JP7586427B2 - Coin Handling Machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coin processing machine that processes coins.

Some coin processing machines have a denomination-specific storage section that can deposit and dispense loose coins, a denomination-specific coin bar storage section that can store and dispense wrapped coins (so-called coin bars) that are formed by wrapping loose coins in a wrapping unit number in a wrapping sheet, a packaging section that receives and packages loose coins, and a coin bar transport section that discharges the coin bars packaged in the packaging section to the denomination-specific coin bar storage section or outside the machine (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

In the coin processing machine of Patent Document 1, the coin roll transport unit receives the coin roll wrapped in the wrapping unit, transports it to the rear of the coin roll storage unit so as to bypass the coin roll storage unit on the way, then transports it upward to store it in the coin roll storage unit of a specified denomination from the rear, and pays it out to the coin roll transport unit from the front. In the coin processing machine of Patent Document 2, the coin roll transport unit is configured to be able to store the coin roll in the storage unit and take the coin roll out of the storage unit at a position directly opposite the coin roll storage unit of a denomination. In both cases, the coin roll transport unit is configured to transport the coin roll fed onto the coin roll transport unit for withdrawal to the withdrawal port, and to dispense it to the outside from the withdrawal port.

JP 2012-243003 A JP 2013-061822 A

When dispensing coin rolls using a coin processing machine like the one described above, the user inputs the desired denomination and quantity via the operation unit, and the coin rolls are fed and dispensed from the coin roll storage unit based on the input information.

However, if the coin rolls of the denomination and quantity desired by the user are not stored in the coin roll storage unit, they cannot be dispensed, resulting in a shortage of coin rolls to be paid out. The user must either give up on the shortage of coin rolls, or, as a method of making up the shortage, create coin rolls from loose coins stored in the loose coin storage unit in the machine in the next transaction and store them in the coin roll storage unit, and then in the next transaction, perform a dispensing process for the coin rolls stored in the coin roll storage unit, and combine them with the amount dispensed the previous time to make up the desired number of coin rolls. In this case, instead of a single coin roll dispensing process, a process of moving the coins in the machine's inventory is performed after the first coin roll dispensing process, and then a second coin roll dispensing process is performed, and multiple processes must be specified and performed. This creates the problem that the user must repeatedly perform cumbersome operation inputs, making it difficult to use.

The present invention aims to provide an easy-to-use coin processing machine.

A first aspect of the present invention is a coin processing machine having a loose coin storage unit that stores loose coins so that they can be paid out, a wrapping unit that wraps a predetermined number of loose coins in a wrapping sheet to produce wrapped coin rolls, which are gold coin rolls, a coin roll storage unit that stores the coin rolls as stored gold coin rolls and can pay them out, a coin roll dispensing unit that reserves the coin rolls so that they can be removed from the machine, and a control unit that controls the loose coin storage unit, the wrapping unit, the gold coin storage unit and the gold coin roll dispensing unit, and also controls the transportation of loose coins and gold coin rolls, The control unit merges both the stored gold bars stored in the gold bar storage unit and the wrapped gold bars created by wrapping the loose coins stored in the loose coin storage unit in the wrapping unit and dispenses them to the gold bar dispensing unit , and further, when multiple denominations of gold bar coins are dispensed at once to the gold bar dispensing unit in one transaction of the gold bar dispensing process and when both the stored gold bar and the wrapped gold bar are dispensed, when the stored gold bar and the wrapped gold bar are merged, the multiple denominations of gold bar coins are grouped together by denomination .
A second aspect of the present invention is a coin processing machine having a loose coin storage unit that stores loose coins so that they can be paid out, a wrapping unit that wraps a predetermined number of loose coins in a wrapping sheet to produce wrapped coin rolls, which are gold coin rolls, a coin roll storage unit that stores the coin rolls as stored gold coin rolls and can pay them out, a coin roll dispensing unit that reserves the coin rolls so that they can be removed from the machine, and a control unit that controls the loose coin storage unit, the wrapping unit, the gold coin storage unit, and the gold coin roll dispensing unit, and also controls the transportation of the loose coins and the gold coin rolls, is characterized in that, in one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, both the stored coin rolls stored in the coin roll storage unit and the wrapped coin rolls created by wrapping the loose coins stored in the loose coin storage unit in the packaging unit are merged and dispensed by the coin roll dispensing unit, and further, when the dispensing of coin rolls in one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process is instructed across multiple denominations, the control unit causes the coin rolls to be dispensed by the coin roll dispensing unit for each denomination so that they can be removed from the machine.
A third aspect of the present invention is a coin processing machine having a loose coin storage unit that stores loose coins so that they can be paid out, a wrapping unit that wraps a predetermined number of loose coins in a wrapping sheet to produce wrapped coin rolls that are gold coin rolls, a coin roll storage unit that stores the coin rolls as stored gold coin rolls and is capable of paying them out, a coin roll dispensing unit that reserves the coin rolls so that they can be removed from the machine, and a control unit that controls the loose coin storage unit, the wrapping unit, the coin roll storage unit, and the coin roll dispensing unit, and also controls the transport of loose coins and coin rolls, wherein in one transaction of a coin roll dispensing process, the control unit: The control unit combines both the stored gold bars stored in the gold bar storage unit and the wrapped gold bars created by packaging the loose coins stored in the loose coin storage unit in the packaging unit and dispenses them to the gold bar dispensing unit, and further, in one transaction of the gold bar dispensing process, the control unit combines both the stored gold bars stored in the gold bar storage unit and the wrapped gold bars created by packaging the loose coins stored in the loose coin storage unit in the packaging unit and dispenses them to the gold bar dispensing unit, and sends the wrapped gold bars toward the gold bar storage unit.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a coin processing machine having a loose coin storage unit which stores loose coins so as to be payable, a wrapping unit which wraps a predetermined number of loose coins in a wrapping sheet to produce wrapped coin rolls, which are gold coin rolls, a coin roll storage unit which stores the coin rolls as stored gold coin rolls and is payable out, a coin roll dispensing unit which reserves the coin rolls so as to be removable outside the machine, and a control unit which controls the loose coin storage unit, the wrapping unit, the coin roll storage unit and the coin roll dispensing unit, and also controls the transport of loose coins and coin rolls, In this case, the control unit compares the amount of stored gold bars already stored in the gold bar storage unit with the requested number of gold bar coins requested to be dispensed in that one transaction, and determines a gold bar coin dispensing processing pattern based on the comparison result, and performs a coin bar dispensing process in accordance with the determined coin bar dispensing processing pattern.Furthermore, in one coin bar dispensing transaction, in addition to the coin bar dispensing processing pattern, the control unit additionally executes a wrapped gold bar replenishment process in which the packaging unit stores wrapped gold bars, in which a predetermined number of loose coins are wrapped, in the gold bar storage unit .

The present invention provides a user-friendly coin processing machine.

1 is a perspective view showing a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a schematic view of a roll coin processing device of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
The coin processing machine 12 of this embodiment is configured by juxtaposing a loose coin processing machine 11 that processes loose coins, and a coin roll processing machine 10 that processes wrapped coins, so-called roll coins, which are formed by wrapping loose coins in a wrapping unit number and integrating them in a wrapping sheet. In the following description, "front" is the side of the operator of the coin processing machine 12, "rear" is the opposite side to the operator of the coin processing machine 12, "left" is the left as seen by the operator of the coin processing machine 12, and "right" is the right as seen by the operator of the coin processing machine 12.

<Configuration of coin processing machine 12>
First, the configuration of the coin processing machine 12 of this embodiment will be described.

{Loose coin processing device 11}
As shown generally in Figure 2, the loose coin processing device 11 has a loose coin deposit processing unit 21 which receives loose coins C from outside the loose coin processing device 11 and processes the deposited loose coins C, and a loose coin storage and withdrawal processing unit 22 which accepts loose coins C from the loose coin deposit processing unit 21, performs a storage process to store them, and withdraws the stored loose coins C so that they can be removed outside the machine.

The loose coin deposit processing unit 21 has a loose coin deposit unit 31, which is a hopper into which loose coins C are inserted from outside the loose coin processing device 11 and which separates and dispenses the inserted loose coins C one by one. As shown in FIG. 1, the loose coin deposit unit 31 is provided on the top surface of the loose coin processing device 11 and has an openable and closable shutter 38.

As shown in FIG. 2, the loose coin deposit processing section 21 has a deposit transport section 33 which transports loose coins C dispensed from the loose coin deposit section 31 while identifying and counting the genuineness and denomination of the coins in the deposit identification and counting section 32, an openable deposit reject guide section 34 which guides loose coins C identified as counterfeit, i.e. unacceptable, by the deposit identification and counting section 32 so that they fall out of the deposit transport section 33, and a loose coin deposit reject box 35 which stores loose coins C guided from the deposit transport section 33 by the deposit reject guide section 34 so that they can be removed outside the machine. The loose coin deposit reject box 35 is provided on the front side of the device body 40 of the loose coin processing device 11 as shown in FIG. 1, and can be pulled forward and removed from the device body 40 to allow the stored loose coins C to be removed outside the machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, the loose coin deposit processing section 21 has an openable/closable packaging guide section 45 that guides loose coins C that have been identified as genuine, i.e., acceptable, by the deposit identification and counting section 32 to fall from the deposit transport section 33. The loose coins C guided by the packaging guide section 45 are transported to the coin roll processing device 10. The coin roll processing device 10 accumulates and packages the loose coins C sent from the loose coin processing device 11 in a predetermined number of packaging units (e.g., 50 coins) to form coin rolls B.

The loose coin deposit processing unit 21 has a storage guide unit 47 that guides loose coins C identified as acceptable by the deposit identification and counting unit 32 to fall from the deposit transport unit 33, and a deposit storage unit 48 that temporarily stores the loose coins C guided by the storage guide unit 47 from the deposit transport unit 33. The storage guide unit 47 classifies the loose coins C identified as true, i.e. acceptable, from the deposit transport unit 33 by denomination and guides them to the deposit storage unit 48, which stores the loose coins C while still classified by denomination.

The loose coin deposit processing unit 21 has a loose coin storage unit 51 that stores the loose coins C stored in the deposit storage unit 48 while keeping them sorted by denomination, and a loose coin return box 52 that returns the loose coins C stored in the deposit storage unit 48 so that they can be removed from the machine. The loose coin return box 52 is provided on the front side of the device body 40 of the loose coin processing device 11 as shown in FIG. 1, and can be pulled forward and removed from the device body 40 to allow the stored loose coins C to be removed from the machine.

2, the loose coin storage and withdrawal processing unit 22 has a loose coin storage and payout unit 53 that stores the loose coins C stored in the deposit storage unit 48 in a state where they can be withdrawn while still being classified by denomination. The loose coin storage and payout unit 53 has loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) by denomination, each of which stores loose coins C of a single denomination and counts and dispenses the stored loose coins C. Specifically, the loose coin storage section 54(A) stores loose 1 yen coins C, the loose coin storage section 54(B) stores loose 5 yen coins C, the loose coin storage section 54(C) stores loose 10 yen coins C, the loose coin storage section 54(D) stores loose 50 yen coins C, the loose coin storage section 54(E) stores loose 100 yen coins C, and the loose coin storage section 54(F) stores loose 500 yen coins C, each of which can be dispensed.

The loose coin storage and withdrawal processing unit 22 has a coin withdrawal transport unit 61 that transports the loose coins C counted and dispensed from the loose coin storage and withdrawal unit 53 while identifying the denomination and counting them, a coin withdrawal box 62 that stores the loose coins C transported by the coin withdrawal transport unit 61 so that they can be removed outside the machine, a withdrawal reject guide unit 63 that guides the loose coins C stored in the coin withdrawal box 62, and a coin collection box 64 that stores the loose coins C guided from the coin withdrawal box 62 by the withdrawal reject guide unit 63 so that they can be removed outside the machine. The coin withdrawal box 62 and the coin collection box 64 are provided on the front side of the device body 40 of the loose coin processing device 11 as shown in FIG. 1, and are pulled forward and removed from the device body 40 so that the stored loose coins C can be removed outside the machine. As shown in FIG. 2, the coin dispensing transport unit 61 can also transport the loose coins C that are counted and dispensed from the loose coin storage and dispensing unit 53 to the coin roll processing device 10.

The loose coin processing device 11 is provided with a control unit 67 that controls the entire coin processing machine 12 including the coin roll processing device 10, and a power supply unit 68 that supplies power to each unit of the coin processing machine 12 including the coin roll processing device 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the loose coin processing device 11 is provided with an operation display unit 69 that accepts operation inputs from an operator and displays information to the operator. The control unit 67, power supply unit 68, and operation display unit 69 may be provided in the coin roll processing device 10. In particular, the operation display unit 69 and control unit 67 may be provided in a management device (also called an operation desk, or PC) separate from the coin processing device 12.

{Coin bar processing device 10}
As shown in FIG. 2, the coin roll processing device 10 has a packaging unit 101 that receives loose coins C paid out from the loose coin deposit unit 31 and guided by the packaging guide unit 45, and loose coins C paid out from the loose coin storage and payout unit 53 and transported by the coin withdrawal transport unit 61, and performs a packaging process in which a predetermined number of coins are bundled together, wrapped in a packaging sheet, and integrated into a coin roll B; a coin roll storage and payout unit 102 that classifies the coin roll B produced and paid out by the packaging unit 101 by denomination and stores it so that it can be withdrawn; and a coin roll transport deposit/withdrawal unit 103 that receives the coin rolls B paid out from the packaging unit 101 and the coin roll storage and payout unit 102 and dispenses them so that they can be removed from the machine, and also receives coin rolls B that have already been produced from outside the machine and stores them in the coin roll storage and payout unit 102.

The packaging unit 101 receives loose coins C from the loose coin processing device 11, counts the received loose coins C while identifying their denominations, and stacks them in packs of 50 coins. The packaging unit wraps a predetermined length of packaging sheet made of paper or resin film around the loose coins C in the collected packs, and crimps the excess portions of the packaging sheet on both sides in the stacking direction so that they are curled inward to form a gold coin bar B.

The packaging unit 101 distributes the produced coin bars B to the rejected coin bar storage 114, the clear box 115, and the coin bar transport deposit/withdrawal unit 103. The rejected coin bar storage 114 and the clear box 115 store odd coin bars B, which are loose coins C that do not fill a packaging unit and are wrapped in a packaging sheet, so that they can be removed from the machine. As shown in FIG. 1, the rejected coin bar storage 114 and the clear box 115 are provided on the front side of the device body 116 of the loose coin processing device 11, and the stored coin bars B can be removed from the device body 116 by pulling them forward and removing them.

As shown in FIG. 3, the coin roll storage and dispensing unit 102 has coin roll storage sections 105(A)-105(F) for each denomination, each of which stores coin rolls B of a single denomination and counts and dispenses the stored coin rolls B. The coin roll storage sections 105(A)-105(F) are aligned vertically in a front-to-back direction, and each stores coin rolls B in a line aligned in the front-to-back direction.

Specifically, the topmost coin roll storage section 105(A) stores 1 yen coin rolls B, the second highest coin roll storage section 105(B) stores 5 yen coin rolls B, the third highest coin roll storage section 105(C) stores 10 yen coin rolls B, the fourth highest coin roll storage section 105(D) stores 50 yen coin rolls B, the fifth highest coin roll storage section 105(E) stores 100 yen coin rolls B, and the bottommost coin roll storage section 105(F) stores 500 yen coin rolls B, each of which can be dispensed.

The coin bar transport deposit/withdrawal section 103 has a coin bar transport section 121 that is provided in front of the packaging section 101 and the coin bar storage sections 105(A)-105(F) and receives and transports the coin bar B lifted and lowered from the packaging section 101 and the coin bar storage sections 105(A)-105(F), a rear transport section 111 that is provided between the packaging section 101 and the coin bar storage section 105(F) in the vertical direction and receives the coin bar B from the coin bar transport section 121 and transports it rearward, and an upper transport section 112 that is provided behind the coin bar storage sections 105(A)-105(F) and transports the coin bar B transported by the rear transport section 111 upward. In front of the rear transport section 111, a front coin bar intake section 113 is provided that takes in the coin bar B transported by the coin bar transport section 121 one by one into the rear transport section 111.

The coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) have the same structure, and each has a rear coin roll push-out unit 106 that counts the coin rolls B transported by the upper transport unit 112 one by one and pushes them toward the corresponding coin roll storage unit 105, and a front coin roll intake and pay-out unit 107 that counts the coin rolls B transported by the coin roll transport unit 121 one by one and takes them into the corresponding coin roll storage unit 105, and counts the coin rolls B stored in the corresponding coin roll storage unit 105 one by one and pays them out to the coin roll transport unit 121. Thus, the coin roll storage and pay-out unit 102, which has the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F), receives the coin rolls B transported by the coin roll transport unit 121, classifies them by denomination and stores them, and counts the coin rolls B stored by denomination and pays them out to the coin roll transport unit 121. In addition, the coin roll storage and dispensing unit 102 receives the coin rolls B transported by the coin roll transport unit 121, rear transport unit 111, and upper transport unit 112, and sorts and stores them by denomination.

The coin roll B fed from the packaging unit 101 to the coin roll transport deposit/withdrawal unit 103 is a normal coin roll B produced by packaging coin roll B other than odd coin roll B, that is, loose coins C of the packaging unit number. The coin roll transport deposit/withdrawal unit 103 has a coin roll discharge unit 122 that discharges the coin roll B transported by the coin roll transport unit 121 out of the coin roll processing device 10, a coin roll dispensing unit 123 that receives the coin roll B transported by the coin roll transport unit 121 and holds it so that it can be taken out of the coin roll processing device 10, a box-shaped coin roll lump-sum storage unit 124 that stores the coin roll B transported by the coin roll transport unit 121 in a lump so that it can be taken out of the machine, and a coin roll deposit unit 120 that identifies and counts the coin roll B inserted from outside the coin roll processing device 10 and transfers it to the coin roll transport unit 121. The coin roll storage and dispensing section 102 also stores coin rolls B that are produced externally and inserted into the coin roll deposit section 120.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coin roll discharge section 122 opens at the front of the lower part of the device body 116 of the coin roll processing device 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the coin roll discharge section 122 discharges the coin roll B toward a receiving box 126 placed outside the coin roll processing device 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coin roll dispensing section 123 is open from the front of the top surface of the device body 116 to the front, and has an openable and closable shutter 125. The coin roll dispensing section 123 can store multiple coin rolls B, and when the shutter 125 is opened, the stored coin rolls B can be directly removed by hand from the device.

The coin roll bulk storage section 124 can store multiple coin rolls B at once. The coin roll bulk storage section 124 can be pulled forward and removed from the device body 116, allowing the stored coin rolls B to be removed outside the machine.

The coin roll deposit section 120 is pulled forward from the device body 116, and coin rolls B are inserted from outside the machine. The coin roll deposit section 120 identifies and counts the coin rolls B inserted from outside the machine one by one, and pushes them out to the coin roll transport section 121.

As shown in FIG. 3, the coin roll transport unit 121 receives a coin roll B from the packaging unit 101 and selectively transports it to the coin roll release unit 122, the coin roll storage and payout unit 102, the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and the coin roll lump-sum storage unit 124. The coin roll transport unit 121 also receives a coin roll B paid out from the coin roll storage and payout unit 102 and selectively transports it to the coin roll dispensing unit 123 and the coin roll lump-sum storage unit 124. The coin roll transport unit 121 also receives a coin roll B from the coin roll deposit unit 120 and transports it to the coin roll storage and payout unit 102. The coin roll transport unit 121 is capable of transporting multiple coin rolls B simultaneously.

In the coin roll processing device 10, a coin roll storage and payout section 102 is provided above the packaging section 101, and a coin roll transport section 121 is provided in front of the packaging section 101 and the coin roll storage and payout section 102. In the coin roll processing device 10, a coin roll dispensing section 123, a coin roll deposit section 120, a coin roll lump-sum storage section 124, and a coin roll release section 122 are provided in this order from above in front of the coin roll transport section 121.

The coin bar dispensing section 123 has, at its upper part on the side of the coin bar transport section 121, a dispensing section inlet 131 and a dispensing section gate 132 that opens and closes the dispensing section inlet 131. The dispensing section gate 132 rotates about a support shaft 133 at its lower end, and is switched between a closed state in which the dispensing section inlet 131 is blocked, and an open state in which the dispensing section inlet 131 is opened. In the open state, the dispensing section gate 132 tilts toward the coin bar transport section 121 to receive coin bar B transported downward from the coin bar transport section 121 at the front of the coin bar transport section 121, and transports the received coin bar B to the coin bar dispensing section 123 via the dispensing section inlet 131 with its front inclined downward, and stores it there. The coin bar bulk storage section 124 has a structure similar to that of the coin bar dispensing section 123, and receives and stores coin bars B transported downward from the coin bar transport section 121 at the front of the coin bar transport section 121.

The coin roll discharge section 122 is a chute that slopes downward at the front, and has a discharge section inlet 141 on the coin roll transport section 121 side, and a discharge section gate 142 that opens and closes the discharge section inlet 141. The discharge section gate 142 rotates around a support shaft 143 at the lower end, and is switched between a closed state in which the discharge section inlet 141 is blocked, and an open state in which the discharge section inlet 141 is opened. In the open state, the discharge section gate 142 tilts toward the coin roll transport section 121 side, and relatively scoops up the coin roll B transported downward from the coin roll transport section 121 at the front of the coin roll transport section 121, and introduces the scooped coin roll B into the discharge section inlet 141 with its downward slope and discharges it outside the machine via the coin roll discharge section 122. The coin roll discharge section 122 accepts the coin roll B from the coin roll transport section 121 and discharges it outside the machine as it is.

The bar conveying section 121 has a conveying support 150, a vertical belt conveyor 151 supported on the conveying support 150 so as to extend in the vertical direction, a conveying space forming section 152 arranged to partially cover the outside of the periphery of the vertical belt conveyor 151, and a conveyor driving section 153 that drives the vertical belt conveyor 151.

The vertical belt conveyor 151 has an upper pulley 156 that is arranged at the top of the coin roll processing device 10 and supported by the top of the transport support 150 with a horizontal central axis of rotation in the left-right direction, a lower pulley (not shown) that is arranged at the bottom of the coin roll processing device 10 and supported by the bottom of the transport support 150 with a horizontal central axis of rotation in the left-right direction, and an endless transport belt 158 that is hung on the upper pulley 156 and the lower pulley. The lower pulley is arranged coaxially with the intermediate pulley 157 of the conveyor drive unit 153 and rotates integrally therewith. Therefore, the lower pulley of the vertical belt conveyor 151 is driven by the conveyor drive unit 153 to rotate. The upper pulley 156 and the lower pulley are spaced apart vertically with their positions aligned in the front-rear and left-right directions, and the transport belt 158 hung on them extends vertically, i.e. vertically.

The conveyor drive unit 153 has the above-mentioned intermediate pulley 157, a drive motor 161, a drive pulley 162 that is driven to rotate by the drive motor 161, and an endless drive belt 163 that is hung on the drive pulley 162 and rotates the intermediate pulley 157 and the lower pulley. When the drive motor 161 rotates forward or backward, the drive pulley 162, drive belt 163, intermediate pulley 157, lower pulley, conveyor belt 158, and upper pulley 156 rotate forward or backward in sync.

Although not shown in the figure, two sets of upper pulley 156, lower pulley and conveyor belt 158 are provided, spaced apart on the left and right.

The conveyor belt 158 has an endless belt body 171 that rotates around the upper pulley 156 and the lower pulley, and a rib portion 172 that protrudes outward (centrifugally) from the outer circumferential surface of the belt body 171. The rib portions 172 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the belt body 171. The pair of left and right conveyor belts 158 (only one shown) are aligned with the corresponding rib portions 172 in the circumferential direction, i.e., in the vertical direction, so that the two rib portions 172 (only one shown) that are aligned with each other can support the coin roll B in a position along the left-right direction. Thus, the pair of conveyor belts 158 rotate and convey the coin roll B one by one while supporting it with the pair of aligned rib portions 172. The front coin bar intake and dispensing section 107, the front coin bar intake section 113, the withdrawal section gate 132, the release section gate 142, etc. fit between a pair of aligned lattice sections 172 to receive the coin bar B placed on these lattice sections 172.

The crosspiece 172 has a coin roll storage section 177 that is recessed in an approximately arc shape in the circumferential direction on both sides of the belt body 171 in the circumferential direction (rotation direction). When the crosspiece 172 is located on the side of the packaging section 101 and the coin roll storage and feeding section 102 of the belt body 171, i.e., on the rear side of the conveyor belt 158, it protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the belt body 171, and one of the coin roll storage sections 177 is recessed downward at the top. When the crosspiece 172 is located on the opposite side of the packaging section 101 and the coin roll storage and feeding section 102 of the belt body 171, i.e., on the front side of the conveyor belt 158, it protrudes forward from the front surface of the belt body 171, and the other coin roll storage section 177 is recessed downward at the top. The crosspiece 172 is attached to the belt body 171 so as to be in these states. The conveyor belt 158 rotates and conveys the coin roll B while supporting it with the crosspiece 172.

The conveying space forming section 152 has an upper cover section 181 that covers the upper part of the vertical belt conveyor 151 from above, a front cover section 182 that covers the front side of the vertical belt conveyor 151 from the front, a lower cover section 183 that covers the lower part of the vertical belt conveyor 151 from the bottom, and an upper rear cover section 184 that covers the rear side of the upper part of the vertical belt conveyor 151 from the rear. The upper cover section 181 has a front part that is flat and inclined downward, and a rear part that is flat and horizontal. The front cover section 182 is flat and perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, and extends in the vertical direction. The lower cover section 183 is semi-cylindrical and concave downward. The upper rear cover section 184 is flat and perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, and extends in the vertical direction. The front cover part 182, the lower cover part 183, and the upper rear cover part 184 are arranged so as to form a slight gap between the end of the opposing rail part 172 opposite the belt body 171, which is small enough to prevent the passage of a coin bar B.

When the pair of transport belts 158 of the vertical belt conveyor 151 receive the coin roll B from the packaging section 101 and the coin roll storage and feeding section 102, the pair of belt bodies 171 receive the coin roll B on the packaging section 101 and the coin roll storage and feeding section 102 side and on a pair of slats 172 that are at the same height. At that time, these slats 172 store the coin roll B in the coin roll storage section 177 that is at the top and recessed downward when the coin roll B is received.

The vertical belt conveyor 151, for example, conveys upwards the coin roll B received from the packaging section 101 or the coin roll storage sections 105(A)-105(F) of the coin roll storage and feeding section 102 by a pair of conveyor belts 158 rotating in a first direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) with a pair of ribs 172 on the rear side. This direction is the forward rotation of the conveyor belt 158. During this forward rotation, the coin roll B is supported horizontally by a pair of ribs 172 that are at the same height as each other when conveying vertically upwards on the rear side, and these pair of ribs 172 store and convey the coin roll B in the coin roll storage section 177 that is located on the upper side at this time and recessed downward.

Then, the pair of conveyor belts 158 of the vertical belt conveyor 151 change the conveying position of the coin roll B from the rear side to the front side at the top. At that time, the pair of slats 172 that had been conveying the coin roll B on the rear side of the pair of conveyor belts 158 tilt so that the coin roll storage section 177 faces forward near the top of the pair of conveyor belts 158. At this time, these slats 172 drop the coin roll B that they were supporting, for example, toward the pair of slats 172 adjacent to the front side of the rotation direction of these slats 172 (downstream side in the conveying direction). The pair of conveyor belts 158 then receive the coin roll B at these slats 172 and convey it further downward.

The upper cover part 181 and the upper rear cover part 184 form an upper conveying space 186 between themselves and the belt body 171 of the pair of conveying belts 158, and the front cover part 182 forms a front conveying space 187 that extends vertically in a straight line between themselves and the belt body 171 of the pair of conveying belts 158. A coin bar B that is conveyed from the rear side to the front side at the upper position of the pair of conveying belts 158 moves within the upper conveying space 186 and, in some cases, falls within the front conveying space 187.

In addition, the vertical belt conveyor 151 conveys the coin roll B received from the coin roll storage sections 105(A)-105(F) of the coin roll storage and feeding section 102 downward by, for example, rotating a pair of conveyor belts 158 at a pair of ribs 172 on the rear side in a second direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 3) opposite to the first direction. This direction is called the reversal of the conveyor belt 158. Even during this vertical downward conveyance on the rear side during reversal, the coin roll B is supported horizontally by a pair of ribs 172 that are at the same height, and these pair of ribs 172 store and convey the coin roll B in the coin roll storage section 177 that is located on the upper side at this time and recessed downward.

Then, when the pair of conveyor belts 158 of the vertical belt conveyor 151 lowers the slats 172 and positions them near the bottom, the coin bar storage sections 177 of the slats 172 that housed the coin bars B tilt backwards, causing the coin bars B supported by the slats 172 to fall from the slats 172 onto the lower cover section 183 and become supported only by the lower cover section 183.

Then, the pair of conveyor belts 158 of the vertical belt conveyor 151 convey the coin roll B to the front and upward along the lower cover portion 183, with the pair of adjacent ribs 172 on the rear side of the rotation direction of the ribs 172 (upstream side of the conveying direction) supported by the lower cover portion 183, and when conveyed vertically upward, the coin roll B is supported by the ribs 172. At this time, the ribs 172 lift and convey the coin roll B while storing it in the coin roll storage portion 177 located at the top. The lower cover portion 183 forms an arc-shaped lower conveying space 188 through which the coin roll B moves between the belt body 171 of the pair of conveyor belts 158.

The vertical belt conveyor 151 also transports upwards the coin roll B received from the coin roll deposit section 120 by a pair of conveyor belts 158 at a pair of ribs 172 on the front side by rotating in a second direction (clockwise in FIG. 3). During this vertical upward transport at the front side, the coin roll B is supported horizontally by a pair of ribs 172 that are at the same height, and these ribs 172 store and transport the coin roll B in a coin roll storage section 177 that is located at the top and recessed downward.

Then, the pair of conveyor belts 158 of the vertical belt conveyor 151 change the conveying position of the coin roll B from the front side to the rear side at the upper part. At that time, the pair of slats 172 that had been conveying the coin roll B at the front side of the pair of conveyor belts 158 tilt so that the coin roll storage section 177 faces rearward near the top of the pair of conveyor belts 158. At this time, these slats 172 drop the coin roll B that they were supporting toward the pair of slats 172 adjacent to the front side of the rotation direction of these slats 172 (downstream side in the conveying direction). The pair of conveyor belts 158 then receive the coin roll B at these slats 172 and convey it further downward.

The upper part of the front cover part 182 is provided with the dispensing section inlet 131 at the upper part of the coin bar dispensing section 123 described above. In addition, the lower part of the front cover part 182 is provided with the dispensing section inlet 141 of the dispensing section gate 142.

The coin bar transport section 121 has the above-mentioned dispensing section gate 132 that guides the coin bar B to the coin bar dispensing section 123 via the dispensing section inlet 131. When the dispensing section gate 132 is in the open state, it is at the upper position of the transport belt 158 and guides the coin bar B moving forward within the upper transport space 186 as described above to the coin bar dispensing section 123 via the dispensing section inlet 131. The dispensing section gate 132 rotates between a closed position that closes the dispensing section inlet 131 and an open position that opens the dispensing section inlet 131 and enters near the boundary between the upper transport space 186 and the front transport space 187 in a downwardly-inclined state. When in the closed position, the withdrawal section gate 132 restricts the entry of the coin roll B from the upper transport space 186 to the withdrawal section inlet 131, while when in the open position, it guides the coin roll B from the upper transport space 186 to the withdrawal section inlet 131 by inclining downward at the front, and releases it into the coin roll withdrawal section 123. The withdrawal section gate 132 has a standby position in the closed position.

The coin roll conveying section 121 has the above-mentioned discharge section gate 142 that guides the coin roll B to the chute-shaped coin roll discharge section 122 through the discharge section introduction port 141 when moving the coin roll B downward while being supported by the lattice portion 172 on the front side of the conveying belt 158 in the front conveying space 187. The discharge section gate 142 rotates between a closed position that closes the discharge section introduction port 141 and an open position that opens the discharge section introduction port 141 and enters the front conveying space 187 in a downward-facing state. When in the closed position, the discharge section gate 142 restricts the entry of the coin roll B from the front conveying space 187 to the discharge section introduction port 141, while when in the open position, the coin roll B is lifted from the downward-moving lattice portion 172, and is guided from the front conveying space 187 to the discharge section introduction port 141 by the downward-facing inclination, and is discharged outside the coin roll processing device 10 through the coin roll discharge section 122. The discharge section gate 142 is in the standby position when closed.

The front coin bar take-in section 113 of the rear transport section 111 can advance toward the coin bar transport section 121, and when in the forward position, it relatively scoops up the coin bar B supported by a pair of rails 172 on the rear side of the transport belt 158 and transported downward, and then moves back to the backward position to hand over the scooped coin bar B to the rear transport section 111.

The rear coin bar pusher 106 of the coin bar storage section 105 pushes forward the coin bar B being transported by the upper transport section 112, thereby storing the coin bar B in the coin bar storage section 105 at the rearmost position behind the coin bar B previously stored in the coin bar storage section 105.

The front coin bar intake and dispensing section 107 of the coin bar storage section 105 can advance toward the coin bar transport section 121. When in the forward position, it relatively scoops up the coin bar B supported by a pair of rails 172 on the rear side of the transport belt 158 and transported downward, and then moves back to the backward position and pushes the scooped coin bar B into the front end position of the coin bar storage section 105. This positions the coin bar B in the frontmost position, forward of the coin bar B previously stored in the coin bar storage section 105, and stores it in the coin bar storage section 105.

The front coin roll intake and delivery section 107 of the coin roll storage section 105 pushes out the coin roll B stored in the coin roll storage section 105 one by one, and delivers it to a pair of bars 172 located on the rear side of the conveyor belt 158 and at the same height as the coin roll storage section 105.

The coin roll transport unit 121 transports the stored coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) and the wrapped coin rolls B wrapped in the wrapping unit 101 toward the coin roll release unit 122, the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and the coin roll bulk storage unit 124, and transports the wrapped coin rolls B wrapped in the wrapping unit 101 to the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F). The coin roll transport unit 121 also transports the coin rolls B inserted into the coin roll deposit unit 120 to the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F). The coin roll transport unit 121 also transports the wrapped coin rolls B wrapped in the wrapping unit 101 to the coin roll release unit 122.

The control unit 67 controls the loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F), packaging unit 101, coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) and coin roll dispensing unit 123, etc., and also controls the transport of loose coins C and coin rolls B.

Next, we will explain the main processes of the coin processing machine 12 of this embodiment.

When the coin processing machine 12 is in standby mode, the shutter 38 of the loose coin deposit section 31 is in a closed state, and the shutter 125 of the coin roll dispensing section 123 is also in a closed state.

[Loose coin deposit processing]
The loose coin deposit process is a process in which loose coins C inserted into the loose coin deposit unit 31 from outside the machine are identified, counted, and temporarily stored while being transported. When an operation to select the loose coin deposit process is performed on the operation display unit 69, the control unit 67 starts the loose coin deposit process and opens the shutter 38 of the loose coin deposit unit 31. Then, when loose coins C are loaded into the loose coin deposit unit 31 from outside the machine and an operation to start the loose coin deposit process is performed on the operation display unit 69, the control unit 67 closes the shutter 38 and then causes the loose coin deposit unit 31 to dispense the loose coins C one by one at a predetermined interval, and causes the deposit transport unit 33 to transport the dispensed loose coins C. During this transport, the deposit identification and counting unit 32 will identify and count the loose coins C, and the control unit 67 will transport the loose coins C identified as acceptable by the deposit identification and counting unit 32 from the deposit transport unit 33 to the deposit storage unit 48 via the storage guide unit 47, classifying them by denomination and temporarily storing them therein.

On the other hand, the control unit 67 selects loose coins C that are dispensed from the loose coin deposit unit 31 and that are identified as unacceptable by the deposit identification and counting unit 32, i.e., loose coins C with poor denomination identification, among other things, as rejected loose coins, and stores them in the loose coin deposit reject box 35 via the deposit transport unit 33 and the deposit reject guide unit 34.

When the loose coin deposit process described above is performed, the loose coin deposit section 31 is depleted of loose coins C, and all loose coins C dispensed from the loose coin deposit section 31 are transported to either the deposit storage section 48 or the loose coin deposit reject box 35, the control section 67 causes the operation display section 69 to display the number of loose coins C by denomination and the total amount temporarily stored in the deposit storage section 48 after being determined to be acceptable by the deposit identification and counting section 32, and releases the lock on the loose coin deposit reject box 35 to the device main body 40, making it possible to remove the loose coin deposit reject box 35 from the device main body 40. The control section 67 then waits for the input of a deposit confirmation operation or a deposit cancellation operation on the operation display section 69, and ends the loose coin deposit process.

[Loose coin storage processing]
After the loose coin deposit process, when the deposit confirmation operation is input to the operation display unit 69 to confirm the deposit, the control unit 67 confirms the deposit and performs a loose coin storage process in which the loose coins C, which were classified by denomination and temporarily stored in the deposit storage unit 48 during the loose coin deposit process, are stored in the loose coin storage units 54 (A) to 54 (F) while still classified by denomination.

[Loose coin return processing]
After the loose coin deposit process, when a deposit cancellation operation is input to the operation display unit 69 to cancel the deposit, the control unit 67 does not confirm the deposit, and performs a return process in which all of the loose coins C temporarily stored in the deposit storage unit 48 during the loose coin deposit process are paid out to the loose coin return box 52. At the end of the loose coin return process, the control unit 67 releases the lock of the loose coin return box 52 to the device main body 40, making it possible to remove the loose coin return box 52 from the device main body 40.

[Loose coin withdrawal process]
The loose coin withdrawal process is a process of withdrawing loose coins C from a specified denomination among loose coin storage section 54 (A) storing 1 yen loose coins, loose coin storage section 54 (B) storing 5 yen loose coins, loose coin storage section 54 (C) storing 10 yen loose coins, loose coin storage section 54 (D) storing 50 yen loose coins, loose coin storage section 54 (E) storing 100 yen loose coins, and loose coin storage section 54 (F) storing 500 yen loose coins, based on a loose coin withdrawal operation inputted to operation display section 69.

In the loose coin dispensing process, the control unit 67 separates the loose coins C from the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) to be dispensed at a predetermined interval while separating them one by one based on the number of dispensing coins by denomination input to the operation display unit 69. The dispensed loose coins C are then conveyed by the coin dispensing transport unit 61 while being identified and counted, and normal loose coins C are conveyed to the coin dispensing box 62. On the other hand, if an abnormal loose coin C is included in the loose coin dispensing process, the coin dispensing transport unit 61 stores the loose coins C including the abnormal loose coin C from the coin dispensing box 62 in the coin collection box 64 by the dispensing rejection guide unit 63, and then redoes the loose coin dispensing process. In this way, the loose coins C of the input number of dispensing coins by denomination are stored in the coin dispensing box 62. At the end of the loose coin dispensing process, the control unit 67 unlocks the coin dispensing box 62 from the device body 40, allowing the coin dispensing box 62 to be removed from the device body 40.

[Coin bar withdrawal process]
The coin roll withdrawal process includes a stored coin roll withdrawal process that withdraws coin B from a designated denomination among coin roll storage unit 105 (A) storing 1 yen coin rolls B, coin roll storage unit 105 (B) storing 5 yen coin rolls B, coin roll storage unit 105 (C) storing 10 yen coin rolls B, coin roll storage unit 105 (D) storing 50 yen coin rolls B, coin roll storage unit 105 (E) storing 100 yen coin rolls B, and coin roll storage unit 105 (F) storing 500 yen coin rolls B, based on a coin roll withdrawal operation inputted to operation display unit 69.

The coin roll dispensing process also includes a wrapped coin roll dispensing process in which, based on a coin roll dispensing operation input to the operation and display unit 69, the wrapping unit 101 creates coin rolls B from loose coins C of a specified denomination among loose coin storage unit 54(A) storing loose 1 yen coins, loose coin storage unit 54(B) storing loose 5 yen coins, loose coin storage unit 54(C) storing loose 10 yen coins, loose coin storage unit 54(D) storing loose 50 yen coins, loose coin storage unit 54(E) storing loose 100 yen coins, and loose coin storage unit 54(F) storing loose 500 yen coins, and dispensing the coin roll B to the coin roll dispensing unit 123.

The coin roll dispensing process also includes a wrapped coin roll refilling process in which, based on a coin roll dispensing operation input to the operation display unit 69, a coin roll B is created in the packaging unit 101 from loose coins C of a specified denomination in the loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) and replenished into the corresponding coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F).

Here, of the coin rolls B, the coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) and dispensed to the coin roll dispensing unit 123 in one transaction such as a coin roll dispensing process are referred to as stored coin rolls, and the coin rolls B that the wrapping unit 101 wraps in a wrapping sheet a predetermined number of loose coins C from the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) and dispenses to the coin roll dispensing unit 123 in one transaction such as a coin roll dispensing process are referred to as wrapped coin rolls. Thus, the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) can store and pay out coin rolls B as stored coin rolls B. Also, the wrapping unit 101 wraps a predetermined number of loose coins C in a wrapping sheet to form wrapped coin rolls B, which are coin rolls B.

When the number of coin rolls requested to be withdrawn by denomination is input to the operation and display unit 69 in one transaction for coin roll withdrawal processing, and a withdrawal start operation is input to the operation and display unit 69, the control unit 67 will start one transaction for coin roll withdrawal processing. To start this transaction, the control unit 67 first compares the amount of stored coin rolls B already stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) with the requested number of coin rolls B requested to be withdrawn in that transaction based on the input number of coin rolls by denomination, and determines a coin roll withdrawal processing pattern based on the result of this comparison. The control unit 67 then carries out the coin roll withdrawal processing transaction in accordance with the determined coin roll withdrawal processing pattern.

These coin roll dispensing processing patterns are a first pattern in which only a stored coin roll dispensing process is performed in which stored coin rolls B from the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) are dispensed to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and a second pattern in which both a stored coin roll dispensing process in which stored coin rolls B from the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) are dispensed to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and a wrapped coin roll dispensing process in which a predetermined number of loose coins C from the loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) are packaged in the packaging unit 101 to create wrapped coin rolls B, and the wrapped coin rolls B are dispensed to the coin roll dispensing unit 123. The control unit 67 selects and executes either the first or second pattern, and executes the first pattern as a priority between the first and second patterns.

In other words, when performing a single transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, if the number of stored coin rolls B already stored in all of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) is equal to or greater than the number of coin rolls B requested to be dispensed in that transaction, the control unit 67 only performs the stored coin roll dispensing process of dispensing the stored coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) to the coin roll dispensing unit 123.

In addition, when performing a single transaction for the coin roll withdrawal process, if the number of stored coin rolls B of at least one of the denominations in the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) that are already stored is less than the number of coin rolls B requested to be withdrawn in that transaction, the control unit 67 only performs the stored coin roll withdrawal process for the denominations that are not less than the requested number, and performs the stored coin roll withdrawal process for the denominations that are less than the requested number, and also performs a wrapped coin roll withdrawal process in which the wrapping unit 101 creates wrapped coin rolls B from the loose coins C of that denomination in the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) that are storing loose coins C, and dispenses the wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll withdrawal unit 123. In this way, in one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, the control unit 67 merges both the stored coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) and the wrapped coin rolls B created by wrapping the loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) in the wrapping unit 101, and dispenses them to the coin roll dispensing unit 123.

In addition to the coin roll dispensing process pattern described above, the control unit 67 also performs a wrapped coin roll replenishment process based on the results of a comparison between the amount of stored coin rolls B already stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) and the requested number of coin rolls B requested for dispensing in one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, in which loose coins C in the loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) are wrapped in the wrapping unit 101 to create wrapped coin rolls B, and the wrapped coin rolls B are stored in the corresponding coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F).

In other words, when the control unit 67 performs a transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, if it predicts that there is a denomination among at least one of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) that will have a shortage of denominations in terms of number of coins, resulting in zero stored coin rolls B, the control unit 67 additionally executes a wrapped coin roll refill process in which the wrapping unit 101 creates wrapped coin rolls B from loose coins C of the denomination that is lacking in the number of coins stored in the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) and stores them in the coin roll storage unit 105 of the denomination that is lacking in the number of coins, among the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F), thereby making the number of stored coins in all of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) equal to or greater than the predetermined lower limit.

In this way, in one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, the control unit 67 merges both the stored coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) and the wrapped coin rolls B created by wrapping the loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) in the wrapping unit 101 and dispenses them to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and sends the wrapped coin rolls B created by wrapping the loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) in the wrapping unit 101 to the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) for storage. Note that a denomination for which the stored coin rolls B falls below a predetermined number greater than zero may be considered to be a denomination with a shortage in number, and a number greater than this predetermined number by a predetermined value may be used as the lower limit number.

Moreover, the control unit 67 compares the number of withdrawal requests for coin rolls B of each denomination with the number of stored coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) as the on-board total, and also with the number of loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) as the on-board total. The control unit 67 then determines the operation pattern for the transaction taking into consideration the predetermined lower limit number of stored coin rolls B that are set in advance in each of the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) for remaining coins, as well as the predetermined lower limit number of loose coins C that are set in each of the loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) for remaining coins.

In other words, when the control unit 67 starts a transaction for dispensing coin rolls, if it is expected that the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) will maintain the predetermined storage amount, which is the lower limit number, after the transaction, the control unit 67 will dispense only the coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F).

In addition, when the control unit 67 starts a transaction for coin roll dispensing processing, if it is predicted that at least one of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) will not be able to maintain the specified storage amount, which is the lower limit number, after the transaction, and if it is predicted that the corresponding loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) have enough loose coins C to create wrapped coin rolls B to replenish the coin roll storage unit 105 that cannot maintain the lower limit number, then after dispensing at least the stored coin rolls B and the wrapped coin rolls B in the transaction, it replenishes the coin roll storage unit 105 that cannot maintain the lower limit number with wrapped coin rolls B to return it to the specified lower limit number.

In addition, when the control unit 67 starts a transaction for coin roll dispensing processing, if it is predicted that at least one of the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) will not be able to maintain the specified storage amount, which is the lower limit number, after the transaction, and if it is predicted that the corresponding loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) do not have enough loose coins C to create wrapped coin rolls B to replenish the coin roll storage unit 105 that cannot maintain the lower limit number, then after dispensing at least the stored coin rolls B and the wrapped coin rolls B in the transaction, it will not replenish the wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll storage unit 105 that cannot maintain the lower limit number.

Furthermore, if the control unit 67 predicts that the number of loose coins C, the sum of the number of wrapped coin rolls B to be replenished to the coin roll storage unit 105 that cannot maintain the minimum number and the minimum number of loose coins, is not secured in the corresponding loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F), it will not replenish wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll storage unit 105 that cannot maintain the minimum number.

In addition, when starting a transaction for the coin roll dispensing process, if not even one stored coin roll B of the denomination requested to be dispensed is stored in the corresponding coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F), the control unit 67 wraps the loose coins C in the corresponding loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) in the wrapping unit 101 and dispenses only the wrapped coin roll B to the coin roll dispensing unit 123.

In addition, when multiple denominations of coin rolls B are dispensed to the coin roll dispensing unit 123 at one time in one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, and when both stored coin rolls B and wrapped coin rolls B are dispensed, the control unit 67 merges the multiple denominations of coin rolls B by grouping them together by denomination when the stored coin rolls B and wrapped coin rolls B join together. That is, the control unit 67 sends the wrapped coin rolls B from the packaging unit 101 at the first position to the coin roll conveying unit 121, and sends the wrapped coin rolls B from the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) at a second position above the packaging unit 101 and different from the first position to the coin roll conveying unit 121, thereby merging the multiple denominations of coin rolls B by grouping them together by denomination. At that time, the control unit 67 merges the coin rolls B of higher denominations at the lower side in the coin roll dispensing unit 123.

Here, as a specific example, a case will be described in which, when starting the first transaction, which is one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, the stored coin rolls B of the denomination requested to be dispensed contain five 10-yen coin rolls B and five 100-yen coin rolls B. Moreover, when starting this first transaction, an example will be described in which there are ten 10-yen coin rolls B in coin roll storage section 105(C), four 100-yen coin rolls B in coin roll storage section 105(E), and 800 100-yen coin loose coins C in loose coin storage section 54(E). Also, an example will be described in which the minimum number of stored coin rolls B of 10 yen coins in the coin roll storage section 105 (C) is set to three, the minimum number of stored coin rolls B of 100 yen coins in the coin roll storage section 105 (E) is set to three, and the minimum number of loose coins in the loose coin storage section 54 (E) is set to 300. Note that these settings are merely examples and are not limiting. Also, the number of coin rolls B that can be reserved at one time in the coin roll dispensing section 123 is assumed to be 12.

First, when the control unit 67 starts the first transaction, which is one transaction of the coin roll withdrawal process, it causes the operation display unit 69 to display that the breakdown of the stored coin rolls B of the denomination requested to be withdrawn is five 10 yen coin rolls B and five 100 yen coin rolls B, that the 10 yen coin rolls B are all stored coin rolls B that do not require packaging and can be withdrawn, that the 100 yen coin rolls B are four stored coin rolls B that do not require packaging and can be withdrawn, and that the remaining one is a wrapped coin roll B that requires packaging and can be withdrawn. In addition, the control unit 67 displays three patterns on the operation display unit 69: dispensing all five 10-yen coin rolls B and five 100-yen coin rolls B, dispensing the maximum number of 10-yen coin rolls B and four 100-yen coin rolls B that do not require wrapping, or canceling the dispensing, and waits for an input as to which pattern to dispensing. Here, a case where a pattern of dispensing all five 10-yen coin rolls B and five 100-yen coin rolls B is selected will be described. In contrast to this, when a pattern of dispensing the maximum number of 10-yen coin rolls B and four 100-yen coin rolls B that do not require wrapping is selected, the only difference is that the wrapped coin roll dispensing process of one 100-yen coin roll B that requires wrapping is not performed. Also, while the explanation above refers to a query that allows the user to choose between withdrawing everything, withdrawing four gold coin bars B with one less 100 yen coin, or canceling, these query steps are not essential, and unless a shortage of loose coins is predicted, the entire amount may be withdrawn automatically.

The control unit 67 performs control in a pattern in which, in the first transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, a stored coin roll dispensing process in which four stored coin rolls B of 100 yen coins are dispensed from the coin roll storage unit 105 (E) to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, a wrapped coin roll dispensing process in which a loose coin C of 100 yen coins is dispensed from the loose coin storage unit 54 (E) and packaged in the packaging unit 101 to dispense one wrapped coin roll B to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, a stored coin roll dispensing process in which five stored coin rolls B of 10 yen coins are dispensed from the coin roll storage unit 105 (C) to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and a wrapped coin roll refill process in which a loose coin C of 100 yen coins is dispensed from the loose coin storage unit 54 (E) and packaged in the packaging unit 101 to refill the coin roll storage unit 105 (E) with three wrapped coin rolls B of 100 yen coins.

In the operation display unit 69, five 10 yen coin rolls B and five 100 yen coin rolls B are input as the requested number of coin rolls for the first transaction of the coin roll withdrawal process, an operation to withdraw all of the coin rolls B is input, and a start operation is input. The control unit 67 then determines the above pattern and first drives the conveyor drive unit 153 to rotate the conveyor belt 158 in a first direction (counterclockwise in Figure 3) in order to perform a stored coin roll withdrawal process in which, for example, four 100 yen coin rolls B stored in the coin roll withdrawal unit 123 are reserved. In parallel with this, the control unit 67 performs a wrapped coin roll dispensing process for storing one wrapped coin roll B of 100 yen coin in the coin roll dispensing unit 123 and a wrapped coin roll refilling process for later refilling the coin roll storage unit 105 (E) with three wrapped coin rolls B of 100 yen coins, and starts the feeding of loose coins C of 100 yen coins from the loose coin storage unit 54 (E) to start the operation of creating wrapped coin rolls B of 100 yen coins by the wrapping unit 101. That is, the control unit 67 performs in parallel a stored coin roll dispensing process for dispensing the stored coin rolls B of 100 yen coins stored in the coin roll storage unit 105 (E) to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and a wrapped coin roll creation process for creating wrapped coin rolls B in the wrapping unit 101 from the loose coins C of 100 yen coins stored in the loose coin storage unit 54 (E). The wrapping bar production process is part of the wrapping bar dispensing process and part of the wrapping bar replenishment process.

In the process of dispensing the stored coin bars, when the control unit 67 rotates the conveyor belt 158 in the first direction as described above, it opens the dispensing unit gate 132 and causes the front coin bar intake and payout unit 107 to pay out the first coin bar B stored in the coin bar storage unit 105 (E) at the front position, and places it on the rib 172 that matches the height position (second position) of the coin bar storage unit 105 (E) among the rib 172 rising on the rear side of the conveyor belt 158. Next, the control unit 67 causes the front coin bar intake and payout unit 107 to pay out the second coin bar B stored in the front position of the 100 yen coins stored in the coin bar storage unit 105 (E) at the front position and place it on the rib 172 adjacent to the rib 172 on the upstream side of the conveyor direction, i.e., the lower side. By repeating the above steps as necessary, the four 100 yen coins stored in the coin bar storage section 105(E) are sequentially placed on the rising rail 172 on the rear side of the conveyor belt 158.

When the first 100 yen coin wrapped coin roll B, i.e. the fifth 100 yen coin wrapped coin roll B, is created in the wrapping unit 101 during the wrapped coin roll creation process, the control unit 67 places the fifth 100 yen coin wrapped coin roll B from the wrapping unit 101, which is located at a height position (first position) lower than the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(E), on the lattice section 172 located upstream in the conveying direction from the lattice section 172 on which the fourth 100 yen coin stored coin roll B is placed.

Next, the control unit 67 causes the front coin bar intake and payout unit 107 to pay out the first coin bar B stored in the coin bar storage unit 105 (C) at the front position and place it on the adjacent rib 172 on the upstream side of the conveying direction of the rib 172, i.e., on the lower side. Next, the control unit 67 causes the front coin bar intake and payout unit 107 to pay out the second coin bar B stored in the coin bar storage unit 105 (C) at the front position and place it on the adjacent rib 172 on the upstream side of the conveying direction of the rib 172, i.e., on the lower side. By appropriately repeating the above, the five coin bar B stored in the coin bar storage unit 105 (C) are sequentially placed on the rising rib 172 on the rear side of the conveyor belt 158.

In this manner, the coin roll B transported by the conveyor belt 158 is released to the coin roll dispensing section 123 by the dispensing section gate 132 in the open position and is stored there. At that time, the five 100 yen coin rolls B are released first and gather at the bottom of the coin roll dispensing section 123, and after these, the five 10 yen coin rolls B are released and gather at a position equal to or higher than the topmost 100 yen coin roll B.

When the tenth coin bar B is held in the coin bar dispensing unit 123, the control unit 67 closes the dispensing unit gate 132 and opens the shutter 125. Then, the coin bar B in the coin bar dispensing unit 123 that was dispensed in the first transaction is taken out of the machine.

In the first transaction, one wrapped coin roll B of 100 yen coins is required for dispensing and three are required for refilling, so the control unit 67 continues the wrapping coin roll creation process for the wrapping coin roll refill process after the wrapping coin roll creation process for the wrapping coin roll dispensing process, to the extent that the two processes do not interfere with each other.

When the tenth coin roll B is placed on the rail 172 of the conveyor belt 158 as described above, the control unit 67 places the wrapping coin roll B of the first 100 yen coin for refilling on the rail 172 located upstream in the conveying direction from the rail 172 on which the fifth 10 yen coin storage roll B is placed, when the wrapping coin roll B of the second 100 yen coin, i.e., the wrapping coin roll B of the first 100 yen coin for refilling, is created in the wrapping unit 101 in the wrapping coin roll creation process.

The control unit 67 then causes the front coin roll intake and payout unit 107 of the coin roll storage unit 105(E) to take in and store the wrapping coin roll B of the first 100 yen coin for refilling, which is being transported upward by the rail 172 of the conveyor belt 158. When the wrapping coin roll B of the second 100 yen coin for refilling is created in the packaging unit 101 during the wrapping coin roll creation process, the control unit 67 causes the wrapping coin roll B of the second 100 yen coin for refilling to be placed on the rail 172 located upstream in the conveying direction from the rail 172 on which the wrapping coin roll B of the first 100 yen coin is placed. The control unit 67 then causes the front coin roll intake and payout unit 107 of the coin roll storage unit 105(E) to take in the second 100 yen coin wrapped coin B, which is being transported upward by the rail 172 of the conveyor belt 158, into the coin roll storage unit 105(E) and push it in front of the first 100 yen coin wrapped coin B for storage. By appropriately repeating the above, three 100 yen coin wrapped coin rolls B are stored in the coin roll storage unit 105(E).

In this way, when the dispensing of 10 coin rolls B to the coin roll dispensing unit 123 and the replenishment of three wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll storage unit 105 (E) are completed, the control unit 67 ends the first transaction of the coin roll dispensing process. In this first transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, when a start operation is input to the operation display unit 69, if the processing proceeds normally until the first transaction is completed, the processing will proceed without any operation input to the operation display unit 69 during that time.

In addition, the refilling of the wrapped gold bar B into the gold bar storage sections 105(A)-105(F) can be done from the front by the front gold bar intake and payout section 107 as described above, or it can be done by taking the wrapped gold bar B from the conveyor belt 158 into the rear conveyor section 111 by the front gold bar intake section 113, conveying it by the rear conveyor section 111 and the upper conveyor section 112, and pushing it from the upper conveyor section 112 into the corresponding one of the gold bar storage sections 105(A)-105(F) by the rear gold bar pusher section 106.

In addition, when multiple of the coin roll storage sections 105(A) to 105(F) need to be replenished with wrapped coin rolls B, the process is carried out as far downstream as possible in the range from the loose coin storage sections 54(A) to 54(F) to the wrapping section 101 without interfering with the process. In the wrapped coin roll replenishment process, the order in which wrapped coin rolls B are replenished to the coin roll storage sections 105(A) to 105(F) may be any denomination first.

As described above, the coin roll transport unit 121 transports the stored coin rolls B and wrapped coin rolls B toward the coin roll dispensing unit 123. The wrapping unit 101 feeds out the wrapped coin rolls B from a first position to the coin roll transport unit 121, and the front coin roll intake and feed-out unit 107 of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) feeds out the stored coin rolls B from a second position different from the first position, thereby merging multiple denominations of coin rolls B together by denomination. In addition, the control unit 67 transfers the wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll transport unit 121 by the wrapping unit 101 at the first position, and then, at the second position, feeds out the wrapped coin rolls B from the coin roll transport unit 121 toward the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) by the front coin roll intake and feed-out unit 107. Alternatively, the control unit 67 transfers the wrapped gold bar B to the gold bar conveying unit 121 by the packaging unit 101 at the first position, and then sends out the wrapped gold bar B from the gold bar conveying unit 121 to the gold bar storage units 105(A)-105(F) by the front gold bar intake unit 113, rear conveying unit 111, upper conveying unit 112, and rear gold bar extrusion unit 106 at a position different from the first position.

In the above specific example, an example has been described in which the coin roll B is dispensed within the range that can be held in the coin roll dispensing unit 123 at one time. However, when dispensing more coin rolls B than the range that can be held in the coin roll dispensing unit 123 at one time, when the control unit 67 starts a transaction of the coin roll dispensing process and the dispensing of multiple denominations of coin rolls B in that transaction is instructed, the control unit 67 dispenses the coin rolls B for each denomination by the coin roll dispensing unit 123 so that they can be removed outside the machine. That is, for example, when starting one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, if the number of coin rolls B dispensed in that transaction is eight 10-yen coin rolls B and fifteen 100-yen coin rolls B, exceeding the 12 coin rolls that can be held at one time in the coin roll dispensing unit 123, the shutter 125 is closed and, for example, the eight 10-yen coin rolls B are first held in the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and then the shutter 125 is opened to make it possible to remove the eight 10-yen coin rolls B from the machine, and the eight 10-yen coin rolls B are then removed from the machine. When the coins B are taken out of the machine, the shutter 125 is closed and the 12 100 yen coin rolls B are stored in the coin roll dispensing section 123, and then the shutter 125 is opened, allowing the 12 100 yen coin rolls B to be taken out of the machine; when the 12 100 yen coin rolls B are taken out of the machine, the shutter 125 is closed and the 3 100 yen coin rolls B are stored in the coin roll dispensing section 123, and then the shutter 125 is opened, allowing the 3 100 yen coin rolls B to be taken out of the machine.

In addition, when performing the stored coin roll dispensing process and the wrapped coin roll dispensing process for coin rolls B of the same denomination, the time required for the first coin roll B to reach the coin roll dispensing section 123 is faster in the stored coin roll dispensing process than in the wrapped coin roll dispensing process, so as described above, the stored coin roll B is transported to the coin roll dispensing section 123 in the stored coin roll dispensing process first, and the wrapped coin roll B is transported to the coin roll dispensing section 123 in the wrapped coin roll dispensing process later.

In addition, stored gold bars B and wrapped gold bars B of the same denomination are grouped together in the gold bar dispensing unit 123, but instead of grouping them, stored gold bars B and wrapped gold bars B may be held in the gold bar dispensing unit 123 by controlling them so as to minimize the processing time.

The wrapped coin roll replenishment process has been described above as part of the coin roll dispensing process, but when a selection operation for the wrapped coin roll replenishment process is input to the operation display unit 69, the control unit 67 performs the wrapped coin roll replenishment process alone. In this case, wrapped coin rolls B that cannot be stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) are stored in the bulk coin roll storage unit 124.

In the above coin roll dispensing process, the control unit 67 selects and determines one of the following operation patterns. The control unit 67 performs processing based on the determined operation pattern.

[Pattern in which only the stored coin roll B is dispensed and the coin roll dispensing process is terminated]
The condition for the control unit 67 to select this pattern is that the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) that are the targets for withdrawal maintain a specified amount of stored coin roll B even after the stored coin roll B has been withdrawn.

[Pattern in which wrapped gold bar B is replenished to the gold bar storage sections 105(A) to 105(F) after only the stored gold bar B is dispensed, or after both the stored gold bar B and the wrapped gold bar B are dispensed]
The condition for the control unit 67 to select this pattern is that the amount of loose coins C used to create the replenishment wrapped coin roll B is secured in the corresponding loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) even after the coin roll dispensing process is completed (excluding a predetermined number of coins that need to remain in the corresponding loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F)).

[Pattern in which wrapped gold bar B is not replenished to the gold bar storage sections 105(A) to 105(F) after only the stored gold bar B has been dispensed, or after both the stored gold bar B and the wrapped gold bar B have been dispensed]
The condition for the control unit 67 to select this pattern is when the loose coins C for making the refill wrapped coin roll B are not secured in the corresponding denomination among the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) after the coin roll dispensing process is completed. In this case, the remaining amount in the coin roll storage unit 105 of this denomination will be 0, and the empty coin roll storage unit 105 is notified.

[Pattern in which only wrapped gold bar B is dispensed]
The condition for the control unit 67 to select this pattern is when the requested denomination of coin roll B is not stored in the corresponding one of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) (when the corresponding one of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) is empty). When the number of loose coins C to be left in the corresponding one of the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) is other than the predetermined number and a number (in units of 100 coins) sufficient to create a wrapped coin roll B is secured, a wrapped coin roll refill process is performed to create a wrapped coin roll B and replenish the coin roll storage unit 105. Also, when the wrapped coin roll dispensing process is completed, if the number of loose coins stored in the loose coin storage unit 54 is less than the predetermined number, the operation display unit 69 may inform the user of this in advance and obtain approval before the wrapped coin roll dispensing process is performed. Furthermore, after the wrapped coin bar dispensing process is completed, the operation and display unit 69 may notify the user that the loose coin storage unit 54 is near empty (or empty).

The control unit 67 may determine whether or not to use denomination consolidation, which involves dispensing coin rolls B in groups of different denominations during the coin roll dispensing process, by using a selection operation on the operation and display unit 69.

[Coin bar loading process]
The coin roll loading process is a process of storing coin rolls B from outside the machine into coin roll storage units 105 (A) to 105 (F) based on a coin roll loading operation input to operation display unit 69.

When a coin roll loading operation is input to the operation display unit 69, the control unit 67 drives the conveyor drive unit 153 to rotate the conveyor belt 158 in the second direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 3) in the reverse direction. Then, the coin roll B inserted from outside the machine into the coin roll deposit unit 120 is identified and counted in the coin roll deposit unit 120, placed on the rising rail 172 on the front side of the conveyor belt 158, raised, and handed over to the downstream side in the conveying direction, i.e., the lower rail 172 on the rear side of the conveyor belt 158, and lowered. Then, the front coin roll intake and payout unit 107 stores the corresponding denominations of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) in the corresponding coin roll storage units 105. By repeating the above steps as necessary, the coin roll B inserted into the coin roll deposit unit 120 from outside the machine is stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) of the corresponding denomination.

In this coin bar loading process, the coin bar B can be replenished into the coin bar storage sections 105(A) to 105(F) not only from the front at the front coin bar intake and payout section 107 as described above, but also by taking the coin bar B from the conveyor belt 158 at the front coin bar intake section 113 into the rear conveyor section 111, conveying it at the rear conveyor section 111 and the upper conveyor section 112, and pushing it from the upper conveyor section 112 into the corresponding coin bar storage sections 105(A) to 105(F) at the rear coin bar pusher section 106.

[Collection of stored coin bars]
The stored coin roll recovery process is a process of storing and recovering the coin rolls B from the coin roll storage sections 105(A) to 105(F) in the coin roll lump-sum storage section 124 based on a coin roll recovery operation input to the operation and display section 69.

When a coin roll collection operation is input to the operation display unit 69, the control unit 67 drives the conveyor drive unit 153 to rotate the conveyor belt 158 in a first direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3). Then, in a predetermined order, each coin roll storage unit 105(A) to 105(F) has a coin roll B fed to the conveyor belt 158 by the front coin roll intake and feed unit 107, transported by the conveyor belt 158, and stored in the coin roll bulk storage unit 124 for collection.

[Complete collection of gold bar coins]
When a complete coin roll collection operation is selected and input by operating the operation display unit 69, the control unit 67 executes the complete coin roll collection processing mode, in which all stored coin rolls B from one coin roll storage unit 105 for one denomination among coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) are stored in the bulk coin roll storage unit 124 in the same manner as the stored coin roll collection process, and as many wrapped coin rolls B as possible are created in the packaging unit 101 from the loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage unit 54 for that one denomination among loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) and transported to the bulk coin roll storage unit 124, a collection operation is performed for all denominations by denomination. As a result, for example, the stored coin rolls B of 1 yen coins and the wrapped coin rolls B are stored together in the coin roll collective storage section 124 once or multiple times and then taken out of the machine, and then the stored coin rolls B of 5 yen coins and the wrapped coin rolls B are stored together in the coin roll collective storage section 124 once or multiple times and then taken out of the machine, and then the stored coin rolls B of 10 yen coins and the wrapped coin rolls B are stored together in the coin roll collective storage section 124 once or multiple times and then taken out of the machine. Thereafter, the stored coin rolls B of 50 yen coins and the wrapped coin rolls B are stored together in the coin roll bulk storage section 124 once or multiple times and then taken out of the machine, thereafter, the stored coin rolls B of 100 yen coins and the wrapped coin rolls B are stored together in the coin roll bulk storage section 124 once or multiple times and then taken out of the machine, and thereafter, the stored coin rolls B of 500 yen coins and the wrapped coin rolls B are stored together in the coin roll bulk storage section 124 once or multiple times and then taken out of the machine.

According to the present embodiment described above, in one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, the control unit 67 merges both the stored coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105 (A) to 105 (F) and the wrapped coin rolls B created by wrapping the loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage units 54 (A) to 54 (F) in the wrapping unit 101, and dispenses them to the coin roll dispensing unit 123. Therefore, it is not necessary to specify multiple processes, as in the case of performing a stored coin roll dispensing process in which the operation display unit 69 is operated to dispense the stored coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105 (A) to 105 (F) to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and then operating the operation display unit 69 again to dispense the wrapped coin rolls B created by wrapping the loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage units 54 (A) to 54 (F) in the wrapping unit 101 to the coin roll dispensing unit 123. This eliminates the need for users to repeatedly perform cumbersome input operations, improving usability.

In addition, in one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, the control unit 67 merges both the stored coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) and the wrapped coin rolls B created by packaging the loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) in the packaging unit 101 and dispenses them to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and sends the wrapped coin rolls B created by packaging the loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) in the packaging unit 101 toward the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F). Therefore, there is no need to specify multiple processes, as in the case of operating the operation display unit 69 to perform a stored coin roll dispensing process, operating the operation display unit 69 again to perform a wrapped coin roll dispensing process, and then operating the operation display unit 69 again to perform a wrapped coin roll replenishment process in which wrapped coin rolls B, which are created by wrapping loose coins C stored in loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) in wrapping unit 101, are sent to the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) to replenish them. This eliminates the need for users to repeatedly perform cumbersome operation inputs, making the system even easier to use.

In addition, when multiple denominations of coin rolls B are dispensed at once to the coin roll dispensing unit 123 in one transaction of the coin roll dispensing process, and when both stored coin rolls B and wrapped coin rolls B are dispensed, the control unit 67 merges the stored coin rolls B and wrapped coin rolls B together so that the multiple denominations of coin rolls B are grouped together by denomination when they are merged. Therefore, even when both stored coin rolls B and wrapped coin rolls B are dispensed, the coin rolls B are dispensed together by denomination to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, eliminating the need for the user to group the coin rolls B by denomination, making the process even easier to use.

The control unit 67 can also perform parallel processing of a stored gold bar dispensing process for dispensing stored gold bar B stored in the gold bar storage units 105(A)-105(F) to the gold bar dispensing unit 123, and a wrapped gold bar creation process for a wrapped gold bar dispensing process for creating wrapped gold bar B in the wrapping unit 101 from loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F). In this way, rather than creating wrapped gold bar B from loose coins C after a predetermined number of stored gold bar B have been transported, it is possible to proceed with creating wrapped gold bar B from loose coins C in parallel while a predetermined number of stored gold bar B is being transported. This is expected to speed up one transaction of the gold bar dispensing process.

In addition, by having the coin roll transport unit 121 send out the wrapped coin roll B from a first position and send out the stored coin roll B from a second position different from the first position, multiple denominations of coin rolls B are merged so that they are grouped together by denomination. This makes it easy to group multiple denominations of coin rolls B together by denomination.

In addition, the control unit 67 transfers the wrapped gold rods B from the packaging unit 101 to the gold rod conveying unit 121 at the first position, and then sends the wrapped gold rods B from the gold rod conveying unit 121 toward the gold rod storage units 105(A)-105(F) at the second position. This makes it possible to replenish wrapped gold rods B to the gold rod storage units 105(A)-105(F) with a simple and compact configuration.

In addition, when starting a single coin roll dispensing transaction, if the dispensing of multiple denominations of coin rolls B in that single transaction is instructed, the control unit 67 causes the coin roll dispensing unit 123 to dispense the coin rolls B one denomination at a time so that they can be removed from the machine. This eliminates the need for the user to organize the coin rolls B by denomination, improving usability.

In addition, when the control unit 67 predicts that there is a denomination with a shortage in the number of coins in at least one of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) that will result in zero (or a predetermined number greater than zero) of stored coin rolls when the stored coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) are dispensed to the coin roll dispensing unit 123 in the transaction, the control unit 67 additionally executes a wrapped coin roll refill process in which the wrapping unit 101 creates wrapped coin rolls B from loose coins C of the denomination with a shortage in the number of coins stored in the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) and stores the wrapped coin rolls B in the coin roll storage unit 105 of the denomination with a shortage in the number of coins in the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F). This eliminates the need for the user to repeatedly perform cumbersome input operations, improving usability.

In other words, in addition to the denominations for which the wrapped coin roll dispensing process has been performed in a single coin roll dispensing transaction (denominations for which stored coin rolls B alone are insufficient), if it is predicted that there are denominations for which the stored coin roll dispensing process will result in the stored coin rolls B reaching zero (it will simply reach zero, and will not involve a wrapped coin roll dispensing process) or the stored coin rolls B falling below a predetermined number (a small number such as one or two), one or more wrapped coin rolls B will be created from loose coins C at the end of that single transaction, and these will be used to replenish the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) as stored coin rolls B.

In addition, in the coin roll total recovery processing mode, the control unit 67 transports all stored coin rolls B from a coin roll storage unit 105 for one denomination among the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) to the coin roll dispensing unit 123 by the coin roll transport unit 121, and then performs a recovery operation for all denominations by creating wrapped coin rolls B from loose coins C stored in the loose coin storage unit 54 for one denomination among the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) in the packaging unit 101 and transporting the wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll dispensing unit 123. As a result, even when performing the coin roll total recovery processing for multiple denominations, the coin roll total recovery processing is performed one denomination at a time, so that the coin rolls B can be dispensed together by denomination. In other words, if stored coin rolls B and wrapped coin rolls B were simply processed in parallel, they could be dispensed without regard to the denomination, and the order of denominations of the coin rolls B in the coin roll dispensing unit 123 could be mixed up, which would be undesirable in terms of appearance and confirmation work. This can be avoided.

The control unit 67 automatically determines the appropriate number of loose coins C of the denomination for which the wrapped coin roll B was created, within the range of the number of loose coins remaining in the loose coin storage after the wrapped coin roll B was created, and for that number of loose coins, continuously or consecutively pays out loose coins C from the loose coin storage unit 54 and wraps them in the wrapping unit 101, and controls the coin roll transport unit 121, etc. to store the number of coin rolls B in the coin roll storage unit 105 of that denomination (additional coin roll creation and storage). This makes it possible to create and secure a certain number of coin rolls B in advance, even if a next coin roll dispensing transaction is consecutively performed while a coin roll B dispensing operation is being performed. It is preferable that the operation of this additional coin roll creation and storage is controlled at the stage where all the operations of the original coin roll dispensing process are completed, that is, immediately after all the coin rolls B that have been instructed to be dispensed are transported to the coin roll dispensing unit 123.

In addition, when starting a coin roll dispensing transaction, the control unit 67 compares the amount of stored coin rolls B already stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) with the requested number of coin rolls B to be dispensed in that transaction, based on the input number of coins to be dispensed by denomination, and determines a coin roll dispensing pattern based on the result of this comparison, and performs the coin roll dispensing transaction in accordance with the determined coin roll dispensing pattern. This eliminates the need for the user to repeatedly perform cumbersome input operations, improving usability.

These coin roll dispensing processing patterns are a first pattern in which only a stored coin roll dispensing processing is performed in which stored coin rolls B from the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) are dispensed to the coin roll dispensing unit 123, and a second pattern in which both a stored coin roll dispensing processing in which stored coin rolls B from the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) are dispensed to the coin roll dispensing unit 123 and a wrapped coin roll dispensing processing in which a predetermined number of loose coins C from the loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) are packaged in the packaging unit 101 to create wrapped coin rolls B and dispensed the wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll dispensing unit 123. The control unit 67 selects and executes either the first pattern or the second pattern. This eliminates the need for the user to repeatedly perform cumbersome operation inputs, improving usability.

In addition to the first pattern in which only the stored coin roll dispensing process is performed and the second pattern in which both the stored coin roll dispensing process and the wrapped coin roll dispensing process are performed in one coin roll dispensing transaction, the control unit 67 also performs a wrapped coin roll refill process in which a predetermined number of loose coins C from the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) are wrapped in the wrapping unit 101 to create wrapped coin rolls B and this wrapped coin roll B is stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F). This eliminates the need for the user to repeatedly perform cumbersome input operations, improving usability.

When starting a transaction for coin roll dispensing, the control unit 67 compares the number of withdrawal requests for coin rolls B of each denomination with the number of stored coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F) as the in-machine inventory. At the same time, the control unit 67 determines the operation pattern for the transaction taking into consideration the lower limit number of stored coin rolls B, which is the predetermined storage amount set in advance in each of the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F), and the lower limit number of loose coins, which is the predetermined storage amount for loose coins C, which is set in each of the loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F). This eliminates the need for the user to repeatedly perform cumbersome operation inputs, improving usability.

In addition, when the control unit 67 starts a coin roll dispensing transaction, if it is expected that each of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) will maintain a predetermined storage amount, which is the lower limit number, after the transaction, the control unit 67 dispenses only the coin rolls B stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F). This is expected to speed up the coin roll dispensing transaction.

In addition, when starting a transaction for coin roll dispensing processing, if at least one of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) is predicted to be unable to maintain the lower limit number, which is the predetermined storage amount, after the transaction, and if it is predicted that the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) have enough loose coins C to create wrapped coin rolls B to replenish the coin roll storage unit 105 that cannot maintain the lower limit number, the control unit 67 dispenses at least the stored coin rolls B and the wrapped coin rolls B in the transaction, and then replenishes the wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll storage unit 105 that cannot maintain the lower limit number. Therefore, by replenishing the wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll storage unit 105, it is possible to prevent a shortage of loose coins C in the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F).

In addition, when the control unit 67 starts a transaction for dispensing coin rolls, if it is predicted that at least one of the coin roll storage units 105(A) to 105(F) will not be able to maintain the minimum number of coins stored after the transaction, and if it is predicted that the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F) do not have enough loose coins C to create wrapped coin rolls B to replenish the coin roll storage unit 105 that cannot maintain the minimum number, the control unit 67 dispenses at least the stored coin rolls B and the wrapped coin rolls B in the transaction, and then does not replenish the wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll storage unit 105 that cannot maintain the minimum number. Therefore, by replenishing the wrapped coin rolls B to the coin roll storage unit 105, it is possible to prevent a shortage of loose coins C in the loose coin storage units 54(A) to 54(F).

In addition, when starting a transaction for the coin roll dispensing process, if the stored coin roll B of the requested denomination is not stored in the coin roll storage units 105(A)-105(F), the control unit 67 wraps loose coins C in the wrapping unit 101 from the corresponding loose coin storage units 54(A)-54(F) and dispenses only the wrapped coin roll B. This eliminates the need for the user to repeatedly perform cumbersome input operations, improving usability.

12 Coin processing machine 54(A) to 54(F) Loose coin storage section 67 Control section 101 Packaging section 105(A) to 105(F) Coin bar storage section 121 Coin bar transport section 123 Coin bar dispensing section B Coin bar C Loose coin

Claims (9)

a loose coin storage section that stores loose coins in a payable manner;
a wrapping unit that wraps a predetermined number of loose coins in a wrapping sheet to produce a wrapped coin roll;
a coin roll storage section capable of storing and feeding out coin rolls;
a coin roll dispensing unit that holds the coin roll so that the coin roll can be removed from the machine;
a control unit that controls the loose coin storage unit, the packaging unit, the coin roll storage unit, and the coin roll dispensing unit, and also controls the transportation of loose coins and coin rolls;
A coin processing machine having
The control unit is
In one transaction of a gold bar coin withdrawal process,
The stored money rolls stored in the money roll storage unit and the wrapped money rolls prepared by wrapping the loose coins stored in the loose coin storage unit in the wrapping unit are merged together and dispensed to the money roll dispensing unit ;
Furthermore, the control unit
In one transaction of the gold bar coin withdrawal process,
This coin processing machine is characterized in that when multiple denominations of coin rolls are dispensed at once to the coin roll dispensing section and when both the stored coin rolls and the wrapped coin rolls are dispensed, when the stored coin rolls and the wrapped coin rolls are merged, the multiple denominations of coin rolls are merged so as to be grouped by denomination . Furthermore, the control unit
a stored money bar dispensing process for dispensing the stored money bars stored in the money bar storage unit to the money bar dispensing unit;
a wrapping unit that wraps the coins from the loose coins stored in the loose coin storage unit;
2. The coin processing machine according to claim 1, wherein said coin processing machine is capable of parallel processing. a money bar conveying section that conveys the stored money bar and the wrapped money bar toward the money bar dispensing section,
3. The coin processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the wrapped coin rolls are fed from a first position to the coin roll transport section, and the stored coin rolls are fed from a second position different from the first position, thereby merging multiple denominations of coin rolls so that they are grouped together by denomination. a loose coin storage section that stores loose coins in a payable manner;
a wrapping unit that wraps a predetermined number of loose coins in a wrapping sheet to produce a wrapped coin roll;
a coin roll storage section capable of storing and feeding out coin rolls;
a coin roll dispensing unit that holds the coin roll so that the coin roll can be removed from the machine;
a control unit that controls the loose coin storage unit, the packaging unit, the coin roll storage unit, and the coin roll dispensing unit, and also controls the transportation of loose coins and coin rolls;
A coin processing machine having
The control unit is
In one transaction of the gold bar coin withdrawal process,
The stored money rolls stored in the money roll storage unit and the wrapped money rolls prepared by wrapping the loose coins stored in the loose coin storage unit in the wrapping unit are merged together and dispensed to the money roll dispensing unit ;
Furthermore, the control unit
This coin processing machine is characterized in that when a transaction for dispensing coin rolls is started and dispensing of multiple denominations of coin rolls in the transaction is instructed, the coin rolls are dispensed by the coin roll dispensing unit in a manner that makes them removable outside the machine . The control unit is
A coin processing machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that when a transaction for dispensing coin rolls is started and the dispensing of coin rolls in that transaction is instructed across multiple denominations , the coin rolls are dispensed by the coin roll dispensing unit in a manner that makes them removable outside the machine. a loose coin storage section that stores loose coins in a payable manner;
a wrapping unit that wraps a predetermined number of loose coins in a wrapping sheet to produce a wrapped coin roll;
a coin roll storage section capable of storing and feeding out coin rolls;
a coin roll dispensing unit that holds the coin roll so that the coin roll can be removed from the machine;
a control unit that controls the loose coin storage unit, the packaging unit, the coin roll storage unit, and the coin roll dispensing unit, and also controls the transportation of loose coins and coin rolls;
A coin processing machine having
The control unit is
In one transaction of a gold bar coin withdrawal process,
The stored money rolls stored in the money roll storage unit and the wrapped money rolls prepared by wrapping the loose coins stored in the loose coin storage unit in the wrapping unit are merged together and dispensed to the money roll dispensing unit ;
Furthermore, the control unit
In one transaction of a gold bar coin withdrawal process,
This coin processing machine is characterized in that it merges the stored gold bars stored in the gold bar storage section and the wrapped gold bars created by wrapping the loose coins stored in the loose coin storage section in the packaging section, and dispenses them to the gold bar dispensing section, while sending out the wrapped gold bars toward the gold bar storage section . The control unit is
In one transaction of a gold bar coin withdrawal process,
A coin processing machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that both the stored gold bars stored in the gold bar storage section and the wrapped gold bars created by wrapping the loose coins stored in the loose coin storage section in the wrapping section are merged and dispensed to the gold bar dispensing section, and the wrapped gold bars are sent toward the gold bar storage section. a loose coin storage section that stores loose coins in a payable manner;
a wrapping unit that wraps a predetermined number of loose coins in a wrapping sheet to produce a wrapped coin roll;
a coin roll storage section capable of storing and feeding out coin rolls;
a coin roll dispensing unit that holds the coin roll so that the coin roll can be removed from the machine;
a control unit that controls the loose coin storage unit, the packaging unit, the coin roll storage unit, and the coin roll dispensing unit, and also controls the transportation of loose coins and coin rolls;
A coin processing machine having
The control unit is
When starting one transaction of a coin roll dispensing process, a current amount of the stored coin rolls already stored in the coin roll storage section is compared with a requested number of coin rolls requested to be dispensed in the one transaction, and a coin roll dispensing process pattern is determined based on the result of this comparison, and a coin roll dispensing process is performed in accordance with the determined coin roll dispensing process pattern;
Furthermore, the control unit
In one transaction of a gold bar coin withdrawal process,
This coin processing machine is characterized in that, in addition to the coin roll dispensing processing pattern, the packaging section additionally executes a wrapped coin roll replenishment process in which the wrapped coin roll, which contains a predetermined number of loose coins, is stored in the coin roll storage section . The coin bar dispensing process pattern is
a first pattern in which only a stored money bar dispensing process is performed to dispense the stored money bars from the money bar storage section;
a second pattern in which the packaging section performs both the stored coin roll dispensing process and a wrapped coin roll dispensing process in which the packaging section dispenses the wrapped coin roll in which a predetermined number of loose coins are packaged;

Images