Patent Application
20210104111
The present invention relates to a coin delivery device that sends out coins one by one, and a coin processing device that includes the coin delivery device.
In general, currency issued by a country includes coins of a plurality of denominations. Since coins have different diameters, thicknesses, materials, and designs for each denomination, anyone can easily identify the denominations. Since each denomination has different characteristics, it is also possible to identify the denomination by a machine. However, it is conceivable that erroneous identification is performed under exceptional conditions such as two coins overlapping each other. For this reason, it is necessary to separate coins one by one and convey them to an identification device to identify the denominations of the coins.
For example, a coin delivery device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-165003 is known as a device that sends out coins in a storage container one by one.
Such a coin delivery device includes steps in two stages. The steps include first a step of sending out a plurality of coins one by one, and then a step of identifying the denominations of coins conveyed one by one. In addition, a coin processing device is provided to have a step of separating out and storing identified coins according to denominations at a stage after the coin delivery device.
The coin delivery device includes a disc which is obliquely disposed. A storage container accommodating coins is disposed below the disc. The disc is rotated to pick up a plurality of coins in a storage container one by one. The disc is provided with a concave portion into which one coin is put. The concave portion of the rotating disc passes through the inside storage container, and thus only one coin accumulated in the storage container is put into the concave portion and conveyed. A mechanism for delivering a coin to the next step is provided above the disc. The coin is conveyed above the disc and delivered to the next step. In the next step, the denomination of the coin is identified. The denomination of the coin is identified using a plurality of sensors that detect characteristics such as the sizes and materials of coins. In this manner, the coin delivery device takes out one coin from a plurality of coins, sends out the coins one by one to the next step, and identifies the denominations of the coins.
Further, in the coin processing device, coins can be further delivered to the next step after identification. In the next step, coins are conveyed by a belt. In this step, a slide is disposed for each denomination in the middle of a conveyance path of the belt, and each of the slides is connected to a coin hopper disposed for each denomination. A coin of which the denomination has been identified is dropped onto the slide of the corresponding denomination during conveyance. The coin dropped onto the slide slides down to the storage container of the coin hopper for each denomination and is stored therein.
The coin hopper can discharge a desired number of coins. Examples of the coin processing device include an automatic change machine and the like. The automatic change machine arithmetically calculates the denominations and the number of coins to be discharged according to the amount of change, and controls coin hoppers corresponding to the denominations to discharge necessary coins.
There are various sizes of coins used in different countries. In many countries, a maximum diameter of a coin in distribution is less than twice a minimum diameter thereof. In this case, a disc may be provided with a concave portion having a diameter slightly larger than the maximum diameter. Since two coins having a minimum diameter cannot be put into the concave portion, two coins are not sent to the next step at the same time.
However, a maximum diameter of a coin in distribution may also be larger than twice a minimum diameter thereof. In this case, two or more coins each having a minimum diameter may be put into a concave portion corresponding to the maximum diameter of the coin. In a case where two coins are conveyed to the next step at the same time, there is a concern that the denominations of the coins may be erroneously identified.
The present invention provides a coin delivery device capable of appropriately sorting and conveying coins one by one without being affected by the diameters of the coins, and a coin processing device including the coin delivery device.
A coin delivery device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a disc that has a holding unit on an upper surface thereof, the holding unit holding a coin, a storage container that stores a plurality of coins, and a supporting piece that presses side surfaces of the coins held by the holding unit to move the coins in a direction circumferentially outward from the disc, in which the coin delivery device is configured to hold the coins in the storage container by the holding unit and rotate the disc to send out the coins moving in the direction circumferentially outward from the disc by the supporting piece one by one to a next step from a delivery port disposed on an upper side of the disc, and is configured such that the disc is disposed obliquely in a horizontal direction, and the storage container is disposed on a lower side of the disc, and the holding unit includes a first holding unit and a second holding unit, the first holding unit sending out only coins having a diameter equal to or larger than a first diameter to the next step from the delivery port and not sending out coins having a diameter less than the first diameter to the next step from the delivery port in a case where the number of coins held is one, and not sending out two coins held to the next step from the delivery port in a case where the number of coins held at the same time is two, and the second holding unit not holding coins having a diameter exceeding a second diameter smaller than a maximum diameter among the coins held by the first holding unit, and sending out a coin to the next step from the delivery port and not holding two coins having a diameter equal to or less than the second diameter at the same time in a case where the second holding unit holds one coin having a diameter equal to or less than the second diameter.
The coin processing device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes the above-described coin delivery device, an identification unit that receives the coins from the coin delivery device and identifies denominations of the coins, and an accommodation unit that includes coin hoppers corresponding to the denominations of the coins and accommodates the coins in the coin hoppers, in which the coins are stored in the coin hoppers corresponding to the denominations identified by the identification unit.
In the present invention, a first holding unit holding a coin having a maximum diameter, out of the first holding unit and a second holding unit in holding units of a disc, sends out only coins each having a diameter equal to or larger than a first diameter to the next step through a delivery port. It is assumed that the first holding unit holds two or more coins each having a smaller diameter than the first diameter. In this case, the first holding unit can return a held coin having a smaller diameter to a storage container without sending out the coin to the next step from the delivery port. A function of sending out only coins each having a diameter equal to or larger than the first diameter to the next step from the first holding unit can be realized by, for example, the following configurations. That is, the configurations include a configuration in which sending out of a coin having a smaller diameter to the next step from the first holding unit is inhibited, a configuration in which a coin having a smaller diameter is slid down from the first holding unit until the first holding unit is moved to a position facing the delivery port in association with the rotation of the disc, and the like. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent one coin or two or more coins held by the first holding unit from being delivered to the next step. It is possible to sort coins one by one and appropriately send out the coins to the next step. Further, it is possible to sort and send out coins one by one from the storage container, and thus the denominations of the coins can be appropriately identified.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are merely shown schematically such that the present invention can be sufficiently understood. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to examples shown in the drawings. Further, in the drawings, common components and similar components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and signs, and repeated description thereof will be omitted.
First, a coin processing device will be described using
Examples of a coin processing device 69 include an automatic change machine, an automatic money changer, and the like. The coin processing device 69, which is inserted in a state where coins of a plurality of denominations are mixed, separates out the coins one by one, identifies the denominations of the separated out coins, and stores the identified coins according to denominations. Further, the coin processing device 69 can dispense coins corresponding to a desired amount of money from the stored coins.
The coin processing device 69 is roughly divided into three portions. That is, the portions include a sending portion 37 that sorts inserted coins one by one and sends out the coins, an identification unit 38 that identifies the denomination of the coins, and an accommodation unit 39 that separates out the coins according to the denominations and stores the separated out coins. The coin delivery device 1 may be configured to include the sending portion 37 and include other functions such as the identification unit 38. Here, description will be given on the assumption that the coin delivery device 1 is a device configured to include the sending portion 37 and the identification unit 38.
A coin 70 put into a coin slot 40 passes through a coin passage 41 and is stored in a storage container 42. The coin slot 40, the coin passage 41, and the storage container 42 are indicated by dashed lines in
The storage container 42 is disposed on a lower side of a disc 2. A bottom having a shape along the outer circumference of the disc 2 is formed in the storage container 42. The storage container 42 covers approximately one third from the lower half of the disc 2. In addition, the disc 2 is obliquely disposed such that a coin leans against the disc 2 side. A plurality of coins lean against the disc 2 side and, the disc 2 rotates, so that the coins are inserted into a concave portion to be described later and are conveyed.
The disc 2 can hold the coin 70. The disc 2 is provided with a concave portion recessed in the thickness direction of the disc, and the coin 70 is held in the concave portion. The bottom surface of the concave portion is flat. An inner wall of the concave portion is formed by side walls of convex portions (a first arm 4, a second arm 5, a third arm 6, a sorting portion 13 to be described later) protruding from the flat bottom surface of the concave portion and is disconnected in a region on the outer circumferential side of the disc 2. The side surface of the coin 70 inserted into the concave portion abuts on the inner wall of the concave portion (the side walls of the convex portions). The disc 2 is disposed to take an oblique posture with respect to the horizontal direction. The disc 2 is inclined such that the coin 70 can be appropriately inserted into the concave portion of the disc 2. An example of an inclination angle may be approximately 30 degrees to 80 degrees. An inclination angle of 40 degrees to 50 degrees is more preferable. An unnecessary coin 70 does not slide off from the concave portion when an inclination angle is small, and it becomes difficult to insert a coin into the concave portion when an inclination angle is large.
The coin 70 is held in the concave portion with the front surface or the back surface of the coin 70 facing the flat bottom surface of the concave portion. In addition, the inner wall of the concave portion is disconnected in a region on the outer circumferential side of the disc 2, and the coin 70 passes through the disconnected region and is conveyed to the next step. A guidance surface for guiding a coin in a disc rotation direction is disposed outside the outer circumference of the disc 2. The coin 70 is conveyed in a state where the side surface of the coin 70 is brought into contact with the inner wall of the concave portion and the guidance surface.
The disc 2 rotates in a disc rotation direction 33 indicated by an arrow, and thus the coins 70 stored in the storage container 42 can be picked up one by one by the concave portion. Since the disc 2 is obliquely disposed with respect to the horizontal direction, the coin 70 in the storage container 42 is inserted into the concave portion which is an area of the disc 2 for holding the coins 70. The coin 70 is held by the bottom surface of the disc 2, a wall portion, and the guidance surface and conveyed.
The coin 70 is delivered to a position which is a portion above the sending portion 37 and a portion below the identification unit 38. The coin 70 conveyed upward by the disc 2 is sent out to the identification unit 38 from the disc 2. The disc 2 can take out the plurality of coins 70 stored in the storage container 42 one by one and deliver the taken-out coins to the next step.
In the identification unit 38, a reception wheel 27 disposed on a flat reception base (32 in
In the accommodation unit 39, a conveyance path 68 continuous with the guiding path 43 is disposed. The coin 70 is conveyed along the conveyance path 68. A belt 46 is disposed along the conveyance path 68. Conveyance pins 47 are disposed at equal intervals in the belt 46. One coin 70 is inserted between the conveyance pins 47 and is conveyed while being pressed by the conveyance pins 47. The belt 46 is an endless belt and rotates in a belt rotation direction 45 indicated by an arrow in association with the disc 2 and the reception wheel 27. The accommodation unit 39 can hold the coins 70 one by one in a region divided by the conveyance pins 47 in the belt 46 and convey the coins.
A first slide 48, a second slide 50, a third slide 52, a fourth slide 54, a fifth slide 56, a sixth slide 58, a seventh slide 60, an eighth slide 62, and a ninth slide 64 are disposed along the conveyance path 68. These slides are connected to a coin hopper of a denomination determined in advance. The coin 70 identified by the identification unit 38 is dropped onto a slide of a corresponding denomination and is stored in a coin hopper of the corresponding denomination.
The coin 70 identified by the identification unit 38 is dropped onto any slide. That is, the first slide 48 is connected to a first coin hopper 49, the second slide 50 is connected to a second coin hopper 51, the third slide 52 is connected to a third coin hopper 53, the fourth slide 54 is connected to a fourth coin hopper 55, the fifth slide 56 is connected to a fifth coin hopper 57, the sixth slide 58 is connected to a sixth coin hopper 59, the seventh slide 60 is connected to a seventh coin hopper 61, the eighth slide 62 is connected to an eighth coin hopper 63, and the ninth slide 64 is connected to a collecting container 65.
The collecting container 65 is used, for example, to collect old coins of which distribution is desired to be curbed such that the old coins are not reused.
The coin hoppers are disposed along a dispensing belt 66. The accommodation unit 39 can convey coins discharged from the coin hoppers to a dispensing tray 67 by driving the dispensing belt 66. The accommodation unit 39 of the coin processing device 69 according to the embodiment can deal with eight different denominations.
The coins 70 inserted from the coin slot 40 are separately conveyed one by one. The denominations of the coins 70 are identified, and the coins 70 are stored in coin hoppers corresponding to identification results. In addition, the coin hopper discharges a required number of coins to dispense the coins to the dispensing tray 67. In this manner, the inserted coins 70 can be reused for dispensation.
Next, the coin delivery device 1 will be described.
The sending portion 37 and the identification unit 38 are disposed in the frame 25. The disc 2 rotates around the disc rotary shaft 3. The reception wheel 27 rotates around the wheel rotary shaft 26. The disc rotary shaft 3 and the wheel rotary shaft 26 are rotated by a motor 24. The motor 24 and the disc rotary shaft 3 are connected to each other by a train wheel not shown in the drawing. In addition, the motor 24 and the wheel rotary shaft 26 are connected to each other by a train wheel not shown in the drawing. The motor 24 and the train wheel not shown in the drawing constitute a driving unit that rotates the disc 2 and the reception wheel 27.
A holding base 17 of the disc 2 forms a flat bottom surface on which coins are disposed and held. A reception base 32 of the identification unit 38 forms a flat bottom surface for holding coins. The reception wheel 27 is rotatably disposed while facing the reception base 32. The holding base 17 and the reception base 32 are disposed without a step therebetween, so that coins can be slid and moved.
A holding unit which is an area for holding coins is provided on an upper surface of the disc 2. The holding bases 17 are provided at a plurality of locations at equal angles around the disc rotary shaft 3 on the upper surface of the disc 2. For example, the holding bases are provided at three locations at intervals of 120 degrees.
The first arm 4, the second arm 5, and the third arm 6 extend radially around the disc rotary shaft 3. The arms are provided to protrude with respect to the holding bases 17. As the holding unit for holding coins, a concave portion is formed by the arms disposed around the holding base 17 which is a bottom surface. That is, the disc 2 is provided with three holding units for holding coins. A portion of each of the first arm 4, the second arm 5, and the third arm 6 can also be referred to as a convex portion constituting the holding unit. It can also be said that an upstream side convex portion is provided on an upstream side of the holding unit in a rotation direction, and a downstream side convex portion is provided on a downstream side. That is, a first holding unit includes a first upstream side convex portion and a first downstream side convex portion, a second holding unit includes a second upstream side convex portion and a second downstream side convex portion, and a third holding unit includes a third upstream side convex portion and a third downstream side convex portion.
In the arms, portions on the disc rotary shaft 3 sides in the respective extending directions are connected to each other and integrated. Tip ends of the respective arms are disposed along the same circumference around the disc rotary shaft 3. The arms are provided to protrude from the holding bases 17. In addition, the holding base 17 is disposed at a position interposed between the arms. A coin is disposed on the holding base 17 and conveyed.
A first elongate hole 10 and a first supporting piece 7, a second elongate hole 11 and a second supporting piece 8, and a third elongate hole 12 and a third supporting piece 9 are respectively disposed in three holding bases 17. The first supporting piece 7 moves in a longitudinal direction of the first elongate hole 10. The second supporting piece 8 moves in a longitudinal direction of the second elongate hole 11. The third supporting piece 9 moves in a longitudinal direction of the third elongate hole 12. The first supporting piece 7, the second supporting piece 8, and the third supporting piece 9 are moved in association with the rotation of the disc 2 by a grooved cam to be described later.
The holding base 17 having the second supporting piece 8 disposed thereon and the surrounding area of the holding base 17 constitute the second holding unit. The holding base 17 mentioned above is interposed between a fourth side wall 18 of the second arm 5 and a fifth side wall 19 of the third arm 6. When the disc 2 is rotating in the disc rotation direction 33, a side surface of a coin comes into contact with the fourth side wall 18 or the fifth side wall 19. The fourth side wall 18 and the fifth side wall 19 also serve as a convex portion constituting a portion of the second holding unit. The holding base 17 having the second supporting piece 8 disposed thereon can also be referred to as a second holding base constituting a bottom surface of the concave portion.
The holding base 17 having the third supporting piece 9 disposed thereon and the surrounding area of the holding base 17 constitute a third holding unit. The holding base 17 mentioned above is interposed between a sixth side wall 20 of the third arm 6 and a seventh side wall 21 of the first arm 4. When the disc 2 is rotating in the disc rotation direction 33, a side surface of a coin comes into contact with the sixth side wall 20 or the seventh side wall 21. The sixth side wall 20 and the seventh side wall 21 also serve as a convex portion constituting a portion of the third holding unit. The holding base 17 having the third supporting piece 9 disposed thereon can also be referred to as a third holding base constituting a bottom surface of the concave portion.
It is preferable that the fourth side wall 18 or the fifth side wall 19 be disposed perpendicular to the flat holding base 17 in order to make it possible to hold coins by the holding base 17 disposed obliquely and the fourth side wall 18 or the fifth side wall 19. Alternatively, the fourth side wall 18 or the fifth side wall 19 may be slightly inclined, but it is necessary to set an angle to such a degree that a coin does not slide off. This is the same for the sixth side wall 20 and the seventh side wall 21, and a first side wall 14 and a third side wall 16 to be described later.
The holding base 17 having the first supporting piece 7 disposed thereon and the surrounding area of the holding base 17 constitute a first holding unit. The holding base 17 mentioned above is interposed between the sorting portion 13 of the first arm 4 and the third side wall 16 of the second arm 5. The sorting portion 13 provided to protrude with respect to the holding base 17 is disposed on the left side of the first arm 4 in the drawing. The sorting portion 13 includes the first side wall 14 which is perpendicularly provided to face the holding base 17. The first side wall 14 is provided on the base side of the first arm 4. In addition, the sorting portion 13 includes a second side wall 15 provided to protrude toward the holding base 17. The second side wall 15 is provided on the tip end side of the first arm 4. The second side wall 15 includes an inclined portion of which the height increases gradually in an upstream direction of the disc rotation direction 33 from the holding base 17. On the left side of the first arm 4 in the drawing, that is, the downstream side in the disc rotation direction 33, the second side wall 15 is provided on the tip end side of the first arm 4, and the sorting portion 13 including the first side wall 14 is provided on the base side. When the disc 2 is rotating in the disc rotation direction 33, the side surface of a coin comes into contact with the sorting portion 13 or the third side wall 16. The holding base 17 having the first supporting piece 7 disposed therein can also be referred to as a first holding base constituting the bottom surface of the concave portion. In addition, the first side wall 14 is also a supporting portion that abuts on the side surface of a coin to support and convey the coin.
The holding unit includes a convex portion (an arm or the sorting portion 13) on each of the upstream side and the downstream side of the holding base 17 in the disc rotation direction 33. A coin is held by the holding unit (can also be referred to as a concave portion) including the convex portion and the holding base 17.
A guide portion is disposed outside the outer circumference of the disc 2 in order to guide the conveyance of a coin, other than a portion for delivering the coin from the disc 2 to the identification unit 38. The guide portion comes into contact with the side surface of a coin to serve as a guidance surface for the conveyance of the coin. The guide portion is provided to protrude perpendicularly with respect to the holding base 17.
The disc 2 rotates in the disc rotation direction 33 indicated by an arrow. In order to deliver a coin to the identification unit 38, supporting pieces are moved in the direction toward the outer circumferential side of the disc 2. The coin is pressed out by the supporting pieces, abuts on a knife tip end portion 23 disposed at the tip end of a reception knife 22, and rides on the tip ends of the arms. In addition, the coin is pressed by the reception wheel 27 and moves on the reception base 32. The reception base 32 and the holding base 17 are configured to be flush with each other, and thus the coin can be smoothly delivered.
The identification unit 38 detects coins moving in the guidance portion 31 one by one by the identification sensor 36 to identify the denominations of the coins.
In the reception wheel 27, a plurality of reception bodies are disposed radially at equal angles with the wheel rotary shaft 26 as a center. In the coin processing device 69 according to the embodiment, a first reception body 28, a second reception body 29, and a third reception body 30 are disposed at intervals of 120 degrees. A coin is inserted between the reception bodies, and the coin slides and moves on the reception base 32. The reception body is provided with a pressing wall 35 to abut on the side surface of a coin. That is, when the reception wheel 27 rotates, the pressing wall 35 presses the coin positioned on the reception base 32 and moves the coin. The reception wheel 27 rotates in a direction opposite to the disc 2.
In addition, a manual knob 34 can rotate the disc 2 and the reception wheel 27 in association with each other. The manual knob 34 can rotate the disc 2 and the reception wheel 27 in a forward direction or a backward direction.
Next, main portions of the coin processing device 69 will be described.
In the sending portion 37, a plurality of coins 70 stored in the storage container 42 are separated one by one in association with the rotation of the disc 2 and delivered to the identification unit 38. In the identification unit 38, the coins 70 are separated one by one by the reception wheel 27, move to the reception base 32, and delivered to the accommodation unit 39. The coins 70 are conveyed along the guiding path 43 including the guidance portion 31. In the accommodation unit 39, the coins 70 are inserted one by one between the plurality of conveyance pins 47 disposed on the belt 46. The conveyance pins 47 are moved due to the rotation of the belt 46, and the coins 70 are pressed by the conveyance pins 47 and move on the conveyance path 68. The belt 46 rotates in association with the rotation of the disc 2 and the reception wheel 27 so that only one coin 70 is inserted between the conveyance pins 47. Each slide is provided with a bar 71, and whether or not the coin 70 is dropped onto the slide depends on the state of the bar 71 controlled by a control unit not shown in the drawing. That is, when the coin 70 arrives at the position of a slide corresponding to the denomination of the coin 70, the coin 70 is dropped onto the corresponding slide by changing the state of the bar 71. The coin 70 dropped onto the slide is stored in a coin hopper of the corresponding denomination.
Next, details of the disc 2 will be described.
The first arm 4, the second arm 5, and the third arm 6 are integrally molded and fixed to the disc 2. It is preferable that the sorting portion 13 be molded integrally with the disc 2. In a case where the sorting portion 13 and the disc 2 are molded as separate bodies, a recess is provided in a flat surface of the disc 2 to fix the sorting portion 13 which is a separate body thereto. The edge of a coin is prevented from being caught in a boundary between the sorting portion 13 and the disc 2.
A bent portion 78 prevents a plurality of coins from being lined up with the reception knife (22 in
The first supporting piece 7 is disposed between the first arm 4 and the second arm 5. The first supporting piece 7 can reciprocate and is positioned at a rear end in a movement range in
A cam follower, not shown in the drawing, which is fixed to the first supporting piece 7 along a grooved cam to be described later is moved, and thus the first supporting piece 7 reciprocates. The first supporting piece 7 is formed in an arc shape protruding toward the tip end side thereof as both ends thereof in a disc rotation direction approach the tip end side (a disc outer circumferential side). In addition, a pressing portion 73 abutting on and pressing a coin is disposed on the tip end side of the first supporting piece 7. In addition, a first inclined portion 74 and a second inclined portion 75 are provided in the central portion thereof. The first inclined portion 74 and the second inclined portion 75 are provided not to convey a coin having a diameter equal to or less than a predetermined diameter to the next step (identification unit 38). In a case where the first supporting piece 7 moves in an outer circumferential direction of the disc 2, and the reception knife 22 and a coin abut on each other, the coin is lifted from the disc 2 by the first inclined portion 74 or the second inclined portion 75 and slides down to the storage container 42, so that the coin is not delivered to the next step. That is, in a case where the first holding unit holds a coin having a diameter smaller than a first diameter, the held small diameter coin is slid down by a supporting piece inclined portion including the first inclined portion 74 and the second inclined portion 75 until the first holding unit is moved to a position facing the delivery port (101 in
Edges 79 which are tip ends of the respective arms are positioned on the same circumference. In
A maximum diameter coin to be used is put into the first holding unit including the holding base 17 having the first supporting piece 7 disposed therein and the first side wall 14 and the third side wall 16 with the holding base 17 interposed therebetween. That is, coins of all denominations to be used are inserted. However, a coin having a diameter equal to or larger than a predetermined first diameter is delivered to the identification unit 38 from the first holding unit, and a coin having a diameter smaller than the first diameter is dropped into the storage container 42 from the first holding unit. Coins having a diameter equal to or larger than the first diameter are held by the first holding unit and delivered to the next step. Coins having a diameter smaller than the first diameter are returned to the storage container 42 from the first holding unit. In addition, the second holding unit can hold coins having a diameter equal to or less than a second diameter smaller than the maximum diameter coin capable of being held by the first holding unit. Coins having a diameter smaller than the first diameter are delivered to the next step by the second holding unit or a third holding unit to be described later. There are sizes of coins that can be delivered to the next step only by the first holding unit or the second holding unit. In addition, there are sizes of coins that can be delivered to the next step by both the first holding unit and the second holding unit. This is to improve the efficiency of processing coins.
The second supporting piece 8 is disposed between the second arm 5 and the third arm 6. The second supporting piece 8 is moved to the position (tip end position) of a second supporting piece 82 shown separately from the second supporting piece 8. In
A cam follower, not shown in the drawing, which is fixed to the second supporting piece 8 along a grooved cam to be described later is moved, and thus the second supporting piece 8 reciprocates between a tip end position and a rear end position which is close to the bases of the second arm 5 and the third arm 6. The tip end side of the second supporting piece 8 is formed in an arc shape protruding toward the tip end side thereof as both ends thereof in a disc rotation direction approach the tip end side. In addition, a support side surface 80 abutting on and pressing a coin and a tip end 81 formed to have a shape along the dotted line 76 indicating the contour which extends from the edge 79 are disposed on the tip end side of the second supporting piece 8. The support side surface 80 and the tip end 81 can also be referred to as pressing portions pressing a coin. In addition, since the support side surface 80 and the tip end 81 are made to abut on the side surface of a coin, it is preferable that the support side surface 80 and the tip end 81 be formed perpendicular to the holding base 17. The support side surface 80 and the tip end 81 may be formed as slightly inclined surfaces, but the support side surface 80 and the tip end 81 may be configured to come into contact with the side surface of the coin and reliably press the coin.
In a case where the second supporting piece 8 is moved to the position (tip end position) of the second supporting piece 82, the tip end 81 is positioned at the position of the dotted line 76 indicating the contour that extends from the edge 79.
At least a maximum diameter coin to be used cannot be inserted into the second holding unit (concave portion) including the holding base 17 having the second supporting piece 8 disposed therein and the fourth side wall 18 and the fifth side wall 19 with the holding base 17 interposed therebetween.
The third supporting piece 9 is disposed between the third arm 6 and the first arm 4. The shape and movement range of the third supporting piece 9 are the same as those of the second supporting piece 8. In addition, at least a maximum diameter coin to be used cannot be inserted into the third holding unit including the holding base 17 having the third supporting piece 9 disposed therein and the sixth side wall 20 and the seventh side wall 21 with the holding base 17 interposed therebetween.
The first holding unit including the first supporting piece 7 can hold coins of one denomination including a maximum diameter coin or coins of a plurality of denominations including a maximum diameter coin and not including a minimum diameter coin, and can deliver the coins to the next step. For example, two types of coins having the largest diameter and coins having the second largest diameter are delivered to the next step, and then coins having smaller diameters are dropped into the storage container 42. In addition, the second holding unit or the third holding unit including the second supporting piece 8 or the third supporting piece 9 can hold coins of one denomination or coins of a plurality of denominations not including a maximum diameter coin and deliver the coins to the next step. For example, coins having a diameter equal to or less than the diameter of the second largest coin next to the maximum diameter coin are delivered to the next step.
The disc 2 includes three holding units. In a configuration in which one of the holding units handles only maximum diameter coins, the efficiency of sending out the coins is reduced. When a small coin is put into the holding unit, the coin is returned to the storage container 42. Consequently, it is also possible to handle coins of a plurality of sizes including a maximum diameter coin in order to increase efficiency. In addition, it is also possible to provide a large number of holding units by increasing the diameter of the disc 2, but there is then a problem in that the device becomes large.
Next, reciprocations of the first supporting piece 7, the second supporting piece 8, and the third supporting piece 9 will be described.
When the supporting pieces are moved to at least a position corresponding to the storage container 42, it is preferable that the grooved cam 86 be formed such that the supporting pieces are held in the central direction of the disc 2 for a predetermined period. This is to stop the supporting pieces on one end sides of the respective movement paths and make coins easily enter the holding units. In addition, the holding units are moved upward and moved such that the supporting pieces are positioned at the other end sides of the respective movement paths at a position where coins are delivered. That is, the grooved cam 86 is formed such that the supporting pieces are held at the other end sides for a predetermined period. This is to deliver coins to the next step from the disc 2. A rotation angle and the timing and position of a reciprocation are determined according to the shape of the grooved cam 86.
Next, the delivery of coins from the sending portion 37 to the identification unit 38 will be described.
The disc 2 rotates in the disc rotation direction 33 indicated by an arrow. The reception wheel 27 rotates in the reception wheel rotation direction 44 indicated by an arrow. When the disc 2 rotates, the coin 70 is inserted into the second holding unit including the second supporting piece 8, and the coin is moved upward in association with the rotation of the disc 2. The delivery port (101 in
The rotation of the disc 2 and the rotation of the reception wheel 27 are synchronized with each other. The coin delivery device 1 rotates the disc 2 to make the disc pass through the inside of the storage container 42, thereby holding coins in the holding units of the disc 2 one by one. The disc 2 moves the supporting pieces at an upper position in a rotation track to make a portion of a held coin be caught in the reception base 32. When a coin abuts on the reception knife 22 or the reception wheel 27, the coin moves to the reception base 32 while being flipped. Thereafter, the coin is delivered from the sending portion 37 to the identification unit 38.
Since a movement distance of the first supporting piece 7 is short, a small coin may be returned to the storage container 42 without riding on the reception base 32 side even when the coin abuts on the reception knife 22 or the reception wheel 27.
Next, a coin held by the disc 2 will be described.
For example, a case where a minimum diameter coin 93 having a diameter equal to or less than half the diameter of a maximum diameter coin is used will be described. In the first holding unit having the first supporting piece 7 disposed therein can hold a maximum diameter coin. Three minimum diameter coins 93 are put into the first holding unit. When the three coins are delivered to the next step at the same time, there is a concern that an erroneous operation may occur. On the other hand, two minimum diameter coins 93 are not simultaneously put into the second holding unit or the third holding unit in which the second supporting piece 8 or the third supporting piece 9 is disposed, as indicated by a minimum diameter coin shadow 95. Only one coin from the minimum diameter coin 93 to the medium diameter coin 94 having a diameter smaller than the predetermined maximum diameter is inserted into the second holding unit or the third holding unit.
In this manner, there is a possibility that two or more coins to be used will be sent at the same time depending on sizes. Accordingly, it is necessary to prevent two or more coins from being sent to the next step at the same time. Next, an operation of a small diameter coin will be described.
The disc 2 rotates, and the small diameter coin 96 moves from the lowest point of the disc 2 to the upstream side in the disc rotation direction. In this case, when the diameter of the small diameter coin 96 is large to a certain degree, the small diameter coin 96 is caught on the first side wall 14 and conveyed. However, when the diameter of the small diameter coin 96 is small, the small diameter coin 96 is caught on only the second side wall 15 and conveyed. The second side wall 15 is an inclined portion that protrudes toward the upstream side of the holding base 17 in a rotation direction. The small diameter coin 96 moves along the inclined portion, and thus the first holding unit cannot continuously hold the small diameter coin 96. That is, the small diameter coin 96 slides down on the second side wall 15. The sliding-down small diameter coin 96 is returned to the storage container 42. The first holding unit having the first supporting piece 7 disposed therein can be returned to the storage container 42 without conveying coins having a size equal to or less than a predetermined size. That is, in a case where the first holding unit holds a coin having a diameter smaller than a first diameter, the first holding unit slides the held small diameter coin down until the first holding unit moves to a position facing the delivery port (101 in
It is possible to prevent the rotation of the disc 2 from being hindered by small coins being lined up. In addition, coins having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined size and put into the holding unit are delivered to the next step, but coins having a size less than the predetermined size are returned to the storage container 42. In this manner, it is possible to deliver coins one by one to the next step by preventing two or more coins from being held. In addition, only one coin is put into the other holding units, and thus coins can be reliably delivered one by one to the next step.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-184327 | Oct 2019 | JP | national |
| 2020-090503 | May 2020 | JP | national |
