JP3648095B2 - Coin discrimination device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a coin discriminating apparatus, and more particularly, to a coin discriminating apparatus capable of discriminating between a stamp applied to a side surface of a coin and a giza (a striped unevenness along the thickness direction of the coin).
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of discriminating apparatus, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-129808 is known. This device irradiates light on the side surface of the coin from the light emitting means, and arranges the reflected light from the coin adjacent to each other along the moving direction of the coin, and outputs independent detection signals respectively. Receive light at. Then, detection signals respectively emitted from the two light receiving units are input to the differential amplification unit, and the difference between the detection signals is calculated by the differential amplification unit. The output signal output from the differential amplifier is compared with an independently set reference signal, and the number of output signals exceeding the reference signal is counted. The discriminating unit discriminates the type of coin based on the number of output signals larger than the level of the reference signal.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional discrimination device described above has the following problems.
That is, the discriminating device counts the number of output signals when the output signal accompanying the difference between the detection signals of two adjacent light receiving units exceeds the reference signal, and discriminates the type of coin based on this. ing. That is, basically, the type of coin is discriminated based on the difference in the received light level of reflected light at two adjacent points on the side of the coin. Therefore, for example, when the gap between the 500 won coins and the 500 yen coins on the side of the coin are similar, the light reception level of the reflected light at two adjacent points on the side of the coin There was not much difference, and there was a problem that even if the level of the reference signal was changed slightly, the type of coin could not be determined.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a coin discriminating apparatus that can discriminate coins with higher accuracy.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light emitting means for irradiating light on a side surface of a coin, and a reflected light reflected from the side surface of the coin by the light emitted from the light emitting means. a plurality of light receiving portions arranged along the direction, and light receiving means for receiving respectively at predetermined thickness position of the coin, and comparing the output signals respectively outputted from the plurality of light receiving portions of the light receiving means each output Discriminating means for discriminating the type of the coin depending on whether or not the signal changes at the same timing .
[0006]
According to the coin discriminating apparatus of the present invention, the light emitted from the light emitting means hits the side surface of the coin and is reflected there. The reflected light is detected by the plurality of light receiving portions of the light receiving means for each thickness position of the coin on which the light receiving portion is disposed. Then, the discriminating means compares the output signals output from the respective light receiving portions of the light receiving means, and discriminates the type of coin based on the information obtained therefrom.
[0007]
Specifically, in the case of a coin having a jagged surface, since the side shape of the coin is the same along the thickness direction, substantially the same output is obtained from each of the plurality of light receiving units arranged along the thickness direction of the coin. A signal is emitted.
On the other hand, in the case of a coin with a marking on the side surface, the shape of the side surface of the coin is not the same along the thickness direction, and it may be flat or recessed depending on the position in the thickness direction. For this reason, different output signals are emitted from the plurality of light receiving units arranged along the thickness direction of the coin.
In this manner, the type of coin can be determined by comparing output signals emitted from a plurality of light receiving units arranged along the thickness direction of the coin.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, the coin discriminating apparatus 1 shown here is disposed outside the coin conveyance path 2 and is along an optical axis L that forms an angle of 35 ° with respect to the coin C conveyance direction, for example. A light source 3 that irradiates light, a light receiving sensor 4 that is arranged outside the coin transport path 2 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the coin C, and between the light receiving sensor 4 and the coin transport path 2 A lens 5 is provided, and a discriminating means 6 that is connected to the light receiving sensor 4 and discriminates the type of the coin C from the detection signal.
[0009]
The coin transport path 2 includes coin transport means (not illustrated) that sandwiches the coin C in the thickness direction with a belt (not shown) and transports the coin C while preventing its rotation. It can be moved along.
[0010]
The light source 3 is, for example, an LED. The light receiving sensor 4 is a line sensor composed of, for example, a CCD, a MOS, a photodiode array, etc., and a light receiving unit 4a that outputs a light receiving signal having an amplitude corresponding to the amount of light received is a discrimination target. A plurality of coins C are arranged along the thickness direction. The individual light receiving sections 4a, 4b, and 4c can output detection signals independently of each other.
Here, in the present embodiment, as the coin C to be discriminated, in particular, a 500 yen coin and a 500 won coin are assumed, so that the light receiving parts 4a, 4b, and 4c are as shown in FIG. The total of the upper, middle, and lower stages in the thickness direction of the coin C so that the portion where the concave portion formed by the stamp is formed on the side surface of the 500-yen coin and the portion that remains in the flat shape above and below the portion can be measured. It arrange | positions corresponding to three thickness positions (x * y * z).
The position of the lens 5 is adjusted so that the light emitted from the light source 3 and reflected by the side surface of the coin C is collected and focused by the light receiving sensor 4.
[0011]
The discriminating means 6 compares the output signals respectively output from the light receiving parts 4a, 4b and 4c, and discriminates coins. Specifically, based on the input unit 6a to which the output signals from the light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c are input, and the output signal that is digitally processed by the input unit 6a and output from the input unit 6a, the actual output from one light receiving unit The output signals output from the three light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c change at the same timing when there is a change in the output signal from the light receiving unit. And a processing unit 6b for determining whether or not the processing unit 6b is connected. A memory 6c is connected to the processing unit 6b.
[0012]
The input unit 6a determines a certain threshold value for the output signals output from the light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c, and determines the output signal by determining whether the output signal exceeds the threshold value. Digital processing is performed, and the digital processing is output to the processing unit 6b.
[0013]
The operation of the coin discriminating apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described below.
When incident light is irradiated from the light source 3 to the side surface of the coin C conveyed in the coin conveyance path 2, the light is reflected from the side surface of the coin C. Of the reflected light, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 3 (a), the reflected light reflected from the upper, middle and lower sides of the side surface of the coin C is along the thickness direction of the light receiving means 4. Are received separately for each thickness position of the coin C by the plurality of light receiving portions 4a, 4b, and 4c. Then, an output signal corresponding to the light receiving level output from the light receiving parts 4a, 4b, 4c is sent to the discriminating means 6, where the output signals output from the light receiving parts 4a, 4b, 4c are compared. The type of the coin C is determined based on the information obtained from this.
[0014]
Specifically, for example, when the coin C transported through the coin transport path 2 is a 500 won coin, the side surface of the coin C is given a jagged surface as shown in FIG. Since the shape is the same along the thickness direction, substantially the same output signal (output waveform) is emitted from each of the plurality of light receiving portions 4a, 4b, 4c arranged along the thickness direction of the coin C. That is, the light incident on the side surface of the coin C is specularly reflected at the portion where the side surface is not jagged, and is irregularly reflected at the portion where the jagged surface is present, but the portion where the jagged surface is formed at equal intervals on the coin side surface and the coin Since the same shape of the jagged shape is formed at any location along the thickness direction of C, the plurality of light receiving portions 4a, 4b, 4c arranged along the thickness direction of the coin C are all As shown in FIG. 2B, an output waveform is output in which a portion with a high light reception level without jaggedness and a portion with a low light reception level with jaggedness appear alternately and regularly.
[0015]
Output signals representing the light reception levels emitted from the light receiving units 4 a, 4 b, and 4 c are input to the input unit 6 a of the determination unit 6. Here, digital processing is performed based on whether or not the output signal exceeds a set threshold value (when the threshold value is not exceeded, it is converted to “0”, and when it exceeds, it is converted to “1”), and the processing unit 6b. Is output. The processing unit 6b temporarily sends the digitally processed data to the memory 6c and stores it. When a predetermined time has elapsed, the processing unit 6b reads the data stored in the memory 6c. A typical coin discrimination process is performed.
[0016]
That is, the processing unit 6b determines whether there is a change in the digitally processed data in the output signal of the light receiving unit, that is, whether the “0” signal is input while the “1” signal continues. In the case of a 500 won coin, since a jagged surface is provided on the side of the coin, a “0” signal is input to the digitally processed data.
[0017]
Next, whether or not each data digitally processed in the output signals of the light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c is changing at the same timing, that is, the timing at which the “0” signal is included in the data following the “1” signal. Is the same in each of the light receiving parts 4a, 4b, 4c. In the case of a 500 won coin, the side surface of the coin is regularly attached to the side surface of the coin, and the shape of the side surface of the coin is the same along the thickness direction. Therefore, a plurality of light receiving elements arranged along the thickness direction of the coin. The parts 4a, 4b, and 4c respectively generate substantially the same output signals.
In this way, in the case of a 500 won coin, there is a change in the output signal of the light receiving parts 4a, 4b, 4c (there is a light receiving level “high” and a light receiving level “low”), and the change is the respective light receiving parts 4a, 4b. -If two coins appearing at the same timing in 4c, a jagged coin, that is, a 500 yen coin or a 500 won coin, is discriminated as a 500 won coin.
[0018]
On the other hand, when the coin C transported through the coin transport path 2 is a 500-yen coin, a predetermined stamp (◇ NIPPON 500) is attached to the central portion of the side surface of the coin C as shown in FIG. The side shape of the coin is never the same along the thickness direction, and varies depending on the position in the thickness direction. That is, the upper and lower stages have continuous flat portions, and the middle stage has concave portions formed by stamping at various points. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3B, different output signals are emitted from the plurality of light receiving portions 4a, 4b, 4c arranged along the thickness direction of the coin C.
That is, the light receiving parts 4a and 4c arranged corresponding to the upper and lower stages in the thickness direction of the coins C continuously emit output signals having a high light receiving level, and from the light receiving parts 4b arranged in the middle stage. An output signal (output waveform) is generated in which a signal with a low light reception level is irregularly inserted into a signal with a high light reception level.
[0019]
Output signals representing the received light levels emitted from the light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c are input to the input unit 6a of the discriminating means 6, where they are digitally processed as described above and then temporarily stored in the memory 6c. . And when predetermined time passes, it reads into the process part 6b and a concrete coin discrimination | determination process is made.
That is, in the processing unit 6b, whether the output signal of the light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c is changed with respect to the digitally processed data, that is, whether the “0” signal is input while the “1” signal continues. Judge whether or not. In the case of a 500-yen coin, since the side surface of the coin C is marked, the data provided from the light receiving unit 4b arranged corresponding to the middle stage in the thickness direction of the coin C is data in which the “1” signal continues. A “0” signal is randomly input.
[0020]
Next, whether or not each data digitally processed in the output signals of the light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c changes at the same timing, in other words, the timing at which the "0" signal is included in the data that follows the "1" signal. It is determined whether the light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c are the same. In the case of a 500-yen coin, a predetermined stamp is attached to the side surface of the coin C as described above, and the side surface shape of the coin is not necessarily the same along the thickness direction, so it is arranged along the thickness direction of the coin. The “0” signal does not enter at the same timing from the plurality of light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c. That is, as described above, “0” is irregularly entered in the data emitted from the light receiving unit 4b arranged corresponding to the middle stage in the thickness direction of the coin C. In the data emitted from the light receiving units 4a and 4c arranged corresponding to the upper and lower parts, only the “1” signal continues, and the “0” signal does not enter.
[0021]
In this way, in the case of a 500 yen coin, there is a change in any of the output signals of the plurality of light receiving parts 4a, 4b, 4c (there is a part with a light receiving level of “low”), and the change depends on each light receiving part 4a. 4b and 4c do not have the same change (that is, the output signal emitted from the upper and lower light receiving units and the output signal emitted from the middle light receiving unit do not have the same pattern). When a coin with a stamp on the side surface, that is, a 500 yen coin or a 500 won coin is determined, it can be determined that it is a 500 yen coin.
[0022]
By the way, in the case of coins that are not given both side edges and engravings, a plurality of light receiving portions 4a, 4b, 4c arranged along the thickness direction of the coins respectively receive a constant light receiving level (high level). ) Is output.
[0023]
As described above, according to the coin discriminating apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the coin C can be reliably obtained by a simple apparatus without using a high-precision optical system or a costly means such as the use of slit light by a laser. Discrimination can be performed.
[0024]
The above-described example is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and the coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention can be appropriately changed in design without departing from the spirit.
For example, in the above embodiment, the light receiving parts 4a, 4b, and 4c are arranged at positions corresponding to the upper, middle, and lower parts of the coin in the thickness direction, and the relationship between the output signals emitted from the respective light receiving parts is set. The coin C is discriminated based on the fact that a light receiving portion is provided only at two positions along the thickness direction, for example, the upper and middle stages, or the middle and lower stages, respectively. The determination may be made based on the above, or four or more light receiving portions may be provided along the thickness direction of the coin, and the determination may be made based on the output signal emitted from them.
[0025]
Further, in the coin discriminating apparatus 1, the signals output from the light receiving portions 4a, 4b, and 4c are once digitally processed, and the coin C is discriminated based on the digital signal thus obtained. The output signals of the light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c are output in the form of a waveform, and whether there is a change in any of the output signals of the plurality of light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c by two-dimensional graphic judgment Further, the coin C may be discriminated by directly judging whether or not the same change is made in the output signals of the light receiving portions 4a, 4b, and 4c.
[0026]
Further, in the coin discriminating apparatus 1, whether or not the discriminating and engraving discrimination are the same among the output signals of the plurality of light receiving portions 4a, 4b and 4c arranged along the thickness direction of the coin C. However, in addition to this, the determination may be made by taking into account an element whether or not the output signals of the light receiving units 4a, 4b, and 4c regularly and periodically change. Incidentally, the output signal of the light receiving section changes regularly in the case of the serration, whereas the output signal of the light receiving section changes irregularly in the case of the marking.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention, the reflected light from the side surface of the coin is detected by the plurality of light receiving portions of the light receiving means for each thickness position of the coin in which the light receiving portion is arranged. Then, each output signal output from each light receiving portion of the light receiving means is compared by the determining means, and the type of the coin is determined based on the information obtained from the output signal. It is possible to clearly discriminate whether the object is jagged or engraved, and as a result, there is an effect that the type of coin can be distinguished with high accuracy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a coin discriminating apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an output signal of 500 won coins by a light receiving unit of the coin discriminating apparatus of FIG. 1;
3 is a diagram illustrating an output signal of a 500 yen coin by a light receiving unit of the coin discriminating apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
C coin 1 coin discriminator 2 coin transport path 3 light source (light emitting means)
4 Light receiving sensor (light receiving means)
4a, 4b, 4c Light receiving unit 6 Discriminating means 6a Input unit 6b Processing unit 6c Memory

Claims (1)

A light emitting means for irradiating the side of the coin with light;
The reflected light reflected from the side surface of the coin of the light emitted from the light emitting means is respectively provided for each predetermined thickness position of the coin by a plurality of light receiving portions arranged along the thickness direction of the coin. A light receiving means for receiving light;
A discriminating unit that compares output signals output from a plurality of light receiving units of the light receiving unit and discriminates the type of the coin depending on whether or not each output signal changes at the same timing ;
A coin discriminating apparatus.

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