Patent Application
20250069463
The present application claims priority to Japanese patent application no. JP 2023-135687 filed Aug. 23, 2023, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a money handling apparatus for handling money, and a money handling method that the money handling apparatus performs.
Conventionally, money handling apparatuses for handling money have been used in stores. For example, there is a store that uses a coin handling apparatus to store coins of a plurality of denominations in a mixed state and dispense a change at the time of transaction with a customer. This apparatus includes a change fund storage space that stores a change fund, which is prepared as coins for change is stored, in addition to a storage unit in which a large quantity of coins are stored in a mixed state. The maximum amount of change, which may be dispensed as coins for change in one transaction, is 999 JPY (Japanese yen) since the smallest denomination among Japanese banknotes is 1,000 JPY. Therefore, in the change fund storage space, coins totaling 999 JPY are prepared as the change fund. The coins are selected such that the number of coins is minimized. Specifically, four 1-JPY coins, one 5-JPY coin, four 10-JPY coins, one 50-JPY coin, four 100-JPY coins, and one 500-JPY coin are prepared as the change fund in the change fund space. These denominations and the number of coins for each denomination realize the minimum number of constituent coins for change in Japanese yen. When dispensing coins for change in the transaction, the coin handling apparatus selects and dispenses one or more coins from among the coins in the change fund space according to the amount of a change. The coins are selected from the minimum number of constituent coins for change, whereby the change can be dispensed in a short time, compared to the case where the coin handling apparatus has to find and dispense coins for change from among a large number of coins stored in the storage unit in a mixed state.
In the aforementioned conventional art, the coin handling apparatus finds the coins constituting the change fund, which is the minimum number of constituent coins totaling 999 JPY, from among the large number of coins stored in the storage unit, and stores in the change fund space in preparation for dispensing of a change. The coins for the change fund are collected from coins fed out from the storage unit. Since the storage unit stores coins of a plurality of denominations in a mixed state, a coin fed out from the storage unit may not be a coin constituting the change fund. The coin handling apparatus repeats a process of recognizing the denomination of each coin fed out from the storage unit, and storing a coin to be used for the change fund into the change fund storage space while returning other coins to the storage unit, whereby coins of predetermined denominations are prepared by a predetermined number for each denomination. Depending on the denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins stored in the storage unit, preparation of the change fund may take a long time, or the change fund cannot be prepared.
The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problem of the conventional art. The present disclosure addresses the problem, as discussed herein, with a money handling apparatus and a money handling method capable of efficiently preparing money for dispensing, in a predetermined storage unit in the money handling apparatus.
A money handling apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first storage unit and a second storage unit configured to store money therein; a transport unit configured to transport money; a recognition unit configured to recognize the money being transported by the transport unit; and a control unit configured to transport the money in the first storage unit by using the transport unit, recognize the money by using the recognition unit, transport a part of the money having been stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit based on a result of recognition, so that the second storage unit stores money of predetermined denominations for which a quantity of money of each denomination is set in advance. The control unit detects a shortage denomination for which the quantity of money currently stored in the first storage unit is short, and allows to store, into the second storage unit, money of the shortage denomination larger in quantity than the quantity set in advance for the shortage denomination.
The objects, features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of this disclosure will be better understood by the following description and the accompanying drawings of the disclosure.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a money handling apparatus and a money handling method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Money to be handled by the money handling apparatus may be banknotes, coins, or both banknotes and coins. In this embodiment, coins will be described as an example. As to banknotes, the money handling apparatus may handle banknotes as described below by a method suitable for banknotes.
The installation place of the coin handling apparatus 1 is not particularly limited. Hereinafter, the description will be continued for the case where the coin handling apparatus 1 is installed together with a banknote handling apparatus in a store, where transactions with customers are performed. The coin handling apparatus 1 is used for settling the transaction amount between the store and each customer.
The transaction amount between the store and the customer is determined by using, for example, a cash register installed at a checkout counter in the store. The coin handling apparatus 1 performs a depositing process for coins deposited by the customer to pay for the transaction amount (A). If a banknote is included in cash that the customer pays, the customer deposits coins into the coin handling apparatus 1, and deposits banknotes into the banknote handling apparatus installed adjacent to the coin handling apparatus 1. The coin handling apparatus 1 and the banknote handling apparatus may not necessarily be separate apparatuses, and may be integrated with each other.
As shown in
The coins are transported from the depositing unit 10 to the recognition unit 40 (A2). The recognition unit 40 recognizes the denomination of each coin. The recognition unit 40 may recognize authenticity and fitness of each coin. The configuration of the recognition unit 40 is not particularly limited. For example, the recognition unit 40 is configured to include at least one of a magnetic sensor, and an optical sensor such as a line sensor, a camera, etc. The transport unit 30 transports the coins along transport paths provided in the apparatus, based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 40.
The transport unit 30 transports coins that can be deposited in the apparatus, to the first storage unit 51 (A3). The first storage unit 51 stores the coins transported by the transport unit 30. The coin handling apparatus 1 uses the first storage unit 51 for storage of coins deposited during the depositing process. The first storage unit 51 stores coins of a plurality of denominations in a mixed state.
The first storage unit 51 can perform storage and feeding of coins. Likewise, the second storage unit 52 can perform storage and feeding of coins. The coins transported by the transport unit 30 can be stored in the first storage unit 51 or the second storage unit 52. The coins fed out from the first storage unit 51 and the coins fed out from the second storage unit 52 are transported by the transport unit 30. The second storage unit 52 will be described later.
The first storage unit 51 store coins in a mixed state. The second storage unit 52 also stores coins in a mixed state. In this embodiment, the “mixed state” indicates a state where coins of a plurality of denominations are mixed together in one storage unit, and the denomination of a coin to be fed out next from this storage unit cannot be specified among the denominations of the coins being stored.
The transport unit 30 transports a reject coin, which has been recognized by the recognition unit 40 and determined not to be deposited, to the dispensing unit 20 to reject this coin (A4). The rejected coin is returned to the customer from the dispensing unit 20. For example, a coin that has not been recognized to be a genuine coin, and a coin that is a genuine coin but the denomination is not included in target denominations to be handled by the coin handling apparatus 1, are rejected from the dispensing unit 20.
Based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 40, the coin handling apparatus 1 calculates the deposit amount of the coins stored in the first storage unit 51. If the customer pays a banknote in addition to coins and thereby a depositing process for this banknote is performed in the banknote handling apparatus, the deposit amount is the sum of the deposit amount of the banknote obtained in the banknote handling apparatus and the deposit amount of the coins obtained in the coin handling apparatus 1.
The coin handling apparatus 1 stores, in a memory, the denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins stored in the first storage unit 51 during the depositing process. The memory stores inventory amount information of the coin handling apparatus 1. The inventory amount information includes: the denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins currently stored in the first storage unit 51; and the denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins currently stored in the second storage unit 52. The inventory amount information is not limited to be stored inside the coin handling apparatus 1, and may be stored in an external device connected to the coin handling apparatus 1.
The coin handling apparatus 1 performs a dispensing process of dispensing a change to be returned to the customer (B). If the deposit amount exceeds the transaction amount between the store and the customer, the dispensing process of returning a change to the customer is performed. If the change includes a banknote, the banknote is dispensed from the banknote handling apparatus while coins are dispensed from the coin handling apparatus 1.
The coin handling apparatus 1 performs the dispensing process by calculating the amount of the change in coins, based on the transaction amount acquired from the external device and the deposit amount calculated after recognizing the deposited coins. The coin handling apparatus 1 performs the dispensing process based on the amount of the change, the inventory amount information, and setting information regarding change dispensing.
The change dispensing process is performed by using coins currently stored in the second storage unit 52. The coin handling apparatus 1 uses the second storage unit 52 for storing coins to be dispensed during the dispensing process. At least the minimum number of constituent coins constituting a change are stored in the second storage unit 52 in advance. The “minimum number of constituent coins” described in this embodiment refers to a combination of the minimum number of coins of a plurality of denominations, of which the total amount is the maximum monetary amount of a change that may be dispensed through coins from the coin handling apparatus 1 in one transaction. For example, in the case of Japanese coins, four 1-JPY coins, one 5-JPY coin, four 10-JPY coins, one 50-JPY coin, four 100-JPY coins, and one 500-JPY coin, i.e., fifteen coins equivalent to 999 JPY in total, are the minimum number of constituent coins. Before dispensing coins for change to be returned to the customer, the coin handling apparatus 1 prepares coins in the second storage unit 52 such that the coins being stored in the second storage unit 52 includes the minimum number of constituent coins. The coins for change have been already stored therein before starting the depositing process of coins paid by the customer, for example.
The coin handling apparatus 1 having started the dispensing process feeds out coins from the second storage unit 52. The fed-out coins are transported to the recognition unit 40 by the transport unit 30 (B1). The recognition unit 40 recognizes the denominations of the coins. The recognition unit 40 may recognize authenticity and fitness of each coin.
Since the second storage unit 52 stores coins of a plurality of denominations in a mixed state and feeds out the coins at random, a coin not to be used for the change may be fed out from the storage unit 52. Based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 40, the transport unit 30 transports a coin to be included in the change to the dispensing unit 20 (B2), and transports a coin not to be included in the change to the second storage unit 52 (B3). The coin handling apparatus 1 continues the process of transporting only the coin constituting the change to the dispensing unit 20 while returning the other coin to the second storage unit 52, whereby coins equivalent to the change amount are discharged from the dispensing unit 20 to the outside of the apparatus, and are returned to the customer.
For example in the dispensing process of returning three 1-JPY coins to the customer because the change amount is 3 JPY, if a coin fed out from the second storage unit 52 is a 1-JPY coin, this coin is dispensed from the dispensing unit 20, until three 1-JPY coins are dispensed from the dispensing unit 20. If the fed-out coin is not a 1-JPY coin, this coin is returned to the second storage unit 52. Until three 1-JPY coins are dispensed from the dispensing unit 20, the process of recognizing coins fed out from the second storage unit 52 one by one with the recognition unit 40, and transporting each coin to the dispensing unit 20 or the second storage unit 52 based on the recognition result, is repeated. The coin handling apparatus 1, which has ended the dispensing process, updates the inventory amount information of the second storage unit 52, based on the denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins dispensed from the second storage unit 52 to the outside of the apparatus. The coin handling apparatus 1 notifies an external device, such as a cash register, that settlement of the transaction amount has been completed. As to the change amount, calculation of the change amount is not necessarily performed in the coin handling apparatus 1, and may be performed in an external device. For example, the coin handling apparatus 1 may calculate the deposit amount and output the deposit amount to the cash register, and the cash register may calculate the change amount from the transaction amount and the deposit amount. In this case, the coin handling apparatus 1 may perform the dispensing process, with information indicating the change amount acquired from the cash register.
After the dispensing process of the coins for change, the coin handling apparatus 1 performs a replenishment process of replenishing the second storage unit 52 with coins (C). The coin handling apparatus 1 feeds out coins for replenishment from the first storage unit 51. The fed-out coins are transported to the recognition unit 40 by the transport unit 30 (C1). The recognition unit 40 recognizes the denominations of the coins. The recognition unit 40 may recognize authenticity and fitness of each coin.
Since the first storage unit 51 stores coins of a plurality of denominations in a mixed state and feeds out the coins at random, a coin not to be used for the replenishment may be fed out from the first storage unit 51. Based on the recognition result of the recognition unit 40, the transport unit 30 transports coins for replenishment to the second storage unit 52 (C2), and transports coins not for replenishment to the first storage unit 51 (C3). The coin handling apparatus 1 continues the process of transporting only the coins for replenishment to the second storage unit 52 while returning the other coins to the first storage unit 51, thereby replenishing the second storage unit 52 with coins. The coins for replenishment are coins of one or more denominations with which the second storage unit 52 needs to be replenished.
For example, when three 1-JPY coins and two 10-JPY coins are dispensed as a change from the second storage unit 52, three 1-JPY coins and two 10-JPY coins corresponding to a decrease due to dispensing are set as coins for replenishment. After dispensing the change, the second storage unit 52 is replenished with three 1-JPY coins and two 10-JPY coins obtained from the first storage unit 51, whereby the second storage unit 52 is returned to the state where the minimum number of constituent coins are being stored.
Specifically, after starting the replenishment process, a coin fed out from the first storage unit 51 is stored in the second storage unit 52 if this coin is a 1-JPY coin or a 10-JPY coin for replenishment, until the second storage unit 52 is replenished with three 1-JPY coins and two 10-JPY coins for replenishment. If a fed-out coin is a coin other than a 1-JPY coin and a 10-JPY coin, i.e., a coin not for replenishment, this coin is returned to the first storage unit 51. Until the second storage unit 52 is replenished with three 1-JPY coins and two 10-JPY coins for replenishment, the process of recognizing the coins fed out from the first storage unit 51 one by one with the recognition unit 40, and transporting each coin to the first storage unit 51 or the second storage unit 52 based on the recognition result, is repeated. The coin handling apparatus 1, which has ended the replenishment process, updates the inventory amount information of the first storage unit 51 and the inventory amount information of the second storage unit 52, based on the denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins that are moved from the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52 during the replenishment process.
As described above, the coin handling apparatus 1 stores deposited coins into the first storage unit 51, dispenses coins fed out from the second storage unit 52 as a change, and replenishes the second storage unit 52 with coins obtained from the first storage unit 51. The second storage unit 52 is replenished with the same coins as that decreased due to the dispensing process. The coin handling apparatus 1 performs the depositing process, the dispensing process, and the replenishment process as one set of processes. Therefore, before starting the depositing process, the coin handling apparatus 1 has already set the second storage unit 52 in the state where the minimum number of constituent coins for change are being stored therein.
For example, the first storage unit 51 is configured to store a large number of coins so as to be able to perform a plurality of times of depositing processes. Meanwhile, the second storage unit 52 only needs to perform a single change dispensing process, and therefore can be miniaturized compared to the first storage unit 51. For example, the first storage unit 51 may be configured to store 1000 or more coins, while the second storage unit 52 may be configured to store about 50 coins.
Each of the aforementioned depositing process, dispensing process, and replenishment process is performed in a normal mode. The coin handling apparatus 1 can change the operation mode from the normal mode to an extension mode. The coin handling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment has one feature in that the operation mode is changed to the extension mode, based on the inventory amount information of the first storage unit 51, thereby changing the number of coins to be stored in the second storage unit 52 (D).
Specifically, upon detecting a shortage denomination for which the number of coins in the first storage unit 51 is short, the coin handling apparatus 1 changes the operation mode to the extension mode. In the extension mode, the coin handling apparatus 1 stores coins of the shortage denomination larger in number than the minimum number of constituent coins, into the second storage unit 52. That is, by changing the operation mode to the extension mode, the coin handling apparatus 1 allows the second storage unit 52 to store more coins of the shortage denomination, which is short in the first storage unit 51, than usual in the normal mode. The coin handling apparatus 1 secures coins of the shortage denomination in the second storage unit 52 by storing therein the larger number of coins of the shortage denomination than usual. It prevents the coin handling apparatus 1 from a lengthy replenishment process that takes a long time because the number of coins for replenishing the second storage unit 52 is small in the first storage unit 51 and the coins for replenishment cannot be fed out from the first storage unit 51 for a long time.
The extension mode includes a depositing extension mode, a replenishment extension mode, and a dispensing extension mode. The replenishment extension mode includes a first replenishment extension mode and a second replenishment extension mode. In order to clarify a difference between the normal mode and the extension mode, movement of coins in the normal mode will be described first with a specific example of the coin handling apparatus 1, and thereafter, the extension mode will be described.
The transport unit 30 shown in
For example, the upper transport unit 30a transports a coin in a state where at least a part of one side of the coin is in contact with the transport surface of the transport path. A belt, which is opposed to the transport surface with the coin between them, has a plurality of projections. A drive unit drives the belt and moves the projections in the transport direction. A projection contacts with a rear edge part, in the transport direction, of the coin on the transport path. The coin is pushed by the projection and transported along the transport path. Each gate 30b is openable and closable so as to be flush with the transport surface when being closed. The gate 30b is usually closed. The upper transport unit 30a opens the gate 30b corresponding to the first storage unit 51 to cause a coin to be dropped into the chute 30c and stored in the first storage unit 51. Likewise, the upper transport unit 30a opens the gate 30b corresponding to the second storage unit 52 to cause a coin to be dropped into the chute 30c and stored in the second storage unit 52. The transport of a coin performed by the transport unit 30 may include transport due to free fall of the coin.
The lower transport unit 30d transports the coins stored in the first storage unit 51 to the feeding unit 60 located above the first storage unit 51. The first storage unit 51 is configured to include a part of the lower transport unit 30d. Specifically, a part of the lower transport unit 30d forms a part of a bottom surface of a storage space in the first storage unit 51. The lower transport unit 30d transports the coins stored in the first storage unit 51, in the horizontal direction, and thereafter transports the coins in the diagonally upward direction toward the feeding unit 60. For example, the lower transport unit 30d has a belt conveyer type transport mechanism that transports coins on a belt. Although the upper transport unit 30a transports the coins one by one, the lower transport unit 30d may transport a plurality of coins on the belt simultaneously. For example, a few coins on the belt may be simultaneously transported and dropped into the feeding unit 60. The dropped coins are temporarily stored in the feeding unit 60. The coins in the feeding unit 60 are fed out one by one to the upper transport unit 30a.
The second storage unit 52 is disposed above the feeding unit 60. The second storage unit 52 has a gate at a bottom surface forming a storage space. The second storage unit 52 stores coins therein with the gate being closed. When the gate is opened, all the coins stored in the second storage unit 52 are dropped and stored in the storage space of the feeding unit 60.
The control unit 100 controls the functions and operations of the components constituting the coin handling unit 90. The control unit 100 can control the components, based on user operations performed on the components, information received from an external device via the communication unit 120, and the like, with reference to various kinds of information stored in the memory 110 or a dedicated memory. For example, a program corresponding to the control unit 100 is stored in the memory in advance. The functions and operations of the control unit 100 are realized by hardware such as a CPU executing the program. The functions and operations of the coin handling apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment are realized by the control unit 100. According to the exemplary embodiment, the control unit 100 is, for example, one or more general purpose processing circuits such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, and a digital signal processor, or a dedicated processing circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).
The memory 110 is a non-volatile storage device in which various kinds of information required for the operations of the control unit 100 are stored. The information stored in the memory 110 includes inventory amount information of the first storage unit 51, inventory amount information of the second storage unit 52, and setting information regarding the money handling modes.
The communication unit 120 is used for transmitting/receiving information to/from an external device. Examples of the external device include a cash register connected to and used with the coin handling apparatus 1. The control unit 100 can receive a settlement instruction from the external device via the communication unit 120, and transmit a notification of settlement completion to the external device. Furthermore, the control unit 100 can transmit/receive information indicating a deposit amount and/or information indicating a change amount to/from the external device via the communication unit 120.
The control unit 100 controls the coin handling unit 90, based on at least one of the information stored in the memory 110 and the information transmitted/received through the communication unit 120, whereby the coin handling described in the present embodiment is realized. In the present embodiment, the processes described to be performed by the coin handling apparatus 1 are realized by the control of the control unit 100.
As shown in
The coin handling apparatus 1 repeats the operation of storing a coin for replenishment into the second storage unit 52 and returning a coin not for replenishment to the first storage unit 51, among the coins fed out from the first storage unit 51, as shown in
After dispensing the change from the second storage unit 52, a replenishment process of feeding out one or more coins for replenishment from the first storage unit 51, and replenishing the second storage unit 52 with the coins, is performed based on the denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins used for the change.
Coins are fed out from the first storage unit 51 until the coins for replenishment are obtained from these coins fed out from the first storage unit 51. It may take a long time until the coins for replenishment are fed out, depending on the storage state in the first storage unit 51. For example, if only 50 coins of a denomination for replenishment are included in 1000 coins stored in the first storage unit 51, it takes time before completing the replenishment, compared to the case where 500 coins of this denomination are included in 1000 coins of the first storage unit 51.
The coin handling apparatus 1 determines whether the operation mode is to be changed or not based on the inventory amount information of the first storage unit 51, i.e., the denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins currently stored in the first storage unit 51. When the number of coins of a denomination for replenishment satisfies a predetermined condition, the coin handling apparatus 1 determines this denomination to be a shortage denomination, and switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the extension mode. A condition for switching the operation mode is prepared in the memory 110 in advance. For example, when the ratio of the number of coins of a denomination for replenishment to the number of coins currently stored in the first storage unit 51, i.e., the total number of coins of all denominations, is lower than a predetermined threshold value, this denomination is determined as the shortage denomination. The condition for switching the operation mode will be described later.
When such a shortage denomination has been found, i.e., the shortage of coin of the denomination for replenishment occurred in the first storage unit 51 and the denomination is determined as the shortage denomination, the coin handling apparatus 1 can perform the depositing process in the depositing extension mode.
There is a difference in the way of handling coins of a shortage denomination among deposited coins, between the depositing extension mode and the normal mode. In the normal mode, all the coins that can be deposited are stored in the first storage unit 51, regardless of the denominations thereof. Meanwhile, in the extension mode, as shown in
Thus, the coin handling apparatus 1 stores the coins of the shortage denomination, which may cause a lengthy replenishment process that takes a long time to replenish the second storage unit 52 with coins fed out from the first storage unit 51, into the second storage unit 52 from the stage of the depositing process, thereby avoiding the time required for the replenishment process from increasing.
After the operation mode of the coin handling apparatus 1 is switched to the extension mode, coins of the shortage denomination larger in number than the minimum number of constituent coins may be stored in the second storage unit 52. For example, although the minimum number of 100-JPY coins constituting a change by Japanese coins is four, if it is detected that 100-JPY coin becomes a shortage denomination and the depositing process is performed in the depositing extension mode, the coin handling apparatus 1 can store five or more 100-JPY coins in the second storage unit 52.
When a shortage denomination has been found in the first storage unit 51, the coin handling apparatus 1 can perform the replenishment process with the operation mode being switched from the normal mode to the extension mode. The extension mode of the replenishment process includes two types of extension modes, a first replenishment extension mode and a second replenishment extension mode. The coin handling apparatus 1 can select at least one of the first replenishment extension mode and the second replenishment extension mode, according to a state of coins of the shortage denomination in the first storage unit 51, to perform the replenishment process.
In the replenishment process of the normal mode, after replenishing the second storage unit 52 with coins for replenishment, all the coins remaining in the transport path and the feeding unit 60 are returned to the first storage unit 51 as shown in
For example, in a case where 10-JPY is a shortage denomination and the replenishment process is started in the first replenishment extension mode to replenish the second storage unit 52 with three 1-JPY coins and two 10-JPY coins (five coins for replenishment in total), all the five coins for replenishment are stored in the second storage unit 52, and thereafter, 10-JPY coins of the shortage denomination existing in the transport path and the feeding unit 60 are transported to and stored in the second storage unit 52. Specifically, 10-JPY coins, which have been recognized by the recognition unit 40 and are currently transported by the upper transport unit 30a, are stored in the second storage unit 52. Also, coins remaining in the feeding unit 60, coins being currently fed out from the feeding unit 60, and coins that have been fed out from the feeding unit 60 and are currently transported toward the recognition unit 40 are stored in the second storage unit 52 if these coins are recognized as 10-JPY coins by the recognition unit 40.
For example, even when the coin for replenishment is 50-JPY coin and the shortage denomination is 10-JPY coin, i.e., the denomination of a coin for replenishment is different from the shortage denomination, it is possible to store the 10-JPY coins of the shortage denomination into the second storage unit 52 during the replenishment process by performing the replenishment process in the first replenishment extension mode. Although the number of 10-JPY coins included in the minimum number of constituent coins of a change to be stored in the second storage unit 52 is four, if 10-JPY becomes a shortage denomination, the coin handling apparatus 1 allows five or more 10-JPY coins to be stored in the second storage unit 52.
As described above, in the replenishment process in the first replenishment extension mode, regardless of whether or not the shortage denomination is included in the denominations of coins for replenishment, the coin handling apparatus 1 can store coins of the shortage denomination into the second storage unit 52. In addition, as to coins of the shortage denomination, the coin handling apparatus 1 allows storage of these coins larger in number than the minimum number of constituent coins set to be stored in the second storage unit 52. The second storage unit 52 can store the coins of the shortage denomination during the replenishment process. Consequently, when the replenishment process for the coins of the shortage denomination becomes required, it is possible to avoid the replenishment process from being continued for a long time.
After starting the replenishment process in the second replenishment extension mode, the coin handling apparatus 1 recognizes the denominations of coins fed out from the first storage unit 51 by using the recognition unit 40, and stores coins for replenishment and coins of the shortage denomination into the second storage unit 52 as shown in
The process after replenishing the second storage unit 52 with the coins for replenishment is performed in the same way as that of the replenishment process in the normal mode shown in
In the replenishment process of the second replenishment extension mode, as in the replenishment process of the first replenishment extension mode, the coin handling apparatus 1 stores the coins of the shortage denomination into the second storage unit 52 regardless of whether or not the shortage denomination is included in the denominations of coins for replenishment. The coin handling apparatus 1 allows the coins of the shortage denomination larger in number than the minimum number of constituent coins, to be stored in the second storage unit 52. The second storage unit 52 can store a larger number of coins of the shortage denomination than usual, during the replenishment process. Therefore, when the replenishment process for the coins of the shortage denomination becomes required, it is possible to avoid the replenishment process from being continued for a long time.
In the first replenishment extension mode shown in
The coin handling apparatus 1 that performs money handling in the extension mode can store coins larger in number than the minimum number of constituent coins into the second storage unit 52. For example, it is assumed that 100-JPY coin, for which the minimum number of constituent coins is four, becomes a shortage denomination, and the coin handling apparatus 1 stores six 100-JPY coins in the second storage unit 52 in the extension mode. In this case, even if three 100-JPY coins are dispensed from the second storage unit 52 in the change dispensing process to be performed later, three 100-JPY coins still remain in the second storage unit 52. Therefore, in the replenishment process to be performed after the change dispensing process, the number of 100-JPY coins reaches four, which is the minimum number of constituent coins, by replenishing the second storage unit 52 with only one 100-JPY coin. Thus, the time required for the replenishment process can be reduced.
As described above, the coin handling apparatus 1 operating in the normal mode uses the first storage unit 51 for storage of deposited coins and feeding-out of coins for replenishing the second storage unit 52, and uses the second storage unit 52 for storage of coins to be dispensed. When a shortage denomination has been found, the coin handling apparatus 1 can be operated in the dispensing extension mode. The coin handling apparatus 1 operating in the dispensing extension mode changes the manner of using the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52 from that in the normal mode. In the dispensing extension mode, storage of deposited coins and feeding-out of coins to be dispensed are performed in both the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52.
When the operation mode is switched to the dispensing extension mode, the coin handling apparatus 1 can perform a process of moving coins between the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52.
As shown in
If coins of the shortage denomination are not included in the coins being stored in the first storage unit 51 at the stage where the first moving process has been ended, the coin handling apparatus 1 starts the operation in the dispensing extension mode. It can be confirmed based on the inventory amount information in the memory 110 whether or not coins of the shortage denomination are stored in the first storage unit 51.
If coins of the shortage denomination are included in the coins being stored in the first storage unit 51, the coin handling apparatus 1 may further perform the second moving process. In the second moving process, as shown in
The second moving process is performed to establish a state where the second storage unit 52 stores only coins of the shortage denomination while the first storage unit 51 stores coins of a plurality of denominations other than the shortage denomination in a mixed state. The second moving process may be performed subsequently to execution of the first moving process after shifting to the dispensing extension mode. The second moving process may be performed after a while from execution of the first moving process, by using a spare time when other coin handling is not performed in the coin handling apparatus 1.
When the coins of the shortage denomination stored in the first storage unit 51 satisfy a predetermined condition, the coin handling apparatus 1 may not necessarily perform the second moving process. For example, when the number of coins of the shortage denomination stored in the first storage unit 51 is less than a predetermined threshold value, the coin handling apparatus 1 may be set not to perform the second moving process. For another example, when the ratio of the number of coins of the shortage denomination to the number of all the coins in the first storage unit 51 is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the coin handling apparatus 1 may be set not to perform the second moving process. Since coins of the shortage denomination can be moved from the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52 during the dispensing process in the dispensing extension mode described later, the second moving process may be set not to be performed, regardless of the number of coins of the shortage denomination stored in the first storage unit.
The first moving process may not necessarily be performed independently from other money handlings. The first moving process may be performed in combination with the change dispensing process when the change dispensing process is performed for the first time after the operation mode has been switched to the dispensing extension mode. Specifically, during the change dispensing process, among the coins discharged from the second storage unit 52 to the feeding unit 60, the coin handling apparatus 1 may dispense coins constituting the change from the dispensing unit 20, return coins of the shortage denomination to the second storage unit 52, and store the remaining coins into the first storage unit 51.
After switching the operation mode to the dispensing extension mode, the coin handling apparatus 1 performs at least the first moving process independently from other money handlings or in combination with the dispensing process, thereby establishing a state where the second storage unit 52 stores only coins of the shortage denomination. The coin handling apparatus 1 performs the depositing process and the dispensing process in the dispensing extension mode, by using the second storage unit 52 in which only the coins of the shortage denomination are stored, and the first storage unit 51 in which coins of a plurality of denominations are stored in a mixed state.
In the depositing process, as shown in
In the dispensing process, among coins to be dispensed, the coin handling apparatus 1 dispenses coins of the shortage denomination from the second storage unit 52, and dispenses coins of denominations other than the shortage denomination from the first storage unit 51. Specifically, as shown in
As long as coins of the shortage denomination are included in the coins stored in the first storage unit 51, a coin of the shortage denomination may be fed out from the first storage unit 51 during the dispensing process. When the coin of the shortage denomination is a coin to be dispensed in the dispensing process, this coin of the shortage denomination is dispensed from the dispensing unit 20, regardless of whether this coin has been stored in the first storage unit 51 or the second storage unit 52. After completing dispensing of the coin of the shortage denomination among the coins to be dispensed, if a coin of the shortage denomination is included in the coins recognized by the recognition unit 40, this coin is stored in the second storage unit 52. Thus, while repeating the dispensing process, coins of the shortage denomination among the coins currently stored in the first storage unit 51 are moved to the second storage unit 52.
A specific example will be described. For example, it is assumed that 100-JPY coin becomes a shortage denomination while the minimum number of constituent coins including four 100-JPY coins are being stored in the second storage unit 52, and the coin handling apparatus 1 is shifted to the dispensing extension mode. In this case, the coin handling apparatus 1 performs the first moving process, and moves all the coins of denominations other than the shortage denomination to the first storage unit 51 while leaving only the four 100-JPY coins in the second storage unit 52. If coin handling need not be performed immediately after completion of the first moving process, the coin handling apparatus 1 may perform the second moving process to move 100-JPY coins among the coins currently stored in the first storage unit 51, to the second storage unit 52. The second moving process may be performed for a predetermined time, or may be continuously performed until a depositing process for transaction with the customer becomes necessary.
Thereafter, in the depositing process performed in the dispensing extension mode, 100-JPY coins are stored in the second storage unit 52. Therefore, the number of 100-JPY coins being the shortage denomination is not increased in the first storage unit 51. If coins to be dispensed in the dispensing process are only 100-JPY coins, the coin handling apparatus 1 discharges 100-JPY coins from the second storage unit 52 to the feeding unit 60, and performs the dispensing process. If 100-JPY coins are not included in the coins to be dispensed, the coin handling apparatus 1 transports the coins from the first storage unit 51 to the feeding unit 60, and performs the dispensing process. At this time, if a 100-JPY coin is included in the coins fed out from the first storage unit 51, this 100-JPY coin is stored in the second storage unit 52. If 100-JPY coins and coins of the other denominations are included in the coins to be dispensed, the dispensing process is performed by using the 100-JPY coins in the second storage unit 52 and the coins in the first storage unit 51 as described above. The coin handling apparatus 1 stores all the 100-JPY coins, which have been obtained from the feeding unit 60 after completing the dispensing of 100-yen coins, into the second storage unit 52. After dispensing all the coins to be dispensed, the coin handling apparatus 1 stores 100-JPY coins into the second storage unit 52 and stores coins other than the 100-JPY coins into the first storage unit 51, among the remaining coins being currently transported by the transport unit 30 and the coins currently stored in the feeding unit 60, thereby completing the dispensing process.
After shifting to the dispensing extension mode, only the coins of the shortage denomination are stored in the second storage unit 52. Therefore, in contrast to the normal mode, it is not necessary to perform the replenishment process of replenishing the second storage unit 52 with the coins fed out from the first storage unit 51. However, if a coin of the shortage denomination is included in the coins currently stored in the first storage unit 51, the coin handling apparatus 1 may perform the second moving process in order to move this coin of the shortage denomination from the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52.
If change coins need to be returned to the customer (step S2; Yes), the coin handling apparatus 1 performs the change dispensing process in the normal mode (step S3). After the dispensing process, in order to replenish the second storage unit 52 with coins, the coin handling apparatus 1 performs the replenishment process in the normal mode (step S4). If change coins need not be dispensed (step S2; No), neither the dispensing process nor the replenishment process is performed.
When the depositing process has been performed, or the depositing process, the dispensing process, and the replenishment process have been performed, and thereby the inventory amount in the first storage unit 51 is changed, the coin handling apparatus 1 determines whether or not the operation mode needs to be changed from the normal mode to the extension mode (step S5). If the operation mode needs to be changed (step S5; Yes), the coin handling apparatus 1 changes the operation mode from the normal mode to the extension mode (step S6). As a result, from the next depositing process, at least one of the depositing process, the replenishment process, and the dispensing process will be performed in the aforementioned extension mode. If the operation mode need not be changed (step S5; No), the coin handling apparatus 1 ends the handling without changing the operation mode.
The second storage unit 52 is configured to store a minimum number of constituent coins constituting a change in United States coins. Specifically, as shown in
When operating in the normal mode, the coin handling apparatus 1 stores all the deposited coins into the first storage unit 51 (S11), dispenses all the coins to be dispensed, from the second storage unit 52 (S12), and replenishes the second storage unit 52 with coins equivalent to the denominations and the number for each denomination of the coins fed out from the first storage unit 51 (S13). Thus, before the next depositing process is started, the second storage unit 52 is returned to the state where the minimum number of constituent coins are stored therein again.
When replenishing the second storage unit 52 with coins, in order to avoid a situation that coins for replenishment are not fed out from the first storage unit 51 for a long time, the percentage of the number of coins of each denomination currently stored in the first storage unit 51 is preferably equal to the percentage of the number of coins of each denomination corresponding to the minimum number of the constituent coins to be stored in the second storage unit 52. Coins to be stored in the second storage unit 52 are four 1-USC coins, one 5-USC coin, two 10-USC coins, and three 25-USC coins, and the percentages in number of 1-USC coins, 5-USC coins, 10-USC coins, and 25-USC coins are 40%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively. Therefore, as shown in
An upper-limit number of coins for each denomination to be stored is set for the first storage unit 51. The upper-limit number may be set based on the ideal mixing ratio. For example, when the upper limit of the number of coins storable in the first storage unit 51 (maximum storage number) is 1300, the upper-limit number of 1-USC coins calculated based on the ideal mixing ratio is 520 (=1300×40%), as shown in
A lower-limit number of coins for each denomination to be stored is set for the first storage unit 51. The lower-limit number may be set based on the upper-limit number. For example, a number obtained by multiplying the upper-limit number for each denomination by a predetermined coefficient is set as the lower-limit number.
The coin handling apparatus 1 detects a shortage denomination by monitoring the number of coins for each denomination currently stored in the first storage unit 51. The coin handling apparatus 1 determines that it is necessary to replenish the first storage unit 51 with coins of the detected shortage denomination from the outside of the apparatus.
The coin handling apparatus 1 can perform a notification process of notifying the clerk of the determination result. In the notification process, for example, information requesting replenishment of coins of the shortage denomination is displayed, for the clerk, on an external device such as the cash register or the display device connected to the coin handling apparatus 1.
In the memory 110 of the coin handling apparatus 1, switching conditions for switching the operation mode from the normal mode to the extension mode, based on the inventory amount information of the first storage unit 51, are stored in advance. The coin handling apparatus 1 determines whether or not switching of the operation mode is necessary, based on the switching conditions stored in the memory 110 (S14). The user of the coin handling apparatus 1, such as the clerk of the store where the coin handling apparatus 1 is installed, can set the condition for switching the operation mode, i.e., the condition for determining whether or not to change the operation mode.
For example, the clerk sets the lower-limit number of coins for each denomination to be stored in the first storage unit 51, as a threshold value. Specifically, as indicated by “condition 1” in a broken-line frame shown in
For example, as indicated by “condition 2” shown in
For example, as indicated by “condition 3” shown in
If substitute replenishment is allowed to be performed when the second storage unit 52 is replenished with coins in the coin handling apparatus 1, a switching condition may be set such that a denomination for which substitute replenishment has been performed is determined as a shortage denomination and the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the extension mode, as indicated by “condition 4” shown in
Since there is no denomination lower than 1-USC coins, substitute replenishment cannot be performed for 1-USC coins. Meanwhile, as for 5-USC coins, substitute replenishment can be performed by using 1-USC coins of the lower denomination. Therefore, as indicated by “substitute replenishment 1” in
Likewise, as for 10-USC coins, “substitute replenishment 1” using one 10-USC coin and two 5-USC coins and “substitute replenishment 2” using four 5-USC coins, instead of two 10-USC coins (minimum number of constituent coins), are allowed. As for 25-USC coins, “substitute replenishment 1” using one 5-USC coins, two 10-USC coins, and two 25-USC coins, “substitute replenishment 2” using five 10-USC coins and one 25-USC coin, and “substitute replenishment 3” using one 5-USC coin and seven 10-USC coins, instead of three 25-USC coins (minimum number of constituent coins), are allowed.
For example, in a case where the coin handling apparatus 1 operating in the normal mode dispenses a change from the second storage unit 52 and replenishes the second storage unit 52 with coins from the first storage unit 51 in the subsequent replenishment process, if coins for replenishment cannot be obtained even after a predetermined time (threshold value) set in advance has elapsed, the substitute replenishment shown in
Specifically, for example, after starting the replenishment process for replenishing the second storage unit 52 with one 5-USC coin from the first storage unit 51, in a case where one 5-USC coin cannot be fed out from the first storage unit 51 even after the predetermined threshold time has elapsed from the start of the replenishment process, coins for replenishment are changed from one 5-USC coin to five 1-USC coins, based on substitute replenishment setting shown in
Regarding the operation mode switching condition, only one condition may be set, or a plurality conditions may be set. In the latter case, when any one condition has been satisfied, the coin handling apparatus 1 may determine that a shortage denomination is detected, and switch the operation mode from the normal mode to the extension mode.
When the operation mode of the coin handling apparatus 1 is switched from the normal mode to the extension mode, it is allowed to store coins larger in number than the minimum number of constituent coins for change, into the second storage unit 52, as described above. As shown in
For example, as shown in
Likewise, the upper-limit number of 5-USC coins is six coins in total obtained by summing up the numbers enclosed in circles among the numbers of 5-USC coins for replenishment by denominations, which are vertically arranged in
When switching the operation mode to the extension mode, as shown in a dashed-and-dotted line frame in
For example, as for 1-USC coins, during the operation in the normal mode, four 1-USC coins that is the minimum number of constituent coins are stored in the second storage unit 52. In other words, in the normal mode, when the replenishment process is completed, the number of 1-USC coins being stored in the second storage unit 52 does not become three or less, nor 5 or more.
Meanwhile, after 1-USC coin become a shortage denomination and the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the extension mode, the coin handling apparatus 1 can store, in the second storage unit 52, up to nine 1-USC coins set as the upper-limit number, with the lower-limit number being four that is the minimum number of constituent coins having been set for 1-USC coins. Specifically in the aforementioned process in the extension mode, four or more and nine or less 1-USC coins can be stored in the second storage unit 52. Likewise, in the extension mode, one or more and six or less 5-USC coins can be stored in the second storage unit 52, and two or more and nine or less 10-USC coins can be stored in the second storage unit 52. As for 25-USC coins, three 25-USC coins can be stored in the second storage unit 52 regardless of the operation mode. However, this is an example, and a number obtained by multiplying the minimum number of constituent coins of each denomination by a predetermined coefficient, such as twice the minimum number of constituent coins, may be set as an upper-limit number. Alternatively, upper-limit numbers may be set by different methods for the respective denominations. For example, in the example described with reference to
As described above, when the coin handling apparatus 1, which has switched the operation mode to the extension mode due to occurrence of a shortage denomination, stores coins larger in number than the minimum number of constituent coins for change into the second storage unit 52, the coin handling apparatus 1 may set the upper-limit number, thereby preventing dispensing of coins of the other denominations from becoming difficult during the change dispensing process.
For example, when one 5-USC coin is to be dispensed from the second storage unit 52 in which the minimum number of constituent coins of United States coins are stored, this one 5-USC coin is dispensed from among ten coins in total discharged from the second storage unit 52 to the feeding unit 60. Meanwhile, for example, it is assumed that 1-USC coin becomes a shortage denomination and thirty coins, i.e., twenty 1-USC coins added to ten coins as the minimum number of constituent coins, are stored in the second storage unit 52. In this case, when one 5-USC coin is to be dispensed, this 5-USC coin has to be dispensed from among the thirty coins in total discharged from the second storage unit 52 to the feeding unit 60, which may take a long time to complete the dispensing. Even in the operation in the extension mode, the time required for the dispensing process can be reduced by limiting the number of 1-USC coins that can be stored in the second storage unit 52 to nine as described above.
It can be set that the upper-limit number of coins of the shortage denomination in the extension mode is determined based on the maximum number of coins storable in the second storage unit 52, and the ideal mixing ratios. For example, when the maximum number of coins storable in the second storage unit 52 is 50 and 1-USC coin becomes a shortage denomination, since the ideal mixing ratio of 1-USC coins is 40%, the upper-limit number of 1-USC coins is set to 20 (=50×40%). Likewise, the upper-limit numbers of coins of the other denominations are also set to five 5-USC coins (=50×10%), ten 10-USC coins (=50×20%), and fifteen 25-USC coins (=50×30%), based on the maximum storage number of coins in the second storage unit 52, and the ideal mixing ratios.
The operation mode switching conditions shown in the broken-line frame in
Specifically, different threshold values may be set between a denomination substitutable by a lower denomination, and the lowest denomination that is not substitutable. For example, in the example of “condition 1” shown in
For example, in the example of “condition 2” shown in
For example, in the example of “condition 3” shown in
In another example, for a certain denomination, a threshold value may not necessarily be set and the operation mode may not necessarily be switched to the extension mode. For example, a threshold value may be set and the operation mode may be switched for the lowest denomination not substitutable by a lower denomination, whereas the operation mode may not necessarily be switched for another denomination substitutable by a lower denomination.
The operation mode may not necessarily be switched from the normal mode to one extension mode, and may be switched from the normal mode to an operation mode in which a plurality of extension modes are combined, as shown by broken lines in
For example, the depositing extension mode may be combined with the first replenishment extension mode, and the normal mode may be switched to an operation mode for performing the depositing process in the depositing extension mode and the replenishment process in the first replenishment extension mode. For another example, the depositing extension mode may be combined with the second replenishment extension mode, and the normal mode may be switched to an operation mode for performing the depositing process in the depositing extension mode and the replenishment process in the second replenishment extension mode. For still another example, the first replenishment extension mode may be combined with the second extension mode, and the normal mode may be switched to an operation mode for performing the replenishment process in the first replenishment extension mode and the replenishment process in the second replenishment extension mode.
The depositing extension mode, the first replenishment extension mode, and the second replenishment extension mode may be combined with each other, and the normal mode may be switched to an operation mode for performing the depositing process in the depositing extension mode, the replenishment process in the first replenishment extension mode, and the replenishment process in the second replenishment extension mode.
In the case of performing the replenishment process in the first replenishment extension mode and the replenishment process in the second replenishment extension mode, coins of the shortage denomination are stored in the second storage unit 52 during the period from when the replenishment process is started to when the replenishment process is completed. Specifically, coins of the shortage denomination are stored in the second storage unit 52 as shown in
The normal mode may be switched to an operation mode in which the depositing extension mode and the dispensing extension mode are combined. In this case, after the coin handling apparatus 1 has shifted to the depositing extension mode and performed the depositing process as shown in
After shifting from the normal mode to an extension mode, the operation mode may be further shifted to another extension mode. For example, after shifting to any one of the three extension modes, i.e., the depositing extension mode, the first replenishment extension mode, and the second replenishment extension mode, as shown by the solid-line arrows in
For another example, after shifting from the normal mode to an operation mode in which two of the three extension modes, i.e., the depositing extension mode, the first replenishment extension mode, and the second replenishment extension mode, are combined, as shown by a broken-line arrow in
For still another example, after shifting from the normal mode to an operation mode in which the depositing extension mode, the first replenishment extension mode, and the second replenishment extension mode are combined, as shown by the broken-line arrow in
Shifting of the operation mode may be performed based on operation mode switching conditions in which threshold values are set stepwise. Specifically, the threshold values shown in the broken-line frame in
Upon detecting a shortage denomination, the coin handling apparatus 1 performs a notification process of notifying the clerk of this fact, switches the operation mode to the extension mode. After that, the coin handling apparatus 1 can return the operation mode to the normal mode when the shortage of coins of the shortage denomination is resolved. For example, the clerk who has received the notification performs replenishment work to replenish the coin handling apparatus 1 with coins of the shortage denomination from the outside of the apparatus. The coin handling apparatus 1 detects this fact, and returns the operation mode to the normal mode. For another example, when shortage of coins is resolved because the number of coins of the shortage denomination being stored in the coin handling apparatus 1 is increased during execution of money handling including the depositing process, the coin handling apparatus 1 detects this fact, and returns the operation mode to the normal mode.
When performing the replenishment process of moving the coins from the first storage unit 51 to the second storage unit 52, the coin handling apparatus 1 can change the transport mode of the lower transport unit 30d that transports the coins from the first storage unit 51 to the feeding unit 60.
In any one among the replenishment process in the normal mode shown in
Specifically, when a predetermined condition is satisfied while repeating the process of transporting coins from the first storage unit 51 to the feeding unit 60, recognizing the coins by the recognition unit 40, storing coins for replenishment into the second storage unit 52 while returning coins not for replenishment to the first storage unit 51, the transport mode of the lower transport unit 30d can be changed. The change of the transport mode includes at least one of immediately stopping transport, stopping transport after elapse of a predetermined time, and changing the transport speed.
For example, the transport mode is changed on the condition that the number for each denomination of coins for replenishment to be stored in the second storage unit 52 is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value with respect to all the denominations. For example, the transport mode is changed on the condition that the remaining number for each denomination of coins for replenishing the second storage unit 52 becomes one. However, different threshold numbers may be set for the respective denominations. For some denominations, threshold numbers may not necessarily be set, and the transport mode may be changed based on the threshold numbers set for the other denominations.
The transport mode may be changed to different transport modes for the respective denominations. For example, transport of coins of a certain denomination may be stopped when a threshold number set for this denomination has been reached, while the transport speed of coins of another denomination may be reduced when another threshold number set for this denomination has been reached. Thus, the transport mode may be changed to different transport modes depending on denominations.
In
In the present embodiment, the coin handling apparatus 1 uses two storage units, i.e., the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52. However, this is an example, and does not exclude a device including three or more storage units. For example, the coin handling apparatus 1 may include three or more storage units, and use one of them as the second storage unit 52 while using one selected from the remaining storage units, as the first storage unit 51. For another example, assuming that the first storage unit 51 and the second storage unit 52 are one set of storage units, the coin handling apparatus 1 may include two or more sets of storage units, and handle Japanese currencies with one set as described above while handling US currencies with the other set as described above.
A money handling apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first storage unit and a second storage unit configured to store money therein; a transport unit configured to transport money; a recognition unit configured to recognize the money being transported by the transport unit; and a control unit configured to transport the money in the first storage unit by using the transport unit, recognize the money by using the recognition unit, transport a part of the money stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit based on a result of recognition, so that the second storage unit stores money of predetermined denominations for which a quantity of money of each denomination is set in advance. The control unit detects a shortage denomination for which the quantity of money currently stored in the first storage unit is short. When the shortage denomination is detected, the control unit allows to store, into the second storage unit, money of the shortage denomination larger in quantity than the quantity set in advance for the shortage denomination. In the above configuration, the control unit stores money deposited from a depositing unit into the first storage unit. In the above configuration, after performing a dispensing process, the control unit performs a process of storing a part of the money in the first storage unit into the second storage unit before the next depositing process is started. In the above configuration, the control unit may detect the shortage denomination by comparing a mixing ratio for each denomination of a plurality of denominations of money stored in the first storage unit, to a threshold value set in advance for each denomination. The control unit may detect the shortage denomination by comparing the quantity of money of each denomination of a plurality of denominations of money stored in the first storage unit, to a threshold value set in advance for each denomination. In the above configuration, the control unit may perform a replenishment process of replenishing the second storage unit with money of the same denomination and in the same quantity as the money dispensed from the second storage unit in the dispensing process, and detect the shortage denomination by comparing the time required for the replenishment process to a threshold value set in advance for each denomination. In the above configuration, when the control unit cannot feed out money of a denomination for replenishment from the first storage unit during the replenishment process, the control unit may perform substitute replenishment in which the denomination and the quantity of money for replenishment is changed and the changed quantity of money of the changed denomination is dispensed. The control unit may detect the denomination that caused the substitute replenishment as the shortage denomination.
In the above configuration, the control unit may detect the shortage denomination, based on a ratio of the quantity of money of each denomination to the quantity of money of all denominations stored in the first storage unit.
In the above configuration, the control unit may store the money of the shortage denomination into the second storage unit until the quantity of the money of the shortage denomination stored in the second storage unit reaches an upper-limit quantity set for the shortage denomination, and after the upper-limit quantity has been reached, the control unit may store the money of the shortage denomination into the first storage unit.
In the above configuration, when a shortage state of the money of the shortage denomination is resolved because the total quantity of the money of the shortage denomination stored in the first storage unit and the second storage unit is increased while money handing is performed in the money handling apparatus, the control unit may restore to a state in which the second storage unit stores the money of the predetermined denominations for which the quantity of money of each denomination is set in advance.
In the above configuration, when a shortage state of the money of the shortage denomination is resolved because the money of the shortage denomination is supplied from the outside of the apparatus to inside the apparatus, the control unit may restore to a state in which the second storage unit stores the money of the predetermined denominations for which the quantity of money of each denomination is set in advance.
In the above configuration, the control unit may store money for dispensing, which is to be dispensed in a dispensing process, into the second storage unit.
In the above configuration, if the shortage denomination is not detected, the control unit may store money deposited in a depositing process into the first storage unit regardless of denomination. On the other hand, if a shortage denomination is detected, the control unit may store the money of the shortage denomination, among the money deposited in the depositing process, into the second storage unit, and stores money of denominations other than the shortage denomination into the first storage unit.
In the above configuration, he control unit sequentially feeds out money from the first storage unit, recognizes the money by using the recognition unit, transports a part of the money stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit based on a result of recognition, so that the second storage unit stores the money of the predetermined denominations for which the quantity of money of each denomination is set in advance. After completing storage of the money into the second storage unit, if a shortage denomination is not detected, the control unit may return money that has already been fed out from the first storage unit, into the first storage unit. On the other hand, if a shortage denomination is detected, the control unit may store the money of the shortage denomination, among the money that has already been fed out from the first storage unit, into the second storage unit, and returns money of denominations other than the shortage denomination to the first storage unit.
If a shortage denomination is detected, the control unit may continue to store the money of the shortage denomination into the second storage unit even after the quantity of the money of the shortage denomination in the second storage unit reaches the quantity set in advance for the shortage denomination, during a period from when the process is started to when storage of the money of all predetermined denominations into the second storage unit is completed. Even when the process is for replenishing the second storage unit with money and the shortage denomination is not included in denominations of the money for replenishment, the control unit may store money of the shortage denomination fed out from the first storage unit, into the second storage unit, regardless of whether a quantity of the money of the shortage denomination exceeds the predetermined quantity set in advance.
In the above configuration, the control unit may store, in a depositing process, deposited money into the first storage unit and may dispense, in a dispensing process, money from the second storage unit that stores the money of the predetermined denominations for which the quantity of money of each denomination is set in advance. Upon detecting a shortage denomination, the control unit may store, in the depositing process, the money of the shortage denomination into the second storage unit, and store money of denominations other than the shortage denomination into the first storage unit. In the dispensing process, the control unit may dispense the money of the shortage denomination from the second storage unit, and dispense the money of the other denominations from the first storage unit.
In the above configuration, the control unit, upon detecting the shortage denomination, may select at least one of a plurality of types of extension modes, switches an operation mode, and performs money handing in the selected extension mode. The extension modes include the first extension mode, the second extension mode, the third extension mode and the fourth extension mode. In the first extension mode, a depositing process is performed so that the money of the shortage denomination among deposited money is stored in the second storage unit, and money of denominations other than the shortage denomination is stored in the first storage unit. In the second extension mode, a replenishment process of sequentially feeding out money from the first storage unit and replenishing the second storage unit with money for replenishment is performed so that, after completing replenishment of the second storage unit with the money for replenishment, the money of the shortage denomination among the money having been fed out from the first storage unit is stored in the second storage unit, and the money of the other denominations is returned to and stored in the first storage unit. In the third extension mode, the replenishment process is performed so that, during a period from when the replenishment process is started to when replenishment of the second storage unit with the money for replenishment is completed, the money of the shortage denomination is stored in the second storage unit even after the quantity of money of the shortage denomination in the second storage unit reaches the quantity set in advance for the shortage denomination. In the fourth extension mode, a method for using the first storage unit and the second storage unit is changed so that the money of the shortage denomination is stored in the second storage unit while the money of the other denominations is stored in the first storage unit in the depositing process, and the money of the shortage denomination is dispensed from the second storage unit while the money of the other denominations is dispensed from the first storage unit in the dispensing process.
In the above configuration, after performing the money handing in one or two extension modes selected from three extension modes that are the first extension mode, the second extension mode, and the third extension mode, the control unit may newly select another extension mode from among the three extension modes according to a shortage state of money of the shortage denomination, and perform the money handing by combining the newly selected extension mode with the previously selected one or two extension mode.
In the above configuration, after performing money handing by combining the three extension modes that are the first extension mode, the second extension mode, and the third extension mode, the control unit may select the fourth extension mode according to the shortage state of money of the shortage denomination, and perform money handing in the fourth extension mode.
In the above configuration, the control unit may detect the shortage denomination from among target denominations that are part of denominations of money stored in the first storage unit. The control unit may detect the shortage denomination, based on a threshold value set in advance for each denomination. The threshold value used for the detection may be varied depending on denominations.
A money handling method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a money handling method to be performed by the money handling apparatus. The method includes: feeding out money from a first storage unit in which money is stored, and recognizing the fed-out money with a recognition unit; transporting a part of the money stored in the first storage unit to a second storage unit based on a result of recognition, so that the second storage unit stores money of predetermined denominations for which a quantity of money of each denomination is set in advance; detecting a shortage denomination for which the quantity of money stored in the first storage unit is short; and upon detecting the shortage denomination, storing money of the shortage denomination larger in quantity than the predetermined quantity set in advance for the shortage denomination, into the second storage unit.
According to the money handling apparatus and the money handling method of the present disclosure, money for dispensing can be efficiently prepared in a predetermined storage unit in the money handling apparatus.
In the present embodiment, the respective processes are described with coins as an example, but the aforementioned processes may be performed for banknotes. In this case, banknotes may be handled as shown in the block diagrams at the lower parts of
As described above, the money handling apparatus according to the present embodiment prepares in advance a predetermined quantity of money of predetermined denominations for dispensing, in a second storage unit, separately from a first storage unit that stores money having been deposited through a depositing process. The money handling apparatus performs a dispensing process by using the money in the second storage unit. After the dispensing process, the money handling apparatus performs a replenishment process of replenishing the second storage unit with money fed out from the first storage unit to prepare the predetermined money for the next dispensing process. Upon detecting a shortage denomination for which the quantity of money is short in the first storage unit, the money handling apparatus stores, for the shortage denomination, money larger in quantity than the predetermined quantity that has been set for the dispensing process, into the second storage unit. In performing a depositing process or a replenishment process, the money handling apparatus secures money of the shortage denomination into the second storage unit in advance, thereby avoiding a situation that, when money for dispensing including the money of the shortage denomination needs to be prepared in the second storage unit for a next dispensing process, preparation for the money of the shortage denomination takes a long time.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-135687 | Aug 2023 | JP | national |
