JP7790126B2 - Coin processing device and currency handling device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coin processing device and currency handling device, and is suitable for use in coin processing devices used at checkout counters in retail stores such as supermarkets and convenience stores.

In recent years, cash register change systems that combine a POS (Point of Sales) register connected to a POS system or the like with a change machine that processes the deposit and withdrawal of banknotes and coins have become common. Among these change machines, some coin processing devices that process coins include a coin insertion section where users insert coins, a transport section that transports the coins, a recognition section that identifies the denomination and authenticity of inserted coins, a storage section that stores coins by denomination, and a coin dispensing section that stores coins to be dispensed to users as change and hands them over to the user. Some coin dispensing sections have a magnetic sensor located at the bottom of the coin tray that stores coins dispensed from the storage section, to detect the presence of coins remaining in the coin tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 5434422

In such coin processing devices, when coins remain in the coin tray of the coin dispensing section, it is desirable to be able to reliably detect the coins regardless of their position in the coin tray.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above points, and aims to propose a coin processing device and currency handling device that can improve the accuracy of detecting coins in the coin dispensing section.

In order to solve this problem, the coin processing device of the present invention is provided with a dispensing tray that forms a space to store coins that are discharged from the device through the discharge port, and a magnetic sensor for detecting whether or not there are any coins remaining in the dispensing tray.The dispensing tray has a bottom whose length along the front-to-back direction of the dispensing tray is approximately the thickness of the largest diameter coin among the coins handled , and slopes formed on all four sides of the bottom that guide coins discharged from the discharge port toward the bottom.The coins that are discharged can be supported with part of their outer circumference abutting the bottom surface and leaning against one of the front-to-back slopes, and the magnetic sensor is provided on at least one of the rear side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space from the slope on the discharge port side, or the front side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space from the slope on the opposite side from the discharge port.

In addition, the currency handling device of the present invention is provided with a coin processing device that processes coins and a banknote processing device that processes banknotes, and the coin processing device is provided with a dispensing tray that forms a space to store coins discharged from the device through the discharge outlet, and a magnetic sensor for detecting whether or not there are any coins remaining in the dispensing tray, and the dispensing tray has a bottom whose length along the front-to-back direction of the dispensing tray is approximately the thickness of the largest diameter coin among the coins handled , and slopes formed on all four sides of the bottom that guide coins discharged from the discharge outlet toward the bottom, and the coins to be discharged can be supported with part of their outer circumference abutting the bottom and leaning against one of the front-to-back slopes, and the magnetic sensor is provided on at least one of the rear side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space from the slope on the discharge outlet side, or the front side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space from the slope on the opposite side from the discharge outlet.

This allows the present invention to ensure a sufficient coin projection area between the detection surface of the magnetic sensor and the coin for coins stored in various positions, and also allows at least a portion of the coin to be included within the detectable area of the magnetic sensor.

This invention makes it possible to realize a coin processing device and currency handling device that can improve the detection accuracy of coins in the coin dispensing section.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the coin processing device. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration (1) of a coin dispensing unit according to a first embodiment. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, showing the configuration (2) of the coin dispensing unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the minimum diameter coin and the coin projection area in the coin dispensing unit according to the first embodiment, as viewed from the front in a direction perpendicular to the rear slope. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, showing a state in which a coin is floating above the bottom surface in the coin dispensing unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, showing the magnetic field of the magnetic sensor in the coin dispensing unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the configuration (1) of the coin dispensing unit according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 7, showing the configuration (2) of the coin dispensing unit according to the second embodiment. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 7, showing a foreign object and a magnetic field of a magnetic sensor in a coin dispensing unit according to a second embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a coin dispensing unit of a first comparative example. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state in which a coin cannot be detected in the coin dispensing unit of the first comparative example. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state (1) in which a coin cannot be detected in the coin dispensing unit of the second comparative example. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 12, showing a state (2) in which a coin cannot be detected in the coin dispensing unit of the second comparative example.

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.
1. First embodiment
[1-1. Configuration of coin processing device]
As shown in Figure 1, a coin processing device 1 according to the first embodiment is installed at a checkout counter (a so-called cash register) in a retail store such as a supermarket or convenience store, and is connected to a POS register or the like. It is operated by a customer (hereinafter also referred to as a user) when paying for the products the customer wishes to purchase. In the following description, the side of the coin processing device 1 facing the user is referred to as the front side, the opposite side as the rear side, and the left and right sides as seen from the user facing the front side as the left and right sides, respectively. Furthermore, the upper and lower sides are defined. A banknote processing device (not shown) that handles banknotes is installed on the left or right side of the coin processing device 1.

The coin processing device 1 has a control unit (not shown). This control unit controls various processes related to coins by having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) read and execute predetermined programs from a ROM (Read Only Memory) or storage unit (not shown).

The coin processing device 1 is mainly equipped with a coin insertion section 10, a deposit transport section 12, a withdrawal transport section 14, and a coin withdrawal section 16. Incidentally, like regular coins, coins are made of metals such as nickel, copper, and aluminum, or alloys or combinations of these, and are formed into thin plates. Hereinafter, of the coins handled by the coin processing device 1, the coin with the smallest diameter, such as a 1 yen coin, will also be referred to as the smallest diameter coin, and the coin with the longest diameter, such as a 500 yen coin, will also be referred to as the largest diameter coin.

The coin insertion unit 10 is located on the upper right side of the front of the coin processing device 1. This coin insertion unit 10 takes in coins deposited by the user, separates them one by one, and feeds them to the deposit transport unit 12. As the deposit transport unit 12 transports the coins, it uses a recognition unit to identify the authenticity and denomination of the coins and counts them, and then transports the coins by denomination to a storage unit for storage. When coins equivalent to the amount of change for the deposit made by the user in settling the price of a product are fed from the storage unit, the withdrawal transport unit 14 transports them to the coin withdrawal unit 16.

The coin dispensing unit 16 is located on the upper left side of the front of the coin processing device 1. This coin dispensing unit 16 is open at the top and is positioned so that the user can access it from the front. When coins to be dispensed to the user are transported by the dispensing transport unit 14, the coin dispensing unit 16 stores the coins as change.

In this configuration, the coin processing device 1 takes in coins deposited by a user through the coin insertion unit 10 and stores them in an internal storage unit, and also dispenses coins from the storage unit and dispenses them as change from the coin dispensing unit 16.

[1-2. Configuration of coin dispensing unit]
[1-2-1. Configuration of the Dispensing Tray]
2 and 3 , the coin dispensing unit 16 has a dispensing tray 20 that is open at the top and that has a coin storage space 32 for storing coins. An outlet 18 ( FIG. 1 ) is provided above the rear end of the dispensing tray 20, through which coins transported from the dispensing transport unit 14 are discharged into the dispensing tray 20. The dispensing tray 20 is symmetrical as a whole with respect to the center in the left-right direction, and is composed of a bottom surface 22D, a front inclined surface 22F, a rear inclined surface 22B, a left inclined surface 22L, and a right inclined surface 22R. Hereinafter, the front inclined surface 22F, the rear inclined surface 22B, the left inclined surface 22L, and the right inclined surface 22R will also be collectively referred to as inclined surfaces 22.

The bottom surface 22D is a flat, rectangular plate in a horizontal plan view, with a length in the front-to-back direction (depth direction) of 0 mm or more, e.g., the thickness of one of the largest diameter coins, and a length in the left-to-right direction of approximately the diameter of the largest diameter coin.

The front slope 22F has a curved shape that is concave toward the front, with its lower end connected to the front end of the bottom surface 22D and its upper end extending upward. Specifically, the front slope 22F gradually curves upward from the front end of the bottom surface 22D toward the front at a smaller angle relative to the horizontal than the rear slope 22B, and at its top is nearly vertical. Therefore, the front slope 22F has a shape that is roughly similar to the trajectory of a user's finger when, facing the front of the coin processing device 1, they insert their finger into the coin storage space 32 and then bend their finger to scrape out a coin CN stored in the dispensing tray 20. When a coin CN comes into contact with the front slope 22F, it slides down toward the bottom surface 22D under its own weight. Furthermore, because the front slope 22F faces forward, the same direction as the user, it is less visible to the user than the rear slope 22B.

The rear slope 22B has a flat shape, with its lower end connected to the rear end of the bottom surface 22D and its upper end sloping upward as it approaches the rear. The rear slope 22B faces the front slope 22F in the front-to-rear direction, with the bottom surface 22D in between, and the slope angle of the rear slope 22B relative to the bottom surface 22D is approximately 30 to 45 degrees. When a coin CN comes into contact with the rear slope 22B, it slides down toward the bottom surface 22D under its own weight.

The left slope 22L has a flat shape, with its lower end connected to the left end of the bottom surface 22D, and its upper end sloping upward as it moves to the left. The inclination angle of the left slope 22L relative to the bottom surface 22D is approximately 30 to 45 degrees. When a coin CN comes into contact with the left slope 22L, it slides down toward the bottom surface 22D under its own weight.

The right slope 22R has a flat shape, with its lower end connected to the right end of the bottom surface 22D and its upper end sloping upward as it approaches the right. The right slope 22R faces the left slope 22L in the left-right direction, with the bottom surface 22D in between, and the slope angle of the right slope 22R relative to the bottom surface 22D is approximately 30 to 45°. When a coin CN comes into contact with the right slope 22R, it slides down under its own weight toward the bottom surface 22D.

The coin dispensing unit 16 has a coin storage space 32 that opens upward in the space surrounded by the bottom surface 22D, front slope 22F, rear slope 22B, left slope 22L, and right slope 22R of the dispensing tray 20, and receives coins in a misaligned state all at once from the dispensing transport unit 14 into the coin storage space 32. As mentioned above, the angle of each slope 22 relative to the horizontal is set so that coins CN can slide down under their own weight.

The dispensing tray 20 has a cross section along the front-to-rear direction that passes through the left-to-right center of the front inclined surface 22F, the rear inclined surface 22B, and the bottom surface 22D and is shaped like an approximate capital letter "V." In this way, the dispensing tray 20 forms inclined surfaces 22 that rise outward relative to the bottom surface 22D, surrounding all four sides of the bottom surface 22D in a plan view. As a result, the dispensing tray 20 has a shape that makes it easy for coins CN dispensed from the dispensing transport unit 14 and that come into contact with the inclined surfaces 22 to collect at the central bottom surface 22D. Furthermore, because the width of the bottom surface 22D in the front-to-rear direction (depth direction) is narrow and the cross section along the front-to-rear direction is shaped like an uppercase letter "V," the dispensing tray 20 can store coins CN so that they are concentrated in a narrow area in the front-to-rear direction.

[1-2-2. Configuration of magnetic sensor]
Furthermore, the coin dispensing unit 16 has two magnetic sensors 34 arranged side by side in the left-right direction, symmetrically arranged around the center of the dispensing tray 20, on the rear side near the lower end of the rear inclined surface 22B of the dispensing tray 20. The magnetic sensors 34 each have a coil or a core around which a coil is wound. As shown in FIG. 6 , the magnetic sensors 34 detect a change in the magnetic field 36 generated by the coil when a metal coin CN enters the magnetic field 36, and send the detection result to the control unit. That is, when a coin CN is dispensed from the dispensing transport unit 14, it falls along the rear inclined surface 22B of the dispensing tray 20 toward the bottom surface 22D. At this time, the stored coin CN changes the magnetic field 36 of the magnetic sensor 34, causing the magnetic sensor 34 to detect the coin CN. The control unit determines the presence or absence of a coin CN in the coin storage space 32 based on the detection result obtained from the magnetic sensors 34, and determines whether a coin CN dispensed to the coin dispensing unit 16 has remained and been left behind.

The magnetic sensor 34 is an imaginary plane that runs along one end of the coil, and has a detection surface 34S that is approximately perpendicular to the magnetic flux of the magnetic field 36 generated by the coil. The magnetic sensor 34 is also positioned so that the inclination angle of the detection surface 34S relative to the horizontal direction is approximately the same as that of the rear slope 22B, and the detection surface 34S is parallel to the rear slope 22B. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 34 is positioned so that the detection surface 34S for detecting coins CN is inclined toward the coin storage space 32 relative to the horizontal direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic sensor 34 is positioned so that its central axis A passes slightly rearward of the point of contact between the bottom surface 22D and the rear slope 22B on the rear slope 22B.

As shown in Figure 5, this magnetic sensor 34 has a detectable area 38, which is a predetermined range extending from the detection surface 34S in a direction perpendicular to the detection surface 34S and away from the detection surface 34S, depending on the strength of the magnetic field 36. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 34 cannot detect coins CN that are located farther away from the detection surface 34S than the detectable area 38 because the magnetic field 36 is weaker.

As shown in Figure 4, the hatched area where the detection surface 34S and the coin CN overlap when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the detection surface 34S is the coin projection area 40, and the area of the coin projection area 40 is the coin projection area. The magnetic sensor 34 cannot detect coins CN whose coin projection area ratio, which is the ratio of the coin projection area to the area of the detection surface 34S, is less than a certain percentage because a sufficient amount of magnetic flux does not intersect with the coin CN.

Furthermore, when the coin projected area ratio of one magnetic sensor 34 in a set of two magnetic sensors 34 aligned horizontally is equal to or greater than a certain percentage, the magnetic sensor 34 can detect the coin CN. Furthermore, when the sum of the coin projected area ratio of one magnetic sensor 34 and the coin projected area ratio of the other magnetic sensor 34 in a set of two magnetic sensors 34 aligned horizontally is equal to or greater than a certain percentage, the magnetic sensor 34 can also detect the coin CN.

In this way, the magnetic sensor 34 can detect coins CN that are at least partially located within the detectable area 38 and have a coin projection area ratio equal to or greater than a certain percentage.

Furthermore, when coins CN of different diameters are placed in the same posture and storage position, the smaller the diameter of the coin CN, the smaller the coin projected area. Therefore, in terms of coin projected area, the smallest diameter coin CNs is the coin CN that is most difficult for the magnetic sensor 34 to detect. Furthermore, two magnetic sensors 34 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, symmetrically about the left-right center of the dispensing tray 20. For this reason, the coin projected area ratio tends to be smaller for coins CN located in the left-right center of the bottom surface 22D between the magnetic sensors 34 than for coins CN located on both the left and right sides of the bottom surface 22D.

In contrast, Figure 4 shows a minimum diameter coin CNs1 in a position where its lower end abuts the contact point between the bottom surface 22D and the rear slope 22B and it is leaning against the rear slope 22B with its face abutting. The magnetic sensor 34 is positioned at a position and angle that ensures that the coin projected area ratio is above a certain percentage, even for a minimum diameter coin CNs1 in a position where its lower end abuts the center of the left and right sides of the bottom surface 22D and it is leaning against the rear slope 22B with its face abutting. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 34 can detect coins CN in a position where their lower end abuts anywhere on the bottom surface 22D and it is leaning against the rear slope 22B.

Figure 4 also shows the smallest diameter coin CNs2 with its lower end abutting the bottom surface 22D and leaning against the front slope 22F. The magnetic sensor 34 is positioned and tilted to ensure that the coin projected area ratio is a certain percentage or higher, even for the smallest diameter coin CNs2 with its lower end abutting the center of the bottom surface 22D and leaning against the front slope 22F. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 34 can detect coins CN with their lower end abutting anywhere on the bottom surface 22D and leaning against the front slope 22F.

Furthermore, the larger the diameter of the coin CN, the more likely it is that the coin CN will become caught at a higher position relative to the bottom surface 22D between the slopes 22 facing in the front-to-back direction or the slopes 22 facing in the left-to-right direction. Therefore, for the detectable area 38, the coin CN with the largest diameter CNl is the coin CN that is most difficult for the magnetic sensor 34 to detect.

In contrast, Figure 5 shows a maximum diameter coin CNl caught in a position parallel to the bottom surface 22D and horizontally aligned, with its front end abutting the front slope 22F and its rear end abutting the rear slope 22B. The magnetic sensor 34 is positioned so that at least a portion of the maximum diameter coin CNl, which is caught and floating above the bottom surface 22D, is included within the detectable area 38. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 34 can detect the maximum diameter coin CNl, which is caught and floating above the bottom surface 22D.

[1-3. Effects, etc.]
10 and 11, in which the same reference numerals are used to designate components corresponding to those in Fig. 2, a coin dispensing unit 216 of a first comparative example can be considered. The coin dispensing unit 216 differs from the coin dispensing unit 16 (Fig. 2) in that a dispensing tray 220 is provided instead of the dispensing tray 20, and a magnetic sensor 234 is provided instead of the magnetic sensor 34, but is otherwise configured similarly.

Compared to the dispensing tray 20, the dispensing tray 220 has a bottom surface 222D at the inclined surface 222 whose front-to- rear length is approximately the radius of the smallest-diameter coin CNs and is longer than the bottom surface 22D. The magnetic sensor 234 is disposed directly below the bottom surface 22D, horizontally aligned so that its detection surface 34S is parallel to the bottom surface 22D. In the coin dispensing unit 216, as shown in FIG. 11 , a coin CN whose lower end abuts the contact point between the bottom surface 222D and the front inclined surface 22F and leans against the rear inclined surface 22B, and a coin CN whose lower end abuts the contact point between the bottom surface 222D and the rear inclined surface 22B and leans against the rear inclined surface 22B, are located at a distance from the magnetic sensor 234 in a plan view. Therefore, in the coin dispensing unit 216, it may not be possible to ensure a sufficient coin projection area between the detection surface 34S of the magnetic sensor 234 and the coin CN. Therefore, in the coin dispensing unit 216, there is an area where it is not possible to detect the coins CN stored in the dispensing tray 220. In that case, it may not be possible to accurately determine whether or not the coins CN remain in the dispensing tray 220.

One solution to this problem would be to increase the output of the magnetic sensor 234. However, this would increase costs.

On the other hand, as a configuration that solves this problem without increasing the output of the magnetic sensor 234, a second comparative example of a coin dispensing unit 316 can be considered, as shown in Figure 12, in which the same reference numerals are used for components corresponding to those in Figures 2 and 10. Compared to the coin dispensing unit 216 (Figure 10), the coin dispensing unit 316 is provided with a dispensing tray 20 similar to the coin dispensing unit 16 (Figure 2) instead of the dispensing tray 220. In this coin dispensing unit 316, coins CN whose lower ends abut the contact point between the bottom surface 22D and the front inclined surface 22F and lean against the rear inclined surface 22B, and coins CN whose lower ends abut the contact point between the bottom surface 22D and the rear inclined surface 22B and lean against the rear inclined surface 22B, are positioned toward the center of the dispensing tray 20 in the front-to-rear direction in a plan view, and are close to the detection surface 34S of the magnetic sensor 234 in a plan view. As a result, the coin dispensing unit 316 can ensure a larger coin projection area between the detection surface 34S of the magnetic sensor 234 and the coin CN compared to the coin dispensing unit 216. Therefore, the coin dispensing unit 316 can reduce the area where it cannot detect coins CN stored in the dispensing tray 20 compared to the coin dispensing unit 216.

However, in the coin dispensing unit 316, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, coins CN with a relatively large diameter, such as the largest diameter coin CNl, may get caught between the front inclined surface 22F and the rear inclined surface 22B and be stored parallel to the bottom surface 22D without coming into contact with the bottom surface 22D. Because the area of the bottom surface 22D of the coin dispensing unit 316 is narrower than that of the bottom surface 222D (Figure 10), the distance between the front inclined surface 22F and the rear inclined surface 22B, which are inclined surfaces 22 facing each other in the front-to-back direction, and the distance between the left inclined surface 22L and the right inclined surface 22R, which are inclined surfaces 22 facing each other in the left-to-right direction, is narrower than in the coin dispensing unit 216 when they are at the same height relative to the bottom surface 22D. For this reason, compared to coin dispensing unit 216, coins CN tend to get caught between the opposing slopes 22 in the front-to-rear direction or the opposing slopes 22 in the left-to-right direction at a position higher than the bottom surface 22D in coin dispensing unit 316. Therefore, in coin dispensing unit 316, coins CN that have become caught and remain on the slopes 22 outside the area above the bottom surface 22D and the detectable area 38 of the magnetic sensor 234 cannot be detected, and there are areas where coins CN stored in the dispensing tray 20 cannot be detected.

In contrast, the coin dispensing unit 16 has a dispensing tray 20 with a cross section along the front-to-rear direction that is roughly shaped like a capital "V," and the magnetic sensor 34 is positioned near the bottom surface 22D and on the back side of the rear slope 22B, with the detection surface 34S parallel to the rear slope 22B.

As a result, the coin dispensing unit 16 can ensure that the magnetic sensor 34 detects a coin with a certain percentage or higher projected area ratio, even if the coin CN is in a position where its lower end abuts at any position on the bottom surface 22D and leaning against the rear inclined surface 22B or the front inclined surface 22F. Furthermore, the coin dispensing unit 16 can detect coins CN that are caught and floating above the bottom surface 22D, as they are included within the detectable area 38.

In this way, compared to coin dispensing units 216 and 316, the coin dispensing unit 16 can reduce the area in which coins CN stored in the dispensing tray 20 cannot be detected, and the detectable range of the magnetic sensor 34 can be expanded. As a result, the coin dispensing unit 16 can accurately detect various coins CN stored in various positions using the magnetic sensor 34. In this way, the coin dispensing unit 16 can prevent coins CN from being forgotten to be removed from the dispensing tray 20.

With the above configuration, the coin processing device 1 is provided with a dispensing tray 20 that forms a coin storage space 32 that stores coins CN discharged from the coin processing device 1 through the discharge opening 18, and a magnetic sensor 34 for detecting the presence or absence of coins CN remaining in the dispensing tray 20. The dispensing tray 20 has a bottom surface 22D as a bottom portion and slopes 22 formed on all four sides of the bottom surface 22D that guide coins CN discharged from the discharge opening 18 toward the bottom surface 22D. The magnetic sensor 34 is provided on at least one of the following: near the bottom surface 22D, on the rear side opposite the coin storage space 32 from the slope 22 (rear slope 22B) on the discharge opening 18 side, or near the bottom surface 22D, on the front side opposite the coin storage space 32 from the slope 22 (front slope 22F) on the opposite side from the discharge opening 18.

This allows the coin processing device 1 to ensure a sufficient coin projection area between the detection surface 34S of the magnetic sensor 34 and the coin CN for coins CN stored in various positions, and also allows at least a portion of the coin CN to be included within the detectable area 38 of the magnetic sensor 34.

2. Second embodiment
[2-1. Configuration of coin processing device]
As shown in Figure 1, the coin processing device 101 according to the second embodiment differs from the coin processing device 1 according to the first embodiment in that a coin dispensing unit 116 is provided instead of the coin dispensing unit 16, but is otherwise configured in the same manner.

[2-2. Configuration of coin dispensing unit]
As shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, in which the same symbols are used for components corresponding to those in Figures 2, 3 and 6, the coin dispensing unit 116 according to the second embodiment differs from the coin dispensing unit 16 according to the first embodiment in that a magnetic sensor 134 is provided instead of the magnetic sensor 34, but is otherwise configured in the same manner.

Magnetic sensor 134 has the same configuration as magnetic sensor 34, but is positioned differently relative to the dispensing tray 20. The two magnetic sensors 134 are positioned side by side in the left-right direction on the front side near the lower end of the front slope 22F of the dispensing tray 20, so as to be symmetrical about the center of the dispensing tray 20 in the left-right direction.

As shown in Figure 8, the magnetic sensor 134 is positioned so that the detection surface 34S is inclined relative to the horizontal direction and the central axis A of the coil, i.e., the direction perpendicular to the detection surface 34S, is approximately parallel to the rear inclined surface 22B. Furthermore, this central axis A passes through the coin storage space 32 side of the rear inclined surface 22B. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 314 is positioned so that the detection surface 34S is inclined relative to the horizontal direction toward the coin storage space 32.

Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 134 is positioned and tilted to ensure that the coin projected area ratio is a certain percentage or more, even for minimum diameter coins CNs that are leaning so that their lower end abuts the center of the bottom surface 22D and their face abuts the rear slope 22B. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 134 can detect coins CN that are leaning so that their lower end abuts anywhere on the bottom surface 22D and their face abuts the rear slope 22B.

Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 134 is positioned and tilted so that the coin projected area ratio is a certain percentage or more, even for minimum diameter coins CNs with their lower end abutting the center of the bottom surface 22D and leaning against the front slope 22F. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 134 can detect coins CN with their lower end abutting anywhere on the bottom surface 22D and leaning against the front slope 22F.

Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 134 is positioned so that at least a portion of the maximum diameter coin CNl (not shown) that is caught and floating above the bottom surface 22D is included within the detectable area 38. Therefore, the magnetic sensor 134 can detect coins CN that are caught and floating above the bottom surface 22D.

In this way, the coin dispensing unit 116 has a magnetic sensor 134 located on the front side near the lower end of the front inclined surface 22F. Therefore, as shown in Figure 9, if a metal foreign object 42 such as a thumbtack, cutter blade, or metal piece is tampered with and attached to the coin dispensing unit 116 in an area several to tens of millimeters from the bottom surface 22D toward the front inclined surface 22F, which is an area that is difficult for the user to see and is likely to be touched first when scooping up a coin CN from the coin storage space 32, the magnetic field 36 will change, and the magnetic sensor 134 can detect the foreign object 42 before the user uses the coin dispensing unit 116. This allows the coin dispensing unit 116 to prevent injury to the user and provide security measures.

In addition, the coin processing device 101 according to the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as the coin processing device 1 according to the first embodiment.

3. Other Embodiments
In the above-described embodiment, the dispensing tray 20 has a bottom surface 22D extending horizontally between the front slope 22F and the rear slope 22B. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the dispensing tray may have a cross section extending in the front-to-rear direction passing through the center of the left and right portions and oriented in the front-to-rear direction that is shaped like a capital letter "V," in which the bottom surface 22D does not extend horizontally and the lower end of the front slope 22F directly connects to the lower end of the rear slope 22B. In this case, the contact point between the front slope 22F and the rear slope 22B is not the bottom surface but a side extending in the left-to-right direction. In a dispensing tray with such a structure, the bottom of the dispensing tray is the apex of the "V" shape where the front slope 22F and the rear slope 22B connect. Furthermore, in the case of a cross section that is approximately "V" shaped, the connection point between the front slope 22F and the rear slope 22B may be curved. Furthermore, the dispensing tray may have no bottom surface along the horizontal direction, and the cross section along the front-to-back direction passing through the center in the left-to-right direction may be shaped like a capital letter "U." In the case of a dispensing tray with such a structure, the bottom of the dispensing tray becomes a curved portion that curves in the U-shaped cross section.

In the first embodiment described above, the front slope 22F is curved and the rear slope 22B is flat. The present invention is not limited to this; for example, the front slope 22F may be flat and the rear slope 22B may be curved. However, since a shorter distance between the coil in the magnetic sensor 34 and the metal (coin CN) is more advantageous for detection, it is preferable to position the magnetic sensor 34 near the flat slope 22. Furthermore, both the front slope 22F and the rear slope 22B may be flat. Furthermore, both the front slope 22F and the rear slope 22B may be curved. The same applies to the second embodiment.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the magnetic sensor 34 is positioned so that the detection surface 34S is parallel to the rear slope 22B. The present invention is not limited to this, and the magnetic sensor 34 may be positioned so that the detection surface 34S is aligned in a direction other than parallel to the rear slope 22B. In this case, it is preferable to tilt the detection surface 34S at an angle relative to the horizontal direction that approaches parallelism with the rear slope 22B, so that coins CN that are caught and floating above the bottom surface 22D are more likely to be included within the detectable area 38. In the second embodiment, the tilt angle of the detection surface 34S relative to the horizontal direction may also be set to various other values.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, two magnetic sensors 34 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to arrange one magnetic sensor 34, or three or more magnetic sensors 34 arranged side by side in the left-right direction or in any other manner. The same applies to the second embodiment.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the magnetic sensor 34 is disposed on the rear side near the lower end of the rear inclined surface 22B of the dispensing tray 20, and in the second embodiment, the magnetic sensor 134 is disposed on the front side near the lower end of the front inclined surface 22F of the dispensing tray 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The magnetic sensor 34 may be disposed on the rear side near the lower end of the rear inclined surface 22B of the dispensing tray 20, and the magnetic sensor 134 may be disposed on the front side near the lower end of the front inclined surface 22F of the dispensing tray 20. Furthermore, the magnetic sensor 34 may also be disposed on the left side near the lower end of the left inclined surface 22L or on the right side near the lower end of the right inclined surface 22R. This is also true in the second embodiment.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to a coin processing device 1 or 101 that is connected to a POS register or the like used at checkout counters in supermarkets, convenience stores, etc., and performs coin deposit and withdrawal processes. The present invention is not limited to this, and may also be applied to various devices, such as terminals used by bank employees, such as automated teller machines (counter terminals) used in banks.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to a coin processing device 1 or 101 that is installed together with a banknote processing device. The present invention is not limited to this, and may also be applied to a coin processing device 1 or 101 that is installed independently, without being installed together with a banknote processing device, for example.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and other embodiments. In other words, the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments that arbitrarily combine all or part of each of the above-described embodiments with the other embodiments. Furthermore, the scope of application of the present invention also extends to cases where a portion of the configuration described in any of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments is extracted and replaced or diverted with a portion of the configuration of any of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments, or where a portion of the extracted configuration is added to any of the embodiments.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the coin processing device 1 or 101 is configured as a coin processing device using the dispensing tray 20 as the dispensing tray and the magnetic sensor 34 or 134 as the magnetic sensor. The present invention is not limited to this, and the coin processing device may be configured using a dispensing tray and a magnetic sensor with various other configurations.

The present invention can also be used in various conveying devices that convey and distinguish between media such as coins.

1, 101...coin processing device, 10...coin insertion section, 12...deposit transport section, 14...withdrawal transport section, 16, 116, 216, 316...coin dispensing section, 18...discharge outlet, 20, 220...withdrawal tray, 22D, 222D...bottom surface, 22F...front slope, 22B...rear slope, 22L...left slope, 22R...right slope, 22...slope, 32...coin storage space, 34, 134, 234...magnetic sensor, 34S...detection surface, 36...magnetic field, 38...detectable area, 40...coin projection area, 42...foreign object, CN...coin, CNs...minimum diameter coin, CNl...maximum diameter coin, A...central axis.

Claims (9)

a dispensing tray that forms a space for accommodating coins discharged from the device through the discharge port;
a magnetic sensor for detecting whether or not there are any coins remaining in the dispensing tray;
The dispensing tray is
The dispensing tray has a bottom whose length along the front-to-rear direction is approximately the thickness of the largest diameter coin among the coins handled, and slopes formed on all four sides of the bottom that guide coins discharged from the discharge opening toward the bottom, and the coin being discharged can be supported with a part of its outer periphery abutting the bottom and leaning against one of the slopes in the front-to-rear direction,
The magnetic sensor
A coin processing device characterized in that it is provided at least either on the rear side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space from the slope on the discharge outlet side, or on the front side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space from the slope on the opposite side of the discharge outlet. The coin processing device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor is provided so that a detection surface for detecting the coin is inclined toward the space with respect to the horizontal direction. The coin processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the inclined surface on the side opposite to the outlet has a curved shape. the inclined surface on the discharge port side has a flat shape, and the inclined surface on the opposite side to the discharge port has a curved shape,
The coin processing device according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic sensor is provided in front of the inclined surface on the side opposite to the outlet, and the direction perpendicular to the detection surface is substantially parallel to the inclined surface on the outlet side. The magnetic sensor
The coin processing device according to claim 2, characterized in that when a minimum diameter coin, which has the smallest diameter among the coins handled by the coin processing device, leans against the slope on the outlet side, the ratio of the projected area of the minimum diameter coin to the detection surface when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the detection surface is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio at which the coin can be detected. The magnetic sensor
The coin processing device according to claim 2 or claim 5, characterized in that when a minimum diameter coin, which has the smallest diameter among the coins handled by the coin processing device, leans against the slope on the opposite side from the discharge outlet , the ratio of the projected area of the minimum diameter coin to the detection surface when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the detection surface is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio at which the coin can be detected. The magnetic sensor
A coin processing device as described in any one of claims 2, 5 or 6, characterized in that when the largest diameter coin floats above the bottom while abutting against the inclined surface on the discharge outlet side and the inclined surface on the opposite side from the discharge outlet, at least a portion of the largest diameter coin is positioned within a predetermined range in which the coin can be detected, in a direction perpendicular to the detection surface and away from the detection surface . The coin processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the dispensing tray has a substantially V-shaped cross section along the front-to-rear direction, which is the direction in which the coins are guided from the inclined surface on the discharge outlet side towards the bottom. The coin processing device processes coins, and the banknote processing device processes banknotes,
The coin processing device includes:
a dispensing tray that forms a space for accommodating coins discharged from the device through the discharge port;
a magnetic sensor for detecting whether or not there are any coins remaining in the dispensing tray;
The dispensing tray is
The dispensing tray has a bottom whose length along the front-to-rear direction is approximately the thickness of the largest diameter coin among the coins handled, and slopes formed on all four sides of the bottom that guide coins discharged from the discharge opening toward the bottom, and the coin being discharged can be supported with a part of its outer periphery abutting the bottom and leaning against one of the slopes in the front-to-rear direction,
The magnetic sensor
A currency handling device characterized in that it is provided at least either on the rear side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space from the slope on the discharge outlet side, or on the front side near the bottom and on the opposite side of the space from the slope on the opposite side of the discharge outlet.