Abstract:
A coin receiving and disbursing apparatus aligns coins to travel along a curved path. The coins can be verified and appropriately sorted by denomination and dropped into a plurality of hopper units arranged in two arrays below the coin path. Positioned between the two arrays of hoppers is a conveying belt. The hoppers are operatively positioned to propel coins upon receipt of a discharge signal upward into the air fall on the coin conveying device. The arrangement of the hoppers and the coin conveying device minimizes bouncing of the coins and facilitates their travel to a money discharge port.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus which stores a plural of denominations of coins in a separate reserving part for each coin denomination, and dispenses a specified number of a specified denomination of coins in response to an instruction from a related instrument, more specifically the present invention also relates to a compact coin receiving and disbursing apparatus, in particular, a low-height coin receiving and disbursing apparatus suited for installation under or beside a POS register and capable of completing the disbursement of coins in a short time period.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     The term “coin” used herein means coins of currency, tokens and medals, which may be circular or polygonal in shape. In one conventionally known coin receiving and disbursing apparatus, after separating coins by a rotary disc, the coins travel in line along a received money conveying path and are checked by a judging unit to determine whether the coin is fake or real and to determine the coin denomination. The coins are then sorted by denomination in a sorting path after sequentially passed through a reject gate and overflow gate. The sorted coins are aligned on each side of a money disbursing path after passing through a chute, and introduced into a respective hopper provided for each denomination. The coins in each hopper engage a selector disk with a projection disposed on an inner periphery of an oblique circular disc, and a specified number of coins are disbursed from a hopper of a specified coin denomination into a money disbursing path in response to an instruction for money disbursement (see, Japanese Patent No. 2945235).  
         [0005]     In the above conventional art, a coin is released from a hopper to a money disbursing path. In other words, the oblique circular disc is arranged so that it is in the lowest level on the side of the money disbursing path, and its level rises as the distance from the money disbursing path increases. Therefore, the money disbursing path is not able to convey a coin from a hopper unless it is disposed at a lower level than the lowermost end of the oblique circular disc. Since the received money conveying path, the hopper and the disbursing money conveying path are arranged in a stacked array, reduction of the height of the money receiving and disbursing apparatus is limited. In addition, since a coin may be disbursed with some speed towards the disbursing money conveying path from the hopper, the coin may strike the disbursing money conveying path and bounce in various directions, creating a problem that the money disbursement is not completed in a desired short time period.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The first object of the present invention is to provide a compact coin receiving and disbursing apparatus.  
         [0007]     The second object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized, particularly, low-height coin receiving and disbursing apparatus.  
         [0008]     The third object of the present invention is to provide a small-sized coin receiving and disbursing apparatus capable of completing money disbursement in a short time.  
         [0009]     In order to achieve the above objects, a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus can be configured as follows.  
         [0010]     A coin receiving and disbursing apparatus includes an alignment device that aligns coins inserted through a coin receiving port in line and a received money conveying path for coins aligned in line by the alignment device. A received money conveying device makes the aligned coins travel the received money conveying path to a sorting unit for sorting the coins conveyed by the conveyance device by denomination. A plurality of hoppers are arranged in two arrays for receiving the coins sorted by the sorting unit by denomination in a bulk condition. A disbursing money conveying device is disposed parallel with and between the two arrays of hoppers to receive coins from the hoppers.  
         [0011]     In this configuration, a coin inserted through a money receiving port is aligned in line by the alignment device, and conveyed along the sorting path by the received money conveying device. The coins traveling the sorting path are sorted by specific denominations in specific sorting units to drop into a hopper provided below by denomination and stored therein. In response to an instruction for disbursement, a hopper for a specific denomination is actuated, and specified number of stored coins are released. Coins are projected upward by a spring propelled lever toward the disbursing money conveying device which is disposed in parallel with the hopper. Therefore, the hopper and the disbursing money conveying device are disposed in parallel with each other rather than in a stacked arrangement, so that the coin receiving and disbursing apparatus can be miniaturized. Further, when a coin is flicked out upward, the momentum of the coin is attenuated by the gravity with a trajectory that raises above a common disbursing coin conveying device, so that the coin will not be as energetic in any collision with the disbursing money conveying device. In other words, when a coin comes into collision with the disbursing money conveyance device and bounce in various directions, the amount of bouncing is small, and ceases in a short period of time, so that the conveyance to the money discharging port is quickly completed.  
         [0012]     The hopper can have a through hole that allows coins to drop one by one, and includes a rotatable rotary disc that is inclined so that its lower end is laterally farther from the disbursing money conveying device than its upper end.  
         [0013]     In this configuration, coins are flicked out while dropping one by one into the through hole of the rotary disc. In the rotary disc, the lower end is laterally farther from the disbursing money conveying device than the upper end. In other words, since the upper end of the rotary disc is inclined toward the disbursing money conveying device, a coin flicked out from a hopper is flicked out upwardly toward the disbursing money conveying device. Further, since momentum of the coin is attenuated, the coin will not energetically come into collision with the disbursing money conveying device, and hence any dancing of coins on the disbursing money conveying device quiets down in a short time, so that disbursement is completed in a short time period.  
         [0014]     The coin conveyance part of the disbursing money conveying device is disposed between the upper end and the lower end of the inclining rotary disc. In other words, the rotary disc is disposed in parallel with the coin conveyance part. Since the conveyance device is provided in a minimum required height for the rotary disc at the level of the hopper, it is possible to reduce the height of the apparatus.  
         [0015]     A part of the coin conveying device in an up-and-down direction. In other words, the hopper and the coin conveying device laterally align and partly overlap with each other in the lateral direction and the width of the coin receiving and disbursing apparatus can be made smaller by that overlapping part.  
         [0016]     The money discharging port are arranged substantially parallel with each other and by forming the received money conveying path in a channel form, coins aligned by the alignment device, after passing through the money receiving port, travel a path from the money receiving port, through a U-turn and then travel in a path approaching the money discharging port. A specific sorting unit is provided in the leaving path and the approaching path. The plurality of hoppers are arranged in parallel below the sorting units with the disbursing money conveying device disposed between the hopper arrays, between the alignment device and the sorting part of the leaving path. A denomination judging device and a reject coin sorting device are arranged, in this order, from the side of the alignment device. The reject coin sorting device can return a fake coin to the disbursing money conveying device. Therefore, a cash box for fake coins is no longer required, and accordingly it is possible to provide a compact apparatus.  
         [0017]     Since the conveyance belt has a slope declining toward the money discharging port, even when a coin hits the conveyance belt and bounces, it bounces toward the money discharging port, so that it is possible for the coin to stabilize in a short period of time. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a plan view showing a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention in a condition that a cover is removed.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a plan view showing a received money conveying path of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a plan view showing arrangement of hoppers of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross section view of a money receiving port and an alignment device of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are an enlarged plan view and a cross section view along the line C-C of a denomination judging device of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are an enlarged plan view and a cross section view taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 2  of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a cross section view taken along the line D-D in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged plan view of a U-turn portion of a received money conveying path of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a cross section view taken along the line E-E in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged plan view of a curve part guiding device of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 12  are a perspective view, a plan view, a front view and a bottom view of a position adjustment unit of a curve part guiding device of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention wherein  FIG. 12A  is a perspective view,  FIG. 12B  is a plan view,  FIG. 12C  is a front view and  FIG. 12D  is a bottom view.  
         [0031]      FIG. 13  is a cross section view taken along the line F-F in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 14  show a coin hopper of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention, wherein  FIG. 14A  is a perspective view,  FIG. 14B  is a plan view,  FIG. 14C  is a left lateral view,  FIG. 14D  is a G-G section view,  FIG. 14E  is a front view in the condition that a reserving bowl is removed, and  FIG. 14F  is an H-H section view.  
         [0033]      FIG. 15  is a cross section view along the line B-B of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 16  are section views showing a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention, wherein  FIG. 16A  is a section view viewed from the side of the money discharging port and  FIG. 16B  is a section view viewed from the side of the U-turn path.  
         [0035]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged cross section view of a money discharging port of a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus embodying the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention which set forth the best modes contemplated to carry out the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.  
         [0037]     The present embodiment is a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus which can receive eight denominations of coins, i.e., 2-euro, 1-euro, 50-cent, 20-cent, 10-cent, 5-cent, 2-cent and 1-cent coins which are currency of the European Union, and stores the coins by denomination, and further can disburse a specified number of a specified denomination of coins in accordance with an instruction of disbursement. In  FIG. 1 , a coin receiving and disbursing apparatus  100  has a coin receiving port  104  on an upper face on the front side of a body cover  102  of a vertically long box shape.  
         [0038]     The coin receiving port  104  is a vertically long D-shaped slot when viewed two-dimensionally, and has a width slightly larger than the diameter of the largest coin, and a length of about three times the largest coin. Beside the coin receiving port  104 , a display  106  for displaying settings and alarm information, and an operational user button  108  are discussed. The operational button  108  permits the settings to be changed by an operation thereof while checking the setting information displayed in the display  106 .  
         [0039]     A bowl-like money discharging port  110  is provided in a lower part of the front face of the coin receiving and disbursing apparatus  100 . Therefore, the money receiving port  104  and the money discharging port  110  are disposed almost in parallel. A full coin cash box  112  is disposed on the left side of the money discharging port  100 . The cash box  112  may be removed by unlocking a lock key  114  provided on the front face and then manually pulled out. On the right side of the money discharging port  119 , a power key  116  is provided.  
         [0040]     The power key  116 , when in an ON state can be put in an OFF state when it is turned in a predetermined direction and the power key  116  in an OFF state comes into an ON state when it is turned in an opposite direction. Above the power key  116 , a setting key  118  is provided. The setting key  118  enables a switching of a mode of the coin receiving and disbursing apparatus  100  by a position selected by a turning operation.  
         [0041]     Specifically, the setting key  118  sets the coin receiving and disbursing apparatus  100  at a normal money receiving mode at a predetermined position, and sets it at a maintenance mode at another predetermined position. In the maintenance mode, by conducting a certain operation through operation of the operational button  108 , it is possible to withdraw all the reserved coins, for example.  
         [0042]     Next, devices placed inside the body cover  102  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Inside the body cover  102 , a box-like slide frame  122  is disposed so as to be removable via a slide rail (not shown). In the slide frame  122 , devices are disposed in generally an upper half part and a lower half part. To be more specific, in the upper half part, a received money conveying device  124  is disposed, and in a lower half part, a coin storing device  126  and a disbursing money conveying device  128  are disposed. The received money conveying device  124  conveys a coin sent from an alignment device  130  at a certain speed along the received money conveying path  132 .  
         [0043]     The alignment device  130  aligns a plurality of denominations of coins received in bulk from the money receiving port  104  into a line of coins. Accordingly, another device having a similar function may be used as well. As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the present embodiment, the alignment device  130  is composed of a band conveyer  134  and breaking means  136  directly below the money receiving port  104 .  
         [0044]     The band conveyer  134  is a conveyance belt  144  which is slightly wider than the coin having the largest diameter, and wound around a first roller  140  and a second roller  142  disposed parallel at a certain interval so that it forms an ascending slope with respect to a traveling direction of coins. The conveyance belt  144  receives a certain tension by a tension roller  146  disposed under an upper belt  144 U. Between the tension roller  146  and the second roller  142 , an upper belt relay part  148  is disposed substantially horizontally.  
         [0045]     The upper belt  144 U between the first roller  140  and the tension roller  146  is inclined upward with respect to the traveling direction of coins. The second roller  142  is rotated in a clockwise direction in  FIG. 5  by a driving motor  150 , and the upper belt  144 U moves from a left below to a right above in  FIG. 5 . A stationary guide axis  152  is provided on an upstream side of the traveling direction of coins so as to transverse below the upper belt  144 U. Preferably, the guide axis  152  is covered with a sleeve (not shown), and is in rolling contact with the conveyance belt  144 .  
         [0046]     On an upstream side of the guide axis  152 , a plate-like guide plate  154  is disposed and a slot-in sensor  156  for detecting a coin is attached. As the band conveyer  134 , a belt which is covered with rubber having a large coefficient of friction with a coin, at least on its surface is preferred.  
         [0047]     Next, the breaking means  136  will be explained. The breaking means  136  breaks any pile up of coins and aligns them one by one on the conveyance belt  144 . In the present embodiment, the breaking means  136  is implemented by a breaking roller  158 . The breaking roller  158  is placed directly above the belt  144  and is attached via a one-way clutch  162  to an axis  160  that is rotatably mounted in an opening on the lateral wall of the money receiving port  104 .  
         [0048]     The axis  160  is drivingly connected with the driving motor  150 , and rotates in the same direction as the second roller  142 . In other words, the axis  160  is rotated in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 5  at a predetermined speed ratio with respect to the upper belt  144 U. In other words, the breaking roller  158  is rotated at a predetermined speed in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0049]     Therefore, the peripheral surface contacting with the upper belt  144 U of the breaking roller  158  moves in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the upper belt  144 U. When the second roller  142  rotates in a direction opposite to the direction in which a coin is received, the axis  160  rotates in the same direction, however, the breaking roller  158  is not rotated because the rotating power is blocked by a one-way clutch  162 .  
         [0050]     Between the bottom side of the periphery of the breaking roller  158  and the upper belt  144 U, a coin passage gap  164  is formed which is slightly larger than the thickness of the thickest coin. The upper belt  144 U is inhibited from moving downward, or moving in the direction leaving from the breaking roller  158  by the stationary guide axis  152 . Consequently, in the case where thicknesses of coins other than the thickest coin are equal to or more than one half of the thickness of the thickest coin as is the case of euro coins, only one coin whose one face contacts the upper belt  144 U is allowed to pass through the coin passage gap  164 .  
         [0051]     When two or more coins are piled up on the upper belt  144 U, the upper coin(s) is(are) repelled by rotation of the breaking roller  158  and removed from the lower coin. This action is continuously carried out, and only one coin passes through the coin passage gap  164  together with the belt  144 . Consequently, a coin having passed through the coin passage gap  164  is aligned on the conveyance belt  144 .  
         [0052]     Near the upper belt  144 U of the money receiving port  104  and the first roller  140 , standing coin detection sensors  166 A,  166 B and  166 C are provided. The standing coin detection sensors  166 A,  166 B and  166 C are disposed above a part which is in the lowest level of the inclining belt  144 .  
         [0053]     In the present embodiment, the standing coin detection sensors  166 A,  166 B and  166 C are transmissive photoelectronic sensors and are provided in such a manner that a light projecting part is disposed on one side of the wall surface of the belt  144  and light receiving parts are disposed on the opposite side of the wall surface across the belt  106  and near the upper belt  144  in three different positions along the traveling direction of the belt  144 .  
         [0054]     Since the position of any coin rolling is unstable, the standing coin detection sensors are provided in plural so as to securely detect any standing coin. However, if detection can be secured with only one sensor, the standing coin detection sensor may be only one. When a coin is inserted through the money receiving port  104 , the coin is detected by the slot-in sensor  156  which is usually disposed under the upper belt  144 U, and the driving motor  150  is rotated.  
         [0055]     As a result, the upper belt  144 U moves toward a denomination judging device  125  as will be described below, and the lower side of the periphery of the breaking roller  158  moves in an opposite direction. Accordingly, the coins pass one by one through the gap  164  as described above, and the coins are aligned in line on the upper belt  144  at least in the relay part  148 .  
         [0056]     When the coin leans against a lateral wall of the money receiving port  104 , it rolls down on the belt  144  because the upper belt  144 U inclines, or stops at a predetermined position after rolling with the movement of the belt  144 . In this case, detection is carried out by either of the three standing coin detection sensors  166 A,  166 B and  166 C.  
         [0057]     When the slot-in sensor  156  does not detect a coin and either of the standing coin detection sensors  166 A,  166 B and  166 C detects a coin, the driving motor  150  is forwardly rotated following a short-time reverse rotation. This reverse rotation allows the upper belt  144 U to move in a reverse direction of the conveyance direction of coins.  
         [0058]     In other words, in the left-hand movement of  FIG. 5 , even when the axis  160  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the breaking roller  158  is hindered from rotating by the one-way clutch  162  and kept in a stationary state. A standing coin travels with the upper belt  144 U, guided by an arcuate wall  168  at an edge of the money receiving port  104 , and the face of the coin is brought into a perpendicular alignment to the traveling direction of the upper belt  144 U  
         [0059]     Then the upper belt  144 U travels in the coin conveyance direction and the standing coin is moved together with the upper belt  144 U at its lower end, and forced to fall on the upper belt  144 U and passes through the gap  164 .  
         [0060]     Next, the received money conveying path  132  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . The received money conveying path  132  is composed of a judging and rejecting path  170  and a sorting path  172 . First, explanation will be made on the judging and rejecting path  170 . The judging and rejecting path  170  is disposed subsequently downstream of the alignment device  130 , and extends in a traveling direction of the band conveyer  134  so as to be substantially flush with the relay part  148  of the band conveyer  134  and placed on the upper face of a plate-like slide base  173 .  
         [0061]     On an upper face of one side of the slide base  173 , a first guide rail  174  is formed. The first guide rail  174  is formed with a deviation guide part  176  inclining toward the center and the conveyance direction of coins D from one side of the band conveyer  134 , and a judgment guide part  178  and a rejection guide part  180  continuing therefrom.  
         [0062]     The judgment guide part  178  and the rejection guide part  180  are linearly formed in series, and slope at a small angle from the traveling direction of coins D. The coin moving in such a manner, as being dragged by the received money conveying device  124 , is guided while a periphery thereof is constantly being held in close contact with the guide parts due to the inclination as described above. Therefore, the judging and rejecting path  170  is a linear path formed along the deviation guide part  176 , the judgment guide part  178  and the rejection guide part  180 .  
         [0063]     Next, the denomination judging device  125  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 6 . The denomination judging device  125  is disposed so as to face the judgment guide part  178 . The denomination judging device  125  determines whether a coin guided by the judgment guide part  178  is real or fake and further determines the denomination thereof.  
         [0064]     In the present embodiment, real/fake and denomination are determined by detecting a diameter, a material and a thickness of a coin by a plurality of coils and comparing the detection results with reference values. A plate-like sensor attachment  182  is disposed parallel with the slide base  173  at a distance slightly larger than the thickness of the thickest coin above the slide base  173 .  
         [0065]     To the sensor attachment  182  are fixed a first upper sensor  188 U implementing a first diameter sensor  186  in which a coil (not shown) is wound on a first core  184 U having a rectangular end face; a third upper sensor  194 U implementing a third diameter sensor  190  in which a coil is wound on a third core  192 U having a rectangular end face; and a second upper sensor  200 U implementing a third diameter sensor  196  having a second core  198 U having a circular end face.  
         [0066]     Opposite to the first core  184 U, the second core  198 U and the third core  192 U, a first core  184 L of a first lower sensor  188 L, a second core (not shown) of a second lower sensor  200 L and a third core  192 L of a third lower sensor  194 L are disposed on the bottom face of the slide base  173 . The second sensors  200 U and  200 L have good efficiency in monitoring magnetic flux because almost the whole periphery of the coil is surrounded by a circular partition.  
         [0067]     As to the first sensors  188 U and  188 L and the third sensors  194 U and  194 L, since the coils are surrounded only by lateral side walls, the generation efficiency of magnetic flux is reduced. However, this is advantageous in that neighboring sensors may be closely arranged due to an absence of partitions. Therefore, the slide base  173  and the sensor attachment  182  are made of a non-magnetic material, specifically, a resin so as not to attenuate the magnetic flux.  
         [0068]     The first diameter sensor  186  is constituted by differentially connecting the coils of the first upper sensor  188 U and the first lower sensor  188 L. The second diameter sensor  196  is constituted by cumulatively connecting the coils of the second upper sensor  200 U and the second lower sensor  200 L. The third diameter sensor  190  is constituted by cumulatively connecting the coils of the third upper sensor  194 U and the third lower sensor  194 L.  
         [0069]     The first diameter sensor  186  and the third diameter sensor  190  are disposed on a straight line X which is perpendicular to the judgment guide part  178 , at a predetermined distance from the judgment guide part  178 . More specifically, the first diameter sensor  186  is disposed in such a manner that when a one-cent coin having the smallest diameter moves while guided by the judgment guide part  178  (see the circle S shown by dotted line), the end portion faces about one third of the first cores  184 L and  184 R.  
         [0070]     The second diameter sensor  196  is disposed on the downstream of the coin traveling direction such that ends which are closer to the judgment guide part  178 , of the core  198 U of the second upper sensor  200 U and the core (not shown) of the second lower sensor  200 L slightly overlap with the cores  184 U and  184 L of the first diameter sensor  186 , and the ends which are far from the judgment guide part  178  slightly overlap with the cores  192 U and  192 L of the third diameter sensor  190 .  
         [0071]     The third diameter sensor  190  is disposed in such a manner that when a two-euro coin having the largest diameter moves under guidance (see the circle L shown by dotted line), the end portion faces about one third of the third cores  192 U and  192 L.  
         [0072]     By determining a diameter by means of these three sensors, the area of each core may be reduced since the core opposite to a coin is divided, and hence the sensitivity is improved. In other words, the accuracy of diameter determination improves and an advantage of low cost is also obtained by the coil-based sensor.  
         [0073]     The denomination judging device  125  may discriminate real/fake and determine the denomination by a device having a similar functionality, for example, by image recognition of a pattern on the surface of the coin followed by comparison with a reference image. The first diameter sensor  186  serves also as a thickness sensor because almost the entire face of the cores  184 U and  184 L thereof faces with a coin other than a one-cent coin.  
         [0074]     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a material sensor  202  for determining a material of a coin is attached on a bottom end of the slide base  173  and near the judgment guide part  178 . Likewise the second diameter sensor  196 , for example, the material sensor  202  is structured by winding a coil around a core. Since the core of the material sensor  202  lies near the judgment guide part  178 , it faces the entire surface of the coin.  
         [0075]     Next, explanation of a reject coin sorter  128  will be made with reference to  FIG. 7 . The reject coin sorter  128  is disposed downstream the denomination judging device  125 . The reject coin sorter  128  sorts returning coins other than acceptable coins, as well as fake coins to the money discharging port according to the determination results by the denomination judging device  125 .  
         [0076]     In the present embodiment, the reject coin sorter  128  includes a dropping port  206  formed on the slide base  173  and a reject member  208  disposed below the first guide rail  174  of the dropping port  206 . The dropping port  206  is so designed that the length along the traveling direction of coins is larger than the diameter of the coin having the largest diameter, and the length in the direction perpendicular to the reject guide part  198  of the dropping port  206  is slightly smaller than the diameter of the coin having the smallest diameter.  
         [0077]     When the conveyance speed of a coin is high, the length in the traveling direction of coins is increased, preferably, to twice or more of the diameter of the coin having the largest diameter. When the length in the traveling direction of coins cannot be increased, it is preferred to add a drop assisting device for coins. The drop assisting device is, for example, a pusher that pushes a coin into the dropping port  206 .  
         [0078]     The reject member  208  is movable between a guiding position G at which the upper face thereof slightly projects from the reject guide part  180  toward the received money conveying path  132 , and a reject position R at which the upper face thereof recedes under the first guide rail  174  from the reject guide part  180  at the dropping port  206  in a plane which is flush with the slide base  173 .  
         [0079]     The reject member  208  is moved between the guiding position C and the reject position R by a plunger  212  of a two-position solenoid  210  fixed to the slide frame  122 . That is, whenever the solenoid  210  is excited, the reject member  208  is alternately switched between the guiding position G and the reject position R.  
         [0080]     When the two-position solenoid  210  is used as described above, it is not necessary to continuously supply current in order to hold the reject member  208  at one of the guiding position G or the reject position R, leading an advantage of reduction of power consumption.  
         [0081]     When the reject member  208  is in the reject position R, a coin moving on the dropping port  206  while guided by the reject guide part  180  of the first guide rail  174  drops through the dropping port  206 , slides down on the bottom surface of the reject path  214 , and is guided to the disbursing money conveying device  128  and returned to the money discharging port  110  because the lower face of the edge on the side of the reject guide part  180  of the coin is not guided. The reject path  214  inclines such that a coin slides down by its own weight toward the disbursing money conveying device  128  from below the dropping port  206 .  
         [0082]     Next, the sorting conveyance path  172  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . The sorting conveyance path  172  sorts coins such that a predetermined denomination is sorted in a predetermined point during conveyance by the received money conveying device  124 .  
         [0083]     The sorting conveyance path  172  is formed into a substantially U-shape from a slide base  220 , e.g. stainless steel plate, arranged substantially horizontally, a second guide rail  222 , a U-turn guide rail  224  and a third guide rail  226  fixed on the top face of the slide base  220 . A first support rail  228  is disposed parallel with the second guide rail  222  at a certain distance therefrom, a U-turn support rail  230  is disposed at a certain distance from the U-turn guide rail  224 . A second support rail  232  is disposed parallel with the third guide rail  226  at a certain distance therefrom.  
         [0084]     Each rail is formed from a plate slightly thicker than the coin having the largest thickness. Therefore, the sorting conveyance path  172  has a cross section of a shallow channel, and has a width which is slightly larger than the diameter of the coin having the largest diameter, and a thickness slightly larger than that of the coin having the largest thickness. The top face of the slide base  220  is formed with a plurality of protruding strips  234  extending in the longitudinal direction of the sorting conveyance path  172 . This contributes to a reduction of friction when coins are conveyed by the received money conveying device  124  as will be described later.  
         [0085]     However, the top face may be formed flat, for example, by bonding a low-friction sheet rather than providing the protruding strips as described above. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the received money conveying path  132  is formed into a U-shape from a path  236  leaving the money receiving port  104  which is opposite to the second guide rail  222 , and is disposed downstream the judging and rejecting path  170 . A U-turn path  238  opposite to the guide rail  224  and a path  240  approaching the money discharging port  110  along the third guide rail  226  is provided.  
         [0086]     First, the leaving path  236  will be explained. The second guide rail  222  constituting the leaving path  236  is positioned on an extended line of the first guide rail  174 . In other words, the second guide part  242  lies on an extended line of the reject guide part  180 , and the second guide part  242  inclines at a slight acute angle with respect to the traveling direction D of coins.  
         [0087]     The leaving path  236  is provided with a first coin sorting part or unit  244 . In the present embodiment, the first sorting part  244  includes three denomination sorting parts, concretely, a one-cent sorting part  246 , a two-cent sorting part  248  and a 10-cent sorting part  250 . These sorting parts or units sort the coins conveyed along the second guide rail  222  by denomination. In the present embodiment, the sorting parts are respectively a one-cent sorting hole  252 , a two-cent sorting hole  254  and a 10-cent sorting hole  256  which are substantially rectangular.  
         [0088]     First, the one-cent sorting hole  252  will be explained. A one-cent guiding edge  258  near the second guide rail  222  of the one-cent sorting hole  252  lies in a position slightly closer to the leaving path  236  than the second guide rail  222 , while a one-cent dropping edge  260  far from the same is slightly farther from the second guide rail  222  than the diameter of the a one-cent coin, and formed parallel with the second guide rail  222 .  
         [0089]     In other words, a one-cent coin will drop into the one-cent sorting hole  252  because the lower face of the periphery is not guided by the one-cent dropping edge  260 . Coins having a diameter larger than the diameter of one-cent coin will pass through the one-cent sorting hole  252 . This is because the lower face thereof is supported by the guiding edge  258  and the dropping edge  260 .  
         [0090]     Next, the two-cent sorting hole  254  will be explained. A two-cent guiding edge  262  near the second guide rail  222  of the two-cent sorting hole  254  lies in a position slightly closer to the leaving path  236  than the second guide rail  222 , while a two-cent dropping edge  264  far from the same is slightly farther from the second guide rail  222  than the diameter of the a two-cent coin, and formed parallel with the second guide rail  222 .  
         [0091]     In other words, a two-cent coin will drop into the two-cent sorting hole  254  because the lower face of the periphery is not guided by the two-cent dropping edge  264 . Coins having a diameter larger than the diameter of two-cent coin will pass through the two-cent sorting hole  254 . This is because the lower face thereof is supported by the guiding edge  262  and the dropping edge  264 .  
         [0092]     Next, the 10-cent sorting hole  256  will be explained. A 10-cent guiding edge  266  near the second guide rail  222  of the 10-cent sorting hole  256  lies in a position slightly closer to the leaving path  236  than the second guide rail  222 , while a 10-cent dropping edge  268  far from the same is slightly farther from the second guide rail  222  than the diameter of the a 10-cent coin, and formed parallel with the second guide rail  222 .  
         [0093]     In other words, a 10-cent coin will drop into the 10-cent sorting hole  256  because the lower face of the periphery is not guided by the 10-cent dropping edge  268 . Coins having a diameter larger than the diameter of 10-cent coin will pass through the 10-cent sorting hole  256 . This is because the lower face thereof is supported by the guiding edge  266  and the dropping edge  268 . A corner on the downstream side of a dropping line  268  of the 10-cent sorting hole  256  is formed into an arc having almost the same curvature of the outer periphery of a 10-cent coin. This prevents coins other than 10-cent coins from dropping into the 10-cent sorting hole  256 .  
         [0094]     Next, the second sorting part  270  provided in the approaching path  240  will be explained. The second sorting part  270  is provided along the third guide rail  226 . In the present embodiment, the second sorting part  270  includes five denomination sorting parts, namely, a five-cent sorting part  272 , a 20-cent sorting part  274 , a one-euro sorting part  276 , a 50-cent sorting part  278  and a two-euro sorting part  280 .  
         [0095]     These sorting parts sort the coins conveyed along the third guide rail  226  by denomination. In the present embodiment, the sorting parts are respectively a five-cent sorting hole  282 , a 20-cent sorting hole  284 , a one-euro sorting hole  286 , a 50-cent sorting hole  288  and two-euro sorting hole  290  which are substantially rectangular.  
         [0096]     First, the five-cent sorting hole  282  will be explained. A five-cent guiding edge  292  near the third guide rail  226  of the five-cent sorting hole  282  lies in a position slightly closer to the approaching path  240  than the third guide rail  226 , while a five-cent dropping edge  294  far from the same is slightly farther from the third guide rail  226  than the diameter of the a five-cent coin, and formed parallel with the third guide rail  226 . In other words, a five-cent coin will drop into the five-cent sorting hole  282  because the lower face of the periphery is not guided by the five-cent dropping edge  294 . Coins having a diameter larger than the diameter of five-cent coin will pass through the five-cent sorting hole  282 . This is because the lower face thereof is supported by the guiding edge  292  and the dropping edge  294 . A corner on the upstream side of a dropping line  294  of the 5-cent sorting hole  282  is formed into an arc having almost the same curvature of the outer periphery of a 5-cent coin. This prevents coins other than 5-cent coins from dropping into the 5-cent sorting hole  282 .  
         [0097]     Next, the 20-cent sorting hole  284  will be explained. A 20-cent guiding edge  296  near the third guide rail  226  of the 20-cent sorting hole  284  lies in a position slightly closer to the approaching path  240  than the third guide rail  226 , while a 20-cent dropping edge  298  positioned far from the same is slightly farther from the third guide rail  226  than the diameter of the a 20-cent coin, and formed parallel with the third guide rail  226 . In other words, a 20-cent coin will drop into the 20-cent sorting hole  284  because the lower face of the periphery is not guided by the 20-cent dropping edge  298 . Coins having a diameter larger than the diameter of 20-cent coin will pass through the 20-cent sorting hole  284 . This is because the lower face thereof is supported by the guiding edge  296  and the dropping edge  298 .  
         [0098]     Next, the one-euro sorting hole  286  will be explained. A one-euro guiding edge  300  near the third guide rail  226  of the one-euro sorting hole  286  lies in a position slightly closer to the approaching path  240  than the third guide rail  226 , while a one-euro dropping edge  302  far from the same is slightly farther from the third guide rail  226  than the diameter of the a one-euro coin, and formed parallel with the third guide rail  226 . In other words, one-euro coin will drop into the one-euro sorting hole  286  because the lower face of the periphery is not guided by the one-euro dropping edge  302 . Coins having a diameter larger than the diameter of one-euro coin will pass through the one-euro sorting hole  286 . This is because the lower face thereof is supported by the guiding edge  300  and the dropping edge  302 .  
         [0099]     Next, the 50-cent sorting hole  288  will be explained. A 50-cent guiding edge  304  near the third guide rail  226  of the 50-cent sorting hole  288  lies in a position slightly closer to the approaching path  240  than the third guide rail  226 , while a 50-cent dropping edge  306  far from the same is slightly farther from the third guide rail  226  than the diameter of the a 50-cent coin, and formed parallel with the third guide frame  226 . In other words, 50-cent coin will drop into the 50-cent sorting hole  288  because the lower face of the periphery is not guided by the 50-cent dropping edge  306 . Coins having a diameter larger than the diameter of 50-cent coin will pass through the 50-cent sorting hole  288 . This is because the lower face thereof is supported by the guiding edge  304  and the dropping edge  306 .  
         [0100]     Next, the two-euro sorting hole  290  will be explained. The two-euro sorting hole  290  is not formed on the slide base  220 , but formed by the third guide rail  226  and the second support rail  232 . In other words, all coins that have not dropped into the previous sorting holes will drop into the two-euro sorting hole  290 .  
         [0101]     The length of each sorting hole along the traveling direction of coins should be at least 1.5 times, preferably two times or more of the diameter of the coin of target denomination, in order to make a coin securely drop even when the conveyance speed of the coin is raised. The sorting holes of the present embodiment are arranged in order of increasing diameter among euro coins. The sorting part has a function of sorting a coin of particular denomination conveyed on the sorting conveyance path  172  in a particular position. Therefore, the sorting part may be replaced by another device having a similar function. For example, a coin of a certain denomination may be forcedly deviated from the sorting conveyance path by a solenoid pusher.  
         [0102]     Next, the U-turn path  238  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 9 . The U-turn path  238  guides a coin having passed through the leaving path  236  into the approaching path  240 , namely, guides a coin having passed through the first sorting part  244  into a second sorting part  270 .  
         [0103]     The U-turn path  238  composed of the slide base  220 , the U-turn guide rail  224  and the U-turn support rail  230  has a channel-like cross section, and is a U-shape groove when viewed two-dimensionally, and the groove has a depth and a width which are similar to those of the sorting conveyance path  172 .  
         [0104]     In order to smoothly guide a coin moving at high speed while preventing bouncing, the U-turn path  238  is so designed that an inlet part  310  on the side of the leaving path  236  is a relatively large arc, an outlet part  12  near the approaching path  240  is an arc having a smaller curvature than that of the inlet part  310 , and an intermediate part  314  therebetween is an arc having a larger curvature than the inlet part  310 .  
         [0105]     The inlet part  310  is composed of a first linear segment  316  forming a blunt angle with the first support rail  228 , a second linear segment  318  forming a blunt angle with first linear segment  316 , and a third linear segment  326  forming a blunt angle with the second linear segment  318 . These linear segments are smoothly connected by a first arcuate segment  322  and a second arcuate segment  324 . Construction of the arcuate inlet part  310  by combination of the linear segments and arcuate segments allows the coins conveyed by the received money conveying device  124  as will be described below to be conveyed at a certain interval.  
         [0106]     The intermediate part  314  is composed of a fourth linear segment  328  forming a blunt angle with the third linear segment  326 , a fifth linear segment  330  forming a blunt angle with the fourth linear segment  328 , a third arcuate segment  332  connecting the third linear segment  326  and the fourth linear segment  328 , and a fourth arcuate segment  334  connecting between the fourth linear segment  328  and the fifth linear segment  330 .  
         [0107]     Therefore, the U-turn path  238  may be replaced by another structure having a similar function. However, construction from the slide base  220 , the U-turn guide rail  224  and the U-turn support rail  230  is advantageous because it may be constructed at a low cost.  
         [0108]     Next, the received money conveying device  124  that conveys a coin along the leaving path  236 , the U-turn path  238  and the approaching path  240  will be explained. The received money conveying device  124  conveys a coin sent from the alignment device  130  along the received money conveying path  132 .  
         [0109]     In other words, it conveys a coin sent from the alignment device  130  along the judging and rejecting path  170 , the leaving path  236 , the U-turn path  238  and the approaching path  240 , under the guidance by the first guide rail  174 , the second guide rail  222 , the U-turn guide rail  224  and the third guide rail  226  at a predetermined speed.  
         [0110]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the received money conveying device  124  includes a first conveying unit  342 , a second conveying unit  344 , a third conveying unit  346  and fourth conveying unit  348 . The first conveying unit  342  is provided so as to face with the relay part  148  of the band conveyer  144  to the judgment guide part  178 . The second conveying unit  344  is provided so as to face with the reject guide part  180 , the one-cent sorting part  246  and the two-cent sorting part  248 .  
         [0111]     The third conveying unit  346  is provided so as to face with the 10-cent sorting part  250  and the U-turn guide rail  224 . The fourth conveying unit  348  is provided so as to face with the five-cent sorting part  272 , the 20-cent sorting part  274 , the one-euro sorting part  276 , the 50-cent sorting part  278  and the two-euro sorting part  280 .  
         [0112]     In the present embodiment, these conveying units are formed of a pulley and a belt, and conveys a coin by friction power between the belt and the coin. First, the details of the first conveying unit  342  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2 .  
         [0113]     The first conveying unit  342  includes a first pulley  354 , a second pulley  358 , and a first endless belt  340  wound around these pulleys. The first pulley  354  is rotatably attached to a first stationary axis  352  which extends perpendicular to a traveling direction of the belt  144  so as to be substantially parallel with a conveyer frame  350  above the relay part  148 . The second pulley  358  is rotatably attached to a second stationary axis  356  which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the judging and rejecting conveyance path  170 , so as to be substantially parallel with the slide base  173  between the denomination judging device  125  and the reject part  126  above the slide base  173 .  
         [0114]     The gap between the bottom face of the first belt  340  and the top face of the relay part  148  and the top face of the slide base  173  is smaller than the thickness of the thickest coin. In other words, the bottom face of the first belt  340  tilts forward so as to be closer to the top face of the slide base  173  as it comes closer to the reject coin sorter  128  and slightly tilts so as to be closer to the judgment guide part  178  and the reject guide part  180 .  
         [0115]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a lower part of the first belt  340  is positioned between the first guide rail  174  and the sensor attachment  182 , and the bottom face of the belt comes into contact with a top face of a coin, whereby the coin is moved by friction contact with the coin. The first belt  340  shifts a coin while contacting at the center in the case of a coin S having the smallest diameter, or contacting at a portion closer to the first guide rail  174  rather than the center in the case of a coin L having the largest diameter.  
         [0116]     In other words, it is provided so as to contact the center or the point closer to the first guide rail  174  of a coin to be conveyed in a position opposite to the denomination judging device  125 . This arrangement and combination of the first diameter sensor  186 , the second diameter sensor  196  and the third diameter sensor  190  make it possible to accurately detect diameters of various sizes of coins that are conveyed in a mixed state. The lower belt of the first belt  340  is pushed against the slide base  173  by means of a pushing device  360 .  
         [0117]     As shown in  FIG. 10 , in the pushing device  360 , a press roller  362  is applied on the first belt  340  from above. The press roller  362  is rotatably attached in a lower end part of a lever  366  which is rotatably attached to the axis  364  projecting in the lateral direction from the conveyance frame  350 . The lever  366  is latched by a stopper (not shown), and a lower end of the first belt  340  has a certain interval with the slide base  173 .  
         [0118]     The lever  366  is urged so as to be rotatable in the counter clockwise direction by a string-wound spring. Therefore, the first belt  340  between the first pulley  354  and the second pulley  358  is pushed against the slide base  173  with a certain power. In other words, a coin is pushed against the slide base  173  with certain power by the first belt  340 .  
         [0119]     Next, the second conveying unit  344  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2 . The second conveying unit  344  includes a third pulley  368  formed integrally with the second pulley  358  and provided in a position farther from the first guide rail  174  than the second pulley  358 , a fourth pulley  372  rotatably attached to a third stationary axis  370  extending perpendicular to the leaving path  236  and disposed between the two-cent sorting part  248  and the 10-cent sorting part  250 , and a second endless belt  374  wound around the third pulley  368  and the fourth pulley  372 .  
         [0120]     The gap between the bottom face of the second belt  374  and the top face of the slide base  173  and the top face of the slide base  220  of the leaving path  236  is smaller than the thickness of the thinnest coin. To be more specific, the bottom face of the second belt  347  tilts forward so as to be closer to the top face of the slide bases  173  and  220  as it comes closer to the 10-cent sorting part  250  and slightly tilts so as to be closer to the second guide rail  222 .  
         [0121]     The pushing device  360  as described above is provided also for a lower belt of the second belt  374 . The pushing device  360  is provided in plural at a predetermined interval, such as an interval similar to that of coins resulting from difference in speed between the band conveyer  134  and the first conveying unit  342 . That is, when coins are continuously sent, the interval of coins is kept by pushing such coins almost simultaneously with the pushing devices  360 .  
         [0122]     Next, the third conveying unit  346  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2 . The third conveying unit  346  includes a fifth pulley  373  formed integrally with the fourth pulley  372  and provided in a position farther from the second guide rail  222  than the fourth pulley  372 , a sixth pulley  376  rotatably attached to a fourth stationary axis  375  extending perpendicular to the approaching path  240  directly before the approaching path  240  or above the outlet part  312  and disposed directly before the five-cent sorting part  272 , a curve part guiding device  378  for conveying a coin along the U-turn path  238 , and a third endless belt  380  wound around the fifth pulley  373  and the sixth pulley  376  and guided by the curve part guiding device  378 .  
         [0123]     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the curve part guiding device  378  includes a first guide roller  381 , a second guide roller  382 , a third guide roller  384 , a fourth guide roller  386  and a fifth guide roller  388  closely provided above the slide base  220 . All of these first guide roller  381  to fifth guide roller  388  are formed in the same manner, and explanation will be made on the third guide roller  384  shown in  FIG. 12 , representatively.  
         [0124]     The third guide roller  384  is provided so that a guide groove  390  for the third belt  380  is formed to have a J-shaped cross section, and the lower end of the third belt  380  is positioned closer to the slide base  220  than the bottom face of the third guide roller  384 . The third guide roller  384  is rotatably supported by a vertical axis  398  fixed to a support lever  396  pivotably supported by a stationary axis  394  attached horizontally to a stay  392  fixed to the conveyance frame  350 .  
         [0125]     The support lever  396  is urged in the clockwise direction by a spring  400  provided between the conveyance frame  350  and the lever, and is so configured that the support lever  396  is stopped at a stopper part  402  of the conveyance frame  350  and the bottom face of the third belt  380  keeps a predetermined interval with the top face of the slide base  220  which is smaller than the thickness of the thinnest coin.  
         [0126]     A screw bar  404  is rotatably attached to an end of the support lever  396  to inhibit it from sliding in the axial direction. This screw bar  404  is screwed into a screw hole  406  of the conveyance frame  350  and axially fixed by a lock nut  408 . The spring  400  is provided outside the screw bar  404 .  
         [0127]     The support lever  396  is attached with a third guide roller automatic positioning unit  410 . The guide roller automatic positioning unit  410  automatically adjusts the distance of the third guide roller  384  from the slide base  220  in correspondence with the thickness of the coin, and moves the coin along the U-turn path  238  at a predetermined speed.  
         [0128]     A first stay  412  is attached so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis, and fixed by a screw  416  penetrating through a arcuate slot  414 . The first stay  412  has a vertical portion  418  hanging down in a position deviated from the support lever  396 , and is attached with a roller stay  424  so as to allow positioning in an up-and-down direction. To the roller stay  424 , a feeler roller  420  is rotatably attached by an axis  422 .  
         [0129]     A lower end of the feeler roller  420  is designed to come into contact with an upper part of the third belt  380  on the upstream side of the third roller  384  which is not in contact with a coin. The feeler roller  420  is adjusted by a range of the arcuate slot  414  so that its rotational axis is perpendicular to the third belt  380  when viewed two-dimensionally.  
         [0130]     With this structure, when the third belt  380  is pushed up by a coin, the feeler roller  420  is pushed up by the third belt  380 , and hence the support lever  396  is pushed up via the roller stay  424  and the first stay  412 , so that the position of the third guide roller  384  is automatically adjusted in correspondence with the thickness of the coin.  
         [0131]     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in general, the first guide roller  381  is disposed so as to face with the first arcuate segment  322 , the second guide roller  382  is disposed so as to face with the second arcuate segment  324 , the third guide roller  384  is disposed so as to face with the third arcuate segment  332 , the fourth guide roller  386  is disposed so as to face with the fourth arcuate segment  334 , and the fifth guide roller  388  is disposed so as to face with the outlet part  312 .  
         [0132]     As a result, the third belt  380  is linear in shape between each guide roller, and such linear segments face with the first linear segment  316 , the second linear segment  318 , the third linear segment  326 , the fourth linear segment  328  and the fifth linear segment  330 . Then these linear segments of the third belt  380  are slightly inclined so as to come closer to each linear segment of the U-turn guide rail  224  as they proceed in the downstream direction.  
         [0133]     With this structure, a coin conveyed along the U-turn path  238  is conveyed while being guided by the U-turn guide rail  224 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper part of the third belt  380  is guided by pulleys  428 ,  430 ,  432  rotatably attached to stationary axes  422 ,  424 ,  426  fixed to the conveyance frame  350 .  
         [0134]     Therefore, the third belt  380  circulates while being guided by the fifth pulley  373 , the first guide roller  381 , the second guide roller  382 , the third guide roller  384 , the fourth guide roller  386 , the fifth guide roller  388 , the sixth pulley  376 , and the guide pulleys  432 ,  430 ,  428 .  
         [0135]     Next, the fourth conveying unit  348  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 13 . The fourth conveying unit  348  includes a seventh pulley  434  formed integrally with the sixth pulley  376  and provided in a position farther from the third guide rail  226  than the sixth pulley  376 , an eighth pulley  438  rotatably attached to a driving axis  436  extending perpendicular to the approaching path  240  and disposed downstream the two-cent sorting part  280 , and a fourth endless belt  440  wound around the seventh pulley  434  and the eighth pulley  438 .  
         [0136]     The gap between the bottom face of the fourth belt  440  and the top face of the slide base  220  of the approaching path  240  is smaller than the thickness of the thinnest coin. To be more specific, the bottom face of the fourth belt  440  tilts to approach the third guide rail  226 .  
         [0137]     Further, the fourth belt  440  is disposed so as to face with the five-cent sorting part  272 , the 20-cent sorting part  274 , the one-cent sorting part  276 , the 50-cent sorting part  278  and the two-euro sorting part  280 . Likewise the above, the fourth belt  440  pushes a coin against the slide base  220  with predetermined power by means of the pushing device  360 .  
         [0138]     The second pulley  358 , the third pulley  360 , the fourth pulley  372 , the fifth pulley  373 , the sixth pulley  376  and the seventh pulley  434  have the same diameter. This makes it possible to use the same specification of pulleys for these pulleys, which is advantageous in terms of cost. These belts may be a round belt, a V belt or a flat belt made from polyurethane rubber.  
         [0139]     Next, a driving device  450  of the received money conveying device  124  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2 . On the top face of the conveyance frame  350 , an electric motor  452  is fixed, and a driving gear  460  fixed on an output axis (not shown) of a reducer  454  meshes with a driven gear  462  formed integrally with the eighth pulley  438 . Therefore, as the electric motor  452  rotates, the eighth pulley  438  rotates in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 13 , and the fourth belt  440  is circulated in the clockwise direction.  
         [0140]     As a result, the sixth pulley  376  is rotated integrally with the seventh pulley  434 , and the third belt  380  is circulated in the same direction. Further, since the fourth pulley  372  is rotated integrally with the fifth pulley  373  by the third belt  380 , the second belt  374  is circulated in the same direction. Furthermore, since the second pulley  358  is rotated integrally with the third pulley  360 , the first belt  340  is circulated in the same direction.  
         [0141]     In other words, the third conveying unit  346  is driven by friction transmitted from the fourth conveying unit  348 , the second conveying unit  344  is driven by friction transmitted from the third conveying unit  346 , and the conveying unit  342  is driven by friction transmitted from the second conveying unit  344 . Since each conveying unit has a respective friction resistance, the conveyance speed of the fourth conveying unit  348  is largest, and the he conveyance speed decreases in the order of the third conveying unit  346 , the second conveying unit and the first conveying unit  342 .  
         [0142]     As a result, the conveying speed of a coin decreases in the order of a higher speed from the order of the fourth conveying unit  348 , the third conveying unit  346 , the second conveying unit  344 , and the first conveying unit  342 . In other words, since a coin is conveyed at higher speed in a conveying unit located more downstream, the interval of successively conveyed coins becomes sequentially larger. As a result, a jam resulted from a following coin catching up with an upstream coin will not likely occur.  
         [0143]     Next, the coin storing device  126  provided below the slide base  122  of the present invention will be explained with reference to  FIG. 4 . The coin storing device  126  stores coins having been sorted by the denomination-based sorting units by denomination. More specifically, a coin storing and releasing device  470  is provided for each denomination.  
         [0144]     The coin storing and releasing device  470  stores coins in bulk, and releases the reserved coins one by one. Therefore, the coin storing and releasing device  470  may be replaced by another device having a similar function.  
         [0145]     In the present embodiment, the coin storing and releasing device  470  is implemented by a coin hopper  472 . As schematically shown in its view of  FIGS. 14A through 14F , the coin hopper  472  includes a base  474  provided diagonally, a rotary disc  476 , a reserving bowl  478 , a release or flicking unit  480 , a coin sensor  482 , a driving motor  484  and a frame  486 . The base  474  has a box-like form in which a decelerating mechanism  488  and the like are disposed.  
         [0146]     The base  474  is fixed in a slope part of the frame  486  which is right triangle when viewed laterally and inclined at about 45 degrees. The smaller the angle of inclination, the more it is preferred because the reserving capacity of coins of the hopper bowl  476  increases. However, the minimum inclination angle is about 30 degrees because the degree of influence of the diameter of the rotary disc  476  on the size of the coin hopper  472  increases, and the maximum inclination angle is about 60 degrees because the propelling efficiency of the released coin is deteriorated if the inclination angle is too large.  
         [0147]     On the top face of the base  474 , the hopper bowl  478  of a cylindrical shape is detachably fixed. The lower part of the hopper bowl  478  is formed with a circular hole  490  and an upper opening  492  is rectangular in order to increase the coin reserving capacity. The rotary disc  476  has a plurality of through holes  491  provided at a predetermined interval, an angle stirrer  494  in the center of the top face, and a coin pushing part  496  in the bottom face.  
         [0148]     Therefore, the coin dropping through the through hole  491  is held by the upper face  498  of the base  474 , and in a normal state, rotated in the counter clockwise direction together with the rotary disc  476  by the pushing part  496  of the rotary disc  476  normally rotating in the counter clockwise direction as shown in the views of  FIG. 14 , while guided by the circular hole  40  at the periphery. The coin is prevented from moving by pins  500 ,  502  protruding in predetermined positions of the top face of the base  474 , and pushed in the circumferential direction of the rotary disc  476 .  
         [0149]     Since the circular hole  490  is notched at this position, and an opening  504  is provided, see  FIG. 14 (F), the coin that is pushed out can move outside the hopper bowl  478 . The opening  504  is provided with a stationary guide roller  506  in the releasing unit  480 .  
         [0150]     The releasing unit  480  has a roller  510  that is rotatably attached to an end of a lever  508  pivotably attached to a stationary axis  507 , and the lever  508  is urged so as to approach the rotary disc  476  by a string-wound spring  512 . The lever  508  is latched by a stopper  514  at the position where the roller  510  comes close to the rotary disc  476 , and is held at a standby position.  
         [0151]     The gap between the stationary guide roller  506  and the roller  510  in their standby positions is smaller than the diameter of the coin being reserved. Since the coin pushed by the pushing part  496  is guided on its either side by the stationary guide roller  506 , the roller  510  is moved in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 14 (F). Then immediately after the diametrical part of the coin has passed between the stationary guide roller  506  and the roller  510 , the lever  508  is quickly rotated in the counterclockwise direction by the spring  512 , and the coin is propelled outward and upward by a striking force from the lever  508  to extend over the money discharging belt  584 .  
         [0152]     In other words, the coin is flicked out diagonal upwardly because it is propelled out along the base  474 . The circular hole  490  in the lower part of the hopper bowl  478  is provided with a coin dropper  516 . The coin dropper  516  allows a coin that rotates integrally with the rotary disc  476  while a surface part thereof is in close contact with the peripheral surface of the circular hole  490  and a circumferential edge of thereof rides on an edge of the rotary disc  476 , to drop through the through hole  491 .  
         [0153]     The coin dropper  516  is formed into a channel form from a metal plate, and has a slot  518  on each end. The coin dropper  516  is attached to a lateral wall of the hopper bowl  478  in such a manner that allows positional adjustment along the axial line of the circular hole  490  by a screw  520  penetrating through the slot  518 . An intermediate part  522  of the coin dropper  516  extends along the axial line of the circular hole  490  at one end of the hopper bowl  478 , and inserted through a slit  524  formed in proximity to the wall face of the circular hole.  
         [0154]     As a result, the intermediate part  522  lies directly above the edge of the rotary disc  476  in the circular hole  490 . To be more specific, the distance between the inner face of the intermediate part  522  and the outer lateral line of the through hole  491  of the rotary disc  476  is set so as to be one half or less of the thickness of the coin being reserved. It is preferred that the inner face of the intermediate part  522  overlaps the periphery of the through hole  491  when the rotary disc  476  is viewed two-dimensionally.  
         [0155]     As a result, when a coin is to be rotated integrally with the rotary disc  476  on the edge of the rotary disc  476 , the coin is forced to move toward the through hole  491  by the intermediate part  522  of the coin dropper  516 , and the coin drops through the through hole  491  because the edge of the rotary disc  476  is substantially absent. This enables disbursement through to the last coin in the hopper.  
         [0156]     Further, the rotary disc  476  is attached to the upper end of the rotational axis  525  which is rotatably fixed to the base  474  in such a manner that it is axially slidable but rotation relative to the rotational axis  525  is inhibited. In other words, by intervening the rotary disc  476  and the top face  498  of the base  474  with a RIM having low coefficient of friction, it is possible to adjust the distance therebetween and positioning the rotary disc  476  depending on the thickness of the coin.  
         [0157]     In this case, by adjusting the position of the top face of the rotary disc  476  and the intermediate part  522  of the coin dropper  516  within the range of the slot  518 , it is possible to realize the optimum positional relationship.  
         [0158]     The position adjusting device of the rotary disc  476  with respect to the thickness of the coin may be replaced by a device other than the rim described above having a similar function. Also the position adjusting mechanism of the coin dropper  516  may be replaced by another device having a similar function.  
         [0159]     The coin sensor  482  is a sensor for detecting a coin that is flicked by the flicking unit  480 , and may be implemented by a proximity sensor, an optical sensor and the like. However, it is preferred to use a proximity sensor because of its insusceptibility to dust and low maintenance.  
         [0160]     The coin hopper having the above structure is arranged in line along the path  236  below the first sorting part  244  of the leaving path  236  as shown in  FIG. 4 , to constitute a first hopper array  560 . The first hopper array  560  is made up of a one-cent hopper  562  disposed below the one-cent sorting part  246 , a two-cent hopper  564  disposed below the two-cent sorting part  248  and a 10-cent hopper  566  disposed below the 10-cent hopper  250 .  
         [0161]     As shown in  FIG. 15 , an upper opening  492  of a hopper bowl  478  of the one-cent hopper  562  is disposed below the one-cent sorting hole  252 , an upper opening  492  of the two-cent hopper  564  is disposed below the one-cent sorting hole  254 , and an upper opening  492  of the 10-cent hopper  566  is disposed below the 10-cent sorting hole  254 . In this manner, by dropping coins directly from each sorting hole to the upper opening  492  of the hopper, it is possible to reduce the height of the processing device while reducing the costs.  
         [0162]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , below the second sorting part  270  in the approaching path  240 , a second hopper array  568  is provided along the approaching path  240 . In other words, when viewed two-dimensionally, the first hopper array  560 , the disbursing money conveying device  128  and the second hopper array  568  are arranged in parallel.  
         [0163]     The second hopper array  568  is made up of a five-cent hopper  570  disposed below the five-cent sorting part  272 , a 20-cent hopper  572  disposed below the 20-cent sorting part  274 , a one-euro hopper  574  disposed below the one-euro sorting part  276 , a 50-cent hopper  576  disposed below the 50-cent sorting part  278 , and a two-euro hopper  578  disposed below the 2-euro sorting part.  
         [0164]     An upper opening  492  of a hopper bowl  478  of the five-cent hopper  570  is disposed below the five-cent sorting hole  282 , an upper opening  492  of the 20-cent hopper  572  is disposed below the 20-cent sorting hole  284 , an upper opening  492  of the one-euro hopper  274  is disposed below the one-euro sorting hole  286 , an upper opening  492  of the 50-cent hopper  576  is disposed below the 50-cent sorting hole  288 , and an upper opening  492  of the two-euro hopper  578  is disposed below the two-euro sorting hole  290 .  
         [0165]     The hoppers of the first hopper array  560  and the hoppers of the second hopper array  568  are symmetrically disposed at predetermined intervals while intervened by the disbursing money or coin conveying device  128  as shown in  FIG. 15 . In other words, the base  474  is symmetrically arranged as is an isosceles triangle, and coins are flicked out toward the opposing hopper arrays upwardly and diagonally. As a result, the momentum of the flicked out coin is attenuated by the gravity, and the coin drops into the disbursing money conveying device  128  after striking against the backside of the slide base  200 .  
         [0166]     Further, the coin hopper  472  of the first hopper array  560 , and a part of the coin hopper  472  of the second hopper array  568  overlap with respect to the disbursing money conveying device  128  in the lateral direction. To be more specific, a part of the driving motor  484  and the disbursing money conveying device  128  overlap with each other. This is advantageous in that the width of the coin receiving and disbursing apparatus  100  may be reduced.  
         [0167]     Next, the disbursing money conveying device  128  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 8 . The disbursing money conveying device  128  conveys coins flicked out from the coin hoppers  562 ,  564 ,  566 ,  570 ,  572 ,  574 ,  576  and  578 , and coins rejected in the reject coin sorter  128  to the money discharging port  110 . In the present embodiment, when each coin hopper is filled, coins flicked out from the filled coin hopper are conveyed to the money discharging port  110  or a distributing unit  582  of the cash box  112  in order to store the coins in the cash box  112 .  
         [0168]     The disbursing money conveying device  128  is a money discharging belt  584 , and substantially horizontally disposed along the first hopper array  560  and the second hopper array  568 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the top face of the money discharging belt  584  on which coins are conveyed is provided at a position where it overlaps with the sideling rotary disc  476  in the up-and-down direction, at a level lower than the flicking unit  480 .  
         [0169]     In other words, between an upper end and a lower end of the rotary disc  476 , the disbursing money conveying device  128  is disposed. On both sides of the money discharging belt  584 , guide plates  586  and  588  are disposed along its longitudinal direction, and a coin flicked out will be guided so as to drop on the money discharging belt  584  after colliding with the back face of the slide base  200 . This arrangement makes it possible to decrease the dimension of the up-and-down direction. The disbursing money conveying device  128  is driven by the electric motor  590  fixed to the frame  350  via a belt  592 .  
         [0170]     Next, the distributing unit  582  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 16 and 17 . The distributing unit  582  distributes coins conveyed by the disbursing money conveying device  128  into the money discharging port  110  or the cash box  112 .  
         [0171]     As shown in  FIG. 16 , on the side of the money discharging port  110  in the disbursing money conveying device  128 , a distributing plate  594  is fixed to an axis  596  existing below and beside the discharged money disbursing money conveying part  128 . The distributing plate  594  is disposed right beside and below the conveyance belt  584 , and in an upper part of an end part of the bowl-like money discharging port  110 . This plate  594  is selectively shifted by a shifter  598  between a reserving position S below the belt  584  where the top face is inclined toward the cash box  112  and a money discharging position P standing on the lateral side of the disbursing money conveying device  128  shown by the dotted line.  
         [0172]     Therefore, when the plate  594  is in the money discharging position P, the plate  594  is not located below the belt  584 , and hence the coin conveyed by the disbursing money conveying device  128  directly drops into the bowl-like money discharging port  110 . When the plate  594  is in the reserving position S, the coin dropped from the disbursing money conveying device  128  slides down the plate  594  after dropping on the plate  594 , to be reserved in the cash box  112 . Therefore, the distributing unit  582  may be replaced by other device having a similar function.  
         [0173]     Next, the shifter  598  of the distributing unit  582  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 16 (B). In the shifter  598 , a pin  604  fixed to a plunger  602  of a solenoid  600  fixed to the frame  122  is inserted through a slot (not shown) of the lever extending opposite to an axis  596  of the lever  606 . The lever  606  is fixed to the axis  596 , and fixed with a pin  612  at its end.  
         [0174]     The pin  612  is movable in the arcuate slot  614  extending about an axis  608 , and movement thereof is restricted by the both ends of the slot. Therefore, the plunger  602  is usually urged by a spring  616  so as to protrude. As a result, the pin  612  is stopped at one end of the slot  614 , and the lever  606  is held at the position shown by the dotted line, with the result that the plate  594  is held at the money discharging position P. When the solenoid  600  is excited, the pin  612  is stopped at another end of the slot  614 , and the plate  594  is held at the reserving position S.  
         [0175]     As shown in  FIGS. 3, 5 ,  8 ,  10 ,  13  and  15 , it is preferred to detachably attach a single coin slot-in unit  622  to an upper end opening  620  of the money receiving port  104 . In the single coin slot-in unit  622  according to the present embodiment, a restriction plate  626  formed with a slot-in plate through which only one coin may be inserted is pivotably attached to an axis  628  fixed to the back wall to which the breaking roller  158  is attached.  
         [0176]     In a middle part of the restriction plate  626 , a slot-in slit  624  is formed so as to extend laterally. The slot-in slit  624  is rectangular and has a diameter slightly larger than that of the two-euro coin having the largest diameter, and a thickness slightly larger than that of the 50-cent coin having the largest thickness. In other words, the slot-in slot  624  is formed such that the longitudinal direction thereof is perpendicular to the traveling direction of the band conveyer  134 .  
         [0177]     From the downstream lateral edge of the slot-in slit  624 , an abutting plate  670  in a form of a flat plate extending upward is provided. By bringing one face of a coin into abutment with the abutting plate  670 , the coin is readily inserted through the slot-in slit  624 , and the restriction plate  626  is easy to pivot about the axis  628  by clipping the plate  670 .  
         [0178]     The restriction plate  626  may be detachably attached to the money receiving port  104  with a screw or the like, or may be formed integrally with the money receiving port  104 . Further, the restriction plate  626  may be detachably attached to the money receiving port  104 , or may allow selection between a single reception mode wherein coins are inserted through the slot-in slit  624  one by one and a collective reception mode wherein coins are collectively inserted through the money receiving port  104 , as appropriate.  
         [0179]     Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be explained. The reference character “C” means a coin. In the following embodiment, an example when a single coin slot-in unit  622  is not mounted to the money receiving port  104  will be illustrated. When a coin is inserted through the money receiving port  104 , and placed on the belt  144  near the slot-in sensor  156 , it is detected by the slot-in sensor  156 . Upon detection by the slot-in sensor  156 , the driving motor  150  is forwardly rotated, and the upper belt  144 U of the belt  144  is moved right in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0180]     In conjugation with this, the breaking roller  158  is rotated in the clockwise direction. Then the electric motor  452  rotates, and the eighth pulley  438  is rotated via the driving gear  460 , the driven gear  462  and the driving axis  436 , and the fourth belt  440  is circulated in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 13 . In a similar manner, the third belt  380  is circulated in the same direction via the seventh pulley  434  and the sixth pulley  376 .  
         [0181]     Further, the second belt  374  is circulated in the clockwise direction in  FIG. 10  via the fifth pulley  373  and the fourth pulley  372 . Further, the first belt  340  is circulated in the same direction via the third pulley  360  and the second pulley  358 . Furthermore, the electric motor  590  rotates and drives so that the top face of the money discharging belt  584  of the disbursing money conveying device  128  moves left in  FIG. 8  via the belt  592 .  
         [0182]     Since the solenoid  600  of the driving device  598  is usually degaussed, the plunger  602  is pulled down by the spring  616 , the pin  612  is stopped by the right end edge of the arcuate slot  614  in  FIG. 16B , and the distributing plate  594  is held at the money discharging position P. In other words, a coin conveyed by the disbursing money conveying device  128  is in a condition of being fed to the money discharging port  110 .  
         [0183]     Coins on the belt  144  are separated by the breaking roller  158  and aligned one by one while either face is in contact with the upper belt  144 U, and passed through the gap  164  below the breaking roller  158 . Then the bottom face of the first belt  340  and the top face of the coin come into contact with each other at the relay part  148 , and after dragged in short time by the first belt  340  traveling slightly faster than the belt  144 , the coin is transferred on the slide base  173 .  
         [0184]     The coin on the slide base  173  is moved in the conveyance direction D by the first belt  344 , and guided by the first guide rail  174  after contacting with the deviation guide part  176 . After being guided by the deviation guide part  176 , the coin is guided by the judgment guide part  178 . Since the first belt  340  inclines so as to form an acute angle with the judgment guide part  178  and the reject guide part  180 , the coin is conveyed while being in contact with the judgment guide part  178 .  
         [0185]     In other words, since the first belt  340  is provided so that it becomes closer to the first guide rail  174  as it goes downstream, the coin is conveyed while receiving pushing power by the first guide  174 . Therefore, the coin moves along the judgment guide  178  in the denomination judging device  125 .  
         [0186]     The denomination judging device  125  judges the material of the coin conveyed by the first belt  340  according to a signal from the material sensor  202  which is able to face with every size of coins, and judges the diameter of according to signals from the first diameter sensor  186 , the second diameter sensor  196  and the third diameter sensor  190 , and judges the thickness of the coin according to a signal from the first diameter sensor  186 .  
         [0187]     To be more specific, since a one-cent coin having the smallest diameter faces the core  184  of the first diameter sensor  186  by generally one third of its area, a signal corresponding to the opposing area is outputted from the first diameter sensor  186 , while no signal is transmitted from the second diameter sensor  196  and the third diameter sensor  190 . The judgment is achieved by comparing these signals with a reference value.  
         [0188]     Since a two-euro coin having the largest diameter faces the entire surface of the cores  184 U and  184 L of the first diameter sensor  186  and the core  198 U of the second diameter sensor  196 , and faces approximately one third of the cores  194 U,  194 L of the third diameter sensor  190 , comprehensive judgment is conducted by comparing signals from these sensor with reference values. At this time, since the cores  184 U,  194 L of the first diameter sensor  186  faces the entire face of the coin, they may be utilized for determining the thickness of the coin.  
         [0189]     As to other coins from a two-cent coin to a 50-cent coin, the diameter and thickness are judged according to signals from the first diameter sensor  186 , the second diameter sensor  196  and the third diameter sensor  190 , and the denomination of each coin is identified. According to the identification result, the solenoid  210  is excited for a predetermined time in order to expel any fake or unacceptable coins. Upon excitation of the solenoid  210 , the reject member  208  is moved below the first guide rail  174 .  
         [0190]     A coin having passed through the denomination judgment device  125  is delivered to the second belt  374  from the first belt  340 , and reaches the reject coin sorter  128 . Since the second belt  374  is also inclined so as to cross with the reject guide part  180  and the second guide rail  222  at an acute angle, the coin is conveyed along the leaving path  236  while the periphery is pushed against the reject guide part  180  and the second guide rail  222 .  
         [0191]     When a fake or unacceptable coin passes the reject coin sorter  128 , the coin will drop into the reject path  214  from the dropping port  206  of the reject guide part because the reject member  208  lacks the point at which the lower part of the periphery of the coin is supported. Then the coin slides on the inclined bottom face of the reject path  214  and drops on the money discharging belt  584 . The dropped coin is conveyed toward the money discharging port  110  by the money discharging belt  584 , and allowed to drop through the money discharging port  110  for return.  
         [0192]     When the denomination judging device  125  identifies an acceptable coin from one-cent coin to two-euro coin, the solenoid  210  is not excited. Accordingly, the reject member  208  is positioned on the center side of the judging and rejecting conveyance path  170  than the reject guide part  180 . As a result, the coin passes through the reject coin sorter  128  while being supported at a lower side of the periphery by the reject member  208  and the slide base  173 .  
         [0193]     The coin passed through the reject coin sorter  128  travels the leaving path  236  while the periphery thereof is guided by the second guide rail  222 . In this course, since a one-cent coin is not supported at the bottom face of the periphery on the side of the first support rail by the dropping edge  260  of the slide base  220 , the one-cent coin drops into the sorting hole  252 . The dropped one-cent coin is reserved in a reservation bowl  478  of the one-cent hopper  562 . Other denominations of coins having larger diameter than the one-cent coin will reach the two-cent sorting hole  254  provided downstream while supported by the edge  260  at its bottom face.  
         [0194]     Similarly to the above, a two-cent coin drops into the two-cent sorting hole  254  and then reserved in the two-cent hopper  564 . Directly after passing through the two-cent sorting part  248 , the coin is delivered to the third belt  380 . Then as is the same with the above, a 10-cent coin drops into the 10-cent sorting hole  256  and reserved in the 10-cent hopper  566 .  
         [0195]     The coin that is not sorted in the first sorting part  244  is conveyed along the U-turn path  238  by friction contact with the third belt  380  while guided by the U-turn guide rail  224 .  
         [0196]     The U-turn path  238  is arcuate, and as shown in  FIG. 11 , the third belt  380  guided by the first guide roller  381  faces with the arcuate segment  322 , the third belt  380  guided by the second guide roller  382  faces with the arcuate segment  324 , the third belt  380  guided by the third guide roller  384  faces with the arcuate segment  332 , the third belt  380  guided by the fourth guide roller  386  faces with the arcuate segment  334 , the third belt  380  guided by the fifth guide roller  388  faces with the arcuate segment of the outlet part  312 , and the belt  380  in a linear condition between each guide roller faces with each of the linear segments  316 ,  318 ,  326 ,  328  and  330 .  
         [0197]     In this manner, the coin moves smoothly while guided by the U-turn guide rail  224 . Furthermore, a distance between the slide base  200  and each guide roller is changed depending on the position of the detection roller  420 .  
         [0198]     For example, when a 50-cent coin which is the thickest coin among the coins passing through the U-turn path  238  passes the third guide roller  384  following the five-cent coin which is the thinnest coin, the detection roller  420  is pushed up by the third belt  380  that is pushed up by the 50-cent coin.  
         [0199]     As a result, the support lever  396  is pivoted about the stationary axis  394  via the roller stay  424  and the first stay  412 , as a result, the guide roller  384  is moved upward and then the 50-cent coins reaches the third guide roller  384 . In this manner, the thick 50-cent coin can smoothly pass without coming into collision with the guide roller  384 .  
         [0200]     Directly before reaching the five-cent sorting part  272 , the coin is delivered to the fourth belt  440  from the third belt  380 . Since the fourth belt  440  is inclined so as to cross with the third guide rail  226  at an acute angle, the coin conveyed by friction contact with the fourth belt  440  is conveyed while the periphery thereof is pushed against the third guide rail  226 .  
         [0201]     Since the outlet part  312  and the third guide rail  226  forms a blunt angle, the coin reaches the third guide rail  226  after being pushed against the outlet part  312  of the U-turn guide rail  224 . Therefore, the coin is guided along the third guide rail  226  by the fourth belt  440 .  
         [0202]     A five-cent coins drops into the five-cent sorting hole  282  in the same manner as described above, and then is reserved or stored in the five-cent hopper  570 . Then a 20-cent coin drops into the 20-cent sorting hole  284  and is reserved in the 20-cent hopper  572 . Next, a one-euro coin drops into the one-euro sorting hole  286  and is reserved in the one-euro hopper  574 . Next, a 50-cent coin drops into the 50-cent sorting hole  288  and is reserved in the 50-cent hopper  576 . Finally, a two-euro coin drops into the two-euro sorting hole  290 , and is reserved into the 2-euro hopper  578 .  
         [0203]     When the slot-in sensor  156 , sensors  166 A,  166 B,  166 C and the denomination judging device  125  have not detected a coin for a predetermined period of time, it is determined that all of the coins inserted through the money receiving port  104  have been sorted, and then the motors  150 ,  452  and  590  are stopped after a lapse of a predetermined period of time from the last signal. This completes the money receiving process.  
         [0204]     Next, a money disbursing process will be explained. For example, when coins are propelled or flicked out one from each hopper, first, the motor  590  rotates, to circulate the money discharging belt  584  in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 8 . Next, the 10-cent hopper  566 , the five-cent hopper  570 , the two-cent hopper  564 , the 20-cent hopper  572 , the one-cent hopper  562 , the one-euro hopper  574 , the 50-cent hopper  576  and the two-euro hopper  578  are started in this order with a slight time difference from the money discharging port  110 .  
         [0205]     In the 10-cent hopper  566 , the motor  484  rotates, and the rotary disc  476  is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 14  via the decelerating mechanism  488 . By this rotation, the coin having dropped into the through hole  491  is guided in the circumferential direction of the rotary disc  476  by the pins  500  and  502 , and flicked out by the flicking unit  480 . Since the coin is guided by the base  474  at this time, it is flicked out upward or diagonally upward of the money discharging belt  584  according to the slope of the base  474 .  
         [0206]     Therefore, the coin is flicked out diagonal upwardly against gravity, and the momentum of the propelled coin is attenuated. Furthermore, since the coin comes into a collision contact with the back face of the slide base  220  and the guiding walls  586  and  588  on each side, the momentum is also further attenuated by this event before dropping onto the money discharging belt  584  which can be an endless conveyer belt. Therefore, the coin whose momentum of propulsion is attenuated will relatively come into a gentle surface contact with the money discharging belt  584 , and will be easily conveyed to the money discharging port  110 .  
         [0207]     Since the flicked out coin is detected by the coin sensor  482 , the 10-cent hopper  566  automatically stops the motor  484  by self control, and stops flicking out coins. Similarly, each of the hopper  570 ,  564 ,  572 ,  562 ,  574 ,  576  and  578  flicks out one coin in this order. After a lapse of a time period that is sufficient to allow the conveyance of a coin to the money discharging port  110  from stopping of the last two-euro hopper  280 , the driving motor  590  is stopped and the money disbursing process ends.  
         [0208]     Each of the hoppers  570 ,  564 ,  572 ,  562 ,  574 ,  576  and  578  may be started in an appropriate manner, for example, from the money discharging port  110 . When coins are to be reserved in the cash box  112  from a filled hopper, the solenoid  600  is excited, and the distributing plate  594  is held in a reserving position S. As a result, a coin conveyed by the money discharging belt  584  drops on the distributing plate  594 , slides thereon, and drops into the cash box  112  where it is stored.  
         [0209]     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the amended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.