Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2 ~
COIN PACKAGING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM
FOR MANAGING THE COIN PACKAGING APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a coin
packaging apparatus and, more particularly, to a coin
packaging machine which automatically adjust width and
height of a coin passage for processing such as selecting
and counting coins and also inner diameter of a coin
accumulating unit. The present invention further relates
to a coin packaging apparatus managing system for totally
storing and managing data relative to the processing by the
coin packaging apparatus.
Description of the Prior Art
For instance, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication
(Kokai) No.59-121491(1984) discloses a known coin packaging
machine for accumulating a predetermined number of coins
and packaging the coins with a sheet of wrapping paper.
The packaging machine disclosed in the same Patent
Laid-Open Publication is constructed as follows. The coins
are sent one by one out of a rotary disk and conveyed on
a coin passage. Performed on this passage are processes
such as selecting the coins having a small diameter,
counting the coins to be packaged and stopping the opera-
tion. At the same time, the coins are transferred into a
coin accumulating unit provided at the terminal of the coin
passage, wherein a predetermined number of coins are
accumulated. After finishing the accl ~lation thereof, the
accumulated coins are moved to a packaging unit and
packaged with a sheet of wrapping paper.
The width and height of the above coin passage and the
inner diameter of the coin accumulating unit are adjustable
corresponding to kinds of the coins for the purpose of
process~ng the coins having different diameters and thick-
nesses.
More specifically, the adjustment of the coin passage
-
, ,
S 1
width involves the following steps. A movable passage
member movable in a crosswise direction of the coin passage
among members constituting the coin passage is brought into
contact with a polygonal cam. One of cam surfaces is
selected by manually rotationally operating a kind-of-coin
setting handle. The movable passage member is moved to a
position corresponding to a diameter of the processed coin
with the aid of this cam surface, thus adjusting the coin
passage width.
Further, the adjustment of the coin passage height is
done as follows. A thickness regulating member regulates
the coins sent from the rotary disk in a one-layer state.
Conveyor belts convey the coins while being press-fitted
to the upper surface of the coin. The thickness regulating
member and the conveyor belts are supported on a movable
frame movable up and down. The thickness regulating member
and the conveyor belts are moved up and down together with
the movable frame by manually rotationally opPrating a
height adjusting knob, thus adjusting the coin passage
height.
Moreover, the coin accumulating unit is constructed
such that support members for supporting peripheral lower
surfaces of the coins are protruded from belt surfaces of
a pair of belts disposed to set their traveling surfaces
in a face-to-face relationship. The pair of belts are so
supported as to be movable through parallel links, respec-
tively. The parallel links are moved by one polygonal cam
interlocking with the kind-of-coin setting handle. A
surface-to-surface distance between the pair of belts is
adjusted correspon~ng to the diameter of the processed
coin as well as adjusting the inner diameter of the coin
accumulating unit.
Additionally, in a coin packaging unit, three packaging
rollers gradually approach each other while being rotated,
whereby the accumulated coins are sandwiched therebetween.
The wrapping paper is fed in between the rollers and the
accl ~lated coins, thus packaging the accumulated coins
j_~
2 ~
with the wrapping paper. The upper and lower edges of the
wrapping paper are swaged and tightly secured by swaging
members.
The coin packaging machine constructed in the manner
described above typically incorporates a function to store
items of data about a number of the coins counted and a
numbex of the coins packaged (coin bar) throughout one day
according to the kinds of coins and modes (a counting mode,
a packaging mode, etc.). Further, the coin packaging
machine also incorporates a function to store contents of
abnormal states, if there are induced the abnormal states
such as a jam of the coins on the coin passage, a defec-
tive-fed state and cut-off of the wrapping paper during the
operation of the coin packaging machine (in the middle of
counting and packaging processes). These items of operat-
ing data are printed out by a printer mounted in the coin
packaging machine after an end of work in that day. The
operating data printed out are manually input to a personal
computer or the like and totally managed by the user.
The conventional COil'l packaging machine, however,
presents a problems of being quite troublesome. That is,
the kind-of-coin setting handle is manually rotationally
operated corresponding to the kinds of the processed coins,
thus adjusting the coin passage width and the inner
diameter of the coin accumulating unit. On the other hand,
it is required that the coin passage height be ad;usted by
manually rotationally operating the height adjusting knob.
The operation is consequently diversified when changing the
kind of the processed coin. Further, the cam for adjusting
the coin passage width and the minor diameter of the coin
accumulating unit is formed in the polygonal shape corre-
sponding to several sorts of coins to be processed.
Therefore, if, for instance, the coin packaging machines
are exported to other countries, the cams adapted to coins
circulated in the import countries have to be separately
incorporated into the coin packaging machines. For this
reason, it is impossible to effect a mass-production of the
coin packaging machines and stock them.
Moreover, if a redenomination of the currency is
implemented, or if the number of kinds of the circulated
coins increases, or if the diameters of the coins change,
the cams in the coin packaging machines have to be replaced
with new ones. This leads to a problem of requiring a
tremendous amount of time and costs for the replacements
thereof.
In addition, when manually inputting, to the personal
computer or the like, the operating data about the numbers
of the coins processed in the manner described above and
of the coin bars and also an abnormality occurring situa-
tion and totally managing the operating data, a problem
arises, wherein the labor for the manual input augments
with an increase in the number of the coin packaging
machines for use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVEN~ION
It is a primary object of the present invention to
provide a coin packaging apparatus capable of easily
changing kinds of coins to be processed, corresponding to
any kinds of coins and saving the labor of operations of
modifying items of coin data and totally managing items of
operating data.
It is a secondary object of the present invention to
provide a coin packaging apparatus managing system for the
coin packaging apparatus, which is capable of reducing the
operation for totally managing the operating data.
According to the first invention, there is provided a
coin packaging apparatus for conveying coins on a coin
passage by sending out the coins one by one which have been
supplied onto a rotary disk, performing necessary processes
such as selecting and counting the coins on this passage,
thereafter accumulating a predeteL ined number of coins in
a coin accu llating unit and thus packaging the coins in
a coin packaging unit after being ~ccu llated~
-
2 ~
said apparatus comprising:
external storage medium driving means including a
loading means for loading an external storage medium and
a data writing means for writing, to said external storage
medium loaded into said loading means, operating data
containing at least one item of coin packaging number data,
coin counting data and trouble occurring data;
arithmetic means for calculating a passage width and
a passage height of the coin passage and a inner diameter
of said coin accumulating unit by use of the input coin
data;
kind-of-coin designating means for designating a kind
of the coin to be processed;
coin passage width adjusting means for adjusting the
passage width of the coin passage in a non-stage manner;
coin passage height adjusting means for adjusting a
passage height of the coin passage in the non-stage manner;
coin accumulating unit inner diameter adjusting means
for adjusting a inner diameter of said coin accumulating
unit in the non-stage manner; and
control means for operating said coin passage width
adjusting means, said coin passage height adjusting means
and said coin accumulating unit inner diameter adjusting
means on the basis of a calculated result of said arithme-
tic means with respect to the coins of the kind designatedby said kind-of-coin designating means.
In the coin packaging apparatus according to the first
invention, a control unit operates a coin passage width
adjusting unit, a coin passage height adjusting unit and
a coin accumulating unit inner diameter adjusting unit.
This is done based on a coin passage width, a coin passage
height and an inner diameter of a coin accumulating unit
that are calculated by an arithmetic unit by use of the
coin data as well as on the kind of coin which is designat-
ed by a kind-of-coin setting unit. It is therefore
possible to correspond to any kinds of coins.
Further, the operating data relative to an external
. ,, , : .
" .
,: : . .. .
. A
... .
, ' ,
2~ 3'~1
~ 6
storage medium are written by use of an external storage
medium driving unit. The labor of operation of totally
managing the operating data is thereby saved.
Note that the coin data are readily modified with a
configuration wherein the coin data are read from and
written to the external storage medium by employing the
external storage medium driving unit. It is also possible
to facilitate the operation of changing the kind of the
processed coin.
According to the second invention, there is provided
a coin packaging apparatus managing system for totally
managing data about processes of a coin packaging machine
for conveying coins on a coin passage by sending out the
coins one by one which have been supplied onto a rotary
disk, performing necessary processes such as selecting and
counting the coins on this passage, thereafter accumulating
a predetermined number of coins in a coin accumulating unit
and thus packaging the coins in a coin packaging unit after
being accumulated,
said system comprising:
coin packaging apparatus including:
(a) external storage medium driving means having a
loading means for loading an external storage medium and
a data writing means for writing, to said external storage
medium loaded into said loading means, operating data
containing at least one item of coin packaging number data,
coin counting data and trouble occurring data;
(b) arithmetic means for calculating a passage
width and a passage height of the coin passage and a inner
diameter of said coin accumulating unit by use of the input
coin data;
(c) kind-of-coin designating means for designating
a kind of the coin to be processed;
(d) coin passage width adjusting means for ad~ust-
ing the passage width of the coin passage in a non-stage
:Inn~r;
(e) coin passage height ad~usting means for
... .
adjusting a passage height of the coin passage in the non-
stage manner;
(f) coin accumulating unit inner diameter adjusting
means for adjusting a inner diameter of said coin accumu-
lating unit in the non-stage manner; and
(g) control means for operating said coin passage
width adjusting means, said coin passage height ad~usting
means and said coin accumulating unit inner diameter
adjusting means on the basis of a calculated result of
said arithmetic means with respect to the coins of the kind
designated by said kind-of-coin designating means; and
data recording means having:
external data medium driving means having loading
means for loading said external storage medium and data
writing/reading means for reading the operating data from
said external storage medium loaded into said loading
means; and
control means for managing the operating data read
by said external data medium driving means.
In the coin packaging apparatus managing system accord-
ing to the second invention, the operating data are written
to the external storage medium by use of the external
storage medium driving unit of the coin packaging machine.
At the same time, the operating data are read by employing
the external storage medium driving unit of a data record-
ing unit. The read data are managed by a control unit of
this data recording unit, thereby eliminating necessity for
manual inputting operation. The operation of totally
managing the operating data is thus saved.
Further, the coin packaging apparatus relative to this
system has the same construction with the first invention,
and is therefore capable of corresponding to any kinds of
coins.
Note that the following point is the same as the above-
mentioned, wherein the coin data are read from or written
to the external storage medium by use of the external
storage medium driving unit of the coin packaging machine,
' ' - ''" ' , ,
,,
r~-~
and, with this construction, a change in the kind of coin
to be processed is facilitated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent during the following discussion in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: -
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outline.
of a coin packaging machine to which the present invention
is applied;
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a coin passage when
processing a coin having a large diameter;
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the coin passage when
processing a coin having a small diameter;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating
a passage height adjusting mechanism;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view when processing a coin
having a large thickness;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view when processing a coin
having a small thickness;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a coin
accumulating unit;
FIG. 8 is a plan view when processing the small-
diameter coin;
FIG. 9 is a plan view when processing the large-
diameter coin;
FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state of a driving
system when processing the small-diameter coin;
FIG. 11 is a front view showing a state of the driving
system when processing the large-diameter coin;
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of an operation panel;
FIG. 13 is a control block diagram;
FIG. 14 is a block diagram schematically illustrating
an internal configuration of a memory card driver 146;
FIGS. 15A and 15B are conceptual views of assistance
in explaining an example of recording data on a memory
card;
2 ~
g
FIG. 16 is a block diagram conceptually showing a
storage content of a storage unit; and
FIG. 17 is a block diagram conceptually showing a
configuration of a data recorder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will hereinafter be described by
way of illustrative embodiments.
First, a coin packaging machine in this embodiment will
be explained.
This coin packaging machine 1 is, as schematically
illustrated in FIG. 1, in a coin throw-in hopper 3 which
is opened in an upper portion of a machine body 2, there
are provided a supply rotary disk 4 for receiving and
supplying coins and a rotary disk 5 which receives the
supply of the coins from the rotary disk 4. The rotary
disks 4, 5 are respectively so provided as to be rotation-
ally driven. A coin passage 6 for performing processes
such as selecting and counting the coins extends in a
direction substantially tangential to this rotary disk 5.
A terminal of the coin passage 6 is provided with a coin
accumulating unit 7 for accumulating a fixed number of
coins. A lower part thereof is provided with a packaging
unit 10, having three packaging rollers 9, 9, 9, for
receiving and coins accumulated by the accumulating unit
7 and packaging the coins with a sheet of wrapping paper
8. The coins packaged (a bar of coins) therein are
rejected from a throw-out port 11 formed downwardly of the
machine body 2. Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 12
designates a wrapping paper feed roller. A cutter 13 cuts
the wrapping paper 8 to a necessary length. Packaging
members 14, 14 swage (fold) and tightly secure upper and
lower edges of the wrapping paper with which the accumulat-
ed coins are packaged. The wrapping paper feed roller 12,
the cutter 13, the swaging members 14, lg also function as
a part of the packaging unit 10.
" - .
' ' . 1
- -
,
''~
. :
-
The coin passaye 6 includes, as illustrated in FIG. 2,
a passage entrance bottom plate 15 located substantially
flush with the disk 5. The coin passage 6 also includes
fixed passage member 16 and movable passage members 17
provided posterior to this entrance bottom plate 15. The
passage members 16, 17 cooperate to determine a selection
groove width L (FIG. 1), corresponding to a coin diameter.
The coin passage 6 further includes a passage exit bottom
plate 18 located downstream of these passage members 16,
17. A small-diameter coin rejection hole 19 is formed
between the entrance bottom plate 15 and the exit bottom
plate 18.
Further, a loading mechanism 147 is provided in front
of this coin packaging machine 1. The loading mechanism
147 loads a memory card into a coin data I/0 unit (see FIG.
13) which will be stated later.
Given next is an explanation of the coin passage
including a passage width ad;usting unit 141 serving as a
coin passage width adjusting section.
FIG. 2 illustrates the coin passage in a maximum
passage width state. FIG. 3 depicts the coin passage in
a minimum passage width state.
The above movable passage member 17 includes an exten-
sion portion 20 extending in a horizontal direction behind
a rectilinear edge portion 17b having a stepped portion 17a
for configuring the coin passage 6. This extension portion
20 is formed with slots 21, 21 bored in a direction
orthogonal to the edge portion 17b. Guide rollers 22, 22
axially secured to the machine body 2 are fitted in the
slots, 21, 21. The movable passage member 17 is thereby
so supported as to be rectilinearly movable in such
directions that the member 17 moves close to and away from
the fixed passage member 16. A cam follower is pivotally
attached to this extension portion 20. The cam follower
23 is biased by a spring 26 and is thereby always brought
into contact with a peripheral surface of a non-stage cam
25 so fitted to the ~,ch~ne body 2 as to be movable about
,........ .
: ',,. :. ' ,
~ ' ' '"' '
{) ~
ll
a shaft 24.
This non-stage cam 25 assumes such a spiral shape that
a radius gradually increases from its minimum radius
portion 25a to a maximum radius portion 25b. This minimum
radius portion 25a is formed with a recess 25c. The cam
follower 23 is fitted in this recess 25c. In this state,
the movable passage member 17 is located in a maximum
opening position which is termed a fixed position. A fixed
position detection sensor Sl detects the maximum opening
position. The above non-stage cam 25 is rotated through
a predetermined angle by means of a pulse motor Ml.
One end of an auxiliary passage member 27 assuming an
L-shape as viewed in plane is connected via a pin 28 to a
downstream end of the movable passage member 17. The other
end of this auxiliary passage member 27 is biased by a
spring 30 and is thereby come into contact with a fixed
guide 29 toward the machine body 2. When the movable
passage member 17 moves, a position of a passage surface
27a of the auxiliary passage member 27 shifts. When
expanding a passage width, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the
passage surface 27a is located in such a position as to be
slightly bent with respect to an edge portion 17b of the
movable passage member 17. With a narrower width of the
passage, the passage surface 27a shifts in a rectilinear
configuration with respect to the edge portion 17b of the
movable passage member 17. Even when changing the passage
width, the terminal of the coin passage 6 moves toward the
center of the coin accumulating unit 7. At the same time,
the arrangement is such that the terminal of the passage
surface 27a of the auxiliary passage member 27 shifts
closer to the coin accumulating unit 7 with a smaller
diameter.
An end portion, on the side of the movable passage
member 17, of the above passage exit bottom plate 18 is
3S rotatably supported on the -chine body through a shaft 31.
A pin 32 is protruded from a lower surface of this exit
bottom plate 18. The pin 32 is fitted in a slot 34 of a
. ~ , . ,- , ,
'' ,
. . .
:'
. ,
.,
2 1 1. ~
portion, extending toward the coin passage 6, of the
movable passage member 17. With a movement of the movable
passage member 17 in such a direction as to narrow the
passage width, the exit bottom plate 18 is gradually
rotated clockwise in the FIG. 2 about the shaft 31 with the
aid of the slot 34 and the pin 32 as well.
Provided at a free end of the exit bottom plate 18 is
an auxiliary passage member 35 located on the line of
extension of an edge portion 16b with a stepped portion 16a
of the fixed passage member 16. Provided downstream are
a count sensor S2 for counting the number of coins for the
passage and a check sensor S3 for checking whether or not
the coin has passed. A stopper 36 is so provided between
these sensors S2, S3 as to freely advance on a passing
trajectory of the coin. The stopper 36 actuated by an
unillustrated solenoid stops, after a predetermined number
of coins have passed, a coin subsequent thereto. A bottom
plate support roller 38 is supported via an arm 37 at the
free end of the exit bottom plate 18. This roller 38 is
placed on a flat plate 39 on the side of the machine body
2 and supports the free end of the exit bottom plate 18.
Further, rollers 40, 40, 40 for guiding the lower surface
of the coin are axially provided at an exit end of the exit
bottom plate 18. The auxiliary passage member 35 and the
sensors S2, S3 are arranged so that an imaginary line
connecting the member 35 to these sensors is always
parallel to the passage surface 27a of the auxiliary
passage member 27 on the side of the movable passage member
17 or in a state approximate thereto. Paying attention to
FIG. 2, a level sensor S4 detects a level of the coin
existing on the rotary disk 5. A thickness regulating
member 41 prevents an adv~nc~ -nt of the coins superposed
by twos into the coin passage 6. For this purpose, the
thickness regulating member 41 faces at a spacing from an
upper surface of the disk 5, wherein the spacing is larger
than thickness of a single piece of in-process coin but
smaller than thickness of two coins. Further, a guide
. " ', . .. .' ' ., , : .- :
: ,
.. ..
-- ,:: ;; ' ,,- ,, ; . ' ' .:
2 ~
13
plate 42 is attached to the movable passage member 17 but
placed on the rotary disk 5. The guide plate 42 guides the
coins moving on the disk 5 toward a backward stream side
in the rotating direction of the disk 5, thereby eliminat-
ing a jam of the coins. The symbol C represents the coin.
Next, a coin passage height adjusting unit 142 defined
as a coin passage height adjusting section will be ex-
plained. This adjusting unit is actualized based on a
height adjustment between the thickness regula-ting member
41 and a conveyor belt 43 for conveying the coin in the
downstream direction while contacting the upper surface of
the coin fed onto the coin passage 6.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating
a support mechanism of this conveyor belt 43. FIG. 5 and
6 are sectional views showing cases where a height of the
conveyor belt 43 is set in a highest position and a lowest
position. A fixed plate 44 fixedly provided on the side
of the machine body 2 has front and rear bearings 45, 45.
One ends of two front and rear blocks 46, 46 are pivotally
supported on the bearings 45, 45 via shafts 47, 47. Upper
bearings 49, 49 of a movable frame 48 are pivotally
supported on the opposite ends of those blocks 46, 46
through shafts 50, 50. Furthermore, bearings 51, 51 of the
lower ends of the blocks 46, 46 are connected to each other
through a link 52. These members constitute a parallel 4-
node link mechanism.
A pulley 53 on the entrance side of the conveyor belt
43 is attached via a shaft 54 to a side surface of this
movable frame 48. Similarly, downstream-side pulleys 55,
56 are axially fitted to an oscillating plate 57. A mid-
part of this oscillating plate 57 is pivotally supported
via a shaft 58 on the side surface of the movable frame 48.
The other end thereof contacts a stopper 61 fitted to the
movable frame 48, thus regulating descents of the pulleys
35 55, 56. Then, a member 59 pivotally supported on the shaft
58 has a presser roller 43a at its top end. A tensile
spring 60 ls stretched between the member 59 and the
. , .
.. ..
. ,
,
.:
~",,. -,
2 ~
14
oscillating pla~e 57. When a fixed or greater lifting
force acts irrespective of a height position in which the
movable frame 48 is located, i.e., when a thick coin
enters, the oscillating plate 57 escapes upward. A tensile
spring 62 is stretched between this movable frame 48 and
the fixed plate 44, thereby biasing the movable frame 48
upwards at all times.
A proximal part of a detection plate 63 is pivotally
supported via a shaft 64 on the downstream end of the
movable frame 48. A contact member 65 is provided in the
vicinity of the shaft 64. The contact member 65 faces to
an upper portion of the coin accumulating unit 7 and
detects an accumulation height of the coins. A detection
member 64 provided at the top end thereof is related to a
sensor (photo sensor) S5 provided on the movable frame 48.
This detection member 64 detects, when actuating the sensor
S5, that an upper space of the coin accumulating unit 7 is
occupied.
A motor ~DC motor) M2 is attached to the lower surface
of the fixed plate 44. A fixed position detection plate
66, a non-stage cam 67 and an angle-of-rotation detecting
slit plate 68 are respectively fixedly fitted onto a shaft
rotated by this motor M2. A fixed position detection
sensor S6 is disposed on the periphery of this fixed
position detection plate 66. Besides, an angle-of-rotation
detection sensor S7 is disposed on the periphery of the
slit plate 68.
A cam follower 69 axially provided in a central
position of the movable frame 48 contacts the above non-
stage cam 67. With rotations of this cam 67, the movableframe 48 moves up and down through the cam follower 69.
A position where the cam follower 69 contacts the cam 67
in the ~n; radius position is defined as a fixed
position. Further, the above thickness regulating member
41 is fixedly attached to the entrance end of the movable
frame 48. The thickness regulating member 41 is also
adjusted to a height adapted to a thickness of the coin to
: : '':' '
,
,
.
2 11 ~
be treated, corresponding to an ascent and a descent of the
movable frame 48. A pulley designated at 70 in the FIG.
4 receives a rotating force from a driving motor for the
conveyor belt 43.
Given next is an explanation of a construction of the
coin accumulating unit including an accumulating unit
minor-diameter adjusting unit 143 serving as a minor-
diameter ad;usting section.
As illustrated in a respective view of FIG. 7 and in
plan views of FIGs. 8 and 9, pairs of pulleys 73, 74 and
75, 76 are axially fitted to upper and lower parts of right
and left blocks 71, 72. Right and left belts 77, 78 are
wound on the pulleys 73, 74 and 75, 76. The coins are
stacked up between these belts 77, 78 in a face-to-face
relationship. Protruded coin support members 79, 79, 80,
80 are provided on external surfaces of these belts 77, 78.
The coin support members 79, 79, 80, 80 are provided in
symmetric positions of the right and left belts 77, 78.
In an illustrative example, the coin support members 79,
79, 80, 80 are provided by twos at equal intervals so that
the coins are stacked twice with one revolutions of the
belts 77, 78. Then, the right and left blocks 71, 72 are
biased by a tensile spring 81 in such directions as to be
pulled in each other.
Positions of the blocks 71, 72 are adjusted in such
directions as to move closer to and away from each other
in a non-s'age manner by means of a parallel link mecha-
nism. This link mechanism is constructed of a first link
83, a second link 86, a third link 88, a fourth link 89 and
a fifth link 90. The first link 83 has its mid-part
rotatably supported through a shaft 83a on a base 82 within
the horizontal plane. The block 71 on one side is connect-
ed via a shaft 71a to the top end of the first link 83.
The second link 86 has its mid-part rotatably supported
through a shaft 84 on the base 82. The block 72 on the
other side is connected via a shaft 85 to one end of the
second link 86. One end of the third link 88 is connected
,.. . . . .
.'~" , ' .
' ' ' .
'
' ' , ' .
~18~
16
via the shaft 71a to the block 71, and the other end
thereof is connected via a pin 87 to the second link 86.
One ends of the fourth and fifth links 89, 90 are connected
to the opposite sides of the blocks 71, 72, and the other
ends thereof are pivotally supported on the base 82. A cam
follower 91 is axially fitted to the other end of the first
link 83 and contacts a peripheral surface of a non-stage
cam 92 rotated by a pulse motor M3 installed on the base
82. A minimum interval position between the belts 77 and
78, i.e~, a minimum radius position of the non-stage cam
92, is defined as a fixed position. A fixed position
detection sensor S8 detects the fixed position.
A blocking member 93 blocks an open face on the coin
entering side between the belts 77, 78. A lever 94 has the
blocking member 93 at its top end. A mid-part of the lever
94 is pivotally supported through the shaft 84 on the base
82. A link 95 is connected to the other end of the first
link 83. A pin 97 provided at the other end of the lever
94 is fitted in a slot 96 formed in the other end portion
of the link 95, thus providing a loose connection. This
- lever 94 is always biased by a tensile spring 98 in such
a direction as to separate way from the coin accumulating
unit 7. Guide members 99, 100 are fixedly fitted to the
blocks 71, 72. The guide members 99, 100 prevent a
deviation of the coin when accumulating the coins.
A driving section of the belts 77, 78 of the coin
accumulating unit 7 is, as in each of small- and large-
diameter coin accumulating states shown in FIGU~ES 10 and
11, constructed of gears 103, 104, arms 105, 106, gears
107, 108 and a member 112. The gears 103, 104 are fixedly
attached to shafts lOl, 102 of the lower pulleys 74, 76 for
the belts 77, 78. The arms 105, 106 are rotatably fitted
to and supported on these shafts 101, 102. The gears 107,
108 are axially attached to the top ends of the arms 105,
106. The member 112 supporting shafts 109, 110 of these
gears 107, 108 is capable of rising and lowering along a
guide rod 111 extending in the vertical direction. A
: . ,
., ' ' ' ' , .
~ ' :
, . , : ,
;........... :
,, .
2 ~
17
driving gear rotated by a pulse motor M4 meshes with the
gear 103 disposed on the shaft of one pulley 74. The above
gears 103, 107, 108, 104 are always set in an engaged
state. Accordingly, even when a spacing between the belts
77 and 78 changes, rotations of the driving gear 113 are
transferred to the right and left pulleys 74, 76 all the
time.
Since the coin packaging unit 10 is capable of process-
ing any sorts of coins with a prior art construction and
may therefore adopt the same construction as the conven-
tional one, an explanation thereof will be omitted.
The next explanation will deal with an opera-
tion/display panel unit 114 provided on a front inclined
portion of the upper surface of the coin packaging machine
1. On this panel unit 114, as shown in one example of a
layout of FIG. 12, a keyboard portion 115 is disposed to
have ten keys arranged on one side thereof. The keyboard
portion 115 includes a button 116 for designating a batch
coin number in a count mode and a batch coin-bar number in
a packaging mode. The keyboard portion 115 also includes
a mode switching button 117 for wrapping and counting
processes. Then, this keyboard portion 115 is operated,
thereby making it possible to input the kinds of coins,
diameters, thicknesses and packaging unit numbers of the
coins to be processed. Further, a display portion 18 is
formed on the other side of the panel unit 114. Arranged
in this display portion 118 are a position display segment
119 for displaying where a trouble happens, a content
display segment 120 for displaying a content of the
trouble, a mode display segment 121 for displaying a count
number and a batch, etc., a coin-bar/coin number display
segment 122, a stored kind-of-coin display segment (entry
type) 123 for recording that the coin data of the coins of
specific kinds have been stored, a kind-of-coin display
segment 124 for displaying a designated kind of the in-
process coin and a packaging number display segment 125 for
displaying a packaging unit number of the in-process coins.
,~ ,
,, , j,
~ ' . -
2 ~ 5~
18
Further, separately from the above-mentioned, there are
provided a coin-bar/coin number switching button 126, a
clear button 127, a start button 128 and a stop button 129.
Provided moreover are up- and down-buttons 130, 131 for
designating a kind of the processed coin by sequentially
displaying the display contents displayed on the kind-of-
coin display segment 124 and the packaging number display
segment 125 in a stored content sequence, i.e., in the
order of items of the data recorded on the stored kind-of-
coin display segment 123.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing one example of acontrol system. A control unit 132 (which comprises an
arithmetic means and a control means in the appended
claims) controls the whole packaging machine. Signals are
received by and transmitted to respective units which
follow. An operation unit 133 comprises the start button
128, the stop button 129, the clear button 127, the coin-
bar/coin number switching button 126, the mode switching
button 117 and the designation button 116. A kind-of-coin
designating unit 134 comprises the kind-of-coin display
segment 124, the packaging number display segment 125, the
down button 130 and the up button 131. The kind-of-coin
designating unit 134 corresponds to the kind-of-coin
designating means stated in the appended claims.
A coin data I/O unit 135 is constructed of the keyboard
portion 115 of the panel unit 114 and a memory card driver
(corresponding to an "external storage medium driving
means" in the appended claims) 146. This memory card
driver 146, as will be mentioned later (see FIG. 14), is
employed for reading the coin data previously stored on a
~ y card (corresponding to an "external storage medium"
in the claims) such as a ROM card, an IC card, etc.. The
memory card driver 146 is also used for writing pieces of
operating data to the memory card. Note that the above-
described coin data can be manually input by use of thekeyboard portion 115. Further, the coin data read from the
memory card can be also modified through the keyboard
,, ,
, . . .
2 ~
19
portion 115. The memory card driver 146 is employed for
inputting or writing the modified coin data to the card
through the keyboard portion 115.
The display unit 136 comprises the position display
segment 119, the content display segment 120, the mode
display segment 121, the coin-bar/coin number display
segment 122 and the stored kind-of-coin display segment
123.
The storage unit 137 stores the coin data input by the
coin data I/O Ullit 135, corresponding to the kinds of
coins. The storage unit uses ,e.g., an EEPROM so that the
contents of storage are not be erased even if the power is
turned off.
Hereinafter, a coin counter unit 138 is constructed of
the count sensor S2 and the check sensor S3. A coin stop
unit 139 is composed Oc the stopper 36 and the unillustrat-
ed solenoid. A coin supply unit 140 is constructed of the
rotary disks 4, 5 and the motors for driving these disks.
A coin passage width adjusting unit 141 comprises a mecha-
nism including the pulse motor M1, the fixed positiondetection sensor Sl and the non-stage cam 25. Further, the
coin passage height adjusting unit 142 is constructed of
a mechanism including the DC motor M2, a rotating position
detection sensor composed of the fixed position detection
sensor S6 and the angle-of-ration detection sensor S7, and
the non-stage cam 67. The accumulating unit minor-diameter
adjusting unit 143 is constructed of a mechanism having the
pulse motor M3, the fixed position detection sensor S8 and
the non-stage cam 92.
~ 30 A coin accumulating unit 144 is composed of the pair
of belts 77, 78 and the pulse motor M4 for revolving the
belts. A coin packaging unit 145 is constructed of three
pieces of packa~ing rollers 9, 9, 9 and an unillustrated
motor for rotationally driving these rollers.
FIG. 14 schematically illustrates an internal configu-
ration of the memory card driver 146 incorporated into the
above coin data I/O unit 135 (see FIG. 13).
'~ -
-
As shown in FIG. 14, the memory card drlver 146
comprises a loading mechanism 1~7 (corresponding to a
"loading means" in the claims) for loading the memory card.
The driver 146 also comprises a data reading/writing unit
(corresponding to a "data writing means" in the claims) 148
for reading and writing the data from and to the memory
card loaded into the loading mechanism 147. The driver lg6
further includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) 150 for
temporarily storing the data to be written to the memory
card as well as the data read from the memory card.
Further, the RAM 150 includes a coin data storage area
150aj a coin counting data storage area 150b and a trouble
occurring data storage area 150c.
Stored in the coin data storage area 150a are, e.g.,
as items of coin data, a coin diameter D(1), a coin
thickness T(l) and a packaging unit number M(l) according
to the classified coins. The coin diameter D(l) and the
coin thickness T(1) among those items of coin data are
stored to two decimal places based on the millimeter unit.
Note that these items may be stored on the units other than
inches, etc., or alternatively the units may be selected.
The coin data read from the memory card by the data
reading/writing unit 148 can be stored in this coin data
storage axea 150a. At the same time, the coin data
manually input through the keyboard portion 115 of the
panel unit 114 can be also stored in the storage area 150a.
Moreover, the coin data read from the memory card is
manually input through the keyboard portion 115 and can be
also modified.
Results of the processes conducted throughout one day
are stored in the coin counting data storage area 150b
according to classifications in terms of the modes and
kinds of the coins. For instance, the coin counting data
according to the processing modes is itemized into a number
of packaged coin bars (coin bar) which have undergone a
packaging process in the packaging mode and a number of
coins sub~ected to a counting process in the count mode.
,,.
2 ~
21
These items of data are written by the control unit 132.
The control unit 132 writes contents and the time of
troubles happened throughout one day to the trouble occur-
ring data storage area 150c. The troubles imply, e.g., a
jam of coins on the coin passage, ill-fed wrapping paper,
a cut-out of the wrapping paper, etc..
As stated above, the contents of the coin data, the
coin counting data and the trouble occurring data, which
have been stored on the RAM 150, can be read by the data
reading/writing unit 148 and written to the memory card.
Further, the coin data stored on the memory card is also
read and written to the RAM 150 by the data reading/writing
unit 148.
Herein, the storage contents of the respective storage
15 areas 150a to 150c within the RAM 150 are stored on a
single piece of memory card 151. In this case, as concep-
tually shown in FIG. 15A, the memory card 151 is also
formed with a coin data storage area 151a, a coin counting
data storage area 151b and a trouble occurring storage area
151c. The data may be read and written by the data
reading/writing unit 148. With this processing, the
respective items of data with respect to the single coin
packaging machine can be stored on the single piece of
memory card, and, therefore, a convenience in terms of
usability can be ~iven.
Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 15B, the data
rela~ive to a plurality of coin packaging machines may be
also stored in the single piece of memory card. More
specifically, the storage area of the single memory card
30 152 is segmented into storage areas 152A, 152B, 152C,
corresponding to the plurality of coin packaging machines.
Furthermore, the storage area corresponding to each coin
packaging machine is se~ ?nted into a coin data storage
area 152a, a coin counting data storage area 152b and a
trouble occurring data storage area 152c. When thus
segmented, the single memory card can c_ -~ly applied to
the plurality of coin packaging -chines. In this case,
~,,
,
2 ~ 3;~j1
22
items of data implying types A, B, C of the coin packaging
machines are also store.d in the respective storage areas
150a - 150c of coin packaging machines A, B, C. The data
can be thereby received and transferred to the storage
areas 152a - 152c, corresponding to the coin packaging
machines A, B, C, of the memory card 152. Note that if the
data conte.nts of the coins treated by the coin packaging
machines A, B, ... are identical with each other in this
case, the coin data storage area 152a is unified, and only
the coin counting data storage area 152b and the trouble
occurring data storage area 152c may be provided for every
coin packaging machine. The number of the coin packaging
machines to which the single memory card is capable of
corresponding can be thereby increased by effectively
making use of the storage areas of the memory card 152.
Hereinafter, an explanation will be given by exemplify-
ing a case where one memory card i5 employed for the single
coin packaging machine as shown in FIG. 15A.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating
storage contents of the storage unit 137. An explanation
will hereinafter be also given by exemplifying storage
contents of a kind-of-coin block 1.
An updated year, month and date of a relevant kind-of-
coin block are stored in a first storage area 160. The
updated year, month and date are given by a timer incorpo-
rated into the control unit 132. The updated year, month
and date are automatically set for a change each time an
inputting process in a normal input mode which will be
mentioned alter is performed.
The coin diameter D(1) is stored in a storage area 161,
while the coin thickness T(l) is stored in a storage area
162. These items of data D(1), T(1) are input from the ~AM
150 of the above memory driver 146 (see FIG. 4).
An item of coin passage width data P1 is stored in a
storage area 163. This data P1 indicates a number of input
pulses to the pulse motor of the con passage width adjust-
ing unit 141, the number of input pulses serving to set the
211~
23
selection groove width L (see FIG. 1) to a predetermine
value by driving the movable passage member 17 ~see FIG.
2). The data P1 is calculated by the control unit 132 in
accordance with the coin diameter D(1) or directly input
in a special input mode which will be stated later and then
stored.
Its calculation formula to be employed differs as
follows. When the coin diameter is large, al 2 D(l) > a2.
When the coin diameter is intermediate, ~2 2 D(1) > a3; an~
when small, a3 2 D(1). al through a3 take different values
depending on deign values of the movable passage member 17,
etc..
When al 2 D(1) > ~2, P1 is given by:
Pl = (Cl - D(l)) / C2
where values of Cl, C2 are different depending on the
design values of the movable passage member 17 and so on.
Similarly, when ~2 2 D(1) > a3. P1 is given by:
P1 = (C1 + 0.06 - D(1)) / C2
When a3 2 D~l), Pl is given such as:
P1 = (Cl + 0.1 - D(l)) / C2
Coin passage height data P2 is stored in a storage area
164. This data P2 indicates a number of output pulses to
the angle-of-rotation detection sensor S7, wherein this
number of output pulses serves to set the thickness
regulating member 41 (see also FIG. 4) to a predete, lned
height by rotating the DC motor M2. That is, when the
output pulse number of the angle-of-ration detection sensor
S7 after starting the rotational drive of the DC motor M2
reaches P2, the DC motor M2 is stopped.
The control unit 132 calculates P2 by use of the coin
thickness T(l), or alternatively, P2 is directly input in
the special input mode which will be stated later. P2 is
given by the following arithmetic formula:
P2 = (C3 - T(l) / C4
Note that C3, C4 take values which differ depending on
a design value of the thickness regulating member 41.
Coin accumulating unit inner diameter data P3 is stored
,
,........ . .
,
21~ rj l
24
in a storage area 165. This data P3 indicates a number of
input pulses to the pulse motor of the accumulating unit
inner diameter adjusting unit 143, wherein the input pulse
number serves to set and change the spacing between the
belts 77 and 78 in accordance with the coin diameter D(1).
P3 is calculated by the control unit 132 or alternatively
directly input and stored according to the special input
mode which will be mentioned later.
The arithmetic formula for use differs according to the
coin diameter.
When ~1 < D(1) s ~2, P3 = (C5 x D(1) - C6) + 6
When ~2 < D(1) < ~3, P3 = (C5 x D(1) - C6) + 5
When ~3 < D(l) S ~4, P3 = (C5 x D(1) - C6) + 5
Namely, a variety of integers are added to (C5 x D(1) -
C6) in accordance with the diameter D(l), and a result
thereof turns out P3. Note that C5, C6 and ~ 2, ...
take values which differ depending on design values of the
belts 77, 78.
A coin support unit lowering pattern is stored in a
storage area 166. The coin support unit lower pattern is
defined as data for determining lowering patterns of the
coin support members 79, 80 provided on these belts 77, 78.
The coin support members 79, 80 are lowered each time one
coin is stacked. A descent quantity at this time is not
always uniform but varies in accordance with a fixed
pattern. The coin support unit lowering pattern is the
data representing a variation pattern of the ~esc~nt
quantity at this moment. This lowering pattern is deter-
mined corresponding to the coin thickness T(l). Details
thereof are to be the same as those disclosed in Japanese
Patent Publication (Kokoku) No.3-17704. Note that the
storage unit 137 has the coin support unit lowering
patterns predeteL inefl corresponding to the coin thickness
2 1 ~ ~ J ~ 1
T(1) in the form of a table. The storage unit 137 reads
a lowering pattern corresponding to an input coin thickness
T(1) and stores a storage ~rea with this pattern.
A kind-of-coin symbol K(1) is stored in the storage
area 167. A kind-of-coin numerical value H(1) is stored
in a storage area 168. For example, if this kind-of-coin
block 1 is, it is assumed, a block for storing the data
about a one-dollar coin, a piece of control data for
digitally displaying a dollar symbol on the display unit
is stored in the form of the kind-of-coin symbol K(1), and
[1.00] is stored as the kind-of-coin numerical value H(1).
A packaging unit coin number M(1) is stored in a
storage area 169. This value indicates a number of coins
packaged as one length of coin bar.
Note that the explanation has bee given herein by
exemplifying the kind-of-coin block 1, but the operation
is absolutely the same with other kind-of-coin blocks 2,
3, ....
Subsequently, a data recorder relative to this embodi-
ment will be explained. This data recorder may involve the
use of, e.g., a personal computer, etc
As illustrated in FIG. 17, a data recorder 170 compris-
es a memory card driver 171 and a control unit 172.
Further, the memory card driver 171 includes a loading
~-h~ni sm 173 for loading a memory card 151 and a data
reading/writing unit 174 for reading and writing storage
data on the memory card 151 loaded into this loading
mechanism 173.
Loaded into the loading ~ch~n1 sm 173 is the memory
card 151 to which the coin data I/0 unit 135 (see FIG. 14)
of the coin packaging machine 1 writes pieces of operating
data (coin counting data and trouble occurring data).
Then, the operating data are read from the loaded memory
card 151. The read operating data are stored by the
control unit 172. The operating data are employed for,
e.g., managing the number of the packaged coin bars
prepared throughout one day and the number of coins
... ~
rjrj 1
26
counted. In addition, the operating data may also be
usable for a case of obtaining statistics about a trouble
occurring situation.
Further, according to the above-described data recorder
170, the coin data set by using the control unit 172 are
written to the memory card 151 loaded into the loading
mechanism 173. The coin data are also rad from the single
memory card 151 and temporarily stored within the control
unit 172. The coin data are subsequently written to
another memory card 151, thus enabling the coin data to be
copied.
There will be next explained is an operation when
actually using the above coin packaging machine.
First, a memory card records coin data (kinds of coins,
diameters, thicknesses and a rapping unit number) of
circulation coins for a delivering destination (export
destination). When delivering the coin packaging machine,
this memory card is set in the coin packaging machine
through the coin data I/O unit 135. With this setting, as
stated earlier, the coin data are input from this memory
card to the RAM 150 (the coin data storage area 150a) of
the coin data I/O unit 135. The coin data are transferred
to and stored in the storage unit 137. Besides, if the
coin data are to be modified or have some addition as in
the case of issuing new coins, a new memory card is
prepared by the maker of the coin packaging machine, and
the coin data for the coin packaging machine can be
modified at the delivering destination. On the other hand,
if the coin data are to be partially modified or added with
an item of coin data about the kind of the newly issued
coin, an inputting process thereof can be performed by
manipulating the keyboard portion 115. Further, when the
coin data are thus modified, the coin data after being
modified are rewritten to the memory card. The coin data
after the modification may be input to another coin packing
machine by use of this memory card. Note that all the coin
data may be, as a matter of course, input by manipulating
2 ~ 5 1
27
the keyboard portion 115.
Moreover, when using the coin packaging machine, to
start with, the up- and down-buttons 130, 131 conceived as
the kind-of-coin designating unit 134 are manipulated. The
kinds of coins, which have been stored in the storage unit
137, are thereby sequentially displayed on the kind-of-coin
display segment 124. A kind of the processed coin is
designated when stopped in such a state that a kind of the
coin to be processed is displayed. Besides, at this time,
the packaging unit number of the coins of that kind is also
simultaneously displayed on the packaging numher display
segment 125.
Based on the designation of the kind of the coin, the
control unit 132 reads the coin data of the coin of the
designated kind from the storage unit 137. The control
unit 132 gives a fixed position return command to each
adjusting unit, whereby each adjusting unit is returned to
its fixed position. Thereafter, the motor for each
adjusting unit is rotated corresponding to a calculated
pulse number and quantity of rotation, thereby automatical-
ly regulating each of the ad;usting units.
In the coin passage width adjusting unit 141, the non-
stage cam 25 is rotated with the rotations of the pulse
motor Ml. The non-stage cam 25 is rotated clockwise
through a predete ~ned angle from the fixed position shown
in FIG. 2, thereby thrusting the cam follower 23. The
movable passage member 17 consequently advances rightward
in FIG. 2 by dint of guide actions of the guide rollers 22,
22 with the aid of the slots 21, 21. A spacing from the
fixed passage member 16 is dete- ;n~d, and the movable
passage member 17 stops. With this operation, the passage
width is adjusted to a width corresponding to a diameter
of the coin of the designated kind. Accordingly, the cam
25 has such a peripheral surface that the radius varies in
the non-stage manner, and, therefore, the passage width can
be ad;usted, wherein an angle of rotation relative to one
pulse of the pulse motor Ml is set as one pitch. As a
2 ~ r-;
28
matter of fact, the non-stage adjustment can be attained.
It is possible to correspond to the coins having any
magnitudes of major diameters on condition that these major
diameters fall within a range defined by the maximum and
minimum passage widths.
With the rightward movement of the movable passage
member 17, the pin 28 serving as a fulcrum for the auxilia-
ry passage member 27 also moves. Correspondingly, the
passage surface 27a gradually gets flush with the edge
portion 17b of the movable passage member 17 as an angle
to the edge portion 17b bec- ?S smaller. Further, with the
movement of the movable passage member 17, the exit bottom
plate 18 rotationally shifts clockwise about the shaft 31
trough the slot 34 with the aid of the slot 34 and the pin
32 as well. The auxiliary passage member 35 and the
sensors S2, S3 come to positions parallel to the passage
surface 27a of the auxiliary passage member 27. Therefore,
with a narrower coin passage width, a passage defined by
the auxiliary passage members 27, 35 shifts in a rectilin-
ear configuration, and its terminal advances close to thecoin accumulating unit 7, with the result that an entering
state into the coin accumulating unit 7 does not change
irrespective of the coin diameter.
On the other hand, in the coin passage height ad~usting
unit 142, a non-stage cam 67 is rotated by a predetermined
quantity with the rotations of the DC motor M2, with the
result that a cam follower 69 is thrust down. The movable
frame 48 is thereby lowered while resisting a biasing force
of a spring 62. A height at which the lower surface of the
conveyor belt 43 is positioned is, when press-fitted onto
the upper surface of the coin of a designated kind,
adjusted to such a position as to make the coin conveyable~
Correspondingly, the thickness regulating member 41 is also
adjusted to such a position that only one coin is allowed
to pass along the lower surface.
In the accl llating unit inner diameter adjusting unit
143, when the pulse motor M3 rotates, the non-stage cam 92
;; ' . ~
.. .. . . .
,
,. ;
,
2 3~ j rj 1
29
is rotated clockwise through an angle corresponding to a
pulse number from the position of FIG. 8. With this
rotation, the cam follower 91 is thrust by the cam surface
and gradually moves in such a direction as to get away from
the center of the cam 92. The first link 83 is rotated
clockwise about the shaft 82a, thereby moving the block 71
connected to one end thereof to the left hand in the FIG.
8. With this movement, the second link 86 is rotated
counterclockwise about the shaft 84 through the third link
83, thereby rightward moving the block 72 on the other
side. The spacing between the right and left belts 77, 78
located in the face-to-face relationship is thus expanded
and set to a spacing adapted to the major diameter of the
coin of the designated kind. Simultaneously, with the
rotations of the links 83, 86, the blocks 71, 72 make small
movement downwardly in FIG. 8, i.e., in a direction away
from the terminal of the coin passage 6. The blocks 71,
72 move farther away therefrom with a larger coin diameter
and consequently take positions adapted to receive the
coin. Further, with the rotation of the first link 83, the
lever 94 rotational shifts clockwise about the shaft 84
through the link 95. The block member 93 provided at its
top end moves back and is located in a position adapted to
increase the spacing between the belts 77 and 78. A inner
diameter of a coin accl llating space shaped by the belts
77, 78, the block ~ ~er 93, and the guides 99, 100 is
thereby adjusted $n the non-stage manner to a magnitude
adapted to the major diameter of the coin of the designated
kind.
In the driving system of the coin accumulating unit 7,
with the right and left movements of the belts 77, 78, the
arms 105, 106 are connected via the shafts 109, 110 to the
member 112. Hence, the arms 105, 106 shift in such a
direction as to assume a rectilinear configuration in
combination with each other, thus following up an expansion
of the spacing between the belts 77 and 78. The gears 107,
108, however, still keep the meshed state all the time.
j rj 1
Accordingly, the driving force of the motor M4 is trans-
ferred via the gears 113, 103, 107, 108, 104 to the pulleys
74, 76 for the belts 77, 78 irrespective of the variations
in the spacing between the right and left belts 77 and 78.
Based on the operations described above, all of the
passage width and similarly the passage height of the coin
passage 6 and the inner diameter of the coin accumulating
unit 7 are set to values adapted to the coin diameter and
thickness of the coin of the kind for processing.
Next, the operations ranging from sending-off of the
coins to the accumulation thereof will be explained.
When setting a kind of the coin and pushing the start
button 128, the rotary disk 4 is driven, and the coins
thrown in from the hopper 3 are supplied onto the rotary
disk 5. At this time, the level sensor S4 monitors a state
of existence of the coin on the rotary disk 5. A replen-
ishing state is thus controlled.
With the rotation of the rotary disk 5, the coin on the
rotary disk 5 comes under the lower surface of the coin
thickness regulating member 41 from a peripheral portion
thereof. The upper coin of the two-stacked coins is
eliminated into a one-layer state. The coin is run into
the coin passage 6 and depressed by the lower surface of
the conveyor belt 43 on the entrance bottom plate 15. With
the revolution of the conveyor belt, the coin i5 conveyed
astride the edge portions 16b, 17b of the fixed ad movable
passage members 16, 17. When the coin having a diameter
smaller than an edge-to-edge spacing enters, the coin drops
down from the rejection hole 19 between these edge por-
tions.
The coins reaching the te, inal of the coin pa-ssage 6
are counted by the count sensor S2. The sensor S3 confirms
their transits. The coins are guided by the rollers 40,
40... and enter the interior of the coin accumulating unit
7.
Herein, if the sensor S3 does not confirm the transmits
thereof for a predete, ~ned time, it is dete- i~ed that the
', ,
:- ,
, . . .
;
3-~
31
coins are jammed in the coin passage 6. Then the position
display segment 119 (see FIG. 12) is operated to indicate
a location where the trouble happens and the display
segment 120 (see also FIG. 12) is operated to indicate
content of the trouble. At the same time, the content and
occurring ti~e of the trouble (trouble occurring data) are
written to the RAM 150 (the trouble occurring data storage
area 150c) incorporated into the memory card driver 1~6
(see FIG. 14) provided in the coin data I/0 unit 135.
In this coin accumulating unit 7, the support members
79, 80 of the right and left belts 77, 78 are located in
the vicinity of the upper end. The coin sits astride these
support members 79, 80. After the signal coin has sat
thereon, the pulse motor M4 rotates by a predetermined
quant:ity of pulses corresponding to the coin thickness on
the basis of a signal from the sensor S3. The belts 77,
78 are thereby rotated, and the support members 79, 80 are
lowered as described above.
When the coins of the packaging unit number are thus
counted by the count sensor S2, the operating solenoid of
the stopper 36 is electrified in response to a signal
thereof. The stopper 36 advances on the coin passage 6 and
stops the coins subsequent thereto.
A predeteL ined number of accumulated coins entering
the coin accumulating unit 7 are, when the support members
79, 80 of the belts 77, 78 shift outward from the lower
end, transferred to a support section (not shown). The
coins are guided to the packaging unit 10 and packaged with
the wrapping paper 8. The packaged coins are rejected from
the throw-out port 11. Then, each time thus packaged coins
are prepared once, the coin count data recorded on the RAM
150 (the coin count data storage area 150b) in the memory
card driver 146 (see FIG. 14) provided in the coin data I/0
unit 135 is rewritten.
Herein, if the wrapping paper 8 is defectively fed or
cut off, there are operated the position display se~ ~nt
119 (see FIG. 12) for indicating where the trouble happens
2 ~ i S 1
32
and the content display segment 120 (see also FIG. 12) for
indicating a content of the trouble. A content and an
occurring time of the trouble (trouble occurring data) are
at the same time written to the RAM 150 ( the trouble
occurring data storage area 150c) incorporated into the
memory card driver 146 (see FIG. 14) provided in the coin
data I/0 unit 135.
Note that the coin count data and the trouble occurring
data stored on the RAM 150 are written to the trouble
occurring data storage area 151c (see FIG. 15A) of the
memory card loaded into the loading mechanism 1~7 by the
memory card driver 146 at a stage of finishing the one-day
operation of the coin packaging machine.
The coin data and the operating data (the coin count
data and the trouble occurring data) are written to the
memory car in this way. The memory card is then employed
for inputting the data to the data recorder 170 (see FIG.
17) described above. With this operation, in accordance
with this embodiment, those items of data are not required
to be manually input to the personal computer, etc.. It
is therefore possible to reduce operating burdens such as
saving and managing the data.
Further, the memory card to which those items of data
are written is sent to the maker. The maker is therefore
able to know a trouble occurring situation and an operating
situation as well. This may serve as a reference to an
i ,,,ovement and a maintenance of the apparatus.
Moreover, when modifying the coin data or giving an
addition thereto by manipulating the keyboard portion 115
of the coin packaging machine 1 for the reason of issuing
the new money as explained earlier, the added or modified
result is sent to the maker. In accordance with this, the
maker is accordingly capable of modifying the coin data for
the coin packaging l~~hine when delivered. This is
effective especially in the coin packaging machines based
on specifications for overseas.
Note that the most preferred illustrative embodiment
: :. . - :
', ~ ' , ; '
, . " ~
. . .
- ;.
. ' ,
:
33
has been given with respect to the coin passage width
adjusting unit, the passage height adjusting unit, the coin
accumulating unit and the inner diameter adjusting unit.
Specific configurations of the respective units can be
arbitrarily changed in terms of their designs without
departing from the scope and the technical concept o~ the
present invention.
For instance, when the coin data are stored in the
storage unit 137 in this embodiment, the operator arbi-
trarily selects the kind-of-coin block (see FIG. 15), and
the coin data are stored in that ~lock. An empty kind-of-
coin block is, however, selected by the control unit 132,
and the coin data may be stored in that block.
Further, data about a power supply frequency, etc.
other than the above data may also be stored in the storage
unit 137.
Moreover, the storage unit 137 may involve the use of
a RAM having a battery backup in addition to the EEPROM.
In combination therewith, each item of data is not read
from the EEPROM when adjusted, Instead, all the data are
temporarily read from the EEPROM at the time of turning on
the power supply and set-storing the data. All the data
may be then stored in the RAM and read from this RAM when
ad;usted.
In addition, when inputting the coin data in this
embod~ ent, the coin passage width data P1, the coin
passage height data P2 and the coin accumulating unit inner
diameter data P3 are immediately calculated. These items
of data are stored in the storage unit 137. However, these
items of data Pl, P2, P3 may also be calculated when
adjusted.
As discussed above, according to the first invention,
the passage width and height of the coin passage for
conveying the coins and the inner diameter of the ACC~
lating unit are adjusted in the non-stage manner in
accordance with the coin data of the coins to be processed.
Besides, the passage width and height of the coin passage
, :
.
.
,
., ,
2~.8~''.jl
34
and the inner diameter of the coin accumulatlng unit are
automatically adjusted based on the coin data of the coin
data storage unit. Hence, the kind of the coin to be
processed can be easily changed, and it is possible to
correspond to the coins having any magnitudes of ma~or
diameters. It is also feasible to offer the overseas-
oriented coins having extremely different diameters without
changing the came each time. The coin packaging machine
common to every country can be obtained.
Further, the construction is such that the coin data
are read from the external storage medium by use of the
external storage medium driving unit, and, therefore, the
operation to change the kind of the processed coin can be
facilitated. Moreover, the operating data for the external
storage medium are written by employing the external
storage medium driving unit. It is therefore possible to
save the labor of the operation for totally managing the
operating data.
Additionally, according to the coin packaging ?ch~ne
managing system of the second invention, the operating
data are written to the external storage medium by use of
the external storage medium driving unit of the coin
packaging machine. At the same time, the operating data
are read by using the external storage medium of the data
recorder. The read data are stored and managed by the
control unit of this data recorder. A necessity for the
manual inputting operation is therefore eliminated. It is
possible to save the labor of the operation for totally
managing the operating data.
-:
,~
,: : -
. , ,
