JPH0241706Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The invention is a money changer, a vending machine, and
The present invention relates to a coin dispensing machine and the like, and particularly to a coin replenishing device that replenishes an appropriate amount of coins to a coin dispensing section when the amount of coins at the coin dispensing section decreases.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, this type of replenishment device has a horizontal opening 1 at the bottom with an inclined bottom so as to be narrow, so that coins for replenishment can be kept in a cluttered state. a hopper 2 to be stored in the hopper 2, and a conveyor provided facing the lower part of the opening 1 of the hopper 2, which holds the coins flowing out from the opening 1, and rotates during replenishment to sequentially move the held coins. 3 and a motor 4 that rotationally drives this conveyor 3, and the coins moving on the conveyor 3 sequentially fall from the end of the conveyor 3 to a delivery section such as a rotating disk 5 and are replenished. It was starting to happen.

Another conventional method is to use a replenishment rotating disk instead of the conveyor 3, and in that case, a guide member is provided on the replenishment rotating disk to guide the coins to the periphery. As the rotating disk rotates, the coins in the hopper move on the rotating disk. When it comes into contact with the guide member, it is guided by the periphery of the rotating disk, and is replenished by falling from the periphery to the delivery section.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) In the conventional replenishment device, an opening is formed horizontally below the hopper, and a conveyor or a rotating replenishment disk faces the lower part of the opening to prevent the flow from flowing out through the opening. When replenishing, the conveyor or replenishment rotating disk was rotated to move the coins.

As a result, the weight of the coins is directly applied to the conveyor or replenishment rotating disk, and the motor to rotate them must have a considerable amount of driving power, which inevitably results in high costs. I didn't get it.

In addition, in order to forcibly move the coins piled up in a disordered manner in the horizontal direction by the conveyor or the rotating replenishing disk at the opening, a space between the conveyor or the rotating replenishing disk and the lower end of the opening is provided. There was a problem with coins getting jammed.

In addition, in conventional hoppers, a horizontal opening was formed at the bottom which was sloped to narrow the bottom, so the coins were in a bridging state above the opening, and coins were present in the hopper. However, there was a problem in that it became impossible to replenish the delivery section because no coins were placed on the conveyor or the rotating replenishment disk.

Therefore, we changed the horizontal opening at the bottom of the hopper to a vertical opening on one side of the bottom of the hopper.
The bottom plate of the hopper is made into an inclined surface so that coins are guided to the opening thereof, and a single opening/closing plate is swingably provided to close the opening formed in the vertical direction, and the hopper is excited. We came up with a replenishment device that opens and closes by de-energizing and replenishes coins, and conducted a prototype experiment of the replenishment device. Then, the coins in the hopper are received by the inclined bottom plate and then slide along the inclined surface, so the weight of the coins in the hopper is not directly applied to the opening/closing plate, and a relatively small excitation force is generated. The opening/closing plate can be closed by pressing the button, and the above-mentioned problems such as coin jamming and bridging are also solved. However, if coins are caught when the opening/closing plate is closed, especially if coins are caught vertically, the opening/closing plate will become half-open and the coins will flow out through the gap, resulting in a supply stoppage. A new problem arose: coins continued to be replenished despite the fact that

The present invention was developed in view of the above points, and has a simple structure that does not require a large driving force, allows for reliable supply and stop of coins, and prevents coins from becoming clogged or bridging. The object of the present invention is to provide a coin replenishment device that solves the problem.

[Structure of the idea]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The coin replenishment device of the present invention has a replenishment port 1 which stores coins for replenishment and is formed in a vertical direction on one side of the bottom.
9 and a hopper 14 having an inclined bottom plate 21 to guide coins to the replenishment port 19, the replenishment port 19 of the hopper 14 can be vertically divided and swingable to the top of the replenishment port 19 to open and close it. A plurality of opening/closing plates 24 are provided which are supported by a plurality of opening/closing plates 24 and swing independently from each other, and a spring 28 is provided corresponding to each opening/closing plate 24 to bias each opening/closing plate 24 in the closing direction. A solenoid 33 is provided to swing the opening/closing plates 24 all at once in the opening direction against the urging force of the spring 28, and the opening/closing plate 24 is opened all at once by the solenoid 33, and closed by each spring 28 independently. .

(Function) The coin replenishing device of the present invention receives the coins stored in the hopper with an inclined bottom plate and guides them to the replenishment port, so that the weight of the coins opens and closes the replenishment port. Avoid acting directly on the board,
Furthermore, by swinging the vertically divided opening/closing plates independently of each other, each opening/closing plate can close the replenishment port independently even if coins are caught when the opening/closing plates are closed. Further, the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing plate applies vibration to the vicinity of the replenishment port to prevent coins from becoming jammed or bridging.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 11 denotes a medal lending machine main body. Inside the medal lending machine main body 11, a medal replenishing device 12 is arranged in the upper part, and a medal feeding device 13 is arranged in the lower part.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the medal replenishing device 12 has a hopper 14 for accommodating the replenishment medals in a disordered state, and this hopper 14 has an upper part that accommodates the medals in the hopper 14. The receiving port 15 is opened, and the bottom side is provided with a front plate 16.
The left and right side plates 17 and 18 are formed as inclined surfaces to narrow the internal interval, and the inclined front plate 1
A rectangular replenishment port 19 is formed vertically in the lower part of the hopper 14, that is, on the front side of the bottom of the hopper 14, and further extends from the lower end of the back plate 20 of the hopper 14 to the lower edge of the replenishment port 19 to hold the medals in the hopper 14. A bottom plate 21 having an inclined surface is provided so as to guide the water to the supply port 19. In addition,
Side plates 17a and 18a forming the left and right edges of the supply port 19 at the bottom of the left and right side plates 17 and 18 are provided in a vertical state.

Support piece 22 at the upper front side of side plates 17a and 18a,
A plurality of opening/closing plates 24 vertically divide the supply port 19 and are supported on a swing shaft 23 installed between the opening and closing shafts 22 so as to be able to swing independently from each other. This opening/closing plate 24 has support plates 25, 25 protruding forward from both sides of the upper end, which are rotatably fitted to the swing shaft 23.
The replenishment port 19 swings around its swing shaft 23.
The width of the opening/closing plate 24 is gradually narrowed on the lower side, and an engaging piece 26 that engages with the back edge of the bottom plate 21 is provided at the lower end. It is formed by bending.

Further, a closing lever 27 is provided to protrude obliquely upward from one of the support plates 25.
One end of a spring 28 that urges the opening/closing plate 24 in the closing direction of the supply port 19 is attached to the tip of the spring 7 . The other end of this spring 28 is connected to the side plate 17.
It is attached to a support shaft 30 that is supported between both ends of a support frame 29 that projects from the replenishment port 19 in front of the replenishment port 19 and surrounds the front of the replenishment port 19. Note that the support frame 29 supports the opening/closing plate 24 when the opening/closing plate 24 is opened.
4 is provided so as not to interfere.

Further, the other support plate 25 is provided with a long hole 31 centered around the swing shaft 23, and a support shaft 32 is movable in the long hole 31 passing through the long hole 31 of each opening/closing plate 24. A link 35, which is rotatably connected to a plunger 34 of a solenoid 33 fixed to the front plate 16 above the supply port 19, is rotatably connected to the support shaft 32. By energizing the solenoid 33, the support shaft 3
2 comes into contact with the upper end of the elongated hole 31, and the opening/closing plates 24 are swung simultaneously in the opening direction against the biasing force of the spring 28. Note that the support shaft 32 of the support plate 25
The elongated hole 31 through which the replenishment port 19 is closed is provided as a relief for the support shaft 32 in the closed state so as to allow the individual opening/closing plates 24 to be opened independently when the supply port 19 is closed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the medal sending device 13 has a rotating disk 41 located below the replenishing port 19 of the hopper 14 to receive medals flowing out from the refilling port 19, and this rotating disk 41 is connected to a drive belt. 42
As the rotating disk 41 rotates, the medals on the rotating disk 41 move along a peripheral wall 44 provided at the periphery of the rotating disk 41 due to centrifugal force. The medals moving along the peripheral wall 44 are made into one layer in the thickness direction by a thickness regulating member (not shown) and placed on the rotating disk 41.
A chute 46 is connected to a discharge port 45 opened on the side of the
They are ejected one by one into the chute 46 and retained on a lid 48 which closes the outlet 47 at the bottom of the chute 46 by the elastic force of a spring. Then, press the hook 49 of the lid body 48 with the medal receiving box 50 to remove the lid body 48.
When rotated, the medals in the chute 46 flow into the medal receiving box 50 and can be received.
Note that a sensor is provided on the rotating disk 41 to detect the amount of medals on the rotating disk 41.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the amount of medals on the rotating disk 41 of the medal sending device 13 is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the solenoid 33 is de-energized and the opening/closing plates 244 close the supply port 19 by the biasing force of each spring 28. There is.

When the amount of medals on the rotating disk 41 of the medal sending device 13 decreases, the solenoid 33
is excited, each opening/closing plate 24 is swung simultaneously against each spring 28, and the supply port 19 is opened.
The medals in the hopper 14 flow out from the supply port 19 and are supplied onto the rotating disk 41 of the medal delivery device 13.

When a predetermined amount of medals are supplied onto the rotary disk 41, the excitation of the solenoid 33 is released, and each opening/closing plate 24 is swung independently in the closing direction of the supply port 19 by each spring 28, and each opening/closing operation is performed. The plate 24 closes the supply port 19 and stops supplying medals to the rotating disk 41. When this replenishment is stopped, as shown in FIG. 3, if some opening/closing plates 24 sandwich medals between them and the bottom plate 21, each opening/closing plate 24 other than the opening/closing plate 24 that sandwiched the medal is
9 is closed, the supply of medals is reliably stopped, and it is possible to prevent excessive supply of medals to the rotating disk 41.

Note that the medals accommodated in the hopper 14 of the medal supply device 12 are placed on a bottom plate 2 formed on an inclined surface.
1, the weight of the medals does not directly act on the opening/closing plate 24 that closes the supply port 19. Therefore, the spring 28 that holds the opening/closing plate 24 in the closed state of the supply port 19 can be held in the closed state even if the urging force is weak, and the solenoid 33 that opens the opening/closing plate 24 against the spring 28 Also, even a small type with a small excitation driving force can be opened.

Furthermore, since the opening/closing plate 24 is opened by energizing the solenoid 33 and closed by the spring 28 when the solenoid 33 is de-energized, vibration is applied to the vicinity of the supply port 19 by opening/closing the opening/closing plate 24.
It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a bridging state caused by medals competing with each other, and it is possible to prevent clogging in the hopper 14.

[Effect of idea]

According to the present invention, the coins stored in the hopper are received by the inclined bottom plate and guided to the replenishment port, thereby preventing the weight of the coins from directly acting on the opening/closing plate that opens and closes the replenishment port. In addition, by swinging the vertically divided opening/closing plates independently from each other, even if coins are caught when closing the opening/closing plates, each opening/closing plate can close the supply port independently. Furthermore, the opening/closing operation of the opening/closing plate causes vibration near the replenishment port to prevent coins from clogging or bridging, making it possible to replenish and stop coins with a simple structure. It can be done reliably.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the coin replenishing device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, Fig. 3 is a perspective view thereof, and Fig. 4 is a state in which it is installed in a medal lending machine. FIG. 5 is a side view of a conventional coin supply device. 14...hopper, 19...supply port, 21...
Bottom plate, 24...Opening/closing plate, 28...Spring, 3
3...Solenoid.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A hopper that accommodates coins for replenishment and has a replenishment port formed vertically on one side of the bottom and an inclined bottom plate to guide the coins to the replenishment port; A plurality of opening/closing plates that are swingably supported at the top of the replenishment port and swing independently of each other to open and close vertically, and a plurality of opening/closing plates that are provided corresponding to each opening/closing plate to move each opening/closing plate in the closing direction. It is equipped with a spring that biases and a solenoid that swings the opening and closing plates all at once in the opening direction against the biasing force of the spring, and the opening and closing plates are opened all at once by the solenoid and closed by each spring independently. A coin replenishment device characterized by: