Coin sorter

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6698568
  • Patent Number
    6,698,568
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, April 23, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 2, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A coin sorter, wherein three distributing levers (30, 42, 150) are connected to each other through a link means (202) so that the number of the driving means thereof is not increased even when the number of the distributing lever is increased and driven interlockingly with each other by a single solenoid (201) operating one of the three distributing levers (30, 42, 150).
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




The present invention relates to a coin processing apparatus used in an apparatus such as an automatic vending machine, money changing machine or service machine, that sorts and stores inserted coins according to denomination, and that pays out the sorted and stored coins as change, and more particularly, to an improvement regarding a coin sorter that can determine whether inserted coins are genuine or not and can sort genuine coins according to denomination.




BACKGROUND ART




Apparatus such as an automatic vending machine, money changing machine or service machine currently in use has been provided with A coin processing apparatus that sorts and stores inserted coins according to denomination and pays out the sorted and stored coins as change.




This coin processing apparatus generally comprises four components:




(1) A housing constituting the apparatus main body of the coin processing apparatus;




(2) A coin sorter, located at the top of this housing, that determines whether inserted coins are genuine or false and sorts the genuine coins according to denomination;




(3) A coin storage unit, located inside the housing and below the coin sorter, that comprises a plurality of coin tubes that accumulate and store according to denomination genuine coins that were sorted by denomination; and




(4) A coin payout unit, located inside the housing and below the coin storage unit, that pays as change the genuine coins stored inside the coin storage unit.




Meanwhile, in an automatic vending machine in which is installed a coin processing apparatus having the above construction, where a product purchaser terminates the product purchase for some reason after inserting the coins that were to pay for the intended product and wants the coins to be returned, the purchaser operates A coin return lever located on the automatic vending machine.




When this is done, because an amount of coins equal to the amount of money inserted is returned to the coin return outlet, the product purchaser who desires the return of the inserted coins can collect the coins that were returned to the coin return outlet.




Incidentally, in the generally-used coin processing apparatus described above, this coin return processing is based on the operation of a coin return lever, and is carried out through payment by the coin payout unit of coins equal in amount to the coins inserted, such payment being made from the coin storage unit to the coin return outlet.




In other words, in the generally-used coin processing apparatus, where coin return processing is carried out, the coins paid out to the coin return outlet are not the same coins that were inserted by the product purchaser. Instead, coins equal in amount to the coins inserted are paid out to the coin return outlet from among the genuine coins previously stored in the coin storage unit.




In this way, in the conventional coin processing apparatus, where inserted coins are to be returned, the coins that were actually inserted are not paid out, and instead coins equal in amount to the coins inserted are paid out to the coin return outlet from among the genuine coins previously stored in the coin storage unit. Therefore, if someone inserts into the coin processing apparatus counterfeit coins (false coin) that are realistic enough to be deemed genuine by the coin sorter and then operates the coin return lever without purchasing a product, genuine coins in an amount equal to the amount inserted are paid out even though the coins inserted were counterfeit, and as a result, the so-called coin switching phenomenon occurs.




In order to prevent such coin switching, a so-called same-coin return-type coin processing apparatus has been proposed in the conventional art, such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-288480, in which a coin sorter installed in the apparatus includes a coin retaining lever located at the downstream end of each individual coin route to which are connected a plurality of denomination distributing levers that distribute by denomination coins that are determined to be genuine, i.e., at the downstream end of each coin route into which coins are ultimately sorted and guided by denomination. When inserted coins are temporarily retained inside the coin routes by the coin retaining levers and if the coin return lever is operated without a product being purchased, the hold on the inserted coins being retained temporarily in the coin routes by the coin retaining levers is cancelled, and the inserted coins themselves are paid out to the coin return outlet.




According to the same-coin return-type coin processing apparatus with a coin sorter disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-288480, where the coin return lever is operated and coins are to be returned, because the coins that were actually inserted are paid out, even where counterfeit coins (false coin) that are realistic enough to be deemed genuine by the coin sorter are inserted, the inserted coins (false coin) themselves are paid out to the coin return outlet. As a result the occurrence of the coin switching phenomenon is eliminated to the maximum possible extent.




In addition to the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-288480, the conventional art also includes a same-coin return-type coin processing apparatus that includes a coin sorter wherein, when a plurality of high-value coins (a 500-yen coin and a 100-yen coin, for example) are retained temporarily in their coin routes in accordance with the length thereof and the return lever is operated without a product purchase, the temporarily retained multiple coins are returned as a group to the coin return outlet.




Incidentally, the conventional coin sorters used in the same-coin return-type coin processing apparatuses described above entail the problem that, because it is necessary to add coin retaining levers to the conventional mechanism, as well as new coin distributing levers to distribute coins temporarily retained by the coin retaining levers into the storage compartment, the coin storage unit or the coin return outlet, new driving means each comprising a solenoid to drive these coin distributing levers must be added accordingly, which increases the number of parts and makes the control needed for driving the solenoids even more complex.




The present invention was created with the foregoing in view, and an object thereof is to provide a coin sorter in which the number of driving means need not be increased even where the number of denomination distributing levers is increased.




DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION




According to the present invention, a coin sorter comprising coin discrimination means for determining whether inserted coins are genuine or false and types of genuine coins, and a plurality of distributing levers for distributing coins determined as genuine into respective coin routes according to denomination, is characterised in that three distributing levers among the plurality of distributing levers are linked by link means, and the three linked levers are driven in an interlocking fashion via the link means using a single solenoid that drives one of the three linked levers.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a schematic front elevation of the coin sorter according to the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a schematic front elevation showing the operation of the coin sorter according to the present invention;





FIG. 3

is an schematic perspective view showing the main portion of the operation of a first denomination distributing lever;





FIG. 4

is an schematic perspective view showing the main portion of the operation of the first denomination distributing lever;





FIG. 5

is a drawing showing the temporary retaining of an A-type coin;





FIG. 6

is a view showing the temporary retaining of a C-type coin;





FIG. 7

is a schematic cross-section of the representation shown in

FIG. 5

cut along the F—F line and showing the main portion thereof;





FIG. 8

is a schematic cross-section of the representation shown in

FIG. 6

cut along the G—G line and showing the main portion thereof;





FIG. 9

is a schematic cross-section showing the operation of a second coin retaining means;





FIG. 10

is a schematic cross-section showing the operation of the first coin retaining means;





FIG. 11

is a schematic cross-section showing the operation of the second coin retaining means;





FIG. 12

is a schematic cross-section showing the operation of the first coin retaining means;





FIG. 13

is a schematic cross-section showing the operation of the first coin retaining means;





FIG. 14

is a schematic cross-section showing the operation of the first coin retaining means;





FIG. 15

is a schematic cross-section showing the operation of the second coin retaining means;





FIG. 16

is a schematic cross-section showing the operation of the second coin retaining means;





FIG. 17

is a schematic perspective view of link means according to the present invention;





FIG. 18

is a schematic perspective view showing the operation of the link means;





FIG. 19

is a schematic perspective view showing the operation of another link means;





FIG. 20

is schematic front elevation of the coin sorter showing the temporary retaining of A-type coins;





FIG. 21

is a schematic cross-section showing the process by which the temporary retaining of the A-type coin is cancelled;





FIG. 22

is a schematic cross-section showing the process by which the temporary retaining of the A-type coin is cancelled;





FIG. 23

is schematic front elevation of the coin sorter showing the temporary retaining of C-type coins;





FIG. 24

is a schematic cross-section showing the process by which the temporary retaining of the C-type coin is cancelled;





FIG. 25

is a schematic cross-section showing the process by which the temporary retaining of the C-type coin is cancelled;





FIG. 26

is a schematic front elevation of the coin sorter showing the temporary retaining of A-type coins and C-type coins;





FIG. 27

is a schematic front elevation of the coin sorter showing the processing of B-type coins;





FIG. 28

is a schematic front elevation of the coin sorter showing the processing of D-type coins;





FIG. 29

is schematic front elevation of the coin sorter showing the filled-up processing performed for B-type coins; and





FIG. 30

is schematic front elevation of a coin sorter showing the filled-up processing performed for D-type coins.











BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION




Embodiment of the coin sorter according to the present invention will be described in detail below.





FIG. 1

is a schematic front elevation of the coin sorter according to the present invention.




This coin sorter


1


basically makes assortment into the four types of coins having mutually different diameters; A-type genuine coins (500-yen coins), B-type genuine coins (10-yen coins), C-type genuine coins (100-yen coins) and D-type genuine coins (50-yen coins), and false coins.




A coin discrimination route


10


that slants downward to the right in the drawing is located directly below the coin insertion opening


3


, and A coin discrimination sensor


11


that determines coins as genuine or false is located partway down the coin discrimination route


10


.




At the same time, a genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


that comprises a genuine/false coin sorting unit that sorts the coins forwarded from the coin discrimination route


10


into genuine and false coins and guides genuine and false coins into their own separate routes is located at the terminal end of the coin discrimination route


10


.




This genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


is the type of distributing lever wherein the top edge opens and closes in the direction perpendicular to the drawing while revolving around an shaft


12




a


located at the bottom edge thereof.




By virtue of this genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


, the terminal end of the coin route


10


is bifurcated into a false coin ejection route


13


that guides the false inserted coins and a first coin sorting route


14


that guides only coins that are deemed to be genuine.




The false coin ejection route


13


, one of the coin routes formed at the terminal end of the coin discrimination route


10


, is connected to a false coin ejection chute


21


formed in a slanted fashion relative to the front of the coin sorter, as shown in FIG.


2


. This false coin ejection chute


21


is connected to a false coin return outlet not shown in the drawings, and the false coins G guided to the false coin ejection chute


21


are returned to the coin return outlet via the false coin ejection chute


21


as shown by the arrow in the drawing.




A first denomination distributing lever


15


, which comprises a denomination distributing unit that distributes the coins which were forwarded from the first coin sorting route


14


after being determined as genuine, and which belong to the four categories of A, B, C and D genuine coins into two groups comprising an A-type coin and C-type coin group and a B-type coin and D-type coin group, is located at the downstream end of the first coin sorting route


14


shown in FIG.


1


.




Due to the first denomination distributing lever


15


, the first coin sorting route


14


is bifurcated into a second coin sorting route


16


that guides only coins belonging to the A-type/C-type coin group and is angled to the left in the drawing, and a third coin sorting route


17


that guides only coins belonging to the B-type/D-type coin group and runs downward in the drawing.




In addition, the front surface of the entire first denomination distributing lever


15


described above is formed in essentially an L shape.




This first denomination distributing lever


15


comprises a first gate


15




a


that opens up the second coin sorting route


16


located to the side when the first gate


15




a


protrudes from the surface of the main plate


20


as shown in

FIG. 3

, which comprises an expanded schematic perspective view of the important parts of

FIG. 1

, and closes off the second coin sorting route


16


when it is retracted toward the main plate


20


as shown in

FIG. 4

, as well as a second gate


15




b


that closes off the third coin sorting route


17


located at the bottom when it protrudes from the main plate


20


as shown in

FIG. 3

, and opens up the third coin sorting route


17


when it is retracted toward the main plate


20


as shown in FIG.


4


.




When the first denomination distributing lever


15


protrudes from the main plate


20


as shown in

FIG. 3

, because the second coin sorting route


16


is opened up while the third coin sorting route


17


is closed off, only the A-type/C-type coin group is guided to the second coin sorting route


16


.




Similarly, when the first denomination distributing lever


15


is retracted toward the main plate


20


as shown in

FIG. 4

, because the second coin sorting route


16


is closed off while the third coin sorting route


17


is opened up, only the B-type/D-type coin group is guided to the third coin sorting route


17


.




At the same time, as shown in

FIG. 1

, a second denomination distributing lever


30


that comprises a second denomination sorting unit that sorts the coins in the A-type/C-type coin group that are forwarded to the second coin sorting route


16


into A-type coins and C-type coins is located at the downstream end of the second coin sorting route


16


. Due to the second denomination distributing lever


30


, the second coin sorting route


16


is bifurcated into a fourth coin sorting route


31


that guides only A-type coins, and a fifth coin sorting route


32


that guides only C-type coins and is formed on the top surface of the fourth coin sorting route


31


.




The fourth coin sorting route


31


that guides only A-type coins (indicated by a dashed line) is formed essentially in an L configuration tracing the direction of coin movement, while the fifth coin sorting route


32


(indicated by a solid line) that guides only C-type coins and is separated from the fourth coin sorting route


31


by a partition plate


5


or the like located at the top part of the fourth coin route


31


is curved essentially in an S shape tracing the direction of coin movement in order to make the coin route as long as possible.




The second denomination distributing lever


30


described above is the type of distributing lever wherein the rightmost edge


30




b


opens and closes in the direction perpendicular to the drawing while revolving around an shaft


30




a


located at the leftmost edge thereof.




Furthermore, as shown in

FIG. 1

, a third denomination distributing lever


42


, which comprises a third denomination sorting unit that sorts coins into a sixth coin sorting route


40


that extends to a cash box not shown in the drawings and is formed behind the main plate


20


and a seventh coin sorting route


41


, is located at the downstream end of the third coin sorting route


17


.




When the numbers of B-type coins and D-type coins accumulated and stored in the corresponding coin tubes of the coin storage unit not shown in the drawings reach a certain number, respectively, B-type coins or D-type coins that are subsequently inserted are sorted and guided by the third denomination distributing lever


42


to the sixth sorting route


40


that leads to the cash box.




Whether or not the number of coins accumulated inside each coin tube of the coin storage unit has reached a certain number is determined based on the detection by a known filled-up sensor comprising a photosensor, magnetic sensor or the like located at a prescribed position within each coin tube.




The third denomination distributing lever


42


is also a distributing lever of a type wherein the top edge opens and closes in the direction perpendicular to the drawing while revolving around an shaft


42




a


located at the bottom edge thereof.




Moreover, as shown in

FIG. 1

, a fourth denomination distributing lever


50


that comprises a fourth denomination sorting unit that sorts into B-type coins and D-type coins the coins in the B-type/D-type coin group that are guided to the seventh coin sorting route


41


is located at the downstream end of the seventh coin sorting route


41


.




This fourth denomination distributing lever


50


is a lever having a construction identical to that of the first denomination distributing lever


15


. When the fourth denomination distributing lever


50


protrudes from the main plate


20


, because the eighth coin sorting route


51


is opened up while the ninth coin sorting route


52


is closed off, only B-type coins are guided to the eighth coin sorting route


51


. Similarly, when the fourth denomination distributing lever


50


is retracted toward the main plate


20


, because the eighth coin sorting route


51


is closed off while the ninth coin sorting route


52


is opened up, only D-type coins are guided to the ninth coin sorting route


52


.




As shown in

FIG. 5

, at the downstream end of the essentially L-shaped fourth coin sorting route


31


described above, is first coin retaining means


60


comprising a coin retaining lever that temporarily retains inside the fourth coin sorting route


31


a plurality (up to a maximum of three) of A-type coins that have passed through the fourth coin sorting route


31


is provided.




Furthermore, as shown in

FIG. 6

, at the downstream end of the essentially S-shaped fifth coin sorting route


32


described above and shown in

FIG. 1

, is second coin retaining means


100


comprising a coin retaining lever that temporarily retains inside the fifth coin sorting route


32


a plurality (up to a maximum of four) of C-type coins that have passed through the fifth coin sorting route


32


is provided.




The first coin retaining means


60


that temporarily retains A-type coins inside the fourth coin sorting route


31


and the second coin retaining means


100


that temporarily retains C-type coins inside the fifth coin sorting route


32


will be described in detail later.




Meanwhile, as shown in FIG.


1


and in

FIG. 7

showing a cross-section of

FIG. 5

cut along the F—F line, at each of the bottom end of both the first coin retaining means


60


that temporarily retains A-type coins and the second coin retaining means


100


that temporarily retains C-type coins, there are provided side by side a first coin distributing lever


130


that distributes the coins into either a coin return route


110


(see

FIG. 7

) that guides A- and C-type coins that were temporarily retained by the first coin retaining means


60


and the second coin retaining means


100


to the false coin ejection chute


21


shown in

FIG. 2

, or into a coin storage route


120


(see

FIG. 7

) that guides the coins into the corresponding coin tube of the coin retaining mechanism located therebelow and not shown in the drawings; and, as shown in

FIG. 7

, a second coin distributing lever


150


that is located behind the first distributing lever


130


and distributes the coins into either the coin storage route


120


that guides the A and C-type coins that were temporarily retained by the first coin retaining means


60


and the second coin retaining means


100


into the corresponding coin tube of the coin retaining mechanism located therebelow or into a cash box route


140


that leads to the cash box and not shown in the drawings.




This first coin distributing lever


130


and second coin sorting


150


are described in detail later.




Of the first coin retaining means


60


and the second coin retaining means


100


described above, the first coin retaining means


60


that retains A-type coins comprises a coin retaining lever


61


that has a C-shaped cross-section and temporarily retains A-type coins that have passed through the fourth coin route


31


and have been determined to be A-type coins; and first retaining unit driving means, not shown in the drawings, that comprises a solenoid or the like that causes the coin retaining lever


61


to revolve around its shaft


62


.




With regard to this first coin retaining means


60


, in the initial state shown in

FIG. 1

, a pair of cylindrical proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


continuously receive force from the first retaining unit driving means comprising a solenoid or the like and not shown in the drawings which causes them to revolve counterclockwise around the shaft


62


and are then stopped from moving, and as a result, this pair of proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


are caused to protrude into the interior of the fourth coin sorting route


31


, thereby closing off the downstream end of the fourth coin sorting route


31


, while the cylindrical distal end portion


61




c


is retracted from the interior of the fourth coin sorting route


31


, thereby opening up the upstream end of the fourth coin sorting route


31


, as shown in FIG.


7


.




In this initial state, when a single A-type coin is guided into the fourth coin sorting route


31


as shown in

FIGS. 5 and 7

, the pair of proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


of the coin retaining lever


61


retain the A-type coin by supporting the circumferential surface thereof, and when a plurality of (three) A-type coins are guided into the fourth coin sorting route


31


after this A-type coin has been retained, these three A-type coins are successively retained temporarily inside the fourth coin sorting route


31


by the pair of proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


. Needless to say, the number of coins temporarily retained inside the fourth coin sorting route


31


depends on the length thereof.




As shown in

FIG. 8

showing an enlarged schematic cross-section of

FIG. 6

cut along the G—G line, the above second coin retaining means


100


that retains C-type coins comprises a second coin retaining lever


101


that has a C-shaped cross-section and temporarily retains C-type coins that have passed through the fifth coin route


32


and have been deemed C-type coins, and second retaining unit driving means that comprises a solenoid or the like that causes the second coin retaining lever


101


to revolve around its shaft


102


and is not shown in the drawings.




With regard to this second coin retaining means


100


, in the initial state shown in

FIG. 1

, an arc-shaped proximal end portion


101




a


continuously receives force from the second retaining unit driving means comprising a solenoid or the like and not shown in the drawings which causes it to revolve counterclockwise around the shaft


102


and is then stopped from moving, and as a result, this proximal end portion


101




a


is caused to protrude into the interior of the fifth coin sorting route


32


, thereby closing off the downstream end of the fifth coin sorting route


32


, while the cylindrical distal end portion


101




b


is retracted from the interior of the fifth coin sorting route


32


, thereby opening up the upstream end of the fifth coin sorting route


32


, as shown in FIG.


8


.




In this initial state, when a single C-type coin is guided into the fifth coin sorting route


32


as shown in

FIGS. 6 and 8

, the proximal end portion


101




a


of the coin retaining lever


101


retains the C-type coin by supporting the circumferential surface thereof, and when a plurality of (four) C-type coins are guided into the fifth coin sorting route


32


after this C-type coin has been retained, these four C-type coins are successively retained temporarily inside the fifth coin sorting route


32


by the proximal end portion


101




a.






As shown in

FIG. 6

, because the fifth coin sorting route


32


is curved essentially in an S shape tracing the direction of coin movement in order to make it as long as possible, a total of four C-type coins can be retained temporarily inside the fifth coin sorting route


32


.




Furthermore, in regard to the first coin distributing lever


130


and second coin distributing lever


150


located at the bottom ends of the first coin retaining means


60


and the second coin retaining means


100


, respectively, as shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, the first coin distributing lever


130


is supported such that it can revolve around the shaft


131


, and in the initial position, the first coin distributing lever


130


is stopped, by the first driving means comprising a solenoid or the like not shown in the drawings, at a position in which the coin return route


110


is closed off and the coin storage route


120


is opened up.




Moreover, as shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, the second coin distributing lever


150


is supported such that it can revolve around the shaft


151


, and in the initial position, the second coin distributing lever


150


is stopped, by the second driving means comprising a solenoid or the like not shown in the drawings, at a position in which the cash box route


140


is closed off and the coin storage route


120


is opened up.




At the initial position shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, when the first driving means is driven based on driving signals from a control apparatus not shown in the drawings, the coin distributing lever


130


revolves in a counterclockwise direction around the shaft


131


in accordance with a prescribed angle of revolution, closing off the coin storage route


120


and opening up the coin return route


110


, as shown in

FIGS. 9 and 10

.




In addition, at the initial position shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, when the second driving means is driven based on driving signals from a control apparatus not shown in the drawings, the coin distributing lever


150


revolves in a clockwise direction around the shaft


151


in accordance with a prescribed angle of revolution, thereby closing off the coin storage route


120


and opening up the cash box route


140


, as shown in

FIGS. 11 and 12

.




At the same time, with the first coin distributing lever


130


and the second coin distributing lever


150


at the initial positions shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

(i.e., the positions at which the coin storage route


120


is open), when the first coin retaining lever


61


shown in

FIG. 7

revolves clockwise around the shaft


62


due to the first retaining unit driving means comprising a solenoid or the like that is not shown in the drawings based on driving signals from a control apparatus not shown in the drawings, the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


retract from the fourth coin sorting route


31


as shown in

FIG. 13

, thereby opening up the downstream part of the fourth coin sorting route


31


, and the distal end portion


61




c


protrudes into the fourth coin sorting route


31


, thereby closing off the fourth coin sorting route


31


.




When this occurs, the retaining of the A-type coin that was retained directly by the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


of the first coin retaining lever


61


is cancelled, and because the circumferential surface of the subsequent A-type coin that is positioned directly following the A-type coin being directly retained by the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


is supported and retained by the distal end portion


61




c


, only one A-type coin is guided into the coin storage route


120


, whereupon it falls into the corresponding coin tube where it is accumulated and stored.




When the driving of the first coin retaining lever


61


shown in

FIG. 13

is set to OFF based on driving signals from the control apparatus not shown in the drawings, the first coin retaining lever


61


revolves counterclockwise around the shaft


62


, causing the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


to protrude into the fourth coin sorting route


31


and thereby closing off the downstream part thereof, and the distal end portion


61




c


is returned to its initial state wherein it is retracted from the interior of the fourth coin sorting route


31


.




When this occurs, the temporary retaining of the A-type coins that had been temporarily stopped by the distal end portion


61




c


of the first coin retaining lever


61


is cancelled and the remaining A-type coins are guided downward in the fourth coin sorting route


31


, the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


support the A-type coin among the plurality of A-type coins guided downward in the fourth coin sorting route


31


that is farthest down, and the supported A-type coin and the A-type coin that is adjacent thereto on the upstream side are temporarily retained in the fourth coin sorting route


31


, as shown in FIG.


14


.




In other words, using the first coin retaining lever


61


of the first coin retaining means


60


, the three A-type coins temporarily retained in the fourth coin sorting route


31


can be made to drop intermittently one coin at a time through the alternating presence of the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


and the distal end portion


61




c


in the fourth coin sorting route


31


.




Similarly, with the first coin distributing lever


130


and the second coin distributing lever


150


at the initial positions shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

(i.e., the positions at which the coin storage route


120


is open), when the second coin retaining lever


101


shown in

FIG. 8

revolves clockwise around the shaft


102


due to the second retaining unit driving means comprising a solenoid or the like that is not shown in the drawings based on driving signals from a control apparatus not shown in the drawings, the arc-shaped proximal end portion


101




a


retracts from the fifth coin sorting route


32


as shown in

FIG. 15

, thereby opening up the downstream part of the fifth coin sorting route


32


, and the distal end portion


101




b


protrudes into the fifth coin sorting route


32


, thereby closing off the fifth coin sorting route


32


.




When this occurs, the retaining of the C-type coin that was retained directly by the proximal end portion


101




a


of the second coin retaining lever


101


is cancelled, and because the circumferential surface of the subsequent C-type coin that is positioned directly following the C-type coin being directly retained by the proximal end portion


101




a


is supported and retained by the distal end portion


101




b


, only one C-type coin is guided into the coin storage route


120


, whereupon it falls into the corresponding coin tube where it is accumulated and stored.




When the driving of the second coin retaining lever


101


shown in

FIG. 15

is set to OFF based on driving signals from the control apparatus not shown in the drawings, the second coin retaining lever


101


revolves counterclockwise around the shaft


102


, causing the proximal end portion


101




a


to protrude into the fifth coin sorting route


32


and thereby closing off the downstream part thereof, and the distal end portion


101




b


is returned to its initial state wherein it is retracted from the interior of the fifth coin sorting route


32


.




When this occurs, the temporary retaining of the C-type coins that had been temporarily stopped by the distal end portion


101




b


of the second coin retaining lever


101


is cancelled and the remaining C-type coins are guided downward in the fifth coin sorting route


32


, the proximal end portion


101




a


supports the C-type coin among the plurality of C-type coins guided downward in the fifth coin sorting route


32


that is farthest down, and the supported C-type coin and the C-type coins that are adjacent thereto on the upstream side are temporarily retained in the fifth coin sorting route


32


, as shown in FIG.


16


.




In other words, using the second coin retaining lever


101


of the second coin retaining means


100


, the four C-type coins temporarily retained in the fifth coin sorting route


32


can be made to drop intermittently one coin at a time through the alternating presence of the proximal end portion


101




a


and the distal end portion


101




b


in the fifth coin sorting route


32


.




The first driving means that drives the first coin distributing lever


130


and the second driving means that drives the second coin distributing lever


150


described above will now be described in detail.





FIG. 17

is a schematic perspective view of the second driving means


200


that drives the second coin distributing lever


150


. In the drawing, the same components shown in

FIGS. 1-16

are assigned the same symbols.




The second driving means


200


comprises link means


202


that links the second denomination distributing lever


30


that revolves around the shaft


30




a


, the third denomination distributing lever


42


that revolves around the shaft


42




a


and the second coin distributing lever


150


that revolves around the shaft


151


, as well as a single solenoid


201


that drives the link means


202


.




The link means


202


comprises a base plate


204


that is fixed to the operation shaft


203


of the solenoid


201


, which rises and falls. A U-shaped notch


206




a


, which engages with one end


42




b


of the shaft


42




a


that is bent in an L shape and comprises part of the third denomination distributing lever


42


, is formed in a first rising/falling rib


205


that protrudes from the top surface of the link means


202


, and a U-shaped notch


207




a


, which engages with a shaft


208


that protrudes from one side of the second denomination distributing lever


30


, is formed in a second rising/falling rib


207


that protrudes from the top surface of the base plate


204


. At the same time, a third rising/falling rib


209


protrudes from the bottom surface of the base plate


204


described above, and a shaft


211




a


that comprises one end of a link arm


211


that revolves around a shaft


210


and protrudes from one side thereof engages with a U-shaped notch


209




a


formed in the third rising/falling rib


209


.




A U-shaped notch


211




b


is formed in the other end of this link arm


211


, and a shaft


213


that protrudes from one side of an arm


212


fixed to the shaft


151


of the second coin distributing lever


150


engages with this U-shaped notch


211




b.






According to the link means


202


described above, in the initial positions shown in

FIG. 17

, if the single solenoid


201


is driven and the operation shaft


203


is retracted downward against the force applied by the coil spring


213




(3)


, because the base plate


204


descends as shown in

FIG. 18

, the first, second and third rising/falling ribs


205


,


207


and


209


, respectively, descend as well, as shown in FIG.


18


.




When this occurs, as shown in

FIG. 18

, the third denomination distributing lever


42


revolves clockwise in accordance with a prescribed angle of rotation around the shaft


42




a


via the shaft


42




b


that engages with the U-shaped notch


206




a


formed in the first rising/falling rib


205


, and as a result the sixth coin sorting route


40


opens and the seventh coin sorting route


41


closes (FIG.


1


).




In addition, the second denomination distributing lever


30


revolves clockwise in accordance with a prescribed angle of rotation around the shaft


30




a


via the shaft


208


that engages with the U-shaped notch


207




a


formed in the second rising/falling rib


207


, and as a result the fourth coin sorting route


31


that guides only A-type coins opens and the fifth coin sorting route


32


that guides only C-type coins closes (FIG.


1


).




Furthermore, when the third rising/falling rib


209


descends, the link arm


211


revolves counterclockwise in accordance with a prescribed angle of rotation around the shaft


210


via the shaft


211




a


that engages with the U-shaped notch


209




a


formed in the third rising/falling rib


209


, causing the second coin distributing lever


150


to revolve clockwise in accordance with a prescribed angle of rotation around the shaft


151


via the shaft


213


that engages with the U-shaped notch


211




b


formed in the link arm


213


, and as a result the coin housing route


120


closes and the coin storage route


140


opens, as shown in

FIGS. 11 and 12

.




When the driving of the single solenoid


201


described above is stopped, the operation shaft


203


returns to the initial position due to the force of the coil spring


213


, and at the same time the base plate


204


rises, causing the second denomination distributing lever


30


, the third denomination distributing lever


42


and the second coin distributing lever


150


to return to the initial positions shown in FIG.


17


.




Therefore, according to the link means


202


described above, the three levers, i.e., the second denomination distributing lever


30


, the third denomination distributing lever


42


and the second coin distributing lever


150


, can be simultaneously driven via the single solenoid


201


, and consequently in comparison with the prior art that requires that each lever be driven by a separate solenoid, a substantial reduction in the number of parts can be achieved.




Moreover, in the coin sorter


1


of this embodiment, the first coin distributing lever


130


and the fourth denomination distributing lever


50


are driven together via the first driving means


300


that drives the first coin distributing lever


130


, as shown in the schematic perspective view of FIG.


19


.




This first driving means


300


comprises link means


301


that links the first coin distributing lever


130


that revolves around the shaft


131


and the fourth coin type sorting means


50


, as well as a single solenoid


302


that drives this link means


301


.




The link means


301


comprises a base plate


304


that is fixed to the operation shaft


303


of the rising/falling solenoid


302


, as well as a link arm


307


that revolves around a shaft


309


, and a shaft


307




a


that protrudes from one end of the link arm


307


engages with a U-shaped notch


305




a


formed in a rising/falling rib


305


that protrudes from the top surface of the base plate


304


.




A U-shaped notch


307




b


is formed in the other end of the above link arm


307


, and a shaft


309


that protrudes from one side of an arm


308


fixed to the shaft


131


to which the first coin distributing lever


130


is fixed engages with this U-shaped notch


307




b.






According to the link means


301


described above, when the single solenoid


302


is driven and the operation shaft


303


is moved upward and downward against the force applied by the coil spring


310


, the fourth denomination distributing lever


50


moves upward and downward via the base plate


304


and the eighth coin sorting route


51


and the ninth coin sorting route


52


are selectively opened and closed (FIG.


1


), and the rising/falling rib


305


moves upward and downward, causing the first coin distributing lever


130


to rotate around the shaft


131


in linkage therewith via the link arm


307


, and as a result, the coin housing route


120


and the coin return route


110


are selectively opened and closed, as shown in

FIGS. 9 and 10

.




Therefore, according to the link means


301


described above, the first coin distributing lever


130


and the fourth denomination distributing lever


50


can be driven simultaneously by the single solenoid


302


, and consequently in comparison with the prior art that requires that each lever be driven by a separate solenoid, a substantial reduction in the number of parts can be achieved.




The operation of the coin sorter


1


described above will now be explained.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, if it is determined based on the detection signal from the coin discrimination sensor


11


that a false coin G inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


is false, the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


opens the false coin ejection route


13


based on the corresponding determination signal. When this occurs, the false coin G that rolls in from the coin discrimination route


10


is guided to the false coin ejection route


13


by the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


, and is returned to the coin return outlet not shown in the drawings via the false coin ejection chute


21


that connects to the false coin ejection route


13


.




Next, as shown in

FIG. 20

, when A-type coin inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


is determined based on the detection signal from the coin discrimination sensor


11


to be a genuine A-type coin, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings operates the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


and opens the upstream part of the first coin sorting route


14


based on the determination signal. At the same time, the upstream part of the second coin sorting route


16


is opened by the first denomination distributing lever


15


, and the fourth coin sorting route


31


is opened by the second denomination distributing lever


30


.




When the control apparatus not shown in the drawings determines based on the detection signal from the coin discrimination sensor


11


that the inserted coin is a genuine A-type coin, the first coin retaining lever


61


is driven by the first retaining unit driving means not shown in the drawings, whereby the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


protrude into the fourth coin sorting route


31


and close off the downstream part thereof, and the distal end portion


61




c


is retracted from the coin sorting route


31


, as shown in FIG.


7


.




As a result, as shown in

FIG. 20

, after rolling down the coin discrimination route


10


, the A-type coin inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


is guided to the first coin sorting route


14


by the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


and is then guided to the second coin sorting route


16


by the first coin distributing lever


15


.




The A-type coin is then guided to the fourth coin sorting route


31


by the second denomination distributing lever


30


and is temporarily retained at the downstream end of the fourth coin sorting route


31


by the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


of the first coin retaining lever


61


.




Next, where coins inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


are determined by the coin discrimination sensor


11


to be A-type coins and are guided to the fourth coin sorting route


31


, these A-type coins are successively retained temporarily above the A-type coin that is being directly supported by the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


of the first coin retaining lever


61


, as shown in FIG.


5


.




Furthermore, in accordance with the length of the fourth coin sorting route


31


, a maximum of three A-type coins can be retained temporarily inside the fourth coin sorting route


31


, including the coin directly supported by the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


, as shown in FIG.


5


.




Next, if the coin return lever is operated without a product purchase in the automated vending machine in which the coin sorter


1


is installed while these A-type coins are being temporarily retained therein, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings first drives the first coin distributing lever


130


to rotate counterclockwise, thereby closing off the coin housing route


120


and opening up the coin return route


110


, as shown in

FIG. 10

, based on operation signals from the coin return lever. The control apparatus not shown in the drawings then drives the first coin retaining lever


61


via the first retaining unit driving means not shown in the drawings, thereby causing the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


to retract from the fourth coin sorting route


31


, opening up the downstream area thereof, and causing the distal end portion


61




c


to protrude into the fourth coin sorting route


31


.




When this is done, only one of the A-type coins retained by the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


of the first coin retaining lever


61


is guided to the coin return route


110


, and this coin is then returned to the coin return outlet that connects to this coin return route


110


and is not shown in the drawings, as shown in FIG.


21


.




In the same manner as described above, the remaining A-type coins are intermittently and successively returned to the coin return outlet one coin at a time through the alternating presence of the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


and the distal end portion


61




c


of the first coin retaining lever


61


in the fourth coin sorting route


31


.




Therefore, when the coin return lever is operated without a product purchase, this same coin return process is performed for the number of times corresponding to the number of retained coins, and all of the retained A-type coins to be intermittently dropped are returned to the coin return outlet.




Consequently, in the coin sorter


1


, where the coin return lever is operated and A-type coins are to be returned without a product purchase, because the coins actually inserted, i.e., the temporarily retained A-type coins, are the ones paid out to the coin return outlet, even if counterfeit A-type coins (false coin) realistic enough to be deemed genuine by the coin sorter


1


are inserted, because the inserted A-type coins (i.e., false coin) themselves are paid out to the coin return outlet, the occurrence of the coin switching phenomenon can be eliminated to the maximum possible extent.




The case in which a product is purchased while A-type coins are being temporarily retained will now be explained in detail.




When a product is purchased, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings first positions the first coin distributing lever


130


in the initial position based on product purchase signals, thereby opening up the coin housing route


120


and closing off the coin return route


110


, as shown in FIG.


7


. The control apparatus not shown in the drawings then drives the first coin retaining lever


61


via the first retaining unit driving means not shown in the drawings, whereby the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


are retracted from the fourth coin sorting route


31


, opening up the downstream part thereof, and the distal end portion


61




c


is caused to protrude into the fourth coin sorting route


31


.




When this occurs, only one of the A-type coins being supported by the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


of the first coin retaining lever


61


is guided into the coin housing route


120


, whereupon this coin is dropped into and stored in the coin tube that corresponds to A-type coins within the coin storage unit that is not shown in the drawings but is positioned below, as shown in FIG.


13


.




In the same manner as described above, the remaining A-type coins are intermittently and successively dropped into, accumulated and stored in the corresponding coin tube one coin at a time through the alternating presence of the proximal end portions


61




a


and


61




b


and the distal end portion


61




c


of the first coin retaining lever


61


in the fourth coin sorting route


31


, and this process is performed for the number of times corresponding to the number of retained A-type coins.




Where, during the time that an A-type coin is being stored inside the corresponding coin tube, it is detected by the filled-up sensor mounted inside that coin tube that a certain number of A-type coins have been stored therein, the control apparatus rotates the second coin distributing lever


150


clockwise based on the detection signal, thereby closing off the coin housing route


120


and opening up the coin storage route


140


, as shown in FIG.


12


.




As a result, A-type coins that are subsequently dropped are stored intermittently one coin at a time in the coin storage compartment not shown in the drawings via the coin storage route


140


, and A-type coins exceeding the tube capacity are not stored in the corresponding A-type coin tube, as shown in FIG.


22


.




Next, as shown in

FIG. 23

, when A-type coin inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


is determined based on the detection signal from the coin discrimination sensor


11


to be a C-type coin, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings operates the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


and opens the upstream part of the first coin sorting route


14


based on the determination signal. At the same time, the upstream part of the second coin sorting route


16


is opened by the first denomination distributing lever


15


. Furthermore, the second denomination distributing lever


30


is operated to close off the fourth coin sorting route


31


and open up the fifth coin sorting route


32


.




When the control apparatus not shown in the drawings determines based on the detection signal from the coin discrimination sensor


11


that the inserted coin is a genuine C-type coin, the second coin retaining lever


101


is driven by the second retaining unit driving means not shown in the drawings, whereby the proximal end


101




a


thereof is caused protrude into the fifth coin sorting route


32


and closes off the downstream part thereof, and the distal end portion


101




b


is retracted from the coin sorting route


32


, as shown in FIG.


8


.




As a result, as shown in

FIG. 23

, after rolling down the coin discrimination route


10


, the C-type coin inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


is guided to the first coin sorting route


14


by the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


and is then guided to the second coin sorting route


16


by the first coin distributing lever


15


.




The C-type coin is then guided to the fifth coin sorting route


32


by the second denomination distributing lever


30


and is temporarily retained at the downstream end of the fifth coin sorting route


32


by the proximal end portion


101




a


of the second coin retaining lever


101


.




Next, where coins inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


are determined by the coin discrimination sensor


11


to be C-type coins and are guided to the fifth coin sorting route


32


, these C-type coins are successively retained temporarily above the C-type coin that is being directly supported by the proximal end portion


101




a


of the second coin retaining lever


101


, as shown in FIG.


8


.




Furthermore, because the fifth coin sorting route


32


is formed essentially in a meandering S shape tracing the direction of coin movement and the length of the route is set to be long, a maximum of four C-type coins can be retained temporarily inside the fifth coin sorting route


32


, as shown in FIG.


6


.




Next, if the coin return lever is operated without a product purchase in the automated vending machine in which the coin sorter


1


is installed while these C-type coins are being temporarily retained therein, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings first drives the first coin distributing lever


130


to rotate counterclockwise, thereby closing off the coin housing route


120


and opening up the coin return route


110


, as shown in

FIG. 9

, based on operation signals from the coin return lever. The control apparatus then drives the second coin retaining lever


101


via the second retaining unit driving means not shown in the drawings, thereby causing the proximal end portion


101




a


to retract from the fifth coin sorting route


32


, opening up the downstream area thereof, and causing the distal end portion


101




b


to protrude into the fifth coin sorting route


32


.




When this is done, only one of the C-type coins retained by the proximal end portion


101




a


of the second coin retaining lever


101


is guided to the coin return route


110


, and this coin is then returned to the coin return outlet that connects to this coin return route


110


and is not shown in the drawings, as shown in FIG.


24


.




In the same manner as described above, the remaining C-type coins are intermittently and successively returned to the coin return outlet one coin at a time through the alternating presence of the proximal end portion


101




a


and the distal end portion


101




b


of the second coin retaining lever


101


in the fifth coin sorting route


32


.




Therefore, when the coin return lever is operated without a product purchase, this same coin return process is performed for the number of times corresponding to the number of retained coins, and all of the retained C-type coins to be intermittently dropped are returned to the coin return outlet.




Consequently, in the coin sorter


1


, where the coin return lever is operated and C-type coins are to be returned without a product purchase, because the coins actually inserted, i.e., the temporarily retained C-type coins, are the ones paid out to the coin return outlet, even if counterfeit C-type coins (false coin) realistic enough to be deemed genuine are inserted, because the inserted C-type coins (i.e., false coin) themselves are paid out to the coin return outlet, the occurrence of the coin switching phenomenon can be eliminated to the maximum possible extent.




The case in which a product is purchased while C-type coins are being temporarily retained will now be explained in detail.




When a product is purchased, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings first positions the first coin distributing lever


130


in the initial position based on product purchase signals, thereby opening up the coin housing route


120


and closing off the coin return route


110


, as shown in FIG.


8


. The control apparatus not shown in the drawings then drives the second coin retaining lever


101


via the second retaining unit driving means not shown in the drawings, whereby the proximal end portion


101




a


is retracted from the fifth coin sorting route


32


, opening up the downstream part thereof, and the distal end portion


101




b


is caused to protrude into the fifth coin sorting route


32


.




When this occurs, only one of the C-type coins being supported by the proximal end portion


101




a


of the second coin retaining lever


101


is guided into the coin housing route


120


, whereupon the coin is dropped into and stored in the coin tube that corresponds to C-type coins within the coin storage unit that is not shown in the drawings but is positioned below, as shown in FIG.


15


.




In the same manner as described above, the remaining C-type coins are intermittently and successively dropped into, accumulated and stored in the corresponding coin tube one coin at a time through the alternating presence of the proximal end portion


101




a


and the distal end portion


101




b


of the second coin retaining lever


101


in the fifth coin sorting route


32


, and this process is performed for the number of times equal to the number of retained C-type coins.




Where, during the time that a C-type coin is being stored inside the corresponding coin tube, it is detected by the filled-up sensor mounted inside that coin tube that a certain number of C-type coins are being stored therein, the control apparatus rotates the second coin distributing lever


150


clockwise based on the detection signal, thereby closing off the coin housing route


120


and opening up the coin storage route


140


, as shown in FIG.


11


.




As a result, C-type coins that are subsequently dropped are stored intermittently in the coin storage compartment not shown in the drawings one coin at a time, and C-type coins exceeding the tube capacity are not stored in the corresponding C-type coin tube, as shown in FIG.


25


.




The situation in which both A-type coins and C-type coins are inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


will now be explained in detail.




As shown in

FIG. 26

, when it is determined based on the detection signal from the coin discrimination sensor


11


indicating that an inserted coin is an A-type coin or a C-type coin, the A-type coins and the C-type coins are temporarily retained in the corresponding fourth coin sorting route


31


or fifth coin sorting route


32


, based on the operation of the corresponding denomination distributing levers described above.




If the coin return lever is operated without a product purchase while these A-type coins and C-type coins are being temporarily retained, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings drives the first coin distributing lever


130


to rotate counterclockwise as shown in

FIGS. 9 and 10

based on the operation signal from the coin return lever, thereby closing off the coin housing route


120


and opening up the coin return route


110


.




The control apparatus then simultaneously drives the first coin retaining lever


61


and the second coin retaining lever


101


shown in

FIGS. 9 and 10

in an intermittent fashion, whereby the A-type coins retained in the fourth sorting route


31


and the C-type coins retained in the fifth sorting route


32


are simultaneously returned to the coin return outlet not shown in the drawings via the coin return route


110


, as shown in

FIGS. 21 and 24

.




The situation in which a product is purchased while A-type coins and C-type coins are being retained will now be described in detail.




When a product is purchased, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings first positions the first coin distributing lever


130


in the initial position based on product purchase signals, thereby opening up the coin housing route


120


and closing off the coin return route


110


, as shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

.




The control apparatus not shown in the drawings then intermittently guides either the A-type coins or the C-type coins (for example, the A-type coins only) to the coin housing route


120


or the coin storage route


140


one at a time using the same operation as that described above, whereby the coins of only one of the coin types are accumulated and stored in the corresponding coin tube, or if that coin tube is full, the coins of that coin type are guided to the storage compartment.




After the coins of only one of the coin types are accumulated and stored in the corresponding coin tube, or if that coin tube is full, are guided to the storage compartment, the coins of the other coin type (for example, the C-type coins only) are guided to the coin housing route


120


or the coin storage route


140


one at a time using the same operation as that described above, whereby the coins of only the other type are accumulated and stored in the corresponding coin tube, or if that coin tube is full, the coins of that coin type are guided to the storage compartment.




While both A-type coins and C-type coins are being temporarily retained, if the destinations to which the two coin types are to be guided are the same (for example, where both the A-type coins and the C-type coins are to be stored in the corresponding coin tubes, or where both the A-type coins and the C-type coins are to be guided to the storage compartment), the first coin retaining lever


61


and the second coin retaining lever


101


may be driven simultaneously in an intermittent fashion such that the A-type coins and C-type coins are guided simultaneously to the corresponding coin tubes, or are guided simultaneously to the storage compartment.




If it is determined based on the detection signal from the coin discrimination sensor


11


that the coin inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


is a B-type coin, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings operates the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


to open the upstream part of the first coin sorting route


14


, as well as the first denomination distributing lever


15


to open the upstream part of the third coin sorting route


17


, as shown in FIG.


27


.




The control apparatus not shown in the drawings also simultaneously operates the third denomination distributing lever


42


to open the upstream part of the seventh coin sorting route


41


and operates the fourth denomination distributing lever


50


to open the upstream part of the eighth coin sorting route


51


.




As a result, as shown in

FIG. 27

, after the B-type coin that rolls in from the coin discrimination route


10


is guided by the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


into the first coin sorting route


14


, it is guided to the third coin sorting route


17


located below by the first denomination distributing lever


15


, then to the seventh coin sorting route


41


by the third denomination distributing lever


42


, then to the eighth coin sorting route


51


by the fourth denomination distributing lever


50


, and is then dropped from the bottom of the eighth coin sorting route


51


into the corresponding coin tube of the coin storage unit, where it is accumulated and stored.




If it is determined based on the detection signal from the coin discrimination sensor


11


that the coin inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


is a D-type coin, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings operates the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


to open the upstream part of the first coin sorting route


14


based, as well as the first denomination distributing lever


15


to open the upstream part of the third coin sorting route


17


, as shown in FIG.


28


.




The control apparatus not shown in the drawings also simultaneously operates the third denomination distributing lever


42


to open the upstream part of the seventh coin sorting route


41


. The control apparatus not shown in the drawings further operates the fourth denomination distributing lever


50


to open the upstream part of the ninth coin sorting route


52


.




As a result, after the D-type coin that rolls in from the coin discrimination route


10


is guided by the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


into the first coin sorting route


14


, it is guided to the third coin sorting route


17


located below by the first denomination distributing lever


15


, then to the seventh coin sorting route


41


by the third denomination distributing lever


42


, then to the ninth coin sorting route


52


by the fourth denomination distributing lever


50


, and is then dropped from the bottom of the ninth coin sorting route


52


into the corresponding coin tube of the coin storage unit, where it is accumulated and stored.




Where the number of coins stored in the above coin tubes that house B-type coins and D-type coins exceeds a certain maximum number, an overflow state results. The overflow processing carried out when the number of stored B-type coins and D-type coins exceeds a certain maximum number is described below.




After it is detected by the filled-up sensor mounted in the coin tube corresponding to the stored B-type coins or D-type coins that the number of stored D-type coins or B-type coins has reached a certain maximum number, if A-type coin that would trigger an overflow state is inserted, that coin is immediately stored in the storage compartment.




Accordingly, if it is detected by the filled-up sensor that the number of B-type coins stored in the coin tube not shown in the drawings has reached a certain maximum number, the coin sorter


1


described above carries out the following sorting operation.




If it is determined based on the detection signal from the coin discrimination sensor


11


that the coin inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


is a B-type coin, and it is detected by the filled-up sensor that the number of B-type coins stored in the coin tube not shown in the drawings has reached a certain maximum number, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings operates the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


to open the upstream part of the first coin sorting route


14


based on these detection signals, and operates the first denomination distributing lever


15


is to open the upstream part of the third coin sorting route


17


, as shown in FIG.


29


. The control apparatus also simultaneously operates the third denomination distributing lever


42


to open the upstream part of the sixth coin sorting route


40


.




When this is done, as shown in

FIG. 29

, the B-type coin that rolls in from the coin discrimination route


10


is guided by the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


into the first coin sorting route


14


, and is then guided to the third coin sorting route


17


located below by the first denomination distributing lever


15


. The B-type coin is then guided to the sixth coin sorting route


40


by the third denomination distributing lever


42


, whereupon it is dropped from the bottom of the sixth coin sorting route


40


and immediately stored in the storage compartment not shown in the drawings that connects to the sixth coin sorting route


40


.




Moreover, if it is detected by an overflow detection means not shown in the drawings that the number of coins accumulated and stored in the coin tube that houses D-type coins has reached a certain maximum number, the coin sorter


1


described above carries out the following sorting operation.




If it is determined based on the detection signal from the coin discrimination sensor


11


that the coin inserted in the coin insertion inlet


3


is a D-type coin, and it is detected by the filled-up sensor that the number of D-type coins stored in the coin tube not shown in the drawings has reached a certain maximum number, the control apparatus not shown in the drawings operates the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


to open the upstream part of the first coin sorting route


14


based on these detection signals, and operates the first denomination distributing lever


15


to open the upstream part of the third coin sorting route


17


, as shown in FIG.


30


. The control apparatus also operates the third denomination distributing lever


42


to open the upstream part of the sixth coin sorting route


40


.




When this is done, as shown in

FIG. 30

, the D-type coin that rolls in from the coin discrimination route


10


is guided by the genuine/false coin distributing lever


12


into the first coin sorting route


14


, and is then guided to the third coin sorting route


17


located below by the first denomination distributing lever


15


. The D-type coin is then guided to the sixth coin sorting route


40


by the third denomination distributing lever


42


, whereupon it is dropped from the bottom of the sixth coin sorting route


40


and immediately stored in the storage compartment not shown in the drawings that connects to the sixth coin sorting route


40


.




As described above, according to the coin sorter of the present invention, because three of the denomination distributing levers that distribute genuine coins are linked by link means, such that the three linked levers are driven in an interlocking fashion by a single solenoid that operates one of the three levers, a coin sorter can be provided in which the number of parts is reduced and control is simplified without an increase in the number of driving means even where denomination distributing levers that sort temporarily retained coins are added.




INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY




As described above, the present invention is suitable for a coin sorter that is simple to control and has a small number of parts.



Claims
  • 1. A coin sorter comprising coin discrimination means for determining whether inserted coins are genuine or false and types of genuine coins, and a plurality of distributing levers for distributing coins determined as genuine into respective coin routes according to denomination, characterised in that:three distributing levers among said plurality of distributing levers are linked by link means, and said three linked levers are driven in an interlocking fashion via said link means using a single solenoid that drives one of the three linked levers.
  • 2. The coin sorter according to claim 1, characterised in that said link means comprises:a base plate that is fixed to an operation shaft of said single solenoid and moves upward and downward together with the operation shaft; three ribs that are provided on the surfaces of said base plate so as to protrude from said surfaces; and U-shaped notches that are respectively formed in each of the three ribs and respectively engage with corresponding one of said three levers.
  • 3. A coin sorter comprising coin discrimination means for determining whether inserted coins are genuine or false and types of genuine coins, a plurality of denomination distributing levers for distributing coins determined as genuine into respective coin routes according to denomination, a coin retaining lever that is located at an area downstream from said respective coin routes, for temporarily retaining coins guided into the respective coin routes within the respective coin routes, and a plurality of coin distributing levers for distributing the coins temporarily retained by the coin retaining lever again into the respective coin routes, characterised in that:two of said plurality of denomination distributing levers and one of said plurality of coin distributing levers are linked by link means, and said linked three levers are driven in an interlocking fashion via said link means using a single solenoid that drives one of said three linked levers.
  • 4. The coin sorter according to claim 3, characterised in that said link means comprises:a base plate that is fixed to an operation shaft of said single solenoid and moves upward and downward together with the operation shaft; three ribs that are provided on the surfaces of said base plate so as to protrude from said surfaces; and U-shaped notches that are respectively formed in each of the three ribs and respectively engage with corresponding one of said three levers.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2000-254341 Aug 2000 JP
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/JP01/05826 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO02/17244 2/28/2002 WO A
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
3916922 Prümm Nov 1975 A
5040658 Levasseur Aug 1991 A
5145046 Satoh Sep 1992 A
5494146 Kurosawa et al. Feb 1996 A
5676234 Smith et al. Oct 1997 A
5915520 Goodrich Jun 1999 A
20020060121 Igusa May 2002 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
7-146973 Jun 1995 JP
11-288480 Oct 1999 JP