JPH0125115B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a coin storage mechanism of a coin sorting device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a coin storage mechanism of a coin sorting device attached to a public telephone, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 53-118698, coins that roll and fall into a coin storage track are rotatably collected. The armature is temporarily supported by a storage lever with one end facing into the coin storage track, and the armature is attracted by an electromagnet that is excited by a coin storage signal sent from the central office equipment of the telephone office. There is known a coin storage device in which the storage lever is moved out of the coin storage track so that the stored coins, starting from the lowest one, are dropped one by one onto the coin storage track and stored in the storage safe. ing. This coin storage mechanism is configured to store one coin in response to one charge coin storage signal, but if you want to store two coins at the same time, for example, if you operate the storage lever twice. This is troublesome and time-consuming, so in order to solve this problem, a collective storage lever is added in addition to the storage lever for individual storage, so that a plurality of coins can be stored in bulk at the same time by one billing signal.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in such a conventional coin storage device, two storage levers are installed at the same time, so the structure is complicated and a large space is required.In addition, signals from the main station are not charged separately. Two signals are required: a signal and a collective storage signal, which poses a practical problem.

In addition, a coin detection contact is installed in the coin accumulation track to detect accumulated coins, but if a coin comes into direct contact with it and it is operated, the contact itself will be damaged and its durability will be reduced. There was also the inconvenience of falling asleep.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks, and can easily switch between storing multiple coins at the same time and storing one coin without requiring major changes to the main body of the device, and in both cases, only one charge is required. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin storage mechanism that can reliably store coins using a coin storage signal.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and includes a coin storage track consisting of a vertical track section and an inclined track section, and a coin locking section facing the tip end of the inclined track section. A stopper for storing a coin or a stopper for storing a single coin in which a coin locking portion faces the connecting portion of both the track portions is selectively attached to the return lever.

[Effect]

In the present invention, a stopper for storing a plurality of coins at the same time or a stopper for storing one coin is selectively attached depending on the number of coins stored, so that a predetermined number of coins can be reliably stored.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a coin storage mechanism according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are a side view of the storage lever and a cross-section of the return lever shown in FIG. 1 taken along lines - and -. It is a diagram. In these figures, what is indicated by reference numeral 1 is a board installed upright within a telephone housing (not shown), and by fixing the side plate 2 to this board 1 via a spacing member (not shown), these A coin accumulation track 3 is formed between both plates. This coin accumulation track 3 is composed of a substantially vertical vertical track part 3A and an inclined track part 3B that is provided continuously at the lower end of this vertical track part 3A and is inclined at a predetermined angle in the direction of the return track 24. The upper end of the portion 3A communicates with a coin sorting track 4 which is provided with a conventionally well-known lightweight coin sorting mechanism, material sorting mechanism, outer diameter and thickness sorting mechanism, etc. (not shown). The sorted regular coins 5a, 5b, 5c... are placed in the vertical track section 3A.
It is designed to be guided through the inclined track section 3B. The inclined track portion 3B has a length that allows a plurality of coins, in this example two coins 5a and 5b, to be stored side by side in the diametrical direction.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a storage lever disposed on the coin storage track 3, and this storage lever 6 is driven by a polarized relay (not shown) that is excited by a coin storage signal sent from a telephone office at regular intervals. It is rotatably supported on the surface side of the substrate 1 in a direction orthogonal to the substrate 1 via a bracket 7 and a support shaft 8, and its lower end is bent approximately 90 degrees toward the substrate 1 so that it is attached to the substrate 1. A coin receiving section is inserted into the inclined track section 3B through a long hole 9 inclined in the direction of the drilled return track 24, and protrudes to the outside through a long hole 10 formed in the side plate 2 in correspondence with the long hole 9. 12, the coin storage track 13 provided below the inclined track section 3B is normally closed. Therefore, the first and second coins 5a, 5b among the regular coins 5a, 5b, 5c... rolling down the vertical track section 3A are temporarily held by the coin receiving section 12. A return lever 16 that is locked and will be described later
Accumulated in the inclined track portion 3B due to the cooperation of the following. The coin receiving section 12 has approximately the same length as the inclined track section 3B, and is inclined at a predetermined angle in the direction of the return track 24.

On the shoulder of the storage lever 6, there is a protrusion 14 for controlling the number of coins to be stored, which extends upward along the outer surface of the board 1 and whose tip is bent almost horizontally in the direction of the board 1.
are integrated. The coin storage number control protrusion 14 separates the coins stored in the coin storage track 3 into a predetermined number of coins, and as shown in FIG. When the coin storage track 13 is closed, facing the window 15 formed in the base plate 1,
It is located at a position removed from the vertical track section 3A, and enters into the vertical track section 3A during coin storage to temporarily prevent the third coin 5c from falling.

The return lever 16 includes a return plate 16A whose upper end is rotatably supported on the outer surface of the board 1 via a bracket, and a lower end 1 of the return plate 16A.
6B and is connected to the tip end position of the inclined track section 3B, that is, the return path 1 leading to the return track 24.
8 and a stopper 19 which is normally closed (during a call). As shown in FIG. 3, this stopper 19 is formed into a substantially square shape in plan view, and its one end bent portion 20 is fixed to the lower end portion 16B of the return lever 16 of the return plate 16A with a set screw 27, and the other end is bent. The curved portion 21 is inserted from the side end of the side plate 2 into a hole 28 (FIG. 1) bored in the base plate 1 to form a coin locking portion. When the return lever 16 is operated to return the phone after the call ends, that is, when the transmitter (not shown) is returned to the foot lever of the telephone body, the return lever (not shown) is lowered and the lower end 16B of the return plate 16A is activated. is rotated in the direction away from the side plate 2 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3), whereby the coin locking portion 21 exits the return passage 18 and all accumulated coins in the coin accumulation track 3 are transferred to the return track 24. is configured to be returned to

As described above, the return lever 16 is formed in a substantially square shape in plan view and is attached to the board 1 side as described above, and rotates in a direction away from the side plate 2 during the return operation. has an opening 2 that allows the return lever 16 to rotate.
9 and 30 are formed, respectively. Further, in the middle part of the return lever 16, there is another return plate 31 which is normally located on the outer surface side of the board 1 and is inclined in the direction of the return track 24, which enters into the vertical track section 3B from the opening 29 during the return operation. are integrated,
This return plate 31 allows the coins 3c, 3d... accumulated in the vertical track section 3A to be transferred to the bypass passage 32.
The vehicle is guided from there to a return path 18 and returned to a return track 24. For this reason, a guide rail 33 is fixed to the inner surface of the side plate 2. Further, the return lever 16 is arranged such that the stopper 19 has one end 20 located at the boundary between the first coin 5a and the second coin 5b accumulated in the inclined track section 3B. This makes it possible to attach a one-sheet storage stopper 34, which will be described later, in place of the stopper 19. That is, the stopper 19 is
As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting portion 2 is formed into a substantially square shape in plan view and extends in the direction of the return passage 18 along the side plate 2.
5, the coin locking part 21 is located at the most extreme part of the inclined track part 3B, and two coins 5
a, 5b on the coin receiving part 12, and by the storage operation of the storage lever 6, these two coins 5a, 5
b are stored at the same time, but when storing one sheet, a single sheet storing stopper 34 formed in a flat plate shape as shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the lower end 16B of the return plate 16A. lowest coin 5a
The connection part 39 between the vertical track part 3A and the inclined track part 3B
I'm trying to lock it in. For this reason, the tip of the single coin storage stopper 34, that is, the coin locking portion 3
4a normally enters into the inclined track section 3B through the opening 30 of the side plate 2, further protrudes to the outside through the opening 29 of the base plate 1, and exits from the inclined track section 3B when the return lever 16 is returned. In addition, the above 2
Stopper 19 for storing sheets and stopper 3 for storing one sheet
4 does not necessarily need to be formed separately as a separate member, and for example, as shown in FIG.
A shaped stopper 35 may also be used. That is, this stopper 35 has a long bent portion 35a at one end that is fixed to the return lever 16, and when used in the first attached state as shown by the solid line, the coin locking portion 35b is moved along the inclined track. Since it can face the most extreme part of the coin locking part 3B, it can be used as a stopper for storing two coins, and when it is reversed and used in the second attachment state as shown by the chain line, the coin locking part 3B can be used as a stopper for storing two coins.
5a can be made to face the inclined track section 3B through the opening 30 of the side plate 2, so that it can be used as a stopper for storing one sheet.

A coin detection device is provided at the bending part of the coin accumulation track 3, that is, at the connecting part 39 between the vertical track part 3A and the inclined track part 3B, for detecting whether or not there is a second coin 5b in the inclined track part 3B. 40 are arranged. This coin detection device 40 includes a pair of elastic pieces 41
a, 41b, and a rotary lever whose upper end is rotatably supported on a shaft 42, and which is always given a rotational habit counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by the elastic force of the elastic piece 41b. 43, and a roller 44 which is provided at the lower end of the rotary lever 43 and whose circumferential surface partially faces the connecting portion 39. When the peripheral edge contacts the second coin 5b, the rotating lever 43 is rotated clockwise about the shaft 42, and the switch 4 is thereby turned.
1 is activated to detect the presence of the coin 5b.

A contact avoidance protrusion 45 is disposed above the roller 44 on the back surface of the side plate 2, and a part of its circumferential surface faces the vertical track section 3A. This contact avoidance protrusion 45
When the first coin 5a falling into the vertical track section 3A collides and bounces, the falling direction is changed to the direction of the return track 24, and the coin receiving section 12
This prevents the coin from colliding directly with the roller 44. In this case, the second coin 5b that subsequently falls naturally collides with the contact avoidance protrusion 45 and bounces off, but it also comes into contact with the first coin 5a that has already been accumulated on the coin receiver 12. To be returned, the coin 5b falls onto the connecting portion 39 between the vertical track section 3A and the inclined track section 3B and presses the roller 44 to the left, closing the switch 41 and setting the coin in a state where it can make a call.
When dialing in this state, the first 2
The coins 5a and 5b are stored by actuation of the storage lever 6 in response to a one charge coin storage signal sent from the internal equipment of the telephone office. That is, the storage lever 6 is rotated counterclockwise about the shaft 8 in FIG.
a and 5b are dropped all at once onto the coin storage track 13,
Store it in a safe (not shown). At this time, the coin storage number control protrusion 14 enters the vertical track portion 3A and
Prevent the fall of the second coin 5c. After storing coins,
Since the storage lever 6 immediately returns to the state shown in FIG.
Exit from A. Therefore, the third coin 5c and the fourth coin 5d that were locked on the protrusion 14 fall onto the coin receiver 12 and wait for the next coin storage.

When the call ends and the handset is returned to the telephone, the return lever 16 rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
1 from the inclined track section 3B and the return plate 31 enters the vertical track section 3A.
The coins in B roll on the coin receiving part 12 and are returned from the return passage 18 to the return track 24, and the coins in the vertical track part 3A pass through the return plate 31 and the bypass passage 32 and are returned from the return passage 18. Returned to orbit 24.

Next, when storing one coin in response to the one charge coin storing signal, instead of the stopper 19 for storing two coins shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the stopper 19 shown in FIG. A stopper 34 is fixed to the lower end 16B of the return plate 16A with a set screw 27, and the coin locking portion 34a (or coin locking portion 35a in FIG. 5) is fixed to the coin locking portion 34a (or the coin locking portion 35a in FIG. 5) of one coin accumulated in the inclined track portion 3B. Just place it facing the boundary between the first coin and the second coin.
By doing so, only one coin is accumulated in the vertical track section 3A, and is stored by the storage operation of the storage lever 6.

Although the above embodiment describes the case where two coins are stored at the same time, the present invention is not limited to this, and if the lengths of the inclined track section 3B and the coin receiving section 12 are lengthened, Of course, three or more coins can be stored at the same time.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the coin storage mechanism according to the present invention, the coin storage track is composed of a vertical track section and an inclined track section that is continuously inclined in the direction of the return track, and A stopper for storing multiple coins at the same time, with the coin locking part facing the tip end position, or a stopper for storing one coin, with the coin locking part facing the position where the coins accumulated at the connecting part of the vertical track part and the inclined track part are locked. Since the stopper is selectively attached to the return lever, it can be used to store multiple coins at the same time using the single-charge coin storage signal, or it can be used to store one coin, improving versatility as a coin storage mechanism. be able to. Moreover, the work of attaching and replacing these stoppers is extremely simple, and they can be used without changing the attachment positions of other members.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of the coin storage mechanism according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views of the storage lever shown in cross section along the - line and - line in FIG. 1. 4 and 5 are plan views showing other embodiments of the stopper. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Board, 2... Side plate, 3... Coin accumulation track, 3A... Vertical track part, 3B... Inclined track part,
4... Coin sorting track, 5a, 5b, 5c ~... Coin, 6... Storage lever, 12... Coin receiver, 13
...Coin storage track, 16...Return lever, 19...
...stopper for storing multiple coins at the same time, 21...coin locking part, 24...return track, 34, 35...stopper for storing one coin, 39...connecting part, 40...coin detection device, 45...contact Avoidance protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A coin accumulation track consisting of a nearly vertical vertical track part communicating with the coin sorting track and an inclined track part continuous with the lower end of this vertical track part and inclined in the direction of the return track, and a coin accumulation track normally protruding into the inclined track part and above the inclined track part. is provided with a coin receiving part that locks a coin, and is activated when a coin is stored to move the coin receiving part out of the inclined track part, so that the coin held on the coin receiving part is moved to the coin storage track. A storage lever that is dropped, and a return mechanism that normally protrudes into the inclined track section to prevent coins from rolling, and that is activated at the time of return to move out of the inclined track section and return all coins in the coin storage track to the return track. a stopper for storing a plurality of coins at the same time, the coin locking portion facing the tip end position of the inclined track portion, or the last coin among the plurality of coins to be locked on the coin receiving portion; A coin storage mechanism characterized in that a stopper for storing one coin, with a coin locking portion facing a position where the coin is locked, is selectively attached to the return lever.