JPH0458075B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides an improper coin discrimination section that discriminates whether a coin passing through a coin passage is a proper coin or an improper coin;
A coin processing machine having a stopper movable forward and backward into the coin passage for locking the invalid coin discriminated by the invalid coin discriminating section in the coin passage, and a coin transfer means for transferring the coin in the coin passage. This invention relates to an illegal coin removal device.

(Prior art) Conventionally, as this type of device, for example,
As described in Publication No. 92084, a first detection part, a stopper, and a second detection part are arranged in order along the coin transport direction in the coin passage, and the coins are placed facing the end of the coin passage. A gate is provided to switch the flow path of coins discharged from the end of the passage to a proper coin discharge direction or an improper coin discharge device.

When the first detection unit detects an unsuitable coin (for example, a different type of coin, a coin with a high degree of defacement, or a counterfeit coin), the stopper is advanced into the coin passage to lock the next coin after the unsuitable coin, Further, when the second detection section detects passage of an invalid coin, the gate is switched to discharge the invalid coin discharged from the end of the coin passage in the invalid coin discharging direction.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional device as described above, when the transfer speed of the coins on the coin path is high, especially in this type of device, the interval between the coins being conveyed is insufficient. Because it is not opened, the following problems occur.

When the second detection unit detects passage of an invalid coin, the gate is switched, but the switching timing is difficult, and if the switching timing is too fast, the gate will be closed before the valid coin before the invalid coin reaches the gate. The switching is performed, and both invalid coins and valid coins are ejected in the invalid coin ejection direction. vice versa,
If the switching timing is too late, the gate will be switched at the time when an incorrect coin enters the correct coin ejection direction. Therefore, it is difficult to discharge only invalid coins in the invalid coin ejection direction.

Further, when switching the gate, the gate is switched at the stage where an incorrect coin or a previous correct coin is present at the gate position, so coins may become stuck between the gate and the side wall of the passageway.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is capable of reliably removing only incorrect coins in the direction of ejecting incorrect coins, and also directing the passage of coins ejected from the end of the coin passage to the correct coin ejecting direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improper coin removing device for a coin processing machine that can prevent coin clogging at a flow path switching point where the direction is changed or the direction of discharging improper coins is changed.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides an unsuitable coin discriminating unit 3 that determines whether a coin passing through the coin passage 3 is an appropriate coin or an unsuitable coin.
6, a stopper 18 movable forward and backward into the coin passage 3 for stopping the invalid coin discriminated by the invalid coin discriminating section 36 within the coin passage 3, and a coin for transferring the coin in the coin passage 3. In the coin processing machine having the transfer means 10, in view of the end of the coin path 3, a flow path switching mechanism that switches the path of coins discharged from the end of the coin path 3 to a proper coin discharging direction or an incorrect coin discharging direction. 26, and a first electric drive unit 3 that drives this passage switching mechanism 26.
0, advances into the coin passage 3 and locks the invalid coin, and moves out of the coin passage 3 to release the invalid coin from the end of the coin passage 3 to prevent the invalid coin from passing. A stopper 1 allows the coin to enter the coin passage 3 again when a subsequent coin arrives after passing the invalid coin, and locks the incoming coin.
8, a second electric drive unit 19 that moves the stopper 18, and a control unit that controls the first and second electric drive units 30 and 19 based on the invalid coin discrimination signal from the invalid coin discrimination unit 36. The stopper 18 is advanced into the coin passage 3 by the second electric drive unit 19 based on the invalid coin discrimination signal to lock the invalid coin, and when the stopper 18 is stopped, the first electric drive unit 30 switches the flow path switching mechanism 26 to the inappropriate coin ejection direction, and at the time of switching, the second electric drive unit 19 moves the stopper 18 out of the coin passage 3, and the coin transfer means 10 transfers the invalid coins. , when a coin following the invalid coin arrives, the coin is moved to the stopper 1 by the second electric drive unit 19.
8 into the coin passage 3 and locked therein, only the invalid coins are discharged from the end of the coin passage 3 and discharged in the invalid coin discharging direction through the flow path switching mechanism 26. After this discharge, the first electric Target drive unit 3
0 switches the flow path switching mechanism 26 to the proper coin ejection direction, and the second electric drive unit 19 moves the stopper 18 out of the coin passage 3, and the coin transfer means 10 restarts the transfer of coins in the coin passage 3. It is equipped with a control section 34 that controls the operation.

Function The present invention locks an invalid coin passing through the coin passage 3 with the stopper 18, switches the channel switching mechanism 26 to the invalid coin ejection direction at the time of the locking, and moves the stopper 18 to the coin passage 3 at the time of the locking. forcing the person to leave the house and transferring the inappropriate coins using the coin transfer means 10;
When a coin following the invalid coin arrives, the coin is stopped by the stopper 18, and only the invalid coin is discharged from the end of the coin passage 3 and discharged in the invalid coin discharge direction through the flow path switching mechanism 26. After the coin is discharged, the flow path switching mechanism 26 is switched to the proper coin discharge direction, and the stopper 18 is moved out of the coin passage 3 to allow the coin transfer means 10 to continue transferring the coin within the coin passage 3.

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

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a rotating disk that is driven to rotate clockwise in the figure. Coins are fed onto this rotating disk 1 from a supply section (not shown), and the fed coins are transferred to the rotating disk. 1 by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotating disk 1 and moved along the peripheral wall 2, and by the thickness regulating member disposed at a predetermined interval on a part of the rotating disk 1 of the peripheral wall 2. The coins are stacked in one layer and fed one by one into a coin passage 3 formed in the tangential direction of the rotating disk 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, this coin passage 3 includes a fixed passage bottom plate 4 whose position is fixed, a fixed passage side plate 5 fixed to the upper surface of this fixed passage bottom plate 4 and defining one side of the passage width, and a fixed passage bottom plate 4. A movable passage side plate 6 that is movable in the passage width direction with respect to the upper surface and defines the other side of the passage width, and a sorting slot provided on the lower surface of this movable passage side plate 6 and opened in the center of the fixed passage bottom plate 4. The sorting slot 7 is movable in the width direction of the passage within the selection slot 7.
It consists of a movable passage bottom plate 8 whose width can be changed. The fixed passage side plate 5 is fixed to the outside with a slight distance from the edge 7a of the sorting slot 7, and coins (coins of set denominations) are guided by the fixed passage side plate 5 on the edge 7a. The edge of the coin rests on it and moves on the sorting slot 7 (the edge of the coin guided by the movable channel side plate 6 moves onto the movable channel bottom plate 8).

Further, the movable passage side plate 6 (the movable passage bottom plate 8 is also integrated) is urged outward in the passage width direction by a tension spring (not shown), so that the cam receiving portion 6a on the outer surface is pressed against the passage width adjusting cam 9. Then, by operating a denomination knob (not shown) of the denomination specifying section 37, which will be described later, the passage width adjusting cam 9 is rotated to set the passage width to a passage width corresponding to a desired denomination coin.

Further, a coin transfer means 10 for transferring the coins in the coin passage 3 is arranged above the coin passage 3, and the coin transfer means 10 includes a starting end pulley 11 and a starting end pulley 11 disposed on the starting end and the terminal end of the coin passage 3, respectively. A coin transfer belt 13 is stretched between the terminal pulleys 12 to transfer coins in the coin passage 3 in a coin ejection direction (diagonally to the left in FIG. 1, downward in FIG. 2). Note that a drive section 14 consisting of a motor is connected to the shaft 12a of the terminal pulley 12 to rotationally drive the coin transfer belt 13.

In this coin passage 3, coins with a diameter larger than the diameter of the set denomination coin are stopped at the entrance of the coin passage 3 (consisting of the inner wall of the fixed passage side plate 5 and the starting end of the movable passage side plate 6). Coins that cannot enter the passage 3 and are thicker than the set denomination coins are restricted from entering by a thickness regulating member, and small-diameter coins that are smaller in diameter than the set denomination coins are allowed to enter the passage 3 through the sorting slot 7. will be eliminated from falling. Therefore, a correct coin of the set denomination and an incorrect coin with the same diameter as the correct coin are sent out from the end of the coin passage 3 (a set denomination coin with a low degree of defacement is considered a suitable coin, and a set denomination coin is coins with a high degree of defacement and coins of other denominations, such as foreign coins and counterfeit coins).

Further, on the fixed passage side plate 5 side on the downstream side of the coin passage 3, a coin discrimination sensor 15, a coin stop mechanism 16,
Counting sensors 17 are provided in order from the upstream side.

The coin discrimination sensor 15 is composed of a substantially U-shaped magnetic head embedded in the fixed passage bottom plate 4, detects the material of the passing coin, and outputs material signals of different levels depending on the material.

The coin stopping mechanism 16 includes a stopper 18 whose intermediate portion is rotatably supported near the side of the coin passage 3, and a plunger 2 of a solenoid 20 as a second electric drive unit 19 is attached to the lower end of the stopper 18.
0a is rotatably continuous, and when the solenoid 20 is energized, the upper end of the stopper 18 advances inward in the width direction of the passage from a position retracted from the inner wall of the passage of the fixed passage side plate 5 to remove the coin being transferred. When the solenoid 20 is de-energized, a spring or the like (not shown) closes the coin passage 3.
Move outside and allow coins to pass. The coins to be stopped are the next coin (for example, the 4001st coin) after the set count (for example, 4000 coins), an invalid coin, and a coin subsequent to the invalid coin (details will be described later). .

The counting sensor 17 is composed of a substantially U-shaped proximity switch embedded in the fixed passage bottom plate 4, and outputs a pulse-like passage signal every time it detects a passing coin.

Further, a coin ejection chute 21 is disposed facing the end of the coin passage 3, and the coin ejection chute 21 has an introduction opening 22 facing the end of the coin passage 3 and is sent out from the coin passage 3. An arcuate chute space 23 is provided to change the direction of the coin downward from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, and the chute space 2
3, there is a proper coin ejection path 24 from the coin ejection direction side (diagonally left front side in Figure 1, bottom side in Figure 2).
and the illegal coin discharge path 25 are arranged in parallel.

This coin ejection chute 21 is provided with a flow path switching mechanism 26 that switches the chute space 23 to the proper coin ejection side or the incorrect coin ejection side.
The flow path switching mechanism 26 includes a shutter 27 disposed within the chute space 23, and a shutter shaft 28 rotatably supported by the coin ejection chute 21 is fixed to the lower end of the shutter 27. Shoot space 2 centered on 28
3, and move to the position shown by the broken line or imaginary line in FIG.
The upper end of the shutter 27 comes into contact with the inner wall on the 24 side) to close the entrance of the incorrect coin ejection path 25 or the proper coin ejection path 24.
A lever 29 is fixed to the tip of the shutter shaft 28 that protrudes outward from the coin ejection chute 21, and a plunger 31a of a solenoid 31 as a first electric drive unit 30 is connected to the lower end of the lever 29. ing. When the solenoid 31 is de-energized, the shutter 27 is operated by the lever 2 as shown by the broken line in FIG.
The shutter shaft 28 is rotated clockwise (as viewed diagonally from the right front side in FIG. 1) by the biasing force of the tension spring 32 connected to the upper end of the coin, thereby blocking the incorrect coin ejection path 25 and correcting the coin. When the coin ejection path 24 is opened and the solenoid 31 is energized, the first
As shown by the imaginary line in the figure, the shutter shaft 28 is rotated counterclockwise via the lever 29 to close the proper coin ejection path 24, and the incorrect coin ejection path 2
5 is released.

Further, a substantially U-shaped shutter position detection sensor 33 is disposed on the lever 29, and this shutter position detection sensor 33 is composed of a photo sensor, etc., and detects the lever 29 and moves the shutter 27 to the improper coin ejection path. A reset signal is output only when 25 is closed.

FIG. 3 shows a control block diagram of the coin processing machine, and numeral 34 is a control section, and this control section 34 receives a start signal and a counting number setting signal from a command section 35 by operating a button or the like. Command signal, proper coin discrimination signal or improper coin discrimination signal from the improper coin discrimination section 36, counting sensor 17
A passing signal from is input. The inappropriate coin discriminating unit 36 generates a denomination signal corresponding to the material of the denomination when the denomination to be processed is selected by operating a denomination button or the like from the denomination specifying unit 37, and a coin discriminating sensor 15. A material signal is input from the denomination signal, and the material signal is compared with the denomination signal, and if they match, a proper coin discrimination signal is output to the control unit 34, and if they do not match, it is determined that the coin is an incorrect coin. A determination signal is output to the control section 34. In addition, this inappropriate coin discrimination unit 3
6, a reset signal from the shutter position detection sensor 33 is input.

Further, the control unit 34 outputs operation command signals to the drive unit 38 that rotationally drives the rotary disk 1 and the drive unit 14 that rotationally drives the coin transfer belt 13 based on the start signal from the command unit 35. , a coin stop command is issued to the second electric drive unit 19 of the coin stop mechanism 16 based on the improper coin discrimination signal from the improper coin discrimination unit 36 or the signal from the coin discrimination sensor 15 that has detected the set number of proper coins. A signal (that is, an excitation signal to the solenoid 20) is output, and based on the improper coin discrimination signal from the improper coin discrimination section 36, the first electric drive section 30 of the flow path switching mechanism 26 sends the improper coin to the improper coin discharge side. Flow path switching command signal (i.e. excitation signal to solenoid 31)
is output.

Note that 39 is a counting section that counts the count signal outputted from the control section 34 on the basis of the proper coin discrimination signal from the above-mentioned improper coin discrimination section 36 and the passing signal from the counting sensor 17.

Reference numeral 40 designates a timer section for a predetermined period of time (for example, 3
seconds), a elapsed signal is output to the flow path switching mechanism 26 and the control section 34.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

By setting the denomination of the appropriate coin using the denomination button of the denomination specifying unit 37, a denomination signal corresponding to the material of the appropriate coin is output to the inappropriate coin determination unit 36, and the passage width is adjusted. The passage width of the coin passage 3 is set for appropriate coins via the cam 9, the movable passage side plate 6, and the movable passage bottom plate 8.

Then, by operating the start button of the command unit 35, the control unit 34 causes the drive units 38, 14 to
Rotating disk 1 driven by and coin transfer level 1
3 is rotationally driven. The coins fed onto the rotationally driven rotary disk 1 move along the peripheral wall 2, pass through the lower part of the coin thickness regulating member, and are fed into the coin passage 3. At this time, only coins having the same diameter or a smaller diameter as the set denomination coin are sent into the coin passage 3, and entry of large diameter coins and thick coins is restricted.

The coins fed into the coin passage 3 are transferred by the coin transfer belt 13, and while passing over the sorting slot 7, small-diameter coins are dropped and removed. Only the incorrect coins pass through each sensor 15, 17 and are sent out from the end of the coin passage 3.

The material of the coin transferred through the coin passage 3 is detected by the coin discrimination sensor 15, and if the material signal from the coin discrimination sensor 15 and the denomination signal from the denomination specifying section 37 match, It is determined that the coin is a proper coin, and a proper coin discrimination signal is output from the improper coin discrimination section 36 to the control section 34. The appropriate coins pass through the counting sensor 17 and are discharged from the end of the coin passage 3 through the introduction opening 22 into the chute space 23 of the coin ejection chute 21, and are discharged into the appropriate coin ejection path opened by the shutter 27. 24 (inappropriate coin ejection path 25 is blocked). Note that when a proper coin is released from the end of the coin passage 3, a passing signal is output from the counting sensor 17, and a counting signal is output from the control section 34 based on the above-mentioned proper coin discrimination signal and this passing signal, and counting is performed. It is counted in section 39.

Further, if the material signal from the coin discrimination sensor 15 and the denomination signal from the denomination specifying section 37 do not match, the coin is determined to be inappropriate, and the improper coin discrimination section 36
An unsuitable coin discrimination signal is output to the control section 34. Based on the inappropriate coin discrimination signal, the control unit 3
A coin stop command signal is output from 4, and the solenoid 20 of the coin stop mechanism 16 is energized to stop the coin stopper 1.
8 enters the coin passage 3 and locks the invalid coin to prevent its advance. Then, after the proper coin before the incorrect coin is discharged from the end of the coin path 3 and discharged to the proper coin ejection path 24 (after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the coin stop command signal was output from the control unit 34), The rotational drive of the rotary disk 1 and the coin transfer level 13 is stopped, and a flow path switching command signal is output from the control unit 34 to switch the flow path switching mechanism 26.
The solenoid 31 is energized and the shutter 27 is rotated, and the shutter 27 closes the proper coin ejection path 24 and opens the incorrect coin ejection path 25. The switching rotation of the shutter 27 is as follows:
When the stopper 18 detects an improper coin locking operation and is activated, it may be activated simultaneously with the stopper 18.

After the shutter 27 is switched, the solenoid 20 of the coin stop mechanism 16 is de-energized, the stopper 18 is moved out of the coin passage 3, and the coin transfer belt 13 is rotationally driven (the rotating disk 1 is rotated at the same time). ), the incorrect coin and the coins in the coin path 3 following this incorrect coin are transferred.

Then, in response to the counting sensor 17 detecting an incorrect coin and outputting a passing signal, the control unit 34 outputs a coin stop command signal again, and the solenoid 20 of the coin stopping mechanism 16 is energized to the stopper 1.
8 advances into the coin passage 3 and locks the coin following the invalid coin (regardless of whether it is a valid coin or an invalid coin). Therefore, only invalid coins are discharged from the end of the coin passage 3 through the introduction opening 22 into the chute space 23 of the coin discharge chute 21, and are discharged into the open invalid coin discharge path 25. In addition,
The next coin after the invalid coin stopped by the stopper 18 passes through the coin discrimination sensor 15, and is judged by the invalid coin portion discrimination section 36 as to whether or not it is an invalid coin.

Note that when an invalid coin is discharged from the coin passage 3, it passes through the calculation sensor 17 and a passing signal is output, but since the invalid coin discrimination section 36 does not output a valid coin discrimination signal, the control No counting signal is output from section 34, and counting section 39 does not perform a counting operation.

Further, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the control section 34 outputs the flow path switching command signal, the timer section 40 outputs a progress signal to the flow path switching mechanism 26, and the solenoid 31 of the flow path switching mechanism 26 becomes de-energized. The shutter 27 is rotated by the biasing force of the tension spring 32, and the shutter 27 closes the incorrect coin ejection path 25 and opens the proper coin ejection path 24.

Further, the elapsed signal from the timer section 40 is also output to the control section 34, and the control section 34 receiving this elapsed signal controls the solenoid 2 of the coin stop mechanism 16.
0 becomes de-energized, the stopper 18 is moved out of the coin passage 3, and the rotary disk 1 and the coin transfer belt 13 are driven to rotate, and the transfer of the coins in the coin passage 3 following the invalid coin is resumed. Ru.
When the shutter 27 returns to the position where it closes the improper coin discharge path 25, a reset signal is output from the shutter position detection sensor 33 to the improper coin discriminator 36, and the improper coin discriminator 36 determines whether the coin is ejected by the reset signal. The memory of illegal coins that have been issued will be reset.

In addition, if the next coin after the illegal coin is an illegal coin, the illegal coin discrimination unit 36
The shutter 27 is switched to remove invalid coins, and if the coin is a valid coin, the counter 39
The value of the newly counted coin is added to the previous counted value and counting continues.

In addition, in the case of a predetermined number of coins, for example, 4000 coins, when the material of the 4000th coin is found to be suitable by the coin discrimination sensor 15 (at the stage where it is not counted by the counting sensor 17), the stopper 18 is advanced and the next coin ( 4001st coin) is stopped, and the rotating disk 1 and coin transfer belt 13 are also stopped. In addition, 4000
The first coin is counted by the counting sensor 17 and sent out. Further, the automatic counting restart signal causes the stopper 18 to retreat and the rotary disk 1 and the coin transfer belt 13 to rotate, thereby restarting counting.

Note that the correct coins and incorrect coins sent out from the coin passage 3 are led out to other locations through the appropriate coin ejection path 24 and the incorrect coin ejection path 25, and these other locations include, for example, a coin counter. , in the case of the counting mode of the coin wrapping machine, means the proper coin storage part (bag or gold box) and the incorrect coin receiving part (gold box or receiving box inside the machine), and in the case of the wrapping mode of the coin wrapping machine, , means the coin stacking section and the improper coin receiving section.

As described above, when an unsuitable coin is identified, the unsuitable coin transferred through the coin passage 3 is stopped by the stopper 18.
When the coin is locked, the shutter 27 is switched to close the proper coin ejection path 24 and open the incorrect coin ejection path 25, and at the time of this switching, the stopper 18 is moved out of the coin passage 3 and the coin transfer belt is moved. 13, the invalid coin is transferred, and when a subsequent coin arrives, the coin is stopped by the stopper 18, and only the invalid coin is discharged from the coin passage 3 to the invalid coin ejection path 25. After ejection, the shutter 27 is switched to open the proper coin ejection path 24 and the incorrect coin ejection path 2.
5, and further close the stopper 18 to the coin passage 3.
After the coins are moved out, the coin transfer belt 13 restarts the transfer of the coins within the coin passage 3.

Further, in the above embodiment, the proper coin is a set denomination coin with a low degree of defacement, and the inappropriate coin is a set denomination coin with a high degree of defacement, and other denomination coins such as foreign coins and counterfeit coins. However, it is also possible to not include the degree of defacement in determining whether the machine is appropriate or not, and depending on the purpose of use of the machine, coins of a specified denomination with a high degree of defacement or coins of denominations other than the specified denomination may be used. There are cases where the majority of coins and counterfeit coins are mixed with coins of a set denomination and with a low degree of defacement, and if you want to separate and derive the latter from the former, use the former as proper coins. , the latter will be treated as illegal coins.

Further, in the above embodiment, the shutter 27 is used to switch between the proper coin ejection path 24 and the incorrect coin ejection path 25. A chute portion provided inside is provided in an integral movable frame body, and the movable frame body is moved from the coin passageway depending on whether the coin is a valid coin or an invalid coin. The appropriate coin ejection path 25 may be faced, and the chute section with the appropriate coin ejection path 24 inside may be placed in the coin path 3.
The chute is provided swingably so as to face the end of the coin passage 3, and the chute entrance portion thereof faces the end of the coin passage 3.
If the coin is an invalid coin, the chute is swung by a solenoid or the like to move the chute entrance upward from the end of the coin passage 3. It is also possible to dispose the coins discharged from the end of the coin passage 3 at the lower surface of the chute part and guide them on the lower surface of the chute part so that the coins are ejected to the wrong coin discharge path 25 provided at the lower part of the chute part.

Further, in the above embodiment, the solenoids 31 and 2 are used as the first and second electric drive units 30 and 19.
0, and by switching from de-energized to energized, the shutter 27 was switched to the illegal coin ejection side and the stopper 18 was moved forward, but now this is done by switching from energized to de-energized. Also, a latching solenoid may be used as the solenoid, in which case,
When the shutter 27 is switched and when the stopper 18 moves forward or backward, it is always energized and then de-energized. In addition, not only a solenoid but also a rotary solenoid, a motor, etc. may be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, an invalid coin passing through a coin passage is stopped by a stopper, and when the stopper is stopped, the flow path switching mechanism is switched to the invalid coin ejection direction, and when the stopper is switched, the stopper is moved out of the coin passage. By transporting an invalid coin by a coin transfer means, and stopping the coin with a stopper when a coin following the invalid coin arrives, only the invalid coin is discharged from the end of the coin passage and passed through the flow path switching mechanism. The unsuitable coin is discharged in the coin discharging direction, and after the discharge, the flow path switching mechanism is switched to the proper coin discharging direction and the stopper is moved out of the coin passage, so that the coin transfer means restarts the transfer of coins in the coin passage. Only proper coins can be reliably removed in the direction of discharging incorrect coins, and coin clogging in the flow path switching mechanism can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a part thereof, and FIG. 3 is a control block diagram thereof. 3... Coin passageway, 10... Coin transfer means, 18
...Stopper, 19...Second electric drive section, 2
6... Channel switching mechanism, 30... First electric drive section, 34... Control section, 36... Unsuitable coin discrimination section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An improper coin discriminating section that discriminates whether a coin passing through a coin passage is a proper coin or an improper coin, and an improper coin discriminating section that discriminates an improper coin that is discriminated by the improper coin discriminating section within the coin passage. A coin processing machine having a stopper that can be moved forward and backward into a coin passageway, and a coin transfer means for transferring coins in the coin passageway, and a coin processing machine that faces the end of the coin passageway and that is configured to handle coins discharged from the end of the coin passageway. a flow path switching mechanism that switches the flow path to a proper coin ejection direction or an incorrect coin ejection direction; a first electric drive section that drives the flow path switching mechanism; At the same time, in order to release the invalid coin from the end of the coin passage, the invalid coin is removed from the coin passage, allowing the invalid coin to pass, and when the subsequent coin arrives after passing the invalid coin, the coin passage is re-opened. a stopper that locks incoming coins; a second electric drive unit that moves the stopper; The second electric drive unit advances the stopper into the coin passage to lock the illegal coin based on the illegal coin discrimination signal, and when the stopper is locked, the first The electric drive unit switches the flow path switching mechanism to the inappropriate coin ejection direction, and at the time of switching, the second electric drive unit moves the stopper out of the coin passage, and the coin transfer unit transfers the invalid coins. When a coin following the invalid coin arrives, the stopper is advanced into the coin passage by the second electric drive unit to lock the coin, thereby releasing only the invalid coin from the end of the coin passage and switching the flow path. The incorrect coin is ejected through the mechanism in the direction of discharging the incorrect coin, and after the ejection, the first electric drive section switches the flow path switching mechanism to the direction of proper coin ejection, and the second electric drive section moves the stopper out of the coin path. 1. A control section for restarting transfer of coins in a coin passage by a coin transfer means.