JP7545143B2 - Coin processing machine and coin packaging and dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coin processing machine and a coin packaging and dispensing device.

There is a coin processing machine known that has an input port at the top of the housing through which loose coins are inserted by an operator, and that accumulates a predetermined number of loose coins inserted through the input port and wraps them in wrapping paper to create coin rolls (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 5165260

In such coin processing machines, problems can occur with wrapped coins (coins bars) made from loose coins, such as the wrapping paper curling up or being damaged while being transported within the machine.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a coin processing machine and a coin wrapping and discharging device that can suppress malfunctions that occur during the transport of wrapped coins within the machine.

One aspect of the coin processing machine according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a first guide section that guides the falling of wrapped coins, a first gate that supports wrapped coins that have fallen through the first guide section and releases the supported wrapped coins in a first downward direction by rotating in a first rotational direction, a second guide section that guides wrapped coins that are released in a second downward direction by rotating the first gate in a second rotational direction, a second gate that is provided at a lower opening of the second guide section and supports wrapped coins that have fallen through the second guide section and rotates to open and close the lower opening of the second guide section, and a drive source that rotates the first gate and the second gate in conjunction with each other.

One aspect of the coin wrapping and dispensing device according to the present invention includes a coin insertion port into which loose coins are inserted, a coin wrapping section that accumulates a predetermined number of coins inserted into the coin insertion port and wraps them to create wrapped coins, a first guide section that guides the falling of the wrapped coins, a first gate that supports the wrapped coins that have fallen through the first guide section and releases the supported wrapped coins in a first downward direction by rotating in a first rotational direction, and a second gate that guides the wrapped coins that are released in a second downward direction by rotating the first gate in a second rotational direction. The coin processing machine is a coin wrapping machine having a guide section, a second gate that is provided at the lower opening of the second guide section and supports wrapped coins that have fallen through the second guide section and rotates to open and close the lower opening of the second guide section, and a drive source that rotates the first gate and the second gate in conjunction with each other, and a wrapped coin transport conveyor that is located directly below the second gate, receives wrapped coins that are released when the second gate is opened, and transports them approximately horizontally for at least a portion of the section.

The present invention provides a coin processing machine and a coin wrapping and discharging device that can suppress malfunctions that occur during the transport of wrapped coins within the machine.

1 is a perspective view showing a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a front view showing a coin wrapping and discharging device including a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a side view showing a coin wrapping and discharging device including a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a coin wrapping unit of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the sorting mechanism of the coin processing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a sorting mechanism of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a second lower opening of a coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 11 is a front cross-sectional view of a modified example of a sorting mechanism of the coin processing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The coin processing machine and coin packaging and dispensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the coin processing machine 11 of this embodiment is provided with a touch sensor panel type operation display unit 21 on one side. In the following description, the side of the coin processing machine 11 on which the operation display unit 21 is provided is referred to as the "front", the side opposite the side on which the operation display unit 21 is provided is referred to as the "rear", the left side as viewed from the front is referred to as the "left", and the right side as viewed from the front is referred to as the "right". The "front" is the side that an operator who operates the coin processing machine 11 primarily faces.

The coin processing machine 11 is specifically a coin wrapping machine that creates wrapped coins (hereinafter referred to as "coin bars") by accumulating a predetermined number of wrapping units (e.g., 50 coins) of loose coins of a single denomination to be wrapped, which are specified via the operation display unit 21, and wrapping them in a wrapping sheet. On the left and rear side of the top surface of the coin processing machine 11, there is a coin insertion port 22 that opens upward and through which loose coins are inserted from outside the device.

The operation display unit 21 is provided on the upper left side of the front of the coin processing machine 11. The operation display unit 21 is used by the operator to input various settings such as denomination designation information for the wrapping operation and to input operations for starting and stopping the wrapping process, and also displays the results of counting loose coins in the coin processing machine 11, as well as guidance and settings for various settings such as the wrapping operation and printing contents. In addition, a rejection box 23 is provided on the right side of the front to discharge unacceptable deposit reject coins such as unidentifiable coins and damaged coins from the loose coins inserted into the coin insertion port 22 so that they can be removed outside the machine. The rejection box 23 stores loose coins that are sent out from the device body 25 of the coin processing machine 11 while set in the device body 25, and can be pulled out forward from the device body 25 to remove the stored loose coins from the machine.

On the right side of the front of the coin processing machine 11, below the rejection box 23, there is provided a sorting box 27 that stores loose coins inserted into the coin insertion port 22 that are not of the designated denomination to be wrapped, so that they can be removed outside the machine. The sorting box 27 stores loose coins that are sent out from the device main body 25 while set in the device main body 25, and by pulling the sorting box forward from the device main body 25, the stored loose coins can be removed outside the machine.

A clear box 28 is provided at the bottom left side of the front of the coin processing machine 11 to store odd number coins that are created by piling up loose coins that do not fill a specified packaging unit and wrapping them in a packaging sheet so that they can be removed from the machine. The clear box 28 stores odd number coins that are sent out from the device body 25 while set in the device body 25, and by pulling it out forward from the device body 25, the stored odd number coins can be removed from the machine. The clear box 28 not only stores odd number coins, but also stores loose coins that have been accumulated but are not wrapped and are to be discharged as loose coins.

The coin processing machine 11 has a front end component 31 located at its front end, which is provided with a reject box 23, a sorting box 27, and a clear box 28. The front end component 31 protrudes forward from a lower end component 32 that is below the front end component 31. The coin processing machine 11 pays out normal coin rolls, excluding odd number coin rolls, downward from a position between the clear box 28 and the sorting box 27 in the left-right direction at the bottom of the front end component 31.

The coin processing machine 11 is, for example, a device specification used mainly in a cash processing center, and as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of machines are aligned in the left-right direction with their front-rear positions aligned to form a coin wrapping and carrying out device 41. The coin wrapping and carrying out device 41 has a belt conveyor 42 (wrapped coin carrying conveyor) that extends horizontally vertically below the front end component 31 shown in FIG. 2 of each coin processing machine 11, and this belt conveyor 42 carries normal coin rolls paid out from each coin processing machine 11. The coin wrapping and carrying out device 41 has a belt conveyor 43 (wrapped coin carrying conveyor) that receives normal coin rolls carried by this belt conveyor 42 and carries them diagonally upward, and a receiving table 44 that receives normal coin rolls carried by the belt conveyor 43. The normal coin rolls carried to the receiving table 44 are automatically or manually packed in bags or boxes in a later process. Of the belt conveyors 42 and 43, belt conveyor 42, which is a section, transports normal coin bars almost horizontally.

Here, the coin packaging and carrying out device 41 has a coin supplying machine 51 arranged beside each coin processing machine 11, as shown in FIG. 4. The coin supplying machine 51 receives a large amount of loose coins of a predetermined denomination and supplies the loose coins to the corresponding coin processing machine 11 according to the remaining amount of loose coins in the corresponding coin processing machine 11. The coin supplying machine 51 has a hopper cart 52 into which a large amount of loose coins of a predetermined denomination are inserted, and a coin lift 53 that supplies the loose coins inserted into the hopper cart 52 to the coin processing machine 11. The coin lift 53 automatically transports the loose coins to a height equal to or higher than the coin insertion port 22 and inserts them into the coin insertion port 22. For this reason, the coin lift 53 is provided such that the end discharge section 54 that discharges the loose coins is vertically above the coin insertion port 22 of the coin processing machine 11 and faces the coin insertion port 22 in close proximity. In other words, the coin lift 53 is positioned so as to cover the coin insertion port 22 vertically above. In the coin packaging and discharging device 41, loose coins are supplied from the coin supplying machine 51 toward the coin insertion port 22 of the corresponding coin processing machine 11.

The coin processing machine 11 is provided therein with a coin wrapping unit 61, which is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5. The coin wrapping unit 61 accumulates a predetermined number of loose coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 22, and wraps them to create a coin roll. The coin wrapping unit 61 has an accumulation mechanism 62 that accumulates the loose coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 22. This accumulation mechanism 62 has a receiving plate 63 that receives the loose coins inserted into the coin insertion slot 22, a turntable 64 that receives the loose coins dispensed by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the receiving plate 63, a sorting ring (not shown) that dispenses the loose coins one by one by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the turntable 64, and a coin passage 65 that receives and transports the loose coins dispensed from the sorting ring.

The coin passage 65 has a feed belt 71 at its top that transports loose coins one by one. An identification unit (not shown) is provided midway along the coin passage 65, and is configured to identify the authenticity and denomination of loose coins transported along the coin passage 65 as necessary. Here, the coin passage 65 is provided with a rejection hole and a sorting hole (not shown), and loose coins that are identified as unacceptable by the identification unit fall from the rejection hole into the rejection box 23. Loose coins that are identified by the identification unit as being of a denomination other than the denomination to be wrapped fall from the sorting hole into the sorting box 27.

The accumulation mechanism 62 has a pair of accumulation drums 75 that accumulate the loose coins that have passed through the coin passage 65. These accumulation drums 75 each have a spiral ridge portion 76, and are intermittently rotated in opposite directions in synchronization with the supply of loose coins from the coin passage 65 with the height positions of the ridge portions 76 of each other aligned. As a result, the loose coins supplied through the coin passage 65 are placed on both ridge portions 76 of both accumulation drums 75 and lowered one step, and the loose coins supplied thereafter are stacked on top of the previous loose coins, so that a plurality of loose coins are accumulated in a vertically stacked state between these accumulation drums 75, forming accumulated coins. In addition, the accumulation mechanism 62 has a horizontal shutter 77 below these accumulation drums 75 that places a predetermined number of accumulated coins on the upper surface of the horizontal shutter. When the horizontal shutter 77 is opened, it drops the stacked coins placed on its upper surface and delivers them to the packaging mechanism 81 below.

The wrapping mechanism 81 also constitutes the coin wrapping section 61. The wrapping mechanism 81 has a liftable support rod 82 that supports the accumulated coins dropped from the horizontal shutter 77 from below, three parallel wrapping rollers 83 arranged vertically around the support rod 82, and a wrapping motor (not shown) that rotates and drives these wrapping rollers 83. One of the wrapping rollers 83 can approach or move away from the remaining two. When one of the wrapping rollers 83 is separated from the remaining two, it receives the accumulated coins sent from the accumulation mechanism 62 between itself, and when the one of the wrapping rollers 83 receives the accumulated coins in this way, the accumulated coins are sandwiched between the three by the one of the wrapping rollers approaching the remaining two. In this state, the wrapping roller 83 is rotated and a wrapping sheet S is sandwiched between the wrapping roller 83 and the accumulated coins, so that the wrapping sheet S is wrapped around the periphery of the accumulated coins. The packaging mechanism 81 also has upper and lower crimping claws 84 that crimp both excess portions of the packaging sheet S that protrude above and below the stacked coins as described above.

A wrapping paper supply mechanism 91 is provided on the side of the wrapping mechanism 81 to supply a wrapping sheet S such as a transparent polyethylene film to the wrapping mechanism 81. This wrapping paper supply mechanism 91 also constitutes the coin wrapping section 61. The wrapping paper supply mechanism 91 has a pair of paper feed rollers 92 that clamp the wrapping sheet S unwound from the wrapping paper roll R supported to rotate freely around a vertical axis, pull out the wrapping sheet S from the wrapping paper roll R by a length corresponding to the amount of rotation, and supply it to the accumulated coins, a paper feed motor (not shown) that rotates and drives the paper feed rollers 92 at a constant speed, a number of guide rollers 93 that guide the wrapping sheet S unwound from the paper feed roller 92 by the drive of the paper feed motor toward the wrapping roller 83, and a cutter 94 that cuts the wrapping sheet S. The cutter 94 is designed to cut the wrapping sheet S by the tension generated in the wrapping sheet S when the paper feed roller 92 is stopped and the wrapping roller 83 is rotated.

In the coin wrapping section 61, the stacking mechanism 62 stacks loose coins of the denomination to be wrapped in a predetermined number of wrapping units (e.g., 50 coins), and the wrapping mechanism 81 and wrapping paper supply mechanism 91 wrap wrapping sheet S around the stacked coins thus stacked using three wrapping rollers 83, cut wrapping sheet S with cutter 94, and crimp excess portions of wrapping sheet S that protrude outward on both sides of the stacked coins in the stacking direction with crimping claws 84 to create a coin bar.

The coin processing machine 11 has a sorting mechanism 101 as shown in FIG. 6. Of the coin rolls transported from the wrapping mechanism 81 of the coin wrapping section 61, the sorting mechanism 101 sorts odd coin rolls into the clear box 28 on the left and sorts normal coin rolls into the coin discharge section 29 on the right. In other words, the sorting mechanism 101 sorts coin rolls in the left-right direction. The coin discharge section 29 is located between the clear box 28 and the sorting box 27 in the left-right direction in the front end component 31 described above, and pays out normal coin rolls downward.

As shown in FIG. 7, the sorting mechanism 101 has a cylindrical first guide section 111 that guides the falling of the coin roll B transported from the coin wrapping section 61, and a first gate 113 that is provided in a first lower opening 112 that opens downward at the lower end of the first guide section 111 and opens and closes the first lower opening 112.

The first guide portion 111 has a first left wall portion 121 on the left side that runs along the front-to-rear direction and the up-down direction, and a first right wall portion 122 on the right side that runs along the front-to-rear direction and the up-down direction. The first lower opening 112 is formed between the lower edge of the first left wall portion 121 and the lower edge of the first right wall portion 122. Here, the position of the lower edge of the first right wall portion 122 is located higher than the position of the lower edge of the first left wall portion 121. Therefore, the right end position of the first lower opening 112 is located higher than the left end position.

The first gate 113 has a first support shaft 131 that is fixed in position and extends horizontally along the front-to-rear direction, and a first gate member 132 that is fixed to the first support shaft 131 and rotates around the first support shaft 131. The first support shaft 131 is provided at the middle position in the left-right direction of the first lower opening 112.

The first gate member 132 has a flat main support portion 141 that extends along the front-rear direction, and a flat inclined support portion 142 that extends along the front-rear direction. The inclined support portion 142 is inclined at an obtuse angle to the main support portion 141. The first gate member 132 is supported by the first support shaft 131 on the side opposite to the side from which the inclined support portion 142 extends in the thickness direction of the main support portion 141. The main support portion 141 is supported by the first support shaft 131 at an intermediate portion between the end portion on the inclined support portion 142 side and the end portion opposite the inclined support portion 142.

When the first gate member 132 is in a state where it is blocking the first lower opening 112 of the first guide portion 111 as shown in FIG. 7, the main support portion 141 is tilted slightly downward to the left relative to the horizontal, so that its left edge is close to the lower edge of the first left wall portion 121, and the inclined support portion 142 extends upward from the right end of the main support portion 141, so that its upper edge is close to the lower edge of the first right wall portion 122. As a result, the first gate member 132 blocks the first lower opening 112, whose right end position is located higher than its left end position.

The first gate 113 is in the standby position when the first gate member 132 blocks the first lower opening 112. When in the standby position, the metal bar B, which is transported from the packaging mechanism 81 and guided by the first guide section 111 to fall within the first guide section 111, is supported by the main support section 141, which is slightly downward to the left of the horizontal, and the first left wall section 121 of the first guide section 111. At this time, the metal bar B is in contact with the main support section 141 and the first left wall section 121 and is oriented in the front-to-rear direction.

The first gate 113 supports the bar B that has fallen through the first guide section 111 with the first guide section 111, and by rotating in a first rotation direction, which is counterclockwise in FIG. 7, releases the supported bar B from the first lower opening 112 of the first guide section 111 in a first downward direction to the left of the first support shaft 131, as shown in FIG. 8.

The sorting mechanism 101 has a guide section 145 that guides the coin bars B (fraction coin bars) that fall in the first downward direction from the main support section 141 of the first gate 113 toward the clear box 28 and stores them in the clear box 28. The guide section 145 is a flat plate that extends in the front-to-rear direction and is slightly downward sloping to the left from the horizontal.

In this way, in the standby state, the first gate 113 rotates in the first rotation direction to release the metal bar B supported by the first guide portion 111 toward the clear box 28 and store it in the clear box 28.

On the other hand, the first gate 113 rotates from the standby state shown in FIG. 7 in which the bar B is supported by the first guide portion 111 in a second rotation direction, which is clockwise in FIG. 7, to release the supported bar B from the first lower opening 112 of the first guide portion 111 in a second downward direction to the right of the first support shaft 131, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. The second rotation direction is opposite to the first rotation direction, and the second downward direction is a different horizontal direction from the first downward direction.

The sorting mechanism 101 has a cylindrical second guide section 151 that guides the falling of the coin roll B (normal coin roll) that is released in the second downward direction as shown in FIG. 11 by the rotation of the first gate 113 in the second rotation direction, and a second gate 153 that is provided in a second lower opening 152 (lower opening) that opens downward at the lower end of the second guide section 151 and opens and closes the second lower opening 152. In the closed state shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the second gate 153 supports the coin roll B that has fallen through the second guide section 151, and opens and closes the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151 by rotating. The second lower opening 152 and the second gate 153 constitute the coin release section 29 that releases the normal coin roll B outside the machine.

The second guide portion 151 has a second left wall portion 161 on the left side that is aligned in the front-to-rear direction and inclined downward to the right with respect to the horizontal, and a second right wall portion 162 on the right side that is aligned in the front-to-rear direction and inclined downward to the right with respect to the horizontal. The second lower opening 152 is formed between the lower edge of the second left wall portion 161 and the lower edge of the second right wall portion 162. Here, the position of the lower edge of the second right wall portion 162 is located higher than the position of the lower edge of the second left wall portion 161. Therefore, the right end position of the second lower opening 152 is located higher than the left end position.

The second gate 153 has a second support shaft 171 that is fixed in position and extends horizontally along the front-to-rear direction, and a second gate member 172 that is fixed to the second support shaft 171 and rotates around the second support shaft 171. The second support shaft 171 is located to the right of the right end of the second lower opening 152.

The second gate member 172 is a flat plate extending in the front-rear direction, and one edge side is supported by the second support shaft 171. When the second gate member 172 is in a state in which it maximally blocks the second lower opening 152 of the second guide portion 151 as shown in FIG. 12, it slopes downward to the left with respect to the horizontal, with its left edge close to the lower edge of the second left wall portion 161 and its right edge close to the lower edge of the second right wall portion 162, maximally blocking the second lower opening 152 whose right edge position is higher than its left edge position.

The second gate 153 is in the maximum closed position when the second gate member 172 slopes downward to the left relative to the horizontal and fully blocks the second lower opening 152. In the maximum closed state, the second gate 153 supports the metal bar B, which is released from the first gate 113 and guided by the second guide portion 151 to fall within the second guide portion 151, with the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151. At this time, the metal bar B comes into contact with the second gate member 172 and the second left wall portion 161 and assumes a position along the front-to-rear direction.

The second gate 153 supports the gold bar B that has fallen through the second guide section 151 together with the second guide section 151, and by rotating counterclockwise in FIG. 12, ejects the supported gold bar B downward from the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151 as shown in FIGS. 13 to 16. A belt conveyor 42 is provided directly below the coin ejection section 29 having the second lower opening 152 and the second gate 153, and the gold bar B ejected downward from the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151 is placed on the belt conveyor 42. In other words, the second gate 153 ejects the gold bar B supported by the second guide section 151 from the coin ejection section 29 by rotating. Of the belt conveyors 42 and 43, the belt conveyor 42, which is a section of the conveyor, is located directly below the second gate 153, and receives the metal bars B that are released when the second gate 153 is opened, and transports them almost horizontally.

The sorting mechanism 101 has one motor 181 (drive source) that rotates the first gate 113 and the second gate 153 in conjunction with each other, and an interlocking mechanism 182 shown in Figs. 17 and 18 that rotates the first gate 113 and the second gate 153 in conjunction with each other. The motor 181 shown in Fig. 18 is fixed in position, is approximately aligned in height with the first support shaft 131, and is provided approximately vertically above the second support shaft 171. The motor 181 has its drive shaft 183 provided parallel to the first support shaft 131 and the second support shaft 171.

As shown in FIG. 17, the interlocking mechanism 182 includes a drive gear 191 fixed to the drive shaft 183 of the motor 181, a first intermediate support shaft 192 fixed in a fixed position on the first support shaft 131 side of the drive gear 191, a first intermediate gear 193 fixed to the first intermediate support shaft 192 and meshing with the portion of the drive gear 191 on the first support shaft 131 side, a first pulley 194 fixed to the first intermediate support shaft 192, a second pulley 195 fixed to the first support shaft 131, an endless belt 196 stretched between the first pulley 194 and the second pulley 195, and a tension roller 197 that presses the endless belt 196. The first intermediate support shaft 192, the first intermediate gear 193, the first pulley 194, the second pulley 195, the endless belt 196, and the tension roller 197 constitute a first transmission mechanism 198 that transmits the driving force of the motor 181 to the first gate 113 having the first support shaft 131.

The interlocking mechanism 182 also includes a second intermediate support shaft 201 fixed in position below the drive shaft 183 of the motor 181, a second intermediate gear 202 fixed to the second intermediate support shaft 201 and meshing with the portion of the drive gear 191 on the second support shaft 171 side, a third intermediate support shaft 203 fixed in position below the second intermediate support shaft 201, a third intermediate gear 204 fixed to the third intermediate support shaft 203 and meshing with the portion of the second intermediate gear 202 on the second support shaft 171 side, a fourth intermediate gear 205 fixed to the third intermediate support shaft 203, and a second support shaft gear 206 fixed to the second support shaft 171 and meshing with the portion of the fourth intermediate gear 205 on the second support shaft 171 side. The second intermediate support shaft 201, the second intermediate gear 202, the third intermediate support shaft 203, the third intermediate gear 204, the fourth intermediate gear 205, and the second support shaft gear 206 constitute a second transmission mechanism 208 that transmits the driving force of the motor 181 to the second gate 153 having the second support shaft 171.

The first transmission mechanism 198 and the second transmission mechanism 208 are configured to rotate the first gate 113 and the second gate 153 in the same direction. In addition, the first transmission mechanism 198 and the second transmission mechanism 208 have different reduction ratios, and the rotation angle of the second gate 153 per rotation of the drive shaft 183 of the motor 181 is smaller than the rotation angle of the first gate 113.

When the drive shaft 183 and drive gear 191 of the motor 181 rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 17, the first gate 113 including the first support shaft 131 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 17 by the drive transmission of the first intermediate gear 193, the first intermediate support shaft 192, the first pulley 194, the endless belt 196, and the second pulley 195 that constitute the first transmission mechanism 198, and the second gate 153 including the second support shaft 171 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 17 by the drive transmission of the second intermediate gear 202, the third intermediate gear 204, the fourth intermediate gear 205, and the second support shaft gear 206 that constitute the second transmission mechanism 208.

Conversely, when the drive shaft 183 and drive gear 191 of the motor 181 rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 17, the first gate 113 including the first support shaft 131 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 17 due to the drive transmission of the first intermediate gear 193, the first intermediate support shaft 192, the first pulley 194, the endless belt 196, and the second pulley 195 that constitute the first transmission mechanism 198, and the second gate 153 including the second support shaft 171 rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 17 due to the drive transmission of the second intermediate gear 202, the third intermediate gear 204, the fourth intermediate gear 205, and the second support shaft gear 206 that constitute the second transmission mechanism 208.

As shown in Figs. 7 to 16, the coin processing machine 11 has a sensor 211 (detection means) that detects a coin roll B near the second lower opening 152 in the second guide section 151. As shown in Fig. 19, the sensor 211 has a light emitting section 212 and a light receiving section 213 with a single optical axis running horizontally in the front-to-rear direction. The sensor 211 detects that a coin roll B is present at the position of the sensor 211 if the light emitted by the light emitting section 212 is blocked and not received by the light receiving section 213. The sensor 211 detects that a coin roll B is not present at the position of the sensor 211 if the light emitted by the light emitting section 212 is received by the light receiving section 213. The sensor 211 detects a coin roll B in the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151 when the second gate 153 is in the maximum closed position as shown in Fig. 12.

The coin processing machine 11 has a control unit (not shown) that controls the overall operation of the coin wrapping unit 61, sorting mechanism 101, etc.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the first gate 113 is in the standby position, the sorting mechanism 101 closes the first lower opening 112 with the first gate member 132, and in the standby state in the standby position, the metal bar B, which is transported from the packaging mechanism 81 and guided by the first guide section 111 to fall within the first guide section 111, is supported by the main support section 141, which is slightly downward to the left of the horizontal, and the first left wall section 121 of the first guide section 111. At this time, the metal bar B is positioned so that its central axis is horizontally arranged along the front-rear direction by the main support section 141 and the first left wall section 121. When the first gate 113 is in the standby position, the second gate 153, which is connected to the first gate 113 via the interlocking mechanism 182, is also in the standby position. In the standby state in the standby position, the second gate 153 opens the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151 to just before the maximum open position. That is, when the first gate 113 supports the metal bar B, the second gate 153 opens the second lower opening 152 of the second guide part 151.

When the odd number coin roll B is transported from the coin packaging unit 61 and supported by the main support unit 141 of the first gate 113 in the standby position and the first left wall unit 121 of the first guide unit 111 as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit then rotates the motor 181 in the first rotation drive direction, and rotates the first gate 113 in the first rotation direction, which is counterclockwise in FIG. 7, by the first transmission mechanism 198 of the interlocking mechanism 182. Then, the first gate 113 is positioned at the first rotation position where the main support unit 141 is separated from the first left wall unit 121 as shown in FIG. 8, and releases the odd number coin roll B supported by the main support unit 141 from between the main support unit 141 and the first left wall unit 121 in the first downward direction. Then, the odd number coin roll B is guided by the guide unit 145 and stored in the clear box 28.

In this way, when the first gate 113 rotates from the standby position shown in FIG. 7 to the first rotation position shown in FIG. 8, the interlocking mechanism 182 rotates the second gate 153 in the first rotation direction, which is counterclockwise in FIG. 7, by the second transmission mechanism 208 in synchronization with the first gate 113. Then, the second gate 153 reaches the maximum open position, which is the furthest from the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151. At this time, due to the difference in the reduction ratio with the first transmission mechanism 198, the second transmission mechanism 208 rotates the second gate 153 from the standby position shown in FIG. 7 to the maximum open position shown in FIG. 8 by an angle smaller than the rotation angle at which the first gate 113 rotates from the standby position shown in FIG. 7 to the first rotation position shown in FIG. 8.

Next, the control unit rotates the motor 181 in a second rotational drive direction opposite to the first rotational drive direction, and rotates the first gate 113 located in the first rotational position in the second rotational direction, which is clockwise in FIG. 8, by the first transmission mechanism 198 of the interlocking mechanism 182, to return it to the standby position shown in FIG. 7, and synchronously and interlockingly, rotates the second gate 153 in the second rotational direction, which is clockwise in FIG. 8, by the second transmission mechanism 208 of the interlocking mechanism 182, to return it to the standby position shown in FIG. 7.

When a normal bar B is conveyed from the packaging mechanism 81 and supported by the main support part 141 of the first gate 113 in the standby position as shown in FIG. 7 and the first left wall part 121 of the first guide part 111, the control part then drives the motor 181 in the second rotation drive direction, and rotates the first gate 113 in the second rotation direction, which is clockwise in FIG. 7, by the first transmission mechanism 198 of the interlocking mechanism 182. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the first gate 113 moves away from the lower end of the first right wall part 122 while the main support part 141 is tilted downward to the right and the tilt support part 142 is tilted upward to the right. Then, the normal bar B is supported by the main support part 141 and the tilt support part 142 due to the downward tilt of the main support part 141.

In this way, when the first gate 113 rotates, the interlocking mechanism 182 rotates the second gate 153 in the second rotation direction, which is clockwise in FIG. 7, by the second transmission mechanism 208 in synchronous with the first gate 113. Then, the second gate 153 approaches the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151, as shown in FIG. 9.

As the motor 181 continues to drive in the second rotation drive direction, the first transmission mechanism 198 of the interlocking mechanism 182 further rotates the first gate 113 in the second rotation direction, which is clockwise in FIG. 9. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the first gate 113 is in a state in which the inclined support portion 142 approaches the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151 and inclines downward to the right, moving the normal bar B toward the second guide portion 151.

In this way, when the first gate 113 rotates, the interlocking mechanism 182 synchronizes with the first gate 113 and causes the second transmission mechanism 208 to further rotate the second gate 153 in the second rotation direction, which is clockwise in FIG. 9. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the second gate 153 approaches the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151 even closer, and enters a closed state that restricts the normal coin bar B from falling through the second lower opening 152 between the second gate 153 and the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151.

As the motor 181 continues to drive in the second rotation drive direction, the first transmission mechanism 198 of the interlocking mechanism 182 further rotates the first gate 113 in the second rotation direction, which is clockwise in FIG. 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the first gate 113 drops the normal bar B onto the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151, and further rotates to the second rotation position where the inclined support portion 142 is closest to the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151, as shown in FIG. 12. Then, the control unit stops the motor 181.

In this way, when the first gate 113 rotates, the interlocking mechanism 182 synchronizes with the first gate 113 and causes the second transmission mechanism 208 to further rotate the second gate 153 in the second rotation direction, which is clockwise in FIG. 10. As a result, the second gate 153 approaches further toward the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151 as shown in FIG. 11, and then rotates to the maximum closed position where it is closest to the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151 and stops as shown in FIG. 12.

As described above, when the normal bar B supported by the first gate 113 is released toward the second guide section 151, which is the second downward direction, the second gate 153 is in a closed state that closes the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151. At this time, due to the difference in the reduction ratio with the first transmission mechanism 198, the second transmission mechanism 208 rotates the second gate 153 from the standby position shown in FIG. 7 to the maximum closed position shown in FIG. 12 by an angle smaller than the rotation angle at which the first gate 113 rotates from the standby position shown in FIG. 7 to the second rotation position shown in FIG. 12.

After the second gate 153 reaches the closed state shown in FIG. 10, but before it reaches the maximum closed position shown in FIG. 12, a normal coin bar B reaches the second gate 153 and is supported by the second gate 153 and the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151. At this time, the second gate 153 and the second left wall portion 161 position the coin bar B horizontally with its central axis aligned in the front-to-rear direction. In this state, the normal coin bar B is detected by the sensor 211.

When the sensor 211 detects normal coin bars B continuously for a predetermined time, the control unit drives the motor 181 in the first rotation drive direction. Then, in the opposite manner to the above, the first transmission mechanism 198 of the interlocking mechanism 182 rotates the first gate 113 in the first rotation direction, which is counterclockwise in FIG. 12. Then, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 14 and further FIGS. 15 to 16, the first gate 113 stops at a standby position where the inclined support portion 142 approaches the first right wall portion 122 of the first guide portion 111 and closes the first lower opening 112, and returns to a standby state.

In this way, when the first gate 113 rotates, the interlocking mechanism 182 rotates the second gate 153 in the second rotation direction, which is counterclockwise in Fig. 12, by the second transmission mechanism 208 in synchronization with the first gate 113. Then, as shown in Figs. 13 to 14 and further Fig. 15, the second gate 153 moves away from the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151 and enters an open state that allows the normal coin roll B to fall from the second lower opening 152 through the gap between the second gate 153 and the second left wall portion 161 of the second guide portion 151. Then, the normal coin roll B falls from the second lower opening 152 onto the belt conveyor 42. As shown in Fig. 16, the second gate 153 rotates to a standby position before the maximum open position, stops, and returns to a standby state. At this time, due to the difference in reduction ratio with the first transmission mechanism 198, the second transmission mechanism 208 rotates the second gate 153 from the maximum closed position to the standby position at an angle smaller than the rotation angle at which the first gate 113 rotates from the second rotation position to the standby position.

As described above, the interlocking mechanism 182 synchronizes and interlocks the first gate 113 and the second gate 153 so that when the first gate 113 supports a normal bar B, as shown in FIG. 7, the second gate 153 opens the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151, and when the first gate 113 rotates in the second rotational direction to release the supported normal bar B in the second downward direction, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the second gate 153 closes the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151.

According to the coin processing machine 11 of the present embodiment described above, the first gate 113 supports the coin bar B that has fallen through the first guide section 111, thereby adjusting the position of the coin bar B. The first gate 113 rotates in a first rotation direction to release the supported coin bar B in a first downward direction, and rotates in a second rotation direction to release the supported coin bar B in a second downward direction. The coin bar B released in the second downward direction by the first gate 113 is guided by the second guide section 151, and the second gate 153 provided in the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151 supports the coin bar B that has fallen through the second guide section 151 again, thereby adjusting the position of the coin bar B. After that, the second gate 153 rotates to open the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151, and releases the supported coin bar B. In this way, the first gate 113 and the second gate 153 adjust the position of the coin bar B, so it is possible to stabilize the behavior and position of the coin bar B when it falls in an appropriate state. This makes it possible to prevent problems such as curling or damage to the wrapping paper that occurs while the coin bar B is being transported inside the machine.

In addition, since the system has an interlocking mechanism 182 that interlocks the first gate 113 and the second gate 153 by driving a single motor 181, it is possible to make the configuration more compact and suppress cost increases compared to when the first gate 113 and the second gate 153 are driven by separate motors.

In addition, when the first gate 113 rotates in the second direction from a state in which the first gate 113 supports a normal coin bar B to release the supported normal coin bar B in the second downward direction, the interlocking mechanism 182 causes the second gate 153 to close the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151, thereby supporting the normal coin bar B. When the second gate 153 opens the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151 from this state to release the normal coin bar B, the interlocking mechanism 182 returns the first gate 113 to a standby state in which it supports the coin bar B. Therefore, the first gate 113 and the second gate 153 can be interlocked while suppressing unnecessary movement.

In addition, due to the difference in reduction ratio between the first transmission mechanism 198 and the second transmission mechanism 208 of the interlocking mechanism 182, the rotation angle of the second gate 153 is kept small relative to the rotation angle of the first gate 113, thereby preventing an increase in space required for the track of the second gate 153.

In addition, the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151 has a sensor 211 that detects the gold bar B when the second gate 153 is closed, so it can easily detect that the gold bar B is supported by the second gate 153. This further reduces problems that occur when the gold bar B is being transported inside the machine.

In addition, when the sensor 211 detects the coin roll B continuously for a predetermined time, the control unit drives the motor 181 so that the second gate 153 opens the second lower opening 152 of the second guide section 151, so that it is possible to more effectively detect that the coin roll B is being supported by the second gate 153. This makes it possible to further suppress problems that occur during the transportation of the coin roll B within the machine.

In addition, since the coin processing machine 11 is a coin wrapping machine having a coin insertion port 22 into which loose coins are inserted, and a coin wrapping section 61 that accumulates a predetermined number of coins inserted into the coin insertion port 22 and wraps them to create wrapped coins, it is possible to suppress malfunctions that occur during the transport of the coin roll B within the coin wrapping machine.

In addition, the coin processing machine 11 is provided in a coin wrapping and carrying device 41 that has a belt conveyor 42 that receives the gold bar B released when the second gate 153 is opened and transports it substantially horizontally for at least a portion of the length. This makes it possible to suppress malfunctions that occur to the gold bar B during transport within the coin processing machine 11, thereby suppressing malfunctions that occur to the gold bar B in the coin wrapping and carrying device 41.

As shown in FIG. 20, in addition to the sensor 211 described above, a similar sensor 211A can be provided upstream in the extension direction of the second left wall portion 161, making it possible to detect the posture of the coin roll B when it slides down or remains on the second left wall portion 161. By setting the distance between the optical axes of the sensors 211 and 211A to an appropriate distance, the two sensors 211 and 211A will not simultaneously detect the coin roll B when it slides down with its axis horizontal. Therefore, if the two sensors 211 and 211A do not simultaneously detect the coin roll B, it can be determined that the coin roll B has slid down in a desirable posture and that the coin roll B remains on the second gate 153 in a desirable posture.

On the other hand, when the coin roll B is in an undesirable position, for example, when the axis of the coin roll B is not horizontal but vertical, the two sensors 211 and 211A simultaneously detect the coin roll B, making it possible to determine whether the coin roll B is in an abnormal position. When the coin roll B is not horizontal when it is released outside the machine, that is, when the coin roll B is vertical, it falls from the coin release section 29 onto the belt conveyor 42, which is the destination of the fall, with an impact, and there is a risk that the crimped portion of the packaging film of the coin roll B, the coin roll B itself, or even the coin roll B may break apart. In such a case, the control section may notify the operation display section 21 of the abnormal position of the coin roll B based on the detection results of the sensors 211 and 211A. Furthermore, in coin processing machines where abnormal postures frequently occur when coin rolls B are dispensed, deformation of the internal mechanism is anticipated, so the number of abnormal postures relative to the total number of dispensed coins is counted and stored as history (log data) in the memory unit, and if the frequency of occurrence exceeds a preset frequency, a message urging inspection may be displayed on the operation display unit 21.

As described above, the configuration with two pairs of sensors 211, 211A allows the coin processing machine 11 to monitor whether the coin roll B is released outside the machine in the appropriate position. This makes it possible to prevent malfunctions that occur when the coin roll B is released outside the machine.

11...coin processing machine, 22...coin inlet, 41...coin wrapping and discharging device, 42, 43...belt conveyor (wrapped coin transport conveyor), 61...coin wrapping section, 111...first guide section, 113...first gate, 151...second guide section, 152...second lower opening (lower opening), 153...second gate, 181...motor (driving source), 182...interlocking mechanism, 211...sensor (detection means), B...coin bar (wrapped coins).

Claims (5)

a first guide portion for guiding the falling of the wrapped coins;
a first gate that supports the wrapped coins that have fallen through the first guide section and rotates in a first rotation direction to release the supported wrapped coins in a first downward direction;
a second guide portion that guides the wrapped coins discharged in a second downward direction by the rotation of the first gate in the second rotation direction;
a second gate provided at a lower opening of the second guide section, supporting the wrapped coins that have fallen through the second guide section, and rotating to open and close the lower opening of the second guide section;
a drive source that rotates the first gate and the second gate in conjunction with each other. a linking mechanism for linking the first gate and the second gate,
The interlocking mechanism includes:
When the first gate supports the wrapped coin, the second gate opens a lower opening of the second guide part,
When the first gate rotates in the second rotation direction to release the supported wrapped coins in the second downward direction, the second gate closes a lower opening of the second guide part.
The coin processing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first gate and the second gate are interlocked. The coin processing machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a detection means for detecting wrapped coins at the lower opening of the second guide section when the second gate is closed. The coin processing machine according to claim 3, further comprising a control unit that drives the drive source so that the second gate opens the lower opening of the second guide portion when the detection means detects wrapped coins continuously for a predetermined period of time. A coin slot into which loose coins are inserted;
5. The coin processing machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a coin wrapping unit that stacks a predetermined number of coins inserted into the coin insertion slot, wraps them, and creates wrapped coins;
a wrapped coin transport conveyor located directly below the second gate, which receives wrapped coins released when the second gate is opened, and transports them approximately horizontally for at least a portion of the length.

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