Abstract:
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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2010-112633 filed on May 14, 2010. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    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. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    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. 
         [0008]    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 
       [0009]    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. 
         [0010]    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. 
         [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    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. 
         [0013]    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. 
         [0014]    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. 
         [0015]    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. 
         [0016]    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. 
         [0017]    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. 
         [0018]    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. 
         [0019]    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. 
         [0020]    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. 
         [0021]    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. 
         [0022]    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. 
         [0023]    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. 
         [0024]    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. 
         [0025]    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. 
         [0026]    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. 
         [0027]    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. 
         [0028]    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. 
         [0029]    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. 
         [0030]    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. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0032]      FIG. 1  is a partial plan view of a self-service gas station in which a recycling-type coin changer of an embodiment of the present invention is installed on an island kiosk. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a checkout machine in which the recycling-type coin changer of the embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the recycling-type coin changer of the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4  shows a lift device used in the recycling-type coin changer of the embodiment of the present invention, wherein  FIG. 4(A)  is a front view,  FIG. 4(B)  is a B-B line cross sectional view, and  FIG. 4(C)  is a C-C line cross sectional view. 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  shows a coin sorting device used in the recycling-type coin changer of the embodiment of the resent invention, wherein  FIG. 5(A)  is a front view,  FIG. 5(B)  is a right lateral view, and FIG. (C) is a bottom view. 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a coin holding device used in the recycling-type coin changer of the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the coin holding device and a coin-discharging belt of the recycling-type coin changer of the embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a schematic block view of a distributing device used in the recycling-type coin changer of the embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention which set forth the best modes contemplated to carry out the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention. 
         [0041]    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. 
         [0042]    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. 
         [0043]    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. 
         [0044]    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. 
         [0045]    An example of a present embodiment is seen schematically in  FIG. 1  where a recycling-type coin changer  100  according to the present invention is used as an automatic checkout machine  104  in a self-service gas station  102  with cars and users symbolically shown adjacent a median strip representing the respective car lanes to access gasoline pumps. 
         [0046]    In an elliptical island  106  of the self-service gas station  102 , a fueling machine  108  and the automatic checkout machine  104  are installed in a state in which they are adjacent to each other. 
         [0047]    The automatic checkout machine  104  can be adapted for Japanese yen. Therefore, the processing target coin of a recycling-type coin changer  100  are coins of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen, respectively, that can be used to purchase gasoline. 
         [0048]    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. 
         [0049]    The fueling machine  108  and the automatic checkout machine  104  are configured so that the machines can be operated on both sides of the island  106  and can be electronically interconnected to match the dispensing of a fixed value of gasoline of a particular grade. More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 7 , in the automatic checkout machine  104 , separate coin inlets are disposed on each of a mutually-opposed first wall surface  112 A and a second wall surface  112 B of a box-shaped chassis  112  that can provide security to retained money. 
         [0050]    The first wall surface  112 A and the second wall surface  112 B have the same construction. Therefore, only the left-side first wall surface  112 A is explained in detail as an example with reference to  FIG. 2 . A combination of a left bill inlet  114 L and a left bill return slot  116 L are disposed so that they are above/below each other, and a left coin inlet  118 L, a left coin outlet  122 L, and a reader/writer  124 L for credit cards, electronic money, or the like are also disposed on the exterior of the chassis  12  adjacent the gas pump. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a side view of the user interface for just the left hand side is shown. The left bill inlet  114 L and the left bill return slot  116 L are positioned on a recycling-type bill processing machine  126  incorporated in the automatic checkout machine  104  and are projecting to the outside of the first wall surface (outer surface)  112 A. Note the second wall surface (outer surface)  112 B of the automatic checkout machine  104  would have equivalent structure. 
         [0052]    The coin inlet  118 L and the coin outlet  122 L are positioned on a recycling-type coin changer  100  incorporated into the automatic checkout machine  104  and are located on the outside of the first wall surface  112 A and equivalent structure is provided on the second wall surface  112 B of the housing of the automatic checkout machine  104 . 
         [0053]    Next, the recycling-type coin changer  100  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 8 . The recycling-type coin changer  100  is disposed in the box-shaped chassis  112  and installed so that the lower end  100 U thereof is approximately 1 meter or more above the surface of the island. 
         [0054]    As a matter of convenience for explanation, the side of the first wall surface  112 A is explained as a left-side coin changer  128 L, and the side of the second wall surface  112 B is explained as a right-side coin changer  128 R. 
         [0055]    The right-side coin changer  128 R and the left-side coin changer  128 L are composed of an individually-provided dedicated individual parts  132  and commonly-used common parts  134 , wherein the symbols R and L denotes the dedicated and replicated parts. Thus, an economical and compact coin changer is provided. 
         [0056]    First, the individual part  132  will be explained. The individual part  132  includes a right individual part  132 R and a left individual part  132 L. The construction of the right individual part  132 R and the left individual part  132 L are approximately the same except that they are bilaterally symmetrically disposed. Therefore, only the left individual part  132 L will be representatively explained, with the understanding that the right individual part  132 R is shown with the same numbers with R changed from L, and a further explanation thereof will be omitted. 
         [0057]    The left individual part  132 L has a left coin inlet  118 L, a left lift device  138 L, a left coin sorting device  142 L, a left return passage  144 L, left coin passage device  146 L, and a left coin outlet  122 L. 
         [0058]    First, the left coin inlet  118 L will be explained. The left coin inlet  118 L 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 inlet  118 L 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. 
         [0059]    Next, the left lift device  138 L will be explained with reference to  FIG. 4 . The left lift or elevator device  138 L has a function of dividing a series of coins C, which have been put into the left coin inlet  118 L, one by one and lifting up the coins so that the coins are put into a left receiving opening  152 L of the left coin sorting device  142 L above. However, as a modification, in the case where the left coin inlet  118 L is disposed above the left receiving opening  152 L, there would be no need to provide a left lift device  138 L. 
         [0060]    In the present embodiment, the left lift device  138 L includes a left rotatable helical device  154 L, a left coin separating device  156 L, and a left chute  158 L as seen in  FIG. 4(   a ). The left helical device  154 L includes a left coin sensor  160 L, a cylindrical left guide body  162 L, a columnar left helical body  164 L, and a left lift driving motor  166 L for rotating the columnar left helical body  164 L. See also  FIG. 4(B) . 
         [0061]    The left coin sensor  160 L has a function of detecting a coin C put into the left coin inlet  118 L. The left coin sensor  160 L 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 device  174 , 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. 
         [0062]    It is preferred that the left guide body  162 L 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 body  164 L is composed by integrally forming a helical left helical projecting line  172 L on the outer peripheral surface of a columnar left core body  168 L. 
         [0063]    The columnar left helical body  164 L is inserted into the left guide body  162 L and is operatively disposed so that the left helical body  164 L can be rotated about a common axis of the left guide body  162 L in a state in which an outer periphery of the left helical projecting line  172 L is in close contact with the inner surface of the left guide body  162 L. 
         [0064]    As shown in  FIG. 4  (B), a left guide groove  170 L, which retains the coin C so that the coin C is not rotated integrally with the left guide body  162 L but can be moved upward, is formed. The left lift driving motor  166 L is selectively driven or stopped by the control device  174 , to rotate the left core body  168 L, therefore, the columnar left helical body  164 L in a predetermined direction, can move the coins C upwardly along the left helical projecting line  172 L. Therefore, a coin C put into the left coin inlet  118 L and passing through the left coin separating device  156 L is placed on the left helical projecting line  172 L. 
         [0065]    The coin C placed on the left helical projecting line  172 L is restricted in movement by a left guide groove  170 L. Accordingly, the coin cannot be moved in a lateral direction with respect to the columnar left helical body  164 L, but can only move in a vertical direction. Therefore, when the left helical projecting line  172 L is rotated, the coin C is pushed upward by the left helical projecting line  172 L because of a predetermined design tilt angle thereof. 
         [0066]    When a control device  174  receives a left coin signal CSL from a controller processor, the control device subjects the left reverse-roller driving motor  184 L and the left lift driving motor  166 L to a rotation drive mode of operation. When there are no coins C in the left helical device  154 L, the left reverse-roller driving motor  184 L and the left lift driving motor  166 L are automatically stopped by the control device  174 . 
         [0067]    An interval of the left helical projecting line  172 L 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 chute  158 L one by one. The length of the columnar left helical body  164 L can be gradually set by setting left core bodies  168 L 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. See  FIG. 4(B) . In other words, vertical length of the lifting distance can be obtained by setting the number of interconnected left core bodies  168 L to a predetermined number. 
         [0068]    Next, the left coin separating device  156 L will be explained with reference to  FIG. 4(C) . The left coin separating device  156 L 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 inlet  118 L and reach an entrance of the left helical device  154 L in a clustered state. In more detail, the coin separating device has a function of rolling the coins C in a left rolling passage  180 L 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 line  172 L. 
         [0069]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 4  (C), the left coin separating device  156 L is composed of a left rolling passage  180 L including of a left first fixed wall  176 L and a left second fixed wall  178 L, a reverse roller  182 L, and the left reverse-roller driving motor  184 L. The left rolling passage  180 L is a passage tilted from the left inlet  118 L toward the left helical device  154 L 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 inlet  118 L can be rolled in an upright state on a left guide rail  186 L constituting the lower surface of the left rolling passage  180 L. 
         [0070]    As shown in  FIG. 4(C) , the left reverse roller  182 L has a left large-diameter part  188 L and a left small-diameter part  192 L. The left large-diameter part  188 L can enter the left rolling passage  180 L from a left opening part  181 L formed in the left second fixed wall  178 L, and when the left large-diameter part enters, the distance between the left first fixed wall  176 L and the left large-diameter part  188 L is shorter than the thickness of the thinnest coin C. In other words, when the large-diameter part  188 L is positioned in the left rolling passage  180 L, the coin C cannot pass therethrough to the side of the left helical device  154 L. 
         [0071]    The left large-diameter part  188 L of the left reverse roller  182 L is rotated from the downstream side to the upstream side of the rolling direction of the coin C by the left reverse-roller driving motor  184 L. The left large-diameter part  188 L is moved from the side of the left helical device  154 L to the side of the left coin inlet  118 L. Therefore, in the left coin passage  180 L, a coin C positioned in the side that is closed to the left coin inlet  118 L by the left large-diameter part  188 L is pushed back to the side of the left coin inlet  118 L and cannot be rolled to the side of the columnar left helical body  164 L. 
         [0072]    The left reverse roller  182 L is rotated in coordination with the movement of the left helical projecting line  172 L wherein they are rotated in coordination so that the coin C at a rear position reaches the left helical projecting line  172 L after the coin C at a front position is pushed up to a predetermined position by the left helical projecting line  172 L. The rotation phase of the columnar left helical body  164 L and the left large-diameter part  188 L of the left reverse roller  182 L and the distance between the left reverse roller  182 L and the left helical device  164 L are set so that the maximum-diameter coin C rolled through the left rolling passage  180 L reaches the left helical device  154 L in the phase in which the coin does not abut the circumferential surface of the left helical projecting line  172 L. 
         [0073]    This is for preventing a defective lifting of coins, which is caused when the coin C is interlocked between the left helical projecting line  172 L and the left guide body  162 L, and coin jamming, which is caused when a plurality of coin C are positioned at the left guide groove  170 L. When the left large-diameter part  188 L enters the left rolling passage  180 L, the coin C cannot be rolled toward the side of the left helical projecting line  172 L and remains in a waiting state. When the left small-diameter part  192 L is opposed to the left rolling passage  180 L, the coin C rolls in the left rolling passage  180 L and start rolling toward the left helical projecting line  172 L again. 
         [0074]    The left reverse-roller driving motor  184 L is selectively rotated or stopped by the control device  174 . 
         [0075]    Next, the left chute  158 L will be explained. The left chute  158 L has a function of guiding the coin C, which has been lifted up by the left helical device  154 L, to the left receiving opening  152 L. The left chute  158 L is a passage having the shape of a vertical slit and is communicated with an upper end part of the left guide groove  170 L, and the lower wall thereof is composed of a left front-lowered rolling rail  194 L so that the lifted coin C is rolled toward the left receiving opening  152 L in an upright state. The coin C, lifted up by the left helical projecting line  172 L, is rolled to the side of the left chute  158 L by its weight because of the tilt of the left helical projecting line  172 L, and the coin C is rolled on the left rolling rail  194  toward the left receiving opening  152 L. See  FIG. 3 . 
         [0076]    The left coin sorting device  142 L will be explained with reference to  FIG. 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 device  142 L 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 outlet  122 L. 
         [0077]    The left coin sorting device  142 L, in  FIG. 5(A) , has a function of detecting the physical properties of the coin C by a left sensor  196 L 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 opening  152 L and rolls through a predetermined left rolling passage  190 L. The coin is distributed to one of predetermined exits in accordance with the discrimination result in the process of this rolling. 
         [0078]    The predetermined exits in  FIGS. 5(C)  and  FIG. 5(B)  are a left return slot  198 L, a left 1-yen slot  202 L, a left 5-yen slot  204 L, a left 10-yen slot  206 L, a left 50-yen slot  208 L, a left 100-yen slot  212 L, a left 500-yen slot  214 L, and a left overflow slot  216 L. The left return slot  198 L is disposed on the lower surface of the coin sorting device  142 L, and a return coin, RC, is returned to the left coin outlet  122 L through the left return passage  144 L by gravity. 
         [0079]    The left 1-yen slot  202 L and the left 5-yen slot  204 L are disposed on the lower surface of the left coin sorting device  142 L. The others, i.e., the left 10-yen slot  206 L, the left 50-yen slot  208 L, the left 100-yen slot  212 L, the 500-yen slot  214 L, and the left overflow slot  216 L are disposed on a left lateral surface  222 L of the mutually-faced lateral surface side. However, the exits of the coins C are not limited thereto, but can be arbitrarily set. 
         [0080]    Next, the left return passage  144 L will be explained. The left return passage  144 L 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. 
         [0081]    Next, the left coin passage device  146 L will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . The left coin passage devices  146 L have a function of guiding the coins C, which have been distributed to the left denomination-sorted slits  202 L to  214 L of the left coin sorting device  142 L, to respective coin holding devices  234  corresponding to the denominations, by gravity. The coins C drop (including rolling) through the left coin passage device  146 L and reach the coin holding devices  234 . 
         [0082]    The left coin passage device  146 L 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 slot  202 L, the left 5-yen slot  204 L, the left 10-yen slot  206 L, the left 50-yen slot  208 L, the left 100-yen slot  212 L, the left 500-yen slot  214 L, and the left overflow slot  216 L, are rolled through the left coin passage devices  146 L respectively provided for the denominations and reach the coin holding devices  234 , which are respectively corresponding to the coin denominations, and a safe or an overflow holding device  236 . 
         [0083]    Next, the left coin outlet  122 L will be explained. The left coin outlet  122 L has a function of receiving and holding the coin(s) C, which have been delivered by the left return passage  144 L or a coin-discharging belt  228 . The left coin outlet  122 L 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 changer  128 L, but most parts thereof project from a first wall surface  112 A of the checkout machine  104  so that the customer can easily remove the coins from the left coin outlet  122 L. 
         [0084]    Next, the common parts  134  will be explained. The common part  134  includes the coin holding devices  234 , a common duct  230 , a distributing device  232 , and the coin-discharging belt  228  which are mutually shared by the individual parts  132 L and  132 R. 
         [0085]    First, the coin holding devices  234  will be explained. The coin holding device  234  has 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 in  FIG. 6 , the coin holding device  234  can be a coin hopper  246  including a tubular holding bowl  237 , a rotating dispensing disk  240  disposed in a bottom hole of the holding bowl  237  and having coin through holes  238 , an ejecting device  242 , and a count sensor  244 , which detects an ejected coin C. 
         [0086]    In detail, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a 1-yen coin hopper  246 - 1 , a 5-yen coin hopper  246 - 5 , a 10-yen coin hopper  246 - 10 , a 50-yen coin hopper  246 - 50 , a 100-yen coin hopper  246 - 100 , and a 500-yen coin hopper  246 - 500  are provided. The hoppers are disposed at predetermined intervals in parallel so that a second straight line L 2  orthogonal to the middle of a first straight line L 1  connecting the mutually-opposed first wall surface  112 A and second wall surface  112 B is interposed therebetween. 
         [0087]    More specifically, the 1-yen coin hopper  246 - 1 , the 5-yen coin hopper  246 - 5 , and the 10-yen coin hopper  246 - 10  are disposed in a row as a left hopper row  248 L in the side of the left coin sorting device  142 L, and the 50-yen coin hopper  246 - 50 , the 100-yen coin hopper  246 - 100 , and the 500-yen coin hopper  246 - 500  are disposed in a row as a right hopper row  248 R in the side of a right coin sorting device  142 R. The 1-yen coin hopper  246 - 1  to the 500-yen coin hopper  246 - 500  are disposed so that the hoppers can be integrally or separately withdrawn from the chassis of the recycling-type coin changer  100 . This is for maintenance and replacement of the coin hoppers. 
         [0088]    The left hopper row  248 L and the right hopper row  248 R are set in a manner so that the ejecting devices  242  are opposed to each other at a predetermined interval so as to dispense the coin C toward the opposed hopper row. Between the left hopper row  248 L and the right hopper row  248 R, a box-shaped overflow safe  252  serving as an overflow holding device  236  is disposed so that the safe can be detached or withdrawn therefrom. This is for facilitating collection of the coins C in the overflow safe  252 . 
         [0089]    The coin C, which has fallen from the left overflow slot  216 L, rolls through a left overflow passage  250 L and reaches the overflow safe  252  by gravity. 
         [0090]    The 1-yen to 500-yen coin C also roll through the left overflow passage  250 L. 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. 
         [0091]    Next, the common duct  230  will be explained. The common duct  230  has a function of guiding the coin C, which have been dispensed from the left hopper row  248 L or the right hopper row  248 R, to cause the coins to fall onto the common coin-discharging belt  228 . The common duct  230  has a funnel shape. The coin C dispensed from the coin hoppers  246 - 1  to  246 - 500  slide down the downward slope surface of the common duct  230  or directly fall to a fall opening  251  positioned at approximately the center, and the coins are then deposited onto the coin-discharging belt  228 . 
         [0092]    Next, the distributing device  232  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 8 . The distributing device  232  has a function of guiding a coin C, which has fallen from the fall opening  251  of the common duct  230 , in the manner of a slide to the side of the left coin outlet  122 L or the right coin outlet  122 R from which the coin is to be dispensed. 
         [0093]    The distributing device  232  includes a distributing plate  254 , a spring  256 , an actuator  258 , a first stopper  262 , and a second stopper  264 . The distributing plate  154  has a shape of a rectangular plate, and a turning shaft  266  is projecting from an intermediate part thereof along the second straight line L 2 . The turning shaft  266  is horizontally and rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) above the coin-discharging belt  228 . 
         [0094]    A lever  268  laterally extending from the rotation shaft  266  is fixed, and a spring  256  having an end latched with a fixed part is latched with the lever  268  and biases the lever  268  so that the distributing plate  254  is rotated in a predetermined direction. In the present embodiment, the lever is biased so that the distributing plate is tilted anticlockwise in  FIG. 8 , in other words, tilted downward to the side of the left coin outlet  122 L. 
         [0095]    The distributing plate  254  is stopped by the first stopper  262  so that the distance between a left end  254 L thereof and the upper surface of the coin-discharging belt  228  has a gap smaller than the thickness of the thinnest coin C. The actuator  258  is actuated in the case in which the coin C is to be conveyed to the right coin outlet  122 R, and the actuator turns the distributing plate  254  about the turning shaft  266  against the biasing force of the spring  256 . This turning is stopped by the second stopper  264  so that the distance between a right end  254 R of the distributing plate  254  and the upper surface of the coin-discharging belt  228  has a gap smaller than the thickness of the thinnest coin C. Therefore, when the actuation of the actuator  258  is stopped, the distributing plate  254  is turned by the biasing force of the spring  256  and remains in a wait state in which the plate is stopped by the first stopper  262 . The actuator  258  is selectively actuated by the control device  174 . 
         [0096]    Next, the coin-discharging belt  228  in  FIG. 3  will be explained. The coin-discharging belt  228  has a function of selectively conveying a coin C, which has fallen from the common duct  230 , to the left coin outlet  122 L or to the right coin outlet  122 R. The coin-discharging belt  228  is a flat flexible endless belt suspended between a left roller  272 L and a right roller  272 R, which are disposed in the vicinities of the left coin outlet  122 L and the right coin outlet  122 R. 
         [0097]    A guide roller  272 G is disposed at the middle of and below an upper belt  228 U of the coin-discharging belt  228  so that the center of the upper belt  228 U is at the vertically highest point. In other words, the upper belt  228 U is provided in a slight convex shape so that the top part thereof is positioned right below the turning shaft  266  beneath the common duct  230  and the coin discharge belt is inclined downward on either side of the guide roller  272 G. 
         [0098]    As seen in  FIG. 8 , a left belt guide  274 L and a right belt guide  274 R having the shape of a plate made from a sheet metal or alternatively a plastic plate, are disposed directly below the upper belt  228 U, thereby preventing excessive flexure of the upper belt  228 U. This is for preventing the coin C from being bounced due to any flexure of the upper belt  228 U, which can disturb a quick money discharge mode of operation by losing control of the coin position. 
         [0099]    A forward/reverse rotation motor  274  is drivably coupled with the right roller  272 R, and the motor can be selectively rotated forward, reversely rotated, or stopped by the control device  174 . The motor  274  is set so that, when the forward/reverse motor  274  is rotated forward, for example, the upper belt  228 U is moved toward the left coin outlet  122 L and that, when rotated reversely, the belt is moved toward the right coin outlet  122 R. Furthermore, when the actuator  258  is not actuated, the forward/reverse rotation motor  274  is rotated forward. 
         [0100]    When the coin C falls from the common duct  230  and slides down on the distributing plate  254  toward the left coin outlet  122 L, the upper belt  228 U of the coin-discharging belt  228  is moved toward the side of the left coin outlet  122 L. When the actuator  258  is actuated in  FIG. 8 , the distributing plate  254  is tilted toward the side of the right coin outlet  122 R, and the coin C, fallen from the common duct  230 , slides down to the side of the right coin outlet  122 R, and the upper belt  228 U is moved toward the side of the right coin outlet  122 R. 
         [0101]    Next, an operation of the present embodiment will be explained. For convenience, the case in which the left-side coin changer  128 L of the first wall surface  112 A side is in operation will be explained. 
         [0102]    A customer who comes into a self-service gas station  102  will stop a car at a predetermined position adjacent a gas pump and then puts bills or coin(s) C into the left money inlet  114 L or the left coin inlet  118 L of the side of the left-side coin changer  128 L of the checkout machine  104 . Then, the customer determines a fueling amount, specifies, for example, “full”, and starts fueling. 
         [0103]    When the fuel is full in the car&#39;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 slot  116 L or to the left coin outlet  122 L as change. 
         [0104]    First, the case in which the coin C is put into the left coin inlet  118 L will be explained. When the coin C is put into the left coin inlet  118 L, the left coin sensor  160 L detects the coin C and outputs detection signals CSL to the control device  174 . The control device  174  outputs drive signals to the left reverse-roller driving motor  184 L and the left lift electric motor  166 L. As a result, the left-reverse roller driving motor  184 L and the left lift electric motor  166 L start rotating at predetermined speeds in predetermined directions. 
         [0105]    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 inlet  118 L by the large-diameter part  188 L by the rotation of the left reverse roller  182 L. When a small-diameter part  192 L is opposed to the left rolling passage  180 L next time, the second coin passes therethrough toward the left helical device  154 L. Therefore, even when the coins C continuously roll in, a predetermined interval can be provided in terms of time and position. 
         [0106]    Therefore, the coins C are retained one by one between the left helical projecting line  172 L and sequentially lifted up. When the coin C lifted up by the left helical projecting line  172 L, is opposed to the entrance of the left chute  158 L, the coin is rolled to the left chute  158 L by the tilt of the left helical projecting line  172 L and falls to the left receiving opening  152 L from an end thereof. The physical properties of the coin C that has fallen to the left receiving opening  152 L are detected by a left sensor  196 L during the process in which the coin rolls through the left rolling passage  190 L, and, based on the detection result, the left coin sorting device  142 L discriminates the genuineness/counterfeit state and the denomination of the coin C. 
         [0107]    When the put-in coin C is discriminated to be counterfeit, the coin is guided to the left return slot  198 L, and caused to move by gravity through the left return passage  144 L, and therefore, is returned to the left coin outlet  122 L. 
         [0108]    When the put-in coin C is discriminated to be a genuine coin, the coin is guided to the left 1-yen slot  202 L, the left 5-yen slot  204 L, the left 10-yen slot  206 L, the left 50-yen slot  208 L, the left 100-yen slot  212 L, or the left 500-yen slot  214 L in accordance with the discriminated denomination, rolls through the denomination-sorted left coin passage  146 L by its own weight, and is held in bulk in the coin hopper  246 - 1 ,  246 - 5 ,  246 - 10 ,  246 - 50 ,  246 - 100 , or  246 - 600  corresponding to the denomination. 
         [0109]    If the coin hopper corresponding to the denomination is full, the coin is guided to the left overflow slot  216 L, rolled by its own weight through the left overflow passage  250 L, and held in the overflow safe  252 . If the coin C is put into the right coin inlet  118 R at the same time as the left coin inlet  118 L, in a manner similar to that described above, the coin is also lifted up by a right lift device  138 R, the genuineness/counterfeit and denomination of the coins thereof is discriminated by the right coin sorting device  142 R, and the coin is held in the coin holding device  234  and returned to the right coin outlet  122 R via a right return passage  144 R. In other words, the coins C can be put into the left and right coin inlets  118 L and  118 R at the same time and processed independently. 
         [0110]    Next, dispensing of change will be explained. First, a command of a dispensing direction is output from the control device  174 . More specifically, if the coin-discharging direction is the left coin outlet  122 L, the actuator  258  is not actuated, and the distributing plate  254  maintains the current state in which the front thereof is lowered towards the side of the left coin outlet  122 L as shown in  FIG. 8 . The forward/reverse rotation motor  274  is rotated forward, and the upper belt  228 U is moved toward the left coin outlet  122 L. 
         [0111]    Then, a command for a dispensing number of coins is given from the control device  174  to the coin hopper(s)  246 - 1  to  246 - 500  of the corresponding denomination(s). If the change is 666 yen, each of the coin hoppers  246 - 1  to  246 - 500  is commanded to dispense one coin. Consequently, one coin is dispensed from each of the coin hoppers  246 - 1  to  246 - 500  by the rotation of the rotating disk  240 . 
         [0112]    The dispensed coins C are detected by the count sensors  244  of the respective coin hoppers, and the coin hoppers  246 - 1  to  246 - 500  are stopped based on the detection signals thereof. The coins C dispensed from the coin hoppers  246 - 1  to  246 - 500  are guided by the common duct  230 , and fall from the fall opening  251  onto the distributing plate  254 , which in turn causes the coins to slide down toward the left coin outlet  122 L by the tilt thereof, and fall onto the coin-discharging belt  228 . Since the upper belt  228 U is moving toward the left coin outlet  122 L, the coins C that fall onto the coin-discharging belt  228  are also carried in the same direction and fall into the left coin outlet  122 L, thereby finishing the dispensing. 
         [0113]    If the coins C are to be discharged to the right coin outlet  122 R, the actuator  258  is actuated before the dispensing from the coin hoppers  246 - 1  to  246 - 500 , and the distributing plate  254  is turned clockwise in  FIG. 8  and stops at the position shown by a chain line inclined toward the right coin outlet  122 R shown in  FIG. 8 . Moreover, the forward/reverse rotation motor  274  is reversely rotated, and the upper belt  228 U is moved toward the right coin outlet  122 R. 
         [0114]    Then, the coins C are dispensed one by one from the coin hoppers  246 - 1  to  246 - 500  by the rotation of the rotating disks  240  in a manner similar to that described above. The dispensed coins C are detected by the count sensors  244  of the coin hoppers, and the coin hoppers  246 - 1  to  246 - 500  are stopped based on the detection signals thereof. The coins C dispensed from the coin hoppers  246 - 1  to  246 - 500  are guided by the common duct  230 , fall from the fall opening  251  onto the distributing plate  254 , slide down toward the right coin outlet  122 R by the tilt thereof, and fall onto the coin-discharging belt  228 . Since the upper belt  228 U is moving toward the right coin outlet  122 R, the coins C that have fallen onto the coin-discharging belt  228  are carried in the same direction and fall into the right coin outlet  122 R, thereby finishing the dispensing. 
         [0115]    Next, the case in which the left-side coin changer  128 L and the right-side coin changer  128 R carry out change dispensing processes at the same time will be explained. 
         [0116]    The dispensing of change is carried out in the respective order by which change dispensing commands are output from the control device  174 . For example, in the case in which a change dispensing command is output to the left-side coin changer  128 L first, the forward/reverse rotation motor  274  is rotated forward to carry out the process of discharging money to the side of the left coin outlet  122 L without actuating the actuator  258  like the above described case. 
         [0117]    Immediately after the process of discharging the money to the side of the left coin outlet  122 L, a change dispensing command can be output to the right-side coin changer  128 R, and the actuator  258  is actuated like the above described case. The forward/reverse rotation motor  274  is reversely rotated, and the process of discharging money to the side of the right coin outlet  122 R is carried out. 
         [0118]    In the case of a timing in which a pair of change dispensing commands are simultaneously output to the left-side coin changer  128 L and the right-side coin changer  128 R, the control device  174  outputs the change dispensing command first to the left-side coin changer  128 L or the right-side coin changer  128 R 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. 
         [0119]    The present automatic checkout machine  104  can be used in a checkout machine of a parking area, a transportation-charge checkout machine, etc. other than a gas station. 
         [0120]    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. 
         [0121]    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. 
         [0122]    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.