Patent Description:
Conventionally, coins are handled in the form of a coin roll. The coin roll is a plurality of coins stacked into a columnar shape. A coin roll unit is used as a device for processing such a coin roll. The coin roll unit is disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature (hereinafter, referred to as "PTL") <NUM>.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose coin roll units wherein coin rolls are transported from a coin roll stacker to a lift via a picker. The picker comprises a restriction member (side wall) which restricts the position of a transported coin roll in the direction in which the coins are piled within said roll.

The length of the coin roll (i.e., the height of a column) can be various values depending on the number of coins to be stacked. In order for the coin roll unit to process coin rolls of various lengths, it is necessary to smoothly move the coin rolls inside the coin roll unit in spite of the lengths of the coin rolls.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a coin roll unit capable of processing coin rolls of various lengths.

A coin roll unit according to the present disclosure comprises: a stacker that stores a coin roll composed of a plurality of coins piled in a piling direction in a layered manner; a lift that transports the coin roll; and a picker that transfers the coin roll from the stacker to the lift, characterized in that the picker comprises an in-picker restriction member that restricts a position of the coin roll in the picker in the piling direction.

The picker that the coin roll unit according to the present disclosure comprises is be configured such that the in-picker restriction member is attachable to the picker at any position in the picker in the piling direction.

The picker that the coin roll unit according to the present disclosure comprises may be configured such that a long in-picker restriction member or a short in-picker restriction member instead of the in-picker restriction member is attachable, the long in-picker restriction member being longer than the in-picker restriction member in the piling direction, the short in-picker restriction member being shorter than the in-picker restriction member in the piling direction.

The stacker that the coin roll unit according to the present disclosure comprises comprises an in-stacker restriction member that restricts a position of the coin roll in the stacker in the piling direction.

The stacker that the coin roll unit according to the present disclosure comprises may be configured such that the in-stacker restriction member is attachable to the stacker at any position in the stacker in the piling direction.

The stacker that the coin roll unit according to the present disclosure comprises may be configured such that a long in-stacker restriction member or a short in-stacker restriction member instead of the in-stacker restriction member is attachable, the long in-stacker restriction member being longer than the in-stacker restriction member in the piling direction, the short in-stacker restriction member being shorter than the in-stacker restriction member in the piling direction.

The in-picker restriction member and the in-stacker restriction member that the coin roll unit according to the present disclosure comprises respectively have opposing surfaces facing the coin roll and included in a same plane, and the opposing surface of the in-picker restriction member and the opposing surface of the in-stacker restriction member are configured to guide the coin roll in a direction orthogonal to the piling direction.

The coin roll may be composed of a plurality of coins stacked in a columnar shape.

The picker that the coin roll unit according to the present disclosure comprises may be configured to take in the coin roll from the stacker and transfer the coin roll such that the coin roll taken in is passed to the lift, in a state in which a bottom surface of the coin roll faces sideways.

The coin roll unit according to the present disclosure may further comprise: a second stacker that stores a second coin roll composed of a plurality of second coins piled in the piling direction, the second coin roll having a length different from a length of the coin roll in the piling direction; and a second picker that transfers the second coin roll from the second stacker to the lift, in which the second picker comprises a second in-picker restriction member that restricts a position of the second coin roll in the second picker in the piling direction, the lift is configured to transport the second coin roll, and the stacker and the second stacker may be disposed to overlap each other in an upper-lower direction.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a coin roll unit capable of processing coin rolls of various lengths.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that, in the present specification, components or concepts provided with ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," and the like, e.g., a "first stacker" are described, but these ordinal numbers are merely for convenience and for making it easier to distinguish between a plurality of the same or similar components or concepts. Therefore, in some cases, a component or concept provided with the ordinal number "first" and a component or concept provided with the ordinal number "second" can be read interchangeably.

<FIG> is a schematic side view of a coin roll unit <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the front side of the coin roll unit <NUM> is the side on which a coin roll take-out port is disposed, and the rear side of the coin roll unit <NUM> is the side on which a stacker <NUM> to be described later is disposed. Inside the coin roll unit <NUM>, a coin roll moves from the rear side toward the front side. Further, the right side of the coin roll unit <NUM> is the right side of the coin roll unit <NUM> seen from the front side, and the left side of the coin roll unit <NUM> is the left side of the coin roll unit <NUM> seen from the front side. Further, the lower side of the coin roll unit <NUM> is a side near the surface at which the coin roll unit <NUM> is installed, and the upper side of the coin roll unit <NUM> is a side far from the surface at which the coin roll unit <NUM> is installed.

The coin roll unit <NUM> is a device for processing a coin roll C, and comprises a stacker <NUM>, a picker <NUM>, and a lift <NUM>.

The coin roll C is composed of a plurality of coins piled in a columnar shape. The coin roll C may be wrapped in a sheet of plastic film, paper, or the like. A plurality of coin rolls C having the same shape are stored in the stacker <NUM>. That is, each of the plurality of coin rolls C stored in the stacker <NUM> is composed of the same number of stacked coins of the same type (denomination). Naturally, the heights of the plurality of coin rolls C stored in the stacker <NUM> are equal to one another.

The stacker <NUM> is a tray-shaped member for storing a plurality of coin rolls C. The stacker <NUM> stores the coin rolls C, with the bottom surfaces of the coin rolls C (i.e., the faces or the backs of the coins) facing sideways (the right side or left side). The stacker <NUM> may be disposed such that its front side is lower and its rear side is higher. With such an arrangement, it is possible to automatically move the coin rolls C stored in the stacker <NUM> to the front side by gravity. Note that, one coin roll C may be placed on top of another coin roll C.

The front end of the stacker <NUM> is configured to allow the coin rolls C to pass therethrough. For example, an opening is formed in the front end, or the front end is completely open without any wall. After passing through the front end of the stacker <NUM>, the coin rolls in the stacker <NUM> moves to the picker <NUM>.

The picker <NUM> takes in each of the coin rolls C from the stacker <NUM> and transfers the coin roll such that the coin roll C taken in is passed to the lift <NUM>, in a state in which the bottom surface of the coin roll C faces sideways. The picker <NUM> is a member that rotates about a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction (specifically, the horizontal direction). The picker <NUM> is configured to rotate counterclockwise in a right side view by the power of a motor or the like. At least one groove 12a (three grooves in the example of <FIG>) is formed in the peripheral surface of the picker <NUM>. One coin roll enters one groove 12a. When moving from the stacker <NUM> to the picker <NUM>, the coin roll C enters the groove 12a.

The coin roll C that has entered the groove 12a is transferred by the picker <NUM> to the lift <NUM> disposed on the front side.

The lift <NUM> is a conveyor that takes in the coin roll C from the picker <NUM> and transports, to the take-out port, the coin roll C taken in, in a state where the bottom surface of the coin roll C faces sideways. The lift <NUM> comprises a first roller 13a disposed on the upper side, a second roller 13b disposed on the lower side, and an endless belt 13c wound under tension around the first roller 13a and the second roller 13b. A plurality of pawl members 13d are attached to the belt 13c. Further, the lift <NUM> comprises a pressing plate 13e extending vertically. The pressing plate 13e is disposed to face the belt 13c via a space. Note that the lift <NUM> does not have to comprise the pressing plate 13e. In this case, a housing of the coin roll unit <NUM> may be configured to be capable of functioning as the pressing plate 13e.

At least one of the first roller 13a and the second roller 13b is configured to rotate counterclockwise in the right side view by power of a motor or the like. The belt 13c is configured to move counterclockwise in the right side view by rotation of at least one of the first roller 13a and the second roller 13b. That is, a part of the belt 13c located on the rear side ascends while a part located on the front side descends.

Pawl members 13d are attached to the belt 13c to be oblique with respect to the belt 13c. Specifically, each of the pawl members 13d is attached to the belt 13c such that the pawl member becomes higher toward the farther side from the belt 13c when ascending with the belt 13c and becomes lower toward the farther side from the belt 13c when descending with the belt 13c.

The coin roll C taken in from the picker <NUM> to the lift <NUM> is received at an upper part of the pawl member 13d, and ascends while being supported by the belt 13c and the pawl member 13d. The coin roll C having ascended falls on an immediately preceding one of the pawl members 13d as the belt 13c turns around the first roller 13a. The coin roll C having fallen moves downward in the space between the pressing plate 13e and the belt 13c. Then, when having moved down to a position below the pressing plate 13e, the coin roll C is released from being pressed by the pressing plate 13e. Accordingly, the coin roll C moves toward the take-out port for the coin roll C while rolling on the pawl member 13d. Details of the lift <NUM> will be described later.

<FIG> is a plan view of the stacker <NUM> and the picker <NUM>. A plurality of coin rolls C are stored in a storage space 11a of the stacker <NUM>. Each of the coin rolls C is composed of a plurality of coins piled in one direction in a layered manner. Inside the coin roll unit <NUM>, the coin piling direction corresponds to the left-right direction of the coin roll unit <NUM>, i.e., a direction that is orthogonal to the direction in which the coin roll C is moved and is parallel to the horizontal direction.

The length of each of the coin rolls C stored in the stacker <NUM> is smaller than the length of the stacker <NUM> along the coin piling direction (i.e., the length in the left-right direction). The greater the difference between the length of the coin roll C and the length of the stacker <NUM> in the left-right direction, the more likely the coin roll C is to be shifted in the left-right direction in the storage space 11a of the stacker <NUM>. In a case that the in-stacker restriction member 11b having an opposing surface <NUM> being a flat surface facing the bottom surface of the coin roll C is attached to the storage space 11a, the position of the coin roll C in the stacker <NUM> in the left-right direction is restricted. That is, by attaching the in-stacker restriction member 11b, it is possible to prevent the coin roll C from shifting in the storage space 11a in the left-right direction. It is thus possible to move the coin roll C straight forward.

The in-stacker restriction member 11b may be configured to be attachable in the storage space 11a at any position in the left-right direction depending on the length of the coin roll C. In other words, the stacker <NUM> may be configured such that the in-stacker restriction member 11b is attachable in the storage space 11a at any position. With such a configuration of the stacker <NUM>, it is possible to move the coin roll C forward regardless of the length of the coin roll C without shifting of the coin roll C in the left-right direction.

Note that, the stacker <NUM> may be configured such that various in-stacker restriction members of different sizes are attachable to the storage space 11a, instead of being configured such that the in-stacker restriction member 11b is attachable in the storage space 11a at any position in the left-right direction. For example, a block member completely filling the space from the left side wall of the stacker <NUM> to the opposing surface <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> may be used as the in-stacker restriction member. In addition, in this case, the stacker <NUM> may be configured such that a block member longer than the in-stacker restriction member in the left-right direction is used as a long in-stacker position restriction member, a block member shorter than the in-stacker position restriction member in the left-right direction is used as a short in-stacker position restriction member, and one selected from these three members is attachable in the storage space 11a. Also with such a configuration of the stacker <NUM>, it is possible to move the coin roll C forward regardless of the length of the coin roll C without shifting of the coin roll C in the left-right direction. The number of in-stacker restriction members having different lengths in the left-right direction may be <NUM>, or may be <NUM> or more.

The length of the coin roll C transferred by the picker <NUM> is less than the length of the picker <NUM> along the coin piling direction (i.e., the length in the left-right direction). The greater the difference between the length of the coin roll C and the length of the picker <NUM> in the left-right direction, the more likely the coin roll C is to be shifted in the left-right direction in the groove 12a of the picker <NUM>. In a case that the in-picker restriction member 12b having an opposing surface <NUM> being a flat surface facing the bottom surface of the coin roll C is attached to the groove 12a, the position of the coin roll C in the picker <NUM> in the left-right direction is restricted. That is, by attaching the in-picker restriction member 12b, it is possible to prevent the coin roll C from shifting in the groove 12a in the left-right direction. It is thus possible to move the coin roll C straight forward.

The picker <NUM> may be configured such that various in-picker restriction members of different sizes are attachable to the groove 12a. <FIG> is a perspective view of three in-picker restriction members having different lengths in the coin piling direction. One of the members illustrated on the upper side of <FIG> is the in-picker restriction member 12b illustrated in <FIG>. One of the members illustrated in the middle of <FIG> is a long in-picker restriction member 12c that is longer than the in-picker restriction member 12b in the coin piling direction. One of the members illustrated on the lower side of <FIG> is a short in-picker restriction member 12d that is shorter than the in-picker restriction member 12b in the coin piling direction. The picker <NUM> may be configured such that a selected one of the three members is attachable in the groove 12a. With such a configuration of the picker <NUM>, it is possible to move the coin roll C forward regardless of the length of the coin roll C without shifting of the coin roll C in the left-right direction. The number of in-picker restriction members having different lengths in the left-right direction may be <NUM>, or may be <NUM> or more.

Note that, the picker <NUM> may be configured such that one in-picker restriction member is attachable in the groove 12a at any position in the coin piling direction (i.e., in the left-right direction) depending on the length of the coin roll C, instead of being configured such that the various picker restriction members of different sizes are attachable to the groove 12a. For example, in a case that a coin roll shorter than the coin roll C illustrated in <FIG> is processed, the in-picker restriction member 12b may be configured to be attachable at a position on the right side of the position illustrated in <FIG>.

The coin roll C moves from the stacker <NUM> to the lift <NUM> in a state where the positional shift of the coin roll C in the left-right direction is prevented. In other words, the coin roll C moves from the stacker <NUM> to the lift <NUM>, with the face or the back of a coin being oriented in the left-right direction. The stacker <NUM> guides the coin roll C in the front-rear direction with the inner surface of one side wall of the stacker <NUM> and the opposing surface <NUM> of the in-stacker restriction member 11b. Thus, the stacker <NUM> moves the coin roll C from the rear side to the front side in the storage space 11a in a state where the positional shift of the coin roll C in the left-right direction is prevented. The picker <NUM> surrounds the coin roll C with the opposing surface <NUM> of the in-picker restriction member 12b and the inner surface of the groove 12a, so as to prevent the coin roll C from shifting in the left-right direction in the groove 12a. Thus, the picker <NUM> transfers the coin roll C in a state where the positional shift of the coin roll C in the left-right direction is prevented. The lift <NUM> supports the coin roll C as if to hold the coin roll C at a sharp angle portion formed by the belt 13c and the upper surface of the pawl member 13d. Thus, the lift <NUM> transports the coin roll C in a state where the positional shift of the coin roll C in the left-right direction is prevented.

The opposing surface <NUM> of the in-stacker restriction member 11b and the opposing surface <NUM> of the in-picker restriction member 12b guides the coin roll C in a direction orthogonal to the piling direction of the coin roll C (i.e., the front-rear direction). By disposing the in-stacker restriction member 11b and the in-picker restriction member 12b such that their opposing surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> are included in a single plane, it is possible to smoothly move the coin roll C from the stacker <NUM> to the picker <NUM>. In other words, it is possible to prevent the coin roll C from being caught by the stacker <NUM>, the in-stacker restriction member 11b, the picker <NUM>, or the in-picker restriction member 12b when the picker <NUM> takes in the coin roll C.

In the example of <FIG>, the opposing surface <NUM> of the in-stacker restriction member 11b and the opposing surface <NUM> of the in-picker restriction member 12b are present at a position corresponding in the left-right direction to one of the pawl members 13d receiving the coin roll C (see the dotted line). That is, the coin roll C is moved from the stacker <NUM> to the lift <NUM> along the position corresponding to the opposing surface <NUM> of the in-stacker restriction member 11b, the opposing surface <NUM> of the in-picker restriction member 12b, and the pawl member 13d. In other words, when the coin roll C in the stacker <NUM> is moved to the lift <NUM>, the coin roll C is moved while the in-stacker restriction member 11b and the in-picker restriction member 12b prevent an increase in spacing between, on one hand, one end (right end) of the stacker <NUM> and one end (right end) of the picker <NUM> and, on the other hand, the coin roll C. Consequently, the coin roll C can be appropriately moved from the stacker <NUM> to the two pawl members 13d of the lift <NUM> on the right side.

<FIG> illustrates a state in which the coin roll C is kept to the left by the in-stacker restriction member 11b and the in-picker restriction member 12b in the stacker <NUM> and the picker <NUM>. However, in the stacker <NUM> and the picker <NUM>, the coin roll C may be kept to the right by the in-stacker restriction member 11b and the in-picker restriction member 12b.

<FIG> is a schematic side view of the coin roll unit <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. Hereinafter, the description of the contents common to Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> may be omitted.

The coin roll unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment comprises a recognition section <NUM>, a reject section <NUM>, and a dispensing section <NUM>.

The recognition section <NUM> is disposed in the middle of the transport path for transportation of the coin roll by the lift <NUM>, and recognizes the coin roll being transported by the lift <NUM>. The reject section <NUM> is disposed to face the lift <NUM>. In a case that the result of recognition by the recognition section <NUM> indicates that the recognized coin roll is not to be dispensed, the coin roll is passed from the lift <NUM> to the reject section <NUM> and stored in the reject section <NUM>. In a case that the result of recognition by the recognition section <NUM> indicates that the recognized coin roll is to be dispensed, the coin roll is transported by the lift <NUM> to the dispensing section <NUM>.

The coin roll unit <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> comprises a plurality of sets of stackers and pickers (six sets in the example illustrated in <FIG>).

Specifically, the coin roll unit <NUM> comprises the stacker <NUM>, a second stacker <NUM>, a third stacker <NUM>, a fourth stacker <NUM>, a fifth stacker <NUM>, and a sixth stacker <NUM> that are disposed to overlap one another in the upper-lower direction. Each of the stacker <NUM> and the second to the sixth stackers <NUM> to <NUM> is configured the same as the stacker <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>. That is, each of the stackers comprises an in-stacker restriction member configured the same as the in-stacker restriction member 11b in Embodiment <NUM>. It is, however, needless to say that in each of the stackers, each in-stacker restriction member is attached to a position different depending on the length of the coin roll C to be stored in the stacker.

The coin roll unit <NUM> comprises the picker <NUM>, a second picker <NUM>, a third picker <NUM>, a fourth picker <NUM>, a fifth picker <NUM>, and a sixth picker <NUM>. Each of the picker <NUM> and the second to the sixth pickers <NUM> to <NUM> is configured the same as the picker <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>. That is, each of the pickers comprises an in-picker restriction member configured the same as the in-picker restriction member 12b in Embodiment <NUM>. It is, however, needless to say that in each of the pickers, each in-picker restriction member is attached to a position different depending on the length of the coin roll C to be transferred by the picker.

Each of the stackers stores coin rolls of a type different between the stackers (e.g., different in denomination of piled coins and/or in length of a coin roll). The second stacker <NUM> stores a second coin roll. The second coin roll differs from the coin roll stored in the stacker <NUM> in length along the coin piling direction. The second picker <NUM> transfers the second coin roll from the second stacker <NUM> to the lift <NUM>. Coin rolls stored in the other stackers are similarly transferred to the lift <NUM>.

The in-stacker restriction member that the second stacker <NUM> comprises (hereinafter, referred to as a second in-stacker restriction member) restricts the position of the second coin roll in the left-right direction (coin piling direction) in the second stacker <NUM>. The in-picker restriction member that the second picker <NUM> comprises (hereinafter, referred to as a second in-picker restriction member) restricts the position of the second coin roll in the left-right direction (coin piling direction) in the second picker <NUM>.

Thus, the coin roll unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment is capable of transferring the coin roll from the stacker <NUM> to the lift <NUM> via the picker <NUM> without the coin roll being shifted in the coin piling direction. In addition, the coin roll unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment is capable of transferring the second coin roll, which is different from the coin roll in length in the coin piling direction, from the second stacker <NUM> to the lift <NUM> via the second picker <NUM> without the second coin roll being shifted in the coin piling direction. Likewise, the coin roll unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment is capable of transferring the third to the sixth coin rolls, which are different from the coin roll and the second coin roll in length in the coin piling direction, to the lift <NUM> without the coin rolls being shifted in the coin piling direction. That is, the coin roll unit <NUM> according to the present embodiment is capable of smoothly processing various coin rolls without clogging in course of movement of the coin rolls.

Next, the configuration of the lift <NUM> common to Embodiment <NUM> and Embodiment <NUM> will be described in detail.

<FIG> schematically illustrates one aspect of the lift <NUM>. In the aspect illustrated in <FIG>, the lift <NUM> comprises two belts as belts 13c, that is, a first belt <NUM> and a second belt <NUM>. A plurality of first pawl members 131a for supporting the coin roll C are attached to the first belt <NUM>. A plurality of second pawl members 132a for supporting the coin roll C are attached to the second belt <NUM>. The first pawl members 131a and the second pawl members 132a are disposed at substantially the same heights. The lift <NUM> is configured such that the first pawl members 131a and the second pawl members 132a move in the upper-lower direction while aligned in the horizontal direction (that is, in the left-right direction).

<FIG> schematically illustrates another aspect of the lift <NUM>. In the aspect illustrated in <FIG>, the lift <NUM> comprises three belts as belts 13c, that is, the first belt <NUM>, the second belt <NUM>, and a third belt <NUM>. The second belt <NUM> is disposed to be sandwiched between the first belt <NUM> and the third belt <NUM>. A plurality of third pawl members 133a for supporting the coin roll C are attached to the third belt <NUM>. The lift <NUM> is configured such that the first pawl members 131a, the second pawl members 132a, and the third pawl members 133a move in the upper-lower direction while aligned in the horizontal direction (that is, in the left-right direction).

In the aspect illustrated in <FIG>, the first belt <NUM> is disposed such that the first pawl members 131a are aligned with the right end of the picker <NUM> substantially in the front-rear direction. The second belt <NUM> is disposed such that the second pawl members 132a are aligned with the opposing surface <NUM> of the in-picker restriction member 12b substantially in the front-rear direction. Note that, this state is illustrated in <FIG>. The three pawl members 13d illustrated in <FIG> correspond to one of the first pawl members 131a, one of the second pawl members 132a, and one of the third pawl members 133a, respectively.

Therefore, the picker <NUM> is capable of transporting the coin roll C such that the right end side of the coin roll C is placed reliably on the first pawl member 131a and the left end side of the coin roll C is placed reliably on the second pawl member 132a, while restricting the position of the coin roll C by the in-picker restriction member 12b.

Further, in the aspect illustrated in <FIG>, the lift <NUM> comprises the third belt <NUM>. Therefore, even in a case that the left end of the coin roll C protrudes by a long distance from the left end of the second pawl member 132a in a state where the right side portion of the coin roll C is placed on the first pawl member 131a, the protruding portion can be placed on the third pawl member 133a. Therefore, the lift <NUM> is capable of reliably transporting a long coin roll C by the three pawl members without dropping the long coin roll C. In the case of processing such a long coin roll C, the in-picker restriction member 12b or the short in-picker restriction member 12d is attached to the picker <NUM> such that the opposing surface <NUM> is aligned with the third pawl member 133a substantially in the longitudinal direction, or is positioned on the left side of the third pawl member 133a.

A spacing between the second belt <NUM> and the first belt <NUM> may be narrowed to some extent. For example, the spacing between the second belt <NUM> and the first belt <NUM> may be smaller than a spacing between the second belt <NUM> and the third belt <NUM>. Alternatively, the spacing between the second belt <NUM> and the first belt <NUM> may be shorter than half of the length of the coin roll C that is the longest of the lengths of the various coin rolls C that can be processed by the coin roll unit <NUM> (in other words, may be shorter than half of the length of the groove 12a of the picker <NUM>). The effect will be described below.

If the left end of the coin roll C is positioned near the right end of the second pawl member 132a while the coin roll C is being transported by the lift <NUM>, there is a possibility that the coin roll C is shifted rightward by some vibration and the left end of the coin roll C comes off the second pawl member 132a. In this case, the coin roll C drops between the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member 132a. Further, when the left end of the coin roll C is positioned between the right end of the second pawl member 132a and the middle of the second pawl member 132a in the left-right direction, there is a possibility that the second pawl member 132a is inclined such that its right side is lowered due to the weight of the coin roll C, because the second belt <NUM> has flexibility. When such inclination occurs, there is a possibility that the gap between the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member 132a widens and the left end of the coin roll C slides on the second pawl member 132a, and consequently, the coin roll C drops between the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member 132a.

However, by reducing the spacing between the second belt <NUM> and the first belt <NUM>, it is possible to position the left end of the coin roll C closer to the left end of the second pawl member 132a than to the right end of the second pawl member 132a. That is, the left end portion of the coin roll C can be supported in a wider range of the second pawl member 132a. Therefore, the left end of the coin roll C does not come off the second pawl member 132a. The second pawl member 132a does not incline such that its right side is lowered. So, it is possible to prevent the coin roll C from dropping between the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member 132a.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a still another aspect of the lift <NUM>. The lift <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> differs from the lift <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> in that the lift <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> comprises gap restriction members <NUM>.

Each of the gap restriction members <NUM> is a member for preventing the attitudes of the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member from changing. There are no particular limitations on the material and shape of the member as long as it has such a function. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the gap restriction member <NUM> is a platelike member comprising a through hole through which the first pawl member 131a can pass and a through hole through which the second pawl member 132a can pass. The gap restriction member <NUM> is configured to be engaged with the bases of the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member 132a. The gap restriction member <NUM> has a shape that does not make contact with the coin roll C supported by the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member 132a when the gap restriction member <NUM> is positioned at the bases of the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member 132a. Therefore, the gap restriction member <NUM> does not adversely affect the transportation of the coin roll C by the lift <NUM>.

When the lift <NUM> comprises the gap restriction member <NUM>, it is possible to prevent the attitudes of the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member from changing. Therefore, even when the left end of the coin roll C is positioned between the right end of the second pawl member 132a and the middle of the second pawl member 132a in the left-right direction, it is possible to prevent the second pawl member 132a from being inclined such that its right side is lowered due to the weight of the coin roll C, and to prevent the gap between the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member 132a from being widened. It is thus possible to reliably prevent the coin roll C from dropping between the first pawl member 131a and the second pawl member 132a.

The gap restriction member <NUM> may be configured to be attachable to and detachable from the first belt <NUM> and the second belt <NUM>. With this configuration, it is possible to attach the gap restriction member <NUM> to a place where the gap restriction member is required and when necessary (for example, when a short coin roll C is processed by the coin roll unit <NUM>). Further, when performing maintenance of the lift <NUM>, it is possible to remove the gap restriction member <NUM>. Therefore, it is not necessary to treat the first belt <NUM> and the second belt <NUM> integrally. Accordingly, maintainability is improved.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a medium processing device <NUM>, which is one of applications of the coin roll unit <NUM>. The medium processing device <NUM> comprises the coin roll unit <NUM>, a bill unit <NUM>, a check unit <NUM>, a loose coin unit <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a peripheral unit <NUM>.

The coin roll unit <NUM> is configured the same as described above. The coin roll unit <NUM> comprises the dispensing section <NUM> on the front surface. The bill unit <NUM> processes bills. The check unit <NUM> processes checks. The loose coin unit <NUM> processes loose coins. The controller <NUM> controls the coin roll unit <NUM>, the bill unit <NUM>, the check unit <NUM>, and the loose coin unit <NUM>. The peripheral unit <NUM> comprises a card reader, a printer, a display that provides information to a user of the medium processing device <NUM>, an Encrypting PIN Pad (EPP) that receives an operation from the user, and the like. The peripheral unit <NUM> transmits, to the controller <NUM>, a signal based on the operation received from the user. The controller <NUM> controls the coin roll unit <NUM>, the bill unit <NUM>, the check unit <NUM>, the loose coin unit <NUM>, and the peripheral unit <NUM> based on the signal received from the peripheral unit <NUM>.

For example, the user inputs the type of needed coin roll (e.g., the denomination and number of coins constituting the coin roll) and the number of coin rolls via the peripheral unit <NUM>. The controller <NUM> controls the coin roll unit <NUM> based on the input information. Specifically, the stacker <NUM> storing the coin roll of the type requested by the user, the picker <NUM> constituting a set with the stacker <NUM>, and the lift <NUM> are actuated to move the coin roll C from the stacker <NUM> to the dispensing section <NUM>. By such an operation, the medium processing device <NUM>, in particular, the coin roll unit <NUM> is capable of dispensing the requested number of coin rolls of the requested type as requested by the user.

Claim 1:
A coin roll unit (<NUM>), comprising:
a stacker (<NUM>) that is configured to store a coin roll (C) composed of a plurality of coins piled in a piling direction in a layered manner;
a lift (<NUM>) that is configured to transport the coin roll (C); and
a picker (<NUM>) that is configured to transfer the coin roll (C) from the stacker (<NUM>) to the lift (<NUM>),
wherein the picker (<NUM>) comprises an in-picker restriction member (12b) that is configured to restrict a position of the coin roll (C) in the picker (<NUM>) in the piling direction,
the picker (<NUM>) is configured such that the in-picker restriction member (12b) is attachable to the picker (<NUM>) at any position in the picker (<NUM>) in the piling direction,
the stacker (<NUM>) comprises an in-stacker restriction member (11b) that is configured to restrict a position of the coin roll (C) in the stacker (<NUM>) in the piling direction,
the in-picker restriction member (12b) has an opposing surface (<NUM>) facing the coin roll (C) in the picker (<NUM>),
the in-stacker restriction member (11b) has an opposing surface (<NUM>) facing the coin roll (C) in the stacker (<NUM>), and
the opposing surface (<NUM>) of the in-picker restriction member (12b) and the opposing surface (<NUM>) of the in-stacker restriction member (11b) are configured to be located in a same plane and are configured to guide the coin roll (C) in a direction orthogonal to the piling direction.