Coin receiving device in coin processing apparatus

A coin receiving device in a coin processing apparatus is provided with a flat belt stretched around a pair of rollers substantially horizontally. A reverse rotation roller is disposed above the flat belt so that it is parallel with the axial line of the rollers, and the lower circumferential face is separated from the flat belt by a distance which is larger than thickness of a coin. A movable restrictor is disposed above the reverse rotation roller, which extends upstream of the flat belt in substantially parallel with the flat belt. A distance between the movable restrictor and the top face of the flat belt is smaller than a diameter of a coin having the largest diameter. The movable restrictor is convex toward an upstream direction of the flat belt. The movable restrictor is replaceably attached to a frame.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of JAPAN Patent Application JP 2005-375385 filed Dec. 27, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a coin receiving device in a coin processing apparatus and more specifically relates to a coin receiving device capable of preventing received coins from hopping over a reverse rotation roller, provided for breaking stacked coins, and bouncing out through a coin receiving port. In this regard, the present invention relates to a coin receiving device capable of preventing coins from hopping over a reverse rotation roller and bouncing out through a coin receiving port without increasing the height of the coin processing apparatus. The coin processing apparatus according to the present invention embraces a coin accepting apparatus, a coin recycling apparatus and the like wherein in this text the term coin refers for example to coins, tokens, disks, medals or similar disk type media.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From Japanese Patent No. 3325706 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, p. 3) and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-2000-293730 (FIGS. 3 and 4, pp. 2-5) it is known to provide an arrangement in which a reverse rotation roller is disposed, so that a circumferential face of a lower end is separated from a flat belt by a distance which is larger than the thickness of a single coin. In this conventional apparatus, when the flat belt advances in a coin input direction, the lower circumferential face of the reverse rotation roller advances in the direction opposite to the coin input direction. Therefore, coins that are conveyed in a stack on the flat belt are prevented from advancing by the reverse rotation roller and are dragged down on the flat belt.

When coins clog between the flat belt and the reverse rotation roller, the clogging of coins is eliminated by advancing the flat belt in the direction opposite to the coin input direction, and rotating the reverse rotation roller in the same direction or stopping the reverse rotation roller. Further, a partition wall is disposed above the reverse rotation roller at generally right angles, so that the coin that is drawn up while leaning against the reverse rotation roller and about to hop over the same is returned onto the flat belt by the partition wall. As such, the coin leaning against the reverse rotation roller moves synchronously with rotation of the reverse rotation roller by the frictional force with respect to the reverse rotation roller and tends to hop over the reverse rotation roller. The coin brought up by the reverse rotation roller will drop on the flat belt because the advance of the coin is prevented by the partition wall.

It is desirable for a coin processing apparatus to be as small as possible since such a coin processing apparatus is usually placed in the vicinity of, for example, a point of sale (POS) register in supermarkets, gas stations and the like. In the conventional apparatus, however, the partition wall should be arranged generally at right angles above the reverse rotation roller, at a predetermined height, concretely at a height which is equal to or larger than at least the diameter of the largest coin, so that possibilities as to a reduction in height are limited. As a measure for solving this problem, arranging a hopping-over preventing plate extending substantially horizontally right above the reverse rotation roller in a stationary state is expected. In this case, the flat belt and the hopping-over preventing plate should be separated by a distance which is larger or equal to the diameter of a coin having the largest diameter. This also limits reduction of height. This is because when a coin having the largest diameter is sandwiched between the flat belt and the hopping-over preventing plate while it is standing, the hopping-over preventing plate may be pushed up by the coin to be damaged, and the coin may not be smoothly returned onto the flat belt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the present invention to provide a coin receiving device allowing for a smaller height for a coin processing apparatus.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a coin receiving device having a smaller height with the coin receiving device being low in cost.

It is a third object of the present invention to provide a coin receiving device of smaller height which allows easy replacement.

In order to achieve the above objects, the coin receiving device according to the present invention includes a coin processing apparatus, which comprises a conveyor, and a reverse rotation roller disposed above the conveyor while keeping a gap of one coin or more, in which movement of coins conveyed in a stack on the conveyor is restricted by the reverse rotation roller. A movable restrictor is arranged above the reverse rotation roller.

In this configuration, when coins stacked in bulk are supplied onto the conveyor, the coins stacked in bulk reach the reverse rotation roller with movement of the conveyor. The interval between the conveyor and the reverse rotation roller is more than or equal to the thickness of one coin. Therefore, when coins are stacked, the overlaying coin(s) is (are) prevented from advancing by reverse rotation of the reverse rotation roller, and is relatively pushed onto the conveyor. Therefore, the coin that is directly lying on the conveyor moves together with the conveyor, and is conveyed to the next step while passing between the conveyor and the reverse rotation roller as described above. The coin that lies on another coin on the conveyor is dragged down from on the other coin to drop on to the conveyor and come into surface contact with the conveyor, and pass between the conveyor and the reverse rotation roller. When the coin leans against the reverse rotation roller, and is prevented from moving by rotation of the reverse rotation roller, and stands on the conveyor, an upper end of the coin is prevented from advancing by the movable restrictor. A lower end of the coin which is prevented from advancing is moved by movement of the conveyor, and the coin stands upright between the conveyor and the movable restrictor, and is finally turned back to be brought into surface contact with the conveyor, so that it will pass between the conveyor and the reverse rotation roller while being conveyed between the conveyor and the reverse rotation roller. Therefore, an advantage arises that a coin is prevented from hopping over the reverse rotation roller without having to provide an upright partition wall. When a coin stands up as described above, a push-up force is exerted on the movable restrictor. However, since the movable restrictor is movable, it is advantageously pushed up by the push-up force and will not be damaged.

The invention may also provide that the movable restrictor is formed of an elastic body in the coin receiving device in a coin processing apparatus. In this configuration, since the movable restrictor is an elastic body, the movable restrictor is movable regardless of the position of the movable restrictor with which a coin comes into contact. Therefore, the coin leaning against the reverse rotation roller is prevented from moving with the reverse rotation roller by restriction of movement at its upper end by the movable restrictor, while it is moved together with the conveyor at the lower end of the coin and turned back to come into surface contact with the belt. The coin then moves together with the conveyor and passes between the conveyor and the reverse rotation roller. Therefore, an advantage arises that the movable restrictor will not be damaged.

The invention may also provide that the movable restrictor is formed of a light-transmissive elastic body in the coin receiving device in a coin processing apparatus. According to this configuration, since the movable restrictor arranged right above the reverse rotation roller is a transmissive elastic body, the coin is prevented from bouncing out and the reverse rotation roller can be visually checked. Therefore, an advantage arises that the surface condition and the rotation condition of the reverse rotation roller can be checked.

According to another aspect of the invention, a coin processing apparatus is provided comprising a flat belt stretched around a pair of rollers substantially horizontally with a reverse rotation roller disposed above the flat belt so that it is parallel with the axial line of the rollers thereof. A lower circumferential face is separated from the flat belt by a distance which is larger than the thickness of a coin. A movable restrictor is disposed above the reverse rotation roller, which extends upstream of the flat belt in substantially parallel with the flat belt.

According to this configuration, when coins are supplied onto the flat belt in bulk, the bulk stacked coins reach the reverse rotation roller by the advancement of the flat belt. The interval between the flat belt and the reverse rotation roller is more than or equal to the thickness of a single coin. Therefore, when coins are stacked on the flat belt, the overlaying coin is prevented from advancing by the reverse rotation of the reverse rotation roller, and is relatively pushed onto the conveyor. Therefore, the coin that is directly lying on the flat belt moves together with the flat belt, and is conveyed to the next step while passing between the flat belt and the reverse rotation roller. The coin that lies on another coin is dragged down from on the other coin to drop on the flat belt, and thereby comes into surface contact with the flat belt, and passes between the flat belt and the reverse rotation roller as described above. When the coin leans against the reverse rotation roller, and is prevented from moving by rotation of the reverse rotation roller, the lower end of the coin is moved with the advance of the flat belt, and the coin stands upright between the flat belt and the movable restrictor, and finally is turned back to come into surface contact with the flat belt. Thus the coin moves together with the flat belt and passes between the flat belt and the reverse rotation roller. The advantage arises that a coin is prevented from hopping over the reverse rotation roller without having to provide an upright partition wall. When a coin stands up at right angels, a push-up force is exerted on the movable restrictor. However, since the movable restrictor is movable, it is advantageously pushed up by the push-up force and will not be damaged.

The invention may also be provided such that a distance between the movable restrictor and the top face of the flat belt is smaller than a diameter of a coin having the largest diameter in the coin receiving device in a coin processing apparatus. According to this configuration, the height of the device depends on the position of the movable restrictor. With this construction the height of the device can be further reduced.

The movable restrictor may be formed into a convex shape toward an upstream direction of the flat belt in the coin receiving device in a coin processing apparatus. In this configuration, the projecting length to upstream side of the flat belt of the movable restrictor opposing to the center part of the flat belt is long. Further, both ends of the movable restrictor will not be angulated. Therefore ends of the movable restrictor have a small spring constant, and are easily deformed by a standing coin. This presents the advantage that the coin is turned back at an early stage, and brought into surface contact with the flat belt.

The invention may also be provided such that the movable restrictor is replaceably attached to a frame in the coin receiving device in a coin processing apparatus. With this configuration, when the movable restrictor is abraded or damaged, it can be readily replaced.

The invention is advantageously embodied as a coin receiving device in a coin processing apparatus. The coin receiving device comprises a flat belt stretched around a pair of rollers substantially horizontally, with a reverse rotation roller disposed above the flat belt so that it is parallel with the axial line of the rollers. A lower circumferential face is separated from the flat belt by a distance which is larger than the thickness of a coin. A movable restrictor is disposed above the reverse rotation roller, which extends upstream of the flat belt, substantially parallel with the flat belt. A distance between the movable restrictor and the top face of the flat belt is smaller than a diameter of a coin having the largest diameter, the movable restrictor is formed into a convex toward upstream of the flat belt, and the movable restrictor is replaceably attached to a frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in particular, the first embodiment is a coin receiving device in a coin recycling apparatus provided as a coin processing apparatus in which plural denominations of coins (e.g., eight—i.e., 2-euro, 1-euro, 50-cent, 20-cent, 10-cent, 5-cent, 2-cent and 1-cent which are currency of the European Union or e.g., six—i.e., 1-U.S. dollar, 50-cent, 20-cent, 10-cent, 5-cent, and 1-cent) are retained by denomination, and a desired number of desired denomination of coins are dispensed in accordance with a dispensing instruction.

The coin processing apparatus includes the coin receiving machine which receives a plurality of denominations of coins and stores them by denomination. An overview of a coin recycling apparatus100will be explained with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. The coin recycling apparatus100includes a coin receiving device102, a separating/delivering device104, a denomination determining device106, a conveying device108, a sorter110, a retainer112, a dispensing device114and a dispensing tray116.

The coin receiving device102has the function of sending out coins of plural denominations introduced in bulk into a D-shaped coin receiving port118to the separating/delivering device104of the next step in such an amount that will not inhibit the function of the separating/delivering device104. The coin receiving device102includes a receiver120, a conveyor122, a reverse rotation roller124and an electric motor126for driving the conveyor122and a movable restrictor128.

First, the conveyor122will be explained. The conveyor122has a function of conveying input coins to the next step. The conveyor122is implemented by a flat belt130in the present embodiment. The flat belt130has a width which is slightly wider than twice the maximum coin diameter, and is stretched around a pair of rollers132,134so that it is slightly inclined upwardly in the downstream direction. However, the flat belt130may be horizontal. The flat belt130is movable in a delivering direction and in an opposite returning direction in which coins are fed to the next step, by normal rotation and reverse rotation of the electric motor126.

Next, the reverse rotation roller124will be explained. The reverse rotation roller124has a function of preventing advancement of the coins conveyed in stack and dragging down them when the flat belt130is traveling in the delivering direction. The reverse rotation roller124is arranged above the downstream end of the flat belt130while keeping a restriction clearance136with respect to the flat belt130. The restriction clearance136is slightly smaller than three times the thickness of the thinnest coin and is somewhat larger than the thickness of a single thickest coin. The reverse rotation roller124is so configured that the bottom face thereof rotates in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the flat belt130when the flat belt130travels in the conveyance direction to the next step, and that it is in a stationary state when the flat belt130moves in the returning direction.

However, when the flat belt130moves in the returning direction, the rotation may be such that the bottom face of the reverse rotation roller124returns to the same direction. As a result, when a stack of three or more of the thinnest coins on the flat belt130reach the reverse rotation roller124, the uppermost coin is prevented from advancing by the reverse rotation roller124, and is relatively moved in the returning direction and dragged down, which realizes a restriction for preventing quantities of coins from being supplied at once to the separating/delivering device104. In this case, the restriction clearance136may be set to have a size which is equal to or larger than the thickness of one thinnest coin but less than two thinnest coins.

Next, the receiver120will be explained. The receiver120has a cylindrical shape formed of a ring extending in the vertical direction, and the upper opening of the cylinder forms a receiving port138and the lower opening forms a delivering port140. The receiver120has the function of retaining coins received in bulk on the conveyor122.

Next, the delivering port140will be explained. The delivering port140is disposed above the flat belt130at an interval which is smaller than the thickness of a thinnest coin from the top face of the flat belt130. A left wall142and a right wall144defining left and right limits of the delivering port140are arranged in parallel at an interval which is slightly wider than twice the diameter of the largest coin to be received, thereby forming walls which are substantially perpendicular to the top face of the flat belt130. By setting the interval between the left wall142and the right wall144to be slightly longer than twice the largest diameter, coins will not be jammed while sandwiched between the left and the right walls, and an advantage arises that coins can be readily taken out. Preferably, the height of the left wall142and the right wall144is as small as possible in order to prevent a coin from standing on the flat belt130.

The rear ends of the left wall142and the right wall144are connected via an arcuate rear wall146. As a result, the coin that stands while leaning against the left wall142or the right wall144can be guided to the center part of the flat belt130along the rear wall146by causing the flat belt130to travel in the direction opposite to the delivering direction, and then the standing coin can be brought into surface contact with the flat belt130by causing the flat belt130to travel in the delivering direction.

The receiving port138is similar in shape to the delivering port140and is larger than the delivering port140. The receiving port138and the left wall142, the right wall144and the rear wall146are connected via a slant face148. By making the receiver120into a flask conical shape with the slant face148, the user may easily input a coin because of the larger receiving port138. This presents the advantage that a quantity of coins received can be increased.

On opposing surfaces of the left wall142and the right wall144, there is provided a plurality of installation holes152for a light emitter and a light receiver of a photoelectric sensor150serving as a coin sensor. The photoelectric sensor150is arranged so that its optical axis transverses slightly above the flat belt130below the receiving port138, to constitute a coin input detecting device154. When the optical axis of the coin input detecting device154is blocked, it is regarded as a coin being inputted, and the motor126is activated to move the flat belt130in the delivering direction. When a full sensor156of the separating/delivering device104as will be described later detects a full condition, the motor126is stopped. Therefore, the separating/delivering device104is able to stably separate and deliver coins one by one without receiving coins exceeding the full amount from the coin receiving device102. The coin input detecting device154can be used alternatively to or in combination with a magnetic sensor disposed on the lower side of the flat belt130.

Next, the movable restrictor128will be explained. The movable restrictor128has the function of preventing coins in the receiver120from being discharged through the receiving port138by rotation of the reverse rotation roller124. The movable restrictor128is molded from a sheet160having elasticity and is formed into a rectangular shape having a transverse width which is substantially the same width of the receiving port140. The sheet160is preferably light transmissive. Therefore, the sheet160is preferably molded of polyurethane. This allows observation of the contact condition between the reverse rotation roller124and a coin. The sheet160is preferably formed into such an arcuate shape that the upstream end of the flat belt130is convex in the center when attached to the receiver120. This is effective for preventing shear drop on the both ends of the sheet160, decreasing the spring constant, and making the sheet body160easy to deform. The upstream end of the sheet160is secured to the receiver120by securing means162right above the reverse rotation roller124and arranged substantially horizontally. Therefore, it forms a wedge-like space together with the flat belt130which is inclined upwardly.

Next, the securing means162will be explained. The securing means162has a function of securing a part of the sheet160to the receiver120, and is formed of a securing frame164and a holder166which are parts of the receiver120.

The securing frame164will be explained. The securing frame164has an angular cross section, and is disposed to transverse the flat belt130right above the reverse rotation roller124. The interval between the lower end of the securing frame164and the circumferential face of the reverse rotation roller124is set to be smaller than the thickness of the coin having the smallest thickness so as to prevent a coin from advancing between the reverse rotation roller124and the securing frame164. A top face168of the securing frame164is horizontal and formed with a throughhole170. In correspondence with the throughhole170, a fitting hole172is formed in an end part of the sheet160. A holding hole174is formed near the fitting hole172.

Next, the holder166will be explained. The holder166has the function of holding and pushing an end part of the sheet160against the securing frame164. From the bottom face of a holder part180of the holder166, a L-shaped hook182is formed so as to be opposite the through-hole170. Further, from the bottom face of the holder166, a protrusion (not shown) that fits into the holding hole174projects. For securing the sheet160to the receiver120, the protrusion (not shown) of the holder166is fitted into the holding hole174, and then the hook182is inserted into the fitting hole172and then inserted into the through hole170. Thus, the sheet160is secured to the frame (not shown) of the coin recycling apparatus100in such a manner that one end of the sheet160is sandwiched from above and below between the top face168of the securing frame164and the bottom face of the holder part180, and the other end is brought into close contact with the receiver120.

With this structure, since the middle part of the sheet160is held substantially horizontally by the top face168of the securing frame164and the holder part180, the leading end of the sheet160projects horizontally above the flat belt130. Therefore, the sheet160forms a wedge-like space with respect to the top face of the flat belt130which inclines upward. The sheet160is secured while being prevented from moving transversely by the hook182and a protrusion (not shown).

In this condition, the distance between the top face of the flat belt130and the bottom face of the sheet160is slightly smaller than the diameter of the coin having the largest diameter. Further, the amount of projection of the sheet160in the upstream direction of the flat belt130is preferably about one third the diameter of coin having the largest diameter. Further, the sheet160can be readily replaced by removing the holder166from the receiver120, removing the hook182and the protrusion from the fitting hole172and the holding hole174, and attaching a new sheet160. Therefore, the sheet160can be readily replaced in the case of abrasion or damage.

Next, the separating/delivering device104will be explained. The separating/delivering device104has a function of separating coins of plural denominations received in bulk from the coin receiving device102and delivering them one by one to the next step. The separating/delivering device104is disposed below the coin receiving device102, and includes a rotary plate190, a retaining bowl192, a collector194and a full sensor156, as shown inFIG. 2.

The rotary plate190has a receiver196that receives coins one by one, and arranged a slant at a predetermined angle and rotated at a predetermined speed. The receiver196is dimensioned to be able to receive one coin having the largest diameter but not two coins having the smallest diameter. The receiver196of the rotary plate190receives coins retained in bulk in a lower part opposing to the storing bowl192one by one, and delivers them to the collector194. The collector194is of a knife shape.

The full sensor156has a function of outputting a full signal when the amount of coins in the storing bowl192reaches a predetermined amount or more, and is implemented, for example, by a transmissive photoelectric sensor. When the full sensor156outputs a full signal, the electric motor126is stopped, and the supply of coins from the coin receiving device102is stopped. When the full sensor156no longer outputs a full signal, the electric motor126is restarted, and coins on the flat belt130are supplied to the storing bowl192.

Next, the denomination determining device106will be explained. The denomination determining device106has the function of determining the real/fake status and the denomination of the coins delivered one by one from the separating/delivering device104. The denomination determining device106has the function of determining the real/fake status and the denomination of the coin based on detection data acquired from the magnetic sensor (not shown) in the course of moving the coin by a rotary wiper198. To be more specific, it has the function of determining the real/fake status and the denomination of the coin based on detection data from a material sensor, a thickness sensor and a diameter sensor of coin.

Next, the conveying device108will be explained. The conveying device108has the function of conveying coins, that have been determined as to the real/fake status and the denomination, by the denomination determining device106, to the sorter110. This has the function of pushing a coin, which is supported at its one face by a slide plate200as will be described later and at its circumferential face, by a guide rail202, and moving it to a predetermined direction.

Next, the sorter110will be explained. The sorter110has the function of sorting coins moved by the conveying device108into predetermined sorting parts according to the denomination. The sorter110has a first sorting part206disposed above a moving path204and along the moving path204and a second sorting part208disposed below the moving path204and along the guide rail202.

Next, the coin retainer112will be explained. The coin retainer112has a function of retaining coins sorted according to denomination in the sorter110, by denomination. In the present embodiment, the coin retainer112is structured by two arrays of coin hoppers210for dispensing coins one by one by denomination by a rotary disc (not shown), the coin hoppers210being disposed below the sorter110so as to be opposite to the first sorting part206and the second sorting part208. Each coin hopper is denoted by reference numeral210added with a symbol for each denomination.

Next, the dispensing device114will be explained. The dispensing device114has a function of delivering coins dispensed from the coin hopper210for each denomination to the dispensing tray116. In the present embodiment, the dispensing device114is implemented by a flat belt212disposed between two arrays of coin hoppers. The flat belt212is selectively driven so that the top face moves toward the dispensing tray116by an electric motor214. The coin conveyed by the flat belt212is supplied into the dispensing tray116.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be explained with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7. When coins of plural denominations are input through the receiving port120, the input coins C drop onto the flat belt130. As a result, the optical axis of the coin detecting device154is blocked by the input coins, so that the coin input detection signal is output, and the motor126is rotated in response to the coin input detection signal. As a result, the top face of the flat belt130moves toward the separating/delivering device104(to the right inFIGS. 4,6and7) and the reverse rotation roller124is rotated reversely (clockwise inFIGS. 6 and 7). Therefore, when coins C of the smallest thickness are stacked flatly or two such coins C are stacked, the coins C pass below the lower circumferential face of the reverse rotation roller124, drop from the end part of the coin receiving flat belt130and drop into the storing bowl192of the separating/delivering device104.

As shown inFIG. 6, when a stack of three coins C is conveyed, the lower circumferential face of the roller124moves in opposite direction to the top face of the flat belt130since the reverse rotation roller124rotates reversely. The stacked coins C, i.e., the two coins C in the present embodiment, pass below the reverse rotation roller124, and the uppermost coin C is prevented from advancing and is moved relative to the underlying coin C. As a result, the uppermost coin C is shifted relative to the underlying coin C and finally dropped onto the flat belt130. The dropped coin C is conveyed again toward the separating/delivering device104as described above by the traveling of the flat belt130. When the coin input detecting device154no longer detects coin C, the motor126is stopped and movement of the flat belt130is stopped.

As described above, when the upper coin C is shifted relative to the underlying coin C, the shifted coin C may be inclined while leaning against the stacked coin C (reference mark SC inFIG. 7). In this case, the leading end of the coin SC comes into contact with the circumferential face of the reverse rotation roller124and the back side of the coin C may come into contact with the reverse rotation roller124. As a result, the coin SC receives lifting force by rotation of the reverse rotation roller124and moves upward.

In this case, the leading end of the coin SC pushes up and deforms the sheet160disposed immediately above the reverse rotation roller124. Therefore, the coin SC will not fly out externally of the receiving port138over the reverse rotation roller124because movement of the coin SC is inhibited. The coin SC is prevented from moving by the reverse rotation roller124at its middle part, and the lower end is forcedly moved toward below the reverse rotation roller124by the flat belt130. Therefore, the coin SC is finally turned back and brought into surface contact with the flat belt130and into flatly stacked condition. As a result, the inclined coin: SC passes through a restriction gap136and moves to the next step. According to the above first embodiment, since there is no need to arrange an upright wall above the reverse rotation roller124as described above, it is possible to reduce the height of the upright wall. Further, according to the first embodiment, the sheet160is bent by a coin having the largest diameter. In other words, since the sheet160is disposed near the conveyor122, it is possible to further reduce the height of the apparatus. Further, since the sheet160is flexible, there arises an advantage that it will not be damaged even in the case of deformation by a coin having the largest diameter.

The second embodiment is a modified embodiment of the movable restrictor128.FIG. 8is an explanatory view of a coin receiving device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The movable restrictor128according to the second embodiment is rotatably attached to a stationary axis302in which a restriction plate300of rigid body is disposed above the reverse rotation roller124, and has rotating force in the counterclockwise direction inFIG. 8owing to the self moment.

The restriction plate300is held substantially horizontal by a stopper304projecting from the receiver120. The restriction plate300is rotated clockwise inFIG. 8about the stationary axis302against the moment when it is pushed up by the coin SC. Therefore, the coin SC is turned back and thus is able to pass through the restriction gap136as is the case with the first embodiment. Also there arises an advantage that the restriction plate300will not be broken because the push-up force by the coin SC is mitigated by rotation about the stationary axis302.