Abstract:
A money changer management system enables an easy inventory of a money changer ( 1 ) and prevents accidents. The system includes the money changer and a management unit ( 3 ). The money changer has a cabinet ( 5 ) having a lockable door ( 7 ), a lockable change unit ( 25 ) installed in the cabinet, to hold money and dispense money of equal value in exchange for money deposited into the money changer, the held, dispensed, and deposited money being at least one of paper money and hard money, and a circulator-counter ( 31, 33, 35 ) to count the money in the change unit while once circulating the money in the change unit. The management unit manages the money in the money changer according to information about the amount of the money in the money changer and information from the circulator-counter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a money changer management system applicable to, for example, amusement places and game arcades.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    An example of a money changer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 6-282721. This money changer has a cabinet, a lockable door provided for the cabinet, and a change unit installed in the cabinet, to change deposited money with money of equal value and dispense the money of equal value.  
           [0005]    The cabinet and change unit are each lockable so that an authorized person having keys may open the cabinet and change unit and manage money in the change unit.  
           [0006]    The money changer is installed in, for example, an amusement place. An inventory of the money changer is conducted, for example, every three to seven days, to inspect money in the money changer. The change unit in the money changer holds a predetermined amount of money in predetermined denominations. The amount of money in the money changer is unchanged through transactions although the denominations thereof may change. The inventory is conducted to examine whether or not the amount of money in the money changer is equal to the predetermined initial amount. The inventory is carried out by dispensing all money from the money changer, counting the money, and returning the money into the money changer. In this way, the inventory needs much time and labor.  
           [0007]    To prevent accidents, inventories must be conducted at short intervals. In practice, however, an inventory is carried out every three to seven days due to the labor/time-taking nature of inventory.  
           [0008]    The conventional money changer involves a risk of allowing a person having a key to borrow money from the money changer and return the money into the money changer before an inventory. Such a risk must be avoided to establish a good relationship between the owner of the money changer and employees who conduct inventories of the money changer.  
           [0009]    A customer who uses the money changer may claim that the amount of dispensed money is short. To confirm whether or not the customer&#39;s claim is true, an inventory of the money changer must be carried out on the instant. This may take about 30 minutes.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    An object of the present invention is to provide a money changer management system capable of speedily carrying out an inventory of a money changer without opening the same.  
           [0011]    A first aspect of the present invention provides a money changer management system including a money changer and a management unit. The money changer has a cabinet having a lockable door, a lockable change unit installed in the cabinet, to hold money and dispense money of equal value in exchange for money deposited into the money changer, the held, dispensed, and deposited money being at least one of paper money and hard money, and a circulator-counter to count the money in the change unit while once circulating the money in the change unit. The management unit manages the money in the money changer according to information about the amount of the money in the money changer and information from the circulator-counter.  
           [0012]    A second aspect of the present invention provides the system of the first aspect with a first input unit to input information about a person who unlocks at least one of the door of the cabinet and the change unit, an unlock controller to collate the input information with registered information, and if the collation authenticates the person, unlock at least one of the door of the cabinet and the change unit, and a first recorder to record the authenticated person.  
           [0013]    A third aspect of the present invention provides the system of any one of the first and second aspects with a second input unit to input information about a person who operates the management unit, an operation controller to collate the input information with registered information, and if the collation authenticates the person, allow the person to operate the management unit, and a second recorder to record the authenticated person.  
           [0014]    A fourth aspect of the present invention employs biometric information as the information about the person mentioned in any one of the second and third aspects.  
           [0015]    A fifth aspect of the present invention connects the money changer and management unit of any one of the first to fourth aspects to each other through a network.  
           [0016]    According to the first aspect, the cabinet is lockable and incorporates the lockable change unit. The change unit dispenses money of equal value in exchange for money deposited into the change unit, the dispensed and deposited money being at least one of paper money and hard money. When conducting an inventory, the circulator-counter counts the money in the change unit while once circulating the money in the change unit and informs the management unit of the count. The management unit manages the money in the change unit according to information about the amount of the money in the change unit and the information from the circulator-counter.  
           [0017]    An inventory can speedily be conducted without laborious operations of opening the cabinet, dispensing all money from the change unit, counting the money, and returning the money to the change unit. As a result, inventories can be conducted at shorter intervals. If a customer claims a shortage of changed money, an inventory will be conducted quickly to see if the customer&#39;s claim is true. This improves the quality of customer service. An inventory can be carried out without opening the cabinet, and therefore, a person who conducts the inventory is not required to touch the money in the cabinet. This prevents accidents related to inventories and maintains a good relationship between an employer who owns the system and employees who conduct inventories.  
           [0018]    In addition to the effects of the first aspect, the second aspect employs the first input unit to input information about a person who unlocks at least one of the cabinet and change unit. The unlock controller collates the input information with registered information, and if the collation authenticates the person, unlocks at least one of the cabinet and change unit. Only an authenticated person is allowed to open one of the cabinet and change unit.  
           [0019]    The first recorder records the authenticated person. Whenever a person opens the cabinet and change unit and touches the money in the cabinet, the name of the person and time are recorded. The recorded data is used to surely manage the money changer.  
           [0020]    In addition to the effects of the first and second aspects, the third aspect employs the second input unit to input information about a person who operates the management unit. The operation controller collates the input information with registered information, and if the collation authenticates the person, allows the person to operate the management unit. Only the authenticated person is allowed to operate the management unit.  
           [0021]    The second recorder records the authenticated person. The name of the person who operated the management unit and time are recorded. The recorded data is used to surely manage the management unit.  
           [0022]    In addition to the effects of the second and third aspects, the fourth aspect employs biometric information of a person who opens the cabinet or operates the management unit, to improve security.  
           [0023]    In addition to the effects of the first to fourth aspects, the fifth aspect connects the money changer and management unit to each other through a network, so that the money changer may easily be managed by the management unit that may be located at a remote place. From the remote place, the management unit can easily detect, for example, a shortage of money for change or the opening of the cabinet door. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 generally shows a money changer management system according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a note changer in the system of FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a coin changer in the system of FIG. 1;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a fingerprint collation flow in a money changer of the system of FIG. 1; and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a fingerprint collation flow in a management unit of the system of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 generally shows a money changer management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a money changer  1  and a management unit  3  that are connected to each other through a LAN.  
         [0030]    The money changer  1  is installed in facilities such as an amusement place. Although FIG. 1 shows only one money changer, a plurality of money changers may be installed in one place. The money changer  1  is connected to the management unit  3  through a LAN. The management unit  3  may be connected to other money changers installed in different places through a WAN.  
         [0031]    The money changer  1  has a cabinet  5  and a door  7  that is lockable with a lock  9 . The lock  9  may be an electronic lock. The cabinet  5  has an authentication unit  11  having a fingerprint input unit  12  and a ten-key pad  15 . The authentication unit  11  serves as a first input unit to make a person input identification information necessary for opening the door  7 .  
         [0032]    The fingerprint input unit  12  is used to input biometric information of a person who opens the door  7 , such as the fingerprint of a specific finger of the person. The biometric information is not limited to a fingerprint. It may be information related to the eye, face, DNA, voiceprint, or venous pattern on the back of a hand of the person. The ten-key pad  15  is used to input, for example, an identification number of the person who opens the door  7 . In this way, the embodiment uses the fingerprint information and identification number of a person who wants to open the door  7 , to correctly identify the person. According to the embodiment, any one of the fingerprint information and identification number may be omitted to input. The ten-key pad  15  may be used for another purpose, for example, inputting commands.  
         [0033]    The information entered through the authentication unit  11  is collated by the management unit  3  with registered information. If the collation authenticates the person, the authentication unit  11  sends a signal to open the lock  9 . The management unit  3  and authentication unit  11  form an unlock controller.  
         [0034]    When the lock  9  is unlocked, information on the authenticated person such as the name and employee number of the person, as well as time are recorded by the management unit  3 . Accordingly, the management unit  3  serves as a first recorder.  
         [0035]    The door  7  of the money changer  1  has a coin inlet  13  to deposit coins into the money changer  1 , a note inlet  15  to deposit notes into the money changer  1 , a coin outlet  17  to dispense coins, and a note outlet  19  to dispense notes. For example, a 500-yen coin is deposited into the coin inlet  13 , and five 100-yen coins are dispensed from the coin outlet  17 . For example, a 10,000-yen note is deposited into the note inlet  15 , and ten 1,000-yen notes are dispensed from the note outlet  19 . In this way, the money changer  1  changes various denominations into other denominations.  
         [0036]    The management unit  3  is, for example, a desk-top personal computer and includes a keyboard  19 , a mouse  21 , a fingerprint authentication unit  23 , and the like. The unit  23  is used to input a fingerprint as biometric information of a person who is going to operate the management unit  3 . According to the embodiment, the unit  23  serves as a second input unit to input information on a person who operates the management unit  3 . The biometric information may be not only information on a fingerprint but also information on an eye, a face, DNA, voiceprint, or venous pattern on the back of a hand.  
         [0037]    The information entered through the fingerprint authentication unit  23  is collated with registered information. If the collation authenticates the person, the management unit  3  becomes operable. Accordingly, the management unit  3  serves as an operation controller.  
         [0038]    When the management unit  3  is operated, information on the authenticated person such as the name and employee number of the person, as well as time are recorded in the management unit  3 . The management unit  3 , therefore, serves as a second recorder.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a note changer  25  and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a coin changer  27  both installed in the cabinet  5 .  
         [0040]    In FIG. 2, the note changer  25  has a closed structure and is lockable. If the note changer  25  must be repaired or maintained due to, for example, a jam, it can be unlocked with a key. The note changer  25  has a note holder  29  to hold a predetermined amount of money in predetermined denominations such as 10,000-yen notes, 5,000-yen notes, and 1,000-yen notes. When a note is deposited into the note inlet  15  (FIG. 1), the note holder  29  dispenses notes of equal value from the note outlet  19 . The deposited note is held in the note holder  29  according to the denomination thereof.  
         [0041]    The note changer  25  has circulator-counters  31 ,  33 , and  35  to count notes while once circulating them. The circulator-counters are provided for denominations, respectively. In this embodiment, they are provided for 10,000-yen notes, 5,000-yen notes, and 1,000-yen notes, respectively. The circulator-counters  31 ,  33 , and  35  are controlled by a note controller  37 , to successively pick up corresponding notes from the note holder  29 , count them, and return them into the note holder  29 .  
         [0042]    The circulator-counters  31 ,  33 , and  35  are connected to a conveyor  39 , which is controlled by the note controller  37 . The note controller  37  controls the conveyor  39  and circulator-counters  31 ,  33 , and  35 , to collect all notes from the note holder  29  into a collection box  41 .  
         [0043]    The collection box  41  is lockable and is detachable from the conveyor  39 . After collecting all notes, the collection box  41  under a locked state can be taken out. The collection box  41  has an MPU, a memory, and the like, to hold money amounts counted by the circulator-counters  31 ,  33 , and  35  and display them on a display  43 .  
         [0044]    In FIG. 3, the coin changer  27  has a closed structure and is lockable. If the coin changer  27  must be repaired or maintained due to, for example, a jam, it can be unlocked with a key. The coin changer  27  has a coin hopper  45  to hold coins. The hopper  45  initially holds a predetermined amount of money in predetermined denominations. For example, it holds 200 500-yen coins. Although FIG. 3 shows only one hopper for the sake of simplicity of explanation, an optional number of hoppers are employable for the system of FIG. 1. For example, three hoppers for different denominations may be arranged vertically. Under the hopper  45 , there is a dispense path  47 . A middle of the dispense path  47  is connected to a collection path  49 . The dispense path  47  and collection path  49  are separated from each other with a switching door  51 , which is driven by, for example, a motor. The motor is controlled by a coin controller  53 .  
         [0045]    Under the hopper  45 , a circulation path  55  is branched from the dispense path  47  with a switching door  57  interposing between the paths  47  and  55 . The switching door  57  is driven by, for example, a motor that is controlled by the coin controller  53 .  
         [0046]    The circulation path  55  has an upper outlet  59  facing the top of the hopper  45 . The circulation path  55  is provided with, for example, a belt having protrusions to carry coins through the circulation path  55  up to the outlet  59 . The belt is controlled by the coin controller  53 .  
         [0047]    The bottom of the hopper  45  is provided with a counting sensor  61 , and the outlet  59  of the circulation path  55  is provided with a counting sensor  63 . The sensors  61  and  63  provide count information to the coin controller  53 .  
         [0048]    The sensor  61  counts the number of coins flowing to, for example, the dispense path  47 . The sensor  63  counts the number of coins circulated to the hopper  45  through the circulation path  55 . Coins are circulated once from the hopper  45  through the circulation path  55  to the hopper  45 , and during the circulation, the sensor  63  counts the number of the coins. The circulation path  55  and sensor  63  form a circulator-counter.  
         [0049]    When notes or coins are deposited into the note inlet  15  or coin inlet  13 , an equal value of money is dispensed from the hopper  45  to the coin outlet  17  through the dispense path  47 . The deposited coins are held in the hopper  45  or other hoppers according to the denominations of the coins.  
         [0050]    A lower end of the collection path  49  is provided with a detachable collection box  67 . The collection box  67  is lockable. After collecting all coins through the collection path  49 , the collection box  67  under a locked state is taken out. The collection box  67  may have an MPU, a memory, a display  69 , and the like. The collection box  67  receives count information from the sensor  63 , holds the information, and displays the information on the display  69 .  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a fingerprint collation flow carried out by the management unit  3 . In step S 1 , a fingerprint is entered to open the door  7  (FIG. 1) of the cabinet  5 . A person who is going to unlock the door  7  enters its fingerprint through the fingerprint input unit  12 . Step S 2  reads registered fingerprint data and personal data from a database into the management unit  3 .  
         [0052]    Step S 3  carries out a collation. Namely, the management unit  3  collates the entered fingerprint with each of the registered fingerprints. If they agree with each other, step S 4  is carried out, and if not, the flow ends to prevent any unauthorized person from opening the door  7 .  
         [0053]    Step S 4  allows the door  7  to be unlocked. Namely, the authentication unit  11  sends an unlock signal to unlock the electronic lock  9 . Then, the authenticated person can open the door  7 .  
         [0054]    Step S 5  records the name and employee number of the person who unlocked the lock  9  and unlock time according to data related to the person and a signal from a timer.  
         [0055]    Step S 6  reads a door lock signal, which is an electric signal issued when the lock  9  is locked.  
         [0056]    Step S 7  determines whether or not the door  7  has been locked. If the locking of the door  7  is confirmed, the flow ends, and if not, step S 8  is carried out. Step S 8  determines whether or not a predetermined time has passed. The predetermined time includes a time for opening the door  7 , a time for a person to carry out necessary work, a time for closing the door  7 , and a marginal time. The predetermined time is optional and is, for example, one hour.  
         [0057]    If step S 8  determines that the predetermined time has not passed yet, step S 5  is repeated. If step S 8  determines that the predetermined time has passed, Step S 9  issues an alarm such as a buzzing sound and ends the flow. Hearing the buzzing sound, the person who opened the door  7  may surely close and lock the door  7 .  
         [0058]    In this way, only a person authenticated through fingerprint collation is allowed to open the door  7  of the cabinet  5 , and the employee number and name of the person and unlock time are recorded, to surely manage the money changer  1 .  
         [0059]    According to the embodiment, the door  7  of the cabinet  5  may be opened after fingerprint collation and the input of, for example, an employee number through the ten-key pad  15 , to ensure the management of the money changer  1 .  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a fingerprint collation flow carried out in the management unit  3 , to operate the management unit  3 . Steps S 11 , S 12 , S 13 , S 15 , S 18 , and S 19  of FIG. 5 are the same as steps S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 5 , S 8 , and S 9  of FIG. 4. Steps S 14 , S 16  and S 17  of FIG. 5 correspond to steps S 4 , S 6 , and S 7  of FIG. 4. The steps of FIG. 5 relate to operating the management unit  3 . After fingerprint collation, step S 14  starts a management program to enable the operation of the management unit  3 . Step S 16  reads an end signal that is issued when the management program in the management unit  3  terminates. Step S 17  determines whether or not the operation of the management unit  3  has terminated. If the management program of the management unit  3  has terminated, the flow ends. When the authenticated person operates the management unit  3 , the employee number and name of the person and operation time are recorded to securely manage the money changer  1 .  
         [0061]    A person who uses the money changer  1  inserts a coin or a note into the coin inlet  13  or note inlet  15 . The note changer  25  and coin changer  27  change the inserted note or coin into equal value of money and dispense the changed notes or coins from the coin outlet  17  or note outlet  19 .  
         [0062]    An inventory of the money changer  1  is carried out in response to a batch of commands from the management unit  3 , or individual commands from the ten-key pad  15 . In response to the commands, the note controller  37  and coin controller  53  carry out the inventory.  
         [0063]    In the note changer  25 , the circulator-counters  31 ,  33 , and  35  are driven to circulate and count 10,000-yen notes, 5,000-yen notes, and 1,000-yen notes in the note holder  29  and provide count results to the management unit  3 . During the inventory, the notes must not endlessly be circulated between the note holder  29  and the circulator-counters  31 ,  33 , and  35 . To prevent the endless circulation, counted notes are separated from notes not counted yet.  
         [0064]    In the coin changer  27 , the coin controller  53  controls the switching door  57  to pass coins from the hopper  45  to the circulation path  55 . The coins in the circulation path  55  are returned into the hopper  45  through the outlet  59  and are counted by the sensor  63 . Coins must not endlessly be circulated between the hopper  45  and the circulation path  55 . To prevent the endless circulation, counted coins are separated from coins not counted yet. The count result from the sensor  63  is transferred to the management unit  3  through the coin controller  53 .  
         [0065]    An inventory of the money changer  1  is easily conducted by the management unit  3  without laborious operations of dispensing money of all denominations from the money changer  1 , counting the money, and returning the money into the money changer  1 . The embodiment can conduct inventories speedily at shorter intervals to correctly manage money in the money changer  1 .  
         [0066]    If a customer claims a shortage of changed money, the management unit  3  may issue a command or the money changer  1  may be used to enter a command, to speedily carry out an inventory and determine whether or not the customer&#39;s claim is true.  
         [0067]    An inventory can be carried out without opening the door  7  of the money changer  1 , and therefore, a person who conducts the inventory is not required to touch the money in the money changer  1 . This prevents accidents related to the inventory.  
         [0068]    If the money changer  1  must be opened, or if the management unit  3  must be operated, a fingerprint authentication is carried out on the person who opens the money changer  1  or operates the management unit  3 , and at the same time, a log of the operation is recorded. It is possible, therefore, to confirm the person and time of the operation and surely manage the money changer  1 .  
         [0069]    The embodiment mentioned above unlocks the lock  9  after fingerprint collation. Another embodiment may electronically lock the note changer  25  and coin changer  27 , to allow only a person authenticated through, for example, fingerprint collation to unlock the changers  25  and  27 . Still another embodiment may unlock the lock  9  through fingerprint collation and the changers  25  and  27  with keys, or unlock the lock  9  with a key and the changers  25  and  27  through fingerprint collation.  
         [0070]    To collect notes from the note changer  25 , the note controller  37  drives the circulator-counters  31 ,  33 , and  35  and conveyor  39 . The notes in the note holder  29  are collected into the collection box  41  through the circulator-counters  31 ,  33 , and  35  and conveyor  39 . The collection box  41  under a locked state is taken out, so that no one may directly touch the notes when collecting the notes.  
         [0071]    In the coin changer  27 , the coin controller  53  controls the switching door  51  to collect coins from the hopper  45  into the collection box  67  through the collection path  49 . The collection box  67  under a locked state is taken out without allowing anyone to directly touch the coins.  
         [0072]    These configurations prevent accidents and maintain a good relationship between an employer who owns the money changer  1  and employees who handle the money changer  1 .