Coin processing apparatus

• US 10,643,419 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Electric Company Limited (Fuji Electric Systems Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Electric Company Limited (Fuji Electric Systems Company Limited)
• Inventors: Niizuma, Nobuyuki, Kimura, Tomohiko, Inoue, Yoshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Shapiro, Jeffrey A
• Application Number:
  US15/415,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20170221294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 194344, 194350, 235379, 453 7, 453 56, 193DIG 1
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/00 Coin dispensers devices delivering paper currency G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 1/06 dispensing the difference between a sum paid and a sum charged
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/20 Controlling or monitoring the operation of devices; Data handling
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/22 Means for sensing or detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 11/237 for detecting transport malfunctions, e.g. jams or misfeeds
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/00 Testing specially adapted to determine the identity or genuineness of coins, e.g. for segregating coins which are unacceptable or alien to a currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 5/08 Testing the magnetic or electric properties

Abstract

A coin processing apparatus configured to: cause a coin output conveying unit to collectively convey coins taken out for each denomination from a plurality of coin containers where the coins are housed in the respective coin containers for each denomination; and dispense the conveyed coins from a coin output port through a coin output shoot unit, the coin processing apparatus includes: a coin stay detecting sensor configured to detect a coin stay on a shoot face of the coin output shoot unit; a reporting unit configured to perform report output for abnormality; and a controller configured to cause the reporting unit to perform report output for coin stay abnormality in the coin output shoot unit when the coin stay detecting sensor detects the coin stay.

Claims

1. A coin processing apparatus configured to:

cause a coin output conveyer to collectively convey coins taken out for each denomination from a plurality of coin containers where the coins are housed in the respective coin containers for each denomination; and

dispense the conveyed coins through a coin output chute directly to a coin output port, the coin output chute being downwardly inclined so the coins are gravitationally conveyed to the coin output port and the coin output chute having a front side to contact the coins, the coin processing apparatus comprising;

a plurality of coin stay detecting sensors provided on the coin output chute in between the plurality of coin containers and the coin output port, the plurality of coin stay detecting sensors being configured to detect a coin stay on a chute face of the coin output chute on an upstream side of the coin output port, the coin output chute being directly connected to the coin output port, a first coin detecting sensor of the coin stay detecting sensors being provided on an upstream side of the coin output chute that is directly connected to the coin output port, a second coin detecting sensor of the plurality of coin stay detecting sensors being provided on a downstream side of the coin output chute, and a third detecting sensor of the plurality of coin stay detecting sensors being provided between the first detecting sensor and the second detecting sensor, the first detecting sensor, the second detecting sensor, and the third detecting sensor are each provided on a back side of the coin output chute, the plurality of coin stay detecting sensors being magnetic coil sensors;

an output configured to perform a report output for a coin stay abnormality; and

a controller configured to;

cause the output to perform the report output for the coin stay abnormality in the coin output chute when the coin stay detecting sensors detect the coin stay on the chute face,

when the coin stay detecting sensors detect the coin stay on the chute face during a dispensing operation, cause the coin output conveyer to perform a retry operation by a forward conveyance and a backward conveyance, and

when a state of the coin stay on the chute face continues after an end of the retry operation, cause the output to perform the report output for the coin stay abnormality in the coin output chute.

2. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

when the coin stay detecting sensors detect the coin stay on the chute face during a standby, the controller causes the output to perform the report output for a first coin stay abnormality in the coin output chute, and

when a state of the coin stay on the chute face continues from the report output for the first coin stay abnormality until a predetermined time is elapsed, the controller causes the output to perform the report output for a second coin stay abnormality in the coin output chute.

3. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the report output is at least one of voice output and display output.

4. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output is provided on a host device that is connected to the coin processing apparatus through the controller.

5. The coin processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the coin output chute includes the chute face and a back face on a back side of the chute face,

the chute face of the coin output chute tilts downwards, and

the coin stay detecting sensors are provided on the back face of the coin output chute.