JPH0546134Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Field of Application> The present invention relates to a bill device used in vending machines, currency exchange machines, and service equipment (hereinafter referred to as vending machines).

<Prior Art> Conventionally, there has been provided a conveying means for conveying inserted banknotes, a discriminating means for determining the authenticity of the banknotes during transportation by the conveying means, and a temporary holding means for temporarily retaining the banknotes determined to be genuine by the discriminating means. a reversing means for refeeding the banknotes temporarily held by the temporary holding means and returning them to the insertion slot in response to a refund signal from the vending machine; A banknote device comprising a storage means stacked in a gold box is known (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
−77288).

In conventional devices, a shutter for preventing the withdrawal of temporarily reserved banknotes was provided at a position behind the magnetic sensor, which is a component of the discriminating means. This is because the temporary hold cannot be made until after the determination by the determining means has been completed. In conventional discrimination means, a transmitted light amount detection sensor is provided behind the magnetic sensor to detect the thickness or pattern of the banknote, or a photo sensor is installed to detect the size of the banknote, and based on these detection results, the inserted banknote is determined. After determining the authenticity of the information, the information is temporarily put on hold.

<Problem to be solved by the invention> When a withdrawal prevention shutter is provided behind the magnetic sensor in this way, the inserted banknote is temporarily held at a position where it has completely passed through the magnetic sensor, so that the temporarily held banknote is When returning a banknote, the edge of the banknote may not fit properly between the magnetic sensor and the pinch roller that presses the banknote against the magnetic sensor, resulting in the edge of the banknote being bent, and there is a risk that the temporarily held banknote cannot be returned. Not only that, but even if the banknotes could be returned, there was a risk that the edges of the banknotes would become combed or damaged. On the other hand, if the spring that presses the pinch roller is weakened to avoid this, the banknote surface will no longer come into pressure contact with the magnetic sensor, resulting in the inconvenience that magnetic data useful for inspection cannot be obtained.

This idea was made in view of the above points,
To provide a banknote device that can smoothly return temporarily held banknotes without causing them to become jammed at a magnetic sensor.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The banknote device of the present invention has a banknote insertion slot and a conveyance path leading to the banknote insertion slot, and transports banknotes inserted from the banknote insertion slot along the conveyance path. and a plurality of components for identifying banknotes along the conveyance path, each of which includes at least a magnetic sensor, and the magnetic sensor is paired with a pinching member. The bill is placed at the rear of the arrangement of the components, and a passing banknote is introduced between the magnetic sensor and the clamping member and is clamped between the two, thereby pressing the banknote against the magnetic sensor. a determining means for determining the authenticity of the banknote inserted from the banknote insertion slot;
a banknote withdrawal prevention member provided in a stage upstream of the magnetic sensor and protruding or retracting into the conveyance path; a drive means for causing the banknote withdrawal prevention member to exit from the conveyance path when inserting a banknote and returning the banknote; and the conveyance path. a detection means for detecting that the rear end of the inserted banknote being conveyed has passed the position of the banknote withdrawal prevention member; By stopping the conveyance operation of the banknote when it passes by, the banknote is temporarily held in the middle of the conveyance path with a part of the banknote being clamped between the magnetic sensor and the clamping member. a temporary holding means for returning the banknotes temporarily held in the middle of the conveyance path by the temporary holding means to the banknote insertion slot by reversing the banknotes along the conveyance path in response to a refund command signal; a feeding unit, a banknote storage unit for stacking accepted banknotes, and a stacking unit for stacking banknotes temporarily held in the middle of the conveyance path by the temporary holding unit in the banknote storage unit in response to a collection command signal. and means.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, 2 is a banknote insertion slot, 3 is the above-mentioned banknote conveying means, 4 is the above-mentioned discrimination means,
53 corresponds to the banknote storage section. What corresponds to the temporary holding means is a part of the banknote transport path 31 and a circuit portion that stops the transport motor MO1 of the banknote transport path 31. What corresponds to the above-mentioned reverse feeding means is a circuit portion that drives the motor MO1 of the above-mentioned banknote conveyance path 31 in the reverse direction. RH and LH are the magnetic sensors described above, and 43 is a pinch roller corresponding to a pinching member. A bill withdrawal prevention shutter 6 corresponds to the bill withdrawal prevention member, a solenoid SOL corresponds to the drive means, and a switch 62 corresponds to the detection means. The above-mentioned accumulation means corresponds to the push plate 51 and the motor.
This is a part of the reciprocating mechanism 52 driven by MO2.

<Operation> When a bill is inserted, it is conveyed by the conveying means 3, and in the process, the authenticity is determined by the determining means 4. Since the magnetic sensors RH and LH are located at the rear of the arrangement of the components of the determining means 4, when the rear end of the inserted banknote approaches this magnetic sensor, the authenticity determination of the inserted banknote by all the components is completed. On the other hand, the pull-out prevention member 6 includes the magnetic sensor RH,
It is provided in the front stage of LH, and when a banknote is inserted, it is moved out of the passage by the drive means SOL, allowing the banknote to pass. Eventually, when the detection means 62 detects that the rear end of the inserted banknote has passed through the location of the withdrawal prevention member 6, the banknote transporting operation by the transporting means 3 is stopped, and the inserted banknote is temporarily held. becomes. Since the withdrawal prevention member 6 is provided in front of the magnetic sensors RH and LH, when the rear end of the inserted bill passes through the withdrawal prevention member 6, the rear end portion of the inserted bill is still connected to the magnetic sensors RH and LH. Although it is sandwiched between the LH and the corresponding pinching member (pinch roller 43), the authenticity determination has been completed. Therefore, in this state, the banknotes can be stopped and placed in a temporary hold state. If you wish to return temporarily held banknotes,
The banknotes are reversely transported by the reverse transport means. At this time, one end of the banknote is already pinched between the magnetic sensors RH, LH and the corresponding pinching member (pinch roller 43), so the banknote does not get stuck or wrinkled there. Returns will be made promptly.

<Example> The illustrated example will be described in detail below. In FIG. 1, a banknote device main body 1 consists of a vertically elongated casing equipped with a banknote insertion slot 2 on the front, and a banknote conveying means 3 inside.
, a discriminating means 4 for discriminating the authenticity of banknotes, which is provided along the conveying path before the banknote conveying means 3 , and a banknote storing means 5 .

The banknote conveyance means 3 includes a conveyance belt 33 suspended from a pair of left and right pulleys 32 provided along a banknote conveyance path 31, a belt 33' and its pulley 32' driven in contact with the belt 33, the belt 33,
It consists of rollers 34, 34' that press against the belt 33', and a motor MO1 that drives the pulley 32.The left and right sides of the bill are held between the belts 33, 33' and the rollers 34, 34', and the bill is rotated by the belt. convey in the direction of movement.

The determining means 4 is provided along the banknote transport path 31 near the banknote insertion slot 2, and includes a sensor group including a pair of left and right entrance sensors 41R, 41L, a transmitted light amount sensor 42, and a pair of left and right magnetic sensors RH, LH. and a determination circuit (not shown) that analyzes data from each sensor and determines the authenticity of the banknote.

A pair of left and right entrance sensors 41 of this discrimination means 4
R, 41L consists of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, and detects the insertion of a banknote and the width of the banknote by detecting light blocking by the banknote, and the transmitted light amount sensor 42 detects the paper thickness, watermark, and printing of the banknote. It detects presence and density, and uses a pair of magnetic sensors on the left and right sides.
RH and LH detect magnetic components of printing ink unique to banknotes, and a determination circuit analyzes data from each sensor to determine authenticity.

43 is a pinch roller for pressing the banknotes against the magnetic sensors RH and LH, and is always pressed against the magnetic sensors with an appropriate pressure by a spring or the like.

6 is a banknote withdrawal prevention shutter that exits from the banknote transport path 31 only when a banknote is inserted or when a banknote is returned;
It is installed just before the magnetic sensors RH and LH.
When the solenoid SOL is energized, it exits out of the banknote transport path 31, and when it is de-energized, it is pressed by a spring 61 in the direction of protruding into the banknote transport path 31, and its protrusion into the transport path 31 is monitored by a switch 62. ing. Further, the pressing force of the spring 61 is small enough not to prevent the passage of banknotes when there are already banknotes in the banknote transport path 31.

The banknote storage means 5 is located downstream of the banknote transport path 31, and includes a push plate 51 that is capable of reciprocating through the banknote transport path 31 in a direction perpendicular to the banknote surface, and a reciprocating mechanism driven by a stacking motor MO2. Mechanism 52
It consists of a banknote storage box 53, and banknote receiving ribs 54 which define a space narrower than the banknote width, which is provided at left and right positions between the box 53 and the banknote transport path 31.

55 is a carrier switch of the reciprocating mechanism 52. Reference numeral 56 denotes a safety switch that is activated when the banknote storage box 53 is opened during collection or removed from the banknote device main body, and this safety switch 56 detects that the banknote storage box 53 is not set properly. Then, the banknote storage means 5 becomes inoperative.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a lever located in the middle of the banknote conveyance path 31, which allows the passing banknotes to move out of the banknote conveyance path 31;
The lever 7 always faces into the banknote transport path 31 when there are no banknotes passing through. Pass switch 7
1 detects that the lever 7 has moved out of the banknote transport path 31 (that the banknote is in the middle of the banknote transport path 31).

Reference numeral 8 denotes a transfer clock generator that generates pulses matching the feed speed of the transport motor MO1, and the pulses generated thereby are used to determine the authenticity of banknotes.

9 is a cover that prevents rain, dust, etc. from entering the bill insertion slot.

The developed view of the banknote conveyance path 31 is as shown in FIG. 2, and each sensor 41R, 41L, 42, RH,
The relationship between LH and shutter 6 is as shown in the diagram.

Next, the operation of accepting inserted banknotes, the temporary holding operation, the returning operation of temporarily held banknotes, and the stacking operation of temporarily held banknotes will be explained with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 6. A control circuit device (not shown) provided in this banknote device controls various operations according to such a flowchart.

FIG. 3 is an operational flowchart from detection of inserted banknotes to temporary storage of banknotes.

First, it is detected whether the inserted banknote is a banknote of a regular width or not. This is both left and right entrance sensor 41
R, 41L is determined by detecting light shielding by a banknote within a predetermined time (steps S1 to S3).
Note that "TW100" in step S2 means waiting for a time of 100 ms.

When it is determined that the inserted banknote is a standard width banknote, the solenoid SOL is activated on the condition that the insertion permission flag FF is reset (YES in step S4).
is excited (step S5), and the pull-out prevention shutter 6 is activated.
is moved out of the conveyance path 31, and the conveyance motor
Rotate MO1 forward (step S6). As a result, the inserted bill is drawn into the conveyance path 31.

At the same time, the timer TM1 is started (start S7), and it is checked whether the entrance sensors 41R, 41L and the transmitted light amount sensor 42 are ON within the time of the timer TM1 (steps S8 to S10). Thereby, it is detected whether or not the banknote once inserted is pulled out after insertion.

When the sensor 42 is turned on within a predetermined time, the timer TM2 is started (step S11), and it is confirmed that the switch 62, which is turned on while the shutter 6 is opening the transport path 31, is turned on (step S11).
S12), after waiting for 200ms (step
S13), turn off the solenoid SOL (step
S14).

In this state, the leading edge of the banknote passes the magnetic sensor, and the shutter 6 continues to transport the banknote while being lightly pressed against the banknote surface. Therefore, even if the solenoid SOL is turned off, the shutter 6 does not protrude into the conveyance path 31, and the shutter switch 62 remains on.

Next, when the banknote has been transported for a predetermined time after being detected by the magnetic sensors RH and LH, the entrance sensors 41R and 41L are turned OFF and the sensor 42 is turned OFF.
The length of the banknote is determined based on the ON value, and it is checked whether the length is OK (step S15). Length OK
If so, the trailing edge of the bill will pass through the shutter 6 within the time set by the timer TM2 and the shutter switch 62 will be activated.
On the condition that it has been turned off (YES in step S16), the process advances to step S17, where a comprehensive judgment is made based on the analysis results of the data detected from each sensor up to that point. That is, the data detected by the transmitted light amount sensor 42 is data regarding the paper thickness, watermark, presence or absence of printing, and shading of the banknote, and based on this, the insertion direction of the banknote and optical authenticity determination are performed. , The data detected by the LH is compared with pre-stored magnetic distribution data for each insertion direction of the banknote, and the authenticity of the banknote is determined based on whether or not the verification matches, and the overall result of both judgments is OK ( Determine whether the note is genuine (genuine bill). If OK, send a genuine note signal (in step S18), and then send the motor MO1 in step S19.
, and the banknotes are temporarily put on hold. This temporary hold state is maintained until there is a payment signal or a refund signal from the vending machine. In addition, when the state is temporarily suspended, the insertion permission flag FF is set (the fourth
In step S20 of the figure, insertion of subsequent banknotes is rejected until the flag is reset. In this temporary holding state, the trailing edge of the bill has passed past the shutter 6, and the trailing edge portion of the bill is held between the sensors RH, LH and the pinch roller 43.

Note that if the determinations in steps S8, S9, S12, S15, and S17 are NO, and if the sensor 42 is not turned on and the bill is not conveyed within the time of timer TM1 (YES in step S49), and if the time of timer TM2 is If the solenoid switch 62 does not turn OFF and the banknotes are jammed (YES in step S50),
At that point, the inserted bill is returned by a bill return operation (RETURN BILL) described later.

Next, the process from the temporary hold state to the stack operation is performed in the fourth step.
This will be explained with reference to the drawings and FIG.

In the temporary hold state, processing is performed according to the flow shown in FIG. In this case, when a refund signal is received from the vending machine, the process proceeds to a refund operation (ESCROW RETURN) to be described later via NO in step S21. On the other hand, there is no refund signal and the safety switch 56 is
In the ON state (state in which the banknote storage box 53 is normally attached and stackable), the collection flag SF is set before the payment signal is given from the vending machine (YES in steps S21 and S22).
S23 NO and S24). After that, when the money collection signal is given (YES in step S23), it is confirmed that the SF flag is set, the flag is reset, and the motor MO1 is rotated normally again (steps S25 to S26). As a result, when the bill is conveyed and the rear end of the bill passes through the pass switch 71, the timer TM3 is started, and after the time of the timer TM3 has elapsed, the motor MO1 is stopped (steps S28 to S31). In this way, the banknotes are conveyed to the stack position.

When the banknotes are conveyed to the stack position, as shown in Figure 5.
Processed according to the STACK flow. Here, the banknote storage means 5 operates the reciprocating mechanism 52 for two cycles by the rotation of the motor MO2 to perform the stacking operation. That is, motor MO2
(step S32), starts timer TM4 (start S33), and on the condition that carrier switch 55 is switched from OFF to ON within the time of timer TM4 (this is the normal operating condition for carrier switch 55). ), the counter A is incremented by 1 (step S34,
S35, S36). Next, stop motor MO2 (step S37) and set a 100ms wait time (step S37).
S38), it is checked whether the count value of counter A is a predetermined value n (for example, 2) (step S39). A=
If not, the process returns to step S32 and repeats the above-mentioned routine. Through the processing of steps S32 to S37, the reciprocating mechanism 52 reciprocates for one cycle and stores the banknotes in the storage box 53. Each time this mechanism 52 reciprocates for one cycle, the counter A is incremented by one count. In order to ensure the storage operation, the mechanism 52 is reciprocated n times to store one bill. Therefore, when A=n, the process exits from the repetition of the above-mentioned routine and proceeds to step S40, where the FF flag is reset. In this way, the stack operation is completed and the device returns to the standby state (STAND BY).

Furthermore, the carrier switch 5 is activated within the timer TM4, which starts at the same time as the rotation of the motor MO2.
If step 5 does not operate normally, steps S41 and S42 will fail.
YES, proceed to step S43,
~S48, S32~S35, S41, and S42 are repeated as necessary to reverse and forward motor MO2 several times. If the stack operation still does not return to normal, it is assumed that the stack is full or a failure occurs, and a SET STOP is performed. do. That is, when MO2 is reversed, timer TM5 is started (step S44),
Counter B is incremented by 1 on the condition that the carrier switch 55 is turned on within that time (steps S45 to S47), and on the condition that B has not reached the predetermined value n (step S48), the process returns to step S32. .

Next, the operation of returning inserted banknotes will be explained with reference to FIG.

During the authenticity determination process, if there is a command to return the inserted banknote (in other words, in the case of a defective banknote), a "RETURN"
BILL'' routine, the motor MO1 that had been rotating is stopped, and after waiting for a predetermined time, the motor MO1 is reversed and the bill is reversed, provided that the collection flag SF has been reset. (steps S51 to S54). Then the solenoid
Turn on SOL to enable the passage of banknotes (step S55). Then, the timer TM6 is started (step S56), and within the operating time of the timer TM6, the pass switch 71 is switched from ON to OFF (the rear end of the reversely fed bill passes the pass switch 71), and the sensor 42 is switched from ON to OFF. From ON
It is determined that the banknote has been returned normally (step
S57-S61). Note that the rear end of the bill is the pass switch 7.
When the banknote passes through position 1 (YES in step S57), the banknote is definitely above the shutter 6, so the solenoid SOL can be turned off at this point (step S58). When the rear end of the bill passes normally through the position of the sensor 42 (YES in step S59),
Stop motor MO1 (step S62). At this time, the banknotes have been returned to the insertion slot 2. When the returned banknote is pulled out from the insertion slot 2, it is confirmed that the entrance sensors 41R and 41L are turned off (steps S63 and S64), and the flag FF is reset (step S65) to end the return process.

Once a genuine bill signal is sent and the inserted bill is temporarily held as described above, if a refund signal is given, an "ESCROW RETURN" routine is performed. In this case, since the motor MO1 has already been stopped by the process of step S19 in FIG.
Perform the processing from S52 to S64. As mentioned above, the temporarily held banknotes are held between the magnetic sensors RH and LH and the pinch roller 43, so that the banknotes can pass smoothly during reverse feeding.

In addition, the rear end of the inserted bill has a withdrawal prevention shutter 6.
The detection means for detecting that the shutter 6 has passed is not limited to the switch 62 that detects the exit of the shutter 6, but other devices may be used.

<Effects of the invention> As explained above, the present invention provides the magnetic sensors RH and LH at the rear end of the banknote discriminating means, and the pull-out prevention member 6 is provided in front of the magnetic sensors RH and LH, and the pull-out prevention member 6 is located at the position of the inserted banknote. The conveyance of the inserted banknote is stopped by a detection means that detects when the trailing edge has passed, and the banknote is temporarily held.In the temporarily held state, the banknote is stopped with the end of the banknote held between the magnetic sensor and the pinch roller. You can do as you like.
This has the effect that when returning temporarily held banknotes, the ends of the banknotes are not obstructed by the magnetic sensor and the pinch roller, and the return can be carried out smoothly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the banknote device according to this invention, FIG. 2 is a developed view of a banknote conveyance path in the same embodiment, and FIGS. 3 to 6 show various operations in the same embodiment. It is a flow diagram showing an example of a control procedure. 1...Banknote device main body, 2...Banknote insertion slot, 3...
...Banknote transport means, 4...Discrimination means, 5...Banknote storage means, 6...Banknote withdrawal prevention shutter, 61...
...Spring, 62...Switch, SOL...Solenoid, RH, LH...Magnetic sensor, 41R,
41L... Entrance sensor, 42... Transmitted light amount sensor, MO1... Transport motor, MO2... Stack motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] 1. A banknote conveying means having a banknote insertion slot and a conveyance path leading to the banknote insertion slot and conveying banknotes inserted from the banknote insertion opening along the conveyance path; a plurality of identifying components along the conveying path, each of which includes at least a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor being paired with a clamping member at the rear of the array of components; A passing banknote is introduced between the magnetic sensor and the clamping member and is clamped between the two, thereby pressing the banknote against the magnetic sensor. a discriminating means for determining the authenticity of inserted banknotes; a banknote withdrawal prevention member provided in front of the magnetic sensor and protruding into or retracting from the conveyance path; and a banknote withdrawal prevention member used during banknote insertion and banknote return. a driving means for causing the banknote to exit from the conveyance path; a detection means for detecting that the rear end of the inserted banknote conveyed through the conveyance path has passed through a portion of the banknote withdrawal prevention member; based on the output of the detection means; By stopping the transporting operation of the banknote when the rear end of the inserted banknote passes the position of the banknote withdrawal prevention member, a part of the banknote is clamped between the magnetic sensor and the clamping member. In a state where
Temporary holding means for temporarily holding the banknotes in the middle of the conveyance path; and Transporting the banknotes temporarily held in the middle of the conveyance path by the temporary holding means back along the conveyance path in response to a refund command signal. A reverse feeding unit returns the banknotes to the banknote insertion slot; a banknote storage unit that accumulates accepted banknotes; A banknote device comprising: a banknote stacking unit that stacks the banknotes in the banknote storage section according to the request. 2. The detection means includes a switch that detects that the banknote withdrawal prevention member has exited from the passage, and the banknote withdrawal prevention member is constantly biased by a spring so as to protrude into the passage. Before the front end of the banknote arrives, the banknote is moved out of the passageway by the driving means against the spring force, and while the banknote is passing, the drive by the driving means is released and the banknote is moved toward the passageway by the spring. The switch is turned off by this protrusion, and the rear end of the inserted bill passes through the bill withdrawal prevention member. The banknote device according to claim 1, which detects whether the banknote has been registered as a utility model.