JP2865113B2 - Coin sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vending machine, a money changing machine,
Alternatively, game machines such as slot machines that use coin-type medals (hereinafter collectively referred to as coin accepting machines)
The present invention relates to a coin sorting device that determines the authenticity of coins, medals, and the like inserted into the coin insertion slot (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as coins) and sorts them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, coin sorters of this kind include:
For example, a coin sensor constituted by an optical sensor or the like is provided at the center position in the width direction in the passage of the inserted coin, and the passage time of the coin at the installation position of the coin sensor is measured by a detection signal of the coin sensor, It is known that the measured transit time is compared with a theoretical value of the transit time stored in advance in a memory or the like as for a regular coin, thereby determining the authenticity of the inserted coin. ing.

[0003] Such a coin sorting apparatus basically uses the fact that the diameter of a legitimate coin is fixed, and determines the authenticity of the coin based on the diameter of the inserted coin.

[0004] That is, if the inserted coin falls down the center of the passage, the passing time measured through the coin sensor is an amount proportional to the diameter of the coin, and the passing time is: Coins having the same diameter have the same value if conditions such as the speed at which the coin is inserted into the passage are the same. For a regular coin of which diameter is known, the above-mentioned transit time can be theoretically obtained under conditions such as an appropriate insertion speed, and the theoretical value and the measured value of the transit time are obtained. By comparing with, the authenticity of the inserted coin can be determined. Specifically, for example, if the passing time of the inserted coin matches the above theoretical value within a predetermined allowable range, the coin is determined to be a regular coin, and the passing time within the allowable range is determined. If does not match the theoretical value, it is determined that the coin is not a regular coin.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned coin sorting apparatus, the theoretical value of the passing time is obtained under conditions such as an appropriate insertion speed determined in advance by experiments or the like. Actually inserted coins are inserted under various insertion conditions and the like, so that even coins having the same diameter do not always have the same speed when passing through the installation position of the coin sensor.

In such a case, for example, even if a regular coin is inserted, its passing time may be different from the above theoretical value, and it may be erroneously determined that the coin is not a regular coin. On the contrary, when a non-genuine coin is inserted, the coin may be erroneously determined as a normal coin.

In such a coin sorting apparatus, the width of the coin passage is generally slightly larger than the diameter of the regular coin so that the regular coin can pass smoothly. Therefore, coins actually inserted are
The coin does not always pass through the center of the passage, and may pass from the center of the passage at the installation position of the coin sensor.

[0008] In such a case, as in the above case, even if a regular coin is inserted, the passing time differs from the theoretical value, and it is erroneous that the coin is not a regular coin. In some cases, the coin is determined to be incorrect and, on the contrary, a non-genuine coin is erroneously determined as a normal coin.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention, in order to eliminate such inconvenience, reliably determines the authenticity of the coin regardless of conditions such as the insertion speed of the coin to be inserted into the coin receiving machine and the passing position in the passage. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin sorting device capable of sorting coins.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for judging the authenticity of a coin inserted into a coin passage on the basis of the diameter of the coin, and sorting the coins based on the judgment result. A plurality of coin sensors are provided in the passage at a plurality of predetermined positions at intervals in the approximate width direction, and a plurality of coin sensors for detecting the passage of coins at each predetermined position are inserted into the passage by a detection signal from each coin sensor. Measuring means for measuring the passing time of the coin at each of the predetermined positions, calculating means for calculating the mutual ratio of the passing time of the coin at each of the predetermined positions measured by the measuring means, and the mutual ratio of the passing time Storage means for storing a theoretical value of a mutual ratio of chord lengths in the passing direction of the regular coin passing through the passage at each of the predetermined positions, and a passage obtained by the arithmetic means. The mutual ratio between and a determination means for determining authenticity of coins thrown into the passageway by comparison with stored theoretical values in the storage means.

The storage means stores a plurality of theoretical values obtained for a plurality of positions of a regular coin in the width direction of the passage, and the determination means stores a mutual ratio of the passing time and the ratio. The authenticity of the coin is determined by comparing the theoretical value with the best match.

At least one of the plurality of coin sensors is disposed at a center position in the width direction of the passage, and the other is smaller than the radius of a regular coin on either the left or right side from the center position. It is preferable to be located at a distance.

[0013]

The passing time of coins to be inserted into the coin receiving machine at the above-mentioned predetermined positions may vary depending on the insertion speed of the coins, even if the coins have the same diameter, but in the width direction of the passage of the coins. if the position is the same in the mutual ratio of the passing time at each predetermined position, regardless of the rate of passage of the coin determined by the diameter of the coin. The passing time at each predetermined position is proportional to the length of the chord in the passing direction of the coin at each predetermined position.

Since the theoretical value stored in the storage means as described above is the ratio of the length of the chord at each predetermined position of a regular coin, the theoretical value of this ratio is calculated at each predetermined position of the regular coin. It matches the mutual ratio of transit times.

According to the present invention, when a coin is actually inserted, the passing time of the coin at each predetermined position is first measured by the measuring means via the detection signal of each coin sensor, and each of the measured coins is measured. The mutual ratio of the transit times is determined by the computing means.

Then, the determined ratio of the passage time is compared with the theoretical value stored in the storage means by the determination means, and the authenticity of the coin inserted into the passage is determined by this comparison.

In this case, a theoretical value for the value of the positional deviation in the width direction is determined in advance in consideration of the positional deviation of a regular coin in the width direction of the passage, and these values are stored in the storage means. Then, the determination means compares the ratio of the transit times at each predetermined position in the passage with the theoretical value most suitable (specifically, having the closest value) to this ratio, to thereby determine the passage of the passage. Even with coins shifted in the width direction, the authenticity can be accurately determined.

Further, at least one of the coin sensors is arranged at a center position in the width direction of the passage, and the other one is
By arranging at a position smaller than the radius of the regular coin on either side from the center position, even if the inserted coin is shifted in the width direction of the passage, the two coin sensors can be It is possible to detect the passage of the coin. Therefore, it is possible to reliably measure the passing time and determine whether the coin is true or false.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of a coin sorting apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of a coin sorting apparatus according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the principle of the coin authenticity judgment by the coin sorting apparatus, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams of the coin sorting apparatus. It is a flowchart for explaining an operation.

In FIG. 1, a coin sorting device 1 performs various operations and controls for determining the authenticity and sorting of a coin A passing through the coin passage 2 and the coin A passing through the passage 2. And a control circuit unit 3.

The passage 2 has, for example, an upper end connected to a coin insertion slot 4 for inserting a coin A into it,
The lower end is connected to the coin return port 5, and is further connected to a coin storage hopper 8 via an auxiliary passage 7 from an opening 6 formed in one side wall of the intermediate portion. And passage 2
Is formed slightly larger than the regular coin diameter 2r (r is a radius), for example, about several millimeters, so that the regular coin can smoothly pass through.

At the position of the opening 6 of the passage 2, an opening / closing plate 9 for opening and closing the opening 6 is arranged along the passage 2. The opening / closing plate 9 is provided with a support shaft 10 provided at the lower end thereof.
Around the inner side of the passage 2, and an electromagnetic solenoid 11 attached to the outer wall of the passage 2.
Through a link 12 and the electromagnetic solenoid 1
By the operation of 1, the position where the opening 6 is closed as shown by the solid line (hereinafter referred to as the closed position) and the position where the upper end of the opening / closing plate 9 enters the passage 2 and opens the opening 6 as shown by the phantom line (Hereinafter referred to as an open position).

In this case, in the closed position, the opening / closing plate 9 allows the passage 2 to communicate from the upper side thereof toward the coin return port 5 and blocks the passage 2 from the hopper 8. Is communicated from its upper side toward the hopper 8, and the upper end of the opening / closing plate 9 abuts against the side wall of the passage 2 facing the opening 6 so that the passage 2 is blocked from the coin return port 5. I have to. The electromagnetic solenoid 11 is electrically connected to the control circuit 3, and based on a command from the control circuit 3, swings the opening / closing plate 9 to open and close the opening 6 as described later. ing.

A plurality of coin sensors 13 (three in this embodiment) are arranged in parallel at a predetermined position in the upper part of the passage 2 at intervals in the width direction. The coin sensor 13a is provided at the center position in the width direction of the passage 2, and the coin sensors 13b, 1b on both sides thereof are provided.
3c is provided at a position at an equal distance d on both sides from the center of the passage 2. In this case, this interval d is
The value is smaller than the radius r of a regular coin.

These coin sensors 13 are composed of, for example, photo sensors. When coin A passes through the installation position of these coin sensors 13, the passage is photoelectrically detected for the time interval of the passage. I am trying to do it.
Each coin sensor 13 is electrically connected to the control circuit unit 3 and outputs a detection signal to the control circuit unit 3.

In the passage 2, a magnetic sensor 14 is arranged at a position before the opening 6, and is electrically connected to the control circuit 3.

The magnetic sensor 14 is for determining the material of the coin A to be put into the passage 2. The magnetic sensor 14 detects the magnetic field generated when a regular coin (usually made of metal) passes through the installation position of the magnetic sensor 14. Detect changes. Thereby, the control circuit unit 3 determines whether or not the material of the coin is genuine. For example, if the coin is made of a synthetic resin, it is determined that the coin is fake because there is no change in the magnetic field.

The control circuit unit 3 includes a CPU (not shown)
M, ROM, etc., as its arithmetic and control functions,
It has a measuring unit 15, a calculating unit 16, a storage unit 17 and a determining unit 18, which are main parts of the present invention.

Among these units 15 to 18, the measuring unit 15 determines a time interval during which the inserted coin A is detected by each coin sensor 13 when the coin A passes the installation position of each coin sensor 13. Only, the time is measured for each coin sensor 13, thereby measuring the passage time of the coin A at the installation position of each coin sensor 13.

Then, the calculating means 16 obtains the mutual ratio of the passing time of each coin sensor 13 measured as described above according to the following equation.

That is, each coin sensor 13a, 13b,
The passing time of coin A corresponding to 13c is denoted by Ta and T, respectively.
b, Tc, and the mutual ratios (hereinafter referred to as time ratios) of the respective transit times Ta, Tb, Tc are Xa, Xb, Xc, respectively.
Xa = Ta / (Ta + Tb + Tc) (1a) Xb = Tb / (Ta + Tb + Tc) (1b) Xc = Tc / (Ta + Tb + Tc) (1c) The storage means 17 stores the coin sensors 13a, 13b, 13c of regular coins passing through the passage 2 as equivalent to the respective time ratios Xa, Xb, Xc of regular coins.
The theoretical value of the ratio of the length of the chord in the passing direction (the length direction of the passage 2) is stored in advance.
The authenticity of the inserted coin A is determined by comparing b, Xc with its theoretical value.

This theoretical value is obtained as follows. That is, in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the coin A passes through the passage 2. At this time, when the coin A passes through the installation position of each coin sensor 13,
Assuming that the virtual chords in the longitudinal direction of the passage 2 at the installation positions of the a, 13b, and 13c are Ga, Gb, and Gc, respectively, the passing time Ta of the coin A measured via the coin sensors 13a, 13b, and 13c. , Tb, and Tc are the times required for the coin A to move in the passage 2 by the length of the strings Ga, Gb, and Gc at the installation positions of the coin sensors 13a, 13b, and 13c, respectively, and the transit time Ta , T
b and Tc are obviously proportional to the length of the strings Ga, Gb and Gc. Therefore, the mutual ratio of the passing times Ta, Tb, and Tc matches the mutual ratio of the lengths of the strings Ga, Gb, and Gc irrespective of the passing speed of the coin A at the installation position of each coin sensor 13.

Therefore, the length of the strings Ga, Gb, Gc is La
, Lb, Lc, and their mutual ratios (hereinafter referred to as chord ratios) are denoted by Ya, Yb, Yc, respectively.
, Yb, Yc are defined by the following equation in the same manner as the time ratios Xa, Xb, Xc, and the chord ratios Ya, Yb, Yc
Coincides with the time ratios Xa, Xb, Xc.

Ya = La / (La + Lb + Lc) (2a) Yb = Lb / (La + Lb + Lc) (2b) Yc = Lc / (La + Lb + Lc) ... (2c) On the other hand, if coin A to be inserted is a regular coin,
Since the radius r is determined for the regular coin A, the position shift distance s between the center of the passage 2 and the center of the coin A in the width direction of the passage 2 is appropriately determined with reference to FIG. If the value is set to a value and the three-square theorem is applied, the lengths La, Lb, and Lc of the strings Ga, Gb, and Gc are obtained by the following equations.

La = 2 · (r ² −s ² ) ^1/2 (3a) Lb = 2 · (r ² − (d + s) ² ] ^1/2 (3b) Lc = 2 · [r ² − (d−s) ² ] ^1/2 (3c) where d is the coin sensors 13b and 13 as described above.
The distance between c and the center of the passage 2 and d <r.

By substituting the lengths La, Lb, and Lc of the strings Ga, Gb, and Gc obtained for a regular coin into the above equations (2a) to (2c), the regular coin A can be obtained. The string ratios Ya, Yb and Yc can be theoretically determined. As described above, these string ratios Ya, Yb, Yc are the time ratios Xa, Xb, X in the regular coin A.
The theoretical values of c, c (hereinafter referred to as theoretical values Ya, Yb, Yc
). These theoretical values Ya, Yb, Yc are:
It does not depend on the passing speed of the coin A at the installation position of each coin sensor 13.

The storage means 17 of FIG. 1 stores the theoretical values Ya, Yb and Yc obtained in this manner. In practice, however, there are cases where a regular coin is shifted to various positions in the width direction of the passage 2. In consideration of the above, a plurality of sets of theoretical values Ya, Yb,
Yc is stored as a data table.

On the other hand, the judgment means 18 searches the data table of the storage means 17 after the time ratios Xa, Xb, Xc are obtained by the calculating means 16 when the coin A is inserted, which will be described in detail later. By this, the time ratio Xa
, Xb, Xc best fit (having the closest value)
A set of the theoretical values Ya, Yb, Yc is selected, and these are compared to determine the authenticity of the coin A.

In FIG. 1, a photo sensor 19 is arranged on the entrance side in the passage 2. This is a photosensor for detecting misconduct in order to prevent the coin A once inserted from being pulled out by a fishing line or the like.
When coin A is moved improperly in the inside, it outputs a detection signal,
It is supplied to the control circuit unit 3.

Next, the operation of the coin sorting apparatus 1 will be described. 1 and 3, when a coin A is inserted from the coin insertion slot 4 and the coin A passes through the installation position of the coin sensor 13, each coin sensor 13 detects the passage and only detects the time required for the passage. Outputs a detection signal. in this case,
As described above, among the coin sensors 13, the coin sensors 13b and 13c located on both sides thereof are arranged at an interval d smaller than the radius r of the regular coin with respect to the center of the passage 2, so that at least the regular coin Each coin sensor 13 detects the passage of the coin A and outputs a detection signal to the coin A having the same radius as the radius r of the coin A, even if the coin A is shifted in the width direction of the passage 2.

At this time, the control circuit unit 3 repeats the processing shown in FIG. 4 every predetermined unit time (for example, 200 μsec).

That is, the control circuit unit 3 monitors whether or not each coin sensor 13 is outputting a detection signal (on / off of each coin sensor 13) at every unit time. When the coin A is in the ON state, in other words, when the coin A is passing through the installation position of the coin sensor 13, the number of ON times is cumulatively added for each unit time. Then, the addition operation is performed for the coin A among the coin sensors 13.
Is completed until the last coin sensor 13a is turned off, and when the coin sensor 13a is turned off from the on state in the previous process, the authenticity of the coin A described next will be described. Move to determination process.

The processing shown in FIG. 4 is performed at every unit time regardless of the presence or absence of the coin A, and at one time when this processing is performed, the coin sensor 13a is turned off. Yes, and the coin sensor 1
When 3a is in the off state, the authenticity determination processing is not performed.

Next, in FIG. 3, when the processing shifts to the authenticity determination processing as described above, the measuring means 15 of the control circuit unit 3
The passing time T of the coin A at the installation position of each coin sensor 13 is calculated based on the cumulative addition value of the number of ON times for each coin sensor 13.
Measure a, Tb, and Tc. In this case, each coin sensor 1
Since the cumulative addition operation of the number of ONs for each of the three is performed for each unit time as described above, the passing times Ta, Tb, and Tc are obtained by multiplying the cumulative addition value of the number of ONs for each of the coin sensors 13 by the unit time. It is required by doing. Alternatively, the cumulative addition value of the number of ON times for each coin sensor 13 is calculated as the passing time Ta,
As-is values may be used as the amounts corresponding to Tb and Tc.

When the passing times Ta, Tb, Tc are measured in this way, the calculating means 16 next calculates the time ratios Xa, Xb, X from these passing times Ta, Tb, Tc.
c is calculated according to the above equations (1a) to (1c).

Then, when the time ratios Xa, Xb, Xc are obtained, the determination means 18 then reads from the data table of the storage means 17 the theoretical values Ya, A set of Yb and Yc is searched.

For such a search, for example, the time ratio Xa
, Xb, and Xc, one of the time ratios Xa, Xb, and Xc is sequentially compared with one of the corresponding theoretical values Ya, Yb, and Yc in the data table. , And a set of theoretical values Ya, Yb, and Yc that minimizes the difference between the two.

In this case, when specifying one of the time ratios Xa, Xb, Xc, it may be limited to any one of them in advance, and according to the magnitude of the time ratios Xa, Xb, Xc. Alternatively, one of them may be selected.

Next, the theoretical values Ya, Yb, Y
When c is retrieved, the determination means 18 determines the theoretical values Ya,
Yb and Yc are compared with the time ratios Xa, Xb and Xc, thereby determining whether the coin A is true or false.

In this case, in this determination, for example,
Each theoretical value Ya, Yb, Yc is a time ratio Xa, Xb, X
c, or one or two of the theoretical values Ya, Yb, Yc correspond to the corresponding time ratios Xa, Xa,
If any one or two of Xb and Xc are within a predetermined allowable range, it is determined that the coin A inserted into the passage 2 is genuine.

Although not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, when the coin A reaches the position of the magnetic sensor 14 in parallel with the above-described processing such as the determination, the determination means is provided by the detection signal of the magnetic sensor 14. 18 also determines whether the material of the coin A is genuine.

When the coin A is determined to be genuine according to the above determination, the control circuit unit 3 operates the electromagnetic solenoid 11 to move the open / close plate 9 to the open position indicated by the phantom line in FIG. At this time, the coin A passing through the installation position of the magnetic sensor 14 is stored in the hopper 8 from the passage 2 via the opening 6 and the sub passage 7.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the coin A is not a regular coin, the control circuit unit 3 keeps the opening / closing plate 9 at the closed position shown by the solid line in FIG. Is discharged to the coin return port 5 as it is.

As described above, in the coin sorting apparatus 1, the time ratios Xa, Xb, Xc which are not affected by the passing speed of the coin A at the installation position of the coin sensor 13 are determined by the theoretical values Ya, Yb for the normal coin. , Yc to determine the authenticity of the coin A, so that the authenticity of the coin A can be correctly determined irrespective of conditions such as the insertion speed. In this case, taking into account that the coin A is shifted in the width direction from the center of the passage 2, a set of theoretical values Ya, Yb, and Yc is obtained for a plurality of values of the distance s of the positional shift and stored in the storage unit 17. Since it is stored, the authenticity of the coin A can be correctly determined irrespective of the position where the coin A passes through the passage 2.

Such a coin sorting apparatus can be applied to various coin receiving machines such as vending machines, currency exchange machines, and game machines such as slot machines.

In this embodiment, the coin sensor 13
However, the number is not limited to three, but the number may be two, four or more, and a coin sorting apparatus may be configured similarly to the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the coin sensor 1
3 are arranged in a straight line in the width direction of the passage 2, but it is not always necessary to arrange them in this way. For example, even if they are arranged in parallel at a predetermined angle with respect to the width direction of the passage 2, It is possible to configure a coin sorting device as in the embodiment.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, when coins pass through a passage, detection signals from a plurality of coin sensors arranged at intervals in a substantially width direction in the passage make it possible for each coin sensor. While measuring the passing time of the coin at the position and calculating the mutual ratio of each passing time, as a theoretical value of the mutual ratio of the passing time at the position of each coin sensor, the passing direction at the position of each coin sensor for a regular coin The ratio of the chord lengths is determined for a plurality of positions of the legitimate coin in the width direction of the passage, and the theoretical value is compared with the ratio of the transit times measured by the above. Thus, since the authenticity of the coin is determined, the authenticity of the coin can be correctly determined and sorted regardless of conditions such as the coin insertion speed or the passage speed in the passage.

In determining whether a coin is true or false, by comparing the mutual ratio of measured transit times with a theoretical value most suitable for the ratio, the coin can be determined regardless of the passage position of the coin in the passage. Can be determined, and a more reliable determination can be made.

Further, at least one of the coin sensors is arranged at the center position in the width direction of the passage, and the other one is
By arranging at a position smaller than the radius of the regular coin on either side from this center position,
Even if the coin is displaced in the width direction in the passage, the passage of the coin can be reliably detected by these coin sensors.
Therefore, the above determination can be reliably performed according to the detection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a coin sorting apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the principle of coin authenticity determination according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Coin sorting apparatus, 2 ... Passage, 13 ... Coin sensor, 15
... Measurement means, 16 ... Calculation means, 17 ... Storage means, 18 ...
Judgment means.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. The method according to claim 1, wherein the authenticity of a coin inserted into a coin passage is determined.
Judgment is made based on the diameter of coins, and coins are selected based on the judgment results.
In another apparatus, an interval is provided in the passage in a substantially width direction thereof.TakeMultiple fixed positions
Are provided at the respective positions, and the coins at the respective predetermined positions are
A plurality of coin sensors for detecting passage, and the coin sensorFromBy the detection signal ofInsideThrown into
The passing time of each coin at each of the predetermined positions
Measuring means; and communication at each of the predetermined positions measured by the measuring means.
Calculating means for determining a mutual ratio of the overtime; and a passage corresponding to the mutual ratio of the passing time.
At each of said predetermined positions of a legitimate coin passing throughPassing direction
Storage means for storing a theoretical value of a mutual ratio of chord lengths; and a mutual ratio of the passage times obtained by the arithmetic means.
RateSaidBy comparing with the theoretical value,
Determining means for determining the authenticity of the coins obtained, The storage means is a regular coin in the width direction of the passage.
Memorize a plurality of theoretical values obtained for a plurality of positions of
The determination means determines the mutual ratio of the passing times and the ratio.
Authenticity of coins by comparing with the best fit theoretical value
Judge A coin sorting device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said plurality of coin sensors is
One is located at the center of the width of the passage and the other is
One half of a regular coin on either side from the center
The coin sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the coin sorting device is arranged at a position at a distance smaller than the diameter .