Coin handling machine

The present invention provides a coin handling machine 11 which can properly and effectively use the capacities of the coin storing units 25. Coins to be transported in the deposit transport unit 22 are recognized by a recognition unit 23, sorted by sorting by a plurality of sorting units 24 using electric driving units according to recognition results, and stored in coin storing units 25 of a plurality of stackers 26. Each stacker 26 is provided with two coin storing units 25 with different capacities. To coins with a large diameter or thickness or coins of a sort the handling amount of which is large, a coin storing unit 25 with a large capacity is assigned to prevent capacity shortage. To coins with a small diameter or thickness or coins of a sort the handling amount of which is small, a coin storing unit 25 with a small capacity is assigned to prevent the capacity from becoming excessive. The capacities of the coin storing units 25 can be properly and effectively used.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a coin handling machine which sorts and stores coins.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, for example, to accurately and quickly deliver customers cash and receive them at a store, coin handling machines such as automatic change dispensers which are electrically connected to POS registers and capable of automatically depositing and dispensing coins have been developed.

In this coin handling machine, a coin inlet into which coins are input is provided on the front side upper portion of the machine body, and a coin dispensing outlet for dispensing coins is provided on the front face of the machine body.

A feeding unit which feeds input coins one by one is provided on the bottom portion of the coin inlet, and a deposit transport unit which transports coins in succession to the feeding unit is provided. The deposit transport unit is provided with a recognition unit which recognizes coins to be fed, and a plurality of sorting units which sort fed coins by denomination according to the results of recognition by the recognition units along the sorting path region of the deposit transport unit toward the rear side of the machine body. The sorting units are enabled to sort coins by gates which are driven by a solenoid.

Below the sorting path region of the deposit transport unit, a plurality of coin storing units which store coins sorted by denomination by the plurality of sorting units are juxtaposed along the front-rear direction of the machine body. These coin storing units can eject stored coins one by one.

On the lateral portion of the plurality of coin storing units, a dispensing transport unit which transports and dispenses coins ejected from the coin storing units to the coin dispensing outlet is provided (for example, refer to patent document 1).

The plurality of coin storing units have the same width and the same capacity for storing coins.

The plurality of coin storing units are formed by dividing the interior of an integral-type stacker into a plurality of sections. Therefore, when any one of the coin storing units has a problem, the whole integral-type stacker is detached. To detach this integral-type stacker, the components of the inlet and the feeding unit on the front side of the stacker are detached and the deposit transport unit at the upper side of the stacker is detached and the stacker is exposed upward to pull out the whole integral-type stacker upward.

The positional relationships of denominations to be stored in the plurality of coin storing units can be changed. In this case, denominations to be sorted by the sorting units are changed and set, and coins stored in the coin storing units before being changed are all taken out so as to prevent denominations before and after being changed from mixing.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

The diameters and thicknesses of coins to be stored in the coin storing units of the stacker and the handling amounts of coin denominations are various.

If the capacities of the coin storing units of the stacker are the same as in the conventional cases, when storing coins with a large diameter or thickness or coins of a sort the handling amount of which is large, the coin storing unit easily becomes full and the capacity may be short, and on the other hand, when storing coins with a small diameter or thickness or coins of a sort the handling amount of which is small, the capacity of the coin storing unit becomes excessive.

For storing coins with a large diameter or thickness or coins of a sort the handling amount of which is large, all coin storing units must have large capacities, however, this increases the size of the machine.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a coin handling machine which can properly and effectively use the capacities of the coin storing units without an increase in the size of the machine.

Means to Solve the Problems

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: a deposit transport unit which transports coins; a recognition unit which recognizes coins to be transported by the deposit transport unit; a plurality of sorting units provided along the deposit transport unit and having electric driving units, which sort coins being transported by the deposit transport unit according to results of recognition by the recognition unit; and a plurality of stackers each of which has two or more coin storing units for storing coins sorted by the sorting units corresponding to the sorting units, where the capacities of the coin storing units are different from each other.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: a stacker housing unit which houses the plurality of stackers, and the plurality of stackers have the same lateral width and are individually attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: an attaching unit which makes the stackers attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit, and positions receiving ports for receiving coins in the coin storing units in a state where the stackers are attached corresponding to the sorting units.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: a setting unit which sets correspondences between the sorting units and coin sorting denominations; a memory unit which stores the correspondences between the sorting units and the coin sorting denominations set by the setting unit; and a control unit which makes the sorting units sort coins transported by the transport unit according to results of recognition by the recognition unit based on the correspondences between the sorting units and the coin sorting denominations stored in the memory unit.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: a plurality of stackers each of which has two or more coin storing units with coin storing capacities different from each other, and ejection mechanisms which allow coins stored in the respective coin storing units to be ejected; and a dispensing transport unit which receives and transports coins ejected from the coin storing units of the stackers.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: a stacker housing unit which houses the plurality of stackers, and the plurality of stackers have the same lateral width, and are individually attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: a deposit transport unit which transports coins; a recognition unit which recognizes coins to be transported by the deposit transport unit; a plurality of sorting units provided along the deposit transport unit and having electric driving units, which sort coins being transported by the deposit transporting unit corresponding to the coin storing units of the stackers according to results of recognition by the recognition unit; and an attaching unit which enables the stackers to be detachably attached to the stacker housing unit, and positions receiving ports for receiving coins of the coin storing units in a state where the stackers are attached corresponding to the sorting units.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: a setting unit which sets correspondences between the sorting units and coin sorting denominations; a memory unit which stores the correspondences between the sorting units and the coin sorting denominations set by the setting unit; and a control unit which makes the sorting units sort coins being transported by the deposit transporting unit according to results of recognition by the recognition unit based on the correspondences between the sorting units and the coin sorting denominations stored in the memory unit.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: a deposit transport unit which transports coins; a recognition unit which recognizes coins to be transported by the deposit transport unit; a plurality of sorting units provided along the deposit transport unit and having electric driving units, which sort coins being transported by the deposit transport unit according to results of recognition by the recognition unit; and a plurality of stackers which have coin storing units for storing coins sorted by the sorting units corresponding to the sorting units, where the coin storing units have capacities different from each other.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: a stacker housing unit which houses the plurality of stackers, and the plurality of stackers are individually attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: an attaching unit which makes the stackers attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit, and positions receiving ports for receiving coins of the coin storing units corresponding to the sorting units in the state where the stackers are attached.

A coin handling machine of the present invention includes: a setting unit which sets correspondences between the sorting units and coin sorting denominations; a memory unit which stores the correspondences between the sorting units and the coin sorting denominations set by the setting unit; and a control unit which makes the sorting units sort coins being transported by the deposit transport unit according to results of recognition by the recognition unit based on the correspondences between the sorting units and the coin sorting denominations stored in the memory unit.

Effects of the Invention

With a coin handling machine of the present invention, the capacities of the two or more coin storing units of each of the plurality of stackers are made different from each other and coins sorted by the plurality of sorting units using the electric driving units are stored in the coin storing units of the stackers, so that the capacities of the coin storing units can be set so as to correspond to the diameters and thicknesses of the coins or the handling amounts of the coin denominations, so that the capacities of the coin storing units can be properly and effectively used without an increase in the size of the machine.

With the coin handling machine of the present invention, the plurality of stackers have the same width and are individually attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit, so that the positions of the stackers can be arbitrarily changed.

With the coin handling machine of the present invention, in the state where the stackers attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit are attached, receiving ports for receiving coins of the coin storing units of the stackers are positioned corresponding to the sorting units by an attaching unit.

With the coin handling machine of the present invention, the coin handling machine includes: a setting unit which sets correspondences between the sorting units and coin sorting denominations; a memory unit which stores the correspondences between the sorting units and the coin sorting denominations set by the setting unit; and a control unit which makes the sorting units sort coins transported by the transport unit according to results of recognition by the recognition unit based on the correspondences between the sorting units and the coin sorting denominations stored in the memory unit.

With a coin handling machine of the present invention, the capacities of the two or more coin storing units of the plurality of stackers are made different from each other, so that the capacities of the coin storing units can be set so as to correspond to the diameters and thicknesses of the coins or the handling amounts of the coin denominations, so that the capacities of the coin storing units can be properly and effectively used without an increase in the size of the machine.

With the coin handling machine of the present invention, the plurality of stackers have the same width and are individually attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit, so that the positions of the stackers can be arbitrarily changed.

With the coin handling machine of the present invention, in the state where the stackers attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit are attached, receiving ports for receiving coins of the coin storing units of the stackers are positioned corresponding to the sorting units by the attaching unit.

With the coin handling machine of the present invention, correspondences between the sorting units and coin sorting denominations are set by the setting unit, and by changing the positions of the stackers, the positional relationship between the sorting units and stackers and the coin sorting denominations can be easily changed without taking out coins stored in the coin storing units of the stackers.

With a coin handling machine of the present invention, the capacities of the coin storing units of the plurality of stackers are made different from each other and coins sorted by the plurality of sorting units using the electric driving units are stored in the coin storing units of the stackers, so that the capacities of the coin storing units can be set so as to correspond to the diameters and thicknesses of the coins or the handling amounts of the coin denominations, so that the capacities of the coin storing units can be properly and effectively used without an increase in the size of the machine.

With the coin handling machine of the present invention, the plurality of stackers are individually attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit, so that the positions of the stackers can be arbitrarily changed.

With the coin handling machine of the present invention, in the state where the stackers attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit are attached, receiving ports for receiving coins of the coin storing units of the stackers can be positioned corresponding to the sorting units by the attaching unit.

With the coin handling machine of the present invention, correspondences between the sorting units and coin sorting denominations are set by the setting unit, and by changing the positions of the stackers, the positional relationships between the sorting units and stackers and the coin sorting denominations can be easily changed without taking out coins stored in the coin storing units of the stackers.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A first embodiment is shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 11.

FIG. 9is a perspective view of a coin handling machine11. This coin handling machine11is electrically connected to, for example, a POS register, and can be used as an automatic change dispenser capable of automatically depositing and dispensing coins.

The machine body12of the coin handling machine11includes a frame body13having a front face opened and a main body unit14capable of being drawn out from the front face of the frame body13.

A coin inlet15into which coins are input is formed on the upper face of the main body unit14. On the front face right side of the main body unit14, a coin dispensing outlet16from which coins are dispensed from the inside of the machine body12is formed, and on the front face left side of the main body unit14, a reject port17to which coins unacceptable into the machine body12are returned is formed.

Next, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the main body unit14includes a feeding unit21which receives coins (shown by the reference symbol C in the figures) input from the coin inlet15and feeds the coins one by one, a deposit transport unit22which transports coins fed from the feeding unit21from the front side to the rear side at the left side upper portion of the main body unit14, a recognition unit23which recognizes coins to be transported by the deposit transport unit22, a plurality of sorting units24which sort coins being transported by the deposit transport unit22by sorting according to results of recognition by the recognition unit23, a plurality of stackers26having coin storing units25which are disposed in order from the front side to the rear side of the machine body12and allow coins sorted by the sorting units24to be ejected one by one rightward of the main body unit14, and a dispensing transport unit27which is disposed at the right side lower portion of the machine body12and transports coins ejected from the coin storing units25to the coin dispensing outlet16positioned ahead.

The feeding unit21includes a rotary disk30which rotates around a rotation axis at a position inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction, a hopper31which pools coins not aligned between the hopper and the surface of the rotary disk30, and a delivery disk32which delivers coins one by one from the upper portion of the rotary disk30to the deposit transport unit22.

The rotary disk30is inclined so that the left side becomes higher and the right side becomes lower as viewed from the front face of the machine body12, and is rotated by driving of a motor in a feeding rotating direction (counterclockwise inFIG. 1andFIG. 2) to feed coins to the deposit transport unit22. On the surface of the rotary disk30, a plurality of picking-up members33projecting from the surface of the rotary disk30are disposed at predetermined pitches along the circumferential direction. When the rotary disk30rotates in the feeding rotating direction, the picking-up members33hold and pick up the coins one by one to the upper region on the rotary disk30.

The delivery disk32is arranged to deliver the coins picked up to the upper region on the rotary disk30by the picking-up members33to the deposit transport unit22one by one.

Next, the deposit transport unit22includes a deposit transport path36formed from the front side to the rear side at the left side upper portion of the main body unit14. This deposit transport path36is flush with the surface of the rotary disk30and is inclined so that the left side becomes higher and the right side becomes lower as viewed from the front face of the machine body12similar to the inclination of the rotary disk30.

Along the deposit transport path36, a deposit transporting belt38is disposed by pulleys37disposed at the start end portion and the terminal end portion of the deposit transport path36. The deposit transporting belt38rotates in the transporting direction to transport coins from the start end to the terminal end of the deposit transport path36by driving the pulleys37by motors. On the surface of the deposit transporting belt38opposed to the path surface of the deposit transport path36, projections not shown which push and transport coins one by one are provided so as to project at predetermined pitches along the belt longitudinal direction.

The rotation of the deposit transporting belt38and coin feeding by the rotary disk32and the delivery disk30of the feeding unit21are interlocked with each other, and coins fed from the feeding unit21are received one by one between projections adjacent to each other of the deposit transporting belt38.

In the deposit transport path36, the recognition unit23and the plurality of sorting units24are disposed in order along the transporting direction from the front side to the rear side.

Next, the recognition unit23detects materials and diameters, etc., of coins to be transported in the deposit transport path36, and recognizes whether the coins are acceptable into the machine body12and denominations, etc., of acceptable coins.

Next, among the plurality of sorting units24, a sorting unit24positioned at a sorting position on the most upstream side in the transporting direction of the deposit transport path36is a rejected coin sorting unit24which sorts coins unacceptable into the machine body12, and the sorting units24at a plurality of sorting positions on the more transportation downstream side are denomination-specific sorting units24which sort coins acceptable into the machine body12, and all sorting units are formed to have the same structure.

In each sorting unit24, a sorting hole41enabling coins to be sorted is formed on the path surface of the deposit transport path36, and a gate42which opens and closes the sorting hole41is disposed. This gate42allows coins being transported in the deposit transport path36to pass through when the gate42is at a coin passing position at which the gate42closes the sorting hole41, and sorts coins being transported in the deposit transport path36into the sorting hole41when the gate42is at a coin sorting position at which the gate42opens the sorting hole41. The gate42is forcibly switched between the coin passing position and the coin sorting position by electric driving units43(refer toFIG. 10) such as solenoids or motors.

Coins sorted by the rejected coin sorting unit24are guided to a reject port17by a chute not shown. Coins sorted by the denomination-specific sorting units24are stored in the coin storing units25disposed corresponding to the sorting units24below the sorting units24.

Next, the stackers26are arranged in the front-rear direction inside a stacker housing unit46formed in the region below the deposit transport unit22of the main body unit14. As shown inFIG. 5, the stacker housing unit46has an attaching and detaching port47opened in the left side face as one side face of the main body unit14, and the stackers26are individually attachable and detachable via the attaching and detaching port47.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 5, on each stacker26, a storing frame50forming two coin storing units25is formed on the upper portion, and on the lower portion, ejection mechanisms51which eject coins one by one from the coin storing units25are disposed.

In the storing frame50of the stacker26, a partitioning member52which partitions the interior of the storing frame50into two is formed, and by this partitioning member52, two coin storing units25which store coins not aligned are formed. On the upper surfaces of the coin storing units25, receiving ports53which receive coins sorted by the sorting units24of the deposit transport units22positioned above the coin storing units25are formed.

In the present embodiment, four stackers26are used, and the lateral widths W of all stackers26are formed to be equal to each other. As lateral widths of the coin storing units25of the stackers26, three widths including a lateral width W1for a small capacity (for coins with a small diameter and small thickness), a lateral width W2for a medium capacity (for coins with a medium diameter and medium thickness), and a lateral width W3for a large capacity (for coins with a large diameter and large thickness) are set, and these satisfy the relationship of W1<W2<W3. As kinds of the stackers26, two kinds of stackers including a stacker26which includes a coin storing unit25with a lateral width W1for a small capacity and a coin storing unit25with a lateral width W3for a large capacity, where the capacities of the two coin storing units25are different from each other, and a stacker26which includes two coin storing units25with a lateral width W2for a medium capacity, where the capacities of the two coin storing units25are the same, are used. The coin storing units25with these capacities are assigned by considering the coin diameters and thicknesses or assigned corresponding to handling amounts of coin denominations. For example, to coins with a large diameter or a large thickness or a coin denomination the handling amount of which is large, the coin storing unit25having a wide lateral width W3and a large capacity is assigned, and to coins with a small diameter or a small thickness or a coin denomination the handling amount of which is small, the coin storing unit25with a narrow lateral width W1and a small capacity is assigned, and to coins with a medium diameter or a medium thickness or a coin denomination the handling amount of which is neither large nor small, the coin storing unit25with a medium lateral width W2and a medium capacity is assigned.

In the stacker housing unit46, four stacker housing positions at which the four stackers26can be housed are provided.

The stackers26are detachably attached to the stacker housing positions of the stacker housing unit46by the same attaching unit. The attaching unit is not shown, and for example, rails are disposed along the attaching and detaching directions of the stackers26at the stacker housing positions of the stacker housing unit46, groove portions which slidably engage with the rails are formed on the stackers26, and by engaging the groove portions of the stackers26with the rails, the positions of the stackers26in the front-rear direction of the stacker housing unit46are determined, and by sliding the stackers26along the rails, the stackers can be attached to or detached from the stacker housing unit46. The relationship between the rail and the groove portion may be reversed, and the attaching structure is not limited to the rail and the groove portion, and other structures may be used.

When each stacker26is housed at any stacker housing position of the stacker housing unit46, the position of each sorting unit24of the deposit transport unit22positioned above the stacker housing unit46and the position of the receiving port53of each coin storing unit25of each stacker26are matched with each other by the attaching unit, and coins sorted by each sorting unit24can be received into each coin storing unit25.

The ejection mechanism51of the stacker26includes an eject belt57disposed on the bottom portion of the coin storing unit25of the storing frame50, and coins in the coin storing unit25are supported on the upper surface of the eject belt57, and coins in the coin storing unit25are ejected to the dispensing transport unit27by rotation of the eject belt57. On the right side surface of the ejection mechanism51opposed to the dispensing transport unit27, a coin eject port58for ejecting coins in the coin storing unit25by the eject belt57is formed.

Near the inside of the coin eject port58above the eject belt57, a reverse roller59which restricts coins ejected by the eject belt57one by one by rotating in a direction opposite to the transporting direction of the eject belt57is disposed. At a position closer to the coin eject port58than the reverse roller59, a stopper mechanism60enabling restriction of coin ejection and a sensor61which counts the number of coins ejected from the coin eject port58are disposed.

Next, the dispensing transport unit27includes a dispensing transporting belt not shown disposed along the front-rear direction of the main body unit14, and places coins ejected from the coin eject ports58of the plurality of coin storing units25on the dispensing transporting belt and transports the coins to the coin dispensing outlet16ahead.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 6toFIG. 8, on the left side face of the main body unit14, a plate65to which a substrate64is attached as a component is disposed. This plate65is attached to the main body unit14rotatably by using the upper portion as a pivot, and as shown inFIG. 6, in the state where the plate65is disposed along the left side face of the main body unit14, the substrate64and the plate65cover the attaching and detaching port47of the stacker housing unit46, however, as shown inFIG. 7andFIG. 8, by opening the plate65by rotatably moving it upward, the substrate64and the plate65withdraw from the attaching and detaching port47of the stacker housing unit46and enable attachment and detachment of the stackers26. The substrate64and the main body unit14are connected by a flexible substrate.

Next,FIG. 10is a block diagram of a coin handling machine11, and the reference numeral71denotes a control unit which controls the whole coin handling machine11. This control unit71is provided on the substrate64.

Into the control unit71, signals are input from the recognition unit23and a sensor group72including various sensors for detecting coins at the respective positions inside the coin handling machine11. The control unit71controls the feeding unit21, the deposit transport unit22, the sorting units24, the ejection mechanisms51and the stopper mechanisms60of the stackers, and the dispensing transport unit27, etc.

The control unit71includes a memory unit73which stores correspondences between the sorting units24and coin sorting denominations, and has a function to make the sorting units24sort coins being transported by the deposit transport unit22according to results of recognition by the recognition unit23based on the correspondences between the sorting units24and the coin sorting denominations stored in this memory unit73.

The control unit71includes a setting unit74which sets correspondences between the sorting units24and the coin sorting denominations. This setting unit74may individually set coin sorting denominations for the sorting units24, or when several patterns of correspondences between the sorting units24and the coin sorting denominations have already been registered in the memory unit73, the setting unit74selects and sets a pattern, and in this case, the correspondences between the plurality of sorting units24and the coin sorting denominations can be easily set. Alternatively, information on sorts to be stored in the coin storing units25of the stackers26is provided by an IC tag, etc., and the information on the sorts to be stored in the coin storing units25of the stackers26is read by the main body unit14housing the stackers26, and the correspondences between the sorting units24and the coin sorting denominations are automatically set.

Next, operation of the coin handling machine11of the present embodiment will be described.

First, a depositing operation will be described.

Coins input into the coin inlet15are received in the feeding unit21. In the feeding unit21, in response to start of a depositing operation, the rotary disk30and the delivery disk32rotate, and coins are picked up one by one by picking-up members33projecting from the surface of the rotary disk30, and fed one by one to the deposit transport path36of the deposit transport unit22by the delivery disk32.

In the deposit transport unit22, the deposit transporting belt38rotates, and coins fed one by one from the feeding unit21into the deposit transport path36are transported while being pushed by the projections of the deposit transporting belt38.

Coins to be transported in the deposit transport path36are recognized by the recognition unit23.

As a result of recognition by the recognition unit23, when a coin is unacceptable into the machine body12, that is, a rejected coin, the rejected coin is sorted from the deposit transport path36by the rejected coin sorting unit24positioned on the most upstream side in the transporting direction of the deposit transport path36and returned to the reject port17.

As a result of recognition by the recognition unit23, when a coin is a normal coin acceptable into the machine body12, the coin is transported to the position of the sorting unit24of the corresponding sort set in advance and sorted from the deposit transport path36to the coin storing unit25.

The coins sorted by the denomination-specific sorting units24drop from the receiving ports53of the coin storing units25of the corresponding sorts into the coin storing units25, and are stored on the eject belts57or on coins which have already been stored.

When no coin is recognized by the recognition unit23for a predetermined time, it is judged that handling of coins input into the coin inlet15has been completed, and driving of the feeding unit21and the deposit transport unit22is stopped and the depositing operation is ended.

Next, a dispensing operation will be described.

For example, in response to a signal of a dispensing command from the POS register, in the coin storing unit25storing coins of the corresponding sort to be dispensed, by rotating the eject belt57and rotating the reverse roller59reversely, the coins not aligned on the eject belt57are ejected one by one from the coin eject port58. Based on detection by the sensor61, when the number of ejected coins of the corresponding sort reaches the number of coins to be dispensed, ejection of the coins is forcibly stopped by the stopper mechanism60.

The coins ejected from the coin eject port58of the coin storing unit25are dispensed to the coin dispensing outlet16by the dispensing transport unit27.

In this coin handling machine11, stackers26each having two coin storing units25the capacities of which are different from each other are used, and coins sorted by the plurality of sorting units24using the electric driving units43are stored in the coin storing units25of the stackers26, and therefore, the coin storing units25can be freely set according to the diameters and thicknesses of coins and handling amounts of coin denominations, so that the capacities of the coin storing units25can be properly and effectively used without an increase in the size of the machine.

Specifically, to coins with a large diameter or thickness or coins of a sort the handling amount of which is large, a coin storing unit25with a wide lateral width W3and a large capacity is assigned, and accordingly, capacity shortage can be prevented from occurring, and on the other hand, to coins with a small diameter or thickness or coins of a sort the handling amount of which is small, a coin storing unit25with a narrow lateral width W1and a small capacity is assigned, and accordingly, the capacity can be prevented from becoming excessive. Therefore, without increasing the capacities and sizes of all coin storing units according to coins with a large diameter or thickness or coins of a sort the handling amount of which is large and increasing the size of the machine, the capacities of the coin storing units25can be properly and effectively used.

The sorting units24sort coins by using electric driving units43, so that the coin denominations to be sorted by the sorting units24can be freely set and changed.

For example, by setting coins of a sort the handling amount of which is large to the sorting unit24and the coin storing unit25close to the front side of the main body unit14, the transporting distance for depositing and dispensing the coins can be shortened, the handling time can be shortened, and the rate of incidence of transportation abnormality can be reduced.

To change the coin denominations to be sorted by the sorting units24, the correspondences between the sorting units24and the coin sorting denominations are set by the setting unit74, and the positions of the stackers26are changed so that the stackers26are exchanged with each other and the coin storing units25of the stackers26after being exchanged correspond to the changed coin sorting denominations of the sorting units24, or according to the circumstances, the stackers are replaced with other stackers26.

To exchange the stackers26with each other, first, the main body unit14is drawn out from the frame body13. In the state where the main body unit14is drawn out, the deposit transport unit22is positioned above the stacker housing unit46, the dispensing transport unit27is positioned on the right of the stacker housing unit46, and the substrate64and the plate65are positioned so as to cover the left side of the stacker housing unit46, that is, cover the attaching and detaching port47as shown inFIG. 6. Without removing the deposit transport unit22and the dispensing transport unit27, as shown inFIG. 7andFIG. 8, the substrate64and the plate65are rotatably moved upward and withdrawn, and the attaching and detaching port47of the stacker housing unit46is exposed, and accordingly, the stackers26to be exchanged are individually drawn out from the stacker housing positions of the stacker housing unit46, and the stackers26to be exchanged are inserted and housed in the vacant stacker housing positions of the stacker housing unit46.

At this time, all stackers26have the same width, and are individually attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit46, so that stackers26which do not need to be changed are left as they are, and only stackers26which need to be changed are detached and attached, so that the workability is excellent.

Even when the positions of the stackers26are changed, by changing the correspondences between the stackers26and the sorting units24concurrently, the coins do not need to be taken out and the stackers26can be moved while storing coins in the coin storing units25, so that the workability is high.

Further, the stackers26are detachably attached to the stacker housing positions of the stacker housing unit46by the same attaching unit. For example, at the stacker housing positions of the stacker housing unit46, rails are disposed along the attaching and detaching direction of the stackers26, and on the stackers26, groove portions which slidably engage with the rails are formed. Therefore, when each stacker26is housed at any stacker housing position of the stacker housing unit46, the position of each sorting unit24of the deposit transport unit22positioned above the stacker housing unit46and the position of the receiving port53of each coin storing unit25of each stacker26are matched with each other by the attaching unit, and coins sorted by each sorting unit24can be received in each coin storing unit25.

By thus setting the correspondences between the sorting units24and the coin sorting denominations by the setting unit74and changing the positions of the stackers26, the positional relationship between the sorting units24and stackers26and the coin sorting denominations can be easily changed without taking out coins being stored in the coin storing units25of the stackers26.

Usually, the substrate64is disposed on the side of the attaching and detaching port47of the stacker housing unit46which the stackers26are attached to and detached from, and the limited space inside the machine body12can be effectively used. When attaching or detaching the stackers26, the substrate64is rotatably moved and withdrawn together with the plate65, and the stackers26can be attached to or detached from the stacker housing unit46.

As a configuration for withdrawing the substrate64, without limiting to rotatable movement of the plate65, the plate65may be slid with respect to the main body unit14or the plate65may be removed from the main body unit14.

For example, the substrate64may be disposed on the upper face of the main body unit14so that nothing is disposed on the side of the attaching and detaching port47of the stacker housing unit46.

The number of coin storing units25of the stacker26is not limited to two as long as the sorting units24of the deposit transport unit22and the coin storing units25correspond to each other, for example, three coin storing units25with a lateral width for a small capacity may be used, or three in total including one coin storing unit25with a lateral width for a medium capacity and two coin storing units25with a lateral width for a small capacity may be used.

Further, an operation using stackers26becomes possible because the stackers26are easily attached/detached and moved. For example, at the close of business, operations such as replacement with stackers26storing coins of denominations and amounts (for example, change fund) necessary for the next day, or replacement with empty stackers26and collection of all coins that have already been received are easily performed.

Further, an operation is easily realized in which stackers26are attachable and detachable, and by providing covers in an opening and closing manner so as to prevent coins from being taken out from the taken-out stackers26and attaching keys to lock the covers being closed, the taken-out stackers26are directly delivered to a person in charge of a company taking charge of cash-sending and sent to a bank.

The stackers26each of which is provided with two coin storing units25are used, however, stackers26each of which is provided with one coin storing unit25may be used as in the second embodiment ofFIG. 11.

These stackers26are of different types different in capacity from each other. Specifically, there are three kinds of stackers26including a stacker26provided with a coin storing unit25with a lateral width W11for a small capacity (for coins with a small diameter and small thickness), a stacker26provided with a coin storing unit25with a lateral width W12for a medium capacity (for coins with a medium diameter and medium thickness), and a stacker26provided with a coin storing unit25with a lateral width W13for a large capacity (for coins with a large diameter and large thickness), and the relationship of W11<W12<W13is satisfied.

The second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except for the configuration of the stackers26.

Thus, even when stackers26each of which includes one coin storing unit25and coin storing units of different kinds with capacities different from each other are used, the coin storing units25with capacities corresponding to the diameters and thicknesses of coins or handling amounts of coin denominations can be set, and the capacities of the coin storing units25can be properly and effectively used without an increase in the size of the machine.

To change the coin denominations to be sorted by the sorting units24, the correspondences between the sorting units24and the coin sorting denominations are set by the setting unit74, and the positions of the stackers26are changed so that the stackers26are exchanged with each other and the coin storing units25of the stackers26after being exchanged correspond to the changed coin storing sorts of the sorting units24.

In this case, the stackers26are individually attachable to and detachable from the stacker housing unit46, so that stackers26which do not need to be changed are left as they are, and only stackers26which need to be changed are detached and attached, so that the workability is excellent. Moreover, when the positions of the stackers26are changed, it is unnecessary to take out coins in the coin storing units25of the stackers26, so that the stackers26can be moved while the coins are stored in the coin storing units25, so that the workability is excellent.

The lateral widths are different among the kinds of the stackers26, however, even when each stacker26is housed at any position of the stacker housing unit46, coins sorted by each sorting unit24can be received in the coin storing units25of each stacker26by setting a positional relationship in which the coin storing units25of each stacker26are positioned below each sorting unit24of the deposit transport unit22positioned above the stacker housing unit46.

The method for attaching and detaching the stackers26is not limited to the method in which the stackers26are attached or detached by drawing out the main body unit14from the frame body13, and a door is provided in an opening and closing manner on the left side surface of the frame body13and the stackers26are attached or detached by opening the door, or an opening to which the stackers26are exposed is provided on the left side surface of the frame body13and the stackers26are directly attached or detached from this opening. Further, without limiting to attachment and detachment sideward of the stackers26from the left side face of the main body unit14, depending on the mechanism of the main body unit14, the stackers26may be attached or detached from, for example, the upper face or back face of the main body unit14.

The stacker26is not limited to a form in which the coin storing unit25and the ejection mechanism51are integrally provided, and the stacker26may have only the coin storing unit25and the ejection mechanism51may be provided on the main body unit14.

The kinds of the stackers26or the coin storing units25are made recognizable by being color-coded. For example, all coin storing units25are color-coded, or the coin storing units25are color-coded based on the small, medium, and large capacities. By associating the colors and kinds of the coin storing units25with each other, they are easily managed.

This configuration of the stackers26can be applied not only to a coin handling machine having depositing and dispensing functions but also to a depositing machine having only a depositing function and a dispensing machine having only a dispensing function. In the case of a dispensing machine, the machine includes, in addition to the dispensing transport unit27, as a supplementing function for sorting and supplementing supplementary coins by denomination to the coin storing units25of the stackers26, the deposit transport unit22, the recognition unit23, and the sorting units24, etc.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to automatic change dispensers connected to POS registers, coin depositing and dispensing machines which deposit and dispense coins, coin depositing machines which deposit coins, and coin dispensing machines which dispense coins, etc.