1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coin-roll ejecting device capable of ejecting a roll of coins stored inside a body thereof to the outside of the body and a money changer for performing a money change process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of coin-roll ejecting devices that can eject a roll of coins stored inside a body thereof to the outside of the body are known in the art. Such coin-roll ejecting devices are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 3857001, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-109607, U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,754, U.S. Pat. No. 7,571,833, and the like.
The coin-roll ejecting device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3857001 has a problem that, because the rolls of coins are aligned in a row in each of a plurality of storing units that are arranged one above the other in a vertical direction, only a small number of the rolls of coins can be stored in the storing units, moreover, a replenishment work of replenishing rolls of coins into the storing units takes time. The coin-roll ejecting device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-109607 has a problem that, because a coin-roll refilling unit is attached to the back of the device body, the depth of the coin-roll ejecting device is increased, and, a replenishment work of replenishing the roll of coins is difficult. Moreover, in the coin-roll ejecting devices disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3857001 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-109607, because a lifting unit that can freely move up and down is arranged with respect to the storing units, and an ejecting lever for withdrawing the roll of coins from the storing units is arranged in the lifting unit, to increase the capacity of storing the rolls of coins of the entire device, it is necessary to decrease the distance between the storing units that are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction. If the distance between the storing units is decreased, it is necessary to move the storing unit that stores therein the rolls of coins that are not ejection objects to avoid a situation in which the ejecting lever interferes with the rolls of coins that are not the ejection objects. When this configuration is adopted, the production costs of the device disadvantageously increases, and the speed of ejecting the rolls of coins from the storing unit decreases. Moreover, in such coin-roll ejecting devices, the roll of coins may not be surely ejected from the storing unit by the ejecting lever depending on the diameter and the length of the roll of coins.
Moreover, in the coin-roll ejecting devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,754 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,571,833, the capacity of storing the rolls of coins is large; however, downsizing of the device is difficult. Also, handling of the rolls of coins may become difficult when the diameter and the length of the roll of coins changes when the denomination of the roll of coins to be stored is changed. Furthermore, in such coin-roll ejecting devices, there is a problem that the replenishment work of the roll of coins is difficult. As in the coin-roll ejecting device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,754, when a rotating member having one or more notches for receiving the rolls of coins formed in an outer peripheral surface thereof is used as an ejecting mechanism for ejecting the roll of coins from the storing unit, when rolls of coins of a predetermined number are ejected by the rotating member from the storing unit, some rolls of coins may disadvantageously remain in the notches of the rotating member.
The present invention was made in view of the above discussion. One object of the present invention is to provide a coin-roll ejecting device in which a rotating position detecting unit that detects a rotating position of a rotating member is provided, and when a roll of coins remains in a notch of the rotating member when the predetermined number of the rolls of coins are ejected by the rotating member from a storing unit, the roll of coins in the notch of the rotating member can be returned to the storing unit by rotating the rotating member by a driving unit based on the rotating position of the rotating member detected by the rotating position detecting unit.
A coin-roll ejecting device of the present invention includes a storing unit having a bottom surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to store thereon a plurality of rolls of coins in a piled-up manner and along a rolling direction parallel to the inclined bottom surface, the storing unit having an ejecting mechanism that ejects the rolls of coins one by one from near the bottom surface that is at a lower level with respect to a vertical direction; a first detecting unit that detects the roll of coins ejected from the storing unit; and a controlling unit that controls the ejecting mechanism, and the ejecting mechanism includes a rotating member that rotates around a rotation axis that extends horizontally and orthogonally to the direction of inclination of the storing unit and has at least two notches each receiving one roll of coins stored in the storing unit, a driving unit that rotates the rotating member around the rotation axis, and a rotating position detecting unit that detects a rotating position of the rotating member.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the rotating member may include at least three notches.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, in the ejecting mechanism, the driving unit may be capable of rotating the rotating member in both of a forward direction and a reverse direction, the forward direction is a direction in which the rotating member ejects the roll of coins from the storing unit, and the reverse direction is the reverse of the forward direction, and the controlling unit may control a direction of rotation of the rotating member based on the rotating position of the rotating member detected by the rotating position detecting unit and detection information obtained in the first detecting unit.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the controlling unit may rotate the rotating member in the reverse direction, when the first detecting unit detects that the rolls of coins of a predetermined number are ejected by the rotating member and when the rotating position detecting unit detects that the rotating member is positioned in a first predetermined position during ejecting the roll of coins from the storing unit by the ejecting mechanism in such a manner that the rotating member is rotated in the forward direction, and the controlling unit may stop the rotation of the rotating member when the rotating position detecting unit detects that the rotating member is positioned in a second predetermined position.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the controlling unit may rotate the rotating member in the reverse direction, when the rotating position detecting unit does not detect that the rotating member is positioned in the first predetermined position for a predetermined time during ejecting the roll of coins from the storing unit by the ejecting mechanism in such a manner that the rotating member is rotated in the forward direction, and the controlling unit may stop the rotation of the rotating member when the rotating position detecting unit detects that the rotating member is positioned in a second predetermined position.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a second detecting unit that detects whether a roll of coins is received in the notch of the rotating member in the ejecting mechanism.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, a shape and a position of each of the notches on the rotating member may be set such that, when one of the notches of the rotating member is positioned at an ejecting position of the rotating position, which is a position at which the rotating member is ready to eject the roll of coins, other leading notch of this notch is positioned at a position at which it is not able to receive the roll of coins from the storing unit.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the driving unit may be capable of changing a rotating speed of the rotating member.
In this case, the controlling unit may judge, based on the rotating position of the rotating member detected by the rotating position detecting unit and the detection information obtained in the first detecting unit, whether an ejection defect that the roll of coins are not able to be ejected normally from the storing unit has occurred, and the controlling unit may cause, when number of times that the ejection defect occurred in one of a predetermined time, predetermined ejection cycles, a predetermined ejection number exceeds a predetermined number, the driving unit to adjust the rotating speed of the rotating member to reduce the rotating speed of the rotating member.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the notches of the rotating member may be formed such that, when one of the notches of the rotating member is positioned at a storing position of the rotating position, which is a position at which the rotating member is ready to receive the roll of coins from the storing unit, an inner wall of this notch and the bottom surface of the storing unit are positioned substantially on one line.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, a length of the rotating member along the rotation axis may be larger than ½ of a maximum length in a longitudinal direction of the roll of coins that is to be ejected.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, an outer surface of the rotating member, to which the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit contact, may be configured such that a distance between the outer surface and the rotation axis is capable to be changed.
In this case, the rotating member may have a substantially polygonal shape in a side cross-unit, and the notches are formed near vertices of the polygon.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, a gate member may be arranged above the rotating member to prevent a situation where the roll of coins stored in the storing unit does not enter into the notches of the rotating member whereby the roll of coins is ejected from above the rotating member.
In this case, the gate member may be freely movable so as to unevenly push and move the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit along the longitudinal direction of the roll of coins.
Further, the gate member may be swingable around a swing shaft that extends substantially horizontally.
Alternatively, the gate member may be swingable around a swing shaft that extends substantially vertically.
Alternatively, the gate member may include a plurality of gate elements capable of independently moving back and forth toward the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit.
Further, the gate member may be movable following a rotation motion of the rotating member.
Further, the gate member may have a configuration that allows mounting a mounting member capable of contacting the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, an angle of inclination of the bottom surface of the storing unit with respect to the horizontal plane may be within a range of 8 degrees to 20 degrees, and a maximum static friction coefficient of the bottom surface of the storing unit with respect to the roll of coins may be within a range of 0.01 to 0.15.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the storing unit may include a pair of side walls that constitutes a storing area for the rolls of coins, and at least one of the pair of the side walls may constitute a door that is opened when replenishing the rolls of coins in the storing unit or taking out the rolls of coins from the storing unit.
In this case, the side wall that constitutes the door may have a configuration that allows an operator to see inside the storing unit.
Further, a storing area width adjusting member that allows adjusting a width of the storing area of the storing unit may be detachably attached to at least one of the pair of the side walls, several types of the storing area width adjusting members may be prepared corresponding to a longitudinal length of the roll of coins, and the width of the storing area of the storing unit may be adjustable by attaching an appropriate one of the storing area width adjusting members to the side wall.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, several types of the rotating members having the notches of various shapes may be prepared corresponding to diameters of the rolls of coins, and the rotating member may be changed depending on a diameter of the rolls of coins that are to be stored in that storing unit.
A coin-roll ejecting device of the present invention has a storing unit having a bottom surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to store thereon a plurality of rolls of coins in a piled-up manner and along a rolling direction parallel to the inclined bottom surface, the storing unit having an ejecting mechanism that ejects the rolls of coins one by one from near the bottom surface that is at a lower level with respect to a vertical direction; and a lifting unit that includes a coin-roll accommodating member that accommodates the roll of coins ejected by the ejecting mechanism from the storing unit and that is movable in the vertical direction.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the ejecting mechanism may include a rotating member that rotates around a rotation axis that extends horizontally and orthogonally to the direction of inclination of the storing unit and has a notch that receives one roll of coins stored in the storing unit, and a driving unit that rotates the rotating member around the rotation axis, and a gate member may be arranged above the rotating member to prevent a situation where the roll of coins stored in the storing unit does not enter into the notch of the rotating member whereby the roll of coins is ejected from above the rotating member.
In this case, the gate member may be freely movable so as to unevenly push and move the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit along a longitudinal direction of the roll of coins.
Further, the gate member may be swingable around a swing shaft that extends substantially horizontally.
Alternatively, the gate member may be swingable around a swing shaft that extends substantially vertically.
Alternatively, the gate member may include a plurality of gate elements capable of independently moving back and forth toward the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit.
Further, the gate member may be movable following a rotation motion of the rotating member.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the storing unit may include a pair of side walls that constitutes a storing area for the rolls of coins, and at least one of the pair of the side walls may constitute a door that is opened when replenishing the rolls of coins in the storing unit or taking out the rolls of coins from the storing unit.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a housing that accommodates the storing unit and the lifting unit; and a housing door arranged in a front surface or a back surface of the housing, and the storing unit and the lifting unit are capable of being pulled integrally from the housing after opening the housing door.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a housing that accommodates the storing unit and the lifting unit; and a housing door arranged in a front surface or a back surface of the housing, and when pulling the storing unit from the housing after opening the housing door, the lifting unit is capable of being evacuated to a position in which the lifting unit does not hinder a pulling operation of the storing unit in the vertical direction.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a housing that accommodates the storing unit and the lifting unit; and a housing door arranged in a side surface of the housing, and by opening both the housing door and the side wall that constitutes the door, it is possible to replenish the rolls of coins in the storing unit or take out the rolls of coins from the storing unit.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a shutter for opening and closing a coin-roll ejection opening that allows taking out of the roll of coins stored in the coin-roll accommodating member of the lifting unit when the lifting unit is at an up position.
A coin-roll ejecting device of the present invention includes a storing unit having a bottom surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to store thereon a plurality of rolls of coins in a piled-up manner and along a rolling direction parallel to the inclined bottom surface, the storing unit having an ejecting mechanism that ejects the rolls of coins one by one from near the bottom surface that is at a lower level with respect to a vertical direction, the ejecting mechanism includes a rotating member that rotates around a rotation axis that extends horizontally and orthogonally to the direction of inclination of the storing unit and having a notch that receives one roll of coins stored in the storing unit, and a driving unit that rotates the rotating member around the rotation axis, and a gate member is arranged above the rotating member to prevent a situation where the roll of coins stored in the storing unit does not enter into the notch of the rotating member whereby the roll of coins is ejected from above the rotating member, and the gate member unevenly pushes and moves the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit along a longitudinal direction of the roll of coins.
A money changer according to still another aspect of the present invention is a money changer that performs a money change process and includes a dispensing money denomination specifying unit that specifies a denomination of money to be dispensed, and a controlling unit that switches between whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit before depositing the money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit after depositing the money.
The above money changer may further include an input unit that inputs a type of the money change process, and the controlling unit may switch between whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit before depositing the money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit after depositing the money based on the type of the money change process inputted by the input unit.
In the above money changer, the type of the money change process to be inputted by that the input unit may be an ordinary money change process in which a denomination of the dispensed money has a lower value than a denomination of the deposited money and a reverse money change process in which a denomination of the dispensed money has a higher value than a denomination of the deposited money.
In the above configuration, the controlling unit may perform a control to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit before depositing the money when the type of the money change process inputted by the input unit is the ordinary money change process, and the controlling unit may perform a control to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit after depositing the money when the type of the money change process inputted by the input unit is the reverse money change process.
The above money changer may further include a setting unit that performs setting of whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit before depositing the money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit after depositing the money.
In the above configuration, the above money changer may further include an input unit that inputs a type of the money change process. The type of the money change process to be inputted by the input unit may be an ordinary money change process in which a denomination of the dispensed money has a lower value than a denomination of the deposited money, and a reverse money change process in which a denomination of the dispensed money has a higher value than a denomination of the deposited money. The setting unit may perform, for each of the ordinary money change process and the reverse money change process, setting of whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit before depositing the money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit after depositing the money.
In the above money changer, whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit before depositing the money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit after depositing the money may be selected for each of the money change process.
The above money changer, when in a standby state, or when beginning the money change process, may accept both of an operation of depositing money and an operation of specifying a denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit. When the operation of depositing money is accepted earlier, the controlling unit may perform the control of specifying the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit after the money is deposited. On the other hand, when the operation of specifying the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit is accepted earlier, the controlling unit may perform the control of specifying the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit before the money is deposited.
In the above money changer, when the denomination is not specified by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit, the money may be dispensed in a denomination combination that will minimize the number of money to be dispensed or in a previously set denomination combination.
The above money changer may further include a customer information receiving unit that receives customer information, and based on the customer information received by the customer information receiving unit, the controlling unit may perform the control of whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit before depositing money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit after depositing money.
The above money changer may further include at least two devices among a banknote depositing and dispensing device that stores therein a deposited banknote and dispenses a banknote that has been stored inside a body, a coin depositing and dispensing device that stores therein a deposited coin and dispenses a coin that has been stored inside the body, and a coin-roll dispensing device that dispenses a roll of coins that has been stored inside the body.
A money changer according to still another aspect of the present invention is a money changer that performs a money change process and includes a dispensing money denomination specifying unit that specifies a denomination of money to be dispensed, and the dispensing money denomination specifying unit may specify the denomination both of before depositing the money and after depositing the money.
A money changer according to still another aspect of the present invention is a money changer that accepts deposition of valuable media apart from the money, and includes a valuable media storing unit that stores therein the deposited valuable media, a dispensing money denomination specifying unit that specifies a denomination of money to be dispensed, and a controlling unit that switches between whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit before depositing the valuable media or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit after depositing the valuable media.
A coin-roll ejecting device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a storing unit having a bottom surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to store thereon a plurality of rolls of coins in a piled-up manner and along a rolling direction parallel to the inclined bottom surface, the storing unit having an ejecting mechanism that ejects the rolls of coins one by one from near the bottom surface that is at a lower level with respect to a vertical direction; and a lifting unit that includes a coin-roll accommodating member that accommodates the roll of coins ejected by the ejecting mechanism from the storing unit and that is movable in the vertical direction.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, a plurality of the storing units may be arranged one above the other in the vertical direction.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may include a shutter for opening and closing a coin-roll ejection opening that allows taking out of the roll of coins accommodated in the coin-roll accommodating member of the lifting unit when the lifting unit is at an up position.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the storing unit may include a pair of side walls that constitutes a storing area for the rolls of coins, and at least one of the pair of the side walls may constitute a door that is opened when replenishing the rolls of coins in the storing unit or taking out the rolls of coins from the storing unit.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the side wall that constitutes the door may be configured such that an operator can see inside the storing unit through the side wall.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, a storing area width adjusting member that allows adjusting a width of the storing area of the storing unit may be detachably attached to at least one of the pair of the side walls, several types of the storing area width adjusting members may be prepared previously depending on a longitudinal length of the roll of coins, and the width of the storing area of the storing unit may be changed by attaching an appropriate one of the storing area width adjusting members to the side wall.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, an angle of inclination of the bottom surface of the storing unit with respect to the horizontal plane may be within a range of 8 degrees to 20 degrees, and a maximum static friction coefficient of the bottom surface of the storing unit with respect to the roll of coins may be within a range of 0.01 to 0.15.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the ejecting mechanism may include a rotating member that rotates around a rotation axis that extends horizontally and orthogonally to the direction of inclination of the storing unit and has at least two notches each receiving one roll of coins stored in the storing unit, and a driving unit that rotates the rotating member around the rotation axis.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the rotating member may include at least three notches.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the ejecting mechanism may include a rotating position detecting unit that detects a rotating position of the rotating member.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, a length of the rotating member along the rotation axis may be larger than ½ of a maximum length in a longitudinal direction of the roll of coins that is to be ejected.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, a gate member may be arranged above the rotating member to prevent a situation where the roll of coins stored in the storing unit does not enter into the notches of the rotating member whereby the roll of coins is ejected from above the rotating member.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the gate member may be swingable around a swing shaft that extends horizontally following a rotation motion of the rotating member.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the gate member may have a configuration that allows detachably mounting a mounting member capable of contacting the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, several types of the rotating members having the notches of various shapes may be prepared corresponding to diameters of the rolls of coins, and the rotating member may be replaced depending on a diameter of the rolls of coins that are to be stored in that storing unit.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a housing that accommodates the storing unit and the lifting unit; and a housing door arranged in a front surface or a back surface of the housing, and the storing unit and the lifting unit may be capable of being pulled integrally from the housing after opening the housing door.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a housing that accommodates the storing unit and the lifting unit; and a housing door arranged in a front surface or a back surface of the housing, and when pulling the storing unit from the housing after opening the housing door, the lifting unit may be capable of being evacuated to a position in which the lifting unit does not hinder a pulling operation of the storing unit in the vertical direction.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a housing that accommodates the storing unit and the lifting unit; and a housing door arranged in a side surface of the housing, and by opening both the housing door and the side wall that constitutes the door, it is possible to replenish the rolls of coins in the storing unit or take out the rolls of coins from the storing unit.
A coin-roll ejecting device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a storing unit having a bottom surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to store thereon a plurality of rolls of coins in a piled-up manner and along a rolling direction parallel to the inclined bottom surface, the storing unit having an ejecting mechanism that ejects the rolls of coins one by one from near the bottom surface that is at a lower level with respect to a vertical direction; and a lifting unit that includes a coin-roll accommodating member that accommodates the roll of coins ejected by the ejecting mechanism from the storing unit and that is movable in the vertical direction, the ejecting mechanism includes a rotating member that rotates around a rotation axis that extends horizontally and orthogonally to the direction of inclination of the storing unit and has at least two notches each receiving one roll of coins stored in the storing unit, and a driving unit that rotates the rotating member around the rotation axis; and several types of the rotating members having the notches of various shapes is prepared corresponding to diameters of the rolls of coins, and the rotating member is replaced depending on a diameter of the rolls of coins that are to be stored in that storing unit.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the rotating member may include at least three notches.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, when replacing the rotating member, the rotating member and the driving unit may be replaced integrally.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, when replacing the rotating member, only the rotating member may be replaced by independently removing from the ejecting mechanism that includes the driving unit and other components.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the rotating member may be configured such that dimensions of the notch are adjustable.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the storing unit may include a pair of side walls that constitutes a storing area for the rolls of coins, and a storing area width adjusting member that allows adjusting a width of the storing area of the storing unit may be detachably attached to at least one of the pair of the side walls, several types of the storing area width adjusting members may be prepared corresponding to a longitudinal length of the roll of coins, and the width of the storing area of the storing unit may be changed by attaching an appropriate one of the storing area width adjusting members to the side wall.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the storing area width adjusting member may be provided in a movable manner in the storing unit.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, at least one of the pair of the side walls may constitute a door that is opened when replenishing the rolls of coins in the storing unit or taking out the rolls of coins from the storing unit.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the storing area width adjusting member may be detachably attached to a side wall opposite to the side wall that constitutes the door.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the side wall that constitutes the door may be configured such that an operator is capable of seeing inside the storing unit through the side wall.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, with respect to the dimensions of the notches of the several types of the rotating members, a ratio of a width of the notch to a diameter of the roll of coins may be within a range of 1.0 and 1.7.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, with respect to the dimensions of the notches of the several types of the rotating members, a ratio of a depth of the notch to a diameter of the roll of coins may be within a range of 0.8 and 1.5.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may include a shutter for opening and closing a coin-roll ejection opening that allows taking out of the roll of coins accommodated in the coin-roll accommodating member of the lifting unit when the lifting unit is at an up position.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, an angle of inclination of the bottom surface of the storing unit with respect to the horizontal plane may be within a range of 8 degrees to 20 degrees, and a maximum static friction coefficient of the bottom surface of the storing unit with respect to the roll of coins may be within a range of 0.01 to 0.15.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the ejecting mechanism may include a rotating position detecting unit that detects a rotating position of the rotating member.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, a length of the rotating member along the rotation axis may be larger than ½ of a maximum length in a longitudinal direction of the roll of coins that is to be ejected.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, a gate member may be arranged above the rotating member to prevent a situation where the roll of coins stored in the storing unit does not enter into the notches of the rotating member whereby the roll of coins is ejected from above the rotating member.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the gate member may be swingable around a swing shaft that extends horizontally following a rotation motion of the rotating member.
In the above coin-roll ejecting device, the gate member may have a configuration that allows detachably mounting a mounting member capable of contacting the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a housing that accommodates the storing unit and the lifting unit; and a housing door arranged in a front surface or a back surface of the housing, and the storing unit and the lifting unit may be capable of being pulled integrally from the housing after opening the housing door.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a housing that accommodates the storing unit and the lifting unit; and a housing door arranged in a front surface or a back surface of the housing, and when pulling the storing unit from the housing after opening the housing door, the lifting unit may be capable of being evacuated to a position in which the lifting unit does not hinder a pulling operation of the storing unit in the vertical direction.
The above coin-roll ejecting device may further include a housing that accommodates the storing unit and the lifting unit; and a housing door arranged in a side surface of the housing, and by opening both the housing door and the side wall that constitutes the door, it is possible to replenish the rolls of coins in the storing unit or take out the rolls of coins from the storing unit.
A coin-roll ejecting device according to another aspect of the present invention includes a storing unit having a bottom surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to store thereon a plurality of rolls of coins in a piled-up manner and along a rolling direction parallel to the inclined bottom surface, the storing unit having an ejecting mechanism that ejects the rolls of coins one by one from near the bottom surface that is at a lower level with respect to a vertical direction; and a lifting unit that includes a coin-roll accommodating member that accommodates the roll of coins ejected by the ejecting mechanism from the storing unit and that is movable in the vertical direction, and the storing unit includes a pair of side walls that constitutes a storing area for the rolls of coins, and a storing area width adjusting member that allows adjusting a width of the storing area of the storing unit is detachably attached to at least one of the pair of the side walls, several types of the storing area width adjusting members are prepared corresponding to a longitudinal length of the roll of coins, and the width of the storing area of the storing unit is changed by attaching an appropriate one of the storing area width adjusting members to the side wall.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the drawings.
At first, an overall configuration of the money changer according to the present embodiment is explained by referring to
As shown in
An upper door 14 and a lower door 16 are arranged on a front surface of the outer housing 12 of the money changer 10. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Although not illustrated, a small rack can be arranged on a front surface of the money changer 10. When such a rack is present, the operator, who may be a customer and the like, who wants to perform the money change process by using the money changer 10, can temporarily place his bag or cash on the rack. This is very convenient to the operator as he can then operate the money changer 10 with both the hands.
A configuration of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 included in the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment is explained below by referring to
As shown in
A deposited money transporting unit 120 is arranged in an upper part in the housing 102. The deposited money transporting unit 120 transports one by one the coins fed by the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130. The deposited money transporting unit 120 includes a recognition unit 122 that recognizes a denomination, authentication, fitness, version (new or old), and the like of the coin transported by the deposited money transporting unit 120. More particularly, as shown in
An endless belt 120p is installed in the deposited money transporting unit 120. The endless belt 120p is stretched over a plurality of pulleys. The endless belt 120p is caused to perform a cyclic shift in the counterclockwise direction in
A plurality of (specifically six) storing and feeding mechanisms 150 is arranged below the deposited money transporting unit 120 in the housing 102. Each of the storing and feeding mechanisms 150 receives coins from the deposited money transporting unit 120 via chutes 126. Specifically, the deposited money transporting unit 120 includes a plurality of sorting members 124 that sort the coins to an appropriate chute 126 based on a recognition result of the coin obtained in the recognition unit 122. Moreover, the deposited money transporting unit 120 includes a reject sorting member 127 that sorts coins to be rejected. A coin that is determined by the genuineness determining unit 122a of the recognition unit 122 as being a counterfeit coin (a fake coin) is sent by the reject sorting member 127 to a later-explained coin ejection opening 172 via a chute (not shown) for reject coin. Moreover, separately from the coin ejection opening 172, although not shown, a returning unit (a reject unit) that returns a reject coin to the outside of the body can be arranged near the coin ejection opening 172. When such a configuration is adopted, a coin that is determined by the genuineness determining unit 122a of the recognition unit 122 as being a counterfeit coin is sent by the reject sorting member 127 to the returning unit via the chute for reject coin as a reject coin.
Each of the storing and feeding mechanisms 150 feeds the coins stored in the storing and feeding mechanism 150 one by one. More particularly, the storing and feeding mechanism 150 includes a rotating disk 152 and a cover member 154. The rotating disk 152 is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction, and it is rotatable while being in the inclined posture. The cover member 154 forms a coin accumulating space 153 for accumulating coins between itself and a surface 152b of the rotating disk 152.
The loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 includes the coin ejection opening 172 for ejecting a coin outside of the housing 102. A dispensing money transporting unit 170 is arranged inside the housing 102. The dispensing money transporting unit 170 transports coins fed by the storing and feeding mechanisms 150 to the coin ejection opening 172. The dispensing money transporting unit 170 includes a first dispensing money transporting part 170a and a second dispensing money transporting part 170b. The first dispensing money transporting part 170a extends substantially horizontally below each of the storing and feeding mechanisms 150. The second dispensing money transporting part 170b transports a coin sent by the first dispensing money transporting part 170a to the coin ejection opening 172. The dispensing money transporting unit 170 is constituted by an endless belt 170p that is stretched over a plurality of pulleys. The endless belt 170p is caused to perform a cyclic shift in both of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction in
An overflow coin storing unit 180 is arranged below the dispensing money transporting unit 170 in the housing 102. The overflow coin storing unit 180 is constituted by, for example, a collection box and the like detachably attached to the housing 102. When the endless belt 170p performs the cyclic shift in the clockwise direction in
In a conventional loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100a shown in
In the conventional loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100a shown in
In contrast, in the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 shown in
The loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 includes a controlling unit 190 that controls the various components of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100. A configuration of the controlling unit 190 will be explained by referring to
Now, a detailed configuration of the coin depositing mechanism 110 in the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 will be explained by referring to
As shown in
The first coin-supplying unit 111 includes a tray including a first tray part 111a and a second tray part 111b. The coins deposited into the coin depositing opening are received in this tray. The second tray part 111b is arranged such that a top surface thereof is parallel to a horizontal plane. In contrast, the first tray part 111a is arranged such that a top surface thereof is inclined to the horizontal plane so that the top surface extends downwardly toward the second tray part 111b. Moreover, as shown in
As shown in
In the present embodiment, a step is secured between the first tray part 111a and the second tray part 111b. That is, an end edge of the first tray part 111a on the side of the second tray part 111b is arranged at a slightly higher level than an end edge of the second tray part 111b on the side of the first tray part 111a. With this configuration, when the first tray part 111a and the second tray part 111b are moved to the coin sending position shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The controlling unit 190 included in the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 performs the following control on the coin depositing mechanism 110. Specifically, when it is not detected by the coin storing state detecting unit 138 that the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130 is full with coins, the conveyor belt 115a of the second coin-supplying unit 115 is driven to perform the cyclic shift in the clockwise direction in
The controlling unit 190, after having sent the coins, which were sent from the first coin-supplying unit 111 to the second coin-supplying unit 115, to the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130, controls the driving of the conveyor belt 115a so that the conveyor belt 115a performs the cyclic shift only for a predetermined time in an opposite direction (i.e., the counterclockwise direction in
After the conveyor belt 115a is caused to perform the cyclic shift only for the predetermined time in the opposite direction, i.e., opposite of the direction in which the conveyor belt 115a performs the cyclic shift when sending the coins to the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130, the controlling unit 190 causes the conveyor belt 115a to perform the cyclic shift in a normal direction, i.e., the direction in which the conveyor belt 115a performs the cyclic shift when sending the coins to the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130, again. With this configuration, the coins that were received on the conveyor belt 115a after being separated from the coin transportation-number limiting member 116 can be sent to the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130.
When the coin storing state detecting unit 119 detects that the second coin-supplying unit 115 is full with coins, the controlling unit 190 closes the shutter 114 to prevent the transportation of the coins from the first coin-supplying unit 111 to the second coin-supplying unit 115. With this configuration, when the second coin-supplying unit 115 is full with coins, because no coin is further sent to the second coin-supplying unit 115 from the chute 113 as the shutter 114 is moved in the closed position, an error that the coins overflow from the second coin-supplying unit 115 and lead to jamming and the like can be prevented from occurring. Moreover, when the first residual detecting unit 117 detects that the first coin-supplying unit 111 is currently receiving the coins, the controlling unit 190 opens the shutter 114. With this configuration, in case a coin among the coins that were deposited into the coin depositing opening remains in the first tray part 111a and/or the second tray part 111b of the first coin-supplying unit 111 without being sent to the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130 by the coin depositing mechanism 110, this coin can be sent from the first coin-supplying unit 111 to the second coin-supplying unit 115 via the chute 113.
An operation of the coin depositing mechanism 110 having the above-explained configuration is explained below. When the operator inputs into the controlling unit 190 of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 a command to start a money depositing process of loose coins, the controlling unit 190 opens the shutter 114 provided in the chute 113. Moreover, the controlling unit 190 causes the conveyor belt 115a of the second coin-supplying unit 115 to perform the cyclic shift in the clockwise direction in
When the coin passage detecting sensor 113p arranged in the chute 113 does not detect the passage of a coin for a predetermined time, the controlling unit 190 judges that the coins received by the first tray part 111a and/or the second tray part 111b of the first coin-supplying unit 111 have been sent to the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130. Upon making this determination, the controlling unit 190 closes the shutter 114 to prevent the transportation of the coins from the first coin-supplying unit 111 to the second coin-supplying unit 115. Also, the controlling unit 190 controls the driving of the conveyor belt 115a so that the conveyor belt 115a performs the cyclic shift only for a predetermined time in the opposite direction (i.e., the counterclockwise direction in
The coin depositing mechanism 110 explained above includes the first coin-supplying unit 111 that receives the coins deposited into the coin depositing opening of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and removes the foreign substance mixed with the coin, and the second coin-supplying unit 115 that receives the coins sent from the first coin-supplying unit 111. The second coin-supplying unit 115 applies a force to the coins sent from the first coin-supplying unit 111 to send the coins further to the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130 that functions as the coin feeding unit. With this configuration, the foreign substance included in the coin can be removed and, because the coins are sent to the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130 from two units of the coin-supplying units arranged in tandem, i.e., the first coin-supplying unit 111 and the second coin-supplying unit 115, even if a large number of coins are deposited into the coin depositing opening, the coins can be surely sent to the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130 without the occurrence of troubles such as jamming of the coin.
The loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 according to the present embodiment includes the fitness determining unit 122b (see
Instead of using at least one among the plurality of the storing and feeding mechanisms 150 as the unfit money storing unit, the overflow coin storing unit 180 can be used as the unfit money storing unit. When the overflow coin storing unit 180 is used as the unfit money storing unit, when a coin fed from the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130 is recognized by the recognition unit 122 and the coin is determined to be an unfit coin by the fitness determining unit 122b, the overflow sorting member 123 is operated to send the unfit coin on the endless belt 170p of the dispensing money transporting unit 170 from the deposited money transporting unit 120 via the overflow chute 125. The unfit coin that has been sent on the endless belt 170p of the dispensing money transporting unit 170 via the overflow chute 125 is sent to the overflow coin storing unit 180 by causing the endless belt 170p to perform the cyclic shift in the clockwise direction in
Alternatively, at least one among the plurality of the storing and feeding mechanisms 150 can be used as the unfit money storing unit, and those unfit coins that cannot be stored in the unfit money storing unit because the number of the unfit coins stored in the unfit money storing unit has reached a predetermined capacity can be stored in the overflow coin storing unit 180.
Alternatively, when using at least one among the plurality of the storing and feeding mechanisms 150 as the unfit money storing unit, the controlling unit 190 can be caused to output information to prompt the operator to collect the unfit coins from the unfit money storing unit. The operation and displaying unit 40, the light emitting diodes (LED) 90 and 92, a speaker (not shown), and the like can be used as an output device that outputs such information. Specifically, when this information is received by the operation and displaying unit 40, a message such as “please open the door of the housing and collect the unfit coins stored in the unfit money storing unit” can be displayed on the operation and displaying unit 40. Moreover, a pictorial image indicating the internal configuration of the money changer 10 can be displayed on the operation and displaying unit 40, and the storing and feeding mechanism 150 used as the unfit money storing unit is highlighted by a different color and the like in this pictorial image. As shown in
Moreover, regardless of the above explained methods, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controlling unit 190 can be caused to output the information to prompt the operator to collect the unfit coins from the unfit money storing unit. The predetermined condition includes the following various conditions. For example, the predetermined condition can be a situation that the number of the unfit coins stored in the unfit money storing unit has reached the predetermined capacity. Alternatively, the predetermined condition can be a situation that the total number of banknotes and coins stored in the money changer 10 has reached a predetermined capacity. Alternatively, the predetermined condition can be a situation that an operating time of the money changer 10 has reached a predetermined time.
In the present embodiment, the storing and feeding mechanism 150 or the overflow coin storing unit 180 that is used as the unfit money storing unit can be partitioned into a plurality of coin storing areas, and unfit coins of different denominations can be stored in different coin storing areas. With this configuration, because it is possible to separate the unfit coins depending on their denomination when storing the unfit coins in the unfit money storing unit, it is possible to facilitate the management of the unfit coins. Alternatively, the storing and feeding mechanism 150 or the overflow coin storing unit 180 that is used as the unfit money storing unit can be partitioned into a plurality of coin storing areas; however, whether to store the unfit coins in the partitioned coin storing areas depending on the denomination, or to store the unfit coins in the unfit money storing unit with the denominations mixed, can be set by using a second setting unit 197 (see
As shown in
As explained above, in a configuration in which the returning unit (the reject unit), to which the coin that is determined by the genuineness determining unit 122a of the recognition unit 122 as a counterfeit coin is sent as a reject coin, is arranged near the coin ejection opening 172, the coin that is determined by the fitness determining unit 122b as an unfit coin can also be sent to the same returning unit.
According to the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 explained above, because the unfit coin that is not suitable for circulation in the market can be automatically separated from the fit coin inside the body, and the unfit coin can be stored inside the body of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 (specifically, in the storing and feeding mechanism 150 or the overflow coin storing unit 180 used as the unfit money storing unit), it can be prevented that the unfit coin is ejected outside the body of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100.
The loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 according to the present embodiment includes, as mentioned above, the version determining unit 122c (see
Instead of using at least one among the plurality of the storing and feeding mechanisms 150 as the old version money storing unit, the overflow coin storing unit 180 can be used as the old version money storing unit. In this case, when a coin fed from the accumulating and feeding mechanism 130 is recognized by the recognition unit 122 and the coin is determined to be an old version coin by the version determining unit 122c, the overflow sorting member 123 is operated to send the old version coin on the endless belt 170p of the dispensing money transporting unit 170 from the deposited money transporting unit 120 via the overflow chute 125. The old version coin that has been sent on the endless belt 170p of the dispensing money transporting unit 170 via the overflow chute 125 is sent to the overflow coin storing unit 180 by causing the endless belt 170p to perform the cyclic shift in the clockwise direction in
According to the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 explained above, because the old version coin that is not suitable for circulation in the market can be automatically separated from the new version coin inside the body, and the old version coin can be stored inside the body of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 (specifically, in the storing and feeding mechanism 150 or the overflow coin storing unit 180 used as the old version money storing unit), it can be prevented that the old version coin is ejected outside the body of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100.
Instead of using the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 provided with the fitness determining unit 122b and the version determining unit 122c as a component of the money changer 10, the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 can be used as a separate money depositing and dispensing machine. With this configuration, the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 that is used as the money depositing and dispensing machine can be configured to store inside the body a coin that is determined to be a fit coin by the fitness determining unit 122b and use that stored fit coin as a dispensing coin. In contrast, a coin that is determined to be an unfit coin by the fitness determining unit 122b is stored inside the body but this stored unfit coin is not used as a dispensing coin. Moreover, the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 that is used as the money depositing and dispensing machine can be configured to store inside the body a coin that is determined to be a new version coin by the version determining unit 122c and use that stored new version coin as a dispensing coin. In contrast, a coin that is determined to be an old version coin by the version determining unit 122c is stored inside the body but this stored old version coin is not used as a dispensing coin.
A configuration of the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 included in the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment is explained below by referring to
As shown in
Moreover, a plurality of storing and feeding units 270 is arranged inside the housing 202. The storing and feeding units 270 are connected to the transporting unit 264. Each of the storing and feeding units 270 stores therein banknotes of a particular denomination. More particularly, based on a recognition result obtained in the recognition unit 266, the banknote fed inside the housing 202 by the banknote feeding mechanism 252b is sent to one of the storing and feeding units 270 by the transporting unit 264 based on the denomination of the banknote. Moreover, each of the storing and feeding units 270 can feed the banknotes one by one stored in the storing and feeding unit 270 to the transporting unit 264. Each of the storing and feeding units 270 can be a tape-reel style storing and feeding unit shown in
As shown in
The money dispensing unit 260 is provided with a money dispensing unit shutter 260a. After the banknotes are sent to the money dispensing unit 260, the operator can open the money dispensing unit shutter 260a and take out the banknotes stacked in the money dispensing unit 260. Alternatively, the money dispensing unit shutter 260a can be opened automatically after the money dispensing is completed.
A configuration of the coin-roll ejecting device 300 included in the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment is explained below by referring to
As shown in
As shown in
An angle of inclination of the bottom surface 312 of each of the storing units 310 with respect to the horizontal plane is within a range of 8 degrees to 20 degrees. Moreover, the maximum static friction coefficient of the bottom surface 312 of each of the storing units 310 with respect to the roll of coins is within a range of 0.01 to 0.15. As a result, the rolls of coins that are in contact with the bottom surface 312 among the rolls of coins stored in each of the storing units 310 slide or roll by their weight along the inclined bottom surface 312 toward the ejecting mechanism 319 without being stopped by a frictional force between them and the bottom surface 312.
Each of the storing units 310 includes a pair of side walls that constitutes a storing area for the rolls of coins. As shown in
A first storing area width adjusting member 317 and a second storing area width adjusting member 318 (see
Instead of preparing several types of the storing area width adjusting members 317 and 318 depending on the longitudinal length of the roll of coins, one storing area width adjusting member can be provided in a movable manner in the storing unit 310. With this configuration, the width of the storing area of the storing unit 310 can be changed by moving the storing area width adjusting member in the storing unit 310 along the width direction of the storing unit 310 (i.e., in the direction orthogonally to the paper sheet of
As explained above, each of the storing units 310 includes the ejecting mechanism 319 that ejects the rolls of coins one by one from near the bottom surface 312 that is at a lower level with respect to the vertical direction. A configuration of the ejecting mechanism 319 will be explained below by referring to
As shown in
As shown in
The notches 324 of the rotating member 320 are formed such that, when one of the notches 324 of the rotating member 320 is positioned at a storing position (i.e., a position shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In the present embodiment, several types of the rotating members 320 having the notches 324 of various shapes are prepared previously depending on the diameters of rolls of coins. The rotating member 320 of the ejecting mechanism 319 included in a particular storing unit 310 can be changed depending on the diameter of the rolls of coins that are to be stored in that storing unit 310. More particularly, as shown in
In
In this manner, the several types of the rotating members 320 having the notches 324 of the various shapes are prepared previously depending on the diameters of the rolls of coins, and the rotating member 320 is changed depending on the diameter of the rolls of coins that are to be stored in that storing unit 310. Accordingly, if the denomination of the rolls of coins to be stored in the storing unit 310 of the coin-roll ejecting device 300 is changed, by replacing the rotating member 320 in the ejecting mechanism 319 included in the storing unit 310 having the notches 324 corresponding to the diameter of the new roll of coins, it is possible to easily handle the change of the denomination of the rolls of coins to be stored in the storing unit 310.
In the present embodiment, when replacing the rotating member 320, it is possible to change the entire ejecting mechanism 319 that includes the rotating member 320, the driving unit 321, the later-explained gate member 330, and the like. Alternatively, when replacing the rotating member 320, it is possible to change only the rotating member 320 by independently removing it from the ejecting mechanism 319 that includes the driving unit 321, the later-explained gate member 330, and the like.
Instead of preparing the several types of the rotating members 320 shown in
The gate member 330 is arranged above the rotating member 320. This gate member 330 prevents a situation where the roll of coins stored in the storing unit 310 does not enter into the notches 324 of the rotating member 320 whereby the roll of coins is ejected from above the rotating member 320. That is, as shown in
As shown in
In this manner, the gate member 330 swings around the swing shaft 332 that extends horizontally following the rotation motion of the rotating member 320. Therefore, if a roll of coins stored in the storing unit 310 contacts the gate member 330, that roll of coins is pushed and moved by the gate member 330. As explained above, even if a large number of the rolls of coins have been stored in the storing unit 310 piled-up in several layers, sometimes the rolls of coins cannot move in the storing unit 310 depending on a storing state of the rolls of coins in the storing unit 310, and a roll of coins may not be sent in any of the notches 324 although the notches 324 of the rotating member 320 are empty. In contrast, in the present embodiment, a roll of coins that contacts the gate member 330 is pushed and moved by the gate member 330 whereby the positions of the rolls of coins in the storing unit 310 are also changed. Accordingly, because the rolls of coins are stirred and moved in the storing unit 310, the rolls of coins can be sent to the notches 324 of the rotating member 320. As shown in
However, depending on the storing state of the rolls of coins in the storing unit 310, when a roll of coins stored in the storing unit 310 is in contact with the gate member 330, the roll of coins that is pushed and moved by the gate member 330, and the other rolls of coins in the storing unit 310 may not smoothly move inside the storing unit 310 even if the gate member 330 is swung. For example, if the rolls of coins in the storing unit 310 are in a state shown in
In
It is not necessary that the mounting member mounted on the gate member 330 has the same shape as that of the mounting member 334 shown in
The configuration of the ejecting mechanism 319 is not limited to the one in which the mounting member 334 or the mounting member 336 is mounted on the gate member 330. Other configuration is allowable as long as, when the gate member 330 swings around the swing shaft 332 following the rotation motion of the rotating member 320, the roll of coins that is in contact with the gate member 330 among the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit 310 are pushed and moved unevenly along the longitudinal direction of the roll of coins by the gate member 330. Specifically, as shown in
As another variation of the configuration of the ejecting mechanism 319, as shown in
Another variation of the configuration of the gate member 330 is shown in
The configuration of the gate member 330 is not limited to those explained above. Any other configuration can be employed as long as the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit 310 can be pushed and moved unevenly along the longitudinal direction of the rolls of coins. Moreover, the structure to collapse the rolls of coins that have formed the bridge between the bottom surface 312 of the storing unit 310 and the gate member 330 by unevenly pushing and moving the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit 310 along the longitudinal direction of the rolls of coins is not limited to the gate member 330. It is allowable to unevenly push and move the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit 310 along the longitudinal direction of the rolls of coins with a structure other than the gate member 330.
Moreover, the gate member 330 of the various variation explained above unevenly pushes and moves the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit 310 along the longitudinal direction of the rolls of coins with a structure other than the gate member 330 with an object to collapse the rolls of coins that have formed the bridge between the bottom surface 312 of the storing unit 310 and the gate member 330. However, when the gate member 330 performs this operation, an effect is achieved that it is possible to prevent that the rolls of coins form a bridge between the bottom surface 312 of the storing unit 310 and the gate member 330.
An operation performed by the ejecting mechanism 319, having the configuration shown in
The lifting unit 380 is movable up and down, as shown with an arrow in
A driving unit 372 that drives the lifting unit 380 up and down is arranged below the coin-roll ejecting device 300. A power source harness 374 is connected to the driving unit 372. Electric power is supplied to the driving unit 372 of the coin-roll ejecting device 300 from other devices in the money changer 10 via the power source harness 374. When the coin-roll ejecting device 300 is to be operated as a separate device, instead of connecting the power source harness 374 to the driving unit 372, a power source 376 shown with a two-dot chain line in
In the present embodiment, a housing door 304 (see
In another alternative of the coin-roll ejecting device 300, instead of pulling the storing units 310 and the lifting unit 380 from the housing 302 integrally after opening the housing door 304, the storing units 310 can be pulled from the housing 302 separately from the lifting unit 380. In this configuration, when pulling the storing units 310 from the housing 302 after opening the housing door 304, the lifting unit 380 is configured to be evacuated to a position in which the lifting unit 380 does not hinder the pulling operation of the storing units 310 in the vertical direction.
The housing door 304 can be arranged on a side surface instead of the front surface or the back surface of the housing 302. In this configuration, when replenishing the rolls of coins in the storing unit 310 or taking out the rolls of coins from the storing unit 310, the housing door 304 is opened first, and then the side wall constituting the door 314 (see
How the rotation of the rotating member 320 of the ejecting mechanisms 319 by the driving unit 321 and the like is controlled by the controlling unit 370 included in the coin-roll ejecting device 300 is explained below.
In the present embodiment, as explained above, in each of the ejecting mechanism 319, the driving unit 321 can rotate the rotating member 320 in both of the forward direction and the reverse direction. The forward direction (i.e., the counterclockwise direction in
More specifically, when causing the ejecting mechanism 319 to eject the roll of coins from the storing unit 310 by rotating the rotating member 320 in the forward direction, if the ejected coin-roll detecting unit 384 detects that the rolls of coins of a predetermined number have been ejected by the rotating member 320 and if the rotating position detecting unit 350 detects that the rotating member 320 is positioned in a first predetermined position, the controlling unit 370 rotates the rotating member 320 in the reverse direction. The first predetermined position refers to a position at which, after the rolls of coins of the predetermined number are ejected from the rotating member 320, a roll of coins remains in one of the notches 324 of the rotating member 320, and specifically, it is the position shown in
When causing the ejecting mechanism 319 to eject the roll of coins from the storing unit 310 by rotating the rotating member 320 in the forward direction, if the rotating position detecting unit 350 detects that the rotating member 320 is not positioned in the first predetermined position (see
The controlling unit 370 judges, based on the rotating position of the rotating member 320 detected by the rotating position detecting unit 350 and the detection information obtained in the ejected coin-roll detecting unit 384, whether an ejection defect that a roll of coins cannot be ejected normally from the storing unit 310 has occurred. When number of times that the ejection defect occurred in one of a predetermined time, predetermined ejection cycles, a predetermined ejection number exceeds a predetermined number, the controlling unit 370 causes the driving unit 321 to adjust the rotating speed of the rotating member 320 to reduce the rotating speed of the rotating member 320. In this manner, if the ejection defect occurs frequently in the ejecting mechanism 319, the controlling unit 370 performs a management to decrease the frequency of occurrence of the ejection defect in the ejecting mechanism 319 by reducing the rotating speed of the rotating member 320.
As explained above, the coin-roll ejecting device 300 according to the present embodiment includes the storing units 310 having the bottom surface 312 that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane to store thereon a plurality of the rolls of coins in a piled-up manner that accumulate by rolling in the direction of inclination of the bottom surface 312, the storing unit 310 having the ejecting mechanism 319 that ejects the rolls of coins one by one from near the side of the bottom surface 312 that is at the lower level with respect to the vertical direction; and the lifting unit 380 that includes the coin-roll storing member 382 that accommodates therein the roll of coins ejected by the ejecting mechanism 319 from the storing unit 310 and that is movable in the vertical direction. In this manner, because a plurality of the rolls of coins is stored in the storing unit 310 in a piled-up manner, and the rolls of coins stored in the storing unit 310 are ejected from the storing unit 310 by the ejecting mechanism 319 and accommodated in the coin-roll storing member 382 of the lifting unit 380, the coin-roll ejecting device 300 can have a large capacity, a compact configuration, good operability, and improved stability of the operation to eject a roll of coins from the storing unit 310.
In the coin-roll ejecting device 300 according to the present embodiment, the ejected coin-roll detecting unit 384 that detects the roll of coins ejected from the storing unit 310 is provided. Moreover, the ejecting mechanism 319 includes the rotating member 320 that rotates around the rotation axis 322 that extends horizontally and orthogonally to the direction of inclination of the storing unit 310 and having at least two notches 324 each receiving one roll of coins stored in the storing unit 310, the driving unit 321 that rotates the rotating member 310 around the rotation axis 322, and the rotating position detecting unit 350 that detects the rotating position of the rotating member 320. Because the rotating position detecting unit 350 that detects the rotating position of the rotating member 320 is provided, when a roll of coins remains in the notch 324 of the rotating member 320 when the predetermined number of the rolls of coins are ejected by the rotating member 320 from the storing unit 310, the roll of coins in the notch 324 of the rotating member 320 can be returned to the storing unit 310 by rotating the rotating member 320 by the driving unit 321 based on the rotating position of the rotating member 320 detected by the rotating position detecting unit 350.
Moreover, according to the coin-roll ejecting device 300 of the present embodiment having the above configuration, several types of the rotating members 320 having the notches 324 of various shapes are prepared previously depending on diameters of the rolls of coins, and the rotating member 320 is replaced depending on a diameter of the roll of coins stored in the storing unit 310. Accordingly, even if the denomination of the rolls of coins to be stored in the storing unit 310 of the coin-roll ejecting device 300 is changed, by replacing the rotating member 320 of the ejecting mechanism 319 included in the storing unit 310 having the notches 324 corresponding to the diameter of the new rolls of coins, it is possible to easily cope with the change of the denomination of the rolls of coins to be stored in the storing unit 310.
The storing unit 310 has a pair of side walls that constitute a storing area for rolls of coins therebetween. The first storing area width adjusting member 317 and the second storing area width adjusting member 318 for adjusting a width of the storing area of the storing unit 310 are detachably attached to at least one of the pair of the side walls of the storing unit 310. Several types of the storing area width adjusting members 317 and 318 are prepared beforehand depending on the longitudinal length of the roll of coins. The width of the storing area of the storing unit 310 can be changed by attaching an appropriate one of the storing area width adjusting members 317 and 318 to the side wall. With this configuration, if the denomination of the rolls of coins to be stored in the storing unit 310 of the coin-roll ejecting device 300 is changed, the width of the storing area can be appropriately adjusted by replacing the storing area width adjusting members 317 and 318 attached to the side wall of the storing unit 310 so that the rolls of coins of the changed denomination can be stored in the storing area of the storing unit 310. Accordingly, it is possible to easily cope with the change of the denomination of the rolls of coins to be stored in the storing unit 310.
In the coin-roll ejecting device 300 shown in
In the coin-roll ejecting device 300a shown in
Even in the coin-roll ejecting device 300a shown in
In
In this manner, the several types of the rotating members 360 having the notches 364 of the various shapes are prepared previously depending on the diameters of the rolls of coins, and the rotating member 360 is replaced depending on the diameter of the rolls of coins that are stored in that storing unit 310. Accordingly, even if the denomination of the rolls of coins to be stored in the storing unit 310 of the coin-roll ejecting device 300a is changed, by replacing the rotating member 360 in the ejecting mechanism 319a included in the storing unit 310 having the notches 364 corresponding to the diameter of the new rolls of coins, it is possible to easily handle the change of the denomination of the rolls of coins to be stored in the storing unit 310.
In the coin-roll ejecting devices 300 and 300a shown in
A money change process performed by the money changer 10 having the above configuration is explained below. At first, a detailed configuration of the controlling device 20 that performs the money change process is explained by referring to
As shown in
In the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment, the controlling unit 22 can switch between whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 before depositing money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 after depositing money. Moreover, as shown in
A process procedure in a situation in which the setting specified by the denomination specification timing setting unit 26 is to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 before depositing money is explained by using a flowchart shown in
Next, a process procedure in a situation in which the setting specified by the denomination specification timing setting unit 26 is to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 after depositing money is explained by using a flowchart shown in
Next, a process procedure in a situation in which the denomination specification timing setting unit 26 performs the setting relating to whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 before depositing money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 after depositing money for each of the money change process is explained by using a flowchart shown in
In this manner, in the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment, the controlling unit 22 can switch between whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 before depositing money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 after depositing money. As a result, in comparison with the conventional money changer in which a timing for specifying the denomination of the money to be dispensed is fixed to either before or after the deposition of money, because it is possible to adapt to sudden changes in circumstances depending on the requirement of the customer without altering a program of the controlling device 20 of the money changer 10, the convenience of the operator is improved as this offers great flexibility.
When performing the money change process in the money changer 10, the operator can be allowed to select, by using the operation and displaying unit 40, whether to perform the ordinary money change process or the reverse money change process. In the ordinary money change process, a denomination of the dispensed money has a lower value than a denomination of the deposited money. In the reverse money change process, a denomination of the dispensed money has a higher value than a denomination of the deposited money. In this case, for each of the ordinary money change process and the reverse money change process selected as the type of the money change process by the operator by using the operation and displaying unit 40, the denomination specification timing setting unit 26 can perform the setting of whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 before depositing money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 after depositing money.
Moreover, as another variation of the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment, based on the type of the money change process (the ordinary money change process or the reverse money change process) selected by the operator by using the operation and displaying unit 40, the controlling unit 22 can automatically perform the setting of whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 before depositing money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 after depositing money. Specifically, for example, when the type of the money change process selected by the operator by using the operation and displaying unit 40 is the ordinary money change process, the controlling unit 22 provides a control to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 before depositing money. In contrast, when the type of the money change process selected by the operator by using the operation and displaying unit 40 is the reverse money change process, the controlling unit 22 provides a control to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 after depositing money. As an example of a situation in which the operator may select the ordinary money change process as the type of the money change process by using the operation and displaying unit 40, a situation in which the operator knows the amount of the money to be deposited or the denomination of the money to be dispensed can be considered. In this case, because the operator can earlier specify the denomination of the money to be dispensed, for example, the money changer 10 can automatically calculate the amount of money to be deposited so that the money change process can be simplify as the operator need not perform the calculation by himself. On the other hand, as an example of a situation in which the operator may select the reverse money change process as the type of the money change process by using the operation and displaying unit 40, a situation in which the operator would like to change a large number of coins owned by him into banknotes can be considered. In such an instance, the operator often does not know the total amount of the large number of coins owned by him. Therefore, before specifying the denomination of the banknotes to be dispensed, it may be desirable for the operator to deposit the large number of coins in the money changer 10 and ensure the total amount of the coins, and then specify the denomination of the banknotes that is appropriate to the total amount of the coins. Accordingly, by changing the timing of specifying the denomination of the money to be dispensed depending on whether it is the ordinary money change process or the reverse money change process, the convenience of the operator of the money changer 10 can be improved.
As another variation of the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment, while the money changer 10 is in a standby state, or when beginning the money change process, it may be allowable to accept both of an operation of depositing money and an operation of specifying a denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24. In this case, when the operation of depositing money is accepted earlier, the controlling unit 22 performs the control of specifying the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 after the money is deposited. On the other hand, when the operation of specifying a denomination of the money by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 is accepted earlier, the controlling unit 22 performs the control of specifying the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 before the money is deposited. In this manner, depending on whether it is the operation of depositing money or the operation of specifying a denomination of the money to be dispensed, because whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 before depositing money or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 after depositing money can be changed automatically, the convenience of the operator is improved. Moreover, because it is not necessary to select the timing of specifying the denomination of the money to be dispensed, the money change processing steps performed by the operator can be reduced.
In the above embodiments, it is allowable to provide a dispensing money-number specifying unit that specifies, when changing the total amount of the deposited money into the money of the denomination specified by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24, the number of money to be dispensed as the changed money. Moreover, it is allowable to specify a plurality of denominations by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24, and for each of the denominations, specify the number of money to be dispensed by the dispensing money-number specifying unit.
When the denomination is not specified by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24, it is allowable to form a denomination combination that minimizes the number of money to be dispensed, or to dispense the money of a previously set denomination combination. In the money change process, when money is dispensed in the denomination combination that minimizes the number of money that should be dispensed, because the number of dispensed banknotes, coins, and rolls of coins can be minimized, effective use of the cash in the money changer 10 is enabled, and the convenience of the operator is improved.
Moreover, it is allowable to set the precedence of the denomination of the money to be dispensed when the denomination is not specified by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24. In this case, by increasing the priority of the denomination of money having less frequency of dispensing in the money change process in the money changer 10, the time before a money quantity in the money storing units in the money changer 10 that store therein the money to be dispensed per denomination becomes empty (empty state) or near empty can be lengthened, the cash in the money changer 10 can be managed effectively depending on the practical use, and the frequency of replenishing the money to the money changer 10 can be reduced.
As shown in
As another variation of the money changer 10 in the present embodiment, in the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24, it is allowable to configure so that the denomination can be specified each of before depositing money and after having depositing the money. In this case, because it is possible to specify the denomination each of before depositing money and after having deposited the money, the convenience of the operator is improved as this offers great flexibility on the money changer 10.
In the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment, when performing the reverse money change process, when the denomination is not specified by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24, it is allowable to form a denomination combination that minimizes the number of money to be dispensed. Specifically, when performing the reverse money change process in the money changer 10, as shown in the flowchart of
In the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment, when a denomination of the money deposited in the money change process is a previously set denomination, it is allowable to perform management that makes it possible to return the deposited money outside of the body without performing the money change process. With this configuration, it can be prevented that the storing and feeding unit 270 of the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 soon becomes full when, for example, the banknotes of a denomination of a small amount are deposited in a large number in the money change process. Moreover, when a denomination of the money deposited in the money change process is a previously set denomination, it is allowable to limit the amount and the number of the money of that denomination to be deposited in the money change process. With this configuration, it can be prevented that the storing and feeding unit 270 of the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 soon becomes full when, for example, the banknotes of a denomination of a large amount are deposited in a large number in the money change process.
In the present invention, it is allowable that the money changer accepts deposition of valuable media, such as a check and a gift coupon, apart from the money. In this case, the money changer can be provided with a valuable media storing unit that stores therein the deposited valuable media. Moreover, the controlling unit 22 can switch between whether to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 before depositing the valuable media or to specify the denomination by the dispensing money denomination specifying unit 24 after depositing the valuable media.
As shown in
An example of the relation between the light colors and the light display patterns of the light emitting diodes 90 and 92 and the states of the money changer 10 is shown in a table shown in
The various means for detecting the state of the money changer 10 are explained below. As shown in
The empty-state detecting unit 36 detects whether the money quantity of the money storing unit, such as the storing and feeding mechanism 150, the storing and feeding unit 270, the storing unit 310, and the like, that stores therein the money that should be dispensed according to a denomination is in the empty state. The state of the money changer 10 that should be notified of by the light emitting diodes 90 and 92 as the state notifying unit includes a state in which at least one of the money storing units is detected to be in the empty state by the empty-state detecting unit 36. Moreover, the near empty-state detecting unit 38 detects whether the money storing unit is in the near empty state in which the money quantity in the money storing unit is more by the predetermined quantity for the same for the empty state. The state of the money changer 10 that should be notified of by the light emitting diodes 90 and 92 as the state notifying unit includes a state in which at least one of the money storing units is detected to be in the near empty state by the near empty-state detecting unit 38.
In the money changer 10 having the above configuration, because the attendant and the like of the financial institution can watch from a place separated from the money changer 10 the light color and the light display pattern of the light emitting diodes 90 and 92 as the state notifying unit provided to the money changer 10, the state of the money changer 10 can be recognized easily, and it becomes possible to cope immediately when errors such as an abnormality occurs in the money changer 10.
In the present embodiment, when the full-state detecting unit 32 detects that the money storing unit that stores therein the deposited money according to the denomination is in the full state, when the empty-state detecting unit 36 detects the money quantity of the money storing unit that stores therein the money that should be dispensed according to the denomination is in the empty state, and the like, it is allowable to perform management so that one of the ordinary money change process and the reverse money change process cannot be performed in the money changer 10. With this configuration, because it is prevented that the money changer 10 stops completely, the convenience of the operator is improved, and the operation availability of the money changer 10 can be increased.
The present embodiment is not limited to a configuration in which a combination of the light color and the light display pattern of the light emitting diodes 90 and 92 are previously mapped with the various states of the money changer 10. As a variation of the present embodiment, it is allowable that only the light colors of the light emitting diodes 90 and 92 are mapped with the various states of the money changer 10, and the light emitting diodes 90 and 92 display a state in which the money changer 10 is among the plurality of the preset states by displaying only the light color corresponding to that state. As another variation of the present embodiment, it is allowable that only the light display patterns from among light off, light on, and blinking of the light emitting diodes 90 and 92 are mapped with the various states of the money changer 10, and the light emitting diodes 90 and 92 display a state in which the money changer 10 is among the plurality of the preset states by displaying only the light display pattern corresponding to that state.
As the state notifying unit that notifies the state of the money changer 10 to the outside, it is allowable to use a structure in which a plurality of light emitting diodes is arranged in a series. With this configuration, as a light display pattern emitted by the state notifying unit, in addition to light off, light on, and blinking, it is allowable to set a wavy blinking pattern in which a plurality of the light emitting diodes are turned on sequentially only for a predetermined time.
In the example shown in the table shown in
The light emitting diodes as the state notifying unit are not limited to the light emitting diodes that are arranged on the left and right sides on the upper part of the upper door 14 arranged on the front surface of the outer housing 12 of the money changer 10. As another example, as the state notifying unit, only one light emitting diode can be arranged in the upper part of the outer housing 12 of the money changer 10.
The state notifying unit can include, in addition to the light emitting diodes, a light emitting device other than a light emitting diode. Specifically, such a light emitting device can be, for example, a fluorescent light panel and the like. This light emitting device can be used to notify to the outside of a state in which the money changer 10 is among the plurality of the preset states by a light display. Alternatively, the state notifying unit can be a light emitting device other than a light emitting diode. This light emitting device can be used to notify to the outside of a state in which the money changer 10 is among the plurality of the preset states by a light display.
The state notifying unit can use sound in addition to using a light display to notify of a state in which the money changer 10 is among the plurality of the preset states.
One state notifying unit can be provided corresponding to each of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100, the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200, and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 of the money changer 10. Each of the state notifying units can be used to notify of a state in which the corresponding one of the devices 100, 200, 300 is among the plurality of the preset states by a light display.
As explained above, the money changer 10 includes the outer housing 12 of a substantially cuboidal shape, and inside the outer housing 12 are provided, side-by-side in a lateral direction, the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100, the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200, and the coin-roll ejecting device 300. The loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 constitutes the banknote processing system 50 that performs the money deposition process and the money dispensing process of banknotes. Moreover, the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 constitute the coin processing system 60 that performs the money deposition process and the money dispensing process of coins. Furthermore, each of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100, the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200, and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 can be pulled horizontally and away from the outer housing 12 to remove them independently from the inside of the outer housing 12.
In the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment, even if one between the banknote processing system 50 and the coin processing system 60 does not exist, or even if one between the banknote processing system 50 and the coin processing system 60 does not function, it is possible to perform the money change process. More specifically, in the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment, even if one between the banknote processing system 50 and the coin processing system 60 does not exist, or even if one between the banknote processing system 50 and the coin processing system 60 does not function, it is possible to perform the ordinary money change process or the reverse money change process. In the ordinary money change process, a denomination of the dispensed money has a lower value than a denomination of the deposited money. In the reverse money change process, a denomination of the dispensed money has a higher value than a denomination of the deposited money.
“One between the banknote processing system 50 and the coin processing system 60 does not exist” refers to a state in which the banknote processing system 50 or the coin processing system 60 is not accommodated in the outer housing 12. “One between the banknote processing system 50 and the coin processing system 60 does not function” refers to a state in which the banknote processing system 50 and the coin processing system 60 are accommodated in the outer housing 12 but one of them is not working. In the above states, to prevent an operator from depositing money by mistake, it is desirable to close a depositing opening or a dispensing opening, or both of the depositing opening and the dispensing opening, by using respective covers so that they do not function. Moreover, as shown in
According to the money changer 10 having such a configuration, at the time of installing the money changer 10 (i.e., setting the money changer 10 in the lobby of the financial institution and the like), it is possible to accommodate in the outer housing 12 only a minimum number of systems between the banknote processing system 50 and the coin processing system 60, and to allow only a minimum number of systems to function. Moreover, depending on the requirement of the financial institution and the like in which the money changer 10 has been installed, it is possible to add other system or cause the existing system to function. With this configuration, the management that improves the convenience of the money changer 10 can be performed, and the initial costs and the like at the time of installing the money changer 10 can be reduced.
The money changer 10 in which, even if one between the banknote processing system 50 and the coin processing system 60 does not exist, or even if one between the banknote processing system 50 and the coin processing system 60 does not function, it is possible to perform the money change process is explained above; however, the present embodiment is not limited to this money changer 10. As a variation of the money changer 10 according to the present embodiment, even if one between the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100, the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200, and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 does not exist, or even if one between the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100, the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200, and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 does not function, it is allowable to configure so that a money change process can be performed. Furthermore, even if one between the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 does not exist, or even if one between the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 does not function, it is allowable to configure so that a money change process can be performed.
In doing so, at the time of installing and the like of the money changer 10, it is particularly preferable that the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 among the three devices 100, 200, 300 are accommodated in the outer housing 12 and that the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 are functioning, or the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 among the three devices 100, 200, 300 are accommodated in the outer housing 12 and that the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 are functioning. In other words, it is preferable that the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 that constitutes the banknote processing system 50 is always accommodated in the outer housing 12 and that the banknote processing system 50 is functioning. In this case, it is possible to remove the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 or the coin-roll ejecting device 300 from the outer housing 12 or to cause them not to function. Moreover, in this case, the money change process can be performed between banknotes and coins in the money changer 10. That is, even if the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 does not exist or does not function in the money changer 10, but if the coin-roll ejecting device 300 exists and functions, a money change process in which loose banknotes are deposited in the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and a roll of coins having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose banknotes is dispensed from the coin-roll ejecting device 300 can be performed. Moreover, even if the coin-roll ejecting device 300 does not exist or does not function, but if the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 exists and functions, a money change process in which loose banknotes are deposited in the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and loose coins having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose banknotes are dispensed from the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100, or a money change process in which loose coins are deposited in the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and loose banknotes having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose coins are dispensed from the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 can be performed.
In the money changer 10, it is allowable to configure so that the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 performs only the money dispensing process of the loose coins, and the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 performs only the money deposition process of the loose banknotes. Even in this case, at least a money change process in which loose banknotes are deposited in the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and loose coins or a roll of coins having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose banknotes are dispensed from the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 or the coin-roll ejecting device 300 can be performed.
As a variation of the money changer 10, it is possible to configure so that the money change process can be performed even if the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 does not exist, or the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 does not function. That is, even if the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 does not exist or does not function, but if the coin-roll ejecting device 300 exists and functions, a money change process in which loose coins are deposited in the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and a roll of coins having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose coins is dispensed from the coin-roll ejecting device 300 can be performed.
In the money changer 10 it is allowable to configure so that the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 performs only the money deposition process of the loose coins, and the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 performs only the money dispensing process of the loose banknotes. Even in this case, at least a money change process in which loose coins are deposited in the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and loose banknotes or a roll of coins having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose coins are dispensed from the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 or the coin-roll ejecting device 300 can be performed.
At the time of installing and the like of the money changer 10, it is possible to configure so that only the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 among the three devices 100, 200, 300 is accommodated in the outer housing 12 and that the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 is functioning, and to remove the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 from the outer housing 12 or to cause them not to function. Even in this money changer 10, it is possible to perform the money change process between the banknotes by the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200. Moreover, in this case, depending on the requirement of the financial institution and the like in which the money changer 10 has been installed, it is possible to add the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 or the coin-roll ejecting device 300 or to cause them to function. Furthermore, at the time of installing and the like of the money changer 10, it is possible to configure so that only the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 among the three devices 100, 200, 300 is accommodated in the outer housing 12 and that the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 is functioning, and to remove the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 from the outer housing 12 or to cause them not to function. Even in this money changer 10, it is possible to perform the money change process between the coins by the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100. Moreover, in this case, depending on the requirement of the financial institution and the like in which the money changer 10 has been installed, it is possible to add the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 or the coin-roll ejecting device 300 or to cause them to function.
As another variation, as shown in
Even in the money changer 10a shown in
Alternatively, in the money changer 10a shown in
At the time of installing and the like of the money changer 10a shown in
As a variation of the money changer 10a, it is possible to configure so that even if the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 does not exist or the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 is not functioning, a money change process can be performed in the money changer 10a. That is, in the money changer 10a, even if the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 does not exist or does not function, a money change process in which loose banknotes are deposited in the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and a roll of coins or a banknote bundle having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose banknotes are dispensed from the coin-roll ejecting device 300 or the banknote-bundle ejecting device 400 can be performed.
As a variation of the money changer 10a, it is possible to configure so that even if the coin-roll ejecting device 300 does not exist or the coin-roll ejecting device 300 is not functioning, a money change process can be performed in the money changer 10a. That is, in the money changer 10a, even if the coin-roll ejecting device 300 does not exist or does not function, a money change process in which loose coins or loose banknotes are deposited in the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 or the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and a banknote bundle having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose coins or loose banknotes is dispensed from the banknote-bundle ejecting device 400 can be performed.
As a variation of the money changer 10a, it is possible to configure so that even if the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 do not exist or the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 are not functioning, a money change process can be performed in the money changer 10a. That is, in the money changer 10a, even if the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 do not exist or do not function, a money change process in which loose banknotes are deposited in the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and a banknote bundle having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose banknotes is dispensed from the banknote-bundle ejecting device 400 can be performed.
As a variation of the money changer 10a, it is possible to configure so that even if the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 do not exist or the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 are not functioning, a money change process can be performed in the money changer 10a. That is, in the money changer 10a, even if the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and the coin-roll ejecting device 300 do not exist or do not function, a money change process in which loose coins are deposited in the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 and a banknote bundle having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose coins is dispensed from the banknote-bundle ejecting device 400 can be performed.
In the money changer 10a, it is possible to configure so that the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 can perform only one of the money deposition process and the money dispensing process with respect to the loose coins, or to configure so that the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 can perform only one of the money deposition process and the money dispensing process with respect to the loose banknotes. Even in this case, for example, a money change process in which loose banknotes are deposited in the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200 and loose coins or a banknote bundle having a different denomination but the same total amount as the deposited loose banknotes are dispensed from the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100 or the banknote-bundle ejecting device 400 can be performed.
In the above explanation, with respect to the money changer 10 provided with three devices of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100, the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200, and the coin-roll ejecting device 300, or with respect to the money changer 10a provided with four devices of the loose-coin depositing and dispensing device 100, the loose-banknote depositing and dispensing device 200, the coin-roll ejecting device 300, and the banknote-bundle ejecting device 400, various variations in which a money change process can be performed even if one of the processing systems 50 and 60 or some of the devices 100, 200, 300, and 400 do not exist or do not function are explained. However, these variations are only exemplary. That is, in the present embodiment, various variations of the money changer that incorporate the configuration of the money changer described in the claim of the present patent application can be used.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2013-250972 | Dec 2013 | JP | national |
2013-250973 | Dec 2013 | JP | national |
2014-092407 | Apr 2014 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2014/081828 filed on Dec. 2, 2014, which claims the benefit of JP2013-250972 filed on Dec. 4, 2013; JP2013-250973 filed on Dec. 4, 2013; and JP2014-092407 filed on Apr. 28, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2014/081828 | Dec 2014 | US |
Child | 15172220 | US |