Coin processing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10643419-B2
Application number	US-201715415126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2017
Priority date	Jan 29, 2016
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Fuji Electric Co Ltd

Inventors

• Niizuma Nobuyuki
• Kimura Tomohiko
• Inoue Yoshimasa

Classifications

• G07D1/00

  Coin dispensers (devices delivering paper currency G07D11/00) · CPC title

• G07F9/04 Primary

  Means for returning surplus or unused coins · CPC title

• G07D5/00

  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 title

• G07D11/237 Primary

  for detecting transport malfunctions, e.g. jams or misfeeds · CPC title

• G07D11/22

  Means for sensing or detection · CPC title