Coin selector and automatic service machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12080119-B2
Application number	US-202217686658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2022
Priority date	Mar 8, 2021
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

A coin entering from a depositing port of a coin selector is identified by a denomination while passing through a coin passage. A coin of a predetermined denomination is stored, and a coin of a denomination other than the predetermined denomination is discharged to the outside. Provided is a coin selector including a removal mechanism that suitably removes a coin clogged in a coin passage. The coin selector includes a first pushing portion and a second pushing portion that push a coin in a moving direction of the coin and a direction intersecting with the moving direction in the coin passage from a depositing port for depositing the coin to a dispensing port for discharging the coin. When the coin is clogged, the coin is pushed by a pushing unit to eliminate the coin clogging, and the clogged coin is discharged to the dispensing port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coin selector comprising:
an identifier configured to identify a denomination of a coin entering from a depositing port;
a storage port configured to discharge a coin of a predetermined denomination;
a dispensing port configured to discharge a coin of a denomination other than the predetermined denomination;
a gate disposed in a middle of a path along which a coin moves between the depositing port and the dispensing port, the gate branching a course of the coin to the storage port or the dispensing port; and
a pushing portion configured to push or vibrate the coin remaining in the middle of the path along which the coin moves, after being identified by the identifier and passed through the gate, thereby moving the coin along the path toward the dispensing port, wherein
the path has a bottom portion and side walls disposed on opposite sides of the bottom portion,
the bottom portion is configured to be in contact with a peripheral surface of the coin,
the side walls are configured to support the coin rolling on the bottom portion,
a flap, inclined in the dispensing port direction, is disposed between the gate and the dispensing port and forms a portion of the bottom portion, and
the pushing portion is disposed in the middle of the path along which the coin moves, and moves the coin by pushing and swinging the flap that supports the coin.

2. The coin selector according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a support portion configured to pivotally support the flap on one side of the flap in a lateral direction, wherein
the pushing portion pushes the flap from a back surface side of the flap to move the coin placed on a front surface side of the flap.

3. The coin selector according to claim 2 , wherein
the flap is operated in accordance with a movement of the pushing portion in a vertical direction, and the flap returns due to an own weight thereof to a position before the flap is pushed by the pushing portion when the pushing portion is lowered.

4. The coin selector according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a cancel lever connected to the pushing portion, wherein
the pushing portion pushes the flap in conjunction with an operation of the cancel lever.

5. The coin selector according to claim 4 , wherein
the identifier is disposed in the middle of the path along which the coin moves between the depositing port and the gate,
the coin inserted into the depositing port moves through a coin passage, the coin passage including a first side wall that supports a surface of the coin on one side, a second side wall that supports a surface of the coin on the other side, and a guide path that is erected from the second side wall, comes into contact with a peripheral surface of the coin, and supports the coin,
the identifier is disposed separately on the first side wall and the second side wall, and identifies a denomination of the coin moving in the coin passage,
the first side wall is disposed on a base portion, the second side wall and the guide path are disposed on a door portion, the door portion is connected to the base portion such that the door portion is openable and closable on a lower side, and an interval between the guide path and the first side wall changes in accordance with opening and closing of the door portion,
the door portion opens and closes in conjunction with the operation of the cancel lever,
when the door portion is closed with respect to the base portion, the door portion and the base portion define the coin passage,
when the door portion is opened with respect to the base portion, the coin placed on the guide path is dropped from between the guide path and the first side wall into a passage for guiding the coin to the dispensing port, and
the flap is disposed in the passage for guiding the coin to the dispensing port.

6. The coin selector according to claim 5 , wherein
the passage for guiding the coin to the dispensing port is on a dispensing port side than the gate between the gate and the dispensing port, and is disposed on a vertical direction side of the door portion.

7. An automatic service machine comprising:
the coin selector according to claim 1 ;
a selection button configured to select a product;
a storage portion configured to discharge a product;
a discharge portion configured to discharge a product; and
a controller configured to control the coin selector, the selection button, and the discharge portion, wherein
when a deposit amount in the coin selector satisfies a fee corresponding to the product selected by the selection button, the product selected by the selection button is provided under control of the controller.

8. The coin selector according to claim 1 , wherein
the pushing portion is disposed in the middle of the path of the coin from the identifier to the gate.

9. The coin selector according to claim 8 , wherein
the pushing portion pushes the coin placed on the gate.

10. The coin selector according to claim 9 , wherein
the pushing portion pushes the coin toward the dispensing port.

11. The coin selector according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a cancel lever connected to the pushing portion; and
a transmission portion configured to operate the pushing portion in conjunction with an operation of the cancel lever, wherein
the pushing portion pushes the coin on the gate in response to the operation of the cancel lever.

12. The coin selector according to claim 8 , wherein
the pushing portion pushes the coin in a thickness direction of the coin.

13. The coin selector according to claim 8 , wherein
the identifier is disposed in the middle of the path along which the coin moves between the depositing port and the gate,
the coin inserted into the depositing port moves through a coin passage, the coin passage including a first side wall that supports a surface of the coin on one side, a second side wall that supports a surface of the coin on the other side, and a guide path that is erected from the second side wall, comes into contact with a peripheral surface of the coin, and supports the coin,
the identifier is disposed separately on the first side wall and the second side wall, and identifies a denomination of the coin moving in the coin passage,
the first side wall is disposed on a base portion, the second side wall and the guide path are disposed on a door portion, the door portion is connected to the base portion such that the door portion is openable and closable on a lower side, and an interval between the guide path and the first side wall changes in accordance with opening and closing of the door portion,
the door portion opens and closes in conjunction with the operation of the cancel lever,
when the door portion is closed with respect to the base portion, the door portion and the base portion define the coin passage, and
when the door portion is opened with respect to the base portion, the coin placed on the guide path is dropped from between the guide path and the first side wall into a passage for guiding the coin to the dispensing port.

14. The coin selector according to claim 13 , wherein
the passage for guiding the coin to the dispensing port is between the gate and the dispensing port and is disposed on a vertical direction side of the door portion.

15. An automatic service machine comprising:
the coin selector according to claim 1 ;
a selection button configured to select a product;
a storage portion configured to store a product;
a discharge portion configured to discharge a product; and
a controller configured to control the coin selector, the selection button, and th

Assignees

• Asahi Seiko Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamamiya Takahito

Classifications

• G07F1/02

  Coin slots · CPC title

• G07D2205/00

  Coin testing devices · CPC title

• G07D2201/00

  Coin dispensers · CPC title

• G07D5/00 Primary

  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

• G06Q20/18

  involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals · CPC title