Patent ID: 12236737

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments for performing the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

1. Configuration of Automatic Teller Machine

As shown from the exterior illustrated inFIG.1, an automatic teller machine1is a cash handling device mainly composed of a box-shaped casing2and, for example, is installed in a financial organization, any one of various commercial facilities, or the like and performs transactions relating to cash with a user (in other words, a customer of a financial organization or a commercial facility, or the like) such as a depositing process and a dispensing process.

In the casing2, a reception unit3is disposed at a place at which input of a bill, an operation using a touch panel, and the like can be easily performed in a state in which a user faces the front of the casing2. In the reception unit3, a bankbook entrance/exit port4, a card entrance/exit port5, a coin depositing/dispensing port6, a bill depositing/dispensing port7, an operation display unit8, and the like are disposed, and the reception unit3directly exchanges, for example, cash, a card, or the like with a user and receives a notification of information about a transaction and an operation instruction.

The bankbook entrance/exit port4is a part into which a bankbook is inserted and that discharged from the bankbook. On an inner side of the bankbook entrance/exit port4, a bankbook processing unit (not illustrated) that reads magnetic information from a magnetic recording part disposed on a back cover or the like of a bankbook and records details of a transaction in the bankbook is disposed. The card entrance/exit port5is a part into or from which various cards such as a cash card and the like are inserted or discharged. On an inner side of the card entrance/exit port5, a card processing unit (not illustrated) that reads an account number and the like, which are magnetically recorded on various cards, is disposed.

The coin depositing/dispensing port6is a part into which coins deposited by a user are inserted and to which coins dispensed to a user are discharged. The bill depositing/dispensing port7is a part into which bills deposited by a user are put and from which bills dispensed to a user are discharged. Each of the coin depositing/dispensing port6and the bill depositing/dispensing port7is opened or closed by driving a shutter. The operation display unit8is a touch panel serving as an operation unit in which a liquid crystal display panel displaying an operation screen, transaction details, and the like at the time of a transaction and a touch sensor detecting a user's input operation are integrated.

Hereinafter, a side of the automatic teller machine1that is faced by a user will be referred to as the front, and a side opposite thereto will be referred to as the rear, the left and right sides as seen by a user facing the front will be respectively referred to as the left and right sides, and an upper side and a lower side are further defined in description.

Inside the casing2, a main control unit9that performs overall control of the automatic teller machine1, a coin processing device10that performs various processes relating to coins that are transaction targets, a bill processing device (not illustrated) that performs various processes relating to bills, and the like are disposed. The main control unit9is mainly composed of a central processing unit (CPU) that is not illustrated and reads a predetermined program from a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, or the like that are not illustrated and executes the predetermined program, thereby performing various processes such as a depositing process, a dispensing process, and the like. In addition, the main control unit9has inside it a storage unit that is formed from a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a flash memory, and the like and stores various kinds of information in this storage unit.

The coin processing device10is formed in a shape similar to a rectangular parallelepiped as a whole and is attached to the casing2through a slide rail that is not illustrated in the drawing. In addition, on a front face side or a rear face side of the casing2, a door (not illustrated) that can be opened or closed is disposed. For this reason, in a case in which a maintenance operation or the like is performed, the automatic teller machine1, after opening a door disposed on the front face side or the rear face side of the casing2, causes the coin processing device10to slide to the front or the rear, thereby causing the coin processing device10to be positioned outside the casing2or to be housed inside the casing2.

2. Configuration of Coin Processing Device

As shown in a schematic right-side view illustrated inFIG.2, in the coin processing device10, a plurality of parts performing various processes relating to coins are built inside the coin processing device casing11. These coins, for example, are formed of a material of a non-magnetic body having sufficient strength such as an alloy of copper and nickel, aluminum, or the like and are formed in thin plate shapes. In the coin processing device10, a plurality of types of coins having different diameters and different thicknesses are assumed to be handled.

Inside the coin processing device casing11, a depositing/dispensing unit13, a chute unit14, an upper separation unit15, a recognition and conveyance unit16, a delivery unit17, a pin belt conveyance unit18,6stacker units21, a dispensing conveyance unit22, and a temporary storage unit23are disposed relatively upward or near the center. In addition, inside the coin processing device casing11, a coin control unit12, a supplementary recovery storage24, a first supplementary rejection storage25, a second supplementary rejection storage26, a rejection storage27, a lost acquisition storage28, and a lower separation unit29are disposed on a relatively lower side.

Similar to the main control unit9, the coin control unit12is mainly composed of a CPU that is not illustrated and reads a predetermined program from a ROM, a flash memory, or the like that is not illustrated and executes the predetermined program, thereby performing various processes such as a depositing process, a dispensing process, and the like to perform overall control of the coin processing device10. In addition, the coin control unit12has inside of it a storage unit formed from a RAM, a flash memory, and the like and causes this storage unit to store various kinds of information.

By taking/giving coins from/to a user, the depositing/dispensing unit13allows the user to deposit the coins or allows the user to withdraw the coins. The depositing/dispensing unit13has a container13A that has an opening portion on an upper side and houses coins, a shutter13B that opens or closes the opening portion, a sensor (not illustrated) that detects presence/absence of coins inside the container13A, and the like.

When coins are put into the container13A by a user in a state in which the shutter13B is slidably moved to a rear side to open as illustrated inFIG.3, the depositing/dispensing unit13moves the shutter13B to a front side to be closed as illustrated inFIG.2, delivers the coins from the inside of the container13A to the chute unit14to fall inside the chute unit14and causes the coins to reach the inside of the upper separation unit15. In addition, when coins are conveyed from the pin belt conveyance unit18to be described below in a state in which the shutter13B is closed, the depositing/dispensing unit13houses the coins inside the container13A and thereafter opens the shutter13B to allow a user to receive the coins.

The upper separation unit15is composed of an integration separation part15A that is a part occupying a relatively large volume on a lower side and a separation conveyance part15B that is formed to protrude from the integration separation part15A to the upper side. This upper separation unit15integrates coins in the integration separation part15A, separates these coins one by one, conveys the coins upward by the separation conveyance part15B, further conveys the coins along the conveyance path backward, and delivers the coins to the recognition and conveyance unit16.

The recognition and conveyance unit16is positioned on the right side of the chute unit14, images a coin while conveying it, and determines whether or not the coin can be handled on the basis of a denomination, authenticity, a degree of damage, or the like of the coin based on an acquired image signal. In addition, the recognition and conveyance unit16notifies of an acquired determination result to the coin control unit12as a result of recognition of the coin and delivers the coin to the delivery unit17. The delivery unit17delivers the coin received from the recognition and conveyance unit16to the pin belt conveyance unit18.

The pin belt conveyance unit18surrounds a front-side lower part, a lower side, a rear side, and an upper side of the stacker units21respectively with a front-pin belt conveyance unit18F, a lower-pin belt conveyance unit18L, a rear-pin belt conveyance unit18R, and an upper-pin belt conveyance unit18U, thereby forming a conveyance path that is a path along which coins are conveyed. The pin belt conveyance unit18is composed of a conveyance guide that is brought into contact with a surface of a coin and guides the coin to advance along a conveyance path and a pin belt that travels along the entire conveyance path. In this pin belt, a pin that is brought into contact with a tail side of a coin and is used for pressing the coin in a conveyance direction is disposed. By causing the pin belt to travel, the pin belt conveyance unit18conveys a coin received from the delivery unit17along the conveyance path and discharges the coin to the inside of the container13A of the depositing/dispensing unit13.

In addition, in the pin belt conveyance unit18, branching parts19that cause the conveyance path of coins to branch are disposed at a plurality of places disposed in a front-side lower part and on a lower side of the stacker units21. On the left side of each branching part19, a guide part30that guides coins is disposed.

Each branching part19has a guide plate that can rotate, an actuator, and the like (none thereof is illustrated) and, by rotating the guide plate on the basis of control of the coin control unit12, switching between advancing coins along the pin belt conveyance unit18and branching coins to each guide part30is performed. Each guide part30causes a coin to advance to the supplementary recovery storage24, the first supplementary rejection storage25or the second supplementary rejection storage26, the temporary storage unit23, the rejection storage27, the lost acquisition storage28, and the like.

Furthermore, in the pin belt conveyance unit18, stacker branching parts20are disposed at 6 places above the 6 stacker units21. On the left side of each stacker branching part20, a guide part31that guides coins to the stacker unit21is disposed.

Each stacker branching part20is configured similar to each branching part19, and, by rotating the guide plate on the basis of control of the coin control unit12, switching between causing coins to advance along the pin belt conveyance unit18and causing coins to branch to each stacker unit21is performed.

Each stacker unit21has a guide part31that is associated with a coin of a predetermined type and is disposed on an upper side, an integration part32that integrates coins to be piled with overlapping each other in a vertical direction on a lower side of the guide part31, and a feed-out part33that feeds out coins from a lower side of the integration part32. When coins conveyed by the pin belt conveyance unit18are received from the stacker branching part20, this stacker unit21guides the coins to the integration part32to be integrated using the guide part31. In addition, the stacker unit21feeds out coins integrated in the integration part32one by one using the feed-out part33on the basis of control of the coin control unit12and causes the coins to fall into the dispensing conveyance unit22or the temporary storage unit23disposed on the lower side.

The dispensing conveyance unit22is positioned on the right side of the pin belt conveyance unit18, in other words, on a front side of a sheet face ofFIG.2, is configured as a hollow rectangular parallelepiped of which an upper side and a front side are open and forms a space in which coins can be housed inside. In addition, the dispensing conveyance unit22has a belt conveyance mechanism formed from a belt, a pulley, and the like built therein on the bottom and places or integrates coins fed out from the stacker unit21on the belt. By causing an upper part of the belt to travel to the front side in a state in which coins are placed or integrated on the belt, this dispensing conveyance unit22causes the coins to fall into the temporary storage unit23disposed on the front side.

The temporary storage unit23is configured such that the bottom is forwardly inclined upward, and left and right side plates are formed in a triangle shape, has a space housing coin formed inside thereof, and has a belt conveyance mechanism built on the bottom therein. For this reason, the temporary storage unit23places or integrates coins fed out from the stacker unit21and coins conveyed from the dispensing conveyance unit22on a belt disposed in the internal space. In addition, by causing an upper part of the belt to travel to be forwardly inclined upward in a state in which coins are placed or integrated on the belt, the temporary storage unit23feeds out the coins to the upper separation unit15disposed on the front side and causes the coins to fall into the inside thereof.

The supplementary recovery storage24has an integration part that integrates coins inside thereof, a conveyance mechanism that conveys coins integrated in the integration part, and the like. This supplementary recovery storage24integrates coins guided by the guide part30, feeds out the coins integrated inside to the front side, and delivers the coins to the lower separation unit29. Each of the first supplementary rejection storage25and the second supplementary rejection storage26has a space in which coins are integrated inside and integrates coins guided by the guide part30. Each of the rejection storage27and the lost acquisition storage28has a space in which coins are integrated inside thereof and integrates coins guided by the guide part30.

The lower separation unit29is disposed at a position adjacent to a rear side of the supplementary recovery storage24. Although this lower separation unit29has a configuration similar to the upper separation unit15, an installation direction with respect to the coin processing device casing11is different from that of the upper separation unit15. This lower separation unit29is composed of an integration separation part29A and a separation conveyance part29B that respectively correspond to the integration separation part15A and the separation conveyance part15B. The lower separation unit29receives coins from the supplementary recovery storage24and integrates the coins inside thereof, separates the integrated coins one by one and conveys the coins to the upper side one by one, and discharges the coins to the inside of the temporary storage unit23.

3. Conveyance of Coins in Various Processes

Next, conveyance, integration, and the like of coins in various processes accompanying conveyance of coins in the coin processing device10, that is, a depositing process, a dispensing process, and the like will be described. Here, each process performed in the coin processing device10in a case in which a depositing transaction and a dispensing transaction are performed between the automatic teller machine1and a user will be described.

In a case in which a depositing transaction is performed between the automatic teller machine1(FIG.1) and a user, the coin processing device10counts the number of coins while recognizing types and the like of the coins input by the user using a depositing and counting process of a previous stage and conveys the coins to appropriate housing places and houses the coins therein using a depositing and housing process of a later stage that follows this. More specifically, when a user is allowed to input coins to the depositing/dispensing unit13in the depositing and counting process of the previous stage, the coin processing device10houses the coins in the temporary storage unit23sequentially through the chute unit14, the upper separation unit15, the recognition conveyance unit16, the delivery unit17, and the pin belt conveyance unit18.

At this time, the coin processing device10totals input amounts on the basis of results of recognition of coins using the recognition conveyance unit16, displays the total on the operation display unit8(FIG.1), and allows a user to select to continue or stop the depositing transaction. The coin processing device10performs the depositing and housing process of the later stage in a case in which continuation is selected by the user, stops the depositing transaction in a case in which stop is selected, and, similar to the case of a dispensing process to be described below, conveys and returns the coins to the depositing/dispensing unit13.

In the depositing and housing process of the later stage, the coin processing device10conveys coins to the stacker unit21to be integrated therein from the temporary storage unit23sequentially through the upper separation unit15, the recognition conveyance unit16, the delivery unit17, the pin belt conveyance unit18, and the stacker branching parts20. At this time, the coin processing device10conveys the coin to the stacker unit21according to the type of the coin on the basis of results of recognition of coins using the recognition conveyance unit16.

In a case in which a dispensing transaction with a user is performed in the automatic teller machine1(FIG.1), the coin processing device10conveys coins corresponding to an amount of money instructed by the user to the depositing/dispensing unit13and dispenses the coins by using the dispensing process. More specifically, when an indication for starting a dispensing transaction or an operation input of an amount of money to be dispensed is received from a user through the operation display unit8(FIG.1), the coin processing device10starts a dispensing process and causes each stacker unit21to dispense coins of types and the number corresponding to the amount of money to be dispensed and integrates the coins inside the temporary storage unit23through the dispensing conveyance unit22. Subsequently, the coin processing device10conveys coins to be housed in the depositing/dispensing unit13sequentially through the temporary storage unit23, the upper separation unit15, the recognition conveyance unit16, the delivery unit17, and the pin belt conveyance unit18and allows a user to receive the coins.

In addition, the coin processing device10is configured to perform a supplementing process of supplementing coins from the supplementary recovery storage24to the stacker units21, a recovering process of recovering coins from the stacker units21to the supplementary recovery storage24, and the like in addition to the depositing process and the dispensing process.

4. Configuration of Depositing/Dispensing Unit

4-1. Configuration of Container

As illustrated inFIG.6, the container13A has left and right side plates of which are in an appropriate circular shape, and a coin integration space13C of a columnar shape that extends in a horizontal direction and integrates coins is formed. In addition, in the container13A, a coin integration plate13D of which a horizontal section has a shape of letter “U” faces a front side, a lower side, and a rear side of the coin integration space13C and integrates coins on an upper side of the coin integration plate13D.

As illustrated inFIGS.6,7,8,9,10,11, and13A to13C, near an upper end of a rear-side plate13dthat is a part of the depositing/dispensing unit13, which is positioned on the rear side of the coin integration plate13D, an inclination part13diof which an upper side is inclined backward with respect to the vertical direction is disposed.

In addition, in the rear-side plate13d,a shutter opposing part13dsthat is bent from the upper end of the inclination part13dito be in a horizontal direction and extends to the rear side is disposed. In the shutter opposing part13ds, at a place facing a shutter protrusion part13Bp (to be described below) of the shutter13B, a shutter opposing part groove34is engraved in a forward/backward direction from a front end to a rear end with a predetermined gap formed in a leftward/rightward direction. In accordance with this, the shutter13B and the shutter opposing part13dsare engaged with each other in a non-contacting state in accordance with the shutter protrusion part13Bp entering into the shutter opposing part groove34, and a so-called nesting structure is formed in a widthwise direction (the leftward/rightward direction). A gap between the shutter13B and the shutter opposing part13dsis formed to be narrower than a minimal coin that is a coin of which a size is the smallest among coins handled in the automatic teller machine1. In accordance with this, the shutter13B moves in a forward/backward direction without being into contact with the shutter opposing part13ds,and penetration of a coin into between the shutter13B and the shutter opposing part13dsis prevented.

Furthermore, in the depositing/dispensing unit13, a hand detecting sensor of an optical type (not illustrated) that detects whether a user's hand is inserted into the container13A is disposed. For this reason, as illustrated inFIGS.7,8, and11, in the inclination part13diof the container13A, a sensor hole portion38for transmitting light of the hand detecting sensor from a rear side of the inclination part13dito a front side that is the coin integration space13C side is formed.

In addition, as illustrated inFIGS.5A and5B, between the rear-side plate13dof the container13A and a storage unit front-side plate42F (to be described below) of a storage unit42, a storage unit container gap SP2that is a gap between the container13A and the storage unit42is formed. Hereinafter, a shutter housing part gap SP and the sensor hole portion38will be collectively referred to also as a housing part inside/outside communication space48as a gap that is a space communicating the inside and the outside of a foreign material storage space42S. InFIGS.5A,5B,14A, and14B, a foreign material storage unit40is emphasized and illustrated to be large.

4-2. Configuration of Shutter

As illustrated inFIG.7, in the shutter13B, a shutter protrusion part13Bp is disposed to protrude in a lower direction toward the shutter opposing part13dsof the rear-side plate13din the container13A from a front end to a rear end in a forward/backward direction with a predetermined gap formed in the leftward/rightward direction in a lower face of a shutter plate shaped part13Bb having a flat plate shape growing in forward, backward, leftward, and rightward directions.

In this way, the shutter13B and the shutter opposing part13dsof the container13A are engaged with each other in a non-contacting state while forming a nesting structure. For this reason, between the shutter13B and the shutter opposing part13ds, the shutter housing part gap SP that is a slight space in the forward/backward direction and is an essential functional gap for allowing the shutter13B to move without being in contact with the container13A is formed. This shutter housing part gap SP is formed to be narrower than the minimal coin. However, when a foreign material FS such as a clip, a pin, a rubber band, a piece of paper, a waste thread, a tape, an adhesive, or the like is put into the container13A together with regular coins, there is a possibility that the foreign material FS passes through the shutter housing part gap SP from the coin integration space13C side (the front side) and moves to a rear side from the rear end of the shutter opposing part13ds.

In addition, there is a possibility that a foreign material FS moves up to a rear side of the rear-side plate13dfrom the coin integration space13C side (the front side) through the sensor hole portion38other than the shutter housing part gap SP, in other words, up to the outside of the coin integration space13C.

5. Configuration of Customer Service Unit

As illustrated inFIGS.2and4, a customer service unit36that can be opened or closed is disposed at an upper end of the front end of the coin processing device casing11. The customer service unit36is disposed to be rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise inFIGS.2,4,5A, and5Bwith respect to the coin processing device casing11around a customer service unit rotation shaft36adisposed at a front end lower end thereof. In this customer service unit36, mainly, the depositing/dispensing unit13and a foreign material storage unit40are built.

For this reason, in the case of a normal operation, in accordance with the customer service unit36becoming a customer service unit closed state as illustrated inFIGS.2and5A, the coin processing device10protects the inside of the coin processing device casing11from the outside. On the other hand, in a case in which a maintenance operation for eliminating a foreign material FS stored in the foreign material storage unit40or the like is performed, the customer service unit36rotates in an opening direction that is counterclockwise rotation inFIG.4and transitions to a customer service unit open state illustrated inFIGS.4and5B, and accordingly, the coin processing device10exposes the foreign material storage unit40to the outside of the coin processing device casing11.

6. Configuration of Foreign Material Storage Unit

As illustrated inFIGS.5A to13C, on a rear side of the container13A of the depositing/dispensing unit13, a foreign material storage unit40storing foreign materials FS that have entered into the shutter housing part gap SP or the sensor hole portion38and have moved from the coin integration space13C side to a rear side of the rear-side plate13dis disposed. The foreign material storage unit40is composed of a storage unit42and a support unit44.

6-1. Configuration of Storage Unit

For example, the storage unit42is composed of a thin-plate shaped resin film that is transparent and bendable such as Mylar (registered trademark), has an approximate box shape of which an upper face is open as a whole, and has a storage unit bottom plate42D, a storage unit rear-side plate42B, a storage unit inner-side left plate42LR, a storage unit outer-side left plate42LL, and a storage unit front-side plate42F. In addition, in the storage unit42, in a space surrounded by the storage unit bottom plate42D, the storage unit rear-side plate42B, the storage unit inner-side left plate42LR, the storage unit outer-side left plate42LL, the storage unit front-side plate42F, and a support unit right-side plate44R of the support unit44, a foreign material storage space42S housing foreign materials FS is formed. Hereinafter, the storage unit rear-side plate42B, the storage unit inner-side left plate42LR, the storage unit outer-side left plate42LL, and the storage unit front-side plate42F that stands in a vertical direction from the storage unit bottom plate42D will be collectively referred to as a wall part.

The storage unit bottom plate42D is composed of a storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR and a storage unit bottom plate left-side part42DL and forms a bottom face of the storage unit42. The storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR has a rectangular shape that extends in a horizontal direction and is long in a leftward/rightward direction in the plan view, has a length in the leftward/rightward direction that is about ⅔ of a length of the storage unit42in the leftward/rightward direction, and is disposed on the right side of the storage unit42. The storage unit bottom plate left-side part42DL has a rectangular shape that extends in a horizontal direction and is long in a leftward/rightward direction in the plan view, has a length in the leftward/rightward direction that is about ⅓ of a length of the storage unit42in the leftward/rightward direction, and is disposed on the left side on an upper side of the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR, in other words, on the left side of the storage unit42.

The storage unit rear-side plate42B is composed of a storage unit rear-side plate right part42BR and a storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL and forms a rear side face of the storage unit42. The storage unit rear-side plate right part42BR is along the vertical direction and is bent from a rear end of the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR in an upward direction at right angles to the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR. This storage unit rear-side plate right part42BR has a length in a leftward/rightward direction that is about2/3of a length of the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR in the leftward/rightward direction and is disposed on a right side of the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR.

The storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL as an opening/closing unit is along a vertical direction and is bent from a rear end of a storage unit outer-side left plate42LL to be described below in a rightward direction at right angles to the storage unit outer-side left plate42LL. This storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL has a shape acquired by rotating a shape of letter “L” viewed from the rear face clockwise by90degrees and is rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise on the plan view around a storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing shaft42BLa as an axis along the vertical direction that is a connection portion with the storage unit outer-side left plate42LL.

At a lower end of a right end of the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL, a storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI is formed. The storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI as a fixing part has a shape acquired by rotating a letter “T” viewed from the rear face by 180 degrees and protrudes to the lower side. In the case of at the time of a normal operation of the coin processing device10, the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI comes into the storage unit closed state in accordance with the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI being locked into an insertion part storage holding part44DI of the support unit44, whereby foreign materials FS are stored in the storage unit42. On the other hand, in a case in which a maintenance operation for eliminating foreign materials FS stored in the storage unit42or the like is performed, in accordance with the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI being gripped by a maintenance staff and is drawn to the rear side, the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI is excluded from the insertion part storage holding part44DI of the support unit44, the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL rotates counterclockwise in the plan view around the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing shaft42BLa to cause the storage unit to be in an open state, and accordingly, a portion of the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL in the foreign material storage space42S is exposed to the outside. In this way, the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL opens or closes the foreign material storage space42S.

The storage unit inner-side left plate42LR is disposed along the vertical direction, is bent from the left end of the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR in an upward direction at right angles to the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR, and has an upper end connected to a right end of the storage unit bottom plate left-side part42DL. The storage unit outer-side left plate42LL is disposed along the vertical direction, is bent in an upward direction from the left end of the storage unit bottom plate left-side part42DL at right angles to the storage unit outer-side left plate42LL, and forms a left side face of the storage unit42.

The storage unit front-side plate42F is composed of a storage unit front-side plate lower side part42FD and a storage unit front-side plate inclination part42FI and forms a front side face of the storage unit42. The storage unit front-side plate lower side part42FD is disposed along the vertical direction and is bent from a rear end of the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR in an upward direction at right angles to the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR. This storage unit front-side plate lower side part42FD is formed from a left end to a right end of the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR.

The storage unit front-side plate inclination part42FI is bent to be forwardly inclined upward such that it is inclined from an upper end of the storage unit front-side plate lower side part42FD and a rear end of the storage unit bottom plate left-side part42DL toward a front side that is the shutter opposing part13dsside with respect to the vertical direction. A front end of the storage unit front-side plate inclination part42FI becomes a storage unit front-side plate inclination part front end42FIe. As illustrated inFIGS.13A to13C, the storage unit front-side plate inclination part front end42FIe enters into from a lower side of the rear end of the shutter opposing part13dsto a front side that is the coin integration space13C side in relation to the forward/backward direction. For this reason, the storage unit front-side plate inclination part42FI overlaps the rear end of the shutter opposing part13dsin relation to the forward/backward direction. In accordance with this, the storage unit42can prevent foreign materials FS that have passed through the shutter housing part gap SP from falling in the storage unit container gap SP2that is a gap between the storage unit42and the container13A on the front side of the storage unit42.

6-2. Configuration of Support Unit

The support unit44is configured by performing metal plate processing such as punching, bending, and the like on a plate made of metal having a predetermined thickness and has a support unit bottom plate44D, support unit right-side plate44R, a support unit left-side plate44L, and a support unit front-side plate44F. This support unit44has a part fixed to the container13A and is positioned on a lower side of the storage unit42as a whole, thereby supporting the storage unit42from the lower side to maintain the strength of the storage unit42.

The support unit bottom plate44D is composed of a support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR and a support unit bottom plate left-side part44DL. The support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR has almost the same external shape as the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR of the storage unit42and is brought into contact with a lower face side of the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR. The support unit bottom plate left-side part44DL has almost the same external shape as the storage unit bottom plate left-side part42DL of the storage unit42and is brought into contact with a lower face side of the storage unit bottom plate left-side part42DL.

In the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR, a support unit bottom face opening portion44Da having a rectangular shape long in the leftward/rightward direction in the plan view is punched over the upper face to the lower face of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR. The support unit bottom face opening portion44Da as an opening portion is positioned on a slight right side of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR, has a length in the leftward/rightward direction that is about a half of the length of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR in the leftward/rightward direction, and has a length in the forward/backward direction that is about a half of the length of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR in the forward/backward direction. In this way, by punching the support unit bottom face opening portion44Da having an area that is about ¼ of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR in the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR, the support unit44exposes a part of the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR in which foreign materials FS are stored to the lower face side of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR through the support unit bottom face opening portion44Da while maintaining the strength of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR. In accordance with this, the foreign material storage unit40causes foreign materials FS stored in the transparent storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR to be visually recognizable from the lower face side of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR through the support unit bottom face opening portion44Da.

In addition, in a place of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR that faces the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI of the storage unit42, the insertion part storage holding part44DI as a storage holding part is formed. In the case of a normal operation of the coin processing device10, the support unit44locks the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI of the storage unit42using the insertion part storage holding part44DI, thereby forming a storage unit closed state. On the other hand, in a case in which a maintenance operation is performed, the support unit44excludes the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI of the storage unit42from the insertion part storage holding part44DI, and a storage unit open state is formed.

The support unit right-side plate44R is disposed along the vertical direction and is bent from the right end of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR in an upward direction at right angles to the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR. The support unit left-side plate44L is disposed along the vertical direction and is bent from the left end of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR in an upward direction at right angles to the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR. This support unit left-side plate44L has almost the same external shape as the storage unit inner-side left plate42LR of the storage unit42and is brought into contact with the left face side of the storage unit inner-side left plate42LR.

The support unit front-side plate44F is disposed along the vertical direction and is bent from the right side of the front end of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR in the upward direction at right angles to the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR. This support unit front-side plate44F has a length in the upward/downward direction that is slightly shorter than the storage unit front-side plate lower side part42FD of the storage unit42and has a length in the leftward/rightward direction that is about a half of the length of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR in the leftward/rightward direction. In addition, the support unit front-side plate44F is brought into contact with the front face side of the storage unit front-side plate lower side part42FD of the storage unit42.

A lower face of a double-sided tape46having a rectangular shape is attached to both ends including left and right ends of the storage unit bottom plate right-side part44DR and a left end of the support unit bottom plate left-side part44DL. The storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR and the storage unit bottom plate left-side part42DL of the storage unit42are attached to an upper face of this double-sided tape46. For this reason, the storage unit42is attached and fixed to the upper side of the support unit44using the double-sided tape46.

7. Storage of Foreign Material

As illustrated inFIGS.13A to13C, when a foreign material FS enters from the coin integration space13C side (the front side) of the rear-side plate13d,for example, to the shutter housing part gap SP in the container13A (FIG.13A), the foreign material FS moves to the rear side inside the shutter housing part gap SP (FIG.13B) and moves to the rear side of the rear end of the shutter housing part gap SP and falls, thereby being stored in the foreign material storage space42S of the storage unit42of the foreign material storage unit40(FIG.13C).

8. Foreign Material Elimination Method

When foreign materials FS stored in the foreign material storage unit40are to be eliminated, a maintenance staff, first, rotates the customer service unit36from the customer service unit closed state illustrated inFIG.5Ato the customer service unit open state illustrated inFIG.5Bto be in a state being able to access the foreign material storage unit40. In this customer service unit open state, the maintenance staff checks whether or not any foreign material FS is stored inside of the foreign material storage unit40by viewing the foreign material storage space42S of the storage unit42in a direction of an arrow AR1through the support unit bottom face opening portion44Da illustrated inFIG.11.

Subsequently, by picking and moving the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI of the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL of the storage unit42to the rear side with fingers, the maintenance staff excludes the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI from the insertion part storage holding part44DI. Furthermore, by further picking and moving the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI to the rear side with fingers, the maintenance staff rotates the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL around the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing shaft42BLa as an opening/closing shaft to be in the storage unit open state illustrated inFIG.12, thereby exposing the part of the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL in the foreign material storage space42S to the outside and forming a state in which a maintenance staff's finger or tweezers is in contact with the foreign material storage space42S. In this state, the maintenance staff picks and eliminates the foreign material FS of the foreign material storage space42S using his or her finger or tweezers, thereby recovering the foreign material FS.

9. Effect and the Like

In the coin processing device10of the configuration described above, the foreign material storage unit40is disposed to be more adjacent to the rear side that is a side on which shutter13B is positioned in the shutter-open state in the container13A than the container13A. For this reason, the coin processing device10can store foreign materials FS that have entered the shutter housing part gap SP or the sensor hole portion38from the coin integration space13C using the foreign material storage unit40. In accordance with this, by preventing foreign materials FS from entering each part of the inside of the coin processing device10, the coin processing device10prevents occurrence of a factor for miscalculation and a load on the drive unit, thereby being able to improve reliability.

In addition, in the coin processing device10, the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI of the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL that is a part of the wall part of the storage unit42is configured to be attachable/detachable to/from the insertion part storage holding part44DI. For this reason, without pressing a maintenance staff to perform a complicated operation of detaching the entire storage unit42from the support unit44, only by causing the storage unit open state by excluding the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI of the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL from the insertion part storage holding part44DI, the coin processing device10allows a maintenance staff to eliminate foreign materials FS stored in the foreign material storage space42S through a space into which the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL is saved. In accordance with this, the coin processing device10allows a maintenance staff to easily recover foreign materials FS and is able to improve the operability of elimination of foreign materials.

Furthermore, the coin processing device10configures the storage unit42of the foreign material storage unit40using a transparent member. For this reason, the foreign material storage unit40can form the foreign material storage space42S of the storage unit42to be visible from the outside of the storage unit42and thus is able to cause foreign materials FS stored in the storage unit42to be visible from the outside of the storage unit42.

Furthermore, in the coin processing device10, the support unit bottom face opening portion44Da is configured to be punched in the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR facing the storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DR of the storage unit42in the support unit44. For this reason, the foreign material storage unit40can form the foreign material storage space42S of the storage unit42to be visible from the outside of the storage unit42in a direction of arrow AR1through the support unit bottom face opening portion44Da as illustrated inFIG.11in the customer service unit open state illustrated inFIG.5B.

According to the configuration described above, the coin processing device10includes the depositing/dispensing unit13that has the container13A as a feeding unit into which coins as media are put and the shutter13B opening or closing the container13A and the foreign material storage unit40that is disposed on a side opposite to the container13A with the housing part inside/outside communication space48as a gap formed in the depositing/dispensing unit13therebetween and stores foreign materials FS that have entered from the housing part inside/outside communication space48. In accordance with this, the coin processing device10can store foreign materials FS that have entered from the coin integration space13C to the housing part inside/outside communication space48using the foreign material storage unit40and can prevent the foreign materials FS from entering each unit of the inside of the coin processing device10.

10. Other Embodiments

10-1. Another Embodiment 1

10-1-1. Configuration of Foreign Material Storage Unit

As illustrated inFIGS.14A and14Bin which the same reference signs are assigned to members corresponding toFIGS.5A and5B, a foreign material storage unit140according to another embodiment is different from the foreign material storage unit40in that a storage unit142is included in place of the storage unit42, and other points are similarly configured.

Although the storage unit142is different from the storage unit42in that it includes a storage unit rear-side plate142B in place of the storage unit rear-side plate42B and a storage unit bottom plate142D in place of the storage unit bottom plate42D, other points are similarly configured. The storage unit rear-side plate142B, in which the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL is not disposed, can rotate clockwise and counterclockwise when viewed from the right side face with respect to the storage unit bottom plate142D around a storage unit rear-side plate bottom plate connection part42Bax that is a connection part between the storage unit rear-side plate142B and the storage unit bottom plate142D as an axis with respect to the storage unit rear-side plate142B.

In the storage unit142, the storage unit rear-side plate bottom plate connection part42Bax is connected to a coin processing device casing11that is a place other than a customer service unit36that does not move together with the customer service unit36at the time of transition between a customer service unit closed state and a customer service unit open state using a link mechanism (not illustrated). This storage unit142has a shape similar to the storage unit42(FIG.5A) in the customer service unit closed state (FIG.14A). On the other hand, in the storage unit142, at the time of transition from the customer service unit closed state (FIG.14A) to the customer service unit open state (FIG.14B), in accordance with the storage unit rear-side plate142B being pulled to the rear side by the link mechanism, an upper end of the storage unit rear-side plate142B in the vertical direction is inclined to the rear side. In this state, the storage unit rear-side plate142B is saved to the rear side and thus largely exposes a rear side face of a foreign material storage space42S to the outside.

In the storage unit42described above, the entire storage unit42is not transformed in accordance with rotation of the customer service unit36and rotates with the customer service unit36. In contrast to this, in the storage unit142, in accordance with rotation of the customer service unit36, although a storage unit front-side plate42F and a storage unit bottom plate142D rotate together with the customer service unit36, the storage unit rear-side plate142B does not rotate together with the customer service unit36and largely exposes and opens the foreign material storage space42S to the outside.

For this reason, compared to the foreign material storage unit40, only by rotating the customer service unit36, the storage unit rear-side plate142B rotates with respect to the storage unit bottom plate142D and exposes the rear side face of the foreign material storage space42S, and accordingly, the foreign material storage unit140enables foreign materials FS stored in the storage unit142to be visible from the outside of the storage unit142and can recover the foreign materials FS without causing a maintenance staff to perform operations of opening and closing the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL.

10-1-2. Foreign Material Elimination Method

When foreign materials FS stored in the foreign material storage unit140are to be eliminated, first, by rotating the customer service unit36from a customer service unit closed state illustrated inFIG.14Ato a customer service unit open state illustrated inFIG.14B, a maintenance staff forms a state in which the foreign material storage unit140is accessible. At this time, in accordance with the storage unit rear-side plate142B being pulled to the rear side by a link mechanism, the storage unit142exposes a rear side face of the foreign material storage space42S to be large. In this customer service unit open state, the maintenance staff checks whether or not a foreign material FS is stored in the inside of the foreign material storage unit140by viewing the foreign material storage space42S of the storage unit142in a direction of arrow AR2. Subsequently, the maintenance staff picks and eliminates the foreign material FS of the foreign material storage space42S from the storage unit rear-side plate142B using his or her finger or tweezers, thereby recovering the foreign material FS.

10-1-3. Effects and the Like

In the configuration described above, by linking opening/closing of the storage unit rear-side plate142B with an opening/closing operation of the customer service unit36, the storage unit142is configured to rotate with respect to the storage unit bottom plate142D such that, when the customer service unit36rotates from the customer service unit closed state to the customer service unit open state, the storage unit rear-side plate142B is separated away from the foreign material storage space42S by being pulled in accordance with rotation of the customer service unit36.

For this reason, only by causing a maintenance staff to perform an operation of rotating the customer service unit36from the customer service unit closed state to the customer service unit open state, which is an operation essentially necessary at the time of accessing the foreign material storage unit140, the storage unit142can enable foreign materials FS stored in the storage unit142to be visible from the outside of the storage unit142by exposing the rear side face of the foreign material storage space42S and recover the foreign materials FS.

In accordance with this, compared with the coin processing device10, the storage unit142can further improve the visibility of foreign materials FS disposed inside of the foreign material storage unit140from the outside and further improve a degree of easiness in recovery of the foreign materials FS.

Also for the other points, the foreign material storage unit140can have operations and effects similar to those of the foreign material storage unit40.

10-2. Another Embodiment 2

In addition, in the embodiment described above, a case in which the storage unit42is configured using Mylar (registered trademark) has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and the storage unit42may be configured using other various materials.

10-3. Another Embodiment 3

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a case in which the entire storage unit42is configured using Mylar (registered trademark) that is a transparent resin film has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and at least a part of the storage unit42may not be transparent. In such a case, in order to allow the foreign material storage space42S to be visible through the support unit bottom face opening portion44Da, particularly, it is preferable that the storage unit bottom plate42D be transparent.

10-4. Another Embodiment 4

In addition, in the embodiment described above, a case in which foreign materials FS are stored by the storage unit42, and the storage unit42is supported by the support unit44has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and when the strength of the support unit44can be maintained by forming the support unit44using molding, for example, transparent plastic or the like, the support unit44may be omitted.

10-5. Another Embodiment 5

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a case in which one set of the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI and the insertion part storage holding part44DI are formed in each of the storage unit42and the support unit44has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and two sets of the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI and the insertion part storage holding part44DI may be formed in each of the storage unit42and the support unit44, and a wall part between the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI of one set and the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLI of the other set in the storage unit42may be configured to be attachable/detachable to/from the support unit44.

10-6. Another Embodiment 6

In addition, in the embodiment described above, a case in which the storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BL is formed in a part of the storage unit rear-side plate42B that is a part of the wall part of the storage unit42has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and an opening/closing unit that exposes the foreign material storage space42S to the outside may be formed in the storage unit bottom plate42D.

10-7. Another Embodiment 7

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a case in which the support unit bottom face opening portion44Da is punched in the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and an opening portion may be formed using various methods, for example, bending of a part of the support unit bottom plate right-side part44DR or the like.

10-8. Another Embodiment 8

In addition, in the embodiment described above, a case in which the support unit bottom face opening portion44Da is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in a leftward/rightward direction in the plan view has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and the support unit bottom face opening portion44Da may be in various shapes such as a triangular shape, a square shape, a circular shape, an oval shape, and the like in the plan view.

10-9. Another Embodiment 9

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a case in which the customer service unit36transitions between the customer service unit closed state and the customer service unit open state through rotation has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, the customer service unit36may transition between the customer service unit closed state and the customer service unit open state by moving in various types such as sliding movement.

10-10. Another Embodiment 10

In addition, in the embodiment described above, a case in which the present invention is applied to the foreign material storage unit40storing foreign materials FS that have entered the shutter housing part gap SP that is a gap between the container13A and the shutter13B and the sensor hole portion38formed in the container13A has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention may be applied to other various places in which an essential gap is present, for example, a stacker that has a sensor hole portion and a conveyance path and integrates coins for each type of coins, and the like.

10-11. Another Embodiment 11

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a case in which the present invention is applied to the foreign material storage unit40built in the coin processing device10of the automatic teller machine1(FIG.1) performing various transactions with a user has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention may be applied to various devices handling coins, for example, a cash management device that is installed inside a financial organization, a store of a supermarket, and the like and performs processes such as counting, classification, and the like of coins in accordance with an operation of a staff, a clerk, or the like of the store and the like.

10-12. Another Embodiment 12

In addition, the present invention is not limited to each embodiment and the other embodiments described above. In other words, an application range of the present invention is applied also to an embodiment in which each embodiment described above and a part or the whole of the another embodiment described above are arbitrarily combined and an embodiment in which a part thereof is extracted.

10-13. Another Embodiment 13

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a case in which the coin processing device10as a medium processing device is composed of the depositing/dispensing unit13as a depositing/dispensing unit and the foreign material storage unit40as a foreign material storage unit has been described. The present invention is not limited thereto, and the coin processing device may be composed of a depositing/dispensing unit and a foreign material storage unit formed to have other various configurations.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention, for example, can be used in an automatic teller machine performing a transaction process relating to coins with a user and the like.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1Automatic teller machine2Casing3Reception unit4Bankbook entrance/exit port5Card entrance/exit port6Coin depositing/dispensing port7Bill depositing/dispensing port8Operation display unit9Main control unit10Coin processing device11Coin processing device casing12Coin control unit13Depositing/dispensing unit13A Container13B Shutter13Bb Shutter plate shaped part13Bp Shutter protrusion part13C Coin integration space13D Coin integration plate13dRear-side plate13diInclination part13dsShutter opposing part14Chute unit15Upper separation unit15A Integration separation part15B Separation conveyance part16Recognition conveyance unit17Delivery unit18Pin belt conveyance unit19Branching part20Stacker branching part21Stacker unit22Dispensing conveyance unit23Temporary storage unit24Supplementary recovery storage25First supplementary rejection storage26Second supplementary rejection storage27Rejection storage28Lost acquisition storage29Lower separation unit29A Integration separation part29B Separation conveyance part30,31Guide part32Integration part33Feed-out part34Shutter opposing part groove36Customer service unit36aCustomer service unit rotation shaft38Sensor hole portion40,140Foreign material storage unit42,142Storage unit42S Foreign material storage space42D,142D Storage unit bottom plate42DR Storage unit bottom plate right-side part42DL Storage unit bottom plate left-side part42B,142B Storage unit rear-side plate42BR Storage unit rear-side plate right part42BL Storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part42BLI Storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing part inserting part42BLa Storage unit rear-side plate opening/closing shaft42Bla42LR Storage unit inner-side left plate42LL Storage unit outer-side left plate42F Storage unit front-side plate42FD Storage unit front-side plate lower side part42FI Storage unit front-side plate inclination part42FIe Storage unit front-side plate inclination part front end42Bax Storage unit rear-side plate bottom plate connection part44Support unit44D Support unit bottom plate44DR Support unit bottom plate right-side part44Da Support unit bottom face opening portion44DI Insertion part storage holding part44DL Support unit bottom plate left-side part44R Support unit right-side plate44L Support unit left-side plate44F Support unit front-side plate46Double-sided tape48Housing part inside/outside communication spaceSP Shutter housing part gapSP2Storage unit container gapFS Foreign materialsAR1, AR2Arrows