Dual recycling-type coin changer

A compact recycling coin changer device for simultaneously serving a plurality of users includes a housing with a plurality of coin inlet and outlet slots. Individual coin lift units deliver coins for sorting and distributing to common coin denomination hoppers are arranged in parallel rows. A common duct, centrally located in the housing, can receive released coins from the hoppers and deposit them on a common coin-distributing device that operatively interconnects with the respective coin outlets, for example on opposite exterior housing walls. The coin changer device can be operatively associated with the dispensing of products, for example at a gas station or other retail outlets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2010-112633 filed on May 14, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dual recycling-type coin changer in which coin inlets and coin outlets are disposed on mutually-opposed outer surfaces, wherein coins can be simultaneously put into the respective coin inlets disposed on the mutually-opposed outer surfaces by different users at the same time. Particularly, the present invention relates to a recycling-type coin changer in which coin inlets and coin outlets enable coins to be simultaneously inserted into the coin inlets disposed on the mutually-opposed outer surfaces to provide a compact and economical coin changer with shared common components.

2. Description of Related Art

In Japanese Patent No. 4323850, FIGS. 7-9 and Paragraphs 0024 to 0028, there is described a coin handling apparatus provided with coin inlet units and coin outlet units provided for customer-interface with dedicated coin conveyance units extending from the coin inlet units, respectively. A common coin distinguishing/counting unit is used to distinguish the genuineness/counterfeit status of the coin denominations, and the number of the coins conveyed by the dedicated coin conveyance units. A common coin sorting unit sorts the respective coins that have been determined to be genuine by the coin distinguishing/counting unit, by the denominations thereof and can send a coin to a common coin safe and reject a counterfeit coin. A dispensed-coin common conveyance unit, which receives any coin rejected by the coin sorting unit and also any coin dispensed from a coin safe permits such coins to be discharged to appropriate coin outlet units.

A common control unit controls these operations and the coin common conveyance unit is provided with a discharge belt, which is endlessly suspended by at least two rollers and configured so that the belt can be moved in both a forward and reverse direction by a drive unit. The discharge belt has both ends adjacent to the coin outlet units, respectively. A tilting unit, which supports the discharge belt so that the belt can be vertically swung like a seesaw and alternately lower the ends so that a conveyance surface of the discharge belt can be tilted downward toward either one of the coin outlet units.

Japanese utility Model Laid-Open Application No. H06-059960 describes a known coin processing apparatus in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, Paragraphs 0002 to 0008, which is configured to hold coins which have been put into an inlet of a main body of the coin processing apparatus, with temporal holding units without storing the coin into a safe in the main body of the coin processing apparatus until a predetermined processing operation such as a ticketing process is started. If the processing operation is cancelled before starting the processing operation, the coins are ejected from the temporal holding units, onto a belt conveyor communicated with a return opening of the main body of the coin processing apparatus.

Also, if there is a need to dispense change, coins are ejected onto the belt conveyor and collected by a tray provided in the opposite side of the return opening. The direction of the upper surface of the belt conveyor has a tilt angle with respect to a horizontal line so that the upper surface is tilted downward toward the direction of conveying the coin on the belt conveyor to the return opening side. The tilt angle is formed so that, when the conveyance direction of the belt conveyor is moving toward the tray, the coin on the belt conveyor can be conveyed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the first conventional technique, a coin distinguishing/counting unit is common to the coin inlet units which are respectively provided on mutually facing outer surfaces. Therefore, while the coin put into one of the coin inlet units is being distinguished and counted, the other coin inlet unit is closed by a coin shutter so that no coin is input to the coin inlet unit. In other words, when one of the coin inlet units is being used, the other coin inlet unit cannot be used.

Therefore, there is a problem that a customer who wants to use the other coin inlet unit has to wait until usage of the coin input unit, which is in use, is finished.

In order to solve the problem of the first conventional technique, the present inventors considered whether the coin inlets, money inspecting machine, sorting unit, temporal holding unit, hopper, chute, and belt conveyor disclosed in the second conventional technique can be provided on each of mutually facing outer surfaces.

The inventors also considered whether a second conventional technique could be applied to each of the mutually-opposing surfaces, wherein each of the coin inspecting machines can distinguish the coin put there into. Therefore, the user of the other one may not be kept waiting like the first conventional technique.

However, in the second conventional technique, the denomination and genuineness/counterfeit of the coin put into the coin inlet are distinguished by the money inspecting machine. If the coin is counterfeit, the coin is guided onto the belt conveyor for return and, if the coin is genuine, the coin is sorted into and held in temporal holding units, which are separated depending on the denominations and arranged in series.

The counterfeit coin is returned to the return opening by conveying the coin by the belt conveyor. Change is dispensed from the temporal holding units to a common hopper, then gathered by a chute, to fall onto a common belt conveyor, and then delivered by conveying the change by the belt conveyor to the appropriate coin outlet.

Thus, even if the second conventional technique was further combined with the first conventional technique with coin inlets provided respectively on the mutually-facing outer surfaces and coin inspections and sorting units respectively corresponding to the inlets, the hypothetical combination would have to share a temporal holding unit, a hopper, a chute, and a belt conveyor, and would have to selectively drive the belt conveyor toward the side of a return opening for returning.

However, a counterfeit coin should be conveyed to the return opening by the belt conveyor. Therefore, if the processing in the side of one of the inlets is not finished, the processing of the other inlet side cannot be carried out since a counterfeit coin on the wrong side would be dispensed to the return opening of the other side. Any attempt to resolve this issue would create an additional problem in that the size of the apparatus is increased since the temporal holding units are juxtaposed in series in the second conventional technique.

Moreover, in the first and second conventional apparatuses, the coin inlet and the coin outlets are distant from each other, and, particularly, the coin inlet is disposed at a comparatively high position and, therefore, there could be a problem in that the hypothetical apparatus would not be easy to use for disabled people and elderly people in a commercial environment.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide a small recycling-type coin changer which enables coins to be inserted thereinto at the same time from opposite sides by different users and processed efficiently.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a recycling-type coin changer which is user-friendly for disabled people and elderly people.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a recycling-type coin changer which is inexpensive, compact and can be integrated into a commercial stand-alone kiosk such as in a gas station or a store.

In order to achieve these objects, the present invention is constituted in the following manner. A recycling-type coin changer is configured to dispose coin inlets and coin outlets on mutually-opposed outer surfaces, and sort for a status of genuineness/counterfeit and denominations of a coin put into the coin inlets by separate coin sorting devices, respectively. The coins can be held in common coin holding devices corresponding to the denominations and arranged in parallel rows, and can dispense a coin of a predetermined denomination of a predetermined number from the coin holding device to a common coin-discharging device based on a change command signal from a controller. A coin can be dispensed by the coin-discharging device to a corresponding coin outlet, and can also deliver a return coin to the coin outlet.

The recycling-type coin changer has a pair of coin sorting devices each individually provided to correspond to a specific coin inlet, and can discriminate the genuineness/counterfeit and the denomination of the put-in coin, while returning a counterfeit coin to the corresponding coin outlet, and distributing the genuine coin to an exit corresponding to the denomination. A pair of return passages can each directly guide a return coin from a return opening to the corresponding coin outlet by gravity. A pair of denomination-sorted coin passages can guide a coin from denomination-sorted exits of the pair of coin sorting devices to a common denomination-sorted coin holding device by gravity. The coin holding device can be aligned in parallel rows around a centrally located common duct in the housing.

The common duct can guide the denomination-sorted coin dispensed from the common denomination-sorted coin holding device onto a coin-discharging belt by gravity. A coin-discharging belt is directly mounted below the common duct and suspended between the pair of coin outlets to be selectively moved toward one of the coin outlets which can be on respective opposite walls of the housing.

A turning shaft is disposed below an exit of the common duct, between the coin falling opening and the coin-discharging belt, and in parallel to the coin-discharging belt. A distributing plate is mounted to the turning shaft to extend in mutually-opposed directions and more integrally with the turning shaft in a path of a fallen coin. Each of the ends of the distributing plate can be moved to a position close to an upper surface of the coin-discharging belt so that the distance between the end and the upper surface is smaller than the thickness of a thinnest coin.

A coin put into each of the coin inlets and disposed respectively on the mutually-opposed outer surfaces of the housing is subjected to a discrimination of genuineness/counterfeit and a determination of the denomination by the coin sorting devices respectively corresponding to the coin inlets.

If a put-in coin is discriminated to be counterfeit, it is returned to the corresponding coin outlet by gravity from a coin sorter through the coin return passageway. A genuine coin is distributed to one of the different passages depending on the coin denomination, and held by the respective denomination-sorted coin holding devices which are disposed between the pair of coin sorters in two rows in a direction orthogonal to a straight line connecting the coin sorters.

In accordance with a coin-discharging command from a control device, the number of coins corresponding to a dispensing signal command are dispensed by gravity to the common duct from the denomination-sorted coin holding device. The dispensed coins fall by their own weight, are guided by the common duct, and are caused to fall onto the common coin-discharging endless belt.

Any coin which falls onto the coin-discharging belt is dispensed to a predetermined coin outlet by the coin-discharging belt selectively moving in a predetermined direction. The coin holding device can be downsized and made compact since hoppers are disposed in two parallel rows and are disposed in a direction orthogonal to a coin put-in direction.

A coin distributing plate is disposed below the exit of the common duct and is selectively tilted towards the side of the coin outlet from which the coin is to be dispensed. Therefore, any coin which falls from the common duct will slide down towards the side of a coin outlet from which the coin is to be discharged. The fallen coin is dispensed to the appropriate coin outlet from which the coin is to be dispensed since the coin-discharging belt can be moved to the side of the coin outlet from which the coin is to be discharged.

Even if the coin-discharging belt is moved in a direction opposite to the dispensing direction, the distance between the end of the distributing plate and the coin-discharging belt is made smaller than the thickness of the thinnest coin. Therefore, a coin cannot pass therethrough and the change cannot be dispensed to a wrong coin outlet side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A recycling-type coin changer is configured to dispose or position coin inlets and coin outlets on mutually-opposed outer surfaces of a secure housing unit with internal sensor mechanisms to determine genuineness/counterfeit status of coins and sort denominations of coins respectively into appropriate coin inlets by coin sorting devices, respectively. Coin holding devices are arranged respectively corresponding to the particular coin denominations and can store and dispense the coins of a predetermined denomination by a predetermined number from the common rows of denomination-sorted coin holding devices to a common coin-discharging belt based on an issued change command from a controller processor. The coins are dispensed into a coin-discharging belt which conveys a coin to the corresponding coin outlet, or returns a return coin to the coin outlet.

The recycling-type coin changer has a pair of coin sorting devices each individually provided to correspond to a respective coin inlet while discriminating a coin status of genuineness/counterfeit along with the denomination of the put-in coin. Counterfeit coins are directed to a return opening, while genuine coins are directed to an exit corresponding to the coin denomination.

A pair of individual return passages each guide a returned coin from a return opening to the corresponding coin outlet by gravity. A pair of individual denomination-sorted passages guide a coin from denomination-sorted exits of the pair of coin sorting devices to a common denomination-sorted coin holding device by gravity.

A common duct guides the denomination-sorted coins dispensed from each of the common denomination-sorted coin holding devices onto a coin-discharging belt by gravity. The coin-discharging belt is directly positioned below the common duct and suspended between the pair of coin outlets, and can be selectively moved toward one of the coin outlets by a controller generated signal.

An example of a present embodiment is seen schematically inFIG. 1where a recycling-type coin changer100according to the present invention is used as an automatic checkout machine104in a self-service gas station102with cars and users symbolically shown adjacent a median strip representing the respective car lanes to access gasoline pumps.

In an elliptical island106of the self-service gas station102, a fueling machine108and the automatic checkout machine104are installed in a state in which they are adjacent to each other.

The automatic checkout machine104can be adapted for Japanese yen. Therefore, the processing target coin of a recycling-type coin changer100are coins of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen, respectively, that can be used to purchase gasoline.

However, certain processing target coins can be selected/eliminated. For example, the 1-yen and 5-yen coins could be excluded and the gas sold in 10-yen increments. It should be understood the processing target coins could be any coins from all over the world such as Euro, US dollar coins, and Chinese Yuan can be employed.

The fueling machine108and the automatic checkout machine104are configured so that the machines can be operated on both sides of the island106and can be electronically interconnected to match the dispensing of a fixed value of gasoline of a particular grade. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 7, in the automatic checkout machine104, separate coin inlets are disposed on each of a mutually-opposed first wall surface112A and a second wall surface112B of a box-shaped chassis112that can provide security to retained money.

The first wall surface112A and the second wall surface112B have the same construction. Therefore, only the left-side first wall surface112A is explained in detail as an example with reference toFIG. 2. A combination of a left bill inlet114L and a left bill return slot116L are disposed so that they are above/below each other, and a left coin inlet118L, a left coin outlet122L, and a reader/writer124L for credit cards, electronic money, or the like are also disposed on the exterior of the chassis12adjacent the gas pump.

Referring toFIG. 2, a side view of the user interface for just the left hand side is shown. The left bill inlet114L and the left bill return slot116L are positioned on a recycling-type bill processing machine126incorporated in the automatic checkout machine104and are projecting to the outside of the first wall surface (outer surface)112A. Note the second wall surface (outer surface)112B of the automatic checkout machine104would have equivalent structure.

The coin inlet118L and the coin outlet122L are positioned on a recycling-type coin changer100incorporated into the automatic checkout machine104and are located on the outside of the first wall surface112A and equivalent structure is provided on the second wall surface112B of the housing of the automatic checkout machine104.

Next, the recycling-type coin changer100will be explained with reference toFIG. 3andFIG. 8. The recycling-type coin changer100is disposed in the box-shaped chassis112and installed so that the lower end100U thereof is approximately 1 meter or more above the surface of the island.

As a matter of convenience for explanation, the side of the first wall surface112A is explained as a left-side coin changer128L, and the side of the second wall surface112B is explained as a right-side coin changer128R.

The right-side coin changer128R and the left-side coin changer128L are composed of an individually-provided dedicated individual parts132and commonly-used common parts134, wherein the symbols R and L denotes the dedicated and replicated parts. Thus, an economical and compact coin changer is provided.

First, the individual part132will be explained. The individual part132includes a right individual part132R and a left individual part132L. The construction of the right individual part132R and the left individual part132L are approximately the same except that they are bilaterally symmetrically disposed. Therefore, only the left individual part132L will be representatively explained, with the understanding that the right individual part132R is shown with the same numbers with R changed from L, and a further explanation thereof will be omitted.

The left individual part132L has a left coin inlet118L, a left lift device138L, a left coin sorting device142L, a left return passage144L, left coin passage device146L, and a left coin outlet122L.

First, the left coin inlet118L will be explained. The left coin inlet118L is disposed approximately at a position of a height of the waist of an adult man and has the shape of a vertically elongated slit configured to accept coins. The left coin inlet118L is formed so that the height and width thereof are slightly larger than the diameter and thickness of a 500-yen coin which represents the maximum diameter and thickness of Japanese coins.

Next, the left lift device138L will be explained with reference toFIG. 4. The left lift or elevator device138L has a function of dividing a series of coins C, which have been put into the left coin inlet118L, one by one and lifting up the coins so that the coins are put into a left receiving opening152L of the left coin sorting device142L above. However, as a modification, in the case where the left coin inlet118L is disposed above the left receiving opening152L, there would be no need to provide a left lift device138L.

In the present embodiment, the left lift device138L includes a left rotatable helical device154L, a left coin separating device156L, and a left chute158L as seen inFIG. 4(a). The left helical device154L includes a left coin sensor160L, a cylindrical left guide body162L, a columnar left helical body164L, and a left lift driving motor166L for rotating the columnar left helical body164L. See alsoFIG. 4(B).

The left coin sensor160L has a function of detecting a coin C put into the left coin inlet118L. The left coin sensor160L can be composed of, for example, a magnetic sensor and, when the coin C is detected, outputs a left coin signal CSL to a control device174, which will be described later. As can be appreciated, other sensors, such as optical sensors, as known in the coin dispensing industry could be used.

It is preferred that the left guide body162L be formed by molding a transparent plastic resin, since the posture of the coin C lifted therein can be observed for servicing if a coin jam occurs. The columnar left helical body164L is composed by integrally forming a helical left helical projecting line172L on the outer peripheral surface of a columnar left core body168L.

The columnar left helical body164L is inserted into the left guide body162L and is operatively disposed so that the left helical body164L can be rotated about a common axis of the left guide body162L in a state in which an outer periphery of the left helical projecting line172L is in close contact with the inner surface of the left guide body162L.

As shown inFIG. 4(B), a left guide groove170L, which retains the coin C so that the coin C is not rotated integrally with the left guide body162L but can be moved upward, is formed. The left lift driving motor166L is selectively driven or stopped by the control device174, to rotate the left core body168L, therefore, the columnar left helical body164L in a predetermined direction, can move the coins C upwardly along the left helical projecting line172L. Therefore, a coin C put into the left coin inlet118L and passing through the left coin separating device156L is placed on the left helical projecting line172L.

The coin C placed on the left helical projecting line172L is restricted in movement by a left guide groove170L. Accordingly, the coin cannot be moved in a lateral direction with respect to the columnar left helical body164L, but can only move in a vertical direction. Therefore, when the left helical projecting line172L is rotated, the coin C is pushed upward by the left helical projecting line172L because of a predetermined design tilt angle thereof.

When a control device174receives a left coin signal CSL from a controller processor, the control device subjects the left reverse-roller driving motor184L and the left lift driving motor166L to a rotation drive mode of operation. When there are no coins C in the left helical device154L, the left reverse-roller driving motor184L and the left lift driving motor166L are automatically stopped by the control device174.

An interval of the left helical projecting line172L is set to be slightly larger than an interval in which one 500-yen coin having a maximum diameter can be housed, and the coins C are lifted to the side of the left chute158L one by one. The length of the columnar left helical body164L can be gradually set by setting left core bodies168L to have a predetermined length and connecting a predetermined number of the left core bodies in the axial direction to enable them to integrally rotate. SeeFIG. 4(B). In other words, vertical length of the lifting distance can be obtained by setting the number of interconnected left core bodies168L to a predetermined number.

Next, the left coin separating device156L will be explained with reference toFIG. 4(C). The left coin separating device156L has a function of preventing any coin jamming which may be caused if coins C are permitted to be continuously put into the left coin inlet118L and reach an entrance of the left helical device154L in a clustered state. In more detail, the coin separating device has a function of rolling the coins C in a left rolling passage180L without causing the coins to be positioned close to each other in a manner that the circumferential surfaces thereof are in contact with each other. The reason therefor is to lift up the coins C one by one by the left helical projecting line172L.

For example, as shown inFIG. 4(C), the left coin separating device156L is composed of a left rolling passage180L including of a left first fixed wall176L and a left second fixed wall178L, a reverse roller182L, and the left reverse-roller driving motor184L. The left rolling passage180L is a passage tilted from the left inlet118L toward the left helical device154L so that the front thereof is lowered and having the shape of a vertical slit in a cross section, wherein the coin C put into the left inlet118L can be rolled in an upright state on a left guide rail186L constituting the lower surface of the left rolling passage180L.

As shown inFIG. 4(C), the left reverse roller182L has a left large-diameter part188L and a left small-diameter part192L. The left large-diameter part188L can enter the left rolling passage180L from a left opening part181L formed in the left second fixed wall178L, and when the left large-diameter part enters, the distance between the left first fixed wall176L and the left large-diameter part188L is shorter than the thickness of the thinnest coin C. In other words, when the large-diameter part188L is positioned in the left rolling passage180L, the coin C cannot pass therethrough to the side of the left helical device154L.

The left large-diameter part188L of the left reverse roller182L is rotated from the downstream side to the upstream side of the rolling direction of the coin C by the left reverse-roller driving motor184L. The left large-diameter part188L is moved from the side of the left helical device154L to the side of the left coin inlet118L. Therefore, in the left coin passage180L, a coin C positioned in the side that is closed to the left coin inlet118L by the left large-diameter part188L is pushed back to the side of the left coin inlet118L and cannot be rolled to the side of the columnar left helical body164L.

The left reverse roller182L is rotated in coordination with the movement of the left helical projecting line172L wherein they are rotated in coordination so that the coin C at a rear position reaches the left helical projecting line172L after the coin C at a front position is pushed up to a predetermined position by the left helical projecting line172L. The rotation phase of the columnar left helical body164L and the left large-diameter part188L of the left reverse roller182L and the distance between the left reverse roller182L and the left helical device164L are set so that the maximum-diameter coin C rolled through the left rolling passage180L reaches the left helical device154L in the phase in which the coin does not abut the circumferential surface of the left helical projecting line172L.

This is for preventing a defective lifting of coins, which is caused when the coin C is interlocked between the left helical projecting line172L and the left guide body162L, and coin jamming, which is caused when a plurality of coin C are positioned at the left guide groove170L. When the left large-diameter part188L enters the left rolling passage180L, the coin C cannot be rolled toward the side of the left helical projecting line172L and remains in a waiting state. When the left small-diameter part192L is opposed to the left rolling passage180L, the coin C rolls in the left rolling passage180L and start rolling toward the left helical projecting line172L again.

The left reverse-roller driving motor184L is selectively rotated or stopped by the control device174.

Next, the left chute158L will be explained. The left chute158L has a function of guiding the coin C, which has been lifted up by the left helical device154L, to the left receiving opening152L. The left chute158L is a passage having the shape of a vertical slit and is communicated with an upper end part of the left guide groove170L, and the lower wall thereof is composed of a left front-lowered rolling rail194L so that the lifted coin C is rolled toward the left receiving opening152L in an upright state. The coin C, lifted up by the left helical projecting line172L, is rolled to the side of the left chute158L by its weight because of the tilt of the left helical projecting line172L, and the coin C is rolled on the left rolling rail194toward the left receiving opening152L. SeeFIG. 3.

The left coin sorting device142L will be explained with reference toFIG. 5. Since the present embodiment is described for Japanese yen, six denominations from 1 yen to 500 yen are subjected to sorting. If adapted for euro coins, the left coin sorting device142L carries out sorting of eight denominations. However, the device may be configured to receive only the denominations selected in accordance with the needs of the particular application and can reject other denominations to return to the left coin outlet122L.

The left coin sorting device142L, inFIG. 5(A), has a function of detecting the physical properties of the coin C by a left sensor196L to discriminate the genuineness/counterfeit status of a coin and also the denomination of the coin C in a process in which the coin C is put into the left receiving opening152L and rolls through a predetermined left rolling passage190L. The coin is distributed to one of predetermined exits in accordance with the discrimination result in the process of this rolling.

The left 1-yen slot202L and the left 5-yen slot204L are disposed on the lower surface of the left coin sorting device142L. The others, i.e., the left 10-yen slot206L, the left 50-yen slot208L, the left 100-yen slot212L, the 500-yen slot214L, and the left overflow slot216L are disposed on a left lateral surface222L of the mutually-faced lateral surface side. However, the exits of the coins C are not limited thereto, but can be arbitrarily set.

Next, the left return passage144L will be explained. The left return passage144L is a passage having the shape of a slit, in a cross section, which is vertically formed so that the coin C can undergo gravity (including rolling) by its own weight. The dimensions of the slit are formed to accommodate a dimension that enables 500-yen which is the largest coin to undergo gravity.

Next, the left coin passage device146L will be explained with reference toFIG. 3. The left coin passage devices146L have a function of guiding the coins C, which have been distributed to the left denomination-sorted slits202L to214L of the left coin sorting device142L, to respective coin holding devices234corresponding to the denominations, by gravity. The coins C drop (including rolling) through the left coin passage device146L and reach the coin holding devices234.

The left coin passage device146L is, for example, shaped like a trough having a U-shape in cross section, and the coin C can roll therethrough by its own gravity in an upright state. The coins C, which have fallen from the left 1-yen slot202L, the left 5-yen slot204L, the left 10-yen slot206L, the left 50-yen slot208L, the left 100-yen slot212L, the left 500-yen slot214L, and the left overflow slot216L, are rolled through the left coin passage devices146L respectively provided for the denominations and reach the coin holding devices234, which are respectively corresponding to the coin denominations, and a safe or an overflow holding device236.

Next, the left coin outlet122L will be explained. The left coin outlet122L has a function of receiving and holding the coin(s) C, which have been delivered by the left return passage144L or a coin-discharging belt228. The left coin outlet122L is, for example, shaped like a bowl having an open upper face and is disposed so that a base part thereof is fixed to the chassis of the left coin changer128L, but most parts thereof project from a first wall surface112A of the checkout machine104so that the customer can easily remove the coins from the left coin outlet122L.

Next, the common parts134will be explained. The common part134includes the coin holding devices234, a common duct230, a distributing device232, and the coin-discharging belt228which are mutually shared by the individual parts132L and132R.

First, the coin holding devices234will be explained. The coin holding device234has a function of holding the coin C and dividing and dispensing bulk coins in a one by one mode of operation. For example, as shown inFIG. 6, the coin holding device234can be a coin hopper246including a tubular holding bowl237, a rotating dispensing disk240disposed in a bottom hole of the holding bowl237and having coin through holes238, an ejecting device242, and a count sensor244, which detects an ejected coin C.

In detail, as shown inFIG. 7, a 1-yen coin hopper246-1, a 5-yen coin hopper246-5, a 10-yen coin hopper246-10, a 50-yen coin hopper246-50, a 100-yen coin hopper246-100, and a 500-yen coin hopper246-500are provided. The hoppers are disposed at predetermined intervals in parallel so that a second straight line L2orthogonal to the middle of a first straight line L1connecting the mutually-opposed first wall surface112A and second wall surface112B is interposed therebetween.

More specifically, the 1-yen coin hopper246-1, the 5-yen coin hopper246-5, and the 10-yen coin hopper246-10are disposed in a row as a left hopper row248L in the side of the left coin sorting device142L, and the 50-yen coin hopper246-50, the 100-yen coin hopper246-100, and the 500-yen coin hopper246-500are disposed in a row as a right hopper row248R in the side of a right coin sorting device142R. The 1-yen coin hopper246-1to the 500-yen coin hopper246-500are disposed so that the hoppers can be integrally or separately withdrawn from the chassis of the recycling-type coin changer100. This is for maintenance and replacement of the coin hoppers.

The left hopper row248L and the right hopper row248R are set in a manner so that the ejecting devices242are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval so as to dispense the coin C toward the opposed hopper row. Between the left hopper row248L and the right hopper row248R, a box-shaped overflow safe252serving as an overflow holding device236is disposed so that the safe can be detached or withdrawn therefrom. This is for facilitating collection of the coins C in the overflow safe252.

The coin C, which has fallen from the left overflow slot216L, rolls through a left overflow passage250L and reaches the overflow safe252by gravity.

The 1-yen to 500-yen coin C also roll through the left overflow passage250L. Therefore, the passage is designed so as to prevent any stopping of the rolling movement and prevent coin jamming even when any of the coins C roll therethrough.

Next, the common duct230will be explained. The common duct230has a function of guiding the coin C, which have been dispensed from the left hopper row248L or the right hopper row248R, to cause the coins to fall onto the common coin-discharging belt228. The common duct230has a funnel shape. The coin C dispensed from the coin hoppers246-1to246-500slide down the downward slope surface of the common duct230or directly fall to a fall opening251positioned at approximately the center, and the coins are then deposited onto the coin-discharging belt228.

Next, the distributing device232will be explained with reference toFIG. 3andFIG. 8. The distributing device232has a function of guiding a coin C, which has fallen from the fall opening251of the common duct230, in the manner of a slide to the side of the left coin outlet122L or the right coin outlet122R from which the coin is to be dispensed.

The distributing device232includes a distributing plate254, a spring256, an actuator258, a first stopper262, and a second stopper264. The distributing plate154has a shape of a rectangular plate, and a turning shaft266is projecting from an intermediate part thereof along the second straight line L2. The turning shaft266is horizontally and rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) above the coin-discharging belt228.

A lever268laterally extending from the rotation shaft266is fixed, and a spring256having an end latched with a fixed part is latched with the lever268and biases the lever268so that the distributing plate254is rotated in a predetermined direction. In the present embodiment, the lever is biased so that the distributing plate is tilted anticlockwise inFIG. 8, in other words, tilted downward to the side of the left coin outlet122L.

The distributing plate254is stopped by the first stopper262so that the distance between a left end254L thereof and the upper surface of the coin-discharging belt228has a gap smaller than the thickness of the thinnest coin C. The actuator258is actuated in the case in which the coin C is to be conveyed to the right coin outlet122R, and the actuator turns the distributing plate254about the turning shaft266against the biasing force of the spring256. This turning is stopped by the second stopper264so that the distance between a right end254R of the distributing plate254and the upper surface of the coin-discharging belt228has a gap smaller than the thickness of the thinnest coin C. Therefore, when the actuation of the actuator258is stopped, the distributing plate254is turned by the biasing force of the spring256and remains in a wait state in which the plate is stopped by the first stopper262. The actuator258is selectively actuated by the control device174.

Next, the coin-discharging belt228inFIG. 3will be explained. The coin-discharging belt228has a function of selectively conveying a coin C, which has fallen from the common duct230, to the left coin outlet122L or to the right coin outlet122R. The coin-discharging belt228is a flat flexible endless belt suspended between a left roller272L and a right roller272R, which are disposed in the vicinities of the left coin outlet122L and the right coin outlet122R.

A guide roller272G is disposed at the middle of and below an upper belt228U of the coin-discharging belt228so that the center of the upper belt228U is at the vertically highest point. In other words, the upper belt228U is provided in a slight convex shape so that the top part thereof is positioned right below the turning shaft266beneath the common duct230and the coin discharge belt is inclined downward on either side of the guide roller272G.

As seen inFIG. 8, a left belt guide274L and a right belt guide274R having the shape of a plate made from a sheet metal or alternatively a plastic plate, are disposed directly below the upper belt228U, thereby preventing excessive flexure of the upper belt228U. This is for preventing the coin C from being bounced due to any flexure of the upper belt228U, which can disturb a quick money discharge mode of operation by losing control of the coin position.

A forward/reverse rotation motor274is drivably coupled with the right roller272R, and the motor can be selectively rotated forward, reversely rotated, or stopped by the control device174. The motor274is set so that, when the forward/reverse motor274is rotated forward, for example, the upper belt228U is moved toward the left coin outlet122L and that, when rotated reversely, the belt is moved toward the right coin outlet122R. Furthermore, when the actuator258is not actuated, the forward/reverse rotation motor274is rotated forward.

When the coin C falls from the common duct230and slides down on the distributing plate254toward the left coin outlet122L, the upper belt228U of the coin-discharging belt228is moved toward the side of the left coin outlet122L. When the actuator258is actuated inFIG. 8, the distributing plate254is tilted toward the side of the right coin outlet122R, and the coin C, fallen from the common duct230, slides down to the side of the right coin outlet122R, and the upper belt228U is moved toward the side of the right coin outlet122R.

Next, an operation of the present embodiment will be explained. For convenience, the case in which the left-side coin changer128L of the first wall surface112A side is in operation will be explained.

A customer who comes into a self-service gas station102will stop a car at a predetermined position adjacent a gas pump and then puts bills or coin(s) C into the left money inlet114L or the left coin inlet118L of the side of the left-side coin changer128L of the checkout machine104. Then, the customer determines a fueling amount, specifies, for example, “full”, and starts fueling.

When the fuel is full in the car's tank, a price corresponding to the fueling amount is calculated, and the amount of the difference, if any, between the price and the monetary amount put in is then dispensed to the left bill return slot116L or to the left coin outlet122L as change.

First, the case in which the coin C is put into the left coin inlet118L will be explained. When the coin C is put into the left coin inlet118L, the left coin sensor160L detects the coin C and outputs detection signals CSL to the control device174. The control device174outputs drive signals to the left reverse-roller driving motor184L and the left lift electric motor166L. As a result, the left-reverse roller driving motor184L and the left lift electric motor166L start rotating at predetermined speeds in predetermined directions.

Even when a plurality of coins C continuously roll in, after the first coin C passes, the second coin C is pushed back to the side of the left coin inlet118L by the large-diameter part188L by the rotation of the left reverse roller182L. When a small-diameter part192L is opposed to the left rolling passage180L next time, the second coin passes therethrough toward the left helical device154L. Therefore, even when the coins C continuously roll in, a predetermined interval can be provided in terms of time and position.

Therefore, the coins C are retained one by one between the left helical projecting line172L and sequentially lifted up. When the coin C lifted up by the left helical projecting line172L, is opposed to the entrance of the left chute158L, the coin is rolled to the left chute158L by the tilt of the left helical projecting line172L and falls to the left receiving opening152L from an end thereof. The physical properties of the coin C that has fallen to the left receiving opening152L are detected by a left sensor196L during the process in which the coin rolls through the left rolling passage190L, and, based on the detection result, the left coin sorting device142L discriminates the genuineness/counterfeit state and the denomination of the coin C.

When the put-in coin C is discriminated to be counterfeit, the coin is guided to the left return slot198L, and caused to move by gravity through the left return passage144L, and therefore, is returned to the left coin outlet122L.

When the put-in coin C is discriminated to be a genuine coin, the coin is guided to the left 1-yen slot202L, the left 5-yen slot204L, the left 10-yen slot206L, the left 50-yen slot208L, the left 100-yen slot212L, or the left 500-yen slot214L in accordance with the discriminated denomination, rolls through the denomination-sorted left coin passage146L by its own weight, and is held in bulk in the coin hopper246-1,246-5,246-10,246-50,246-100, or246-600corresponding to the denomination.

If the coin hopper corresponding to the denomination is full, the coin is guided to the left overflow slot216L, rolled by its own weight through the left overflow passage250L, and held in the overflow safe252. If the coin C is put into the right coin inlet118R at the same time as the left coin inlet118L, in a manner similar to that described above, the coin is also lifted up by a right lift device138R, the genuineness/counterfeit and denomination of the coins thereof is discriminated by the right coin sorting device142R, and the coin is held in the coin holding device234and returned to the right coin outlet122R via a right return passage144R. In other words, the coins C can be put into the left and right coin inlets118L and118R at the same time and processed independently.

Next, dispensing of change will be explained. First, a command of a dispensing direction is output from the control device174. More specifically, if the coin-discharging direction is the left coin outlet122L, the actuator258is not actuated, and the distributing plate254maintains the current state in which the front thereof is lowered towards the side of the left coin outlet122L as shown inFIG. 8. The forward/reverse rotation motor274is rotated forward, and the upper belt228U is moved toward the left coin outlet122L.

Then, a command for a dispensing number of coins is given from the control device174to the coin hopper(s)246-1to246-500of the corresponding denomination(s). If the change is 666 yen, each of the coin hoppers246-1to246-500is commanded to dispense one coin. Consequently, one coin is dispensed from each of the coin hoppers246-1to246-500by the rotation of the rotating disk240.

The dispensed coins C are detected by the count sensors244of the respective coin hoppers, and the coin hoppers246-1to246-500are stopped based on the detection signals thereof. The coins C dispensed from the coin hoppers246-1to246-500are guided by the common duct230, and fall from the fall opening251onto the distributing plate254, which in turn causes the coins to slide down toward the left coin outlet122L by the tilt thereof, and fall onto the coin-discharging belt228. Since the upper belt228U is moving toward the left coin outlet122L, the coins C that fall onto the coin-discharging belt228are also carried in the same direction and fall into the left coin outlet122L, thereby finishing the dispensing.

If the coins C are to be discharged to the right coin outlet122R, the actuator258is actuated before the dispensing from the coin hoppers246-1to246-500, and the distributing plate254is turned clockwise inFIG. 8and stops at the position shown by a chain line inclined toward the right coin outlet122R shown inFIG. 8. Moreover, the forward/reverse rotation motor274is reversely rotated, and the upper belt228U is moved toward the right coin outlet122R.

Then, the coins C are dispensed one by one from the coin hoppers246-1to246-500by the rotation of the rotating disks240in a manner similar to that described above. The dispensed coins C are detected by the count sensors244of the coin hoppers, and the coin hoppers246-1to246-500are stopped based on the detection signals thereof. The coins C dispensed from the coin hoppers246-1to246-500are guided by the common duct230, fall from the fall opening251onto the distributing plate254, slide down toward the right coin outlet122R by the tilt thereof, and fall onto the coin-discharging belt228. Since the upper belt228U is moving toward the right coin outlet122R, the coins C that have fallen onto the coin-discharging belt228are carried in the same direction and fall into the right coin outlet122R, thereby finishing the dispensing.

Next, the case in which the left-side coin changer128L and the right-side coin changer128R carry out change dispensing processes at the same time will be explained.

The dispensing of change is carried out in the respective order by which change dispensing commands are output from the control device174. For example, in the case in which a change dispensing command is output to the left-side coin changer128L first, the forward/reverse rotation motor274is rotated forward to carry out the process of discharging money to the side of the left coin outlet122L without actuating the actuator258like the above described case.

Immediately after the process of discharging the money to the side of the left coin outlet122L, a change dispensing command can be output to the right-side coin changer128R, and the actuator258is actuated like the above described case. The forward/reverse rotation motor274is reversely rotated, and the process of discharging money to the side of the right coin outlet122R is carried out.

In the case of a timing in which a pair of change dispensing commands are simultaneously output to the left-side coin changer128L and the right-side coin changer128R, the control device174outputs the change dispensing command first to the left-side coin changer128L or the right-side coin changer128R for which an order of priority has been set in advance during a set up of the coins changer unit, thereby dispensing change in that preferred order.

The present automatic checkout machine104can be used in a checkout machine of a parking area, a transportation-charge checkout machine, etc. other than a gas station.

Coins put into left and right coin inlets are put into left and right coin sorting devices, respectively, and the genuineness/counterfeit and the denominations thereof are discriminated, any counterfeit coin is returned to a coin outlet in the left or right side. A genuine coin will naturally roll through a coin passage, which is provided respectively for such coin denomination, and is held by a coin holding device which corresponds to the denomination and is common to the left/right.

Regarding change, the change dispensed from the coin holding devices corresponding to the respective denominations is collected into one fall opening by a common duct, then falls onto a tilted distributing plate, and is delivered to the predetermined coin outlet of the left or right by the movement of a coin-discharging belt.

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.