JP7046391B2 - Coin processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coin processing apparatus.

In addition to irradiating coins transported through the transport passage and passing over the line sensor with light from both the upstream and downstream sides of the coin transport direction from the line sensor, the passage width direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction A coin processing device capable of irradiating light from both sides is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

This coin processing device is attached to the main body case, the line sensor attached to the main body case, and the main body case on the upstream side in the coin transport direction from the line sensor, and the coin transport direction for coins passing on the line sensor. For coins that are attached to the main body case and pass over the line sensor, the L-shaped upstream light guide plate that irradiates light from either the upstream side or the passage width direction, and the downstream side in the coin transport direction from the line sensor. It is provided with an L-shaped downstream light guide plate that irradiates light from the downstream side in the coin transport direction and the other side in the passage width direction.

JP-A-2015-102894

However, since the above-mentioned coin processing device requires a plurality of light guide plates in order to irradiate the coin with light from four directions, the number of parts and the cost are increased, and the structure is simplified, downsized, and space-saving. There is a risk of hindering the conversion.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a coin processing apparatus capable of reducing the number of parts and costs, simplifying the structure, and reducing the size and space.

The first aspect according to the present invention is a transport unit that transports coins in the coin transport direction, a light guide member that guides and irradiates the coins transported by the transport unit with light from a light source, and light from the light source. The light guide member includes an identification unit for identifying the coin irradiated through the light guide member, and the light guide member emits light from a light source so as to irradiate the coin from a passage width direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction. It has an emission surface, and the emission surface is characterized by having a pair of inclined surface portions inclined with respect to the coin transport direction so as to be symmetrical with respect to the coin transport direction.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the exit surface has an intermediate surface portion along the coin transport direction between the pair of the inclined surface portions.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a coin processing apparatus capable of reducing the number of parts and costs, simplifying the structure, and reducing the size and space.

It is a top view which shows the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the identification apparatus part of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the lower module of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the lower module main body of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a cross-sectional view of X1-X1 of FIG. 3 which shows the lower module of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a transmission plan view excluding the guide member which shows the lower module of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the main body case of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the main body case of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional perspective view taken along the line YY showing the lower module of the coin processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of X2-X2 shown in FIG. 3 which shows the lower module of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the lower module and the coin pressing member of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a bottom view which shows the upper module and the guide member of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which looked at the identification apparatus part of the coin processing apparatus of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention from the upstream side in the transport direction. It is a perspective view which shows the main body case of the coin processing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the main body case of the coin processing apparatus of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is data which shows the result of the light irradiation test to a coin by the coin processing apparatus of 1st and 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the modification of the rotation | rotation suppressing means of the coin processing apparatus of 1st and 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It shows another modification of the rotation suppressing means of the coin processing apparatus of 1st and 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view. It is a top view which shows the rotation | rotation means which can be adopted instead of the rotation | rotation suppressing means in the coin processing apparatus of 1st and 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention, (a) is before coin entry, (b) is a coin entry. It shows the time.

<First Embodiment>
The coin processing apparatus of the first embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13.

The coin processing apparatus of the first embodiment counts and stores loose coins inserted from outside the machine by denomination while identifying them. As shown in FIG. 1, the coin processing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment has a coin insertion / feeding unit 10 into which coins are inserted from the outside.

The coin loading / paying portion 10 includes a rotating disk 12 arranged horizontally, a substantially cylindrical side wall portion 13 that rises vertically from the outer edge portion of the rotating disk 12, and a substantially cylindrical side wall portion 13 that is partially cut out, and a rotating disk 12. It has a sorting ring 14 provided in the notch portion of the side wall portion 13 with a gap equivalent to one coin between them.

Loin coins are inserted into the coin insertion / feeding unit 10 from outside the machine. When the rotating disk 12 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 in this state, the coin is carried along the inner peripheral surface of the side wall portion 13 by the centrifugal force. Further, the coins are separated one by one through the gap between the rotating disk 12 and the sorting ring 14, and are sequentially fed out from the coin insertion / feeding section 10.

At the coin feeding position of the coin loading / feeding section 10, a transport path 20 for guiding the coins C fed from the coin loading / feeding section 10 to move in a row, and a feed unit for transporting the coins C on the transport path 20. 21 is provided.

The transport path 20 extends in a direction orthogonal to the first transport portion 23 (conveyance section) arranged along the tangential direction of the rotary disk 12 and the side opposite to the rotary disk 12 of the first transport section 23. It has two transport units 24 and a third transport unit 25 extending in a direction orthogonal to the first transport unit 23 of the second transport unit 24. The first transport unit 23 is provided with a discriminating device unit 27 that discriminates and counts the denomination of the coin C being transported.

The second transport unit 24 has a reject port 28 that can drop the coin C and guides the dropped coin C to the outside of the machine, and a reject port 28 that identifies the coin C that cannot be identified by the identification device unit 27. A reject portion 29 for dropping the coin is provided. The coin C that has fallen from the reject opening 28 is discharged into a reject box (not shown).

The third transport unit 25 is provided with a sorting unit 32 that sorts the coins C identified and counted by the identification device unit 27 by denomination. The sorting unit 32 has sorting ports 32a to 32f of different denominations capable of dropping coins C, and these sorting ports 32a to 32f are provided side by side in the extending direction of the third transport unit 25. .. These sorting ports 32a to 32f are designed to drop coins C from those having a small outer diameter, with the most upstream sorting port 32a for 1-yen coins and the downstream sorting port 32b for 50-yen coins. , The downstream sorting port 32c is a 5-yen coin, the downstream sorting port 32d is a 100-yen coin, the downstream sorting port 32e is a 10-yen coin, and the downstream sorting port 32f is 500 yen. The coins are designed to be dropped separately. Coin detection sensors 33a to 33f for detecting coins C are provided at positions immediately before the sorting ports 32a to 32f, and the difference in the number of detected coins between adjacent coin detection sensors 33a to 33f causes the sorting ports 32a to The number of coins C that have fallen from the one between 32f is counted.

The feed unit 21 has a plurality of transport belts 35, 36, and these transport belts 35, 36 press the coin C fed from the coin loading / paying unit 10 against the transport path 20 from above and transport the coins. During this transportation, the coin C is first identified and counted by the identification device unit 27. The coins C that could not be identified by the identification device unit 27 are dropped from the reject port 28 by the reject unit 29, and the other coins C are from the corresponding ones of the sorting ports 32a to 32f of the denomination of the sorting unit 32. Fall.

Although not shown, below the sorting ports 32a to 32f, there are a temporary storage section for each type of coins that temporarily stores coins C that have fallen from the sorting ports 32a to 32f so that they can be returned to the outside of the machine, and a temporary storage section. A withdrawal storage unit for each denomination is provided to store the stored coins C so that they can be withdrawn.

As described above, the identification device unit 27 is provided in the first transport unit 23 of the transport path 20. The first transport portion 23 has a passage portion 40 in which the transport surface 39 on the upper surface is horizontally arranged and extends linearly in the tangential direction of the rotating disk 12, and the passage portion 40 is erected on both sides of the passage portion 40 in the passage width direction. It has side wall portions 41 and 42 extending in the same direction as the above. The passage portion 40 supports the lower surface of the coins fed from the coin loading / feeding section 10 with the transport surface 39 to guide the movement thereof, and the side wall portions 41 and 42 are arranged so that the coins are lined up in a row at that time. Guide the outer surface of the coin.

Hereinafter, the identification device unit 27 will be described with the coin transport direction as the transport direction of the coin C transported on the transport surface 39 of the first transport unit 23, and the horizontal direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction as the passage width direction. .. Here, "left" in the following description is the left in the traveling direction of the coin C transported on the transport surface 39, and "right" is the right in the traveling direction of the coin C transported on the transport surface 39. The first transport unit 23 including the transport surface 39 transports the coin C in the coin transport direction described above. In each figure, the direction of the arrow B is the upstream side in the coin transport direction, that is, the rear side in the traveling direction of the coin C, and the direction of the arrow F is the downstream side in the coin transport direction, that is, the front side in the traveling direction of the coin C. The tying direction indicates the coin transport direction. In each figure, the direction of the arrow L indicates the left side in the passage width direction, the direction of the arrow R indicates the right side in the passage width direction, and the direction connecting LR indicates the passage width direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the identification device unit 27 has a lower module 51 and an upper module 52 arranged above the lower module 51. The lower module 51 constitutes a part of the first transport unit 23.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower module 51 includes a lower module main body 55, a module cover 56 that covers the lower side of the lower module main body 55, and a module cover 56 in which the lower side of the lower module main body 55 is inserted. It has a pair of screws 57 to be fixed to the main body 55.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower module main body 55 includes a pair of guide members 61L and 61R, a transport plate 62, a pair of light absorbing sheets 63L and 63R, a main body case 65 (light source member), and a magnetic sensor 66. A sensor support base 67, a cell hook lens 68, a sensor cover 71, a pair of light source mounting boards 72B and 72F, and a plurality of mounting pins 73 for fixing the pair of light source mounting boards 72B and 72F to the main body case 65. It has a light source sensor mounting board 75 and a plurality of bolts 76 for fixing the light source sensor mounting board 75 to the main body case 65 and the pair of guide members 61L and 61R.

The pair of guide members 61L and 61R are arranged on both sides in the passage width direction in a state of extending in the coin transport direction. The pair of guide members 61L and 61R are made of the same member and are turned upside down to form a symmetrical shape in the passage width direction. The pair of guide members 61L and 61R are formed with two positioning holes 81 penetrating in the thickness direction on both sides in the coin transport direction, respectively. The pair of guide members 61L and 61R are formed with two screw holes 82 penetrating vertically between the two positioning holes 81, respectively. The pair of guide members 61L and 61R are formed with mounting holes 83 penetrating vertically at the four corners, respectively.

One guide member 61L on the left side on one side in the passage width direction constitutes a part of the side wall portion 42 shown in FIG. 1, and the other guide member 61R on the right side on the other side in the passage width direction is shown in FIG. It constitutes a part of the side wall portion 41 shown in 1. The pair of guide members 61L and 61R are both linear plates, and are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the coin C on the facing surfaces thereof to guide the movement thereof.

The transport plate 62 constitutes a part of the passage portion 40 shown in FIG. The upper surface of the transport plate 62 constitutes a part of the transport surface 39, and guides the lower surface of the coin C like the other parts of the transport surface 39. As shown in FIG. 5, the transport plate 62 has a base plate 77 and a pair of light-shielding plates 78B and 78F provided on the lower surface of the base plate 77. The base plate 77 is made of a translucent material, specifically, a transparent glass plate such as sapphire glass. As shown in FIG. 3, the transport plate 62 is a transport surface portion 85 whose upper surface portion arranged between the pair of guide members 61L and 61R is in contact with the lower surface of the coin C to guide its movement. The transport surface portion 85 constitutes a part of the transport surface 39.

As shown in FIG. 4, the light source sensor mounting board 75 includes a light source sensor mounting board main body 91, a line sensor 92 as an image detection unit mounted on the upper surface of the light source sensor mounting board main body 91, and a light source sensor mounting board main body 91. It has a pair of light sources 93L and 93R attached to the upper surface of the above.

The light source sensor mounting substrate main body 91 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and through holes 95 penetrating in the thickness direction are formed at two locations at both end edges in the passage width direction, separated from each other in the coin transport direction.

The line sensor 92 is attached so as to extend in the passage width direction at positions between the passage width direction and the coin transport direction of the four through holes 95 of the light source sensor mounting board main body 91. The line sensor 92 directs the light receiving direction vertically upward. The line sensor 92 is arranged so that the center position coincides with the center position of the transport surface portion 85 in the passage width direction.

The pair of light sources 93L and 93R align with the line sensor 92 in the coin transport direction. That is, the light sources 93L and 93R make the center position coincide with the center position of the line sensor 92 in the coin transport direction. Further, the pair of light sources 93L and 93R are arranged symmetrically with respect to the line sensor 92 in the passage width direction.

Each of the pair of light sources 93L and 93R has a plurality of (specifically, two) LEDs 98 arranged in the coin transport direction with their positions aligned in the passage width direction. These LEDs 98 emit light vertically upward. The light source sensor mounting substrate 75 is arranged vertically below the transport plate 62 so that the line sensor 92 aligns with the transport surface portion 85 in the passage width direction. The light source 93L is arranged on the left side of the line sensor 92 on one side in the passage width direction, and the light source 93R is arranged on the right side of the line sensor 92 on the other side in the passage width direction. The LED 98 is a green LED that emits green light. As the LED 98, it is also possible to use a red LED that emits red light.

The pair of light source mounting substrates 72B and 72F each have a light source mounting substrate main body 101 and a light source 102 mounted on the upper surface of the light source mounting substrate main body 101. The light source mounting substrate main body 101 has a strip-like shape that is long in the passage width direction, and through holes 103 that penetrate vertically are formed on both outer sides of the light source 102 in the passage width direction. The light source 102 has a plurality of (specifically, nine) LEDs 104 arranged linearly in the passage width direction so as to align the positions in the coin transport direction. These LEDs 104 emit light vertically upward. As shown in FIG. 5, the light source mounting substrate 72B is arranged on the upstream side in the coin transport direction with respect to the line sensor 92, and the light source mounting substrate 72F is arranged on the downstream side in the coin transport direction with respect to the line sensor 92. The LED 104 is also a green LED that emits green light. As the LED 104, it is also possible to use a red LED that emits red light.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor cover 71 has a square tubular surrounding wall portion 111 that is long in the passage width direction and opens vertically, a mounting plate portion 112 that is horizontally arranged inside the surrounding wall portion 111, and a surrounding wall portion. It has an upstream-side protruding wall portion 113B protruding upward from a portion on the upstream side in the coin transport direction of 111, and a downstream-side protruding wall portion 113F protruding upward from a portion on the downstream side in the coin transport direction of the surrounding wall portion 111. .. In the mounting plate portion 112, a window hole 114 long in the passage width direction is formed in the center in the coin transport direction. The sensor cover 71 is placed on the light source sensor mounting board main body 91 of the light source sensor mounting board 75 so as to cover the line sensor 92 in four horizontal directions with the surrounding wall portion 111. At that time, as shown in FIG. 5, the sensor cover 71 is arranged between the line sensor 92 and the pair of light source mounting substrates 72B and 72F so as to partition them. Further, the sensor cover 71 is arranged between the line sensor 92 shown in FIG. 4 and the pair of light sources 93L and 93R so as to partition them.

The cell hook lens 68 is a condensing unit and is arranged vertically above the line sensor 92. As shown in FIG. 4, the cell hook lens 68 has a long shape that is long in the passage width direction, and is fixed in the arrangement elongated hole 161 described later in the main body case 65 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the cell hook lens 68 is arranged so as to align with the window hole 114 of the mounting plate portion 112 of the sensor cover 71 in the coin transport direction and the passage width direction. Then, the cell hook lens 68 aligns with the line sensor 92 in the coin transport direction and the passage width direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, in the cell hook lens 68, the center position of the cell hook lens 68 coincides with the center position of the line sensor 92 in the coin transport direction, and the center position of the cell hook lens 68 also coincides with the center position of the line sensor 92 in the passage width direction. Matches the position.

An identification unit in which the cell hook lens 68 and the line sensor 92 arranged under the cell hook lens 68 are provided under the transport plate 62 and optically identify the coin C moving on the transport surface portion 85. It constitutes 121. The identification unit 121 detects a line image along the passage width direction of the coin C at the coin identification position directly above them by the cell hook lens 68 and the line sensor 92, and connects the line images in time series to the coin C. The outer diameter and pattern of the coin are simply detected to identify the authenticity, correctness, loss, denomination, etc.

The sensor support base 67 is arranged on the downstream side in the coin transport direction with respect to the light source mounting board 72F, and is mounted on the light source sensor mounting board main body 91 of the light source sensor mounting board 75. The magnetic sensor 66 is mounted on the sensor support base 67. The magnetic sensor 66 detects the magnetic property of the coin C provided on the lower side of the transport plate 62 and moves on the transport surface portion 85, and identifies the authenticity, the denomination, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, the main body case 65 is arranged above the light source sensor mounting substrate 75, the pair of light source mounting substrates 72B, 72F, the sensor cover 71, the sensor support base 67, and the magnetic sensor 66 so as to cover them. To. In other words, the light sources 93L and 93R and the light sources 102 of the light source mounting substrates 72B and 72F, that is, all the light sources provided in the identification device unit 27 are arranged under the main body case 65.

The main body case 65 is made of a transparent material such as acrylic, and is composed of a pair of light sources 93L and 93R of a light source sensor mounting substrate 75 and a pair of light source mounting substrates 72B and 72F on a coin C transported on a transport surface portion 85. It guides and irradiates the light from the light source 102.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the main body case 65 is an integrally molded product made of one resin material, and is manufactured by, for example, resin injection molding. That is, the main body case 65 is in the form of one member without secondary bonding and mechanical joining. It is also possible to form the main body case 65 by carving from a block body made of one integrally molded resin material.

As shown in FIG. 7, the main body case 65 is formed with a shallow recess 132 that is slightly downwardly recessed in a cross shape from the horizontal main upper surface 131 thereof. The shallow recess 132 has a portion extending along the coin transport direction as a mounting recess 133 on which the transport plate 62 shown in FIG. 4 is mounted, and is a passage from an intermediate position of the mounting recess 133 in the coin transport direction. Lateral recesses 134 extend on both sides in the width direction. The main body case 65 is formed with an intermediate upper recess 135 that is recessed downward from the bottom surface of the shallow recess 132 at the intersection of the mounting recess 133 and the side recess 134.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the transport plate 62 mounted on the mounting recess 133, the light-shielding plate 78B is arranged so as to cover the upstream side of the intermediate upper recess 135 in the coin transport direction, and the light-shielding plate 78F is in the middle. It is arranged so as to cover the downstream side of the upper recess 135 in the coin transport direction. Between these light-shielding plates 78B and 78F, there is a window portion 130 that opens up and down, and the window portion 130 is arranged at the center position of the intermediate upper recess 135 in the coin transport direction.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the main body case 65 is formed with an upstream upper recess 136B recessed downward from the bottom surface on the upstream side in the coin transport direction with respect to the intermediate upper recess 135 on the bottom surface of the mounting recess 133. An upper recess 136F on the downstream side, which is recessed downward from the bottom surface, is formed on the downstream side in the coin transport direction with respect to the intermediate upper recess 135 on the bottom surface of the mounting recess 133. The upstream side upper recess 136B and the downstream side upper recess 136F have an elongated hole shape that is long in the passage width direction.

In the main body case 65, a one-side upper recess 138L that is recessed downward from the bottom surface is formed at the position of the bottom surface of the side recess 134 on the left side in the passage width direction on the left side that is one side in the passage width direction with respect to the intermediate upper recess 135. At the position of the bottom surface of the side recess 134 on the right side in the passage width direction, the other side upper recess 138R that dents downward from this bottom surface is formed on the right side that is on the other side in the passage width direction from the intermediate upper recess 135. There is. The upper recess 138L on one side and the upper recess 138R on the other side have an elongated hole shape that is long in the coin transport direction.

In the main body case 65, fitting holes 141 penetrating vertically are formed at four locations on both outer sides of the upstream upper recess 136B and the downstream upper recess 136F in the passage width direction, and each of these fitting holes 141 is formed. Insertion holes 142 that penetrate vertically are formed at four locations on the outer side in the width direction of the passage. Further, the main body case 65 is formed with positioning convex portions 145 protruding upward from the main upper surface 131 at four locations on both outer sides in the passage width direction from the mounting recesses 133 at both ends in the coin transport direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the main body case 65 has an intermediate lower recess 151 that aligns with the intermediate upper recess 135 in the coin transport direction and the passage width direction and is recessed above the lower end surface 150, and an upstream upper recess 136B. An upstream side lower recess 152B that is recessed above the lower end surface 150 by aligning the positions in the coin transport direction and the passage width direction, and an upstream side space recess 153B that is recessed further upward from the center of the upstream side lower recess 152B in the passage width direction. The downstream side upper recess 136F, the downstream side lower recess 152F that dents above the lower end surface 150 by aligning the positions in the coin transport direction and the passage width direction, and the downstream side lower recess 152F that dents further upward from the center in the passage width direction. A side space recess 153F is formed. The main body case 65 is formed with a downstream recess 155 that is recessed above the lower end surface 150 on the downstream side in the coin transport direction with respect to the downstream lower recess 152F.

The two fitting holes 141 on the upstream side in the coin transport direction shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are arranged on both sides in the passage width direction with respect to the upstream space recess 153B of the upstream lower recess 152B shown in FIG. The light source mounting substrate 72B on the upstream side in the coin transport direction is fixed to the lower recess 152B on the upstream side by two mounting pins 73 that are fitted into the fitting holes 141 via the through holes 103 shown in FIG. In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72B is arranged in the upstream space recess 153B.

The two fitting holes 141 on the downstream side in the coin transport direction shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are arranged on both sides in the passage width direction with respect to the downstream space recess 153F of the downstream lower recess 152F shown in FIG. The light source mounting substrate 72F on the downstream side in the coin transport direction is fixed to the downstream lower recess 152F with two mounting pins 73 fitted to the fitting holes 141 via the through holes 103 shown in FIG. In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72F is arranged in the downstream space recess 153F.

As shown in FIG. 8, at the bottom of the intermediate upper recess 135, a rectangular arrangement elongated hole 161 long in the passage width direction is formed vertically through in the center in the coin transport direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the arrangement slot 161 has its center position coincided with the center position of the line sensor 92 in the coin transport direction, and the center position coincides with the center position of the line sensor 92 also in the passage width direction. I'm letting you. The cell hook lens 68 is inserted into the arranged elongated hole 161 and is fixed by adhesion or the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the bottom of the intermediate upper recess 135 is longer in the passage width direction at the end position of the intermediate upper recess 135 upstream in the coin transport direction than the arrangement slot 161 in the coin transport direction. The upstream through elongated hole 162B is formed so as to penetrate vertically. Further, at the bottom of the intermediate upper recess 135, a downstream through elongated hole 162F long in the passage width direction is provided at the end position of the intermediate upper recess 135 downstream in the coin transport direction, which is downstream in the coin transport direction from the arrangement slot 161. It is formed by penetrating up and down. As shown in FIG. 5, the arranged elongated hole 161, the upstream side penetrating elongated hole 162B, and the downstream side penetrating elongated hole 162F are all open to the intermediate lower recess 151.

The light source sensor mounting substrate 75 abuts on the lower end surface 150 of the main body case 65 at the light source sensor mounting substrate main body 91. As shown in FIG. 9, at that time, the line sensor 92, the sensor cover 71, and the light sources 93L and 93R are arranged in the intermediate lower recess 151. As shown in FIG. 5, in the sensor cover 71, the upstream side protruding wall portion 113B is inserted into the upstream side penetrating slot 162B, and the downstream side protruding wall portion 113F is inserted into the downstream side penetrating slot 162F. Further, a sensor support base 67 and a magnetic sensor 66 mounted on the sensor support base 67 are arranged in the downstream recess 155. At the bottom of the intermediate upper recess 135 of the main body case 65, light-shielding plates 165B and 165F are placed between each of the upstream-side through-long hole 162B and the downstream-side through-long hole 162F and the arrangement long hole 161.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the main body case 65 has a one-side irradiation portion 171L between the intermediate upper recess 135 and the one-side upper recess 138L. The one-side irradiation unit 171L is provided on the left side of the main body case 65, which is one side in the passage width direction, extending in the coin transport direction, and the central position is arranged in the coin transport direction. It coincides with the center position of the portion 121).

As shown in FIG. 9, the one-side irradiation unit 171L has an incident surface 172L which is vertically above the light source 93L of the light source sensor mounting substrate 75 and is incident with the light emitted from the light source 93L, and light incident from the incident surface 172L. It has a reflecting surface 173L to be reflected and an exit surface 174L to emit light reflected by the reflecting surface 173L. The incident surface 172L forms an intermediate lower recess 151, the reflecting surface 173L forms a one-side upper recess 138L, and the exit surface 174L forms an intermediate upper recess 135.

Both the incident surface 172L and the reflecting surface 173L are flat surfaces along the coin transport direction, and the incident surface 172L is inclined so as to be located on the upper side toward the center of the transport surface portion 85 in the passage width direction, and the reflecting surface. The 173L is inclined toward the center of the transport surface portion 85 in the passage width direction toward the upper side.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the exit surface 174L that emits the light from the light source 93L is vertically aligned, and the flat inclined surface portions 176LB and 176LF that are inclined with respect to the coin transport direction are symmetrical in the coin transport direction. It has a pair of inclined surface portions 176LB and 176LF, and has a flat intermediate surface portion 177L along the coin transport direction. The inclined surface portion 176LB on the upstream side in the coin transport direction is inclined so as to be closer to the center of the arranged elongated hole 161 in the passage width direction toward the downstream side in the transport direction. The inclined surface portion 176LF on the downstream side in the coin transport direction is inclined so as to be closer to the center of the arranged elongated hole 161 in the passage width direction toward the upstream side in the transport direction. The intermediate surface portion 177L connects these inclined surface portions 176LB and 176LF. As a result, the one-side irradiation unit 171L has a convex shape in which the emission-side tip portion 178L having the inclined surface portions 176LB and 176LF and the intermediate surface portion 177L protrudes toward the other-side irradiation portion 171R facing in the passage width direction.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the light emitted from the light source 93L is incident on the incident surface 172L of the one-side irradiation unit 171L on the left side, which is one side in the passage width direction, this light is reflected by the reflecting surface 173L. It is emitted from the emission surface 174L toward the right side, which is the other side in the passage width direction. At that time, the emitted light is slightly diagonally upward from the emitting surface 174L below the transport surface portion 85 when viewed from the coin transport direction, and is vertically above the identification portion 121 which is the detection range of the line sensor 92. It is emitted toward the position of the transport surface portion 85, that is, toward the lower surface of the coin C vertically above the identification portion 121, and the lower surface of the coin C is irradiated through the window portion 130. Therefore, the one-side irradiation unit 171L irradiates the coin C in the detection range of the identification unit 121 with the light from the light source 93L from one side in the passage width direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction.

At this time, when viewed in a plan view, as shown in FIG. 6, the emitted light is not refracted by the intermediate surface portion 177L and is emitted toward the lower surface of the coin C vertically above the identification portion 121 along the passage width direction. The lower surface of the coin C is irradiated through the window portion 130. Further, the emitted light is refracted at the inclined surface portion 176LF on the downstream side in the coin transport direction, and is emitted diagonally toward the upstream side in the coin transport direction toward the lower surface of the coin C vertically above the identification portion 121, and the lower surface of the coin C is emitted. Is irradiated through the window 130. Further, the emitted light is also refracted at the inclined surface portion 176LB on the upstream side in the coin transport direction, and is emitted obliquely to the downstream side in the transport direction toward the lower surface of the coin C vertically above the identification portion 121, and is emitted to the lower surface of the coin C. It is irradiated through the window portion 130. As a result, the coin C can be irradiated with light from multiple angles.

The angles α of the inclined surface portions 176LB and 176LF with respect to the coin transport direction are preferably 30 to 50 degrees, more preferably 37 to 48 degrees. Specifically, 38 degrees is adopted. As a result, the light emitted from the inclined surface portions 176LB and 176LF can irradiate the transport surface portion 85 from the near end to the opposite end in the passage width direction of the detection range W of the line sensor 92. Further, at the shortest, irradiation can be performed from the near end of the detection range W in the passage width direction to the range W1 (for example, 1/4 of the detection range W) of a predetermined distance.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the main body case 65 has the other side irradiation portion 171R between the intermediate upper recess 135 and the other side upper recess 138R. The other-side irradiation unit 171R is provided on the right side of the main body case 65, which is the other side in the passage width direction, extending in the coin transport direction, and the center position is arranged in the coin transport direction. It coincides with the center position of the portion 121). The other side irradiation unit 171R and the one side irradiation unit 171L are formed in a symmetrical shape with respect to the center of the arranged elongated hole 161 (that is, the identification unit 121) in the passage width direction.

As shown in FIG. 9, the other side irradiation unit 171R has an incident surface 172R that is vertically above the light source 93R of the light source sensor mounting substrate 75 and is incident with the light emitted from the light source 93R, and light incident from the incident surface 172R. It has a reflecting surface 173R for reflecting and an emitting surface 174R for emitting light reflected by the reflecting surface 173R. The incident surface 172R forms the intermediate lower recess 151, the reflecting surface 173R forms the other side upper recess 138R, and the exit surface 174R forms the intermediate upper recess 135.

Both the incident surface 172R and the reflecting surface 173R are flat surfaces along the coin transport direction, and the incident surface 172R is inclined so as to be located on the upper side toward the center of the transport surface portion 85 in the passage width direction. The 173R is inclined toward the center of the transport surface portion 85 in the passage width direction toward the upper side.

The exit surface 174R that emits light from the light source 93R is vertically aligned, and as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the flat inclined surface portions 176RB and 176RF that are inclined with respect to the coin transport direction are symmetrical in the coin transport direction. It has a pair of inclined surface portions 176RB and 176RF, and has a flat intermediate surface portion 177R along the coin transport direction. The inclined surface portion 176RB on the upstream side in the coin transport direction is inclined so as to be closer to the center of the arranged elongated hole 161 in the passage width direction toward the downstream side in the transport direction. The inclined surface portion 176RF on the downstream side in the coin transport direction is inclined so as to be closer to the center of the arranged elongated hole 161 in the passage width direction toward the upstream side in the transport direction. The intermediate surface portion 177R connects these inclined surface portions 176RB and 176RF. As a result, the other-side irradiation unit 171R has a convex shape in which the emission-side tip portion 178R having the inclined surface portions 176RB and 176RF and the intermediate surface portion 177R protrudes toward the one-side irradiation portion 171L facing in the passage width direction.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the light emitted from the light source 93R is incident on the incident surface 172R of the other side irradiation unit 171R on the right side, which is the other side in the passage width direction, this light is reflected by the reflecting surface 173R. It is emitted from the exit surface 174R toward the left side, which is one side in the passage width direction. The emitted light at that time is conveyed vertically above the cell hook lens 68, which is the detection range of the line sensor 92, slightly diagonally upward from the emission surface 174R below the transport surface portion 85 when viewed from the coin transport direction. It is emitted toward the position of the surface portion 85, that is, toward the lower surface of the coin C vertically above the identification portion 121, and the lower surface of the coin C is irradiated through the window portion 130. Therefore, the other side irradiation unit 171R irradiates the coin C in the detection range of the identification unit 121 with the light from the light source 93R from the other side in the passage width direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction.

At this time, when viewed in a plan view, the emitted light is not refracted by the intermediate surface portion 177R shown in FIG. 6 and is emitted toward the lower surface of the coin C vertically above the identification portion 121 along the passage width direction, and this coin is emitted. The lower surface of C is irradiated through the window portion 130. Further, the emitted light is refracted at the inclined surface portion 176RB on the upstream side in the coin transport direction, and is emitted obliquely toward the downstream side in the coin transport direction toward the lower surface of the coin C vertically above the identification portion 121, and the lower surface of the coin C is emitted. Is irradiated through the window 130. Further, the emitted light is also refracted at the inclined surface portion 176RF on the downstream side in the coin transport direction, and is emitted obliquely toward the upstream side in the transport direction toward the lower surface of the coin C vertically above the identification portion 121, and is emitted to the lower surface of the coin C. It is irradiated through the window portion 130. As a result, the coin C can be irradiated with light from multiple angles. The angle α of the inclined surface portions 176RB and 176RF with respect to the coin transport direction is also preferably 30 to 50 degrees, more preferably 37 to 48 degrees. Specifically, 38 degrees is adopted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the main body case 65 has an upstream irradiation portion 181B between the intermediate upper recess 135, the upstream through slot 162B, the upstream upper recess 136B, and the upstream space recess 153B. .. The upstream side irradiation unit 181B is provided so as to extend in the passage width direction, and the center position coincides with the center position of the arrangement elongated hole 161 (that is, the identification unit 121) in the passage width direction.

The upstream irradiation unit 181B includes an incident surface 182B that is vertically above the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72B and is incident with the light emitted from the light source 102, and a reflecting surface 183B that reflects the light incident from the incident surface 182B. It has an exit surface 184B that emits light reflected by the reflection surface 183B. The incident surface 182B forms an upstream space recess 153B, the reflecting surface 183B forms an upstream upper recess 136B, and the exit surface 184B forms an intermediate upper recess 135.

The entrance surface 182B, the reflection surface 183B, and the emission surface 184B are all flat surfaces along the passage width direction, the entrance surface 182B is inclined so as to be located on the downstream side in the coin transport direction, and the reflection surface 183B is The upper side is inclined so as to be located on the downstream side in the coin transport direction. The emission surface 184B that emits light from the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72B is inclined so as to be located on the downstream side in the coin transport direction toward the lower side.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the light emitted from the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72B is incident on the incident surface 182B of the upstream irradiation unit 181B on the upstream side in the coin transport direction, this light is reflected by the reflecting surface 183B. Then, it is emitted from the emission surface 184B toward the downstream side in the coin transport direction. The emitted light at that time is conveyed vertically above the cell hook lens 68, which is the detection range of the line sensor 92, slightly diagonally upward from the emission surface 184B below the transport surface portion 85 when viewed from the passage width direction. It is emitted toward the position of the surface portion 85, that is, toward the lower surface of the coin C vertically above the identification portion 121, and the lower surface of the coin C is irradiated through the window portion 130. Therefore, the upstream side irradiation unit 181B irradiates the coin C in the detection range of the identification unit 121 with the light from the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72B from the upstream side in the coin transport direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the main body case 65 has a downstream irradiation portion 181F between the intermediate upper recess 135, the downstream through slot 162F, the downstream upper recess 136F, and the downstream space recess 153F. .. The downstream irradiation unit 181F is provided so as to extend in the passage width direction, and the center position coincides with the center position of the arrangement elongated hole 161 (that is, the identification unit 121) in the passage width direction. The upstream side irradiation unit 181B and the downstream side irradiation unit 181F are formed in a symmetrical shape with respect to the arrangement slot 161 (that is, the identification unit 121) in the coin transport direction.

The downstream irradiation unit 181F includes an incident surface 182F that is vertically above the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72F and is incident with the light emitted from the light source 102, and a reflecting surface 183F that reflects the light incident from the incident surface 182F. It has an exit surface 184F that emits light reflected by the reflection surface 183F. The incident surface 182F forms a downstream space recess 153F, the reflecting surface 183F forms a downstream upper recess 136F, and the exit surface 184F forms an intermediate upper recess 135.

The entrance surface 182F, the reflection surface 183F, and the emission surface 184F are all flat surfaces along the passage width direction, the entrance surface 182F is inclined so as to be located on the upstream side in the coin transport direction, and the reflection surface 183F is The upper side is inclined so as to be located on the upstream side in the coin transport direction. The emission surface 184F that emits light from the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72F is inclined so as to be located on the upstream side in the coin transport direction toward the lower side.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the light emitted from the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72F is incident on the incident surface 182F of the downstream irradiation unit 181F on the downstream side in the coin transport direction, this light is reflected by the reflecting surface 183F. Then, it is emitted from the emission surface 184F toward the upstream side in the coin transport direction. The emitted light at that time is conveyed vertically above the cell hook lens 68, which is the detection range of the line sensor 92, slightly diagonally upward from the emission surface 184F below the transport surface portion 85 when viewed from the passage width direction. It is emitted toward the position of the surface portion 85, that is, toward the lower surface of the coin C vertically above the identification portion 121, and the lower surface of the coin C is irradiated through the window portion 130. Therefore, the downstream side irradiation unit 181F irradiates the coin C in the detection range of the identification unit 121 with the light from the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72F from the downstream side in the coin transport direction.

As described above, the main body case 65 guides and irradiates the coin C transported by the first transport unit 23 with the light from the light sources 102 of the light sources 93L and 93R and the light source mounting substrates 72B and 72F. The identification unit 121 detects and identifies the image of the coin C irradiated with the light from the light sources 93L and 93R and the light sources 102 of the light source mounting substrates 72B and 72F through the main body case 65. Since the main body case 65 is integrally molded, the one-side irradiation unit 171L, the other-side irradiation unit 171R, the upstream side irradiation unit 181B, and the downstream side irradiation unit 181F included in the main body case 65 are integrally formed.

The light sources 102 of the light sources 93L and 93R and the light source mounting substrates 72B and 72F, the one-side irradiation unit 171L and the other-side irradiation unit 171R of the main body case 65, the upstream-side irradiation unit 181B, and the downstream-side irradiation unit 181F are on the transport surface portion 85. The irradiation unit 190 is configured to irradiate the coin C identified by the identification unit 121 with light.

As shown in FIG. 9, the light absorption sheet 63L on the left side, which is on one side in the passage width direction, is located below the emission side tip portion 178L of the one-side irradiation portion 171L of the main body case 65, and is between the light-shielding plates 165B and 165F. Have been placed. The light absorption sheet 63R on the right side, which is on the other side in the passage width direction, is arranged below the light emitting side tip portion 178R of the other side irradiation portion 171R of the main body case 65, between the light shielding plates 165B and 165F.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sensor cover 71 and the sensor support base 67 are placed on the light source sensor mounting board main body 91 of the light source sensor mounting board 75, and the magnetic sensor 66 is placed on the sensor support base 67. In this state, the main body case 65 in which the cell hook lens 68, the light source mounting boards 72B and 72F, and the light absorbing sheets 63L and 63R are pre-mounted is placed on the light source sensor mounting board main body 91. Further, the transport plate 62 is placed on the main body case 65, and the guide member 61L is placed on the two positioning protrusions 145 on the left side in the passage width direction by fitting the two positioning holes 81 on the guide member. The 61R is placed by fitting the two positioning holes 81 into the two positioning protrusions 145 on the right side in the passage width direction.

In this state, the two bolts 76 are inserted into the through hole 95 on the left side in the passage width direction of the light source sensor mounting substrate 75 and the insertion hole 142 on the left side in the passage width direction of the main body case 65, and are inserted into the screw hole 82 of the guide member 61L. The two bolts 76 will be screwed into the through hole 95 on the right side in the passage width direction of the light source sensor mounting substrate 75 and the insertion hole 142 on the right side in the passage width direction of the main body case 65, and the guide member 61R will be screwed. It is screwed into the screw hole 82. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower module main body 55 is assembled.

Further, the screw 57 inserted into the mounting hole 83 on the downstream side in the coin transport direction and the outer side in the passage width direction of the guide member 61L of the lower module main body 55 is screwed into one screw hole 201 of the module cover 56, and the guide member 61R As shown in FIG. 2, the module cover 56 is screwed into the other screw hole 201 of the module cover 56 by the screw 57 inserted into the mounting hole 83 on the upstream side in the coin transport direction and the outer side in the passage width direction. It is attached to the guide members 61L and 61R so as to cover the lower side of the lower module main body 55.

The upper module 52 has a rectangular parallelepiped upper module main body 211 and a plurality of coin pressing members 212 (rotation suppressing means) protruding downward from the upper module main body 211. As shown in FIG. 11, two pairs of coin pressing members 212 are provided, for a total of four coin pressing members 212. All of these coin pressing members 212 are in a posture extending in the coin transport direction. A pair of coin pressing members 212 are aligned with each other in the coin transport direction and lined up in the aisle width direction. They are lined up in the aisle width direction with the positions in the transport direction aligned.

As shown in FIG. 12, the lower side portion 215 of the transport belt 35 is arranged between the coin pressing members 212 adjacent to each other in the passage width direction. As a result, the coin pressing member 212 overlaps the lower side portion 215 of the transport belt 35 with the position in the coin transport direction. As shown in FIG. 13, the coin pressing member 212 has a gap between the coin pressing member 212 and the transport surface portion 85 of the transport plate 62, which is narrower than the thickness of one coin C having the minimum thickness, and the transport belt 35. The coin C that moves on the transport surface portion 85 driven by the lower side portion 215 is pressed against the transport surface portion 85. As a result, the coin pressing member 212 suppresses the rotational rotation of the coin C passing vertically above the identification portion 121 on the transport surface portion 85 in the circumferential direction and the bouncing of the coin C floating on the transport surface portion 85. The coin pressing member 212 is made of, for example, a polypile tape or the like.

According to the coin processing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment described above, the main body case 65 that guides the light from the light sources 93L and 93R and the light sources 102 of the light source mounting substrates 72B and 72F to irradiate the coin C is the light source mounting substrate. The upstream side irradiation unit 181B that irradiates the coin C with the light from the light source 102 of the light source 72B from the upstream side in the coin transport direction, and the downstream side that irradiates the coin C with the light from the light source 102 of the light source mounting substrate 72F from the downstream side in the coin transport direction. The irradiation unit 181F, the one-side irradiation unit 171L that irradiates the coin C from one side in the passage width direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction, and the light from the light source 93R from the other side in the passage width direction. The other side irradiation unit 171R that irradiates C is provided. Therefore, the coin C can be irradiated with light from four directions at various angles, the pattern of the coin C becomes clear, and the identification accuracy by the identification unit 121 can be improved. Moreover, since the upstream side irradiation unit 181B, the downstream side irradiation unit 181F, the one side irradiation unit 171L, and the other side irradiation unit 171R are integrally provided, the coin C is irradiated with light from four directions in various directions. In addition, the number of parts and the cost can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, and the size and space can be saved.

Further, the one-side irradiation unit 171L has an inclined surface portion 176LB, 176LF whose emission surface 174L that emits light from the light source 93L is inclined with respect to the coin transport direction, and the other-side irradiation unit 171R has the light from the light source 93R. Since the exit surface 174R that emits the coin has inclined surface portions 176RB and 176RF that are inclined with respect to the coin transport direction, it is possible to irradiate the coin C with light that is more inclined with respect to the passage width direction. Therefore, the coin C can irradiate light from various angles, the irradiation width can be widened, the pattern of the coin C becomes clear, and the identification accuracy by the identification unit 121 can be improved.

Further, the one-side irradiation unit 171L has an inclined surface portion 176LB, 176LF whose emission surface 174L that emits light from the light source 93L has a pair of inclined surface portions 176LB and 176LF that are inclined with respect to the coin transport direction and is symmetrical with respect to the coin transport direction. In the irradiation unit 171R, since the emission surface 174R that emits the light from the light source 93R has the inclined surface portions 176RB and 176RF that are symmetrical in the pair of coin transport directions that are tilted with respect to the coin transport direction, the irradiation unit 171R has an inclined surface portion 176RB, 176RF with respect to the passage width direction. It is possible to irradiate the coin C with more inclined light symmetrically in the coin transport direction. Therefore, the coin C can irradiate light from multiple angles, the irradiation width can be made wider, the pattern of the coin C becomes clear, and the identification accuracy by the identification unit can be improved.

Further, in the one-side irradiation unit 171L, the emission surface 174L that emits light from the light source 93L has an intermediate surface portion 177L between the pair of inclined surface portions 176LB and 176LF along the coin transport direction, and the other-side irradiation unit 171R has an intermediate surface portion 177L. Since the exit surface 174R that emits light from the light source 93R has an intermediate surface portion 177R along the coin transport direction between the pair of inclined surface portions 176RB and 176RF, the coin C is also irradiated with light along the passage width direction. Is possible. Therefore, the coin C can irradiate light from multiple angles, the irradiation width can be made wider, the pattern of the coin C becomes clear, and the identification accuracy by the identification unit can be improved.

Further, since the identification unit 121 has a line sensor 92 extending in the passage width direction, the lengths of the one-side irradiation unit 171L and the other-side irradiation unit 171R extending in the coin transport direction of the integrated main body case 65 can be adjusted. It can be shortened and the main body case 65 can be miniaturized.

Further, the coin pressing member 212 provided by superimposing the position of the transport belt 35 and the position in the coin transport direction pushes the coin C moving on the transport surface portion 85 against the transport surface portion 85 and passes vertically above the identification portion 121. At the same time, since the rotation and bouncing of the coin C identified by the identification unit 121 are suppressed, the accuracy of identification by the identification unit 121 can be improved.

Further, since the LED 98 of the light sources 93L and 93R and the LED 104 of the light source 102 of the light source mounting boards 72B and 72F are green LEDs that emit green light, the coin C can be irradiated with green light, and the conventional red light can be emitted. The identification accuracy by the identification unit 121 can be improved as compared with the case of irradiating the coin C. That is, when the red light is irradiated, the copper-based coin C (5-yen coin and 10-yen coin) becomes bright as a whole, and the contrast between the base and the pattern is lowered. Especially, the old and worn coin C has a pattern. However, by irradiating green light, it is possible to clarify the contrast between the base and the pattern even with a copper-based coin C.

<Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the entire exit surface 174L of the main body case 65 is a flat surface along the coin transport direction and vertically, and the entire exit surface 174R is along the coin transport direction. Moreover, it has a flat surface along the vertical line. By using such a main body case 65, the shape of the mold for manufacturing the main body case 65 can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the exit surface 174L has the inclined surface portions 176LB, 176LF and the intermediate surface portion 177L, and the exit surface 174L as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. In the second embodiment, in which the entire surface is a flat surface along the coin transport direction and vertically, the light emission from the light source 93L is irradiated through the one-side irradiation unit 171L. At that time, light was applied to a test piece made of a disk and having a large number of concentric grooves formed around the center thereof.

As shown in FIG. 16A, in the case of the second embodiment, the amount of light exceeds the specified value in the range of about 40 degrees on the left side near the one-side irradiation unit 171L from the center of the test piece, and from the one-side irradiation unit 171L. On the far right side, the amount of light exceeded the specified value in the range of about 25 degrees. On the other hand, in the case of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16B, the amount of light exceeds the specified value in the range of about 60 degrees on the left side near the one-side irradiation unit 171L side from the center of the test piece. On the right side far from the side irradiation unit 171L, the amount of light exceeded the specified value in the range of about 35 degrees. From this result, it can be seen that the first embodiment can illuminate a wider area of the coin C brighter than the second embodiment.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the coin C that moves on the transport surface portion 85 driven by the transport belt 35 is pressed against the transport surface portion 85 by the coin pressing members 212 provided on both sides of the transport belt 35. Although the case where the rotation of the coin C identified by the identification unit 121 is suppressed by the frictional force at the time is described as an example, the rotation of the coin C may be suppressed by the following means.

As shown in FIG. 17, a pair of centering members 221 on the transport surface portion 85 and before being identified by the identification portion 121 are provided to be centered in the passage width direction of the transport surface portion 85, and the transport belt 35 is provided. Is a flat belt, and the transport belt 35 is provided with a crosspiece 222 (rotation suppressing means) for pressing the coin C from the upstream side in the transport direction. Then, the crosspiece 222 has a bent shape (V-shaped) having a pair of linear one-piece portions 223 that incline from the central portion in the passage width direction of the transport belt 35 toward the downstream side in the coin transport direction toward both sides in the passage width direction. State). As a result, the pair of piece portions 223 come into contact with each other at symmetrical positions with respect to the central portion of the outer peripheral surface of the coin C in the passage width direction, and the rotation of the coin C is suppressed by the frictional force.

The crosspiece 222 may be formed in an arc shape so as to be on the downstream side in the coin transport direction from the central portion in the passage width direction of the transport belt 35 to both sides in the passage width direction instead of the bent shape. Even with this, both ends of the crosspiece 222 come into contact with each other at a symmetrical position with respect to the central portion of the outer peripheral surface of the coin C in the passage width direction, and the rotation of the coin C is suppressed by the frictional force.

Alternatively, the crosspiece 222 is separated by a pair of linear portions that are separated from each other in the passage width direction of the transport belt 35 and are inclined so that both sides in the passage width direction are on the downstream side in the coin transport direction rather than the center side in the passage width direction. It may be configured. As a result, one of the coins C comes into contact with the central portion of the outer peripheral surface of the coin C at a symmetrical position with respect to the central portion in the passage width direction, and the rotation of the coin C is suppressed by the frictional force.

Alternatively, the crosspiece 222 may be configured by a pair of linear pieces separated in the passage width direction of the transport belt 35 and parallel to the passage width direction. As a result, one of the coins C comes into contact with the central portion of the outer peripheral surface of the coin C at a symmetrical position with respect to the central portion in the passage width direction, and the rotation of the coin C is suppressed by the frictional force.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, a crosspiece main body 231 that presses the coin C from the upstream side in the transport direction and a pair of pressing pieces extending from both sides of the crosspiece main body 231 in the passage width direction to the downstream side in the coin transport direction. It is composed of a unit 232 and a unit. In this case, when the coin C is pressed from the upstream side in the coin transport direction by the crosspiece main body 231 for transportation, the crosspiece main body 231 is tilted by the reaction force of the coin C so that its lower end is located on the upstream side in the coin transport direction. A pair of pressing piece portions 232 connected to the main body 231 lower the end portion on the downstream side in the coin transport direction and bring it into contact with the upper surface of the coin C. The frictional force of the pair of pressing pieces 232 suppresses the rotation of the coin C.

Instead of suppressing the rotation of the coin C, by forcibly rotating the coin C identified by the identification unit 121, the coin C is stably rotated so as to have a constant rotation angle, and the variation in the rotation angle is suppressed. The correction may be made accurately.

In that case, as shown in FIG. 19A, one of the guide members 61R and 61L, for example, the guide member 61L (rotating means) is used as a material having a higher coefficient of friction than the transport surface portion 85, and the coin C is attached to the guide member 61L. A one-sided mechanism 240 (rotating means) for pressing is provided. The one-sided alignment mechanism 240 has a one-sided alignment plate 241 arranged so as to extend along the coin transport direction on the guide member 61R side, and a support shaft that rotatably supports the one-sided alignment plate 241 on the upstream side in the coin transport direction. It has a 242 and an urging member 243 such as a spring that urges the one-sided plate 241 in an inclined state so as to be closer to the guide member 61L toward the downstream side in the coin transport direction. Here, the one-sided plate 241 is made of a material having a lower coefficient of friction than the guide member 61L, like the transport surface portion 85. As a result, as shown in FIG. 19B, the frictional force generated on the guide member 61L side of the coin C is increased by bringing the peripheral surface of the coin C into contact with the guide member 61L having a high coefficient of friction with the one-sided plate 241. Then, the coin C pushed and transported by the lower side portion 215 of the transport belt 35 is rotated.

The degree of surface roughness of the end surface of the guide member 61L on the guide member 61R side may be made larger than that of the one-sided plate 241 to increase the friction coefficient. Further, if the one-sided plate 241 is formed of a member having a spring property and is inclined so as to be located on the guide member 61L side toward the downstream side in the coin transport direction and fixed to the support shaft 242, the urging member 243 can be omitted. The coin C can be pressed against the guide member 61L.

Further, one guide member 61L side in the passage width direction of the transport surface portion 85 is composed of a lower high friction member 245 (rotating means) extending in the coin transport direction, and an intermediate portion of the transport surface portion 85 in the passage width direction and an intermediate portion. The other guide member 61R side is formed of a lower low friction member 246 having a lower friction coefficient than the lower high friction member 245, and the guide member 61L side of the transport surface portion 85 has a friction coefficient as compared with the remaining portion of the transport surface portion 85. To raise. In this case, the coin C is brought into contact with the guide member 61L side by the one-sided plate 241 in the same manner as described above. In addition to this, by transporting the coin C while pressing it against the transport surface portion 85 with the lower side portion 215 of the transport belt 35, the lower surface of the coin C on the guide member 61L side is pressed against the lower high friction member 245 on the guide member 61L side. As a result, the frictional force generated on the guide member 61L side of the coin C becomes larger, so that the coin C can be rotated more stably.

Further, the lower side portion 215 (rotating means) of the transport belt 35 is arranged far away from the center of the transport surface portion 85 in the passage width direction toward the other guide member 61R. As a result, the coin C is brought into contact with the one guide member 61L side by the one-sided plate 241 and the coin C is driven by the lower side portion 215 of the transport belt 35 located farther from the center in the aisle width direction. As a result, the coin C can be rotated more stably.

Further, an upper friction member (rotational means) (not shown) extending in the coin transport direction is provided only above the guide member 61L side in the passage width direction of the transport surface portion 85. As a result, the coin C is brought closer to one of the guide members 61L by the one-sided plate 241 and the upper friction member is brought into contact with the guide member 61L on the upper surface thereof. As a result, the frictional force generated on the guide member 61L side of the coin C becomes larger, so that the coin C can be rotated more stably.

In addition, instead of the upper friction member, an inclined surface (rotating means) in which the end surface of the guide member 61L on the guide member 61R side is inclined so that the height becomes higher toward the guide member 61R side may be used. In this case, the coin C is pressed by the one-sided plate 241 so that the end portion on the guide member 61L side is inserted under the inclined surface. As a result, in the coin C, the edge of the upper surface of the end portion on the guide member 61L side comes into contact with the inclined surface and is pressed from above by the guide member 61L, so that the frictional force on the guide member 61L side becomes large. ..

Here, the coin C can be stably rotated so as to have a constant rotation angle only by increasing the coefficient of friction of one of the guide members 61L and adding the offset mechanism 240, so that the correction should be performed accurately. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of identification by the identification unit 121. In addition to this, at least one of the above-mentioned addition of the lower high friction member 245, the remote arrangement of the transport belt 35, and the addition of the upper friction member (inclined surface of the guide member 61L) may be selectively combined. It is possible.
The first aspect is a transport unit that transports coins in the coin transport direction, a light guide member that guides and irradiates the coins transported by the transport unit with light from a light source, and the light guide member that the light from the light source irradiates. The light guide member includes an identification unit that identifies the coins irradiated through the coin, and the light guide member has an upstream irradiation unit that irradiates the coins with light from the upstream side in the coin transport direction and light from the light source. A downstream irradiation unit that irradiates the coin from the downstream side in the coin transport direction, a one-side irradiation unit that irradiates the coin from one side in the passage width direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction, and a light source. It is characterized in that the other side irradiating portion that irradiates the coin with the light from the other side in the passage width direction is integrally provided.
According to the first aspect, the light guide member that guides the light from the light source to the coin and irradiates the coin has the upstream side irradiating portion that irradiates the coin with the light from the light source from the upstream side in the coin transport direction, and the light from the light source. The downstream irradiation unit that irradiates the coin from the downstream side in the coin transport direction, the one-side irradiation unit that irradiates the coin from one side in the passage width direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction, and the light from the light source. An irradiation portion on the other side that irradiates the coin from the other side in the width direction of the passage is integrally provided. Therefore, while irradiating the coin with light from four directions, the number of parts and the cost can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, and the size and space can be saved.
In the second aspect, in the first aspect, the one-side irradiation unit and the other-side irradiation unit have an inclined surface portion on which each emission surface for emitting light from the light source is inclined with respect to the coin transport direction. It is characterized by having.
According to the second aspect, each of the one-side irradiation unit and the other-side irradiation unit has an inclined surface portion in which the emission surface for emitting light from the light source is inclined with respect to the coin transport direction, and therefore, in the passage width direction. On the other hand, it is possible to irradiate the coin with more inclined light.
The third aspect is characterized in that, in the second aspect, the one-side irradiation unit and the other-side irradiation unit each have a pair of the inclined surface portions symmetrically in the coin transport direction. And.
According to the third aspect, since the one-side irradiation unit and the other-side irradiation unit each have a pair of inclined surface portions inclined with respect to the coin transport direction symmetrically in the coin transport direction, the passage width direction On the other hand, it is possible to irradiate the coin with more inclined light symmetrically in the coin transport direction.
In the fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the one-side irradiation unit and the other-side irradiation unit have their respective exit surfaces having an intermediate surface portion between the pair of inclined surface portions along the coin transport direction. It is characterized by having.
According to the fourth aspect, each of the one-side irradiation unit and the other-side irradiation unit has an intermediate surface portion between the pair of inclined surface portions along the coin transport direction, and thus follows the passage width direction. It is possible to irradiate coins with light.
A fifth aspect is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the identification unit has a line sensor extending in the width direction of the passage.
According to the fifth aspect, since the identification unit has a line sensor extending in the passage width direction, the one-side irradiation unit and the other-side irradiation unit extending in the coin transport direction among the integrated light guide members. The length can be shortened, and the light guide member can be miniaturized.
A sixth aspect is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the transport unit has a rotation suppressing means for suppressing the rotation of coins identified by the identification unit.
According to the sixth aspect, since the rotation suppressing means suppresses the rotation of the coin identified by the identification unit, the accuracy of identification by the identification unit can be improved.
A seventh aspect is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the transport unit has a rotating means for rotating a coin identified by the identification unit.
According to the seventh aspect, since the rotating means rotates the coin identified by the identification unit, the coin can be stably rotated. Therefore, the correction can be performed accurately, and the accuracy of identification by the identification unit can be improved.

1 ... Coin processing device, 23 ... First transport section (transport section), 35 ... Transport belt (rotating means), 61L ... Guide member (rotating means), 65 ... Main body case (light source member), 92 ... Line sensor, 93L, 93R, 102 ... light source, 121 ... identification unit, 171L ... one-side irradiation unit, 171R ... other-side irradiation unit, 174L, 174R ... emission surface, 176LB, 176LF, 176RB, 176RF ... inclined surface portion, 177L, 177R ... intermediate Surface part, 181B ... upstream side irradiation part, 181F ... downstream side irradiation part, 212 ... coin pressing member (rotation suppression means), 222 ... crosspiece (rotation suppression means), 240 ... one-sided mechanism (rotation means), 245 ... lower height Friction member (rotating means), C ... Coin.

Claims (2)

A transport unit that transports coins in the coin transport direction,
A light guide member that guides light from a light source to irradiate coins transported by the transport unit, and
It is provided with an identification unit for identifying coins to which light from a light source is irradiated through the light guide member.
The light guide member is
It has an exit surface that emits light from a light source so as to irradiate the coin from the passage width direction orthogonal to the coin transport direction.
The coin processing apparatus, characterized in that the emission surface has a pair of inclined surface portions inclined with respect to the coin transport direction symmetrically in the coin transport direction. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emission surface has an intermediate surface portion along the coin transport direction between the pair of inclined surface portions.

Images