Money exchanging system

A system of exchanging money in a money exchanging machine in which different money groups each consisting of money of a single or a plurality of denominations are provided for each of the money of different denominations to be exchanged by the machine, and a customer selects only one of the money groups to cause the machine to achieve the money exchanging.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a money exchanging system. 
In conventional money exchanging machines, the denomination of money 
inserted into the machine for exchange is only one, and the denomination 
of money dispensed by the machine is also only one. For instance, in a 
first conventional money exchanging machine, a 10,000-yen note is 
exchanged for ten 1,000-yen notes only, that is, the denomination of a 
note inserted into the machine is 10,000-yen only and that of notes 
dispensed are 1,000-yen only; and in a second conventional money 
exchanging machine, a 1,000-yen note is exchanged for ten 100-yen coins 
only, that is, in this machine also the denomination of a note inserted 
thereinto is 1,000-yen only and that of coins dispensed is 100-yen only. 
Since in the conventional money exchanging machine both of the 
denominations of money inserted into and dispensed by the machine are 
predetermined, as was described above, it is sometimes impossible for a 
customer to exchange his money by the machine, and he is sometimes forced 
to exchange it for money undesired. This will become more apparent from 
the following. It is assumed that the two conventional money exchanging 
machines described above are provided and a customer wants to have a 
10,000-yen note in 100-yen coins. In this case, first he exchanges the 
10,000-yen note for ten 1,000-yen notes by the first machine, and then he 
exchanges one of the ten 1,000-yen notes for ten 100-yen coins by the 
second machine. Thus, he has to operate two money changing machines to 
obtain 100-yen coins. Furthermore, even if he wants to exchange a 1000-yen 
note for five 100-yen coins and one 500-yen note, such money exchange 
cannot be achieved by those machines. 
Recently, money exchanging machines have been proposed in which money of a 
single denomination or any one of the money of different denominations can 
be exchanged, and upon insertion of the money a plurality of monetary 
denominations indicated respectively with total monetary values to be 
dispensed available for exchanging the money are displayed by means of 
lamps, and in which a desired one or ones out of the denominations with 
the respective total monetary values are selected until the sum of the 
total monetary values reaches the value of the money inserted into the 
machine. For instance, one of the conventional money exchanging machines 
of this type can exchange any one of 10,000-yen, 5000-yen and 100-yen 
notes, and is provided with a number of selection buttons so that a 
variety of money groups are available for money exchange. Upon insertion 
of one of these bank notes, some of the selection buttons relating to the 
denominations with the respective total monetary values available for the 
monetary value of that bank note are all illuminated by lamps. With 
respect to the dispensation of 1000-yen notes, a one-selection button 
(1000-yen), a five-sheet selection button (5000-yen), and a ten-sheet 
selection button (10,000-yen) are provided. With respect to the 
dispensation of 100-yen coins, a 50-piece selection button (5,000-yen) and 
a 100-piece selection button (10,000-yen) are provided. 
In this conventional money exchanging machine, upon insertion of a 
10,000-yen note for instance, all of the selection buttons relating to 
10,000-yen or less are illuminated by the lamps. If under this condition 
the customer depresses the five-sheet selection button (5,000-yen), the 
lamps for the selection buttons relating to monetary values more than 
5,000-yen are turned off, but the lamps for the selection buttons relating 
to monetary values less than 5,000-yen inclusive are maintained turned on. 
If he then depresses the 50-pieces selection button (5000-yen), all the 
lamps are turned off because the sum of the monetary values selected by 
these selection buttons is equal to the monetary value of the bank note 
inserted into the machine. Then, the depression of an exchange button 
causes the machine to dispense five 1000-yen notes and fifty 100-yen 
coins. 
However, the conventional money exchanging machine of this type is 
disadvantageous in that it is relatively intricate in operation which may 
lead to erroneous operation because a number of selection buttons are 
provided in all directions on the operating panel, and a customer must 
frequently depress the selection buttons until the sum of the monetary 
values selected by depressing them reaches the monetary value of the bank 
note inserted into the machine. Furthermore, the control mechanism of the 
machine is relatively complicated, and accordingly the machine is high in 
manufacturing cost. The complicated control mechanism leads to difficulty 
in inspection and maintenance. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a system of 
exchanging money in which all of the difficulties described above 
accompanying a conventional money exchanging machine have been overcome. 
More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide a system of 
exchanging money in which money exchange is achieved by selecting only one 
of the money groups provided for each money to be exchanged. 
The foregoing object and other objects has been achieved by providing 
according to this invention. 
A system of exchanging money in a money exchanging machine in which 
different groups of money each consisting of money of a single or a 
plurality of denominations are provided for each of the money of different 
denominations which is to be inserted into the machine for money exchange 
by a customer, and selection of a desired one out of the groups of money 
provided for the money inserted into the machine is made by the customer, 
the only one selection causing the machine to achieve the money exchange. 
The nature, principle and utility of this invention will become more 
apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claim 
when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like 
parts are designated by like reference characters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
A money changing machine 1 utilizing this invention, as shown in FIG. 1, 
has a front panel 2 which can be opened when required, a money inserting 
opening 3 provided on the front panel for a customer to insert a piece of 
money such as a bank note into the machine 1 to be changed, and an 
operating condition display window 4 provided also on the front panel 2 
for displaying the operating conditions of the machine 1 by the use of 
terms such as "SERVICEABLE" that is, the machine is serviceable for 
changing money, "WAIT A MINUTE" that is, the machine will become 
serviceable soon, or "UNSERVICEABLE", that is, the machine is 
unserviceable owing to certain reasons. 
Furthermore, the front panel 2 is provided with money group selecting 
buttons 5A-5J by which a customer can select, as desired, one of the 
groups of money (described later in detail) which have been provided in 
the machine 1 for exchange for the piece of the money such as bank notes 
to be changed, these selecting buttons 5A-5J being identified by money 
group identifying plates 6A-6J provided in the vicinity thereof, 
respectively, and a money returning button 8 which is operated to return 
the piece of money inserted into the machine to the customer when he 
decides not to carry out the money changing operation after inserting the 
money into the machine. The machine 1 has money dispensing outlets 9 below 
the panel 2 into which money is dispensed so that a customer can receive 
it. 
The combination of the money group selected buttons 5A-5J and the money 
group identifying plates 6A-6J will be referrred to as "change operation 
setting means" hereinafter. 
For convenience of description, it is assumed that the pieces of money to 
be changed by the machine 1 are 10,000-yen, 5,000-yen and 1,000-yen 
banknotes. 
For changing of a 10,000-yen note, five groups of money are provided: a 
first group consisting of ten 1,000-yen notes, a second group consisting 
of two stacks of 100-yen coins, each stack including fifty 100-yen coins, 
a third group consisting of twenty stacks of 10-yen coins each stack 
including fifty 10-yen coins, a fourth group consisting of nine 1,000-yen 
notes plus ten 100-yen coins, and a fifth group consisting of five 
1,000-yen notes plus one stack of fifty 100-yen coins. For changing of a 
5,000-yen bank note, three groups of money are provided: a first group 
consisting of five 1,000-yen notes, a second group consisting of one stack 
of fifty 100-yen coins, and a third group consisting of ten stacks of 
fifty 10-yen coins. For changing of a 1,000-yen bank note two groups of 
money are provided: a first group consisting of two stacks of fifty 10-yen 
coins, and a second group consisting of ten 100-yen coins. It should be 
noted that the number of money groups and the contents of each money group 
described above are merely by way of example. 
The money exchanging machine described above, as shown in FIG. 2 further 
comprises: a conventional money judging device 10 adapted to judge whether 
or not a piece of money inserted into the money inserting opening 3 is 
acceptable; a conventional selection circuit 11 for producing a money 
dispensing signal DM representative of a group of money which has been 
selected or determined in response to a judgement signal DN from the money 
judging device 10 and also to a selection signal SL from the exchange 
operation setting means 7; a conventional dispensation control circuit 12 
for causing a money dispenser 13 to dispense money in response to the 
money dispensing signal DM applied thereto, and a conventional money 
detecting device 14 for detecting the amounts of money dispensed by the 
money dispenser 13 and feeding back the detected amount to the 
dispensation control circuit 12. 
Shown in FIG. 3 is an electrical circuit illustrating in detail the block 
diagram of FIG. 2. For simplification in description, the circuit will be 
described with reference to the operation where, for exchange of a 
10,000-yen note, three groups of money are provided: a first group 
consists of ten 1,000-yen notes; a second group two stacks of 100-yen 
coins, each stack including fifty 100-yen coins; and a third group five 
1,000-yen notes plus one stack of 100-yen coins. 
The exchange operation setting means 7 produces a selection signal SL upon 
depression of the money group selecting buttons 5. More specifically, 
selection signals SL.sub.1, SL.sub.2 and SL.sub.3 are produced by the 
exchange operation setting means 7 upon depression of the buttons for the 
first, second and third money groups, respectively. 
The selection circuit 11 comprises AND circuits AD.sub.1, AD.sub.2 and 
AD.sub.3, NAND circuits ND.sub.1, ND.sub.2 and ND.sub.3, flip-flop 
circuits FF.sub.1, FF.sub.2 and FF.sub.3, and AND circuits AD.sub.4, 
AD.sub.5 and AD.sub.6 so that even if all of the selecting buttons 5 are 
simultaneously depressed, only one money dispensing signal DM is outputted 
with the aid of timing signals TP.sub.1, TP.sub.2 and TP.sub.3 from a 
timing pulse generating circuit (not shown). Furthermore, the selection 
circuit 11 has the judgement signal DN concerning the 10,000-yen note from 
the money judging device 10 supplied to AND circuits AD.sub.7, AD.sub.8 
and AD.sub.9, so that the exchange pattern described above is effective 
only when a 10,000-yen note is inserted into the machine. 
The dispensation control circuit 12 is made up of a memory circuit 121, 
counter means 122, and a comparison circuit 123. The memory circuit 121 
comprises D-type flip-flops FF.sub.4, FF.sub.5 and FF.sub.6, and decoders 
DE.sub.1 and DE.sub.2. The memory circuit 121 operates to store the money 
dispensing signal DM, to turn on a lamp 5A, 5B or 5C corresponding to the 
money group selecting button 5 depressed, and to introduce to the 
comparison circuit 123 the numerical value of money to be dispensed. The 
counter means 122 is a decimal counter adapted to count the detection 
signals DT produced by the money detecting device 14. The counter means 
122 comprises two counters CU.sub.1 and CU.sub.2. The comparison circuit 
123 serves to compare the numerical data of the decoders DE.sub.1 and 
DE.sub.2 with the count data of the counters CU.sub.1 and CU.sub.2. The 
comparison circuit 123 comprises EXCLUSIVE OR circuits EX.sub.1 through 
EX.sub.4, and EX.sub.5 through EX.sub.8, NOR circuits NO.sub.2 and 
NO.sub.3, a D-type flip-flop circuit FF.sub.7, and a NAND circuit 
ND.sub.4. 
(In FIG. 3, the money dispenser 13 is shown as having only a money 
dispensing mechanism SEN for dispensing 1,000-yen notes and a money 
dispensing mechanism HBO for dispensing stacks of 100-yen coins, in order 
to simplify the Figure. However, it should be noted that the dispenser 13 
can dispense all of the money groups shown in FIG. 1). 
Now, the operation of the money exchanging machine will be described with 
reference to the case where five 1,000-yen notes and one stack of 100-yen 
coins are dispensed for a 10,000-yen note. 
Upon insertion of a 10,000-yen note into the money inserting opening 3, the 
denomination signal of the 10,000-yen note is outputted as the judgement 
signal DN by the money judging device 10, while the lamps for the money 
exchange selecting buttons 5A, 5B and 5E (though FIG. 1 includes 5C and 
5D) are turned on. Then, by depressing the botton 5E the selection signal 
SL.sub.3 is outputted, whereby the flip-flop circuit FF.sub.3 is set with 
the aid of the timing signal TP.sub.3, and a high level signal 
(hereinafter referred to as an "H" signal, when applicable) is produced by 
the AND circuit AD.sub.6. To the AND circuit AD.sub.9 are applied a signal 
EMP.sub.3 representative of the fact that a sufficient number of 1,000-yen 
notes and stacks of 100-yen coins are available for dispensation, the 
output signal of a NOR circuit NO.sub.1 which is representative of the 
fact that no pattern is selected, and the judgement signal DN. As a 
result, an "H" signal is produced by the AND circuit AD.sub.9, and the 
flip-flop circuit FF.sub.6 of the memory circuit 121 is therefore set, 
whereupon a low level signal (hereinafter referred to as an "L" signal, 
when applicable) is produced by the NOR circuit NO.sub.1 ; therefore, even 
if selection operation is carried out thereafter, it is blocked (or 
prohibited) by means of the AND circuits AD.sub.1, AD.sub.2 and AD.sub.3. 
The set output of the flip-flop circuit FF.sub.6 is applied to the decoders 
DE.sub.1 and DE.sub.2. As a result, the binary signal for "5," or 
"L.multidot.H.multidot.L.multidot.H," is outputted through the terminals 
Q.sub.A, Q.sub.B, Q.sub.C and Q.sub.D of the decoder DE.sub.1 so as to 
dispense five 1,000-yen notes, while the binary signal for "1," or 
"L.multidot.L.multidot.L.multidot.H," is outputted through the terminals 
Q.sub.A, Q.sub.B, Q.sub.C and Q.sub.D of the decoder DE.sub.2 so as to 
dispense one stack of 100-yen coins. However, as nothing is counted by the 
counters CU.sub.1 and CU.sub.2 at present, signals 
"L.multidot.L.multidot.L.multidot.L" are produced at the terminals 
Q.sub.A, Q.sub.B, Q.sub.C and Q.sub.D of these counters CU.sub.1 and 
CU.sub.2, and accordingly the NOR circuits NO.sub.2 and NO.sub.3 produce 
non-coincidence signals "L." Therefore, the money dispensing mechanisms 
SEN and HBO operate to dispense five 1,000-yen notes and one stack of 
100-yen coins, respectively. The notes and coins thus dispensed are 
separately detected by the money detecting device 14 and the detection 
signals thereof are applied to the counters CU.sub.1 and CU.sub.2 wherein 
the notes and coins are counted. When the count results thereof coincide 
with the data in the decoders DE.sub.1 and DE.sub.2, the NOR circuits 
NO.sub.2 and NO.sub.3 produce "H" signals. As a result, the operations of 
the money dispensing mechanisms SEN and HBO are suspended. Then, the "L" 
signal is produced by the NAND circuit ND.sub.4. Therefore, all of the 
counters CU.sub.1 and CU.sub.2 and the flip-flop circuits FF.sub.4, 
FF.sub.5 and FF.sub.6 are cleared, and the lamp for the button selected is 
turned off. Thus, one exchange operation has been completed. 
The operation of the circuit has been described with respect to the case 
where three money groups (or money selecting buttons) 5A, 5B and 5E are 
provided for exchange of a 10,000-yen note; however, it will be obvious 
that a circuit similar to the above-described circuit can be employed for 
exchanging a 5,000-yen note or a 1,000-yen note. 
In the same manner as described above, when a 1000-yen bank note is 
inserted into the money inserting opening 3 and the money group selecting 
button 5J is depressed, the contents of the corresponding money dispensing 
signal DM are representative of a ten 100-yen coins. 
Thus, when a bank note to be changed is inserted into the money inserting 
opening 3 and accordingly into the machine 1 and one of the money group 
selecting buttons relating to change for such a bank note is depressed, 
the resultant money dispensing signal DM produced by the selection circuit 
11 is representative of a money group selected by that selecting button. 
Furthermore it should be noted that if a customer depresses the money 
returning button 8 before depressing a money group selecting button, the 
money he has inserted into the machine 1 will be returned to him. 
The money containers of the money dispenser may be provided respectively 
for the money group selecting buttons, or a single money container 
containing money of a single denomination may be provided commonly for a 
plurality of money group selecting buttons which designate the 
dispensation of money of that denomination. For instance, two money 
containers containing 1,000-yen notes may be provided respectively for the 
money group selecting buttons 5A and 5F, or one money container containing 
1,000-yen notes may be provided commonly for the two selecting buttons 5A 
and 5F. In the former case, upon insertion of a 10,000-yen note ten 
1,000-yen notes are dispensed from one money container, and upon insertion 
of a 5,000-yen note five 1,000-yen notes are dispensed from another money 
container. In the latter case, the ten 1,000-yen notes and the five 
1,000-yen notes are dispensed from the same money container. 
According to the money exchanging system according to this invention, as is 
apparent from the above description, a plurality of groups of money each 
consisting of money of a single or a plurality of denominations are 
provided for each of the pieces of money of different denominations to be 
changed so that a customer can select a desired one out of the plurality 
of groups of money equal to the value of the piece of money inserted into 
the machine by him, that is, the money changing is effected by selecting 
only one out of the plurality of groups of money. 
Thus, a plurality of pieces of money of different denominations can be 
changed by the machine, and this is convenient for customers because they 
can change money of different denominations by the use of only one money 
changing machine. Furthermore, money changing is automatically effected 
merely by selecting only one out of the groups of money each consisting of 
money of a single or a plurality of denominations. This simplifies the 
operation of the money changing machine and facilitates the money changing 
transaction in banks or the like. 
While the invention has been described in connection with the changing of 
10,000-yen, 5,000-yen and 1,000-yen bank notes into five, three, and two 
groups of money, respectively, it is particularly understood that the 
invention is not limited thereby or thereto. That is, the denomination of 
the piece of money to be changed is optional, and the number of groups of 
money provided for each of the pieces of money to be changed is also 
optional. Furthermore, the dispensation control circuit 12, as was 
described, comprises the memory circuit, the counter, and the comparison 
circuit; however, it may be constituted by a preset counter.