Patent Grant
9881437
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-008523, filed on Jan. 20, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relate generally to a money reception device.
Recently, in a distribution retail store, such as a supermarket, a department store, a restaurant, a money reception device which receives and stores a coin or a bill (hereinafter, a coin and a bill are collectively called “money”) deposited from a customer has been used. This money reception device performs discrimination of the money and determination of authenticity of the money in the process of storing received money, and rejects the money which has not been determined to be a normal coin.
By the way, a money reception device does not determine money to be a normal coin, for wear or blot of the money, regardless that it is a normal coin, and may reject the money. In such a case, an operator manages to deposit substitute money which has been previously prepared in a storage or the like, in the money reception device.
Accordingly, a store had to prepare a storage for such money or reserve.
According to one embodiment, a money reception device has a received money conveying device, a storage device, a first detection device, a reject device, an interface, and a control device. The received money conveying device conveys received money via a conveying path. The storage device stores the money to be conveyed by the conveying device. The first detection device detects characteristic of the money to be conveyed by the conveying device. The reject device rejects the money that has been judged not to be a normal coin out of the moneys to be conveyed by the conveying device, from the conveying path. The interface receives storage permission to permit storing of the money to be received again, after the money has been rejected from the conveying path by the reject device, in the storage device. The control device judges whether the money is not a normal coin, based on a detection result of the first detection device. The control device controls the reject device so that the money which has been judged not to be a normal coin is rejected from the conveying path, when it is judged that the money is not a normal coin. The control device controls the reject device so that the money to be received again passes through the conveying path without being rejected, when the interface has received the storage permission.
Hereinafter, money reception devices according to embodiments will be described in detail with reference to
The operation device 33 is a keyboard for inputting information. The keyboard includes a settlement key 331 (refer to
On the other hand, the coin change machine 1 has a chassis 2 which is long in the depth direction. A coin input port 3 opening upward is provided on the upper surface of the chassis 2 shown in
A coin paying port 4 is provided on the front surface of the chassis 2 at the left side. The coin paying port 4 is a port to output (pay) the change into the outside of the chassis 2. At the front side of the coin paying port 4 of the chassis 2, a saucer 5 to receive the coin which has been paid from the coin paying port 4 is provided.
In addition, at the lower front side of the coin input port 3 of the chassis 2, a reject port 6 for discharging a coin which is not to be stored in the coin change machine 1, such as a deformed coin, a foreign coin, a counterfeit coin, and a commemorative coin is provided. A saucer 7 to catch a coin discharged from the reject port 6 is provided on the chassis 2 at the front side of the reject port 6. The coin change machine 1 discharges a coin which has been rejected by a reject device 11 described later from the reject port 6. In the embodiment, a coin which may be stored in the coin change machine 1, that is, a coin except a deformed coin, a foreign coin, a counterfeit coin, and a commemorative coin which have been described above is called a normal coin.
A plurality of LEDs 17 for informing that a coin is to be discharged from the reject port 6 are provided in parallel with each other at the inside of the saucer 7 in the vicinity of the reject port 6. In addition, the place where the LEDs 17 are provided is not particularly limited, as long as it is in the vicinity of the reject port 6. The number of the LEDs 17 and the arrangement thereof are also not particularly limited. When the above described rejected coin is discharged from the reject port 6, the LEDs 17 are lighted (blinking light emitting may be used). The LEDs 17 are lighted, and thereby an operator easily notices that a coin is to be discharged from the reject port 6.
An operation device 14 is provided on the upper surface of the chassis 2 shown in
The coin detection device 18 has three pairs of transmission type sensors, for example. The coin detection device 18 detects a coin inputted in the coin input port 3. When the coin is detected by the coin detection device 18, the coin change machine 1 drives the flat belt 3a, to convey the coin to the inside of the chassis 2 and to receive the coin. The received coin is conveyed to a further inside of the chassis 2 by the received money conveying device 9.
The received money conveying device 9 sequentially conveys the coins which have been inputted from the coin input port 3 and received by the flat belt 3a, to the storage device 8 one by one at a prescribed interval. The received money conveying device 9 has conveying belts 9a, 9b, and conveying paths 9c, 9d, for example. The conveying path 9c is a path which is arranged in the direction along the conveying direction of a coin by the flat belt 3a. The conveying path 9c leads the coin which has been conveyed by the flat belt 3a in the same direction as the conveying direction of a coin by the flat belt 3a. The conveying belt 9a is arranged along the conveying path 9c. The conveying belt 9a conveys the coin via the conveying path 9c. The conveying path 9d is a path arranged orthogonally to the conveying path 9c. The conveying path 9d leads the coin to be conveyed by the conveying belt 9a and the conveying path 9c to the upper portion of the storage device 8. The conveying belt 9b is arranged along the conveying path 9d. In other words, the conveying belt 9b is arranged orthogonally to the conveying belt 9a. The conveying belt 9b conveys the coin via the conveying path 9d.
Accordingly, the coin inputted from the coin input port 3 is conveyed on the conveying path 9c inside the coin change machine 1 by the conveying belt 9a, and is passed onto the conveying belt 9b. Then, the coin is conveyed on the conveying path 9d to the upper portion of the storage device 8 by the conveying belt 9b. The storage device 8 has a plurality of storages 20 corresponding to denominations of coins. The storage device 8 stores coins in the storages 20 for the respective denominations. Specifically, the storage device 8 has a plurality of sorting holes 21. The sorting holes 21 are arranged in the conveying path 9d at positions corresponding to the upper portions of the respective storages 20. The sorting holes 21 make the coins to be conveyed by the conveying belt 9b and the conveying path 9d drop in the respective storages 20 corresponding to the denominations of the relevant coins. For example, the sorting holes 21 have sizes corresponding to respective diameters of the coins to be dropped. Accordingly, when the coins which have been conveyed on the conveying path 9d by the conveying belt 9b pass through the sorting holes 21, only the coin having a size coincident with the sorting hole 21 drops from the sorting hole 21 into the storage 20. Accordingly, the coins which have dropped through the sorting holes 21 are sorted for the respective denominations, and are stored in the storages 20 of the corresponding denominations.
The received money discrimination device 10 that is a first detection device detects characteristic of a coin to be received. The received money discrimination device 10 outputs a voltage in accordance with the characteristic of the coin, as a detection result. The received money discrimination device 10 includes an outer diameter sensor, a material sensor, and a thickness sensor, for example. The outer diameter sensor detects, as the above-described characteristic of the coin, an outer diameter of the coin to pass through the received money discrimination device 10. The material sensor detects, as the above-described characteristic of the coin, material of the coin to pass through the received money discrimination device 10. The thickness sensor detects, as the above-described characteristic of the coin, a thickness of the coin to pass through the received money discrimination device 10. And the above-described respective sensors of the received money discrimination device 10 output in accordance with the detection results. In addition, a control device 100 described later judges the authenticity and denomination of the coin, based on the detection results from the received money discrimination device 10.
The reject device 11 is provided in the middle of the conveying path 9c at the more downstream side in the conveying direction of a coin than the received money discrimination device 10. The reject device 11 rejects the coin to be conveyed by the received money conveying device 9 from the conveying path 9c, or makes the coin pass through the conveying path 9c without rejecting it. Specifically, the reject device 11 has a reject hole 11a to make a coin drop, and a shutter 11b which can be opened and closed for this reject hole 11a. In the state that the shutter 11b is closed for the reject hole 11a, all the coins to be conveyed by the received money conveying device 9 are conveyed to the storage device 8 without dropping from the reject hole 11a. In the state that the shutter 11b is opened for the reject hole 11a, the coin to be conveyed by the received money conveying device 9 drops from the reject hole 11a, and is rejected from the conveying path 9c. The rejected coin is conveyed to the reject port 6, and is discharged from the reject port 6 on a saucer 7.
In addition, the coin change machine 1 has a paying money conveying device 23 and a paying money discrimination device 22. The paying money conveying device 23 has a paying route 23a and a paying belt 23b. The paying belt 23b conveys the coin stored in the storage 20 to the coin paying port 4 along the paying route 23a. The paying money discrimination device 22 that is a second detection device detects characteristics of the coin to be paid. The paying money discrimination device 22 outputs a voltage in accordance with the characteristic of the coin, as a detection result. The paying money discrimination devices 22 that are second detection devices are provided in the paying routes 23a immediately before the coin paying port 4 of the respective storages 20. The paying money discrimination device 22 has the same configuration as the received money discrimination device 10. That is, the paying money discrimination device 22 has an outer diameter sensor, a material sensor, and a thickness sensor. The outer diameter sensor detects, as the above-described characteristic of the coin, an outer diameter of the coin to pass through the paying money discrimination device 22. The material sensor detects, as the above-described characteristic of the coin, material of the coin to pass through the paying money discrimination device 22. The thickness sensor detects, as the above-described characteristic of the coin, a thickness of the coin to pass through the paying money discrimination device 22. And the above-described respective sensors of the paying money discrimination device 22 output in accordance with the detection results. In addition, the control device 100 described later judges the denomination and authenticity of the coin, based on the detection results from the paying money discrimination device 22. In addition, the paying money discrimination devices 22 are respectively provided by a plurality of numbers for a plurality of the storages 20. Accordingly, it is possible to judge from what storage 20 out of a plurality of the storages 20 the coin has been paid, by the detection results of the paying money discrimination devices 20. That is, since the respective storages 20 correspond to denominations, it is also possible to judge a denomination of the coin to be paid, by the detection results of the paying money discrimination devices 22.
Hereinafter, hardware configurations of the POS terminal 31 and the coin change machine 1 will be described.
The RAM 43 includes a commodity information partition 431 to store commodity information. The memory device 44 is a nonvolatile memory in which memory information is held even if a power source is turned off, such as a HDD (Hard Disc Drive), or a flash memory. The memory device 44 includes a control program partition 441 to store the control program.
The control device 400 connects to the operation device 33, the display device for operator 34, the display device for customer 37, the reading device 36, and the printing device 35, via the data bus 45 and a controller 46.
In addition, the control device 400 connects to an interface 26 via the data bus 45. The interface 26 includes a communication device to perform communication via the communication cable 38. Hereinafter, the interface 26 is called a communication device 26. The communication device 26 performs transmission/reception of information with the coin change machine 1. For example, the communication device 26 transmits change information described later to the coin change machine 1. The communication device 26 receives a storage permission request signal described later and so on from the coin change machine 1, and transmits, as its response, a storage rejection signal or a storage permission signal which will be described later, to the coin change machine 1. Further, the communication device 26 receive a money payment permission request signal described later from the coin change machine 1, and transmits, as its response, a money payment rejection signal, or a money payment permission signal to the coin change machine 1.
The memory device 54 is a nonvolatile memory in which memory information is held even if a power source is turned off, such as a HDD (Hard Disc Drive), or a flash memory. The memory device 54 includes a control program partition 541 to store the control program. Further, the memory device 54 includes a normal coin information partition 542 and a memory partition 543. The memory partition 543 stores an output from the received money discrimination device 10. That is, the memory partition 543 stores an output voltage from the outer diameter sensor, an output voltage from the material sensor, and an output voltage from the thickness sensor. Hereinafter, an output voltage from a sensor may be simply called an output from a sensor. The normal coin information partition 542 will be described later with reference to
In addition, the control device 100 connects to the operation device 15, the display device 16, the received money conveying device 9, the received money discrimination device 10, the reject device 11, the paying money discrimination device 22, the paying money conveying device 23.
The received money conveying device 9 includes motors or the like for driving the conveying belts 9a, 9b. The reject device 11 includes a solenoid or the like which makes the shutter 11b perform opening and closing operations for the reject hole 11a. The paying money conveying device 23 includes a motor or the like to drive the paying belt 23b. The control device 100 inputs an output from the received money discrimination device 10. The control device 100 inputs an output from the paying money discrimination device 22.
In addition, the control device 100 connects to an interface 27 via the data bus 55. The interface 27 is a communication device to perform communication with the POS terminal 31 via the communication cable 38. Hereinafter, the interface 27 is called a communication device 27. The communication device 27 performs transmission/reception of information with the POS terminal 31. For example, the communication device 27 receives the change information described later from the POS terminal 31. The communication device 27 transmits the storage permission request signal described later or the like to the POS terminal 31, and receives, as its response, the storage permission signal described later or the storage rejection signal which will be described later from the POS terminal 31. In addition, the communication device 27 transmits the money payment permission request signal described later or the like to the POS terminal 31, and as its response, receives the money payment permission signal or the money payment rejection signal which will be described later, from the POS terminal 31
Next, the normal coin information partition 542 of the memory device 54 will be described.
As shown in
Hereinafter, controls of the POS terminal 31 and the coin change machine 1 will be described, using
To begin with, a control of the POS terminal 31 will be described.
On the other hand, when it is judged that the reading device 36 has not acquired the commodity code (No in step S11), the processing of the control device 400 proceeds to a step S13. In the step S13, the control device 400 judges whether or not the settlement key 331 has been operated. When it is judged that the settlement key has been operated (Yes in step S13), the processing of the control device 400 proceeds to a step S14. In the step S14, the control device 400 executes a settlement processing of the commodity subjected to the sales registration processing. The settlement processing includes a processing of the control device 400 which makes settlement information such as a total amount relating to the transaction with a customer, a deposit money deposited from the customer, and change, to be displayed on the display device for operator 34 and the display device for customer 37, based on the commodity information of the commodity subjected to the sales registration processing. Further, the settlement processing includes a processing of the control device 400 which makes the printing device 35 issue a receipt printed with the commodity information and the settlement information. In a step S15, the control device 400 calculates a change amount to be handed to the customer, from the deposit money from the customer and the total amount. In a step S16, the control device 400 transmits change information including a calculated change amount to the coin change machine 1, via the communication device 26 (step S16). When the processings of the above-described step S14 to step S16 are finished, the processing of the control device 400 return to the step S11.
In addition, when it is judged that the settlement key 331 has not been operated (No in step S13), the processing of the control device 400 proceeds to a step S21. In the step S21 (has storage permission request signal been received?), the control device 400 judges whether or not to have received a storage permission request signal described later from the coin change machine 1, via the communication device 26. When it is judged that the storage permission request signal has been received (Yes in step S21), the processing of the control device 400 proceeds to a step S22. In the step S22, the control device 400 displays the storage permission request screen 341 on the display device for operator 34. The storage permission request screen 341 to be displayed on the display device for operator 34 will be described later with reference to
On the other hand, when it is judged that the storage permission request signal of a coin has not been received (No in step S21), the processing of the control device 400 proceeds to a step S26. In the step S26, the control device 400 judges whether or not to have received a money payment permission request signal described later from the coin change machine 1. When it is judged that the money payment permission request signal has been received (Yes in step S26), the processing of the control device 400 proceeds to a step S27. In the step S27, the control device 400 displays the money payment permission request screen 345 on the display device for operator 34. The money payment permission request screen 345 to be displayed on the display device for operator 34 will be described later with reference to
Next, a control processing of the coin change machine 1 will be described.
The storage module 101 has a function to convey a received coin and store it in the storage device 8. Specifically, to begin with, the storage module 101 judges whether or not a coin has been inputted from the coin input port 3, in accordance with the detection result of the coin detection device 18. When judging that a coin has been inputted from the coin input port 3, the storage module 101 drives the take-in and conveying device (flat belt) 3a. Further, the storage module 101 controls the drive of the received money conveying device 9, to store the coin in the storage 20 of the storage device 8 (for example, refer to steps S43, S44).
The first judgment module 102 has a function to judge that the received coin is not a normal coil, in accordance with the detection result of the received money discrimination device 10. That is, when only an output of any one kind of the sensor among the output of the above-described outer diameter sensor, the output of the above-described material sensor, the output of the above-described thickness sensor of the received money discrimination device 10, is an output out of the above-described normal data range stored in the normal coin information partition 542, the first judgment module 102 judges that the received coin is not a normal coin (for example, refer to No in step S34 described later).
The reject module 103 has a function to reject a coin which is judged not to be a normal coin. That is, the reject module 103 controls the drive of the reject device 11, so that a coin which has been judged not to be a normal coin by the first judgment module 102 is rejected from the conveying path 9c. Specifically, the reject module 103 controls the reject device 11 so that the reject hole 11a is opened by the shutter 11b, in order to reject the above-described coin which has been judged not to be a normal coin from the conveying path 9c, (for example, refer to step S35 described later). In addition, the reject module 103 has a function not to reject the coin which has been received again, from the conveying path 9c when storage of the coin is permitted, in relation to the rejection of a coin. Specifically, after the above-described coin judged not to be a normal coin has been rejected, when the above-described storage permission signal is received, the reject module 103 controls the drive of the reject device 11, so that the coin which has been received again is not rejected from the conveying path 9c but is conveyed, (for example, refer to step S43 described later). Specifically, the reject module 103 controls the reject device 11 so that the reject hole 11a is closed by the shutter 11b, in order to convey the above-described coin which has been received again without rejecting it. In addition, the reject module 103 controls the drive of the reject device 11, so that the coin which has been judged to be a normal coin by a normal coin judgment module described later is conveyed without being rejected from the conveying path 9c. Specifically, the reject module 103 controls the reject device 11 so that the reject hole 11a is closed by the shutter 11b, in order to convey the above-described coin which has been judged to be a normal coin without rejecting it.
Regarding a coin which has been judged not to be a normal coin by the first judgment module 102, and has been rejected from the conveying path 9c by the reject module 103, the estimation module 104 has a function to estimate whether such a coin is a normal coin. The estimation module 104 will be described in detail. For example, regarding a coin in which outputs of the two kinds of sensors among the above-described three kinds of sensors of the received money discrimination device 10 are within the above-described normal data ranges, and an output of the remaining one kind of sensor is slightly out of the above-described normal data range, such a coin is judged not to be a normal coin by the first judgement module 102. However, the coin in this case may possibly be a coin which is slightly deformed for some reason. Specifically, a case that the output of the above-described outer diameter sensor and the output of the above described material sensor are within the above-described normal data ranges, but only the output of the above-described thickness sensor is slightly out of the normal data range is supposed, for example. The coin in this case may possibly be a normal coin which is slightly abraded in the thickness direction. That is, a coin which may possibly be a normal coin is included, among the coins which are judged not to be normal coins by the first judgment module 102. Accordingly, the estimation module 104 estimates whether a coin which has been judged not to be a normal coin by the first judgment module 102 is a normal coin (for example, refer to step S36 described later). And in the case that the outputs of the above-described two kinds of sensors (for example the output of the above-described outer diameter sensor and the output of the above-described material sensor) are within the above-described normal data range, and the output of the remaining one kind of sensor (for example, the output of the above-described thickness sensor) is slightly out of, by a prescribed value out of, for example, the above-described normal data range, the estimation module 104 judges that it is possible to estimate that the relevant coin is a normal coin. That is, the estimation module 104 estimates that the relevant coin is a normal coin (for example, refer to Yes in step S37 described later).
The transmission module 105 has a function to transmit a storage permission request signal of the received coin to the POS terminal 31, provided that the reject module 103 has rejected the coin. Specifically, when a coin has been rejected by the reject module 103, the transmission module 105 transmits a storage permission request signal to the POS terminal 31, via the communication device 27. In addition, the storage permission request signal is a signal indicating a request of storage permission which permits storing a coin to be received into the storage device 8. That is, the transmission module 105 transmits the storage permission request signal to the POS terminal 31, to perform a request of permission of storing the coin to be received in the storage device 8, to the POS terminal 31 (for example refer to step S38 described later).
The memory module 106 has a function to store the characteristic of a coin detected by the received money discrimination device 10. Specifically, when it is estimated by the above-described estimation module 104 that the received coin is a normal coin (for example, refer to Yes in step S37 described later), and the storage permission signal has been received (for example, refer to Yes in step S39 described later), the memory module 106 stores the outputs of the above-described three kinds of sensors of the received money discrimination device 10 in the memory partition 543 of the memory device 54 (for example, refer to step S42 described later).
The paying module 107 has a function to pay a coin stored in the storage device 8. Specifically, the paying module 107 controls the paying money conveying device 23 so that the coin stored in the storage device 8 is conveyed on the paying route 23a by the paying belt 23b, and is paid from the coin paying port 4 (for example, refer to steps S52, S58 described later)
The second judgment module 108 has a function to judge that the characteristic of the coin detected by the paying money discrimination device 22 and the characteristic of the coin stored by the memory module 106 are coincident or values close to each other. Specifically, the second judgment module 108 judges that the outputs of the above-described three kinds of sensors of the paying money discrimination device 22 and the outputs of the above-described three kinds of sensors of the received money discrimination device 10 are coincident or values close to each other. (for example, refer to Yes in step S55 described later).
The output module 109 has a function to output information for displaying a message of attention reminder for the coin paid by the paying module 107, provided that it is judged by the second judgment module 108 that the these outputs are coincident or values close to each other as described above. Specifically, when it is judged by the second judgment module 108 that the these outputs are coincident or values close to each other as described above (refer to Yes in step S55 described later), the output module 109 transmits a money payment permission request signal to the POS terminal 31, via the transmission device 27. In addition, the money payment permission request signal is a signal indicating a request of money payment permission which permits money payment of a coin from the storage device 8. That is, the output module 109 performs a request of permission of money payment of a coin from the storage device 8, as information output for displaying the above-described message of attention reminder, (for example, refer to step S56 described later).
In addition, the control device 100 functions as a normal coin judgment module, a denomination judgment module, a denomination estimation module, a normal coin estimation impossibleness judgment module, a denomination estimation impossibleness judgment module, in addition to the function modules 101-109 as described above. That is, when all of the output of the above-described outer diameter sensor, the output of the above-described material sensor, and the output of the above-described thickness sensor of the received money discrimination device 10 are within the above-described normal data ranges stored in the normal coin information partition 542, the control device 100 (normal coin judgment module) judges that the coin which has passed through the received money discrimination device 10, that is, the received coin is a normal coin (for example, refer to Yes in step S34 described later). Further, when all of the output of the above-described outer diameter sensor, the output of the above-described material sensor, and the output of the above-described thickness sensor of the paying money discrimination device 22 are within the above-described normal data ranges stored in the normal coin information partition 542, the control device 100 (normal coin judgment module) judges that the coin which has passed through the paying money discrimination device 22, that is, the paid coin is a normal coin (for example, refer to Yes in step S54 described later).
In addition, the control device 100 (denomination judgment module) judges a denomination of the coin which has been judged to be a normal coin by the above-described normal coin judgment module. For example, when the output of the above-described outer diameter sensor of the received money discrimination device 10 is a value within the above-described normal data range A1-A2, the output of the above-described material sensor is a value within the above-described normal data range B1-B2, the output of the above-described thickness sensor is a value within the above-described normal data range C1-C2, the control device 100 (denomination judgment module) judges that the received coin is a 1-yen coin. In addition, when the output of the outer diameter sensor of the paying money discrimination device 22 is a value within the above-described normal data range A1-A2, the output of the material sensor is a value within the above-described normal data range B1-B2, the output of the thickness sensor is a value within the above-described normal data range C1-C2, the control device 100 (denomination judgment module) judges that the paid coin is a 1-yen coin. In addition, the control device 100 can also judge a denomination of the paid coin, in accordance with from what storage 20 out of a plurality of the storages 20 (refer to
In addition, the control device 100 (denomination estimation module) estimates a denomination of the coin which has been estimated to be a normal coin by the estimation module 104. For example, when the output of the above-described outer diameter sensor of the received money discrimination device 10 is a value within the above-described normal data range A1-A2, the output of the above-described material sensor is a value within the above-described normal data range B1-B2, but the output of the above-described thickness sensor is slightly out of, by a prescribed value out of, for example, the above-described normal data range C1-C2, the control device 100 (denomination estimation module) estimates that the received coin is a normal coin, and is also a one-yen coin. In addition, a storage permission request signal is transmitted (refer to step S38 described later), for example, based on the denomination to be estimated by the outputs of the three kinds of sensors of the received money discrimination device 10. In addition, when it is judged that the these outputs are coincident or values close to each other by the second judgment module 108 as described above (refer to Yes in step S55 described later), the control device 100 (denomination estimation module) can also estimate a denomination of the paid coin, based on the outputs of the three kinds of the sensors of the paying money discrimination device 22 which have been judged to be coincident or values close to each other as described above. For example, a money payment permission request signal is transmitted (refer to step S56 described later), based on the denomination which has been estimated by the outputs of the paying money discrimination device 22. Further, in the case that the money payment permission signal is received (Yes in step S57 described later), when a coin is to be paid again (refer to step S58 described later), a denomination of the coin to be paid again is estimated by the outputs of the paying money discrimination device 22.
In addition, the control device 100 (normal coin estimation impossibleness judgment module), regarding the coin which has been judged not to be a normal coin by the first judgment module 102, judges it impossible to estimate that such a coin is a normal coin (for example, refer to No in step S37 described below). For example, when the output of only one kind of the sensor of the received money discrimination device 10 is within the normal range, there is no possibility that the coin which has been detected by the received money discrimination device 10 is a normal coin. Accordingly, when the output of only one kind of the sensor of the received money discrimination device 10 is within the above-described normal data range, the control device 100 (normal coin estimation impossibleness judgment module) judges it impossible to estimate that the relevant coin is a normal coin. In addition, for example, even in the case that the outputs of two kinds of the sensors of the received money discrimination device 10 are within the normal ranges, when the output of the remaining one kind of the sensor is largely out of the above-described normal data range, there is no possibility that the coin which has been detected by the received money discrimination device 10 is a normal coin. Accordingly, even in the case that the outputs of two kinds of the sensors of the received money discrimination device 10 are within the normal ranges, when the output of the remaining one kind of the sensor is largely out of the above-described normal data range, the control device 100 (normal coin estimation impossibleness judgment module) judges it impossible to estimate that the relevant coin is a normal coin. As a matter of course, the outputs of any sensors of the received money discrimination device 10 are not within the above-described normal data ranges, the control device 100 (normal coin estimation impossibleness judgment module) judges it impossible to estimate that the relevant coin is a normal coin. Further, regarding the coin in which it is judged impossible to estimate the coin to be a normal coin by the above-described normal coin estimation impossibleness judgment module, the control device 100 (denomination estimation impossibleness judgment module) judges it impossible to estimate a denomination of the coin.
Next in a step S36, the control device 100 (estimation module 104) estimates whether the rejected coin is a normal coin. And in a step S37, the control device 100 judges whether or not it is possible to estimate that the coin is a normal coin. When it is judged possible to estimate that the coin is a normal coin (Yes in step S37), the processing of the control device 100 proceeds to a step S38. In the step S38, regarding the coin in which it is judged possible to estimate that the coin is a normal coin, the control device 100 (denomination estimation module) estimates a denomination of the coin as described above. The control device 100 (transmission module 105) transmits the above-described storage permission request signal, along with the information of the above-described estimated denomination of the coin to the POS terminal 31. The POS terminal 31 which has received the storage permission request signal displays the storage permission request screen 341 on the display device for operator 34 (refer to step S22 of
The description will be returned to
In addition, when it is judged impossible to estimate that the above-described rejected coin is a normal coin (No in step S37), the processing of the control device 100 returns to the step S31. In addition, when the storage rejection signal from the POS terminal 31 is received in the step S39 (No in step S39), the processing of the control device 100 returns to the step S31.
On the other hand, when it is judged that a coin has not been inputted in the step S31 (No in step S31), the processing of the control device 100 proceeds to a step S51. In the step S51, the control device 100 judges whether or not to have received the change information (refer to step S16 of
The description will be returned to
When having judged that the paid coin is a normal coin in the money payment permission request screen 345, namely when having operated the button 348, an operator hands over the coin paid in the above-described step S52 to a customer as change. In addition, when having judged that the paid coin is not a normal coin in the money payment permission request screen 345, namely when having operated the button 347, an operator hands over the coin paid in the above-described step S58 to a customer as change.
Further, when it is judged that the change information has not been received in the step S51 (No in step S51), the processing of the control device 100 returns to the step S31.
In addition, when it is judged that the above-described paid coin (refer to step S52) is a normal coin in the step S54 (Yes in step S54), the processing of the control device 100 returns to the step S31. In this case (Yes in step S54), an operator hands over the coin paid in the step S52 to a customer as change. Accordingly, the coin change machine 1 need not pay a coin again, as in the above-described step S58. In addition, when it is judged that the money payment rejection signal from the POS terminal 31 has been received in the step S57 (No in step S57), the processing of the control device 100 returns to the step S31. The case that the above-described money payment rejection signal has been received (No in step S57) is a case that an operator judges that the paid coin is a normal coin in the money payment permission request screen 345, and operates the button 348. In this case, the operator hands over the coin paid in the step S52 as change as described above. Accordingly, the coin change machine 1 need not pay a coin again, as in the above-described step S58.
According to the embodiment described above, regarding the coin which has been rejected once by the reject device 11 and has been discharged on the saucer 7, when the storage permission signal of such a coin from the POS terminal 31 has been received in accordance with an operation instruction of an operator in the POS terminal 31, the control device 100 stores the relevant coin in the storage device 8 without rejecting the relevant coin again (refer to step S35 to step S43). Accordingly, at the time of storing a coin received from a customer as its price in the coin change machine, a store need not prepare reserve in place of the coin rejected by the reject device 11.
For example, in the embodiment, the coin change machine 1 has been described as a money reception device, but without being limited to this, a bill change machine to store a bill may be used as a money reception device. In addition, in a money reception device, a function to pay a coin is not an essential requirement.
In addition, in the embodiment, the coin change machine 1 connected to the POS terminal 31 has been described as a money reception device, but a money reception device is not limited to this. For example, a money reception device may be one device in which a function of the POS terminal 31, and a function of a bill change machine and a coin change machine are incorporated. That is, a money reception device may be a self-POS terminal which incorporates the above-described functions and a customer himself/herself operates. In addition, a money reception device may be a semi self-system provided with an accounting device in which a customer himself/herself performs an accounting processing. Hereinafter, a POS terminal and a semi self-system are collectively called “a self-POS terminal”. In this case, in the self-POS terminal, when a customer who has purchased a commodity deposits money as its price into the self-POS terminal, the reject module rejects money which the first judgment module has judged not to be a normal coin. In this case, an attendant who monitors the self-POS terminal confirms the rejected money. And when the attendant has judged that the relevant money is normal coin, the attendant transmits a signal to permit storage from a PC of the attendant to the self-POS terminal. The customer deposits the rejected money again. The self-POS terminal (storage module) which has received the signal to permit storage stores the money which has been deposited again in the storage device.
In addition, in the embodiment, the storage permission request screen 341 has been displayed on the display device for operator 34 of the POS terminal 31, but without being limited to this, the storage permission request screen 341 may be displayed on the display device 16 of the coin change machine 1.
In addition, in the embodiment, when outputs from the two kind of sensors are the outputs within the above-described normal ranges stored in the normal coin information partition 542, and an output from the remaining one kind of sensor is slightly out of the above-described normal data range, the control device 100 estimates that the relevant coin is a normal coin. The above-described normal data range of the normal coin information partition 542 in this case may be arbitrarily determined.
In addition, in the embodiment, the authenticity and denomination of a coin are judged based on the outputs of outer diameter sensors, material sensors and thickness sensors provided in the received money discrimination device 10 and the paying money discrimination device 22. However, the judgments of the authenticity and denomination of a coin are not limited to this. The authenticity and denomination of a coin may be judged, based on outputs of any of the above-described sensors, or outputs from a proper combination thereof. In addition, the authenticity and denomination of a coin may be judged, by comparing an image such as a drawing pattern of a coin which an imaging device has imaged, with a previously stored image, for example.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-008523 | Jan 2016 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3680566 | Tanaka | Aug 1972 | A |
| 20100015903 | Nishida | Jan 2010 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2015052845 | Mar 2015 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20170206726 A1 | Jul 2017 | US |
