JPH0258669B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a coin storage device equipped with an accumulation track for accumulating a plurality of coins, and detects whether or not a coin is present in the accumulation track. It also relates to a coin storage and detection mechanism that forcibly opens the device when it is absent.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in coin sorting devices attached to vending machines, public telephones, etc., coins that roll and fall into a storage track are collected using a storage lever that is rotatable and partially faces into the storage track. A coin storage mechanism that stores coins in sequence starting from the lowest accumulated coin by once locking the storage lever and withdrawing the storage lever from the track in response to a storage signal (e.g. 177813, Special Publication No. 40-23127, etc.).

The device is also equipped with a coin detection mechanism that detects that there are no more coins after storing all the accumulated coins and returns the device to a non-use state.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

By the way, the above-mentioned coin storage mechanism employs a configuration in which the accumulated coins are pressed in the direction of the thickness of the coins to fall into the storage track, and therefore has the advantage of a simple structure and miniaturization of the device. However, since such a coin storage mechanism and the above-mentioned coin detection mechanism are provided separately, there are problems such as an increase in the number of parts and the need to secure installation space. It was becoming an obstacle.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems and provides a coin storage and detection mechanism in a compact and rational coin storage device by integrating a coin storage mechanism and a coin detection mechanism into one. This is what I am trying to do.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a substrate and a side plate that are arranged vertically facing each other at a predetermined interval and form a coin storage track, and a side plate that is normally retracted from the storage track when storing coins. A storage lever that swings and enters the storage track, and a push-out part provided at the swinging end presses the stored coins in the thickness direction and pushes them out into the storage track through an opening provided in the side plate; and this storage lever. and the substrate, and normally maintains the closed state, and is opened by the operation of the storage lever when no coin is present in the accumulation track, thereby shifting the device to the inoperable state. a return lever that locks the accumulated coins in the accumulation track and opens the terminal end of the accumulation track to communicate with the return track during a return operation; The storage lever includes a restraining member that limits the amount of movement of the storage lever when a coin is pressed by the push-out portion, and a plurality of cam step portions for holding the switch means in an open state. a cam member rotatably disposed between the switch means and provided with a rotational habit in a fixed direction by a biasing means; The contact is abuttingly engaged with one of the cam step portions, thereby being prevented from rotating by the biasing means and maintained in an equilibrium state, and when the coin is not present in the accumulation track and the coin is not present in the accumulation track and the coin is not present in the accumulation track, the operation of the storage lever causes the When the extrusion part penetrates the accumulation track and the storage lever presses and displaces the movable side bullet contact point and moves it away from one of the cam steps, it is rotated by the biasing means and the cam step is moved. By locking the bullet contact with the other one of the parts, the switch means is locked in the open state, and when the switch means is rotated back by the return lever during the return operation, the bullet contact is The lock is released and the switch means is returned to the closed state.

[Effect]

When the storage lever operates in the coin accumulation state, its pushing part enters the storage track and presses the lowest coin in the direction of its plate thickness against the restraining member, and when the storage lever is restored, the lowest coin is released. It is released from the extrusion part and falls into the storage track.

During this coin storage operation, the movement stroke of the extrusion part is limited by contacting the lowest coin, so
The storage lever does not operate the cam member.

The switch means has a plurality of cam step portions for holding the switch means in an open state, and is rotatably disposed between the storage lever and the switch means, and has a rotational habit in a certain direction by a biasing means. Usually, the cam member provided with this is prevented from rotating by the biasing means and maintained in an equilibrium state by the movable side bullet contact of the switch means abutting and engaging with one of the cam steps. , when the coin is not present in the storage track and the storage lever is actuated, the push-out portion penetrates the storage track, the storage lever presses and displaces the movable bullet contact point, and the coin is pushed out from one of the cam steps. When the switch means is separated, it is rotated by the biasing means, and the other one of the cam steps locks the bullet contact, thereby locking the switch means in the open state, and when the return operation is performed, the switch means is rotated by the biasing means. When the return lever is rotated back, the bullet contact is unlocked and the switch means is returned to the closed state.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

The embodiment shown in the figure shows a coin sorting device built into a public telephone. In the figure, the reference numeral 1 indicates a board, and each constituent member is assembled on both sides of the board 1. Further, this coin sorting device is incorporated into a telephone using a bracket 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes an inlet member, 4 a permanent magnet that constitutes a part of the magnetic sorting mechanism, and 5 and 6 a gauge plate and a guide plate that constitute a part of the outer diameter and thickness sorting mechanism. The coin track is formed by appropriately arranging the sorting mechanisms on the back side of the substrate 1 in FIG. 1 from the input slot member 3, and is inclined downward to the left in FIG. It is bent and communicated with a vertical storage orbit A, which will be described later. Reference numeral 7 designates a coin storage electromagnet that constitutes a relay together with a switch means 23 to be described later, 8 a coin storage lever operated by this electromagnet 7, and 9 a return lever. A billing signal is input from the station side to the coin storage electromagnet 7 in accordance with the call frequency, whereby the storage lever 8 is operated and the coins accumulated in the storage orbit A are sequentially stored. Further, the return lever 9 is connected to the hook via a transmission mechanism (not shown), and when making a call, it protrudes as if forming a part of the side wall of the storage track A, and when the hook is lowered, it releases the storage track A. The surplus coins will be returned in bulk.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of coins that have passed through the sorting mechanisms 5 and 6 are stored in an accumulation track A formed by a substrate 1 and a side plate 10 arranged parallel to the substrate 1. C ₁ and C ₂ are accumulated in the diametrical direction. In addition, in the same figure, the side plate 10 has an opening 10a.
A storage track is provided which communicates with the safe through this opening 10a, and a return track is provided on the back side, and the lowest coin _C1 is transported by the return lever 9 and the spacer 11. It is locked. In this state, an opening 12 is formed in the base plate 1 at a location slightly above the lower edge of the coin C ₁ , and a push-out portion 13 formed on the swinging end side of the storage lever 8 moves forward and backward into the opening 12. It is freely provided and usually exits outside the storage track A.

The storage lever 8 is connected to the armature of the electromagnet 7, and is biased counterclockwise in FIG. And this storage lever 8 is the board 1
engages with the groove 15 of the bracket 14 fixed to the
The extrusion portion 13 is locked at its initial position, that is, at a position where the tip of the extrusion portion 13 is retracted from the storage track. A pin shaft 16 is erected on the side surface of the bracket 14,
A cam member 17 is rotatably supported on this pin shaft 16 . This cam member 17 has three cam step portions 1 whose height gradually decreases with respect to the substrate side.
8, 19, and 20 are formed, and a foot portion 21 is integrally suspended from the bottom surface thereof. A spring member 22 whose tip end is engaged with the first cam stepped portion 18 is provided, and a base portion is overlapped with this spring member 22,
A switch means 23 is provided which consists of a pair of contact strips 24, 25, and these 22, 24, 25 are attached to the substrate 1 via an insulating piece. This switch means 23 is inserted in series with the telephone circuit, and when it is opened, the telephone circuit is forcibly disconnected even during a call. Although the spring member 22 biases the cam member 17 clockwise in FIG. 2, one contact strip (movable contact strip)
24 has its tip engaged with the second cam step portion 19 of the cam member 17, so that the cam member 17
is maintained in equilibrium in the state shown in FIG. Further, the contact strip 25 is interposed between the contact strip 24 and the spring member 22, and is not directly related to the cam member 17. When the cam member 17 is in a balanced state, the contacts 26 and 27 provided on the opposing surfaces of the contact strips 24 and 25 are in contact with each other. That is, the switch means 23 is closed. by the way,
Near the free end of the contact strip 24, a pin 28 made of an insulating material and protruding in the direction opposite to the board is provided, and on the other hand, the storage lever 8 has an actuating portion 29 opposite to the tip of the pin 28. has been extended. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the pin 28 and the actuating portion 29 are opposed to each other with an appropriate distance maintained therebetween. Further, corresponding to the leg portion 21 of the cam member 17, although the detailed shape thereof is omitted, an operating portion 30 that is integrated with the return lever 9 extends close thereto. In addition,
2 is a stop member positioned facing the opening 10a.

Regarding the embodiment device configured as above,
The storage operation and the forced disconnection operation of the telephone circuit will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

As shown in Fig. 2, with a plurality of coins C ₁ and C ₂ accumulated in the accumulation orbit A in the diametrical direction,
A charge signal is input to the coin storage electromagnet 7 and the storage lever 8
When operated, the push-out portion 13 enters the track through the opening 12 and presses the lowest coin C ₁ against the push-out stop member S, thereby tilting the coin C ₁ as shown in FIG. At this time, coin C ₁ is board 1
It is held by the inner surface restraining member S and the extrusion part 13, and when the charge signal disappears, the extrusion part 13
When it returns to its initial position, it is released from the locked state and falls into the storage track. When this storing operation is completed, the next coin _C2 falls onto the spacer 11,
It will be the lowest coin. Thereafter, this operation is repeated in sequence, and coins corresponding to the number of calls are stored.

However, if the last accumulated coin has been stored and, for example, the call continues and a billing signal is sent even though a request for additional coins is made, the storage lever is 8 works. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the pusher 13 enters the accumulation track A through the opening 12, but operates until it passes through the track A since there are no coins to push out. As a result, the pin 28 is pushed through the operating portion 29, and the contact strip 24 is displaced to the left. However, the tip of the cam member 1
7 from the second cam step portion 19 to the third cam step portion 20
while moving upward to release the cam member 17,
The cam member 17 is rotated clockwise by the acting force of the spring member 22. FIG. 4 shows this state. In this state, the contacts 26, 27 of the contact strips 24, 25 are separated, the switch means 23 is opened, and the telephone circuit is forcibly opened. Next, when the electromagnet 7 is restored, the push-out part 13 of the storage lever 8 leaves the storage track A and returns to the initial position, releasing the pressing state of the pin 28 by the operating part 29. Therefore, the bullet contact 24 elastically returns to engage with the third cam step 20, keeping the switch means 23 in the open state.

The open state of the switch means 23 can be restored by operating the return lever 9 linked to the hook. In other words, the return lever 9
As a result of this action, the actuating portion 30 engages with the leg portion 21 of the cam member 17 and rotates it counterclockwise in FIG. 4 against the force of the spring member 22. Due to this rotation of the cam member 17, the tip of the bullet contact 24 comes off the third cam step 20 and engages with the second cam step 19 again, and the contacts 26 and 27 come into contact and the switch is activated. Means 23 are closed again.

In the above embodiment, the spring member 22 was provided to give the cam member 17 the ability to rotate in a certain direction, but instead of this spring member 22, the pin shaft 16
Alternatively, a torsion spring may be wound around the torsion spring. Alternatively, the operating portion 29 of the storage lever 8 may be extended to correspond to the contact strip 24, thereby directly pressing the contact strip 24.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained in detail above, according to the coin storage and detection mechanism of the coin storage device according to the present invention, the coin storage mechanism and the coin detection mechanism are configured inseparably. It is possible to realize miniaturization.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coin sorting device equipped with a coin storage and detection mechanism according to the present invention, seen from the back side, Figs. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an accumulation state, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a storing operation state, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a strong cutting operation state. 1... Board, 7... Electromagnet, 8... Storage lever, 9... Return lever, 10... Side plate, 13...
Extrusion part, 17...Cam member, 18-20...Cam step part, 22...Spring member, 23...Switch means, 24, 25...Contact bar, 28...Pin, 2
9... Actuation part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A base plate and a side plate that are erected to face each other in parallel with a predetermined distance from each other and form a coin storage track, and a base plate and a side plate that are normally retracted from the storage track and swing when coins are stored into the storage track. A storage lever that enters and has an extrusion section provided at its swinging end presses the accumulated coins in the thickness direction and pushes them out onto the storage track through an opening provided in the side plate, and is disposed between the storage lever and the substrate. a switch means which normally remains in the closed state and which is opened by operation of the storage lever when no coin is present in the storage track to place the device in an inoperative state; a return lever that locks the accumulated coins and opens the terminal end of the accumulated track to communicate with the return track during the return operation; and a return lever that is disposed near the opening and that allows the accumulated coins to be pressed by the extrusion part when the coins are stored. A stopper member for limiting the amount of movement of the storage lever and a plurality of cam step portions for holding the switch means in an open state are provided so as to be freely rotatable between the storage lever and the switch means. and a cam member which is disposed on the cam member and is given a rotational habit in a fixed direction by a biasing means, and the cam member is normally arranged such that the movable side bullet contact of the switch means is connected to one of the cam step portions. By abutting and engaging, rotation by the urging means is prevented and maintained in an equilibrium state;
When the coin is not present in the accumulation track, the push-out portion penetrates the accumulation track due to the operation of the storage lever, and the storage lever presses and displaces the movable side bullet contact, and the coin is removed from one of the cam steps. When the switch means is separated, it is rotated by the biasing means, and the other one of the cam steps locks the bullet contact, thereby locking the switch means in the open state, and when the return operation is performed, the switch means is rotated by the biasing means. A coin storage and detection mechanism in a coin storage device, characterized in that the bullet contact is released from locking and the switch means is returned to the closed state by being rotated back by a reversal lever.