JP4498758B2 - Automatic change machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic change machine for selecting and storing deposited money by denomination.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an automatic change machine in which deposited money is sorted and stored according to money type and paid out according to money type (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In an automatic change machine, the amount of money is monitored for each denominated coin, and when it is detected that the amount of coins of a certain denomination is in an end state, that fact is notified to a host device such as a POS terminal or the like. An error is notified to the operator. The “end state” here is not only when the actual amount of coins of a certain denomination becomes 0, but it is a near end where the amount of money is not less than a specified number of coins, for example. It is a concept that includes states. The concept of such “end state” is common throughout this specification.

JP 2001-148073 A

  Generally, at a store, when the business day ends, the money in the automatic change machine is collected and stored in a safe or the like. Then, at the start of business the next day, the money stored in the safe is deposited into the automatic change machine as a reserve.

  By the way, for example, in a 100-yen shop where transactions are made in units of 100 yen, if operation including consumption tax is included in 100 yen, coins of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen and 50 yen are used as change. There is nothing. However, just because it is not used as change, coins of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, and 50 yen are not put into the automatic change machine at the start of business, and those coins are in an end state, and the automatic change machine Error notification is performed. Therefore, in such a case, coins of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen and 50 yen, which are not necessary for change, are deposited into an automatic change machine, and these coins are in an end state. Is avoiding. As described above, such a depositing work must be performed every day, which is a heavy burden on the store clerk.

  An object of the present invention is to simplify the operation when adopting the operation of an automatic change machine in which money of denomination not used as change is generated.

The present invention relates to an automatic change machine that sorts and stores received money according to denomination and dispenses the denomination to each denomination. end and setting means for setting a numerical value, depending on whether the balance of the money denomination is less than the predetermined number value, a detecting means for detecting whether the denomination of the end condition is present, by said detecting means If there is a denomination in the state, a determination means for determining whether or not 0 is set to the specified number of values of the denomination in the end state, and a value other than 0 is set by the determination means If it is determined that the amount of money in the end state is in an end state, and on the other hand, if it is determined that 0 is set in the specified number, the amount of money in the denomination is and a notification means that does not report to the effect that an end state, the Characterized in that it obtain.

  According to the present invention, when adopting the operation of an automatic change machine that generates money of denomination that is not used as change, it is not necessary to deposit such a denomination coin in the automatic change machine at the start of business. The end state notification can be prevented from occurring, and therefore the operation can be simplified and the burden on the store clerk can be reduced.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an automatic coin change machine which is an automatic change machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the automatic coin change machine, and FIG. 3 is an automatic coin change machine. It is a vertical side view which shows the internal structure of a machine. In the automatic coin change machine of the present embodiment, generally, it is possible to select whether or not to notify the end state of a coin that is a stored coin.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an upper coin opening is made in front of the right side of the housing 2, which is the housing of the automatic coin changer 1, and coins C (see FIG. 3) that are coins are thrown together. A mouth 3 is provided. The coin insertion slot 3 is provided with a plurality of sets of insertion sensors 4 for photoelectrically detecting the presence or absence of the coin C.

  A coin deposit / withdrawal mechanism A is built in the housing 2. Hereinafter, the coin deposit / withdrawal mechanism A will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the coin slot 3 is provided with a slot belt 5 that is connected to and driven by a motor M (see FIG. 4) and conveys the inserted coin C toward the back. On the slot belt 5, there is provided a slot roller 6 that is positioned at one end of the coin slot 3 and feeds the coins C that are randomly placed one by one. Also, the insertion belt 5 is driven by being connected to a motor M (see FIG. 4), so that the feeding speed of the coins C can be increased to feed the respective coins C with a predetermined gap. A conveyor belt 7 is provided continuously. Further, the end portion of the transport belt 7 is provided with a coin guide portion 50 that bends the transport direction at a substantially right angle and substantially parallel to the width direction of the automatic coin changer 1, and the transport direction is substantially perpendicular by the coin guide portion 50. A conveyor belt 8 is provided for transporting the bent coin C to a coin sorting position (coin sorting unit 11 described later).

  Below the conveyor belt 8, a sorting hole 10 for each denomination whose hole width dimension is sequentially increased along the conveyor belt 8 is provided. A coin sorting unit 11 for sorting by type is formed. In FIG. 2, six sorting holes 10 having a size corresponding to each denomination are provided in the order of 1 yen, 50 yen, 5 yen, 100 yen, 10 yen, and 500 yen from the right side. Each sorting hole 10 is provided with a counting sensor 12 for counting the number of coins C for each denomination. The sorting hole 10 communicates with a coin storage portion 14 (14a to 14f) having an upper opening partitioned by a partition plate 13 for each denomination.

Next, the coin storage unit 14, the coin dispensing mechanism B, etc. will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, a payout belt 15, which is a transport belt that is connected to and driven by a motor M (see FIG. 4 ), is driven by a driving roller 16 and a driven portion at the bottom of each denomination of the coin storage portion 14. It is provided so as to span the roller 17.

  The payout belt 15 is an endless belt, and is inclined so as to form an ascending slope whose height increases toward the downstream side in the coin conveyance direction. A separation roller 18 that separates the coins C one by one is disposed at an outlet of the coin storage unit 14 with an interval through which one coin C can pass with respect to the payout belt 15, and It arrange | positions so that the exit part of all the denominations may be crossed for every denomination.

  In addition, a coin standby unit 19 is provided for each denomination at the outlet of the coin storage unit 14 to wait for a predetermined number of coins C arranged in a line and waiting. Note that the coin standby unit 19 includes a payout belt 15 and also functions as a coin payout path.

  Each coin standby section 19 is provided with a coin shutter 20 that is connected to a shutter solenoid 21 and is controlled to temporarily stop the coin C for each denomination and to send out a necessary number of coins C. Yes. Here, a coin payout mechanism B is constituted by the payout belt 15, the drive roller 16, the driven roller, the coin standby portion 19, and the like.

  Immediately after the coin shutter 20, a payout sensor 22 that is an optical sensor that counts the number of coins C paid out for each denomination and a material sensor 27 that is an oscillation coil for detecting the material of the coin C are provided. Is provided.

  Further, a coin dispensing position in which the coin C is dropped into the denomination by the dispensing belt 15, and on the left side of the housing 2, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 23 is arranged. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an operation unit 24 is provided above the coin payout outlet 23.

The operation unit 24 includes a liquid crystal display 25 that displays various screens and a touch panel 26 that is stacked on the display unit of the liquid crystal display 25.

It will be described with reference to FIG. 4 for the electrical connection of each unit provided in the automatic coin change machine 1. The automatic coin change machine 1 includes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 30, and the microcomputer 30 drives and controls each part. The microcomputer 30 can rewrite various data with a ROM (Read Only Memory) 33 that stores in advance fixed data such as a computer program via a bus line 32 in a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 that centrally controls each part. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 34 that functions as a work area to be stored in the memory is connected.

  The microcomputer 30 includes sensors 35 such as an input sensor 4, a counting sensor 12, a payout sensor 22, a material sensor 27, a shutter solenoid 21, motors M, a liquid crystal display 25, a touch panel 26, a buzzer 28, for example, a POS terminal. A communication interface 29 or the like that is connected and performs data communication is connected. Each unit connected to the microcomputer 30 will be described.

  Sensors 35 such as the insertion sensor 4, the counting sensor 12, the payout sensor 22, and the material sensor 27 transmit, for example, a signal obtained by optically detecting the coin C, a fluctuation in coil voltage, and the like to the microcomputer 30. The microcomputer 30 drives and controls each motor M based on the detection signal.

  The shutter solenoid 21 is driven and controlled based on a signal output from the microcomputer 30 and is energized (ON) to displace the coin shutter 20 in the direction away from the payout belt 15, and the designated number of coins C Pay out. Although only one shutter solenoid 21 is shown here, actually, it is controlled individually by the microcomputer 30 for each denomination.

  The touch panel 26 acquires the coordinate data by recognizing the position of the XY coordinates on the panel touched by the operator (store clerk), and inputs a signal corresponding to the acquired coordinate data to the microcomputer 30. When a signal is input to the microcomputer 30, the microcomputer 30 identifies which key has been operated by comparing the input coordinate data with a key position on the screen.

  In addition, a nonvolatile memory 36 that stores various data in a rewritable manner is connected to the microcomputer 30 via a bus line 32. An example of the nonvolatile memory 36 is an EEPROM. The nonvolatile memory 36 is provided with a near-end number setting table T1. The near-end number setting table T1 is a table for defining the end state of the coin C stored in the automatic coin change machine 1. As shown in FIG. 5, in the near end number setting table T1, the near end number that defines the end state for each denomination is set to be rewritable. Here, the expression that the coin C in the automatic coin change machine 1 is near-end is used to indicate that the amount of the coin C stored in the automatic coin change machine 1 is small, and in the coin storage unit 14. The state where the coin C of a certain denomination is less than or equal to the number of near-ends is the near-end state of the denomination. Further, when there is no stock of a certain denomination coin C stored in the automatic coin change machine 1, the coin C is in an end state. However, as described above, the concept of “end state” is a concept including not only a case where the amount of coins C of a certain denomination in the automatic coin change machine 1 is 0, but also a case of a near end state. is there. In the present embodiment, the near-end number of each denomination of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen is represented by NE (1), NE (5), NE (10), NE. (50), NE (100) NE (500).

  Next, various processes executed by the CPU 31 based on the computer program and operations of each unit will be described. First, the coin C deposit process will be described by the operation of each unit. When the coin C is inserted into the coin insertion slot 3, the insertion sensor 4 detects the coin C, and the insertion slot belt 5, the insertion slot roller 6, the conveyance belt 7 and the conveyance belt 8 are driven by this detection signal. The coins C inserted into the coin insertion slot 3 are separated and conveyed one by one between the insertion slot belt 5 and the insertion slot roller 6. Thereafter, the coin C transported by the transport belt 7 is bent at a substantially right angle by the coin guide unit 50 and transferred from the transport belt 7 to the transport belt 8, and the coin sorting unit 11 performs sorting for each denomination. Made. That is, the coin C falls from the sorting hole 10 according to the denomination and is stored in the coin storage units 14a to 14f in denominations. And the coin C which fell from the sorting hole 10 is detected by the counting sensor 12, and the number is counted.

  Further, when a change dispensing instruction is received from the POS terminal, a dispensing process is executed. That is, the payout belt 15 and the shutter solenoid 21 are driven to pay change according to the change payout command. At this time, the number of coins C to be paid out is counted by the payout sensor 22. Based on the count of the coins C by the counting sensor 12 and the payout sensor 22 in the above depositing / dispensing process, the stock amount for each denomination in the automatic coin change machine 1 is calculated. The amount of money calculated in this way is stored in the nonvolatile memory 36.

  Next, the near-end number setting process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in order to perform the near-end number setting process, the device mode is set to the near-end number setting mode by an input operation on the touch panel 26, for example. Then, a near-end number for 500 yen is set (step S1). Specifically, if the device mode is set to the near-end number setting mode, a near-end number input screen (not shown) for inputting the near-end number for 500 yen is displayed on the liquid crystal display 25. Therefore, it is possible to input the near-end number for 500 yen by touch input of the touch panel 26 to the near-end number input screen. If the near end number is input, the input 500 yen near end number is stored in the near end number setting table T1. As a result, the near-end number for 500 yen is set. Thereafter, the same processing is executed in the order of denominations with a higher face value such as 100 yen, 50 yen, 10 yen, 5 yen, 1 yen (steps S2 to S6). The near end number of each denomination is set by the above processing.

  Here, although details will be described later, in this embodiment, end notification is not executed for denominations for which the near end number set in the near end number setting table T1 is set to “0”. In this sense, the processing of steps S1 to S6 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 performs the function of a selection unit that enables selection of a denomination that does not perform end state notification.

  Next, the end state notification process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. This end notification process is a process that is performed, for example, after a deposit / withdrawal process for each transaction is executed, and, roughly, the number of coins C stored in the automatic coin changer 1 is equal to or less than the near-end number. In this case, end notification is executed, but when the near-end number of denominations to be notified of end is set to “0”, end notification is not executed.

  First, it is detected whether there is an end denomination (step S11, detection means). Specifically, it is determined whether the amount of each denomination in the automatic coin change machine 1 is equal to or less than the near end number set in the near end number setting table T1. The amount of each denomination in the automatic coin change machine 1 is calculated based on the count of coins C by the counting sensor 12 and the dispensing sensor 22 in the above-described deposit / dispensing process.

  When there is no denomination in the end state (N in step S12), it is notified that the amount of each denomination is not the end state but the normal state (step S13). Specifically, transmission to the host device indicating that the state is normal, display by the liquid crystal display 25, output of normal sound from the buzzer 28, and the like are executed.

  On the other hand, when there is an end denomination (Y in step S12), it is determined whether or not the near end number set in the near end number setting table T1 of the denomination is “0” (step S14). ). If the near-end number is set to “1” or more instead of “0” (N in step S14), the fact that the denomination is in the end state is notified (step S15, notification means). Specifically, transmission to the host device that the denomination is in the end state, display by the liquid crystal display 25, output from the buzzer 28 of the end sound different from the normal sound, and the like are executed.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the near-end number set in the near-end number setting table T1 of the denomination in the end state is “0” (Y in step S14), the process proceeds to step S13 and all denominations are made. It is notified that the number of sheets is not an end state but a normal state (step S13). That is, when the denomination whose near end number is set to “0” is in the end state, the end state is ignored and the normal state is assumed. Here, for the denominations selected by the selection means (steps S1 to S6 in FIG. 6), even when the detection means (step S11 in FIG. 7) detects the end state, the notification means notifies the end state. The function of the notification prohibiting means that is not executed is executed.

  Thus, in this Embodiment, after setting it as the structure which detects the end state of the coin C which is the money accommodated in the automatic coin change machine 1 for every money type, and alert | reports having detected the end state. By making it possible to select a denomination that does not notify the end state, it is possible to set so that the end state of the denomination that is not used as change is not notified. This eliminates the need for depositing denominations that are not used as change into the automatic coin change machine 1 before the start of business, thus reducing the labor required for depositing the clerk's reserve at the start of business.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the detection means detects when the number of stored coins C, which is money, is equal to or less than a prescribed number that can be set for each denomination for defining the end state of the coin C. An end state is detected, and the selection means sets the specified number of sheets that defines the end state by permitting selection of a denomination that does not perform end state notification by setting the specified number of user-settable values to 0. The state notification / non-notification can be selected.

  In this embodiment, the automatic coin change machine 1 has been described as an example of an automatic change machine. However, the automatic change machine is not limited to this, and an automatic banknote change machine may be used.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the same parts as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted (the same applies to the following embodiments).

  In the present embodiment, the end state notification of the denomination of the denomination of the designated denomination is not executed. For this reason, the near-end number setting process is different from that of the first embodiment.

  In the near-end number setting process of the present embodiment, similar to the process shown in FIG. 6, the near-end number is received by accepting the input of the near-end number in the order of the denomination with the highest face value (steps S1, S2, and S2). In the process of S3, S4, S5, and S6), it is determined whether or not “0” is input as the near-end number for each denomination (steps S1 ′, S2 ′, S3 ′, S4 ′, S5 ′). Note that this determination is not performed for the near-end number of 1 yen.

  If “0” is not input as the number of near ends (N in step S1 ′, N in S2 ′, N in S3 ′, N in S4 ′, N in S5 ′), the near end number of the next denomination is set. Processing is executed (steps S2, S3, S4, S5, S6).

  If “0” is input as the number of near-ends (Y in step S1 ′, Y in S2 ′, Y in S3 ′, Y in S4 ′, Y in S5 ′), the money less than the denomination of the denomination All near-end numbers of seeds are set to “0”. Specifically, the number of near ends in the near end number setting table T1 for these denominations is set to “0”. For example, if “0” is input as the near-end number of the denomination of 50 yen, the near-end numbers of the denominations of 10 yen, 5 yen, and 1 yen are also set to “0” together with the denomination of 50 yen. Then, the process ends.

  Thereby, the end state notification of the denomination of the denomination of the denomination of the denomination specified by inputting “0” as the near end number is not executed.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, by selecting a denomination equal to or less than the denomination of the denomination specified as the denomination for which the end state notification is not executed as the denomination for which the end state notification is not executed, the end type notification is performed. For denominations that are less than the face value of the specified denomination as a denomination for which status notification is not performed, the end state notification is not automatically performed, so a denomination setting operation that does not notify the end state is performed. Facilitated.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the end state notification of the denominations that have not been inserted is not executed when the reserves are input from the state where the balance of all denominations is “0”. For this reason, the near-end number setting process is different from the above-described embodiment.

  In the near-end number setting process of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, first, it is determined whether or not there is a request for inserting a reserve to the automatic coin change machine 1 (step S31). For example, the reserve money input request is made by an input operation on the touch panel 26. As another example of the condition for determining that there has been a request for inserting a reserve, the automatic coin changer 1 is turned on, or a microcomputer 30 receives a start signal by operating a reserve deposit start button (not shown). You can also input. From this point of view, when there is a request for reserve payment, the device mode is set to the near-end number setting mode.

  If there is a request for putting in a reserve to the automatic coin change machine 1 (Y in step S31), it is determined whether or not the current amount of all denominations of the automatic coin change machine 1 is “0”. Judgment is made (step S32). This is performed by referring to the current amount of all denominations in the automatic coin change machine 1 stored in the nonvolatile memory 36.

  If it is determined in step S32 that the current amount of at least one denomination in the automatic coin change machine 1 is not “0” (N in step S32), an error occurs and error processing is executed.

  If it is determined in step S32 that the current amount of all denominations in the automatic coin change machine 1 is “0” (Y in step S32), a deposit process is executed (step S33). Since this deposit process has been described in the first embodiment, a description thereof is omitted here.

  If the depositing process is completed (Y in step S34), the near-end number of all denominations is set (step S35). For example, the payment process is terminated by an input operation such as a payment process completion instruction on the touch panel 26. In the depositing process, for a denomination that has received a deposit, a predetermined number (for example, 20) is stored in the near end number setting table T1 as a near end number. Here, the presence or absence of the deposit is detected by the counting sensor 12 as described above. On the other hand, in the deposit process, for denominations that have not been deposited, “0” is stored in the near-end number setting table T1 as the near-end number.

  Thereby, an end state alerting | reporting will no longer be performed with respect to the denomination which has not received a reserve.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the end state is selected by selecting the denomination in which the reserve is not deposited from the state where the amount of all denominations is 0 as the denomination that does not execute the end state notification. The denomination setting operation that is not notified is facilitated.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the automatic coin change machine of 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the internal structure of an automatic coin change machine. It is a vertical side view which shows the internal structure of an automatic coin change machine. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical connection of each part incorporated in an automatic coin change machine. It is a schematic diagram which shows a near end number setting table. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a near end sheet number setting process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of an end state alerting | reporting process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the near-end number setting process of 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the near-end number setting process of 3rd embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic coin change machine (automatic change machine), step S1-S6 ... selection means, step S11 ... detection means, step S14 ... notification prohibition means, step S15 ... notification means, C ... coin (money)

Claims (4)

In an automatic change machine that sorts and stores deposited money according to money type,
A setting means for setting a user-settable prescribed number value that defines the end state of the stored money for each denomination ;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a denomination in an end state, depending on whether or not the amount of money of a denomination is equal to or less than the prescribed number value ;
Determining means for determining whether or not 0 is set to the specified number of values of the denomination in the end state when there is an end denomination by the detecting means ;
When it is determined by the determination means that a value other than 0 is set, a notification is made that the amount of money in the end state is in the end state, and on the other hand, 0 is set in the prescribed number value. If it is determined that there is, the notification means that does not notify that the amount of the denomination is in an end state ;
An automatic change machine characterized by comprising: 2. The notification unit according to claim 1, wherein when the determination unit determines that 0 is set, the notification unit notifies that the amount of money of the denomination is not an end state but a normal state . Automatic change machine. The setting means includes
Accept the input of the specified number of values in the order of denominations with higher denomination,
In the processing step of setting the specified number value of each denomination, it is determined whether or not 0 is input as the specified number value of the denomination, and when it is determined that 0 is input as the specified number value, If the prescribed number value of all denominations below the denomination of the seed is set to 0, on the other hand, if it is determined that 0 is not input as the prescribed number value, the prescribed number value of the next denomination is set The automatic change machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a processing step is executed . The setting means includes
The specified number of denominations with deposits as reserves is set to 0 while the specified number of denominations with no deposits as reserves is set from the state where the balance of all denominations is 0 The automatic change machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a predetermined value set in advance is set as a numerical value .

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