Coin processing apparatus and coin depositing/dispensing machine

A coin processing apparatus comprising:

• (a) a coin conveying section for conveying coins, which are put therein through a coin inlet, in a desired attitude after separating the coins from each other;
• (b) a coin congestion suppressing section for suppressing a congestion of the coins that is generated during conveyance by the coin conveying section;
• wherein the coin conveying section comprises:
• a conveying belt for conveying coins that are put in the coin conveying section through the coin inlet in a predetermined conveying direction by placing the coins on a conveying surface of the belt, wherein a coin pusher is formed on the conveying surface in such a way as to be engageable with coins that are placed on the conveying surface in their lying state or their approximately lying state, thereby pushing the coins in the conveying direction by the coin pusher;
• a motor for moving the belt in the conveying direction;
• and
• a reversing roller disposed at a predetermined position on the conveying surface so as to be opposite to the conveying surface to thereby form an introducing port between the reversing roller and the conveying surface;
• wherein the introducing port serves to allow coins that are placed on the conveying surface in a desired state to selectively pass through the port, and the reversing roller is rotated to move coins that are placed on the conveying surface toward an opposite side to the introducing port when the coins are contacted with the reversing roller;
• and wherein the coin congestion suppressing section comprises one or more coin moving members for moving coins placed on the conveying surface toward the opposite side to the introducing port by engaging the coins with the one or more coin moving members, the one or more coin moving members being disposed on at least one side of the conveying belt, wherein:
• the one or more coin moving members is disposed on one side of the conveying belt to be extended along the conveying direction and is formed by one or more screw-like members each having a spiral projection on its outer surface;
• the one or more screw-like members is rotatively driven around its axis;
• and
• coins placed on the conveying surface in their standing or approximately standing state are engaged with the spiral projection to be moved toward the opposite side to the introducing port due to rotation of the one or more screw-like members;
• and
• (c) one or more covers disposed outside the one or more coin moving members;
• and
• wherein, when coins that are placed on the conveying surface in their standing state or their approximately standing state are engaged with the one or more coin moving members, the coins are moved by the one or more coin moving members toward the opposite side to the introducing port so as to topple down toward the conveying surface during movement, and wherein:
• the one or more covers has protrusions arranged at predetermined intervals;
• the spiral projection has apertures formed for the corresponding protrusions;
• and
• the one or more screw-like members are rotated in such a way that the protrusions pass through the corresponding apertures.