opened, if a counting stop button (not shown) is operated to request stopping of counting, or if an abnormality in the power supply system (e.g., a sudden power outage) occurs, it is determined that an error has occurred.

If it is determined in step S3 that no error has occurred, the control unit 14 determines in step S4 whether the deposit has been completed. The deposit is determined to be completed when a sensor (not shown) detects that there are no coins on the rotating disk 42 and the time required for the last coin that has been correctly identified by the identification and counting unit 45 to be guided to at least the most downstream sorting hole 72b has elapsed. If it is determined in step S4 that the deposit has not been completed, the control unit 14 returns to step S3 and executes the subsequent processes in the same manner.

If it is determined in step S4 that the deposit has been completed, the control unit 14 temporarily stops the identification and counting process (ends counting) in step S5, i.e., stops the rotation of the rotating disk 42 and the driving of the conveyor belt (not shown), and closes the sorting holes 71a, 71b of the coin passage 44 by the opening and closing mechanisms 72a, 72b (closes the shutter). Then, in step S6, the control unit 14 determines whether there are any coins to be recounted. Here, recounting includes coins that could not be guided to the sorting holes 71a, 71b, such as rejected coins. If it is determined that there are coins to be recounted, the process returns to step S1, and subsequent processes are executed. If it is determined in step S6 that there are no coins to be recounted, the control unit 14 ends the coin deposit process with the opening and closing mechanisms 72a, 72b closed. Here, when determining whether or not recounting is required in step S6, the user is inquired as to whether or not he or she wishes to count again, and if the user indicates a desire to count again within a certain period of time, the shutter 2a is opened to allow the coins to be reinserted (step S1). On the other hand, if the user does not indicate a desire to count again within the certain period of time, the coin deposit process is terminated. Alternatively, instead of inquiring as to whether or not the user wishes to count again, the shutter 2a is opened to allow the coins to be reinserted or additional coins to be inserted, and it is confirmed whether or not any coins have been inserted into the shutter 2a, hopper 41, and rotating disk 42 within the certain period of time. If any coins have been inserted, it is determined that recounting is required and the process returns to step 2. If it is not confirmed that any coins have been inserted, it is determined that recounting is not required and the shutter 2a is closed and the coin deposit process is terminated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that an error has occurred, the control unit 14 proceeds to step S7, where it temporarily stops the recognition and counting process (ends counting), controls the coin transport stop unit (not shown) located immediately before the recognition and counting unit 45, blocks the transport of coins upstream of the coin passage 44 before the error occurred, and guides only coins that have been properly recognized by the recognition and counting unit 45 to the sorting holes 71a, 71b. The control unit 14 then controls the opening and closing mechanisms 72a, 72b to close the sorting holes 71a, 71b (closes the shutters).

If an error occurs and it is determined that there is an abnormality in the counting results of the coins introduced into the sorting holes 71a and 71b, the selected coins are returned and recounted. If it is determined that there is no abnormality in the counting results of the coins introduced into the sorting holes 71a and 71b, the selected coins are left as they are and only a confirmation is made as to whether an abnormality has occurred.

Next, in step S8, the control unit 14 determines whether the error has been resolved, and if it is determined that the error has been resolved, the process returns to step S2 and restarts the recognition and counting process. If it is determined in step S8 that the error has not been resolved, the control unit 14 ends the coin deposit process.

As described above, the coin processing device 1 includes a recognition and counting unit 45 that recognizes and counts inserted coins, sorting holes 71a, 71b that separate coins into at least two types using the recognition and counting unit 45 and drop coins of one type, and opening and closing mechanisms 72a, 72b that open and close the sorting holes 71a, 71b. When counting starts, the opening and closing mechanisms 72a, 72b open the sorting holes 71a, 71b (step S2), and when counting ends, the opening and closing mechanisms 72a, 72b close the sorting holes 71a, 71b (steps S5, S7). Therefore, when counting ends, the sorting holes 71a, 71b are also closed, so the temporary storage units 8a, 8b are not exposed to the outside through the sorting holes 71a, 71b. Therefore, when the counting is completed, a third party cannot remove the coins stored in the temporary storage units 8a and 8b from the sorting holes 71a and 71b. Furthermore, coins that have not been counted will not fall and be stored in the temporary storage units 8a and 8b via the sorting holes 71a and 71b. In other words, the reliability of the counting results can be maintained.

As described above, recounting or additional counting can be started, the sorting holes are opened by the opening/closing mechanism when recounting or additional counting starts (step 2 after step S6YES), and the sorting holes 71a and 71b are closed by the opening/closing mechanisms 72a and 72b when recounting or additional counting ends (step 5 after step S6YES or thereafter). Therefore, even during the time period between the initial counting and the recounting or additional counting, the sorting holes 71a and 71b are kept closed by the opening/closing mechanisms 72a and 72b, so the reliability of the counting results can be maintained.

When an abnormality is detected, the opening and closing mechanisms 72a and 72b control the sorting holes 71a and 71b to be closed (step S7), and when a normal state is detected after the abnormality is detected or the error is eliminated, the opening and closing mechanisms 72a and 72b control the sorting holes 71a and 71b to be open (step S2 after step S8YES). For example, when a conveyance jam occurs, the upper cover is opened and the conveyance belt is evacuated to perform processing. At that time, as shown in FIG. 2, the sorting units 7a and 7b (specifically, the sorting holes 71a and 71b) are configured to be exposed, but since the sorting holes 71a and 71b are closed by the opening and closing mechanisms 72a and 72b, a third party cannot take out the coins stored in the temporary storage units 8a and 8b from the sorting holes 71a and 71b. Also, coins that have not been counted will not fall and be stored in the temporary storage units 8a and 8b via the sorting holes 71a and 71b. In other words, the reliability of the counting results can be maintained.
In this embodiment, a configuration has been described in which two sorting holes 71a, 71b, opening/closing mechanisms 72a, 72b, temporary storage sections 8a, 8b, and safes 12a, 12b are provided, but this is not limited to this and also includes configurations in which one each, or three or more each are provided.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Coin processing device 2 Upper cover 3 Cart 4 Coin counting unit 5 Reject unit 6 Reject box 7 Sorting unit 8 Temporary storage unit 9 Chute space frame 11 Guide 12 Safe 14 Control unit

Claims (3)

A coin processing device,
a recognition and counting unit for recognizing and counting inserted coins;
a sorting hole through which coins of one type are dropped by the identifying and counting unit, the sorting hole being configured to sort coins into at least two types;
an opening/closing mechanism provided in the sorting hole for opening and closing the sorting hole;
a control unit that controls the opening and closing mechanism to open the sorting hole when counting starts and to close the sorting hole when counting ends ,
The control unit opens the sorting hole using the opening/closing mechanism when coins are re-inserted or additional coins are inserted, and controls the opening/closing mechanism to close the sorting hole again when re-counting or additional counting is completed . The coin processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit controls the opening/closing mechanism to close the sorting hole when an abnormality is detected , and controls the opening/closing mechanism to open the sorting hole when a normal state is detected after the abnormality is detected. A coin processing device,
a recognition and counting unit for recognizing and counting inserted coins;
a sorting hole through which coins of one type are dropped by the identifying and counting unit, the sorting hole being configured to sort coins into at least two types;
an opening/closing mechanism provided in the sorting hole for opening and closing the sorting hole;
a control unit that controls the opening and closing mechanism to open the sorting hole when counting starts and to close the sorting hole when counting ends,
A coin processing device characterized in that the control unit controls the opening/closing mechanism to close the sorting hole when an abnormality is detected, and controls the opening/closing mechanism to open the sorting hole when a normal state is detected after the abnormality is detected.

Images