JPH0632110B2 - Coin handling equipment - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a low-power-consumption, small-sized and thin-type coin processing device mainly used for public telephones.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, pay telephones have become diversified in payment means, and cards can be used in addition to coins. Therefore, it has become necessary to place a coin processing device and a card processing device in a housing. On the other hand, public telephones are required to be smaller, lighter, and cheaper. With the above as the background, it can be mounted on the coin processing device by inserting it from the front of the housing,
In addition, there is a need for a thin product that occupies a small volume when mounted and is inexpensive. Also, from the perspective of improving serviceability during power outages, 100 mW of various coins such as 10 yen and 100 yen
Low power consumption is required because processing is performed with a local power supply of a certain degree.

The conventional coin sorting method electronically detects the size and material of coins and sorts the coins according to the result, and a sorting window is provided on the orbit around which the coins roll so that coins other than the specified size can be sorted. It is roughly classified into a mechanical sorting method that sorts by dropping it from the window. The latter is 10 yen, 10
It is divided into a system in which separate coin processing devices are used for 0 yen, and a system in which one coin processing device is used for both 10 yen and 100 yen. Among them, the electronic sorting method consumes a large amount of power because the coins are constantly monitored by a sensor placed near the coin slot.
It is difficult to apply to public telephones that do not have sufficient power supply during a power failure, etc., unless the service specifications are dropped during a power failure. There are also drawbacks such as the cost of circuit components being expensive. In this respect, the mechanical selection method is excellent because it has low power consumption, is relatively inexpensive. However, the method of using a plurality of coin processing devices for each type of coin has a drawback that the occupied volume is large and the cost is high.

As a coin processing device that can process multiple coins with one,
Conventionally, a device shown in FIG. 7 has been devised. In the figure, 1 is a coin processing device, which includes two coin inlets 2, 3, sorting windows 4, 5, flapper 6, accumulation track 7 of coin A, and coin B.
Accumulation track 8, storage mechanism 9, 10, return mechanism 11, 1
2, it is provided with a return funnel 13, a safe 14, a return receiver 15 and the like.

The coins A and B accumulated on the accumulation tracks 7 and 8 are operated by the accommodating mechanisms 9 and 10 in response to the accommodating signal from the station,
The coins that are sequentially dropped and stored in the safe 14 and remain in the orbit after the call is completed are returned to the return funnel 13 by the operation of the return mechanisms 11 and 12 and guided to the return receiver 15. The sorting windows 4 and 5 sort the thicknesses and diameters of the coins A and B, guide the regular coins to the storage tracks 7 and 8, and drop the illegal coins C other than those into the return funnel 13. , Return to the return receiver 15.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional coin processing device 1, as can be seen from the figure, since the processing tracks of the coins A and B are separately provided and arranged in a plane, the occupied volume becomes large, and the telephone It cannot be mounted by inserting it from the front surface of the housing, and thus it is difficult to place it side by side with the card processing device.

[Means for Solving the Object and Problems of the Invention]

The coin processing device according to the present invention has the advantage that the conventional coin processing device using the mechanical sorting mechanism has low power consumption, but solves the disadvantage that the occupied space is large because the track configuration is flat. Paying attention to the fact that a raceway of any shape can be configured by manufacturing the raceway with resin molding,
A second coin processing track having a second selection window for processing a second coin in the thickness direction of a first coin processing track having a first selection window for processing a first coin is provided. By arranging them so as to overlap, that is, by making the orbital structure three-dimensional, the occupying volume was greatly reduced and thinned while using the selection window mechanism, and it was made for the purpose of enabling front insertion mounting. In order to achieve this object, the present invention is
And a second race plate (70) for processing coins of the second type and a second race plate for processing a second coin having a smaller diameter than the first coin, which is provided so as to overlap the raceway surface of the race plate. 71)
And a coin accumulating plate (72) provided so as to overlap with the raceway surface of the raceway plate, and a flapper provided with a rotation shaft provided at the first raceway plate so as to overlap with the first and second raceway plates. A mechanism (65) as a main component, a coin slot (22) for blocking nonstandard coins in the first race plate (70), and a predetermined size provided on the coin rolling raceway. A first sorting window (23) for dropping the following coins, a first coin accumulation track (78), and a first overflow track (79) are provided, and the second track plate (71) is provided. ), The coin that has fallen out of the first sorting window is moved again after moving the rolling surface,
A rolling surface conversion orbit (41) in which the rolling surface is smoothly inclined in the thickness direction of the raceway surface, and a second selection window (42) provided on the coin rolling orbit for dropping coins having a predetermined size or smaller. )
A second coin accumulation orbit (82) and a second overflow orbit (88), and the flapper mechanism (65) faces the first selection window when the mechanism is closed. Rolling support surface in position (93)
And a notch is formed at a position facing the lower part of the second selection window (42) to drop coins having a size not larger than the predetermined size, and rolling of the rolling surface conversion track. A rolling support surface (97) curved in the thickness direction is formed so as to face the surface, and in a further opened state, the rolling support surface (93, 97) deviates from the track, It is designed so that the 2 coins can be removed from each orbit.

[Action]

In the present invention, since the first and second coin processing orbits are overlapped in the thickness direction thereof, the device can be made smaller and thinner and the occupied area can be reduced, so that the telephone housing can be inserted from the front side. And the card processing device can be installed side by side.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the mechanism shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, 70 is a first track plate for processing a first coin (coin A), and 71 is a first track plate 7.
This is a second race plate for processing a second coin (coin B) having a diameter smaller than that of the coin A, which is provided so as to overlap with the raceway surface of 0. Reference numeral 65 is a plate that can be opened and closed to form a rolling support surface on one side that constitutes the tracks of 70 and 71, and is called a flapper.

The first track plate 70 has a coin slot 22 for preventing coins having a nonstandard size such as a counterfeit coin having a diameter or thickness larger than that of the coin A, and a predetermined size or less provided on the coin rolling track. First selection window 23 for dropping coins of
And a first coin accumulation track 78 for accumulating the coins A that have passed through the first selection window 23 up to a predetermined number, and coins A that have passed the first selection window 23 beyond the predetermined number. And a first overflow track 79 for eliminating

On the second track plate 71, the coin, which has fallen off the first selection window 23, is moved again after moving the rolling surface,
A rolling surface conversion orbit 41 whose rolling surface is smoothly inclined in the thickness direction of the raceway surface, a second selection window 42 provided on the coin rolling orbit for dropping coins of a predetermined size or smaller, Two
Second coin accumulating track 82 for accumulating the coins B that have passed through the selection window 42 of a predetermined number and a coin B that has passed the second selection window 42 after exceeding the predetermined number of coins. A second overflow track 88 of

Further, 72 is a coin accumulation plate provided so as to overlap the raceway surface of the raceway plate 71, 73 is a return funnel that guides the coins that have fallen out of the second selection window to the return port, and 74 is a storage track provided at 70, 75 is a return orbit. Reference numerals 31 and 32 denote coin storage mechanisms for coins A and B, respectively, which are driven by an actuator 66 using a piezoelectric element or the like.

Reference numeral 76 is a flapper mounting portion for mounting the flapper 65 on the raceway plate 70. The flapper 65 is biased by a spring and is supported by any one point of the flapper mounting portion 76 and two support points provided on the raceway plate 70 (or 71), which are not shown in FIG. To be done.

The flapper 65 includes a first selection window 23 and a second selection window 42.
And the track supporting surface of the track around it and are arranged so as to be openable and closable as shown in the figure, and similar to the return blocking plate 23, it opens and closes in conjunction with the handset hook.

The above are the main components. Next, this assembly will be described.

Assembling is completed by sequentially mounting the raceway plate 71, the flapper 65, the coin accumulating plate 72, and the return funnel 73 so as to overlap the raceway plate 70 in the thickness direction.

The lower rail constituting the first coin processing track 21 for processing the coin A shown in FIG. 2 and the rolling support surfaces on both sides are formed on the surface of the track plate 70 and the surface in FIG. The lower rail and the back surface of the track plate 71. 78 is the lower rail of the accumulation track for coin A, 79 is the lower rail of the overflow track for coin A, and 80 is the coin A.
Return blocking plate 81, a coin B return blocking plate, both of which are integrally provided. Further, the second coin processing track 30 for processing the coin B is similarly configured by the surface of the track plate 71, the lower rail 82 formed on the surface, and the back surface of the coin storage plate 72. It should be noted that the rolling support surface on one side of the first and second selection windows 23 and 42 and the periphery thereof is constituted by the back surface of the flapper 65.

This coin processing device uses various electronic sensors for coin accumulation detection, storage detection, material detection, etc. These sensors are holders 85, 8 provided in the wall thickness of each track 70, 71.
It is incorporated in 6. Reference numeral 87 is a groove provided in the track plate 71 for embedding the sensor lead wire, and 88 is an overflow track lower rail for the coin B.

4 and 5 show a mechanism for smoothly transporting the coin B from the first race plate 70 to the second race plate 71 (rolling surface conversion race portion),
It is a figure showing the details of the coin selection mechanism which consists of the 1st and 2nd selection window and flapper 65. Fig. 4 shows 70 and 71
5 is an element perspective view of FIG. 5, and FIG. 5 is a view in which cross sections of a portion indicated by a chain line in FIG. 4 are overlapped and shown. The part where and are overlapped is shown by a solid line, and the part where is shown by a broken line.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numeral 90 denotes a lower rail, which is inclined in the rolling direction of the coins A and B and the thickness direction of the track plate 70. 91 is a coin A formed on the race plate 70
The upper rolling support surface slightly supporting the upper portion of the coin, and 93 is a side rolling support surface formed on the back surface of the flapper 65 and supporting the side portion of the coin A.

The regular coin A is supported by the upper rolling support surface 91, the side rolling support surface 93, and the lower rail 90 at three points and passes through the first sorting window 23. On the other hand, like coin B, coin A has a diameter
Coins that do not satisfy the allowable value of, or pseudo coins A ′ whose diameters satisfy the allowable value but whose thickness does not satisfy the allowable value, fall toward the raceway plate 70 side and fall off from the first sorting window 23. Here, below the lower rail 90, there is the rolling surface conversion track 41 composed of the sliding support surface 95, the lower rail 96, and the back surface 97 of the flapper 65.
Moves to the second selection track 40 as shown in FIG. 5 while sliding on the sliding support surface 95. The slide-down support surface 95 is composed of a sloped surface and a vertical surface. The slide-down surface 95 is characterized in that the slope becomes steeper as it slides down. With this structure, the coins A'and B roll smoothly. You can transfer faces. The support surface 95 may have a curvature.

In FIG. 4, the coins A ′, B rolling on the second sorting track 40 approach the position of, but this portion on the back surface of the flapper has an excessive diameter for preventing passage of coins having a predetermined diameter or more. A currency passage blocking mechanism 100 is provided. The operation of the mechanism 100 will be described below. As described above, in the first selection window 23, the thin similar coin A ′ whose diameter does not satisfy the allowable value even if the diameter satisfies the allowable value falls off and enters the second sorting track 40. There is no problem if this similar coin A'is dropped off and discharged in the second selection window 42, but it may pass through. In this case, the subsequent misselection process becomes complicated. Therefore, the excessive diameter coin passage prevention mechanism 100 is provided at a position slightly higher than the upper limit of the regular coin B to stop the similar coin A'in the second sorting window 42 or in front of this, that is, the sorting track 40 part. By blocking with, the entry into the second accumulation orbit 43 is prevented. The similar coin A ′ drops off the second sorting track 40 by opening the flapper 65 and is returned through the return funnel 73 (FIG. 3).

Next, the coin B that has passed through the excessive diameter coin passage prevention mechanism 100 approaches the second sorting window 42. The rail 96 or 1 provided on the lower end of the flapper 65 and the second track plate
Between 02, a gap, that is, a notch portion is provided.

The regular coin B is supported by three points of the upper rolling support surface 101, the side rolling support surface (flapper rear surface) 97, and the lower rail 96, and passes through the second sorting window 42. On the other hand, a coin C whose diameter is less than the allowable value of the coin B, such as a 5 yen or 50 yen coin,
Alternatively, the similar coin A ′ whose diameter satisfies the allowable value but whose thickness does not satisfy the allowable value is dropped from the second selection window 42 and returned through the notch portion and the return funnel 73. It

As described above, the flapper mechanism 65 forms the rolling support surfaces 93 on the upper portions of the two selection windows in the closed state of the mechanism as shown in FIG. A rolling support surface 97 (particularly a curved surface) is formed so as to face the surface, and in the further opened state, the rolling support surfaces 93, 97 are disengaged from the track, and as shown in FIG. Is eliminated from each orbit.

In the present invention, since the track structure is three-dimensional as shown above, the rolling surface shapes of the main components such as the track plates 70, 71, flapper 65, and coin storage plate 72 are complicated. It can be easily realized by resin molding. However, the resin-molded raceways 70, 71 are apt to be deformed by abrasion, are weak against impact force, and have a drawback that hand dust is likely to be deposited and accumulated. These defects have a particularly great effect on the coin slot 22 and the first selection window 23. Therefore,
The inlet 22 may be configured by screwing metal such as SUS as shown in FIG. In addition, the lower rails 90, 9 constituting the first and second selection windows 23, 42
6, upper rolling support surfaces 91, 101, side rolling support surface 93
As for the above, a metal plate may be screwed.

1 (a) and 1 (b) are an overall perspective view and a perspective view of a track showing an example of a coin processing device having no flapper mechanism or the like according to the present invention. In FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) and FIGS. 2 to 5, elements having the same numbers indicate the same components. First
1A and 1B, a coin processing device 20 includes a first coin processing track 21 for processing a coin A, a second coin processing track 30 for processing a coin B, a coin storage mechanism 31, and 3.
2. The coin return blocking plate 33, the safe 14, the return receiving device 15 and the like.

The first coin processing track 21 includes a coin slot 22 for blocking coins having a predetermined diameter or more or a predetermined thickness or more,
First sorting track 27 for rolling the inserted coins
A first sorting window 23 for sorting coins A for dropping coins B having a smaller size, and for storing a predetermined number of coins A that have passed through the first sorting window 23. A first accumulation track 24, a first overflow track 25 for removing coins A that have passed the first sorting window 23 in excess of the predetermined number, and coins that have passed the first sorting window 23. It is composed of a first detection unit 26 and the like for checking the authenticity of A. On the other hand, the second coin processing track 30 has a rolling surface conversion track 41 that guides the coin B that has fallen out of the first selection window 23 to the second selection track 40, and a tip of the second selection track 40. A second selection window 42 for dropping coins having a predetermined size or smaller, a second accumulation track 43 for accumulating a predetermined number of coins B that have passed through the second selection window 42, and Second for removing coins B that have passed the second sorting window 42 in excess of a predetermined number
Overflow trajectory 44 and a second detector 45 for checking the authenticity of the coin B that has passed through the second selection window 42.
Etc.

Here, the present coin processing device is provided with the second coin processing track 30 overlapped with the first coin processing track 21 in the thickness direction thereof,
A coin slot 22 commonly used for two types of coins A and B is provided in the first coin processing track 21, and a first selection window 23 is provided.
The coin B dropped from the
It is characterized in that it is guided to and processed by the selection trajectory 40.
Such a configuration is used for the first and second coin processing tracks 21, 3
It is possible to mold 0 with resin. Figure 1 (b) shows
The structure of the track which is the passage of the coin A or the coin B is shown, and the lower rail 47 and the rolling support surfaces 48 on both sides are shown.
And 49. First and second storage trajectories 24,
The tip side openings of the coins 43 constitute coin outlets 51 and 52, respectively, and these outlets 51 and 52 are closed by a return blocking plate 33 during a call, and after the call is finished, the blocking plate 33.
Is released by rotating backwards.

The first detection unit 26 is a magnet 26 for removing magnetically similar coins.
A and a lightweight coin removal rotary lever 26B, etc.,
The second detector 45 includes a magnetic sensor 45A and a drive circuit 45B.
Etc. The rolling surface conversion track 41 is smoothly inclined in the thickness direction of the first coin processing track 21.

Next, the state of coin processing will be briefly described. The state of coin processing in the present invention is basically the same.

A coin A (for example, 10
A gauge (not shown) is provided to prevent the entry of counterfeits larger than yen coins. Coin A entered from the slot 22
The speed of B is suppressed by a shock absorbing mechanism (not shown) provided in the vicinity of the charging port so as to roll without bouncing on the first selection track 27. In the first sorting window 23, the coin A
Only coins having an allowable size range that can be regarded as passing through, and coins B having a diameter or a thickness equal to or less than the allowable value fall off from the track. First
The coin A that has passed through the sorting window 23 approaches the magnetic coin removal track 55 in which the magnetic coin removal magnet 26A is attached to the outside of the rolling support surface on one side. In this case, coin A is 1
A 0-yen coin has no magnetism and therefore passes without being affected by the magnet 26A. However, a magnetically similar coin is attracted by the magnet 26A, its rolling direction is changed, and the coin passes through the first overflow orbit 25. It will be returned to the return receiver 15. Further, the coin A passing through this portion approaches the lightweight coin removal orbit 56 in which the lightweight coin removal rotary lever 26B having the arm urged by the predetermined reaction force is mounted in the orbit. In the figure, the lever 26B is biased by a magnet 58. The coin A rolling on the first sorting orbit 27 pushes against the arm of the rotary lever 26B against the reaction force F due to the kinetic energy thereof and enters the first accumulation orbit 24, but the lightly similar coin collides with the arm. Then, the rolling direction is changed and returned to the return receiver 15 via the first overflow track 25. In the figure, the number of sheets accumulated in the first accumulation track 24 is five. All coins A that have passed the first sorting window 23 beyond this are returned through the first overflow track 25.

On the other hand, the coin B that has fallen off the first selection window 23 moves to the second sorting track 40 by sliding down the rolling surface conversion track 41. In the second selection window 42, only coins in the allowable size range that can be regarded as coins B (for example, 100-yen coins) pass,
Coins whose diameter or thickness is less than the permissible value fall off the track and are returned to the return receiver 15 via a return funnel (not shown). The coins B that have passed through the second selection window 42 are accumulated in the second accumulation track 43, with a limit of four coins in FIG.
The coin B that has passed the second sorting window 42 beyond this is the second
Returned via the overflow track 44 of

After receiving the coin storage signal, the storage coins A and B are stored one by one in the safe 14 by the storage mechanisms 31 and 32 provided at the tips of the storage tracks 24 and 43.

With this track configuration, it is conceivable that a similar coin having a size larger than coin B and smaller than coin A will fall off the first selection window 23 and enter the second selection track 40. When the magnetic sensor 45A detects a similar coin other than the material of the coin B, the drive circuit 45B controls the coin processing device 20 with a signal indicating that the coin is illegal and cannot continue the coin processing. This can be dealt with by transmitting to a CPU not shown in the figure and controlling to forcibly disconnect the call when the next coin storage signal is received.

Further, when the handset hook is pushed down due to the end of a call or the like, the return blocking plate 33 is rotated and retracted in association with the hook, so that the remaining coins A and B in the storage tracks 24 and 43, respectively.
Are returned to the return receiver 15 through the outlets 51 and 52, respectively.

FIG. 6 shows how the coin processing device of the present invention is mounted on a public telephone. In the figure, 110 is a telephone housing, 110A is a lower housing, 110B is an upper housing,
20 is a coin processing device of the present invention, 111 is a card processing device, and 112 is a circuit network. As shown in the figure, since this device is small and thin, it can be mounted by inserting it from the front of the housing.

In the above embodiment, the first detection unit 26 is composed of the magnetic hardening exclusion magnet 26B and the lightweight coin removal rotation lever 26B, and the second detection unit 45 includes the magnetic sensor 45A and the drive circuit 45B. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made.

[Explanation of effects]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the present invention has low power consumption due to the mechanical sorting method using the sorting window, and has the second sorting window in the thickness direction with respect to the first coin processing track having the first sorting window. Since the second coin processing orbits are provided so as to overlap with each other, that is, the orbits are three-dimensionally configured, the device can be constructed in a small size, in particular, a thin type, and the insertion mounting type is possible. In addition, since coins that have fallen off the first sorting window via the rolling surface conversion orbit are smoothly slid in the thickness direction of the first coin processing orbit, there is little clogging, and if they are clogged, the sorting window can be opened and closed. Therefore, there is little possibility of failure and high reliability. Moreover, since the slot is integrally provided on the first coin processing track, the convenience for the user is improved. Furthermore, each component is resin-molded and assembled as a device by stacking them, which has the advantage that the man-hours are greatly reduced and the manufacturing cost is low.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 (a) and 1 (b) are an overall perspective view and a perspective view of a track showing an example of a coin processing device without a flapper mechanism according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view concretely showing an example of parts configuration for realizing the embodiment of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a rolling surface conversion raceway portion, first and second selection windows, and an excessive diameter. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an embodiment of the coin passage prevention mechanism, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the cross section of the portion indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 6, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting state, and FIG. 7 is a front view showing an example of a conventional coin processing device. 20: coin processing device, 21: first coin processing orbit, 2
2 ... Input port, 23 ... First selection window, 24 ... First accumulation orbit, 25 ... First overflow orbit, 26 ...
... 1st detection part, 26A ... Magnet for removing magnetic coins, 26
B ... Light weight coin removing rotary lever, 27 ... First sorting track, 30 ... Second coin processing track, 31, 32 ... Storage mechanism, 33 ... Return blocking plate, 40 ... Second Sorting track,
41 ... Rolling surface conversion orbit, 42 ... Second selection window, 43
...... Second accumulation orbit, 44 ...... Second overflow orbit, 45 ...... Second detection unit, 45A ...... Magnetic sensor, 4
5B: drive circuit, 65: flapper, 90, 101 ...
... lower rail upper rolling support surface, 91, 101 ... upper rolling support surface, 93 ... side rolling support surface, 100 ... excessive diameter coin passage prevention mechanism, A, B ... coins, A ', C ... A similar coin.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Koichi Yajima 1-1-6 Uchiyuki-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (56) Reference JP-A-61-42092 (JP, A) JP Shown 54-52594 (JP, A) Actually opened 60-112880 (JP, U) Actually opened 56-53255 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first track plate (7) for processing a first coin.
0) and the first track are provided so as to overlap the track surface of the track plate.
Second track plate (71) for processing a second coin having a diameter smaller than that of the coin, a coin accumulating plate (72) provided so as to overlap the track surface of the track plate, and a first track The main component is a flapper mechanism (65) provided with a rotary shaft on the plate and overlapping the first and second race plates, and a non-standard coin is attached to the first race plate (70). A coin slot (22) for blocking, a first selection window (23) provided on the coin rolling track for dropping coins of a predetermined size or smaller, and a first coin accumulation track (78). And a first overflow orbit (79), and the second orbital plate (71) causes the coin that has fallen off the first sorting window to move on the rolling surface and then roll again. For,
A rolling surface conversion orbit (41) in which the rolling surface is smoothly inclined in the thickness direction of the raceway surface, and a second selection window (42) provided on the coin rolling orbit for dropping coins having a predetermined size or smaller. )
A second coin accumulation orbit (82) and a second overflow orbit (88), and the flapper mechanism (65) faces the first selection window when the mechanism is closed. Transfer support surface in position (93)
And a notch is formed at a position facing the lower part of the second selection window (42) for dropping coins having a size equal to or smaller than the predetermined size, and rolling of the rolling surface conversion track. A rolling support surface (97) curved in the thickness direction is formed so as to face the surface, and in a further opened state, the rolling support surface (93, 97) deviates from the track, A coin processing device characterized in that two coins are excluded from each orbit.